#after however many months of not being able to sleep without worrying that something would get him while he's vulnerable

[bloodydeanwinchester]

okay but dean saying that's not gonna happen all goofy and nervous after cas said "i'll watch over you" is so funny when you think about it. i mean what are we supposed to think happened while they were in purgatory? cas DEFINITELY watched over him while he slept every night after dean found him. so dean being all “that’s not gonna happen” is almost definitely a front because he doesn’t want sam to know about it. and dean's lucky that cas got distracted by something immediately after he said it because i don't doubt cas would have said something like.... *head tilt* "but i watched over you every night in purgatory?"

[yourmidnightlover]

forever?

pairing: mob!bucky x reader

summary: after being forced into a marriage you didn’t want, you become very cautious of your new husband out of fear of what he’s capable of when one of his employees makes a move at a dinner meeting.

warnings: anxious reader, threat of domestic violence (reader is just worried abt it), groping, please let me know if i missed something or need to add anything!

a/n: reader is very timid in this. i know a lot of people like a reader who doesn’t take shit and stands up for herself, but i often find myself in situations where i just shut down and don’t know how to respond… so this is kinda inspired by that feeling

pt 2 -> control

two months out of forever.

two months of what seemed like wedded bliss from the outside.

in reality, that “bliss” included sleeping in separate rooms, never even seeing each other unless necessary to make appearances for either of your parents. 

the ones who arranged for this to happen in the first place. 

you were just glad you were able to have your time for yourself. you thought you would use the time to continue writing for your book, but you’ve hit a serious case of writers block. so lovely. 

on the bright side, he wasn’t as controlling as your few friends had made it seem he would be. 

they had painted this picture of a monster in your head. a man who would loom over your presence during every waking second. a man who was controlling and wouldn’t let you have a personal life or secrets.

so far, he’s been the opposite. 

for some reason, that still leaves you unsteady. 

because they also painted him in a very violent, angry, red light. 

but maybe he had a mistress. if that were the case, he truly didn’t respect you or your family. it didn’t seem like bucky to do that, though. he wouldn’t ruin a business deal that benefitted him so much. 

the reason you married him was because your father’s finance business was going under, drowned in debts while the only options were to sell to the barnes’ or the rumlow’s. the barnes’ seemed the lesser of two evils.

the only way to smoothly transition your father’s business to be under the barnes’ control without raising any question of your father’s capability was to marry. if any questions were asked about why your father sold his company, the not so good side of the finance industry would trample after your entire family. the barnes’ would get a new company and their many clients, while your family wouldn’t become entirely blacklisted by the entire country, would be putting your family under the barnes’ protection, and there would be less questions asked as to why the company had been merged.

you had a few months of “leaking” images of you and bucky together into the tabloids to prepare the public for the news of such a big marriage. some were photos of you and bucky holding hands while walking. a couple of you at a restaurant smiling. a few staged kissing photos… those may or may not have been your favorite.

those times spent with him, in all honesty, weren’t bad at all. going for walks together at sunset, dinner dates, feeling his lips against yours…

you had gotten to know more about his childhood that the tabloids didn’t feel was important to cover. his favorite subject in school and how he actually lost his arm so many years ago. you learned each others’ fears and worries in life. your favorite thing to learn about him, however, was what he truly wanted in life. 

peace.

a couple weeks after the wedding, a few photos of the reception were once again “leaked” in order to sell the “too in love to wait” bit that everyone had started assuming upon seeing the first few photos of you and bucky together. 

but all of your history with him flew to the back of your mind as bucky knocked on your office door. 

“come in,” you replied hesitantly, not sure what he wanted from you for the first time since your wedding. he stepped through the threshold and stood at the doorframe. 

“there’s a work meeting tomorrow,” his hand remained on the doorknob, so stiff you’d think he might rip it off the precious white wood in seconds. “the men are meeting at the house. i wanted to let you know. the men in this business, they expect marriages to be of the… traditional values.”

you nodded with understanding, turning to face him with a forced grin. “so i should play the part of the doting housewife, huh?” no smile in return, so you bit back your humor in turn for matching his serious tone. “what food should i prepare, then? and uh, how many guests will we be expecting?”

“whatever’s easiest for you,” he shrugged lightly. “there will be 9 of us there.” with one final look in your direction, he left the office and didn’t return to say goodnight. 

-

the next morning you got to work setting the house up for the 6pm meeting your loving husband was hosting. 

you had decided to set up a buffet-style table outside of the main dining room where the meeting would take place. for the menu, you settled on simple grilled chicken with quite a few side options. roast potatoes, asparagus, sauteed carrots, green beans, and rolls. 

you were putting the rolls in the oven when bucky got home, seemingly entranced by the smell of all the food, heading straight to the kitchen.

“it smells amazing in here,” bucky called from the archway of the kitchen. you jumped slightly from the surprise, but swallowed down the shock and another weak smile. 

“thanks,” you nodded to the edge of the island where a large chalkboard sat, your handwriting neatly displayed on the board that listed all the food to be had. “the menu. i figured a variety would be nice, and who doesn’t like chicken, right?”

“vegetarians,” if you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was telling a joke. but you knew better than that. “the men are coming in a little less than an hour. do you maybe want to change before they get here?”

you looked down at what you were wearing, a pair of blue jeans and a loose t-shirt clearly not worthy of someone who had married a barnes man. “right, of course. i’m sorry,” you finished setting the timer on the oven and ran upstairs to get yourself put together before bucky saw the tears trying to seep past your waterline. 

you settled on a black cocktail dress you had worn to one of your dad’s company events before the downfall… quickly swiping some makeup on to cover the exhaustion in your eyes and pulling your hair up to a more respectable updo rather than your typical messy bun. 

luckily you had become an expert at quickly getting ready from your time in university, as you were back in time to pull the rolls from the oven, but not before pulling on your apron. you’d be dammed if you got this stunning dress dirty right before this prestigious meeting. 

t-5 minutes before the meeting was supposed to begin and you could already hear lots of rustling from the formal dining room. you knocked on the closed doors before bucky opened the door for you. 

the men went silent as their gaze rested on you in the doorway. 

“the foods ready. buffet style?” your eyes didn’t leave bucky’s pretty blues, too scared to do anything wrong in front of his men. 

“that’s perfect, my love,” his hands gravitated to your waist before pulling your body taut against his, one hand moving a stray hair behind your ear before leaning in to whisper. “you look ravishing…”

as he pulled back, you were sure your blush was evident across your cheeks. you tried to hide it behind a smile, shrugging with a shy ‘thanks’ leaving your lips. 

“what do you say to my stunning wife, boys?” his hand squeezed your waist once more before turning to the other men, ‘thank you’s being echoed throughout the room as they stood and made their way to the kitchen to make their plates. 

in a matter of minutes, all the food was gone. you figured it was best they liked the food, even if you didn’t get to try any of it yourself like you had planned. 

you got started on cleaning everything up with earbuds in your ears, starting with the dishes already in the sink from when you were cooking. then, you were sure to place the dishes that the food was in inside the sink for you to clean before starting on wiping the counters, then sweeping, then mopping, and then back to the dishes. 

you didn’t realize that bucky had called for a break in the meeting, however. you were in for quite the rude awakening when you felt a pair of hands on your waist, but not the ones you were semi-familiar with. 

you turned around with a gasp, shock evident on your face as you tried to piece together whoever this man was. blond hair, blue eyes… definitely not steve though. you knew steve well and had seen him often. 

you pulled your earbuds from your ears in attempt to better understand what was going on. his hands were still gripping your sides, but you couldn’t necessarily escape his touch. you were backed against the sink. even if you could fight him, you’d likely lose to his strong grip. 

“is the meeting-is it over already?” your voice was so much more cowardly than you’d ever expected yourself to be. 

“no, no,” he shook his head. “just a little break, some of the guys were getting antsy.” you leaned back further, trying to create some semblance of space between you. “i figured i’d say a special thank you, on behalf of all of us guys in there.” he let one hand cup the side of your face and neck, his other hand trailing down from your waist, firmly grasping your ass with a sqeeze before you jumped at the invasion.

“i don’t-i’ve got it…”

“john,” he smiled grossly, as if he could convince you to go to bed with him.

“no need for a thanks,” you tried to remind him. “i did this for bucky. for my husband.” your eyebrows rose, trying to emphasize that his boss was also your husband. 

“i’m sure he won’t mind you getting a little bit of extra special attention, don’t you?”

then, a growling voice cut through the fear running through your veins. 

“i think he might mind.”

you turned to face bucky with wide eyes before facing john, wishing the tears welling in your eyes would just go away. 

his hands slowly retracted, stepping back with a chuckle.

“sorry, sir,” he smiled before turning to face your husband. “she was just telling me how she wanted some extra attention, weren’t you, toots?” he tilted his head expectantly.

your mouth opened, nothing leaving in spite of your brain screaming at you. what would bucky do? would he take his side? would he believe you? would he hurt you? 

you’ve embarrassed him now… humiliated him in his own home. surely he’ll take action against you for this. 

your mind replayed stories your old friends had told you about him. how he would lash out at men that betrayed him. how he never took shit from anyone who showed him any disrespect. how he was the kind of man to shoot first and ask quesitons later.

and now, in a way, you’ve both betrayed and disrespected him. or at least, that’s what he’ll think. 

you didn’t even realize tears were flowing down your face until your sobs were interrupted. 

“enough!” you finally looked at bucky before his eyes softened for a second before walking closer to you. “go to the room.” he ordered sternly. 

“but the dish-”

“i’ll take care of it,” he interrupted gravely, “go. to. the. room.” 

“yes, sir,” you nodded and swiftly left the room entirely, collapsing against the door once you had shut it, sobs wracking your body. you held your knees against your chest before trying to regulate your breathing.

he won’t hurt you.

he has to protect his image.

you’ve embarrassed him.

you’re his wife.

you’re his business deal.

you’ve humiliated him.

he’ll hurt you.

you didn’t know how long it had been since the incident. 

your sobs had subsided. you had, at some point, moved to your bed. you were still rocking your body back and forth, trying to self sooth. 

and then there was a knock at the door. 

your body instinctively jumped at the sudden noise, although it wasn’t harsh in any manner, at least not one that you were expecting. 

he twisted the knob, slowly opening the door with slow movements. 

“i-i’m so sorry,” you began apologizing as soon as he stepped through the threshold into your room. “i swear-i swear i didn’t tell him that. i didn’t even realize he was there, i promise. i wouldn’t lie to you. i’m so sorry, i’m so sorry. please believe me.” your body was still rocking and you didn’t even notice he was as close to you as he was until you saw his hand moving by your head.

automatically, you assumed the absolute worst, your head ducking into your body like a fucking turtle, the meekest squeal leaving your lips mixed with a sob. your arms went over your head protectively, as if a bomb were about to go off.

“sweetheart,” his voice sounded so broken, so torn, so unexpectedly soft. 

you finally looked at him for the first time since he came in your room. his flesh hand was holding his metal one as if it were something that could kill. in ways, it was. 

“you-there’s no need to…” after looking at him for a second longer, you noticed that his eyes had tears that almost mirrored your own. “i would never, ever lay a hand on you. i’m so sorry for scaring you. i can’t…” he sighed. “i can’t believe i made you believe i’d ever hurt you.”

“i’m sorry,” you pleaded with him once again. 

“you have nothing to apologize for,” he hesitated to reach for your hands before settling on simply grabbing a spare pillow. “i came up here to apologize. for my tone earlier… i know john. he never knows his boundaries. i should’ve… you never should’ve been put in that situation. that’s my fault. that’s on me. and i will spend the rest of forever to make it up to you.” 

“you don’t have to-”

“no, my love,” he shook his head. “can i-can i hold your hands? please?” you, without hesitation, grabbed his hands yourself. “i need to make it up to you. you’re mine. you’re my wife. it’s my job to protect you, to keep you safe. and to have someone ruin that? to touch what’s mine in my own home? i’m so sorry.” he brought your hands to his lips, pressing at least ten kisses to each hand. he was so gentle and careful it was a good thing you knew better than to think it actually meant anything.

you were surprised, to say the least, at how tender he was being with you. 

how could you have ever thought he would hurt you? that he would raise his hand and swing? that he would cause you harm? he was here declaring that he would make up this incident for the rest of eternity when it wasn’t even his doing… 

“will you stay with me tonight?” his eyes lit up at the request.

“are you sure you want that?” he became a touch more reserved. “i don’t know if it’s a good idea since you were worried i would…” his voice trailed off.

“i’m sure,” you nodded before scooting over in the bed. 

sure, your marriage was arranged and didn’t stem from true love. you may not have talked outside of when absolutely necessary. you might have even been terrified of him at one point. 

but now, the thought of forever with bucky barnes didn’t seem half bad. 

[ithebookhoarder]

Hi! I’m not sure if you’re still taking requests for criminal minds but if you are could you do the BAU react to their so being a paramedic/firefighter? :))

If you decide to write this thank you in advance

(BAU Headcanons) If their S.O. was a paramedic/firefighter 🚨

A/N: You're very welcome! Here you are my angel. I'm always taking requests but I can't promise how long I'll take to reply and finish them 😅 Hope this is worth the wait. Also - major shout out to any first responders out there. You are literal superheroes! 💕

Warnings: Mentions of injuries, mentions of mental health, alcohol references, sexual references, references to death. (Let me know if I missed any)

Aaron Hotchner

Aaron would be honestly so in awe of you and what you do for a living. He’d also appreciate having a partner who understands what it’s like to have a job with unpredictable hours, such high stakes, and requires risking yourself to save people. 

As such, he would know how important it is to prioritise time together for the two of you. It’s why he is so active with forming a family calendar as he knows that, if it isn’t written in ink, you may never find an opportunity to do something. 

He is all about creating concrete plans for you both, so you have something to look forward to and actually have a chance of being able to arrange it, even if it’s months in advance. It doesn’t matter if it’s Jack’s soccer game, going for a jog in the park together, or a week-long vacation. 

However, he’s learned to be far more flexible if plans don’t work out the way you’d hoped. He’s had virtual Thanksgivings with you over the phone, a boxing-day Christmas, and even turned running errands on a day off into a date-day. 

We know Aaron would honestly hate knowing how much danger you’re in sometimes at work but he also knows he has no leg to stand on given his job and what he does every day. So, you both agree to let the other one know at least once a day that you’re ok, even if only by text. 

You’d have to agree to a ‘no work at home’ policy for you both to even stand a chance of relaxing at home and focusing on Jack (who thinks he has the coolest parents ever! Like, two superheroes for parents? He’s the luckiest kid in the world). 

Aaron would be such a proud partner too, even if he doesn’t always say it out loud. He shows it in his face every time he and Jack come to visit you at work, or when he displays a picture of you receiving an award on his desk for everyone to see. 

He even helps Jack when he asks to go as you for Halloween one year - the sight of which made you cry so hard you couldn’t even speak for a good hour after. Instead, you snap a picture and carry it with you everywhere when you leave the house, and even stick a copy in your locker. 

He’d have notifications set too, tracking incidents in your area so he knows when you may be working or out on a job. He’s also not above pulling the ‘FBI’ card if he even hears of someone making your life hard at work. 

He’d also be the biggest hypocrite, always worried you’re not getting enough sleep or eating enough, despite him running on no sleep and three expressos. 

He’d also be the first to rip into you if he found out you’d taken some unnecessary risk whilst out on a call. 

“I have enough worrying about my own idiots over here without worrying about you doing something stupid too. Please, you need to be more careful, ok? I can’t and won’t lose you. Not like that.”

David Rossi 

Rossi has lost many people over the years so he would definitely be terrified of losing you, and getting hurt. However, he knows what it’s like to have a passion for helping people and he’d never stop you from doing what you love and making a difference.

Besides with his crazy schedule he doesn’t mind having a partner who is mostly out working, or also operates on a crazy schedule. It’s almost complimentary, and allows you both not to miss each other too badly when you’re busy. 

Rossi strikes me as a supportive partner in his own ways. For instance, he would make massive donations to fundraisers for your department and for causes supported by your work. He wouldn’t even tell you most of the time, leaving you to work out where the mystery million dollars came from overnight after you just so happened to mention it to him over dinner. 

Speaking of dinner, he’d be keen to invite your colleagues over to his place for social functions, offering to hosts BBQs and family dinners. He’d also invite his BAU family too, knowing how nice it is for your worlds to mix and for people to relax amongst people who get what it’s like to deal with difficult issues. 

He also makes homemade dinners at least once a week, cooking enough so that you both have leftovers to take to work for the next few days. 

He’s also keen to share any recipes he can with you, so you know how to make them when you’re on shift for hours on end. 

“Just because you’re busy saving lives doesn’t mean someone shouldn’t take care of you too!”

This man would also make sure to call you whenever he gets a chance, especially if he is away on a case. He likes hearing your voice and makes sure to ask all about your day so far, knowing its good for both of you to touch base. 

Derek Morgan

This man would be the biggest supporter and cheerleader. Like, you know your pictures are all over his desk and he’s always bragging about how you saved someone’s life whenever he gets a chance. 

“Oh yeah, that’s my baby. They’re a literal superhero. They’re badass.”

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t worry about you when you’re away working or if he sees some major incident on the news. He’ll be refreshing his phone over and over until he sees a text from you telling him you’re ok. 

You know he will also be begging Penelope to see what she can find out too, through any means necessary (Hotch doesn’t exactly have to know about it…)

You bet your ass that if he does hear you’re hurt or if something is wrong then he will be bolting his way down to the ER or wherever you are the minute he is able to. Penelope would likely be one step ahead of him if he was unable to be there right away taking care of you until he can.

Morgan is such a good care giver too. He knows how hard it is to take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself so is King of supporting healthy habits. I’m talking meal plans so you eat right, proper sleeping habits when you can make them work, and getting out of your apartment on your days off.

He’s all for vegging on the sofa sometimes but he’s keen to support you where he can and remind you there’s a world outside of work and your home. 

He would be the kind of partner who would suggest doing things together as a couple, whether it’s a daily jog in the park or even training for some kind of race. This gives the two of you a shared goal and also shared time together - including in the shower once you get home. 

“What? It’s twice as fast this way and costs half the water bill, sweetheart.”

Also, you know this man gives the world’s best massages and he would be only too willing to give you one when you get home. He’d even try and wait up for you if he could, although you’ve come home more than once to find him passed out on the sofa. 

Emily Prentiss

With her track record of trusting and being betrayed by people I think Emily would be extremely anxious about having a first responder for a partner, even if she would also be totally amazed by you and thinks you’re so badass. 

Like, you can’t tell me she wouldn’t be beaming ear to ear if you ever came to visit the BAU. She would be showing you off to everyone and anyone, giving them all a face to put to the name she’s been talking about for weeks. 

“Babe, you’re amazing. You’re literally saving lives every day. All I did yesterday was fill out a stack of paperwork as big as my arm.” (She ignores the disapproving look Hotch shoots her for that comment…)

It’s just that she’s scared about losing you and it would take you both a while to work out how to make your relationship work and communicate effectively with one another about your fears. I mean, it’s not like you aren’t as equally worried about her but it takes a while for you both to accept that it’s a part of your relationship and that neither of you are willing to give your jobs or each other up. 

When she’s away on a case, or if you’re working overnight, then she won’t be able to sleep unless she sees she has a text from you telling her you’re ok and still in one piece. Of course, she prefers to be able to call if she can but knows it isn’t always possible for both of you if you’re in the middle of a shift. 

She’s a safe space so wouldn’t take it personally when you get home and have fatigue, adrenaline dumps, or just lack any potential excitement or energy for plans you made in advance. 

She’ll meet you where you are, whether it’s cancelling plans and staying in, or going out anyway because you need a distraction. As long as she’s with you then she’s happy and it isn’t like she doesn’t do the same thing after a really bad case. 

Also, we know that you’re the only one she trusts to look after Sergio when she isn’t there, knowing you will be better having someone to cuddle, feed, and look after when you’re not on shift. You become Penelope’s version of Sergio too, as Emily instructs their tech analyst to keep an eye on you both when she can’t. 

She’d be keen to spoil you from time to time and indulges on takeout, trips to the movies, and wants to take you to as many amazing places on holiday as she possibly can. She knows it’s good to travel and to have a complete break from your daily routine. Plus, she knows so many people and so many languages that you’re spoilt on choices of where to stay next. 

JJ

I honestly feel like JJ would struggle having a first responder for a partner. She’d be such a Momma Bear that its both wonderful and intimidating.  Like, we know she and Will worked it out eventually with him being a cop, but the fear of losing you would be a big issue for the two of you for a while. As would be navigating how you both deal with the other’s feelings after a bad day on the job. It takes some trial and error before you get into the swing of things. 

For example, she would give the best pep talks and would also know just what to say after a bad day. 

“You did everything you could, sweetheart. I am so proud of you and you saved so many lives today. You may not have been able to save that one, but they knew you tried. They knew you were there and that you cared. That’s all we can ask for in the end. You are amazing and I’ve got you.” 

When you’re both home together, or if you’ve told her you’re having a rough shift, then bath times are a must. She normally has one run, with candles lit, by the time you get in the door. She is also keen to crack open a bottle of wine, or whatever you drink you want, to help you both relax as you lie together in the warm, soapy water and just forget everything for a little while. 

She’d also insist on you both leaving voice messages for the other when you were away, so you could wish the other a ‘goodnight’. It’s comforting to her but she also likes being able to share them with Henry too. 

Speaking of phones, this ex-media liaison would have so many alerts set up and contacts to call if she even suspects you may be out on a major incident. It’s honestly kind of mind-blowing how quickly she managed to get on the phone with your superior, after hearing you could be out on a job that had gone awry. She was in a different state at the time but wouldn’t hang up until they told her what had happened, where you were, and if you were alright. 

She’s also keen to support you in a practical sense, so offers to do loads of laundry for you between shifts and also cleans the house as a way of making sure you have a nice home to come back to. You’d be sure to return the favour when you could, but she likes doing it and being able to show her appreciation for you in such a basic but important way.

JJ would be way more relaxed leaving Henry with you if she’s away, knowing your training makes you like the best possible babysitter ever. 

That, and you cannot tell me that Henry would not worship the ground you walk on. After finding out what you do for work, that little angel would make siren noises whenever you’re in the car together - something you’re keen to encourage as “everyone knows the best part of the job is turning the siren on, JJ. Duh.”

Luke Alvez

Luke would be so proud and so scared for you sometimes, being a first responder. 

Luke would understand that you both have super stressful jobs so is keen to suggest a ’leave work at the door’ policy unless one of you really wants to share. He knows sometimes all he wants to do after a challenging case is walk in the door and face-plant on the sofa and he’d be a hypocrite if he didn’t let you do the same… that doesn’t mean he won’t reach over and gently pull of your boots for you, and leave a glass of something on the coffee table for when you feel like it.  

He is also a firm believer that Roxie cures everything, so would be only too happy to leave her with you when he’s out of town, so you can have all the cuddles and playtime you want. 

He also walks her by your work if he gets time so you can come out and sneak a cuddle if you’re not too busy or on a job. Roxie is now your work’s unofficial therapy dog and she loves her role - and the added attention very much. (And you best know she has her own little version of your uniform too).

I feel like he’s the kind of guy who would wake up with you if you have an early start, even if he doesn’t, just so he can cook breakfast and make you coffee in your favourite to-go mug. 

“You deserve to start your day in the right way, so go and enjoy your shower, baby, and it’ll be ready for you when you come out.”

He’d also leave you stupid little love notes in your bag too, knowing they make you smile when you find them later on. You also like to keep them and stick them in your locker for luck, and normally have one tucked in your pocket too. 

He’d also recommend different kinds of music for you to listen to on shift, making you playlists you can share and add to when you’re not together. It’s got so bad your co-workers refuse to let you have the aux when you’re driving around anymore as your choices are so varied they get whiplash. 

Luke also loves getting involved wherever he can, whether it’s donating time to help organise a fundraiser, bringing pizza by work, or going with you as a date to any formal events you’re invited to. He scrubs up niceeee and he loves seeing you all dressed up formal too. 

Penelope Garcia 

Penelope would worship the ground you walk on and frets about you like she frets about all her BAU babies when they’re out on a case - but WORSE.

So she does what she does best and compensates with love and kindness. She takes care of the people she loves and you would know that better than anyone. This queen would totally make you care packages and would make sure you had them delivered when you’re on shift. 

“You spend all your time taking care of other people, my real life knight in shining armour. The least I can do is make sure you have some fluffy socks, face masks, and other basic pamper essentials to take care of yourself! Oh, and don’t forget the protein shake I made for you! And stay hydrated! And be safe!”

She’d make sure to send gifts for your co-workers too. It’s why she’s the favourite spouse of all your colleagues and she’s greeted like the queen she is whenever she visits. 

Her cookies have earned her the unofficial title of ‘Star Baker’ and you best know there have been physical fights over them whenever you’ve left them in the crew mess. In fact, your boss has had to give you all warnings about it as a result, calling ‘dibs’ on them if you couldn’t all be trusted to share. 

She would also give you one of her many mascots for the dashboard of your rig, knowing that the little bobblehead or whatever will remind you of her when you’re out on a call. 

Speaking of calls, you know she is tuned in to all scanners / messaging systems so knows exactly where you are at all times, but especially if there is a call out. You best believe she is making sure you’re ok and has her eyes and ears open if you need help of any kind or back-up. 

As a result, you know she has been scolded more than once by Hotch and by the local authorities for interfering and hijacking calls when she thinks you’re being ignored or need assistance. 

Penelope would also be the first person to encourage you to attend some kind of support group, or seek out some kind of therapy, to help deal with all the stressful and traumatic things you deal with on a day to day basis. She would be only too happy to help you find one and would drive you there and back when she’s able. She’d even come along if you wanted her to. 

Dr Spencer Reid

Spencer would be an incredibly proud partner and you know it. He would show his support in various different ways and would absolutely take any and all opportunities to remind people he’s dating a superhero (especially Morgan). He doesn’t understand why someone as amazing as you would choose to date someone like him. 

He would like giving you book recommendations so you always have something to read on shift. He’d give you his copies to borrow, so you can enjoy his pencil notes in the margins when he’s not with you. 

Not only that, but he’d also be happy to take recommendations from you too - no matter how different they may be from his usual reading material. That way you can both compare notes when you both get home and leave work behind for a moment.  

Also, you know Spence would be a fountain of knowledge about your job and has probably read up on anything he didn’t already know about your field. There isn’t a piece of jargon or code that he doesn’t know and he loves trying to use it when talking to your colleagues when he visits sometimes. It earns him their respect, which you know he would be nervous about, as your co-workers are like your second family. He’s that way with the BAU and he wants to impress the people who mean the most to you. 

His thirst for knowledge means he is always willing to let you practise different exercises on him and is keen to learn whatever you’re willing to tell him (something that has come in handy on many of his own cases). 

In return, he would like sharing whatever statistics he has memorised about the work you do. It’s also why he is so concerned about you, knowing how much your role takes out of you. His job is tiring and traumatic enough, but he is at least part of a big team and works only one case at a time. 

“I’m just saying sweetheart, it’s estimated that 30% of first responders develop behavioral health conditions including, but not limited to, depression and PTSD, as compared with 20% in the general population. If you ever want to talk to me or someone else, like a professional, then you know that’s ok.”

As much as he isn’t an overly affectionate person, I feel like he’d be the kind of person to buy you both those bracelets that you can tap and it sends a pulse to the other, letting them know you thought about them. It’s like a virtual tap on the shoulder just to let you both know they’ve got you and love you. 

He’d also drive the doctors insane if you ever got hurt on the job, yelling at them to double check their diagnosis if he even thinks you’re not getting the best treatment and care possible. 

He’d also insist on taking care of you during your recovery, not trusting anyone else to do it right - and he also has Dr Who primed for your entertainment. What could be better than that?

Masterlist

[runaarinn]

✦ 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥

› 𝐛𝐨𝐤𝐮𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

› 𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲: contains mentions of cheating, but not explicit. reader is also implied to have depression, and anxiety but is not extremely explicit. || 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭 · 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭/𝐧𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 · 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐩

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: you told him from the beginning how hard it would be to love someone like you — and he promised he could handle it. but promises don’t mean anything when someone’s already halfway out the door.

𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫: this one is a bit of an old one, and I’ve had it sitting in my drafts for a while. but I thought why not post it? it is a bit unedited, so please excuse any mistakes. I hope you guys enjoy<3.

𝒮— itting down at the barstool of the island in the shared apartment of bokuto and a young woman, sat a very stressed woman. of course becoming a pro-athlete meant a lot of changes.

it meant a lot more eyes and attention on Bokuto as well as yourself. it isn’t like bokuto didn’t mind the extra attention, however you did.

being his partner of many years, you two had your ups and downs. but never something as drastic as this.

in your second year of high school, you had let bokuto know in advance what he’d be dealing with if he decides he really wanted to be in a relationship with you. the moodiness, the days where you suddenly went off and ghosted everyone — your heavily introverted personality compared to his extroverted one. he was sure that he’s be able to handle it. he was sure.

when people looked at you and bokuto as a couple, it was like staring at the 𝙨𝙪𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣. his bubbly and shining personality being the ray of light in your gloomy and introverted ones. or even 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙨𝙠𝙮. once more him being the beaming light in your dark sky.

many people say opposites attract, and you wanted to believe that. and for some time you did, up until early adolescence.

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

𝒯— hings mostly started changing once you started to find yourself growing more and more tired as days passed by. nothing seem to excite you as much as they used to, you were beginning to grow exhausted and bored from many of your old hobbies. and some days you couldn’t help but ghost your friends and family.

you knew it was bad, and you knew that they were worried, but you couldn’t help it.

bokuto noticed as well, and he attempted to help, but you brushed him off. sure this has happened plenty of times and he usually dealt with it well — but something was different this time. he seemed tired. upset? fed-up perhaps?

you weren’t sure, but something was different.

soon after, arguments between the two of you became more and more consistent, at times they got to the point where you could no longer sleep in the same bed. some nights bokuto sleeps on the couch, other times he may go to atsumu or hinata’s house for the night.

some of the fights became verbally violent, but thankfully they never rose physically. you both have said words that you were sure you didn’t mean, but some nights his words still echo through your mind and you were sure it was the same for him.

you were sure, but you thought wrong.

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

𝒴— ou were interrupted out of your thoughts when you heard the door open. standing up quickly and grabbing your phone quickly, you headed toward the door where you saw bokuto with his suitcase and duffel bags in hand. he’s just returned from a game that was in god knows where.

❝ hi baby, i’m back. ❞ bokuto said with a smile barely visible on his lips. when he saw you weren’t replying, a frown crept onto his lips as he began to remove his shoes and step into the apartment. ❝ baby, whats wrong? I’ve been gone for almost a month and you’ve got nothing to say?❞

tears were beginning to pool around your eyes but you took a deep breath. you didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but you also weren’t stupid. without saying a word, you unlocked your phone and opened up a tabloid that was posted a little less than a few weeks ago.

❝ what is this Koutarou? ❞ you asked straight forward and straight to the point.

❝𝐌𝐒𝐁𝐘 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐊𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔 𝐁𝐎𝐊𝐔𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐃?! ❞

his face dropped when he saw the headline, and if it were possible it dropped lower when he saw the photo as you scrolled down.

❝ do you have anything. anything at all to say kotarou? ❞

❝ tabloids are just tabloids. it’s there job to stir up drama.❞ was all he said as he began scuffling towards the kitchen.

❝ what do you mean their job to stir up drama? there’s literally a fucking picture right there—❞ but he cut you off absurdly by putting a hand up.

❝ Y/N, I just got home. we can deal with this tomorrow, in the morning after sleeping.❞ bokuto groaned out. as he took off his sweatshirt you took notice off some of the bruises on his back. those certainly weren’t bruises from volleyball.

you gave him a disgusted look and tears threaten to fall as your suspicions were true. your head was flooding with questions.

how long? how long has he been cheating? why? was it because i was to distant? was it because i wasn’t able to talk to him as much? was it because of me?

turning to look at bokuto, you shook your head. ❝ 𝙗𝙤𝙠𝙪𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚. ❞

his ears perked up as you have used his last name instead of first, hell even a nickname. he narrowed his eyes at you, and gave you a disgusted face in return. ❝ if that’s what you really want, Y/N, go for it. i’m done.❞

tears pooled in your eyes and this time, you allowed them to fall. ❝ why bokuto?! why? why did you cheat? all you had to do was come talk to me. ❞

bokuto stayed silent as he proceeded into the bedroom with his luggage behind him. you could feel the anger coursing through your veins as you followed behind him and grabbed his hand. ❝ bokuto just tell me why you fucking did it! our relationship has been broken and fading for a while now — i won’t be mad. i just want the truth.❞

❝ you want the truth y/n? fine here it is.❞ bokuto growled out as he ran a hand through his hair irritatedly. ❝ 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙮/𝙣. 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙗𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣. all those things i thought i loved about you was a lie — in reality i find them quite fucking irritating. you can go days of ghosting me. your family and friends appear — and all of a sudden you act like everything is okay? do you think that’s okay? i’m fucking tired of it. do you know what they say about me in tabloids sometimes because you’re so fucking antisocial? they think i’m making up my “girlfriend” or that i’m going mad. this little thing i had with Aiko was only so the tabloids could stop talking shit, but things happened. ❞ bokuto said. at the end of the speech, there was not a single ounce of remorse no regret in his eyes. in fact it looked like a large weight was let off his shoulders. ❝ 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙞𝙛 𝙬𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡. 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚.. ❞

at this point, tears were streaming down your face. you were degraded, humiliated, and lied to. you couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. ❝ I guess what they said in high school was a lie. opposites don’t attract, in fact they draw away from each other. ❞ you refused go argue with him. you weren’t going to beg him to stay. in fact this would be the best for the both of you. quickly heading to the closet door you grabbed a bag and began stuffing your necessities you’d need for the night in it.

❝ i’ll send for the rest of my stuff throughout the week.❞ you said through your tears as you heard shuffling towards the door.

❝ just like that? do you have nothing to say to me? ❞

❝ 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐤𝐮𝐭𝐨. 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭. 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫. ❞ you said as you wiped the tears from your eyes with the sleeve of the sweater you were wearing. you took one last look at him accepting that this would be the last time you’d see him face to face like this.

you couldn’t help but gently placing your bag on the floor and letting out a soft sniffle before looking back at him. ❝ 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲. ❞

all those years of memories, laughter. sadness. the fun times and sad times. are going down the drain simply due to the lack of communication. ❝ i told you in advance what it would be like dating me, and you said you’d be able to handle it.❞ covering your mouth with your hand you let out a low chuckle. ❝ 𝐠𝐨𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡��𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡, 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮. ❞

© all pastries (aka content) belong to runaarinn — do not repost, steal, or scrape without permission.

[rashomonss]

your Learning to Adapt hc was amazing, i loved it sm!!!

that being said, i need a dateables ver., i crave the sweet succulent angst (ㅅ´ ˘ `)♡

a/n: ahh thank you! I’m so glad you and so many others liked it omg!! I got a bunch of comments and asks for a pt 2, so due to popular demand here is a dateables + luke version of learning to adapt! hope you enjoy!

warnings: there will be some small spoilers concerning seasons 3 and 4 of the og! obey me, it’s nothing major though

readjusting | learning to adapt pt 1.

it’s not the same without you

Diavolo is left with remnants of you all around him. All the belongings you left at the Demon Lord's castle remain in the same spots they were placed in by you. None of them are touched, he can’t bring himself to.

A part of him feels as if he failed you somehow, he's supposed to be the demon prince yet he couldn’t even protect the person he cherished the most.

Whenever he eats dinner it always happens to be a human world dish. One of your favorites, for some odd reason he hasn’t wanted much Devildom food since you’ve left.

Diavolo goes through many stages of grief during this time.

At first he drowns himself in his responsibilities, so much so Barbatos questions if he is receiving enough rest.

However once you get him into bed he can never seem to get out, instead he stares at the pillow case next to him and sighs. Only a few months ago you were laying there next to him smiling as you both talked late into the night about anything and everything.

He loved talking to you. If anything he misses your voice the most. That reassuring voice always seemed to brighten his day as well as others around him. That lovely voice that would put him to sleep at night when he claimed to have trouble sleeping.

If Diavolo was honest he’d give anything to hear you call his name once again.

Barbatos finds himself lonely for one of the first times in his existence.

More often than not he’s gotten used to you being alongside him as he cooks or cleans around the castle. With that in mind he’ll turn over his shoulder to ask you something but then realize you're not there. Often times when this happens he’ll make a face then silently continue cleaning.

The numerous little D’s around the castle tend to worry for him because he’s always on edge lately. Especially after a certain trip to the market he made alone.

It was a morning like any other and Barbatos set off for one of his favorite outdoor markets. Diavolo requested a human realm dish and this place was the perfect place for acquiring human realm food.

You often went with him, explaining your favorite foods and what not to him when you got the chance. He loved leaning more about you at any given chance, especially if you were alone with him.

As he stepped into the market and gathered a few goods here and there he began to pay the shop owner and then man made a remark of him missing his other half. Barbatos knew that he was referring to you and with that he payed the shop owner quickly and then left.

Ever since then he’s stopping visiting that stall.

If he’s being honest he’s not fond of making your favorite dishes for Diavolo while you’re not here. However he’ll never mention that to anyone.

Simeon wishes to be an angel again, this was the first and only time he wished that.

If he was then…maybe he could possibly aid with your safe return. That’s what he tells himself anyway. Simeon can’t help but blame himself for whatever reason for your disappearance.

While you're gone he takes this time to comfort Luke as well as the brothers. If he’s able to keep a level head then it should make others less anxious.

He also takes up cleaning most of Purgatory Hall as well as the House of Lamentation when the brothers lock themselves away for certain periods of time.

Simeon tries his hardest to remain calm and distract himself with other hobbies he likes; however each little thing he does reminds him of you.

When he picks up a pen he thinks of how you adored his work, praised it even, as you laid on his bed while he told you numerous different story plots and tales he had for upcoming chapters. When he passes a store and sees only his reflection a pang is felt in his chest. Just a few months ago both of you shared a smiling reflection in a store window as you walked hand in hand with him.

He doesn't know how much more of this he can take, but he’ll never let anyone know that.

Luke bakes himself into exhaustion. Oftentimes he bakes recipes the two of you would make when you spent the night at Purgatory Hall. Recently however, Simeon has had to stop him because the countertops are overflowing with sweets as Luke puts a new cake into the oven.

Luke likes to carry out activities you both would do together, such as watching the same shows you liked to watch with him, or visiting the same places you would take him too when you weren’t with the brothers.

Luke misses you so much but he knows you're okay, Simeon told him so. Still that doesn’t calm his emotions any less. Because of this Luke continues to pray for your safety and will bless your belongings.

This has caused some issues with the brothers because they become unable to touch that item for a while.

Just like the others he sometimes will visit your room and just sit silently in there wishing and praying for your safe return.

Bonus characters

Mephisto finds himself ignoring the desk you use while you spent time in the newspaper club room.

Sure all of your belongings are there and in the same place as well as all the pictures of the brothers and your other friends. Even him. But he doesn’t care.

It’s not as if he dusts off your desk at the end of every week and does weekly checks on your camera to make sure it’s up to date and still has all of the saved pictures you took.

It’s not as if he hasn’t downloaded a copy of the photos on your camera to is own personal laptop and scrolls through the ones you took of you and him when he feels lonely.

Of course he doesn’t miss the human who invaded his club room and made it lively like they do to every part of the school they reside in.

He doesn’t even realize that he gets the same drink every afternoon from the vending machine. It’s not as if you brought it to him every time you showed up. He just drinks it because it’s good.

And no he doesn’t glance at the door every hour or so hoping you’d barge in. Thats ludicrous. But currently its only a hope in his mind.

Thirteen sighs as she looks across the Devildom. Usually you both would be sharing this beautiful sight together, however she’s alone today. Like always.

She deems it fine. But maybe company would be nice, maybe. She’s grown found of your voice, your company, and even the atmosphere you bring to a conversation. She could sit and listen to you for hours.

She still wears the friendship bracelet you made her. It’s never been taken off once. And since she’s had a bit of spare time while you’ve been away she made you a few. Maybe some to even wear in your next life.

Since she can’t give it to you currently she put it around the base of your candle, that she watches daily; hourly even.

For her favorite human to disappear out of the blue like this made her very protective of your soul. At times she finds herself blabbing to your candle when she’s had an interesting day, or if she has a new trap idea.

To her it’s nice talking to the candle, but she really wishes to talk to the owner of it more.

At first Raphael didn’t feel completely lonely like the others. He had a decent relationship with you but it wasn’t nearly as close as Simeon’s or Luke’s for that matter.

However a part of him can’t help but try to comfort the beings around him during this time. He does truly care for the brothers so he does whatever he can to help them as well as Simeon.

At the end of the day he does find himself missing you. The conversations you would have with him were interesting and he loved the sparkle your eye would hold when he talked about his days in the celestial realm when the brothers were still angels.

He promised to take you to the celestial realm a while ago and show off in depth how beautiful it was. You smiled at his promise and he always remember that.

Sighing to himself, he currently wished to walk with you through a celestial realm garden to ease his mind.

[maomaop]

Purple hyacinth

Jinshi x Maomao angst fic / contains light novel and wn spoilers. This is my first fic, so it's far from being perfect but I hope you enjoy! lmk if you want a part 2

Jinshi was preparing to leave for war; he didn’t know if he would return, if he would ever see her again, and that's why he couldn’t sleep a wink that night. Thoughts filled only with her, he decided to write. Write in an attempt to express through his words the thousands of emotions he was feeling. Why a letter? Because in these last months, they had the unfortunate circumstance to communicate solely through letters. It was their only means to stay in touch.

Jinshi’s duties had been nothing short of overwhelming and tiresome as of late, which had resulted in fewer visits. It has been three months since they last faced each other, held each other, and shared a moment together. Love came with sacrifices, and theirs was particularly harsh. However it is no surprise to them as they were both ready to endure such hardships if it meant securing a future together. 

Jinshi’s eyes welled with tears as he wrote. First one droplet, then a second, and a third. He remembered the day he promised to make her his wife, and this goal was what motivated him to work tirelessly. This is all he ever wanted; in fact, this is what they both desired. She was not a woman of many words, but she never failed to communicate her affection to him. He remembered how every time they met, she would cup his face and look at him with a worried expression, asking how much sleep he had gotten lately. The way she warmed his whole body with just her touch and took care of him with so much love. All of her actions spoke louder than any of her words.

The chances of seeing her again were too slim; he didn’t want to have any regrets. He didn’t want to leave her without words; that would be most cruel of him. And God knows if there’s anything he cares about in his doomed life, it's her. He has eyes only for her. Nothing else matters as much to him as she does.

His royal status kept him trapped, preventing him from having the freedom to fully love her as he so desires. However, nothing could ever make this love disappear, no matter the circumstances; nothing could negate these strong feelings. Not when her existence is synonymous with light. Not when the thought of seeing her fills him with a joy he has never felt before her. She was everything. He had never asked for anything in life, yet he wanted one thing: her.

No other woman could ever compare, not even the flowers that high-ranked nobles introduced to him in hopes of marriage. He smiled at them when he didn’t want to, and had to reject them after showing no interest. The thought of being destined with another woman made him sick. His desire was only for her. Yet, he could not have her.

Condemned to his rank, which some people would think of as a blessing out of pure ignorance, he on the other hand, only thought of it as a curse. Love becomes a luxury the higher your rank goes. The general public believes that people standing at the top of society should be able to have everything they desire, but they don’t. They can’t because of other pointless matters, or so he thought. They can't obtain the most important thing they desire in life—they can't be with the person they cherish the most, they can't have the freedom of loving and being loved by someone.

Jinshi was very much aware of that; yet the moment he saw her, he felt as though his entire world had been turned upside down, as if something had shifted right then and there. Whether for better or worse, he approached her, and later he realized he couldn’t detach himself from her—not in this lifetime, nor in any other. He craved only her touch, longed to see only her, desired to hear only her voice, and wished to gaze upon only her face for eternity. Their hearts, their souls, are bound by a red string, and not even death could ever change that.

Their coming together and growing close was destined, just as their separation was.

So Jinshi tirelessly wrote. He wrote until his hands began shaking. Yet when he finished the scroll, he cursed and complained that it wasn't enough. He felt like those words were not strong enough to describe what he felt. He thought that a mere letter wouldn't suffice. He had to do more, but at that moment, his body succumbed to exhaustion, unable to bear the weight of his heavy heart any longer. 

That night he dreamt of her, of course he did. He dreamt of them living together, leading a peaceful life in a small house far away from the society he loathed so much, where he had everything he ever needed. 

A love so profound, a love so strong, but a love doomed to such an unfair fate that even the skies shed tears as he did in his sleep.

It was time for him to depart, it was time to leave her. He didn’t want to, but he had to because his life was never about what he wanted, but always about what he had to do. He gathered the scroll of paper and made sure to ask Gaoshun to deliver it to her, along with a red camellia he had picked himself the night before. He couldn’t bring himself to do it, not when his body, heart, and soul were yearning for her with every passing second. He feared that if he saw her again, even for a second, he would never be able to leave her. Yes… He wouldn’t be able to do it at all.

Suiren began to prepare him, but he wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings; his thoughts were consumed by memories of her. She looked at him through the mirror while she styled his hair, silently observing. It wasn’t the time for conversation; she understood the situation well. Suiren understood why he hadn’t uttered a word since she entered the room.

She knew what her grandson was currently experiencing, and she found it rather unfair. However, she wouldn’t dare to speak those words aloud. Instead, she closed her eyes while continuing to tend to his hair, silently praying that he would return home safe and sound. Yes, that was all she desired—for them to be together.

Time passed, and Gaoshun returned to report the successful delivery of the letter. They had to depart immediately; a long journey lay ahead of them. Jinshi walked with a stern face, trying to convince himself that he had cried enough, that he couldn’t cry anymore now. It was too late. He didn’t want to think about her, he didn’t want to look sad when he should look proud; but trying to forget someone only led to endless thoughts of them. So he walked with Gaoshun by his side, not as Jinshi but as the Moon Prince. Taking a deep breath, he made his way to the carriage in silence.

Gaoshun looked at him calmly, just like Suiren; he knew all too well how Jinshi was feeling at the moment. He vowed to protect Jinshi with his life in front of the emperor, but they both knew that danger couldn’t be avoided in times of war, not even for Ka Zuigestsu. The emperor had fallen sick, and so the responsibility to lead the country in battle fell on Jinshi. He had a duty, and they were all aware of it.

Jinshi looked at the garden full of medicinal plants she would probably love. He thought about giving them all to her—common herbs though they were, but she wasn’t one to refuse gifts. His heart beat fast at the thought of her. Everything he laid his eyes on reminded him of her. She was more than just a simple lover; she was his whole world.

As he left the palace, Jinshi was once again struck with an unbearable pain plaguing his heart. It was one that wasn’t curable, one that would leave scars for the rest of his life, and most importantly, one he couldn’t do anything about, no matter what. No doctor, no medicine would be able to ease his pain, only she would. Yes, only her… he smiled softly. 

Looking up at the sky from the carriage window, he thought that by now, she would be awake. Soon she would discover what his future held, no, their future. The one they had been yearning for had just disappeared as if it were nothing. He thought that maybe they shouldn't have held back so much… That they could’ve had so much more while they still could, but unfortunately, they didn’t. They had hope; it was a gamble. The worst-case scenario was him becoming emperor, and they both didn’t want that. Little did they know back then that a much worse fate awaited them…

He felt relieved that he could leave her with a letter, one he wished she would cherish her whole life, one that held so much love. He didn’t know how she would react to it; he hadn’t thought about that. He only desired to leave her with words that would convey the same weight as his feelings. That’s all he hoped for.

As they were leaving the capital, thousands of civilians flooded the streets, waving goodbyes to their loved ones. Women and children cried at the sudden departure of their fathers, brothers, and even their sons. Jinshi discreetly looked at the crowd behind the carriage’s curtains, glancing at the faces of all those women. Perhaps he was wishing for her presence to bless him. Maybe he hoped to wave goodbye to her, to hear her voice in the crowd screaming his name and yearning for his safe return. He found the courage to chuckle amidst all these melancholy feelings, considering this an almost impossible scenario, knowing she wasn’t fond of such displays.

His lone wish was to be freely loved by the one he held dear in his heart. He often found himself wondering, was this too much to ask for? When deep down, he knew it was a foolish wish for him to have. After all, he was the Moon Prince; his status alone could never allow him to have that, not in this lifetime. His fingers released the curtain, and he clenched his fists. Gaoshun stared at him, knowing she was the one person in the entire world who could make him lose his composure. He recalled the moments when she was kidnapped by the Shi clan, shared a dance with Rikuson, and nearly fell from a tower while trying to save Lady Lishu — the list seemed endless. Yes he knew, Jinshi was thinking of her.

The mournful voices began to dissipate as they neared departure from the capital. Jinshi reminisced about every moment he spent with her; his heart felt warm as memories flowed through his head. He searched his robe for a medicine she had made for him, a pill that promotes sleep and relaxation. He looked at the miniature glass bottle in his right hand and smiled. He opened it, and Gaoshun immediately handed him a bottle full of water. He took one pill, swallowed it, and then took a second. Just as he was about to take a third, Gaoshun stopped him with a panicked look on his face. Jinshi nodded and put the pill back in the bottle.

He brought the bottle close to his heart and lay down. Gaoshun didn’t say a word aside from “Do you need anything, Sir Jinshi?” 

Keeping his eyes closed he replied “No”. Gaoshun nodded and closed his eyes, lost in his own thoughts.

Jinshi had never been fond of medicine due to numerous bad experiences—enduring murder attempts through poison and countless days of forced rest. However, this was different; it was a gift, at least in his eyes. A special one he cherished wholeheartedly. It was the last one he received from her. Simple medicine though it was, but to him it meant much more than that.

After ten minutes, the medicine took effect. He still held the bottle firmly. A tear escaped from his eye as he mumbled in his sleep, “I miss you.”

His soul now wandered in his most precious dreams—a place where he found comfort in her presence next to him.

[tinycheesecakedetective]

Character Files #2: Ghost Spice Cookie

Welcome back! I know everyone has update fever(including me), but I'd like to give this guy his time to shine. Like the last character file, this post is meant to show an insight into Ghost Spice's past and personality. So, without further delay, let's get into it!

~~~~~

Personality & Early Life Much like his canon counterpart, Ghost Spice prefers taking action over reasoning with his opponents. He's quick to learn and adapt to his surroundings, but his bold and outspoken nature has gotten him into trouble in the past. His most defining trait, however, is his strength. Many of his fellow soldiers have noted the cookie's strong will and determination, when paired with his physical capabilities, make him a very formidable opponent and an invaluable ally.

Ghost Spice Cookie, then known as Royal Spice Cookie, was the adopted son of King Battenberg Cookie and Queen Treacle Cookie of Great Battenia. He was the sole heir to the kingdom and if things had gone as planned, the next king. But alas, they could have never predicted what came next. Unbeknownst to many of the denizens, Royal Spice had grown to despise his position in the kingdom. Despite being the prince, many of the royals hated his spicy heritage and often would mock him out of earshot. What's worse, the other spices had to deal with years and years of oppression, while he just got to sit in a palace all day, sitting idly by and looking pretty.

Something had to change.

The Seeds of Rebellion It began one fateful night. Royal Spice sat in his room, mulling over his lines for some meaningless speech he would have to make. His eyes drifted away from the page and gazed at the endless sky above. How nice it would be for him to just run away from it all... And then he starts to wonder. Why not just run away? He was strong enough, he could become a nomad and brave the wilderness! As he drifted off to sleep, his mind dreamed of what true freedom could be.

The idea began to take over Royal Spice's mind. Many days and nights blurred as he began to scheme his great escape. His fascination with rebellion surfaced with more innocent acts, like sneaking out of the palace at night. During his time away from home, he got to meet others like him. He learned of their struggles, their dreams. Surely he couldn't just abandon them too. In his spare time he would add more elaborate paths and routes, trying to cover any and all of his bases. The more he wrote, the more he realized that rescuing an entire population of cookies was a lot more complicated than just escaping on his own.

The Great Divide Days bled into weeks into months. With every new royal decree, more spices began to lose hope. The restrictions and laws began to pile higher and higher. What's worse, the king seemed to have brought someone new into the palace. Someone with very little regard for the lives of the common folk. If there was ever a time to get out, it was now. And Royal Spice knew this more than anyone.

That night, Spice gathered his things and snuck out of the castle one final time. With nothing but a cloak and a map, he ran to the slums of the kingdom, quickly gathering any spice willing and able. He knew from experience that most of the guard would be relocated to the palace for the rest of the night, and the only guards they'd have to worry about were the ones at the gate. Thus began a long and arduous journey.

The spices traveled with only a few lanterns and a map to guide them. No matter how much their feet ached, they all worked to keep silent as they passed checkpoint after checkpoint. Despite the large crowd, they had managed to get a few feet away from the kingdom's gates. That was, before a small yelp could be heard in the back. One of the stragglers seemed to have hit a rock, and had woken up one of the guards. One thing led to another, and soon the group began to run from the entire army. The spice cookies, no matter how fast they ran, couldn't outpace an army, and soon they surrounded them.

For Royal Spice Cookie, this seemed like the end. They would catch him and arrest him for treason. The spices, once they returned, would be watched with a diligent eye, and they would never escape the unjust rule of Great Battenia. It couldn't just end like this! No, he refused to let it end like this.

In his resolution, a voice bellowed out to him. It asked the young prince if he was willing to throw away everything he had, and unsurprisingly he scoffed, asking if this voice was an idiot. The voice, taken aback by the prince's brazenness, laughed before offering to lend him his power... in exchange for his title and his name. The young prince grinned before accepting. As the power began to surge within the ancient, he made a declaration to all present; That he rejected his title as the prince of Great Battenia, and the son of King Battenberg, and would no longer stand for the oppression of his fellow spices.

With a great yell, he stomped, causing a massive earthquake across the land, and separating himself and the other spices from the royal guard. A giant chasm opened, swallowing any soldier that dared approach him. Seeing as the ex-prince had the upper hand, the kingdom was forced to watch as Royal Spice Cookie and hundreds of spice cookies just... left.

A New Home

Days had passed since Royal Spice Cookie, now Ghost Spice Cookie, had made his escape. The spices had traveled miles and miles before stopping and resting in the valley of a nearby volcano. The soul jam of rebellion proved to be a great asset to the wandering travelers, as it had helped them provide food and create shelters for everyone. But no one expected to keep wandering for the rest of their lives, so they decided to turn their temporary stop into their new home.

Together, they managed to transform the area into a small community called Madras Gorge. Here, most of the spices could meet and discuss major events as well as trade and barter with others. Over time Madras Gorge would expand, splitting into several areas made by the different spices. Some would focus on worship and rituals, while others would work on maximizing trade, and others still would train to protect the gorge. These factions would split into tribes, and under the supervision of Ghost Spice, would hold meetings and discuss the future of the gorge.

As for Ghost Spice himself, for his efforts and contributions to the other spices, he would be known as "The Flame of Madras". Unbeknownst to him, Great Battenia had also created several names for the ancient; "The Wild Donkey", "The Phantom Prince", and most prominently, "The Great Divider." The crown had no intention of letting the one heir to the throne slip so easily, either. Day after day they sent soldiers to try and cross the chasm, to no avail. For as long as Ghost Spice remained, the chasm would forever remain uncross-able to any royals from his old kingdom.

Madras Gorge would continue to flourish, until an outsider from Wholegrainia arrived with a soul jam of his own...

[ataleofcrowns]

Bonus Lore: Crowns of Old, Part III

[ Part I | Part II ]

Back with another lore drop from the Patreon!! This time we'll be looking at the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Crowns ✨

The Eighth Crown: Bargiran of Great Mercy

When speaking of Crowns that are of more humble backgrounds, Crown Bargiran is the one that comes to mind first. Due to the plague that swept through Arsur during the reign of Crown Lor��can, Bargiran lost both her parents and was orphaned at a young age. Her older sister did her best to take care of them both, but she was only barely an adult herself, and they struggled greatly. Many nights were spent sleeping on the streets and begging for scraps of food.

It was Bargiran's great fortune that they were found, yet it was even greater fortune to Arsur. Bargiran had an uncanny talent in healing magic. Many of her days as an orphan was spent helping at a public health clinic in exchange for food, where she quickly discovered her talent for magic, and especially her talent for healing and alchemy.

Shortly after, Crown Lorîcan received her vision, which showed her Bargiran. At this point, Lorîcan had already imprisoned her previous Sorcerer months before. As the plague continued to sweep through the lands, unabated, she knew that she was running out of time to find her successor. There was a real risk that Bargiran could die before Lorîcan could find her, in which case there could be an unprecedented crisis in Arsur.

No one knew what would happen should the successor die before they could officially receive the Blessing of the spirits during their coronation. Some scholars worried that it would bring the line of Crowns to an end. As such, no resource was spared to find Bargiran. Thankfully, she was found before disaster could strike.

Unfortunately, Lorîcan's tutelage was extremely short-lived. Only weeks after finding her successor, she would show signs of being infected herself, and within days she passed away. Bargiran became the Crown at the young age of sixteen--the youngest a Crown has ever taken the throne--and made it her sole purpose to put an end to the plague. Either by finding a cure, or by curbing it as much as possible.

It was upon her coronation that she chose the name Bargiran for herself, meaning "one whose burden is heavy". She knew it would be an incredibly difficult task. It would take ten years before Bargiran, together with expert healers from all over Arsur and even beyond, would find a cure. The need for it became even more dire for Bargiran personally when her sister fell ill.

Bargiran worked herself to exhaustion, famously fainting during a court meeting and falling off the stairs of the throne room, nearly breaking her neck were it not for her Royal Protector. Eventually, her efforts bore fruit, and after a long, devastating decade, Bargiran found a cure at the young age of twenty-six years old.

However, it was a great tragedy that she could not find the cure in time to save her sister. People far and wide considered Bargiran to be one of the greatest Crowns in history, likening her to a savior, yet Bargiran never forgave herself for not being able to cure her sister in time. While she helped Arsur heal from its wounds, Bargiran would never be able to heal herself.

The Ninth Crown: Beloved Dila

Dila became the Crown during a time of relative peace; there were no wars to be fought, and Arsur had finally reached a point of stability. Dila’s reign was best known for the flourishing of arts and culture within the Empire. In fact, it was during her/their reign that pleasure houses grew into the influence they now possess.

Crown Dila was known for being a beauty without compare. It wasn’t solely their looks, but also their innate charm that drew people to them; rather, her charm enhanced her appearance into something of almost mythical proportions. A few historians have encountered accounts that say that Crown Dila’s magic itself was the cause, that she possessed a peculiar aura that wasn’t quite elemental in nature, but rather one that enchanted onlookers. These accounts were not verified, however, and officially Crown Dila’s magic is listed to have been an Earth affinity.

Centuries later, poets still compose verses referring to Crown Dila, describing rosewater flowing from their darkly coiled tresses, or the light of the moon held in the night of her eyes. There is even a famous story written of Crown Dila’s encounter with the peri queen, where it is said Dila charmed even Queen Nis and was granted a blessing by her that would ensure a long, peaceful reign.

During their lifetime, Dila had the most lovers out of any Crown to date. Their royal concubines numbered into the two dozen at their largest recorded size, though Dila formally courted only four people during their reign; all four became Jewels of the Crown as well. Dila was very free with her affections, but also selective in who she romanced, even casually. 

Their royal concubines were almost all artists, of various kinds. Painters, sculptors, dancers, singers, musicians, poets, writers and storytellers, even weavers of cloth and carpets—Dila greatly admired and loved all kinds of artistic expression. 

Being a royal concubine usually meant to be committed to the Crown, but Dila went against convention and allowed their concubines to court whomever they wished. Many of Dila’s concubines were artists who worked for pleasure houses, and thanks to gaining Dila’s favor, their pleasure houses rose in status as well.

The Tenth Crown: Love-blind Jiyan

Jiyan was known for her/his/their love for life. It was undoubtedly the influence of their mentor, Crown Dila, who was famous for guiding Arsur into an age where the arts would flourish. This continued under Jiyan's reign, as he was equally fond of all the best things life had to offer. Perhaps to an excess.

While Jiyan was a very capable Crown, especially good at navigating difficult diplomatic relations, they were also a very passionate person who tended to have an impulsive streak. Early in her reign this was brushed off, as everyone assumed Jiyan would mature into her role. He was only crowned at the age of twenty, after all, and would gain wisdom with time and experience.

Unfortunately, no one could anticipate the disaster that Jiyan's impulses would drag Arsur into.

It started as an innocent flirtation. Jiyan noticed the provincial army commander of Zerat during one of their court meetings. The commander in question, Asin, reported to the Crown regarding conflicts with some rebellious nobles within the province.

Jiyan was immediately taken with him. Commander Asin was of equal age to Jiyan, very accomplished at only twenty-eight years of age, and also said by some to have an appearance that was quite pleasing to the eye. Jiyan would find excuses to talk to him while he stayed at the palace, and Asin--very flattered the Crown would give him any attention at all--indulged her quite readily.

Soon, Asin found himself seeking out Jiyan as often as Jiyan would visit him. With the Royal Palace being in Zeratun, where Jiyan preferred to stay, it was very easy for the two to see each other whenever they wanted. Before either of them realized it, what had started as playful banter quickly spiraled out of control over the next few weeks.

It became a whispered rumor among the servants that the Crown had started to invite Zerat's army commander to his chambers. Jiyan's Sorcerer and Royal Protector already knew, of course, but they didn't think it necessary to intervene. The Imperial Court, however, had other thoughts.

They confronted Jiyan on her relationship with Asin during a court meeting. While some were clearly taking advantage of the rumors to weaken Jiyan's position, others had sincere reservations about whether it was a good idea to take a subordinate in charge of a sizable portion of the military as a lover. Zerat's army was the largest and strongest out of all the provinces, eclipsing even the Imperial Army at the time.

Jiyan dismissed their concerns, and the matter was closed, albeit not settled. While Jiyan and Asin's relationship had started out well, over time, they started to argue more and more. Not about their relationship, but about military matters. It soured their romance, both having part of the blame. Asin started voicing opinions on the Imperial Army which was far beyond his station, and Jiyan started belittling Asin's opinions on matters he did have expertise in.

The last straw came when Jiyan ordered Asin to round up the rebellious nobles and officially imprison them. Asin knew it would inflame the situation, but he was also incensed to be condescended to yet again, for a moment forgetting his rank. His outright refusal infuriated Jiyan who, in another moment of impulsiveness, stripped Asin of his rank.

To Asin, it felt like betrayal of the worst kind. He was disgraced, humiliated. To the servants and guards who witnessed the huge blow-up between the two, it came as little surprise when a few weeks later, reports came in that Zerat's provincial army had joined the ranks of the rebels and had begun an uprising in earnest.

Jiyan was struck with shame and regret, at many things. How he had treated Asin, and even having begun a relationship with Asin to begin with. The civil war that followed was a bloody one, though it was confined to Zerat and put down within the year.

The Crown was not present for any of the battles, or for Asin's eventual capture and execution. She never spoke of him again, and it was understood that one should never mention his name in Jiyan's presence.

The civil war that was waged during their reign became known as the War of Lovers.

[remma3760]

Consequences

Chapter 19

Summary:

In which we find out who the woamn rescued by wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji is, and why she was a target of the puppets. It is not a happy tale.

Lan Qiren was back in the infirmary. He had written to Baoshen Sanren and was expecting her imminent arrival. Lan Wangji had woken some time earlier and was ready to make his report, but since he absolutely refused to leave Wei Wuxian's side, here they all were. Lan Baojie was not happy at the invasion of his domain, but as there were no other patients, he had allowed it. 

Lan Wangji stroked the hair off his husband's face. "You are sure he will recover?"

Lan Baojie answered gently. "He will Wangji. It will take time but I see no reason for him not to make a full recovery."

"Wangji, what happened?"

Lan Wangji looked to Lan Qiren. "We were in Qishan, Shufu."

"Qishan? But I warned you to stay away from Wen territory."

"I know. We had intended to skirt the edges only, but once our pendants alerted us to the presence of heavy resentful energy, we made the decision to investigate. We expected a Yao or perhaps a restless spirit. We could not, in all conscience leave such a danger untended. We thought to investigate and leave without anyone being alerted to our presence."

Lan Qiren nodded. "You were right to do so. If there is danger then it is the duty of a cultivator to protect the innocent. This woman?"

"She was running from a herd of fierce corpses."

"Puppets." Wei Wuxian had woken.

"Wei Ying."

Wei Wuxian reached to hold Lan Wangji's hand. "Lan Zhan, you got us home safely. I knew you would."

"Wuxian, are you well?"

"Tired A-Die. Is My core depleted? How long was I sleeping?"

Lan Baojie stepped forward to explain."Your core has been sealed. It was the only way to protect it after you were poisoned."

"Oh, yes, I could feel something was wrong after that monster clawed me. Can you unseal it now?"

"I am sorry, but you will need many months of recovery first."

"Months? No! But I feel so much better."

"Wei Ying, you must listen to Lan Daifu. Better to rest for months than to lose your core forever."

Wei Wuxian sighed. Of course he would do as he was told, just, months. "Don't worry, I'll be good. Oh, Lan Zhan, the woman, is she?"

Lan Wangji moved aside so Wei Wuxian could see the woman in the next bed. "Is she...ahhh...Laolao, you must stop doing that, my heart can't take it."

Baoshen Sanren had arrived. "What has happened to you, child? I had barely left and here you are becoming injured. Qiren, who has harmed my children?"

"Welcome, Baoshen Sanren. We are yet to determine the cause as both boys have only now awoken. However, Wuxian's core has been damaged by poison and has had to be sealed."

Worried, Baoshen Sanren turned to Lan Baojie. "Sealed?"

"Yes, Immortal Sanren. Were it not for the pendants you gifted them we might not have known the cause in time and then Wuxian's core could have been lost entirely."

"What kind of poison destroys a core?"

"I have never seen it's like. I had hoped that you might know more."

Baoshen Sanren looked thoughtful. "I do not. I will look into this. Now, child, how were you poisoned?"

Lan Wangjie sat back to allow Wei Wuxian to continue their tale. "Right, so, they weren't really fierce corpses that attacked us because they weren't fully dead. I would say they were puppets being somehow controlled by resentful energy." 

Lan Qiren cast a worried glance to Baoshen Sanren. "Controlled how, Wuxian?"

"I don't know. But they were targetting that woman. They almost ignored us, fighting to get to her, then, when I killed one, it turned into a monster instead of just dying. I've never seen anything like it. I had to cut off it's head, but it got me before I was able to do so. That's when Lan Zhan used the transportation talisman to get us back here. There were just too many of them."

"Wen Ruohan sent them after me."

Wei Wuxian gasped, looking over at the injured woman. "You're awake! But wait, why would Wen Ruohan send these puppets after you? Where did they come from?"

"Wen Ruohan created them. Anyone who disagrees with him is turned into a puppet and forced to do his bidding."

They were all shocked. Lan Qiren began to pace, trying to order his thoughts. "But how is that possible? Without the Yin Iron, he should not have the ability to control resentment in such a manner."

Baoshen Sanren was the one to answer him. "Qiren, the Yin Iron is merely a focus. It is not a source of resentment. Believe me when I say that had he found the Yin Iron, he could achieve far worse. He would have the ability to create an army of the dead, maybe even an abyss. In addition, the effects of the resentment on his mind and body will be more damaging without the Yin Iron drawing away the worst of the side effects."

Lan Qiren nodded. "You are right. I had hoped that he would be content with the power he has, but it is clear now that he is not, and never will be." He looked to the woman. "Please, continue."

"This one is Wen Chunhua. I was once a maid at Nightless City. My Husband, Wen Yuchan, was a healer. He trained with his aunt and uncle at Dafan Mountain. They are a branch family that specialises in the healing arts.

"Eight years ago Wen Ruohan went there, to the Temple of The Heavenly Maiden. He was looking for something but whatever it was, he didn't find it. He was so angry; raging. My Husband was close and the first to reach him. He was just twenty then, and had only recently received his own set of needles. He was able to pacify Wen Ruohan and bring him back from a Qi Deviation.

"By the time my Husband's Aunt arrived, it was all over. Wen Ruohan was grateful to Yuchan, and as a reward, took him back to Nightless City to be his personal physician. He was barely even given the chance to say goodbye before he was taken.

"That's when I met him. He was kind and handsome and we fell in love. Wen Ruohan supported our marriage and for a time, we were happy. I found myself with child in the first year, but it was not to be. I lost my baby, and four more in the next six years. Yuchan was convinced it was because of the resentful energy that has sunk into the very stones of the city. When I became pregnant again, my husband wanted to send me away. He said the baby would have a better chance if I was away from Nightless City. He was probably right since not a single healthy baby has been born there in years.

"Wen Ruohan agreed that I could go to Dafan Mountain. Yuchan told him he wanted me to be with family, so I went. I was not alone. Guards were sent with me, for my protection, Wen Ruohan said, but it was clear that I was to be a hostage for my husband's good behaviour. 

"Yuchan's family were kind to me. His grandmother took me in, and it was all going so well. Then, two days ago a message came. They said, they said..."

Wen Chunhua covered her face with her hands, crying quietly. Lan Baojie laid his hand on her shoulder, giving her a glass of water. She nodded her thanks, then continued. "They told me Yuchan was dead. That he had angered Wen Ruohan and that Wen Ruohan had executed him on the spot. They said that Wen Ruohan had decided to be merciful and allow me to leave. That I had one day to leave Wen territory or I would be killed. Of course, I knew it was impossible. It was a game to him. make me run then chase me down for sport. But what could I do? I wanted my child to live, so I ran. 

"I expected the guards to come after me but they didn't. They let me go. I didn't know why until the next day when I heard the howling. I knew then that Wen Ruohan had sent his puppets after me. Why would he do such a thing? I was nothing to him. My Husband was already dead, why come after me?"

"A test." Bashen Sanren was grim. "He wanted to test his control over the puppets. Without the Yin Iron he doesn't yet have the power to subdue other sects, so he has turned on his own people. He was testing his newest weapon."

"So it wasn't about me at all? He would have killed me and my baby for no reason at all? He is truly mad."

Lan Qiren agreed. "I fear that is so."

Wen Chunhua turned to Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. "You saved me. Without you..."

Lan Wangji stood to bow to her. "No need for thanks."

"Still, I am grateful. You're Hanguang Jun, aren't you? And Taiyang Jun? I have heard about you. They say you always help where you are needed and ask for nothing in return. I am pleased to see that the rumours are true."

Wen Chunhua lay back down, exhausted. She could feel her baby moving inside her, seemingly agitated. Then she screamed. "My baby! Help me!"

Lan Baojie rushed to her side, then called for assistance. "The baby is coming. I need everyone to leave. Now!"

Lan Qiren and Baoshen Sanren hurried away as Lan Baojie called for screens to give Wen Chunhua privacy. Wei Wuxian still could not be moved and Lan Wangji would not leave him.

***

It had been so long. Hours. Lan Wangji sat by Wei Wuxian, the two holding each other tightly, their eyes fixed on the screens that surrounded the screaming woman. Then there was silence, broken by the cry of a baby. Wei Wuxian breathed out a sigh of relief as a worried looking healer emerged and handed the wailing infant to Lan Wangji. Instinctively, he took the child, cradling him close as the healer returned behind the screen.

"Wei Ying."

"Gods, he's tiny."

"Mn." Lan Wangji rocked the baby, leaning in so Wei Wuxian could see him and pinch his cheeks. 

They stayed like that until the screens were removed. Wei Wuxian had been smiling broadly, but that soon faded when he saw Lan Baojie.

He looked over at Wen Chunhua. "Is she?"

"Alive, but the stress of the birth was too much. We have done all we can, but now I'm afraid...she has asked to see her child."

Lan Wangji stood, bringing the baby over. He tried to pass Wen Chunhua her son but she was too weak so instead Lan Wangji held him close to her. 

"My baby. My sweet child. He is well? It's too soon." She gave Lan Baojie an anxious look.

"A healthy baby boy. A little small, but strong."

"Thank the gods."

Wei Ying called over. "Madam, do you need us to contact your family? We can take your baby to Dafan Mountain if you wish. We..."

Wen Chunhua became agitated."No! No, he would never be safe there. Please, Wen Ruohan can never suspect that he has survived. Please, you. You and Hanguang Jun. He would already be dead but for you. Please, take him and raise him as your own. Promise me you will always keep him safe."

Wei Wuxian was shocked, and could see that Lan Wangji was too. What should they do? 

Again, Wen Chunhua asked them. "Please, I am dying. I must know my baby will be safe. Please, swear to me, Hanguang Jin, Taiyang Jun. Swear that you will take my child and love him as your own. Swear it."

Lan Wangji looked down at the tiny boy in his arms. Love him? Yes, he could certainly do that. He already knew that he would willingly protect this small being with his life. looking to Wei Wuxian, he could see that he felt the same. He nodded to Wen Chunhua. "It will be so."

She fell back, relieved. Reaching out, she stroked her son's cheek with a shaking hand. "Ah, my sweet boy. You will have such a good life. You will be safe. You will be loved. You will be happy. Farewell, my dear little Yuan.

[eliziethegirl]

agent 4s full backstory

Agent 4 had grown up in a small town about 40 minutes away from Inkopolis Square. For most of her life, she grew up in a half fun, half work environment. Her parents, who were originally known for their smartness with her father being a math professor at a high-ranking college near their town before his retiring, had 4 be work-inclined so she could have a successful future for her own children. Agent 4 loved her father very much due to the time they would spend together on weekends after school. However, as time progressed, Agent 4's father found a job and slowly came home later, leaving her with her mom. So 4 would not worry, her mother hid many things from her, including the messages her father had left behind. At school, 4 became increasingly known, yet had no friends to be with. One day, her father disappeared without a trace, leaving his things behind at 4's house. She was left devastated but still loved him. Her mother, although reluctant to,  promised to hide the reason of his leaving from Agent 4. This remained secret for a long time until...well, later. We'll get there. At home, Agent 4 devoted herself to studying and fulfilling her father's dream of her future success. Her mother pressured her more in the process. By the time she had turned 14, Agent 4 had passed enough to enroll in advanced courses at Inkblot Art Academy. Her family had helped her rent out a small apartment in Inkopolis Square, and in a few days, she would leave to take summer courses at Inkblot. Days later, 4 goes on the train to Inkopolis Square when, in an empty cabin in the back of the train, she breaks down because her father would not be there to see her dream. That day, 4 chickens out and decides to go to her apartment first. The day is spent doing close to nothing besides unloading for her apartment. Before going to sleep when night comes, Agent 4 stares at the ceiling, almost in longing for something. The next day, 4 takes a walk through Inkopolis Plaza to clear her mind before encountering Marie. Curiosity gets the better of her and, well, Hero Mode begins. Throughout the adventure, 4 becomes more outgoing and energetic, finally getting to see a world outside of the school-inclined world she had been used to.

After the adventure, it is midnight, but 4 runs to her apartment without a care in the world. For the next few weeks, Agent 4 becomes more open to the world around her and becomes grateful for where she is at. Instead of going to school, Agent work becomes more influential in her life. One day, 4 meets Off The Hook and becomes almost instant fans of them. They introduce Agent 8 to her, who will be living with her. The two like each other after a day spent, but don't know if they will actually be able to become friends. Both of them are dealing with their own internal struggles-8 is trying to come to terms with the horrible things she went through in the Metro and attempting to rebuild her life and make peace in this new place that is known for its history of prejudice against who she is. 4, on the other hand, wants to be useful to 8 and help her work her way through this new life but worries that she may only be an inconvenience to her and that her efforts to have 8 feel welcome will be in vain. 4 and 8 are just working through their relationship a few months later when 4's family calls her back to her hometown for a family gathering. Upon arriving, the family is ecstatic to see 4 again. She wanders around the house but stumbles upon the notes that 4's mom had hidden from her, that he willingly left was all a lie and 4 had been chasing a dream all this time that she's only now realizing won't come true-that her father may be long gone. 4 and her mother have a heated argument over dinner, with 4 being able to vent out her emotions on how her father still loved her but didn't want to leave them. After this 4 leaves and goes back to Inkopolis Square. She returns to her apartment and cries hysterically on her bed. 8 arrives and sympathizes with her, and the two hug and are finally able to accept each other as friends. In spite of this 4 decides to attend Inkblot while also matching up with her Agent work. She and her mother do not speak to each other until the end of 4's school year, in which they make amends. 4's mother is deeply sorry for her actions. 4 cannot forgive her, but she is on better terms with her mother. Near the end of 4's freshman school year, 4 and 8 have become extremely good friends and think of pursuing a romantic relationship together.  For the rest of their school years, 4 and 8 balance out their Agent work, school work, and spend time together with the rest of the Squidbeak whenever they have free time. (Captain goes to a different school from them.) During Splatoon 3, 4 is now an adult. She has moved to the Splatlands and bought out an actual house with Agent 8. She works multiple jobs in order to pay for her house, but is able to work with her schedule. Then Side Order (normal AU, not a Villain AU) happens, 8 fights her way through, 4 is freed, and the two become closer than ever. Around this time, 4 begins to have a little sister relationship with Neo 3, and the two basically become chaos twins. And that's all for now.

[yukitokujpnblog]

A story about a large Japanese corporate "salaryman" who got a "basic income" when he quit his job to do what he truly loves(3)

I was carefree before I left the company, but after I quit, the reality of being unemployed suddenly hit me. My annual income had been over 12 million yen(80,000USD), reduced to zero. Moreover, there was no prospect of funding my next challenge.

As the Japanese saying goes, "poverty dulls the spirit," and material scarcity leads to mental malfunction. Although I had enough savings to live for the foreseeable future, the mere fact that we have no regular income makes us hopelessly anxious. When I saw how I was shocked beyond expectation that my salary was not coming in every month, I could see how stability-oriented I was.

Even if I start a business, it will only generate income if there is a prospect. Even if I change jobs as hard as possible and find a job, the conditions will probably be worse than my previous job. Moreover, I may not do what I wanted even by risking own position. If that is the case, why did I quit that company?

I began to blame myself, thinking that I had made a foolish decision , even though I decided to quit. I lost my appetite and started having trouble sleeping.

As I spent sleepless days, I realized that I had been able to live a stable life because I had a foundation. Because of my income, I was able to buy what I wanted every day, go out to eat frequently, and travel abroad. When the income is gone, I can no longer take any action.

This means that my life depends on my environment. My health, my family's happiness, and other factors are usually invisible, but these factors contribute a lot to my internal happiness.

In the face of such a harsh reality, I was powerless to do anything about my ability to get out of my clogs. I felt ashamed of myself for being so arrogant.

I also realized how admirable my parents were for working until retirement, even though they probably went through many hardships, and my friends who make living as freelancers without belonging to a company. I had mistakenly thought that joining a large company had raised my level, but I was still me. I realized that I was being kept alive by something.

However, after a round of languishing, I thought, "I lost a lot, but I gained a lot, too. First, I now have more time and space in my mind. Before, even on weekends, I could not stop thinking about work, and I had never been able to relax genuinely.

Second, now I can devote my time to blogging and cultural activities without worrying. I challenge myself to the fullest in the things I like to do. Because of this, people around me have told me that my personality has become more open-minded since I left the company.

Above all, by taking time to reflect on myself, I have come to look at things dispassionately and realize that I had been obsessing over things more than necessary and neglecting things that should have been priceless to me. I could have these thoughts because, after all, I left the company.

In the end, the question in the previous article, "Do you take what you love or take a stable job?" is straightforward, and it may be that you can still have something hard either way and also that you can gain something either way.

However, I am sorry to ruin the atmosphere in which I talked about good things. But, I wouldn't say I liked it.

I didn't want to work a job I wouldn't say I liked while saying, "Well, that's just the way life is," or to struggle with my daily meals while saying, "I'm chasing my dream".

Moreover, in my case, rather than pursuing my dream, I was doing something that I was convinced would be important for Japan and the world, so I thought, "If I could just focus on my activities, my performance would improve tremendously. I could do more for others." I thought to myself.

A reference point is the so-called "athlete hiring system". Major companies in Japan are hiring sports athletes. When athletes the company supports are successful in Japan and the world, it gives the Japanese people dreams and serves as publicity for the company. It is a very excellent system.

On the other hand, I also wondered why this employment is limited to sports. There are different types of jobs besides sports that can give dreams and hope to the world. Some people work hard behind the scenes doing important social contribution activities that no one else does.

Of course, there are reasons why more media exposure is more beneficial to the sponsoring company, but it is all about what the company perceives. Some companies may consider something other than media exposure an attraction.

If so, there may be a company that understands the purpose and intent of my activities and would be supportive.

About six months before I left the company, I came up with the idea of this hiring system and discussed it with several management acquaintances. They all described it as an "interesting mechanism," but none would hire me. When I asked them why, they said the benefits were the bottleneck.

They said, "You are doing a good job, but not good enough for my company to pay for it.

This was a frustrating but valid statement, and I failed to convey the value of my efforts. That's all there is to it.

I decided to stop playing the lottery and work diligently, and made up my mind, "It's time for me to start looking for a new job," and that's when I met Mr.A.

[fandomdancer]

Calm in the Storm

Fandom: Baa Baa Black Sheep

Pairing: Jim Gutterman/OC

Rating: T

Word Count: 2,415

Summary: Jim Gutterman is laying awake during a thunderstorm worrying about the future of his family and their ranch. However, an unexpected phone call changes his priorities.

A/N: A BIG thank you to @sillybeagle for convincing me to post this.

March, 1935

Jim Gutterman couldn't sleep.

Alice and Paul had drifted off hours before, and he'd heard Thomas and Ma go to bed as well. He'd lay there in the dark with his eyes closed until Paul and Alice's breathing had evened out, and then he'd opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, watching the moonlight fade to the approach of storm clouds. He'd caught the flashes of lightning growing stronger and stronger, and listened to the low growls of thunder building to crashes that rattled the timbers of the family's ranch home. The wind had picked up, rattling the gates and spraying a fresh coat of dust over the house. No rain had come, just like the last storm.

He was worried. The dust storms were getting more frequent and more violent, while the rains were less and less. He knew drought, he'd lived through it. But there was something ominous in the air now, something wrong. There was danger coming and if he could figure out what it was he could start to protect his family from it. As much as Thomas would let him.

Jim sighed angrily. He was a few months from his eighteenth birthday and he would be done with school soon. Then, he’d be able to start putting all of his ideas for the ranch into practice, and Thomas would have to accept it because Jim would be a man, not just Thomas’s son. Thomas had spent Jim’s whole life hammering into him the importance of duty and how nothing else mattered, but whenever Jim tried to expound upon Thomas’s ideas or offer a different way of doing something, Thomas derailed the train of thought, crushed it into a pile of metal, and set it on fire. It didn’t make sense and it was a source of constant frustration that Jim couldn’t speak his own mind to his father. What was the point of being taught if he couldn’t think for himself?

He huffed again. Thomas just did not understand that the world was different than twenty years ago. Hell, it was different from ten or five years, even! And they were in trouble. Without the war needing beef, their cattle had been selling for less and less a head, and Jim knew the numbers. They were in danger of going under. They had to look at other options for their cattle or possibly side sources of income. It was a tangible knowing in Jim’s gut, as tangible as the strange wrongness in the world now.

But Thomas didn't have any faith in gut instinct. And so, Jim was stuck. Until he finished school. Another whole year.

Frustrated, he punched the bed beside him and heard Paul snort across the room. Cursing himself silently, he stayed still, hoping he hadn’t woken his little brother. He was not about to tell Paul his concerns. Paul would just tell him to shut up and listen to Thomas anyway.

He could feel his hands shaking and finally forced himself to get up. He couldn’t take a walk in the storm, but he could pace the house. He’d done it many times before when the anger and the stress kept him awake.

I don’t know that I can save this place, he fretted as he moved into the living room. Thomas won’t listen, an' after another year it might be too late. An' somehow, it’ll all be my fault.

The thunder crashed, and he glanced at Thomas and Ma’s room quickly to make sure they weren't awake. Another few seconds proved Paul and Alice were still out too, and he raised his eyebrows. Alice used to wake up every time someone breathed a little heavily. He could remember staying awake, reading her stories and singing her quietly to sleep over hours. Now the world outside was flashing white every few seconds, and she was out cold.

A small smile creased his lips at the thought. Leave it to Alice to make him smile. His baby sister always seemed to know what to say or do to lift his mood – even when she was asleep.

Thunder crashed again and with it, the telephone rang.

Shit! Jim lunged at it, barely grabbing the receiver before it had completed the first ring. He froze in the center of the room, waiting for Thomas or Ma to appear and ask what he thought he was doing with the receiver in his hand. It wasn't until several seconds had gone by that he realized there was a voice coming from the handset. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

He brought the handset up. "Who is this?" he hissed.

"Jim? Jim, is that you?"

The line was crackling in response to the storm, but he could still tell that it was a woman’s voice and it was shaking.

"Yeah, this is Jim," he replied. “Who is this?”

Thunder roared. "Jim." The voice broke. "Jim, it's Laura."

Jim’s head spun and his legs wobbled. Laura? Laura’s calling me here? Now? What is she...is she all right? "Laura? Are you hurt?" His mind raced. If I have to go over there...Gunpowder doesn’t spook at lightning, he’s my best shot.

"N-no. No, but..." Thunder again and she whimpered, the sound digging straight into his brain. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'll hang up..."

"No! Laura, don’t hang up," he ordered as firmly as he dared. He grabbed the phone base and headed for the opposite end of the room, trying to move as far from Thomas and Ma’s room as possible. The cord stretched to its limit, but he managed to sit in a chair by the window. "What's wrong?"

"I'm so silly...Jim, the storm..."

"What, did it blow your roof off?"

"No! No..." Lightning flashed, bright and close, and he heard her whine again, followed by a yelp when the thunder boomed. And then he realized.

"You're scared," he said quietly, his heart beginning to race. She called me. She's scared of the storm, an' she called me.

"I'm ridiculous!"

"No, no you're not." Jim looked out the window at the storm, and then focused in the direction of Amarillo. "Hey. Laura. I can see you."

"Wh-what?" Her voice was thick and he realized she was crying.

"Amarillo. I'm lookin' right at it. I'm lookin' at you. Can you see me?"

"I...I think so." The line fuzzed and crackled as it fought the storm, and after a few seconds he tried again.

"Are you there, Laura?"

"I can see you." Her voice was a little steadier.

"Good girl." He smiled out the window. "You look well this evenin', Miss Tate."

He heard a small laugh. "As do you, Mr. Gutterman."

"Well." He straightened up and fixed an invisible tie. "Good enough for the pictures at least."

"To be in them?"

"Aw don’t pull my leg, to go to 'em!"

"You could be in them."

The words were ridiculous but the warmth in her voice made him nervous. Unsure of how his voice would sound if he stayed on this topic, he changed the subject. "You always been afraid of storms?"

"They're loud." Her voice was stronger now, not quite as teary. "It's always felt like those silly stories you read, about the monster under your bed, but now you're under the bed and the monster doesn't like you being there and...I'm too old to be talking about this!"

Not with me, he thought. "Alice used to wake up the moment thunder even thought about rumblin'. I think she's growin’ out of it. She’s sound asleep right now.”

"I hope she does a better job than me."

Oops. That had been the wrong thing to say. "Uh, I mean...I just think she's gettin' over it. Some things people get over. Some people don't."

"Yes."

"I wish I could say the same. About storms, I mean." Jim looked back out the window. "I always loved 'em. Sorta nature's way of remindin' us who's boss every once in a while."

She chuckled. "I can see it that way, but I do wish it didn’t have to remind us so loudly." Another crash and she made a tiny whimper that cut him to the bone. He rubbed his face, wondering what he could possibly say to get her mind off of the weather.

"How did Alice stop being scared of storms?" she asked.

Well, the topic was still the weather, but she’d started the conversation so he was going to go with it. "I ain’t too sure. I like to think I helped. I'd read her stories, sing her songs, keep her mind off it..."

"You sing?"

Shit. He hadn't meant to say that part out loud. "Well…in the pews on Sundays."

"And to Alice when she’s scared of storms. Come on Jim, don’t tease me like that! Sing something!"

“I can’t…” Jim looked helplessly at the rooms where his family slept. “I ain’t gonna wake up my whole family, you know what they’ll do if they catch us talkin’?”

Thunder rumbled and the line hissed menacingly. “I know,” Laura replied softly. “My father would do the same thing. But I’m going to find a way to hear you sing, Jim Gutterman, I promise you that.”

“I’m sure you will, Miss Tate,” he replied, smiling.

“Can you tell me what you sing to Alice?”

Jim rubbed his face again. “Well, when she was younger it was nursery rhymes. But now, she really likes that dancin’ fella from the pictures. Thinks she’s gonna grow up an' dance with him.”

“Do you mean Astaire?”

“Uh, yeah, I think that’s his name.”

“You sing songs from those movies to her?”

“Not as a regular thing. She’s been draggin’ me to those pictures whenever she gets enough pocket money. I think we’ve been three or four times.”

Laura laughed. “Oh! Oh dear. I think that was too loud. Hold on.”

Thunder boomed but Jim noticed it sounded a little quieter than it had been. He held his breath, watching the rooms across the house. There was no movement in them. And then, briefly, the wind died down, and a particularly large snore echoed through the house. He struggled not to laugh as the sound repeated. Somehow, he was getting away with this.

“Jim, are you still there?”

“Yeah, I’m still here.”

“I got lucky. No one’s awake.”

“Yeah. But Laura, I think the storm’s dyin’ down, an' it’s gonna get hard to talk once it gets quiet.”

“I know.”

“Are you better? Can you go to sleep?”

“I wish…” Laura cut the sentence off suddenly, making him straighten up.

“Are you there?”

“Yes, I’m here.” Her voice tone had changed subtly. Whereas he’d heard an honest note of longing in her voice earlier, now she sounded distant, if still warm. “You think the storm will be over soon?”

What did you wish? he thought desperately. “I do. It’s already quieter here which means it’ll start calmin’ down over there soon.”

“Are you still looking at me?”

He immediately focused out the window again. “I am. An' you look just fine.”

“I trust you, Jim,” she said quietly, and oh the sensation that went through him at those words. He thought for a moment he might lift right off of the chair into the sky with the wind and the lightning.

“Go to sleep, Laura. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good night, Jim.”

The line cracked and went dead, and Jim replaced the handset. Despite the adrenaline of hearing her say she trusted him, exhaustion began to creep over him as well, and he moved slowly back to his bedroom. To his utter relief, Thomas and Ma were still snoring, and when he climbed back into bed, he could hear Paul's deep breathing.

But Alice...

"Were you talking about Fred Astaire?"

Her tiny voice whispered at his head and he looked up to see her standing there, holding her stuffed bear. Her face looked matter of fact in the flashes of lightning. He pushed himself up onto an elbow and smiled at her.

"Now where would you get an idea like that?”

“I heard you.” She pointed to the door. “You were being really quiet, but I heard you. Were you talking to Miss Tate?”

Well...if he was going to be caught by anyone, Alice was the best-case scenario. "I was making sure Miss Tate wasn't bothered by the storm. Just like I do for you.”

“And you were talking about Fred Astaire.”

“I was a little bit. I was tellin' her how much you like him.”

She grinned. “Maybe she can come with us next time. I can save up some more money and buy her a ticket.”

“I’m sure she can pay for her own ticket.”

Alice’s face grew crafty. “Or you could buy it.”

Jim’s stomach twisted. “I could buy her ticket?”

Alice nodded and smiled wickedly. “Yes! You have my permission to buy her a ticket!”

He’d had plenty of warning to see this coming and he’d still missed it. Despite his heart actually thumping and his mouth going dry, Jim pretended to brush it off. “Oh do I?” He poked at Alice’s stomach and she squeaked and hurried back to her bed, diving under the covers and trying to stifle giggles. Paul snorted and rolled over, then began snoring again quietly. Jim rolled to his back, staring up at the ceiling again, watching as the lightning flashes slowly decreased in intensity.

“I mean it,” Alice whispered from her bed. “I think you should buy Miss Tate a ticket and take her to the pictures.”

“You’re bein' silly, Alice.”

“And you’re being stupid, Jimmy.”

Jim shot a glare at her and was a little surprised to see her glaring right back at him. She raised both of her eyebrows and then flipped over, putting her back to him. “Good night,” she whispered loudly.

“Good night,” he replied automatically, and slowly turned his gaze to the ceiling again. This time, his mind didn’t trouble over the future of the ranch or his inability to communicate with his father. In fact, all he could think about was sitting with Laura at the pictures, watching her as much as the film. He couldn’t get her smile out of his head.

She was scared and she called me. What did she wish for? What would I sing to her, if I ever did? If I ever could? If I asked her to the pictures…what would she say? What would she say?

It was a long time before he went to sleep.

[shriramearlyyears]

Is your toddler suffering from separation anxiety? Here are some tricks to help you deal with it!

Parenting is an incredible journey filled with joy and wonder. However, it also comes with its challenges. One of the most heartwarming yet demanding phases is when your toddlers experiences separation anxiety while joining the  preschool school. When they cling to you during drop-offs or become teary at goodbyes, it's natural to experience a mix of emotions.

What is separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety is a common and normal phenomenon that affects many toddlers between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. It happens when your children feel anxious or scared when you leave them, even for a short time. They may cry, cling, or throw tantrums when you say goodbye, or refuse to go to sleep without you nearby.

Why does separation anxiety happen?

Separation anxiety can be challenging and stressful for both you and your children. It is not a sign of bad parenting or a spoiled child. In fact, it's a sign of healthy attachment and growing independence in your toddlers. They learn that you still exist even when they can’t see you. However, they are not yet able to understand time or predict when you will return. At this time, they need your reassurance and comfort to cope with their fears and emotions.

You should not worry about separation anxiety. It is usually a temporary phase that fades away when your children mature and develop more confidence and coping skills.

Cope With Separation Anxiety With These Tips

Your children can overcome separation anxiety by doing a few things that will make the transition to preschool school  easier for both of you. You may find these tips helpful:

Prepare your child for separation

Before you leave your children, tell them where you are going, why you are going, and when you will be back. Use simple words they can understand, such as “Mommy is going to work now, but I will come back after lunch.”

Avoid making promises that you can’t keep, such as “I’ll be back soon” or “I’ll call you every hour.” Instead, give them a realistic time frame or a cue they can recognize, such as “I’ll be back when the big hand is on the 12” or “I’ll be back after your class.”

Establish a consistent and positive goodbye routine

Having a predictable and reassuring ritual can help your children feel more secure and calm when you leave. For example, you can give them a hug and a kiss, say “I love you” and “I’ll see you later”, and wave goodbye.

If you sneak out when they are not looking, they may feel more anxious and distrustful. Also, avoid prolonging the goodbye or coming back repeatedly, as this can make them more upset and confused.

Leave a comfort object with your child

If your children have a favorite toy, blanket, or stuffed animal they like to cuddle with, let them keep it with them when you leave them at preschool school  This can help them feel more connected to you and soothe themselves when they miss you.

You can also leave something that belongs to you, such as a scarf, a shirt, or a photo, that has your scent or image on it.

Practice short separations and work toward longer ones

Your children will get accustomed to being away from you if you gradually expose them to situations where they have to separate from you for a short time. For example, you can leave them with a trusted friend or relative while you run an errand, or let them play in another room while you do some chores. Praise them for being brave and independent when they manage to stay calm and happy without you.

Choose the right preschool in Gurgaon and introduce new teachers gradually

If you are planning to enroll your children in  preschool in Gurgaon try to familiarize them with the teachers before leaving them alone with them. You can visit the preschool together, meet the teacher, and let your children explore the environment and play with the other children.

A short get-together with the new babysitter or nanny at your home would be a great way to show your children that they are trustworthy and friendly.

Comfort your child when they are afraid

When you are with your children, listen to their feelings and concerns about being separated from you. Acknowledge their emotions and validate their fears, without dismissing or minimizing them. For example, you can say “I know it’s hard to say goodbye to Mommy” or “I understand that you feel scared when I’m not here.”

You can also teach them some coping strategies, such as deep breathing, positive self-talk, or distraction, to help them calm down and relax when they feel anxious.

With these tips, you can help your children overcome separation anxiety when they join preschool school. If you are looking for an empathetic preschool in Gurgaon that takes the best care of your children, The Shri Ram Early Years is the right choice for you. You can rely on its expert teachers to provide a safe and secure environment that combines learning with fun. It can help your children transition to preschool easily.

[marvelmymarvel]

Revivals and Regrets

Madara Uchiha x Senju!Reader

Synopsis: With all of the Hokage's resurrected to help fight against the evils of Madara and Obito Uchiha, the oldest Senju has a brilliant idea to deal with Madara - and it just so happens to be reviving you... Much to Tobirama's disapproval.

A/n: I have not seen the Fourth Ninja War arc so this is (most likely) NOT accurate. But enjoy it anyway ;)

Naruto Masterlist: Here

Like always, Madara's presence was an issue and Hashirama was beginning to see how screwed they all were if he wasn't taken care of soon. He glanced at Tobirama who snarled down at the way Madara slaughtered the ninjas one by one without breaking a sweat. He hated him so much... And that fact alone made Hashirama fear what he would say once he voiced his crazy idea.

"We should revive Y/n"

Tobirama's head snapped to his older brother. For a split second, his eyes held shock and fear, but it quickly morphed into hatred. It wasn't that he hated you; Hashirama knew that.

It was something much darker than that.

"Are you insane? Why in the world would we resurrect our little sister?!" Tobirama spit out, causing the group around them to stare in confusion at what was happening. The third Hokage, however, knew why the second was so angry. Except, it wasn't anger. Sure it sounded like anger and felt like anger, but it was one thing and one thing alone.

Regret.

Tobirarma deliberately drove Madara out of the village, breaking your poor, innocent heart. He believed you would get over it and find someone else to love, but what he didn't plan for was you running away. Upon hearing that you had left, Tobirarma sent ANBU officers after you. While he was worried they wouldn't find you, the second he laid eyes upon your dead body, he wished they hadn't found you at all.

He didn't sleep for months.

"Tobirama, I know you don't want to face her, but she's our only hope-"

Tobirama scoffed, eyes rolling as he looked back down to the ninja being massacred below. Upon seeing just how few men were left, his gaze softened. Face his worst fear? Or let everyone die? Tobirama's eyes fell to his feet as the tears bubbled along his lashline. "Tobirama"

"Fine. Revive her"

Silence filled the space around him, his chest growing tight as he realized what he had just permitted. He managed to avoid you in the afterlife but he wasn't going to be able to run from you here. He turned back to watch the fighting below, but his eyes slammed shut as Hashirama chanted the jutsu out into the night air. Maybe if he just kept his eyes closed he could ignore you.

That wouldn't work though, he knew that.

A piercing screech sounded out causing his plan of being unavailable emotionally to fly out the window. He chanced a glance behind him, eyes open and wide at what he saw. The shrill cry that snapped him out of it was indeed flying from your lips, and your pained face made him want to die a thousand deaths. When someone is resurrected, they have the same feelings as the moment they died. Meaning that if you died a painful death and were revived, you would immediately feel that pain upon resurrection.

It would go away, once you realized you were no longer in pain, but hearing the sound you would have made in your last moments on earth made Tobirama want to run for the hills.

Hashirama wrapped his arms around you, coos flying from his lips as he tried to ease you into the living world. Tobirama couldn't stop himself, his body turning fully to face you and your confused state. Tears were streaming down your face, hands grasping at your neck as you fought for air. Your killers had slit your throat, making the image before him sicker than it would have been if he was free from that knowledge.

He did this to you.

Tobirama watched cautiously as you slowly began to take in your surroundings and the way Hashirama was holding you - Hashirama was always a better brother to you than he was. Tobirarma didn't have many regrets in his life, but all of them related to you.

~Your POV~

Your eyes wandered, searching for something in the crowd. What was it that you needed? The one thing you thought of before you died... You wouldn't remember until you saw-

Your face visibly softened, eyes widening as you took a shaky step towards him - your white-haired brother that you had been avoiding in the afterlife out of fear that he hated you. "Tobi?" you whispered. You could tell he wasn't expecting this outcome, what with how his eyebrows shot up in shock. You opened your mouth to say something, but the commotion below finally hit your ears and quiet mind, oh... You were revived for a reason.

You took in a sharp inhale of breath eyes widening as you raced towards where Tobirama was standing, but your eyes were no longer on him. If you could have died again from happiness, you would have. "Madara!" you cried out, mouth curving up into a loving smile.

"That's why we revived you, Y/n... We need your help with him"

Your head shot back to Hashirama, who was just as bewildered as Tobirama was - he knew you'd be excited to see Madara again. However, he was still reeling over your reluctance to run to Tobirama. They couldn't deny it, though. If Madara wasn't there, you would have indeed run to your brother. "Y/n," the white-haired man breathed out shakily. Now that you were here before him, the regrets came flooding back in. He should have let you marry the Uchiha, should have let you run away with him. But he was selfish.

He was the cause of your death.

Your mouth slammed shut, a frown replacing your smile as you gazed at the white-haired man behind you. The both of you took a deep breath.

"I'm so sorry"

Both of your eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the other's apology. Hashirama's eyes flicked between the two of you before he rolled them. Stepping forward, he placed his hands on both of your shoulders.

"I'll spell this out since we don't have time. Tobirama, Y/n is sorry for running away and disgracing the clan. Y/n, Tobirama is sorry for banishing Madara and being the cause of your death" The eldest hoped that the explanation would do, but it only seemed to have caused more confusion.

Silence filled the air before you both proclaimed: "You aren't a disgrace" and "You weren't the cause of my death" to each other. Hashirama sighed; if the two of you had just worked this out in the afterlife, they wouldn't be in this situation-

"We do not have time for this!!!"

Your eyes traveled to a blonde boy who couldn't have been older than 17. You scoffed playfully before throwing a look at the fourth Hokage, "Your kid, I presume?" He nodded sheepishly before scolding the teen, reminding him about who he was talking to. "He's got that Uzumaki fire... I will say..."

"HEY!"

"Enough." Hashirama hissed out, stopping Naruto's anger in its spot. Hashirama gripped your shoulder harder, "Can you help us stop him? I fear he will only listen to you... After all, all of this is for you."

Your eyebrows furrowed. "For me? I didn't ask for this". The silence that followed made your stomach flip.

"Madara... He was so heartbroken upon hearing of your death that he waged war on the village. He managed to rope Obito Uchiha into this war. Obito similarly lost the love of his life, so it was easy for Madara to manipulate him."

You let out a groan at Hashirama's words. Of course, this was for you. This was Madara, after all. "Did my fan come with me?" your question flew back towards the group near where you were resurrected. There was a commotion as they scrambled to look for it, but a sigh of relief fell from your lips when one yelled that your fan did indeed come with you.

You muttered a 'thanks' as the shinobi handed you the weapon. The same weapon you'd use when sparring with Madara. It was rather funny when you thought of it, your ninjutsu being wind and Madara's being fire. But it worked.

Depending on how you use it, it could extinguish the flames or intensify them. You two were a match made in heaven. A smile once more grazed your lips as you cracked your neck and jumped on the balls of your feet, trying to pump yourself up for what would surely be a heated exchange.

But it wouldn't be of malice. Oh no, this would be of love.

"Oh Gods, how I love him," you breathed out, heart hammering as you felt the love and ecstasy fill every crevice of your body. The shinobis were quiet around you, eyes widening as they took in your growing excitement to be reunited with him. Was this Uchiha such a bad guy? He was destroying the world in your name... He was destroying the world in the name of love. It was then, as they watched your lips part, that he wasn't an evil man.

He was a love-sick one.

"MADARA"

The fighting paused for a second, and your eyes locked with his. Everyone gasped as the air shifted from malevolence to adoration within seconds of the name leaving your lips. Not wanting to waste another moment, you hopped down from the cliff, heart soaring as you counted the seconds until you'd be in his arms again.

Madara raced towards you, no longer killing the shinobi that got in his way. Instead, he pushed them off. His only thought was you. He wanted you, no - NEEDED you.

And he is finally going to have you.

Your landing shook the ground; knees bent as you caught your breath. But you barely had a moment to stand fully as Madara swooped you into his embrace. The shinobi seemed to stop chasing him and stood confused at the soft display in front of them. Was this the same man they were fighting seconds ago? Were you his weak spot??

One shinobi moved, mind set on slaughtering you, but Madara shot a glare his way, daring him to proceed. The fear that coursed through him made him stop, and it finally clicked.

This was all for you.

Your hand forced Madara to look at you again, "No more fighting, I'm here now" Madara nodded at your words. The war now meant nothing to him, not with you being beside him again. "I can't stop Obito..." he whispered in slight shame. He hated disappointing you, and he was afraid that this would cause you to hate him, but the smile rising on your lips told him otherwise.

"They'll handle him... Why don't we go spar? We have a lot to catch up on... My love"

[noroi1000]

Little Monkey, My Sweetheart 5

Request on wattpad

There was one person in the bed. Even if everything said there should be two people here.

His hands moved over the soft mattress, searching for your body.

His fingers caught the folds of the pillows, the folds of the sheets, and the quilt that lay on top of him.

His back was bare. Because he always tried to wrap you with as many blankets as possible.

That's why you were wrapped in a duvet and he slept next to you, sometimes uncovered.

Not that it bothered him.

He just liked to know that you were thoroughly hidden from the cold.

He knew that sometimes you were too hot, so sometimes he gave it up.

But most of the time he could sleep next to you just hugging you. And the only source of warmth he has is your body.

He didn't like sleeping in the heat. Therefore, he did not mind the cool environment.

But sometimes he desperately sought your warmth so he could hold you.

It was a desire. It was a compulsion to hug you.

Because you were still an ordinary person, he couldn't admit that you were the closest person to him.

Still, you were.

He loved you the most in the world.

He always thought he'd keep you as a pet.

However, he cannot.

His kindness shines through him. Anyway, he's very caring.

His fingers reached out slowly.

His soul told him straight that you were his mascot. His pet whom he caresses. But his behavior doesn't show it. You are in his heart. You have an important place there.

People who know his opinion of non-sorcerers will think you're a prison there. That you are his closed pet that he plays with.

But people like Mimiko and Nanako know the truth.

You live with them and are part of the family.

They treat you like a friend.

They know you're Geto's partner.

You are with them and you will stay with them.

Maybe they still treat you like you're his most important pet and say you're cute or beautiful, but you don't mind. Because they don't mean that you are less important than them.

For all the time you've been with them, they've become very attached to you.

Half a year with them...

Every morning his fingers search for yours. To grab your body and hug you.

He's been waking up next to you for over six months.

Only to find you there that day.

If you hadn't built his trust so much, he'd immediately think you ran away, and he'd send hex groups after you.

For them to find you and bring you home again.

However, you gave him reasons that he can trust you.

After all, he's already allowed you to leave the temple through the back door.

Where is the forest.

Besides, if you were out there alone, running away, his curses would have told him so.

He trusted you. But he was afraid that you might change your mind after all, and you'd want to leave.

And if you left, he would force you back here.

Unfortunately. That would mean you'd feel bad. Because that will literally mean he has to carry you here against your will.

It may even hurt you. And he didn't want it.

You weren't here with him right now, so you must have been around somewhere.

He stood up quickly, throwing on only a yukata, which he tied clumsily.

He was running around the temple looking for you with his hair down.

It's not about you being able to escape anymore.

He was too worried about your condition.

That something might have happened to you.

He just wanted to care too much about what was going on.

Since you let him make you pregnant.

Nothing has changed between you.

Everything was still the same.

You were probably pregnant.

Morning sickness, lack of appetite or cravings for something to eat. Water retention in the body.

Even if it wasn't that, he was worried. Because if you're not pregnant, you might be sick.

So he's worried about your health anyway.

Unfortunately, he has become overprotective.

He circled the entire temple, but you were nowhere to be found.

And you never went anywhere without telling someone.

After all, it wasn't supposed to be like this.

The ultimate finality appeared in his mind. Check Mimiko and Nanako's room.

But when he went in, there was no one there either.

So his last idea was that he could call them.

And maybe there's a chance you were with them.

But if you guys went to town, he'll be so pissed...

He grabbed his phone and quickly called the blonde.

Just as he was thinking of hanging up because she wasn't answering, he heard her voice on the phone.

What he heard did not scare him. It interested him more.

Because he never thought you'd go out with them without asking his permission.

However, your agreement was that you were to tell anyone who lived in this temple that you were going out for a walk or going somewhere where you would stay longer. You basically told him that.

You didn't have to say it this time because you went with someone close to him.

He left quickly through the back door, straight into the winding path in the woods.

Just to go higher and higher.

Until he came out from behind trees and bushes, avoiding stones, only to see a small lake with warm water stretching out.

Hot Springs.

How could he never bring you here...

Every time your body ached. When you felt bad. Instead of offering you a bed or a bath, he could have brought you here.

And now the girls beat him to it.

He saw three figures in the water.

"Geto-sama!" Nanako screamed getting up from the water when she saw him.

He immediately turned away so as not to see her without her clothes on. For God's sake, he'd raised them since they were a few years old.

"Geto-sama, All right. We have bathing suits." She said, laughing at the adult's sudden reaction.

He smiled softly and slowly turned around.

"I couldn't have known that until you said it. I do not want to bother you. I'm just here to check (y/n)." He said and suddenly looked to the side. To see your head resting against the folded towel on the edge while you lay in the water with your eyes closed.

A slight panic seized him when he saw you.

did you sleep? Or has something happened?

He walked over to you rather quickly and patted your head.

Mimiko stopped him from pulling you out of the water at the last moment.

"Geto-sama, she has recently fallen asleep. Please don't take her out of the water because she might catch a cold. All she brought with her were the clothes she was wearing." Said the dark-haired girl pointing to the folded kimono and shoes. Also with underwear.

You didn't have a bathing suit. Among your clothes, it's not in the closet either. Suguru just didn't buy it for you. Because you weren't supposed to go anywhere.

You basically sit naked in the hot springs. So that wasn't a bad thing. And there's never been anyone else in this place except you, because it's deep in the forest. In the mountains. In a forest with curses. This makes people afraid to come here just to swim in the hot springs.

"We've been here for two hours. We wanted to leave and go home, but we didn't have the heart to wake her up. Her head hurt, and now it's gone."

"Nanako, you can go if you want. I'll stay here with her." He said and started to untie the strap from his Yukata.

They both turned their backs so that he could calmly undress and enter the water. Only when he had done so did they turn around.

He took the towel from under your head and sat you on his lap. Letting you sleep on his chest.

After all, the water will not get cold.

You can sit here as long as you like.

If you're not really running, he has nothing to fear.

"Suguru..." you muttered quietly as you woke up half an hour later.

When you were alone here.

"You can sleep baby." He said, brushing your damp hair back.

"You will be here?"

The question shocked him a bit.

Because you always ran away from his touch. To practically beg for him to be next to you right now.

He smiled gently.

"Don't worry. I'll be here with you as long as you want. And I'm not leaving without you."

[artsy0wl]

It Started With…

Another little Logurt fic. Enjoy ^^

It started with lurking.

Kurt was used to the idea of being followed. A little bit less so after he joined the X-Men and a bit more after “adopting” a few bamfs, but it wasn't an uncommon feeling.

Kurt would periodically catch glimpses of Logan poking around corners, watching him. He even once caught the Canadian hiding in the bushes while playing baseball with some of the students. Kurt brushed it aside, figuring it was just Logan having a weird routine to confirm his revival was real. It was nothing too harmless as far as Kurt was concerned. Just one of Logan’s many quirks.

Next came body guarding.

Logan was on him like a mother bear. Outside of the bamfs, he didn’t let anyone get close too Kurt without his approval. Not even Ororo. Kurt thought it was a bit much, especially when Logan wedged himself between Kurt and Scott during a disagreement, but Logan never got physical.

Kurt wasn’t sure how worried he should be. On the one hand, it felt like a normal response from Logan, but on the other, it felt like something more. Was something bothering Logan? Was he still worried about Kurt?

Kurt wasn’t getting much of an answer from Logan. The closest he got was a grunt or ‘it’s nothing’ before Logan went back to doing his own thing. So for the most part, Kurt tried to leave it be.

Then came the change in responsibilities.

Though it would seem like Charles was the one deciding that Kurt would be on teaching duty for a while, Kurt was certain Logan had some hand in the sudden change. Not that he would have minded for a brief amount of time. After all, resurrection could prove stressful on Kurt for a bit, depending on how his body felt while adjusting to those first few days back. So putting him in the field right away might not have been the safest option.

That said, he had been left out of any sort of conversation. Charles never approached him to ask how he was feeling or how he felt about sitting out for a short amount of time. Kurt was just told that he was going to be out of commission for at least a month. Longer if Charles deemed necessary. This lead Kurt to believe that someone other than himself had a hand in the decision. And the only person he could think of was Logan.

Of course, Logan would deny it when Kurt asked. However, he would admit that he agreed that Kurt should take it easy for a while. And when Kurt once again asked what was with the excessive concern, Logan, once again, brushed it aside, acting like it was nothing more than mere friendly concern.

It wasn’t until two months after Kurt’s resurrection that he seemed to get any kind of answer when he felt himself jolted from his sleep because a hand landed in the side of his face. His eyes flinched as they cautiously opened up, and when they cleared, they spotted a tired and anxious Logan.

It was clear that he hadn't expected or planned for Kurt to wake up as Logan hastily withdrew from his side, but a hand held onto his, prompting Logan to freeze. Topaz eyes burned into Logan with concern. They hypnotically begged that Logan would stay.

“What’s going on?” Kurt whispered.

He wasn’t mad that his sleep was disrupted or that Logan invaded his space. He was worried. If Logan was here, something had to be bothering him.

Logan remained silent, but did turn to face Kurt. Hands clamped over Kurt's, carefully holding onto them and blue eyes stared at them. The room seemed to freeze as neither mutant said a word.

“Logan…”

That was all Kurt was able to get out before he was yanked towards Logan. Arms wrapped around the blue mutant, trapping him. Part of Kurt wanted to yelp out, but another knew Logan wasn’t being malicious. If anything concerning.

Hands rested on Logan’s upper arms as Kurt attempted to remain calm. Assessing the situation, he realized Logan was… hugging him? It wasn’t unheard of, rare as it was, but it didn’t make it any less unexpected.

“You’re here.” Logan sighed, taking in the scent of brimstone.

“Yes, I’m here.” Kurt assured.

“You’re here.”

Kurts softly chuckled. “I know.”

When Kurt felt his space being restricted a bit more, he realized that this wasn’t just Logan stating the obvious. He was making sure Kurt was there. That Kurt was real.

In that moment, Kurt remembered Logan’s expression when he and the bamfs found Logan in purgatory. The exhausted relief. The cold happiness. And though Kurt didn't say anything, he could have sworn he saw a tear. A small, dose of sentiment that Kurt was sure Logan would deny any other day of the week, but one he knew he saw.

Kurt never thought his death would have had that big of an impact. He knew people would be sad, but he never expected to see Logan of all people to show that kind of emotion. But now that Logan was latched onto him like a boa constrictor on prey, he was beginning to realize just how much of an impact it had on him.

Carefully moving his arms, Kurt readjusted his position. Hugging him back felt a lot more natural and a much more comfortable.

“You’re kind of a softie, you know that?” Kurt chuckled, hiding his face in Logan’s hair.

“Shut up.” Logan grumbled.

~

After a refreshing night sleep, Kurt found himself strolling down the hall with a couple of annoyed bamfs. They had just begrudgingly cleaned up the room and Kurt wanted to bring them into the Danger Room to burn off some energy.

Kurt soon found himself crossing paths with a familiar face. One that had visited him in the wee hours of the morning and was now stuck reading the newspaper.

“I missed you at breakfast, Logan.” Kurt stated.

“Sorry.” Logan grumbled.

Unamused by the lack of ehe contact, Kurt planned to correct it. Cranky or not, he wasn’t going to let Logan ignore him. With a devious smirk, Kurt swiftly closed the gap between himself and Logan.

Leaving a small and sweet peck on Logan’s cheek, Kurt lingered just long enough for it to register. Once it did and prompted a pleasant shade of red to hit Logan’s face, the blue mutant made a beeline for the Danger Room. It wasn’t long before the sounds of a newspaper to crumple up and be tossed aside and Logan to chase after him.

When he finally caught up with Kurt, one arm snuggly wrapped around his waist while his free hand held the side of the blue mutant’s face. Kurt was still chuckling up a storm, despite being slightly out of breathe.

“Two can play at that game, elf.” Logan huffed.

Despite the needless action required to get it, Logan was soft when kissing Kurt, who melted into it so sweetly. His hand moved from the side of Kurt’s face as the arm wrapped around his shoulder. A soft gasp escaped them as the kiss came to an end, but Logan refused to let Kurt go, which in turn, prompted Kurt to return the embrace.

“I love you, Elf.” Logan confessed.

“I know.”