#with elements of stampede tossed in too

[eventheodds]

link, sender links arms with receiver while walking.

prompt lost to the aether...

Octovern.

It's the last city standing. Whoever managed to make it here, trekking through the desert, through the wastelands, through the devastation, now call this place home.

She feels a tiredness unlike anything before, a feeling of being simultaneously being relieved of such a great weight but also still burdened by it. Milly sees it, the way Meryl carries herself, but she's too stubborn to accept any help. Too stubborn to swallow her pride, even now.

Even after everything she's been through—what they've all been through—Meryl forces herself to carry on, to help wherever and however she can. The city is swelling and the numbers keep growing with each passing moment.

"Oh, Meryl...you really ought to rest, let someone else take over for a while."

Milly doesn't miss a thing when it concerns her senpai, but Meryl shakes her head and picks up the basket filled with food and supplies that are meant to be distributed to the makeshift hospital.

It's been some time since the Arks, since the feathers raining down upon all of them, since she saw Vash fly off with Knives in the distance, uncertain of when she'd see him again.

The news agency had undergone many changes since then, though the corruption was still there; however, without their sponsors, the Bernardellis realized that their operations had come to a standstill.

Rebuilding everything from the ground up wasn't the only thing she'd been taking on. I'll be running the news bureau in no time!

She'd said those words what now feels like a lifetime ago, and if only Roberto could see her now.

The basket is heavier than she remembers, or maybe it's because that exhaustion is finally catching up to her but she keeps putting one foot in front of the other, continuing down the street towards the building where people are waiting for these supplies and food.

In mere moments, Meryl feels like she's capsizing, feeling that rush of air against her cheek as her tired eyes take in the sight of the ground, which is steadily approaching her face—only to feel herself being righted, hands on her arms, supporting her.

The jostle from almost falling to being picked up has given her that second wind and the familiar smell of geraniums comes back to her as she blinks the bleariness from her eyes.

"Vash?"

"You should really listen to Milly," he says and Meryl immediately know what he means by this. The basket still feels heavy and Vash must have a way to read minds because he bends down to take it from her, and she lets him, sighing gently at the absence of the added weight.

"Figures she'd send you after me," she says and can't help but smile, though it's not a smile that reaches her eyes. Not much reaches her eyes these days, especially smiles.

"You here to escort me to the mess hall turned hospital?"

"I most certainly am," and falls in step with her, but when he notices that she's beginning to lag behind—rather than suggest she hop onto his back, or even suggest she do that—Vash links his arm with hers, which is more for support than anything else. He doesn't appear to be in any rush to get to the mess hall and she's not in any condition to be asking.

He's doing this for her, for her benefit, because he knows she's been neglecting in taking care of herself these past weeks. Milly's been informing him about the situation with the Bernardellis and her concern with how much has been piled onto Meryl's plate.

"When we drop these supplies off...can I ask a favour?"

"Hm? Yeah, of course," and she can hear that specific tone in his voice like he means to tell her how she never has to ask him for anything. "Anything you want."

At this Meryl can't help but smile again, but her eyes are closed and she can feel sleep beginning to take hold. She's not sure she'll be able to make it to the mess hall turned hospital after all.

"Would you mind carrying me back to the inn? Pretty sure my legs are gonna give way any moment now."

She doesn't hear his reply, if he's said anything, and thinks she might actually be fast asleep if it wasn't for the sudden sensation of being hoisted onto his back. How he's managed this is beyond her, though given her current state of exhaustion there's a likely explanation behind it.

How he's managing to keep her on his back while also holding the basket is yet another thing that goes beyond her, but with the way she feels now—how comfortable she is—Meryl can't bring herself to think too long about it.

"...these are for you—oh, yeah, don't worry she just needs to get more sleep. She'll be fine."

His gentle voice continues to lull her, Meryl feeling herself growing limper against his back. Sleep, deep sleep, beginning to settle in.

Her soft snores are right by his ear and in the back of her mind, she thinks she can hear Vash chuckle softly every time her breath caresses his ear.

"Meryl Stryfe...Iron Lady who cries sometimes, but you gotta sleep and take care of yourself, too. We need you, y'know."

All he gets are soft mumbles, his name sprinkled in there between the incomprehensible gibberish.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Unexpected 21

Sequel to Unsolicited

Warnings: non/dubcon, pregnancy, car sex, Lloyd being the worst, and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging.

Another surprise awaits you at the house. One which seems almost as perplexing to Lloyd. He greets you and Dottie as you walk in, the soft plucking of harp music wafting in from the dimmed space of the front room. Confused, you stare at the warm amber hue.

“Ma, what’s going on? Why are there hippies in my house?” Lloyd demands.

“Hippies, they are professionals, Marion,” she retorts, “don’t you worry, they’re not here for you.” She turns and tugs on the black bag in your hand, “here, honey, make yourself useful and put these away.”

Before you can react, she frees the bag and shoves it against her son’s chest. He frowns and peeks through the open top.

“Huh, what is all this?”

“Where is your father?” Dottie ignores him, “don’t tell me you’ve chased him off already.”

“What? No, he’s upstairs. We were working on… moving my office,” he says the last words begrudgingly.

“Don’t let him do all the heavy lifting, hon,” she reaches to pat Lloyd’s cheek, “now, we’ve had a long day.”

She turns and takes you by the hand. She drags you across the entryway and you peer into the front room. The couch is shoved to the side, the coffee table too. Two women wait for you, one with greying black hair drawn into a top bun, and the other with soft dirty blond waves.

“Eh, sweets, sorry to keep you waiting,” Dottie stampedes ahead of you, “ I’m Dot, this is my daughter,” she says, “thank you very much for comin’ short notice.” She shakes the blonde’s hand, “you must me Lila and you… Gail?”

“Dot,” Gail answers, “that’d be us.”

“Wonderful,” she sighs and rolls her shoulders, “this one’s expectin’ so you’ll have to take it easy on her.”

“Um, Dot, what is…” you slowly meander up behind her. Your voice fizzles as you take in the massage tables in the flicker of a dozen candles, “this?”

“Of course, Lila is trained in maternity massage,” Gail explains, “first, we’ll let you get ready. There are robes,” she gestures to a stack of linen on the couch cushion, “slippers, all that. Did we want to start with the massages or the facials?”

“Hmm, what do you think, sweetie?” Dottie glances back at you, “how are your hips, poor thing?”

“I… whatever works.”

“Great, facials first,” she chimes as she claps her hands, “typically, I find that’s the grande finale.”

You nearly snort at the joke, Lila and Gail grinning and holding back laughter. “We’ll be back shortly while you get settled,” Gail says gently and leads the other woman out.

“You did all this?” You ask as you’re left alone. Dottie wastes no time stripping her coat and shirt off. She wears a bright pink bra with a bow between her bulging cleavage, a surprising garment for her age.

“You need it, hon, you deserve to be pampered,” she smiles as she takes one of the robes, tossing it towards you, “now don’t you drag your feet, we already keep these ladies waitin’.”

💎

You feel fresher already. Your face is soft and tingly, glowing from the relaxing facial of tea tree oil and mud. The scent is calming as it lingers on the skin, mingling with the jasmine scent of the oils being rubbed into your skin.

You hold your breath as you lay on your side, Lila working at the knots between your shoulders. It feels amazing. She’s finding pools of tension you never knew existed. You shudder out through your nose as Dottie moans consistently.

“You can’t make noise,” the masseuse advises, “no point holding it in.”

“Sorry, I… habit,” you grunt through your teeth as she pushes against a tender spot, “oh that is so good.”

“When’s the last time you had a massage?” Lila asks.

“Hm, oh, uh, never,” you answer before your voice dips into a low drone, “god.”

“Ah, I see,” she continues her diligent work, “you carry stress along in your hips. Did you think of a pregnancy belt? It’ll ease the strain.”

“I think–” you suck in air, “I think we grabbed one.”

“That’s great, so, how far along are you?” She keeps a soothing tone as you nearly whine at her magical fingers.

“Four months, just over,” you answer as you rest your hand on your stomach.

“Almost halfway,” she says as she wiggles her knuckles down your side, “that’s exciting.”

“Um, it’s definitely… a lot,” you struggle to speak as your eyes roll back, “oh, god!”

You’re embarrassed by the sudden cry and cover your mouth. Lila doesn’t say anything as Dottie speaks through the headrest of her table, “let it out, hon. Let Marion hear it all.”

“Dot,” you giggle and sigh, “don’t.”

“Get this,” she begins, “my son, as I hate to even call him that right now, locked this poor thing out. Then leaves her overnight in the hospital, alone. Her and the babe.”

Gail gasps, “really? That’s awful.”

“Mm, really,” she growls, “it’s why I’m all locked up, ya see? Cause that ain’t how I brought him up.”

“Sons,” Gail tuts, “they don’t know anything except how to make us worry.”

“Got that right,” Dottie huffs, “but we’re not thinking of that. It’s girls’ day.”

💎

The day ends with a manicure and pedicure. Again, a new experience but a soothing one. You feel cleaner, you feel fresher, and admittedly, a bit younger. Lighter overall as you float on a cloud.

Gail and Lila leave you with a generous gratuity from Dottie, at her son’s expense of course. You’re so zenned out, you could fall asleep where you are. You sit with your head tilted back against the couch as Dottie hums and drifts around.

“Mmm, there’s only one thing I need to cap this day off,” she runs her hands down the front of her robe, “I just hope Harlan ain’t too tired–”

You chuckle and shake your head at her. You’re getting used to her little dirty quips. Compared to Lloyd, they’re cute. It’s almost admirable to see a woman her age so brazen, so fearless.

“Uh huh, well, I think I’m spending another night down here,” you pull a pillow over and put it under your elbow.

“And undo all that hard work? No, honey, you’re carryin’ my grandchild, you ain’t sleepin’ on the couch,” she bounces over to you and grabs your arm, “come on, let’s get you all tucked in.”

“Dot, really–”

“No, you make Marion sleep on the floor, I don’t care no way,” she insists hotly.

You stand as you relent to her indomitable concern. She has a certain way of making her kindness a bit scary. The pang in your lower back is missing, an unusual looseness to your body.

“You got your toys,” she says as she guides you through the doorway, “you can have a bit of fun yourself.”

“I think I’m just gonna sleep,” you assure her with a yawn, “really. Dottie, this was so nice.”

“Shoulda been done sooner. My dang son shoulda thought of it. You know he’s getting his nails done, gettin’ his pamperin’, and he can’t be arsed to look after his own wife. God, he makes me so mad, much as I love him.”

“That’s… Lloyd,” you say.

“Oh, the boy, how lucky he is to have you and he can’t even see it,” she sneers as you slowly ascend, “I ain’t the spankin’ type but maybe I shoulda given him a few.”

“Dot, please, we’ll figure it out. I don’t want you worrying about all that.”

“Someone’s gotta worry about you, darlin’,” she chides as you get to the top of the staircase, “I see it. No one’s ever looked after ya the way you deserve. You take it all on yourself and you got a baby comin’, that’s not something you can do alone.”

“I… I know,” you confess, your tacit worries slowly rising to the surface, “but it’ll be… okay. I can do it.”

“You both can,” she faces you, “be mad at him. Let him have it, but move on. Talk it out. Figure it out for the baby, okay?” She touches your cheek gently, “I’m off to find my lovebug, you go on and lay your bones down.”

She turns and waddles away. You watch her go and head in the opposite direction. You pause at the door of the master bedroom and listen. You enter slowly and find it empty. Thank god.

You go to the bed and lower yourself across it with a sigh. As you recline, the curtain of fatigue closes around you, weighing on your limbs and chest heavily. You yawn again and rub your eyes. 

You won’t let Lloyd ruin it. For once, you’re not in pain and you don’t need the thorn of his existence in your side. You’ll take a night of oblivion and deal with the rest in the morning.

[whosxafraid]

Dorothy :

Water horses

She arched an eyebrow. There’s a moment where she find she can’t discern even the slightest inflection in his tone to indicate whether he was serious or instead floating the idea to see if she’d bite like a fish on a lure.

“Water horses.” She did intentionally lace the inflection into her tone to indicate the slightest hint of incredulity. Really Luka? She lets out a soft sigh. “Okay, we’ll go with water horses then.” Really, at this point, what else can she do?

Though really it was only a beat or two, he does seem to be weighing the options of offering more. Also she’s not unaware there seems to be a conversation of sorts going on which she can’t follow. Then he does at least say they are the last of their kind. Okay, a little better than before. “Okay.” She accepts it with a nod. She casts an admiring gaze at the creatures. Her mind is still at odds with the sight, but at the same time, she wants to drink it all in. The fear that they’ll suddenly vanish fills her with a sense of loss even as they remain in place for the moment.

The rest of what he says is somewhat lost in a jumble of accented words she’s not fast enough to decipher, or at least she tells herself as much. So, he’s scared off a pack of wolves. Okay. Her short term memory tells her as much, so stands to reason that’s what the translation would be in google translate. Oh you’ve been here too long, Corinne. Now you’re believing in fairy tales and magical unicorns. Her eyes shift to the side. Hard to contradict the scene that had just unfolded and the creatures apparently carrying on a conversation with her jailer. Hard to dismiss what now seems obvious even while her subconscious is screaming, Oh yeah? Watch me.

At least he finally admits it’s all a bit much to take in. “Well, that’s most believable thing I’ve heard in the last five minutes.” Had it really only been a few minutes? Of course, Alice in Wonderland it is then. Her mind was tossing the most ridiculous notions at her because it was better than trying to suss out reality on this beach which seemed rife with otherworldly creatures and talking animals the likes of which seem ripped from the pages of fantasy and myths.

“Sure, let’s do that. I could use some coffee myself.” Or something stronger. Her lips twitched. Best to keep your wits about you, lass. Oh for fuck’s sakes now you’re thinking in his voice. “Yes, let’s get out of here.”

“Lead the way, last thing I want to do is step in land mines or be the unwitting cause of some other stampede of unusual creatures.” Sarcasm is about the only defense she can muster at this point, even her own unusual enhancements don’t feel a particular advantage at the moment. She is completely out of her element once more, no closer to answers and farthest aways from anything the least bit familiar to her. It is at the same time both a physical and mental distance. The worst kind of unbalance she can imagine. Even that thought unsettles her as she glances around recalling in snippets the scene that had only moments before unfolded in front of her. A tale she’d have dismissed out of hand had she not been witness to it.

Calm. 

She’s calm.

Despite the hurricane of apprehension he can scent on her as easy as look upon her. And that alone--while slow--begins to settle in his bones. To relax the last few complaining muscles into silence. He’d thank her If he didn't think it would confuse her more. But he’s also not stupid. With the scenting of her calmness there is something else. Something that is akin to being dazed...because dazzled is definitely not the right word.

And so there’s a kind of sheepish duck to his head as he moves to take a step. Leading the way back to the house as she had instructed. A deep breath taken in and let out. Making his shoulders rise and fall like tectonic plates. Hands stuffed into his jacket pockets and setting a pace that would give her no difficulty in which to keep behind him or beside him. Whichever she preferred. And despite the fact social graces should have seen him trying to say something else, anything else to try and comfort her--

He doesn’t.

He keeps his tongue behind his teeth and his chin close to his chest. Watching the road a few steps ahead while the rest of him keeps tabs on the surrounding area. The troublesome brats wouldn’t dare try again but it’s instinct. And given what happened the last time he got distracted--aka not five minutes before--things got complicated faster than it should have. And maybe he’s questioning if here had been the best option to take her. But the decision had been made and there was no going back. So one booted foot lifts and plants itself, as the other comes up behind. One after another until the door of the house is passed through. 

He sheds his jacket. Drops it on the hook by the door. Moves to make the coffee. Because that’s manners. She’s the guest here not the other way round. Even if she had more or less taken over the kitchen since arriving. Not that he minds. It's an outlet for her and he’s not about to say the little lass couldn’t cook or bake. Because she can. And she does both rather well. The breakfasts she had made had proven that if nothing else. So the coffee is ground and poured. Set to brew. And he walks away. Disappearing into the hall, only to return ever so shortly with a book. 

One that is set down upon the counter, to retrieve clean mugs. The creamer she’s been using caught up from the fridge before he’s returning to pour the just finished coffee. FIxings as he’s noticed her use added in perfect amounts to her mug before the book is tucked under his arm and he comes round to sit down at the table. Her mug slid over to her across the way as he settles down. The book placed gently down. HIs own coffee taken into his lap as his gaze glues upon it. Because its always hard to know where to start. How to explain in a way to someone he’s not entirely familiar with. How to word what he’s got to say in a way that does not make him out to be an entire nut case. 

How do you explain you are the reason for one of the original villains of fairy tales and childhood? How do you just state with an complete straight face “Oi be D’Big Ba’ Wolf?” The truth is you don’t. So he chooses a much less shocking starting point. Green and yellow dragging up from his cup but only making it half way between them. Because its not a title he’s proud of is it? Even for all that it isn’t totally his fault.

              “Foi’re o’way, lass. Be answerin’ ye k’estions bes’ oi’ be able.”

And by that of course he means he will answer what he thinks she and her existing or non-existing belief on the supernatural can handle. 

[peterparker-pickedapepper]

Always You

(Peter Parker/Spider-Man x Stark!Reader)

Chapter 01

A/N: this is set during Homecoming (and eventually FFH) in a universe where Tony isn’t ☠️ bc we don’t acknowledge that trauma here 🙂 also, there are elements from the comics and the older movies, but it’s still in the MCU

———————————————————————

I never meant to find it.

And I wasn’t being nosy either. It was my dads fault, really. Okay so yes, I wasn’t supposed to be in his workshop. But is it my fault he just leaves important things lying around? Mom’s told him to keep it tidy enough times you think it’d be engrained in his brain.

Anyway, the how isn’t important. Not even the why matters. It’s everything that came after.

It was the day my world began falling apart.

The moment I lost all trust—all respect—for the two men closest to my heart.

Now that I know their secret, I don’t see how I’ll be able to look them in the eye. But I’m going to do it. I’m going to keep my head up, act as normal as possible...

And see how long it takes for them to tell me themselves.

———————————————————————

                      Three Months Earlier

“I’m here on the corner of fifth and main, just a street away from the reported sighting of a flying man causing panic among the locals.”

Y/N adjusted her fingers around the smooth base of the microphone, her skin slipping against the hard plastic. It wasn’t nerves causing the dampness on her palms, but excitement. Her eyes flickered from the camera lens pointed in her direction to her best friend standing behind it before easily finding their mark again.

“The large, mechanically winged man has been wrecking havoc in New York’s beloved neighborhood of Queens for the last—”

The ground suddenly shifted beneath her feet with a loud boom, jolting her forward and stopping her report mid-sentence. She twirled around, eyes instantly landing on the sandwich shop across the street.

Or, rather, on the man looming ominously from its roof.

She could only assume it was a man. She’d never seen his face—or any part of his body for that matter—not that his skintight suit left anything to the imagination. But the media affectionately called him “Spider-Man”, so they pretty much filled in the blanks on that one.

She watched as he seemingly surveyed the area. It was always so hard to tell what was going on behind that mask, but every time she saw him she liked to imagine a picture perfect heroic expression etched into handsome features.

It made her disdain for the local superstar a little easier to swallow down.

His head swiveled back and forth a few times, fists clenching at his sides, before he shot one of his webs and disappeared on the other side of the building. She immediately turned back toward her camerawoman, lips pulled into an excited grin.

“This is perfect. Come on.” She wasted no time in scooping up some of the equipment laying at her feet, but stopped short when she noticed the apprehensive expression staring back at her.

“I don’t think I’m really in the mood to run toward danger today.” Her best friend’s bored voice didn’t match the concern she knew was brewing just below the surface.

“MJ,” Y/N all but whined. “We need this story.”

“We need to get ready for next week’s debate.” She muttered, mild annoyance seeping through. “We need to be home in twenty minutes so your dad doesn’t kill us. We need—”

“Okay, okay, I get it.” Y/N huffed, tossing the last of the camera supplies into her bag before slinging it over her shoulder.

She turned on her heel, pulling her phone from her back pocket as she moved toward the last crash that sounded a few blocks away. She was getting this story, whether she had to go alone or not. Screw her father’s arbitrary curfew. He was in India for the next few days, anyway.

“You’re serious?” MJ’s incredulous voice echoed from behind her. “What about Liz’s party?”

Y/N’s attention only wavered from the small screen in her hands once she was finished temporarily disabling the tracking feature her dad had not so subtly installed before giving it to her. He didn’t need to know she almost immediately figured out it was there, just like she didn’t need to know that he got a notification every time she hacked into the system.

Her eyes found MJ’s, wide with shock and following something in the sky above. Y/N’s head snapped upward, gaze locking on the flying man who was twisting and turning aggressively in an attempt to kick Spider-Man off his right wing.

“Yes. Very serious.” She huffed, pulse jumping with excitement. “If FRIDAY calls just, please, try to be convincing.”

With that, she spun around one last time before jogging toward the action. She knew MJ’s hesitation was coming from a good place. They’d been inseparable since middle school because they were on opposing ends of the same strong-willed base.

Where MJ was methodical and calculated, Y/N was rash and unpredictable. They were both the type to end up involved in sketchy situations, just at varying speeds and levels of grandeur. Y/N had her father to thank for that.

The iconic Tony Stark was not a pretender. He was who he was, loud and proud. He’d never apologized for it before—not even when he should’ve—and he probably never would. Y/N, on the other hand, had been pretending to be something she wasn’t for more than a decade.

He’d given her a choice when she was old enough for kindergarten. They talked about it, mapped out the pros and cons, and she made a decision. Soon after, she entered the outside world as Y/N Smith. It was the best thing her five year old brain could think of. Plus, she didn’t want her place on the alphabetical rosters to change.

She went to public schools—something Tony never missed an opportunity to mention he hated—and started paving her own way. Right now, that meant she was chasing a super-powered fight through the streets of Queens.

Since landing a highly sought after internship at The Daily Bugle, Y/N’s main priority had been impressing her overbearing bosses. That came with varying levels of complexity, depending on the superhero shenanigans of the month.

She rounded a corner into an alleyway, instantly ducking down when a blindingly bright object whizzed by her head. Her arms shot up in a protective motion as she leaned against the cool brick wall at her side. She remained there, frozen in place with a racing heart, for several seconds.

Something thumped to the concrete only a foot away from her crumpled frame, nearly making her jump out of her skin. She peeked through her arms, still crossed over her head, eyes widening as they landed on a pile of red and black fabric.

The lump groaned and slowly unraveled to reveal Queens’ favorite masked hero. He shook his head, the mechanical eyes of his suit twitching as if malfunctioning. Y/N was stuck in her spot, wide eyes hungrily drinking in every detail they could. Despite following his activity for months now, she’d never gotten this close to the mystery man.

His suit was tighter than she thought possible. It hugged his body in a way that left nothing to the imagination. The rippling muscles lining his torso were clearly visible beneath the thick material. She watched as he sat back on his heels and rubbed the side of his head, shoulders tensing as he seemed to finally realize that she was there.

“Whoa, hey.” Came his breathy, surprisingly high-pitched greeting. He cleared his throat before continuing, a steady hand extending her way. “Are you okay, miss?”

Y/N’s brow furrowed in curiosity, not missing the way his demeanor changed the moment he noticed her. It was like a flip switched. He’d turned on his superhero persona, a process she was unfortunately all too familiar with.

“I’m fine.” The words came out more forcefully than she’d intended, but she was all business now, too.

There was no way she was letting him out of her sight without getting some information. She wasn’t even worried about all the ways her bosses would kill her, she’d beat herself up enough for the missed opportunity. She ignored his hand, dusting her jeans off and hobbling to her feet before reaching for her phone to launch the recording app.

“Can I ask you a few questions, Spider-Man?” She jutted the phone out in front of her, and he took a step back as if the device would somehow hurt him.

The eyes on his mask widened, something she didn’t know was possible. “Oh. I...uh—”

Just then, the ground shook with a massive impact that couldn’t have been more than a block away. It would’ve knocked Y/N right off her feet if it weren’t for the gloved hand that shot out to stabilize her.

“Gotta go!”

By the time his hasty goodbye met her ears, he was gone. It took about ten seconds for Y/N to process what just happened before she took off running in the same direction he’d swung in. She was too far in to give up now. At this point, she’d settle for some shaky footage of the fight. It’d be enough to satisfy her editors for a few days.

She ran out in the street, stopping abruptly as a stampede of people swarmed her. Elbows and shoulders rammed into her sides as she tried fighting her way through the panic. 

“Oh, come on people! Chill the fuck out!” She found herself shouting to deaf ears. 

Maybe it was because she grew up immersed in the superhero way of life, or her bordering on unhealthy need to get some kind of story tonight, but either way she was aggravated by the public reaction more than anything.

She was rarely scared anymore, even when faced with imminent danger. Admittedly, she didn’t have a good gauge for when she might be getting herself into trouble. Another thing she blamed her father for. 

Her eyes remained trained on the sky, watching the fight unfold in mid-air. She cringed as Spider-Man nearly fell off the homemade-looking flying suit. He quickly regained his balance, shooting a web into one of the back engines. It immediately started sputtering as the metal clanked and caught in the sticky substance. 

They were going down, and fast. She knew this was probably her last chance to get any kind of discernable footage of the event, so she reached into her back pocket for her phone. It was at this moment that someone decided to shove into her so hard that she lost her footing and tumbled to the ground. 

A rush of air left her lungs as she hit the asphalt, hard. She couldn’t help but wince as pain shot up both of her arms. There would definitely be bruises she’d need to hide later. Thankfully, at least she ended up near the curb so she wasn’t instantly trampled to death by the screaming crowd. 

She pushed herself up into a sitting position and huffed, wiping away the tiny rocks that were now embedded into her palms. She was about to hobble to her feet and call tonight a wash when her eyes landed on a blueish-purple glow coming from a nearby alley.

Maybe she wouldn’t get any useable footage tonight, but a souvenir would lift her spirits and, hopefully, her credibility in the office. Without wasting anymore time, she stumbled to her feet and ducked into the darkness of the cramped space.

She followed the pulsating light, stopping only when her eyes landed on a small, metallic object. It had a thin silver cage protecting what looked like a gem or rock of some kind. Nothing too crazy, aside from the whole glowing thing. Her brows furrowed with curiosity as she crouched down to get a better view. 

She had absolutely no idea what it was, and she’d seen a lot of weird things in her dads workshop. The only thing she could compare it to was some of the alien technology that’d been leftover from the Battle of New York. She’d run a few stories about that herself, plus saw her dad tinkering with some things since Thor took Loki back to Asgard.

Figuring she could show it to him at the very least, she pulled the end of her sleeve over her hand and grabbed it. She let her bag slip off of her shoulder and quickly unzipped it before sliding the object inside. 

Just then, the sound of screeching metal filled her ears at a deafening volume. She managed to close her bag before covering her ears and ducking against the brick alley wall. The crowd still surrounding the area screamed in horror.

She watched with wide eyes as the huge bird-man landed on the rooftop just a few feet away from her crouched form. It was the closest she’d been to the masked—villain? She wasn’t sure—and he was far more intimidating than she’d first assumed.

His glowing beady green eyes didn’t so much as glance in her direction as he slung Spider-Man over the edge of the building, the tip of one of his wings wrapped around his throat.

An involuntary gasp tore through her chest.

It wasn’t that she was worried about the hero. For one, she knew he was more than capable of fending for himself. It wasn’t even that she cared if he got hurt. He was mostly an annoyance to her, his illusive nature making her job way harder than usual.

But if she knew one thing in this moment, it was that the bird-man was the bad guy, and she couldn’t let him win.

So, she did something really stupid.

She found the closest thing that she thought might actually do any kind of damage—which was, unfortunately, an old bike helmet next to the dumpster—and chucked it at the pair.

It hit one of the metal wings with a pathetic clink and all three of them froze.

Y/N held her breath as the man’s head turned in her direction slowly. Way too slowly. Like ‘I’m going to really enjoy killing you’ slowly.

After that, everything happened impossibly fast.

“Hey! Watch out!” 

She barely had time to recognize the panicked voice before she was flying. Her stomach flipped and she couldn’t even scream, overcome with sudden vertigo. She pinched her eyes shut the second she saw the top of a building and clutched onto whatever was carrying her away. 

If it was the weird bird guy, she accepted whatever evil plan he had. But, if it was Spider-Man, she was going to kill him.

It must’ve only been seconds before her feet touched solid ground, but it felt like an eternity to her. The moment she felt the stability beneath her, she began fighting against her captor.

“Let me go! Oh my god. If you don’t put me down right now—”

“What the hell—ow!”

Once she was free, she staggered away from him with a huff. She cleared the hair out of her eyes and bent over, resting her hands on her knees as she attempted to catch her breath. Her heart was pounding wildly and her stomach was still doing summer-salts.

She raised her eyes to send a withering glare toward the masked man. “Never do that shit again.”

He stared at her—at least she assumed—for a long moment before taking a step forward.

“What the hell was that? You could’ve gotten yourself hurt.” He gestured wildly with his hands, clearly agitated.

“That’s one way to thank me for saving your life.” Y/N ground out, sounding way more bitter than she would’ve liked.

“Saving my—” The eyes on his mask narrowed incredulously. “You did not save my life. All you did was distract me and put like ten other people in danger.”

She couldn’t help but scoff. “Please. Spare me the morality speech, Spider-Man. We both know you don’t bother worrying about people like me.”

Y/N was all too familiar with how superheroes think. When they’re in the middle of a fight, all they care about is winning. They usually have a bigger mission to accomplish. One that doesn’t concern itself with the lives left behind.

“People like you are all I worry about, trust me.”

With that harsh declaration, a heavy silence fell between them. Y/N clenched her jaw tightly, biting her tongue to prevent the floodgates from opening. Spider-Man wasn’t the only one who deserved her hostility toward superheroes, he just happened to be the one in front of her now.

Instead of speaking her mind, she turned on her heel and stalked away from him. At this point, it was late. The sun had set and her dad surely knew she wasn’t home when she promised. She had to accept that today just wasn’t her day and head back for some damage control.

Peter, feeling his chest tighten with regret for the way he’d snapped, followed closely behind her quick steps.

“Wait!” She actually stopped, something he wasn’t expecting, so he rammed right into her back. His hands quickly wrapped around her biceps as she spun around. “Sorry. I’m sorry. I, uh...”

He didn’t know what to say. This was the second time in one night he’d run into her, but he was still dumbstruck. The circumstances weren’t ideal. He thought he’d lost her earlier, but then she had to go and put herself in danger.

He took a step away from her, dropping his hands and rubbing at the back of his neck nervously. He had to remind himself that she had no idea who he was. Even if he did embarrass himself—like he usually did around her—she wouldn’t know it was him when they saw each other in the halls come Monday.

“At least let me get you home.” He insisted, feeling bad that he’d indirectly kept her out so late.

Y/N pursed her lips, immediately wanting to accept his offer but trying not to give too much away. Truthfully, she was exhausted. She just wanted to get home and deal with the fallout disobeying her curfew would bring so she could get some sleep.

“Alright.” She sighed, pulling anxiously at the straps of her bag. She knew this meant she’d have to swing through the streets again, something she wasn’t nearly ready to do.

Nevertheless, she allowed Spider-Man to walk toward her. She averted her eyes as he wrapped an arm around her back and tried not to let her breath catch when his gloved fingers skimmed the exposed skin of her lower back where her shirt had ridden up.

Warmth enveloped her as his proximity settled in. Under his mask, Peter’s face was burning. This was by far the closest he’d been to his classmate. Or any girl, actually. Not wanting to think about it for a second longer, he shot a web toward a nearby building and followed the directions Y/N yelled out.

Within minutes, they landed on the helipad outside her front door.

Peter felt his stomach drop with realization once he let his eyes wander around the outside of the huge building.

“Oh my god. Is this seriously where you live?” He cleared his throat after squeaking out the question, not necessarily wanting to give away his shock.

“What?” Y/N scoffed teasingly. “Don’t I look like a spoiled rich girl?”

“That’s not—I wasn’t—” He didn’t know what he was trying to say, honestly. There were endless questions flitting through us mind at warp speed.

If she lived here, at the Avengers Tower, did that mean she was one of them? And he just hadn’t met her yet? Or did she work for Mr. Stark? But she was so young. He guessed she could be an assistant or something. Maybe she worked for Pepper? Or Happy? Or, she could—

Y/N rolled her eyes, deciding to spare him the embarrassment of sputtering any more. “My dad is famous...like helped form the Avengers famous.”

Peter’s mind went blank. He wasn’t expecting that.

“Cap?” It was the first name to spill out of his mouth. “Wait, can he even have kids?”

Y/N couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her at his assumption. “He totally can, but no.”

“Oh.” The gears of his brain started turning again and realization slowly dawned on him. He felt his throat run dry as his eyes widened behind his mask. “Oh.”

Shit. This was way worse. He couldn’t believe he had no idea who she really was. Sure, she used a different last name at school, but he should’ve seen the resemblance sooner.

“Look, I know you two have worked together.” Y/N sighed, thinking back to all those weeks her dad was gone fighting Steve and the rest of his friends for no real reason. “Can you just...not tell him about this?”

Peter’s brows furrowed in confusion. Why wouldn’t she want Mr. Stark knowing that she’d been with him?

Either way, he agreed, since he had a favor to ask of his own. “Only if you won’t.”

She gave him this dumbfounded look, and he knew he had to elaborate.

“He made me this suit before the whole thing with Captain America, so I thought he would keep giving me missions, but now it’s been months and he won’t return my calls. I’m lucky if I get through to Happy. He doesn’t want me getting involved in this stuff, so...”

It struck Y/N then how weird it was to hear a superhero talk about her family so casually. It didn’t seem possible that the two of them were in the same circles. Sure, she’d practically grown up with a few of the world’s most famous heroes, but somehow Spider-Man was different.

He was local. And elusive. A pure mystery to her.

“What exactly is this stuff?” She thought back to the weird glowing object in her bag, having almost forgotten it was there.

“I don’t know.” Peter shook his head, seemingly defeated. “I thought it was just neighborhood stuff, but those guns...I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Alien tech.” Y/N said without hesitation, although she wasn’t actually positive that’s what it was. “My dad has some in his workshop. It was leftover from the Battle of New York.”

“How does it work?” Peter found himself asking excitedly, easily pushing all the other revelations from this conversation to the back of his mind.

“I don’t know.” She admitted, looking away from him as her chest tightened with emotion. “I’ve never gotten close enough to any of it to see. He likes to keep me out of things too...”

It was at that moment, as a breath of silence settled between them, that they realized she was still in his arms. Y/N’s face erupted with heat and she quickly pushed herself away from him. Once her feet were back on the ground, they both stepped backward to create some much needed distance.

“I, ah...better get back...”

“Yeah, yeah. I have to go too...”

They looked at each other for a few long moments. It was at if neither of them truly wanted to separate, but knew they had to. It was clear, though, that they’d just formed some kind of connection.

Y/N felt something strange—and wildly inappropriate—brewing in her chest. A certain kind of attraction toward the masked hero she’d never considered before. It appalled her, honestly. It wasn’t like she hated the guy, but she certainly didn’t like him. And she had no idea who he was. He could be eight years old, for all she knew.

With that realization, she turned on her heel and stalked down the narrow entrance to the Avengers Tower, her face still burning. She heard the thwip of Spider-Man’s webbing and knew he’d be gone if she looked back. So she didn’t.

She pressed her hand against the touchpad outside the front door and quickly slipped inside once it recognized her prints. She sighed heavily and let herself fall back against the door, the comfort of home enveloping her.

The peace was short lived, however, as she caught sight of her mother waiting expectantly behind the bar to her left. With a glass of red wine in hand, her knowing gaze shifted from the helipad outside to Y/N’s stiff frame.

She took a slow sip, eyes narrowing over the rim of the glass.

“You’re so grounded.”

———————————————————————

let me know what you think!! should I continue this series??

[giggle-me-this]

[ ~trick or treat~ ]

(Date: 31 October 2020, Halloween; Location: FTB Safehouse, Nate and Xi’s Flat, Putney)

@xiomarawinters @harrixtpinnock @ajairamesh @kyrie-ravie @oliviasagefisher

He stared ahead as he walked up the path, unaware of the bitter cold breeze. He felt detached from the the surrounding world, once bright with color and meaning that had greyed and crumbled in his consciousness like ash, like skeletal dust entombed beneath the earth. He walked as if in a dream—though the hedge had not dreamt, nor even slept, since he’d faded from consciousness, convulsing and alone, in a bathtub. 

He saw the familiar door at the end of the drive, stepped thoughtlessly through their insignificant wards like they were threads of a spider’s web. He thought only of the task that drove him, what he knew he must do. He knocked. 

Halloween brought with it a powerful rise in ambient magic available to hedge witches. So, the Free Traders spent their evening doing what made the most logical sense: getting absolutely wrecked, watching shit Muggle Halloween films on a dodgy TV, and playing card games.

The party was in full-swing, and Nate was in his element. And it’s not like he loved or even knew much about suburban house parties, or tacky Hallmark holidays—his idea of parties were invitation-only black-tie soirées where excitement only came in the form of a scandal, or drug-fueled fêtes in underground city clubs. But if Nate was hosting the damn thing? You could bet your last galleon it would be an event to remember.

The theme had been Nate’s idea, too—come dressed as some iconic character from a cult-classic film. The Free Traders had somehow managed to convince the local antiques shop to let them “borrow” a bunch of obsolete television sets with antennas and attached VCR’s for the night, and Seth had them set up all over the house playing clips from old movies on loops. Xiomara was looking devastating in a skin-tight red mini-dress made of latex and a Santa Hat—a dead ringer for Mean Girls’ Regina George, while Nate was layered in denim, a light blue button-up, and a puffy orange vest they’d fashioned from an old ski jacket in order to portray a very campy Marty McFly of Back to the Future.

Xi was serving herself another generous cup of jungle juice when she heard the knock at the door, and the subsequent scream. She didn't know who answered—and honestly, at first she'd just rolled her eyes and had an ill-advised gulp of her drink.

The sounds grew louder though, a crashing sound, shuffling about. And suddenly, Howell was tossed through the air like a puppet, before falling to the ground with a slump.

Oh, shit.

She left the kitchen to find the living room in almost complete disarray.

"Inferi!" She heard someone yelling, as she saw visiting wix apparate away.

Oh, shit. Oh shit.

Nate was pot committed to an intense game of Push, rounding the last few tricks and very nearly matched for score with—of all people—FTB’s youngest and newest safehouse regular, Kamala Rivers. So when there was a knock at the door, Tess—who was dressed as a knockout take on Ellen Ripley from Alien—squeezed Nate’s shoulder to say I’ve got it.

Then came the scream. Everyone who was playing and watching the Push game stilled and stopped talking as they looked toward the door to the other room. Then came crashing, yelling, commotion—

Nate pushed up from the table abruptly and all the cards went flying through the air in a strange, spectral pattern—a side-effect of sitting in a highly warped probability field—before floating gently to the ground to be trampled beneath a stampede of panicked feet. Nate pushed his way through people shoving in and out of rooms in a frenzied disarray, looking over the tops of moving heads for Xi.

"Nate?" Xi called through the chaos, starting to think this was a Halloween prank gone wrong. She saw him at last, they made eye contact. She yelled through the screaming, "Did you see what happened?"

Finally, he spotted her across the room, her knuckles white as they dented the outside of a plastic cup. Nate elbowed his way over to her. “No, I was in the middle of a game—you think it’s Aurors? Why wouldn’t Katie’s wards have tipped us off—?”

From somewhere behind him, Nate heard Rue’s voice say, “Quit fuckin’ around, blud—what’s a-matter with you?”

And then Nate turned around, and saw who she was talking to. His blood ran ice cold. 

Ralph looked exactly the same as the day Nate had found him dead in the tub. Lifeless, colorless skin. Blue lips. Black eyes that seemed to suck in light like a bottomless drain. 

“Ralph?” Nate said, and his strained voice sounded muffled in his ears again, detached. He couldn’t help it—Nate reached out toward the haunting mirage of his friend…

To Xiomara, the world was moving in slow-motion. Nate pushing his way through a crowd of people, each of them trying to find a way out—apparating, kicking out windows, running upstairs. Kamala heaving Howell upstairs as best she could, trying to avoid getting trampled in the process. Rue quipping some shit. Nate next to her, talking. Then, as she turned, Ralph.

They sped up when Ralph lunged towards Nate’s outstretched hand, so much that it felt dizzyingly instinctual. Xi dropped the cup, leaned forward, then locked the hard palms of her hands together, twisted, arranged her fingers just so and—bang!

The force of energy she’d sent the monster’s direction was so explosive it blew all of them back and down, Ralph included. He toppled backward, crashing into the hall floor. Xiomara, shaking, pushed her hands flat on the carpet and looked around, gasping for air. The magic had come on so quickly that she was still recovering from it, but Xi knew they had so little time to recover. 

Nate was closest to Xiomara’s entropy blast, and as such he got hit the hardest by the recoil. His back hit the leg of a table that broke on impact, sending its contents spilling down onto Nate’s groaning form on the floor before he had the wherewithal to hold up a hand that was bolstered by reflective magic to shield himself. An annoying, ringing sound like a dial-tone blared in his eardrums, whiting out all the crevices in his brain. Nate squeezed his eyes closed, willing himself to wake up from this particularly hateful trauma-nightmare, but when he opened them everything remained in place. This was real.

“We watched them cremate him,” She shook her head, “It’s not Ralph. It’s not—” Xiomara was mostly reassuring herself, but then found Nate’s gaze. “It’s not him. It’s not possible. Not him. Not inferi. It’s… It’s just…”

Kamala, who’d been blown upstairs (go figure) by the destruction Xi had caused, came racing down the stairs with a mighty, “What in the ever living fuck is going on?”

“We don’t know,” Xi responded, given everyone else’s general state of shock. She pushed herself up to stand, then made her way to Nate, offering him a hand up. “It’s not him. It’s not. We just have to… To slow it down and then…. Contain it, I guess?”

A hand swam in front of his vision, which after a moment of concentration Nate was able to attach to Xiomara. He peeled off a playing card that was stuck to his cheek—The Joker—before hoisting himself up with Xi’s help, his spine protesting the battering he’d given it. 

“Slow it down, okay.” Kamala nodded, her voice very squeaky. No one else offered an idea—and it occurred to Xi that the teen hadn’t known Ralph like the others had. And Xiomara? Well. Even a corpse look-a-like was too much Ralph for Xi to handle. Rue, Nate, even Seth—they wouldn’t think clearly on this.

Xi was talking to Kamala and Nate didn’t try to follow what she was saying, taking a moment instead to survey the state of the room. Seth was sat on the floor, staring wide-eyed and deep in thought in the direction Ralph had been thrown, looking mostly unharmed except for a thick stream of blood that was dripping from their nose. There was an odd crackling noise behind the sound of peoples’ voices, which at first Nate chalked up to his ears still ringing. But after a minute, he realized it was actually Seth; all the old TV’s had switched from movie clips to static.

Rue, who was disheveled in a ripped costume but still standing upright, looked even more unlike herself; she was crying soundlessly and shaking her head, trembling, while someone Nate thought might have been a wix from the bar implored her in hushed tones to deal with Inferi the way all the classically-trained wix had been taught in school—fire. Rue’s discipline. “Please, mate, it’s the only way…” the wix was saying, and Rue shook her head with more intensity, clutching at her hair.

But Xiomara’s reasoning was sound, and Nate stumbled toward Rue and shook the wix off. “It’s…not an Inferius,” Nate managed to say with some effort, squeezing hard Rue’s shaking hands until she looked him in the eye. “Rue, look at me—that’s not an Inferius, and you don’t have to do shit, okay? Rue—” Her panicked, wandering gaze snapped back to Nate. “—Howell is upstairs and he needs to be healed, okay? He needs you…” And somehow, these words got through; an expression of calm settled over Rue’s face and she nodded with purpose before trotting up the stairs to the second floor of the flat.

Xiomara nodded at Kam, “Yes. You can… What can you do? Sorry, I don’t, like, know you? What do you do?”

Kamala brightened at being addressed by an adult, “Oh, actually, I manipulate molecular structures and alter them. So I can like, change matter, it’s scientifically—”

There was a rumble from the hall. The monster was moving. 

Xiomara shook her head, “Okay. Literally don’t care. Go do that. Slow him down.” Kamala blinked at her, and Xiomara gestured at the hall, raising a brow—Go on, idiot!

Kamala stumbled blindly in the direction of the hall, slipping on some playing cards, and Xi turned to Seth, “You told me there’s a way to make magic more powerful. Co… Cohabit… Fuck! What’s it called?” Fucking English. Fucking stupid language. 

Nate moved back to where Xi was crouched talking to Seth, in time to overhear Kamala shouting at them with an air of scientific observation, “He’s fighting through everything I’m throwing at him—almost like he’s deteriorating all the ambient—!”

Seth frowned at this new puzzling information, wiping at their bloodied nose, and then finally to Xiomara said, “Collaborative magic, yes, that—that might work…” Nate and Xi both helped Seth up, and Seth demonstrated a tut quickly and precisely to Nate. Nate picked it up after a couple of tries, and then slowed down and broke up each part of the spell to show to Xi. Pretty soon everyone left in the room—Tess, Harriet, Ruma, Roan, Kamala, Fish, hedge witches and classically-trained wix alike were all gathered around the image of Ralph still moving toward them aggressively, but slowed by their synchronized tuts. 

It was surreal. Xi felt, not for the first time in her life, as though she was standing beside herself, watching this go on. Watching the way Nate's eyes locked with her own as he taught her the tut. Watching the way both of them seemed to silently communicate through their eye contact, while their hands moved. Watching herself join a circle of wix.

Ralph's voice wasn't the gentle, slightly off-putting and mismatched tone it had always been. It was a low groan that almost turned into a snarl.

“Where—?” Seth said, to anyone—to everyone. 

“My spot…” Nate was surprised to look over and see AJ Ramesh speaking while his hands moved. “…second floor hallway, the room with no doors…” And then AJ stepped forward from the group and drew some sigils in the air that lit up like a flare gun.

They had reached a standstill with the Ralph-monster, in need of a final shove of power to tip the scales. And they were granted one; for just then, Rue and Howell—looking battered and a bit worse for wear, but definitely alive—descended the stairs and joined in the circle, their hands moving in formation with everyone else.

Xiomara tried to focus, draw herself back in to use her magic as effectively as she could, as the group ushered Ralph towards the sigils AJ drew. When he stumbled back into them, he disappeared with a pop! of magic, and another groan. Upstairs, the floorboards creaked where he'd been transported.

The Ambient magic that had been brewing in the room, utilized in the collaborative spell, dissipated. Xi felt physically ill, leaning down to put her hands on her knees, dropping her head to try and alleviate the feeling. And for a moment—just a moment—it seemed like everyone else in the room was just as winded.

Ruma was the one to speak first, moving to stand near her brother. "Does anyone know what this is? Is there more we need to be wary of?" 

The room was silent, save for the staticky sound coming from the televisions around the room. Xi couldn't handle it a second longer, drawing herself up to head out through the kitchen to the back. She found her lighter and pack of smokes on the windowsill with shaking hands, lighting one and inhaling before massaging her forehead. 

When the spell was finished, Nate slumped back against the railing of the stairs, drained to the point of needing the support of the wooden beams at his back to stand. He watched Xiomara exit the room but didn’t make an effort to follow, knowing she would want her space after such a taxing ordeal. Nate took the opportunity to assess the damage on himself; the throbbing in the back of his head and neck was uncomfortable, but didn’t seem overly concerning, considering the state of some others. Harriet appeared at his side, and after surveying him for a moment, she dug her thumbs into two pressure points along Nate’s spine without advance warning. Nate was about to protest, except that the way the pain seemed to melt from his ligaments was so surprisingly relieving that it rendered him only capable of groaning blissfully, “Oh my fucking god…” Harriet smirked. 

The smoke wasn't distraction enough, so Xi pulled out her phone, shaking fingers finding Instagram to mindlessly scroll through. The first post made Xi almost suck the cigarette down whole. She spluttered, turning and running back inside, "Ralph posted on insta," Xi said, tossing the phone to Nate, and pointing in its direction, "Who the fuck is that with him? That's not one of us, right? When was that taken?"

Naturally, the respite from drama was short-lived. Nate fumblingly caught the phone Xi threw at him and frowned down at the image it flashed back up at him mockingly. “Not a hedge, no. I’ve never seen her before…”

He tilted the phone to give Harriet a look, and as she studied it, others in the room began to gather around and behind them on the stairs, leaning over the railing to see for themselves. After a moment, Harriet seemed to remember something. “I think I’ve seen them…” She pulled out her own phone and scrolled for a moment before finding what she was looking for. “…yep. Look.” She showed Dona’s profile—which had been blocked from Nate’s viewing—to him, and then others: his cousin, posing and smiling with the same sharp-eyed person that was grinning villainously in the photo with Ralph. 

Nate’s heart sank as there was collective muttering around them, and he already knew what was coming when Kamala pointed at the screen and said, “Yo—isn’t that the tattoo? From the dream diary?”

At that, Rue snatched up both phones and compared the images, gripping them so hard Nate worried she might melt them. The room hushed, tense. Then Rue glared up at Seth and spat, “It’s time, Seth.”

“Rue, let’s take a minute and—” Seth tried, but Rue cut him off:

“—we waited long enough, Blud! Done nothin’ but waitin’ an’ dickin’ round, and look where it’s got us! Yanked the floorin’ out from under us innit, too fuckin’ long to gamble on a…” Rue, and several others, glanced at Xiomara—so quickly that she wasn’t likely in the heat of the argument to notice. But Nate did.

Rue’s jaw tightened and she stared meaningfully at Seth, before addressing the group as a whole. “…we look weak. That up there?” She pointed at the thumping sounds over their heads. “—that’s an act of war, signed-sealed-delivered straight from the Swamp Twots themselves. I intend to retaliate, before I lose any more of you, my fam, my blood—to them. Who’s with me?”

Her speech was met with nods and sounds of conviction and assent. Nate looked with trepidation at Harriet, and then at Xi. What fucking shitstorm had he gotten them into now?

[scribeofmorpheus]

Mark of the Wolf Part 10

Catch up here!

Pairing: Derek Hale x Reader (Lastname: Markolf)

Words: 3800

Warnings: Violence (duh!), mentions of PTSD

A/N: This is long overdue and also a hefty chapter with me trying and failing to write action scenes. There are flashbacks (in italics) between scenes because this is quite the back and forth chapter. As well as some Japanese and Swedish dialogue! ENJOY! Also: Kaze is Japanese and is pronounced Kah-Zeh. Feedback is encouraged. Like and reblog :) Don’t be afraid to ask to be tagged!

Previously:

Derek watched you try your hardest to move to the beat, but he could tell you weren't in your element. No one should be sober in a night club. Watching you brought a cheeky smile to his face, he almost had the urge to laugh a little.

His phone chimed in his pocket. On the dance floor a few feet from you, he noticed Scott get the same message. Peter's text message read: "We're in position." A few seconds later Liam sent a message of his own: "They took the bait. They're heading your way!" Derek looked down at Scott and spoke just loud enough for his wolf hearing to pick up, "Guess its show time." Scott nodded in acknowledgement and made his way to the stairs leading up to the roof.

"We're all gonna die," Derek sighed to himself, bunching up his fists in anticipation for a fight.

Derek melted further into the crowd until it thinned out to nothing more than one or two people using the empty space to make out and be alone. He pushed through, a part of him feeling uneasy at having lost sight of you on the ground floor, but he had a role to play just as you did. He reached a door that led onto a structurally unsound balcony and pushed it open. On the floor was a bag full of equipment and specially crafted grenades. He picked up the bag and made for the stairs that led further up.

***

Liam ran as fast as his human legs would let him. He refused to change under the circumstances. He needed to keep his senses sharp, but more importantly, he needed to stay in control. His heart hammered against his ribcage vigorously. He could taste the metallic tang of his own blood from where Monroe struck him, rage bubbling to the surface. Rage he had to contain for the fight they'd undoubtedly face in the next few minutes.

When Liam reached the abandoned church they had chosen for their plan of attack, he was surprised to find it illuminated by flashing lights and loud music blaring out of unsound window structures.

His phone beeped, displaying a message from Peter. He was in position and soon Liam would be too.

In swift motions, Liam pulled his phone out, typed away a message and sent it out to the group chat before tossing the tracker Monroe slipped in his pocket into a crack on the side of the church. With his part handled, Liam made for the next rendezvous point.

***

Peter kept his distance from the warehouse where Monroe made her base of operations. He was far enough to avoid visual detection but close enough to eavesdrop on conversations. Peter would never grow tired of his werewolf advantages. He could hear the faint sounds of metal scratching on the untiled floor. It was irritating.

"Should we go after him?" He heard an unfamiliar voice say.

He smirked to himself when he caught wind of Monroe ushering her orders to the rest of her men, "Not yet. He'll lead us to Scot McCall and the rest of his pack. Only then do we kill him." And then after a pause: "Leave a few men to make sure our guest in the basement stays put."

Peter's smile grew wider. That's the confirmation he needed. And with most of Monroe's men leaving the compound and heading out after Liam, his half of the plan was shaping up to be a piece of cake.

Stiles peeked around the abandoned vehicle they used as cover and turned to say something but was caught off guard by Peter's devilish grin. "Jesus!" He said in freight.

"Shh!" Peter rebutted aggressively.

Stiles's eyes went wide and looked at him accusingly, "Don't 'Shhh' me. Next time don't grin like an idiot. I thought you were going to eat me for a second there."

"If you don't shut up, I just might..." Peter threatened.

"Why'd they have to stick us together?" Stiles whined

Peter rolled his eyes and crouched closer to the warehouse, "You volunteered."

Stiles scampered after him, half tripping over a rock. When he secured his footing he said, "Yes, because I don't trust you. You always have an angle."

Peter looked down at Stiles unimpressed, "And even if I did, what was your grand plan to stop me?"

Stiles thought hard on his question and his face contorted in a thoughtful expression, but the only words out of his mouth were, "Ahhhhh, I'm still working on it."

"Come on," Peter sighed, using his strength to hoist Stiles through a window with one arm. Stiles, unprepared, made a freakishly feminine sound. Peter jumped in after him. "Here," he held out his phone, "Tell the rest of the team we're in position."

Peter took in his surroundings. The building was bare, except for a few crates of ammunition and possibly some technical equipment. There was a metal chair with rope next to it in the centre. Peter guessed that was where they had Liam tied up. When Stiles was done, he handed the phone back to Peter and asked: "What now?"

"Now, we look for the good druid."

"Right," Stiles said with purpose. He took a determined step forward, his foot crashing against an empty paint can. His eyes went wide giving Peter an 'Oops' shrug. Peter put his face in his hands and shook his head.

"Quietly."

"Right. Quietly."

***

As you swayed your body from side to side, you couldn't help but feel uneasy. Your mind kept racing through every aspect of the plan and how easily it could all fall apart. The music was loud and distracting, you were thankful for that. At the very least, you wouldn't have to strain yourself to keep mindful of any creak, footstep or distressing sounds. It meant that for now, you could try and lose yourself in the moment, among all the other alcohol-fuelled bodies grinding close to one another. Your mind wandered back to a memory from earlier.

You and Derek hoped out of the off-road vehicle you'd rented for the trip in Mexico. His eyes were shielded from the brutal sun by a pair of Ray-bans. You couldn't help but notice just how well they framed his face, making him look all the more mysterious -and sexy as hell. He walked to the edge of the road and stood there with his arms folded over his chest. You walked over to stand by his side.

"This the place?" You asked, taking in the underwhelming appearance of the destitute church.

"Yeah. It's perfect. Easily fortifiable. Many exits and there's an old tunnel system that was built under it. There's a dense treeline not too far south -if we still believe those hunters travel through trees." Derek shook his head, still finding a hint of absurdity in what he just said. "It should work for our purposes."

You unfolded your map and looked at your position -far from any towns to avoid an incident yet close to several abandoned buildings in case you needed a place to lay low, if things went bad. "And the locals?" you asked.

Derek's eyebrows furrowed beneath his glasses, "Should be empty. Most locals won’t come here."

You were about to ask him why, but he looked down at you and shrugged, "Local curse. Something about ghosts." was all he said.

"Is it real?"

"Don't know." He looked at you with a playful smile on his face, "But all I know is that this place should be good and empty tonight."

"And we just have to hope those hunters want me bad enough to cross borders for… If they even perceive travel the same way we do.”

How could any of you have known that a bunch of rebellious teenagers would choose to host a rave in the very same church you'd chosen to have your showdown?

After a few minutes of fumbling around, trying to seem like you were having a good time, a loud noise sounded throughout the age-old structure. It didn't help that the acoustics in the church were amazing either. Instinctively, you brought your hands to your ears and crouched lower -and apparently, so did everyone else. The DJ stopped playing his music and everyone looked to where the sound had come from with wide eyes and confused expressions.

By the double doors of the church, you saw a woman stand with legs far apart. A large party of men wearing patched-together tactical gear stood behind her. Her face stern and her eyes filled with cold distaste, she looked like a woman ready for war. When you noticed the shotgun in her hand letting off wisps of hot smoke, you knew instantly what the sound had been and who she was.

"Monroe," you whispered.

"Party's over," she said coolly. When no one moved, she cocked her shotgun and took a step forward. "I. Said. Party's over!"

As the crowd thinned out, you had a hard time keeping your ground. Everywhere around you, elbows, arms and legs kept bumping into you. You were just thankful there wasn’t a large enough crowd to cause a stampede. As you began to make your way to cover, Monroe spoke again and this time you were shocked to learn she was addressing you.

"Not you!" Monroe shouted. She nodded her head at one of her men and they took her order without the need for words. Two men walked over to you and grabbed your shoulders. Dragging you along towards their leader.

You wanted to ask what this was all about, why she chose to single you out of the crowd, but you figured such questions were irrelevant. Somehow, you always ended up at the centre of trouble.

"You look familiar…" She turned your chin from side to side with her long, calloused fingers. "Why is that?" She squinted her eyes at you.

You chose to stay quiet.

The church was all but empty now, except for you, Scott, Monroe and Derek -who seemed to have disappeared in all the excitement.

Behind you, two bodies hit the ground from the second-floor railing with a padded thud. "Let her go, Monroe!" Scott's voice spoke out, slightly muffled by his fangs. "It's me you want!"

"Scott McCall. The Alpha!" She bellowed rousingly. "All alone? Now, now, Scott..." Monroe let go of your face and walked towards the centre of the room, "You aren't planning something are you?"

"Against you and your men? You and I both know who has the numbers in that fight," Scott said bitterly.

"You're not wrong there. The werewolf population has hit staggering all-time lows recently. And as much as I'd love for me and my hunter's to take all the credit, it seems our efforts have inspired a few others to join in the hunt."

"You and your men aren't hunters. They have a code. You're just murderers who use fear and intimidation to brainwash people into becoming murderers too!" Scott was practically foaming at the mouth. You'd never seen him so filled with rage before. His eyes darted towards the church's entrance and then back to you, and finally onto Monroe. You could've sworn you saw his lips twitch into a secret smile for a second. You looked behind you and saw something whoosh past the entrance at inhuman speeds.

"Enough talk! Get down so we can end this once and for all!" Monroe ordered. Dropping her shotgun on the ground, one of her men jogged to her side and handed her two stun rods. She grabbed them eagerly and twirled them between her fingers gracefully. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for this fight!"

Scott's phone chimed. He looked down at the screen and his red eyes lit up with satisfaction. "Yes, you're right. Enough talk."

"Come on!" She shouted.

Scott jumped off the second-floor railing and landed two feet in front of Monroe, his teeth and claws fully transformed. He scratched at the wooden floor with predatory menace and roared, craning his neck to the roof, before charging Monroe. You tried to move, but the guards simply tightened their grip on your arm and shook you to stay in place. You gritted your teeth to keep from swearing.

Scott paired attack after attack and Monroe, who was somehow able to keep up with Scott's slashes and clawing advances, managed to parry and counter nearly every motion with skilled precision. You had never seen a human hold their own against an Alpha with such determination before. She truly was a force to reckon with. As they fought, you began to notice the wind grew more and more restless. Moisture clung to the air and you could almost smell rain.

Scott lured Monroe close by letting his defences down, she managed to strike him in the chest, but he had flung the baton away before she could stun him. Making haste as to not waste his new opening, Scott ducked, swivelled and wrapped his claws around Monroe's neck as they stood back to back. Then in an instant, he sent her hurdling with great momentum towards a series of pews. Her body flipped and landed on the ground hard. She struggled to sit up, a cloud of dust heaved into the air by a wet cough. Scott stalked towards her with caution.

"It's over Monroe."

She spat blood onto the floor and wiped her mouth, a grin giving way to the view of white enamel stained by dark blood. "Is it?"

She pulled out a baton from underneath her body and zapped him with a surge of lethal volts that sent his body curdling to the floor with a painful yelp. Monroe placed her knee on Scott's chest as she tased him again and again. The room filling with painful grunts and a sickening laugh.

You began to flash back to that night in the woods. Scott's face morphing into Alex's and then back again. His screams becoming Scott's grunts. Monroe's laugh turning more masculine, hollow. Her face transitioning between Alyster's and her own. You shook your head, unable to trust your mind at that moment. "Stop," you whispered. "Stop. Stop, STOP!"

Thunder rumbled and a flash of dry lightning filled the space, blinding and white. When everyone regained their stances and blinked the bright spots away, you noticed Scott looking at you with a strange expression on his face. Monroe too.

"Your eyes..." Monroe whispered.

Suddenly, the wind became angry and it felt as though the temperature had dropped by several degrees. The doors and windows began to swing violently against rusty hinges. The whole church sounded like it was creaking in protest. Out of every shadow and dark corner bodies wearing ancient armour began to advance. Their eyes were practically lifeless. A chill crept up your spine and you had the unexplainable urge to look behind you. Like something was beckoning you towards it, despite your body's protests in fear. You craned your neck and when you saw what it was… who it was, your mouth turned dry and your nose began to choke on non-existent smoke.

A paling man with long, thin red hair held out one single bony finger, his voice as coarse as shards of glass cutting through vocal cords, "Give us the girl." He said calmly. The device around his neck -the Oculus- began to glow its sickly green colour. Tendrils of bright green light began to flow outward, seeking you out. The closer the tendrils got, the greater the feeling of dread filled your gut. But what appeared to unnerve you the most, was that no one else noticed the green tendrils snaking closer and closer towards you.

"What is this?" Monroe asked with a shaky voice. She swivelled her head from side to side, her face filled with fear as she realised they were all surrounded.

One of her men got trigger happy and unloaded his clip into the chest of a mouthless creature. When all his bullets were lodged into its chest, it looked down at the destruction done to its chest with a displeased expression, it shook a single digit in dismay as black oozed out of its wounds and the next thing you knew, the man was on the floor, blood pouring out of his neck. A wrenching gurgling noise escaping his throat. The creature had been so fast, you never once saw him reach for a weapon.

Scott used Monroe's state of distraction to kick her in the stomach and crawl out from under her knee. She staggered back and held her hand out to one of her men. As one of her men tossed her a machine gun, Scott shouted, "Now!"

Out of nowhere, several smoke grenades cluttered around the feet of Monroe's soldiers and the Order's. The room filled with smoke that held a familiar tinge to it -sage. Then you saw a dark figure ghost around the two men who had held you, sending them flying back into the growing smoke. You noticed the tendrils disappear behind the curtain of growing smoke. You took out the bandana you had stashed in your back pocket and tied it around your nose. The figure stood with an intimidating presence between you and your enemies. A loud aggressive roar filled the room and familiar bright blue eyes looked at you with a soft reassurance.

"Derek?"

The obscured figure tilted its head slightly, its eyes growing softer at the mention of his name. It was Derek. Through the smoke, you could hear more gunshots and grunts. Knowing you couldn't see as well as him, Derek acting as your shield, began to inch backwards slowly, his claws opened wide at either of your sides. You followed his direction and allowed him to inch you backwards until you bumped against another person’s back. You jumped and quickly turned, relieved to be greeted by Scott's glowing eyes.

"Well, we did it. We got them here." You said wistfully.

"That was the easy part," Derek said.

"Easy for you to say," Scott rubbed his ribs where Monroe had tased him repeatedly.

"You survived didn't you?" Derek said.

"Regardless, let's just hope Liam and your contact follow through in time," you said.

"She will," was all Derek said in reply.

Even though his position was obscured by the mess of fighting bodies and thick smoke, you heard the familiar dark voice of Alyster issue his commands, "Astrid, bring me the girl. Kaze, deal with this smoke."

A light, feminine voice spoke out in Japanese, "Okonawa  remasu."

It is done

With those words, the wind began to pick up again as though it was under someone’s spell. It howled like an unwelcome spectre, taking old window shutters off their hinges and moving several pieces of derelict furniture with it. The smoke was beginning to clear and you could see an outline of a petite woman with short, jet black hair at the epicentre of where the strong winds were generated from. Her eyes not glowing, but almost shimmering a dull grey.

Scott shielded his eyes from the drying winds. He looked over at the woman and uttered: "Kitsune."

When the wind began to return to normal the whistling of an arrow whizzed towards you. Out of your peripheral, a small object blurred past you just as Derek used his body to move you close to the ground. He snapped up swiftly, bringing his hand to grasp something close to his face. With a crack, Derek snapped the arrow he had stopped close to his eye and it cluttered to the floor. He growled, bringing his claws to an attack position as Astrid -the archer- nocked another arrow from her vantage point two flights up. A wicked grin on her face showing just how much she was enjoying the chaos around her.

"Idag tar du ditt sista andetag, Varg!" Astrid said triumphantly.

Today you breathe your last breath, Wolf!

"Whatever you said, I can assure you, thing's aren't gonna go your way!" Derek warned, chucking a large piece of debris at her.

Astrid nimbly dodged his projectile and climbed one level down by vaulting off the second floor and catching the railing on the first floor. When she had her footing she nocked two arrows simultaneously, they had wedged themselves into two of Monroe's men who were about to flank from Derek's sides.

Derek looked shocked. "You're mine, Wolf!" Astrid said as she aimed a new arrow at Derek's chest.

As Derek dodged each arrow by a razor's edge, Scott set his sights on the non-threatening looking Kitsune who smiled pleasantly. Her eyes peacefully closed as though she were meditating in a Zen garden. Enclosing around her was a swarm of Monroe's men. Once in position, several of them raised their sights on her. Scott could do nothing but watch with curiosity.

Behind you, you felt the cold air of the green tendrils get close to your skin. When you looked down, you noticed one tendril was within an inch of your wrist. You gasped and yanked your arm away. Derek and Scott heard your gasp and turned to see if someone had broken through their protective circle, they hadn't. Puzzled they looked away and returned their attention to their opponents.  

The men surrounding the Kitsune fired off their weapons but were dismayed to realise their bullets had been swept up in a miniature tornado. The furniture and dust began to slowly move towards the spin force generated by the tornado until it stopped and reversed in direction. All the bullets trapped in the spinning air were now released back to the men who shot them out.

Hundreds of bullets swerved and curved around pillars and walls to embed themselves into Monroe's men. Scott and Derek instantly reached for you and both of them pushed your shoulders down as they ducked for cover too. Just then you felt your whole body go limp as a coldness took over your body. Your body was paralysed and all you could do was look down at your ankle where a green tendril had wrapped itself around you.

Time slowed, sound vanished and your vision was filled with nothing but the green smoke of the Oculus and the sight of a weary-looking Alyster. His eyes met yours with a chilling snap. His lips slowly, painfully, tugging towards his eyes to form an unnerving smile.

"Come with us, and all this chaos can end. Come with us and I'll tell you the truth," his words swarmed around your brain. It was then that you realised he was inside your head. You tried to shake him out, to scream for him to shut up, but you were motionless, voiceless and completely helpless. "Come with us and you will learn of your importance to the Order... And the fate of the world."

Chapter 11>>

Tags: @melissavercos @divisingstories @theflash-trash @mynamesalreadytaken @island-end @chipster-21 @helloscorpious  @marvelismyfantasy @anonymousfanfic @homra-the-red-clan @derangedangel @phonegalhelp @bowtiesandwhiskers @soldierwinterthe @alina-barnes @sumlariss @luckythepizzadog4444 @tlytxia @drunklili @iamabeautifulperson18 @gruffle1 @thechickvic @notawarriorjustyet

Broken Tags are crossed out!

[shrunkendalmatian]

Chapter 2 - An unexpected Test

Dylan and Dawkins work on an alternative solution for Dylan’s condition.. during testing things don’t really go as planned.

“Are you really sure about this Dawkins?" Dylan asked while sitting close to Dawkins' tablet where he examined extensive chemical notations of a strange and complex formula.

"Sure? Well, i'm not, but for what it's worth until I can get new components for the Size Ray i might as well try another approach to solve your situation." he answered while adding two drops of a chemical inside a vial with a viscous substance, the mixture reacted and slowly changed colors until it got a vibrant yellow glow.

Dylan winced while shielding his eyes with a paw, in his diminute stature the glowing bottle looked like a small sun, even Dawkins squinted his eyes a little bit. Upon closing the cap of the bottle the glow would quickly fade away as it couldn't react without oxygen. "What now?"

"What now?"

"Now we need to test it on a living organism, watch closely, take measures and make tests to determine if it'll work."

"I'm skeptical about it working..."

"And why is that Dylan?"

"Do you really expect me to believe in a growth potion made with shampoo for Dog's sake!?"

"It's not any shampoo, it's a expensive brand, scientifically tested and destined to increase the growth of fur. In essence I used the same chemical bases with complex organics elements associated with DNA sequences related with growth!"

"The more you talk about it the more stupid it sounds..."

"I don't expect small minds to understand the brilliance of my works."

"Ouch... Small jokes, really!?"

"Sorry brother..." Dawkins replies with a sigh while extending his paw to Dylan.

"No... I'm sorry too, you are doing your best here and i keep complaining. It's just..." Dylan approaches and climbs on Dawkins's paw.

"I know, it's dificult, we are both shaken by what happened. But I promise you, I'll fix this!" Dawkins says with a lot of determination in his tone while putting Dylan on top of his head.

"Thanks Dawkins, you are the best." Dylan replies by hugging Dawkins' ear.

"Haha, that tickles... I appreciate and reciprocate the sentiment Dylan. Let's go outside to test this." The young genius carries the closed canister in his mouth while heading towards the front door of their house, with Dylan resting on his head.

Eventually the two canines would arrive at the park. Dylan had been using his younger brother's ear as cover for most of the way in order to avoid curious looks from both Animals and humans. This included the stampede of puppies that ran past them, clearly indicating that someone had dared to use the work "Park" around the house too loudly.

Fortunately for Dylan, he managed to make out Dolly in the sea of spots, meaning the pups would be under some sort of supervision. However, this also meant that this could be his ultimate reveal regarding his new height. He had been able to stay concealed from the others while Dawkins had been working on this formula, playing sick and having the younger pup keep others out as well as possible while doing so. With a bit of luck, he might not have to reveal it after all if this worked.

As the two gazed around the park, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Dolly was hanging out with Roxy and Snowball, who was being constantly dragged away by the leash connectign her to her human. A hole in the ground spewing out dirt was telling that Diesel had given himself to his passion once again, Da Vinci was heading towards the bridge with a spraycan, ready to create more of her art at one of the few walls in the park.

"Alright, Dylan.. Rememeber: we first have to test the formula on a fitting biological organism... I'm certain you wouldn't want another first-paw approach, would you?"

"Absolutely not!" Dylan waved his open paw in front of him, signaling a stop. "I had enough first-paw approaches for quite a bit". How about a plant? Maybe a flower?

"Flowers are not exactly the best choice for a test subject, but it should work.. or at least point towards the desired effect." Dawkins was unsure, of course he hadn't been hoping to have a full scale test on another animal, maybe he hoped perhaps that Dylan would actually offer himself as a subject, but testing it on local flora should help as well.

"And no one is gonna be in trouble if the test doesn't work out the way it should, right? Come on! Let's find one!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Meow-wow-wow-wow-wow!" The meditative mantra could be heard as Deepak was sitting with the cat, Constantin. Even with the chaotic way other animals were playing around the part, the two of them seemed undisturbed. As the chant eventually faded, the young pup opened his eyes and looked at the feline.

"Isn't it a wonderful day?"

"As guru Meow once said, 'Internal harmony prevails over the external chaos.' so as long as we are harmonized with our inner cat, the outside world have little interference on ourselves." Constantin smiled to the young puppy and closed his eyes to start his mantra again, but the universe apparently had other plans for the duo... " Meow-wow-wow-wow-OUCH!" With no warning or whatsoever a frisbee came flying and hit the feline straight up on his nose.

"Constantin are you ok?" Deepak fussed about his friend, who was now laying on the grass from the impact, while two big bulldogs approached them, clearly looking for something.

"What sort of dimwitted fool would careless toss around such stupid objects?" Furious, the cat looked at the dogs in front of him, but ignoring their menacing size he continued: "Can't you mutts play your childish chasing games somewhere else?" He tosses the frisbee towards one of the bulldogs, but he catches it with his mouth, and with his powerfull jaws, breaks it in half.

"Brutus, i think we can start another chasing game to distract us..." The first bulldog begins.

"You are right Braxus. And we will give you a head start, of three seconds, to make things interesting cat!" The other continued after spiting the broken frisbee on the ground.

Constantin's ears bended towards his back as he realizes what they meant, he starts to run while Deepak finally understands the situation...

The small puppy was once again stressed out as he ran trying to get his fellow dogs to stop chasing his friend. "Please, can't we leave this barbaric bahaviour behind us?" He pleaded as the chase continued.

In the meantime Dylan and Dawkins had found a fitting test subject in the shape of a lonely dandelion. Dylan was still on his younger brother's head, peaking over his forehead as Dawkins opened the bottle. "I really hope this works.."

"It should.." Dawkins said half heartedly, both because he didn't want to point out the difference in physique between a dandelion flower and a dalmatian and how the results of one can't be 100% transferred to the other. And because he had to be very careful in administering the formula, trying to only use single drops to preserve it for more test subjects.

Unfortunately, as he was focused on that, Dawkins couldn't take notice of his surroundings. Even Dylan was only made aware of something wrong once he felt his nose closing up. As he looked around for the cause he saw that Constantin, being chased, and running towards the two. "Watch out!"

Dawkins was startled, and just moments later the feline jumped right over his head with an accompaning sneeze from his shrunken brother. Fortunately, Constantine managed to jump over the little dog effortlessly and despite the shock, Dawkins managed to not spill any of the serum.

However, where the cat succeeded, his pursuers had no success, and the two dogs knocked over the two dalmatians, just as their shock was settling again. Dawkins was knocked onto the ground, followed by a little thud as Dylan landed next to him. But where was the bottle?

The two frantically looked around to find it and time seemed to be slowed down as Dylan pointed upwards. "There!"

Dawkins followed his brother's paw and saw the bottle flying through the air, the lid barely closed. Realizing that Dylan wasn't gonna be able to try and catch it he quickly got on his paws and ran to catch it before it could hit the ground. As he ran he tried calculating the trajectory of it's arc in order to figure out where it would come down.

His gaze still focused on the formula, his calculations suggested that the point of impact was gonna be out of reach and as he looked towards where it would land, hoping it would land safely at least, he spotted...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Calm down, Deepak. Breathe!" The zen pup had returned to his meditative stance while still watching Constantin being chased and trying to prevent himself from freaking out about it. He was already stressed towards a tipping point.. which was easily reached when he felt a thud from something fairly solid hitting him on the top of his head, followed by a feeling of a thick liquid covering his body very soon afterwards.

It was a feeling he remembered.. during the horrible day of snowfall, not long ago, when his parents and his oldest siblings decided to have a competetion.. His eyes flung open and he looked around, his view confirming the feeling. He was covered in what looked like a yellow shampoo. He was quickly looking as if he was close to a complete freakout, he wanted to scream but the liquid did something strange. It started to glow.

Dawkins had stopped as he saw the bottle land on his brother, the lid knocked open and it's contents all over the Yin-Yang-puppy. "Uh oh.." he gulped as he saw the formula glowing.. a sign that the effect was imminent.

Deepak at this point had stopped his panic as the feeling of the serum perplexed him, the spreading warmth of the energy of the reaction. The liquid being absorbed into his skin and a different feeling he never felt before. A strange stretching feeling all over his body, accompanied by his view rising higher. Soon he would see his Brother who had stopped before him.. now he could look down at the other.. and most other dogs and things around the park.

As the realization of what was happening to him struck him, he did his best to remain calm. Which was very difficult given the situation. Dawkins looked up at his growing brother and slowly, but surely, walked backwards.. step by step.. he couldn't be sure how potent the serum was and how much he would grow, so being at a good distance away from Deepak felt like a good idea.

"W-what is happening?" Deepak asked as he grew even larger. His gaze once again fell on Dawkins.. "Brother, is this one of your inventions?"

"Well.. it's a long story" Dawkins' ears dropped as the now huge pup talked to him.. Deepak wasn't one to get angry about it... at least not physically but it was still better to keep him calm. "But... one could say so, yes"

"How long will this continue?" Deepak ased as his head pushed through the canopy of a nearby tree and eventually stopped when he was about as tall as it. "Oh, thank heavens it stopped! Please tell me you can turn me back!"

Before Dawkins could reply, Constantine zipped past him once again. The chase was still going on and from what it looked like both parties were so occupied with it that neither of them noticed the big change of scenery that had occured.

Deepak's worry about his friend returned and had turned into frustration. However.. where he didn't see any way to help the feline before, now there was a possibility. The new perspective given by his new size had a temptation to it.. where he had to endure being trampled.. or run over... hit with a shot of shampoo to fly across the house.. Well, let’s say: ‘Good luck try putting him into a spot like this now!’ He was able to be on the giving end for once!

No, this was not the way.. he wasn't like that! Even in a situation like this, he was not to let his anger get the best of him. He took a deep, calming breath and looked back down at the still going chase. Perhaps there was a way he could use the unfortunate scenario to help. With a move of his leg, he put his paw down right behind the cat, causing the 2 pursuing dogs to run into it, stopping them in their tracks, and the hunt, then and there.

"My apologies, but this is not how animals should treat each other" he spoke, relatively calm for his standards, giving the two canines a slight gentle smile.

However, as they realized what they just had bumped into, they looked up with a terrified expression and quickly ran away. Deepak's ears dropped low, as he saw the two dogs run.

Seeing the distress in his brother, Dawkins stepped closer again "It seems you have.. unfortunately become the test subject for my experiemtal growth formula." he put one paw at the enlarged pup's one. "However, you don't have to worry about staying like this.. the formula is designed to be temporary.. Given the way it was used and the time it takes for it's components to degrade.. it might take an hour or two to fully lose it's effect." He gave Deepak a nervous smile.. he wasn't sure how comforting it was to hear that there was no immediate fix.

"One or two hours?" Deepak asked. "What am I supposed to do for this long?" While the knowledge of the temporarity of the effects carried a bit of comfort with it, the given time would still mean that he'd have to spend almost the entire afternoon like this.

"Well.. given the fact that the formula worked on you, you could help me collect the data! Measuring how much it affected your body.. how long it lasts precisely.. if it carries any side effects.." Dawkins counted up the things he could figure out..

"And what do I have to do for this, brother?" Deepak asked. The incident didn't seem to have caused a panic.. yet. He couldn't help himself but imagine to what could happen if he was seen like that.. but what Dawkins said didn't sound to attention grabbing.. untill... "S-Side effects?"

"Uhm, yes.. the solution has not been tested yet.. at all. It might carry some unforseen side effects with it when interacting with an organism. But the chances for that should be fairly low!" Dawkins tried to sound as reassuring as possible.. even if the chance of side effects were low, there was still the possibility of something occuring. "Aside from your new height.. do you feel any different?"

For a moment Deepak considered.. should he tell his now little brother about the temptation he felt before halting the two other canines? No... he decided to not act out on it and other than that.. there was no pain or anything within him, outside from the different point of view. "I suppose not"

"Alright.. your growth has stopped about 1 minute and 37 seconds ago" The engineer pup pulled out a stopwatch and pressing it to run. "Yes, I've been counting.. we can't risk any data to be lost." He put the watch onto the ground as it kept on ticking. "Let's see... Height! We need to figure out how much you actually grew.. doing it the old fashioned way might be difficult due to the.. scale of things." Dawkins stopped with a gasp.. Dylan! He lost track of his tiny brother when the other two knocked them over.

"While I'll try to figure something out.. would you excuse me for a moment? Just.. try to stay calm!" Dawkins called up as he quickly turned around, seaching the grass for his meadow for his brother. "Dylan!" he periodcally called out softly, hoping it would reach his older brother but no one else.

Dylan had been knocked into a bush and just recently managed to find his way out as he heard his name being called by the familiar voice. His head poked out of the bush and he looked around "Daw-k-k-kins?" he started stuttering as he noticed Deepak sitting next to a tree.. it wouldn't be a big shock if he wasn't about as tall as the plant. "Wha-ha-hat happened?"

"Dylan!" Dawkins had noticed the tiny head of his brother appear out of the bush. "I'm glad I found you! I.. Well.. I have good and bad news... The good news is that the potion works in increasing size.. the bad news.. well.." He nodded over to Deepak, who was still clearly visible.. now some of the other pups had noticed him and started gathering around the giant who was starting to look distressed due to the attention.

But Deepak wasn't the only one who was worried by the attention. "Dawkins, please tell me you know how to turn him back!" Dylan said.. he being tiny could be handled.. but a pup being this big.. he would never fit into the house.. possibly not even in the garden!

"Yes, the formula's effects should only last temporarly as the additional components to the shampoo react and desintegrate over time, his body should be back to normal soon.

"Wait.. if it was temporary.. how was it going to help me get back to normal?!" Dylan asked, confused as well as angered.. why did Dawkins waste time on something that wouldn't actually fix his issue instead of just getting the Recombuvilator back running.

"It would have taken longer to first get the components stable to work indefinitely.. and would you have prefered to have two situations on paw rather than one in case the test went.. well.." Dawkins just nodded back into the direction of their enlarged brother. He'd thought Dylan would appreaciate some safety measures.

Dylan sighed.. "Alright.. you're right, Dawkins.. How long is this going to last?" They certainly wouldn't be able to hide Deepak from Mom and Dad like that.. let alone fit him into the house.

"The components should desintegrate enough to lose effects within an hour or two of exposure to air. In the meantime I'm planing to collect the test data. Maybe it's worth trying to make the formula last."

"Alright.. but I'll wait here.. Look! The pups have noticed him.. and I don't really want to be around the center of attentions you know?" Dylan said, his ears flopping down and he retreated a bit into the bush. "Just... just get me when you're done." Dawkins waited a moment after his brother's head disappeared in the green.. Given the fact that Dylan often showed a lot of ego.. this was quite the shocking situation.. being tiny must have been quite the horrifying experience for him..

The young pup just nodded and turned around, ready to finish the test by gathering the data. As Dawkins approached Deepak again he met Dolly’s alarmed eyes as she walked hurriedly towards him. “Why would you do that to Deepak Dawkins?!”

“Ah, w-well it was an accident Dolly, but don’t worry, it’s temporary.”

“Oh thank Dog…” She sighs in relief turning her attention to Deepak again.

Meanwhile Dawkins ponders a little about the best method to collect data in the current situation. There is an issue with all the pups around, who are all curious about their giant brother, and for a moment Dawkins gulps while talking to himself in a whisper: “What would Dylan do?”

Suddenly he realizes something, it feels like a heavy burden is put on his shoulders while a decision and an idea takes form inside of his head. Turning his attention to Dolly and mustering some determination he says: “Dolly, in Dylan’s absence we must manage this situation as Top Dogs. I need your help for that.”

“Huh?! Ok, but what are we going to do?”

“It’s quite simple in fact...” Dawkins then proceeds to explain his plan to her and after Dolly’s agreement they begin their work. Dawkins and Dolly call out the pups and organize them in a line, they explain what the young siblings need to do. The small pups are to be used as a reference for measurements of Deepak’s current state.

They climb over Deepak’s limbs and body to form “puppy-chains” while Dawkins takes notes using them as numbers to register the grownth rate of Deepak’s body. At first Deepak was really nervous and distressed, but Dawkins and Dolly did their best to reassure and keep him calm.

Ultimately Dawkins would finish collecting the data he required .. except for the precise time the effects would last. Deepak had actually managed to remain fairly calm and the other pups were really playful towards him, not scared at all of their giant brother, and actually wanting a ride on his head to have the view over London. Of course both Dizzy and Dee Dee were some of the most active and playfull pups in this situation.

Dawkins was busy working out the data, figuring out if he could perfect the formula. It could maybe be another alternative for Dylan to turn back to normal, in case the size ray wasn't gonna be fixed easily.  As he finished it up he saw Dolly approaching him.

"So.. you still haven't told me.. Why did you even work on something that can make stuff ginormous?  Dolly asked with a comparatively serious look on her face.

"Well.. you know as it is.. inspiration struck and I just wanted to see if I could do it!" Dawkins replied with a clearly lying grin.. the only time he managed to pull of a really convincing lie was when she had been helping to guide through the prank they had played on Dylan a while ago.

"Dawkins.." Dolly started, but then was interrupted by a loud shriek from behind her.. given the volume it must have been Deepak.. Both dogs faced their attention to the giant and noticed that he was starting to shrink.

While Dolly was still watching, Dawkins felt a few tiny pebbles hitting his head from the side. He turned to the source, and as it turned out, Dylan carefully made his way closer to his brother while the attention was focused on Deepak.. he still hid behind flowers, rocks and anything else that could cover him.

He knew his brother would crack under pressure, so he needed him to not say why he needed a growth formula in the first place! Especially around Dolly. She would never let Dylan hear the end of it if she knew. When Dawkins made eye contact, his tiny brother gesticulated to keep his muzzle shut. However, Dylan quickly hopped back behind cover when he saw Dolly's head turning back.

"Well... that was..." Dawkins looked back at his sister, but picked up the stopwatch "1 hour 35 minutes and 12 seconds! And it doesn't seem to carry along any side effe..." The pup stopped when he looked back at his shrinking brother. Deepak was indeed returning to his normal size, however, the hair growth shampoo he used as the basis didn't seem to desintegrate. While the puppy shrank, his fur seemed to remain just as long, even though it lost its girth on each hair.

Both Dolly and Dawkins just watched their brother turn into a gigantic fur-ball. Just his head peaked out, as the pup seemed to be stuck in a ball of his own fur, easiely still larger than a human. As the change concluded Constantin walked up to the now once again little pup in the yin-yang textured ball of black and white fur.

"I always believed it was a mere legend.. stories tell of a giant hairball! Youngling.. the stories might have told.. of you. You might be the giant hairball!"

The feline would soon regret exclaiming the last part, as single voices would pop around them, growing into a chorus of the word "Ball". Within mere moments both were washed away in a sea of spots, knocking around Deepak like a playball.. Fortunately for him, his fur was protected him from any harm.

"Hehe.. I think he's gonna be alright.." Dolly said.. the image of Deepak not stuck inside a giant ball but being a giant ball seemed to be entertaining. She would have been worried, but he wasn't even screaming. It almost seemed like he was enjoying himself.  "Aaanyway... Why don't you tell me what you needed that growth shampoo stuff for?"

Dawkins pondered, he knew Dylan was still watching, but he had to take charge already and for the good of every-pup involved he had to make a decision.. "Alright.. I will tell you.. just.. Just come into my workshop with me when we get home."

"Alright.. Altough I think it's getting time anyway.. " Dolly turned around to the others stil playing with their brother.. "I think it's time for DINNER!"

As expected, the trigger word did it's job and soon the wave of spots turned and was rushing towards the park exit. Dolly hopped onto her skateboard and raced off in order to keep up with them, knowing that Dawkins was fully capable of picking up his stuff and following as well.

Dylan had come out of hiding when she left. "Dawkins! What are you thinking?! You can't tell Dolly what's going on!"

"I'm sorry, Dylan.. but it's gonna be for the best." Dawkins said as he picked up his notes before grabbing his brother carefully and placing him on his head.. "Besides.. it's now too late to change it anyway, is it?" He said with a confident smirk.  

He had made his decission, and he was gonna hold on to it. After all, what was Dylan gonna do about it? And perhaps, since the others were so accepting about Deepak, maybe it would go just as smooth for Dylan.

Dylan sighed as he was placed on Dawkins' head and they made their way home. "I guess it is..." he just said while imagining all the humiliation he would have to endure at home once Dolly knew. But there was nothing he could do about it anymore, as his big little brother carried him off.

[rosaiel]

Octo Expansion Mem Cake Starters/Prompts! 🐙

I was trying to complete the Octo Expansion when I was inspired to make this because of the Tentakook Mem Cake poem! I don’t think anyone has done this before. Anyways, thought they’d make for some really great roleplay starters and writing prompts, so have fun! ❤

---

“At last we meet, my so-called foe. But is our fate to spray this hate? Perhaps we'll learn in depths below...”

“With tresses pink and eyes a blank, A smile so faint, it hides your feint, You slip on past—outfoxed! Outflanked!”

“You paint the turf with graceful strokes. With watchful eye, I breathe a sigh. From sniper's perch, I go for broke.”

“The rolling column splatters all. A stray shot shakes the trees awake. The summer turns, here comes the fall.”

“You gaze seaward with azure hope. Between each blink you calmly think, As when you use a Splatterscope.”

“The world I knew seems like a trap. I'm drawn now to the strange and new. Would my old friends think me a sap?”

“The fat and heavy locks hang low They frame your face above a base Of stumpy leg and pigeon toe.”

“A hilltop picnic, friends and fruit. Your whirling blades provide us shade. I raise a hand in mock salute.”

“Destroy your troubles—bombs away! A tempting thought: bring all to naught. No wonder your friends tend to stray.”

“You face away, thinking me blind, Like I don't know what you won't show. Your love is still clear from behind.”

“So principled you might explode, But when you burst, who's really cursed? Your loved ones have to bear that load.”

“It seems to you a sly attack, But for your pains you make no gains. You only get shot in the back.”

“How loftily you float on high, Suspended there in starry air As you drip purple passing by.“

“How desolate this star-marked limb. Is what awaits me this same fate? I must not dwell; it's much too grim.”

“Though parted by the ocean deep, My oldest friend, we meet again. I touch your face; you rouse from sleep.”

“You overwhelm with crowds and throngs. At every turn, you writhe and churn. Why can't we simply get along?”

“Now nights grow long; summer abates. The tides recede as squids stampede. With fireworks, we celebrate.”

“Your motor whines; the ocean roars. No ink can halt your firm assault. Let these invaders know the score.”

“When problems stack too tall to see, Just chip away and, day by day, You'll grow to live a life carefree.”

“Where love could blossom, spite congeals. Faced with these thieves, I aim and heave A cluster bomb right in the feels.”

“The hunt leads down a winding path. Tightly coiled and well-oiled, These dirty squids could use a bath.”

“Erupting eel glimpses the sky. Its eyelids squint against the glint Of sun unseen by creatures shy.”

“A sudden drizzle bars my way. It's no hour for this shower, But light rain won't ruin my day.”

“Each glittered scale shines so bright. You're my last ditch to strike it rich And tilt my bank balance aright.”

“Finality's not what it seems. When your end comes, rise up and run. Don't let defeat dissolve your dreams.”

“I topple from the tower ledge And choke back tears to see the gears Eliminate our hard-won edge.”

“We're torn apart so many times; I must be bold and keep my hold To make their team pay for their crimes.”

“When four are one, they make a team. But one from ten? Uhh, come again? It's like some kind of fever dream.”

“You teach the virtues of the still, And yet I spurned the lesson learned. My problem is I have no chill.”

“Oblivious, adrift, and round, You hold inside a tempting prize. Who doesn't love that popping sound?”

“To plant a tree's its own reward After you're gone, it will grow on In memory, initials scarred.”

“The polished nozzle gleams and shines. Unblemished gun reflects the sun. A good day's match; victory's mine.”

“I shake the squeegee to and fro. As I do laps my color saps; A fair trade for a mighty blow.”

“Closer to pyramids than spheres— Let fly the bombs! A sigh, then calm. A pillow stained with ink—or tears.”

“Not everyone can be a scourge In tense combat. I toss this splat, A monument to my last surge.”

“Though it flies errant or amiss, Should its sly arc hit near the mark, Your fate is sealed with its kiss.”

“No stealth or guile, not for you. You pave the way as plain as day, Foreshadowing imminent spew.”

“Its friendly face, its easy stride— That's all a front. Let me be blunt; It leaves you with nowhere to hide.”

“The sickly sweet aroma spreads. Its stagnant arms bring only harm, Along with sluggish, looming dread.”

“"I rule," you said, "It's in my blood. Don't step to me — ESPECIALLY If you can't hang with my best bud."”

“They told me you had gone to ground, And your rad groove was concrete proof That you made it safe and sound.”

“Two friends who never are apart: One's always cool, the other stews. I love them both with all my heart.”

“I watch your tendrils undulate A blue bouquet that twirls and sways, As central mass swells and deflates.”

“Hmm, Slosher? Inkbrush? Curling Bomb? I'd gladly browse for hours and hours Your gushing ramble brings me calm.”

“Black, bulging eyes stare far inside. What does he see deep within me? From his sharp gaze, no one can hide.”

“How long must I wait in his line? Such tragic lack of Crusty snack... I'm almost there! It will be mine!”

“Behind his dour, one-eyed stare, Our urchin friend conceals a yen For making the most out of gear.”

“A patch of sun? A fresh-caught fish? No bribe will swerve your eye for turf, However desperately we wish.”

“Oh, what I'd give to be employed! Better, I'd say, to work for pay Than ride this subway through the void.”

“Our sweat dripping from every pore. The harsh, hot sun won't stop this run. We grit our teeth and ask for more.”

“I hate the sea but love the breeze. The sandy shore I will endure Just for that brisk, zephyrous tease.”

“A Skalop brand atop your crown Will turn some heads but really shreds When it is simply turned around.”

“Squids often wear this as they strike With bomb and brush. It's quite a rush. I wish I could know what that was like...”

“Your 'tude is righteous, as you say. Is your science as defiant? Prove that your battle rhymes can slay.”

“I see you standing in the rain. Within a storm—forever warm. Powerful as a hurricane.”

“Put down the phone go shelve your book. Get ready, champ—it's time to camp! We'll share a drink right from the brook!”

“Constructed of glass and concrete, A city stays in dull, drab grays Till we splash color on its streets.”

“Mistakes of youth teach us a lot. We skate too fast and have a blast And learn quickly not to get caught.”

“"When going through here, play it cool!" Or get a clue and don't go through! I won't bend on this! Them's the rules!”

“I pack my feelings in a box: A parcel stuffed with hope and love And trimmed with stamps unorthodox.”

“I've seen this, but I'm not aware Just what the splat I'm looking at! Is it a frog or a brown bear?”

“How I admire Li'l Max! The highest rank to be so swank That my rivals have heart attacks.”

“The tides go out and take the light. How will I greet you when we meet? It keeps me up on inkstained nights.”

“Your song inspired a blush of love. It gave my heart a fresh new start. Now I ascend to shores above.”

“I leave without ceremony. Don't be too sore; I wanted more. My sincerest apology.”

“When I get my hands on these fish I might exchange them on the range, Except that they look so delish...”

“A mystery rolled up and bound— Oh, what's the use? It's too obtuse. I'll dump it in the lost and found.”

“Beneath a summer sky I walk, Through valley, plain, and back again, Dreaming of what you might unlock.”

“The rhythm etched in little jolts Those idols sing and put a spring In my steps as I crank the volts.”

“Encased in a sturdy sphere of glass. It breaks my heart to see you caught With whiskers trembling as I pass.”

“Though slick with slime, I keep my grip. The chill seeps through my gift from you. I mustn't let this cargo slip.“

“I don't quite trust this stark white brand. It's more for squids or little kids... And where's the pop? It's oh-so bland!”

“This swells a stir of royal pride. In small or large, you lead the charge. The ink of nobles flows inside.”

“On colder days, I like these clothes. With other threads I'd stay in bed— It's too frigid to be exposed!”

“I see you walking down the street. You think you're slick in those lime kicks, But they'd look fresher on my feet.”

“The squishing footsteps trudge in muck. Their path revealed by heavy heel. My heart beats quick a stroke of luck!”

“Such devilfish-may-care couture— The colors clash and make a splash! Without a doubt, footwear du jour.”

“It keeps the elements away: No rain, nor heat, nor wind, nor sleet. But does it guard against ink spray?”

“No matter thickness, brim, or gauge, A well-done purl will awe the world. These handmade hats are all the rage!”

[findmeinpops]

Chapter Three: I’m On Fire

Summary: You’re home alone when you hear an unexpected knock at the door. This is loosely inspired by ‘I’m On Fire’ by Bruce Springsteen, the lyrics are here and you can listen to it here. Enjoy! x

I’m On Fire: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

I Predict A Riot: Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14

Abbreviations: (Y/N) - Your Name (Y/L/N) - Your Last Name

A/N: I’m overwhelmed by the support that this is getting. I am very grateful and would like to thank you for commenting, liking and reblogging. Here’s Part 3, it’s a little longer than the others and I got a bit carried away. I was also a little tipsy when I wrote this. When I proofread there were SO many mistakes but I’m going to stop making excuses now and just let you read it. x

You hadn’t slept the previous night. You were dreading seeing Sweet Pea again; now that you knew it was going to happen, in school no less, you were very nervous. In bed you tossed and turned, images in your head of all the different ways your meeting could go, of all the ways you could mess up or make a fool of yourself.

Ronnie grabbed your arm as soon as you walked through the door. “You, missy, are going to help me greet the South-siders.” She didn’t give you room to argue as she dragged you to the table she had set up in the foyer. This was just great. There was no way in hell that you could hide from Sweet Pea now.

You, Betty, Archie and Ronnie were gathered at the table when you heard the tell-tale slam of the front doors, signalling the arrival of the new students. An army of serpents, all very menacing, walked in, led by Jughead. He seemed very much in his element, not something you had ever seen before. But it wasn’t him that was the main focus of your attention. In the front row of the parade was Sweet Pea. He was almost a head taller than all of the other serpents. His eyes caught yours and that smirk made a reappearance on his face, making you turn a bright shade of red again.

Betty placed a reassuring hand on your back and, when you turned to face her, she offered a reassuring smile.

“Friends,” Ronnie gave a very convincing, welcoming smile as she addressed the serpents, “on behalf of the students and the faculty here at Riverdale High, welcome to your new school. To ease your transition…”

You zoned out as your eyes honed back in on Sweet Pea, he still looked as perfect as he did that night. He sensed your eyes on him and turned to face you. Embarrassed about being caught, you everted your gaze before deciding the scrutiny was too much and turning to walk away.

At that moment, the opposing army of bulldogs and vixens, led by Cheryl Blossom herself, stormed down the stairs, very much prepared for a battle. “Stand down, Eva Perón” she called and chaos ensued as the two groups met – the perfect time for you to escape.

Quietly, you slipped through the crowd and down the corridor, to your locker. Everyone was occupied by the hostility in the foyer so no one was around. You released a breath you didn’t know you were holding and decided to get your books and head to class. As you opened the door a hand grabbed hold of it, Sweet Pea had followed you. He leant coolly against the lockers exuding confidence and bearing a look that told you he knew just how hot he was.

“Thought you’d get away without saying hello?” He looked you up and down with a smug grin on his face. He was pleased with how uncomfortable he made you.

“I didn’t think you needed a personal tour, I’m sure Cheryl would happily oblige.” You didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of an easy defeat.

Sure, you almost kissed, but it was an almost. You hadn’t been thinking straight but now you were, in theory.  Just one look at his charming smile and you were fumbling like a little girl. You couldn’t help being attracted to him but you should know better than to follow through with it.

“How personal? I think I’d rather you gave me the whole tour.” To emphasise the implications of his words he roamed his eyes over your body as if he wanted to eat you alive. You pulled your jacket tighter around your body, you were tempted, he couldn’t be that bad if your dad did business with him. Just one more look into his eyes and you began leaning in, closing the gap between you.

“Alright that’s enough pomp and circumstance,” Principal Weatherbee broke up the battle in the foyer but simultaneously gave you an out and saved you from a decision you would have regretted, “everyone let’s get to class. Now.”

Before he finished his sentence, you were gone, leaving Sweet Pea stranded in the corridor.

You were first to class and made your way to the back corner of the room. You tried to control your breathing in an attempt to calm yourself down. You couldn’t believe how stupid you were being and how much he messed with your head. It was as if just being around him made you lose all your inhibitions. He was a drug which made you feel wondrous things, and you wanted more, but you knew you shouldn’t.

The room began to fill up and, to your relief, no one sat anywhere near you. You needed to be left alone. The bell rang as the teacher entered and quiet settled over the class. You began to write the date at the top of the page and took no notice when the door opened.

“Sorry I’m late miss” It was him. Why, oh why, was he here. Sweet Pea made eye contact with you, giving you a smug grin when he saw the empty desk beside you. No.

You shook your head desperately to try and deter him but his grin only widened as he sat himself next to you.

“Hey, Y/N, fancy seeing you here!” The mock surprised look only annoyed you more as you retrained your eyes to the teacher. He was not going to distract you.

During the first half of the lesson you were able to successfully avoid his obvious attempts to gain your attention. It started with him asking for a pen, then what the date was and then how to do the question. And then each and every question. He tried everything to change the topic of conversation but every time you simply ignored him and returned to your work.

He didn’t give up though. When it became obvious his actions were futile he kicked it up a notch. Slowly he skirted his chair towards you, not enough that the teacher would notice, but just enough to make you squirm.

With this new proximity, he placed a subtle hand on your knee. Every muscle in your body tightened and you felt a new heat between your legs. Your head snapped towards him as you gave him a warning glare. He took no notice and simply moved his hand a little higher. This development only heightened the, what only could be described as, electric feeling in your body. It felt like a charge ran through your body with no means of escape.

As if Sweet Pea sensed this, he raised his hand a little higher so it sat on your inner thigh, uncomfortably close to the source of the electric feeling. There was no way you could continue.

If you moved his hand it would only return. If you made a scene it would only draw other people’s attention and give him the satisfaction he needed.

You didn’t know if you didn’t like it, you were pretty sure you did, you just didn’t want to like it. You shouldn’t like it.

You felt his hand begin to creep a little further and that was enough. You stood up, closed your book and fled. You didn’t look at anyone, you just wanted to get out, but you knew everyone’s eyes were on you.

You’d only made it half way down the corridor when you heard the classroom door swing open. The brisk, heavy footsteps told you all you needed to know about the identity of your pursuer. You quickened your pace, turning the corner.

“Y/N! Wait!” You turned to face him. His expression was not one you expected, it was one of concern. “Are you okay? Did I push it too far? I- “

You cut him off before he could continue, “I just- ”

You lunged forward, onto your tiptoes, rapping your arm round his neck and pressing your lips against his. Your lips met for a few seconds before he pulled away, looking to your expression for some reassurance. The flame of desire flickering in his eyes was mirrored in yours, you were sure of it. He felt the same way you did, there was no doubt about that.

This time he was the one who leant forwards, gripping your face and pulling it up to meet his, kissing you forcefully, desperately, hungrily. You felt the electricity discharge as it continued to flow through you and into him. It felt as if every cell in your body exploded, the rush of endorphins was blissful, it was better than you had imagined. He placed his hands underneath your back side and lifted you so your legs wrapped around his waist, evening out the height difference.

Turning, he slammed your back against the lockers as he began to trail kisses down your jaw to your neck. The euphoric feeling intensified and you pushed a hand into his hair, gently pulling against it, your other handing roamed his back.

Then the hallway flooded with students and the two of you leapt apart. His lips were swollen and his hair tousled. You were both breathing heavily and kept eye contact from either side of the hall. However, the realisation that you needed to move broke the trance as you fumbled to pick up your discarded bag before rushing off, getting lost in the stampede of people. What had you done? He was a serpent and you had been taught that serpents should never be trusted. But how you wanted to.

“Sometimes it’s like someone took a knife, baby,

Edgy and dull and cut a six inch valley,

Through the middle of my skull”

Tagged: @swordsandserpents @justmesadgirl @galaxy-hale @nepriaa @wybcalum @happilydeadontheinside @we-chemical-kids @iamaunicorn4704

[katsitting]

Hello.How are you? It's my first time asking someone on tumblr a request.Can you do a fem Tom Riddle/Voldemort x male Harry Potter one shot or multichapter fanfic(I wold like it if it was rated E but you can do otherwise ).There aren't so many (or not at all) fem TMR/LV fanfics so you would do me quite the favor.I love your writing style too and read some of your one shots /multichapterd fanfics.Thank you for doing this.

AN: This definitely came late. Sorry about that, I had a ton of prompts to fill and only just got to this one. I hope you liked. I don’t know how I feel about this story personally, but I hope that this is close to what you hoped for. It was supposed to be a PWP but, that didn’t come to pass.

Rating: M

Warnings: Horror, Naga!Voldemort, Female!Voldemort, Mild Sexual Content, One-sided Attraction, and Non-con elements.

“Are you sure this is a good idea, mate?” Ron cut in nervously, disrupting the heavy silence that had fallen between them in the dark forest.

Harry scoffed, rolling his eyes because of course Ron would be nervous now. They had agreed to this, they had made their decision earlier that morning when making plans for Halloween. Leave it to his best friend to chicken out now before the real fun actually happened.

“Ron, are you really going to do this now? You were the one that came up with the idea in the first place!” Harry said, exasperated when Ron yelped suddenly, his steady footsteps now sounding more like stumbles in the dark.

Ron had likely tripped on something, knowing him. Maybe he had gotten caught in a spider’s web? Maybe he had caught his foot on a tree root and now was working aimlessly to not fall on his arse?

Either way, Harry did not bother to turn back around. He was on a mission to get to the old Riddle manor, and there was nothing that could stop him. There were too many strange things happening at the place. Disappearances. The sounds of terrified screams. Odd things that should have made him think twice before going in, and of course, he did have his reservations about this whole thing.

But Ron. He had made it sound like a perfectly good idea to go on ahead.

And now, here Ron was. With second thoughts right at the last second. Harry could not go back now, not when he had crafted a perfectly good lie to his parents to get through. Especially when he’d told them that he’d be going to be at Ron’s when he in fact would not be at Ron’s.

“It’s just, this is creepy. Everything is silent and all…” Ron said again, seemingly gathering himself before following after Harry’s more brusque pace.

“…What did you expect? I told you that this would not be a good idea. I didn’t want to come out here at all. But you insisted. It’s too late to turn back now, Ron. The lies have already been made, we can’t possibly take it back after we told our parents we’d be at each other’s house.”

Ron heaved a heavy breath before shuffling more quickly behind Harry.

“…You’re right, I’m sorry. But can’t we just go to ‘Mione’s place? It isn’t too far from where we are.”

Harry groaned, finally stopping to round on Ron.

Honestly.

Ron looked ghastly underneath the glow of full moon, his blue eyes wide and terrified at the prospect of moving further through the shadows. It was fortunate that they had some light to ease their path, especially when their flashlights, although useful in some respect, were too small to truly capture much around the forest. They could clearly discern a couple trees and some gnarled roots, but not much else.

Still, it made Harry pause for a moment. He was tempted to call the whole thing off right then and there. He didn’t like the terrified look on his friend’s face. At all.

But toss it, it hadn’t been his idea to do this. He had wanted to stay home and play horror games all night long. And again, Ron had been convincing.

There was something odd happening in the Riddle manor. He couldn’t just go back now without at least scouting the place…

“No, Ron. We can’t just crash at 'Mione’s place like it’s alright. We both agreed that we wouldn’t tell her what we would be up to. Lord knows how well she’d react to seeing us both dressed up in heavy camo trousers and long-sleeve jumpers. She’d find out immediately, and then neither of us would be able to hear the end of it.”

Ron paused, mouth opening to say something before closing it immediately when Harry glared at him.

The last thing they both needed was an incensed Hermione on their backs. It was already bad enough that they were lying to their parents and sneaking off in the middle of the night to a potentially haunted manor. They didn’t need to tick off Hermione and have her rat them both out in an effort to stop them from going through with their, admittedly, stupid plan.

She was loyal, but she’d never accept their stupidity for such things. Especially when there were plenty of rumors following the manor like a plague. Rumors that, in Harry’s opinion, were enough to scare even the bravest.

“Toss it, why did you let me talk you into this? Why didn’t you just tell me no before we came here?” Ron groaned, hands digging into his hair in frustration. Harry shrugged, shooting him a resigned look before turning his attention back to the invisible path they’d been taking for several minutes now.

There was no real way to get to the manor, but everyone that lived in town just knew instinctively where it was. Better to know where it was than to not know at all and unwittingly stumble upon it when camping with the family. It was a place everyone avoided, save for a couple knuckle-headed teens. A group that, unfortunately, Harry fell under since he had only just turned seventeen earlier this year.

It certainly felt like the beginnings of a horror movie, but Harry would never tell that to Ron.

Harry started trekking through the trees, flashlight pointed to his feet to avoid stubborn roots and large rocks in his path. He heard Ron moving steadily behind him, oddly silent as they continued to walk.

They didn’t stop until the heavy foliage broke, and the manor came within view.

Harry shot the manor an assessing look, taking in the severe state of disrepair the place had fallen into.

The gates that had, once, protected the manor from thieves and other dangerous folk were rusted over. Misshapen and crude underneath Harry’s careful scrutiny.

It looked just like the manor in that Resident Evil game he and Ron had played earlier that month in anticipation of Halloween. It was uncanny, really. The wood holding the porch atop the double doors of the manor was rotted over, and Harry, if he squinted, could even see the way the roof at the very top looked about ready to collapse.

It was a hazard to go in, and Harry knew that. Hell, he could feel the danger on his skin like the frigid air tickling the nape of his neck, but that did not deter him in the least.

He was going in there, even if it killed him. He would make the best of his night, and it wasn’t as though he was going alone, he reasoned. He was going in there with Ron, and that was marginally better than him going alone.

“Alright, it looks like no one has been here for ages. The gate is wide open. We can definitely get in through the front entrance.” Harry said, turning round to shoot his friend the most convincing look he could muster.

But Ron wasn’t there.

The boy that had been following closely behind him had disappeared. The only sign that Ron had even been there at all, the second set of footprints in the snow winding down the path they had taken.

Harry felt dread seize his throat, as if a clawed hand had suddenly gripped him tightly by the neck.

“Ron?” Harry asked, swallowing down his fear to rush back to the opening they’d come through in the forest.

His footsteps echoed ominously in the emptiness. The crunch of his steps, of twigs and dried leaves as they snapped beneath his feet, thunderous.

It had taken him seconds to reach the opening to the forest, to scan the area for any sign of Ron. His friend wasn’t the most secretive, nor the most careful when he walked. On the walk to the manor, Ron had made more noise than a stampeding elephant.

So this silence unnerved him, more than he was willing to admit.

But instead of the sight of his friend’s turned back, or the sound of loud curses as Ron dutifully rushed back to civilization, Ron was nowhere to be found.

He wasn’t hiding behind the towering trees or the bushes flanking the stubborn trunks. All Harry had found were two pairs of footprints on the ground, packed deeply into the snow. They pointed back in the direction Harry had come through–towards the manor.

It was as though Ron had vanished out of thin air. There wasn’t a third set of steps evidencing that Ron had run back. Harry couldn’t make sense of it. People didn’t just disappear like that.

Harry swerved around to glance at the haunted house, dread making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

If Ron had not gone back from where they’d come, then there could only be one place he could have gone. Though how this was, how Ron could have gone to the manor when Harry had been staring at the only entrance to the entire place, Harry could not pin down.

It was impossible. The logical conclusion was to assume that Ron had turned back, that he had acted incredibly out of character to avoid the trouble waiting for them both in that manor.

Harry wasn’t convinced. In fact, everything about the whole situation reeked.

Harry paused, eyes narrowed into thin slits as he surveyed the open gates.

There was an itch just beneath his skin, a buzz of intuition thrumming along with his blood telling him otherwise. It made absolutely no sense. Hermione, if she were there, might even smack him upside the head for even considering what he was considering.

Harry couldn’t contain it even if he tried. Everything within him screamed that Ron was in there. Petulant and assured. More confident than the shadow of fear that lingered like a veil in the back of his thoughts.

Ron was in the manor.

Harry did not hesitate. He clenched his jaw before brusquely heading to the rusted gate, ignoring just how loud his footsteps were in the near silent place. There were no birds rustling through the trees. No sounds of animals crying out, hunting and playing, in the dark as Harry trekked on.

Everything was still.

It did not deter Harry, in the least. Convinced, even if irrationally so, that Ron was in the manor and that his friend had not come willingly.

Ron would never go out on his own. The redhead, though brave and stubborn, had been terrified once they’d taken their first steps into the forest. Just the mere notion of spiders was enough to get the bloke turning on his heels. It was an easy connection to make, even if it required quite a leap, even for him.

Harry was resolute in his stance, however.

The pieces just didn’t line up. There were no separate set of prints indicating Ron had turned back. No expletive when Ron, without a doubt, eventually ran into a cobweb somewhere in the dark. No sound of boots as they crushed leaves beneath his feet. Though anyone could argue that there was no evidence alluding that Ron was in the manor either, all Harry needed was his gut.

And it had spoken loud and clear.

If Ron had not gone into the manor willingly, then something had taken Ron without Harry knowing the wiser.

Harry passed the gates without sparing them a glance, shuffling quickly towards the front door that Harry had been certain were closed when Ron and he had first arrived. Harry’s gaze narrowed into slits, lips pursing into a tight line.

The doors were open. Parted wide, as if beckoning him to come inside. A silent invitation only Harry could understand.

Harry decided he would take the invitation. More than aware that he had been given no choice in the matter.

The polished wood and carvings inlaid of the door glowed brightly when Harry pointed his flashlight at them. The emeralds etched to the wood were lit in brilliant greens. The color becoming more and more pronounced as Harry neared, as if it hadn’t been exposed to light in far too long.

Harry frown deepened, but did not stop, even when everything within him told him to turn back.

He squashed his fear down, shoving it behind a proverbial lock and key. His friend was inside the house. There was no way he would leave him behind, not when he could do something to get him out.

Especially when it’s your fault he even disappeared in the first place…a quiet voice hummed in the back of Harry’s head, guilt like a ten pound weight in the pit of his stomach.

The guilt fueled his movements. Encouraged him to head inside even when his skin crawled.

Harry had barely stepped between the grand entrance when the doors abruptly slammed shut behind him. As if a powerful wind had suddenly blown against them, rattling the very foundations of the manor.

He stumbled, only just catching himself before he acquainted himself with the dust-ridden floor below.

Quickly, Harry after regaining his balance, he turned to the door and clasped on the ornate handle. He pulled, but it refused to buckle under his weight. The doors unmoving even when he pressed his foot against the door to force it open.

The wind couldn’t have done that…

Harry’s stomach jolted at the thought, and adrenaline rushed through his veins. He released the door after yanking at the door two more times with all the force he could muster.

It wouldn’t make a difference to yank on it. It was clearly locked.

Harry’s unease spiked, his grip on the flashlight tightening imperceptibly.

It had been an impressive show of power…though not entirely unexpected. He had already suspected something more was happening in the manor. His instincts practically screamed at him to turn tail the moment Ron had suddenly gone missing.

What was shocking though was that the ghost, or spirit, would just reveal itself to him like that. It would have made sense to catch him by surprise by trapping him in a room or something. To keep itself hidden as he explored the place while looking for Ron.

It was how most horror movies went. But for the door to just shut itself on its own? Not one second after rushing inside? Harry wondered what that could mean.

Maybe the creature felt confident than Harry would not be coming out alive? Maybe it somehow knew that once Harry walked in, offering himself like a sacrifice to an angry God, its success was assured?

If that was the reasoning behind this show, then the ghost, demon, thing was sorely mistaken. Harry would not make this easy, not when his friend’s life was at risk. Even if he died in the process, he’d make sure Ron made it out of it alive to tell the tale.

“I know you’re there.” Harry said, taking in the grandiosity of the main entrance with a shrewd gaze.

He hadn’t expected a response, so it was unsurprising when silence was all he got in return.

The creature may have announced in no lesser terms that it was there, but it seemed that facing the monster head on was out of the question.

The creature wanted to scare him, that was for sure. But it wanted a hunt. A chase, if the unsettling silence that surrounded him was anything to go by. Harry wouldn’t give it the satisfaction.

Harry cast his flashlight about the room with tense shoulders and bent knees. Ready for the smallest inkling of trouble even as a heavy silence settled around his shoulders like a cloak. Too aware that if he let his guard down, that the creature would pounce.

It had already done so when Harry made the mistake of taking his eyes off Ron. What was stopping it from doing something when he turned his back?

Harry eyed the way the shadows danced along old furniture, taking in the ghost of a once opulent parlor. It was a shadow of its former self, with dust coating every single surface in the room, refusing to part from the furniture it had made its home.

It was almost a shame that it had been left to such disrepair. That no one in the past decade had purchased the home and decided to restore it to its former glory.

Though, in all fairness, Harry was certain that the neglect was more due to the resident ghost problem than actual disinterest. No one was crazy enough to buy the Riddle manor when it was rumored to be haunted, when there were too many bizarre incidents connecting back to the manor.

Except for him and Ron, of course. That should have been his first clue.

But there was no point regretting this fact now. With each second he lingered in this ancient parlor, Ron could be fighting for his life somewhere. Scared.

Harry banished the mental image of Ron’s pleading gaze.

Harry swiveled his flashlight around the room, nose scrunching with distaste when the smell of mildew and decay practically oozed from the walls. The holes and pockets in some of the rugs on the floor, moth eaten and green with mold.

It was as decrepit as it was impressive. It was undeniable that this place, at one point, had been booming with loud voices and cheerful chatter. An impressive piece of architecture that was both the envy and the delight of all that entered.

The entrance was grand. The style reminiscent of the perfect symmetry of renaissance chapels, with not a single arch, painting, or step on the staircase out of place. Everything was precisely calculated, measured and tailored to the tastes of its owner–the style, perhaps at one point, innovative and scandalous.

Though, none of the poise remained now. Once soft green walls that had once paired impeccably with mahogany chairs and tables, with bookshelves and even a baby grand at the far corner right of the room, were now were darkened with age and neglect. The doorway with its beautiful archway, dazzled with oil lanterns and paintings, instead of shining brilliantly beneath his flashlight, were worn and rusted. Some of the hooks lodged off, as if torn from the walls. The source of that aggression, unknown.

Harry walked over the carpeted floor until he was right at the center of the parlor. His attention suddenly drawn to the second floor, the shadows writhing in the background forcing him to look.

There was something there.

Harry could not explain the feeling. The twists in his stomach were like cramps. Like a sharp claw had pressed against his solar plexus and refused to ease up. Even as his breaths strained, became louder and shallower.

The monster was in the second floor. The feeling was unmistakable.

And then Harry was moving, flashlight catching on one of the two staircases of the parlor. It wound around in a narrow spiral, the black railing gleaming beneath his light even through the many layers of dust coating it.

The steps on the staircases glinted a bright yellow, but Harry did not stop to consider whether it was safe to even climb up. His stomach was in knots. Something was urging him to go upstairs, and Harry had to follow.

It pulsed like a heartbeat, in time to the staccato of his breaths.

Harry took the first step, and it was as though all the air had been sucked from the room.

If the room had been still and silent before, nothing compared to the sudden listlessness that fell around him. The darkness felt more oppressive, practically oozing from the corners and the cracks in the foundations of the walls.

Even the railing looked brittle, the iron more like string than the gleaming black Harry had scrutinized earlier.

He hesitated. It was a brief second, no more than an exhalation.

Doubt swelled inside him, like an over-inflated balloon ready to burst at any moment’s notice. Fear reared its ugly head, depriving him once more of the tenacity he was known for. Notorious for, if what Hermione said was true. Everything was screaming for him to turn back.

Harry went forward anyway, swatting it away like a bug. Ron needed him. He couldn’t hesitate now.

Another step, and his senses began to scream. The voice, unlike one Harry had never heard before, shouted for him to turn back around. To ignore the second floor, to explore the first floor and leave things at that.

Harry pushed through it, jaw tense.

He wouldn’t be cowed. Not when the creature seemed to want him to stay away. It was hiding something up there, it had to be if it was fighting Harry tooth and nail. If this sudden fear was the creature’s doing.

Maybe what it’s hiding is Ron…

Harry took another painful step, and then another, and another. He didn’t stop even when his gums ached from how tightly he clenched on his jaw. Though this fact did not deter him. He doubted anything could. Not the whispers that suddenly began to murmur into his ears, and certainly not the weight that burrowed deeply in the pit of his stomach.

The voice begged him to turn back, to see reason where there wasn’t any. But he couldn’t, he had already come this far. Ron was somewhere in the darkness, and abandoning him was out of the question.

Though, even knowing this fact, Harry’s mind was absolute chaos. The rush of adrenaline through his veins, the tension in his limbs when another wave of fear clenched tightly around his windpipe. Harry could hardly make sense of the shadows and the yellow light catching the banister.

It was madness, the crushing weight of his own emotions and his stubborn nature clashing like two blades meeting.

And then Harry was at the top of the staircase, the world swaying around him as he tried to wrangle his breaths into submission. The panic thrumming in his veins abated at once, the rush of blood to his ears silenced.

Everything grew still, as if Harry had not tried to fight through a powerful gust of emotion forcing him back.

Harry cast a glance back to the bottom of the stairs, his fingers digging into his flashlight to glimpse at the world below.

There was only shadow. The light did not penetrate the gloom. Not even the broken windows at the bottom-most floor could pass through. It was as though the black devoured the light, prevented even a sliver of moonlight to wash the gloom with pale, silvery light.

Harry’s heart raced, fear like a sharp blade pressed to his chest. He couldn’t turn back, even if he wanted to. There was no telling what would happen if he went back down after he’d risked his arse to go up, when he had ignored reason to chase after something that waited for him there.

It was too late, and it would do nothing for Ron.

Harry righted himself, realizing then that he’d been doubled over. That in his rush, he hadn’t noticed how dangerously his knees dipped and his head swayed.

Sucking in a deep breath, Harry turned his attention to his new surroundings.

The stairs had brought him to a wide hallway. The furnishings and the cabinets lined along the walls nearly black with age and tattered, just as the first floor had been. Except now, there were actual doors. Not entrance ways, not openings, but actual doors that Harry could explore.

There were portraits of all shapes and sizes flush against the wall. Pictures and frames either face down or standing proudly atop the cabinets and dressers right at the entrance of the hall.

Harry could not make out a single face in any of them from where he stood.

Harry…

A startled gasp escaped his lips before he swiveled around–certain that the voice had come from somewhere behind him.

But there was nothing behind him. Only a door that looked as if it had seen better days. The edges were rusted. Burnt orange and red glittering obscenely under his flashlight as he tried to calm himself down.

The hiss had been so high that it had to have come from a woman. Like the scream of a banshee, or at least, how Harry would imagine a banshee were to sound like if it were real. Except it hadn’t been angry, at all. It was devoid of aggression, though that fact did not make it any less frightening.

The voice had come unbidden and much too close for comfort. It had been a hair’s length away from his neck, as though it had been murmured directly to his ear.

He shuddered, casting the iron door a wary glance.

It was suspicious how the creature had appeared only when he was gearing up to head down into the hall. Could it have done it on purpose?

It could have, for all Harry knew. He wouldn’t have noticed the door if the monster hadn’t scared the ever living shit out of him.

And now, Harry could not even think to turn his back on this door. Not when it looked like the entrance to some medieval torture chamber.

It stuck out like a sore thumb, and against his better judgement, Harry slowly moved towards it. With an outstretched hand, he reached for the handle, while the other clutched tightly on the flashlight as though it were a weapon.

Well, here goes nothing.

Closing his hand around the handle, he ignored how the cold metal drained what little warmth he had in his palm. As if it were sucking the very life out of him by simply holding on.

Harry swallowed nervously and squared his shoulders. If something stood waiting for him on the other side, he’d be ready for it.

With a hard wrench, the door came open with a loud, ominous screech. It echoed through the silent manor like a gunshot. Harry didn’t so much as flinch, already expecting it.

It was similar to the doors his dad often worked on in his garage. The hinges were always rusty and loud. They needed a bit of oil and the like to get up and running, to stop the annoying squeak that often plagued them. It was how he had met Ron in the first place. His dad had come by with the redhead in tow, in need of some help with a door he didn’t know how to fix.

Harry shined his flashlight inside with his left shoulder pressing against the open door. The cold metal seeped through his jumper, but he hardly paid it any attention. Not when the darkness was so thick that his small light barely penetrated it.

It was like a cloud of black smoke from an erupted volcano. The ash swimming like particles in the air, absorbing and swallowing all light that dared trickle through from the hot, summer sun.

Unease prickled the nape of his neck when a cold gust of air blew against his face, the breeze almost alive, twisting and writhing against every inch of exposed skin on his face and neck.

Harry had never been more grateful that he’d worn a jumper than in that moment.

It was freezing inside the room. Near arctic temperatures, if Harry had to guess. As if someone had trapped winter in that very room, with only that iron door to keep it from getting out.

Harry shuddered, fingers like ice, as he stepped deeper into the darkened room.

The door closed with an audible click behind him, but he hardly paid it any mind. Not when the darkness was percolating in the room, almost wispy, like the tendrils of his own hair after a bath.

He pointed his flashlight throughout the room, unsure of what he would find.

The darkness was still as oppressive as it had been from beside the door. It hadn’t changed, even as Harry stepped deeper, hand outstretched.

Still, it refused to yield to his silent demands. Light could not cut through it. Harry doubted that even the morning sun could light this room up, even if bottled in his hand.

And then, the flashlight went out. The darkness blinded him.

The flashlight released a soft groan and sparks of electricity shot out.

Harry hissed, dropping the thing when it shocked him, his fingers pulsing painfully.

The flashlight rolled somewhere unseen. The sound of it like nails scratching at a chalkboard. Grating and uncomfortable, even as Harry tried his best not to panic in that moment.

The light had gone. There was nothing except an endless, unfathomable abyss. The kind that Harry imagined lingered beneath the bed of precocious children. The kind that parents told scary stories of, that his own mum had, while he was curled in his own bed, warned him of.

Harry had never felt so afraid in his life. It was the sort of fear that settled between the space between his rib cage. It lodged itself into his throat, robbing him of his ability to so much as breathe.

It was endless, and everything Harry could see. All he could feel even as he tried not to lose himself to it, to let the monster that had lured him into this room, win.

He had to remind himself that this was what the desired. It wanted him to be afraid. It had wanted him to come through here rather than the hallway. It had trapped him in the manor, and now, it was doing everything in its power to frighten him out of his wits. To rob him of his own ability to think.

His insides churned, unable to tear off the suffocating horror that crushed his lungs.

“Harry!”

A voice snapped him out of his stupor, released him from the choke-hold of fear and unease that nearly overwhelmed him.

The voice…sounded like Ron.

Recollection bloomed in his chest, and Harry released a deep breath he hadn’t known he was holding. His relief, even if minor, welcomed.

Harry would recognize that voice anywhere. After years of playing football together. After weeks upon weeks of studying, complaining about Hermione’s rigid study schedule, it was unmistakable.

Ron was there.

“Ron? Where are you?” Harry called, releasing a deep breath before turning in the direction he believed it had come from. Though where that was, Harry couldn’t be sure. Not when he couldn’t make heads or tails of where he was. He could end up walking directly into a wall, for all he knew.

Harry found that he didn’t mind that at all. Walking into a wall, that was better than standing still. An improvement, considering he had nearly lost himself to his own panic in that moment.

Ron did not answer, but Harry began to move anyway.

Knowing that his friend was alive was all he needed.

It was all he needed to force himself to shuffle through the unknown.

Ron was alive.

Hidden, but his friend was somewhere with him. A place that couldn’t be too far away. Ron’s voice had not been muffled, had not been masked by layers and layers of wood.

It had been crystal clear, like Harry’s own breaths in the dark. Ron had to be close.

Hope bloomed in his stomach, and Harry did not stop even when his foot smacked onto something solid; when his arms flailed, and his palms shot out to break his fall.

A pained sound escaped his lips when his knees knocked harshly against the floor. When his fingers smeared on something wet, and then his hands were slipping, sliding across the ground. Harry’s chin knocked painfully on the ground, a sharp burst of pain making his teeth rattle in his mouth.

It was a miracle he hadn’t bitten off his own tongue, but still, it hurt.

His stomach had landed on something smooth and firm, a slight warmth burning its way up from that single point of contact.

It singed his jumper with its intensity. It knocked the air from out of his lungs, his chest suddenly tighter than it had been even when he’d tried to brave the stairs to this unknown floor…

His fingers twitched and more of the substance smeared onto his hands. Harry couldn’t help making a face, disgusted by just how sticky and thick it felt. Unaware, practically blind, to what he’d landed on.

He wished he could see, at least just to make sure that what he’d landed on wasn’t mud or shite.

“Harry…”

A fearful scream tore from his throat when a voice murmured into his ear. It was the same high, gravelly voice. The syllables, the words,  fell from what, Harry could imagine, were lips that ghosted against his flesh. They breathed softly against the shell, enough so that Harry could feel just how dangerously close those lips were.

Harry jolted away, or at least tried to.

Before he could make some distance, something snaked around his ankle. It was a solid, firm hold that was so bitingly cold that Harry wondered if his blood had frozen from the contact.

Harry kicked back, a startled breath heaving from his lungs when the solid form beneath him began to move. The object that he tripped on, that had brought him crashing to the ground was alive.

Fear sliced through him and all rational thought fled.

“L-let me go!” Harry shouted, but then the hand dragged him back by his ankle. Sharp nails dug into the flesh, and Harry struggled against a grip that pulled at him with more force than Harry thought possible.

It was unyielding and none of his writhing could tear him from out of it.

“Harry…” A voice purred, cold air fanning along the shell of his ear. As if death had chosen that precise moment to speak, to show him that it was there. Waiting, always waiting, in the darkness for him with outstretched hands and sharp teeth. A mouth that was bloody and wet, ready to rear back and tear into quivering skin.

He scratched onto the ground, pinpricks of pain blooming along the edges of his fingers when the presence continued to drag him away into the unknown and his nails dragged on the grooves on the floor.

“You haven’t changed at all…”

Confusion bloomed along with his fear.

What?

Harry’s brows knit together, even as his fingers still scrambled for something to hold onto. The slaps of his palms against the ground were deafening, nearly drowning out the sound of the woman’s voice.

“W-what are you talking–”

Harry had no time to finish his question before he was suddenly sailing through the air, weightless.

No!

His stomach jumped, and his nerves screamed. His senses were lost, and the glasses that had so far remained on the bridge of his nose, fell away. Lost in the darkness, never to be seen again.

Panic rushed through his veins, and hands reached for the glasses he knew he wouldn’t find. Hoping, against all hope, that his fingers would catch on the wiry frames.

His fingers met nothing but air.

“Still too blind even with everything laying out in the open…”

Harry suddenly stopped. His toes were no longer touching the ground. He was dangling in the air, held up by some invisible force that robbed him completely of movement.

“Naive…trusting…in spite of the predator prowling around you…”

Harry tried to move his fingers, but they were frozen. He couldn’t even wriggle his toes. All he could do was throw his head back and forward, tilt and shift.

All of his movements had been robbed from him.

It was impossible.

His fear swelled inside him at this fact, at the knowledge that he was helpless. That there was nothing he could do, not when the monster had finally revealed itself.

“A bleeding heart…following a dangerous path with death hanging above your head…”

A cold sweat broke out on the back of his neck, and he gasped when the room suddenly exploded with light.

It blinded him, and Harry immediately closed his eyes to ease the ache that settled over his temples.

“How I’ve missed you…”

Slowly, he opened his eyes; wanting nothing more than to figure out what this creature was even talking about…

And he immediately wished he hadn’t. Not even his poor vision could mask it.

The creature that had stolen Ron from him. The monster that had hidden itself away, had played with him like he were some toy, stood before him.

Her skin was pale. Bone white and dry.

The skin glittered like diamonds, scales flashing purples and pinks when they caught along her jaw, cheekbone, and temples. She was hairless, the same white flesh stretched above her head.

Harry took her in, unable to look away.

Her face was monstrous. Instead of a nose at the center of her a face, where a nose should have been, there were two slits. They flared in time with her soft breaths. Thin lips were stretched into a sharp smile, dazzling white teeth exposed to his gaze.

Yet, those were not the features that truly made her horrifying. They weren’t what struck him, what made breathing more and more difficult as he stared at her.

Her eyes were scarlet. Instead of the browns and blues, greens and hazels he had come to see throughout his life, her eyes were red, so red that Harry wondered if someone had painted her irises with blood.

Harry couldn’t look away.

His eyes were captivated, caught by the thin shape of her pupils. They should have been round. But they weren’t. There was little humanity in that gaze. They were the eye’s of a snake, the ring of red making the creature look even more monstrous than she did already.

How had Harry missed this, when those eyes were so bright? How had walked into this manor without catching even a glimpse of eyes as cold and deep as those, when they gleamed like precious rubies even with the room lit up like a light show?

It didn’t make sense, but Harry had quickly learned that nothing about this whole evening did. Not the disappearance of his friend. Not the door shutting closed behind him as he tried to piece together this mystery. None of it did.

She was the most frightening creature he had ever seen. No horror movie could capture the essence of the power her face retained.

Absolutely nothing.

And there was no running away from her. No turning back, even when every thought in his head screamed for him to fight off the power keeping him restrained.

He made to shift, to pull back as far away as he could, but his body was immobile.

There was nowhere to run.

“W-what are you? What have you done to Ron?” Harry asked, voice so soft that if it weren’t for the silence that had fallen between them, he would not have known he’d spoken at all. Blood pumped rapidly in his chest, the rush of it like a torrential rain that refused to abate.

Panic pulsed within him, unrestrained.

The woman tilted her head to one side, the gesture like that of a predator assessing its prey. The movement drew Harry’s eye to the rest of her, giving him a chance to break from the intensity of her gaze.

The creature was shrouded in shadows. The long, thick fabric wrapped around her shoulders and hips, the cloth pooling to the ground. As if she hadn’t a care in the world that her clothes were getting dirty on the dirty floor.

Harry watched her with bated breaths.

She stepped closer, closing the short space between them with one fluid movement.

Harry followed the way her body swayed, how the cloth around her shape began to melt and fall away from her shoulders.

Pale skin revealed itself to him. Scaled where the bone jutted out from her rib cage, where her hip bones were most prominent and easy to discern.

She bared herself to him, unveiled rosy nipples that were nearly the same shade as her lips.

A deep flush settled onto his cheeks, utterly embarrassed and perplexed, as to why she was suddenly completely starkers. Why she was bridging the distance between them rather than killing him, as he was certain she would.

It didn’t make any sense to him, and Harry gaped when the fabric pooled completely to the ground and she stood before him, her own lips near his own, nude.

They were near enough that Harry could count her eyelashes, and how they framed her almond shaped eyes. Even without his glasses.

She was too close, and Harry wanted nothing more than to jolt back. To run and find Ron. To never return, even when this creature seemed to know him so well.

Her eyes were lit with recognition and something else. An emotion he had only ever seen an animal wear when presented with a delicious meal.

Harry wondered if he was that meal. If she planned to devour him, consuming him, before turning on Ron…

If Ron was even still alive.

“He is unconscious. You need not be concerned for him.” She murmured, trailing her nails against his cheek with an intense look of wonder. As if she had never touched skin as soft as his, or touched a human-being before.

Harry flinched, the contact making his skin prickle with gooseflesh.

“He will live. He has served his purpose.”

Purpose?

Harry licked his lips, unease winding more tightly around his throat when her gaze flickered to his lips, drawn in by the simple gesture like a moth to a flame.

“W-what do you mean? What are you even talking about? Just who bloody are you?” Harry said, eyes glued to the skin between her eyes.

Her nails trailed down his throat, and they scratched along his neck. They curled around the collar of his jumper, and Harry’s heart nearly leaped from out of his chest.

Her touch was questing, but nothing invasive.

Though his heart refused to settle, even when her touches had yet to turn violent.

“Did you think that your friend brought you here out of curiosity? Suddenly brave and intrigued by the promises lurking within my home?”

Harry swallowed, shooting the creature a glare when her lips twisted into a victorious smile.

It set every nerve in Harry’s body on edge.

“Of course not, dearest Harry. You and I both know that your friend would never risk himself in this way…and let alone drag you along with him.”

How did she know my name? How did she know so much about Ron?

Harry’s stomach dropped when she leaned in closer, her lips a whisper against his own.

“You are here because I wished it. From your decision to enter the forest to your refusal to turn back.”

Heat danced along his cheeks when a hand slid underneath his jumper. The fingers were cold, and her nails did nothing to stop his skin from crawling when it scratched up his stomach.

Harry wondered faintly if she had somehow drawn blood, if with a practiced precision, those claws could rip him open if she wished it.

Something wet slid between his lips, and Harry barely bit back a gasp when a long, forked tongue slipped past the woman’s lips. Her eyes shuttered closed for a brief second, as if the taste of his mouth were the sweetest thing she’d ever had in years.

Oh god.

“Don’t touch me!” Harry protested, but the creature did not listen.

She pressed against him completely, her naked breasts pressed against his chest and a long slim leg settled between his thighs, parting them for her.

Harry wanted to die.

“You taste…exquisite, Harry.” She said after pulling her tongue back, eyes flickering open to fix him with a hungry look.

“If you don’t stay away from me I’ll–”

Harry was unable to finish the sentence.

The monster had dropped her hand from his face and down to the fly of his trousers in seconds. Her nails were digging harshly against the material, and it took all the restraint Harry possessed to not squeak with surprise.

His cheeks burned brighter, embarrassment morphing into horror when the woman began to transform before him.

Once subtle serpentine features became more monstrous. Fangs began to grow from out of her mouth, her elegant cheekbones and jaw began to narrow. Her legs melted into one another, until it was no longer just one leg between his thighs, but a massive coil.

Pearly scales glinted underneath the atrocious yellow light above them, and Harry could only watch with mute horror as she became more beast than woman.

Harry’s throat tightened.

“Or you’ll what?” She mused, and Harry shot the monstrous bitch a glare.

The last thing he’d expected when he came after Ron was to come face to face with a snake monster. He’d guessed, at most, that there was a ghost in the manor. That the ghost, after it had discovered what his intentions were, would try.

To be accosted, to be told that he was the reason Ron had been snatched in the first place, was ridiculous.

His fear gave way to anger and confusion. He didn’t know what to feel, his mind shuffled through so many feelings that it was a miracle he could even feel anything at all.

Everything about the situation was overwhelming, and just as he was about to say a few choice words; tell her exactly what he thought of her, the creature’s grip on his groin tightened to the point of pain.

Harry saw white and a scream tore from his throat.

Her grip was punishing and cruel. Her laughter the only sound Harry could make out through his loud yowls and ragged breaths.

“You have no power here. You are a mere human now…” She sneered the word “human” out as if it disgusted her.

If his prick wasn’t currently being crushed within her grip, he might have pointed out that it was better to be human that a hideous monster. A creature that thrived in the darkness, that had no hope of blending in with the humans she spoke ill of.

“…For the time being, at least.” She said, and all the air fled from his lungs at the mischievous gleam in her eyes.

Harry glared at her, even through the pain, and spat.

Satisfaction blossomed in his chest when his aim was true and a thin trail of saliva ran from the top of her cheek bone down to her chin.

He had expected anger for his defiance. He knew that behaving the way that he had would only incite her ire.

But instead of angering the beast as he had first anticipated, the creature began to laugh at him. Her shoulders shook with amusement and her grip on his groin loosened enough for him to relax.

Thank god.

His prick still throbbed, but it was still better than when she’d been bloody crushing it.

“You’re mad, absolutely insane.” Harry gaped, unnerved by the glee that flashed in her eyes. It made her eyes burn brighter, like someone had shone a bright light into them.

“And you, are perfect…” She hissed, fingers lightly tracing along the inseam of his trousers. The touch made his skin jump and his mouth part with discomfort.

“From your riotous curls to your defiant mouth…you are truly my Harry.”

Harry had never been more confused in his life. He didn’t know who he was supposed to be, who she kept speaking of with such an excited glint in her gaze.

“I-I don’t know what you’re on about, but I don’t even know your name. I am nothing–”

“My name is Lord Voldemort, and you belong to me.”

Harry made to protest but stopped when her fingers, the very same fingers that were skirting over his groin, slid up and into the waistband of his pants. Dangerous nails trailed along the skin, and Harry refrained from insulting her.

Not with those claws. He wasn’t entirely mad enough to incite her with her hand down his bloody trousers.

She had nearly crushed his prick earlier. There was no telling what she might do if he said something in that moment.

“Your impertinent tongue…your brilliant eyes…all of it is mine. I allowed you free reign once. Permitted you to live a normal life before you were stolen from me. But no more, I will not lose you a second time.”

Voldemort looked absolutely feral. Her eyes were wild, all of her amusement had drained from her face. She looked as though Harry would, at any moment, be snatched from her grasp.

And then she was on him.

The hand playing with the sliver of skin inside his trousers wrapped around his waist, while the other, wove itself into his hair. She yanked and Harry groaned, a protest thick on his tongue when she bent his head so far back he could only see the light bulb hanging on the ceiling.

“Let me go!” Harry cried out when her fingers tightened on his hair, when she pulled his head further back and she pressed her face against the crook of his neck. She smelled him, her mouth hot and wet against the sensitive flesh.

He didn’t know what she was doing, but he didn’t trust it. Not when she had fangs and she had no qualms whatsoever about hurting him.

She said that she missed him. That she enjoyed his impertinence. Harry did not trust her not to bite into his neck, to not poison him with her sharp teeth.

“Never again, Harry. Never again.”

Harry’s world exploded with pain.

Sharp teeth sunk into his neck, and Harry could not bite back his screams when her jaw locked. She refused to let him go even when movement returned to his limbs, when the force restraining him melted away and he fell into her arms.

He was like a rag doll, unable to do much else as he dug his fingers into her bare shoulders. He practically crushed the skin, dug blunt nails into the flesh. He did whatever he could to get her off of him, to stop her from grinding her teeth into his neck until Harry could only see, could only feel, could only hear his own agonized cries and the pulse of his heartbeat.

The agony began to abate, but Harry’s horror only increased, his cries became more pronounced when numbness then began to spread from where her teeth had sunk. It was like ice chasing after the warmth of the gleaming sun.

Tears ran down his cheeks, the pain and the fear so much that he couldn’t contain them.

NO!

Voldemort retracted her fangs from his throat, the warmth suction of her lips falling away to expose his throat to blistering cold. His body shook, but the woman’s arms holding tightly onto him could not chase away the cold.

The terrible cold spread inside him, oozed from his pours, from his lips, and ears. Harry sobbed, terrified, and Voldemort lapped at his neck.

Her tongue was abrasive against his skin, and he shuddered when she continued to drink the blood leaking from his throat. The sound of her slurps and ragged breaths made his stomach turn, more than it already was.

“Shhh…”

He didn’t care that he looked pathetic. That his eyes burned and his throat felt like sandpaper. He didn’t want this.

He wanted it all to stop.

“It’s frightening at first, but in time, you will see the gift I have bestowed you. Death shall never have you…not again.”

Harry sobbed harder, and Voldemort’s words became softer. The madness had gone, evaporated like smoke from the tenor of her voice. As if it had never been.

“My mate…my soul…”

And then, his vision swam. The world began to darken at the corners; his lips, his ears, his fingers, and his toes all faded from his memory.

Something pulled at him, squirmed and writhed from somewhere within him. It itched, dragging him deeper into the nothing.

A soft voice began to speak, one he, somehow, knew he should have recognized, but couldn’t. It sang to him, carried him adrift.

“Sleep…and remember me…”

Harry closed his eyes, and then–

Nothing.

[fireandgloryrpg]

Highway to Hell || Wally, Kolina, Maia, Adriana, Jax, Fergus, Cat, Lucinda, & Duke ft. pineapple shoe

I'm on the highway to hell,                           No stop signs,                                      Speed limit,                                             Nobody's gonna slow me down —

Our courageous heroes fight off the flames of the Senate House fire on the opposite side of the roaring flames. Will they emerge victorious?

!! tw: blood, serious injury !!

Wally ran outside of Atomic Sushi with everyone else who was inside. When he saw the smoke, his body became immobilized by the bright flames that reminded him of the final battle from the war with Gaia. Out of sheer interest he started to run towards the Senate House, mind reeling for an answer as to what was happening. As people all began showing up, others were fleeing the scene. Wally pushed his way through the crowd and watched as many Romans in battle-ready armor moved in with Legionnaires, some of who were still getting their gear on. It wasn't but minutes later that they started to call for anyone who was willing to help them to do so now. He looked around and thought about what it was that he could do. Wally wasn't sure how much help he could be, but moved forward nonetheless. He wasn't about to back away from another fight.

Kolina sprinted towards the source of the fire, her tiny legs going surprisingly fast. When she spotted Wally she couldn't help but feel a slight weight being lifted off her chest. She sprinted to her baby brother,"Wally!" She did a quick check of him, very obviously going into mom mood for a quick second. "How good are you at elemental magic?"

Maia threaded her way through the crowds of people, some running in a panic, others fleeing in mindless terror. Instead, she ran to the vicinity of the flames. She focused on finding others around her who needed help evacuating the area. Spotting a few civilians who had been trampled in the stampede of people who had rushed away from the forum, Maia ran over to them, assessing the extent of their injuries. "Hi, I'm here to help." She said with a tense smile as she looked at the injuries-- adult male with a ruined leg, an unconscious child, and a woman with gash on her head. "Medic?! I'm gonna need help over here!" Maia yelled out as she made a quick splint for one of the injured civilian's legs.

Wally heard his voice being called and then saw the source of that: Kolina. He grinned, just for a moment, happy to see that his sister was okay. In moments like this, it didn't matter how much blood you shared, you were family. They had to ignore that they had just seen each other for the first time in a few months. "Good enough. Come on, we gotta help put the flames out." He ran with her to one of the smaller, closed off fires. Wally put his hands out right away, focusing on the heat and the power of the flames. It took a good minute of concentration, but the heat of the fire, its power began to flow into Wally. "Kolina," he said roughly. "Try to suffocate the flames, or bring us some water."

Kolina nodded at her brother and did the same as him, pulling the energy from it. Soon, she felt she had enough energy to begin her spell. Usually she was able to do it non verbally, but a spell like this needed the focus of a chant. So quietly to herself she began to chant, her hands clasping together leaving her index and middle pressed together pointing at the fire. She stepped towards it, her thumb and index fingers moving to create a triangle as she pressed her palms lower. It took a bit of time, but the fire began to lower and slowly go out. "Fuck." She breathed, sweat beading on her forehead. "We're going to need water too."

The pillar of black smoke dulling the night sky had brought an abrupt and bitter end to the Karavadra's soiree. Adriana was glad to be free of the stuffy elitist environment, but frustration quickly boiled in the blood beneath her skin as she ran over the cobblestones of the city towards the panic with Jax sprinting beside her. "Of all the goddamn nights they pick to light the town on fire, they just had to pick the one time I'm wearing heels." The centurion had discarded said shoes almost immediately after hitting the street, favoring the speed and strength of her bare feet on the uneven ground. She looked across to her fellow centurion with any teasing implication stashed elsewhere for the time being. "We should head to the eastern side. It's the most limited in terms of water access, so it's going to be the roughest to tame. If we don't get that scaled down, this is gonna blaze out of control."

Jax had been sprinting the entire way from the Karavadra estate alongside Adriana, but soon enough they came upon a much different scene than the one they had just left. And though he knew the situation to be serious, he couldn't help but crack the smallest smile at Adriana's words. "Expect the unexpected," he said like the asshole he was. But he couldn't deny that he too was annoyed with his current garb of tuxedo and dress shoes. Still, that didn't stop him from springing into action. At Adriana's suggestion, he was already shouting into the nearby crowd. "You heard her! Water! Grab whatever you have that can hold it, and start a bucket brigade heading over to the east side!" At least those that didn't have any abilities that could help directly now had something to do as well.

Kolina was not mentally, emotionally, or fashionably prepared for this situation. Here she was, standing in front of a raging fire in her overall shorts and a crop top. Her shoes had pineapples on them, not goddamn fires. These were her favorite shoes and she would be damned if they were ruined. So much like Adriana did with her heels, Lina took off her shoes and threw them behind her with yell of "Incoming!" She backed up slightly, trying to survey the area,"We need water over here!"

Despite how inappropriate it was for Jax to crack a little whip of his usual wit, Adriana's frustration was lightened by it. Technically, he wasn't wrong. But how did one prep for an impromptu forum barbecue? She rolled her eyes, flashing the briefest smile before giving way to the driving personality she'd begun to master in her current station. Her confidence was further bolstered by Jax's -- surprisingly -- unchallenged support of her strategy. It gave her a rush that she attributed to pride and respect, but may just as well have come from other curious forces... The daughter of Mars clasped a hand on his wrist, demanding, "Gather everyone you can, get them organized, but before we head over--" hazel orbs snapped aside nearer to the origin of the blaze where she had spotted Maia on the ground tending to a few battered civilians. "Let's clear them out of here. They'll only complicate everyone's efforts and it's dangerous enough as it is." Without waiting to see if Jax would follow, Adriana hurried over to the younger centurion and crouched to her left, not giving a thought to the blood and ash that was surely snagging on the sheer material of her skirt. "No medic yet, but we can at least get them out of the way and into relative safety." Briefly, a steadying hand touched the young woman's shoulder. "Are these three the only ones around here?"

Maia had finished binding the man's leg and was preparing to lift the unconscious boy onto her shoulders in a one-man carry when she felt someone touch her shoulder. Glancing up, a rush of relief washed over her as she saw that it was Adri. Maia nodded, but she gestured to the chaos around her. "I'm pretty sure, but there could be more civilians. It's hard to see through all of this." She said and directed her attention to the boy. Maia was vaguely aware of someone shouting "Incoming," but didn't fully process it until a canvas shoe smacked her in the face. "Que comemierda lanza un zapato--" She swore and tossed the pineapple print shoe to the side. Looking at Adri, she tilted her head to the adults. "Take your pick, I'm gonna get this kid to safety." She said and hoisted the kid onto her back before running away from the fire.

Jax wasn't above questioning Adriana's every word during ever other interaction they had. But when there was an enormous fire blazing in all of their faces, and this wasn't particularly the time to fight her on everything. Apparently New Rome burning was what it took to shut their bickering up. His eyes flashed to her's as she took his wrist in her hand, and he gave her a nod before he turned away. Sparing a glance to Kolina, he decided not to bother the woman. Whatever she was doing, it looked rather important, so he forewent asking her to join in on their own efforts. Instead he began tapping those who weren't gathering items to put out the fire with, telling them to pick up whoever they could and get to the lake. If the fire spread, that would be the safest place to be. But it wasn't fast enough. Jax stood on a nearby bench and cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting the same message to those below. "And for the love of the gods don't trample each other! Stay calm!" As the herd of people steadily began to move themselves towards the lake, he went back to the fire. If only Fergus had been here. It would have made things a lot easier, though that wasn’t necessarily a guarantee seeing as he’d neglected training his water abilities. Instead he went to Kolina, trying to figure out exactly what she was doing. He had the smallest of hunches, having heard her words about elemental magic earlier on. "Does this have something to do with water or earth, because I sure hope so. If you can't do water, try for smothering it with dirt. You've already got enough of it here."

Kolina planted her feet firmly, staring down the fire as she started to gather her energy from it. Thank god that magic was connected just as much to nature as it was to people. "I can do any of the elements, Wally helping stop the fire from spreading." She locked her hands again, doing the motions once again, her quiet voice chanting words smothered by the sound of the flames. A good amount of flames sputtered out, but Lina was breathing heavier now. "I can smother the flames myself, I can use water, or dirt. Any of them are going to take time though." She brushed some of her hair off her forehead were it was now sticking to her sweat. "When I'm in the middle of a spell... Make sure no one tries to touch me." She didn't want to know what would happen if she lost control of a flame she had reigned in

Adriana was a natural leader. She might not admit that to herself or anyone around her, but under pressure, it showed. There was no hesitation in her calls, and when she met Jax's eyes, part of her believed she wouldn't need to say anything at all. Her gaze and expression may have been enough. Nevertheless, once Jax had marched off to handle the upright crowds (perfect for a son of chaos, she thought), Adriana found herself joining Maia's cause. The elder centurion saw the relief that flashed in the other's eyes and gave her a minuscule smile before she nodded, "We handle what we can. There's no use risking our lives in the smoke at this point." Then, just as Adriana was about to speak once more, a shoe can flying out of nowhere and hit the poor girl square in the face. A pineapple shoe. Which Adri knew. Well, at least she knew Lina was here. On any other occasion the incident may have been funny, but right then Adriana was too invested in the insanity to care. "Good. Get him to the lake and make sure a medic gets to him immediately," she told Maia before walking over to the woman whose head was gashed by gods know what. She was still conscious and able to walk. It would be a quicker journey to the lake with her than the man with the splinted leg. Adriana helped her up and supported her by having her loop an arm across her shoulders. She wrapped an arm around the woman's waist to assist in keeping her upright on her feet and began the careful approach to the lake.

Maia followed Adri's directives to the letter, heading for the lake as quickly as she could without jostling the boy too much. She didn't know the extent of his injuries and didn't want to make anything worse. But, as she neared the drop off location, the child began to whimper in pain-- while it hurt to hear, at least he was able to feel his injuries. "Hi there!" She panted as she continued to run. "We're... gonna be okay." Maia reassured him as she made her way towards the triage that had been set up, no doubt by those descended from Apollo. Maia made her way further into the crowd and let out a sigh of relief when she spotted someone from the infirmary that she knew. "Found him when he was unconscious, he woke up on the way here. A man and woman should also be coming soon." She briefed the medic as she set the child down. "Okay, you're gonna be safe here. I need to get back out there, but everything is fine now!" Maia smiled, doing her best to keep spirits light as the boy sobbed. The medic glanced at her, nodding that the situation was under control. With a brief hug of reassurance, she ran back towards where she had left the adults and spotted the man, who was grimacing in pain. "Hi! Back again! Let's get you to the lake." She said and helped him up, letting him rest heavily against her shoulders. Oh gods, this was going to be a heavy trip.

Jax still wasn't sure exactly what Lina was working on, but she seemed certain enough in what she was doing. And he knew her to be more intelligent than most people assumed her to be after the times he'd witnessed her flexing that intelligence. "Alright," was all he said as he made sure to stay close to Lina for the time being, making sure people stayed clear of her. But at the same time he was sure to yell orders to the bucket brigade as they continued to form, helping them to more effectively get the line up and running.

Kolina had to close her eyes for a second, this was taking a lot more energy out of her than she expected. Elemental magic was not what she was good at, and magic at this scale was taking it's toll on her. She wiped the sweat from her face again, before pulling her socks off to dig her feet in the dirt a bit and touching the dirt for a quick second. To those watching she was sure she looked completely insane, but she had to feel the element she was going to use. Earth was the strongest for her and she was obviously struggling from smothering the fire. "Please work." She whispered to the ground before standing. She began whispering different words, her hands starting as fists clenched next to the other. Slowly her fists twisted downward and then moved above her head. Dirt began to float around them and to focus she had to close her eyes, until it was above some of the fire, where she suddenly unclenched her fists and the dirt fell to smother some of the fire. She touched her nose when she felt a bit of wetness,"Great. Cool. Cool. Cool. Okay." Her nose was starting to bleed.

Cat had been at the closing party like every other person who was anybody in New Rome. Unlike Adriana and Jax however, she hadn't headed straight for the fire. Instead, she'd headed to the lake, she needed to set up a field hospital and she knew that at least a dozen of her cohort would be around. As she arrived, along with every other legionnaire she'd spotted on the way, she snapped orders at everyone. "Erect the surgery tent there Bryce, Richard, I want everyone who isn't busy with the wounded searching local homes and shops for fire extinguishers." Turning she caught sight of the son of Vulcan she had requested. He wasn't Albie, but he'd do. He was their local siege engine expert. "Keep the ballistas as close to the line as possible, I'll provide you a marker with purple flares. Load them with all the fire extinguishers and use a type F volley until you're out of ammo or the fire has been put out." Now all she needed to do was get closer to the blaze.

Wally stayed close to Lina. Being of the same divine heritage would come in handy now, as it would with anyone who had siblings. The iris' in Wally's eyes took on a violet huh as he extended his will over the flames. This one fire began to die out, heat lost as it all came to Wally. Touching fires were painfully terrible, but feeling them around you, inside of you was something completely other worldly. All of this energy though needed somewhere to go, otherwise you'd have Wally walking around with small objects bursting into flames around him. He looked over to Kolina and saw that while she was doing great, she was pushing past her own limits. "Stop," he said to her, surprisingly in a calmer tone than what was going on in his head. Wally's hands dropped and he moved over to her. "Stop, it's okay." Wally put his arms around her waist and started to focus on his breathing. "Take it easy." All the energy within him began to, sort of, rotate in a way. Like spinning around would change it's needs - and it did. The heat he'd absorbed became, through pure will and need a greater healing. A soft green aura developed around the siblings and Wally gave everything he'd just taken into her. The words that fell from his mouth came out in Ancient Greek. Wally focused solely on Lina while watching everyone else fight the fire. "Steady your breathing."

Fergus rarely ever hesitated regarding most everything but this time around, as Adriana and Jax and Cat bolted past him, he stood there for a long moment and watched as the acrid smoke started to rise from the senate house. There was something about fire that always had him wanting to run in the opposite direction, like his utmost nature. But the more he stood there, the more his city would burn, the more people would get hurt and it wasn't only his duty as a legionnaire but as a citizen, he just couldn't stand to the sideline and watch. Contradicting everything that told him to run away, Fergus bolted to follow suit when he was caught in a throng of people. Putting fingers up to his mouth he whistled to the panicked people around. "This way, in an orderly fashion and NO ONE has to get hurt." He started moving through the crowd, making some help others, trying to organize things as he reached through and found himself closer to the lake than to the fire. "CAT." Fergus called out for his cousin, and former Centurion as he spotted her and made a beeline towards her. "I--" He waved towards the lake, unable to actually properly voice his plan as he simply lunged forward. "I'm gonna need your help." Fergus never, not ever, used his water powers. He loathed his nature, and it loathed him back but there was an almost full moon in the sky, and a fire in the Senate.He didn't have time to hesitate as he roused water from the lake, knowing it was also being borrowed from the other side. He didn't have the same control or subtlety as other water demigods who didn't hate their powers, but what he lacked in elegance and practice, he made up for in sheer willpower as the wave rose fifty feet in the air before he could actually drag the barreling mass of water towards the burning building, accidentally knocking whoever got in the way.

Cat knew that Fergus was a son of the sea titan, but she had never seen him do anything nearly this impressive. However, she wasn't about to let a resource as useful as his go to waste. Searching around her, she looked for something that could get them to the senate fast. Even without his wave, she still needed to get the flare there so that the ballista placements could hit the fire as accurately as possible. She noticed it straight away, after all a bright crimson super bike was hard to miss. Leaping on its back, she was pleased to find the keys still in the engine. Flicking the ignition, it coughed once before loudly roaring into life. She tested the clutch and the accelerator once or twice to make sure that she knew what she was doing before roaring towards Fergus. "Get on the back, bring that water with you and we'll at least make a dent in the flames." She waited for him to get on, literally itching to go. Time was of the essence.

Fergus felt overwhelmed for a full moment as he looked into the water, if it had been sea water then it probably would've gotten the better of him but lake water was easier to control and the lake spirit was much nicer than any sea spirit, it was also Roman, so it wanted to help. They held a brief mental conversation while Fergus steadied his feet, what felt like an hour inside his head was just a few seconds before Cat's calling snapped him out of it. He turned back and nodded, holding the mass of water felt pretty much like he had chains in his hands and neck and he was supposed to be dragging a truck, probably if he practiced it'd been better but alas. He hopped on the bike, his back against Cat's. "We can do this. Fergus steadied himself and watched as the water body vaguely shaped itself in resemblance of a serpent as it moved.

Cat revved the engine before roaring up the wide streets of New Rome, she watched as the water trailed behind them, it almost seemed to take on the shape of a serpent, but Cat couldn't be sure. It might just be her imagination and anyway it wasn't as if she had the time to really take a proper look, she was pretty busy doing her best not to get them killed. She'd driven a motorcycle once or twice, but never at anywhere near this speed. Leaning left, she took a shortcut that led up the hill towards the forum. Despite her best efforts however, she realised that they were still going to slowly. The Senate House would almost certainly be damaged irreparably by now. She just hoped that everyone had been able to get out on time. Turning she shouted towards Fergus. "We're about two minutes out, I'm going as fast as I can. Are you doing ok?" While she didn't have powers of her own that could be used to this same extent, her own powers being much more subtle, she knew that using them near constantly for so long was a good way to exhaust yourself.

Fergus felt the tension pulling through his entire body. These were powers he never used, the serpent stared back at him and he stared back at it. He was not going to fail his city in this time of need and that was the power that held him together then. He had never tried to use that much water at once and never in such a dire situation but he knew he could, he had to believe he could. If felt not only like lifting a ton but also like he had been running a marathon for hours. "I'm fine, cuz." He tried to sound smarmy, almost cocky but it came through gritted teeth. They were too far the closest they got to flames, the more effort he put. It was only when he felt blood start dripping down his nose that he realized the mistake of neglecting his water-related powers for so long, but now was not the time for lamenting as he held up the mass of water and his arms started trembling some. Steadying himself forcefully, Fergus was damn sure he'd need at least a day off after this.

Lucinda wasn't one for giving orders, but she liked to think she was good at following them. She wasn't sure where Callum was, but New Rome was never really short of Centurions shouting orders so she had been directed towards the lake where someone had set up an emergency triage area. She was much better at causing an injury than she was at fixing them but she knew her limited first aid could probably help someone.

Cat pulled up alongside the forum. They were finally here. She couldn't wish for anything else, turning to Fergus she found herself looking into the eye of a giant Serpent. It was a light, almost green blue. Fergus' power, even if raw and untrained, and by the looks of her cousin, incredibly painful to use for this long -- he looked exhausted. She gunned the bike between two bollards and down three flights of steps, roaring past Jax, Adriana, Lina and Wally. She skidded to a halt just in front of the fire, already fumbling for the pack of purple flares she had picked up from the docks of the Lake. "Fergus, do it now!" she shouted, hoping that Fergus would take the cue. She knew that even with Fergus they weren't going to beat this fire just with what they'd brought from the lake.

Maia had finally made her way to the lake, dragging the man along with her-- he had fainted from the pain on the way there, which had made her task all the more harder. But, she dropped him up at one of the surgery tents because the guy was going to need all the help he could get. Her splint was good enough to stabilize the wound, but it wasn't going to do much more than that. As she handed him off to a medic from the First, Maia took the moment to catch her breath and take in her surroundings. The tent seemed to be well-run, and it wasn't as though they needed much more help. Looking back at the fire, Maia took in a deep breath. Time to get back out there. Noticing one of the legionnaires from her brother's cohort, she waved a hand, "Hey! Hey Lucinda! There are people trapped in the buildings at the forum, c'mon!" She said and began to run down the streets towards the blaze. Elogiar a Dios that she wasn't stuck in a dress like some of the other folks she'd seen tonight.

Kolina took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I'm okay, Wally. Looks like I have to practice elemental more." She wiped her face, a little bit of blood smearing, but her nose stopped bleeding for the moment. When the bike came barreling by her, she made a surprised noise, leaning back from it. "Was that Cat? And Fergus?" She grinned when she saw the water Fergus brought with him. She pushed away Wally. "Come on, Wally! This is our chance to really stop it." Sprinting away from him and Jax, towards Cat and Fergus, she was very careful of her bare feet. She had to catch her breath when she made it there, the sprint reminding her how tired she felt. "Wow, okay, on the to do list, run more."

Lucinda had been helping to wrap a woman’s leg in bandages – her eyes trying to avoid looking too closely at the wound when Maia called her name and told her to follow. If she had to choose between running towards fire, and cleaning blooded legs, she would have picked the latter. But orders were orders and with a quick knot tied on the bandage she picked up her scarf from where she'd thrown it to the side earlier and ran after Maia. "We should start closer to the fire and work our way back!" She called, Lucinda might not be one of calling orders but her logic tended to be sound.

Wally huffed and shook his head. "Yeah, once you get out of here and back to safety." He pushed her hair back and looked at her face. When the bike came roaring by and he saw a sever amount of water following, his eyes widened. "The fuck?" He was still very conscious of Lina breaking away from him. "Hey, hey - Lina, stop! You gotta rest for a second!" He started to run after her, going deeper into the fire. Wally took a moment to let Lina get a bit ahead while he stole again the energy from the flames, giving himself something to work with.

For the first time since his arrival at Camp Jupiter, Duke wasn't entirely sure what to do with himself. He wanted to credit it to the fact that the initial shock was still present, but even so, he'd never been involved in a disaster such as this. He didn't have control over the elements, he couldn't call in a storm or anything fancy like that. But what he did have was his durability. It was no secret that Mars kids were slightly more hardened than the average demigod, so he figured he could so a little damage control on the inside. He took a deep breath as he fastened a bandanna around the lower half of his face, mentally preparing himself for the peril to come before he went charging into the blaze after Lucinda and Maia. "Hello?" he called out, venturing on his own path in an attempt to cover a bit more ground. "Can anybody hear me?" The heat was intense, more than he'd ever been made to withstand, but he held his ground.

Kolina looked back at Wally and grinned, looking tired. "I've got this, I'm fine." She wipes under her nose,"Thanks to you my nose even stopped bleeding." The bleeding had stopped, but Lina's face was rather sooty and under her nose and on her cheek a bit bloody. "You should help Fergus! You're better at healing than I am." With that, she turned back to the flames, digging her bare feet into the dirt again and focusing herself to gather energy from the elements again. It wasn't the same rush she had felt originally, but it certainly made her feel better than she was currently. She focused on a large set of flames, pointing her two fingers at them, and began chanting louder.

With Kolina having moved elsewhere, and with Wally along with her, Jax went after his sister and Fergus. Most of the civilians had cleared the immediate area surrounding the fire by now. As he got closer he saw the flares in her hand, and after years of working closely with his sister— Jax was certain he was safe in his assumption that he knew her plan. Stopping beside her, he held out a hand. "Give me some of the flares, if the two of us spread them we can work faster." Just then he saw from the corner of his eye someone who obviously had a death wish moving towards Kolina as if they were needing to tell her something. His eyes scoured the ground around him, looking for something to throw to keep them away. And found...a pineapple shoe? Picking up the strange article of clothing, he threw it with accuracy at the person trying to touch Lina, and was pleased when it met them with a resounding thump. "Don't touch her unless you want this fire getting out of control again!"

With the spell finished, Lina's nose automatically started to bleed again. She wiped it away, but the flow continued. "Well, my overalls are going to be absolutely stained." She looked over at the person who was now laying down with her shoe next to them. "Hey! That's my shoe! Where'd you find that?" When the person pointed over to Jax, she grinned at him, an odd sight considering the fire raging behind her, her barefoot state, and the blood flowing freely from her nose. "You found my shoe! Thanks for keeping him away." She gave him a thumbs up.

Continuing with his search, Duke's ability to breathe was beginning to wane. It seemed the further he went into the building, the thicker the smoke became. He tried his best to continue calling out for anyone who might have been trapped, but his cries became progressively more raspy and unclear. Finally, when it seemed he couldn't go any further, something caught his attention in his peripheral vision. Someone was trapped underneath a wooden beam with the fire growing closer and closer to where they laid helpless. Immediately springing to action, he made his way to the victim and went to attempt to lift the beam, but it was red hot and impossible to maintain contact with it without suffering severe burns. Determined not to leave them behind, he went in for another try, but this time he didn't feel the sting of the fire on his palms. With his enhanced strength he managed to lift the beam long enough for the person to shimmy out from underneath it before he let it drop to the ground, immediately moving to lift them onto his shoulder and make his way toward the only exit he really knew of. Climbing out of the window, he suddenly became aware of the bright orange aura that now surrounded him, and to the untrained eye it would seem as though he himself was on fire, but anyone who knew anything about Mars and the blessing he offered knew what was going on.

Fergus stood there as he hopped right off the bike and took a deep breath. By the time they reached the buildings on fire, blood had washed down his face and into the blue dress shirt he'd been wearing at the party. "CAT." He shouted back at her. "I HAVE TO GO INSIDE TO BREAK THE CONNECTION, WE CAN'T SAVE THERE, BUT WE CAN SAVE HERE." He shouted back at his cousin before stalking into the entrance arches of the forum. He could hear Cat's shouting, he saw Jax from the corner of his eyes and nodded, surrounded and followed by the body of water holding itself together at his expense, he could almost feel his heartbeat slow. The serpent circled around him once and in a swift, wave-like motion, he sent the water body barreling into the forum. It wasn't enough to extinguish it all right away but enough for the nearest buildings and the people around, also enough to pry away some of the smoke into another direction. Fergus couldn't move right away as if there was lead in his arms and feet and what he was not counting on was the force of the water to bring down some of the support columns around him so he only had time to roll away before they came down on him.

Adriana had kept by the lake for a few minutes to be sure the woman she'd carried down out of the flames received the attention she required, and before she knew it, one of the medics had roped her into assisting with the task of calming down some of the hysterical individuals. Dispelling the worst of their worries and fears wasn't quite the same as calming her legionnaire's battle jitters, but it was better than nothing. With the thanks of Apollo's children at her back, Adriana then set off to pursue the event that most concerned her. The massive stream of water pulled from the lake was certainly an awesome sight for the average New Roman, but for Adriana, it struck a deep pang of concern into heart. A command of so much water was beyond that of your average demigod, which led her to assume with confident likelihood that Fergus, her cousin, the son of Oceanus, who hadn't used his aquatic abilities for years, was suddenly attempting a formidable use of power, and while impressive, the potential consequences were harrowing. The centurion paid no mind to the pain in the soles of her feet. She was thriving on adrenaline and a spark of fear for the young man who she still considered a baby brother, despite his grumblings toward the matter. She sped past burning buildings and her struggling companions, rooted in that tunnel vision of familial desperation. When she finally neared the forum, she watched as her cousin hurled a wave through the complex-- and took out some of the columns in the process. Ignoring the few shouts of concern that followed her, Adriana darted right into the thick of the collapse, locating the young soldier and pulling him that extra few feet away just in the nick of time. The pair barely escaped being crushed under a colossal chunk of marble. While the smoke was clearing in the others' view, Adriana sat up to assess her cousin, frowning at the blood that stained his face and shirt, but glad to see him alive, nonetheless. "Fergus," the daughter of Mars took his face in her hands in a scolding yet grateful manner. "I swear to the gods, if you hadn't almost gotten yourself buried you would be in so much trouble right now." Then she breathed, sharply, and snatched him up in a well-deserved, bone-crushing embrace. "You're lucky to be alive, you idiot."

Wally hadn't let Kolina's words go unheeded. Looking back, he saw the magnificence of what some redhead was doing. For a moment he thought Percy Jackson had dyed his hair, and got a bigger build. When the flames died down around the man and he could see clearer, it was a surprise to see that Fergus "frog legs" Fitzgerald was the one contorting this mound of water. He was impressed so much that for a moment Wally was taken out of reality and just admired the scene unfold before him. Then came the column crashing down. He seemed to jinx them both. Wally pulled a green stone off the necklace he was wearing and held it tight in his palm. The charged crystal gave him its power, and Wally, for a few seconds was able to run right over, just as another person pushed Fergus out of the way. Wally ended up landing on his hands and knees right next to the pair. Slowly the blonde got to his feet and ripped another stone off his necklace. This one, blue, would aide them in healing. "You guys look like you might need help." He bent down to the woman and Fergus. "Fergus, what do you need?"

Fergus felt almost as if he was somewhere else, the cracking fire and falling pieces of building around him were all echoes as he sat up almost in slow motion. Part of consciousness was off, he couldn't point anything, almost as if he had had too much to drink and the world started getting blurred in the edges. His nose was still bleeding freely and he could taste it in his mouth, well, if he was conscious enough to point he was tasting blood. Adriana held his face and her voice resounded far away, along with everything else, his world was still spinning a bit. Clearly the middle of a fire wasn't also the best place for a child of the water to bounce back. He cracked a stupid smirk when Adri hugged him and slowly, a little crooked he embraced her back though the edges of his eyesight started to go black, Fergus shook his head trying to pry it away. He looked up to find a blond's face in front of him, and frowned, his voice was equally distant. "I can't stand." He croaked out as his legs were useless and weak, he coughed out and ran the back of his hand over his nose and mouth. "Back to the lake-- I need to go--" His logic was sound, if he could go back to the body of water, he could try to pull another mass and help salvage whatever was left of the buildings.

Adriana couldn't resist a thorough smile when Fergus returned her embrace, however awkwardly he managed to do so. She shut her eyes and for one moment let the relief sink in as though there wasn't still a fire raging nearby. After a gentle kiss was planted to the crown of his head, Adriana squeezed him one last time while she whispered directly into his ear, "I'm so proud of you." She released him afterward, turning to regard the blond who had apparently barreled into the disaster along with them. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine." Not in entirety, but Fergus was leagues worse off than she was, so he took the obvious precedence. "He needs all the help he can get." Of course, heroic young centurion Fergus, gold-hearted boy as he was, was sat there on the ground not even capable of walking and yet insisting that he needed to go back for a second massive water run. "No way in Hades, Hell, or Tartarus are you bending so much as a bubble of water to your will until you are more than healed." Adriana shot Fergus a stern glare that aptly translated just how serious and unyielding she intended to be in the handling of his recovery. She looked to Wally then, placing a hand on his shoulder as she spoke, instructive but grateful. "But he isn't wrong about the lake. He'll be stronger there naturally, and they've set up a temporary infirmary along the beach. If you're able to patch him up enough for the journey, we can take him there together. Gods know it's gonna take more than me to heft him out of this shit show."

Duke was quick to bring the person he'd saved from the fire to the infirmary that had been set up by the water's edge, making sure they were sufficiently taken care of before he glanced over his shoulder just in time to see a tidal wave sweep across the forum. Eyes going wide, he broke out into a sprint toward the commotion to meet up with Fergus, Wally, and Adriana, the bright orange aura that surrounded him fading but still somewhat present. "Is everyone okay? I saw the water--that was incredible, Fergus." He offered a smile to the son of Oceanus before turning his attention to his sister. "Glad to see you're okay too, Adriana."

Adriana grinned Duke came running over, thrilled to not only see him but also to not be instantly scolded for bolting headfirst into a crumbling archway. "I could say the same to you, but--" her eyes swept up and down his form from her seat on the stony ground, "you look way better than okay." It was rare that their father cast his blessing on one of his children, and for Duke to be so honored thrilled his younger sister. No doubt he'd done something heroic of his own to earn it. Slowly, Adriana got to her feet, forcing down the pain that shot up through her feet, cut and bloodied from a reckless, fear-driven run through the streets. She wouldn't let Fergus see it, much less her elder sibling. A sharp intake of breath was masked with a cough. She used the nearest stump of a pillar to steady herself before looking between her two family members. "We need to get Fergus down to the lake to recover," she said to the faintly-glowing figure of Duke. "You wanna give us a hand?"

Duke couldn't help but take notice of Adriana's mannerisms; the way she steadied herself, the hesitation in the way she rose to her feet. He knew Adriana. He knew she had this unwavering pride that would likely get her killed one day, but Duke could more than compensate for that. The thought that she might be hurt pained him, his protective familial instincts coming to light as he quickly wedged himself between her and Fergus, both arms wrapping around them. "You need medical attention just as much as he does. Don't think I didn't see that little stunt of yours." He muttered as he turned toward Fergus. "Got enough energy to walk?"

Maia could hear screams of help from the second floor of the building and immediately ran for the noises. Everywhere was covered in fire and even when she crouched down, it was difficult to see through the smoke. She threaded her way through the flaming piles of rubble and began to make her way up the stairs, dodging under a flaming beam that had collapsed through the burnt out floorboards. Listening, she pinpointed the door where the screams were coming from and kicked the door down. Huddled in a corner were a few scared looking civilians, but none seemed to be harmed. "I'm here to help, let's get going, folks!" Maia yelled through her flannel and led them down the stairs. As they weaved through the flames, a torrent of water burst through the ruined walls and rushed through the house, dousing fires as it washed over the floor. Maia stared at it in horror, flashbacks of Nelson coming back to her as the water covered the floor. Que diablo-- Glancing outside, she caught a glance of Fergus, looking incredibly worse for wear. That's where it was from. But, given how the water was still now, he must have exhausted himself? Gritting her teeth, she focused on the mission. Get the civilians, get out, get them safe. "Okay, guess we're wading!" She yelled and led them through the now flooded bottom floor. The water climbed up her legs, soaking her shoes and the bottoms of her jeans as she led the people out of the house. "Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Jupiter, Hera, mierda, mierda, mierda." She muttered to herself as the civilians ran away, ripping the flannel from her face and putting her hands on her head to calm the anxiety that was growing within her. Deep breaths, deep breaths. Maia stumbled out onto the street towards where a growing cluster of people were standing, including her Co-centurion. "N-nice job. Fergus." She managed, hands shaking.

Fergus tilted his head, his head was still whirring, his world was still spinning and there was still that black edge on his sight. People talking around him sounded off, as if he was in an echo chamber and they were distant from his ears. His limbs felt like lead and he wasn't recovering in any time because whatever humidity was left the fire was quickly eating through it. If he had time to come up with conspiracy theories, he'd even point out that it could be greek fire but this was not the time. A bunch of people huddling under a fire was also a charm for things to go bad so he frowned and shook his head, hand up to his nose trying to stop the gushing of blood. Duke's question dragged him back to where his mind started to wander off. "No." If he was being honest, he'd have to crawl out of there. Years of training had prepared him for much but ignoring his water powers had clearly been a mistake and he was lucky he wasn’t alone, otherwise he'd probably be dead by now. "Get out--" He pointed at Adriana though his unfocused eyes stayed on Duke. "--get her outta here, I'll go with--" And he pointed at the blond sorcerer. He trusted Kolina therefore he was going to trust her brother now. "Him." He drooled blood into his shirt and coughed it in disgust, he pointed at Maia. "Civilians, go get 'em out." He wasn't a firefighter and he had no idea how to fight an enemy you can't predict in any way, but he hadn't trained his whole life to just be useless at once.

Maia did her best to steady herself, to calm the fear that was still gripping her. Forcing her feelings down, she focused on Fergus' directions. Even when he was clearly about to keel over, he was still giving orders and keeping a handle on himself. If he could do that, she could do that. Taking a deep breath, she nodded when he said to go back into the building-- by now the water must have evaporated and quenched the flames. "Got it. See you on the other side." She exchanged a tense smile and gave Fergus a quick hug before tying her shirt back around her head and running back into the building. She could hear the cries of more civilians, but these were muffled. The fire on the bottom floor had been mostly put out, which was helpful, but that didn't change the fact that there were people, probably trapped. Coughing as she ran through the smoke, Maia made her way towards the sounds of terror and was confronted with a door, barred by a flaming wardrobe. "Gods." She muttered and backed up before kicking the wardrobe out of the way. Flaming chunks of wood broke off and landed on her arms, burning her. Swearing in pain, she brushed off the embers and used her shoulder to burst through the door. "C'mon, move it, move it, move it!" She said, directing the civilians out of the room before following suit. Coughing violently and eyes watering from the smoke, she did her best to listen for any other signs of life. When she heard none, Maia bolted out of the house with the civilians. The moment she reached the street, she doubled over and gasped for air, her arms searing and lungs screaming in agony. Spots floated around her vision as she tried to get more oxygen in her system. "I think... that we're good..." Maia said to the nearest legionnaire. "But, I can, I can go back in." She nodded, stumbling slightly as she took a step forward.

Adriana winced a little when her brother draped his arm around her. She was appreciative of the help, truly, but surely he would understand-- she was his family and Fergus was her’s. Just as his protective instincts went live, hers had already been buzzing for some time. "Yeah, I know I do," she sighed, "but I don't actually need it as much as he does." In reference, Adriana twisted to look down at Fergus, her concern multiplying when he couched out blood. They were wasting time bickering about who was taking who to medical, and who demanded treatment most. Adriana could be fairly patient, but this was not one of those times. She ducked out from beneath Duke's arm and, whether he liked it or not, hefted her cousin off the ground with one of his arms over her shoulders and one of her own wrapped around his back and under his arm. If it hadn't been for her parentage, it was unlikely she could have supported him at all, yet here she was, holding him up despite the screaming pain in her feet. But the longer she stood there, the less she felt it, numbing out the sensation by focusing so intensely on her mission that her determination burned out whatever discomfort she should have been feeling. Not a godly power, but a psychological trick. "You--," she glared at Fergus, then around to each boy in turn. Hot-headed helpers, the lot of them, "are not barking orders to anyone in your condition, mister. So shut up and let me take care of you before you bleed out all over everyone." The daughter of Mars huffed and glanced over to Maia. There were civilians that needed herding, but there were plenty of legionnaires around to help with that. "Hey, you!" the centurion shouted at a group of bystanding legionnaires, "get off your asses and help her get these people out or it'll be triple laps for you in the morning." As the gang ran over to assist Fergus' co-centurion, Adriana turned back to her brother. There was a pleading glint in her eyes, one that begged 'I'm sorry. Please allow me this.' "I know I need medical attention, but right now, he's in a far more dire need than myself." Her arm shifted to point out Fergus' worsening consciousness, not that it needed much highlighting. "If you take us both, it's going to take twice as long. Take him and get him there as quickly as you can. I'll still be here." She half chuckled. "It's not like I'll be going far. Please."

Wally looked between Fergus, the girl he'd recognized as Adriana and some man who'd come to assist. Wally put his hand on the back of Fergus' head and lifted him a little. As Adriana picked Fergus up from the ground, he could see it in her face that she was in pain, serious pain. "Let me," he put his hands out and laid one on Fergus' chest, the other coming under his arm and around his back. "I got you, man, it's gonna be okay." He looked back to the fire. It had resonated with him just how serious this all was when he first came to the Senate House. But having to do this, helping someone who was giving away so much, it took him back to the battle with Gaea. Wally then turned his head forward and moved. "You need water?" He waited for a response and then nodded. "Yeah, we'll jus' . . . we're gonna go there." Wally realized just after a moment that Fergus was in no place to walk. Luckily, Wally was a demigod, granted like all the others with gifts of strength. He heaved Fergus up and in one swift motion, put his arm behind his back and the other under his knees. "Let's go, Fitzgerald." Wally walked as quickly as he could, the sweat pouring down from every pore onto both of them. "You're good, you're gonna be okay." The further away from the fire they got, the easier it was for Wally to get Fergus to the lake, as he'd use the energy from the flames to supply him with brute strength to help carry the man. They got down to the lake and Wally lay Fergus in so that from his waist down he was submerged. Wally bent down and rubbed his hands together. "I'm gonna try and heal you, alright? Nothing too serious, just to ease the pain."

Fergus felt like he was watching things from a really shitty kind of television, he cracked out a smirk behind the nose bleeding as Adriana glared back at him. He was damn sure he was gonna get an earful for that... probably tomorrow, after he slept off all this. Sure he had knocked down some columns but he probably also helped at least one person from dying and if that counted for anything, he was good. He tried to help Adriana rouse him to his feet but his legs were useless then, almost limp - he had felt like that very few times in his lifetime, most of them after ridiculously extensive training routines imposed by his mother, this was a first. "You don't need to talk about me as if I'm dying." Fergus croaked because of the blood as he blinked in and out of consciousness, it was just a stupid nasal hemorrhage, not an open flesh wound. He blinked out and back in and suddenly there were arms under his chest and knees, he frowned, staring up at the scorched ceiling of where they stood. That was a first. "Yeah, water." He responded automatically, at this point trying to calculate how he was going to come back with more water. He ended up passing out a full minute before getting to the lake and jolted awake once he was back in, only to find the differently-colored eyes from a sorcerer. "Don't mind me." Fergus smirked back and lunged backwards, disappearing inside the water bed as he was embraced by the lake-dwelling spirit.

Maia was able to catch her breath, shooting a grateful glance towards Adri as a group of Legionnaires branched off towards her. "We need a full sweep of these two buildings. Fergus was able to put out most of the fires, but we gotta check to make sure no one's still in there. Break off into teams of two, half go to one building, half to the other. Have each others backs, and stay low!" She said, going into full Centurion mode. The Legionnaires nodded and began to pair of. Waving at one, she nodded. "You're with me. Let's go." Without another word, Maia led the charge into the other building. Her arms were searing with pain as she threw herself against a door to break it down, but she ignored it as she checked for any signs of life. As they made their way towards the next room, something stood out among the smoke and wreckage, a flash of movement-- Before she could react, the ceiling above them crumbled, dumping brick and fire onto the floor, not three feet in front of them. Glancing at the Legionnaire, she commented, "That was luck--" Before she could finish, a loose chunk of rubble fell and smashed into her head. Maia collapsed. Her ears rang and her vision blackened. She could barely make out the shape of the Legionnaire as he reached out, grabbing hold of her and carrying her out of the building. The last thing she remembered was being laid out on the ground, vaguely aware of cold stone against her hot skin, before she lost consciousness.

As Jax took the flares Cat had handed them, and shrugged out of the constricting tuxedo jacket he'd been wearing at his family's party. Leaving it behind to burn, he took off first along the outskirts of the fire, knowing that Cat would be on the other side with her own flares. But getting to the parts of the fire that needed to be tamed most meant that he had to dive in quite close to them, leaving the lit flares where those manning the ballista by the lake could see their purple fire fly. With every flare that was left, a fire extinguisher was soon taking it's place, exploding in a puff of white that put out the flames in the immediate area. They were also mixed with what looked to be magically contained orbs of water that broke on impact, and Jax assumed that there must have been another child of Trivia helping out with the other side of their operation. At least they wouldn't run out of ammo. He'd heard for Fergus' cry for help sometime during his running about with the flares, and realized with horror that he was nowhere near enough to help his younger cousin. For a moment the world was still, and he was remembering how it had been in those last few moments before he'd seen his best friend trampled to death those eight years ago. He'd never grieved, for it was nearly impossible to process death in the middle of a battlefield. For a moment it came rushing back, and he knew that he was going to watch the man he'd held as a baby perish before his eyes. But then Adriana had rushed in, and Jax was left holding his breath— waiting to see whether he would be doing a body recovery of his family along with the girl he'd had playdates with since he had been six— or if someone would be emerging from the dust. Finally their forms had surfaced, and he let go of the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Unfortunately in his frozen moment, it seemed that a stray spark had caught onto one of his flares, and as he heard the ballista fire from the lake, his eyes widened. "Shit!" he exclaimed as he dropped the flare where he stood before sprinting as far away as possible. A puff of white exploded where he had been standing only moments before, having narrowly avoided getting hit with a high-speed fire extinguisher. Shaking his slip up off, he continued making his way through the fire.

Kolina had started to feel dizzy, the world spinning like a top around her. Still she clasped her hands again, going to try for another spell, but before she could even start she dropped to her knees. Her bloody nose was dripping into the dirt around her, but she shoved her hands into the earth trying to gather as much energy as she could for just one last spell, anyway. She knew that this would be her last of the night. She tried to wait for the water to hit the spot before her, but it was taking too long and the fire was getting too close. With a yell, Lina rose her hands into the tight fists again, chanting as loudly as she could now. An impressive amount of dirt floated around her and she pushed it forward, her hands shaking hard. With the last word, she released her fists and didn't get to see the dirt fall as she did. Blood was flowing heavily from her nose as she laid in the soot, barefoot and unconscious.

Adriana had watched as the chaos began to settle around her. Wally had taken Fergus off toward the lake, Maia and the legionnaires had headed off to evacuate more of the civilians, and Cat and Jax had begun their fire-extinguisher relief disposal via ballista. A few moments later, it seemed that Maia had taken a hit to the head with some rubble from a collapsing building, but one of the legionnaires helping her out had picked her up and hefted her off toward the lake. This left Adriana more or less standing by her lonesome in the middle of it all. She sighed, used the nearby stump of a pillar to take some of the pressure off of her feet, and scanned the surrounding area. It looked as though most of the civilians were gone and the legionnaires had, for the most part, filed out. Everyone was headed back toward the safety of the lake. Well, she thought, best to go check on Fergus and the medics. There was nothing for her in the remnants of the forum. Adriana needed to be where she was useful rather than feeling as put out and helpless as she did right then and there. Getting to the lake was a challenging effort. Whether it was small blades of rock, broken glass, or gods know what else, Adriana's bare feet hadn't been well treated by the disastrous environment. Her dress was torn in places, stained in ash and blood, charred near a few of the edges; her hair was a mess, the braid near completely demolished and thus leaving a few odd knots that she'd have to smooth out later; cuts and bruises on her arms and legs from her tumble to rescue her cousin -- it all sounded rather grim, but in fact, focusing on those details helped to distract from the actual physical discomfort as the centurion made her way to the lake. Once she arrived, she quickly located the blond sorcerer and, hopefully, her kin. But she would leave Fergus to rest for a bit longer. Right now, she could use some rest herself. And by leaning back against a tree up a ways from the beach, Adriana did just that.

Cat revved the engine of the borrowed super bike one more time, she'd handed Jax some flares and she had the rest. She just needed a good place to set them off. Whizzing around the edge of the forum, Cat circled the fire with the bag of flares in one hand, screeching to a halt, she spotted a good position and aimed herself at a sign that had been knocked to the ground. It'd make a good makeshift ramp. Barreling down, she felt herself fly through the air on the back of the bike, and like an acrobat she lifted herself off of it, and placed her feet on it, pushing off at the last minute, she hung the flares around a hook that was out of reach of the flames for a second and hit the ground with a roll. Her bike disappeared into the mass of flames (something she regretted, she was beginning to grow attached). As the flames ate their way through the canvas bag, she watched as the purple flares caught light and a mass of purple smoke began pouring into the sky.

As the ballista rained down on the ruins of the Senate building, they made quick work of the majority of the remaining fire. The outskirts of the inferno had been entirely doused, leaving nothing but smoking patches in wake of the flames that had blazed there. But there were still two patches of flames that had yet to be tamed. It seemed Cat had taken care of one of them, as he saw purple smoke billowing from the one opposite himself after her impressive stunt, and soon enough those flames had been quenched by the ballista as well. That left the last one to him. It was in nearly the dead center of what had been the Senate building. He'd need to drop the last of his flares into the middle of the fire to give those at the lake an effective last shot, but he needed a way to get there, and the fire was still too tall to throw the flares into the center without possibly having them spark and smoke too early. Jax's abilities hadn't been of much use tonight, but there was one he might be able to make use of now. His Nox heritage wasn't all that prominent, but there were a few parts of him that still belonged to the night. Letting out a low whistle, a large raven came to him— landing softly on his shoulder. Having the bird grasp the last of his flares in its talons, it was only a few short mental sentences to the winged creature of the night later that the bird flew over the fire, dropping the flares just where Jax had instructed it to. The ballista did it's job, the fire was won, and the bird flew off into the into the horizon, where the dawn had just began to rise. And though it was obscured by the smoke rising from the smoldering remnants of the Senate building, it still brought a message of hope to those who basked in it. Today had belonged to the fire. But tomorrow would belong to New Rome and its citizens as they banded together to rebuild, restoring to their city it's legendary glory.

[fandomlife-giver]

The Job of A High School Chef!: 3

Summary: Though it was incredibly difficult and challenging, you succeed in pulling of the biggest climax ever at Ouran Academy.

Pairings: Eventual!Kyoya x Reader

@animallover1089

Warnings: None

Word Count: 3891

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"Ugh!" "Hold still!" "I don't like how this feels! It's so girly!" "It's a dress! It's not manly! Hush up and for Pete's sake, stop moving!" You flinched when she pulled the fabric tighter together and zipped up the back of the dress. And once it was over, you didn't even realize you were holding your breath until you heard her sigh in relief. She grabbed your shoulders and turned you around to where you were seeing yourself in the mirror.  "There. See, don't you look pretty?" You looked yourself up and down, on the outside showing a frowning disgust, but on the inside...you thought you looked kinda nice. "I hate it." She sighed and held back an eye roll. "Come on, you're used to wearing dresses, you shouldn't be so negative every time you put one on." You twisted your neck to look at her and smile. "I hate it." "Ow!" You yelped and rubbed the center of your forehead, where she flicked in you out of annoyance. She plopped a hand bag in your hand and smiled warmly at you. "I know this will make you uncomfortable, but just smile and at least try to have fun." And with a kiss on the spot where she abused you, she was practically pushing you out the door. "And try bringing home a cute one, okay?" Your eyes widened as you looked back, but she was already shutting the door. Glancing around at the empty street, you sighed deeply. And with your arms crossed, you began walking down the street. "Wait, Y/N!" Furrowing your brows, you turned around and once you saw the running figure of Haruhi, you smiled. "Hey, Haruhi. You're walking too, huh?" She shrugged as she stopped and you both continued walking. "My dad's not home around this time. So, you're stuck with me."

She stepped in front of me, moving her legs so she was walking backwards and looked you over. 

"Wow, you look great, Y/N. You should wear dresses more often."

She looked up and her happiness faded once she saw the frown on your face.

"No, thanks."

You took the moment to look over her outfit. Of course, it wasn't some poofy dress. It was a suit, most likely one provided by the host club. And you were sure that if anyone from school actually saw you both together, they'd assume the most logical thing.

*honk* *honk*

You both slowed down and looked back. You mentally groaned.

"Oh, great."

By the look of the sleek, long black limousine, you already guessed it was some group of girls ready to jump Haruhi's bones and stampede over you to do it.

But that thought left when the sun roof rolled down and two familiar faces poked out.

"Hey, sis! Hey, Haruhi!"

As soon as the car came to a stop, the door to the side facing you opened up and you both peeked inside, to see Tamaki relaxing in the seat right in front of it, Kyoya sitting beside him, and the legs of the two boys that first greeted you, standing beneath the exposed top.

Tamaki spread his arms.

"Good evening, ladies. It's far too cold to be walking out here. Care for a ride?"

Haruhi rose an eyebrow. "Uh, it's, like, 70 degrees out here."

Without giving her another moment to speak, you grabbed her arm and pulled her into the car with you.

"Come on, Haruhi. As if I want to do any more walking in these heels."

The door shut behind you and you felt the car begin to move again.

Tamaki was, of course, the first to speak.

"You look absolutely breathtaking, Princess."

He glanced over at the man next to him and chuckled. "Don't you agree, Kyoya?"

You gulped and turned to Kyoya, stiff as you awaited his response.

He glanced up from his phone call, then pressed the end button on his phone.

"Y/N, have you picked a song to perform tonight?"

Your excitement slowly faded and you looked away with a bid.

"Yes. I did."

He smiled in approval. "Good. I have high expectations, so don't mess this up."

You glanced back to him, eyes narrowed. "That I can promise. I won't let myself fail."

The twins poked their heads back inside the car and Tamaki looked up, while Haruhi also looked between you and Kyoya, pointing a finger between you.

"Wait. So, are you saying Y/N is actually singing tonight?"

Kyoya was typing away on his phone, then put it up to his ear.

"Well, it is what I'm paying her for. What kind of event singer would she be if she didn't?"

You were glaring daggers of death at him, and the car felt tense the entire car ride to the party.

*****

"It is so good to see you here tonight, my little lambs."

Tamaki rubbed his chin as he stared out at his audience.

"The Ouran Host club would like to bid you..."

Placing a hand under his chin, he bowed his head.

"Welcome."

At that single word, the light that made up one of the 3 chandeliers lit up, followed by the other two. The orchestra of violins filled the room, and the applause of the audience, that was only made up of women, rang in the air.

Stepping forward, you tied your apron around your waist and folded your hands behind your back as you addressed them.

"As always, ladies, the host club is here for your entertainment. So we invite you to dance to your heart's content. Based on your dancing skills, one lucky lady will be chosen as tonight's Queen."

You then outstretched your arms and gestured them over to the man standing above you on the second staircase. "The Queen's reward will be a passionate kiss on the cheek...from our King."

Tamaki smirked at them all and crossed his arms. "Good luck to you..." He then brought his fingers to his lips and blew them all a kiss. "My darlings."

Just that fantasy alone was enough to send the sea of girls into a frenzy. A few actually fainted. And it made you sigh through the smile on your face.

"Look at them. I'm almost embarrassed to call myself one."

Kaoru came up next to you and bumped your side. "Oh, cheer up, sis!"

Hikaru ruffled your hair and rested his elbow on your shoulder afterwards. "Don't worry, we'll make sure you'll have someone to dance with."

"Oh, yay, great."

Fortunately, their attention was moved over on to Haruhi as she was moping at the crowd.

They both appeared behind her with their hands on their hips, speaking simultaneously.

"Haruhi, show some enthusiasm!"

She sighed at them. "Well excuse me you guys, sorry. I'm not used to this sort of thing. I've only gone to the festivals held in my neighborhood park."

You crossed your arms at her. "I don't really think you can count that as a party. Only, like, 15 people even come to those."

Kyoya spoke up as he wrote on his clipboard without looking up at her. "Well, since you're already here, you might as well get something to eat. I'm sure one Y/N's dishes can raise your spirits. She's put out quite a spread."

Haruhi perked up and turned her head to you. "A spread? With....fancy tuna?"

The sound of Kyoya's pencil breaking by too much force out of surprise made you flinch as the twins widened their eyes.

You furrowed your brows, incredibly confused by what she meant. "Fancy tuna?"

And out of nowhere, Tamaki jumped down from where he had been standing above you and pointed at Kyoya in a commanding tone.

"Get some tuna here right now!"

Which resulted in Kyoya sharply turning his head to you, a voice of seriousness. "Y/N, prepare some deluxe sushi."

You were even more confused as to their reactions and why sushi was now such a high priority. Yet, you still smiled, though your eyebrow was twitching.

"Uh, okay." And off you scurried, towards the kitchen.

Haruhi shook her head and reached her hand out in an attempt to stop you. "Y/N, you don't have to-"

She was interrupted by the twins crushing her in a hug, which only made her frown.

Damn these filthy rich jerks.

*******

Once you had finished preparing the last minute load of fancy fish, you hopped out of the kitchen and made a beeline for Haruhi, who was leaning against a pillar, and being painfully unsocial. Once she caught sight of you, she smiled and waved.

You skid to a stop and outstretched the fresh platter to her with a wide smile.

"Her you go, fancy tuna!"

She giggled a little, bur still took the tray. The entire tray, might add.

"You didn't actually have to make it, you know."

You smiled wider. "It's my job to make those around me happy."

She shrugged. "Well, thanks."

And when she turned around to eat her treat, she didn't notice the whiff of air that came as a result of two figures flying by and you were gone seconds after. And when she did feel the air, she turned back.

"Y/N?"

******

You were kicking the two jerks that kidnapped you, and you were yelling at them to let go of you as they ran away, but it was muffled by your face being buried into one of their backs.

Until finally, they stopped running and you heard one voice.

"Great work, boys. Sozushima will be ready any minute, so let's hurry up and make her look presentable."

Kyoya?! 

As soon as they let you down, you were looking at the three of them in anger. 

"What is going on?!"

Instead of an answer, you were shoved back into a small cubicle and landed on the carpet. You winced at the impact, before looking up to see Hikaru holding a pile a folded dress.

"Get changed, we'll explain along the way."

And after tossing them inside, the curtain attached to it shut. You groaned when the dress landed on your face. However, when you took it off and looked it over, your eyes widened.

"T-This is beautiful."

Kyoya scoffed as he adjusted his glasses. "Obviously. The plan wouldn't work otherwise."

"What plan? What the hell is going on here?"

Kaoru leaned against the wall. "To sum it up, the guy you met yesterday, Sozushima, because he's Kanako's ex, we have a plan to bring them back together. Sozushima just arrived and we need you to change his mind and go after Kanako by charming him."

You paused with your dress halfway over your shoulders. "What kind of a plan is that?"

As one of them was about to answer, they were interrupted by what sounded like Haruhi yelling into the room. And all you heard next was Kaoru's voice.

"There she is."

Followed by the sound of Honey's laughter, then Haruhi's voice.

"You didn't have to be so forceful!"

"Never mind that, go get changed."

"Yeah!"

And with a gasp from her, the curtain opened back up and she nearly fell on top of you if you hadn't caught her.

You huffed as she turned around to start getting herself dressed.

"And why is Haruhi a part of this?"

This time, Hikaru began continuing what he was saying.

"There was a last minute issue. We didn't count on Princess Kanako's new fiance to show up this evening to look for Kanako. So, Haruhi here is going to distract him while you talk to Sozushima and the boss talks to Kanako. And when they're both convinced, we will send one after the other. Simple!"

Your eyebrow twitched as you were about to start ranting, but Kyoya's collecting voice beat you to it.

"You can't refuse this, Y/N. I am in charge of you and I say you have no choice to go against it. It's your job as a host club member to make every girl happy. And you hate to disappoint, don't you?"

You tensed up, then sighed out of defeat.

"A little accident towards the end of the night might make the evening more thrilling for everyone."  He chuckled to himself.

"Remember, ladies. There are only twenty minutes remaining before the party reaches its climax. And Y/N, once you finish your part, you need to be on stage to perform for the crowning of the Queen. Haruhi, Kanako's fiance is in the library downstairs, thinking Kanako is coming. Y/N, Sozushima is  waiting for you in the classroom across the hall."

Once you looked to see if Haruhi was done, you were shocked at what a wig, dress and some heels could do. "Woah..."

You slid the curtain door open and once the twins got a look at you, they gasped. "Sissy looks so pretty in that dress!"

But once you stepped aside, they practically yanked Haruhi over to the other side of the room. They forced her to sit down beside a table of various makeup items. 

Honey came over to you and pulled you over to sit beside her next to a hair styling station. Mori stood behind you and began brushing your hair, which you didn't expect at all and it admit ably made you blush a bit.

Honey sat down in front of you. "Now remember, you have to ask him how he feels, okay?"

You smiled down at him. "Don't worry, Honey. I know what to do."

And after Mori finished putting your hair into a loose side ponytail, there was the sound of the room's door opening.

"Here you all are! What are you doing? The guests are-" 

As you turned around in your seat, you saw the starstruck face of Tamaki as he watched Haruhi stand up and turn to look at him.

You followed after her and saw the more love struck look on his face and it made you crack a smirk.

Someone's in looove.

The twins appeared on either side of Tamaki with proud smiles. 

"What do you think?"

Honey looked up at the both of you in awe. "You both look so cute!"

While you began walking uncomfortably out of the room, Haruhi walked beside you, frowning.

"My face feels heavy and it's hard to walk in these shoes!"

You groaned. "You get used to it."

The twins waved you both off as you walked down the hall.

"Good luck!"

******

As soon as you opened the door to the classroom, you saw the back of Sozushima as he gazed out the tall window. And when he heard the door close, he turned and once he saw your face, his eyes enlarged with surprise.

"Y/N? You're the one who wrote this letter?"

You were confused when he held up a folded piece of paper.

"Letter?"

******

'I'm in love-love! From the first time I saw you, I've been head over heels in love! Hehe! It's like my heart is stuck in a never ending typhoon! All these feelings of love keep whipping around in my heart like the breaking waves! When the typhoon's rising water's come, I want to rendezvous with you on Noah's ark! I do! I do!' 

Your face was filled with embarrassment as you finished reading the letter.

I am going to kill those boys.

"Y/N, I didn't know you actually felt that way after we met. I admit there was some sort of connection, but..."

Your head shot up. "N-No! I-It's not what it - I mean I didn't-"

"I'm sorry, Y/N. I do like you and I am flattered, but I only saw you as a friend. You're a great girl, but I don't feel the same way."

When you actually saw his face, it was one of guilt, but you knew it wasn't for you.

"You see, another girl already has my heart."

You gave a weary smile. "I understand. I'm sorry, I didn't know you had a girlfriend."

He actually looked up at you, then out the window.

"Unfortunately, she's not my girlfriend. In fact, I don't think she wants anything to do with me. In all honesty, she'd be better with someone more self-confident than me."

 He sighed to himself. "That's why I decided to change. I want to see the world. Hopefully, become a better man. I know it's selfish, but I wonder if she'll wait for me."

"Yes, that is selfish."

His head snapped back to you, a look on his face as if he had just been stabbed in the heart.

You crossed your arms and shook your head at him. "Do you even realize how much she already cares for you?"

He furrowed his brows.

"It's Kanako, right?"

He froze up. "H-How did you-"

"Oh please, anyone with working eyes can see that. Look, you can't put yourself down because things didn't work out for the best between you two. You don't need to have self confidence, just confidence in her that she will accept you the way you are. You can't keep making excuses because you’re too afraid to just talk to her."

You folded your hands together and glanced back up at him.

"You can't hope for the best, you need to guarantee it. That won't happen by wishing. You already know who you should be talking to right now. And it isn't me."

His lips parted as he breathed out a response. "Thank you, Y/N."

You smiled at him right when you heard the door creak open. Looking back, you smiled bigger when you saw Kanako's heartbroken face at the sight of you two, before she quickly apologized and ran out of the room.

"Wait!"

You turned back to him and nodded your head. 

"Go get her."

Without a second thought, he ran out of the room, screaming her name.

"Kanako!"

You hugged yourself as you walked towards the door. It's our job, as members of the elite host club, to make every girl happy. And my job as the host chef to make every person satisfied with our service.

"Show time."

******

Standing atop the staircase outside in the cool evening air, you all waited patiently for them to come out. Honey was looking over the edge.

"Do you see them yet?"

You shook your head as you adjusted your mic. "Any second now."

And you were right. Not a second later, the figure of Kanako running out onto the gravel came to sight, with Sozushima right behind her. 

"Now?"

"Not yet."

The moment Sozushima grabbed Kanako's hand and forced her to look at him, Tamaki's hand shot up.

"Now!"

3 spotlights came on what at a time and brightly shined down on them. This left them staring up at the crowd of girls surrounding them, and the host club members that stood atop the staircase.

You stepped forward to the mic.

"Ladies and gentlemen. It is now time for us to have the final dance of this evening's festivities. The last waltz of the host club has been chosen for..."

You gestured down to them.

"This couple."

When Kanako realized what was happening, a look of fear came on her face. She stepped back from him as he pulled his hand from hers and closed his eyes. He put out his hand to her and bowed his hand.

"Princess Kasaka...May I have this dance?"

Her eyes widened with terror as a blush came on his cheeks and he looked back up at her.

For a moment, he thought she would refuse, until she softly smiled and put her hand in his.

"...Yes."

The sight of it made a grin spread on your lips as you nodded to the band to start.

When the rain is blowing in your face And the whole world is on your case I could offer you a warm embrace To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear And there is no one there to dry your tears Oh, I hold you for a million years To make you feel my love

I know you haven't made your mind up yet But I will never do you wrong I've known it from the moment that we met No doubt in my mind where you belong

You opened your eyes to see the happy smiles plastered on their face, along with the awe of the twins at your voice as they devoured the banana sundaes from your spread. Though you couldn't laugh, your smile grew larger.

I'd go hungry; I'd go black and blue And I'd go crawling down the avenue No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do To make you feel my love

The storms are raging on the rolling sea And on the highway of regret The winds of change are blowing wild and free You ain't seen nothing like me yet

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true There's nothing that I wouldn't do Go to the ends of this Earth for you To make you feel my love, oh yes To make you feel my love​​​​​​​

Feel My Love ~ Adele

Once you finished your song, the music changed into something more upbeat and Tamaki outstretched his arms.

"Ah! May this awkward couple be forever blessed!"

You signaled the band to lower the music as you placed your hands on the mic.

"An now, we'll announce the Queen of the ball. Congratulations, Princess Kanako Kasakasazaki!"

The audience erupted into applause as the happy couple stopped dancing, yet more shock to register on their faces.

The twins popped up in between you and Tamaki. Hikaru pointed at Tamaki.

"And for her reward, a kiss on the cheek from the king!"

Said person smirked and wiggled his eyebrows. 

"You ready?"

Kaoru poked in between you and Haruhi.

"Haruhi Fujioka will stand in for Tamaki!"

They both froze up with dropped jaws.

You giggled. "Kyoya did say that a little accident towards the end of the night might make the evening more thrilling for everyone."

Haruhi's eyebrow twitched. "There is no way I can kiss her."

Kyoya spoke up from beside you. "If you do it, we'll cut your pay by 1/3rd."

She perked up almost immediately.

"Well, it is just on the cheek, right?"

Everyone watched in anticipation as Haruhi stepped down the stairs and went up to Kanako.

You tapped your chin as a thought came to mind.

"Hm, I wonder if this is Haruhi's first kiss."

Once he heard your comment, Tamaki snapped his neck to you. "What?!"

Just as Haruhi was about to kiss her on the cheek, Tamaki ran down the stairs with his arm outstretched. 

"Wait, Haruhi- !"

Unfortunately, he didn't notice the banana peel on the ground left by one of the twins, and when he tripped on it, instead of falling, his outstretched hand pushed Haruhi closer to Kanako, resulting in a full on kiss on the lips.

Their eyes widened as they quickly pulled away from each other. You quietly laughed at the look on Tamaki's face.

"Not bad for your first event."

You turned to look at Kyoya as his eyes moved on you. "You juggled a total of 5 tasks just for tonight and you accomplished them all flawlessly. Congratulations. How do you feel?"

You shrugged as you smiled widely and glanced at everyone.

"I think I'm gonna like it here."

[bankingintel]

How AIG's Collapse Began a Global Run on the Banks

Something very strange is occurrence in the financial markets. And I tins fairs you what it is and what it means. If September didn't give you enough to worry about, consider what evidence happen to actuality estate prices as unemployment grows steadily over the next several months. As wrong as things are now, they'll get scads worse.

They'll get worse for the obvious reason: because more clan testament default on their mortgages. But they'll also remain depressed for far longer than anyone expects, for a reason most clan testament never understand.

What follows is one of the real secrets to September's inventory bazaar collapse. Once you understand what really happened vitality month, the events to come testament be much clearer to you...

Every great bull show has similar characteristics. The speculation must - at the onset - start with a reasonably good idea. Using long-term mortgages to salaries for homes is a good idea, with a few important caveats.

Some of these limitations are obvious to any intelligent observer... like the need for a substantial down payment, the proof of income, an independent appraisal, money But human nature dictates that, given enough time and the benefit incentives, any article testament be corrupted. This is one of the two critical elements of a bubble. What was once a good plan becomes a farce. You already know all the stories of how this happened in the housing market, where loans were eventually given without fixed rates, without profits verification, without down payments, and without legitimate appraisals.

As bad as these practices were, they would not have created a global financial scare without the second, more critical element. For things to get really out of control, the farce must evolve further... into fraud.

And this is where AIG comes into the story.

Around the world, mound must comply with what are known as Basel II regulations. These direction determine how much cash a heap must maintain in reserve. The rules are based on the importance of the bank's loan book. The riskier the loans a slope owns, the more capital it must agreement in reserve. Bank managers naturally seek to employ as scads influence as they can, especially when interest rates are low, to maximize profits. AIG appeared to application cashier a way to get around the Basel rules, via unregulated insurance contracts, known as faithfulness default swaps.

Here's how it worked: Say you're a major European bank... You have a surplus of deposits, because in Europe tribe actually still bother to save money. You're looking for something to maximize the expansion between what you must pay for deposits and what you're able to earn lending. You want it to be safe and reliable, but also salaries the highest possible annual interest. You know you could buy a portfolio of high-yielding subprime mortgages. But deed so evidence limit the numbering of leverage you can employ, which testament barrier returns.

So rather than government out having any high-yielding securities in your portfolio, you simply tattoo up the friendly AIG agent you met at a convention in London end year.

"What would it charge me to insure this subprime security?" you inquire. The broker, who is selling a five-year position (but who will be paid a recompense annually), says, "Not too much." After all, the historical loss rates on American mortgages is close to zilch.

Using incredibly sophisticated computer models, he agrees to assurance the subprime security you're buying against default for five age for say, 2% of disguise value.

Although AIG's credit default swaps were really insurance contracts, they weren't regulated. That meant AIG didn't have to put up any funds as collateral on its swaps, as long as it maintained a triple-A trust rating. There was no actuality capital charge to selling these swaps; there was no limit. And respect to what's called "mark-to-market" accounting, AIG could book the yield from a five-year monopoly default swap as soon as the covenant was sold, based on the expected default rate.

Whatever the computer said AIG was likely to make on the deal, the accountants would write down as actual profit. The broker who sold the swap would be paid a gratuities at the end of the first year - long before the actual profit on the compact was made.

With this structure in place, the European bank was able to assure its regulators it was carrying only triple-A credits, instead of a pigtails of subprime "toxic waste." The slope could leverage itself to the full gauges allowable under Basel II. AIG could publication hundreds of millions in "profit" each year, without having to pony up billions in collateral.

It was a fraud. AIG never any funds to back up the insurance it sold. And the incomes it booked never materialized. The default rate on mortgage securities underwritten in 2005, 2006, and 2007 turned out to be multiples higher than expected. And they continue to increase. In some cases, the securities the riverbank claimed were triple A have ended up entity value less than $0.15 on the dollar.

Even so, it all worked for years. Banks leveraged deposits to the hilt. Wall Street packaged and sold dumb mortgages as securities. And AIG sold faithfulness default swaps without bothering to collateralize the risk. An enormous count of funds was created out of thin air and tossed into global actuality nation markets.

On September 15, all of the adult credit-rating method downgraded AIG - the world's largest insurance company. At issue were the soaring casualties in its faithfulness default swaps. The first big writeoff came in the fourth boroughs of 2007, when AIG reported an $11 billion charge. It was able to raise capital once, to repair the damage. But the losses kept growing. The moment the downgrade came, AIG was forced to come up with tens of billions of additional collateral, immediately. This was on top of the billions it owed to its commerce partners. It didn't have the money. The world's largest insurance enterprises was bankrupt.

The dominoes fell over immediately. Lehman Brothers failed on the same day. Merrill was sold to Bank of America. The Fed stepped in and agreed to lend AIG $85 billion to facilitate an orderly sell off of its properties in exchange for essentially all the company's equity.

Most people never understood how AIG was the linchpin to the entire system. And there's one more mystery yet to come out...

AIG's largest commerce partner wasn't a nameless European bank. It was Goldman Sachs.

I'd wondered for years how Goldman avoided the sort of huge mortgage-related writedowns that plagued all the other investment banks. And now we know: Goldman hedged its photograph via faith default swaps with AIG. Sources inside Goldman say the company's abandoning to AIG exceeded $20 billion, definition the importance AIG was downgraded, Goldman had to begin marking down the value of its assets. And the value AIG went bankrupt, Goldman lost $20 billion. Goldman immediately sought out Warren Buffett to raise $5 billion of additional capital, which also helped it raise another $5 billion via a public offering.

The defeat of the faithfulness default swap bazaar also meant the authorization banks - all of them - had no means to borrow money, because no one would insure their obligations.

To fund their daily operations, they've become totally reliant on the Federal Reserve, which has allowed them to formally become commercial banks. To date, banks, insurance firms, and authorization heap have borrowed $348 billion from the Federal Reserve - nearly all of this lending took situation following AIG's failure. Things are so wrong at the siege banks, the Fed had to innovations the rules to allow Merrill, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman the capacity to use equities as collateral for these loans, an unprecedented step.

The mainstream press hasn't reported this either: A food in the $700 billion bailout loop permits the Fed to pay interest on the collateral it's holding, which is simply a funds to funnel citizen dollars directly into the authorization banks.

Why do you necessity to know all of these details? First, you must understand that without the government's actions, the stampede of AIG could have caused every major mound in the land to fail.

Second, without the trust default swap market, there's no medium slope tins description the true countryside of their assets - they'd all be in default of Basel II. That's why the government will push through a measure that requires the delay of mark-to-market accounting. Essentially, heap will be allowed to pretend they have far higher-quality loans than they actually do. AIG can't envelope for them anymore.

And third, and most importantly, without the huge forgery perpetrated by AIG, the mortgage bubble could have never grown as large as it did. Yes, other factors contributed, like the role of Fannie and Freddie in particular. But the key to enabling the huge global growth in custody during the vitality decade can be tied directly to AIG's sale of monopoly default swaps without collateral. That was the barn door. And it was left open for nearly a decade.

There's no medium to replace this massive credit-building machine, which type me very skeptical of the government's bailout plan. Quite simply, we can't replace the credit that existed in the world before September 15 because it didn't deserve to be there in the first place. While the authority can, and certainly will, paper over the gaping gap left by this enormous trust collapse, it can't actually replace the monopoly and faith that existed... because it was a fraud.

And that guide me to believe the entrance economic consumption will be longer and deeper than most clan understand.

You effectiveness discovery this strange... but this is great news for those who understand what's departing on. Knowing why the economy is shrinking and knowing it's not departing to rebound quickly gives you a huge odds over bulk investors, who don't understand what's occurrence and can't layouts to income advantage of it.

How can you income advantage? First, make sure you have at least 10% of your weave importance in precious metals. I prefer gold bullion. World governments' gigantic liabilities testament vastly decrease the importance of paper currencies.

Second, I can tell you we're either at or approaching a moment of maximum pessimism in the markets. These sort of scare give you the chance to buy world-class businesses incredibly cheaply [ https://bankingintel.com/ ]. A few value mentioning are ExxonMobil, Intel, and Microsoft. I have several lineage like these in the portfolio of my Investment Advisory.

[googlenewson]

When the going gets rough—stocks falling, interest rates in decline, debts mounting—investors look to “safe haven” assets, like gold, that are supposed to retain value while the rest of the world burns up. Cryptocurrency investors argue Bitcoin should hold a similar place in the financial firmament: a reliable fallback in times of crisis. It’s digital gold, they say.

But at this moment, when safe haven assets should be holding up, Bitcoin is sputtering. The cryptocurrency had its single worst performing day in seven years on Thursday when its price dropped from nearly $8,000 to below $6,000. Early Friday, its price plunged again, to below $4,000, before rebounding somewhat above $5,000. On Monday, it fell back below that threshold.

Why is Bitcoin getting thwomped right when many people expect it to perform best? Here’s how cryptocurrency investors explain the contradiction.

What’s the youth in trying

Bitcoin is still, little more than a decade old, young. “Bitcoin wants to be digital gold when it grows up,” says Wences Casares, CEO of Xapo, a digital wallet startup, and board member of the Facebook-corralled Libra Association, “but it is a toddler.” How long the adolescence will last is anyone’s guess.

With youth comes an element of danger. Linda Xie, managing director of Scalar Capital, a cryptocurrency investment firm, considers Bitcoin to be somewhat schizophrenic. “I think Bitcoin acts as both a safe haven and speculative risk asset,” effectively a gamble, she says, paradoxically. Xie says she believes that “in the long run it will be more widely perceived as a safe haven,” but that time has yet to come.

The present-day peril of investing in the digital coin is obvious. “Bitcoin is certainly a risk asset,” says Ari Paul, the chief investment officer at the cryptocurrency investing firm Blocktower Capital, “albeit a lower correlated one than most,” meaning it generally does not move with the stock market.

The recent market rout may call that supposed lower correlation into question.

Ride together, die together

Last week Bitcoin and the rest of the incumbent financial system swung low together. That’s semi-unusual for the cryptocurrency’s history.

For much of its existence, Bitcoin’s performance has been mostly uncorrelated to the stock market, as the below chart, provided by CoinMetrics, a cryptocurrency market research firm, shows. When compared against the S&P 500, a common stock market index, Bitcoin’s correlation oscillates near the zero mark—meaning it is largely its own beast. (On the vertical axis: Zero means uncorrelated, “1” means correlated.)

Screenshot of Bitcoin-S&P 500 correlation chart via CoinMetrics, crypto-market tracker

Is the recent tie-up an anomaly? “While some folks suggest that the last 45 days discredits the prior five years, I don’t think that’s a reasonable view,” says Kyle Samani, managing partner at MultiCoin Capital, another cryptocurrency investing firm. Samani notes that even yields on U.S. government treasuries have been fluctuating wildly lately, which is significant since the federal bonds are also generally considered a kind of safe haven.

Most times, Bitcoin marches to its own idiosyncratic tune. (Stampedes, really.) Like real estate versus equities, Bitcoin behaves uniquely. But when sudden, recession-worthy jolts rock the system, everything can change.

No risk, no reward

Despite Bitcoin’s growing pains, cryptocurrency investors remain optimistic about the future of their digital gold.

Boosters still see the precious metal as a useful point of comparison. MultiCoin’s Samani believes history will repeat itself. “In 2008, gold dipped ~32% before rallying,” he says. “I’m expecting a similar trajectory for Bitcoin in the coming months.”

Screenshot of spot gold market prices via TradingView, a market-tracker

BlockTower’s Paul expects similar performance—with a difference. “Bitcoin has been and will likely continue to be more volatile in both directions” than gold, he says. “It’s already sold off more than gold did in 2008, and I expect it’s eventual rally to be substantially more parabolic,” meaning its price chart will feature an even steeper upside gain.

Yeah, right

Skeptics dismiss these rosy forecasts as wishful thinking.

Peter Schiff, a goldbug investor and CEO of Euro Pacific Capital, disagrees with any comparison of Bitcoin to his beloved bullion. Bitcoin is “nothing. It’s a way for people to gamble. It’s a lottery ticket on a pipe dream,” Schiff says. (Schiff proudly notes that a group of cryptocurrency fans recently awarded him the title of “most clueless Bitcoin no-coiner,” crypto-speak for someone who pooh-poohs cryptocurrency.)

Guess who won the Scammy Award for the most clueless Bitcoin nocoiner? The nominees were @paulkrugman, @Nouriel, @WarrenBuffett, and yours truly. https://t.co/6XdDglGW7B

— Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) March 4, 2020

“The name of the game is to get out, but its investors have to sucker people in to have somebody to sell to,” Schiff says.

Havens and haven-nots

People buy and sell assets for any number of reasons, and basing one’s investment decisions on a single, simple narrative is a mistake. No bet is a sure bet—even for a supposed safe haven.

When investors need money, and need it quickly, they’ll sell anything. Not even gold can escape as the ballast that gets tossed overboard when a sinking ship requires buoyancy. Bullion dove in 2008; it dipped 4% on Monday amid the market-wide sell-off too.

If Bitcoin is, one day, become a safe haven, it will be on the merits of its inability to be confiscated by governments, say some investors. “It’s a ‘safe haven; in terms of it being seizure resistant, not in terms of price stability,” Paul says. “It may eventually become a safe haven in purchasing power, but certainly not today.”

Dan McArdle, a cofounder of Messari, a cryptocurrency market tracker, elucidated the thesis in a Twitter thread a couple years ago. Bitcoin is not disaster-proof, he said. “It’s value over the long haul stems from inflation resistance, being able to function as money if confidence in fiat is lost, & inability for banks/govs to seize it.”

1/ Figure I should get out ahead of this issue: Bitcoin is a hedge against inflation & loss of confidence in fiat, NOT a hedge against a typical recession.

— Dan McArdle (@robustus) June 22, 2018

Bitcoin may be a haven, but it’s by no means a safe one—at least not yet. “While many in the Bitcoin industry have been hailing Bitcoin as a new safe haven, at this point it seems clear that proponents of this status have probably gotten a bit ahead of themselves,” says Chris Bendikesen, head of research at CoinShares, a digital asset investment firm. “To be clear, this does not mean that Bitcoin is somehow forever barred from attaining such status, but it seems clear that this status has yet to be established.”

Bitcoin may one day grow up. In the meantime, better to play it safe, and, for anyone determined to get involved with it, treat cryptocurrency like a game of chance.

You could lose whatever you invest.

from Fortune https://ift.tt/3d5oAu8

[flameclaw22]

Book Review: The Crown’s Game

Spoilers ahead!

Rating: 1 star out of 5

I'd been contemplating reading Circle of Shadows, the newest Evelyn Skye novel, but I wanted to test the waters by reading another of her books first. I found The Crown's Game on sale in the NOOK store for $1.99, so I snapped it up. In a way, I'm glad I did, because reading The Crown's Game ultimately prevented me from wasting considerably more money on Circle of Shadows.

I could use the phrase “dumpster fire” to describe this book, but that's really not fitting: Dumpster fires at least entail vaguely interesting events. The Crown’s Game is easily one of the dullest books I’ve ever read - even duller than any novel in the Twilight series. It’s no compliment to say that Stephanie Meyer did a better job world-building. Evelyn Skye exerted such negligible effort on world-building that her tale barely squeaks into the historical fantasy genre, giving more of the feel of historical fanfiction with magic tossed in for shits and giggles. The magic originates from some spring or fountain or some bullshit that apparently pays attention to arbitrary geopolitical boundaries and nationality. And excluding faith healers and a couple of magical creatures, the latter of whom are only mentioned in passing, there are only four known characters in Russia with the magic, and two of them monopolize most of it. Since both competitors possess gargantuan supplies of the magic, the result is a pair of stupidly overly-powerful heroes.

Skye is just as bad at inventing plots as she is at world-building. Expect no real action or intrigue from Crown’s Game. The game itself is nothing more than an unstructured magical pissing contest, and Skye fails to leave enough to the imagination to keep readers hooked. There’s no nefarious plot running beneath the surface, there’s no tension or suspense; it’s just a fight for who gets to be the tsar’s chief suck-up and who gets to die, and the two competitors falling in love.

The characters are breathtakingly boring. If you played the Wii Fit obstacle course game, you probably remember what a pain in the ass it was to avoid those logs, lest your Mii be comically flattened. Clearly The Crown’s Game’s characters played this game and lost spectacularly, because damn, are they dimensionally challenged. Though it’s not Vika’s fault that Pasha worshipfully describes her in a manner that is utterly vomit-inducing, it is Vika’s fault for failing to demonstrate that she is anything more than an insipid, gorgeous magical girl anime reject. She has pretty red hair with a black streak in it and can generate an entire island with her mind. She misses her dad. She’s pretty. She’s powerful. Did I mention she’s pretty? The way Vika blathers on about how attractive Nikolai is implies that she’s never seen a boy before (even though that’s probably not true). Spare me the agony.

Scarcely surpassing the sentience of a doorknob, Nikolai might as well have been a giant Russian Ken doll. His thoughts mostly consist of dreamily imagining banging Vika, hawing over not wanting to kill her, and attempting to concoct a contest-winning plan. When a woman in a semi-zombified state shows up out of the blue - alleging to be his mother, no less - Nikolai is relatively unperturbed. His strongest reaction is his revulsion over how dreadful Aizhana smells. Come on. Even if you live in a world steeped in magic, if a shambling, malodorous corpse lady appears and claims to be your dead mommy, you should shit yourself, at least a little bit. If all you can do is complain about is the foul stench, you desperately need help. When he walks into the Enchanted Hollow, a goddam cave, his thought is, “So this is why it’s called the Enchanted Hollow.” You’re a little slow on the uptake, pal. Reading this particular line evokes thoughts of that iCarly scene where Kurt, the cute but dumb (fired) intern, rides the elevator and then breathes in awe, “This is an elevator.” And really, that captures Nikolai’s essence - the hot but moronic guy who should be fired before he ruins the world. I half-expected him to pop into a scene with a plastic bag of lemonade.

Pasha isn’t much better. Like Nikolai, he too obsesses over Vika to a degree that seriously annoyed me, as a reader stuck in his head. (What I can say is that Pasha, as nauseatingly pesky as his crush-related thoughts are, isn’t a complete creep. For instance, he refrains from kissing Vika while she is asleep because he does not want to disrespect/violate her.) Unlike Nikolai, however, he exhibits some intellectual curiosity and later undergoes a considerable personality change; unfortunately, this shift is such an about-face that its effect comes off less as character development and more as a rancorous temper tantrum.

There’s little to say for the remaining characters. Renata merely serves to upgrade the love triangle to a love web. Ludmila is Vika’s plump, middle-aged sidekick, who effectively fills the role of a lame-ass Molly Weasley: a source of tasty baked goodies and motherly love, minus the tough fierceness that makes Molly so endearing. Pasha’s sister, Yuliana, functions as the impetus behind the Crown’s Game, urging her father to commence the contest, but Tsar Alexander is such an unpleasant dickbag that no other scapegoat for starting the game is truly required, rendering Yuliana obsolete. At virtually every given opportunity, he goes out of his way to be rude, condescending, or snappish. During his spiel about the rules of the game, Vika interrupts him as respectfully as possible to inquire about why one Enchanter must die at the end of the game, and Alexander acts as if she’s expressed the desire to hit him in the testicles repeatedly with a large stick. He can’t even muster the patience or sympathy to answer a valid question posed by a competitor - a teenager, mind you - in a fatal contest to be the tsar’s magical toady. When Vika arrives at the ball in her fabulous dress, the tsar snidely remarks that she should “take care not to become too enamored of the tsarevich” because “it will require more than a showy gown to be worthy.” Damn it, dude, she just told you that she fashioned her clothes herself. Would it kill you to just toss out some platitude or another? Honestly, I pity Tsarina Elizabeth - she deserves so much better than Alexander. Sergei’s role is just being Vika’s mentor/father figure and an eventual sacrifice; Sergei’s bitchy sister, Galina, is a fucking psychopath who forces Nikolai to kill animals that she put in his bedroom and doesn’t miss a chance to remind him of his “low birth”. And if you’re holding out for a decent villain, don’t bother: Despite being one of the more interesting characters, Aizhana is just a vengeful zombie who boasts a typhus-riddled black tongue (I kid you not), long fingernails, and a festering grudge. That’s pretty much it.

And just what the fuck is this sentence structure?! The writing is clunky, awkward, and the cause of many an eye-roll. For example: “Nikolai shook his head at the beauty of Bolshebnoie Duplo.” This is an actual sentence in a published book not written for fourth-graders. This is an actual sentence in a published book that is presumably not written by a fourth-grader. I have read and enjoyed books with similar writing flaws, but the other elements of the book compensated for them. Obviously, nothing in The Crown's Game does.

This clumsy delivery pervades the romance of the book too. In yet another nightmare sentence, Pasha gushes about this gorgeous girl (Vika), whom he spotted from a distance the other day:

“She has red hair, like the most hypnotizing part of a flickering flame, and her voice is both melodic and unflinching.”

Ew, gross, no, stop. You’re embarrassing yourself, Pasha. You heard her speak but three sentences from a distance and now you can describe her voice like that? Not only does this further paint Vika as a Mary Sue, but it also just makes Pasha look like a pompous ass. This sort of florid diction is typically reserved for Lord Byron’s poetry. And then, when Pasha hops back on the boat back to St. Petersburg, Skye writes, “He murmured, ‘Vika,’ to himself, more than once.” Oh. My. God. By this point, I can safely say that Pasha acts like Ron Weasley under the influence of Romilda Vane’s love potion. J.K. Rowling at least had the courtesy to cure Ron of his sorry state by within the chapter; Skye’s characters, on the other hand, continue this behavior throughout Crown’s Game. I can’t pick on just Pasha, not when Vika serves up internal monologues like this one:

“It was as if the attempts to kill her faded into the background, and now she saw the truth at the core of it all: Nikolai’s magic was gorgeous and powerful and... and... Her lungs faltered. Even the mere memory of his magic was so strong. And touching Nikolai, even through her gloves and his sleeve, was like being pummeled by a stampede of wild horses. No, wild unicorns. Beautiful, wild unicorns.”

He’s the other enchanter, and she’s just now figured out that he’s powerful? Also, does she want to fuck him or his magic? If you think Nikolai contributes nothing to this travesty of romance, you’re quite wrong:

“He had thought, during the mazurka, that they’d had something. Their touch had both frenzied and frozen the ballroom. Their breathing had synchronized, heatedly.”

I could find more examples but I really don’t want to, since I prefer not vomiting.

Skye spends so much time on saccharine pseudo-poetry that she skimps on meaningful interactions between characters, particularly those involved in the two pairings we the readers are supposed to choose between. One carriage ride and a ballroom dance with Vika, whom he’s only known for a couple of weeks, and he thinks he’s so in love with her that when he discovers Nikolai's identity as the second enchanter and that Nikolai is "in love" with Vika too, he feels betrayed enough to pit the two of them - his best friend and the girl he supposedly loves - against each other in a battle to the death. Nikolai and Vika's encounters consist of either one attempting to murder the other, often with a crowd of bystanders within view, or gazing longingly into each other's eyes. Although Vika does have a sweet mother-daughter scene with Ludmila, and Sergei and Galina seem to reach some kind of reconciliation before the former dies, character-to-character interactions are generally superficial and unanimated.

In the end, whether you subject yourself to the agony of reading this book is up to you. Personally, I think it might be less time-consuming to purchase a bottle of high fructose corn syrup from the grocery store, go home, and drink the entire fucker in one sitting. You'd get the same bland, over-sweet experience from whichever one you choose. As for me, I won't be reading another book of Evelyn Skye's. I've had enough literary corn syrup to last me a lifetime.

You can also read this review on my website: <https://thebookishhawk.home.blog/2019/02/25/the-crowns-game-book-review/>.