#yes we've been well fed

[sainzcaleruega]

overstimulated from all the content we got today i will need a moment to recover

[woso-dreamzzz]

Shots II

Pernille Harder x Baby!Reader

Part of The Big Adventures Universe

Summary: Pernille and your shots

Magda has to take paternity leave. Well, technically she could have taken shared parental leave but it was difficult to do when both she and Pernille were athletes so paternity leave was the next best thing.

In theory, she was only entitled to two weeks but the club were generous and eager to keep her with them for many years.

They gave her six.

Six whole weeks to spend with you and Pernille in Pernille's little apartment in Germany. Six whole weeks to get used to you in her life and her new role as mother.

Six weeks, however, didn't extend to your first shots or, rather, your first group of shots after your birth.

You'd been given a round of vaccines in the hospital the day you were born along with being measured and weighed and checked for any issues.

Your next round comes at eight weeks though and Pernille is all alone.

You sit on the floor in front of her in your carrier. You're blissfully asleep, blanket wrapped around you and a little hat to keep your tiny head nice and warm.

You look peaceful and happy, smacking your lips together in your sleep like you're being fed in your dreams.

Pernille hates to ruin it but her name is called and she lifts up your carrier to head to the doctor.

"Right," The man says," Eight weeks. Is that about right?"

"Yes," Pernille says," Eight weeks."

"Well then." He wheels his chair back. "Let's get her weighed and measured and then we'll discuss shots."

Pernille gently gets you out of your carrier, carefully stripping you down to your nappy so you can be weighted accurately.

The doctor nods along with what he sees, noting it down in your baby book.

"Good weight. Good length. How is her eating?"

"Good," Pernille confirms," She's been doing really well. Sleeping good too."

The doctor continues noting things down. "And I seem to remember you saying your partner was returning home. Has that been an okay transition for you both?"

Pernille nods. "It was a little weird during the first few days but now we've adapted. It's going well."

"Good, good. Now, vaccines?"

Pernille winces inwardly. "I was told she's due a few."

"We can do all three today."

Pernille's eyes bulge. "All three? But-"

"Two are injections. One is oral," The doctor explains," It's best we get it all done today."

Pernille finds herself nodding. She knew that this would happen but she wasn't quite sure she'd prepared for it. But, still, she nods and signs the page in your baby book giving her consent.

The first one is simple and easy, liquid drops being placed into your mouth for you to swallow.

You've woken up now, pulling a face at the taste and smacking your lips together in annoyance.

Pernille can deal with that.

What she can't deal with is the way you go from annoyed to heartbroken as the doctor jabs two needles into your legs in short succession.

You're sobs are heartbreaking and you don't stop even when you're in the car.

"It's okay," Pernille coos at you, taking your hand and gently waving it around," It's okay. you're okay. It's to make sure you don't get ill later on."

But you're a baby and you don't understand why Momma has let you get hurt by the mean man with the cold hands.

So you keep sobbing.

Fat tears roll down your chubby cheeks as pain radiates from your leg where you've been jabbed.

"Shh, shh," Pernille says, her own tears pricking in her eyes," Princesse, baby, it's okay. It's over now. Momma's here."

But you don't stop and Pernille decides to just pick you straight out of your car seat, propping you up on her chest.

Tears roll down Pernille's cheeks, matching yours until you're both crying together.

"It's okay," She keeps repeating to you," It's okay. Let's get home, alright?

You sniffle, still whining.

"I know. That doctor was a meanie, sticking you with medicine that's going to save your life one day."

You whimper as Pernille clips you into your car seat again.

"Just a little longer," She promises you," And we'll be home for cuddles and nap time."

[thanks-for-the-crabapples]

Arcane S2 Thoughts - Caitlyn Changing

Just thinking more about Caitlyn and her timeline and her "changing." I have to remind myself that we've only seen a snapshot of Caitlyn and her ideals. Season 1 (Acts 2 and 3) takes place over what? One week? It's a crazy week, and yes, during S1 we see Caitlyn be incredibly empathetic to the Undercity and its people. She lets Vi out of prison. She shows compassion to Huck. She bridges the gap with Ekko. She defends the Undercity in front of the Council.

But we also see her have initial prejudice toward Vi (both in prison and out of it). She makes insensitive and naive comments about the Undercity (The Last Drop, shimmer addicts). She's trying her best, but you can tell there's subconscious issues there. And all the nice things we get to see her do are rooted in her self-appointed mission of taking down the leader of the Undercity to save the people there. People she really doesn't know that much about.

And she acknowledges that. She suspects that reality is different than the rhetoric she's been fed her entire life. Vi shows her the truth, and she sees the plight of the people there.

But, she's only had that truth for what? A week? And she's had this subconscious prejudice for 20 years? And then what happens?

Her mother is killed

The Undercity brutally attacks innocent (and not so innocent) civilians at a Memorial for said mother.

I mean, no wonder that bias is bubbling up again. No wonder Vi starts looking like an exception, and the Undercity folk start looking like, well, animals.

And we can still see that internal battle right? She tells the council it's just one person causing the issues, not the Undercity itself. She defends Vi to the Enforcers. Her objectives are focused on keeping the people of the Undercity safe, or at least minimizing damage.

But she still uses Hextech weaponry. She still uses The Gray to gas them out. She still threatens incarceration to that henchman in front of Vi.

Vi asks Caitlyn not to change. But Vi's only known Cait for one emotional, adrenaline-filled, sleep-deprived, chaotic week. Does she really know Caitlyn at all? Does Caitlyn even know herself?

I truly think Caitlyn's life changed when she met Vi, through Vi's heart and through her experience in the Undercity. But what is one week of change compared to 20 years of messaging. Compared to the grief of losing your mother. Compared to the guilt of believing that you could've stopped it. Had you been decisive enough. Had you been ruthless enough. Had you just, taken the shot.

Caitlyn calculates everything she does. And I think her fatal flaw is her belief that she, and she alone, can make the right decision. It's what led her to her rogue investigation in Season 1, and it's what's leading her to become Ambessa's war general in Season 2.

The environment you're in is a hell of a factor. We've never seen Caitlyn with a grief like this. We've never seen Caitlyn with this kind of power. And wow, the power. The power of her name, of her house, of the military. We don't know who Caitlyn will become in this new environment. She's probably finding out for herself.

So did Caitlyn change? I don't know, because I don't know if we ever really knew her at all.

[sgiandubh]

idk if you’ve watched it yet but in the 10th celebration video, the part where Sam says “we dnt even know when we’ll be released” and Caitríona’s reaction to it had me👀….like the rest of us it seems they too can’t wait for it all to end so they can finally “released” and free from St*rz clutches. But i thought that was interesting thing to take notice of

Dear Reaction Anon,

Of course I watched it. Friday, even. But I have a dinner to plan for Wednesday, my car to sell (plot thickens...), dinners in town and various people to see.... So, sorry for the delayed answer and so incredibly sorry for being also late to the Shipper Feast.

Almost everything has been dissected to death, as it always happens, but I might still throw in my two cents, after all. So, I'll simply relisten to that video as I answer you and hit stop every time something interesting that has not been mentioned in here yet, made me go hmmm, ok?

At the 01:35 mark, S: 'yeah, it was such a whirlwind, you know, I mean, going straight into screentests and then looking for THE Claire, and it took quite a while, and then this one landed in Scotland, you know, weeks before we just started'

Here is her reaction - definitely fed up with this peasant, right?

Also, as a side note, did you notice how emotional S gets every single time babies and domestic scenes are mentioned? For a man who supposedly has no family of his own, that is surely strange.

And then you are so, so right, Anon, this is how she reacted to his 'being in a bubble for ten years and we don't even know when we'll be released what the world looks like' comment:

Did I notice an impish smile? Well, I surely did, Anon - and so did you.

It was a smart move to watch them watch OL. I found it very interesting, lots of clues about their joint dynamic:

She, as always, is leading the pack. He is more reserved and usually takes his cues from her, constantly seeks her approval. Gradually relaxes as she seems to imply the context is 'safe enough' to loosen up a bit. And yes, this is all instinctive, by now. If I knew absolutely nothing about These Two and saw them act and react like this IRL, I would definitely have questions.

And yes, I think he could listen to her talking about WWII medical pamphlets and bandages for days and still never get bored. This guy still lives to make her laugh:

Psst, Anon - see how they hate each other, here? Which really makes me think the 'just promo/fan service' argument is borderline schizophrenic, really - and why is S wooden and clumsy when promoting anything else with ANY OTHER WOMAN in our galaxy, by the way? Also, S and McTavish pretending they were still friends at that MIK event in London was 'just fan service' - this? This is not really that.

And then, oh dear me darling, that photo. I can almost hear two different kinds of 'shiiiiit' reactions, here:

He knows he mustn't slip - as he usually does, she is more like 'shiiiiit, hehehe, see what we've done here'. Logically, then, he brings about that sorry modicum of an excuse 'I've been so jetlagged' (jetlag was actually the least problematic thing, in that pic, ROFL; also, there are two people in that pic, bless your 💖🤣). Followed by the only diversion he could think of: bringing in the 'thousands of people, that was incredible, blah blah' - and then she dutifully chimes in: ' I think we did Hall H...? the big one...?' (strange comments for a pic where one can see two very cozy and scantily dressed people, LOL). Dilute, dilute, dilute. But it's Horowitz reply that interested me the most: ' it's too bad you guys aren't photogenic, even after a long flight, like what a mess you guys look like, there':

He threw a bait, C took it: 'weeelllll...' and then Josh ended it with a simple, smiling 'please' that, in my mind, is on par with KDS' 'believe what you want'.

I also found very telling one of the last remarks by Horowitz, too: ' it's ok, they can't fire you now, it's too late, it's way too late'. Granted, it was about the trivia and allegedly in jest, but really?

And there you have it, Anon. Perhaps it's not much, but as always, I tried to take the road less traveled by. Thanks for giving me the opportunity.

[joeys-babe]

Joey B Imagines: Everybody Loves Somebody

————————————————————————-

Summary: When your first argument with Joe turns into one of the biggest relationship milestones.

Warnings: Angst, fluff

Pairing: Joe Burrow x reader

Imagine Universe: Into The Mystic

A/N: More high school Joe and y/n for V-DAY!! You and Joe have been together for 4 months. The argument is mentioned in this previous fic, so if it feels familiar, that's why!

————————————————————————-

April, 2015

For the first time this school year, I didn't want to go to school. I didn't want to go to first period. I didn't want to sit in chemistry. I didn't want to see Joe.

We've been together for four months now, and having Joe as my boyfriend and built-in best friend has been amazing.

Most days after school, we'd go to each other's houses. Alternating every day.

We became inseparable. Experiencing teenagehood with each other.

Yesterday, though, we got into our first argument, and it was over something completely stupid.

I was over at Joe’s house, sitting on his bed as he played video games on the floor.

He hadn't spoken a word to me since we had gotten here. and I had been there for almost two hours.

——

“Joey.” - you

He didn't answer.

“Joey.” - you repeated, a little louder

Again, I was met with silence. Feeling fed up, I crawled off of his bed and walked over to where he was.

“Joseph Lee.” - you tapped his shoulder

All he did was look up at me with a smile and winked before looking back at his screen.

Okay, I'm done.

I grabbed my backpack off of the floor and slung it over my shoulder before walking towards his door and pushing it open.

“y/n?” - Joe

I heard the sound of headphones and a controller hitting the floor before loud footsteps followed behind me.

“Where are you going?” - Joe

Without saying a word, I walked into the living room towards the front door.

“Leaving so soon?” - Robin

“Yeah, sorry. Just getting a little bored.” - you

I flashed Joe a petty smile, to which he gave me a confused look back.

“Oh… well, get home safe! Joe, would you walk her to her car?” - Robin

“I was going to.” - Joe nodded

Not waiting on Joe, I said my goodbyes and opened the front door. I walked to my car at a fast pace.

“Baby… what's going on? Are you mad? Did I do something?” - Joe

“First of all, don't ‘baby’ me, Joseph. Secondly, yes, I'm mad. Thirdly, you didn't do something. It’s more that you did absolutely nothing.” - you

“I'm not following.” - Joe

“Of course, you aren't. All you follow are those stupid video games.” - you

“Oh, I see what this is about. You're mad that I was playing games.” - Joe

“No, you idiot! I couldn't care less if you played those games.” - you

“Aye, calm down. Just come back inside, and we can talk this out. If I did something that upset you, I'd like to know so that I can fix it.” - Joe

“Now you want to talk?!” - you

I grabbed my keys out of my purse and started unlocking my car.

“y/n, if you're gonna leave, at least gimme a kiss, please?” - Joe

After looking at him for a few seconds, I rolled my eyes and got into my car, slamming the door in his face before driving off.

——

After begrudgingly getting ready for school, I slowly drove to the building and walked inside.

When I walked into the chem room, Joe’s stuff was in his seat, but he wasn't.

I sat down at my usual spot and fiddled with my pencil, anxiously dreading Joe showing up.

When he finally did, it was right before the late bell rang.

Joe sat down without saying anything, but I could tell he was itching to get something off of his chest.

“Uhm, I know you're mad at me, but can I ask you something?” - Joe

I nodded my head without even looking at him.

“Yesterday, when you left, that wasn't you breaking up with me, right?” - Joe

After almost choking on my saliva, I turned to see his sad face full of seriousness.

“What? No! Of course not. You're still my boyfriend, and it was just a little argument. I'm so sorry if you thought I was leaving you.” - you

“It's okay… I'm just glad I was wrong because… never mind.” - Joe

“No, what is it?” - you

“It's not important.” - Joe

Except it really really was.

Later in class, Joe couldn't stop thinking about what he almost said because he wanted to say it so badly. He was just worried you didn't feel the same.

After thinking about it for way longer than he should've, Joe found a way to maybe get over his worries.

I watched Joe rip out a small piece of paper from his notebook and turn his back to me so I couldn't see what he was writing.

Soon, he scooted the piece of paper upside down over to me.

When I flipped it over, butterflies swarmed in my stomach.

In Joe’s handwriting was something that made me know I was going to keep this piece of paper forever.

I love you.

Looking up at Joe’s smiling face, his cheeks were blushed like mine, and I couldn't help but grin.

When the teacher wasn't looking, I leaned in close to Joe’s ear.

“I love you too.” - you

And Joe would be the only person you'd ever romantically tell that to.

————————————————————————-

Authors note: SO CUTE. SURPRISE VDAY FIC.

Request for this fic;

Hope you enjoyed! 🤍🤍

[itsmarsss]

32 for the kiss prompts (because if it doesn't invite stolitz I don't know what does lol).

And its 2:30am here so I'm going to bed, but the prompt you sent me will be out tomorrow :)

-Salem <3

32- a a kiss while someone watches...

…naturally. have i become unnoficial stolitz x reader nation?

warnings: established stolitz relationship, stolitz sex, implication of stolitz x reader sex, daddy kink, talks of having a threesome, im so tired rn if this is badly written im so sorry girly ily

you know… you, me and… someone else

Blitzø should probably have tried to find a more convenient way and some more convenient moment to talk about this.

It's not that it's impulsive. He's been rehearsing how to approach the subject for weeks now, but is there really a right way or a right time to ask your super lovey-dovey boyfriend if he'd be up for a threesome with your best friend without it sounding, like... really fucking wrong?

Maybe he should have planned a romantic night with rose petals on the bed and a bottle of wine and a bubble bath after fucking his brains out so good he saw stars and then eased the question in, but, man, he was getting fed up of thinking about it and not managing to say anything, so lying on the couch with Stolas draped on top of him with his weirdo telenovela in the background it would be.

"Hey. Stols?"

Stolas doesn't look away from the screen. "Yes, darling?"

"Can I ask you something without you getting mad at me?"

That seems to catch his attention. He looks up. "That makes me feel a lot like you're definitely going to say something that you already know will make me mad."

"No, it's just- just promise it already!"

"I'm getting worried."

"Stolas!"

"Alright! I promise. What it is?"

Oh shit he didn't think he'd actually be getting this far. "Have you ever... uh, you ever thought about a threesome?"

Stolas chokes on his own spit, eyes almost popping out of their sockets, and he pushes himself up off Blitzø now, sitting down next to him and facing him. "A what?"

"A threesome. You know... you, me and... someone else."

"Someone else? Like who?"

"Answer the question first!"

"I- uh. I can't say I have seriously considered that before. Have you been thinking about that?"

"A little. Are you mad now?"

"Not mad. Just... surprised, is all."

"Are you actually cool with that?"

"I did make a promise."

"It's not ‘cause I don't think you're enough or anything."

"Okay."

Blitzø feels like this is a trap. Why was he being so chill about this? He feels the need to keep explaining himself. "I just... ya know, I thought it could be fun. I mean shit we've tired almost everything there is to try, right? But we've never had a threesome."

"Do you think we would enjoy that?"

"You never had a threesome?"

Stolas only glares at him. Obviously he hasn't, dumbass.

"Oh. Right. Well, I mean, it can be good, can be bad, can be whatever. Kinda the same shit as it is with just two people."

"And who would you want to bring into bed with us?"

"Don't say it like that."

"Like what?"

"Like I'm trying to cheat on you."

"That is not what I'm doing."

It still feels like a trap, but what else was he to say than the truth? "Well. If you wanna know so bad. I could be down if y/n was down."

"Y/n... your best friend, y/n."

"You know, we can trust them, things would be comfortable. They’re not... bad to look at, either…”

Stolas stares down at him with an eyebrow raised, unamused. "If you're going to talk about this don't be a coward about it."

"Okay, I think they’re pretty hot and I've been thinking about fucking both of you for a while. But only if it's with you and only if you'd like it too. Or whatever.”

"How romantic."

"Don't be a dick, Stolas. I'm serious."

"No, that actually is very romantic coming from you."

"So. What'cha think about it? We don't have to do it. It's just a thought. Don't even know if they’d want to either."

"They would." Stolas states, as if that were obvious.

"What do you mean?"

"Have you really never noticed the way they look at the both of us?"

"What?"

"You know, at first I thought they just wanted to fuck you which, I will admit, it did make me a tad bit mad that they wanted my boyfriend like that. But then I noticed they were looking at both of us that same way. Especially when we're together."

"Wait, wait, wait, they’ve been giving me bedroom eyes this whole time? They’ve been giving you bedroom eyes this whole time?"

"If I'm not mistaken. I actually find it rather... endearing."

"And you never bothered to fucking say anything about it?"

Stolas simply shrugs. "Never came to mind. You can get pretty possessive, darling.” He cups Blitzø’s jaw with one of his hands, squeezing his cheeks together until he’s forcing Blitzø to pout. "I wouldn’t want to upset you."

Blitzø pushes his hand away. "So you find it endearing? What does that fucking mean? You into it?"

Stolas stops to think for a moment. "Yes, I suppose so."

"Oh shit. You saying we could do it?"

"Perhaps. Let me consider ir for a few days, will you?"

"Yeah. Yeah sure. Cool. Cool, cool, cool."

[. . .]

“Oh, yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes.” Stolas repeats the word like a mantra, and he’s not sure if they’re meant for himself or for his boyfriend, but he couldn’t give a single fuck about it if he tried, because Blitzø has him with his back pressed to his chest, his legs spread wide so Stolas can sit pretty in between them with his own spread open as well. Stolas has his head thrown back onto Blitzø’s shoulder and his hips bucking up involuntarily into the vibrator Blitzø presses against his entrance, chasing a release pointlessly, as Blitzø’s still taking his sweet time before even considering pushing it inside of him.

He kisses Stolas’ neck as he moves the toy, playing with the pressure he holds it against his boyfriend’s body with before getting a twisted idea.

Stolas is still whispering something under his breath, and then Blitzø just stops. He halts all his movement, he retracts the hand that held the toy and he leans back on the bed frame, watching Stolas scramble to look at him in a mix of frustration and confusion. “What? Why’d you stop?”

“You’re gonna finish yourself off for me.”

“What? You can’t be serious.”

“Oh I’m dead serious, hun.”

“I- I-“ Stolas is actually going to let Blitzø know how frustrated that made him when Blitzø slaps him across the face.

“Now.”

Oh shit. Fucking right away, sir.

Stolas goes back into the same position he was just in, back flushed to Blitzø’s chest and head on top of Blitzø’s shoulder, and impatiently moves his hands straight to his hole, wasting no time in inserting a finger in, already plenty wet from the fun that was cut short. He lets out a lewd, needy moan right to Blitzø’s ear as he pushes that finger in entirely, and Blitzø eats that right up.

“Needy fucking whore, can’t even tease yourself a little can ya? I’ll tell you what, you make yourself cum once and daddy makes you cum twice later, yeah? How about that?”

And then Stolas says the absolute most wildest thing he could say at that moment, all heavy breaths and whines and moans and hoots.

“Why don’t we call y/n up? I bet they could get me off for you.”

“What? You can’t just say that, Stols.”

“Ha. Made you blush.”

“What- what?”

“I don’t want to get myself off. It’s no fun. I want your big hands and your big fingers and your big dick and-“

“Yeah, yeah, I get it, I get it. You’re not getting away with that one, Stolas.”

“I don’t plan to.”

“Oh you are so getting it.”

“That is the plan, yes.”

[. . .]

Blitzø is on his knees with his arms around the back of Stolas’ thighs and he laps up at Stolas’ gushing hole, the leg his boyfriend had hiked over his shoulder to grant him better access shakes and the grip he has on the base of his horns tightens. Stolas lets out the prettiest, most beautiful noises as he lets him ride out his high with his tongue deep inside him until he’s being literally kicked away for causing oversensitivity. He loves it.

He stumbles as his back hits the floor but quickly props himself up on his elbows to look up at Stolas, who looked so very hot when he decided he did want to take charge, may Blitzø add.

“So. Good, huh?”

He knows it was good. He could see it was good, feel it was good, hear it was good, even taste it was good.

“Very good, y/n- sorry, Blitz.”

“Oh fuck you.”

Stolas smiles in contempt at his own ‘slip-up’ but says nothing.

[. . . ]

Blitzø may not be the greatest at getting hints but he’s sure gotten this one. He’s already chill with the threesome thing not happening and he’s already thinking of what the hell he can do to make Stolas stop being passive-aggressive about it.

He gets it, alright? It wasn’t a good thing to suggest they do, and he did not want to be caught by surprise by any more sarcastic remarks about that while they’re fucking just so Stolas can prove that point.

He’s trying to come up with a way to approach Stolas about that this time when he gets home to moaning, which just gets him excited, expecting to find Stolas with his hand between his thighs, humping his vibrator at a perfectly convenient time to be 'accidentally' caught, only to be met, instead, with his boyfriend, in just his robes, making out with his half-dressed best friend on his fucking bed.

They're so enthralled they don't even bother pulling away from each other, even though Blitzø knows they've noticed his presence in the room, still entangled in passionate, hungry, aggressive kisses that brought out noises so dirty they belonged in a porno.

And all of that just from kissing? Oh this had to be a show.

Maybe he got the wrong idea from Stolas’ reaction, then.

He's sure of that when they do pull away, and Stolas puts on a very low-effort façade of surprise before exclaiming "Darling! I didn't know you would be home yet!"

"Yeah, that why you were 'bout to fuck my best friend?" He eyes you up and down, and you look down at the floor, nervous about his reaction to the ‘surprise’ Stolas had staged and so, so hotly asked if you would be up to.

"Well I couldn't help but think about that conversation we had last week. And wouldn't you know it, y/n has had similar thoughts too!"

Blitzø eyes you. "That true?"

You nod. "Sorry if it’s weird."

"What is weird is coming home to you making out with my boyfriend."

"Oh, shit, I didn't- Stolas said- I’m sorry.”

"Yeah. Sooo weird. And so fucking hot. "

Oh, this was gonna be a fun night if he's ever had one.

[meetmymouth]

Just read leave the door open and now I’m wondering if Theaeora y/n has seen Harry do his business

Harry never thought things would come to this.

He's heard his mum and dad talk about him barging through the bathroom door without knocking. Anne said he loved making Des angry, and he only stopped doing it when he was five.

Theadora is four.

Whenever Harry–or Y/N for that matter–is in the toilet, or in the shower, they never lock the door.This means, Theadora can come in quite easily if she wanted to, which, she usually does– for some reason. So, when Y/N and Thea make banana bread in the kitchen after their tea, Harry does the stupidest thing he can ever do nowadays and lets them know he'll have a quick shower before joining them.

They both freeze at the words I'm gonna have a shower, I'll be back, and Harry tries to act cool, pressing a kiss on Y/N's cheek, then on Thea's forehead.

"Love you, be right back..."

Five minutes in, he's washing his face with his cleanser, still inside the shower, when he hears Thea getting cranky, he can tell by the yelling and groaning coming from the kitchen. He laughs, sorta feeling relaxed as opposed to his recent showers in the past few months because of her new hobby of coming inside the bathroom, and turns the shower off. He dries off quickly, and like a normal human being, he sits on the toilet, thinking he still has a few minutes since he can still hear her complaining.

He's just about to reach for the toilet paper when the door opens, and Thea barges through the door with Y/N in tow.

The small child has a reckless grin on her cherubic face, but Harry doesn't care– he feels frustrated.

"Theadora!" Y/N raises her voice, clearly as upset and fed-up by the reoccurring situation, and Harry sighs, sitting back with his hands on his lap, covering himself.

"Teddy," he starts, making eye contact with Y/N for a moment before his gaze falls back on Thea. "You need to knock, sweetheart, we've talked about this before, right?"

She bites her bottom lip, but she's not looking at him, she's looking at the rubber ducks sitting by the shower.

Y/N sighs. "Theadora, can you look at me?"

"Mhm," the ducks are forgotten. She turns to her mother.

"Actually," Harry mumbles, itching his thigh. "You guys can wait for me in the living room to have this conversation... again," he nods at Y/N. She's holding herself back, he knows. He knows a laugh is threatening to come out. "I'm in the middle of something here."

"Yes," Y/N nods, hands going to Thea's shoulders. "Come."

But, she doesn't move. Instead, she turns back to Harry, and Harry knows what's coming.

He just knows his daughter. He knows her so well, because he's been in her shoes before.

"Is daddy having a poo?"

Y/N bites her lip.

Harry rolls his eyes.

"Yes, Thea, I was. Go with mummy, I'll be with you guys in a minute, sì?"

"Sì... sì, daddy. I maked a banana bread with mummy, do you want to eat with us?"

"Thea..."

[whydon-twego]

Courtship

"I want to court you" Merlin, lying naked beside him, sighs heavily and turns to look at him. "We've been over this, Arthur" Arthur remains silent for a few seconds, his fists closed and his teeth biting his lower lip because Arthur does not want to blurt out on the matter, not this time. "If I could woo you openly the nobles would not be piling like lions on a carcass!" Merlin raises an eyebrow and looks at him with an amused air "Am I a carcass now?" "You know what I mean!" Merlin sighs. "Is it because of Lord Smith?" Arthur does not reply and that is an answer in itself. "Arthur, you know perfectly well that I have no interest in anyone else, in any way, ever. And you know perfectly well that since you made me Court Sorcerer I can say no to anyone I want. So Lord Smith, like all the other Lords before him, got a resounding no for an answer." Arthur now turns to look at him, his eyebrows furrowed in contrition. "But there would be no need for all this if only we could say publicly that we are together" Merlin is tired of this talk, he is tired of Arthur bringing it up at every opportunity, and he is tired of always having to be the one to say no. "You need a queen by your side, Arthur. You need someone who can run a kingdom and help you run it and that someone is not me, more importantly, you need someone to give you an heir, and that someone is certainly not me." Arthur jumps out of bed and Merlin misses his presence, misses the warmth radiating from Arthur's body, his smell.

"You've known this about me for as long as we've known each other, Merlin, I will only marry for love and, above all, I will not have a Favourite, a lover or whatever the hell you want to call them"

Arthur is angry, wandering around the room always in his nudity and seems to have no intention of dressing even for this (umpteenth) speech.

Merlin's heart breaks a little.

"Yes, I know."

Of course Merlin knows, of course he is more than aware.

At that, Arthur's sky-blue eyes rise and go to rest on Merlin and Merlin has never seen him so serious.

"So you… so you think I'm going to get out of that bed one day and wake up a changed man? You think I'm going to wake up one day and think 'well, I'm not in love with Merlin anymore, I can move on'?"

Merlin's throat went dry and his eyes wide.

"Don't you dare, Merlin. You can't make that face, you can't be surprised to hear me say I'm in love with you. What did you think this was all about, a little game?"

"Hearing you say it is still different, alright?"

Arthur raises his arms to the sky and shrugs at him, starting to walk back and forth across the room, Merlin gets up to sit on the bed.

"You've been sleeping in my bed for over a year, Merlin. It's been more than a year that I've made you Lord, it's been more than a year that I've been going on and on asking you to begin a courtship in the light of day. What did you think that meant? Was I supposed to say it out loud? Well, I'll say it out loud: I'm in love with you, Merlin. For over ten years now if memory serves and I don't think it will be such a passing thing, your continued refusal of a courtship will only lead to a King ruling alone, unbelievably unhappy and sad when he has what he desires just a few mere steps away."

Merlin has brought his knees up to his chest as self-defence, because his heart is hammering so hard that he is afraid it might burst out of his ribcage.

Arthur approaches and in a few strides he is back on the bed, next to Merlin who is looking at him with pleading eyes.

"Arthur…"

"In fact, you know what, Merlin? I am your king and I am an incredibly fed up king, I command you to accept my courtship!"

Merlin stares at him for a few moments, astonished, and then bursts out laughing.

"You know it never did any good to order me anything."

Arthur is lying beside him now, looking at him hopefully.

"I am ready to accept any responsibility for it"

Merlin leans down to kiss him because otherwise he might do something as stupid as cry.

"I love you, too" he whispers.

"I know, because apparently I'm not the dollop-head in this relationship."

Merlin throws a pillow at him.

Arthur gets up and goes to announce to the court that he is about to begin a courtship with his Court Sorcerer.

"Put your clothes on at least, before you go out!"

Arthur does not. Merlin is madly in love with this too.

[miidnighters]

It's my birthday ! To celebrate, I wanted to put together a little shout out of people I love because it's the most surefire way to get compliments back in return (I'm kidding!). Thankyou so much for writing with me and mashing our barbies together and making this hellsite such a fun place to be.

Also, seeing how this has changed from my last shoutout at Christmastime - notably, the people I tagged as "people I love who I don't write with very much" but who now I write with or talk to every day lmao.

Please let this have tagged everyone I wanted to tag

@92328

I love u so much. U know I do. I love all the random questions u ask and ur request for Isaac Facts and the fact that you refer to Morgan as "Nora's Husband" and the way you wanna lock Flynn up in a tower to keep him a baby forever. Never change lmao.

@bloodykneestm

Bender ur characters are chefs kiss and our dynamics are chefs kiss and I get such a huge smile whenever I see u in my notifs (either here or on disco). I love the things we come up with together.

@cigarettesandcoffee

My darling! I know you're not writing a lot atm but it makes my day whenever we chat and whenever you pop up with some random love. All of our pairings are so good and I can't wait to see what we cook up for the others.

@draconisa

I know you're ALSO not writing a lot atm but Dany and Isaac have my whole heart plus everything that we're doing on the multi for everyone there like. My brain is still stuck on Harts and Vasile like. Does it get any better?

@epistrefei

HELLO. ARTEMIS. WOW. I am so in awe of the original spin you're able to put on such a well-known character - and it's not just Artemis and Billie, it's Barty and Flynn, and watching what you do with Zahrosa and so many others.

@exquisitexagony

Sami is my baby. The relationship they have with Flynn and Bella (or Bella and Arthur) and all the others is so special to me, as well as everything we have going on your other blogs (Callie and Shimi, for example? Yes).

@fangmother

Rainer is who I want to be when I grow up. If I could be half as confident and gave less fucks. I love seeing all the wild shit she gets up to and following her different relationships with people who have been in her life for varying lengths of time.

@freekzout

What can I say about the freekz? Callie and Funke's relationship is so special to me BUT also the friendships we've built? Lu and Ruth? Flynn and Ruth? Bella and the both of them? Not to mention your other blogs - Bella and Connie in particular.

@inrovina

Every relationship my characters have with Xeno is SO special. Flynn and Lake are SO special. I'm so excited for what other shenanigans they get up to and all the potential new stuff we're doing on your multi !

@kurjaks

I need to put this man in an enclosure and study him. I love him so much, and I love the careful way you've crafted him, and the truly unique way he carries and conducts himself. PLUS the way we chat ooc? Peak.

@mystiika

Every one of your muses is a darling to me. We've started creating such interesting relationships between a few of our muses in varying stages of romance or friendship and I cannot wait to do more with you.

@recitedemise

Every time I see you in my notifs I know I am getting fed the Good Shit. You have such a way with words and what we've crafted between Gale and Callie is really something special to me. Plus to varying relationships w Harts and Bella? Yes.

@sorrowsick

There is no muse of yours that I don't love down bad. We have some truly batshit stuff going on and I know that I can always come to you with the wildest ideas and we can make it work. I am truly your biggest fan.

@soulmissed

August is the only child character I write with and I think that says something bc it's hard to write a child without them being too much of a caricature and it's hard to build relationships without them being one-note but you so it SO well, so we have such beautiful ties.

@starlyht

One of the true lights of my life I adore seeing u on my dash and in my notifs. We have some great ties between our characters and I truly love seeing your thoughts on lycanthropy or drow society or whatever takes your fancy.

@stcllata

I love that every pairing we toss together just seems to Work lmao. Whatever the situation, whoever the muse, we can always put them together and come out with something good. And by good I often mean shippy but like. Who's gonna tell us no?

@tewwor

I am so in awe of your mind and your worldbuilding, and I am so lucky to be able to play in these spaces you've built. I love the relationships we've built and I love that we can throw different characters together to see what sticks.

@vitalphenomena

I say this with the UTMOST affection but this is the most messed up roster of characters I've ever seen and I adore writing with them. I adore exploring all the different facets of their characters and how my characters interact with their struggles bc they're NOT perfect.

@whileurmine

If I see a man over 30 on my dash, odds are it's you. I love your roster and I love our OOC hate sessions and I love that we can both puck up and put down starters like nothing. Whether it's something established or a new idea we can always put a pair together.

@yxkanna

I know you're ALSO not writing atm but I have to let you know how much I love you and your babies. Not just Nick but all of them. We have some really interesting dynamics both platinic and romantic and I can't wait until you're back to pick them up.

And then of course some other shoutouts of people I don't love any less but perhaps don't write with or talk to as often <3 (which should change, honestly. Come yap w me <3)

@abysswarden | @berylcluster | @bucketkicked | @byanyan

@coastercrushed | @corsey | @cragsnow | @demonstigma

@downspirals | @fvzzyelf | @godstrayed | @hegrudges

@idnull | @kxllerblond | @lcngdays | @nabaidhean-neonach

@platiinums | @pohlepen | @redemnation | @strszyga

@withbeasts | @xinxiins

[polakina]

in the shadows

rating: explicit

outline: after a botched mission, everyone's on a knife's edge. you take yourself outside while everyone is in the food hall, feeling like a cigarette will calm your anger. Ghost joins you, and the both of you find a better way to let out a bit of frustration.

warnings: smut, oral sex, unprotected sex, smoking, dirty talking, dirty thougts

requests are open! hope you enjoy, petals <3

masterlist

II

To express it lightly, that mission was the most fucked up you'd had in a long time. No one spoke the whole ride home. Not even Soap, which surprised you.

After Ghost had finished his long lecture, his shouts were heard even above the helicopter blades, nobody even dared look in his direction after that. You sat there quietly, between two other soldiers who looked down at their black boots as you did, their breathing quiet enough to go almost unheard. It would take Riley a while to come down from his rage after this one, that was for sure.

If only that one shot hadn't been fired early by that idiot with a trigger-happy hand, perhaps it would have all gone a different way. Then Hassan and his men wouldn't have scattered into the shadows and your team might have actually had something to bring back to base other than your sorry asses. You cast a glance over to the newbie soldier who caused your fuck up, and he never managed to meet your eye. He was surely in for a whooping when you got back to base.

"Right," Ghost's voice echoed throughout the carrier, everyone's heads spinning to face him as he stood in the center of the metal box. "Everyone reports back to their bunks when we land, get yourselves cleaned and fed and meet me and Vargas in the meeting room for a debrief in an hour." That was all he said. The second you landed, he left without a word, the rest of you following in his wake.

"How long do you think until he's calmed down after this one?" Soap asked you quietly as the two of you walked back to your rooms, everyone dispersing behind their own doors without a sound.

"Well, remember last time?" You mused, hearing Soap's grunt of acknowledgement. "He was pissed off about that for almost two weeks. But this, this is worse. I won't be surprised if he doesn't speak to us for at least a month after this." Soap just hummed, agreeing silently.

"Then let's just pray it passes quickly, eh? We've gotta get this job done one way or the other, and I'd rather it be without having one eye on the target and the other on Ghost." You both nodded in agreement before returning to your respective rooms, which happened to be opposite one another. Once back inside your room, you stripped off your clothing and were happy to be greeted with hot water on your back as soon as stepping into the wet room. 

After cleaning the dirt and blood from your hair and body, you changed into more comfier clothes, happy to feel soft pants and a simple cotton shirt on your skin once again. You remained in your room for a while, stretching out your sore muscles and kneading the knots in your back and legs from being on your feet the whole day, running and hoisting yourself over more fences than you cared to count.

After an hour or so, you heard the guys from the unit all leaving their rooms to head to the kitchen to find food, rambling and shouting like schoolboys as they passed your door, banging on it childishly to call you for dinner. You didn’t join them, not feeling much of an appetite after the day you’d had. But you were in the mood for nicotine. It seemed to be all that cleared your head and calmed you after a mission. You could hear Price in the back of your mind telling you how those things could kill you. You heard yourself responding to him the same every time, “yes but a bullet would kill me faster, and I still face those everyday”. He’d stopped commenting on it after that.

Taking your pack of cigarettes and a lighter off your nightstand, one gifted to you by Ghost three years ago with a skeleton on the metal case, you made your way outside. Using the back door which was accessible walking past the kitchen where the boys were sitting eating, you gave a small smile as they called to you, waving over. Ghost was sat amongst them, besides Soap at the bench table in the center of the room. He glanced at you as you walked away, noting that you left through the backdoor and got up to follow you out.

“Everything good, L.T?” Soap asked him, watching him stand from his seat.

“All good, Soap. Just gonna check up on her for a sec,” Ghost responded, his Mancunian accent seeping through the gruffness of his voice. Soap just nodded acknowledgingly and said nothing more, digging into his meal. 

You lit your cigarette, sitting on the pile of military weapon cargo boxes stacked outside the tent. Breathing in the smoke, you cast your eyes over to the setting sun dipping behind the mountains that encircled your base camp. It was pretty, the sky painted an array of purples and oranges. But your silent moment was cut off by the door shutting rather harshly to your left. It made you jump. Ghost chuckled lowly for only himself to hear.

“Not hungry, I’m guessing?” Ghost speculated, leaning against the cargo boxes next to you. 

You shook your head, taking another puff and blowing it out into the passing wind. “Not really. Just ready to get back out there, honestly.” That made Ghost raise a brow, looking over at you for a second. 

“So soon?” He inquired.

“Of course,” you inhaled once again, taking a moment to let the smoke drift down your throat. “Never leave a mission unfinished, right?” Ghost grunted approvingly, nodding his head slightly.

“Right,” he smiled slightly, seeing you nod in agreement out of the corner of his eye. “You gotten any sleep recently? You’ve been a little out of it the past few weeks.”

That made you turn your head. “There’s a rookie that fired early who deserves a seeing to, but you’re asking about me because you think I’m out of it?” You asked aback at his words. 

“Woah, I already spoke to the kid. Well, spoke is a soft term for how I said it, it was more shouting.”

“More like screaming,” you mumbled. “We all heard you from our rooms, Riley. It was pretty harsh.”

“You think I was too hard on him?”

“No, he deserved it. Our mission fell apart. Fuck knows when we’re going to get another chance,” you breathed out, the annoyance lacing your tone. And Ghost could hear it. He patted your leg comfortingly.

“We’ll get them next time, love. Don’t worry,” he assured you. It was a strange feeling, not a bad one, just strange. Riley comforting you, being…sweet. You liked it. 

The two of you had known eachother for years, been through hell together. Brought eachother back from the dead on more than one occasion. There’s nothing you wouldn’t do for eachother, nothing you hadn’t already done for eachother. But this was new, his sweeter side coming through. 

“You did good today, love. Real good. Despite everything, I always got you to count on,” he admitted, leaning into this kinder side that had grown on him. His hand stayed firmly planted on your thigh, his thumb circling over your pants. You made no move to stop him. You liked the feel of his palm on your leg, thumb drifting over it slowly. 

“Wouldn’t have gotten through it without you, Lieutenant,” you smiled, looking over at him. He chuckled, and you joined him. Your cigarette was half smoked, the ash on the precipice of falling to the ground. You felt it being taken from your hand, Ghost pulling the front of his balaclava down with the same hand he held the cigarette with before bringing it to his lips and inhaling deeply.

You instinctively looked ahead, not wanting to invade the thing he kept most private. You heard his exhale, seeing the puff of smoke out of your peripheral. It was itching at you, to look at him. Even for just a second. But you refrained. You had to. 

“I can practically feel you trying to keep your eyes off me. It’s sort of amusing,” Ghost huffed a laugh, taking another hit of the cigarette in his fingers.

“Excuse me, I can keep my eyes to myself, thank you very much,” you smiled, a teasing tone coming through your voice. “Who said I wanted to look at you anyway?”

“Ah okay, love. So I’ll just pretend I don’t catch you looking at me during meetings, hmm?” He teased back, grip tightening on your thigh a little. 

“Don’t know what you mean, Lieutenant,” you smirked, feeling his eyes on you all of a sudden.

“Since when did you call me, Lieutenant,” Ghost asked, inquisitively. “Ever since I made this rank, you’ve never used the title.”

You shrugged your shoulders nonchalantly, still looking ahead. 

“Going all quiet on me all of a sudden, soldier? That’s not like you at all.” You still said nothing, you just heard Ghost pushing himself off the cargo boxes and walking around to stand in front of you. Your eyes averted, again off instinct. You looked down, seeing his legs standing between yours. “Say what’s on your mind, love.”

You just shook your head, smiling to yourself. “There’s nothing to say, boss.”

“Uh huh.” He was not convinced. Neither were you, to be honest. “You gonna look me in my eyes and tell me that?”

You hesitated, and Ghost waited for a few seconds. But as everyone in the team knew, he grew impatient and took matters into his own hands. You felt his gloved hand cup your jaw, tilting your face up to meet his.

Your eyes widened as you met eyes with Ghost. His face. It was uncovered by his balaclava that he never seemed to take off. You couldn’t help but stare. Before, you’d only ever seen his eyes, but now you saw the whole picture.

“What? Cat got your tongue, soldier?” That smile. You could look at it forever. The small dimple that formed on his right cheek, the little creases in his face when he smiled. He really was beautiful. “See something you like?”

“I…” your words had escaped you as you looked up at the man looming over you, a smirk now present on his face at your awed expression. “Maybe I do.”

He just hummed, the smirk never leaving his face. His free hand stayed on your jaw, stroking patterns into your cheek, while the other flicked away the cigarette in his hand. “Oh yeah?” There was a mischievous look in his eye that didn’t go unnoticed. 

“Riley, I-”

“Uh uh, no,” he said, silencing you immediately as you looked up at him expectantly. “You can refer to me by my proper title, can’t you, soldier?” That low, gruff tone sent something racing through you. The way he looked down at you with dark, piercing eyes, eager for something. Something you couldn’t put your finger on. 

“Yes,” you breathed, leaning into his touch.

Then his fingers tightened on your jaw. “Yes, what?”

Your heart skipped a beat as he leaned down, mere inches from your face. 

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

You didn’t know what had gotten into Ghost, but you were loving this new side of him. 

“Good.” He pulled your face closer to his, and you could practically feel his breath on your cheek. “Now you tell me if you want me to stop, love.”

Your response came amost instinctively. “I don’t want you to stop.”

All you saw was a flash of a smile before his lips met yours. You melted into his touch, feeling his hands on your thighs, your hips, gripping you softly wherever he could. His lips moved against yours perfectly, and you felt a light scratch of stubble against your chin and cheeks. His face was warm, most likely from the humidity falling over the dark sky, and it was a comforting feeling against your colder cheeks. 

His tongue brushed against your bottom lip, and you wasted no time letting him explore you with it. You practically moaned against his mouth, and Ghost pulled you flush against him, your legs pressed against the sides of his thighs.

He was loving this. Feeling you settle into his arms, your legs clenching around his thighs, your hands grabbing at his arms and shoulders. He needed you. As much as he’d want to get you back to his room for more privacy, he was more than ready to take her right out here. And so were you. 

His hands drifted down your back to your ass, unde ryour pants to cup your flesh, enjoying the way you moaned into his mouth, nipping at his bottom lip. You let your hands wander down, feeling the muscle under his black vest, until you felt your fingertips reach the cold metal buckle of his belt. You smiled against his lips, and he knew where you were taking this. 

You unclipped the belt hastily, smooth motions until the clasp fell apart and dangled low. The buttons came next, you undid them without letting your lips leave his. His hands followed suit, reaching around to the front to swiftly unzip your soft tan pants and tug them down your legs. The backs of your thighs were hit with the cold, hard plastic of the cargo box, mingled with the warmthness of Ghost’s hands on you. 

He pulled away, not before kissing your cheek, leaving you breathless and wanting. He smiled down at you, seeing in your eyes how much you wanted him, reflecting in his own of how badly he needed you. Right now. 

“Please,” you whispered, as his hand cupped your cheek, his thumb brushing over your lower lip, pulling it down gently. Your hand slid into his pants, palming the hardness starting to form between his legs. He groaned quietly, and you could see the expressions on his face more clearly than ever. It was even better than you could have imagined. His eyes fluttered shut, his mouth slightly open as your hand wrapped around his dick, moving it up and down so you could hear more of his pretty noises. 

Dragging your thumb over the tip brought most of his reaction, a short whine falling from his lips as you gathered his pre cum on your thumb, dragging it down his dick and repeating the motion until he palced his hand over yours.

“Don’t get me too excited all at once, sweetheart,” Ghost breathed, huffing a laugh quietly. “I still got you to take care of, don’t I?” With that, he knelt before you, never taking his eyes off you, and pulled your tan pants down to your ankles along with your underwear. Ghost smirked, seeing how wet you were already, practically glistening in the moonlight which seeped through the ashy clouds. 

He wasted no time in burying himself between your thighs, licking and sucking with an undying hunger. One thing you noticed is that he never looked away from you. He kept them on you, at your expressions, the way your head tipped forward and your mouth fell open as his lips wrapped around your clit. 

You didn’t realise how touch starved you were, nor how much he was either, until you felt your skin on one another. Letting your head roll back, you let out a small whimper as his finger pushed inside of you. Fuck, the man had bigger hands than you thought. 

But then he stopped, stopped moving his finger inside of you and stopped his tongue from moving in its perfect way. “No, sweetheart. You don’t get to look away from me now. I’ll only keep going if you keep your eyes on me,” he instructed, no room for negotiation in his tone. So you complied, looking down at his lust riddled eyes and not breaking contact. That’s when he smirked back up at you. “Good to know you can still follow orders, soldier.”

Then he resumed, fast paced and unruly as he fucked you on his finger before adding a second, taking his time to make sure you were ready for him. Your legs started to lose control and your legs began to shake, so you had your hand on the back of his head for support. And also to pull him closer. 

You felt yourself nearing your limit, your orgasm just mere moments away from taking over your body. But he pulled away just before you could come, leaving you wanting and restless.

“Fuck, no wait, Simon. Please,” you begged, holding his hand where it was and praying he would continue. The smirk on his face already told you your answer.

“Well, you’ve got a decision to make here,” he toyed, removing his fingers and placing them in his mouth, revelling at your taste before speaking again. “I can either keep going like this…” he leaned up so his lips were right next to your ear. “Or I can bend you over this cargo and fuck you until you learn to call me by my rank, soldier. ”

You already knew exactly what you wanted.

Before you knew it, the Leiutenant had you bent over the hard plastic boxes, your pants down by your ankles while his pants were unzipped and what laid beneath his boxers ached to be inside you.

Your fingers gripped the edge of the box as you felt him push inside you slowly, filling you in one singular move. He groaned as he felt you clench around his dick, the noises as he rocked back and forth inside you were music to his ears. You covered your mouth with one hand as he moved faster, gripping your hips and fucking you at an unrelenting pace. The cargo boxes creaked with your combined weight, if the guys weren’t being as loud as they were with the music playing in the background, they definitely would have heard you.

Ghost saw your hand covering your mouth and took it upon himself to wrap his hand around your wrist and pull it away, pinning the hand behind your back. “No, no, love. Don’t be hiding those pretty noises from me.”

“But…”

His grip tightened on your wrist, not hard enough to bruise, just hard enough so you felt it. “But what, soldier?”

“They might hear, Leuitenant,” you whimpered, and you heard a low chuckle in response. You felt his other hand leave your hip and tighten around your hair, pulling your head back so it was practically next to his.

“Sweetheart, if they hear those lovely little moans you’ve been making for me, then they’ll be so lucky,” he whispered before thrusting into your particularly hard and earning a gaspy breath from you. “There we go, baby.”

His praises, his words, his voice…it was like a drug to you and you were entirely addicted to it. You needed more, you craved it. 

You could feel yourself growing close once again, and from the looks of it, so did Simon. So he didn’t hold back, he gave you exactly what you needed. W one hand on your lower back to push you down, the other gripped your hip with vigour as he pounded into you relentlessly. Your eyes rolled back and your mouth fell open as your fingernails dug into the harsh plastic against your skin. 

“Come on, love. I know you’re close. Come for me, baby. Come on my cock like a good girl.”

Good girl.

That sent you over the edge. You clamped down on his cock almost as hard as your teeth clamped down on your lip, stopping the loud whines of Simon’s name be heard by everyone on your team. He felt you release onto his dick, your juices drownong his cock, sending him spiralling over the edge straight after you. Unleashing a guttaral groan, you felt him finish inside you, coating your walls in his come. Red walls painted white. 

He leant back, smiling to himself as he watched it leak out of you, smiling even more so when he heard your needy whine as he pulled his cock out of your soaked pussy. Leaning down, Simon kissed the side of your head before pulling your pants up and covering your body as though he hadn’t just torn them down to be deep inside you. 

“Simon,” he heard you breathe out as you turned to face him, seeing him tuck himself away and zip his pants back up.

He cupped your jaw, tilting your face up to meet his eye. “You did so good, love.” His thumb caressed your cheek affectionately and you smiled back up at him. Hsi lips met yours for a soft kiss, and his lips met your cheek for another. “We should go back in before they think we got lost.”

You chuckled in agreement, pushing yourself upright off the box and feeling your legs wobble a little. Simon noticed.

“You gonna be good to walk back in? Or do you need some help, soldier?” Simon teased with a smirk on his lips. 

“Fuck off,” you joked, chuckling as you playfully batted away his hand that was extended out to you. “I can walk just fine, thank you, Leuitenant.” You were lying to yourself and he knew it, you could feel the way your legs shook as you tried to take a step. 

He led you back inside, his hand on the small of your back. You were greeted with the warm, aromatic smell of food and the sounds of your teammates conversing amongst one another. Soap was the first to wave you over.

“Was wondering where you two were. Thought Ghost might have been complaining over that mission,” he murmured as you passed him, sitting beside him in what used to be Ghost’s seat. 

“No, he wasn’t complaining,” you smirked, feeling Ghost pass by you and sit on your right side. He huffed a chuckle to himself at your words. You’re right, he certainly wasn’t complaining. Underneath the table you felt his hand glide across your thigh, firmly planting his palm on your leg, squeezing it gently before letting his thumb trace patterns over your soft pants.

You all sat there for a while, talking and joking, all the while you could feel the memory of Ghost between your legs, the evidence still on your inner thighs. You were definitely going to need another shower after this. 

You felt a whisper in your ear and it almost made you jump.

“Planning on staying in your own bed tonight, soldier? Or do you like the idea of keeping me company in mine?” Ghost mumbled in your ear, his hand travelling the slightest bit higher.

Leaning in, you matched the level of his voice so it was unheard amongst anyone else. “I’ll join you, as long as I can shower first.”

You heard a low grunt in return. “Is that an invitation?”

You smiled, leaning further in until your lips brushed the shell of his ear. “Let’s see where the night takes us, shall we, Leuitenant?”

[funkylilomen]

i have somewhat of a different interpretation about The Mind Electric

> It's less of a diss track and more of using Heart's tactics against him to get him to listen [while also still definitely being a diss track]

somewhat disorganized rant below the cut [also lots of my own interpretations of the album that may very well be inaccurate, so take everything with a grain of salt] :]

The Mind Electric has a bit of a different topic when it comes to Mind's songs/lyrics, to say the least. while Mind does jab at Heart a lot, he does often try to reason with the other in between insults. The Mind Electric has much less of trying to convince Heart to work with [or behind] him and instead focuses on.. insulting the shit out of them

this is extremely funny, but it seems somewhat abrupt and out of the blue for Mind [see what i did there?]. however, i have a.. semi-theory as to why he suddenly just goes off on Heart. he's playing into the other's tactics

and i don't mean that Heart is constantly baraging Mind with insults. in fact, compared to Mind, Heart very rarely verbally attacks the other head on. instead, Heart builds up this fantasy around themself that paints themself as completely innocent, whereas Mind is this irredeemable villain that wants nothing more than Heart's head on a platter. and while, yes Mind definitely isn't fond of Heart, from what we've seen and heard, he is at least somewhat willing to work with Heart—although his idea of "working" with them seems more for Heart to sit in the backseat and shut up while Mind is the one actually in control, but I digress. this fantasy that Heart builds is most clearly seen from both sides in The Heart Acoustic and Be Born

Throughout Mind's songs [Be Born especially], he is trying to reason with Heart and get them to understand his point of view. he tries to explain that he only wants the best for the person that they make up. but Heart either argues with or outright ignores Mind, holding fast to the facade that they built up—that Mind is the bad guy trying to hurt them, and Heart is the good guy trying to save them. they don't want to hear anything that goes against that. so all that Mind says just ends up hitting a brick wall. this might also be a reason as to why Mind sees Heart as childish [their stubborn nature and them "playing make believe" to a much more serious degree]

at the end of Storm and a Spring, Mind and Heart sing over each other, almost sounding like an argument. this is Mind's breaking point. here, he throws his hands up and pretty much goes, "Fine. You want to see me as the villain? I'll play the villain." cue The Mind Electric. this song serves two roles, in my view. One, the one I've been building up to: Mind is leaning into this role that Heart has forced him into in a last ditch effort to break through and actually get him to listen for once. that's why the song eases up at the end. the last few lines of the song are literally, "Though I seem harsh in all my assessments / We each seek a life lived in the light / Yet there lies our Heart, engulfed in resentment / Stubborn, pale akaryocyte." aka, "Although you see everything I do as cruel and unforgiving, I'm not trying to hurt us. I'm only trying to make things better, and yet YOU refuse to see that, no matter how much I try to tell you this. You're being stubborn and resentful with practically no reason other than to perpetuate your own lies."

The second reason is that Mind is beyond frustrated at this point. he has tried and failed so many times to talk to Heart and get them to see the truth. he's tired. he's fed up. he needs an outlet, so he takes this opportunity to air his grievances [this is what i meant by it still definitely being a diss track, lol]. not only is it a method [albeit a poorly thought out one] to get through to Heart, it's also an excuse to let out his frustrations

that's all from me. i have no clue how to end these so. yeah. please don't execute me :]

[pixeldolly]

The Sacrifice - Part 2

Olivia bounced on her father's knee and giggled as he hummed her favorite song. That song was one of Roman's earliest memories, though he couldn't remember where he'd learned it from.

Not his own mother, that was for sure. His dad, perhaps, back before...everything.

Even though he'd felt deeply betrayed by Jacob getting the fertility treatments behind his back, and fatherhood had terrified him at first, Olivia had utterly charmed him.

Roman cherished the weekends he got to spend with his daughter. They were over all too quickly.

"How's my favorite girl doing? Been having fun with daddy?"

The toddler gurgled and laughed, gazing at Jacob with such adoration it made Roman flush with envy. He clamped down on the emotion, and instead tried to focus on what was best for Olivia.

"We've been watching TV and playing with Mr Bunny. She's also been fed and had her diaper changed."

"Sounds like quite the busy evening!"

"Her things are over there...I, um...I'll see you in a couple of weeks. You both take care, alright?"

"We will. You too, Roman."

Something was left unspoken, a yearning that neither man would admit, but which filled the space between them like something palpable. Their young daughter, however, had no such qualms.

"Stay, Daddy! Play!"

"Daddy must go now, sweetie, but Dada is here. Besides, it's bedtime."

Olivia's lower lip began to tremble, which Roman took as his cue to leave. There was no point in drawing out the inevitable.

"I'll be back before you know it; I promise."

A thick, rolling fog had descended with the sunset, shrouding the town as Roman made his way back to the tram stop. Since it was late, he decided to take a shortcut through a quiet little graveyard, deserted at that hour.

The sound of the gravel being crushed under his feet was strangely muffled, distant. The fog created the illusion that the world had ceased to exist beyond those moss-covered fences, trapping him in an endless, grey limbo. It was unnerving.

Roman quickened his pace, then stopped abruptly, his skin pickling all over.

He had the unpleasant sensation of being watched.

As he listened to the approaching footsteps, a chill coursed down his spine and he smothered the sudden impulse to flee.

This was ridiculous! It was probably just someone else cutting through the graveyard, same as he was.

Heart pounding, Roman turned around...but nothing could have prepared him for the shock of what - or rather, whom - he saw standing before him.

There she was, practically unchanged from the last time he'd seen her: the woman who had caused him so much pain, the reason his father was dead and Roman had learned to fear magic - Eliza Clare, his mother, in the flesh!

"Hello, dear. My, my, how tall and handsome you've become. Come here, let me have a proper look at you."

Roman nearly fell over backwards in his haste to get away from her.

It was impossible! Eliza Clare, if she still lived, would be a much older woman! This couldn't be her, it was a hallucination, he was having some kind of - of mental breakdown! It felt awfully real, though.

"N-no...you can't be...! You...GET AWAY FROM ME!"

"That's no way to speak to your mother!"

Eliza's true power lay in her ability to bend the minds of those around her, and she had made her son's mind her playground long ago. Even after all those years, it was like stepping into a pair of well-worn shoes.

"Now - let's go home, shall we?"

"Yes, mother."

[howtofightwrite]

I have read your post about how size doesn't really matter if the two fighters are equally trained, but I wanted to ask if the same holds true in an armed fight? Like sword fights and the like? Sorry if this has been asked before, or if it is not your specific area of expertise. Thank you!!!!

I'm pretty sure we've covered this before but I'll go again.

The way you've phrased it is a little vague, and the answers are different.

If you're asking about to fighters with roughly equivalent gear, then, no, their size and weight won't matter that much. If you have a thirty-six inch razor blade, and your opponent has a thirty-six inch razor blade, it doesn't really matter if you're an inch taller. Hell, at that point, it really doesn't even matter much if you're a foot taller, yes that means your effective reach is going to be a little longer (about 6.2 inches in this case.) But, the difference between being able to take a swipe at someone standing seventy-eight inches away from you, versus being limited to a mere seventy-two inches, isn't a huge deal. Now, that extra six inches of reach isn't nothing (and, realistically, those numbers will be a little lower overall (I'm halving average arm/span, and assuming they're six and seven feet tall, which does result in one abnormally high number. When you start looking at more nominal height ranges, like 5'7 vs 5'11, the actual difference in reach will drop around an inch. Bluntly, that doesn't matter.)

Now, if you're asking about their weapons, this is an entirely different situation. A specific case we had in the past was someone who wanted their dual wielding dagger user to go toe to toe with someone armed with a greatsword. In the real world, greatswords tend to have, at least, a sixty inch blade, while most knives are going to be under a foot long. In a situation like this, the greatsword creates a five foot kill zone around its user that the dagger wielder cannot traverse. As a result, they cannot attack the greatsword user without some serious creativity, or the element of surprise.

This is true for all weapons. They all have both a maximum and minimum effective range, and while the wielder can often do things to keep the weapon, at least, partially functional at very close ranges (such as pommel strikes, or half-handing), the effective range of a weapon is extremely important to understand. Also, and I hope this was clear already, but this applies to melee weapons. It's pretty common to think about ranged weapons having a max effective range, but this is just as true of a sword or spear. Similarly, as I mentioned, they have a minimum effective range as well. A lone spear user can keep themselves safe from a dagger wielder if they can keep the knives out of reach, but if the dagger fighter manages to get past their spearhead, that weapon is going to be far less effective (though, it won't become completely useless. It is still a staff, with pointy bits.) (Also, minimum effective range does apply with ranged weapons as well. Again, not something we think about often, but it is true, and why things like the eight foot rule exists for handguns.)

It's a little out of scope here, but the weight of your weapon is also extremely important. The heavier a weapon is, the faster it will tire out its wielder. And, to slightly oversimplify, an exhausted fighter is a dead fighter. This is why swords are remarkably light, frequently weighing less than two pounds, with the upper end of the spectrum (the greatswords like the Claymore or Zweihander) still weighing than a well fed, adult, housecat. Heavy weapons can easily become a death sentence to their user. And you do not need a lot of weight to get the job done. An eight pound hammer is both shockingly heavy (as weapons go), but it will do unspeakable things to anyone it solidly connects with.

In a competitive sense, if your weapon is heavier that will turn into a disadvantage over time. It's difficult to exploit in a one on one fight, but on an afternoon battlefield, where the fighting has been going since dawn, that will have had a chance to wear down the wielders.

So, yes and no, it depends if you're asking about the fighters, where it doesn't matter, or the weapons, where it becomes extremely important.

-Starke

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[legobiwan]

It's 2024 and I've decided to make a Gravity Falls fic rec list. Because I do what I want, even if I'm showing up to the fandom a decade or so late. All fics are Gen unless otherwise noted, warnings can be found at the end of each description.

Birthday Dinner by Fordtato

A post-series short story featuring our two favorite old men out at sea, this work is wildly in-character in terms of their bickering and sometimes-competitive-to-the-point-of-self-sabatoge sibling relationship, but in the best and most hilarious of ways. Warnings for lighthearted discussion of cannibalism.

i know exactly where my blood is by strawberrybiscuit

There are a number of works that delve into Stan's possible suicidal ideation tendencies, both in his drifter years and post-Portal Incident. I find this to be a wholly conceivable notion, given both the absolute shit hand he was dealt in life and the hints we are given throughout the series that his self-esteem was pretty much in the gutter. Of the stories that explore this theme, I find this one to be one of the most grounded - Stan's borderline dissociation/gallows humor is very in-character, as is Ford's genuine horror when he learns the truth of the situation, which is rightfully emotional without delving into melodrama or transforming into a Saturday afternoon special. Warnings for intense talk of self-harm and suicide.

By Any Other Name by Zeragii 

I, like many of us, am fascinated by the tantalizing tidbits we've been fed as to Stan's decade or so existence as a drifter. We know he's failed at somewhat more legitimate attempts at entrepreneurship (the dodginess of the actual products notwithstanding), we know he was living out of his car for a large majority of those years, we know he's been to prison three times in various countries, and we know something happened in Colombia. All this is to say, Stan's probably made a lot of enemies, and that his map of "States I'm Banned In" is more likely a summary of places in which he has outstanding warrants and/or a price on his head.

What happens when that past catches up to you?

While this isn't an uncommon theme in Gravity Falls fics, what I love about this story is the complexity of the interactions between Stan and Ford here, given this is a post-series fic. Yes, they've mended their relationship, but old patterns die hard. Neither twin ends up as the "damsel in distress" (a worrying recurrence in many GF fics), despite the fact they are thrown into multiple dangerous situations and the OCs/Pines family extension are well-crafted and three-dimensional.

The People That We Always Hoped We Would Be by SharoScylla

A Christmas Carol, but make it Gravity Falls. The section of this story that really sold me was Stan's climatic scene in a bedbug-ridden, hovel of a motel room in New Mexico. Guest appearance made by the infamous Jimmy Snakes, who I learned recently was going to be a real character (and essentially this universe's answer to Ghost Rider) until that whole bit about Stan's past biker life was cut (regrettable). Embracing both the humor and darkness present in the original show, this story sees a Research Era!Ford come face-to-face with his own proverbial demons (real demons not included) as he is visited by a familiar cast of future past. Warnings for suicide attempt.

O Brother by Obsessive_Reader

In progress. A timestuck AU with the Mystery Twins 1.0 being catapulted into the 1980s, a young Ford landing with an increasingly desperate adult Stanley as young Stan tries to navigate the thorny, icy adult his brother Stanford has become. Probably one of the most realistic timestuck AUs out there, as fences are not mended immediately between the adult twins nor with their children counterparts. Also, Fiddleford finally has a chance to shine!

Orpheus Descending by Sir_Thopas

Unfinished. Which is a damn, damn shame, as this is probably one of my favorite Gravity Falls fics of all time. Read it anyway. Yes, you'll swear vociferously at where it leaves off. ResearchEra!Ford goes to incredible lengths to bring his brother back from the dead as Stan's demise is not exactly what it seems. What exactly happens with Stan is incredibly realistic, given his circumstances, and the local color written in by this Georgian native just adds to the Gothic feel of the whole tale. To what lengths would you go to bring your family back? At what point do you cross the point of no return in order to survive? Warnings for graphic description of a decayed corpse and prostitution scene.

Journal #4 by Percival_T_Honeybee

To be honest, this story stops being a Gravity Falls fic a couple of chapters in, instead featuring characters we know and love in increasingly out-of-universe (in all ways imaginable) situations. This doesn't matter, though, as the world- and character-building of this swashbuckling, sci-fi epic are superb and will have you on the edge of your seat until the final chapter. When both Stan and Ford go through the portal, their futures become something they never could have imagined.

Turning by BrandyFromTheBottle

I've mulled over this conceit on more than occasion and truly think it's something that begs further exploration. What if Stanley Pines pulled a Saul Goodman and, after the world was saved, turned himself in, willingly going to trial, and eventually, prison as self-inflicted recompense for his past deeds?

And now for something different...

Entanglement by Haley3

Ford/Bill (to be clear, Triangle Bill. Accept no substitutions). I realize Billford is not everyone's cup of tea and I rarely, rarely post shipping stuff, but in full transparency, I find their relationship fascinating and the idea of their having interactions that may have seeped over the boundary of purely (well, not pure. Ford built a damned shrine and became a one-man cult while Bill was manipulating him the entire time) platonic is not out of the question. In other words, I'm not wholly immune to Billford, but I am rather picky about how they are portrayed.

This fic checks all my boxes. Bill remains a triangle throughout. Bill is unredeemable. Ford and Bill have a relationship whose complexity would rival the equations of the dimensional physics they debate. And, of course, Ford is lying to himself and those around him, deeply, deeply in denial as to the nature and profundity of his emotions towards his tormentor. Warnings for explicit sexual scenes, manipulation, emotional abuse. I mean, it's Bill, we all know what that means.

[milehighmegs]

On the Subject of Nightingales

Soooo... since I've dived straight and gleefully down the rabbithole of Good Omens fan theories, I found something of a gem that gives me hope for season 3.

[Note: I am aware that, at this time, production has been paused pending the involvement of Neil Gaiman, so no need to bring that up. It'll unfold in due time.]

I watched a fan analysis by YouTuber Sendarya, who, via tumblr user @daria-meoi, made a fascinating connection between the song we've come to know as their song and the end credits of S2 E6 (links to both vids posted below). Take a moment to watch them both and come back...

This is Sendarya's full analysis (above)...

... and this is the juxtaposition of Tori's version over the end credits. It's just... well. You'll see.

... so, all caught up? Good. Right to it then.

Inspired by a comment in one of these videos (sorry, can't remember exactly which one or else I'd find the commentor's name and give allllll the credit), it seems as though that final smile from Zira implies that the wheels in his head are churning. He's coming up with a plan. Will it work? Maybe. Will he do everything in his power to make it work? You bet your tartan-bowtie-wearing ass he will.

This particular string of thought was kicked off by the aforementioned comment, which led me to the exchange between Zira and Nina during the demon attack:

"Why don't you stand up for yourself, make your own plan?" (or something to that effect)

"Oh I am, but rescuing me makes him so happy."

HMMMMMM....

Since we're already pretty sure the major plot line of S3 is going to be the Second Coming- yet another end-of-the-world attempt by H&H- it stands to reason that Zira, as Supreme Archangel, is gonna go full-blown Lawful-but-Chaotic Good™ and attempt to thwart the Second Coming in such a way that Hell will have to step in. Kinda like they did in S1, which is, in a roundabout way, how Gabriel & Beez got together in the first place.

Whoever's in charge of hell now could tap Crowley to make sure things go "as planned," even if he is half the reason Armageddon didn't happen. Why? Because they likely know that he & Zira aren't on good terms, and- in their narrow understanding of love- believe Crowley'd be perfectly happy to bring down his ex-boyfriend Supreme Archangel Aziraphale. Knowing Zira better than anyone, and "hating" him now, Hell thinks Crowley will know just what to do to get Zira to either stand down or fall in the trying.

I do admit this is a bit of a stretch, seeing as how Crowley is not only retired but well and totally fed up with Hell's shit. But Zira was retired too, and now he's the Archangel-fucking-Aziraphale. And since we, the audience, know about the pain & heartbreak Crowley's going through, he may just accept such an offer as an excuse to see Zira again. Or, depending on what's happening, if Crowley thinks Zira's in trouble, he'll come for him. Broken heart, bitterness, & soul-deep pain aside, he'll come for him. How that particular exchange would go... oh ho HO, I have plehhhhnty of ideas. Not all of them end well. But some of them do.

Zira's not stupid. Naive, yes, maybe even a bit gullible thanks to all that Heaven-induced trauma, but not out-and-out stupid. He's got schemes, and he'll carry them out to the best of his angelic ability. After all, he's just someone who goes along with Heaven... as far as he can.

[kasagia]

My (and your) tears ricochet

Pairing: Klaus Mikaelson x reader Summary: You and Klaus have a difficult relationship. For 500 years, you bond, break up, and get back together, being both your worst nightmares and your longed-for dreams. But after Lucien bites you and you die in Klaus' arms, the true feelings of your "lover" come out. And you're as delighted as devastated. Warning(s): angst, de@th, mourn, mentions of depression/mental breakdown, vampire violence, a bit of comfort at the end Word count: 5k+ Inspired by: "My tears ricochet" - Taylor Swift

We gather here, we line up, weepin' in a sunlit room

I never thought this would be my end. Killed by one of Klaus' many enemies because I rushed to save the love of my life. An Y/N from 200 years ago would have laughed in my face for my own stupidity.

To die for Klaus Mikaelson - the enemy of my family, the bane of my existence, and the only one I ever truly desired.

It would have been as improbable to my past self as the entire Mikaelson family mourning me with my sister Katherine by their side.

Yet I was here. In the spirit world, watching the original vampires and Kath line up in front of my coffin, they silently watched the sunlight illuminate my gray, lifeless face.

Maybe Klaus was supposed to be my undoing after all.

At least Katerina put me in a nice dress.

Even on my worst day, did I deserve, babe All the hell you gave me?

Involuntarily, I began to reminisce about the events leading up to my unexpected death, as I was looking at Klaus' stone, emotionless face.

"What? I betrayed you?! I should've seen that coming. After everything I do and sacrifice for you, you still can't trust me, can you? I'll never be your precious Camille."

"Don't bring her to this! I'll ask you just once more and for your own good, love, tell me the truth. Did you tell Aurora about her?!"

"No Klaus. I didn't tell your psychopathic ex that you were fucking your therapist. You have to find someone else to blame for her death."

"I didn't fuck with her."

"And I don't care."

I turned away from him to leave his studio, but the man grabbed my arm in a strong, aching grip, effectively stopping me. I turned to meet his furious gaze again.

"We're not finished."

"YES, WE ARE! I'm so done with being a toy you can throw out and take back whenever you want! I deserve something more than a hybrid who has an existential problem with himself and thousands of enemies on his back. I'm done with you and whatever is between us. You're not worthy of my time, and I'm so dumb to believe that you can feel something more than anger or a desire for power. Mikael was right about you. You're just a scared boy who is pushing everyone away from you because you're too afraid of being betrayed."

I burst out, fed up with his sick attitude. From the moment I arrived at his call, he treated me with fucking hostility and distance. After everything we've been through together, I didn't deserve to be treated like a traitor. 

At least that's what I told myself to keep from falling apart, seeing the complete lack of love for me in his captivating eyes, which I loved as much as the day we first met.

"Calm down. I've killed people for lesser slander. You're lucky you're still breathing, love." he whispered, placing his hand on my neck and squeezing it lightly to remind me that he could end my life at any moment. Good thing I was never afraid of him.

"And you're lucky to still have someone by your side after hurting your whole family again and again. This killing of everyone out of fear that someone would dare lay hand on you is pathetic. And as you can see, it doesn't quite work well." I snarled, yanking my arm out of his grip and walking away from the even angrier man than before.

After all, the one that wins will be the one that hits the hardest. This was always our guiding principle whenever we argued and broke up for a couple of decades.

'Cause I loved you, I swear I loved you 'Til my dying day

"Are you leaving so soon, sister? You just came." Katherine asked as I ran down the stairs towards the exit of the mansion.

"Well, apparently my presence is not needed here. In the house of the great Klaus Mikaelson, there is no place for vile traitors and untrustworthy whores."

"You can not fool me! I know what you really think and feel. And I sympathize with you with all my heart. You're making the right choice, little sister. He is not worthy of your love."

"I didn't ask for your opinion." I growled, unable to bear what she was saying and knowing that it was true.

"You still love him... after everything he has done, after he pretended to be with this bartander and broke your heart..."

"Once again. I didn't ask about your opinion, Katerina." I interrupted her to hurry out of the house. If I had known then that this would be one of our last conversations…

And you're the hero flying around, saving face

"What the hell do you think you're doing?! Lucien is running around trying to get to my loved ones at all costs, and you're taking bloody walks around New Orleans?!" Klaus was yelling at me after he pushed me against the wall of one of the alleys.

"You just answered yourself. Lucien is after your loved ones, and I am not one of them."

"Stupid woman, can't you see how much you mean to me?!"

"You've shown me this for the last fucking weeks by flirting with Aurora and playing Camille's damn boyfriend!"

"I did it to protect you!"

"Not telling me anything, keeping me like a prisoner in your house, and treating me worse than an enemy - this is what you call a fucking protection?!"

"How else was I supposed to keep you from participating in a war that wasn't yours and keep you safe at the same time?!"

"It would be too easy to let me know your plans, wouldn't it?"

"Can't you understand that I can't let anything happen to you?! That losing you too will be the final nail in my coffin!"

Suddenly, a strange, disturbing feeling came over me.

"Klaus."

"No. Let me finally end this and tell what's should be told 500 houndreds bloody years ago." Completely unable to focus on Klaus' words, I glanced over to see what was going on behind him. Lucien pointed the pistol at him with a smirk. Whatever was loaded into the gun, it couldn't end well. "Y/N, I love…"

The shot drowned out what he wanted to say. In an instant, I switched places with him, taking a shot at myself. I gasped as I felt my cool blood begin to ooze from the newly formed wound. My gaze, however, stayed hard on Klaus' terrified eyes.

Lucien's venom.

"Y/N!" his scream managed to cut through my dazed body before I collapsed limply on top of him, sinking into the enticing, blissful darkness.

We gather stones, never knowing what they'll mean Some to throw, some to make a diamond ring

"I don't see a bit of sense in what we're doing." Klaus whined as we walked along the lakeshore. Every now and then I would stop to pick up a nicer pebble and put it in one of our pouches.

"Don't be grumpy, old man. Had you never done this when you were a child?"

"We had other activities. Hunting, learning to fight, mother being one of the more ambitious decided to teach us to read and write - looking at Elijah, one of her worst ideas. We had all kinds of holidays, but we never did something as stupid as collecting useless stones."

"My God, you're worse than Katerina. Shouldn't you, as an artist, see beauty even in something as simple as stone? Besides, what if we happen to come across a diamond thrown away by some rich aristocrat's angry mistress? I'm about to waste my chance at finding a ridiculously expensive gem just because you're particularly cranky today." I asked indignantly, pulling him closer to me and smirking as I waited for his response.

"Your overactive imagination worries me sometimes. Also, I'm capable of giving you your own diamond if you want." he replied, unconvinced, staring at me with feigned concern. Sparks of amusement shone in his mesmerizingly beautiful eyes.

"As far as I remember, my imagination didn't bother you last night. You actually complimented it a lot."

"I won't answer that, just because, apparently, I'm the only one in our humble company who cares about a little tact."

"Well… you weren't last night." I kissed him briefly and run away from him laughing.

"Come here, you little tempting, irritating thing!" he shouted, chasing after me with his own smirk.

He grabbed me, pulling my back to his chest. I started laughing even more as he started placing small kisses down my neck.

"I can give you every little diamond ring you want. Just say a word." he whispered in my ear, nuzzling my jaw with his nose.

You know I didn't want to have to haunt you But what a ghostly scene

Consciousness slowly began to return to my body. I felt like I was in a sea of ​​verbena. Every little muscle burned with hellish pain.

I must have been in hell.

"Not yet, love. I won't let you get away from me that easily. You must fight." his voice instantly brought me back.

I struggled to open my eyes, hissing at the blinding sunlight. The man sitting by my bed rushed to the windows, covering them, before immediately returning to sit by my side. I felt a sudden pressure on my skull. I angrily pushed his hand away, severing the connection between us.

"Get out of my mind." I wheezed, wincing as I heard my hoarse voice. The hybrid, undaunted by my condition, moved closer to me and handed me a glass of blood from the bedside table.

"Make me, love. I dare you." he whispered as he watched me greedily drink the red liquid.

He helped me hold the glass in my hand, embracing it and stroking it tenderly with his thumb. Had it not been for the knowledge that I would die in a few hours, I might have found the whole scene romantic.

"You know that even if you throw me a thousand challenges, you won't keep me for long. I'm gonna die, Klaus. Like Finn and Cami."

"NO. I will not let you. I'll go to Lucien and snatch this damned cure from his throat."

"Klaus, I'm already dead. There is no need…" he cut me off, tangling his hand in my hair to pull me into a desperate, demanding, needy kiss.

I let the warmth of his lips touch me one last time, letting a soft moan escape my throat as the emotions I felt became too much for me to hide any longer. He grabbed my waist, pulling me to him so that I was sitting on his lap. We broke apart. I leaned my head against his forehead, staring into his tear-filled eyes.

"You can't leave me. Not like that."

"I guess I don't have much choice." I whispered in a trembling voice, stroking his cheek tenderly, trying to wipe the tears from his eyes. "Klaus? Earlier in this alley, before all this happened, You said you love me. I…" he didn't let me finish by pressing his lips against mine again.

"You can say you love me tomorrow. You won't die today, love." he kissed my forehead and left in such a hurry that I couldn't even try to talk him out of the stupid idea of chasing Lucien.

I could only hope he wouldn't do something stupid and share my fate.

You wear the same jewels that I gave you As you bury me

The funeral was not extraordinary or grand. By Mikaelson's standards, it was quite modest and therefore more personal. It was good to know they'd miss my presence, but I couldn't focus on anyone but Klaus.

He was strangely calm. Emotionless, expressionless. Like a dead sculpture. My concern for the vampire only increased when I saw the necklace (which I gave him for his 1,000th birthday) with the pendant of a wolf howling at the moon hanging proudly from his neck, gleaming in the sunlight. His blue eyes stared blankly at my coffin, which they were hiding in the crypt.

Somewhere in the distance, I could hear Katerina and Rebekah crying.

However, the one person I cared about and worried about ever since I left the world of the living spent the entire funeral in astonishing silence.

It was at that moment that I knew he wouldn't accept my departure so easily.

I smiled as I saw Elijah come over to comfort him afterward. My smile faded as the hybrid growled aggressively at him, shoved his brother away, and ran to a place only known to him.

It must have been harder for him than he dared show anyone.

"Please, let one of his siblings be able to get to him. Despite his best efforts to keep them at a distance."

And if I'm dead to you, why are you at the wake? Cursing my name, wishing I stayed Look at how my tears ricochet

If I thought the funeral was hard for Klaus, then the wake must be his true hell.

Most of the originals have recovered by now, sitting in their living room sipping drinks, recalling all the funny, sad, and crazy things that had to do with me.

I thought it would somehow ease his pain.

Katerina seemed a little cheerier as she talked about all the compromising situations that WERE SUPPOSED to go with me to the grave. But I couldn't really blame her. I would probably do the same in the reverse situation.

It was Kol who unwittingly unleashed the storm.

"Remember when Nik tried to propose to her in the 19th century, here in New Orleans?" my heart and the whole world around me stopped for a moment. Propose?

"What?! How?" my sister's surprised exclamation perfectly reflected my current state. I had no idea that idea could ever enter his head.

"He has had hundreds of attempts over the centuries, but at this time most of us thought he'd finally made it." a single tear escaped my eye as I lamented the future that would never happen. "I even spent all of my money from the safe in Chicago because Nik had planned to…"

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the room, silencing the original. Everyone's attention shifted to Klaus, who had shards of glass stuck in his hands. A trickle of blood began to form from his hand, staining the chair and the carpet beneath it.

"I have enough of this pathetic show." he snarled, brushing off the shards of glass as he walked away to his art studio. Rebekah and Elijah didn't give up so easily, catching up with him on the stairs.

"Is that how your life will look now? You'll growl at us every time we mention Y/…" 

"DON'T EVEN DARE SAY HER NAME!" he burst out, running to his studio. Elijah gave his sister a knowing look and returned to the living room, letting her do her thing.

Rebekah and I followed the hybrid, finding him in the middle of the ruined room, weeping over one of my portraits that had miraculously survived the crash. The blonde kneeled, hugging her brother and combing his hair comfortingly.

"Oh, Nik. That pain will never go away if you don't accept…"

"I WILL NEVER ACCEPT THIS!" he wrenched himself free from her grip, wary of the painting. "And this damn witch knew it! She enchanted me the first time I saw her. She put a dark spell on me, so I never found any other woman even a little bit as attractive as her. She is my heart, my half soul, my happiness, my sadness, and my madness, and now… now she is gone. And will be my curse for the rest of my life, Rebekah. Nothing can change that, especially not passing time, because every second, every minute, every hour, and every day without her by my side is meaningless."

"But you two were apart before, and you never acted like that, Nik."

"It was easier to let her go knowing she was happy and safe rather than cold and dead in some bloody tomb."

"And what about Hope? Your daughter, remember? You must be strong for her."

"Maybe it would have been better if she had never known the wasted shell I became after SHE left."

The blast of air (and all that mess) was all he left behind. Rebekah hesitantly reached for my portrait, staring at it with tears in her eyes.

However, it may not be so easy to let me go for all of them.

And I can go anywhere I want Anywhere I want, just not home

"You just beat yourself up more. By the way, he himself too." Cami's voice came from behind me. I turned to face her, leaving the hybrid alone with my crypt for a moment.

"I thought it was healthy to grieve a little over someone's death."

"Yes, but what you two are doing is obsessive and bordering on pre-depressive. You must let him go. And he you. Holding on to him will get you nowhere. If you don't want peace yet, you might as well travel to other places. You can go anywhere you want."

"Anywhere I want, just not home." I muttered bitterly, looking at the hybrid sitting across from my grave and sipping a bottle of bourbon.

"I don't think I can do anything here. Just remember you have a choice, okay?"

"You're going to find peace?"

"Yes, and don't make me wait there alone for long. Watching them won't help you. I'm so sorry, Y/N." she gave me one last comforting, sad smile and turned to leave.

"Good luck, Camille!" I called after her and turned on my way, approaching Klaus again.

"For you too. I hope you'll find your peace." I heard before the blonde was gone for good.

"I already did." I murmured, grabbing Klaus' hand, enjoying the slim chance of being close to him. At the very least, I could fool myself into thinking I was still with him. 

Because the truth was that I would never find my peace without him.

And you can aim for my heart, go for blood But you would still miss me in your bones

Klaus had slept for a week and stayed only in my bedroom, occasionally popping up to visit my grave. With a heavy heart, I laid down next to him on my bed, watching him sleep peacefully, hugging my pillow, and inhaling my scent left on it.

Involuntarily, I remembered my last hours in this bed.

"I will kill anyone you thought was your friend. I will tear out their throats and hearts one by one and torture them until they feel half as much pain as I will feel. I'll make this whole bloody world go up in flames, and it'll never rise from its fall, and neither will I if you leave me."

"Were you always so dramatic, or did it just happen in your old age?" I taunted, taking a sip of water to cover up my earlier sudden coughing fit from him. But I doubt I'll be able to explain the blood on the mirror if he looks in the bathroom when he returns.

"I'm not joking, love. If you die before I find a cure, I'll follow you straight to hell and drag you back with me. No one and nothing can take you from me."

"I'd find it romantic if you didn't presume that I'm the spawn of the devil. What if I'm an angel in disguise?"

"Then they did a fantastic job of camouflaging you. I have to go now, love. You have one task: Don't die. Can you do it?"

"I'll try. Nik, I lo..." he hung up before I could finish. "I love you, Nik." I whispered to myself, trying my hardest to control the sudden dizziness.

Klaus, whatever you're doing, please do it faster.

And I still talk to you (When I'm screaming at the sky) And when you can't sleep at night (You hear my stolen lullabies)

"I think you should go in the red one. This color has always suited you." I mumbled as I stood next to my sister and watched her look at herself in the mirror.

At one point, she sighed resignedly, falling onto the bed where Rebekah was sitting. The blonde pulled away from the phone, glancing at the doppelgänger.

"What's wrong with you this time? We went through all our wardrobes, and you didn't pick anything? You always look stunning, just go for something."

"Usually, it was Y/N who helped me choose a dress for a date."

The deafening silence that filled the room probably hurt me more than it hurt them. How I would love to be there with them.

"I'm… I'm sorry."

"You don't have to. How could you know? I just… really miss her."

"Yeah. Me too. All of us do."

"I'd probably borrow something from her if she was still here and if Klaus wasn't guarding her room like a vault."

"Speaking of him, I should probably check on him. If you can hear me in any way, take the little red one. Elijah will be delighted." I said getting out of bed and heading to my bedroom. I've probably spent more time in it as a ghost than a vampire.

I entered the room, neatly dodging the piles of books and clothes that Klaus had scattered around, looking for things that still smelled of me. I dreaded thinking what he would do when they were gone. Maybe he'll be in the mood to use my perfume instead and go outside? It was the best scenario.

I sighed, recognizing his curled form on the bed. He was wearing my favorite sweatpants and a (too big for me) sweatshirt. I was a little scared that he could easily fit into my clothes. Several bottles of alcohol and bags of blood were placed next to him. At least he was feeding. I sat next to him, running my hand through his hair (pretending to do so).

"I know it's hard for you and that you can't move on; come to terms with what happened. I'd probably be in much worse shape if I couldn't hear you, see your ridiculously handsome face. But you are stronger than me. Much stronger. You have to get out of this. For yourself, for your siblings, for Hope… for me." I began to cry, trying to somehow hug the also weeping hybrid. "I'm so sorry, Nik."

Suddenly, a very angry Hayley burst into the room with a nervous Elijah behind her.

"KLAUS! That's enough! You have to get yourself in order and get out of this hole. It will be best if you go for a walk with YOUR DAUGHTER. Do you still remember her? Hope misses you and has been restless for several weeks. I can't calm her down, so do your fatherly duty and move your ass, or I'll do it for you."

"Go away." he mumbled, not even looking up since they came in.

The brunette snorted, trying to take my blanket from him, which covered him. As soon as her hands were on the material, the hybrid growled, snatching it from her hands and pinning the woman by the neck to the wall.

"Touch her stuff again, and I'll make it the last thing you do in your miserable, meaningless life."

"Niklaus! Let her go!" I screamed along with Elijah. Klaus ignored his brother, only tightening his grip on the barely alive woman.

"Do you think Y/N would want you to kill your baby's mother?"

Luckily, this convinced the hybrid. He released Hayley from his grip and shoved them both out of the room, locking the door behind them. He threw himself heavily on the bed, inhaling my scent to calm himself down. After a while, tears started flowing from his eyes.

I didn't have it in myself to go with grace And so the battleships will sink beneath the waves You had to kill me, but it killed you just the same

The worst thing about this illness wasn't the debilitating pain. Loneliness was the worst.

Each of the Mikaelsons and Katerina were involved in obtaining the cure. They still had hope. But I resigned myself to my fate the moment Lucien's venom pierced my body with a wooden ball.

That didn't mean I wanted to die alone.

As if on cue, Katerina burst into my room and sat on the bed next to me. I could see her lips move, but I couldn't hear a sound in the world. It wasn't until she poured a glass of cold water over me that my complete consciousness returned to me.

"Are you crazy?!" I shouted. "If you want to get me to my grave faster, there are other ideas." Katerina stopped laughing and suddenly tensed up, glaring reproachfully at me.

"Don't even dare say that. You're not going to die, do you understand? Klaus is getting a cure right now. You will recover. I promise." she said, grabbing my hand and planting a kiss on my forehead, brushing sweaty, wet strands of hair out of my eyes.

"You may be the best liar that ever walked on this earth, but I always knew when you were lying."

"I'm glad I'm not doing it this time. You'll see, you'll be cruising around again in a few hours, avoiding Klaus' argument about obeying his orders."

"At least when I go to hell, I'll meet our father and kick his ass for separating you from Nadia. Maybe Mikael and Dahlia will be on my hit list too." I mumbled, giving in after several hours to the urge to close my eyes. Then I felt that I had been shivering with fever all this time.

"Y/N, open your eyes. You've got to open your eyes for me, just for a little while longer. Please, Y/N."

"We should saddle our horses today and take a ride to the lake. We haven't done that for a long time."

"We'll go to Bulgaria I promise, just open your eyes for me. Molya te, sestrichke otvori ochi."

"Obicham te Katerina." I whispered, feeling the last bloody tears fall from my eyes.

"Y/N! Wake up! Freya!" Katherine screamed in panic, trying to wake me up by shaking my shoulders.

The next few minutes were weightless as I waited to pass into the ghost world. With the remnants of my ebbing life, I felt the commotion around my bed. The bitter liquid was forced down my throat, and someone clenched my jaw to make sure I didn't spit out the horrible liquid. In the background, I could still hear Freya and Davina mumbling, Katerina and Rebekah crying, and Klaus screaming in rage before I was swallowed up in pain-relieving darkness for good.

Cursing my name, wishing I stayed You turned into your worst fears And you're tossing out blame, drunk on this pain Crossing out the good years And you're cursing my name, wishing I stayed Look at how my tears ricochet

It's been a month and a half since my death, and Klaus has made one small, significant progress. He didn't throw his fangs at anyone who so much as uttered my name. After the attack on Hayley, he had controlled his aggression and was not a relative danger to society. Well… at least not more than usual.

I, on the other hand, felt much better than a months ago. My vampire speed somehow reactivated, saving me from chasing the rushing original for half a day. Also, watching my loved ones brought me some relief. Only Klaus was still stuck in place, unable to let me go.

Hayley and Freya joined forces to talk some sense into him and set him on the right path. But even their best efforts could not change the stubborn hybrid's mind.

That's how I got here. At my grave, watching Klaus clean it and add new flowers, throwing out the ones that had faded since his visit yesterday. I got more flowers from him after I died than I've had in 500 goddamn years.

He usually worked in silence, occasionally humming some old song I made him sing ages ago when I was upset. He has always had a wonderful voice.

But today, after a particularly bad fight with Hayley, Elijah, and Freya, he sat on the bench in front of my tombs and did something he hadn't done before. He was talking to me (or rather, to a stone slab with my name on it, but still).

"I know you wouldn't approve of my behavior. I know you would yell at me and get angry. My gods, I never imagined that I would miss it so much. I really wish I could be there for Hope, but I can't. I can't let her see me like this. Even if she's so little now. I know she needs me, but... everyone I love is dying. And I can't let anyone else die again because of me. Especially not my daughter. I want her to live. I want her to grow up. I want her to love, even if it brings you pain and sadness. Be a strong and beautiful woman, as you and her mother. I don't know what to do, Y/N. And I really wish that you were here to tell me, my little vampire."

A fountain of tears spilled from both his and my eyes. For the first time today, I reached for him, pulling him to me in a poor imitation of a hug.

The hybrid jumped up from the bench in fear, staring shocked and suspiciously at the place he had recently occupied. My heart beat faster. Did he? No. It is impossible. Klaus has the same incredulous look as mine. But what if…

"Y/N?" for the first time in these long, cold months, I shed a wave of relief tears. I sat there in shock, staring at the uncertain hybrid with unimaginable happiness. He could feel me. Like I him. "Please, show me it's you, and I'm not delusional."

I rushed over to him, hugging him with all my might. The hybrid almost knocked us to the ground. He probably didn't hear my loud laugh because he would have looked a little more offended than full of disbelief and happiness.

"I'll recognize that smell anywhere. Cruel woman, if you really are just a figment of my imagination and I make a fool of myself by running to my siblings with this, then know that I will meet you soon in hell and will not let your soul depart from me again." I slapped his shoulder for saying such nonsense, and he just laughed, gropingly trying to pull me closer to his chest.

I allowed myself, for the first time in months, to sink into the blissful feel of his warm skin. We needed a moment to ourselves before he shared this discovery with Freya, and their next fight to retrieve me from death's clutches began. For now, I enjoyed Klaus' clinginess.

"Don't even think that I'll deprive you of your touch for a moment. I'm going to hold you until the end of the bloody world." he whispered, moving around me from memory to put his chin on top of my head after he kissed me there softly.

It sounded good. But I knew it wouldn't be enough for us for long.