#young Effie has a crush on him

[arthdoesart]

He will lose everyone he loves in 4K and I will eat it up

[allisluv]

---- drabble / oneshot wip list

please let me know in the comments or in my inbox which ones you would like me to prioritise <3

masterlist.

guidelines.

requests: open

wip:

the hunger games:

*johanna getting turned on by readers hands

*katniss and reader getting ready in tigris' shop

*sex with katniss in the meadow

finnick comforting reader through a hard time

reader comforting katniss after her breakdown in mjp2

madge and reader getting married

tigris guiding you through a panic attack

*masc johanna post rebellion smut

finnick x reader in an everlark admiring from afar situation

rejecting finnicks proposal

post!hijack peeta x reader based on the alchemy by taylor swift

finnick taking care of you after you get your wisdom teeth taken out

katniss and reader in district thirteen*

johanna being impressed when her partner takes control

finnick helping reader with binge eating

finnick helping reader through a sensory overload

haymitch and effie at readers graduation

finnick on your birthday

*scissoring sub!annie when she’s on her period

*finnick making reader suck on his fingers when she’s being too loud

finnick and reader being parental over their young tributes

annie doing stick and poke on reader

reader doing finnick's makeup

finnick overhearing people making fun of his partners lisp

dating sejanus headcanons

annie and reader being best friends

*post war johanna with a hair pulling kink

katniss explaining her asexuality to peeta

johanna x reader with anorexia

katniss with a cat loving girlfriend

finnick x vegetarian!reader

making out with johanna while your homophobic parents are downstairs

haymitch’s daughter sneaking up on him

finnick x reader who’s ashamed of her scars (TW)

finnick helping reader realise that her past trauma and what happened was not okay (TW)

finnick x reader in the gym

katniss x grieving!reader

finnick x reader who doesn't pay him any attention (and is lowkey oblivious)

finnick finds your childhood teddy while looking for a valentine's day gift

peeta with a partner who’s ashamed of her scars from a previous surgery

finnick and reader making their favourite meal together

parent!odesta when their daughter sees finnick’s propo from district 13

lucy gray and reader being best friends

sweet sex with finnick*

friends to lovers smut with finnick*

platonic johanna and finnick headcanons

finnick x haymitch’s!daughter

fluffy smut with finnick*

comforting finnick when he tells you about his experiences in the capitol

cato x reader headcanons

gloss x reader with period cramps

best friend!peeta confessing his love for you

your children plan a dinner date for you and finnick

reader wanting to take a walk during the middle of the night after an argument with finnick

annie takes her son to the aquarium

johanna x teacher!reader

dom!katniss x sub!reader after the rebellion*

finnick and wife!reader having fun on mothers day*

finnick when you're both reaped for the quarter quell

criminal minds:

derek's long lost daughter showing up at the bullpen

jj finding out her daughter vapes

emily realising she has a crush on reader for the first time

*rough sex and soft aftercare with emily

elle nsfw alphabet

spencer helping hurt!reader

daisy jones and the six:

billy, his wife and their daughter spend father’s day together

daisy x fem!dunne!reader

sneaking off with billy during an awards ceremony

eddie x fem!dunne reader

being in a secret relationship with eddie

karen sfw alphabet

warren x famous!actress!reader

best friends to lovers trope with camila

"what if someone sees?" with daisy

billy and camila smut

graham x reader meeting in a bar

daisy takes her daughter to the circus

the band watching christmas movies

[heliads]

Hello :) can you do a Peeta Mellark fic when she is one of the friend of Katniss and after the first game she goes on the woods. Peeta meet her, they were friends before and he heard her singing. And he confess his crush on her between the threes. Please ?

oh i most certainly can!! peeta is my boy i love him

masterlist

Peeta Mellark has something to tell you, you think, but for some reason, he cannot manage to do it. You watch him when he lingers next to you after school; when he waits in the bakery door as you pass by; when he calls by your house to ask some question for an answer he doesn’t need. His entire being seems chained to some great need, but for the life of him, he is unable to say what it is.

He had better get to it, though, as the Hunger Games are coming in season again and everyone knows all confessions are best said before the Reaping, just in case. The odds of either you or Peeta having your name called are slim to none, but this is the Games, after all; since when has anything been in your favor?

You think he tried to say something once, but fate wasn’t in his avenue. You had stayed late for your job, trying to pick up extra hours so you wouldn’t have to put your name into the Reaping any more times than strictly necessary. Peeta had seen you walking back down the street to your house, and he’d hurried from his post at the bakery to call your name.

You’d dutifully waited for him to catch up, then waited for him to get to the point, then waited by your window after he walked you home, wondering if he might double back and finally say something. In all that time, though, he never did. Peeta has always been strong in your eyes, but something far greater than even his control is holding his tongue, stopping him from telling you what he truly wants.

Of course, you could just be reading something from nothing. Maybe he just wants to make sure you’re alright. After all, tension in the districts is always high around a Reaping; too many nerves like split wires, everyone buzzing with the knowledge that soon two of their young will die, and no one can do a thing about it. No one likes helplessness, but everyone has it.

You should have stopped him, though. You should have stood stock still in the middle of the road until he was forced to tell you what was on his mind. You should have sensed that something would go wrong in your very close future and demanded that Peeta speak his truth. 

As it turns out, he wouldn’t get a chance to say a single word. When that chirruping thing from the Capitol, Effie Trinket, you think, read out the names of the District Twelve tributes for the seventy-fourth Hunger Games, you knew one of them all too well.

That Reaping Day still has a place carved out in your mind. You think you’ll remember it until the end of time, that awful feeling of inevitability. For a while afterwards, you blamed yourself for it, like you’d worried over the possibility that you or Peeta would be Reaped that it actually came true.

Such a thought is ridiculous, of course, but when you were standing around waiting for him to die, you could not help but think it. Every detail of that day is painful, but it is still your memory; yours to haunt you, yours to cherish, yours to keep.

The girls were Reaped first, just like always. The Capitol woman reached her hand inside the glass vessel and cheerfully read out a name:  Primrose Everdeen. You can recall a stillness falling upon the crowd, then; Prim was just twelve, barely anything at all more than a scrap of fabric, blond hair, and bright eyes. To see them close one final time would be a horror.

Primrose did not get a chance to die, then, not yet. She had hardly made it halfway to the stage before her older sister, Katniss, burst out into the aisle and declared that she would volunteer in her place. It is a terrible thing, to sign yourself up to die, but you have no doubt that it would be worse for Katniss to stand there with the rest of you and watch the murder of her sister, all the while knowing full well that she could have done something to stop it and didn’t.

That was the girl decided, then. The next matter was the boy. You were safe this year, but for some reason your nerves didn’t settle in the slightest. Peeta was not yet guaranteed another twelve months of life, and that meant that you could not rest until you knew he would be alright.

Effie strode over to the vessel with the boys’ names and plucked out one scrap of paper. So small, so insignificant, but containing on its surface the ability to hurt you more than anything. There are dozens of names she could have called. So many friends, so many strangers. An infinite amount of options, really, and of all the names to be called, you hear Peeta’s.

It isn’t real at first, not really. Some insistent part of you pushes itself to the front of your mind, tells you not to worry because this can’t be happening. Peeta has brothers, older ones who still have their name in the bowl. They could volunteer for him just like Katniss volunteered for Prim. You stand there, shaking slightly, and you wait for one of them to save him. 

The waiting is the worst, and it is terrible because it never ends. After a long, uncertain pause, Peeta starts moving up the aisle towards the stage, and no one stops him. Not even after the Capitol woman raises both of their hands and shouts something saccharine and stupid about the odds being ever in their favor. Not even after they’re pulled away into the mayor's office to say their goodbyes. The time for a volunteer comes and goes, and no one lets Peeta leave. 

You don’t expect to be let in, not being family, but you still hover by the door just in case. You can tell by the quiet set of his jaw that Peeta knows he won’t make it out, and worse, knows his family has realized the same thing. He’s running out of time when he finally spots you, and you just have enough time to reach through the quickly closing door and tell him that you believe in him, that you know he’ll make it out.

You try to imbue the words with as much certainty as you can. If he won’t believe it, maybe you can for him. Maybe you can convince him of his own likelihood of survival and make it real. It has to be real. He still has something he needs to tell you, Peeta cannot die now.

You watch with the rest of District Twelve as Peeta and Katniss are bundled into a train and taken away from you, spirited towards the Capitol. From then on, the only time you’ll see him is in interviews, and then the Games and then nothing more at all.

Watching the Games is, of course, mandatory, but you think that you would be affixed to the screens even if they weren’t. You must know what happens to Peeta, you must– if you don’t, if he died without you there, it would be some sort of betrayal, and you cannot do that to him. If he comes back– when he comes back– you have to be able to look him in the eyes and tell him you were watching for him the whole time, and it has to be true.

This gives you full access to every interview, every sneak peek the Gamemakers will let you have of him. There is one appearance of his that wrecks you to your core, although you cannot entirely explain why. Peeta was not hurt. In fact, he was joking with that blue-haired posturer, Caesar Flickerman, as if nothing was the matter at all, as if he were not a child that they were sending to die.

And then, almost when you had let down your guard, Caesar asked Peeta if there was a special someone out there, a girl back home he wanted to impress. Peeta answered that yes, there was a special girl, but she had come to the Capitol with him.

It was like a blade to the chest. You remember your friend asking you a question almost immediately afterwards, and being surprised that you did not spit up blood with your answer. You had never– you and Peeta had never– never so much as brought it up or thought about it or anything, but this hurts. You never claimed any part of Peeta’s heart, you were raised not to take things that weren’t yours, but knowing that Peeta is in the Capitol with the girl he loves makes your veins thrum with acid.

There is not much time for jealousy, though, for not long after that, the Games begin. You watch him fight, join the Careers, turn on them, grow sick and feverish from his injury. You also see Katniss run to him when she realizes that both of them can win together. You see her kiss him, and you pretend that it does not kill you every single time she so much as smiles at him.

You suppose you should be grateful to Katniss, though– when the Games end, both of them are the survivors. Katniss kept him alive. That’s what you should think about, and it is, mostly. Peeta is alive. Peeta is alive. It makes you want to scream and cry and shriek with relief.

And then, before you know it, he’s given his final interview, and has been placed on a train coming home. You join the crowds once more to welcome him back, but for some reason the thought of doing anything much more than that makes you sick to your stomach. You cannot watch Peeta and Katniss smile sweetly at each other anymore, you will not.

So you run. Running is easy, returning home is harder. You know about the gap in the fence surrounding the woods, you know how to slip away and make sure you’re never found again. It is risky to do this with the sudden influx of Peacekeepers in the district due to the return of its victors, yes, but you need it. The natural beauty surrounding you will help you clear your head.

You wander deeper into the woods, letting your gaze rest on the waving boughs, the rustling leaves. Birds chirp overhead, repetitions of the same song you’ve heard since you were a child. The air is cool and still, and when the breeze pauses momentarily to give the trees a respite, you hear someone say your name.

“Y/N?”

You whirl around, ready for a Peacekeeper to arrest you or someone to turn you in, but no. No, it is Peeta walking towards you, Peeta with his hair shining gold in the sun, Peeta who must have come straight from his family to find you. There would have been no time for anything else.

“Peeta?” It comes out as a question, some sort of lingering uncertainty that this could actually ever still be him.

“Yes,” he says, “yeah, it’s me. I’m here.”

You stare at him a moment longer, and then the spell binding you in place breaks and you all but run to him, throwing your arms around him just to remind yourself that he’s still here, still alive. He flinches slightly as you start to move and you whisper apologies, but he murmurs back that it’s alright, he’s alright, everything is okay. It isn’t, not yet, but maybe it could be.

You shake your head as you draw back. “How did you know how to find me?”

His smile is lopsided. “I could hear you singing.”

You laugh incredulously. You thought you’d buried that habit a long time ago; that was a thing of childhood, of a girl who liked the sound the birds made so much that she tried to imitate it, too. You learned any song your parents would teach you, then the parents of your friends, then any random stranger capable of being spoken to out of turn by some kid with too much curiosity. It’s been a nervous practice, but you thought you stopped doing it when you were small.

You tell Peeta as much, and he grins. “No, I’m afraid not. Usually you don’t, but when you’re stressed or tired, it slips out.”

You sigh. “That would make sense, then. I’ve been a lot of both ever since you left. Look at me complaining, though, you were the one out there. In the Games, I mean.”

Peeta shudders unconsciously when you mention the Games, and judging by the dark circles under his eyes, it’s not something he’ll forget for a very, very long time. “I know. It was– I was– Do you know what kept me focused during all that?” He begins again suddenly, “I thought about someone the whole time. Someone who needed me to live. Someone who told me that I would.”

“I know,” you reply softly, “Katniss, you said it in the interview.” Somehow, you think him repeating that sentiment out here, beyond the scope of cameras or attention-seeking interviewers, would make that blow so much worse.

It never comes, though. Peeta furrows his brow, confused, and then realizes what you mean.

“It was a lie,” he blurts out, “What I said in the Capitol, it was a lie.”

“What?”

“When I talked about the girl I liked, I said she had come with me to the Games. It wasn’t true. I needed some story to keep both of us alive, and it worked. Katniss never loved me, and I never loved her. We only ever kissed when the cameras were rolling. She doesn’t like me like that in the slightest.”

“Then– then who–”

“It was you,” he breathes, and you swear you can watch parts of his confidence leave him in that sigh. His shoulders slump like he’s been punched. “It was always you, Y/N, ever since we were kids. I was supposed to tell you how I felt, but then the Reaping– and I was never supposed to live– I was terrified that you would hate me for leading you on all this time and then saying that I loved Katniss, but it wasn’t true. It wasn’t.”

Your breathing feels ragged in your chest, even though Peeta is the one who just just given this helter-skelter monologue of a confession. It can’t be real. It can’t, but it is. All this time of hoping, and your dreams finally came true.

“That means you–”

“Love you? Yes, I do. I don’t know how to do anything but love you. It’s the only thing that has ever made sense. I was out there dying in the Arena, and all I could think of is that you were at home watching me give up, and that made me angrier than anything. I wanted to come home and tell you that I fought. I needed to tell you.”

You reach out and take his hand, and for some reason that brief moment of physical contact is enough to stop Peeta’s restless wave of words. “I love you too,” you tell him, and that makes the last of his worries bleed away into the empty air.

“You do?” He asks doubtfully, almost as if expecting you to laugh in his face and profess this all to be another Capitol illusion. 

It isn’t, though. It’s real. All of this is real. The good and the bad. His memories and yours. Everything happening between these trees is absolutely genuine. Peeta knows it, you know it, and while the sun still shines overhead, bright and beautiful and glorious, you start to get the feeling that everything is going to be alright.

requested by @hope92100, i hope you enjoy!

hunger games tag list: @w1shes43, @ilovexavierthrope

[kahlanmars]

BAD FEELING part. 32

MASTERLIST

32. Epilogue

SIX MONTHS LATER

«If we are late, I swear to Panem…» You murmur, because Haymitch has to put on a shirt and to stop kissing you.

«What are you going to do? Tell me.» He challenges, and he is right because you won’t do anything. The sight of your man is alluring, especially when he can’t keep his hands off of you.

«We have to celebrate baby Finn.» You pout, trying hard not to laugh because he looks like a teenager.

You are in Four, all of you, even Katniss who had a special permit for Finn’s celebration, and you are overjoyed. You really missed your friends, and you spent most of the holiday gossiping with Perla and Lora and, well, the other part kissing and smooching with your non boyfriend.

You won’t see him for a whole week, because you are going away with Effie and Portia at the end of the holiday. It’s time for your internship to begin, now you are healthy enough and you feel stronger than before. You spent two months in bed, revered and served and you enjoyed it when you stopped being in pain (You will deny it, but maybe you could have stayed up a week before. Or two. But you didn’t have to cook or clean and when the sex strike was revoked, well, it was like a paradise. A holiday. And he never questioned why you were able to help the reconstruction in the district and not him at your home.) 

Haymitch took the change well, if “Well” means trying to take you to bed every five minutes and kissing you in front of everybody, which is huge for him. You are not going to complain about the sudden affection. 

You know he would have preferred having you behaving like a despotic queen from your bed but at home, instead of your usual self in Capitol City, even if he won’t tell you. But once a week he can see you and after the internship you will return. 

«Only Finnick could call his son “Finn”. Egomaniac.» 

You snort but you are fast to use his distraction to wear your blue dress before he decides to rip it out. Finn is an adorable baby, always with a smile on his face and Finnick is so happy he glows. Both him and Annie are so tired they have to stop the conversation and enjoy five minutes of nap sometimes, but when they watch the baby, the look on their faces tells you it’s worth it.

«Annie chose it. And stop the charade, you are happy for him. He is another of your children. That makes you a grandpa!»

The shock on his face is definitely worth the joke, but when he attacks you, he knows you’re ticklish way too much, you squeal and laugh. 

«Say that again.» He dares you, pushing you onto the mattress with his weight. The temperature in the room changes quickly, in a moment his strong hands are wandering around the zip of your dress and you suspect you are going to be late after all. You normally hate to be late but you are going to be in Capitol City tomorrow morning, so you want to indulge yourself a little.

«You are the hottest grandpa in town.» You taunt him, your voice lower and seductive now, and you eagerly accept his kisses and the hand that goes under your dress. It’s been almost a year now, and yet you are still crushing hard on this man. You love him, of course, but you are also in love. You prepare yourself for hours to be beautiful for him, you cook his favourite meals for special occasions, and you love when he reads to you with his deep voice. You even love when he feeds the geese, calling the animals with the names of the people you really know. The most quiet one is Peeta. 

«If I’m a grandpa, Gorgeous, you are a grandma.» He whispers against your ear before kissing your lobe. 

«Oh no, I’m the sexy young girl who seduced you, don’t you remember?»

«WE ARE GOING WITH OR WITHOUT YOU.» Perla shouts from the other room. She is not a patient person, and since you are in her house you have to follow her rules. And maybe you are not the easiest hosts ever. You always sneak out to make out and you giggle in dark corners.

«We are coming!» You answer her, and you threaten Haymitch with a finger on his face. «Don’t even try to sneak away.»

He snorts. «I would never. I love a party for someone who doesn’t even know how to poop.»

You wrinkle your nose. «You disgusting, disgusting man.»

He presses a rumorous kiss on your ear just to spite you. «And yet you love me anyway.»

The party looks like something that a family would do. Jellyfishes made on paper decorate the room, and sparkly fishes are printed on the windows. You are cutting the bread for everyone - the dreadful sea bread from district four - humming a song from Twelve, while Effie and Portia are fussing over Finn who sits on Annie, Peeta and Haymitch are playing chess, and Lora, Perla, Katniss and the others are on the couch, chatting. Mags is on a rocking chair, half sleeping, half listening.

The only people who are at home are Marjorie and Ivy, and Holly. Holly and Marjorie are closer than ever, especially since she is with Ivy now. Holly loves children and Ivy is a treasure of a child, you too spent a lot of time with her, telling her stories and fairytales. 

Katniss is doing better, you think. She speaks with Prim everyday on the phone, she refuses to talk with her mother - her mother never calls her, tho - and she is in your house on a daily basis with an excuse or the other, looking for Haymitch. You wanted to tell her it’s not a problem if she wants to see his adoptive father, but he stopped you, claiming she would stop showing up because she would have been too embarrassed. 

Peeta returns to the district today after six months in the Capitol hospital, and he will be with Katniss for the first time. He is not stable yet, but the doctors say he is ready for the next step.

As for Haymitch, he is really trying to stay sober. You threw out all the alcohol in the house - actually you sell the closed bottles, because why not - and you asked Finnick not to buy it for the party. He is learning how to live without booze, and sometimes it’s so hard, but your man is strong.

It’s a miracle you are all in District Four. After Coin was killed by Katniss and you were shot, the girl risked her life. District Thirteen didn’t want to let her go. Haymitch and Plutarch fought to keep her alive, and Coin was replaced as president by Command Paylor, the leader of the rebel forces In District Eight. You quite like her, she is not a fame or power hungry person, she wants what is right. She decided to pardon Katniss for her action, she voted against the new Hunger Games and she destroyed the arenas. She built memorials, and now she claims Capitol City is a new city with her. You don’t know if you believe her, but she is helping the districts as well with the reconstruction, so she is surely better than Snow and Coin, and for now that’s enough.

«Tomorrow we will go shopping, darling girl.» Effie announces. That’s another thing you have to clear up, because you don’t have any money and you have no intention of using Haymitch’s. You are thrilled you’re going to be in Effie’s home, first because you are really curious about her house, and second because you are going to live with your friend. You would really miss Effie.

«She doesn’t need clothes, isn’t she there to make clothes?» He asks, more to engage a banter with his friend than anything else.

«She needs to mingle. A perfect fashion choice will make it easier.» You have three dresses. Two for every day and one for special occasions, that in the District were weddings, funerals or the Hunger Games. You also have a pair of trousers, a nightgown and a coat, and it’s more than most in Twelve. 

«Maybe I can wait for the first month?» You taint. After the first month you will have a salary, and after a part for Holly, you could spend the rest to “mingle”.

«I have an announcement.» Lora says, so proud. It’s so good to see Lora happy, in the mess that is the war you forget that she is nineteen. This girl with big wide eyes is the youngest among you.

«Tell us!» Perla encourages her, and maybe she needs it because she rarely speaks in the group. She is witty and funny but nobody knows it, except for Chaff who was her mentor and a little bit of a father figure, like Haymitch for Katniss.

«I’m moving to Capitol City too. I don’t know what to do, but I want to travel, and I don’t want to stay in my district, so…» She declares, torturing her fingers. She is nervous, but you are so happy.

«So we'll be together!» You finish for her and you go to hug her. «But where are you staying? In a hotel?»

«Well, I have some news too…» Perla stands up, and Cinna becomes crimson. «I’m moving to Capitol too… because we are moving together.»

«Us three! Again!» You hug them in a group hug. The trio is together again, and now for the first time it’s not for a suicidal mission or a killing machine television game. That counts as progress.

«Yeah, well, I still have my family house here, but… yeah.» You feel calmer already, you are not alone in a new city. Effie and Portia are beyond generous, but they are home there. Perla and Lora can feel what you feel, it’s a new adventure for them as well.

«For six months, right?» Haymitch asks you, hugging you from behind. 

«Six months.» You promise. 

«You are long gone, my friend.» Chaff intervenes. «This one ruined you.»

You tend to forget Chaff is there, and you feel mean because he is one of Haymitch’s best friends.

«He is not ruined!» Annie protests, «He is in love.» 

And now you know your man would want to scoff, but if it’s Annie who talks he is gentle, like with Lora. 

«Isn’t that the same thing?» The eleven victor adds. 

«Shut up.» He murmurs before kissing you again because he refuses to be embarrassed.

«Hey, do you want to go for a walk?» Haymitch asks you while you are putting on your coats, after the party ends. You think Finn liked your present, an enormous stuffed animal (a dolphin) you sewed yourself. You needed to spend time while you were in bed, and it was worth it when the kid saw it. 

You are not that happy to leave. Maybe District Twelve is nowhere to be great, but you miss your home. And it will be rare from now on to be all together, and even if you like what you are going to do, and you are overjoyed Perla and Lora will be with you, you will live in Effie’s house so you will be with her, but this is good. This, a family dinner with everybody. Finnick and Annie are living their dream with baby Finn (and they love it, they are born to be parents and you bet you are celebrating the birth of another baby soon), you want to be there for them. For Finn too, you are ready to be a cool aunt. You want your mommy near you, and she took the fact that you’ll live with Effie Trinket very badly. She feels threatened by her presence, like she is another parent or something, but for you Effie is more like an older sister.

And Haymitch… you are not ready to see him once a week, maybe twice a month sometimes. You are so used to always being in his arms, to talk to him about everything and now you have to talk to him through the phone. No kisses. No hugs. No cuddles even if he claims that “he doesn’t cuddle”. No “Come to bed, sweetheart” and you will read side by side until one of you begins to kiss the other’s neck. 

But it’s your dream, you will become a good tailor, you will learn so much from Portia and you will return to Twelve. 

«A romantic walk? With you?» You repeat in disbelief because he is not the romantic type at all. He is the one who refused to light candles - because you are not sixteen - at your first proper date in the house - because he doesn’t date. At the first mention that if he doesn’t date then you could date other people, he stated that you were his. And then he cooked your favourite meal for dinner.

«Does it have to be romantic? Can’t it be just a walk?» He complains and his voice is rough and annoyed, but he squeezes your hand tight. 

«Well it’s a walk with your girl and there’s the ocean so…» And the sight of Four is really stunning. The ocean is so peaceful you almost don’t miss the meadow, but after the shark in the Games you don’t like to be in open water. Doctor Aurelius claims you need to overcome your fear, but then again Doctor Aurelius didn’t see a mutt white shark in front of her and you need time.

«If you don’t want to, we can just go back at Perla's.» This is not his usual answer, it’s rough even for him.

«No, no, let’s go.» You wince. «Are you nervous?»

«Perfectly fine.» He lies. That liar. He can’t say that he is sad because you move to Capitol City.

«Not thrilled that I go?» You try. 

«You can go, babe, I bought you the ticket.» Babe. He uses the term “Babe” or “Babygirl” when something is wrong. You don’t like them and he knows it. 

«I know I can go, thank you for the permit.» You jump into his arms. «But you can be sad too. I’m sad. Are you sad?»

«…Maybe.» He admits.

«Good. That means you love me. And that also means that every weekend will be precious.» You whisper against his lips. «And I will sew a lot of lingeries…»

The annoyed glimpse in his eyes is replaced by pure lust.

«Don’t put so much effort on them, I’ll rip them out every time.» He closes the space between your lips in a passionate kiss that definitely doesn’t belong in a street, it would be better in a bed. You can’t help it if he flirts like that.

«Walk.» You remind him, licking your lips.

«Walk.» He agrees. 

«If Katniss needs me, or Peeta, or my mother, please call me.» Or if you need me, you want to say, but you know he wouldn’t appreciate it. You are a little anxious about the alcohol stuff and the survival guilt.

«No one will need you, Sweetheart.» He kisses your hair «Go and have fun.»

«I’ll try.» You promise. You are a little worried about your mother, and… you are scared, of course.

«Is Effie okay with the visits? I don’t want her thrilling voice to wake me up in the morning every week.»

«I think so, yeah. We can stay in a motel sometimes, or with Perla and Cinna.»

«Yeah, no. Not Perla.» 

You almost burst into laughter at his tone. When you were in a coma, Perla was the one friend who stayed with you the most with Lora. Haymitch and Holly were arguing about everything, she said, and while Lora has a sweet temper and a great patience, Perla is hot blooded and frequently snapped.

«You don’t like my friends!?» You try to sound accusing. 

«I don’t mind Lora. Perla on the other hand…» His expression says everything.

«Oh c’mon. She is great.»

«You just say that because she has blue eyes.» 

«That’s not true. She also has great boobs.» You see his glare, «What? It’s true.» It is true. Perla is stunning. Sparkling blue eyes, legs for days and you are not blind, you can see her cleavage. You are in love with Haymitch but you are still bisexual, it’s not your fault you have eyes.

«That’s it, I’m going to lock you up in the highest tower.» He shakes his head. 

«Oh, with a dragon to guard me?» 

«No, you would manage to turn it into a pet in a week.»

«I don’t know, it would be fun to be a damsel in distress…» You trace patterns on his chest with your fingers. «And you are so hot as an evil king.»

His eyes darken and he takes you in his arms to kiss you again. «If we keep doing this, we will go back now.»

«No, I want my romantic walk. No more flirting with you.»

«It’s not a romantic walk. It’s a walk. Go to Perla if you want your romantic walk.» Yes, she is the right person for a romantic anything. You are sure she prepared the “Moving to Capitol” thing for weeks before talking about it with Cinna.

«You are not jealous at all, congrats! You know I only want my man.» You indulge on his lips again, taking his arm close to you. «Plus, she has a boyfriend.» 

«He is far too old to be called “boyfriend”.» You chuckle at his displeasure for the word. He fixed on this thing. You secretly call him your boyfriend with the girls, but when he hears that he grunts. 

«And what is she supposed to call him?» You laugh. 

«I don’t know, partner?»

«Do I need to call you “Partner” too?» 

«’Was hoping “Husband”.» 

What?

You turn around and he is handing you a little red box. Not on his knee, of course, and his expression is kinda annoyed, like he really doesn’t like to be in this situation.

This situation, asking you to marry him. A marriage. A wedding. A wedding and a toasting. And a life with him, forever, and nobody could say anything. 

«Oh my…» Daisy Abernathy. Daisy Pinecone Abernathy. It suits you, you think, maybe you can sign your dresses as DPA, or Daisy A. Pinecone, and the kids in the district will call you Mrs. Abernathy. 

You, a married woman. With Haymitch. You can only imagine it. Haymitch is not the kind of guy who asks you to marry him, you are speechless. 

You put your hands on your mouth and you are completely speechless. He opens the red little box and inside there is a ring. 

Well, of course there is a ring, but it’s the most beautiful ring you’ve ever seen. It’s very simple, but it is made of gold and there’s even a little diamond on it. You have no idea where it comes from, there are no diamonds in the district. Well of course there are in the mines, but not on rings.

«Doesn’t need to be tomorrow.» He clarifies. «Or a Capitol thing. We go, we sign, we do a toasting and that’s it.»

«You are crazy.» You only manage to say.

«That’s the smart thing to do, you know if one of us is sick the other can take a decision and you could have my money if I die, things like that.» 

You try hard not to laugh. «You propose and then you talk about dying? Right now?»  

«Usually people say yes or now.» He is sounding a little nervous, and you remember you didn’t actually say anything. 

«Yes! Yes of course, yes!» You jump into his arms and give him a deep passionate kiss. The world stops turning just for a moment.

«Daisy Abernathy.» He whispers against your lips. «Sounds good, mh?»

«Daisy Pinecone Abernathy.»

Yes. Daisy Pinecone Abernathy.

Your name.

-------------------------

THIS IS THE ENDDDDD. I'm so saaad and happyyy we got to finishhhh.

I want to ask you, would you like a sequel? I think I'll do it, but if you are not interested I can post it only on AO3.

SO SO SOOOOO LAST CHAPTER.

taglist: @crimsonincursive

[saddramaqueensworld]

Jegulus, but inspired by your lie in April because I need to let it out on the world.

Effie died when James was young so he stopped playing the piano even though he was famous for it.

When James was around 17 years old, he met this guy playing a violin in a busy crowd. He was mesmerized by him. James began to gush about his new crush to his friends. (The marauders, Lily, Marlene, and Mary)

Days later his best friend, Sirius introduces his younger brother to them and James is frozen because his crush is Sirius's brother. Anyway, it was a chaotic and disastrous first meeting between the two.

Regulus later introduces his friends to them and somehow it leads to them getting friendly with each other.

James and Regulus slowly got closer to each other even though Regulus keeps denying their friendship and being a little shit to James.

James realized he was falling deeper in love when one day he met Regulus on the street at night and they had this moment. Regulus somehow manages to convince him to play the piano again for a short while and comforts him when he breaks down in tears.

Regulus was supposed to play in a contest with someone but they backed out at the last minute and he somehow managed to make James agree to play with him on a stage.

James is hypnotized by his playing and it makes him remember the past with his mom. They didn't manage to get to the next level of the competition, but they had a good time together.

Regulus and Sirius suddenly disappear for a few days and no one knows what happened to him until Sirius tells them that they are in the hospital.

They learned that Regulus is sick and he needs to go to the surgery if he wants to live longer, but it has a 50/50 chance.

Cue James gets sad and angry at the world because he remembers his mom before cancer takes her away and Regulus crying all over him because he doesn't want to die yet.

Regulus made him promise something and then without James' knowledge, Regulus continues with the surgery. James learned that Reg died when Sirius called him crying and when James arrived there he got a letter from Reg.

Inside the letter is a picture of a child James passing by a beaming child Sirius and Regulus. Regulus confesses to him that he has liked him for a long time and he is his inspiration for playing the violin he hopes that James will live for a long time and play the piano again.

[the-disaster-in-waiting]

The Seamstress & The Baker (Part II) (Peeta Mellark X Reader)

(Y/N) watched the screen standing beside the incredibly bewildered Katniss from Peeta's interview. Using the excuse of needing to check over Katniss’ dress had allowed her to ease her all the way to the front with them smiling at Peeta before he was shooed away for his interview. She turned to Katniss trying to calm her down from the anger shown on her face.

“Katniss please take a deep breath, Peeta is just trying to survive like you please” She put one hand gently onto Katniss’ shoulder calming her until Peeta showed his face, shoving away the kind gesture she marched over to Peeta throwing hum against a wall her arm used to choke him.

“What the hell was that?, you don’t talk to me, and then you say you have a crush on me?” Katniss was dangerously close to his face (Y/N) thought she might bite his head off. Running over she put an arm between the two.

“Katniss Calm Down” (Y/N) hadn’t noticed Haymitch, Effie, Portia and Cinna approaching the scene, Haymitch grabbed Katniss and physically removed her from Peeta as Effie and Portia looked over Peeta. Haymitch, Cinna and (Y/N) chidded Katniss on her attack.

“It was startling ok? give Katniss a break, you do not have time to take it back so keep going and use this to your benefit” (Y/N) defended playing both sides thinking Peeta would have at least told someone of the plans.

“And when did Capitol citizens care?” Haymitch spat at the young seamstress.

“Sorry did you not see what just happened I am just trying to help” Cinna stepped in taking over (Y/N)’s piece.

“She has a point we sell this as star crossed lovers doomed due to the circumstances”

“Yeah I can sell that but both of you-’ Haymitch pointed to both tributes who looked down in shame at the scolding ‘-Tell me next time you decide to try and destroy any chances of gaining any sponsors”

“We are Not star crossed lovers, he made me look weak in front of the capitol”

“It’s a tv show, and you know what maybe in your case this'll help soften your edges” Haymitch looked at Peetas downtrodden face tired and not in the mood for more of the tiring conversation, he looked to Portia.

“You go take him, maybe I can get both of you back tomorrow in one piece-’ he looked back to (Y/N) who looked to be trying to leave with Peeta ‘-and what are you doing here?”.

“Manners” Effie chidded embarrassed to be stood in the same room with the man who couldn't keep his mouth polite.

“I am trying to help you may not believe me but I care” Cinna cut her off knowing who she was.

“She's the seamstress for district 12 tributes. She does well, let's not antagonize those helping us” Katniss looked over at her.

“But why are you here?”

“I promised Peeta I would be here” She walked away from the tribute and her team only looking back to finish one last piece of her mind.

“And if there is anyone you want to blame it is me. I gave Peeta the idea” She finished quickly before disappearing up the steps far from where their eyes could catch her.

-

Peeta laid in his bed awake, unable to sleep. Were all beds in the capitol so soft and comfy? Not riddled with lumps and wood poking into you? The blankets thick and warm? Not barely covering you from the cold?

He tossed and turned unable to shut his mind off from thoughts of his family. Were they missing him? Did they feel shame that none volunteered for him? Or did they all sit around the dinner table happy at one less mouth to feed all laughing over his foolishness and face as he was dragged away to the train?.

Unable to rest Peeta stood again walking around. It wasn't very late yet but then again you couldn’t tell time as well in the Capitol as in District 12. In District 12 the night sky would cover all and no one could hide from the fact it was night but with all the lights that shone 24/7 one would only need to cover their watches and it could still be noon for all they’d care.

It was like magnetism and an auto GPS worked on him pulling him back to where he’d always hid when the dark thoughts fell into him again.

-

She was almost always here. It seemed almost comical if it weren't so sad. While she sewed her brain would play fantastical stories in her mind. A story where the young girl didn't have to sell herself for the very common privilege to learn. Where each day she wouldn't trudge home feeling less than she’d wished, scared if the money she’d made would keep them in the capitol or not. Would the very privilege of being a seamstress for the games protect her?.

“Hey” Peeta always stood by the door when he’d come down there. Waiting for the verification that she was the only one and all others had abandoned their works. 

“Hey yourself loverboy” She smirked, still facing away as he approached more clever taunts on her tongue but unsure if he was able to handle them now.

“How are you after the tongue lashings from Haymitch”

“He told me not to listen to you anymore”

“Oh well I can expect that I do not think he found my company all too appealing” She turned to him quickly as he slumped into that one chair he always would. It was practically tattooed by his body at this point. A chair designated only for the tributes to relax as seamstresses and tailors fitted shoes and gloves.

Sitting across from him in another tribute chair she made herself comfortable before focussing on Peeta's eyes, bloodshot, tired, red eyes she could tell the signs. After all she’d see them in herself each night after working in the sewing rooms.

“Why so glum?”

“Wouldn’t you be? pretty soon I will go in to fight and probably die in some stupid game and all anyone will remember is the boy with a crush on the girl who will probably win” He chuckled like it was a funny little joke and not the life he lived.

“You do not know that Peeta, life is full of surprises. Do not give up before you even try.”

“You know I stopped hanging around Katniss? I couldn’t face her knowing she’ll probably win. I thought it was better to ignore everything and focus on my death” before Peeta could continue (Y/N) cut him off.

“That is your mistake Peeta you are both scared please help each other help yourselves staying alone it will only make things harder when you see her in the game. Do yourself a favor and do what you want and do not regret the time you have” Her words were bitter in their own way almost as if she talked to herself regret lacing her own words.

“Why are you so… You?” Peeta hadn’t met a capitol person like her yet. She always used her words carefully, poised and polite, never using contractions unless necessary.

“I wanted to be a teacher” (Y/N) looked around at her surroundings not at all the classroom she imagined to stand in someday.

“My father. He was an incredible seamstress in the games but last year he… his fingers wouldn't work how they used to so I took over and due to my inexperience they put me in District 12… My father. He made amazing pieces working with many stylists. He was a jewel of District 4”. Her eyes glossed at the memories her home always filled with the noise of a sewing machine on, fabric scraps littering the floor and empty thread spools overflowing in the bins.

“Is he proud of you? For abandoning your dreams and continuing his?”

“I had no choice in my dream. It was this or be sent to live in a district. We would no longer be useful. But I still learn. my age means they let me study when my work is finished”

“Maybe one day if I’m the victor I could come and learn from you see just how good your lessons will be” Peeta smiled at (Y/N) bashfulness at her dream of being a teacher.

“I would like that Peeta”

[daliyla]

Talking about figure skating Regulus...

The Black brothers in a Yuri on ice!Au

Sirius has the fame of being a playboy and bla bla and he always dance on sexy songs.

Regulus instead just transitioned and wants to build his own reputation, away from his brother (with whom he skated for a long time when they were children)

Effie is Sirius' trainer and Monty is Regulus'. The two brothers live with the Potters (and so with James, who plays hockey and because of that is the disgrace of the family)

There's a contest and they decide to partecipate, but Effie and Monty want to try their pupils.

So, they choose two songs: "in regards to love: Eros" and "in regards to love: Agape". But instead of giving the Eros' song to Sirius and the Agape's to Regulus, they do the exact opposite.

So Sirius has to express his own, deep emotions (which is something he struggles with, also because of Walburga's A+ parenting), while Regulus has to make the most of his body and show it as sensually as possible (which is something he struggles with because of Walburga's A+ parenting AND his gender dysphoria and all the changes he did transitioning that he still hasn't got used to)

Still, they're the Black brothers and they're nothing but stubborn, so they do it (while bonding and helping each other). Regulus gets more confident with his body and Sirius learns how to express his emotions.

In the meanwhile, Sirius flirts shamelessly with a teammate of James, a certain Remus Lupin, who thinks Sirius is just a flirt and rejects him. But when he sees Sirius dancing Agape, he's really moved by it. There're so many emotions in his movements, there's a deepness in him, and Remus ends up crying without even knowing why. So, after the exhibition, he goes straight to Sirius to congratulate and he asks him out.

Before that, James never really noticed Regulus, seeing him simply as his best friend's little brother, even if he knew Reg had a crush on him when they were young. But then Regulus dances Eros and oh... Oh... He grew up quite well, didn't he? James feels so flustered looking at him. Suddently he can't talk to Regulus (who he knew for years!) without stutter and blushing. Regulus looks at him, who tries to congratulate for five long, embarassing minutes, with a smug and knowing smile.

Unexpectedly for no one, both Sirius and Regulus get a boyfriend in a couple of weeks.

Effie and Monty accomplished their plan.

[b0rtney]

ALL im saying is if u gave me fuck u money i'd write a fanfic where, for some reason i will come up w later, katniss doesn't/can't volunteer for prim during the reaping.

so we get prim and peeta in the hunger games, hamish and effie coaching them as best they can. and prim is, ofc tiny and scared and like. 11 or whatever (i forgor ages), and peeta is like ":) ok new plan: make sure katniss gets her little sister back!" meanwhile hamish is like "do i even know a kind of self defense that works for someone the size of perhaps a small potato or large hamster????" and effie is like "oh dear lord. oh jesus. she's just solidly gonna die huh??? oh god i need a career change???" and prim, after the shock has worn off, is like "oh shit i have a sister (and mom ig) to get back to. i gotta live thru this."

so prim is like solidly understanding she's not winning against careers in combat. she focuses on any other skill she can get-- medicine to patch herself up, camouflage from peeta, shmoozing for sympathy points (with incredible success, bc she knows who she is and what she looks like), and once she meets the other tributes she manages to worm some useful info on a few things out of a few other tributes who r like "oh poor thing won't survive the cornucopia" and, most notably, she becomes besties w rue.

and so peeta plays his angle of "i just wanna get back to the girl i love uwu," but doesn't bring prim into it as katniss's sister v much bc he knows that would put a target on her back, he instead paints himself as this big ol' sap that'll be easy pickings (if you can find him) so it looks like district 12 just spat out some softies this year (everyone back home is preemptively mourning). maybe he drops one line abt "i will do anything to get prim home safe" w kinda a looking-directly-into-the-camera-kubrick-stare moment.

meanwhile prim is like "rue. bestie. it might be great for us to play our friendship to the camera a bunch? for ratings?? ppl send us things for free??" and rue is like "aight sure yea lets do it" so they do it-- and if my lesbian ass has her way maybe they have little tiny baby crushes and like. hold hands or somn. idk ceasar would play it up and soon we've got the whole capitol like 'THE BABIES OH GAWD NO' and so the star-crossed lovers thing still happens, but with prim and rue. the capitol loses it's shit, bc they're on the way younger side, with baby faces, who have been playing up how tiny and defenseless they are to anyone who will listen for clout and donations.

with a push from peeta/haymitch/effie, ceasar's little-babies-who-will-never-even-get-to-be-fully-in-love-bc-there's-no-way-they're-surviving-the-next-24-hours shtick for prim/rue gets spun wildly out of control before the games even start and suddenly the capitol is demanding the games be called off since "so many of them are so young!" at most extreme, or wondering if the minimum age for the hunger games isn't too young at most moderate.

district 13 was not ready for such a prime revolution moment to happen so quick, but they make the best of it in a somewhat disorganized way. They sway public opinion into spinning this story up, up, and away from capitol control, which eventually (through difficult to succinctly summarize PR bullshit) has everyone calling for snow to step down, and he can't very well use the cattleprods on the supposed upper crust, can he? not when every other district is already twitching for an excuse to revolt and has been for a while. so he 'gracefully' steps down (repercussions to be written in fic). district 13 is like damn they r fr handing us this one wtf.

coin(? i forgor names lol) is just barely too slow to neatly slot herself into power, bc now the capitol+districts is like "WE should get a say *insert democracy/anarcho-communism/republicanism/alt-govt.png*" idk maybe panem fractures into smaller govts that stop being affiliated w one country idk. i havent written the fic yet bc i dont have fuck u money.

what i DO know is katniss is honestly too involved in watching the games and subsequent bullshit to notice gale breathing, and peeta comes home w prim who is like 'can we go visit rue in the spring?' and katniss is like '....... u just restructured the govt...... sure yea wtvr' and peeta goes back to pining bc i just dont think he knows how to make a move when not on a death-related timeclock. maybe prim throws him a bone and wingmans him in there.

[narcissa-black-supermacy]

no but dani!!! the first cousin thing was so hard for me bc i want the same!! i was mentally trying to figure the potter & black family trees out to see if it could work out lol

but first cousins james & sirius AU is…something.

i don’t even know how u could make that work 🤔

(maybe like a, fleamont & walburga are siblings. james is the older child and sirius has always looked up to him w hero worship & had a juvenile crush on him. their families r extremely invested & kept trying to matchmake them but oblivious james always took it the wrong way. as they grew up and their families moved into the same residential area to be closer, they started hanging out more & falling in love. something something along those lines, i think.)

(also,,,genderbending? 👀)

OKAY OKAY i adore the idea of fleamont and walburga being siblings (PUH LEASE) BUT family-tree and logic wise, let me suggest....

Effie and Walburga as siblings. Because Monty would still have to be a Potter and Wal is a Black through and through. But we already know of a Black woman (Dorea Black) who canonically married a Potter (Charlus):

(the old fandom theory before JKR revealed Effie & Monty was always that they are James' parents and he's related to Sirius in fact)

so narrative-wise it would make a lot of sense if Effie was actually a Black but then met Monty and married into the Potters. that makes James and Sirius cousins and honestly gives SO MUCH potential ground to play with, given the families' conflict remains, but also his mum would tell him all about the Blacks from a young age.

(and PLEASE talk to me more about the genderbending. if we want to go full realism then it makes more sense too)

((no but also the complexity of a dynamic w one of them (sirius?) being a girl and then james having v complicated feelings about the entire thing bc he does like her but doesn't want it to be forced. and like. maybe their families are trying to set up the marriage to settle the conflicts btwn them by marrying them. like an arranged marriage first cousins au with genderbending akfjsdhg))

(((okay last one hear me out: Indian Potters and Arab Blacks. just. perfect. this is perfect. ohmygod. the absolute chaos. the family drama. the threats. someone says something dramatic and then its bollywood close cut of everyone's faces w suspenseful music for 30 mintues adkjdghsfkgh OHMYGOD PEN I NEED THIS NOW)))

[ao3feed-hayffie]

Where The Fools Cry.

by deadmagpie

The Third Quarter Quell has just been announced.

Peeta and Katniss barely got out alive when the people of the Capitol found out their "Starcrossed-Lovers" plan was a ploy. All along, their trust and faith in the two District Twelve victors was crushed. Katniss learns to stay independent with her family, providing for those who need it. Whereas Peeta falls into a heavy ditch of sorrow and pain. Haymitch tries to pull him out of it.

Upon the reaping, Peeta volunteers for Haymitch. Once they arrive in Panem, things begin to change. Foes become friends and eventually lovers.

Words: 1932, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: The Hunger Games (Movies)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: F/M, M/M

Characters: Peeta Mellark, Finnick Odair, Haymitch Abernathy, Effie Trinket, Career Tributes (Hunger Games), Quarter Quell Tributes, Alma Coin, Coriolanus Snow

Relationships: Peeta Mellark/Original Male Character(s), Finnick Odair/Original Male Character(s), Haymitch Abernathy/Effie Trinket

Additional Tags: Unresolved Romantic Tension, Romance, Gay Romance, Sexual Tension, Gore, Blood and Injury, Violence, Major Drinking, Death, Suicide, Assault, Eventual Smut, Angst, Trauma, Psychological Trauma, Past Abuse, Drug Addiction, Addiction, Guns, Weapons, Hunger Games Tributes, Quarter Quell (Hunger Games), Young Peeta Mellark, Young Love, Finnick Odair Lives, Sex

Read this story on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/mG0J59f

[valentinesparda]

drace and effie having a well-to-do family makes it to where at least they both have a shot at rising ranks, and it gives effie the chance to befriend a young vayne while they're going through schooling themself. like they wouldn't be in any classes close to him but in a close enough proximity that this very young lord comes into contact with them, is OBSESSED with them but effie just wants to be friends with him. they DO love him, they love everyone and he's hidden most of his bad traits from them, but the time that vayne tries to convince them to just give him a chance it's the same time that effie and noah become aware of each other (or more accurately, effie gets a closer look into the judges through their sister and having gone through extensive physical therapy and MORE schooling to become a palace tutor as the second best thing to do), and they've had a crush on noah before, but killed it out when they know that he's far from their reach emotionally and physically as well as being six years their senior, and it fell off from there

it's when they've become larsa's tutor, the child is still young and drace has been protective of him after seeing the monster his older brother has started to become, and gramis has appointed her as bodyguard for the young lord. so naturally effie gets the job and they're 24 and maybe it wouldn't be too bad to be a part of the royal family their father says, it would be good for them (the future of the family) but they can't shake the feeling that something is wrong, and even drace is like "you're a fucking moron with your bleeding heart" even though they learned it from her. but because of THAT then they meet noah for the first time and he's made aware of their existence outside of word of mouth, and their kind demeanor and soft voice and he's IMMEDIATELY in love with them, but he refuses to say anything about it because he sees how vayne treats them. watches them. talks about them. he gets it. a lot of nervous laughs and intentional accidental meetings, and vayne's attempts to woo effie being met with a hesitant cold shoulder but a warm gaze in noah's direction and he knows he can't shake it

gramis watched his son flounder and falter and suffer in regards to his first love and he already trusts drace, he's put his trust in effie, and part of him almost pities the situation. he knows nothing will come of it (a loveless marriage it would be, no gain on his side besides his son winning effie like a pawn). but in any case, effie is sweet and smart and can be stubborn and does their best to be agreeable around the council and the emperor but they just can't not say what is on their mind. larsa loves them to death but it's a pure love from a child who has gained a new sibling, a teacher he could not adore more, which is so strongly opposite to how he can see vayne loves them that it's almost funny. I think the emperor would definitely notice how his judge would stand up a little straighter, hover around the child's tutor, and later find him coincidentally spending more and more time on their side of the palace in his free time

so anyways to circle back around to the actual point; noah and effie dancing around their feelings in secret for a year or two, and then around the third year, drace having been the confessional between the two lovers as well as their biggest support, and eventually around the third year it is moreso an open secret. this does not stop vayne from being in denial and hissing his blessings even while effie continues to try and smooth things over, sooth his worries, be his closest friend. the year they turn 28 is when noah offers himself in hopes of committing to them, and their engagement falls shortly before the battle of nabudis (because if noah had to worry about it knowing that he had to propose after committing regicide, he would blow it and he knows - and having effie is something nice to return to). but while noah is spending his days freely and having a warm body to sleep next to most nights, of course he does so knowing that his twin is under lock and key, suffering for his supposed crimes

surely the emperor would give his blessing to one of his judges, but he respects the wishes that the wedding be kept a small secret affair, one that is witnessed by their closest friends and bitterly blessed by lord vayne himself, where young lord larsa wishes to play a part in the union of his beloved teacher and his brother's bodyguard

noah still harbors his ill-wishes against his brother even when he is the happiest he's ever been, because he feels so deeply and his emotions are a deep extreme from one to the other, and effie is impressionable enough to believe that maybe everyone that he is tasked to track and contracted to kill definitely deserve it. even his brother

[faydingrain]

Cedric Blair

A bit too chipper, Lilith vanquished her candle flame. “...There’s technically more to that story, but that’s all I should share about it.”

An awkward silence.

“I don’t remember hearing about that one,” Kai broke the quiet.

“Yeah, me neither,” Enzo agreed.

“That’s probably because everyone forgot about her so quickly, since she pushed everyone away like she did,” their senior explained, a subtle sadness welling up in her eyes. “No one talked about her after she disappeared. It was as if she never existed at all.”

Effie frowned. “That’s still really sad…I’m sure she would appreciate that you still remember her though.”

“...There are times I wish we could have swapped places, but that's probably wrong of me to think.”

“Hey,” Kenny began, “don’t think like that! We appreciate you being here, and I’m sure your friend would be happy knowing that you’re still around too. It’s not your fault all that happened.”

She responded to his words, and the mutual agreement around the room, with a small smile. “Thank you. You don’t need to try and comfort me though. I’ve reflected on it many times, and I can cope with my reality now.”

Beside her, Cedric was watching through the corner of one open eye.

“Ahh, I’ve spoken too much already. Let’s move on.” She leaned his way. “Figure out your story, my love?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Then, take it away!”

Cracking a smile, he gave a breathy chuckle. “Thank you.”

***

When I was born, the doctor that helped deliver me slipped on the sterile floors shortly after and fell on his head. This accident claimed his life that day.

When I was 3, my parents had no choice but to leave me with a babysitter for an undetermined period of time. They were forced to rearrange plans when she had an unexpected heart attack that took her life far too young.

When I was 6, I used to play with my neighbour’s children. We would enjoy running about, guided by our imaginations in our front lawns. That is, until my then-friends were hit by a drunk driver swerving off the road.

It was a tragedy, of course. And the fool of a driver was drunken, so it was clearly his poor decisions that caused this to unfold, correct?

When I was 9, a terrible storm struck the city and damaged our roof. My uncle came to visit for the holiday, offering to fix it while he helped my parents prepare the day’s feast. We had a wonderful time.

Eating quickly, my uncle then dismissed himself a bit early to get to work, and my father left the house to see if the neighbours had a few extra supplies that could be repaid later.

A series of loud crashes followed. My uncle had slipped and fallen off the ladder. He would have been fine, had the beam above him not fallen and impaled his side.

He was pronounced dead upon arriving to the hospital.

We mourned him, as he was a beloved family member. It was all because of the havoc the storm had wrought upon our home that his life was taken from us far too soon.

When I was 12, I visited a local faire with my parents. There were plenty of stalls, entertainers, food, colourful lights. One particular act I was taken with was a series of people dressed as knights, “re-enacting” battles of old—horses, armour, and lances included.

The group was filled with spectacular actors. I was almost convinced I had been transported to the past, witnessing the true squabbles of rival knights. But, perhaps that immersion went too far when one of them was unexpectedly struck and thrown from his steed. He didn’t move for several minutes, and had to be escorted out by emergency services.

I discovered later that he had broken his back. However, I heard that he has since recovered and is doing well. He’s taken to acting on the stage of these faires, and his brilliant acting carries him through a successful career.

When I was 15, I joined a dance group. I had become fascinated with dance after developing a crush on a cheerleader, but my interest led me into the love of the venture rather than the romance of another.

I was told I learned quickly, and could keep up with my seniors quite well. There were minor setbacks here and there, but we eventually worked hard enough to register for a small competition.

It was disastrous. Through a series of blunders, we lost miserably. Everyone around me was sent home with some sort of injury. Two of our members were forced to permanently retire from their dream as a result.

When I was 18, I took the bus to make a long trip for personal matters. The way home was much longer due to the stops that were made, and by the time I had nearly returned, a car drove into the side I was seated on.

Due to my not sitting by the window, I wasn’t directly caught in the crash as my seatmate was. As far as I heard, however, they managed to recover since I escaped the scene quickly.

When I was 21, a bridge I had been resting on while reading collapsed shortly after I departed. A passing bystander was caught with the rubble, but was thankfully rescued from the water, and walked away with only minor injuries.

When I was 24, a devastating explosion demolished half of one of the buildings at my former university. It was the building I primarily studied in.

Thankfully, no one, not even a janitor, was caught in the devastation, as it happened after-hours.

You may have noticed a pattern by now. Perhaps I am surrounded by misfortune, and I have been chosen as the unlucky soul to witness such terrible tragedies.

Perhaps that is an honest statement to some degree, but it is not the truth.

Though, not every instance of ill fortune was so dramatic. When I was 5, a dodgeball somehow slipped past someone's hands and hit the classmate beside me in the nose. When I was 10, a classmate tripped and fell, landing on his own sharpened pencils. (As they were only pencils, he received but a few minor cuts). When I was 15, a close friend of mine would constantly slip and drop his lunch, often all over himself.

My mother took notice of the events happening around me when I was still young, and brought me to many witches and mages to figure out the cause.

Only one granted us an answer. "The boy was born with an ill aura. For as long as he lives, terrible things will happen to those around him. He cannot choose who, nor the severity of the event, as he lacks the vile soul for it to take root in. Perhaps you could say that he, too, was struck with ill fortune upon birth."

He also mentioned that my parents must be immune to the effects of it, as they, or my mother at least, would likely have perished long before I was born.

Despite this, my parents didn't wish to isolate me from society for something outside my control. So, my mother taught me how to ward myself and others in order to reduce or negate any possible consequences of it.

If you've visited Greenwall pharmacy, you may have noticed odd “decor” around the area. Those are not simply decoration; they are talismans I've set in place to protect my technicians and the public we serve. My team is also informed upon hire of the circumstances they'll be working under for their safety. While that has scared some away, my current employees have faithfully remained at my side despite the occasional mishaps.

But, before I stay in a public place for long, there is an incantation I must recite. I’ve also come to understand the feeling of my own aura before it triggers disaster, so I can quickly recite it beforehand and it will still take effect. While I’ve discovered other methods to keep those around me as safe as possible, my mother created and taught me my primary incantation herself.

It goes like this:

—Holding two fingers before his lips, Cedric clasped his hands together.—

Scaretober 2023

Brisk Wind on a Dark Trail

Midnight Moon

Gargoyle's Watch

Cold Stones in the Fog

Spirits Rising

Haunted House

Witching Hour

Bubbling Cauldron

Candy

Eyes

Spider Silk

Feathers

Tail

Scales

Fangs or Talons

An Offering of Blood

Dark Ritual

Spook Scary Skeletons

Carnivàle Morte

Still-Beating Heart

Sharpened Blade

Mask

Looming Shadows

The Devil's Hand

Monster

Reflection in the Mirror

Rusted Chains

Stitches

Precious Jewels

Incantation

Halloween

Epilogue

[ibtk]

Book Review: Witches of Brooklyn #3: S'More Magic by Sophie Escabasse (2022)

4/5 stars

Summer has come to Brooklyn, and eleven-year-old witch-in-training Effie Huchbolt-Walloo is absolutely distraught to be separated from her best friends for the next month. Oliver is attending a robotics day camp; Berrit is off to a sleepaway camp in upstate New York; Garance is visiting her grandmother in France; and Selimene and Carlota are sending Effie to Raccoon Camp, designed to help young witches foster a connection with nature (though of course she can't tell Berrit and Oliver as much!).

As if this isn't bad enough, on her first day of summer vacation, Effie awakens to find a panda named Henry in her bed! (Being a witch is nothing if not exciting.)

Turns out that Henry is Carlota's nephew - and the previous resident of Effie's room - who had been living in the Bronx Zoo for the past year, ever since heartbreak transmogrified him into a panda. Now he's the newest camp counselor at Camp Raccoon (and Effie's de facto safety blanket).

Unsurprisingly, Camp Raccoon is every bit as awesome as Selimene and Carlota promised, with two glaring exceptions: the lake (Effie can't swim!), and resident mean girl, Sonia. Though - spoiler alert! - Effie conquers the former, will the latter prove to be her undoing when a game of truth or dare goes awry?

The WITCHES OF BROOKLYN series is absolutely charming, and S'MORE MAGIC is no exception. Escabasse introduces us to a plethora of new characters (Henry the panda, and his crush/fellow camp counselor, Moji; Effie's new witch friends, Cora and Ivan; Gertrude the oak; and Fiona and Beecher, the camp's "eco-militant" founders), while still giving us cameos from those we've come to know and love (Lion, Carlota, and an impossibly fierce Selimene).

The concept of a "green thumb" and expanding one's power by tapping into the flow of shared energy is pretty great too; right now, I'm halfway through Season 3 of HARLEY QUINN, and it's giving vibes of Ivy trying to access the shared consciousness of the plant world ("the green") in order to save Frank (though in a much more PG rated way, obvs). And the denouement - which, spoiler alert!, involves a dragon - is *chef's kiss* perfect.

I didn't totally love the resolution with Sonia - but, then again, if Effie had managed to befriend yet another enemy, I'd probably just complain that it was unrealistic (*shrug*).

https://www.librarything.com/work/30508424/reviews/247560786

[dandelionlovesyou]

My Shelter

A short high school Everlark drabble.

Katniss and Peeta are best friends since kindergarten. They are volunteers in an animal shelter. Peeta can’t get himself to confess his love, and Katniss is clueless. Fun fluff.

I miss writing very much, so I wrote this fanfic to blow off some steam. When life is stressful, Everlark always saves the day. Un-betaed, because I just wanted to write.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/39255591

[Will add FFN link later!]

"Peeta, cut it out!" Katniss shouts as her best friend blows a breath of air in her left ear, tickling her and filling her eardrum with sound. She fell asleep on the steps again, leaning on the primrose plant boxes beside the school steps. She smacks his shoulder strongly, making him use his bag as a shield.

"Okay! Okay!" Peeta concedes, hands up like he was caught committing grand theft. "I couldn't resist!"

"You just couldn't give me a moment of peace?!" she huffs as she fixes her sling bag that has fallen a step below. Thank goodness she tied the string of her bag when she sat down half an hour ago. Only a few pencils had fallen out of the opening, and she quickly picked them up to stuff them inside her bag.

"Peeta!" she retaliates once she turns around to her best friend.

Peeta Mellark is poised on her side, full lips puckered up like a big fish with his sky blue eyes closed shut. A dreamy expression plasters his face as he slightly leans towards Katniss while hugging his orange backpack to his chest.

"Stop your daydreaming, Peeta Mellark! Just go and catch Delly Cartwright in the field already!"

I wasn't thinking of Delly. I was dreaming of you.

Peeta Mellark has been in love with his best friend for eleven years.

Ever since he was five.

When she sang the Valley Song in kindergarten.

He was a goner.

Dear Lord, why did I do that?! I almost kissed her!

"Come on! The bus is here!" Katniss grabs his hand and jumps the two steps down before pulling at Peeta to sprint towards the district bus together.

You can hold my hand forever. I'll never let you go, baby.

Katniss checks on her only friend, looking if his prosthetic leg is giving him trouble today. When she sees him keeping up with her and holding tight, she waves at the bus driver to wait for them.

"Hello Haymitch," she pants. "Is Henry with you?"

"Why hello there, sweetheart," the forty-something bus driver wearing a white company shirt greets as the two stand in front of him -- still holding hands. He leans on the metal box where passengers drop their coins and points his thumb to where his dog lays. "Henry's there behind me."

"Did you walk him this morning?" Katniss asks with a demanding but friendly tone.

"Yes, mam."

"Give him a bowl of milk?"

"Sure did."

"A hug?"

"Effie beat me to him first, but I did get my loving after," he says and then presses the button to close the door. "Go on and find your seat there, kids."

The handicap seats behind the driver are vacant, so Katniss takes purchase on them. She often sits there because the D12 bus is never full, and she likes to see where the bus is going.

"Henry, come," she commands, and the blonde Labrador retriever jumps to lay his head and paws on Katniss' lap. She strokes his soft and thick fur, earning a moan that can only mean that he's enjoying the attention.

Peeta takes the seat right beside Henry's plump rump. Henry's a big dog with a big behind, and Peeta almost fell off when Haymitch passed a hump in the road.

Scooting a little more into the long seat, the furball allows him space while wagging his tail up and down, smacking Peeta in the face a couple of times. His adorable behavior becomes rewarded with back massages. Lucky dog.

"So how's school today, kids? Anything exciting?" Haymitch asks, checking his young passengers through the rearview mirror. He's grown fond of the pair, being the D12 bus driver for over twenty years.

"Peeta's been daydreaming about his crush all day, and trying to find a way to confess his undying love," Katniss reports mischievously, earning a throaty laugh from the old gruff. "And kiss her too!"

If you only knew. I only want to kiss you. You and only you. Just you.

Peeta sneaks a look at Katniss on his left, focusing on her mouth as she bites just a little portion of the pink flesh inside of her bottom lip. It's a bad habit, but all too endearing and very cute (or sexy, depending on his desperation). For the longest time, he had wanted to be there, to taste her and drink her in. Ever since his second brother gave him tips on how to kiss a girl more than four years ago, it's all Peeta could dream about when Katniss was so close to him. He had never tried it of course, despite the many chances he had. With Katniss' father's death, she needs their bubble of friendship more than ever. He wouldn't dare break it and was determined to wait for her to find healing and be ready for a relationship beyond what they have now.

"You know? A sure way to a woman's heart is through her stomach," Haymitch advises as he turns right to the Justice Building. "I got my Effie by buying her your Dad's pain au chocolat. Went on many dates after that."

"Oh, he's trying that approach all right," Katniss declares while inspecting Henry's ears. It's clean and healthy, and she's glad that the dog she and her sister, Prim, once fostered from the shelter, now belongs to a caring family.

"He bakes half a dozen cheese buns every morning for her. Brings them to school in a neat box with a green ribbon, but he never 'fesses up," Katniss rambles on, spilling Peeta's secrets.

"Without success, huh?"

"Yes, without success."

If only she knew the truth.

All those cheese buns are really for you. Delly doesn't eat carbs at all, but I'm glad you never really notice it. I will bake you cheese buns for all eternity.

"I'm not complaining, though. I don't mind getting half a dozen warm buns before first period. Peeta always chickens out when he sees his cheerleader slash student body president crush, so he ends up shoving them my way. We shouldn't waste food."

Sorry for shoving them to you. It's the only way you'd accept them. I wish I could hand them to you properly, lovingly, but that would be weird for you.

I wish I didn't have to waste so much time ...

The love of my life. My forever amore. I can't screw things up with you. I'll die.

"You get the lot every day, huh?" Haymitch sneers, opening the door again at the next bus stop. "You unlucky girl. Maybe he needs some liquid courage?"

"Oh, Peeta doesn't drink alcohol. He's not into that stuff. He drinks tea and never puts sugar in it."

You noticed!

"So what's so special about this girl huh, kid?"

"Peeta? Hello, earth to Peeta?" Katniss snaps her fingers in front of his face. He's deep in thought all of a sudden.

When her attempts don't work, Katniss taps his cheeks, her slender fingers touching the lobe of his ear. Electricity spreads throughout his body, and he catches her hand, surprising Katniss with his quickness. Grey eyes meet blue.

You're so beautiful.

Slowly, as if handling a delicate flower, Peeta lowers Katniss' hand, placing it on Henry's coat and then rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. He doesn't linger even though every fiber of his being wants to just hold her.

Haymitch clears his throat, a wide grin on his bearded face.

"Ummm ...," Peeta begins, then shifts in his seat.

Katniss continues to run her palm on Henry's coat, looking out the window, a gentle and sad smile laces her eyes. She breathes out a deep sigh. She looked confused and happy at the same time.

"She's really beautiful, Haymitch," Peeta begins, looking serious and hushed. "She has long, flowing, dark ... Uhmm, I mean, blonde hair. Her complexion is natural and lovely. She doesn't need any make-up to make herself pretty. She's just beautiful the way she is," he describes slowly with the voice of a man who is very much in love.

Peeta steals a look in Katniss' direction. It's quick and subtle, but Haymitch sees everything. As a matter of fact, he knows everything -- even the competition that is Gale Hawthorne. He's a football jock who started volunteering at the shelter two years ago as part of his community service for disrespecting an officer of the law. He's a hothead, that one. Totally into Katniss, though. A tough competition.

"Is she high maintenance? Cheerleaders can be a pain in the ass."

Shaking his head while smiling, Peeta gives him a firm no. "Not at all, Haymitch."

"Good. Tell me more."

"She's loyal to the ones she loves and protects them fiercely. I love that about her. She'd do anything for them, actually. Even give up her life."

"You know that much, kid?"

I do, actually. She single-handedly took care of her mom and sister when her Papa died.

That's just what Katniss does.

"I freely assumed ...," Peeta replies instead.

"Her family adopted two dogs three months ago, Haymitch," Katniss states, adding to their conversation. If she caught the farfetched description of Delly, she didn't let on.

Yeah, but that's nothing to the years you've volunteered at the shelter. Buttercup (a mangy cat) and Caesar (an abandoned dog) wouldn't be alive if you didn't foster them and nurse them back to life. You're always saving someone, Katniss Everdeen.

My spring fountain of life.

"Aha, so you like her then?" Haymitch comments as he stops at a red light.

"She's all right. A bit too talkative, but Peeta likes her so ... I try to like her."

I really like you ... scratch that ... I love you.

"Best for you to go get her then, kid. An older guy might steal her from you," Haymitch says and winks at Peeta. He was referring to Gale Hawthorne.

"Yeah, a lot of boys like her, but she doesn't notice any of them. She doesn't know the effect she has."

"Okay, we're here," Katniss declares and slowly stands up, stopping their conversation. Henry jumps off the seat and wags his long, hairy tail as a goodbye.

"I'll see you around, boy. Be good." Katniss rubs the loose skin under his neck before laying a kiss between his eyes. Henry most definitely is a lucky dog.

"See you around, Haymitch." Katniss hops off the bus first, fixing her sling bag over her shoulder on the sidewalk.

"Hey, kid," Haymitch whispers to Peeta. He pivots and steadies himself in the handrail. "What are you gonna do?"

"I don't know ... but I volunteered at the shelter years ago, didn't I?"

.....

 Thank you for reading! Sorry about the sad ending. I still have to think of the next chapter. This is up to where my time allows me to write before I absolutely have to return to work. 😅

[ilikefandom]

The Tower

Request: Lol I don’t know if you’re going to like this but I was just wondering about Yandere Severus x Reader. It’s ok if you don’t want to! <3 <3

Requested by: Anon

Genre: Yandere?

Synopsis: (Y/n) (Y/l/n) has caught Severus’ eye and he will never let go.

Pairing: Severus Snape x Fem Reader

Warnings: Yandere, subtle threats of kidnapping and Reader’s dad is a death eater

The way she looked, outlined in the light of her bedroom window made Severus’ heart flutter. (Y/n) was just running her fingers through her hair and that on its own was angelic.

She didn’t see the man coated in black staring up at her, she never did. The sprawl of the mansion’s gardens and the hight of the trees made it nearly impossible. 

The meeting had gone well, the Dark Lord rewarding (Y/f/n) with a dark-mark and a seat at his high table for his service. Severus scoffed, it wasn’t as if (Y/l/n) didn’t deserve it, but he didn’t want to hear Lucius Malfoy complain before their master arrived in the future.

The (Y/l/n) mansion was enormous, at least one and three quarters the size of Malfoy Manor, and one the east wing, attop a tower, was a beautiful young woman, (Y/n) (Y/l/n).

She was beautiful, with gorgeous (Y/e/c) eyes and smooth (Y/s/t) skin. A dazzling Rapunzel, locked away until the family had use of her. Locked away, so that Severus could focus his gaze on her.

He wanted her, a want that went so deep that it nearly brought him to tears whenever he saw her. He could hardly keep his cover when she came down the stairs on that first night, in that beautiful white dress, curtsying to the Dark Lord as he placed his hand on her head, as he christened her family into the high ring of death eater society. 

He barely kept his mouth shut when she appeared with a letter for her father, a few meetings later. But, he contained himself, knowing that if he were to have her, he would either have to win the war with Dumbledore or he would have to get her father in a difficult position with Voldemort.

As for now, he was content with looking, he was alright with glimpses of her lips and lovely hair. He could love her from afar, but how long could that last.

“I’m alright mother.” (Y/n) said to her mother’s fretting over the curtains on the window. “I truly am. I am way too high up for anyone to see.”

(Y/m/n) sighed making her way out of her daughter’s room and back down to the rest of the mansion.

(Y/n) waited until she was gone and then opened the curtains again. 

She had noticed him the first day, looking at her the way no boy had ever glanced at her before. It was flattering, it was nice, so she had indulged his thirst for her, by delivering a letter to her father by hand instead of letting Effie, the house elf, do it. 

She had smiled at him that day, and wanted to see that tight lipped smirk more often than she should. However, she knew not of how horribly Severus wanted to be with her.

As she looked out her window and found him, once again, just along the tree line. 

She smiled into the night. Severus Snape was smart, but not all that observant. As the moonlight seeped through the trees just enough that one could see his outline if they looked for it. 

Letting out a deep breath into the cool, autumn breezes, she shivered a bit. She wished that he would just talk to her instead of playing these stalking games. That’s what normal boys did, right? 

Severus watched as (Y/n) rested her elbows on the window sill, staring out into the night. How he wished those eyes to fall on him, and, every so often, they did, just in passing. 

Severus was still aching from Lily and James’ announcement that they were to be married. He needed a distraction and this solution fit him just fine. Sneaking a bit further out, still cloaked in shadow, closer to the house, he took a glimpse of (Y/n) once again, fueled by his love for her, but she was no longer in view.

Suddenly a paper airplane landed in the grass at his feet, he picked it up, wondering where it had come from. Opening it, he discovered a message inside. You don’t have to hide in the treeline, I can see you just fine from up here. 

He looked up, again, finding (Y/n) sitting on the balcony of her tower. She gave him a small wave. He furiously pulled out a quill and began to write on the piece of paper, flustered at being caught. He levitated the re-folded airplane back up to (Y/n) who plucked it gingerly from the air.

(Y/n) opened the letter again and found tightly woven black letters under her writing: I’m sorry to intrude. I’m Severus Snape. I hope I didn’t scare you. I was in Slytherin at Hogwarts.

Pulling out her writing utensils again she scrawled: I didn’t go to Hogwarts I was homeschooled. I’m 18 now, how old are you?

She, once again, threw the plane down to Severus’ feet. His response was so quick that (Y/n) had basically no time to put away her ink. 19.

She smiled down at the figure. Then she looked over the railing of her balcony at the Severus shadow that sat on the edge of the garden.

She placed her quill in the ink once again and wrote a new message on the parchment. Meet me again, after the next meeting. I’ll have a ladder ready, you can climb up so that you won’t make any noise disappearing.

She sent the message down and grinned, hoping that the handsome young man would come back to have a midnight rendezvous, she was excited to get into mischief for the first time. 

Severus picked up the message, reading it and running a finger down the small hand in dark blue ink. Tucking the message into his pocket, he stepped forward into the light. He looked up once again at the balcony. She waved to him and warmth seeped into the hole where Lily used to be. He smirked at (Y/n) and disapperated with a crack.

(Y/n)’s crush might have just bought her a heep of delusion and trouble, but for now she could only think of the boy she had met and the trouble that she was going to get into for speaking to him. 

Severus too could only think of the next death eater meeting at the (Y/l/n) estate. However, instead of thinking of the trouble he was causing he could only think of her, and how this was a beautiful opportunity to steal her away from this evil world. For as soon as he had her, he had no intention of letting her go.

[nightlock-1989]

Side-Parts and Skinny Jeans

A short story about what happens when Millennials find out Gen Z is ripping on their precious side-parts and skinny jeans.

Context: I am a 31 year old proud Millennial. I graduated in 2007. One day, scrolling through Tik Tok, I kept seeing things about old people and their side-parts and skinny jeans. I googled it and what do you know? Forget the Boomers because the Zoomers are targeting us now. Thought it might make a good Everlark story. You can also find it on AO3 here.

Takes place in September so that school could be in person again. Enjoy!

September 2021              

The first week back when school begins is always taxing on both the students and staff. Add in 18 months of virtual learning at home and it’s a surprise that everyone isn’t already passed out in Haymitch Abernathy’s yard a victory.

It’s always been a tradition. The principal hosts the school staff the first Friday after the school year begins for a barbeque and alcohol. Normally alcohol is always aplenty since it’s Haymitch but this year everyone is a little even more stressed.

Effie Trinket, the school secretary is walking around with a tray of Jell-O shots.

“Thanks, Trinkie,” Haymitch gruffs before slurping down a green one and handing one to the English teacher Peeta Mellark. He hesitates briefly before Delly Cartwright, pulls it out of his hands and slurps it down.

“Very nice,” Haymitch remarks.

“Thank you, Mr. Abernathy,” she responds.

“You know you can call him, Haymitch; right?” Finnick O’Dair, history teacher, reminds.

“HA,” Peeta responds.

“He’ll always be Mr. Abernathy,” Delly tells.

“You’re 28,” Finnick says

“Doesn’t matter,” Katniss Everdeen, biology teacher and Peeta Mellark’s lifelong crush strides forward.

“Sweetheart,” Haymitch gestures.

“Mr. Abernathy,” Katniss greets.

Peeta and Delly both point fingers at Finnick.

“Grill’s ready,” Effie hollers.

Katniss takes a Jell-O shot and sighs before tipping it back.

“Is this the first time we’ve all drank together?” Delly asks gesturing between Peeta and Katniss.

Katniss, Peeta, and Delly were in the same grade at District 12 high; however, only Delly and Peeta hung out. Katniss kept to herself for the most part, having a difficult life. Katniss was the newest hire at District 12, having transferred over from 8 last year. She didn’t attend last year’s barbeque to Peeta’s sadness.

When Peeta saw Katniss in the auditorium for in-staff training, he nearly fainted and when he realized she lived in the same apartment village, he thought he would have a heart attack. Although she still sports her signature braid every now and then, she’s taken to wearing her hair down and walks with a new-found confidence that has only made her sexier. Everyone knows how much he likes her, except Katniss.

“Probably,” Katniss answers heading over to the kiddie pool filled with beer. She bends down to pick one up, giving Peeta the perfect view of her ass. Her jeans fit like a second glove and Delly smacks Peeta in the chest to get him to stop gawking.

The food is ready, and everyone dishes up. The alcohol and conversation flow generously.

Haymitch begins telling a story about how for seniors, they have alternatives for the seniors who have a lot of detentions left to serve. Instead of serving one detention at a time, they can pick up trash or volunteer for a student event.

“So, we needed someone to remove the gum from under all the auditorium seats.”

Katniss groans.

“All 896. I offer to free up 4 detentions. Sweetheart had 12. No one is taking it, but I can tell that I’ve got some interest peaked. I get up to 7 and Katniss sees Johanna about to pounce. She screams, “I volunteer, I volunteer.””

“Well, I wasn’t the only one who volunteered,” Katniss reminds before looking at Peeta.

“Sweetheart, you aren’t even the butt of this story. Then, the boy over here,” he says while gesturing to Peeta who puts his face into his hands, “also volunteers. I was only looking for one.”

“You let us both though,” Katniss says.

“The deal was for seven detentions total,” Haymitch emphasizes.

“But seven of mine did get wiped out,” Katniss says.

“Exactly,” Haymitch points out. “The boy didn’t even have any detentions.”

Everyone but Peeta and Katniss roar with laughter.

“Wait, what? I’m so confused,” Katniss says more to herself because she’s at that point of intoxication.

“You really always have been Brainless,” Johanna Mason, physical education teacher teases. “Let’s get another beer,” she says, pulling Katniss with her.

Delly’s phone chimes so she takes a look. Peeta, still mortified is keeping his eyes on the two girls but he stops staring when he hears, “Miss Cartwright, Miss Everdeen, Miss Mason.”

“What’s that,” he asks looking towards her phone. Delly has open the Tik Tok app and the short video shows video of the respective teachers at the same time as their name.

“Side parts and skinny jeans…….so old,” the voice in the video adds.

“NOOOOOOOOOOO!” Delly shrieks as she chucks her beer bottle into the yard.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Johanna asks.

Delly is in such a mini-rage that she picks up her fold up chair and also chucks that off of the deck. She reaches for the outdoor end table before Finnick grabs her wrist and pulls her into him.

“Are you okay, Delly?” Katniss attempts to rush forward but trips in the process. Peeta rushes to help her up.

“We,” Delly emphasizes by pointing to all the young teachers, “have all had to deal with fucking everything. School shootings, terrorist attacks on live TV, two fucking wars, the housing market crashing, a great fucking recession, $4.00 gallons of gas, a global pandemic, ANOTHER FUCKING RECESSION….and now THIS. I’M NOT EVEN 30,” she finishes before letting out a guttural moan. Katniss leans in closer to Peeta, obviously scared before Johanna marches up to Delly who is holding up her phone.

They all crowd around and watch the offending video. It is showing the various female teachers and on the bottom is a tally marking all the women who have a side part and skinny jeans.

Johanna is first to break the silence by grabbing her folding chair and hurling it off the deck.

“Those little Tide-Pod eating Zoomers can go rot in hell.”

“Yeah, why can’t they just nearly succumb to alcohol poisoning in the cornfield like we did?” Delly cries.

“I like my side part,” Katniss says to herself.

“I have full-bodied hair. A middle part is boring,” Delly whines.

“Do they want us to wear the stupid mom jeans that they’re donning?” Johanna volleys back.

“Would they like it if we just went back to fucking ultra-low-rise jeans and had our thongs on display again because I’m not going back to that, Finnick,” Delly sobs into his chest.

“I didn’t say anything,” Finnick interjects staring cluelessly at Peeta.  “Wait, wasn’t this like a thing in the spring?”

“They didn’t make a fricken Tik Tok that specifically targeted us then” Johanna states.

“Does this mean I have to give up my skinny jeans?” Katniss asks to the empty space next to her.

“Don’t even think that, your ass looks fantastic in them,” Peeta answers.

Everyone goes quiet and stares at Peeta. He is perplexed before he realizes he actually said that out loud.

“No—I didn’t mean that,” Peeta begins before backtracking, “You know what, I didn’t mean that either…. I’m just going to go over there.” He heads down the deck stairs and grabs one of the chairs and plops down on it.

There is an awkward silence before Finnick says, “you should just side part your hair even harder.”

All three girls light up before agreeing. Katniss looks out and sees Peeta sitting alone. Delly tilts her head in a “go talk to him” motion, Finnick smiles and nods, and Johanna mimics a blow job.

Katniss orders an Uber before she heads over to Peeta.

“Peeta,” Katniss begins. He looks up with such sadness that Katniss interrupts him before he can even start, “Why’d you volunteer?”

“Um,” he stalls. “You know what, fuck it,” he resigns. “I had a huge crush on you growing up and I just wanted a reason to hang out with you.”

“So, you volunteered to remove chewing gum off hundreds of seats during our spring break?”

“Yep,” he answers with a pop.

“You know you only said like four words that whole time we were cleaning up?”

“That’s because when I’m around you, I feel like a mumbling idiot. Even now, 10 years after high school, you make me feel like- “He is interrupted by Katniss’s lips. She pulls back and smiles.

“Um, how drunk are you?”

“Definitely Ubering……. but I’ll definitely remember this in the morning.” She leans in again. He breaks apart long enough for him to stand and continue the kiss. Cheering can be heard from the deck causing both of them to laugh.

“Did you mean what you said about how good I look in these skinny jeans?”

“They look amazing on you.”

She leans up and whispers in his ear, “I think they’d look a lot better on your bedroom floor.” An alert sounds on Katniss’s phone. “Uber is here.”

Peeta wastes no time in grabbing her hand and practically dragging her to the car.

Effie comes out with another round of Jell-O-Shots while Haymitch grabs one.

“To young love,” he says.

“To side parts,” Delly adds.

“To skinny jeans,” Johanna finishes.

“We’re going to tease them mercilessly on Monday; right?” Finnick asks.

“Duh,” Delly states while everyone laughs.

Monday morning comes around and true to what Finnick suggested, their side parts are more pronounced, and they are all donning skinny jeans, their own form of mini rebellion.

And once again, Katniss’s pair ends up on Peeta’s floor that night.