#and deciding to say the STUPIDEST thing possible

[sheepispink]

A Night to Remember ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི

ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི COD MASTERLIST

ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི Part two of Sweet as Sugar Series. Part one here.

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ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི Summary: After receiving Ghost’s text, you havent been able to get him out of your head. Lost in a daydream, you may have forgotten an important detail, but luckily everything goes ahead as planned and you end up taking more than a warm heart back home.

ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི WC: 3k

To say he hadn’t consumed all your thoughts was a severe understatement, especially considering you were currently staring into the bathroom mirror at two am with your cheeks still flushed and that last sentence ringing out in your head. You have to forcefully drag yourself into bed and refrain from picking your phone up, reading his message again. Last week you were scolding yourself for still giggling over celebrity crushes—now look at you, practically squirming over a text! It probably wasn’t even like that in the slightest; maybe he just needed to talk to you about some orders from your bakery. With a huff, you finally pull the covers snug over you and force your eyes closed, willing your mind to shut up.

Now the sun has risen high, just like the dough for tonight’s stock, the little open sign turned to signal closed whilst you and your parents churn out as many baked goods as possible before it’s time to set up. Slowly, your knuckles knead through the sticky texture, hands speckled white from flour. You had nearly seventy-five different pastries out yesterday, but with the hunger of the soldiers, that was reduced to a measly thirty or so by the time they had left. A sudden ping rings out, cutting through the yeast-powered daze you were in, and the dough is almost flung across the room as you hurriedly pry your fingers out and douse them in water before grasping at the phone across the room. It’s from the lieutenant, as you had hoped, and you hurry your password into your phone before the chat appears.

If you had to decide between the time you idiotically ate lunch right before a plane ride and what you had right now, this would definitely take the tier for the stupidest thing in your life. The text, if not an accusatory message, is simple—so simple that it doesn't even include a single letter.

’?’

Too busy stuck in your daydreams, you had fallen asleep without responding, essentially doing the worst thing you could ever possibly imagine—leaving the man on read. If you had to explain the way your heart had just dropped, it’d be clear from the way your jaw was permanently screwed open until you fixed this mess you accidentally created. Hurriedly, your fingers dance across the keys of your phone, the remnants of the stringy mass making mistypes our best friend until it ends up looking more like a keyboard smash than an apology sentence.

‘You alright there?’

The hair on your head would’ve been clawed out by sheer embarrassment if not for the fact that you feel obliged to at least clarify you did not mean to leave him hanging like a beggar on the street, eventually ending up sending a voice message instead to convey your mortification. “Sorry—I read your text message last night, and I forgot to respond because I was really tired, and I was up all day baking and even now I got up early— I'd love to go around the fair with you but only if you still want to go. I know this is kind of last minute now, and you’re probably super busy—” You squeak out, trying to stop yourself from grovelling even further into the ground before the app does you a favour and cuts the message instead. He sends back a text before you can send a follow-up and you can only imagine he’s probably laughing at you behind the screen; after all, how does someone just forget to reply?

“All that I needed was a simple yes, but I'll take the clarification. So, when will you be done with your parents?”

“We can still go??”

”Yes, now how about six?

”Yes, please!”

You wipe your face with your damp hands, breathing out a lengthy sigh now that you have finally averted the crisis known as your mess of a social life. Unfortunately, in the process of your panic, you had flattened all the dough on the rolling board, some sticking to your elbows now too. This was definitely not good hygiene-wise, and so you let out a long huff, and grab the flour for another batch to be made.

Soft blows of wind pass by you, protected by your woollen scarf that’s wrapped around your neck and your thick coat that is lined with the softest fur. As you help adjust the last of the display for the stall, you notice there was a few more stalls, likely not able to keep up with the demand of running it for two days, and so today they all chose to run theirs. After all your bakes had been sold out yesterday, you may have claimed the same mindset and went overboard on the bakes in hopes people had caught on to the little logo on all the soldier’s cups as they walked around. Somehow hanging out with the lieutenant was at the back of your mind right now; you were more focused on adjusting the bow at the edge of the table, right before making sure there were plenty of tissues available for your parents to grab. Not to mention enough paper bags, plates, checking the card machine actually worked, and the pot of tea was at the right temperature and waiting to be served. You’re just about to add a little more icing sugar onto the fresh croissants when a gruff cough echoes behind you. “Ghost?” You spin around, his callsign falling off your lips easily from how many times you stared at the contact in your phone in the past ten hours.

“Mhm, that's me. Ready to go?” You nod quickly, dusting off any stray sugar specks before walking over to him and waving at your parents. He looks a little different, still clad in his hooded jacket and thick gloves, but far more relaxed than yesterday. Due to the hectic nature of running a stall, you barely got a minute to look around, thus missing the chance to fully enjoy the simple happiness that came with every time it got a bit chilly. Orange leaves had long since decayed, leaving the trees bare and allowing a clear view of small specks of white in the darkened sky, now a navy blue even though it's never really that bright in winter. You’re even a little hesitant with where you step, considering the ground is already starting to grow a little icier. It’s been years, you think, since you’ve felt this giddy around wintertime, with university, jobs, and life pushing out the happy things you desperately tried to cling to. At least you always had the bakery to fall back on, and you hoped Ghost felt the same about your pastries.

“No soldiers today?” You tilt your head up at him, looking around the decorated paths to see if there’s a hint of camo between the sparkling fairy lights and wooden stands that make up this market. “No, they’re too busy packin’ up for the holidays.” He murmurs, his hands shoved into his pockets as his boots crunch against stray twigs from a nearby weaving stand, premade hearths hanging from the canopy. You blink at that, having always forgotten that the military base wasn't too far off this small town. After all, you used to wave at the soldiers eagerly when you were little, a loopy smile forever on your lips when they acknowledged you—kind of like the one you wore yesterday. “Oh? Guess you’ll be gone soon then, I guess. Where are you headed back to?” He just shakes his head this time before he eventually starts to walk towards a chestnut stand, intrigued by the man roasting them. “I’m stayin’ at base. Nowhere for me to go.”

Gruff is the only word you can use to describe his tone, and yet you watch as he pays the man for a portion of the roasted chestnuts. He doesn't hesitate to hand you the cup to hold as you grin at him and cradle the warmth in your hands until it cools to an edible temperature. Though you decide not to pry into his last words, instead choosing to indulge your earlier curiosity in which you were dying for an answer. “So… why did you even want to walk around with me?” In truth, he had not the slightest idea himself; all he knew was that he’d been a lonely bastard for too long, and he was sick of it. There you were with your lips pulled wide into a pretty smile every time he went to your shop, and he’d be lying if he said his heart didn’t clench when you realised his own soldiers had sold out your stock. He tried to convince himself that he hadn’t meant to help you out; it was only convenient, and his soldiers were hungry. Instead of dwelling on it too long, he just steals a chestnut, slipping it beneath the privacy of his mask as he crunches on the velvety taste. “Figured you’d have an eye for the good stuff. Your tea isn’t something most would find around here.” That makes you nod, remembering the interaction you had with plenty of people.

“Yeah, had a few tell me that it was nothing like the chai tea bags they get in the shops.” His head turns to you, blatant distaste written in his eyes at whoever had the audacity to ask you that question. It’s funny, you think, that someone's eyes can show you that much emotion.

“Are they bloody stupid? Of course it’s not—it’s fresh! That’s like different by a mile!” He practically scoffs out, crossing his arms firmly as he shakes his head disapprovingly, earning him a bunch of giggles from you, who can only raise a brow at him cheekily. “Oh, are you a tea connoisseur now?”

“Oi, that’s Lieutenant to you, rookie.”

That makes you laugh loudly, his mask unable to stop itself from wrinkling at the corners as he gestures to you to follow him towards a stall. “C’mere, I'm gonna get you somethin.” He points up at the plush toys hanging from a stall you had subconsciously been eyeing whilst you walked, seeing as quite a few girls were carrying them tightly in their arms too. There’s a particular one, a penguin with grey fluffy fur and small eyes but a large beak, looking at you so innocently. It’s adorable, and even if you feel a little shy accepting it from him, you’d be damned if you didn't let him at least try. But then again.. it was the largest one,’ and knowing these stalls, it probably was rigged a little to stop people from getting the really large ones.. “If you get me one, I'll show you the best spots around. A fair trade, no?”

“Deal.”

All that the stall owner can do is watch in shock, jaw dropped, as the lieutenant easily picks up the rifle and hits down all six of the cans in seconds, practically speechless. “This one.” Ghost doesn't wait a second for him, pointing up at the large penguin, and your own jaw was agape too now, having expected a small little plush to carry for the journey.

“Whoa! It’s so fluffy, you really didn't have to, but—“ The words practically spill out your mouth, fumbling with your lips as your chest brims with excitement, now hugging it close to your chest. You can definitely tell he’s smirking now, especially as he ruffles the penguin’s fluffy fur with his hand, nodding in agreement. “Soft like you.”

The pair of you traverse around countless stalls, from fresh churros to a spiced burrito to fill your stomachs. Currently you stood in front of a tea store, one that sold a selection of tea bags rather than anything freshly brewed. Seeing as Ghost really did seem to be somewhat of a big tea enjoyer, you made it your mission to get him an assortment. So whilst he was taking a call, you were haggling the steep price down to something a little more affordable. “Don't you think fifty is a bit much?” You raise a brow, your arms crossed over your chest, which contradicts your calmer tone with something more accusing. “I mean, these are all imported anyway, they’re hardly homemade.”

“Well, they’re the finest quality—“

“No, if that were true, they’d be fresh. Come on, they’ve been sitting there since yesterday now—thirty five is much more reasonable for the effort of importing and covering enough for you to make a profit.” The owner can only sigh and roll her eyes fondly, handing you the selection of tea after your little bargaining. “Alright, have at it. Only because I taught you how to haggle a price that well.”

After his phone call was over, you followed through with your promise, leading him towards a small hill a little out of the town bounds. The further you go, the darker the surroundings around you grow but he stays close behind you, watching your feet in the small chance you fall. Eventually you reach the top of the cobbled steps, revealing an old stone plaza. There’s a shack not too far off, orange light streaming out and the sound of hushed cheers as they exchange drinks. What’s more important to him is the view from here, overlooking the entire market below. Everything had seemed too crowded before, with many bustling past to queue up for some hot doughnuts and little kids dragging their parents for a chance at the hook duck game. Here, it was entirely different; the lights reflected the night sky, a sea of stars in the midst of the darkness, and the soft music seemed so much clearer now.

Finally, you both settle on the edge of the stone, your shoes in the grass, and he peels off his own gloves, noticing how your hands were buried into the penguin’s fur for warmth. You take it graciously, slipping it over your iced fingers before rummaging through your own coat pocket. “A present for my lieutenant.”

“Your lieutenant? And I thought spoiling you was my job?“

“Well, call me the colonel since it’s mine now.”

He rolls his eyes up at you, but the affection is still visible, opening the box to look at the variety inside. Each one seemed to originate from a different part of the world, and even though he thought he tried most of the flavours, there was a lot more to learn. He can't help but meet your eager face. “Fine... Thank you. But I'm getting you one last dessert for that.”

Unfortunately, just like how his life had been going so far, everything good must come to an end. His phone startles you as it buzzes loudly, his free hand fishing it out before reading the messages there. His teeth grit in frustration, not wanting to levar you so early. You’re better than that, offering him a small grin in understanding. “Military emergency?” He wants to apologize, promise you that he’ll make it up to you, and give you something even better but he can't bring himself to.

He knows he could never be that soft.

With a gruff nod, he texts back hurriedly and pulls his mask a little higher upon his face. “Yeah..duty calls. Sorry.”You shake your head, waving your hands in front of you to reassure him, even if you were already missing the warmth of his palm in yours. He pushes himself up, and you follow as he nods for you to follow. “I’ll take you back to your parents' stall.” He offers and you nod with a small smile on your lips. That was much better than being left alone while he ran off—he didn’t owe you anything, and yet he still chose to make sure you got back safely.

But before he could take his third step, your eyes are widening, hands grasping his arm and desperately pulling him back. The touch catches him in surprise yet somehow exhilarating all the same, and thus he accidentally lets his guard down just enough for you to actually manage to pull him backwards. “The ice!” You squeak out as his foot slides, making him stumble back into you slightly, your grip now squeezing him. You couldn’t possibly catch a man of his stature, no less a person of a more regular size, and yet you still reached out for him and did your best to stop him. He’d be surprised if he’d even feel anything from falling ass flat on a bit of ice, knowing the extent of his usual injuries. Still, here you were like some guardian angel, doing your best to warn him.

“Thanks..” He mumbles, glancing down at your hands still on him before you hurriedly pull back, a nervous look on your face as you sheepishly grin.

“Sorry.. didn't want you to get hurt..”

“Guess we have to be extra careful, huh? I don't want you falling either.”

His now bare fingers gently nudge against your hand, wordlessly asking to hold it. A sinner would be his title if he said he didn't adore the way your eyes widened in wonder, grasping his own hand a little tighter and nodding, cheeks flushed from him and not the cold that bites your cheeks.

He keeps his grasp on you firm as he leads you down the cobbled stairs and back towards the centre of town, the little queue outside your stall coming into view. Reluctantly you part your hands, stepping back as you glance over at the amount of sales made already, a smile curving your cheeks higher. “I’ll see you again sometime soon… Lieutenant.” You hum, a little disappointed but genuine nonetheless. Today had been entirely perfect for you, like something you’d see in the synopsis of a movie. He nods gruffly again, steps a bit forward, and tucks your scarf a little tighter around your neck. “Simon.” He breathes out, voice a little raspy from how long it’s been since he’s said it from his own tongue.

“Huh?” Your head tilts up, confused.

Giving the large penguin plush a little pat, he steps back. “My real name’s Simon.”

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@bieberismysoulmate @hidden-treasures21

[eyesthecolorofarson]

Soul healing

Damian was angry.

He was one of their best fighters, knew the layout of Arkham like the back of his hand, AND was on good terms with both Riddler and Ivy! Why wasn’t he allowed to help in the breakout? What was the point of making him babysit!?!

Father had said he was to keep the child safe but he’d neglected to say why. And honestly, the child was three months old. Who would be hunting down an infant, why would they be hunting down an infant, and what would they do with an infant? If anyone was after the child, that is.

The infant in question was babbling incoherently and rolling around on her stomach. She squealed and he huffed. All he knew about her was the information in her file, which was surprisingly little. Three months old, no name and orphaned, she was of Brazilian heritage and her blood tests located her place of origin as Blüdhaven. She was moved to Gotham to be fostered, which is one of the stupidest decisions he’s ever heard of.

The foster parent in question was Daniel ‘Danny’ Nightingale. Nightingale showed incredible intelligence, graduating upper primary school two years early and high school in two. Currently a student at Gotham University Nightingale was double majoring in chemistry and aerospace engineering when he decided to apply for a New Jersey foster license, which he was given due to already having one in both Wisconsin and Ohio as well as his incredible record.

Nightingale was in the room with him and the infant. He was 14 years of age and had short black hair much like himself, but Nightingale was disturbingly pale and had almost ultramarine blue eyes. Nightingale was sitting with the child in front of his place on the couch. There was a gate in a circle connected to each end of the couch that contained a multitude of children’s toys and a few books. The infant was currently playing with a keychain-like toy while Nightingale entertained her.

One part of him wanted to sit and stew in his contempt, but the other, the son of the Bat, was deeply curious. What was so special about this child that it warranted him–an Al Ghul, Robin, heir to the mantle of Bat and Demons Throne–to act as bodyguard? Was it her heritage—correction, what was her heritage, because there was no other reason for her to be hunted. What else could it possibly be?

But when he began paying attention to the infant, it made him realize that the child was not the oddity he was sent to watch, but Nightingale. Nightingale acted normal for the most part, but when the infant made a certain sound–a loud shriek–his pupils would retract and slit before expanding again, like a cats. That wasn’t the oddest thing he noticed.

Nightingales teeth were sharp, and the more he babbled and cooed at the infant the more teeth Damian could see. It appeared all his teeth were canines except for the teeth in the normal place for canines. Those four teeth were long and thin, like a vipers. When the light hit his eyes his pupils shimmered, like a cat or an owls. His ears, which were slightly pointy, twitched every now and then. His nails were noticeably sharp as well, and his voice would sometimes distort. As if a record player were malfunctioning. And the infant would respond! Respond in that same distorted tongue. That loud shriek would turn into a two second wail that made his heartbeat rise to his ears and his vision blur. Then she would giggle or coo and it would end. He had to do something. Those wails were coming more and more often now, and she was starting to lose shape.

“What is this?” Damian snapped. “Don’t worry,” Nightingale told him gently, “this is normal for her species.” He blinked and processed his words. Species. She wasn’t human. “I’m surprised the Bat picked up on it,” Nightingale continued, “Humans aren’t usually susceptible to this sort of thing. But I also sorta expected it? Because he’s, y’know, Batman.”

Nightingale smiled sweetly as she shrieked again, her outline blurring and walls shaking. He could feel his teeth rattling in his head. Suddenly Nightingales jaw unhinged with a quick clicking sound, as if his bones were straining and breaking, and an even louder whistle-hissing sound came from between his now many, many teeth. She stopped, her mouth in an ‘O’ and her eyes wide. He didn’t notice before, but an infant her age shouldn’t have teeth. Especially that sharp. And her eyes were a light yellow color, like straw.

Then she giggled, and began babbling like she didn’t just use a sonic voice ability similar to Black Canary’s. “Dawww,” Nightingale cooed, tickling her, “she’s developing quickly! Garalings usually only start fawning when they start walking.” Damian watched warily. He didn’t want to get any closer, in all honesty. His ears were ringing.

But he was curious, so, so, curious. What was a Garaling? What was fawning and why did they do it after they began walking? Could all Garalings do this ‘fawning’? Compared to other Garalings, exactly how fast is she developing? Is early development common?

Start with the most important. “What is a ‘Garaling’?” Nightingale smiled at him again. “Garalings are an extradimensional species that reside in a place called The Valley. They act as lords of nature and patrons of a chosen plant or animal. Her fawning,” he tapped her nose and she giggled, “will soon turn into either an animal sound or a sound of her own.”

“Fascinating,” he muttered, “is it an attack?” “More like a call to arms,” Nightingale leaned back, relaxed, as the infant shook her toy. “Gathering her chosen animal or plant for whatever she needs.” Damian watched her chew on the toy, drooling and babbling.

“What are you?” “I’m dead. Well, sort of. How to explain this…” He thought for a moment. “Think of me….as the line between life and death, but not exactly limbo. More like I move the line. Sometimes more dead, and sometimes more alive. But always a bit of both.” Damian couldn’t help but be reminded of Todd. And himself.

“Your not from this earth.” Nightingale smiled sadly. “I used to be. But not anymore. Even so I can’t bring myself to fully leave, though I probably should.” “Why? What makes you stay?” Nightingales eyes drifted away, back to the infant. “I want to continue the life I never got to finish. Experience the things I never got to experience. Do what I always wanted to do, even if it’s too late.”

He could understand that. Nightingale looked to be his age. To be ripped from life so soon was something he worried about constantly. Knowing that Nightingale was…..He understood wanting to stay, to pretend to be alive.

“What brought her here?” Nightingales face tightened. “Cultists.” He sounded annoyed. “They exist in every world and their always fond of sacrificing children. Even though my summons specifically say if I’m offered children or anyone unwilling I’ll destroy the cult.” It took Damian a moment to understand the implications.

“….who are you?” Nightingale smiled at him again, and for a second his outline wavered like the infants had. “I am Danny Phantom, High King of the Infinite Realms, the afterlife dimension. I rule over everything and everyone who’s died, if they’ve stayed dead or not. I am The Warm Winter, The Space Between, The Brightest Star. I act as Defender Of The Undead.”

“And what do you plan on doing with her? Why did you take her if you do not accept living offerings?” It was suspicious. Even though Nightingale–Phantoms titles painted him as benevolent, and his stance on sacrifice was very pacifistic, Damian knew better than to trust him just on those facts alone.

But he was being very honest, and it made him wonder why. Compared to Phantom, he was microscopic, a nuisance even. Why was he answering all his questions with seemingly endless transparency? “Because her parents were apart of the cult that offered her, which is unfortunately a common case. I had to bring her here because I already have another offering child going to school here.”

“Another?” He tilted his head, eyes narrowing. “How many children have you kept?” He suddenly had a feeling. Not a bad one, just…a feeling. Phantom thought for a moment. “Well the first was Sirius, she’s from a dimension where people are made completely out of star matter. She doesn't live with me anymore since she’s all grown up now, but she’s a really popular singer in the Realms! I can see if she set up her inter dimensional and universal site, her music is great!”

“Casey is my second, he was offered when he was about ten and he’s from a universe that’s essentially the same as this one but everyone has magic. He’s currently in his home dimension in school as well. He specializes in hydrokinese but he’s trying to learn Essokineses. He’s a really quick learner but has a tendency to either give zero or a hundred, no in between.”

“A few months after that I was offered a pair of twins in their twenties. Well, they were built to look to be in their twenties, their actual age is, as of now, seven. Their from a world where hyper realistic androids have no rights and are destroyed if they develop sentience, so when they did they were offered to me because they thought it would get through my rule. They named themselves Poppy and Posies. They don’t like to leave the Realm so their being homeschooled. They really enjoy learning and playing, and Poppy’s favorite thing to do is dance and Posies is jewelry making.”

“I got another infant from a dimension where everyone’s a centaur a few weeks ago. I named her Amaranthe and her lower half’s a sheep! She’s so cute. She’s not the best at walking yet but she loves jumping whenever she can. She likes playing perk-a-boo with the handmaidens. And the child going here is Aiden, he was offered a few months ago. He was originally from Kentucky but everyone in his hometown was apart of the cult and Lady Gotham likes me so we’re here now. He’s still rattled but being on earth helps him so he can stay as long as he likes. He wants to get into a trade school.”

“And this—“ Phantom tapped the infant on the nose, who giggled and grabbed his finger. “Is Velvet! Like I said she’s a Garaling from The Valley. I literally got her two weeks ago so her fake identity is pretty rushed and I think Batman could tell which is why you’re here. But I need to be here for Aiden, so she’s probably going to stay with me for at least another four weeks or until her room in the Realms is ready.”

“You have an adoption problem,” He groaned. God forbid his Father learn about this even though he knew he had to show him the footage being collected from his mask. Phantom laughed. “Probably. But it’s not like I could just give them away to someone else. Well, I could. But I don’t want to. I don’t have any family other than my sister, and she’s still alive. So it’s nice to have people running around the castle.”

He respected it. Even though he was suspecting Phantom was older than he appeared, his physical appearance was probably the age he died at, he was still going out of his way to take in not only traumatized adults and children but infants. He’d never dealt with infants but he had no doubt that they were a handful, even though Phantom said he had handmaidens he didn’t seem like the type to let them do everything.

“Have you had any problems with vigilantes such as myself? I know Batman can be quite forceful and rude if he encounters something he does not understand.” Phantom allowed Velvet to shake his fingers with surprising strength. “Nope! I’m very good at staying under the radar. That’s why I was so surprised when Batman sent you. Like I said, humans aren’t usually capable of picking up on things like the undead. But it’s probably that contaminated ecto you and him are covered in. Can I ask you about that, by the way?”

Contaminated Ecto? “Whatever do you mean by ‘contaminated’? What is this ecto?” Phantom held his hand up and Damian watched, fascinated and horrified, as Lazarus water bled from his skin and rose into a ball. “This is ectoplasm! Every ghost is made of it. It’s our blood, flesh and atoms all in one. Judging by the look on your face you’ve seen it before?”

Damian cleared his suddenly dry throat. “Uh, yes. We call it Lazarus water, and it comes from Lazarus Pits.” Phantoms eyes narrowed. “Pits? Like, a natural or artificial hole in the ground? It doesn’t move or flow in and out? It just sits there?” Damian told him yes and explained the way the League used the Pits, the effects of being revived or healed by the water. By the end Phantoms carefree attitude had left and in its place was someone who held himself like a king.

“Let me put Velvet to bed.” He waved his hand and the gate and various toys began to float and put themselves away as he picked up Velvet and walked away. He was alone for a few minutes, watching as the toys stacked neatly in a toy box and thinking. There was a whole species of people made out of Lazarus Water. Ectoplasm. Pure ectoplasm. What he’d experienced, had contact with, was apparently so corrupted that Phantom had noticed it.

Phantom came back and sat next to him, running a hand through his hair. “Ok, so; ectoplasm has a mind of its own. It connects with and enhances emotions. That’s why a lot of ghosts are angry or sad. Because the ectoplasm connects with the feelings they had when they were dying, and that’s why ghosts are so emotional. It’s all we’re made of. Some people don’t become ghosts but their emotions do. We call those blob ghosts.”

Phantom looked disturbed. “Ectoplasm can’t just sit there or else it’ll start to deteriorate, mold. It’ll become poisonous, borderline radioactive. It needs to be moving and connected with more ectoplasm to filter it out. Yes it does having insane healing properties but it’s not supposed to hurt you. Never supposed to hurt you. Again it has a mind of its own. Most ectoplasm wants to create new life, heal and help. If this Lazarus water is hurting people, it’s because it wants to. And that’s really, really bad.”

“You said it was boiling?” Damian nodded. “That’s also not good. Ectoplasm is supposed to be cold. That’s why most people who contact ghosts feel cold or the temperature drop. I’ve never heard of ectoplasm boiling before.” Phantom looked very troubled. “You said these pools are controlled by the League of Assassins?” At his nod he waved his hand and a small white circle appeared next to him.

Through the circle he could see only what appeared to be a bookshelf. Phantom traced the spine of a few before pulling one out and closing the circle, flipping through the book. Damian leaned over to read. It seemed to be a list of people. At first he didn’t recognize them, but then the name The Sensei appeared at the top of a page labeled ‘The Demons-Al Ghul’

It was a family tree. One he’d seen and studied more than a million times. It showed his ancestors, great grandfather, Ra’s, his Mother, Dusan, Nyssa, even Mara and I’son. And him. Phantom pointed at his name. “Is this you?” He swallowed.

There wasn’t any real point in lying. He already knew, but if his Father found out he’d get in trouble despite the recording showing Phantom had figured it out himself. “Uh, yes. Yes it is.” Phantom nodded then flipped more pages before coming across a map. He folded the page out and Damian saw it was seven small but detailed maps. Maps of the locations of the Pits.

“Holy shit,” he muttered, “Phantom you can not let anyone find this book. If this got into the wrong hands—“ Phantom laughed. “Don’t worry, Damian. These kinds of books are only in the castle library. No one other than me and my family can get in there.” He flipped through a few more pages before coming across one with a sketch of the Lazarus Pits. Phantoms eyes scanned the pages quickly, growing more concerned the more he read.

“Do you have any of these symptoms? The anger, lost time and enhancement?” Damian bit his lip. “I…used to. The Pit rage and blackouts faded after time and I have no enhancement that I know of. But, one of my brothers, Jason Todd…” Phantom muttered the name, opening another circle and pulling out another book. He flipped through it quicker than before and pointed at a page near the back.

“Jason Peter Todd-Wayne?” Damian nodded. Phantom sighed again. “He’s a revenant, an angry spirit that was put to rest and then forced back into life. It’s no wonder these symptoms stuck with him; this Pit probably attached itself to his barely formed core. It’s a miracle his body’s still functioning.”

“What’s a core?” Damian leaned over and red more names in the book, all unrecognizable. “A core is a ghosts soul. Each core has a sort of unique elemental power or structure to them. I have an ice core.” Phantom opened his hand and Damian watched as wisps of ice and snow rose out of his palm.

“Ok, so; a ghosts age depends on how long they’ve been dead for and how developed their core is. So someone who dies at a hundred will suddenly become a newborn ghost. Ghosts get more powerful with time, and depending on how violently they died they might become newborn ghosts who are already really powerful. I was one of those instances.”

Phantom opened another circle and pulled out another book. “Every new ghost will usually search for or be found by an older ghost who’ll become their caretaker or ‘parent’. These ghosts are supposed to teach the new ghosts about their powers, what type of ghost they are, how their religious beliefs will affect their afterlife. I had a really, really old ghost named Clockwork.”

Phantom flipped through the pages again and showed him one. It seemed to be a medical diagram of a ghost. It was fascinating; they didn’t appear to have muscles or organs, but rather this core acted as not only their stomach and heart but their brain. In fact their whole body seemed to be one big vein, the whole thing circulating this ectoplasm throughout it.

“Finding a new ‘parent’ is really, really important. Like I said before ghosts are nothing but emotions. So when we get lonely, it’s like a major depressive episode. We start hurting ourselves and others, we do things that go against our beliefs or moral codes, we do anything to bring any sort of attention to ourselves. Is this similar to anything Jason went through after being forced back?”

“I believe so? I don’t know what he was really thinking, but he definitely did horrible things that he would never have done before.” Damian didn’t miss the wording Phantom used. Forced. Todd didn’t come back to life, he was dragged back. Ra’s wanted to come back, his Father wanted to come back, he wanted to come back. But Todd had been put to rest somehow. Todd had moved on.

“If Todd had moved on before being forced back, why would he react so violently? If he’d been at peace, why all the anger?” Phantom closed the book and pulled out another, flipping through it to another diagram, but this time it was of a core. It was cut up the way he’d seen cells be in schoolbooks. “I honestly don’t entirely know, and I would have to see Jason or take him to one of my doctor's, but I think it’s because of the Pit.”

“As I said, ectoplasm is slightly sentient. But if this Lazarus water is working the same way normal ectoplasm does but maliciously, then Jason’s entire core might be made out of this corrupt ecto. It might have connected with one of his dying feelings, anger, and blew it out of proportion.” Damian bit the inside of his cheek. Todd would not be happy to learn his new soul is made out of mold and corruption. He’d take it the completely wrong way.

“How would we fix something like this? If a core is every organ, how would we get rid of the Lazarus water his very soul is now made of?” Phantom thought again. “Maybe we could flush it? Like, get him pills or an IV of pure ectoplasm and try to push it out. I don’t really know, but I know a doctor who might.” Damian hesitated before speaking again.

“…Would the Lazarus water fight back? Is it sentient enough to do that? What if by doing this it inadvertently harms him?” Phantoms made a displeased sound. He snapped the book closed and put it back in the portal before turning to him. “I don’t know, but I can find out. The book said there’s one of theses Pits in the Batcave, is that true?” He saw where this was going.

“My father would never let you in,” he started, “But you can bring me some.” Phantom finished. “I can get you some transport-safe tubes from one of my doctors, and they can look it over and find out how it works. If we find out a way to purify it, we may be able to use that to purify all the pits.” It was optimistic, but hell, he could use some hope in his life. And if he got caught, the mask footage would be his saving grace.

“If it is for the purpose of curing Todd of his Pit madness, then I will do whatever needs to be done. Where will you get these containers?” Phantom smiled and opened another portal, this time showing what looked like a laboratory table filled with beakers and containers with a green tint. Phantom grabbed five vials with stoppers and tongs. He handed them to him, and then grabbed a rack and gave him that as well.

“Want me to open one to the Batcave?” “If you wouldn’t mind.” That’ll make it far easier to get to and from, and lessen his chances of getting caught. Phantom stood and opened a much larger white circle, and it showed the closely guarded Lazarus Pit that was deep in the cave. He quickly filled the vials and went back in the apartment. “What now?” Phantom secured the tops with ice before replying, “Now I take this to the Far Frozen. That’s where the best doctors in the Infinite Realms are, they’re a group of Yetis.”

“How long will it take you? How long will it take for them to test it?” “I don’t know,” Phantom opened a larger portal, showing a frozen tundra. There seemed to be a large cave of ice in the distance. “But I’ll be back as soon as possible. We’ll find a way to get rid of the Lazarus Pits, and purify your brother. I promise.” He said it with such certainty and confidence that for a second Damian fully believed him.

In a flash of white Phantom’s hair had turned a snow white and his eyes Lazarus–ectoplasm green. He was wearing a black suit similar to a superhero’s with white gloves and boots, and he had what looked to be a crown of northern lights. He had a white cape that’s inside showed stars, and the absolute power he radiated almost knocked Damian down. Phantom smiled at him, reassuringly and calm, then stepped into the portal. It closed without a sound, and Damian was left with his thoughts.

[gay-dorito-dust]

Taglist: @your-favorite-god @cens0r3d @lovelyteenagebeard

Heeding Aemond’s words, you decided that an audience with Cannibal was required. So in the dead of night you slipped out of the red keep through the secrete passages you’ve learned thanks to Aegon, almost undetected had you not almost collided with a rat catcher who was accompanied by the cutest dog you’ve did see, before fleeing into the very same woods upon your first encounter with the behemoth of legend.

Once you got to the cave Helaena’s words had been proven true, Cannibal had been waiting for you as the silhouette of his head could be seen poked out of the dark, just as a pair dark green eyes like Greek fire looking directly at you but you weren’t afraid like last time.

‘Cannibal.’ You greeted as you bowed before the dragon, whom let out an almost purring sound at the sign of respect shown towards him. After all many people who tried to claim him expected him to submit to their will, but Cannibal knew his worth and vowed to never allow a pathetic creature to ride him, but one who’d inevitably catch his eye by accident.

‘I’m going to cut the formalities and be upfront with you and that is because time is limited and I have been so foolishly trying to avoid a predestined fate.’ You tell the dragon who only watched you with curiosity that it made you wonder how many others had been giving the same curtesy, not many you presumed but now wasn’t the time to falter when morning was fast approaching. ‘People, powerful people are going to try and stake claim to you through me in hopes of getting you to yield.’

Cannibal lets out a powerful roar that you felt within your chest, resonating with you in a way that you didn’t think was possible. You could feel his hatred for cowards, weaklings and people who felt the need to claim more than was needed, a spark has been light between the two of you and it was only starting to grow to a fierce but stubborn flame.

‘I had a feeling you would hate that.’ You told the dragon as you moved closer all the while he looked at you, steam puffing from his nostrils, his eyes practically glowing like hellish pits of fire amidst the night. Cannibal was beautiful as he was terrifying and you were growing to like the thrill of having him as your companion, your friend and not just a dragon you simply rode for convince. ‘So here is my proposal, should you accept, you take me as your rider an you shall keep your freedom for I will not clip your wings as you are a dragon through and through, the sky is your domain and I shall not take that from you.’ You added as you watched Cannibal lower his head so that he could meet you eye to eye, interested in what you had to say.

‘Also, there’s just one other thing that I may ask of you cannibal.’ The dragon only huffed as though telling you to go on.

‘Consume any dragon and their rider should their boastfulness overtakes their common sense,’ you told him in seriousness, ‘make them remember to fear the name Cannibal for it is not just a name to take lightly.’ You then took a step back from the dragon and held out of your hand, palm out flat as the nerves within you went wild, this was by far the stupidest and most terrifying thing you have ever done but still you had to see it through. ‘Do we have a deal?’ You finished.

Cannibal studied you for a moment, his eyes looking deep into your own that you felt as though he could see your soul, your true being, before moving his head closer to you and pressing his snout against your hand. It was rough, warm but alive and you couldn’t help but smile at the fact that you had just made history.

You had just became Cannibal’s first rider.

[carlottawllms]

Say Nothing Is Over

Mason Mount x Reader Angst / Fluff

There’s not much to say about this other than buckle up and trust the process. It’s worth it! 🤞🏼

Enjoy 🩷 As always, feedback is very much appreciated.

When Jaz and Sam had chosen you as Summer's godmother, no one had expected that there would come a time when you were no longer part of the family.

You’d been there for what felt like forever. First as Mason’s best friend and then later as his girlfriend. It had never been you or Mason, but you and Mason. Like two peas in a pod or attached at the hip, you’d always appeared as a pair.

In the beginning Mason had always had his arm around your shoulders and then later, once you’d eventually figured out you were actually in love with each other, he’d switched to holding your hand at all times.

It had been your perfect little world. The best person in the entire universe had been by your side, ready to fight anything and anyone just to make sure you were okay. Mason had been your everything, your greatest love and the one person you’d wanted to have in your life forever.

But then things had somehow gone downhill. Constant arguments about the stupidest things, nagging, stress and a lack of togetherness had been daily companions, causing both of your patience levels to constantly run at an all-time low.

You couldn’t even tell when it had started or why exactly, but at some point, you’d developed the feeling that Mason was no longer interested in you at all and that his thoughts were constantly set on football. But when you’d tried to tell him, he’d jumped straight into defence mode, claiming you weren’t supportive anymore and only cared about yourself.

Instead of talking to one another properly, the arguments had become louder, the words more hurtful by the day and at some point, you’d even been sleeping in separate rooms.

And that had been the point of no return for you. One morning, when you’d woken up in that bloody guest room again, you’d decided that things couldn’t go on like this. You’d reached a fork in the road: either break up or give it another chance and because neither of you had been ready to let the other go, you’d decided to take a break.

You’d moved out, so both of you would have some space and could think everything through, but the problem was that the break had been going on for almost six months now and while you had had reached out to him, Mason had simply ignored you.

It wasn’t exactly looking promising, but despite that, the thought of your relationship not being fixable had never crossed your mind.

At least not until today.

It was Summer’s birthday and although you and Mason were on weird terms right now, there was no way you’d disappoint your favourite mini human by missing her birthday. 

“y/n, hi.” Jaz pulled you into a hug right after she’d opened the door. “Oh, it’s so lovely to see you. We’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too. How is the tiny devil treating you?”

The first weeks after Mila was born had been difficult for the small family. She’d been a bit of a cry-baby, basically screaming through the night unless she was placed in the same bed as her parents and Jaz and Sam had had a difficult time juggling the needs of both of their girls.

“Way better, thank the heavens and the earth.”, Jaz laughed. “I think she’s finally accepted that she’s not in her mummy’s tummy anymore and has to face the real world now.”

“Yeah, yeah, the world is a scary place.”, you chuckled.

“C’mon in, the birthday girl is already impatiently waiting for her favourite auntie.”

Truth be told, you were a little nervous as you followed Jaz inside. Today would be the first time since taking a break that you’d see Mason. At least you expected him to make an appearance as so far, he’d never missed his god-daughter’s birthday, and whilst you’d spent the last days preparing yourself for every possible outcome of today, the thought of seeing him made you feel a little sick.

You didn’t know what to expect after he’d practically ghosted you and you were terrified, that he’d found closure and didn’t even think about your paused relationship anymore, whilst all you wanted was to talk to him and win him back. You couldn’t imagine a life without him, and you desperately hoped he felt the same.

The second you stepped foot into the hallway though, all your worries fell from the back of your mind as Summer already shot around the corner.

“Auntie y/n!”, she screeched, the wide smile on her face making the dimples in her cheeks pop. You knew you were biased, but in your opinion, Summer was the cutest little munchkin ever. “You made it!”

You didn’t hesitate to squad down to her height and when she eventually reached you on her small legs, she fell straight into your arms.

“Of course, I did, Sums.”, you hummed, hugging her close to your body. “Happy birthday, princess.” Pulling away slightly, you smooched both her cheeks before reaching behind to hand her the presents you’d got her.

The little girl jumped up and down excitedly at the sight of the small pile of wrapped things, eyes growing even bigger when she noticed the Peppa Pig wrapping paper.

“Thank you, auntie y/n.”

“Take them over to the others please, Summer. We’ll open them later.”

The small pout on her lips didn’t go unnoticed by you or her mother, but Jaz was strict when it came to certain structures and when she didn’t budge, Summer trotted into the living room and put your presents into the living room to the others she’d already received. Ready to be opened later.

Just like every other family, the Mount’s had their traditions and one of them was the way birthdays were celebrated: First was spending time with the guests, then came cutting the birthday cake and only after everyone had a slice of cake and was sat together, the birthday girl or boy got to unwrap the presents.

It had been Debbie’s and Tony’s way of teaching their kids to be grateful for the time they got to spend with their family and friends rather than focussing only on the presents and Jaz and Sam had been happy to take over that tradition.

“I’ll have to check in on Mila for a second. You’ll be fine?”

“Yeah, sure I’ll just see if I can find your mum.”, you smiled, a little unsure if you wanted to enter the scene all by yourself. What if he was the first you came face to face with? What if-

“He’s not here yet.”, Jaz said softly.

“Thank you.”, you breathed. “It’s silly, I know, it’s just…I haven’t seen him since erm…never mind. You go make sure Mila is alright and I’ll look for Debbie.”

Jaz looked like she was going to say something else, but eventually decided against it and nodded. “Talk to you in a bit.”

Now that the paralysing weight of facing Mason straight away was taken off your shoulders, you quickly made your way inside, greeting Summer’s old and young party guests until you found Debbie in the kitchen.

“Even at your granddaughter's birthday party, you can't help it, can you?”, you laughed as you caught her slicing some apples on the counter.

“You know me too well, don’t you?” Debbie was quick in pulling you in for a hug before settling her hands on your shoulders, holding you an armlength away. The bright smile on her face told you all about how happy she was to have you here and you hoped that your expression mirrored hers. “It’s so good to have you here, y/n. How have you been?”

“Good. I’ve been good.”, you nodded, hoping you’d been somewhat convincing, but when she raised her eyebrows at you, and you noticed the attempt had failed, you sighed. “I’ve been better, to be honest, but I’ll be fine. You know what they say, bad weeds grow tall.”  

“Oh, y/n.”, she smiled sympathetically. “We don’t understand what’s going on either. Jaz tried to talk to him, and I think Lewis gave him a bit of a talking to and we thought it had worked, but then from one day to the next, he’d shut down completely.”

You knew they all only meant well, but Mason was still their son and brother, and it didn't feel right for them to take sides with you like that.

“I appreciate it a lot, but please don’t get too involved, Debs. This is between me and Mason and no matter what happens, I’ll be alright. Okay?”

“Of course, it’s just…if you need to talk, we’re here for you.” Debbie pulled you in for another hug and when you felt her kissing the top of your head and your eyes welled up, you had to bite the insides of your cheeks to keep it together.

A little while later, you and Debbie joined Tony outside. He was busy preparing the barbecue for later, but when he noticed you by his wife’s side, he quickly let go of the tool and pulled you in for a hug.

“Long time no see.”, he smiled, patting you on the shoulder. “You’re alright?”

The three of you had a little chat, simply catching up with each other and you were grateful that neither of them mentioned your unclear relationship status again. In fact, Tony’s easy-going nature and his jokes had made you forget about your worries altogether and you almost felt as if you could actually enjoy the party, but then Jaz hurried into the garden.

There was this apologetic look in her eyes when they met yours, leaving you a little confused. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know…I just…it’s…y/n, I didn’t know, I’m so sorry.”  

You were about to ask what had happened, but before you could, Mason walked through the door. With his hand clasped around someone else’s.

Your heart dropped to your stomach at the sight of him with another woman; a sick feeling taking over almost immediately and the longer you looked at them, the more you felt like you were about to throw up any second now.

She was beautiful. Tall and leggy, with shiny hair and a pretty smile and she was dressed as if she came straight out of Vogue magazine. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that she was everything you weren’t.

The burning feeling in your chest increased the longer you stood there, paralysed and rooted to the spot and as much as you hated yourself for it, you could already feel the tears burning behind your eyes, scarily close to spilling over.

You hadn’t known you were actually over.

“Mase erm…that’s a surprise.”, Debbie said and even in your state you could tell that she was trying her best to be nice about it, but the disappointment in her youngest son was more than obvious. “We didn’t know you’d bring someone.”

“Yeah, well, it was a spontaneous decision.”, Mason explained flatly, his gaze just about skimming yours as if it was the most normal thing in the world. “This is Maya.”

Someone wrapped their arm around your shoulder, and you suspected it was Tony, but you couldn’t muster up the strength to look at him as all sounds around you blurred into a dull hum, whilst your own heartbeat was threatening to burst your eardrums.

“Sorry, I erm…can’t…I have to…I can’t do this.”

Regardless of what it looked like, you pulled away from Tony's grip and hurried towards the patio door. The tears you’d managed to hold back when he’d arrived were streaming down your cheeks now and you angrily wiped them away as you passed Mason and his model.

You felt humiliated and betrayed. For months, you’d hoped that he missed you too and that you could somehow make things work again, but very obviously you’d been fooling yourself.

Once in the safety of Jaz's guest room, you were finally able to let go of everything. The second you curled up in bed, the sobs you had been able to hold back downstairs started to wreck your body. With your hands flat over your mouth, you tried to make as little sounds as possible, but the thought of Mason being downstairs with her made it difficult to keep it together.

It hurt. It hurt so much you didn’t think anything before had ever been this painful. It was a slap across the face, and you weren’t sure you could ever recover from that.

The image of his hand around hers was burned into your brain and you didn't think you could ever forget it.

Him holding your hand had been one of your favourite things in your relationship. The way yours was so much smaller and entirely engulfed by his had always given you a feeling of safety and because Mason had known that there had barely been a situation in which he hadn’t reached for your hand to hold it.

You missed it. You missed him. And you weren’t sure how to survive now that it was obviously over.

-

The moment you left, it became dead quiet in the garden. Everyone seemed to try and get their head around what had just happened. Jaz had to pull herself together not to smack her little brother, Lewis tried his best not to explode in front of everyone and Debbie and Tony simply looked at each other, flabbergasted and unable to say something.

You were a like a family member to the Mounts; a little sister to Lewis and Jaz, so it didn’t come as a surprise that they were just as protective of you as they were of their biological siblings.

"Wow, fucking fantastic, Mason," Jaz hissed. "I'll go check on her."

Mason's gaze switched back and forth between his parents and his brother as he wondered what had just happened. He felt like he was in some sort of film and people had forgotten to hand him the script, so no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make sense of the situation.

“You and me, kitchen. Now.”, Lewis growled as he grabbed Mason’s arm and pulled him inside rather harshly. The latter stumbled a little, having trouble keeping up with Lewis, but it wasn’t long until the two of them reached the kitchen and the door fell closed behind them with a rather loud bang.

“What’s going on?” With his innocent question Mason unintentionally made his brother even more furious and he only realised it when Lewis’ hard eyes met his own.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? Huh?”, he asked. “What made you think that showing up with some woman is a good idea when you knew exactly that y/n would be here? Is there even anything going on in that brain of yours?”

“Why would I not bring someone? You’re making it sound as if I’ve murdered someone or something.”

“Did you hit your head or something?” Lewis shoved his little brother against the counter, trying to knock some sense into him. He’d never thought Mason, the one who talked the world of you, would be capable of doing this, of hurting you like this.

“I don’t get why this is such a big deal now, Lew. It’s not like she-“

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Mason? You've seen how y/n is doing and you're here now acting like this isn't a problem. Apart from the fact that your goddaughter's birthday is anything but the right time to introduce your latest addition to us, don't you think you should at least have had the decency to speak to y/n and be honest with her?”

The more Lewis spoke, the angrier Mason became. Yeah maybe it hadn’t been the most thought-through decision and it certainly hadn’t been tactful either, but after what he’d been told two weeks ago, he’d been petty enough to go through with it all.

“Being honest with her? Look, I know you all love her and consider her family, but that doesn’t mean that she can’t do wrong, you know?”, Mason hissed.

“This is not about her, Mason. This is about the fact that that you brought a woman before ending things with her. I don’t know what happened between you two because she didn’t want to go behind your back and you refused to talk to us, but you were on a break, Mason, a fucking break.”

Lewis ran his hand through his hair in desperation as he didn’t recognise his own brother anymore. “This is not who you are. What’s going on, Mase?”

“I just think it’s unfair that what she did is okay, but I am portrayed as the worst person in the world because I bring Maya.”

Mason watched how Lewis’ furious expression changed into a confused frown. “What she did? Mason what the hell happened? A few days ago she told me that she hopes you’ll figure it out together and-“

“Oh, she did, yeah? Then why would she go on a date with someone, huh?” Mason hated how only the thought of it made his tummy churn uncomfortably. “Two weeks ago, Woody saw her in one of those fancy restaurants in Manchester. Black dress, hair put up nicely in a bun and opposite of her a man. Dark blonde hair and apparently looking like he came straight out of GQ or something.”

“And you really think she’d do that when you’re not officially over?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think, Lew. Woody saw her. It’s facts.”

“No, it’s not Mason.”, Lewis exclaimed, baffled that his brother thought you could do something like that after all these years he’d spent with you. “She’s upstairs crying her little heart out because you brought someone else? Why the fuck would she do that if she didn’t care about you anymore? If she didn’t love you anymore?”

“Then why would she-“

“The guy she went out with? It was James, for God’s sake.”, he interrupted Mason. “You remember? The guy who requested an interview with you not too long ago? The guy who wants to write about ‘Together for short lives’? He was only in Manchester for the day and because I was with you, shooting that Nike campaign, I asked y/n to go and coordinate everything with him. She knows the business and only wants the best for you, so obviously she went. That’s all. It wasn’t a date or whatever Woody told you. It was a business meeting.”

Mason could literally feel his heart dropping into his stomach. A business dinner? For him? He felt cold all over, his heart thundering in his chest and he had to grab the edge of the kitchen counter to keep himself from falling over.

What had he done?

“Fuck.”, he whispered as an ice-cold shiver rolled down his spine. “I didn’t know, I…Lew I…fuck.”

Desperately, he ran his hands through his hair and over his face. He felt sick, really really sick, and as he looked into his brother's disappointed face, Mason eventually truly realised what had happened. What he’d done.

He’d broken your heart. In the most cruel way anyone ever could.

“I need to talk to her. I-“

“That won’t happen now.” Lewis was quick in reaching out and holding his little brother back from exiting the kitchen. “You need to talk to her, yes, but not today. The damage is done and trust me, she’s too hurt right now to have this conversation.”

-

You had no idea how much time had passed, but it felt like an eternity when you eventually came back into the living room. Summer’s family was talking and having fun like before and it gave you hope that no one had noticed the little slip up.

After Jaz had held you and calmed you down as best as she could, you felt a little better now. Obviously, you were still incredibly hurt and despite Jaz’ attempts to reassure you that everything would be okay, you were unsure if it would ever be okay again.

Until today, the hope that you and Mason would get out of this whole and back together had been there and kept you going, but now that bubble had been popped and you felt devastated.

You let your eyes wander around the room for a moment, your heart beating fast in fear of seeing her again – you didn’t even remember her name – but she wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Neither was Mason though and it made you wonder if they’d left, but before you could decide whether or not to be happy about it, he emerged with Lewis from the kitchen.

He looked rattled, maybe even devastated and you couldn’t help but wonder what they’d spoken about.

You were a little rooted to the spot ever since he’d reappeared, unsure of where to go and suddenly his eyes were on yours. Those eyes you’d fallen in love with all those years ago; that usually held so much warmth and comfort, but right now all they did was making your heart sink, so you dropped your gaze to the floor.

“Oh y/n.”, Debbie sighed as she pulled you into her side. “She left. She realised quite quickly that she had done some damage and after Tony and I spoke to her, she left. If you’d rather go back to the hotel though, it’s fine. I’ll explain to Summer that you weren’t feeling well and had to leave. She’ll understand.”

“That’s sweet, thank you, Debs.”, you smiled sincerely, leaning your head against her shoulder. “And it really hurt me, but it's Summer's birthday and I didn't come here from Manchester to hole up in a hotel because of hurt feelings. The little munchkin deserves a great birthday, and I won’t ruin that for her.”

The rest of the day then passed without further incident. Mason didn't try to talk to you, but every now and then you could feel his eyes on you, and it made you wonder what he thought.

Was he sorry? Or did he care so little about you that he didn’t mind his own actions at all? Was he just annoyed that his new girlfriend had left?

Somehow you managed to pull yourself together for the rest of the day. You weren't really having fun anymore, for Summer you were more than willing to force a smile on your face though.

But once you were in the safety of your hotel room a couple of hours later, the brave face you’d put on crumbled. It was as if the moment you were all on your own, everything hit you with full force and caused the waterworks to start straight away.

Sobs wrecked your already worn-out body and whilst you tried to at least remove your make-up and change into more comfortable clothes, it wasn’t long until you collapsed onto the bed as your legs gave way.

Everything hurt. Your head, your tummy, but mostly your heart.

Mason had been your everything. He still was and knowing that you weren’t the same to him broke your heart in the worst way possible. He’d stabbed you and twisted the knife, making sure the pain would stay for a very long time.

You loved him like you’d never loved anyone before and although you were still young and had a long life ahead of you, you knew you’d never love anyone as much as him. He’d been your forever, the one and only you wanted to spend your whole life with.

He was the love of your life. And now he was gone, and you had no idea how to keep going.

Those last month’s you’d survived on the hope that he missed you too and would come back to make up and get back together. It had kept you from losing it, but now that you’d lost even that tiny straw of hope, you had no idea of what to hold onto.

Having lost all sense of time, you had no idea for how long you’d been lying in bed, crying your silly little heart out, but at some point there were no tears to cry left and that’s when it got worse. It left you lying in bed, staring at the wall wondering if you’d ever feel okay again.

Throughout your whole life Mason had been by your side so facing being without him made you feel sick to the stomach. He’d been your rock, a shoulder to cry on, the person who’d made you laugh when you felt like crying. He’d been your number one supporter in everything and you had no idea how to tackle life without his protective arm around your shoulders.  

Your phone had buzzed what felt like 100 times already and you’d ignored it just as often, but the dull noise it made on the small wooden table was starting to drive you mad, so you somehow heaved yourself off the bed and picked it up from the table.

The bright display was blinding, causing you to squeeze your eyes shut in discomfort. 87 unanswered calls. All from Mason. Just like the dozens of messages in your notifications. As a new call came through, you were quick in switching the phone off, thinking peace and quiet would finally settle over the small room, but as you made your way back to the bed, a knock on the door had your heart stopping in your chest.

You wanted nothing more than to ignore it as you were in no state to answer the door to anyone, but whoever it was, was persistent and you began to think it had to be something important. Maybe a staff member?

When you opened the door though, there was no staff member. Just the last person on earth you wanted to see right now.

“y/n, I-“

“No.”, you breathed, tears already brimming in your eyes again at the sight of him and you shut the door. Luckily you’d been quick enough and Mason hadn’t had the chance to put his foot in between to keep it open, but much to your dismay, it didn’t stop him from knocking again.

“y/n, please let me in. I need to talk to you, it’s…it wasn’t what it looked like. I…I’m sorry, y/n. I know it’s not enough, but I really am sorry. I shouldn’t have…it was just…y/n, please baby. Let me in and explain, I just…Lewis talked to me and told me what really happened and…I’m an idiot, okay? I-“

You were met with his big brown eyes when you opened the door again. A surprised look on his face as he hadn’t expected you to give in that quickly, but before he could start talking again, you shook your head.

“You’re disturbing the other guests, Mason.” It physically hurt to call him that instead of one of the pet names you had for him and you could see the same thing in his eyes. “Please leave.”

You tried to close the door again, but this time Mason was prepared and stopped it from falling shut.

“No, please wait. Can’t we just talk? Please?”

“I don’t want to.”, you shook your head, eyes welling up again at the thought of the situation he wanted to explain. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Then let me do the talking. Please, y/n.”, Mason begged. It hurt him to see you like this, especially as he’d caused it. Your beautiful eyes were filled with unshed tears, red-rimmed and so incredibly sad, it made him feel sick to the stomach. “Please, let me in. Please y/n.”

For a while you simply looked at him. He was begging you to let him in and explain and whilst you really didn’t want to, his pleading expression was slowly breaking your walls down. Maybe his explanation would help you to find closure?

Eventually you turned around, leaving him standing there, but as you didn’t close the door on him again, Mason carefully slipped into the room.  

An oppressive silence filled the room as you sat down on the edge of the bed, hands in your lap and fiddling with your fingers. He wanted to come in and talk, not you…But Mason simply stood there, awkwardly running his hand over his face as he tried to get the words to come out.

Your heart was beating out of your chest. You had no idea what to expect and you were still unsure if you even wanted him to explain why he’d not ended things with you before bringing someone else into the picture, but your heart hurt so much and it wasn’t long before it all broke out.

“I’ve waited for you, Mason.”, you whispered. “I thought you’d come back and choose me, but very obviously I was wrong.”

Mason’s heart broke at the way you sounded so hurt. Your words cut right through him and while he’d already known that he’d royally fucked up, it was only now that he realised the implications of the whole situation.

He’d made it look as if he’d chosen someone else over you and the fact that the two of you hadn’t been officially over, made it all even worse. He could only imagine how much it must’ve hurt to see him with Maya and he hated how much pain he’d caused you.

“I am so sorry y/n. I know it looks like the exact opposite right now, but I’ve not chosen her over you.”

You laughed hollowly. “Yeah sure, that’s why you brought her to Summer’s birthday, right? You held her fucking hand, Mason. You brought her as your plus-one to your niece’s birthday. If that’s not choosing her over me, then I don’t know what is.”

Mason sighed quietly. His heart was thundering in his chest as the thought of having caused too much damage to fix it crossed his mind.

“Two weeks ago, you went to dinner with James.”, he began quietly, thinking it was best to explain everything in order. “I know now that it was a business dinner because of that interview he wants to do with me. Lew told me this afternoon. Thing is, Woody saw you and called me that evening. He asked me if we’d actually broken up because he knew I’d wanted to talk to you and get you back for the longest time and when I said no, he told me that you’d been out for dinner with a guy, dressed up and all happy.”

Mason ran his hand over his face. He knew what it looked like and he hated himself for jumping to conclusions so quickly instead of reaching out and talking to you.

“I know what this sounds like and I really am sorry for not talking to you first.”, he mumbled. “Those last four months have been incredibly difficult for me. At United nothing is going my way and I know I’m a mentally strong person, but lately everything became a little too much. The pressure, the hate, the loneliness…everything really. I missed you so much and was close to messaging you a couple of times, but because of how down I was, I convinced myself that you were better off without me and when Woody told me that night, it hurt so much. I felt betrayed and I know I should’ve called, but I was blinded by the pain and my overall shit situation and…I am so sorry, y/n. I don’t mean this as an excuse, I know there is none, but I feel like it explains how everything just unfolded.”

You didn’t know when you’d started crying during his monologue and you only realised as the tears dropped into your hands. Despite everything that had gone wrong and how much he’d hurt you today, you still cared a lot for him and hearing that he’d been sad and lonely and in such a dark hole for months hurt you even more.  

Mason fell to his knees right in front of you as he noticed your tears and the small sobs shaking your body. His own eyes were filled to the brim and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold the tears at bay, but he didn’t care.

“I’m so sorry, y/n. You have to believe me. I wish I could undo it. Everything those last months. I wanted to fight for you, I really did, y/n and I’m such an idiot for not doing the right thing.”

A little hesitant, he placed his hands on your thighs and when you didn’t push him away, he gently pried your hands away from your face. His heart squeezed in his chest as you immediately held onto his fingers tightly.

“I haven’t chosen her over you. I understand it looked like it, but I haven’t. I only brou-“

“Who is she to you?”

“She’s a good friend of Luke’s wife. I met her when I went to see Luke and we just got along well, that’s all. “, Mason explained quietly. His thumbs slowly caressing the soft skin of your fingers. “She’s not even someone I’d call a friend. It sounds shit, I know, but I brought her today because I knew it would hurt you as much as you going out with that guy hurt me. It was petty and childish and stupid, but I wanted to get back at you for that. She didn’t even know about you and when you’d gone upstairs, she talked to mum and apologised, saying she didn’t mean to cause any of that and then she left.”

You became silent for an agonisingly long while, simply staring at your joined hands and Mason was dying to say more, but he knew better. It had been a lot, not just right now or even today, but all of those last months ever since your break.

He’d made it look as if he didn’t care anymore, he’d even brought someone new out of sheer pettiness and as difficult as it was, he had to give you the time to process it.

“Did you sleep with her?”, you eventually asked hesitantly, unsure if you wanted to know the answer as anything but a no would probably pull the rug out from under your feet, but then again not knowing it felt even worse.

“No.”, Mason answered quickly. “No, I didn’t. I promise you, y/n, I didn’t kiss her or sleep with her or anything like that. We spoke a couple of times, but nothing more. I could never do that to you, y/n.”

His hands squeezed yours in an attempt to reassure you that little bit more and then you finally raised your head a little and locked your teary eyes on his.

“So she doesn’t mean-“

“She doesn’t mean anything to me.”, Mason interrupted you straight away; already knowing where you were heading with your question. “I promise you, y/n, she doesn’t mean anything to me. I never had any intention of taking her acquaintance on another level and I’m truly sorry I made it look like that.”

You were still incredibly hurt and had no idea where you stood with him, but after everything you’d said, your heart felt a little lighter. You’d spent enough time with him to know that he meant what he’d just said and it didn’t make it any better, but you got where he was coming from.

“I erm…my head’s spinning a little. I have to lay down.”, you mumbled. All the crying you’d done had caused a headache to form a while ago and Mason laying it all out for you wasn’t helping the pain at all.

“Of course, yes.” He was quick in pulling his hands from yours and moving away from you, giving you the space you needed, but as he watched you getting into bed, he wondered what that meant for him.

Did you want him to leave? Or just take a seat and keep talking?

“Can you…I don’t know lay down too or something? It feels weird having you stand there like that.” The fear of rejection was eating you alive, so you kept your gaze firmly on the wall opposite of you, thinking that not looking at him would keep down the disappointment of him saying no.

“Oh.”, he breathed surprised. “I erm…yes, sure, I’ll just uhm take the other side.”

Mason quickly got rid of his jumper before lifting the sheets and shuffling into a comfortable position. You had your back to him and he’d left a deliberate space between you two, but you could still feel the warmth radiating off of him.

“I felt like shit.”, you suddenly admitted, catching Mason by surprise. “When you came into the garden with her…I don’t think I’ve ever felt that shit before. The way you had your hand wrapped around hers…I just…all I could think of was that it should…should be me.”

“I am so sorry.”, Mason choked, unable to hold back his own overwhelming emotions any longer and before he knew it, he’d wrapped his arms around your body and pulled you into him. Your back flush against his front. “I am so sorry, y/n. I never meant for this to happen…I’m so sorry for how I treated before the break and for everything that happened afterwards. I should’ve called and messaged; I should’ve tried everything to get you back. I’m sorry I’ve been such an idiot, y/n. There’s nothing I can say that could make up for all the shit and pain I’ve caused, but I am so sorry, y/n.”

You could feel his heart thundering where his chest was pressed up against your back, but yours wasn’t doing any better. It was threatening to burst your ribcage from how fast it was beating and your mind was going crazy as well. Hundreds of thoughts were rushing through your head, trying to make sense of the whole situation and to find a solution for this mess.

You had no idea where to go from here. Mason had hurt you so much and you felt like you’d gone through hell and back, but you couldn’t deny how good it felt to be back in his arms. It felt like home; like the safest place on earth.

Hesitantly, you reached for one of his hands, laced your fingers with his and pulled your joined hands up to your chest.

“Do you think you can forgive me at some point?”

His voice was quiet and a little shaky and you didn’t miss the way he hid away in your neck slightly, probably just as afraid as you were, but this wasn’t a conversation you could have whilst hiding from each other, so you slowly turned around until you were facing him.

Softly, you wiped your thumb over his wet cheek as you smiled sympathetically at the sight of him. You didn’t think you’d ever seen him this dejected before. His big brown eyes bore into yours with a sad expression, the bridge of his nose was flushed and his freckled cheeks all blotchy.

“We’ve both made mistakes that led to the break. I wasn’t just you.”, you said quietly as you grabbed his hand and pushed your fingers between his. “What happened today hurt me a lot and I can’t say it’s okay because you apologised, because it’s not, but with some time to heal I think I can forgive you at some point.”

Mason nodded slowly, understanding where you were coming from and that you needed some time to process it all, but it also made him feel as if there was still hope left for the two of you. That he’d not fucked it up beyond repair.

He squeezed your hand and smiled at you softly.

“That’s okay. You can take all the time you need and…it would be difficult, but if you realise that you can't forgive me, then I’d understand. There is no excuse for what I did and I know that I hurt you and there might not be an us again and-“

“Do you still love me?”, you interrupted his rant softly with your gaze firmly set on his.

“Yes.”, he answered straight away. “The answer will always be yes because there’s no doubt that you’re my person. I will always love you, no matter what.”

“Mase.”, you sniffled as your emotions were getting the best of you again after his words. For months you’d been wondering if he still loved you. You’d tortured yourself with this question day after day, week after week and month after month and when you’d seen him today with her you’d been convinced you finally had your answer…

And you'd never been happier about being wrong than today. The relief rushing through you caused the tears to spill from your eyes again, but this time they were happy tears and Mason was quick in brushing them away with his thumbs.

“I mean it, y/n. You’re the only person I want, and I really hope that even after all this shit, you still want me too. I know it will take some time but-“

“I love you, too, Mason. So, so much, you have no idea.”

And maybe it was too soon, and you should’ve given yourself time to process everything properly and make a rational decision afterwards, but in that moment, you were just so relieved to have your Mason back, that you closed the gap between you two and kissed him.

And for the first time in six months, you felt complete again.

—————

I genuinely hope you enjoyed reading this. You would make my day if you left a little feedback so I can see what you liked and what I can improve on 🩷

[n0vazsq]

Romantic homicide | DR3 x Reader

pairing . . . daniel ricciardo x ex!reader

summary . . . Deciding to call Daniel after you two broke up, you never expected to hang up with the possibility of getting back together

request . . . no!!

word count . . . 1.2k+

warnings . . . none!

faceclaim . . . N/A

alexavia yaps . . . why is d4vd so good??? in my d4vd angst era fr fr. HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE IT!!!

taglist . . . @barcapix ,, @f1lover55 ,, @ilovebarcaaa ,, @httpsdana (lmk if you want to join the taglist!)

. . . The rain beat gently against the window, the steady rhythm almost lulling you into a sense of calm. It had been a long week, one of those weeks where time felt like it moved slower, and everything felt like a blur.

The day was dim, the gray sky casting a quiet haze over everything. You sat on your bed, legs tucked under the soft comforter, phone in hand. Daniel's name glowed on the screen, a reminder of something you couldn’t quite shake.

You hadn’t talked in weeks. Months, really. A whole season of races had gone by without a single message exchanged between the two of you.

No texts. No calls. Just silence.

It wasn’t like you were mad. Not really. It wasn’t even that you hated him. It was just that... things had faded. Like the tracks he raced on, slippery, uncertain, fading into the distance.

Your relationship had been one of those summer flings that felt so perfect, so effortless, in the beginning. The kind that starts in the heat of the moment and then, before you know it, slips away with the change of seasons.

You’d spent those days wrapped up in him. His laughter, his presence, his passion for racing. It had all felt so real. So natural. But time has a way of wearing things down, of shifting priorities, and in the end, that’s all it was. Just a memory.

Still, you couldn’t forget it. And maybe that was your mistake. Maybe it was a mistake to hold on to the ghost of something that was never going to happen again.

But even with the fading memories and the lingering pain, you missed him. You missed the way his eyes lit up when he talked about his next race, the way he’d laugh at the stupidest jokes, and how everything felt right when he was near.

You stared at the phone in your hands. You should’ve deleted his contact by now. Should’ve let it go. But you hadn’t.

You could hear his voice in your head, his teasing tone, the way he always said, "You think too much, you know that?".

And maybe you did. Maybe you thought about him too much. Maybe that was your downfall. But there was something about him, something about his presence, that made you feel like you could just let go. Like you could trust him. If only...

You took a deep breath, glancing out the window. The rain was starting to slow down, leaving behind the smell of wet concrete and fresh air. You could feel your pulse quicken, your heart racing a little faster than it should. You hadn’t planned on reaching out, but somehow, the weight of silence had become unbearable.

You unlocked your phone, fingers hovering over the screen. The message you had typed out earlier in the week was still sitting there, unsent. It was simple. Just a few words. "Hey, how have you been?".

But every time you went to send it, something stopped you. Something held you back.

And now here you were again, caught in the same cycle of hesitation. Should you send it? Should you not?

Suddenly, your phone buzzed in your hand, snapping you from your thoughts. Your heart skipped a beat when you saw the name flash on the screen.

Danny Ric.

Your thumb hovered over the screen. You could answer. You could see what he had to say. You could ignore the creeping anxiety that gnawed at you, telling you to let him be.

Maybe he’s just checking in, you thought. Maybe it’s just a casual thing.

You tapped the green icon before you could second guess yourself.

The phone clicked, and the line rang. You braced yourself for the familiar voice, for the warmth you hadn’t heard in so long.

"Hello?" His voice was a little breathless, as if he’d just gotten out of a car or off a plane. But it was still him.

Daniel.

The man whose name you’d been saying in your head for weeks, even if you didn’t want to admit it.

"Hi," you said, your voice sounding a little shaky, like you hadn’t used it in forever. Why am I so nervous?

"Hey, it’s been a while," he said, and there was a hint of surprise in his tone, but also a trace of something else. Something softer, almost nostalgic. "How are you?"

Your mouth went dry as you thought about the answer. You could say 'fine' or 'good'.

You could lie. You could say the last few months hadn’t been difficult, that you hadn’t thought about him every single day.

But you knew that wasn’t the truth. And if there was one thing you’d always been good at, it was being honest. At least with him.

"I’ve been okay," you said, the words coming out slow and measured. "Just… thinking about things."

"Yeah? What kind of things?" His voice was gentle, like he was trying to find his way back into your world.

You swallowed, the lump in your throat growing. "Us. I guess. Everything that happened, and why it ended the way it did."

The silence that followed was heavy, thick. You could hear the faint hum of his breath on the other end of the line, the absence of words filling the space between you both.

Finally, Daniel spoke again, his voice quieter now. "I didn’t want it to end like that. You know that, right? It wasn’t easy."

"I know," you said softly. "But distance... racing... it just... you were always gone. I couldn’t keep waiting for something that wasn’t there anymore."

There was another long pause. You could hear the sound of a car in the background. Maybe he was in his hotel room, or on the move again.

"I didn’t want to be the one to hurt you," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "But I think I did anyway."

You closed your eyes, feeling the weight of his words settle deep inside you. The truth was always a little harder to swallow, but it felt real, at least. Like maybe you both hadn’t given up just yet.

You opened your eyes, staring out the window again. The rain had stopped completely now, leaving the air crisp and clear. But the world still felt unsettled.

You couldn’t undo the past, but maybe, just maybe, you could find a way forward.

"Do you think we could try again?" You whispered, before you even realized you’d said it out loud.

The pause that followed felt like an eternity. Then, softly, Daniel’s voice came through, full of hesitation and hope. "I don’t know, but maybe we can try... talking again. See where it goes."

You smiled softly, a tear slipping down your cheek.

"Yeah," you murmured, "Let's see where it goes."

[tc-doherty]

TC's Practical Writing Tips for 2025

I am back again! I've said it before and I will say it again now, I'm not coming here to pretend that I can tell you how to use the English language to write a book. That's not my jam.

However I've been writing for over 25 years, and I've written nearly 3.5 million words since 2009 (alas, I did not keep track before then). Whether people like my style or not, my output is undeniable, and I'm sharing the tips that I live by when it comes to the act of writing.

#1 - The Number One Most Important Rule is: write it now, fix it later

The job of any piece of writing, up until the point you decide it's done, is not to be good. It's only job is to exist. You can always fix it later.

#2 - The Second Most Important Rule is: don't let yourself get hung up in the ~mythology~ of being a writer

Writing is art, undeniable. Writing is cool, undeniable. Writing is also just A Thing That You Can Do. It's a physical act. Sometimes you need to pay attention to the part of writing that is just A Thing You Can Do. Being able to disentangle yourself from the IDEA of writing when you need to is a very useful skill.

#3 - It is always permissible – and usually enjoyable – to write the stupidest possible version (see rule #1)

Free yourself from the mindset that the writing must be good. Sometimes you just need to get the words out. Label a draft 'the stupid version' and go ham.

#4 - "Inspiration" is great for poets, but only a bonus for people who write prose (See rules #1 and #2)

If you want to write often, you need to write often. You will find that you don't need to be "inspired" because you've made a habit of it, and it will come naturally. Even one sentence a day is still one sentence a day. One sentence a week is still one sentence a week. It doesn't matter how slowly you go as long as you don't stop Believing in the concept that you need to be inspired to write will trap you into believing in the concept of writer's block If you are having difficulty getting words out that satisfy you, lower your standards and keep writing (see rule #1)

#5 - A few months down the line you will not remember which words came easily and which words did not (see rules #1 and #3)

#6 - Read widely and often, both in your favorite genres and outside of them

You cannot become a good author if you don't read. Pay special attention to things that you love and things that you hate, it will make your writing stronger.

#7 - At a certain point, you MUST write, not just think about writing

You won't get better if you don't practice.

#8 - Never write for the lowest common denominator

Via wise words I once heard: "if you open the window and make love to the world, your story will get pneumonia". Write your work the way you want to write it, and the people who will appreciate it will find it.

#9 - Never write for the bad-faith critic

There will always be people who engage in bad faith, and those people do not matter to you. You will need to learn how to deal with critique, and bad-faith critique, but you cannot live in fear of people like that.

#10- Find the joy in the ACT of writing

It is totally fine and normal to want engagement and praise! However you need to find a way to make the praise the cherry on top, not the entire sundae. Writing is hard work, and it's a lot of work, and it's a lot of work that goes unnoticed. If you lose the ability to enjoy the journey and are proceeding only for external rewards from others, you will gradually write less and less if the ratio of work to rewards is unsatisfying.

#11 - New draft? New document.

For anything other than final copy editing, it's almost always helpful to start in a new document. Any change you make will invariably snowball, and if you're trying to edit within the frame of words you've already written, it will trap you from being able to make large sweeping changes that those snowballs might suggest (or demand)

#12 - Listen when people tell you that something doesn't work for them

Sometimes an outsider can see things that you would miss by being too close, it can be a helpful perspective.

#13 - You are not obligated to listen when people try to tell you HOW to fix it

You are the author, not them. It may not even need to be fixed.

#14 - It is always morally correct to look at critique that you received, even if you asked for it, and decide that it's bullshit and doesn't apply to you (see rule #13)

#15 - "Write what you know" means "write what you're interested in"

You'll learn a lot of new things while you're researching what you're interested in! You will also have a lot of fun putting the things that you love into your work just because you love them.

#16 - "Show don't tell" applies to screenwriting, not novels.

The phrase show don't tell applies to showing the audience in a visual media. Novels are not visual media. They do require a lot of telling. Not all telling, but a lot of it. Both showing and telling are important to novels, but the things that you show are more relevant. The tightrope to walk as an author is "this meeting could have been an email". What does the audience actually have to know (be present at the scene for) versus what can be summarized or relayed through dialogue? Your mileage may vary on which percentage of each works best for you.

#17 - It is always, ALWAYS acceptable to use "said"

Said is invisible. Said is the nail upon which the picture is hung. People will not notice said. People will not get tired of the word said. Using the word said most of the time allows you to really emphasize the times when you don't use the word said. (Also applies to "asked")

#18 - Become comfortable with who you are

Your work is always going to be yours and it's always going to sound like you wrote it, and that is a good thing! That's the best thing! No one else is ever going to write exactly like you, and you should be proud of what you bring to the table as yourself. Of course keep striving to reach new heights and keep improving, but you're never going to outrun your own voice and experiences. Embrace them!

#19- Keep track of your word count in a way that makes sense to you

Some days will be easy. Some days will be hard. On the days when it's hard, it's very helpful to be able to look back and see how far you've come. It helps you remember again that some days will be easy. (see rule #5)

The best thing that you can do is to find the things that you need in order to write at the level of productivity you want to achieve, and find easy ways to wrap them into your own life. Spend some time soul-searching if you need to. You will gradually acquire your own list of tips to live by!

I hope everyone who reads this has a wonderful 2025 and that you all accomplish what you would like to accomplish. I'll be rooting for you!

[spr1ngpvrinbwunnie]

🤡 Silly & Embarrassing William Afton Headcanons 🤡

(A mix of work-life chaos at Freddy’s, moments of pure foolishness, and things he’d rather die than admit.)

He’s overly theatrical, stubbornly refuses to admit mistakes, and gets himself into ridiculous situations constantly. Most of these moments are immediately buried and never spoken of again—except by Henry, who will never forget.

💀 1. THE TIME HE ALMOST GOT HIS HEAD STUCK IN A SPRINGLOCK SUIT (BUT HENRY SAVED HIM)

He was showing off—being all theatrical about how "perfectly safe" the springlock mechanism was.

Decided to demonstrate it himself to some employees.

Didn’t secure something properly and suddenly felt the suit start to shift.

Panic set in immediately. You know how smug he is? It was gone. He went stiff as a board.

Henry, who was just sipping his coffee, looked up, sighed, and had to calmly walk over and fix the latch before William died in the stupidest way possible.

William, sweating bullets, just brushed it off with a “See? No problem whatsoever.”

The employees were not convinced.

🎤 2. HE CHALLENGED A KID TO A SINGING COMPETITION—AND LOST HORRIBLY

One of the kids at Freddy’s kept mocking his accent and saying he sounded "like an old-timey vampire."

William, offended beyond belief, decided to challenge them to a sing-off.

He cannot sing. Like, at all.

This was a mistake.

The kid destroyed him with a performance of some cheesy 80s song.

He literally just walked off mid-song to pretend it never happened.

🛠️ 3. HE SPENT THREE HOURS TRYING TO FIX A MACHINE, ONLY FOR HENRY TO SOLVE IT IN 10 SECONDS

One time, the prize counter’s ticket dispenser broke.

William, too stubborn to call Henry, decided he would fix it himself.

Three hours later, covered in grease and seething, he still hadn’t figured it out.

Henry walks in, presses a single button, and the machine starts working again.

William stood there in silence.

Henry just patted his shoulder and walked away.

🐰 4. HE TRIED TO WEAR THE SPRINGBONNIE SUIT TO “SCARE” HENRY—BUT HE TRIPPED AND FELL IN IT

Thought it would be hilarious to sneak up behind Henry in the Springbonnie suit and make him jump.

Miscalculated his step and completely wiped out.

Full-body faceplant.

Got stuck in the suit. Henry had to pull him out.

“Not a word of this leaves the room.”

Henry was laughing too hard to respond.

💀 5. HE ONCE MISTOOK A RANDOM EMPLOYEE FOR HENRY AND WENT ON A RANT FOR TEN MINUTES

Stormed into the office, not even looking up, and started going off.

“Henry, I swear, if you installed one more bloody safety protocol, I’m going to—”

Looked up.

Not Henry. Just some poor new employee.

The guy was terrified.

William just cleared his throat, turned around, and walked out.

Never spoke of it again.

🍕 6. HE HAS HORRIBLE LUCK WITH THE PIZZA OVEN—ALMOST SET THE PLACE ON FIRE

Refuses to admit he can’t cook.

Decided to “help out” in the kitchen.

Turned the oven up to max temperature because “it’ll cook faster.”

It did not. It caught fire.

Henry had to come running in with a fire extinguisher.

William just stood there, hands on his hips, looking at the disaster like it wasn’t his fault.

“Perhaps the oven is simply poorly designed.”

🎭 7. HE TRIED TO BE “MYSTERIOUS” AND FELL OFF A CHAIR INSTEAD

Thought it would be dramatic and cool to lean back in a chair while talking.

Overdid it. Chair slipped. Full backflip onto the floor.

Lay there in silence for a minute, contemplating every decision in his life.

Henry just watched. No reaction. Just sipped his coffee.

📣 8. BONUS: THINGS HE’D RATHER DIE THAN ADMIT

He once got a Freddy mask stuck on his head. Had to have an employee pull it off.

He accidentally called Henry “darling” once. Henry never let him live it down.

A kid once beat him at chess in five moves. He was furious.

He walked into a glass door once because he was distracted talking. Pretended like it never happened.

He secretly finds some of the animatronic jingles catchy but refuses to admit it.

He tried to moonwalk once. It didn’t go well.

He once dropped an animatronic endoskeleton on his foot. Spent the whole day limping but refused to acknowledge it.

He has mistaken an animatronic for a person at least once and said “Excuse me” before realizing.

💀 When William Tries (And Fails) to Impress You 💀

(A collection of moments where he attempts to be charming, impressive, or dignified around you… and completely fails.)

🎩 1. THE TIME HE TRIED TO BE SMOOTH AND WALKED INTO A DOOR

William loves making grand entrances.

He was mid-sentence, giving you one of his classic smug little monologues, when—

BAM. Right into the glass door.

He froze.

You stared.

Henry, in the distance, choked on his coffee.

William just slowly turned back to you, completely deadpan.

"…As I was saying."

🍷 2. HE TRIED TO DO THE "COOL WINE SWIRL"—AND SPILLED IT ALL OVER HIMSELF

Took you out to some fancy restaurant, all dressed up, acting like the most refined gentleman alive.

Picked up his wine glass, swirled it dramatically—

And immediately flung red wine all over his own white dress shirt.

Just sat there for a second, blinking.

"…Well. This is an unfortunate turn of events."

You were dying trying not to laugh.

💡 3. HE TRIED TO FIX SOMETHING IN FRONT OF YOU—AND MADE IT WORSE

The lights at Freddy’s flickered weirdly, so he decided to show off his “engineering skills.”

Got up on a chair, started fiddling with wires.

"No need to call a professional, dear, I know exactly what I’m—"

Sparks. Smoke. Entire building loses power.

Silence.

You: "…So should I call Henry now?"

William: "Don’t you dare."

🕶️ 4. HE TRIED TO WINK AT YOU—BUT DID IT SO BADLY IT LOOKED LIKE A TWITCH

This man thinks he’s in some 1950s noir film.

Tried to give you a slow, charming wink.

Failed miserably. One eye shut too hard, and the other didn’t close at all.

You thought he was having a stroke.

"…Are you okay???"

He immediately changed the subject.

🐰 5. HE TRIED TO GIVE YOU A "PET NAME"—BUT IT CAME OUT ALL WRONG

He’s not the type to say cute things easily, so he was testing something out.

"Come here, my little… honey… muffin… sugar…"

He paused. Realized what he just said.

"Forget that just happened."

You immediately latched onto it and started calling him “Muffin” just to torture him.

🎭 6. HE TRIED TO SHOW OFF HIS "ACTING SKILLS"—AND OVERDID IT

Thought it would be romantic to recite poetry to you.

But instead of a charming, smooth delivery, he went full Shakespearean actor mode.

Overly dramatic hand gestures, deep booming voice, the works.

Half the restaurant turned to look.

You were equal parts flattered and horrified.

Henry just sighed from across the room.

🔥 7. HE TRIED TO COOK FOR YOU—AND IT WAS A DISASTER

He wanted to do something “nice” for you.

Decided to cook dinner.

Overestimated his skills.

Pan caught fire.

You walked in on him standing in complete silence, staring at the flames.

"…I can explain."

You took the fire extinguisher.

🔪 8. HE TRIED TO CARVE SOMETHING NICE FOR YOU—AND ALMOST CUT HIS HAND OFF

He has a habit of carving things from wood (because knives = ✨ dramatic ✨).

Thought he’d make something for you—a little rabbit figurine or something.

Misjudged the knife angle.

Almost took off his own fingers.

You: "You good??"

William: "Absolutely. No issues whatsoever. This is fine." (While holding back blood.)

[ghoularaki]

baby's breath | 19

↠  summary: Merely by coincidence, Erwin, your father's former friend had crossed paths with you again after nearly a decade. He offered solace once finding out you were struggling with not just school, but your home life as well. His home he shared with another one of your father's friends, Levi, became a sanctuary. Though, the more you came over for study sessions, the more they wiggled themselves into your private life. And like baby's breath, they weeded themselves in so deep you couldn't uproot them.

↠ word count: 2,473

↠ pairing: levi ackerman x reader x erwin smith

↠ genre/warnings: angst, smut, modern au, DARK CONTENT, yandere, daddy kink, forced infantilism, pet play, age gap, bondage, emotional manipulation, foreboding, NSFW (period sex, fingering, blood play?)

An unbearable pain had you clutching your stomach. Curling in on yourself until you were in full fetal position, you whimpered. With down-turned lips, your hand reached between your thighs. You instantly hit something warm and viscous. Bring your fingers to your face, you were greeted with thick red.

Terrified, you clutched onto the blanket and ripped it off your body. Blood coated your thighs and under your bum. There was simply too much to be from Erwin fucking you or from the wounds on your ass. Wincing so hard your left eye shut, you knew the source.

You got your period.

Yet relief didn’t course through your system. Forcing yourself to sit up, you spread your legs to get a better assessment at the damage. Luckily the sheets were black so there wouldn’t be any noticeable staining, but you knew Levi won’t be happy.

Maybe you could sneak downstairs with the sheet without him noticing? Judging by the lack of either men, Erwin must have already left for work and Levi’s off somewhere cleaning the house.

You yelped as the bathroom door opened. Levi blinked at you as you scrambled to cover yourself with the blanket. You didn’t expect him to still be upstairs.

Sauntering over to your form, he grabbed the blanket and lifted it off you. You didn’t struggle as he flung it to the side. Clutching onto your sleep shirt, you tugged it down to cover your bare lower half.

At his disapproving, disgusted face tears prickled your eyes. Shoving your head down so far you hunched over, you sniffled. Your fingers dug further into the fabric, frustrated. Your period always left you an emotional wreck and you weren’t in the place to babble. Droplets hit the back of your hand.

Levi didn’t say anything as he walked away. Great, he must think you’re so such a slob he didn’t even want to deal with you. Sniffling again you used your arm to wipe away the tears.

A hand grabbed your wrist and your head sprung up. He came back, his face more neutral. His hand went for the collar and unclipped the leash. Reaching for your other arm, Levi guided you off the bed. At the end of the mattress was a bench with a towel laid on top of it. Moving his hold to the middle of your back, he walked you to the seat. Sitting down, you smeared more blood. Your hands balled at the apex of your thighs.

“It finally came,” Levi said.

You peered up at him, confused, “Huh?”

Levi waved you away almost like he didn’t mean to say that out loud. “It’s nothing. You’ll be okay, don’t worry about it.”

So this whole time Levi knew you were out of sync, knew of the possibility. You paused as fear consumed you. “But what if I’m-”

He stopped you right there and grabbed your face. Bending down, he made sure your eyes didn’t leave his, “I said don’t worry about it. It’s been dealt with, you should be regular again now.”

You decide not to question what he means by that. It's obvious he was talking about your period, but the methods on how he knows you won't miss it again, you rather remain a mystery. So you did the stupidest thing you could and trusted him on his word.

Though, you still weren’t soothed. You made a mess on the bed. Shaking off his hold, you looked back down at your hands.

“Am I in trouble?”

“Why the fuck would you be in trouble?” Levi snarked.

The shirt creaked from your nails puncturing further in, “I got it dirty.”

Levi’s face twitched, “Don’t think so lowly of me. If a little blood disgusted me I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

“But you’re upset,” You couldn’t help but sob.

Clicking his tongue, he rubbed at his temples. Frustration radiated off his form as he took an exhale in. Dropping his arms, he started to crowd you. Placing a knee on the bench beside your thigh, his hand rested on your throat. Your little cries got stuck in your airways. You stared up at him with wide eyes as he forced you further down until your shoulder blades hit the mattress. From the bench being slightly lower, your back was in a perfect arch.

Following you, Levi put all his weight on the arm placed by your head. The hand that sat on your neck slid down. Thin, nimble fingers danced down from your sternum to your belly button. Hook against the hem of your shirt, he lifted it up to see your pussy and inner thighs coated in blood.

To prove a point, he did not break eye contact as he collected some of the red essence and swirled your clit with it. Your thighs jumped in surprise. Clutching your shirt from where your hands laid at your sides, you had no words to say.

Dipping down, his shoved his fingers deep in your cunt and petted against your warm, syrupy walls. Shoving his palm against your clit, he fucked his fingers further in. A tiny moan left you. His forearm tendons bounced and strained as he pulled more sloppy sounds from you.

Your legs spread further and your hips bucked up. It was almost too much.

“Sensitive?” Levi asked.

“Uh huh,” You babbled with a nod.

He added another finger, spreading them to fuck you further open. More blood mixed with your slick poured onto the towel, staining his hand and wrist. He didn’t care as he pistoned in and out. He angled his fingers to hit that spot deep in you. Your back bowed with a gasp.

Grabbing onto his wrist, your hips had a mind of their own. Riding his fingers, you grinding your clit right on the heel of his hand. Levi let you be as your eyes unfocused and your mouth fell agape. Little moans and hiccups filled the room with the wet clicking of your pussy.

He added his pinky to the mix and you were thoroughly stretched. Your cunt sucked him in as your breath caught in your chest. You came with a silent cry. More of your blood caked Levi as your orgasm pushed more out. Levi slowed his thrusts to guide you through it.

You whined as his fingers finally left you with a squelch. Hazy, you watched as Levi didn't break his gaze. Bringing his sullied hand up, he made sure you were looking. You blinked in shock as he wrapped his lips around two of his fingers. He sucked your blood off like it was the sweetness nectar on earth.

The liquid roses left his lips an alluring, shiny rouge. You couldn’t help but stare. Levi’s own eyes lidded as he grabbed your face, getting more blood everywhere. He forced you up so your lips brushed, but not enough to count as a kiss.

“I never said I didn’t enjoy a little bit of a mess, pet. Stop worrying,” He mouthed against you, his voice a beckoning velvet.

“I’ll try.”

He rolled his eyes at that and released you. “Brat.”

After this morning, Levi properly cleaned you and the sheets. Despite being allowed into their bedroom, Levi didn’t let you explore any further. Throughout the day he had you help more than usual. It was almost like he wanted to keep you occupied. You were thankful for it.

You tried not to think of last night. You knew it wasn’t a fever dream. Erwin had violated you, he finally satiated his hunger. Unknowingly, you kept glancing at the clock on the stove, counting down the seconds until he came home.

Though, at six there was still no Erwin and Levi started dinner. You two sat in silence as he let you eat on your own. After Levi found you in the basement, he seemed almost lenient. Where did the Levi trying to break you go? Did he think you were already broken?

He must, but you couldn’t exactly blame him. You had been silent, compliant and—to your misfortune—clingy. Maybe you were more worn down than you thought. They were getting to you. They were the unrelenting mortar and pestle. You stood no chance against brute strength. Maybe you should give in just for a little bit. Let yourself rest. You could use it for your own benefit. Sink in just enough so they were unsuspecting when you pry yourself free.

You spied Levi clean up dinner as you made up your mind. With the knowledge your period was back for good, you had more time. The only time crunch was your sanity, but you were built to endure.

“Come,” Levi beckoned you like a dog—and this time you didn’t put up a fuss.

He walked you two to the laundry room. Pulling the sheets and blanket from the dryer, he shoved them all in your arms. You sunk your face into the warmth and Levi raised an amused brow. Caught red-handed, you looked to the side, warmth spread across your face.

Leaving you be, Levi cajoled you out of the room and back upstairs. You plopped the bedding on the bench. Levi was about to say something when the front door was opened.

“Can I trust you to make the bed?”

“Sure?” You said, confused.

Levi didn’t leave you any room to question him while he left the room. Completely perplexed as why he scampered off in such a hurry to greet Erwin, you reached for the fitted sheet. You tried not to think too deeply as you continued on with your task. The less time you have to see Erwin the better.

You were scared to face him. The feeling of him in and all over you wouldn’t leave your skin. Everything has changed. Even if Erwin thought you were asleep through it all, how long would it last his touches would be veiled through the guise of you being unaware?

Hushed voices pulled you from your stupor. You stopped to listen further. From where you stood, whatever what was being said was too silent. Parachuting the blanket, you let it fall perfectly on the mattress and tried to pinpoint the conversation.

Walking away from the bed, your eyes roamed around to try and hear better. Prowling closer to the bedroom door, their voices were more clear from the closet. Stepping inside, you looked at the vent in the left corner of the room. Leaning on your hands and knees, you tilted your ear over it.

They were still too muffled, though you could faintly hear Levi insisting that ‘you’ve learned your lesson’. You sat back on your hunches and stared at the vent in disbelief. Dread sat in your stomach. Whatever Erwin had planned must be bad if Levi was advocating for you.

A headache started to form. Crawling out from the closet, you got back to the bed and plop down on it. Staring at the ceiling, you traced the patterns with your eyes. How much longer can you realistically do this? In an unsuspected turn of events, you had Levi on your side—at least somewhat. But, were you smart enough to trick him? Trick them both?

Closing your eyes with a pinched expression, you tried to think. You had been on autopilot this whole time, you haven’t had time to actually think of an full proof escape plan. As it toiled and spun in your mind, the exhaustion of the past couple days hit you. Laid in the middle of the bed, you fell asleep.

A heavy weight leaning against your waist had you shooting up from your sleep. He was doing it again, laid heavy in your mind. Frantically, you scooted closer right and scrambled for the leash. You needed away from him, now.

Firm hands gripping your wrists stopped you. With a heaving chest, your bobbing eyes goggled at Levi who looked completely and utterly disappointed.

“You couldn’t have waited just a little bit longer?”

You were discombobulated and at a lost. Nothing made sense. Why did he seem so sad?

“I told you, didn’t I?” You flinched at Erwin’s voice ringing behind you. “She would use your kindness against you.”

Erwin rested his weight on his elbow as Levi leaned over to open his bedside drawer. From there, he pulled out leather cuffs. Like a cornered animal, you unclipped the leash for real and crawled down the bed towards the end. Erwin easily hooked his arm around waist and threw you back between them.

“Don’t touch me!” You screeched, deep from your gut and primal.

Sitting up more, Erwin pulled you further into him like he did last night. More screams pierced through the air as your legs kicked. He wrapped his leg around your thighs to keep you down. He held your arms parallel to your chest so Levi could handcuff you.

“Get- get off! I said don’t touch me!” You cried and whipped your head side to side.

“What has gotten into you!” Levi shouted in turn.

He slipped your wrists through the leather. With the chain, he slipped it through your collar, binding your hands down to rest against your sternum. Grabbing the leash, Levi spun your collar to the side, your hands followed to your left collarbone. He clipped the leash the back of the collar this time. With your hands bound at such an awkward angle, there was no way you could release yourself without help or strangling yourself.

More sobs streamed from you as Erwin struggled, his chest heaving against your back. All it did was remind you of his assault. Your fingers cut into your palms as you tried to wiggle from his hold.

Seeing you were properly bound, Erwin laid you back down in the middle of them. Sitting up, Erwin petted your hair and you flinched back with a nasty scowl. He didn’t let that deter him. Levi stared at you, perplexed at your outburst. He was missing something and he didn’t like it.

“We must, Levi.” Erwin said, continuing on with their unspoken conversation.

Levi’s jaw ticked. “Whatever you say.”

More sobs poured out, you hated being out of the loop. Levi looked at you with an unreadable expression. He didn’t say anything as he laid back down and turned to his side towards the bathroom. He shut Erwin out, and you.

Erwin wasn’t happy with his attitude as he stopped stroking your hair and grunted. He also got comfortable and wrapped his arm around your waist, tethering you to him.

Tears wet your cheeks as you sucked your bottom lip in. Your focus didn’t leave Levi’s back as you silently begged for his reassurance once more. Erwin cuddled closer. You were left alone, Levi unknowingly gave you up to be devoured.

[swagyalastorwife]

Adam x reader who speak french

Author's notes : hiiiiiiii guyssss (^-^)/❤️so here is the adam x french reader in the request i was asked spanish/french but i didn't really know how to go about it so i simply decided to make the reader who speaks french and if it pleases i will do a part 2 but with spanish

And sorry for the spelling mistakes

⚠️warning ⚠️: none

♡ You loved Adam you really do but sometimes he can act so stupid ....

like today You were both out at the mall in paradise, had a wonderful afternoon even Adam had fun and didn't complain once it was really perfect until you went back to the car to go home:

"shit I can't find the keys!?"

"what Tell me you're not serious babe"

"shit babe look they're in the car"

" PUTAIN c est pas possible qu est ce qui m a pris de donner les clefs a cette idiot merde!/ FUCK but it's not possible what possessed me to give the car keys to such an idiot shit!"

"uhhh babe what did you just say?"

" ho j ai simplement dit que tu es l homme le plus intelligent que je connaisse, je veux dire si tu a oublier les clef dans la voiture au moins on est sur que personnene peus nous la voler, tu es si intelligentAdam /oh I just said you were the smartest man I know I mean if you forgot the keys in the car at least we're sure that no one can steal the car, you're so smart Adam I love you so much"

You boosted his ego he felt proud and had almost forgotten the stupid thing he had done:

"I know, I know baby you're so lucky to have me in your life, why wouldn't you be? I'm Adam the first man after all and I.."

a metallic noise interrupted Adam your gaze turned to the source of the noise to see the keys lying on the floor you looked at Adam with a perplexed air....

time skip

later in the evening Adam and you were lying in your bed, you had your head resting on his chest and he was holding you in his arms he still had this fear that you would leave in the middle of the night:

"hey baby can you tell me something in your language"

"what is you want me to say?"

"Adam is the most handsome and awesome man in the world"

" Adam est le plus stupid et a la fois le plus gentilet le plus bel homme que j ai jamaisrencontrés /Adam is the stupidest but at the same time the kindest and funniest man I've ever met"

he didn't understand anything but he liked what you said:

"and how do you say I love you?"

"Je t aime"

"I love me too, no need to tell me in all languages ​​baby"

"T es vraiment stupide /"pffff you're stupid "

"what?

"i said you're awesome"

"i know..I know

"hey babe je t aime ~

After saying these words he hugged you tighter and kissed you.

if you knew how much he loves you..... he would be ready to do anything for you even if he doesn't tell you often.

Iiii hope you like iiit ❤️ ❤️

[thehydraethereal]

「 THE APPENDACE 」 — PROLOGUE

FIRST CHAPTER ➙

⇀prologue warnings: misogyny; family issues; other possible dark and triggering themes and elements. MDNI! You are responsible for your own media consumption. Barely proofread.

⇀prologue pairings: reader x tony stark (dark and platonic); reader x rafe cameron (platonic); reader x pepper potts (platonic); ward cameron x tony stark (platonic)

⇀note: This fic has been on my mind since foreverrr. And I finally started it. I am the BIGGEST procastinator everr, so bare with me lol. enjoyyy my loveliesss!

⇀W.C: 857 words

» SERIES MASTERLIST | » MAIN MASTERLIST

You had always found your childhood insignificant, more like painful to think about, so you believed it was not important. However, what was important was the way you were raised. 

Living in the ‘most developed times’, equality and respect was supposed to be found at every corner, especially in the circumstances you were born in. Daughter of the most important man of the New York state, CEO of the biggest industry in the U.S, genius and billionaire, you were supposed to have the sweetest life you could get. But ‘Tony Stark’s daughter’ was only a shiny title, that was meant to only blind you, then trap you in the circle of this life, gaslighted into believing your father was ‘a good man’, and he was never wrong. 

Eventually, that became a strong belief of yours. 

He never even tried to bring you up though, his ignorance felt stingy and bitter at first, so you tried to fight and fight and fight for your right to be loved by him. That right never came, so you hid in your shell, keeping the thoughts and emotions only to yourself, never realising they were devouring you from the inside. 

In the world you lived in, the men were making the great decisions, and women had no say in what was happening with them. A memory that did nothing but whip your heart was when you had witnessed the fight between your father and one of his mistresses.

 She had told him she was pregnant, and he calmly told her to ‘get rid of it’. When she protested, saying she really wants to be the mother of her unborn daughter, your father started getting aggressive, stating that he ‘doesn’t need another burden’ as a child. You remembered Pepper’s loving arms wrapping around your small, shaky form and taking you out with her, away from the chaos that was going on inside your father’s office. 

A daughter equaled a burden in your father’s eyes, and that cutting remark burnt in your brain ever since. Little did you know he wasn’t considering daughters only burdens, but at least there was a way that a daughter could earn his… good interest—if it could be called that—and that way was the moment when he realised she could be useful for his greater good. 

Years passed and when you dared to do or say something that Tony displaced, you were quickly reminded that you were only his daughter—synonyms with ‘woman’, a word the man saw as just a tool—, hoping he would get the realization into your head. 

But you still hoped for something, anything from him.

 Another hurtful memory liked to hit you from time to time: you were five or six, and you decided to jump from his office desk, to show him you could do something great, too. But unfortunately, you landed on your stomach, spraining your wrist. Even in all the pain, you found a little happiness, thinking your father would spend more time by your side and comfort you. But the irony of fate was that you were wrong. Again. Tony only threw a comment that ‘it was the stupidest thing to do’, and then shouted at Pepper for leaving you unsupervised. The sobs and cries you had in your small bed scarred you, but you still forgave your father even for that. 

Your father’s business associate, the CEO of the Cameron Industries, Ward, had a son, Rafe, three years older than you,—it was the only reason your father envied him for. Rafe was your only friend growing up. You still remembered how you hid half your face behind a wall, taking up his form. His blond bangs fell in his face, and he was constantly rubbing his ocean blue eyes with his small fingers, trying to get the hair out of his sight. His father’s left hand held his much smaller one, as he greeted your father with the other. Rafe’s eyes scanned the surroundings—he was patient and still for his young age, and extremely used to luxury—but his eyes stopped when he saw you, and, unexpectedly, he waved.

 It was a really tiny gesture, but it meant the world to you, it was one of the few times a male showed you a form of affection. You shyly waved back, then ran away from the hallway. 

But months later, when Ward visited your father again, you and Rafe started growing closer. You were two little children, affected by your parents in different ways—both without mothers to hold you growing up—, but you got along oddly well. This small friendship was your secret, and you loved it, Rafe had sweetened your life. Everything went beautifully, until he turned eighteen and left for college in Europe, and you were left alone again. 

You hoped that…maybe one day, you will find a man like him and get married, portraying your unknown soulmate as your saviour, the man that will get you out of the chaos that occurred in your life. But, once again, your father took care to crush your unique dream under his foot. And all you could do was watch it.

» tags: my beloved sister @highonmarvel , tell me what you think, seriously!!!

[brnesblogposts]

cootitis

(this is the stupidest thing i’ve ever written.)

bucky barnes x reader & avengers

a/nthis is another conversation i just had on character ai that was funny so i’m turning it into a fic

this turned out to be shit but i’m posting it anyway.

———

It was two in the morning and the two of you were standing outside your room when a figure appeared in the hall “Wha—“

Your heads whipped around to find Peter wide eyed and jaw hanging open staring at you both. Bucky instantly tensed up and you fought to come up with an excuse.. “GOODNIGHT!” You shouted abruptly before running back into your room. Bucky remained stood, stiff as a board staring at Peter awkwardly, “Were you guys..?” Peter raised an eyebrow and his voice went all high and squeaky because he felt awkward at what he’d walked into. Bucky shifted on his feet and coughed out a “No” before turning on his heel ready to walk away when another voice made an appearance—

“Barnes?” fuck it’s Stark Bucky thought to himself. Bucky coughs awkwardly “Oh hey” He smiles coyly because he doesn’t know what else to do.

Tony eyes him up noticing he’s standing outside your room in just a pair of boxers.

“Mr Stark I think Bucky and Y/n were um.. kissing..” Peters voice is still squeaky. Tony’s eyes go wide as he whips his head to find Bucky trying to walk away “Barnes.” Bucky stops in his tracks and is as still as a statue. You’re on the other side of the door eavesdropping of course and decide to help Bucky out by opening your door and stepping out into the hallway..

“Oh, hey guys! Nobody told me there was a party going on out here in the hall!” You may just be the worst liar on the planet. Bucky’s eyes shoot to you from where he’s stood and then to Peter and Tony.

“Do you care to explain why you’re both as red as tomatoes right now?” Tony has a smirk on his face, he’s finding this quite entertaining. Bucky says nothing because he can’t come up with anything and quickly you spit out “We were um— we were having a competition to see who could hold their breath the longest..” what. You think to yourself.

“Is that right?” Tony is full on smiling now “May i ask who won?” he’s feigning curiosity. You shift awkwardly and look around “Uhm Bucky because you know.. super soldier serum and all that. Was close though, we had several complications but he is undefeated so far—“ SHUT UP you thought to yourself because you were rambling now. Bucky grunted in agreement heavily avoiding looking Tony in the eye.

“So you have these competitions at 2am often?” Tony looks so relaxed as he’s interrogating the both of you, you want to strangle him. Another awkward silence passes, “Uhhh no, one time thing.” You hold your chin up high as if it will help.

“Mr Stark..” Peter looks up to Tony “I feel like they’re lying.” Tony smiles down at Peter “I think we can continue this conversation in the morning, don’t you all agree?” Bucky is nodding frantically and you shoot Tony with a thumbs up.

“Right, Parker go to bed.” Tony says to Peter who nods and walks away “And you two.. better start planning some better excuses for the morning.” He grins and goes back to his room. Bucky and you don’t say another word as you part ways and he goes back to his room.

———-—————— breakfast ———————-

Everyone is sitting at the table, an awkward silence lingers between Tony, Peter, Bucky and yourself. Everyone else seems to notice and keeps glancing at all of you, “Who died?” Clint breaks the silence. It goes silent again before Tony coughs and looks to you and Bucky waiting for one of you to speak up, neither of you do.

“LAST NIGHT I CAUGHT BUCKY LEAVING Y/N’s ROOM, TONY AND I THINK THEY WERE KISSING” Peter lets out a breath as if holding that in was eating him alive. It probably was. The table goes silent again as cutlery clashes from people dropping their forks or spoons and looking at the both of you. If possible Bucky and yourself sink into your seats just waiting for the floor to swallow you whole.

“Excuse me?” Natasha is smiling.

Steve is simply staring at his best friend processing what he’s just heard.

“We weren’t kissing.” You spoke abruptly and went back to picking at your food.

“Why are you both blushing so much?” Clint asks while smiling, this seems to be entertaining for all of them.

“Uh you know— allergies.” Bucky is sitting in silence letting you suffer everyone’s questions.

“Allergies?” Tony inquires and you nod, “That doesn’t make any sense—“ He continues but you interrupt “Yes it does.” The way you say it is incredibly unconvincing.

“Why is Bucky’s face also red if you have allergies?” Natasha smirks as she asks you, “They’re um— contagious allergies..” You lie through your teeth.

“Contagious?” Clint and Steve ask in unison, “Yeah.” You’re panicking.

“What are these allergies called?” Tony is practically grinning as he asks.

“It’s uh it’s called um Cootitis. very serious stuff” You blurt out and are met with snickers as everyone tries holding in their laughter and Bucky looks at you absolutely perplexed.

“Cootitis..?” Tony asks with a serious tone while holding in his laugh. You look stern as you say “Yes and I must have passed it onto Bucky in passing” avoiding eye contact as you say that because you don’t even believe yourself.

“Well this sounds like a new disease we know nothing about. I think it’s best Bruce and I take you both to the med bay and run some tests.. like take some bloo—“

He doesn’t get to finish before you blurt out “FINE. BUCKY AND I WERE KISSING” because he knew your fear of needles would invoke you.

“I KNEW IT.” Peter screams as Tony leans back in his chair with his arms crossed and the widest smile on his face. You sit back defeated letting out a long sigh.

“Well why didn’t you just say that from the start?” Steve asks and you both give him an evil look. It goes back to awkward silence now that the secret is out except for the secret glances you and Bucky give each other throughout the day, earning scoffs and fake gags from your co workers.

—————————————

reblogs appreciated :)

[tabbedtabby]

good luck, babe! | chapter 3

regina george x reader

summary: After the Queen Bee of North Shore makes up rumors about you taking pictures of girls in the changing room, you decide to take matters into your own hands. You didn’t think that would mean coming to a reluctant agreement with Regina George.

a/n: not proofread 😗 sorry

———————————————————————

After Regina’s demand that you help her with her math, you set up an arrangement for you to come over after school on Mondays and Wednesdays. Lucky you.

She’s in the lowest possible math class you can take as a junior, so you don’t think the tutoring thing will be too hard. What you’re really worried about is being at her house. The woods were your turf; Regina’s house was completely different territory. God, you wish you never got caught up in any of this in the first place. Not like it was your fault.

What makes it even worse is that Regina isn’t even bad company most of the time. Sure, she’s a total bitch, but she’s funny and some of her stories are entertaining to listen to. Mostly because they’re so stupid. You’d consider her a friend if you could find an ounce of compassion in her and if she didn’t practically ruin your life at school. You had to start eating lunch in the bathroom because even your group of guitar geeks started to turn on you. It was embarrassing, but perhaps a blessing in disguise since you don’t really like talking to them anyway. It was kind of nice to be ignored sometimes.

On Monday, you go back behind the baseball field anyway. You have no way to communicate with Regina and you doubt she’ll want to be seen with you in the student parking lot, so you wait for her to find you.

This was such a waste of time. Lately it felt like your entire life revolved around her. You’re a pariah at school because of rumors she made up, and then right after the bell rings you’re smoking and laughing with her. Just to go home, sleep, and do it all again the next day. You lay your head back against a tree. The days were starting to get colder.

After a couple of minutes, you almost doze off until you hear the harsh snap of twigs under storming feet. Uh-oh. Regina was pissed.

“What the hell? Are you stupid? Did you forget what day it is?” You hear her before you even see her. If she was gonna be like this, you’d rather just go home. You bite your tongue absentmindedly.

“Aren’t I too embarrassing to be seen going home with?” you respond dryly, but you can’t help but smile a bit. She got mad over the stupidest things. If anyone should be angry, it should be you.

“Obviously. But making me walk all the way back here was cruel.” she says with a small raise of her eyebrows, and you realize she’s not really pissed. You’re not used to her joking with you. You flash her a smile.

“I’m sure you’ll survive,” you snide, throwing one strap of your bag back over your shoulder.

“Won’t. Anyway, are we going or not?” Regina says with exaggerated annoyance, turning back around with a grace you’ll never have in a million years. She throws her hair over her shoulder and begins to stalk off between the trees.

The drive to Regina’s house is awkward. Mostly because she makes you sit in the back in case anyone were to see you in the passenger seat. Just about everyone in town knew what Regina’s car looked like, so you can’t say you’re surprised.

When Regina finally pulls into her massive driveway, you’re instantly in awe of the giant house that sits before you. You’ve seen it before on Instagram, but never in person. It has elegant pillars and a round shape that makes it look like a giant jewelry box. You grew up on the poorer side, so it feels like a movie to step into a house like this.

“Ugh. You’re acting like Cady, it’s gross,” you hear Regina complain as you look around the inside of the house with wonder. It’s so pristine that it doesn’t even look lived in. How a child was raised here is beyond you.

Regina seems eager to get upstairs, and you realize why when you see a woman round the corner as if she’s been waiting for this moment her entire life. You can tell she’s Regina’s mother almost immediately. They both have bleach blonde hair, sharp blue eyes, and a sharp face. Regina’s is intimidating while her mother’s is a bit kinder.

“Ooh, who’s this? Definitely not the usual three!” Regina’s mother asks with sparking excitement, taking a few steps towards you and reaching her hands out to cup your face. You’re sure she’s just trying to be nice, but her hands are cold and her attention on you is uncomfortable. Regina’s annoyance is almost palpable in the air.

“She’s just helping me with math, don’t be gross,” Regina spits out, as if the words were bile in her throat. “Please leave.”

“Okay, sweetie!” Regina’s mother says, her voice still light as if Regina’s tone didn’t phase her at all. You blink in shock at the whole interaction as her hands drop from your cheeks. “Let me know if you want snacks later! Slay the day away!”

You cringe a bit at her use of modern slang, but you instantly feel bad. She’s obviously trying her best.

Regina seems to have the same reaction, just without the pity. She immediately purses her lips in annoyance and shepards you up the stairs, apparently urgent to get away from her mother. This is the first and only time you will ever be grateful for Regina.

“God, sorry about that. She’s so annoying. It’s just like being at school; she literally wants to be me.” Regina scoffs, the perfect mix of annoyed and amused. You hardly even hear her anyway just by the sight of her massive room. It’s probably over triple the size of your own and a lot more majestic. It’s almost regal. If you lived in a castle like this, you’d act like a princess too.

Regina throws her bag on the ground and kicks her shoes off. She’s wearing a black leather vest today along with pants of a similar texture. The whole biker aesthetic she’s got going on clashes with her bright pink room, but somehow she makes it work. She looks good in the leather.

She obviously doesn’t want to start right away, but you’re not trying to stay for dinner so you make her get her math stuff out. Apparently, sitting at her desk is too much effort for her, so you both end up sitting on her bed.

She’s taking Geometry, which you don’t know how that’s even possible for a junior, but it starts to make sense when Regina displays not even an ounce of skill when you go through her review packet. If she’s trying to stay on the soccer team, it’s going to take a lot of work on her part. She doesn’t even seem remotely interested in what you’re trying to explain. You’re biting back the annoyance at this point; she could at least make the smallest effort.

“Regina, you’re not gonna learn anything unless you actually pay attention to what I’m saying.” you eventually snap, putting your head in your hands for a moment as you rub your temple. Proofs were basically just logic and she was even having trouble with that. It didn’t help that you were starving and Regina seemed adamant on keeping her mother from bringing the two of you anything.

“I was at school all day, I’m tired,” she says lazily, pushing the side of her head into one of her palms. Her hair furls up into her hand and she looks straight out of a daydream. How she manages to looks perfectly articulated even while annoyed is beyond you.

“So am I, but I’m here helping you instead of in my bed. At your request, by the way, so can you please just help me out here?” You want so badly to snap at her, but she really does look tired. You seriously can’t believe you feel bad for Regina George, whose biggest problem is staying awake while trying to do homework, but you’re tired too so you kinda get it. She’s basically falling asleep in the palm of her hand until she looks up at you indignantly.

“Do you want to play soccer?” you ask, putting your hands in your lap. Have to scare her into doing math somehow.

Regina seems to think for a moment before pursing her lips slightly. “You are so annoying.” she says, but props her head up to look at the packet again. You smile a bit and point back at where you left off.

It takes a while, but eventually you get some terms down. She’s only doing proofs for line segments so far, so you try to explain to her that it’s basically just a set of directions of how to figure something out. She kind of gets it. ‘Kind of’ will keep her on the soccer team, so overall you’re happy with today’s progress.

As Regina puts her stuff back into her bag, you slide off the bed to get your own. You want to go home, but at the same time, you want to pass out on Regina’s bed and never get back up. It was almost comforting in here with the large, soft bed and the colorfully decorated walls. You bet sleeping in that bed would be like drowning in dough.

Regina frowns at you when you stand up and gather your things. Per usual, you pretend you don’t notice to avoid an unsavory comment.

“Where are you going?” she asks. You bite your lip. You guess pretending not to notice isn’t going to work this time around.

“It’s staring to get dark out, I should probably go.” you say with a shrug. You’d probably have to make dinner for your brother tonight.

“Well, duh, it gets dark out, like, super early now.” she complains, looking at you the same way she looks at Gretchen when she says something Regina doesn’t like. “Come on, don’t be a loser. I wanna show you something.”

You like it a lot more when she’s nice to you than when she’s not, and the small smile on her lips makes her look all too innocent. You know this is just how she lures people in; you’d seen it happen in real time with Cady. But if you were aware of it, then you couldn’t be fooled, right? Besides, you want to know what she has to show you. Your brother was old enough to make his own dinner.

“Fine,” you say with a slight roll of your eyes, and Regina gives you an approving smile. You can kind of understand why people at school seek out Regina’s approval so much. It does feel nice to be accepted by her, even if it’s just by the small gesture of staying in Regina’s room a little longer. You’re not dependant on it like they are, however. It’s just nice to not be slandered by her for once.

You sit back down on Regina’s bed as she looks in her closet for something, supposedly whatever she wants to show you. The bed’s so lush it threatens to swallow you. Your eyes watch Regina’s back as she digs through baskets of what you think to be old clothes. You’d always imagined she would have one of those giant walk-in closets that are almost like another room, but her closet looks similar to yours, maybe a bit more modern.

Regina comes back with a big pink book in one hand and a dangerous smile on her lips. You raise an eyebrow at her as she tosses it on the bed, front cover up. It says “Burn Book” in different sized letters that remind you of those ransom notes you see on TV. You raise your eyebrows.

“What is this? Did you make it?” you ask as she plops back down on the bed beside you. You reach a hand out to touch the letters, but Regina slaps your wrist away before you get the chance.

“Obviously, I made it,” she responds snarkily, flipping open the cover. “I kinda forgot about it until we looked through it a couple weeks ago. Now I can’t stop.”

At first you think it’s some kind of scrapbook until you see the text underneath each photo. Calling people bitches, sluts, shrimps, or whichever demeaning name Regina saw fit. It’s demented, but exactly what you’d expect from Regina. It’s almost like having a catalog of every rumor she’s ever made up. Sure enough, you see your name on the next page. The caption on your page is along the lines of what you hear in the halls every time the bell rings.

“So this is where that came from?” you ask, feeling the annoyance bubble up inside of you again. You were beginning to forget about it after hanging out with Regina so much, she almost seemed like somewhat of a friend.

“Come on, don’t act all pissed about it. I thought you didn’t care.” she says, sounding more annoyed you mentioned it than apathetic.

“I punched you. I obviously care.” you snap in response.

What you expect to come next is an apology. You openly admitted that what Regina did hurt your feelings, although it was more of the fact that her rumors drove away all of your friends. She quite literally ruined your social life, even if she does hang out with you now. If you could even call it that. All she does is smoke your weed for free in exchange for her to not further ruin your life.

But she doesn’t apologize. Regina just scoffs then goes right back to flipping through the pages of the Burn Book, completely unbothered. She really doesn’t care. You know she doesn’t really know you, but you thought she knew you well enough to at least feel bad about spreading false information about you.

You should get angry again, storm off like you did the other day in the woods. But all you do is sit there. Why do you care, anyway? You knew she was awful, inside and out, when you made that deal with her. You know she doesn’t care about how her actions affect people, not even her closest friends. Even if she would be nothing without them. It makes sense she would disregard your feelings just the same.

You realize you’re stupid for expecting an apology from Regina. She obviously didn’t care. It’s not like you were expecting to form some kind of bond with her, but you thought she’d at least recognize you as someone decent instead of the predator she’s made you out to be. Maybe it’s unfair of you to expect decency from someone infamous for being intolerable. You sigh deeply through your nose and push yourself off the bed.

“I really should go. See you,” you say, exasperated, slinging your bag over your shoulder and leaving the room before Regina gets the chance to respond. You think she yells something at you, but you’re already halfway down the stairs. She doesn’t follow you.

It was probably a dick move to leave so suddenly, but you had to get out of there. You know you shouldn’t be surprised Regina doesn’t care about ruining your reputation, but you were starting to think she was all right. You roll your eyes. This is so dumb. You shouldn’t even be giving it second thought. This is just the way that it is now, whether you like it or not.

-

By the time you finish walking home, it’s already dark outside. There’s a pot of mac and cheese sitting on the stove, the light still left on in the kitchen. You guess your brother managed to figure it out.

You’re hungry, but so tired from not eating that all you want to do is lay down. You make your way down the hall to your room. You’re sure you’ll find your way to the kitchen sometime in the night.

You don’t bother to change as you lay down on your bed. It seems so insignificant compared to Regina’s giant princess bed that seemed more like laying on the world’s softest stuffed animal. Yours was like a rock in comparison.

You pull your cart out of your bra and take a couple hits, staring up at the dark ceiling. Everything’s already beginning to feel farther away, but it may just be the illusion of the dark. You can’t seem to get Regina off your mind. It was such a random thing to begin your junior year; you’d never imagined you’d fall victim to one of her rumors in such a devastating way. And then the whole smoking after school thing and now tutoring her. It almost felt like Regina wanted to spend time with you the way she always asks you to stay longer than you had to.

It felt rewarding to have her attention. You can kind of understand the dependence everyone at school has to it now. She’s charming in a way that lures people in, only to discard them after she gets what she wants. You’ve noticed the first few signs of Regina trying to do the same to you, but you’re not sure what you can offer her that she doesn’t already have. Either way, you have to be careful. She could just be trying to get more shit on you to spread around. You can’t fathom why; the worst thing you’ve ever done to her is avoid her.

And the fact she didn’t apologize is really starting to bother you. You feel it’s unfair to see someone every single day, smoke with them, tell them the little parts of your day, and then not even feel bad for turning them into an outcast. Maybe it’s on you for even expecting one. This is Regina George, after all. Even if she did treat you like a friend sometimes, which isn’t much better considering the way she treats Karen, Gretchen, and Cady.

Why you’re still thinking about this is beyond you. Maybe you’re not as immune to her manipulation as you thought. Whether it was positive or negative thoughts, you were still thinking about her. It was really starting to piss you off. Just the fact that you didn’t mind her company anymore was enough to make you mad.

You roll over and stick your nose in another blanket. The weed does its job at making you feel disconnected from your body and you’re thankful for it. This whole mess had you thinking way too much. It was stupid.

Maybe you’ll ask for an apology tomorrow.

[ilikekidsshows]

Sometimes I remember how Adrien in Revelation was blamed for EVERYTHING about Marinette's Lila problems and I get fuckin pissed.

Marinette went about outing Lila in the most incompetent and ineffective ways possible for seasons on end and somehow that's ADRIEN'S fault? If Adrien hadn't given her that "high road" advice, Marinette still wouldn't have gotten anywhere because all she ever did was pointing at Lila and screaming and physically harassing Lila about her being a liar and the devil. Adrien could have supported Marinette's (ableist) ways from the start and it wouldn't have changed shit. How is ADRIEN to blame for all of Marinette's incompetence? That girl never even tried communicating any real proof to anyone else. She just expected everyone to blindly hate Lila just cause she says so. What a hero 😒

And don't get me started on the hypocrisy of the show having Marinette as good as say that Adrien was naive and straight up WRONG for thinking there is good in Lila bc apparently some people are just born demons, which she has always known but HE oppressed her in "despite how right and superior she is in how experienced in life she was from the very start" (Cause Marinette having a raging jealousy hate boner from day 1 makes her mature and wise according to this episode's message)

and that Adrien should pretty much be considering himself lucky that Marinette is so pure and forgiving that she's able to love him for that pathetic nativity even though shes so brilliant and experienced that she's above ever being wrong like him bc she's just that brilliant and right and he's native, pathetic and wrong which she will generously teach him to not be anymore by telling him what way of thinking is correct (her way. ONLY ever her way. Just like in everything else in this show, but the love square in particular)

Only for Marinette to fucking do everything Adrien is being accused of in Revelation only 1000 times WORSE when she faces Gabriel in the finale episodes. The hypocrisy in this show is just VILE now in how disgusting the double standards are.

No way is this just bad writing. You have to go out of your way to be this vicious about the double standards and rewriting everything in the show to exclusively prop up Marinette on Adrien's expense.

---

It's all this moronic thing the writers have going on, which is: “we know Lila (and Chloé) will never change because we're the ones writing this shit.” So they have Marinette treating the characters they decided are irredeemable as irredeemable, but she has no in universe justification for that. She can't see the future and know that they'll never change, but she gets to lecture Adrien (and the audience through him) that deciding a couple of children have already become what they’ll always be while the rich, middle-aged men who made them that way are cool and redeemable despite doing jack shit to treat regular people better. They were nice to one (1) person, so now all is forgiven.

And, like, that's also the thing with the finale. Marinette detransforming in front of her enemy is possibly the stupidest thing she's ever done, but the writers' commentary praises her for “choosing kindness over violence” and how Gabriel making the wish is her winning because apparently her pleading reached him and he decided to doom the world in a good way. And Marinette makes this decision that's incredibly asinine in universe, because of the outside universe context. She basically knows that's what's going on because the writers decided that's what's going on and and Marinette will shill the fuck out of their favorite child abuse OC to try to vindicate him to the audience.

[littlegreen]

no seriously i don't understand why now is the time we decided Tim is To Be Trusted. everyone on this show loves to just say words and lie for fun. plus i do not put it past them to be doing all of this as some kind of half cover up since obviously the funeral was going to leak. that is what happens when u film in daylight in dtla. anyways just needed to let u know i stand with u #bobbyalive

and here’s the thing!! let’s think about this for two seconds . WHY would they be killing bobby??? peter doesn’t want to leave, peter said not that long ago he’d want to do a couple more seasons. he’s the shows leading man and a huge audience pull so from that perspective it doesn’t make any sense to randomly kill him off. nothing about his death feels earned, they did nothing to keep this information from getting out despite it being uhm. THEE biggest spoiler the show could possibly have. then they tell the stupidest lies about how they didn’t realize people care enough about one of the most popular shows on network tv to notice they’re filming a giant funeral procession in downtown LA and post it online or that they have no idea where a fake script that THEY posted came from. and on the nobody dies show they’re killing him off 3 episodes before the season finale via rat disease of all things like. it doesn’t even make senseeee. and tims a famous liarrr guysss

[gravitywonagain]

Inquiring Minds

holy shit, i finished a thing. well, a draft of a thing, but still counts!

based on this post about wwx being just dead enough be susceptible to the compulsion of inquiry

--

It was, in retrospect, the stupidest possible way to be found out. Wei Wuxian will readily admit that. Unfortunately, the level of stupidity was not a determining factor for the level of reality — as was the case for so much of Wei Wuxian’s life.

It all happened because one of the two dozen Jin disciples who bothered to show up to the war got a little drunk and a lot prideful and ended up starting a fight he couldn’t finish. Or, that was the going theory, anyway. The Jin leadership — such as it was — wanted an investigation done. As if they had nothing better to do. As if there weren’t reasons to be conserving spiritual power and not wasting it playing Inquiry for a guy who had decided to pick a fight — hopefully, hopefully it was a fight — with a Nie disciple who, granted, did not have the startling musculature of some of her shixiongs, but was still a fucking Nie disciple! 

This guy was not worth their time. This guy was not worth Lan Zhan’s time. Or his attention, or his spiritual power, or the stress it would put on his guqin strings— okay, maybe Wei Wuxian should have taken a moment to purge some of his resentment before walking into the tent. 

But he didn’t. This is important. 

Because then Lan Zhan began to play. 

And there was this strange… tugging sensation in the pit of Wei Wuxian’s gut, right where his golden core was supposed to be, pulling him toward Lan Zhan, or toward the empty space in front of Lan Zhan. 

Wei Wuxian shouldn’t have ignored it. He gets that now. He does. But he always wanted to be near Lan Zhan, and his body had been doing all kinds of weird shit since he’d had his core cut out, and who was to say this wasn’t just another weird side effect. 

Well. It was. A weird side effect. After a fashion. 

But that’s not the point! 

He should have noticed then. He should have left then. But he didn’t. 

The melody changed and the tugging sensation stopped. Which was great! 

Until something else started. It felt like a kind of drunkenness, light and hazy in his head, loose around his tongue. Three or four bowls in. 

He shook himself to dislodge it, but the motion only drew a sharp glare from Jiang Cheng. 

The tent was full of spectators. At least two representatives from each major clan were present, plus several “close friends” of the victim -- like four of the fifteen total Jin disciples -- who probably just wanted something else to do outside of eat, sleep, and fight. Wei Wuxian couldn’t blame them, exactly, war was remarkably boring most of the time, but it was getting awfully stuffy in there. 

Lan Zhan changed the melody again, something almost lexical about it. Wei Wuxian could almost hear the question being asked, even before Zewu Jun’s voice chimed in, translating for anyone who didn’t know the qin language — which was pretty much everyone else in the tent besides the Twin Jades — “What is your name?” 

Wei Wuxian caught his own response between his lips, pressing them together tightly, as the guqin sounded three distinct notes which Zewu Jun reported as Jin Zixin. 

So, good. It was the right guy. That was great. Nothing weird at all. 

He should have left then. He didn’t. 

Lan Zhan played again, and again Wei Wuxian thought he understood the phrase, the question, even before Zewu Jun said for the tent, “How did you die?”

Wei Wuxian felt the answer fly to the tip of his tongue and bit his teeth around it, through it. His cheek bled with the force of keeping quiet. 

It was weird. So weird. But maybe, Wei Wuxian justified to himself, maybe it was just an effect of holding a secret inside for so long and having someone actually ask the question out loud. Maybe, it was just the same automatic reaction of answering with your name when someone asked for it. Maybe he was just too fucking tired, and the resentment under his skin just wanted something to laugh at, something to entertain itself with. Like the five of ten Jins standing in the back of the tent. War was boring, okay?

The notes from Lan Zhan’s guqin hung in the air, resonant and waiting. The moment seemed to stretch out too long. It dragged and Wei Wuxian gradually felt the words stop fighting him to escape. 

But the Jin ghost didn’t answer either. 

When Lan Zhan played the same phrase over — “How did you die?” echoed on Zewu Jun’s tongue — the compulsion was much stronger. This time it was like Wei Wuxian could feel Lan Zhan’s spiritual power pouring through him; the strongest of wines, several jars of it. 

He couldn’t fight it. 

His mouth opened. 

I fell. I fell. I fell. 

“I fell.”

All eyes in the tent turned to him. 

Jiang Cheng’s elbow caught him in the ribs. He didn’t even bother to glare. He said, “Not you, Idiot.” 

The qin sounded and everybody looked back to Lan Zhan and Zewu Jun, waiting to hear the Jin disciple’s answer. 

Zewu Jun hesitated for the barest of moments, stuttering into the start of his translation before finding the confidence of his voice once more, recounting whatever it was that the ghost had strummed out. 

Wei Wuxian didn’t hear a word he said. He was, instead, pierced on two sides. 

On one: Jiang Cheng muttered to himself, “Wait,” and then his eyes went wide as he looked back at Wei Wuxian. 

On the other: Lan Zhan’s fingers froze above the strings of his guqin and he turned to stare over his shoulder at Wei Wuxian with something like horrified understanding dawning within his gaze. 

Wei Wuxian finally realized he should fucking leave. Immediately. 

He wanted to run. He knew better. Knew what that would look like. 

Instead, he was going to simply walk out of this tent as he had walked out of so many already during this campaign. Gravel crunched under his heel as he turned. 

But his brother knew him too well. Jiang Cheng’s hand clamped tight around Wei Wuxian’s bicep, his grip unyielding. With his golden core, Wei Wuxian might have been able to break it. But the real bitch of it was that it was his golden core that was holding him in place. 

Jiang Cheng tensed as if readying for a fight, but Wei Wuxian already knew how that fight would end. So he let himself be restrained. 

He turned back to face the Inquiry. 

Lan Zhan was still staring at him when Zewu Jun finished speaking. He was still so stuck in place that his brother had to prompt him into finishing the ritual. Which he did, with all the grace and skill expected of him. He really was just so beautiful to watch. 

All the while, Wei Wuxian listened to the music and bit through his tongue to keep it silent. The questions continued to drag at him -- “Do you know who killed you?” Wen Chao. “Do you have any last requests?” To leave this fucking tent. -- though the pressure to answer eased significantly as the Jin ghost became less stubborn about it. Wei Wuxian settled for reciting the answers to them in his head until they no longer felt pressed against the thin seam of his mouth. 

It took approximately sixteen-hundred years. 

All seven Jin disciples supporting the war effort left the tent after the ghost had recounted his final moments. The attempted sexual assault was not unexpected, judging by their faces, but still disappointing to hear about. Clearly not the entertainment they were hoping for. Luckily for Wei Wuxian, they were apparently too wrapped up in their Jin nonsense to realize new entertainment was fidgeting in the corner and trying not to sever the tip of his tongue completely. 

The Nie, represented by Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang, left shortly after the ritual concluded. If Nie Mingjue had to tug his brother away, Wei Wuxian was too busy keeping his mouth shut to comment on it. 

And then there were just the four of them. Plus the corpse. But they were like six months into a war, so the corpse didn’t actually seem to bother any of them. It hadn’t even started to smell yet. It was still pretty intact, too, and now that it was verifiably a criminal, Wei Wuxian wondered idly if the Jin would let him use it in their next battle. Probably not. 

His idle wondering ceased abruptly as his brother’s fingers bit deeper into the meat of his arm. 

“Wei Wuxian,” he said, all of his surely filial worry for his gege boiling over into a spitting, incandescent fury. He never had to say he loved his brother, Wei Wuxian could always tell. It was the teeth gnashing that gave him away. “What the fuck do you mean you fell?” 

Right. 

Wei Wuxian played it as cool as he could with a definitely-not-bleeding tongue. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Jiang Cheng.” He shrugged, but his arm didn’t move very far. 

“You answered Inquiry,” said Lan Zhan. Succinct as ever. 

“No!” Wei Wuxian said, maybe a little too loud, but not at all childishly. 

Zewu Jun narrowed his eyes and pulled out his xiao. Wei Wuxian tried not to flinch about it, he did. But Zewu Jun only played a short, non-Inquiry melody, and a shimmering, blue barrier manifested around the interior of the tent. 

“No,” Wei Wuxian said again, this time at a totally normal volume. “I was just… messing around. You know how I do that, Lan Zhan. Always a rule breaker.” He grinned, desperately trying to play it all off. Realizing faster and faster how very badly this was going for him. 

Lan Zhan surprised him, then, saying, “Not when it matters.” 

“What?”

“Wei Ying doesn’t break rules when they matter.” 

Wei Wuxian didn’t know where the fuck that was coming from. But he couldn’t say he hated it. 

Except that he did, because it was going to be a problem for this whole I’m just a silly rascal defense he was setting up. 

Jiang Cheng still hadn’t let go of his arm. His fingernails were starting to split the fabric of his sleeve. And worse, his eyebrows were scrunched together in the way they do when he’s thinking through all the angles of a problem. 

Zewu Jun still had his xiao in hand, and he was looking at Wei Wuxian like he was deciding whether to perform an exorcism or an execution. 

But Lan Zhan… Lan Zhan hadn’t moved from his seat on the mat. He had turned his body so that he was facing Wei Wuxian, giving him his full attention, and was looking up at him with… pain in his eyes. Shining, wet pain. 

“You died?” he asked. “Are you dead?”

“I don’t…” Wei Wuxian trailed off. He couldn’t find the words. 

He didn’t know. Which was, possibly, not the best sign. 

“I can’t be dead,” he said, looking over at Zewu Jun, Jiang Cheng, then back to Lan Zhan. “Can I?”

Zewu Jun, still wary, said, “You responded to the compulsion in Inquiry. Inquiry is a song that speaks to and compels answers from the dead. It does not generally work on the living.” 

“Well--” Wei Wuxian started, defensive and scared. But again, he didn’t really know where to go with that. 

“Where were you, Wei Wuxian?” Jiang Cheng asked him. “Why didn’t you meet me at the bottom of the hill?” 

Lan Zhan and Zewu Jun shared a look. They didn’t seem to know what Jiang Cheng was talking about. But Wei Wuxian really, really, didn’t want to get into that whole mess. If anyone was going to see right through him and his flimsy tale about suddenly remembering the location of Baoshan Sanren’s mountain, it would be Lan Zhan. Actually, Zewu Jun would probably figure it out, too. And then maybe even Jiang Cheng. Now that he wasn’t all broken and desperate and gullible. 

Fuck. With the way Jiang Cheng was looking at Wei Wuxian, the way his hand released some of the pressure around his arm, he might already have. 

Wei Wuxian laughed, hoping it came off more smoothly than it felt in his chest. “Ah, Jiang Cheng.” He brought his own hand up to lay over his brother’s. “What if I told you--”

“No,” Jiang Cheng cut him off. “No more bullshit. Where were you?”

The mirth, false as it was, drained out of Wei Wuxian as he saw the pain building behind his brother’s eyes. 

There was movement in his periphery and then Lan Zhan was standing on his other side. His fingers wrapped around Wei Wuxian’s other arm with a much gentler grip than Jiang Cheng’s. Something imploring about the touch. Like he was seeking confirmation to a theory, or maybe proving to himself that Wei Wuxian was actually there. 

“I…” Wei Wuxian trailed off. 

Zewu Jun’s gaze was hard as steel, but aimed, it seemed, at Lan Zhan’s hand, rather than at Wei Wuxian in general. 

“There was a rumor,” he said in slow, even words, “that Wen Chao had thrown you into the Burial Mounds.” He waited a moment after he finished speaking, as if trying to reconcile the words himself, before he looked up to meet Wei Wuxian’s eyes. 

Of course, Wei Wuxian didn’t want to meet Zewu Jun’s eyes. He didn’t want to meet any of their eyes. He wanted very much to be out of this tent and away from knowing gazes altogether. 

Unfortunately, he hadn’t quite figured out how to teleport using resentful energy yet. So in the tent he remained. 

He looked down at his feet. His boots were crusted with dirt and blood and other bodily fluids. War really was super gross, in addition to being largely boring. 

“That’s ridiculous,” he said, still looking down. “Everyone knows that nothing leaves the Burial Mounds.” 

Lan Zhan’s hand tightened around Wei Wuxian’s arm. Jiang Cheng’s loosened, but didn’t let go. 

“Yeah,” said Jiang Cheng, like an accusation, “it would be impossible.” 

Wei Wuxian still didn’t look up from his feet which meant that he missed whatever silent conversation happened between Jiang Cheng and Lan Zhan that had both of them tightening their grips on his arms just before fingers were pressed to the pulse points of his wrists. He struggled, flailing as much as he could, but against Lan Zhan’s golden core and his own, he stood no chance. He could barely budge them. 

He screamed but the sound only reverberated inside the tent. 

The only thing he could think to do was to call up the dead. The dead man still lying in front of them. The Jin. Rapist. Criminal. He could use that wicked corpse to fight off the people holding him down, taking his secrets. Smoke curled out of his sleeves and he--

He stopped himself. 

It was over anyway. 

Even if they couldn’t read his spiritual energy, or lack thereof, his fighting them was confirmation enough. 

He went limp in their grasp. His knees buckled. 

It really was the stupidest possible way to be found out. 

“Where is it?” asked Jiang Cheng. But it was clear from his voice that he already knew the answer. 

Lan Zhan was silent. 

Zewu Jun looked to his brother for an answer, not understanding what they had just discovered. 

“His golden core,” said Lan Zhan. “It’s gone.” 

“Wen Zhuliu?” Zewu Jun asked. 

But Jiang Cheng made a sound that was somehow both a laugh and a sob. 

Wei Wuxian regained control of his arms. He sprawled himself out on the tent floor, exhausted from his struggle. He laughed, too. “After a fashion.” 

Jiang Cheng fell to the ground next to him, hands cradling the place where Wei Wuxian’s core now spun. “What the fuck?” he said, quietly, to no one in particular. Then, loudly, to Wei Wuxian in particular, “What the fuck!” 

His cheeks were wet. Jiang Cheng’s, his own. He looked over to confirm, and yeah, Lan Zhan’s too. Zewu Jun had nothing to cry over, except maybe confusion, but he was too cool for that, so he just stood in the middle of the tent, shocked, presumably, as his brother, another sect leader, and a demonic cultivator broke down around him. 

Wei Wuxian stared up at the tented canvas ceiling and cursed himself for not leaving the tent when he first noticed something wrong. 

“Jiang Cheng,” he started, but Jiang Cheng cut him off with a wet yell. 

“Why would you do that, you fucking idiot?! What the fuck were you even thinking?! How did you-- How--” 

He seemed to lose steam trying to figure out what happened on “Baoshen Sanren’s mountain” and potentially also why Baoshen Sanren’s voice sounded so familiar. 

Zewu Jun’s voice was remarkably calm for a man witnessing-- whatever he made of what he was currently witnessing. He said, “Wei Wuxian, I believe your Sect Leader would like to know how you lost your golden core.” 

Wei Wuxian laughed at that. Because yes and no. 

“No, Zewu Jun,” he said, still laughing. He tried to stop, but it was just too funny. “No,” he said again, slightly more sober, “he wants to know why and how he now has my golden core.” 

He didn’t really mean to say it. He felt drunk again, like he did when Lan Zhan was playing Inquiry. Ready to spill all his secrets at only the slightest provocation. Zewu Jun could probably ask him just about anything right now -- Lan Zhan and Jiang Cheng too, for that matter -- and he would answer it. It wasn’t exactly a safe mindset to be in. But he couldn’t really do anything about that now. 

At least there was some kind of privacy barrier over the tent. 

Zewu Jun stood. Speechless. 

Lan Zhan’s tears fell silently. 

Jiang Cheng glared, hands clutched tight against his lower dantian -- whether to hold something inside or to tear it out, Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure. 

Wei Wuxian felt light as a feather. Drunk and dizzy with it. A weight had been lifted, he supposed, but one he was never supposed to let go. His laughter died down to the occasional press of his lungs. Tears collected in his eyelashes until everything was blurry. 

Emptiness yawned inside him, but it was gentler somehow. As if the secret itself had been clawing away at his slowly healing wounds. 

“Fuck,” he said with a hiccup of a laugh. And again, quieter, “Fuck.”

He really should have left the fucking tent. 

Also, wait. Was he dead?! 

--

(7/18/24: now on ao3)

[borialover]

I need to know if you have any aus so I can draw it like you did for me. Thank you by the way I'm tweeking over it still THANK YOU RAHHHHHHHHHHHH AAAAAAA

*Starts shaking you aggressively*

I'm free from school and finally can answer this ask YAAAY

While I do have one AU, it’s u know. Only in my head and paper scraps. Tho I’d like to do a little lore drop w/ it and share the shit that I alr planned in my head

Text bomb under the cut (there’s prop a lot of grammar mistakes and preschooler vocabulary so beware)

Jjk trio is on their second or third year (haven’t decided yet) and Yuji starts getting the same dream he doesn’t remember no matter what so he just ignores it. Yuji is also haunted by a sense of wrongness. But it's his body that feels wrong. Something deep within himself is off (would be funny to give Yuji a little body dysmorphia). Until one day this dream becomes lucid even though he can’t quite control himself. In the dream Yuji is in some kind of empty space similar to Tengen��s tomb (idk). And there it is. In front of him. his….soul. His soul was the reason for all this uneasiness and animosity in him. His body moving without the help of his mind. Yuji needs to change it. Reshape it. Do something to calm the escalating storm in him. He approaches his soul. And then Yuji wakes up. Blood runs down his cheeks. His eyes are burning in pain. Something feels different. His viewing angle has become wider. Unnaturally so. What’s going on?.... Getting out of bed and going to the bathroom in his room with shaking movements, he sees a barely recognizable reflection. Four red ringed eyeballs look at him with scared confusion.

I got kinda lazy, but u get the idea, Yuji has 4 eyes. Repeat the action and give him belly mouth and 4 arms, but he tryna hide it from basically everyone, except Shoko, the dumbest ways possible i.e. covering eyes and belly mouth w/ as much bondages as he can and….uh….cutting the secondary arms off with Shrine lol. But they are regrowing every night. So it’s pointless fight.

Funny thing is that it is kinda prequel??? I plan to do the main part of the story in the post-canon, where it is either 2025 (that is, jjk trio are 22-23) or somewhere in the slightly more distant future, where they are in their late 20s. The idea is that The Higher-Ups are shit again and are no help to jujutsu society so Yuji decided to do give them a middle finger and went off on his own to make a dash organization dash school smth like that. I wanna place their main headquarters (and the only one) in Shinjuku and justify this by saying that The Government decided simply not to rebuild it, and then a veil appeared over all destroyed Shinjuku (an event unrelated to Yuji, but he will later become involved) so they just let it be. Yuji was also labeled as a curse user by The Higher-Ups :P

As for other chars I wanna make Megs a worker in a flower shop and quit jujutsu. He will give over the title of clan head to Maki. Nobara is the director of the Tokyo JJH for the stupidest reason like she lost a bet.

I don’t have a proper design for them yet, except for Yuji:

(he have a mullet btw)

and the little sketch of Norb

Y'all can ask questions abt my AU btw