#cabi ask

[cabi-leodrann]

lamb game: 1 21 22 42

[Ask Game] [Previous Ask] [Next Ask]

Does your lamb go by any name other than The Lamb? If so, what?

21. Was your lamb born male, female, intersex, or do you have no opinion on their sex at birth?

22. Does your lamb use pronouns other than they/them? If so, which ones!

42. Would your lamb ever kill a cult member?

[ask-us-sanses-anything]

CROSS!!! you are so cool and I got a bunch of cool stuff for you!! *hands cross a bag of marshmallows, 36 lightbulbs, a music box, and an undertale comic I made in 2020 that looks really poorly drawn* (you don't have to draw everything btw i just want to know what he thinks)

At the time, he's a bit reluctant to get anywhere near these asker's offerings... But he appreciates it. He doesn't think you would do anything bad to him, so he accepts it and keeps it in his room for later.

[probablysimpledreams]

Ever since I thought about me and Touya having a pet bunny, it's all I can think about

I'd been begging for one ever since we moved in together but he was always so against it but then surprised me with one on the one year mark of us living together <333 he gets so annoyed when I give her attention over him <33 I'll be in the other room and can hear him arguing with the bunny, she's always getting under his feet when he's walking around and it makes him so mad <333 they're constantly having a diva off as she keeps getting into his things and he has to usher her out of the room and she just thumps and stares at him <333 but then I'll come home and see them napping on the couch together and Touya insists on hand feeding her every night (even though he claims it's such a pain -> the bunny has now come to expect this and won't eat unless he feeds her he's had to pause movies and band practices when his friends are over to go feed her) he's very picky on what treats and toys we buy her and doesn't let anyone pick her up he loves brushing her while telling her all the latest family gossip

Now it may look like Touya is her favorite person but you know who actually is? Shoto LOL oh Touya is so visibly irritated when Shoto comes over and the bunny just runs and stays by his side all night, eating straight out of Shoto's hand on the first try as if it didn't take months for her to warm up to Touya feeding her (and out of Touya’s friends the bunny’s fav is Tomura but he’s sooo nervous around her bc she’s so itty bitty)

[cranberryjuice-posts]

Hi, I always see fanfics where Clarisse protects the reader, but what about a fanfic where the reader protects her?

👀

- mind your business -

Pairings - Clarisse La Rue x Fem! Reader

Tw - mentions of SOM - not spoilers but mentioned

An - guys I think my chest is colasping 🧍‍♀️ also I have Nike pandas and my friend said “those aren’t creased those are deceased” bc their lowkey turning green😝

An Pt 2 - Tell me Why i just realized Dior is 18 and is turning 19 this year

An Pt 3 - the Pt 2 is Miss Information i got confused I’m sorry 😭😭

Cheering loudly you jumped happily as you watched your girlfriend clarisse in the chariot race . She was dominating the field per usual, bringing you a sense of happiness.

As the chariots crossed the corner the winner was shown as percy and annabeth. Rolling your eyes at the circumstances you didn’t hesitate to run towards the daughter of ares.

Sneaking up and around the chariots that pulled into the clearing you snuck up to the taller girl. Watching for a moment as she yelled at her siblings you took the opportunity to jump behind clarisse covering her eyes. “Guess who”

Peeling your fingers off her face she turned around, looking you up and down with a critical look. She rolled her eyes before kissing your forehead. “I can’t stand you sometimes” she sighed while picking a piece of pollen off of your hair.

“That’s really how Your Gonna Greet your girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

“Ok clarisse” you joked rolling your eyes in response. Stepping up, creasing your shoes you placed a quick kiss on her lips. “Take care of the chariot ok? I need your sister for something” you politely asked the ares kids, stealing clarisse before they would retaliate.

——

“Where are You taking me” Clarisse complained while You dragged her deeper into the mountains.

“Can You Just be quiet and trust me” looking over your shoulder you raised an eyebrow, testing her patience.

After about five minutes of walking you eventually brought her to a clearing, it was ok the edge of one of the many cliffs at camp but gave a good view of not only the beautiful scenery bellow but also of the camp itself.

Leaning into clarisse you wrapped a lazy arm around her while resting your head on her. “Pretty huh”

She just shrugged her shoulders. “It’s all right” You softly hit her in the side. “It’s not all right It’s beautiful you jerk”

“No.. no I’ve seen prettier” she chuckled.

“Oh yeah? Name three things”

“Ok” Clarisse shifted around some. “Uh for starters the sunset, then my spear and lastly I guess you can count” she laughed as you hit her one more time. “I hate you so much”

“I love you to” she chuckled kissing you once again.

“You did great Today.. your dad would be proud you know” you comfortingly mumbled against her lips. Clarisse relaxed Some sighing once again “let’s just hope he agrees”

——

Heading towards the dining hall you happily held your girlfriends hand. Walking in the stone building you stopped making clarisse jerk slightly.

“What’s wrong” she asked with a concerned tone. Breaking from her you headed towards the Athena table.

Walking up to it you crossed your arms “do we have a problem”

They all looked around confused, some mumbling. “What are You on about?” Annabeth spoke all while giving you an equally dirty look.

“There’s nothing wrong with bragging about winning but the second any of you have the audacity to first of all say, clarisse didn’t deserve her quest this year or that she was just an extra burden which may I add you— annabeth crashed her quest, only to then also say that she deserved not winning just shows the fucking arrogance of you all” placing your hands on your hips you eyed the entire now silent table with some of the other kids in the dining hall following suit in being quiet. “Keep my girlfriends name out of your pathetic mouths and we won’t have a problem.. understand”

Walking back to clarisse you took her hand into yours once again, kissing her cheek you started to walk towards the ares cabin table with her. “Have I ever told you how hot you are when you act like a bitch”

“Eh you’ve mentioned it once or twice” giving her one more kiss, pecking her lips a few Times you started to chuckle as her siblings complained.

It didn’t matter what anyone said about clarisse. You would Defend her til the day you die.

[lilicuzi]

THE HARBOUR

so I made a parallel princess for the servant, both of them share the chapter 3 of your own creation and I listened to sailor song making her. gory and description under cut.

chapter 1 The Princess

in contrast to the servant you rely on her, the power is entirely shifted to her. to get the Harbour I have two ideas both in the soft princess route. either referring to her about the blade, when she asks about a key then you can mention the blade so that you can come back with the blade without causing alarm. “I saw a blade upstairs, should I have brought it down?” or when she bites her arm and the knife is dropped to save or slay the princess you instead can kick the blade to her instead she can handle the responsibility of this situation.

this would solidify the idea of you being passive, all actions done are not malicious and detrimental if you wanted to cause harm, she thinks you don't want control so she will be a princess that leads. (the servant contrast) up the stairs the narrator will try you get you to kill her but since you don't have the blade she's in close proximity so he makes you claw her eyes. she fails, knife in hand and you both fall down the stairs and bleed out, everything goes dark and you die. next time you get the voice of the broken, maybe smitten or cheated since you got close to leaving and hurt her without choice.

chapter 2 The Harbour

The cabin is salty and tropical kinda like the lower layer of a pirate ship or a tide pool in a way, in the basement has a low layer of water that is constantly shifting and crashes against the stones that get denser towards the basement walls. I'm the center of the room is the princess her dress tighter around her but the skirt is constantly covered by the waves of hair on her which flows to be the waters. her crown shoots up like the rocks seen in a tide pool and her face is unseen, always facing away or covered by hair because it casts a stream of light.

she's based on a light house, providing light for you when your lost, she is a flashlight direct, helpful and leads the way for you. she is a leader as a princess, she acts rather pushy and closed off despite constantly alluding to keeping you. both the Harbour and the Servant are repression and serving due to circumstance in opposite ways, one bottles rage in the face of tyranny wants you to leave her alone, the other bottles weakness as a leader wants you to stay. she falters under the weighs on her shoulders, she has to let you go so she makes that choice for you because you won't and yet you're all she knows is not her and can't help but hide that after all she's so much more than you, to lead without a destination for herself.

The entire time she guides you to leave making polite small talk if only to get you out quickly, hand in hand she turns away from you walking you back out the basement while the waves push harshly against it. the closer to the door you get the higher the tide will move not the water level rising but more violent currents that don't touch you. the second she bids you farewell, water rushes up the stairs filling the cabi, yet you don't drown the pressure crushes you far before all the air leaves your lungs. you become a plate on the floor.

chapter 3 Of Your Own Creation

she is shared between the servant and the Harbour I started at the idea of bioluminescence and created the Harbour. all chapter 3 come from acting different to chapter 2 so in both you are no longer passive. when with the Harbour she thinks you will follow peacefully but you won't. either stabbing her or constantly trying to get in her face to see the light (the servant contrast as you annoy her enough to snap back) I drew the violent option. either way it's unexpected as previously you just followed around and are now taking initiative in the worse way possible and is starting to think you meant to claw her eyes out, so she grabs your head and forces you to see her face. no eyes just a trypophobia inducing mirage of lights to blind you, she is still a flashlight and it burns your retinas to stare into a light out of stupidity that was only meant to guide. forcing you to see her face brings her really close, close enough for her to tear out your feathers with her teeth. the both of you are pushed against each other knife in her chest that stabs into the plucked flesh of your chest and a loss of eye sight from staring at such a harsh light. you are joined by the voice of the opportunist by stabbing her or skeptic / contrarian by seeing her.

she is conflicted, she doesn't know how to think you've been everything awful and meek, pitiful and violent but she knows you are everything else that's not her, she likes that intimacy of being a canvas for your contradictions. everything was of your own creation. that's the connection her waves of hair become you, it's feathers on the ground and lights are her she's an angler fish in the dark she is yours and you could never see anyone or anything else. her crown becomes a feathered diadem the space is for you to fill, (I gave OYOC a diadem since the servant is a princess again while the Harbour looses the middle which is often the focal point in a tiara since it's nothing but you that matters to her now) she grows eyes, pupils so dilated there's nothing behind them but the void that you are. I already explained OYOC so I will leave that there but this an explanation of her in relation to the Harbour.

chapter 3 The pearl

to get to this chapter 3 in contrast is more peaceful you want to stay with her, in the cabin or not and with persistence and stubbornness you will not leave her cabin or not. she wants you to leave but truly got attached you have agency this time and you use it to draw out the yearning in her heart to corner off the facade in favour of someone beautiful. (kinda like the revolution) it takes effort and you fall from the ragged waves roaring at her distress… but then she's exhausted the currents calm from the release and if you stay then it's your choice right? while on the ground she lays her head on your lap under the water level. your lower half is submerged, its peaceful and the narrator is screaming at you, the level of water slowly lowers as you see bubble after bubble trail of into the atmosphere it's humid then suffocating there's more water than oxygen as you slowly drown beside the sleeping body. she wakes up and you both see faces leaking water from your orifices (that one steven universe episode) everything goes dark and you die joined by the skeptic or smitten or cheated.

This time the cabin is at the bottom of a sea which is parted to provide you access in the cabin which is flooded entirely, you dive into the basement rather than walk or rather you get swept into there by her waves that provide a constantly swirling pocket among them to breathe and see. she's far away but controls the tides to make a shark tunnel of space to find her, she is glowing entirely now yet much softer a light no longer directed with purpose no longer a danger to witness, her eyes close to a pure calm face and a soft smile. her dress is now a swim suit she sits comfortably on the tides bobbing back and forth still in you vision.

with a weight so heavy on her she is almost doll like the responsibility on her is as vast as the ocean and she's not crumbling but faded an ephemeral being your not supposed to see, slipping from your grasp you can let her disappear from you her waves push you back without resistance and once back in the cabin a whirlpool is made for her to see you. with her eyes open is the despair of such a life everything locked back away under guilt for killing you she thanks you for staying with her but it's better for the both of you to let go, she wishes you well. or you could swim to her the whole way. How determined are you to go against her tides pulling back against her shame and pain everytime you meet? How willing are you to whittle her resolve just to feel her embrace? how hard will you go to suffer every moment together? if that's your price then you can will it. at the last moment a wave crashes behind you forcing you into her in a hard painful blow, the velocity melts you together your feathers into her hair a dark grey mass is all that's left but that one moment before the demise might have been all so worth it. you dissolve into her and she swarms you it's peaceful.

yay I finished finally, hope yall like her and the symbolism isn't too on the nose but also I don't care anymore I worked on this for so long my brain is mush. I didn't realize there's a limit on photos but I'll remember next time.

it took atleast 5 hours to write this as tumblr didn't load 2 hours of writing last night. ::')

[icy-bluez]

Bake Me Some Hearts

Warnings: Established relationship, suggestive (Zayne), lots of fluff.

Synopsis: When you're in the process of baking something for them.

Characters: Zayne, Xavier, Rafayel

A/N: My search history now consists of 'which food explodes' 'can bread explode' 'how to bake' 'how do whiny cats behave'

Zayne:

You were making cookies or at least, trying your best to. Turning up the heat of the oven you waited, humming a song and happily dancing around the kitchen. Zayne had come back from work earlier, tired and exhausted, demanding your presence in the bedroom. He then proceeded to adorably fall asleep on your chest.

You had stroked his hair, rubbed his back and kissed him until you felt sure his nightmares wouldn't bother him, then got up to make cookies for him in an attempt to make him feel better. The 'ting' of the oven alerts you. Taking out the baked, cat-shaped cookies you start piping frosting on them. It wasn't until you started on the second batch that you felt two strong arms snaking around your waist. You giggle as your back comes flush with a solid chest.

"Hello my dearest snowman. Did you sleep well? " You ask. He rests his chin on top of your head before answering.

"I suppose. What are you up to now?" He asks, languidly, voice and octave lower and distinctly sleepy.

"I'm making sure the snowman is well fed."

"Mm. Come back to bed with me." He demands, nuzzling his nose to your neck.

"I'm almost done love, almost." You say, turning slightly and cupping his cheek. He places a kiss on your palm, closing his eyes. Adoration fills your heart looking at the beautiful man towering behind you. You smile, putting a bit of frosting on his lips.

"Just a moment."

Turning back towards the cookies, you started flourishing them with toppings and decorations till you were satisfied. Zayne licked off the frosting on his lips mumbling about it tasting good. Skeptically, you took a bite out of a nearby cookie. Satisfied you turned around to let Zayne take a bite out of it too.

"These are the only cats that won't run away from you."

"Well aren't you playful today?"

He leaned down to capture your lips, licking, sucking and tasting the inside of your mouth till your cheeks turned the darling shade of pink he loved.

"I would say they came out quite well." He comments whilst wiping off a bit of frosting from the corner of your mouth and licking it, never breaking eye contact.

Suffice to say you were fiercely red, dizzy and out of breath when Zayne lifted you up and put you down on the kitchen counter, kissing you silly. The both of you had only a half eaten tray of cookies to keep you company as the night got darker and the moans louder.

Xavier:

"Xavier stop that!" You exclaim, laughing as he tried his level best to bake a singular piece of bread. The one he had tried to make earlier had exploded, dramatically. He just added too much yeast.

"I don't understand...what did I do wrong?"

You just proceed to laugh harder, grabbing the corner of the kitchen table in an attempt to stabilize yourself.

"Your skill in exploding things seems to be getting better everyday." You had tears in your eyes, which you wiped, trying to control your laughter.

"At least one of us is having fun."

"Wait...hehehe, you have to make sure you don't add too much yeast."

You walk in front of Xavier, taking the mixing bowl away from him and adding a good amount of ingredients.

"Didn't I do exactly that?"

"No you dumped the whole packet in." He grabs a remnant of the bread that had exploded and puts it in his mouth.

"It's got a coarse texture but it tastes fine..?"

"Oh my god Xavier don't eat that! Haha!"

You proceed to knead the dough you made for a solid ten minutes, then add butter, knead it again until your hands are tired.

"Now we need to wrap it for a while, then let it rise for a while which might take about...2 hours. Can the sunshine boy's stomach wait that long?"

"Should we just give up on making bread? You have a ton of snacks in those cabinets." He says looking down at you with those beautiful blue eyes of his. You can't help but grab his face, pull him down and kiss his nose.

"Aww baby. Why don't you go get something for yourself and I'll make us some croissants in the meantime?"

"But I want to help as well..."

"Hmm, you can help by getting yourself the packet of frozen mixed berries from the fridge and eating them plus feeding them to me. I can tell you're hungry."

Xavier giggles softly, in that raspy, permanently sleepy voice of his. "You know me so well."

If there was anyone who knew exactly how touchy Xavier was, it was you. He never stopped touching you, grabbing your waist, kissing your neck and shoulders, pecking your lips and then running away. The golden sunrays infiltrated the room, as if drawn to Xavier. It highlighted your features and the both of you laughed at each other's shenanigans. Baking with Xavier was a bit too wholesome.

Rafayel:

"Hello Linkoln Police? This is your neighborhood famous artist, Rafayel. Yes...yes, I'm calling to complain about something."

You listen to your dearest, needy Rafayel whine on the remote-turned-phone as he sits on the couch in the living room that is adjacent to the kitchen. All you can do as you bake pastries is try your level best to suppress the smile threatening to split across your face.

"Hmm, the woman who stole my heart has been ignoring me the entire day! Callously might I add! I am so close to being admitted in the hospital for the disease-you-get-when-you-have-no-heart-syndrome!"

You burst out laughing.

"Hear that officer? That's her laughing! Menacingly! She has no sympathy for this poor, amazing artist!"

You walk up to Rafayel who was sat on the couch with a prominent pout on his face. He was definitely sulking.

"Really Rafayel?" You ask, still smiling. You sit down beside him, wiping your hands on a clean towel before touching his face.

"No..." He turns away. "I'm mad at you." (Sorry this reminded me of that lil cat picture with the caption 'no talk me i angy' I had to say it.)

"Babe I was just making pastries for us to enjoy later tonight."

"I know and I have successfully lured you away from the ferocious pastries with my charm." He says before tackling you onto the couch with him. You lie below him smiling and giggling at his antics. You look up through smiling eyes to see a grin on Rafayel's face.

"I missed you...I really did not want to go on that overseas trip..." He says and buries his face in the crook of your neck. You bring your hands onto his hair and start running your fingers through it.

"I know love, I know. But you're back now."

"Yeah and you're ignoring me..." He says, softly kissing the side of your face.

"I did not haha..." You turn your face to meet his lips in a gentle kiss.

"Well, would you like to help me out then? I'm only left with the decoration part."

"Only if I get to keep my arms around you the entire time."

You laugh again before kissing his forehead.

"Don't assume you were the only one who was suffering. I missed you too."

Rafayel smiles.

ANTHOLOGY LIST

[natashaslesbian]

Babysitter

From the ‘Tiny Dancer’ series

Natasha had no choice but to leave you with Uncle Bruce when she goes away for an overnight mission. It turns out, Bruce isn’t the best babysitter

Word Count: 1.2k

Pairings (Mom!Natasha x Daughter!Reader) (Bruce Banner x Kid!Reader) (Wanda Maximoff x Kid!Reader)

Warnings: none I think :)

————

“Ok tiny dancer” Natasha said as she left a gentle kiss on your cheek “you be good for uncle Bruce ok?” You nodded your little head and gave your mama a sad smile “I’ll be good. I promise” your mommy gave you a tight hug and made a quick exit. Trial and error had discovered that a short goodbye left you much calmer than a long buildup causing you to breakdown when Natasha closed the door. You turned away from the elevator and headed back towards the avengers private living room “Natasha will um- mommy will be back soon y/n” Bruce tried his best to console you, he was still pretty new at this. Until now, Dr Banner had never looked after you alone, he had always shared the babysitting responsibility with Clint or Tony or whoever was at the compound while Natasha was away for a mission. “You wanna…watch tv?” Bruce said “yes please” you replied as you took his hand, much to his surprise.

You spent 3 hours in front of the tv, you usually did right after Natasha had left for a mission. It took a little while to bring out your bubbly personality. “heeeyy y/n” Bruce said as he returned with your dinner “I’ve made your favourite!” Beckoning you towards the dinner table “Dino nuggs?” You asked “yes. Dino nuggets indeed” your uncle said as he helped you up onto the chair. Natasha had left strict instructions on how you liked your dinosaur nuggets to be made and what you would eat them with, you were horrified when you looked over the plate of burnt nuggets and cabbage as a side “ew!” You exclaimed “what’s this?” Bruce had tried his best, he couldn’t find the sweetcorn you usually had with this meal so he settled for cabbage in the hopes you would at least try it “it’s some yummy cabbage y/n, with your dino nuggets” he handed you your little plastic pink fork which was instantly thrown across the kitchen and clattered on the floor. “Don’t want caby thingy!” You yelled “what about the nuggets?” Bruce tried to deflate the situation “they’re b-burnt!” You started to cry “don’t lik-like them burnt!” You climbed down from your chair and made a fast exit back to your bedroom. “Great” Bruce huffed.

Uncle Bruce tried to tempt you with every other option he could think of for dinner, even takeout. You, however, were having non of it, you wanted your dino nuggets. Dr Banner accepted defeat and returned to the kitchen where he spent 3 hours perfecting your dinner to your high standers. It was almost your bedtime when you finally sat down for your second attempt at dinner, you had long ago stopped complaining about your rumbly tummy and could barely keep your eyes open while you ate the last few bites. There were still more mountains to climb before bed, but luckily you were exhausted so you didn’t put up much of fight during bath time. You fell asleep way after your usual bed time and Bruce near enough collapsed into his bed down the hall.

The scientist felt a small breeze against his hand in the early hours of the morning. He shot awake when his handed was tightly tugged. His minor scream as he awoke had you backing into a corner immediately “sowry uncle Bruce” you whispered “oh y/n” he panted “it’s alright, um- are you okay?” He asked as he pulled back the covers “I had a bad dweam” you whispered “oh- ugh” Bruce was baffled, having no idea how to help you “do you wanna- um - have some milk and then um go back to bed?” He offered “well, mommy usually lets me stay in her bed” you sadly said, missing your mama so much. “Right, well” your uncle scanned his brain for any ideas, sharing his bed with you wasn’t exactly his first choice “would you like me to read to you?” He offered again. You drew your gaze down to the floor and sighed “no, it’s ok” you said as you turned on your heels and went back to your bedroom. Bruce gave you a sympathetic smile and rolled back into bed.

It wasn’t until a little while later that he realised the problem hadn’t quite been solved. He could hear your small whines out in the corridor and prepared himself for your re-entry. “Shh y/n, it’s alright” a familiar voice said. Bruce tumbled out of bed to investigate further. Upon opening the door he found an exhausted looking Wanda holding you snug in her arms pattering up and down the corridor. “Wanda?” Dr Banner asked. The brunette must’ve just returned from her solo mission. She shot her crimson eyes at the scientist and he immediately cowered away “why did you send her back to bed crying?” Wanda managed to whisper but also shout “she-she just walked away, I didn’t know what to do!” Bruce stammered, scratching the stubble on his chin. “She just needs some love and cuddles Bruce, just go back to bed I’ll look after her. Properly” the witch didn’t spare a second glance as she took you down the hall to the living area. Bruce excused himself to head back to bed, feeling very defeated. It wasn’t all his fault, he had zero experience with caring for kids and he did try his best.

Natasha wasted no time in heading straight to your bedroom when she returned in the early hours of the morning. She came to a halt in the living area when she saw you fast asleep on top of a dishevelled looking Wanda, who was also fast asleep. The widow was confused but before she could find Bruce a small whimper caught her attention “mama?” You whispered “hey baby girl” your mommy said as she came and scooped you up into her arms. Finally she was home and you were back in the safest place on earth “where is uncle Bruce?” She asked “uncle Bruce is a bad babysitter” you crossly said as you rubbed your eyes, Natasha couldn’t help but giggle slightly. “It’s okay sweethearts, mommy’s here now” she said as she kissed your hairline. You let out a big yawn and another pair of hands came to hold you “hey Nat” Wanda said “Bruce is in his room, I’ll take her to bed” she said, knowing that deep down Natasha was probably quite angry with Bruce. You willingly let Wanda carry you back to bed and fell straight back into dreamland, knowing your mommy was home again.

You woke up an hour later to a commotion outside your bedroom. “I gave you the easiest job Bruce!” Your mom said “how do you burn nuggets? I mean seriously!” You giggled slightly and crawled out of bed towards the door to listen closely “I’m so sorry Natasha I just didn’t know what to do” Bruce pleaded “if Wanda hadn’t had come home she would’ve been left scared and afraid because of you! I am never leaving my daughter with you again Bruce!” Your bedroom door clicked open and both avengers turned to you “hey baby, did you have a good sleep?” Natasha said as she came to give you a cuddle, you hummed contently and lifted your arms up signalling that you wanted your mama to lift you up “let’s go get some breakfast yeah y/n?” Your mom asked “yes pwease” you tiredly said as Natasha headed for the kitchen. You pulled back from her shoulder and looked back Bruce, he smiled. You on the other hand stuck your little tongue out and have a cheeky look at your uncle.

It was safe to say that Natasha wouldn’t be leaving you with Bruce anytime soon.

————

This is crap I know I’m sorry :/

-Astara

[thatsmzbitchtoyou]

The Witch and The Doctor FINAL Chapter 6

Bucky thought he could make a difference, getting a medical license and trying to change people’s minds.  But the 1600s New World is a harsh place with cruel people.  After being accused of witchcraft he makes a run for it, facing the dangers of the woods and the rumored witch that lives within them.

Warnings: violence; animal attack; mentions of death; smut; language

Previous chapter

Bucky awoke to the sound of cries.  He bolted up off the bed, his body tensed and his eyes flickering around the cabin looking for danger.  He quickly realized the cries were coming from the woman and the family that had come the night before.  His mind tried to catch up to what was going on as his eyes adjusted to the light.  The woman was holding the little girl, whose eyes were open and she was smiling as she hugged her mother back.

“Oh thank you, Y/N,” the woman cried heavily.  “Thank you, both of you,” she glanced at Bucky and focused back on Y/N who was crouched down with them all on the floor.

Y/N smiled at her as she squeezed the woman’s arm.  “All thanks to the magic of nature,” Y/N said.  “And a medical degree,” she glanced back at Bucky, giving him a smirk.

Bucky smiled before approaching them all.  He crouched down as well and held a hand out to the girl’s forehead.  Her fever had broken, and the spots on her skin looked decidedly lighter than the night before.  “Much better,” he said.  “Just make sure she keeps drinking clean water and gets plenty of rest.”

The little girl smiled at him and the parents nodded.  A short time later Y/N and Bucky made sure to get them all they would need for the trip back to the village, and as the family was about to leave the father turned to them.  “I know you’re going to visit soon for the spring solstice, but I do hope you will consider moving to the village,” he said earnestly. “We could really use the help of the witch and the doctor, and we’d be happy to have you.”  Bucky blinked in surprise and Y/N inhaled deeply but showed no emotion at his statement.  The father watched them for a moment then nodded and turned, leaving the way he’d come with his family.

Y/N closed the door as Bucky watched them through the window for another moment.  She sat at the rocking chair again, her hands folded in her lap and a far off look on her face as she watched the fire dance.  Bucky walked over to her, kneeling down in front of her.  “Lovey?” he said quietly, reaching for one of her hands.  Y/N hummed in acknowledgement, her eyes never leaving the fire but her hand accepting his.  “Are you alright?” he asked.

She nodded, but her eyes looked like they were filled with tears.  “I’m fine,” she answered, blinking rapidly.

Bucky sighed.  As close as he was with her, she still felt the need to keep him an arms length away emotionally.  “Y/N,” he called to her.  She finally met his gaze, and in doing so her lips trembled and her brow furrowed.  “Why are you so sad, love?  You did a good thing last night.  You saved her.”

“And how many more need saving?” she whispered.  “How many lives will I save, will you save, before they decide we’re too dangerous?  Before their fear overrides their reason?  Before they take you from me?” She reached out and took his face in her hands.  “I call you my heart because that’s what you are, Bucky.  You have my heart.  You own it.  It’s yours.  And if they took you from me, I would die, too.”

Bucky felt his own tears falling at her words and he sat up on his knees, bringing his face closer to hers as his hands slid up her arms to her back then held her close to him, nestling him between her knees and so she was sitting at the edge of the chair.  “The people love you,” he said, rubbing her back comfortingly.  “They want you there.  They need us there.  And as much as I love being here, alone with you in our own little world, I think it’s time we go out into the big world.  Your talent, your magic, is too big for just this,” he gestured to the cabin.  “I know you’re afraid, and I am, too,” he said, reaching one hand up and wiping away her tears.  “As long as we’re together, that’s all that matters.  Seeing you with that little girl, you’d be an amazing mother,” he smiled widely at her.  Y/N scoffed, but there was a look of hope in her eyes.  “We will always have each other, but we could have a family, and a loving, accepting community.  No matter what, in all that life gives or has in store for us, and all that awaits in death, I’m yours, lovey.”

Y/N’s eyes flickered back and forth between his eyes, searching his gaze for something.  She sighed then slid her fingers up from his cheeks to his temples.  “I’ve seen two futures,” she said lowly, and suddenly Bucky’s vision faded into what looked like a dream.  He gasped as he saw an image of Y/N on a pyre, fire licking up her body.  Her gaze focused on a body on the ground, and he realized it was his own, bloodied and still.  He was dead.  Y/N wasn’t screaming or crying, she was laughing maniacally at the people gathered around her, cursing them and their families for generations before her magic exploded out of her and everything went black.  Then another image crept into his mind, this time it was of him, holding a baby that looked like the perfect mixture of them both.  He was smiling at the little one in his arms.  The image slipped away and he could see her face in front of him again.  “Neither are set in stone,” she murmured.  “If we go,” she paused, her entire face twitching in agony, “I could lose everything.”

“Or we could gain everything,” he whispered.

They stared at each other for a long moment.  He could see she wanted it, that life, that family with him, but she was so scarred from her past, so afraid of the potential of mankind.  Bucky leaned in and kissed her softly.  “What if that future where you lose is here?” he asked.  “Here, at the cabin?”

Y/N’s eyes widened.  She hadn’t thought of that possibility.  “No,” she shook her head in disbelief.

“It could be,” Bucky said.  “What if your vision is a warning to leave?”  She looked tortured as she considered their options.  Bucky sighed again as he hugged her, her face nuzzling into the crook of his neck.  “Consider it, Y/N.  Sleep on it, then we can decide tomorrow.”

Y/N nodded against his shoulder, her arms wrapping around his back tightly.  

***

A few weeks later, a few days before the spring solstice, they were moving.  Y/N had woken up that next morning after their talk with a fervent desire to leave.  Bucky had a suspicion that maybe her visions had become more clear and she knew he was right in some capacity.  Y/N had a teary goodbye to her longtime home, then they tied up the cows and goats to the cart with the horse leading the way, the chickens and many of their things in the larger cart while everything else they could take with them was loaded in a smaller hand-pull cart that Bucky built out of the chicken coop.  The two day journey to the village was easy with the spring showers finally letting up, and as they approached the village and were first spotted a large group of villagers met them as they rode in slowly.  

The family that had come to them a month before ran up to them first.  “Are you here to stay?” the father asked excitedly.

“We are, if you’ll have us,” Y/N answered, looking at him warily.

“Of course we will,” he answered.  “We prepared something for you.”  He gestured for them to follow him.

Bucky looked at Y/N questioningly and she shrugged, urging the horse on to follow the man.  There was a flurry of giggles and whispers from the people surrounding them as they walked through the village.  The father stopped in front of a larger house and Bucky helped Y/N down off the horse as they stood in front of him.  “Welcome home,” the father said, gesturing to the house behind him.

Bucky’s eyebrows raised sky high and Y/N sputtered.  “You…you built us a house?” Bucky asked incredulously.

“We all did,” the father answered, and the people around them all nodded and smiled.  “When we got back we didn’t know if you’d stay, but we hoped you would, and thought that even if you chose not to move here, maybe we could at least give you a place to stay when you visited.”  He stepped sideways and gestured behind the house.  “There’s some land fenced back there for the horse and cows, a paddock for the goats and a chicken coop ready.  The well is just beyond to your left and you're close to the village center.  I hope it’s to your liking.”

Y/N slowly walked up to the house, her eyes wide as she took in the sight.  Her hand shook as she opened the front door and she peered inside to see a few torches already lit inside, showing her a fully built and ready to move-in home that looked surprisingly like a replica of her cabin but larger.  The family must have taken notes while they were at her home, and tried their best to recreate what they’d seen.  She started crying and ran back to the father, hugging him.  There was a cheer from the people around them and Bucky couldn’t help but smile widely, crying along with her as they both greeted and hugged their new neighbors.

The people helped them get unpacked and settled in their home, giving them gifts of food, milk, and water already pumped from the well.  Y/N’s smile never faltered, and Bucky felt an immense amount of happiness and pride in helping her get to this place of contentment, finding a new home full of love and acceptance.  

That night when finally all the people left and they were alone in their new home, Y/N sat down with a huff on the rocking chair they had brought along with them.  She looked around the house in wonder, a soft smile on her face.  “Isn’t it wonderful, Buck?” she asked quietly.

Bucky sighed happily.  “It’s perfect,” he said.  “Very generous of them.”

“Very,” Y/N agreed.

Bucky walked over to her and grabbed her hands, hoisting her out of the chair.  “Come, love, let’s bless this home.”

“I already did,” Y/N said indignantly, her fingers wiggling at the bowl of trinkets by the front door, making them tinkle together.  The rune she painted above the door glowed brightly, making Bucky laugh.

“Yes, but I meant something more like…” He backed her up to the bed, his head dipping down to mouth at her neck, his hands sliding down her sides and her hips.

“Ah, I see,” Y/N giggled.  

“And this time,” Bucky said, his hands moving back up toward her stomach, “will you let it be?” he asked hopefully.  Y/N looked up at him with an unreadable expression.  “Will you let me fill you with the possibility of our baby?” he whispered earnestly.  

“You want to start that future now?” Y/N asked.  

“Like I said, I want it all with you, lovey,” Bucky replied.  “Whatever is in store for us in this life.  We deserve love and happiness, right?”

“Yes,” Y/N said, her hands sliding up his chest.

“Then I want all the love and happiness I can have with you.  Will you let it be?”

She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before sliding her hands up to his temples.  Her fingers pressed firmly on either side of his head and his vision faded into the same image from before, but it was much more clear now.  It was him sitting in the rocking chair by the fireplace, the tiny baby in his arms reaching a hand up and grasping his finger tight, making him smile adoringly at the baby.  His vision came back and saw Y/N smiling softly.  “Okay, Buck,” she agreed.  “I’ll let it be.”

***

1 year later

Bucky sat on the rocking chair holding his daughter.  Y/N was out grabbing more herbs from the surrounding woods and garden and taking a turn feeding the animals, and he took the moment alone to just hold her.  He stared at her face, the perfect mixture of both him and Y/N, and smiled as she yawned and stretched, slowly waking up from her nap.  He lifted his hand to her outstretched hand, and she gripped his finger tightly with her tiny hand.

“And there it is,” Y/N said from the front door.

Bucky looked up at her, smiling wider at her knowing smile.  “Vision?” he asked.

Y/N nodded as she closed the door behind her and walked the herbs she gathered over to the kitchen area, laying them out on the counter before washing off her hands and walking over to Bucky.  She leaned down once she was next to the chair and kissed him lightly before looking down at the baby.  “Oh hello my Hazel baby,” she said as Hazel opened her eyes more.  Hazel stared at Y/N for a moment before a wide smile appeared on her little face, making Y/N and Bucky chuckle at the sight.  “Come here,” Y/N cooed at her, reaching down and taking her from Bucky’s arms.  Hazel stretched again as she was lifted and let out a soft whine before Y/N cradled her against her chest, bouncing lightly as she walked back to the kitchen counter.  “Let’s put away our spoils, my little witch.”

Bucky huffed a laugh as he stood from the chair and stretched as well.  “What makes you so sure she has your gifts, lovey?”

“You forgot?” Y/N teased him with a gasp and her hand on her chest.  “All the women in my family are born with magic.  There is always a girl born first, then the rest is up to fate.”

“The rest, hm?” Bucky smirked, walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her and Hazel.  He kissed the side of her head as she held Hazel in one arm and her free hand was putting the herbs into the different jars she had laid out.  Y/N hummed as his hands slipped from her stomach to her hips, pulling her back against him.  “We could start working on the rest later tonight.”

“You’re insatiable,” Y/N giggled.

Bucky kissed down her neck.  “It’s not my fault.  A witch cast a spell on me.”

She turned to face him and rolled her eyes as she handed him Hazel who started spitting bubbles as she played with her fingers.  “More like a bear chased you right into my arms,” she said.

“Blessed be to the bear, then,” Bucky said, lifting Hazel high up and nuzzling her belly, making her cackle.  

Y/N smiled as she watched him.  “Blessed be.”

THE END

*I hope y'all liked this one! Thank you for the likes, comments, messages, reblogs and follows. Requests are still open, and I'll be posting a few of them after today that I've been working on.

[ii-thelightseekers]

🧪- Oh...

I'm sorry, you don't have to say anything else. I'm, so sorry...

BM!Fan didn't say anything he just stood there staring off lost in his own thoughts

(Sorry it took so long to reply. I kind of struggled like a lot when drawing Fan TuT)

🧪- . . . Testtube just stood there for a bit

I-I don’t want to talk about it…

she wipes her tears and goes back to the desk she was working at before

You can ask Caby specifics

I just- can’t..

[starkstruck27]

My next fill for @metalsandwichbingo !! It's taken a while since I got another job (night shift) and school has been crazy lately, but now that finals are over and I had some time, I finally managed to get this done. More coming soon, I promise!! Title: Lights and Sirens, pt. 2 Chapter Title: Rabbits Will Run Square + Prompt: C2, Interrogations Rating: Mature Word Count: 3086 Words Major Tags: Graphic Depictions of Violence Additional Tags: Pre-relationship, Alternate universe, Cop Steve Harrington, Murder, Cop drama, Mafia, Interrogations, Plot twists, Neil Hargrove being an asshole Summary: After a couple of months, Eddie, Billy and Steve have compiled enough evidence to take a run at Neil. After bringing Robin into the fold and getting a warrant from the DA, they search his home and office, and with a tip from Billy, they strike gold. The only issue now is that Hargrove is denying everything, and his excuse is one that is nearly impossible to believe. Also on: Ao3

It took nearly four months of meeting and compiling evidence, but finally, Steve, Eddie and Billy had gotten enough to open an investigation into Neil Hargrove. Billy took it upon himself to keep his phone on and recording whenever he was in the same room with his dad, and even though he often shooed Billy out whenever he was discussing something important, finally he’d gotten something. The video itself wasn’t particularly damning, but Neil made a crack to one of his cronies as Billy was leaving that if he stepped out of line, he’d be playing dentist with him, and he “saw how well that worked out for my wife, and I still got the tools”. 

It wasn’t much, but it was something. And it made Billy wonder, how did his dad get those ‘tools’ that he was talking about? He knew he’d never have used his own money to buy something that he would use against someone, but if he could hide it within his company’s expenses, he just might get away with it. And, luckily for them, Hargrove Industries was a public company, meaning that their financials were also a matter of public record. They knew it was a long shot, but they decided to try and sift through the records, and even though it took a few days, they finally had something.

“So, what now?” Billy asked as he looked over the bank statement Steve had handed him. It showed a purchase for only around forty five dollars, which was unusual, since the company was mostly handling transactions of at least five hundred or more dollars. To have such a small amount on the statement really raised a red flag.

“Well, I don’t know if it’ll be enough for the DA to get us a warrant to search the place, but I’ll show it to her and see what I can do. She already got us one for these records, so I’m optimistic, but just in case, don’t get your hopes up,” Steve replied, taking back the paper. He was just hoping Nancy was feeling extra generous that day and would be willing to fight for their cause. He knew the judges hated to see her coming half the time, since she often would get her foot in the door and wouldn’t leave until she got what she wanted. 

“And what should we do in the meantime?” Eddie asked, shifting in his seat.

“Nothing, just go about your lives and don’t start acting suspicious. If I get the warrant, I’ll let you know, and then you just have to act surprised when we show up. I don’t want anyone thinking you’re involved in any way, because that could put you both at risk, so just act natural or if you can, try not to be there when we come,” Steve said, packing his things. “Oh, and in the meantime, start compiling a list of the places we should be looking. Ms. Wheeler is usually pretty good at getting us whatever we need, so the warrant should cover everything, but we want to make sure we don’t miss something crucial, so whatever you can think of, let me know.”

“The only thing I can think of is a secret wall safe hidden in his office,” Billy said, fiddling with his coffee cup. “It’s like a walk in closet, but it’s full of file cabinets and I don’t know what’s in them. It’s really well hidden, but I think the button you need to hit to get access to it is somewhere in his desk. I guess if he would have anything to hide, it would be in that room.”

“Then I’ll make sure the warrant covers the desk and anything in it. I’ll be in touch,” Steve said as he stood and gathered his things. He had some work to do, not only to get the warrant, but now that they were going through with opening an official investigation, he had to bring Robin up to speed, too. She was his partner, after all, and she’d be able to offer some very valuable perspective. She hadn’t been obsessing over this case for years, so she’d be able to see things about it that Steve might’ve missed initially, and she’d be able to let him know if he was getting too involved.

Robin had told him before that he had a slight problem with getting too close to the cases he worked. She said that’s part of what made him a great cop, but it could also be a problem sometimes if it looked like he was taking the cases too seriously and got himself too involved. Not only could it jeopardize the court cases, but it could also put him into danger himself if he pissed off the wrong person. 

He’d also started to rely on her to let him know if he was getting too close, because he often didn’t notice himself, but this time, he had. He’d come to realize that he was getting a little too concerned about Billy and Eddie, and he wasn’t sure what the best way to deal with that was. He had always been worried about them, being caught up in this as they were, but over the past few months, as he got to know them and enjoyed their company more and more, he realized that maybe he was caring a little too much. He had to keep this professional for the integrity of the case, but he was starting to see these guys almost as friends, and not simply because he was trying to get them to trust him and build a rapport. 

Luckily, Steve had managed to convince Robin to come and meet him at the courthouse so he could talk to her and the DA at the same time. They met inside and Steve recounted everything he knew about it to the both of them, and as Nancy went off to get them their warrant, he and Robin waited in her office. 

“So, I’m assuming I don’t have to tell you that you’re getting a little too close to this, right? Like, I know you can see that for yourself, can’t you?” She asked, leaning forward in her chair so she could speak more quietly. 

“I know, that’s why I wanted to get your advice on it. I don’t know how to deal with it this time around. Usually, we deal with low-profile criminals, people who don’t have the world looking at them all the time, but this is different. One wrong move, and the media is going to be all over it, and if we swing and miss, then we might never get another chance at bat.”

“Which is why, for once, I’m thinking it might be good for you to get close,” Robin said. “I don’t want you to put yourself in hot water or anything, but it might be good for you to stick with these two, because they seem trustworthy, and if anyone tries to vilify you in the media or otherwise, then at least you’ve got some allies from the inside that will back you up. Just make sure you’re being careful, okay? I don’t need you to be the next nameless, faceless body we find.”

“Alright then, here’s your warrant,” Nancy said, coming back into the room with the signed document, “Let me know if anything pans out.”

“We will. Thanks, Nance,” Steve nodded, and he and Robin left the office, heading for the door so they could serve the papers. 

It took a twenty minute drive, a four minute elevator ride, and ten minutes of bartering with a receptionist, but finally, they were able to gain entry to the Hargrove Industries Penthouse suite. After that, it took five minutes of small talk to the guy they were investigating before they served him the warrant, and after a few minutes of being argued with, they then had as much time as they wanted to search the place. Steve wanted to go right for that desk that Billy had mentioned, but he didn’t want to seem too eager, so he waited. He and Robin explored around the premises as casually as they could, looking through everything and finding nothing, but finally, they got to the office, and were able to search through the desk. 

Steve practically tore the thing apart looking for some kind of button, switch or lever that caused any kind of reaction, but was coming up empty. Forensic techs were helping with the search, and he was hoping one of them would set something off on accident that would trigger the secret room to open, but nothing was happening. He was starting to give up hope, but the smug grin on Neil Hargrove’s face as he watched Steve disassemble his desk was the only thing he needed to keep looking, and finally, his persistence paid off. Inside the second drawer, there was a hidden panel that almost would’ve gone unnoticed, until an ant had crawled through a gap from the other side. Steve lifted the panel, and sure enough, there was an unassuming black button built into the desk, and when he pushed it, a door in the room opened. 

Next thing he knew, he was back at the station with Robin, gathering the things they needed before heading into the interrogation room where Neil Hargrove was waiting. They’d left him on ice as they waited for all their evidence to be analyzed, and once one piece in particular came back as a positive match, they went in.

“How much longer do I need to sit here? I have better things to be doing, like calling my lawyer, for instance,” Hargrove said, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair like a kid with a bad attitude. 

“That is your right, Mr. Hargrove, but seeing as how you’ve not been arrested yet, I don’t see how it’s particularly necessary,” Steve replied. “This is just a friendly conversation regarding why you had some of these things in your possession. For instance, I don’t think a man such as yourself would have much interest in the macabre, and yet we found what appears to be human teeth and hair in your filing cabinets. Care to explain how they got there?”

“Are you hard of hearing, Detective? I said the magic word, so unless you’d like me to slap you with a lawsuit, I suggest you let me make a phone call.”

“And just what would you sue me for? Like I said, you haven’t been arrested, so you’ve not been Mirandized, and thus you are not entitled to a lawyer just yet. And your insistence on one is highly indicative of some kind of wrongdoing, so I guess we’re caught in a stalemate, here. Unless, of course, you want to start explaining, in which case I’ll arrest you, Mirandize you, and be all too happy to get your lawyer down here ASAP,” Steve continued to pry, even though it wasn’t technically procedure. “So, why did you have teeth and hair in your filing cabinets?”

“Is your partner always so brazen?” Hargrove turned to Robin to ask, and she just shrugged. 

“Only when he knows he’s right about one thing and coming onto another,” she said, her face remaining blank. She was good at that, keeping a straight face when trying to get something out of a perp. It’s why she was the perfect ‘good cop’ to Steve’s ‘bad cop’. 

“Fine then, I’ll tell you what you want to know,” Hargrove sighed, “But as soon as I do, I want my lawyer, understand?”

Steve nodded, he and Robin leaning forward for what they were going to be told.

“I only had those to protect my son. He killed my wife, four years ago,” Hargrove said, the words landing like a ton of bricks. “Lawyer. Now.”

As Robin took Hargrove to use the phone, Steve made a beeline for his desk to get the file he had on the Jane Doe from four years ago. The evidence he’d been waiting for had come back from the lab while he and Robin were talking with Hargrove, and it had just been confirmed. The woman he’d been trying to identify for four years was none other than Mrs. Kiara Hargrove, Neil Hargrove’s wife and Billy Hargrove’s mother. Steve knew that already from the DNA swab Billy had given him, but now that he had real, tangible evidence in the suspect’s possession, it made it so much more real. He also had the son of a bitch that killed her in custody, but now the guy was trying to turn it around on his son to save his own skin. It made Steve’s blood absolutely boil, and if he weren’t an officer of the law, he might’ve gone into the holding cell where they were keeping him and beat him until his face was as unrecognizable as his wife’s. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do that, so instead he sat at his desk and waited, staring at the picture he had of his victim, and trying to get his head together for the next round of interrogation.

“So, that was a twist,” Robin said as she set a cup of coffee on Steve’s desk. “I knew he’d be trying to fight this, but I had no idea he’d try to blame his own son. Crazy, right?”

“He’s a fucking dick, he’d throw anyone under the bus to save his own skin. But I know Billy wouldn’t have done this,” Steve fumed, “He loved his mom, he carries a picture of the two of them in his wallet. He still goes to the diner she worked at, so much so that they consider him family. That woman was everything to him, he told me so himself, and I believe him. His father, on the other hand, is a sleazy CEO that has gotten his way for so long that he refuses to accept anything else. He wanted his wife gone, so he got rid of her, and now he thinks he’s going to walk away? No. Not on my watch.”

“I hear you, Steve, and I want to put him away as much as you do, but remember, we have to be careful. One wrong move, and this guy gets off on a technicality. Nobody wants that, so take a breath, drink your coffee, and consider your questions carefully. As soon as his lawyer gets here, we’re going in for round two, so we have to be 100% prepared.”

She was right, as always. Steve knew he needed to calm down, or else the case might get tanked, and they only got one shot at this. It all came down to this.

Once Hargrove’s lawyer showed up and had a moment to confer with his client, Steve and Robin got themselves ready for round two. Armed with a few evidence bags and the cold case file, they opened the door to the room and went inside, Hargrove’s smug smile rubbing both of them the wrong way.

“I want to make this clear from the get,” the lawyer said, “My client’s only guilt in this matter is of being afraid of the man who killed his beloved wife. He was afraid for his life, which is the only reason he agreed to cover up for his son.”

“That so?” Steve asked, placing a few evidence pictures down on the table, “So, your wife’s teeth, her hair, the box of bullets that matched the ones from the scene, all that was given to you by your son so you could hide it for him?”

“Yes,” Hargrove said, not even flinching at the sight of the pictures. 

“And you never had a chance to, say, go behind his back and bring it all to the police?” Robin asked, shrugging and crossing her legs.

“No, he made it clear that if I ever tried anything, he’d kill me. And as hard as it may be to believe, I don’t hate him. I couldn’t lose my son, too, not after losing my wife.”

“Right, your beloved wife,” Steve said, getting up and beginning to pace around. “Just how much did you love her? Because we’ve got witnesses that say that the two of you fought all the time. Hell, every few months she’d be back at her old job and crashing on her friend’s couch. Something just isn’t adding up, here. Tell me again, just how much did you love your wife?” 

“Okay, you’re out of line, Detective,” the lawyer said, starting to pack up his briefcase, “I think we’re done here.”

“Oh, no, we’re just getting started,” Steve said, smiling as he leaned against the table. “See, I think your client is full of shit. I think he killed his wife, and now that he knows he’s caught, he’s blaming the only person he can think of to try and get out of it. I think he cut out her teeth, burned off her fingerprints, and disfigured her beyond recognition to try and cover it up. And I think that he thinks he’s untouchable, because he’s got money and power and friends in high places, but he’s about to get the rudest awakening of his life, because he’s about to learn what most of us have known for years. No matter how much money you have, no matter who your friends are, nobody is bulletproof. If there is even the tiniest rip in your armor we’ll find it, and we’ll throw everything we have at you until you’re behind bars, right where you belong, do you understand me?”

Hargrove didn’t say anything, even though Steve had gotten up in his face during his rant. He only stared at him, his eyes empty other than the clear doubt he had that they could do any of that. But Steve wasn’t just spewing nonsense, he meant every word he said. If he could, he would throw the entire book at this guy, and he wasn’t going to rest until he could at least get a shot. It wasn’t just about getting a bad guy off the streets, it was about getting justice, for Kiara, for Billy, and for everyone else this creep had hurt in his life. “Well, that was certainly a rousing speech, Detective,” the lawyer said, “But now I really think we’re done here. You’ve arrested my client, so I’ll see you in a few hours at arraignment.”

[cabi-leodrann]

I have a gift for the Lamb: a trumpet mute!

Stop the noise? No, no. Now, Litsy can annoy you with ✨jazz✨

Litsy greatly appreciate the gift! =D Lamb, a little less-

[shirohige-pirates]

Birds of a Feather

CisFem Reader x Marco

CW: Violence, blood, language, adult themes and scenes. 18+ only

Summary: Life has not been kind to you. After a string of bad relationships, you're a little jaded and a little depressed in all honestly. The worst day of your life seems to be the turning point, but the roller coaster ride that follows could either throw you soaring free, or have you caged forever?

Tag List: @clumsyraccoon @mfreedomstuff

Chapter 35: The Risk of D.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you again, Miss.” Shanks beams as he bows a little. “Good to see you on your own two feet already.”

You tilt your head in confusion. “A little birdie told me.” He says, looking over at Marco.

When the van reached the small port town the brothers had gone to work. You’d been surprised to see Shanks, of all people, but Marco wasn’t. Ivan had done a lot of the coordinating, and Shanks was in town already. As Marco explained, he wasn’t technically a pirate anymore, but Shanks was the most experienced sailor at Lvneel, so he wasn’t surprised that was who Ivan had found.

Shanks, as well, had a reason to see things through. According to the man himself, Teach had given him the scars over his eye.

“When the world changed, I really thought he’d settle down.” Shanks says, bringing you below deck on the small vessel, and offering you a place to sit. “Instead it’s come to this.”

“Are you,” you start, but stop, unsure of how to ask him if he’s going to get involved in what’s, by definition, a murder.

“Going to help?” He prompts. You can feel that steel gaze on you from behind long crimson locks, but you don’t try to meet it. You’re still not sure where you stand, and until you open the Library, you don’t think you’ll know. “No. It’s a family matter.” He answers, looking away.

“Now, if things go sideways, I’m not going to leave it be, but I don’t see that happening.” He adds, giving you a wink as he leaves the room.

You stayed put, not just because you were sore and tired, but also because you figured you’d just get in the way. At least while everyone was doing whatever it was people did to set sail. The most you knew about boats were all the different ways you used to be able to reach the galley on the Moby.

There’s a steady lurch in the ship as it breaks away from the pier. The toss of the waves is a little alarming at first, you don’t remember it being so pronounced last time, but this caravel’s a fraction of the size of the other ship.

After a few minutes the door opens and Marco smiles at you.

“Want to come out on the deck?” He asks, stepping into the room. “It’s beautiful out, and we won’t be on the ship for too long.”

Looking from him to the door and back, concern crosses your face. “It’s… a small ship.”

“We won’t capsize.” He reassures you, kneeling down before you. “I won’t let you fall into the ocean, pretty bird, I promise, yoi.” One hand twines with yours, the other caresses your cheek. "But if you want to stay in here, I’ll stay with you.”

You can feel the heat rushing to your face and cover it with your hands. A strangled groan of frustration escapes you and you reach out and grab Marco’s shirt collar, shaking him a little.

“You’re killing me.” You grumble, pulling him close enough to kiss his forehead. “But thank you for trying to distract me.”

Bright blue eyes look into yours, and his face is calm as it always is. You can see the faint lines of worry creasing here and there, but he’s keeping his expression neutral. “It’s going to be okay, no matter what happens.”

“… Have you… Have you ever?” You can’t get the last few words out, but Marco’s eyes stay steady on yours.

He nods, looking away in memory before looking back at you. “Not even the saints were saints, and clashes between pirates and marines were always violent.”

“But… like this?”

He reaches out, relief on his face when you don’t flinch, and gives you a sad smile. “No, my love, never like this before. We never knew betrayal before Teach.”

Marco stayed with you in the small cabin, letting you rest while the ship sailed. He got you out of the chair long enough to get you in his lap, but he just had you rest against him while he ran his fingers soothingly along your hair and back.

There wasn’t much said between the two of you, but the commotion out on deck caught your attention. Marco led you to the deck, staying nearby - not that he had much of a choice, you had most of a death grip on his shirt.

It wasn’t fear of the ocean so much as fear of falling in it. You might not use your devil fruit much at all, but that didn’t mean you weren’t aware of the pitfalls from it. It didn’t take long for you to be completely distracted from the concerns of the ocean, however.

The clear sky brought with it a warm sun, and the sound of the caravel cutting through the small waves was soothing in its own way. What was mesmerizing, however, was watching the other people on the small ship move around.

Shanks slipped through rigging and rails as though he had extra arms, instead of being down one. Izou was graceful from the moment you’d met him, but he seemed even more at ease on the softly rocking boat than on dry land. Jozu moved as if the waves were nothing to fear, and Vista was yawning at the helm.

There were two memories that stayed with you, years after the events on Drop Island. The first was when Marco transformed entirely. The teal-blue flames, the gold that licked at the edges of the fire that made his feathers and wings, the long ringed tail feathers, that glimmered in the sunlight.

The markings around his eyes, and the way his tattoo stayed with him were surprising to you. The Phoenix in your books had no such markings, and other small details were different, but none of it mattered.

He was beautiful.

The soft ruffle of fire against your cheek as he nuzzled you, urging you onto his back so he could take you ashore himself. The comforting warmth, the surety with which he flew, and the feel of each beat of his wings. All of it was engraved in your memory as much as your heart.

You wanted him to change again, somewhere safe, somewhere that was just the two of you. You wanted to commit every detail of this part of him into your memory, learn every curve and flicker. You wanted to be able to admire all sides of him when there wasn’t such a terrible darkness looming over everything.

Marco circled the beach an extra time or two you were sure, letting the others come ashore, and delighting at the feeling of your fingers buried in the warm fiery comfort of his feathers. No one pointed it out when he landed, everyone understood why.

Everyone gave you space once it was time. No one rushed you to do something you’d spent most of your life keeping secret. Instead they only promised that the skies and horizon were clear, that there wasn’t anyone around to be able to see what you were doing.

With time to focus you were able to manifest the doors to the library on the beach. It was easier to open the doors against a flat surface, like a floor or wall, but with a little time you could effectively build the frame work where ever you wanted, and bring the doors in that way.

Izou and Vista stood beside you, and Izou had a hand on your shoulder, ready to throw you out of Teach’s reach if he tried to pull you into the library with his devil fruit. Marco and Jozu were nearby, ready to move in, or support depending on what state Teach was in. Ace was a bit further back, ready to catch you and fill his protector role, but none of that was needed.

All the meticulous planning.

All the possibilities.

Everything you could have expected, and none of it matched up.

A small mountain of books was gathered in the open area you’d created the doors by. It was the part of the library you were most comfortable with, so you knew it was where you’d deposited Teach. He hadn’t wandered far, but he’d apparently gathered, read, and organized an alarming number of books in the few hours he’d been in this space.

It hadn’t even been a full twenty four hours.

Yet, in the midst of the pile of the books was Teach.

Unmoving.

Cold.

Dead.

His skin was a sickly grey, desiccated and gone entirely in large patches. What was left of his skin one his face was pulled into a wide smile. Your legs nearly buckled at the sight, but you managed to keep your feet.

Marco, Jozu, and Ace came closer, looking into the library one after the other.

“By the seas.” Izou swore softly.

“What happened?” Vista murmured.

You stepped forward, a few hands moving toward you, but none of them ended up stopping you. Once you stepped into the Library you knew. It was as it always was. The Library gave you knowledge. Within the space you could read everything, and you knew what book you needed for what knowledge you craved. The minute your feet hit the stone floor you knew.

You turned and looked back at everyone else. “The Library is mine. I decide who enters, and who leaves. I decide who can read, and who can’t.” You turn toward Teach, but move your gaze back to Marco before you turn far enough to see the dead man again. “Without my permission, it seems there’s a price.”

“… The Library really did eat him.” Marco murmurs, stepping forward and through the doors.

You nod. “It’s more that Teach fed himself to the Library. He… he knew the cost. The Library wouldn’t condone ignorance.”

The others step inside and they carefully make their way over to Teach. The brothers collect their wayward sibling, carrying him out of the Library, while Marco stays by your side. Once they’re outside you walk over to the books piled up around where Teach had been.

You skim the titles, making some sense of what drove him as the Library provides you summaries. You pale a little, leaning against a stack of books and letting out a shuddering breath.

“… What was he reading?”

Looking up at Marco, you look over at the doors and pull them shut. He doesn’t even flinch at the sound of the doors closing, the heavy sound of it is light compared to everything else. Instead, his eyes shift over the spines of books piled nearby.

You breathe in deep, trying to steady your own twisting stomach. “He found books on…” Pausing you try not to wretch. Years of hiding, certain knowledge was still enough to send your anxiety rocketing. “The void century, ah, information on the One Piece, and… and I think he was,” you stop again, feeling dizzy from the overwhelming understanding of what Teach was going for. You lived your entire life with a bulls-eye on your back, and carefully avoided anything that could make it worse, but Teach had dove into such knowledge without a second thought.

Marco’s hand is on your back soothingly.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to say it.”

You shake your head. “I think he was trying to blackmail the World Government.”

“… To what end?” Marco murmurs but you just shrug.

“He… He died, before he could find enough information.” You admit. “I’d have to sit and read these properly to really know, but…” You start pointing. “These eight books here are all about the Void Century, specifically just one kingdom, and these over here are about the equations for the magnetic pull of the Grandline islands, so you can navigate them without a log pose. These books are about the production of the ponegylphs and the language used. Four of these are about devil fruits. There’s twelve more history books, and… I don’t think he made it to that stack there.” You say finally, pointing to a few books that had been nearest Teach.

“And the cost?”

“A year of life.” You explain, looking around at the books. “Per… per book. He read,” you count quickly. “Fifty-three books.”

“That would’ve made him ninety-three, yoi.” Marco mumbles the words a little before his eyes go wide. “How’d he read that many books so fast?”

“Showing is better than saying.” You reply, looking around and finding a book. Handing it to Marco, you give him a reassuring smile. “You have permission to read anything in here, no charge.”

Marco takes the book, and as he opens the cover he understands. Holding it open, the pages turn for him. He looks at each page for just a couple seconds before it moves onto the next, the pages nearly fluttering by. After just a few minutes, the last page turns and Marco looks up at you a little dumbfounded.

Taking the book from his hands you smile. “Almost three-hundred pages in under ten minutes.” You put the book back on the shelf. “Even if he was reading from books double that length, in an hour he would’ve read four, and in twelve hours, forty-eight. Once you get into a groove, though, it goes even faster, and the Library doesn’t care about length, the cost is the same.” You explain, running your finger over a few titles that were short.

You watch Marco’s eyes flit over the books stacked up in a strange monument to his brother.

“He was close, yoi.” He says after a few moments. “Whatever he was aiming for.”

You nod. “I don’t think he would’ve risked the last six otherwise.”

The weight of the last twenty four hours sits heavy between you. For a long moment neither of you say anything, still in the quiet library as you struggle to process the revelation. Whether for his own gain or not, it seemed as though Teach was trying to empower revolution.

To finish what Roger started, and change the world to one that was truly free? Or to hustle his way onto the empty throne and create a world power he held the reins on?

It was hard to say, based on what you knew of him. Teach’s actions toward you were only enough for you to understand he was willing to make sacrifices for his goals - not what those goals were. You couldn’t say that he would be better or worse than the government you currently had, but even if you had known before now, you weren’t willing to give your life for his cause.

Certainly not with how he had “asked”.

You couldn’t help the small guilt that nipped at you, however. There had to be a way that would’ve worked for everyone involved. If you had only-.

“An issue for another day.” Marco declares quietly, breaking your swirling thoughts. “C’mon, mi cielo, let’s go home.”

[lunaetis]

@darabeatha asked :

if Eden had to pick one (1) of my servants, who would it be-

unprompted. || always accepting

─「エデン」─  " i have no idea why my mun had been going on and on about this man called james moriarty. i think she has a problem. " the TRAILBLAZER shrugged slightly, though she couldn't help a hint of curiosity sparking in those golden hues. " he's supposed to be some evil mastermind, no ? that sounds like it'd be fun to see. i'm more of a fighter than a planner. would be interesting to see what kind of pawn he'd make me out to be. "

                " that said, " she nodded slightly, then shifted her weight. " i recalled meeting ashwa ... something. i can't pronounce that ! but yes, him ! i think i met him a few years back. he was quite a personality ! fiery ! fighting alongside him was extremely enjoyable ! i wouldn't mind doing it again. " now, she actually walked over to the tablet and scrolled through.

                " i don't know most of them, actually. sherlock holmes is a name i had read about. is he anything like the book said about him ? worse ? ah. " she squinted. " what is an avenger ? taking revenge on someone ? i could get behind that. " that was when she made a visible cringe at a certain pretender. " not him. i don't like bugs. bad personal experience. pass. " the TRAILBLAZER then plopped her fist onto her palm in an aha gesture.

                " ah ! i think we'd get a visit from this RED ARCHER soon, right ? i heard the announcement. he was supposed to crash into the cabi — what ? that's a spoiler ? i'm not allowed to talk about it ? you're no fun ! " stop making fun of your mun, eden !

                she ignored that, however. amber hues turned to the sender, now. yes, you, smol. she's SMILING widely.

                " who do you think would fit me ? i'd love to hear it ! "

[aylacavebear]

Stockroom Antics - Chapter 26

Maria had changed jobs numerous times over the last five years, more to keep herself safe than anything else. Her mother had told her she was a fairy but she thought it was just her mom being weird. Honestly, though, she had no other way of explaining what had happened to her that stormy day before she'd gone into a coma for two weeks.

Please don't take my work. I'll post warnings for each chapter. Will probably be 18+ I haven't decided yet!

Word Count: 2082

Pairing eventually Dean Winchester x OC

Warnings: Angst, Self-deprecating thoughts, Insecurities, Depression, Past Traumas, and Insecurities come to light. (Please, if you suffer from these things, seek someone trustworthy to talk to. You really aren't alone.) Although, lets toss a little Fluff in this one.

A/N: This one's written a little differently than my last one. Let me know what you think. It's the first time I've tried this type of writing. Chapters will alternate viewpoints as well. I also looked into an actual area so this one could feel more realistic. This one is taking on a life of it's own in a turn I hadn't anticipated, so adding a new tag.

----------------------------------------- Stockroom Antics Chapter 26

Dean had been thankful that Sam hadn’t pushed anything or wanted to discuss anything relating to Maria, Bubbles, or soulmates. The silence allowed him to think or at least attempt to. All his thoughts always came back to her.

The way her hair would fall over her shoulder, or how the light danced across her deep, dark blue eyes when she’d look up when sitting in the library. Then there was her laughter, which was music to his ears. Her smile could brighten any room. 

It wasn’t her powers as a Pari, and he knew that. It also wasn’t that she was his soulmate. Her soul was just that beautiful. He thought back to what Astaria had said, that Maria had figured no one would accept her due to her powers. That thought still broke his heart. He couldn’t see how anyone would reject her. And to top it off, she had a fantastic sense of humor. His thoughts momentarily drifted back to the day she and her co-worker had rearranged the figures and candles at her store. 

When Bubbles landed in front of him, acting like a playful, happy puppy, he couldn’t help but chuckle at how adorable she looked. “Someone’s in a good mood,” he chuckled.

Bacon.

That was when he saw her entering the war room. Her hair was still messy from sleep, but the light hit her in such a way that he couldn’t help the loving smile he knew had come across his lips. Then there were her eyes when she looked at him. If only he knew how beautiful she was, inside and out.

“You hungry too, Sweetheart?” he asked her, still smiling. He knew she hadn’t eaten yet.

“I, uh, a little,” she replied, stuttering slightly. He found it utterly adorable, although he could tell she was a little nervous.

“Come on. I’ll make you two some lunch,” Dean replied, getting up and heading toward the kitchen. He couldn’t wipe that happy smile off his face. 

Sam just smiled to himself without looking up at them, finding how his brother was behaving somewhat adorable. At least he was taking Astaria’s advice and just being himself. He glanced up at Maria, though, seeing her nervousness, and gave her a reassuring smile, hoping she’d follow Dean into the kitchen. When she did, he shook his head in amusement before returning to the book he had in front of him.

Dean practically danced around the kitchen as he grabbed the couple of pans and utensils he needed. He’d decided on something simple that both of them would enjoy and planned on making some for all of them. As he went for some seasonings for the eggs, he smirked a little, seeing her and Bubbles join him in the kitchen.

Just be myself, he reminded himself as she bent over and looked in the fridge. He took a deep breath and bit his bottom lip. Damm, she had a nice ass in those jeans. He quickly turned back to at least look at the seasonings in the cabinet, almost forgetting what he was grabbing.

She sounded a little shy when she spoke, so he figured he’d keep it toned down, at least with any flirting for now. As she set the items down on the counter, he couldn’t help what he said, “I won’t bite, I promise,” then winked at her with a smirk. God, she was so adorable when she blushed like she was.

When Bubbles began laughing, he couldn’t help but be not only a little confused but also find it utterly hilarious. It took everything in him not to laugh, chuckle, or giggle. It was one of those infectious kinds of laughter. Then there was Maria’s laughter. He turned to see how her face lit up with her smile and how her eyes danced. For a moment, he understood how his brother felt, only hearing one side of the conversation between her and Bubbles.

“So, she can talk to you without me hearing her. Cool,” he mused, as it was something he hadn’t thought about but now realized he probably should have. She was Maria’s familiar, after all.

He tried so hard not to turn around to look at her, hearing Bubbles say they should cook together. If only, he thought to himself. Then, he wanted to chuckle when Bubbles told her there was plenty of room and that she’d need to get closer to him.

“I won’t bite,” he told her, smirking happily, almost thankful she couldn’t see the amusement plastered all over his face. After she asked how she could help, he had to think about it, then had an idea, “The plates are in the cabinet, forks are in the drawer. Want to grab enough for four?” He motioned with his head to the locations. She’d have to get closer, and he knew it.

Watching her stand on her tiptoes, practically touching his shoulder, made his breath hitch in his chest. She managed the first two without issue, but when she nearly slipped, attempting to grab the last two, he reacted instantly. Both his hands went to her hips, holding her up. Even with the bacon simmering away in the pan, he got lost in her eyes momentarily as she held onto his shoulders to steady herself. Don’t kiss her, he told himself, smiling softly as he looked down at her. 

Why did she always seem to feel the need to apologize, he thought to himself after she did. He decided he’d get the plates, and once she was sturdy, he reluctantly let go of her and returned to the bacon so it didn’t burn. When she didn’t move to get the silverware, he looked over at her after setting the other two plates on the counter.

“You okay, Sweetheart?” he asked, somewhat curiously.

Bubbles made him chuckle with her thought of the bacon that was currently cooking as the aroma filled the kitchen. He then realized he would need the paper towels, so when Maria asked about helping, he said she could get those. Although, with as adorable as she looked, he couldn’t stop smiling. 

When she set the paper towels down on the counter, he had hoped he could, quote/unquote accidentally touch her hand, but she pulled away too quickly for that to even be an option. Then he chuckled. Bubbles was absolutely hilarious with her sarcastic remark, reiterating his words. Maria glaring at her was also hilarious. There really wasn’t anything funnier than watching her have a mental argument with a small dragon. 

After starting some eggs for her, he glanced over his shoulder. “What seasonings do you like on your eggs, Sweetheart?”

There was that shyness in her expression again as she looked up at him, “Oh, uh, just some salt and garlic.”

“What about you, Bubbles? I’ll make yours scrambled, so they’re easier for you to eat,” he asked, focusing on Maria’s eggs as he added the seasoning.

Make ‘em yummy. You’re a good cook.

God, that little dragon was so cute, he thought as he chuckled, “Thank you, Bubbles.” Although, the compliment made him blush, and he knew it. It only got worse when Maria complimented him. It wasn’t often he got compliments. It was usually just him and Sam, and they took care of each other.

“Thanks, Sweetheart,” he replied to her, doing his best to focus on her eggs. 

Just as he reached for the garlic again to add a pinch more, several items began moving slowly through the air, but it still made him jump a little. And there was that apology out of her again, making him wish he hadn’t jumped. Then, everything except the empty bacon bag, which had been thrown away, was set back where it had been. 

He plated up her eggs, a couple pieces of toast, and some bacon before he turned to look at her, “Hey, you have nothing to apologize for. I’m just not used to things moving around me on their own unless it’s from something trying to kill me, and the objects are barreling toward me.”

She needs a hug.

“I agree,” he stated softly.

There were only a few feet between him and where she was leaning against the kitchen island. He slowly got closer to her but stopped and sighed. She looked so scared.

“I wish you weren’t so afraid I’m going to hurt you. I’m not gonna push you. I just wanted to comfort you,” he told her quietly, hoping she couldn’t see how sad he felt seeing her like this.

He let out a sad sigh as he slowly turned from her. Then, he felt her take his hand gently in hers, and a warmth radiated throughout his body. The relief alone made him let out a sigh. Of course, though, Bubbles had to be a smartass.

Bout damn time.

He laughed right along with Maria, and it felt so good to see her smile, to feel her joy. It made his heart swell in a way he hadn’t thought possible. He didn’t want to move when his eyes met hers, but he had to finish cooking.

“No matter how much I want to keep holding your hand, I have to finish cooking,” he softly told her, nothing but love in his eyes.

That was when Sam walked into the kitchen, “Took you two long enough,” he chuckled before grabbing the spatula out of Dean’s other hand, “I got this. Why don’t you two go talk?” 

Seeing the deep blush that decorated her cheeks made him smile happily, and he didn’t argue with his brother when he took the spatula out of his hand. She looked utterly adorable as she looked shyly away from him. There was no getting the elated smile off his face at this point. Then he remembered he’d promised Bubbles breakfast as well.

“Oh, Bubbles gets scrambled eggs with some salt, pepper, and garlic. Go light though, and make sure to add a little milk to the eggs before you cook ‘em,” he told his brother before he grabbed the plate he’d already set up for Maria. Then, he led her out to the library, still holding her hand.

He didn’t want to let go of her. That feeling of finally connecting with her was indescribable. He felt everything she was: her shyness, nervousness, relief, happiness, fear. Dean led her to the closest table, set her plate down, and pulled the chair out.

“I really won’t bite, I promise,” he told her playfully, and her blush only seemed to deepen in her cheeks. 

Dean watched her sit down, and he really didn’t want to let go of her hand, as she hadn’t pulled away from him, even with as nervous as she felt. 

“Thanks… for breakfast,” she told him shyly, “But, uh, I’m gonna need my hand, to eat.”

He chuckled, “Not stopping you, Sweetheart,” he winked, being playful again, as he really couldn’t help himself. He wanted to see just how deep he could get that blush on her cheeks. And, oh boy, did it.

She slowly took her hand from his and began eating. He could only watch her, his head leaning on his hand with his elbow on the table, mostly facing her. He noticed a few strands of her hair that had fallen over her shoulder, and before she could move them, he reached out and gently tucked them behind her ear.

“You know, you’re adorable when you blush like that,” he told her softly.

“That doesn’t help,” she replied fairly shyly and didn’t look over at him.

“It helps the blush,” he chuckled.

She glanced side-eyed at him before looking back down at her plate, but he caught the playful smile on her lips before she took a bite of bacon. 

“I’d really like to get to know you. The things you like, your favorite music, your favorite foods, stuff like that,” he told her, trying not to ramble too much. 

“You don’t think I’m… a… well, weird?” she asked quietly, and he felt her apprehension.

“Nope. Not in the slightest,” he replied with a happy smirk, “Everyone is weird in their own way. I can only hope you don’t find me too weird.”

He noticed the small smile that his words brought her.

Sam only came out long enough to place a plate of food in front of Dean before returning to the kitchen with Bubbles. 

----------------------------------------- Chapter 27

Tag List: @djs8891 @deans-spinster-witch

Link to the series Master List

A/N: If you'd like to be tagged in future chapters, leave me a comment, and I'll make sure to tag you

[adventurous-adventures]

23 February 2024

(Mick took notes this session)

DM: talking about a creature watching us from the shadows Georgie: is it Shia Le Bouf

Zain: *mumbles something* DM: what was that about prostitutes?

Arora BOARialous

We cast speak with animals on the boar staring at us The boar has run away Mick guessed that it was a wild-shaped druid, Alex does not confirm

We try following the "boar" and come across the logging camp

Sand ants, giant fucking sand ants, apparently called ank heads or something??

Mick asked if they were the same size as a wyvern. They are

Tibor Wester is a pacifist

Juniper accidentally mentioned burning down the buildings at the camp

The lumberjacks are all pussy

The burning of Gnomengarde is still on the table

"Ahhhh I wanna commit arson"

The ank heads spit venom

Juniper attempts to climb into the cabi

"Really?? Right in front of my jellybeans???" - in response to Mick and Georgie joking about knotting

Saying graphic depictions of spaghettification three times fast

We are now in combat

Tibor has a mistress

We traumatise Alex further (jokes about it not being water coming out of the tap)

Iphigenia tried pushing the desk out of the way, it fails

Juniper goes to push the desk out of the way, but ends up hurting herself instead. Alex said that Juniper stubbed their toe. Juniper is a satyr, they don't have toes

Riverlea also couldn't push the desk out the way

The ank head fails at chomping Raven

"First scimitar - oh fuck it's a nat 1"

The desk is still in the way

Georgie smashes the desk They had to roll damage It now has a hole in it

"That is mahogany"

Raven just took 13 acid damage

Raven has done some damage back to the ank head

We are free to leave the office

Tibor fucked off

Iphigenia is a master forger

"Fuck you. Literally" Mick to Zain as Zain is standing in front of the ank head. They thought I meant literal fucking so we had a good laugh

Riverlea slides under Raven's legs and casts burning hands

Georgie aggressively rolled their dice and did 12 fire damage

"Everything screams like the fucking gummy bear" -Lara

"You are prone being under Raven's legs" Alex to Georgie

Riverlea just got chomped by the Ank head

"You're going to fucking die" sad Riverlea noises

Riverlea just took 33 damage total. The polycule is barely holding on

"That was uncomfortably close to your groin"

Raven threw Riverlea back into the office and then proceeded to decapitate the Ank head

Raven is now Wally West crossed with Geralt of Rivia

Scaring Alex is becoming a reoccurring theme

Tibor is on the cart of supplies

Raven aims a crossbow at Tibor

Zain rolled a 10, it tied, Tibor is hit with a crossbow and takes 11 damage

Tibor is fucking dead

We are burning the evidence that we killed Tibor

We proceed to burn the camp to the ground

There are 3 more killer ants

"I like your funny words magic man" - Mick, Georgie, and Zain

Juniper has somehow survived this long and idk how

"I have a character called Orpheus" "Its Orphen time"

DM.exe not working again

Raven and Riverlea are going back to the cart

Juniper took 12 damage

Iphigenia did 14 damage to an Ank head

One Ank head is dead, the other is on fire

Juniper takes 4 damage

Iphigenia cast magic missile

Riverlea is going for the head

It failed

"Touch the grass"

Ank head 2 is dead. Juniper burnt it into a crisp

Lara casts magic missile again, and it misses

Mick is just casting burning hands

Iphigenia cast fire bolt

The ank head is disengaging

We are still killing it

The ank head is dead

The logging camp has been burnt to the ground

Off-screen they give the supplies to an orphanage in Neverwinter and then go back to Phandalin

Tune in next week for the mid-season finale

And we level up to level 5 as well

[readingforsanity]

Love, Mom | Iliana Xander | Published 2024

Mackenzie Casper is a brilliant student. But she is known for her mother, a best-selling author whose dark, twisted thrillers have a dedicated worldwide fanbase.

When her mother dies in an accident, fans across the world are left grieving, and the investigators are asking: Was that really an accident?

The day of the memorial service, Mackenzie gets the first mysterious envelope, signed, From #1 fan. XOXO

Inside are the pages of her mother's diary that start with the lines: Want to know a secret? Love, Mom.

What Mackenzie reads leaves her in shock. But then comes the second letter. And the third...

Mackenzie starts her own investigation and stumbles upon secrets that her family has lived with for years. Quickly, she realizes that her mother's path to stardom was etched with sinister lies that might have caught up with her.

After the death of her mother unexpectedly, Mackenzie is dealing with her emotions. Due to her upbringing, she doesn't feel the grief that one would feel at the loss of someone so close to her. Especially since her mother, Elizabeth Casper's, death was so high profile. You see, Elizabeth Casper was also known as E.V. Renge, a popular writer who had written three bestselling books over the last twenty years.

At one point, there was a rumor that Elizabeth's death wasn't the accident people were making it out to be. She had slipped and fell, hitting her head on a rock during a walk through the woods surrounding their property. But, her father and grandmother turned away the detectives without a second thought, leaving Mackenzie unable to learn the truth.

Starting on the day of her mother's funeral, she begins receiving letters, one by one, written to her in her mother's hand, detailing the start of hers and Ben's relationship. They had met while both in college in Old Bow, Nebraska. While their relationship started out fine, it was quickly apparent that Ben began cheating on Elizabeth with a woman named Tonya, who appeared suddenly in the college town and was someone from Elizabeth's past.

Growing up, both Tonya and Lizzy had grown up in a group home, and at one point, Lizzy had been assaulted by three teenage boys at the home, one of which had been Tonya's boyfriend. In her attempt to get revenge, Lizzy started a barn fire that would eventually led to those three teenage boys deaths, before leaving and heading off to college.

With the help of her best friend, EJ, whom Mackenzie has been harboring secret feelings for for quite some time, the two of them do some digging and end up traveling to Old Bow, where they intend to meet with Dianne Jacobson, a former housekeeper that worked at the now defunct group home.

Dianne invites them in when she recognizes Mackenzie based off her striking resemblance to Lizzy, though Kenzie has always found that she didn't look like her mother at all except for the raven hair. While talking, Dianne confirms the assault that Lizzy went through, though it had only been discovered two weeks after it happened and they were unable to pin it on the three boys. She also talks extensively about Tonya and how evil and vile she was towards Lizzy.

When Lizzy shows Dianne a picture of Ben, Lizzy and her as a baby, Dianne explains that the woman in the photo isn't Lizzy Casper, but instead Tonya Shaffer.

Ultimately, we learn that Lizzy had become pregnant unexpectedly while in a relationship with Ben. Ben, not wanting to be tied down in a marriage and as a father, kept seeing Tonya behind Lizzy's back, alluding to Lizzy that he was flying home to spend time with his parents, but instead, having Tonya come to the airport to pick him up and the two of them would spend weekends at her cabin in the woods outside of Old Bow.

But, Lizzy, coming to terms with the fact that Ben never ended his relationship with Tonya after speaking with his mother on the phone and learning that she hadn't seen Ben in six months, Lizzy follows the couple to the cabin and confronts them. But in doing so, it causes her to go into labor, where she would deliver a healthy baby girl named Mackenzie in the cabin's bedroom. But due to her blood loss, she began losing cognitive abilities, and despite Ben's insistence to Tonya that they do something, her need for medical attention went unnoticed.

Eventually, Tonya realized that she could become Lizzy, as they looked similar to each other, even going off to New York to sign contracts for her books with a literary agent. Though the intent was to get rid of Lizzy after her return from New York, she realizes that it would be more useful to keep Lizzy around.

After returning back from Old Bow, Mackenzie speaks with her social studies professor, who has a strange reaction when meeting her father at her mother's awards ceremony. It turns out that he is John Robertson, THE John that her mother had gotten close to while living in Old Bow. She confronts him, and he confesses the truth and that he had known who Mackenzie was from the beginning. He also confirms that the person acting as Lizzy Casper was actually Tonya Shaffer.

In the end, John and Mackenzie return to Old Bow, where he shows her around the college town and where he and her mother had hung out together. On the way back to the airport, Mackenzie sees a supply company that had called her home recently about an overdue bill. Upon realizing that the address on the file is an address about 20 minutes from their current location, they decide to drive to it.

Upon arrival, the cabin is in good condition and a nurse comes out to let them know that they aren't supposed to be there. But then another woman comes out, and it is in fact, the real Lizzy, finally reunited with her daughter after 21 years.

A year later, after several legal battles, Ben and his mother are in jail in their conspiracy to what happened with Lizzy. It was confirmed through DNA that Lizzy and Mackenzie are truly related, and that Tonya had stolen Lizzy's identity more than two decades before and has been living as her ever since, raising Mackenzie as her own and marrying Ben in the process.

Her grandmother went to jail for keeping the secret as well, as she had been completely aware of Lizzy's whereabouts for the entirety of the 20 years, which is why she had been turning away the detective in his attempt to look into "Lizzy's" death.

EJ and Mackenzie, now in a relationship, are celebrating Thanksgiving with Dianne, John and Lizzy for the first time. It is here that she receives another letter, this time alluding to the fact that John is actually her father and not Ben, something that Lizzy had kept a secret even then, and was a one night stand. The two of them share a condition that could only be passed on genetically.

Ultimately, we learn the identity of the person who sent the letters was a disgruntled ex-lover of Tonya's, who was the super of the building that Lizzy had lived in. Tonya had essentially called the police on him for drugs, and he spent the last 15 years in prison for it, but when he got out he tried to confront Tonya about it, and Ben, but he continued to be pushed away. Now that the truth is out, he is a happier man. And Mackenzie is able to have the family that she deserves.