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whambamsami · 1 month ago

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private show pt.2

summary: what happens in the private showroom, stays in the private showroom...stripper!bucky pt.2

pt. 1 pt.3

warnings: 18+ language, alcohol, almost smut! i promise theyre gonna fuck like bunnies in the next part of this lmao

note: if this doesnt flow super well im sorry, i didnt proofread and i did rush it a bit! i also dont totally understand how tag lists work so forgive me if i messed that up too haha, small chance i delete this and try to make it a bit cleaner!

taglist!: @sebastians-love @marianastudiesart @bowscale @staley83 @opheliabbarnes @hhyukasworld @unicornqueen05 @defn0tonyourleft <3

If the bouncer noticed your nerves, he didn’t let on. He just pulled back the plush red curtain and waved you in.

You stepped inside before you could decide against it.

The door shuts with a soft click.

The room smells like leather and cologne. Dim lights flicker warm over plush velvet seating. Your heart’s pounding in your chest. And you’re frozen where you stand.

Because in the center of the room, the man you’d seen on the stage was leaning against a pole, shirtless now, glistening faintly in the warm, low light. One silver chain resting against his collarbone, made of the same metal that made up his left arm. Tattoos dotted his chest and abs, thin black ink delicately drawing your eyes lower. A dangerous smirk on his lips.

Bucky, they had said his name was.

Wonder if that was his real name.

“Oh.” You breathed.

His smirk turned wolfish.

“So you’re the girlfriend,” he said, voice low and deep as he stepped closer. “Didn’t expect you to say yes.”

“...And if I had said no?”

“Then I guess I would have had to come out there and ask in person,” he said, eyes raking over you. “And that could’ve gotten messy.”

You sputter just for a second before catching yourself.

“I- yeah. Thanks for the rescue. I really appreciate it.”

He tilted his head. “The rescue?”

“Yeah. Saved me from my asshole boyfriend and his gross friends. I owe you.”

That made him pause for a beat. Considering. Calculating.

Then he’s back in control like nothing happened.

“Is that what you think this is?” he smiled gently, stepping even closer.

You blink. “Um. Yeah? You got me away from Nick and made him look like a jackass. Not exactly a hard thing to do, but still-credit where credit’s due.”

Bucky laughed-low and rough, like gravel wrapped in velvet. He had a nice laugh, you thought.

“Sweetheart”- and you do a great job of showing how that nickname doesn’t affect you one bit, you’re sure of it- “I didn’t save you. I picked you.”

Your stomach did something traitorous as he popped the champagne, and you didn’t miss the evil glint in his eyes when the head of the bottle was swallowed by frothy foam before he could capture it with the flutes.

He handed you a glass.

You needed it.

“What does that mean?”

He leaned in, his voice dropping to something that wrapped around your spine like silk.

“It means I saw you sitting out there, looking like you were five seconds from either crying or setting the place on fire, and I figured you could use a reminder that not everyone in the room is a complete asshole.”

Great. More pity. Just what you needed.

But then he continued.

“And I could see your thighs squeezing together when you saw me. All the way from up on the stage.”

You let out a soft breath, surprised at how much that hit you.

But he wasn’t done.

“It also means,” he added, reaching out to brush a lock of hair behind your ear, “I wasn’t gonna let some sweaty, insecure little prick keep looking at you like you were an object. Not when I know exactly how a woman should be treated, how you deserve to be treated.”

“Wow,” you breathe, almost to yourself, “you’re like… dangerously good at this.”

He grins. Like he had you right where he wanted you.

And suddenly the room around you felt like it was shrinking. You instinctively go to tug your dress down a bit, feeling overexposed. But he’s quicker, catching your hand in his own.

“Don’t,” he murmurs, “you’re perfect like this.”

You should laugh it off. You should roll your eyes.

But you don’t.

Because the way he says it- like he means it-makes something deep inside you clench.

“I liked your show.” and it feels like a confession, like something you weren’t allowed to say out loud.

“I know.” and you roll your eyes playfully before he cuts you off with, “So did your thighs.”

You choke on your laugh.

“Confident, aren’t we?”

Bucky tilts his head a bit, and you can’t tell if he’s getting a better look at you or analyzing exactly where he needs to touch to make you weak.

“Don’t act shocked. You started it. Squeezing your thighs together while I was on stage? That’s flirting.”

“That’s called crossing my legs.”

“Cross them around my head next time, and we’ll call it even.”

You blink.

“Are you always this subtle?”

“Sweetheart,” he grins, “subtle gets you half the fun. You want subtle, go back to your boyfriend.”

You roll your eyes. “Ex-boyfriend.”

He takes another step forward. Then another. Gently leads you to sit on the red couch, so soft it felt like you were being sucked into it. God, you didn’t even want to think about what this room would look like if you turned on a blacklight-

He straddles your lap.

And you forget how to breathe.

His knees bracket your legs, not quite touching you. His hands rest on his own thighs, muscles flexing just slightly, forearms thick and inked.

He’s shirtless. You were clever enough to have noticed that when you first entered, but now, up close, it was all-consuming.

The glow of the lights dances across his chest, down his stomach, and whatever oil he must have used on himself amplifies every divot of his toned body. He must have spent years eating clean and hitting the gym to get this kind of figure. Every inch of him screams control.

He looks like a god.

“You ever had a dance like this?” he asks softly.

You shake your head, sure that it’s the last move you’ll make before you become paralyzed forever.

“Good,” his voice is raspy, like he’s almost whispering, “I want to be your first.”

He leans forward, lips grazing the shell of your ear.

“And your favorite.”

Then he moves.

His hips roll slow and deep, grinding just above your center, close enough to feel the heat of him through your clothes. His hands rest on the couch on either side of your shoulders, caging you in.

“How do you want this to go, doll?” he murmured, voice low and sinful “You want me slow? Gentle?”

You opened your mouth, but nothing came out. He was close-too close. You could smell him. Feel the heat coming off his skin.

“Or…” His metal hand gripped the back of the couch behind your head. “You want me to show you what your asshole boyfriend never could?”

He doesn’t touch you. Not yet.

But he doesn’t need to.

Because the way he watches your reaction-how your lips part in a silent gasp-it’s like he’s memorizing you.

You exhaled shakily.

“That one.” you say before your brain can catch up to your mouth, “That one sounds- sounds good.”

“Good,” he coos, “let’s make your boyfriend nice and jealous. Show him how a woman like you deserves to be treated.”

“God, can we please not talk about my boyfriend right now?” you mutter, doing your best to keep your hands rooted at your sides like you’re cuffed there.

Not a bad idea.

He chuckles wickedly above you.

“You’re right, pretty girl. Sweet little thing like you, and he’s taking you to a dirty place like this? Doesn’t he know what happens when you don’t take care of your things?” he purrs, rolling his hips once more, closer this time, “Someone might take them away. Take better care of them. Someone like me.”

You hear a soft, pathetic whine pass your lips before you can stop yourself.

His mouth curls.

“That’s my girl, let me hear it. Let me hear how much you want this.”

He’s licking up your neck, biting gently at your shoulder, sucking the sensitive spot where your neck and collarbone meet, nibbling at your earlobe.

“Bet he’s never touched you like this, doll. Never had you whining, begging for him, not like I do. And I haven’t even shown you my best moves.”

“What, the ones that require me to buy two drinks minimum?”

“Mmm. The ones I really want to try on you. The ones that might get me fired.”

Then he moved-really moved.

His hips were flush against yours. His abs brushed your chest as he leaned in, his breath ghosting over your cheek. And then he finally brought his hips to yours.

Slow. Deep. Grinding down like he already knew exactly where you needed him most.

You gasped.

Your hands shot out on instinct, landing on his thighs, hard muscle under your palms. Just as quickly as you touched him, you pull away, internally cringing at your lack of control.

“Sorry, I-”

“What are you sorry for, doll? Touch me all you want.” and he’s grabbing your hand in his, the vibranium arm still rooted behind your head. He brings your shaking fingers to his lips, his eyes never leaving yours as he gives your fingers a soft kiss, and then he’s dragging your hand down his chest, letting you feel every smooth valley and crevice of his delicious body, still rolling his hips into yours.

Your fingers curled around his legs as he rocked into you again-slower, rougher, the friction making the growing heat between your legs grow more intense, drawing a gasp from you.

“God, the sounds you’re making,” he growled, pressing his forehead to yours. “You ever been this wet with your clothes still on?”

“Jesus, Bucky-” and he’s back to his attack on your neck.

You’re gonna think about this later, aren’t you?” he said against your skin. “Gonna lie in bed and replay this in your head…fingers between your thighs… wishing it was me.”

“Fuck,” you whimpered, rocking your hips up to meet his.

“There she is.”

You’re not even sure when it happens.

One second, Bucky’s hips are rolling slow and smooth against yours, his hands slipping beneath your dress in ways that definitely broke some rules, his voice wrecking you in your ear.

“You feel that, baby?”, he rasps, “That’s all me. For you.”

You’re just about to cave, to beg for him to just take you right there.

Then the door slams open.

“What the fuck?”

#bucky barnes #bucky barns fanfiction #bucky x reader #bucky barns imagine #bucky x you #james bucky buchanan barnes #bucky barnes smut #the winter soldier #stripper!bucky

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 1 year ago

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rabbit costume + luxe couture miss raven

Because I love the Alice in Wonderland aesthetic and White Rabbit Fest is running in EN right now… 😭 I decided to make a Rabbit Costume for my OC! Figured I’d also do the same for the event running in JP at the same time, Tapis Rouge in the Shaftlands.

Special thanks goes to @peripheralsanity for the super adorable bonus drawing of Miss Raven in her Rabbit Costume 😭 I wanna cram that bunny into my mouth like an Easter marshmallow…

My own doodles are below the cut, along with various design notes 📝

First up, the Rabbit Costume!

It takes a lot of inspiration from Alice herself: the bow in her hair, the dress, the apron. Miss Raven’s Heartslabyul dorm uniform design also pulls inspiration from Alice, so I tried very hard to make this look unique from that!

There’s a lot more bows, frills, and huge, goofy-looking accessories—like the rabbit ears + tail plus the shoes. The outfit also features a lot of pastel checkerboard pattern and shimmery makeup, like what is featured in Deuce’s Rabbit Costume. Upon closer inspection, there’s even more intricacies! Raven’s apron has heart-shaped pockets, the apron’s top has card motifs stitched into it, and the corset belt has a rabbit slowly dressing and then taking up a bugle to play. The transition demonstrates her own adaption to living among non-animals 😅

The rabbit on her skirt, chain, prize ribbon, and earring aren’t the White Rabbit but a cobbled together rabbit that’s missing an eye. The XO Rabbit poses as and stillinvokes the image of the White Rabbit, especially when it’s right next to a pocket watch. It fits Raven, who is someone not “organically” in the world of TWST (since she’s an OC).

I think my favorite part of this design is the super wacky and big hair. You may recognize it from the Hatsune Miku x Cinnamoroll campaign that was popular a while back. The shape reminded me of bunny ears, so I thought it would be nice to incorporate into Raven’s Rabbit Costume.

There’s so many strange things in clock town to observe! Miss Raven would have a fun time hopping around and seeing the sights… documenting them with Ortho, picking out clocks and other souvenirs with Silver, chomping through the local specialties with Epel. Ah, and as for Deuce 🤔 “Your son is trying very hard in his studies, ma’am,” she’d tell Dylla very seriously. “I commend him for his efforts.” (She very tactfully focuses on his improvements and personal growth over the actual numbers he produces.) Students of 1-A gotta look out for each other, right? Deuce fist bumps her behind her back or something to signal his thanks.

Miss Raven isn’t the athletic type, so I don’t think she would run in the relay race with them. (It would be hard to run in that dress anyway.) She can stick on the sidelines and cheer for them…!

Next is the Luxe Couture!

I actually made two variants. One is more inspired by the Fairest Queen’s raven and the other is similar to the SR and R boys’ huntsman-inspired designs.

The first has more of an old-fashioned movie star feel to it… which isn’t really what Vil invited the other students for so it falls outside of canon 😂 I just thought it would be cool to have a more personalized, glamorous fit for Raven.

She has much darker and more excessive eye makeup in this version. A bold, more confident look outside of her usual wheelhouse. Her hair is also curled into her face to resemble feathers, and her bun also has strands spiked up to look like feathers too. The dress itself is also very feathery, forming a train behind her wherever she stomps in her heels. The top of the dress also acts as a feather boa, making her appear larger and more intimidating than she actually is.

If you’re wondering why tiny skull earrings, it’s because the Evil Queen’s raven falls into a skull at one point in the movie 💀 since it’s so taken aback by what it is witnessing… That “wow!” but also somewhat scared feeling is very similar to how Raven feels entering Fairest City, so I wanted to include a skull in some way. If I made the motif too big or too obvious, then it might clash with the whole ensemble so I chose to go with an understated accessory instead.

This look is definitely the most “different” of the group, but I tried to keep some elements in common with the others. For example, Raven still has the lace curtain which appears from where her dress is slit. She also has sheer gloves that have been studded with little white rhinestones. The jewels aren’t as big or colorful as Vil’s, but that’s the point: to not outshine the star. Miss Raven is nothing more than the shadow that clings to its queen 😌

The more group-cohesive outfit is last!

It’s a similar double-breasted beige coat as Jamil’s, but it fans out into a dress + slacks at the bottom and has different sleeves. The puffiness of the sleeves at the shoulder and wrists make her seem large and in-charge! The buttons on her coat are large pearls.

I tried to maintain the huntsman’s color scheme throughout the outfit. Because of this, Raven’s belt is red and the lace in her dress is green. Her boots are similar to hiking boots (just picture them fancier in your head OTL I’m not great at drawing footwear).

We get her forehead in this design!! Her hair is pulled back into a “fancier than usual” ponytail, with her hair bunched into one loop before resuming as a normal ponytail. The clasp she uses is similar to the one Vil wears in his school uniform. Originally, I thought of just shoving an arrow through instead but decided against it since it makes the huntsman theme too obvious. The same reasoning came up when I considered giving Raven a small cocktail hat that looks similar to what the huntsman wore. Her head just looks so naked without something there 😂 but in the end I managed to refrain, and I think that helped the outfit look more clean and elegant.

Raven would be excited to visit Fairest City—it’s the capital of the entertainment industry! Though her main medium is quite different than that of films, she’s always wanted to visit for educational purposes. (Maybe she can learn from the scriptwriters there!) “At least one of you cares to learn,” Vil would tut. The trip’s a little stressful, trapped between Jamil and Azul’s petty remarks at one another and Ace teasing her for being the “odd one out” of the group—but hey, it’s all worth it for the experiences made there! I’d imagine that Raven loves all the pampering they get and all the important people they meet, it makes her feel like a real princess. Everywhere she looks, the streets and stores are shining too! Her raven blood is soaring. “I didn’t realize you had such excitable juniors, Vil,” Eric would chuckle. (“Waaaah, so cool! Like a prince!!” Raven would gush, earning eye rolls from her classmates and a groan from Ace.)

Walking on the red carpet wouldn’t interest her that much; she doesn’t like the attention so she tries hard to just fade behind the others and play support as best she can. Carrying Vil’s things or helping him with his makeup is no problem, just don’t thrust her under the spotlight and all the flashing cameras!

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nubesrosasart · 3 months ago

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✨️long story-time post. Just in case, tw: not gonna go deep in detail, but just in case.✨️

These were my first BG3 sketches i did a year ago! My first playthrough was completely blind. I was new to dnd too.

My first playthrough i picked a sorcerer durge. my gal, Lydia, a human draconic sorcerer, resist durge.

For a while didnt know what i was doing.

Now i have around 14 playthrough, and five of them finish. Got into dnd, got some of the books, and last month played for the first time.

The game helped me get out during a bad moment of my life. i was in bed with a broken ankle for months. i was depressed-i stopped drawing, doing anything i enjoy, even listening to musc. I was just in bed sleeping all day. Till one day, mindlesly scrolling, saw a funny video of astarion, his reaction when that temple fell on him, and impulsively got the game.

That moment i started, and that very moment i met laezel, i was on board.

I trusted that green angry strong lady. And fell in love with her strong and yet honest approach.

I initially didn't like shadowheart, but that later changed.

My first romance was with Astarion. It started with him lol

My main team usually were Astarion, Gale and Lae'zel, thou i was changing and mixing it up depending where we were and who i thought this area or part of the story is more connected or appropiate for each characters.

I was smitten with Gale Act 2 romance scene. I thought that scene was ✨️magical✨️ and he indeed wow me 😆

And all the way to act 2, when you let shadowheart choose, and she chose not to kill dame aylin. My jaw dropped. And more so when aylin transforms. I felt goosebump. And at that very moment, i felt this is peak game storytelling.

Then that scene with Myrkul. That boss entry and music! I thought this a dark souks moment gaming lol (fyi i played a lot of fromsoft games)

Then having Jaheira and Minsc. Halfway is when it dawned on me that these are characters from the previous Baldurs Gate game. Well, that scene when you confront Sarevok i was like ooooh wait you all know each other lol And i loved Jaherira. I loved when she calls you 'cub' and felt motherly in a way if you are a resist durge.

I felt it was epic hero quest the moment you have to save Duke Ravengard, then leading to Ansur. I remember jokingly saying this gonna be a dark souls moment if i have to fight a dead dragon. then proceed that dead dragon fight. Took me off guard and barely survive, lol it felt that this was Wyll's epic heroic quest and story, and i was just tagging along with him.

I only later realize that Wyll deserved more, and should have more in his story. I hated how for him and also i felt also for Karlach in the choices, there wasnt really a better solution for them.

Also, the fight against Cazador. I died a lot. But eventually, we beat him. Astarion’s breakdown left me speechless for a moment. And then when he thank you for saving him and breaking the cycle. I felt this was wholesome. And a nice development of his story and character.

But i felt that the better character development was with Lae'zel. From being a blind follower to have her eyes open. The poetic way she expresses herself. The passion in her tone and voice. The close similarity of her and shadowheart of following blindly without question hit close to home for me for how i was raised. And how Laezel choose instead to break the chains was epic. More so, when at the end, she hops on the red dragon, the smile she gave you, and then flew away to a greater purpose and renewed inspiration. i thought that was epic. And wish my character could've joined her in the epic quest.

Then came Karlach breakdown after beating Gortach. And i have to stop for a moment. The voice acting, the hurt, in that voice felt ao real. It hurted a lot when she say abd hiw she say we will live and she will die (somethign to that effect), i felt powerless. And that also hit hard for me in a personal level. Dunno how to explain without going into much of my personal life detail.

And then shadowheart. When she found her parents and you let her choose what to do. She was free from shar, and she chose to let her parents die and be with selune. It was bittersweet. But that afterward scene, when she breaks down. I had to stop there. I felt horrible and sad for her. At that moment, i cried too. And i still dont know why from every other story, i felt a strong reaction to this one of shadowheart. But from then on every next playthrough, i make sure her parents lived. I think i just hate how even thou she did the correct thing at the end, she was alone. And is more lonely for her if you arent romancing her. And i also i guess is just me internalizing. Growing up with very religious family messes you up, and i think that's why i felt strongly for shadowheart choices and endings.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. These are things i wanted to share, but I didn't have a place to put my thoughts till now. I wish to share more later because this game is important for me and how it helped overcome a moment in my life. i felt hopeless and unmotivated and depressed. This was my experience with the game, from my first blind playthrough i just wanted to share briefly. Sorry for any typos and thank you if you did read all these random small thoughts of my experience with the game.

#long post #anecdotes #maybe some typos #drawing #illustration #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 #sharing a bit of my story #story time

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whore4brielle · 5 months ago

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MECHANIC SEVIKA ✮⋆˙✮⋆˙

Siri play NEVER LOSE ME by FLO MILLI ✮

Ever since you entered the shop it was no doubt that everyone was staring at YOU. Maybe it was your see through top and pink short skirt that made everyone’s attention draw towards you. Anyone who dared looking could practically see your underwear due to the skirts length.

✮

You sat down in the gray chair. It was an outside parlor. A couple of guys you knew resided in Zaun fixed your car. You had been sitting there quietly. Your legs crossed, the short cleavage which your short pink skirt didn’t cover showed.

“Y/n”

You heard a familiar voice as she approached you. You gently stood up from the gray seat. When she reached you she gazed up and down at the curves of your body and what wasn’t covered by the skimpy outfit.

“ wow. Somethings never change about you.” The slightly taller lady crossed her arms. And you could say the same about her, her cold stance and muscles.

“Well I can say the same about you” you spoke. You glanced the woman over before noticing her take a cigarette and a lighter out of her jean pocket. The woman lit it and blew a tiny hint of subtle smoke in your face. Any other time the act would’ve pissed you off. But you stayed calm.

The woman chuckled before returning to her work. But you were practically there all day. You stayed there until it was time for closing. Even though your car was finished in the shop. Sevika knew what you wanted.

✮

“What’s your problem?” Sevika asked has she finished her last car of the night. She would have to finish all of her leftover work tomorrow morning. It wasn’t any big deal since she did it all the time.

You leaned onto the hood of the car as soon has she closed it.

“I know it all sounds dumb but I’ve really missed you” and that’s how you got sevika back into this fucked up trap again. You were worser. It wasn’t just the clothes you wore. You were just a fucked up person.

✮

“Fuck me ontop of the hood” you’ll say after an aggressive make out session. You in sevika’s lap has she sat on the gray chair. It always started with kissing each other. Getting the feel of each other again. She was taken aback by your request. But she picked you up anyway and took you over to the unfinished car she worked on. “Mmm good girl” you’ll say before smiling. It was the only time you ever degraded her. The muscular women only just scoffed knowing she had more power over you then you had over her.

“So what do you want me to do to you” her hand traced over your thigh. The white wife beater she wore made it hard not to look at her breast. Her black skinny jeans. The belt wrapped around her waist holding them intact. The chain on her neck and the lip piercing above her lips.

“Just finger me and then you can eat me out yeah?”

The woman nodded has you slid your skirt and underwear halfway down your legs. You squealed has your cunt made contact with the coldness of the hood but sevika stood so close to you. The pain easing over as she placed her hand up one of your thighs before dipping into your hole. She wished she could just eat you out right now. She looked down at the wetness you had already succumbed onto the hood.

She dipped her middle finger into you. You placed your head down into her shoulder before your first moan fell from your lips. She made sure to go slower. She would abuse your hole later. If she even got the chance to. ✰

When she did finger you faster it wasn’t much. You could still feel pleasure from it but it was enough to also make you cry out. It was enough to make you cum and reach an unforgettable high. When she was done with you. You had practically soaked the hood of the car. Sevika’s touch always did that to you no matter if it was ontop of a car or somewhere in the past.

✮

You had stole one of sevika’s cigarettes. Putting it into your mouth has she lit it. A short break would only last a couple of minutes. Your stanima was good. But you had sweat pouring from your forehead. You tried to fix a couple of your hair strands before putting your thumb and index back on the cigarette. Letting smoke leave your mouth. You stood up off the hood. Sliding your shoes off so you could slide your panties and skirt off.

It took everything in you not to lose your composure at the sight of sevika on her knees below you. She just slightly blushed at the uncomfortable position she was put in. She looked up at you. Uncomfortableness slightly switching to a more stoic expression. You let the cigarette out beside sevika. Before getting yourself into a comfortable standing position. Slightly holding onto the front of the car.

Sevika tugged at your waist before placing her tongue onto your clit. It was the way that she was much more rougher with you when she ate you out. The sensualness she had when she fingered you was all gone.

Her tongue lapped circles around your clit for a few. Messing with the clit piercing that you had. Before she inserting her tongue inside of you. You ran your fingers through her strands as she fucked inside of you. Covering your mouth. Afraid that the two of you would get caught if you moaned out. You weren’t able to control a small amount of the moans that spilled from your lips as you were closer to your climax.

Sevika sped up inside of you, grabbing hold of your legs as you rode her face. It didn’t stop you from trying to go faster has you closed your eyes slightly. Uncovering your mouth as you let moans slide past your lips. Grip tightening on the front of the car.

It didn’t take you an extended time to cum. It was expected from how quick you were moving. Slowing your pace down has you came. You removed your hand from sevika’s hair has you caught sense of reality. Gasping at the sudden finger hovering your clit. You’ll shyly smack sevika’s hand before she stood up.

“You can stop by anytime to return the favor.”

“Yeah as if” you’ll say. Has you gently pulled your undergarments back up.

Knowing you’ll be right back at the shop sometime next week ✰.

✮

#sevika #arcane #sesbian lex #ilovemuscularwomenomg

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blue-disco-lights · 11 months ago

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✨ Weekly Tag Wednesday ✨

Thank you so much for tagging me - love this one! (i love them all actually) @jrooc

@stocious @michellemisfit @doshiart @mybrainismelted @mmmichyyy

@sgtmickeyslaughter @gallapiech @suzy-queued @spookygingerr @roryonic

Name and A03 handle: Julia, Blue_Disco_Lights

Current Location: my dining table - my work is hybrid, so this (suprisingly uncomfortable setup) is my desk twice a week.

Favourite picrew: I never really wore my space buns this high, maybe a bit lower… also the jewelry is a Chain Mickey homage obviously.

What's one thing you want in a picrew? I love a creative background and good sweater options. If left to my own devices, I’d be in a hoodie all the time, but it’s nice to spice things up!

Favourite thing you’ve created (or seen created) for the fandom? Hard to choose! it's a tie between some @galladrabbles and these @gallacrafts.

Why is it your favourite? I’ve been knitting since I was a kid but never really got beyond the scarf phase lol - and Season 1 Not-a-booty-call/“Whatever, see ya” Mickey wore that green scarf and I knew I had to recreate it. The t-shirt is me attempting to draw for the tomato theme and I just think it would be so funny if Ian actually wore this outside.

Did it come easily or was it hard to create? For the scarf, it was all about finding the right yarn and also that cute patch that just appeared out of nowhere at the craft store. Drawing is hard because i don't know how 😆

Last ao3 fic you commented on? It was either on Shame-proof written by @ms-moonlight-inn and @notherenewjersey or A Song Only You Can Hear by @suzy-queued - both so good!

Biggest WIP heartache you’ve ever experienced? I’m usually OK with WIPs taking a while, truly… but oh man, I’ll copy @jrooc's answer and say Things Beyond Mistake by grayola. What a STUNNING work and we’re left just aching for what happens for those two. My second is Elevator Music by gallavichsecurity- another beautifully written one that I hope will continue one day.

Favourite trope or head cannon you like included in a fanfic? I love enemies to lovers, the slower the burn the better 🫠🔥 . I’ve yelled about loving road trip plots a lot, so I loved Highway of Hedonism by @roryonic (w/ beautiful art by @gallapiech).

Least favourite? I’ve never gravitated to mpreg

Secret or surprising kink or trope? Never even knew A/B/O was a thing until i got here - hello! Same goes for Whump - once it clicked that it was an actual genre, it was like oh wow, i think i’ve been into this my whole life lol.

Describe how you feel after you’ve created something new? Er, shocked quite honestly. When I see that I actually have multiple things posted on AO3 I do wonder who that person is??

Top hype man you have that always helps you get across the finish line: There are so many hype people i want to thank in my writing journey - your amazing comments & reblogs really made me feel like a writer! (which was a little shocking - so please know they went a long way 💕) @gallawitchxx @energievie @creepkinginc @jrooc @michellemisfit @palepinkgoat @gillyp @suzy-queued @ian-galagher @sweetbee78 @francesrose3 - and special shout out to @mybrainismelted for being an amazing sounding board and co-conspirator on Gallavich Summer Camp among other things!

It's been a bad day, you turn to the fandom and you _____? Hang out on Discord and Tumblr, and fall into one of the very many tabs I have open. Currently it’s You’ll Never See Us Again by @spoonfulstar - and omggggg.

If you're tagged in this post and haven't made one of these yet - this is your official invite!

tagging in @lingy910y @deedala @heymrspatel @atthedugouts @wehangout

@lupeloto @sisitrip @sandrashaine @shippergirl121fic @stocious

@jessij1997 @sickness-health-all-that-shit @thisdivorce @sam-loves-seb @samantitheos

@mickeyheartian @mickeym4ndy @callivich @transsexual-dandelions @nymacron

@rororowyourboat18 @transmurderbug @bawlbrayker @i-think-you-mean-reduction @gallavichsuperfan

@runawaybrainsc @too-schoolforcool @darlingian @thepupperino @celestialmickey

@crossmydna @spacerockwriting @catgrassplantdad @look-i-love-u @silvanshadow

#weekly tag wednesday

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myownperceptions · 4 months ago

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Minions: The Rise of Gru- details, trivia, goofs, random notes (Pt. 3)

First part Previous part

Smoking is cool, kids. (What a way to begin a post)

This guy is called Guru Rick, according to concept art and the credits. Gurus were popular in the US in the 70s.

Gru's room has a lot of detail:

Just as I'm writing this do I realise this poster is a calendar. January and February are both under the picture. Cheapskates.

Gru's crossed out a few dates and circled the Chinese New Year.

Nice stills of the V6. Turns out Jean is quite a bit taller than Belle, but it's hard to tell since he crouches all the time. If it hasn't already been established, I love these two.

Gru has what looks like a pin-up of sorts of Belle above his door. She's holding her ball and chain.

There's a diagram of Jean-Clawed by his bed and a smaller poster of Wild Knuckles below that.

He has figurines of Belle and Jean on the floor.

He has a sizeable boomerang/slingshot/saw collection. Also spaceships. Some of them are even labeled.

+ spider wallpaper.

A picture of Nun-Chuck on his wardrobe, as well as a newspaper clipping with the headline 'Nun-Chuck Tells It All'. A stylised V6 poster above that, and an article on Stronghold to the side.

The queen's crown he stole in Minions. I've done the maths, and it would seem he stole it when he was 4 years old. The timeline is a bit of a mess, but personally I see the present Despicable Me movies (1-4) taking place from 2009-2014. Maybe that's a bit generous.

They also 'sing' a version of Cecilia by Simon & Garfunkel (released in 1970) during this scene. Available on the soundtrack.

This minion singing into a wrench.

Bob's pet rat from Minions is still alive, somehow. Wild rats typically live to be 1, sometimes 2 years old. The oldest rat ever lived to be 7 years old. It's been 8 years since the first Minions movie. Go figure. Or, we could just say this is a different rat.

This minion casually on fire. These guys are literally indestructible.

Otto passes out. So these guys do need to breathe. And have blood.

A few things:

Gru's clock is a bomb. There is also a stylised print of Jean-Clawed above it.

More giant V6 posters + a giant poster of Wild Knuckles.

A small poster of Stronghold on the right.

A drawing of Belle Bottom beating up some police officers + a drawing of Nun-Chuck + drawing of Svengeance.

Newspaper clipping that reads 'Jean Clawed Snaps Again'.

There are more but they appear again in a bit.

Other than the giant V6 banner, there is a news clipping from 'Despicable News' I deciphered as saying 'Veni Vedi Vicious 6', a play on 'Veni Vedi Vici': I came, I saw, I conquered. Not sure what WK is doing but he's on the cover.

This is just here for the sake of it. Stronghold has the disappointed-dad look going on. Svengeance looks like someone told him to show his mean face.

Bob and Tim from Minions. Reminder these guys are millions of years old.

The VNC guy from Minions is back with a new 70s style.

Sucky 70s graphics, I love it.

Wild Knuckles has a black eye and a bandage where his bandana used to be. Let's not question how he survived or made it back in one piece. Humans seem to be nigh-indestructible in this universe.

Skinny henchman nudges bigger guy to ask about payment while WK makes some questionable hand gestures (pulling limbs? breaking bones? who knows.)

WK suddenly grows 3 extra arms. He actually has a few blemishes and freckles on his arms which is just cool attention to detail.

Gru's future crocodile couches; he clearly inherited them.

Gru sings to the tune of 'Bad Moon Rising' by John Fogerty and CCR (released in 1969) throughout the 'getting ready' scene.

These guys really merched up. Wild Knuckles comes with glasses. Just look at those posable joints.

There's also a drawing of Nun-Chuck holding something (probably stolen)

Drawing of Jean-Clawed beating up an old lady with an umbrella.

Gru's self-ship of himself with Belle.

TBC. Wow, 2 posts in 1 day? Amazing. I'm totally not procrastinating on something.

Next part

#minions rise of gru #minions #movie details #overanalysis #overanalyzing #gru #young gru #the rise of gru #rise of gru #wild knuckles #belle bottom #jean clawed #stronghold #svengeance #nun chuck #v6 #vicious 6 #bbjc #despicable me

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writers-get-biters · 8 months ago

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sooooo tired of feeling bad and shitty and stuck and miserable

fuck my relationship ocd i hate it so much and also fuck being forced to do stuff i dont want by people i dont want to be with sometimes (like now )they get into some sort of fucked up loop where i feel miserable because of stuff in my brain and then theres external stuff which also fucks it up more so then my disabilities become more disabling because obviously and then i get blamed and hurt more externally because of my disabilities that are not! my! fault! and then of course that makes internal shit worse so then im just stuck in the middle forced to pretend shit doesnt suck and actually im fine and actually everythings fine keep being "jokingly" mean to me and pushing my boundaries i dont care i get it its actually really okay if you say something to me that most other people i know offline wouldnt consider mean even though i have told you to stop its okay if you dont stop i guess i guess its fine if no one listens to me and i have to sit in miserable silence by myself because i dont even feel like doing anything that any of my ceters enjoy like drawing or our data entry projects or video games or writing and it doesnt matter i guess that im so stressed because since its from an arbitrary authoritative institution everyone is supposedly fine with that makes it totally okay and actually the real problem is me and i guess im the problem and reason why no one wants to talk to me or communicate with me the way i want to be talked to or otherwise communicated with yeah my bad i guess its all my fault and im supposed to just suck it up and stop complaining and also its creepy and wrong and bad i guess for me to try to cope with any of this the way that i want to and i guess yeah i need to and should be keeping it a secret because otherwise ill make everyone else uncomfortable and thats the worst possible outcome btw no person left behind unless its me in which case utilitarianism is always right and we cant give a shit about everyone yk like someone is always going to be miserable but we should prioritize the most people so if i mention kink (ew) or my other interests (ew) im a horrible really bad person actually because im making other people (more important than me. btw) uncomfortable and upset also i should ignore the fact that i am systematically and systemically being isolated from and kept away from people who might actually show understanding and kindness towards me or be in a similar position and extend the kind of support i desperately need but its cool because you keep saying youre only doing that because im "better than them" and actually youre helping me because "those people" are bad and wrong and harmful and they might make me (simultaneously innocent and guilty) do bad things like drugs that might offer a chance to alleviate some of my pain or transition to a bodymind i& want or be angry or just generally be a "bad person" and not be able to participate in the joys of continuing the chain of oppression and harm. but its fine because its for my benefit actually because you frame it as ""those people" have it so hard and theyre so unlucky (because theyre treated like shit by everyone which is true because people's actions are definitely a matter of "luck") and i just want to spare you from that" how kind of you wow youre so sweet and nice to me right now because i havent violated any of your rules yet what a great person you are because you let me be myself to a certain extent (a tiny little eensy-weensy extent but thats fine because its more than i deserve anyway) and since im being invited to participate in the continuation of oppression and pain it would be pretty rude for me to say no and if i did say no it would definitely justify treating me badly and doing all of the things you do to "those people" to me because im technically actually even worse than "those people" because i could have been normal i could have just accepted your rules (that were literally killing me to follow) (not that you noticed)

and also on the other hand the people arguing against you get to use me as their fun little trick-up-their-sleeve because obviously its ridiculous to treat someone like me the way that you have and will and i can be used as a perfect little pawn

[the ceter who wrote this switched out around here, but before they did, it asked that the others of us post this vent anyway if they were unable to finish or post it]

#vent #~ 🥞#~ 💎🚀#we're not entirely sure who wrote it #it was... not wrong though

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technicallylovingcomputer · 1 month ago

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Top Tips for Creating Fully On-Chain SVG NFTs

If you’ve been following the NFT space lately, you’ve probably heard whispers about on-chain SVG NFTs — and for good reason. These aren’t your typical NFTs that rely on external servers or IPFS links that might break someday. We’re talking about digital art that lives entirely on the blockchain, making it truly permanent and decentralized.

As someone who’s been deep in NFT development for years, I can tell you that on-chain SVG NFTs represent the future of digital collectibles. They solve the biggest problem plaguing the NFT space: the risk of your expensive digital art disappearing if a server goes down or a company shuts down.

What Makes On-Chain SVG NFTs So Special?

Picture this: you buy an NFT for thousands of dollars, only to discover months later that the image is just a broken link. Frustrating, right? That’s exactly what on-chain SVG NFTs prevent. These digital assets store everything — the artwork, the metadata, the whole package — directly on the blockchain itself.

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is perfect for this because it’s essentially code that creates images. Unlike JPEGs or PNGs that are huge files, SVG files are incredibly lightweight while still producing crisp, scalable artwork. It’s like having a recipe for your image instead of storing the actual cooked meal.

Why collectors love on-chain NFTs:

Your art can never disappear or be censored

No monthly hosting fees or server maintenance

True ownership without external dependencies

Artwork looks perfect at any size, from tiny thumbnails to billboard displays

Increased confidence in long-term value retention

8 Game-Changing Tips for Creating Amazing On-Chain SVG NFTs

1. Think Like a Minimalist (But Make It Beautiful)

Here’s the thing about blockchain storage — every single character costs money. I learned this the hard way when my first on-chain project cost $50 per mint because I included unnecessary spaces and long descriptions everywhere.

The art of creating successful on-chain NFTs lies in doing more with less. Think of it like haiku poetry — you need to convey maximum impact with minimal words. Remove every unnecessary space, combine similar elements, and be ruthless about what actually needs to be there.

The most successful NFT development projects I’ve seen master this balance between efficiency and beauty. Your collectors won’t see the optimized code, but they’ll definitely appreciate the lower minting costs.

2. Embrace the Magic of Randomness

What makes an NFT collection truly exciting? The surprise element. Nobody wants to mint the same boring image as everyone else. The beauty of NFT development lies in creating systems that generate thousands of unique combinations from a smaller set of traits.

Think about how Pokemon cards work — same basic structure, but endless combinations of creatures, colors, and abilities. Your on-chain SVG NFTs should follow similar principles. Maybe your project features different backgrounds, character types, accessories, and special effects that combine in unexpected ways.

I’ve seen projects where certain trait combinations create entirely new visual effects that weren’t planned by the creator. That’s the magic of generative art — sometimes the algorithm surprises even you.

3. Master the Art of SVG Wizardry

SVG isn’t just about drawing basic shapes. When you really understand its capabilities, you can create artwork that rivals anything made in Photoshop. The difference is that your SVG artwork will look perfect whether someone views it on their phone or projects it on a movie theater screen.

Learn to think in layers and effects. Gradients can create stunning sunsets and cosmic backgrounds. Filters can add depth and atmosphere. Animations can bring your characters to life with subtle movements that make collectors do a double-take.

The most memorable NFT projects I’ve encountered use advanced SVG techniques that create genuine “wow” moments. These aren’t just static images — they’re interactive experiences that reward closer inspection.

4. Design for Every Screen Under the Sun

Your beautiful NFT artwork needs to look amazing everywhere — from the tiny thumbnail in someone’s mobile wallet to the large display on an NFT marketplace. This is where many NFT development projects fail. They optimize for one viewing context and forget about all the others.

I always tell creators to test their artwork at extreme sizes. Make it tiny — can you still tell what it is? Make it huge — does it still look sharp and intentional? Your collectors will view your art in contexts you never imagined, so prepare for everything.

Consider how your artwork appears in different marketplace layouts, wallet interfaces, and social media platforms. Each has different aspect ratios and display requirements.

5. Build Smart Contracts That Actually Make Sense

Your smart contract is the brain of your NFT project. It’s what generates the unique combinations, handles the minting process, and creates the metadata that marketplaces use to display your collection.

Think of your smart contract like the engine of a car. Collectors don’t need to understand how it works, but if it’s poorly designed, everyone will notice when things go wrong. Gas fees will be too high, minting will be slow, or worse — the whole thing might break under pressure.

The best NFT development approaches focus on creating contracts that are efficient, secure, and flexible enough to handle unexpected situations. You want something that works smoothly whether one person is minting or a thousand people are trying to mint simultaneously.

6. Create Rarity That Actually Matters

Here’s a controversial opinion: most NFT projects get rarity completely wrong. They create arbitrary percentages without thinking about what makes certain traits actually desirable or interesting.

Real rarity isn’t just about making something appear 1% of the time. It’s about creating traits that tell stories, evoke emotions, or unlock special experiences. Maybe your rare trait isn’t just a different color — maybe it’s an entirely different art style, or it comes with special abilities, or it references something meaningful to your community.

I’ve seen projects where the “common” traits are actually more visually appealing than the rare ones. That’s a design failure. Your rarity system should reward collectors who get lucky, not punish them with ugly combinations.

7. Write Metadata That Tells a Story

Metadata is your NFT’s resume. It’s how marketplaces categorize your collection, how collectors search for specific traits, and how your project presents itself to the world.

But metadata can be so much more than just “Background: Blue, Hat: Baseball Cap.” The most engaging NFT projects use metadata to build lore, create personality, and give each NFT its own identity.

Instead of just listing traits, consider adding flavor text, backstories, or even stats that suggest gameplay possibilities. Make collectors feel like they’re adopting a character, not just buying a picture.

8. Test Everything (And Then Test It Again)

The NFT space moves fast, and platforms change their requirements constantly. What works perfectly on OpenSea today might display weirdly on LooksRare tomorrow. Different wallets handle SVGs differently. Mobile apps have their own quirks.

I can’t stress this enough — test your NFTs everywhere before launch. Mint a few on testnets and view them across different marketplaces, wallets, and devices. Check how they look on both iOS and Android. Make sure they display correctly in Twitter preview cards and Discord embeds.

The most embarrassing thing in NFT development is launching a collection only to discover that half your audience can’t see the artwork properly. Trust me, I’ve been there.

The Human Side of NFT Development

Creating successful on-chain NFTs isn’t just about technical excellence — it’s about building genuine connections with collectors and creating art that resonates emotionally.

Building Community Before Launch

The most successful NFT projects I’ve worked with start building their community months before minting begins. They share the creative process, explain their technical innovations, and make collectors feel like part of the journey.

Don’t just announce your project and expect people to care. Show them why on-chain storage matters. Explain how your generative system works. Share the stories behind your character designs. Make them invested in your success before they ever spend a dollar.

Staying Connected After Launch

Launch day isn’t the finish line — it’s the starting line. Your collectors are now stakeholders in your project’s success. Keep them engaged with regular updates, behind-the-scenes content, and future roadmap developments.

The NFT projects that maintain their value over time are the ones that continue providing value to their holders long after the initial mint. This might mean building utilities, creating new artwork, or simply maintaining an active and engaged community.

What’s Next for On-Chain NFT Development?

The future of NFTs is clearly moving toward full on-chain storage. As blockchain technology becomes more efficient and storage costs decrease, we’ll see more projects choosing permanence over convenience.

Emerging trends to watch:

Layer 2 solutions making on-chain storage more affordable for everyone

Cross-chain compatibility allowing NFTs to work across different blockchains

Interactive elements that respond to wallet interactions or real-world events

AI integration creating personalized variations based on collector preferences

Utility integration where NFTs serve practical purposes beyond just looking pretty

The projects that succeed in this new landscape will be those that combine technical innovation with genuine artistic vision and strong community building.

Your Next Steps in NFT Development

Ready to create your own on-chain SVG NFT project? Start by learning SVG basics and experimenting with simple generative concepts. You don’t need to be a coding expert, but understanding the fundamentals will help you communicate with developers and make better creative decisions.

Focus on creating art that takes advantage of SVG’s unique properties — scalability, small file sizes, and dynamic possibilities. Think about what stories you want to tell and what kind of community you want to build.

Most importantly, remember that successful NFT development is about creating genuine value for collectors. Whether that’s through stunning artwork, innovative technology, or strong community experiences, always put your collectors first.

The on-chain NFT space is still young, which means there’s tremendous opportunity for creators who understand both the technical possibilities and the human elements that make digital collectibles truly special.

#mobile game development #gaming #multiplayer games #metaverse #blockchain #nft #game #unity game development #vr games

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snowbellewells · 8 months ago

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@jrob64 Oh wow! This story just keeps getting better. Season two as a whole - particularly the back half of it - has never been my favorite in canon, but you are really adding a lot to this segment you’re dealing with that makes it much more compelling. For one thing, you’re letting people actually deal with their past actions and their current feelings, and not convoluting it with nonsensical plot twists and extraneous, unneeded characters. Hook telling Neal the truth about his mother’s death, and then Emma telling him they were NOT ever getting back together and why, were enough on their own to make this chapter great, honestly.

Anyway, all that being said, I loved how, at the start of the chapter, Hook’s take on NYC was so realistic and relatable. It would be so much overload for someone from his time and place - it’s a lot even for a modern person not from there! And not all of its hustle, bustle, and modernity would look positive either. I loved though, how he was able to find a calmer spot and then how he was almost able to “sense” Emma. That was beautifully done! 🩷 “When he finally found a large plot of grass and trees, he wandered through it until he spotted a bench in a somewhat quiet area. Sitting down, he closed his eyes and pictured Emma. Ever since he first laid eyes on her from his position underneath a pile of bodies, he felt a connection with her that he really couldn’t explain. It was as if he could tell when she was near, simply by thinking about her. She was like a magnet, drawing him to her.

The longer he sat there, the clearer his mind became. When he was compelled to start walking again, he seemed to have some indication of which way to go. Before long, he was standing outside what appeared to be a residential building. He went into the lobby, but found it empty. Looking around, he discovered a small bench along the wall beside the door and settled down on it to wait.”

There were so many other wonderfully written, really memorable moments in this one!! But I’ll try to highlight at least a few. You wrote Hook catching up to Gold and his speech as he sinks his Dreamshade-laced hook home SO vividly. It was perfect - how he was so close to seeing his son, and how Belle was back in Storybrooke waiting, but that was for Milah and his mission was complete. Really, really effective!! ❤️⚓️❤️

His moment telling Neal the truth was so intense and emotional too. Neal didn’t want to believe him, and yet, he knew his father well enough that he kinda had to. Not only that, but you then balanced the ensuing conversation Neal had with a dying Gold so well too. Though that conversation back in SB between Neal and Gold is one moment of 2b’s canon I do really like, I could easily see it going this way as well. Neal does have so much unresolved anger and trauma with his father and in the end, Gold really would still choose his power, even over his loved ones - as we continued to see in canon when he survived. This allows for so hard truth and realizations to be aired in a way the show never fully did.

And Hook having them lay Gold right there on the spot on the deck where Milah died?!? Talk about poetic justice! He might have been convinced by Emma to let Gold onboard and try to get them back to Storybrooke, but he’s at least going to have to lie there and think about what he did.

I also loved Emma speaking to him about Milah’s loss and his hand. Her understanding just why he has carried this dark mission for so long, and her sympathy for the pain he has suffered was really effecting.

And then, my favorite part came right at the end, where we see just what his new mission, his new reason to keep going will be: “The first time he laid eyes on her, he was struck by her beauty. As he spent more time around her, he admired her fire and determination. Most people who held a knife to his throat would have found themselves on the pointy end of his sword. Then she chained him up in the lair of a giant. Yet he felt himself inexplicably drawn to her.

“I can’t take a chance that I’m wrong about you.”

“…As the Jolly Roger sailed silently toward Storybrooke, Hook contemplated what he would do now that his quest for revenge was finally over. He had no family and no home, other than his ship. He had already sailed to numerous realms and seen almost everything the world had to offer. Nothing held any appeal for him.

Except Emma Swan.”

Wow!! That was just gorgeous!!! I surely can’t wait to see what chapter three will hold now!!!

❤️⚓️❤️⚓️❤️⚓️❤️

Exacting His Revenge - Chapter 2

Welcome to chapter 2 of @kmomof4's birthday story. There will be one more chapter after this, and because the birthday girl has requested smut for that chapter, the story is now rated M. I haven't begun writing the final chapter yet, but hopefully you won't have to wait too long.

Thanks so much to @hookedmom, my wonderful beta and friend.

Story Summary: When Hook sees an opportunity to finally get his revenge on Rumplestiltskin, he seizes it, putting him in the company of Emma Swan. A season 2 canon divergent story.

Rating: M

Words (Ch. 2): 6076

Posted on Tumblr - Chap. 1 and also on ffn & Ao3

Story under the cut

Hook had been to many ports in his hundreds of years, but none as crazy and disconcerting as New York City. The people at the harbor seemed especially interested in his ship and he almost decided against leaving it there, but knew time was of the essence.

The city itself was loud, dirty and obnoxiously colorful. Bright lights flashed everywhere around him and huge signs displayed pictures of everything from barely clad women to bottles of whiskey.

People walking past barely paid attention to him, even though he saw no one else dressed, even remotely, like him. However, their attire was vastly diverse and he supposed he really didn’t stand out any more than anyone else.

At first, he was overwhelmed with the tall buildings and massive size of the city and nearly despaired at finding Emma. Taking deep breaths of the stale, putrid air failed to calm him, so he sought a place where he wasn’t surrounded by buildings that seemed to stretch as high as the beanstalk he and Emma climbed.

When he finally found a large plot of grass and trees, he wandered through it until he spotted a bench in a somewhat quiet area. Sitting down, he closed his eyes and pictured Emma. Ever since he first laid eyes on her from his position underneath a pile of bodies, he felt a connection with her that he really couldn’t explain. It was as if he could tell when she was near, simply by thinking about her. She was like a magnet, drawing him to her.

Numerous people came and went while he waited, none of them paying any attention to the leather clad pirate. He was beginning to think his intuition was wrong, when he heard a familiar voice and saw Emma and Rumplestiltskin entering the lobby.

“...still can’t believe you screamed about wanting to be the first one off the plane until you got yourself placed on the ‘no fly’ list, Gold. How are we supposed to get back to Storybrooke now?”

“I can get us back with a mere flick of…”

“We’re in the fucking land without magic!” Emma hissed.

“We’ll worry about the problem of getting back later. Right now, I need to find my son.”

They were so caught up in their conversation, neither of them noticed Hook. As they searched for something on the wall, he bided his time. He hadn’t prepared his hook with the poison yet and he didn’t want to do it while they were standing right in front of him.

“I bet this is it,” Emma said. “It’s the only one without a name. I know from experience that when a person doesn’t want to be found, they won’t put their name beside their apartment number.”

She pushed the button beside the number and waited. There was no response. She was getting ready to press it again when a heavyset woman with her hands full of shopping bags entered the lobby. Rudely pushing past Emma and Gold, she dropped the bags that were in her right hand, dug in the pocket of her gaudily flowered dress and withdrew a key. After unlocking the metal gate, she collected her bags and passed through.

Quickly, Emma stopped the gate from closing and gestured for Gold to go through ahead of her. Hook watched their slow progress up the stairs, waited until they disappeared, then pulled the bottle of poison out of his pocket. Before he had a chance to uncork it, a man entered the lobby. Something about him seemed familiar to Hook and he studied the man as he unlocked the gate, entered, then hurried up the steps.

Hook was so busy trying to place the man, he forgot to get his hook ready to attack Rumplestiltskin. He was further distracted by feet pounding down the stairs. The man who had just gone upstairs plunged back down them, burst through the gate and took off out the door.

“Go get him, Miss Swan!” Hook heard Rumplestiltskin shouting. “I can’t run, so you have to catch him. Get him to come back here and talk to me!”

As Emma flew past Hook, red scarf trailing behind her, he realized why the man she was chasing looked familiar. It was Baelfire!

Thinking quickly, Hook dashed across the lobby and caught the gate with his hook before it slammed shut. He knew he didn’t have much time if Rumplestiltskin was on his way downstairs, but after listening carefully for several seconds, he was able to determine the crocodile wasn’t following Emma.

As he uncorked the poison, he grinned at the irony. The day Rumplestiltskin found his son again was the day he was finally going to die. After dousing his hook with the deadly poison, he stuffed the empty bottle back into his pocket. Then he began creeping up the stairs, keeping his eyes and ears open for any sign of the vile imp.

When he reached the second floor, he moved down the hallway, listening at each door along the way. Behind some, he heard music or conversation, while others were completely silent. He knew the man he sought could be in any of those apartments, but Hook had a feeling he wasn’t.

Continuing on to the next floor, he immediately noticed an open door at the far end of the hallway. Sucking in a breath, he started in that direction, pondering if he could possibly be lucky enough for that to be the right place.

Once he reached the doorway, he peeked around the open door and saw Rumplestiltskin leaning out the window, looking down at the street below. Hook swiftly covered the space between them, grabbing the other man’s arm and spinning him around.

“Tick tock, Crocodile,” he growled, then sunk the tip of his hook into Rumplestiltskin’s chest.

Gold let out a choked cry, dropping his cane to clutch at the metal appendage. “You…you cannot kill the Dark One,” he gasped.

“Ah, but dreamshade straight to the heart can,” Hook leered. As Gold’s eyes widened and filled with fear, Hook continued, “Now, as you die, you can think about how very close you came to seeing your son again. The one you abandoned because you chose power instead. And you can think of Belle, back in Storybrooke, waiting for you to come home. I told you all demons could be killed and it looks like I did indeed find a way.”

Yanking the hook out of his victim, Hook gave him a slight push and watched with satisfaction as he slumped to the floor. “Milah’s death is finally avenged. I’m sated, replete. My life’s purpose is met,” he said savagely, his face mere inches from Rumplestiltskin’s.

Then he straightened up, turned, and triumphantly walked out the door.

*********

It took Hook longer than expected to make it back to his ship. When he finally did, he was appalled to find that he owed docking fees and they wouldn’t take doubloons as payment. By the time he worked out a deal with the harbormaster to send the money once he got home (which he had no intention of doing) the sun was beginning to set.

He readied the ship to sail, trying to keep his mind off of the fact that he may never see the lovely and fiery Emma Swan again. Just as he was set to instruct the dock workers to untie the ropes, he glanced across the bow of the ship and his mouth dropped open in shock.

He could see Emma and Baelfire were approaching the Jolly Roger. They were half carrying, half dragging Rumplestiltskin between them. As they started up the gangplank, Hook moved to block the opening in the ship’s railing. “Where do you think you’re going?” he boomed.

Emma and Bae looked up at him in surprise. “Hook? You’re here?” she asked.

“Where did you expect me to be? This is my ship after all. How did you know it was going to be here?”

“We took a chance,” Baelfire answered. “My father said it was you who stabbed him. We figured you sailed to New York and hoped you hadn’t left yet.”

“When we saw the ship, we thought you may have gotten lost on your way back here or something,” Emma said. “Neal said he could sail the ship back to Storybrooke, but now that you’re here, you can do it.”

Hook widened his stance and crossed his arms over his chest. “The bloody crocodile isn’t coming aboard my ship.”

“Hook, please,” Emma begged. “He says he has a cure for dreamshade in his shop…”

“Why would I want him to be cured?” Hook interrupted. “I intended to kill him. I’m not going to do anything that will help him survive.”

“You owe me, Hook,” Baelfire snarled. “You already took my mother from me and now you’re trying to take my father, too.”

“And my son’s grandfather,” Emma added.

“Your son’s…How?” Hook asked, but as soon as he did, the pieces clicked into place. “Wait, you mean the two of you…?” He gestured between Baelfire and Emma.

“Can we discuss this aboard the ship?” Emma asked, hoisting Gold’s limp form up a little higher. “We don’t have a lot of time.”

Hook remained slackjawed for another few moments, before his countenance darkened once again. “I told you I’m refusing his admittance onto my ship.”

Emma gave Baelfire a meaningful look, then disentangled herself from Gold, leaving his son to keep him upright. She hurried up the ramp to stand in front of Hook.

“Look, I know you hate the guy and I don’t blame you, but Henry has the right to know Gold is his grandfather. Plus, Neal is Henry’s father and he deserves a chance to meet him.”

“Neal?” Hook questioned.

“That’s how I knew him, not as Baelfire. He took a more modern name in the land without magic.”

“How did the two of you…”

“I’ll explain everything to you later, but first we need to get back to Storybrooke. Personally, I don’t care if Gold lives or dies, but since it turns out he’s Henry’s grandfather, I’ve got to do all I can to try to help him survive.”

Hook’s jaw ticked furiously, but before he could protest again, Emma stepped closer. Looking deeply into his eyes, she pleaded, “Please, Hook. Do it for me?”

Hook narrowed his eyes and stared at her for several long moments. “What’s in it for me?” he finally asked.

Emma sighed heavily. “Can’t you just do it out of the goodness of your heart?”

“I’m a pirate, Love. I have no goodness in my heart.”

“I don’t believe that, Hook. You helped me and Mary Margaret get back to Storybrooke and you can’t convince me it was only because you wanted to get your revenge.”

“Emma! Hurry up!” Baelfire called.

She turned to look at him, then turned back to Hook. “If you get us back to Storybrooke, I’ll…I’ll make sure everyone knows you’re a hero.”

Hook blinked in disbelief. “A hero?”

“Yeah. Like I said, you brought the rightful queen back to her people.”

“I also shot the town librarian.”

“True, but if Gold dies, they’ll be able to overlook that. Everyone in town hates him.”

“I’m bringing him aboard, Hook!” Bae yelled, his voice strained from holding his father up.

“Please, Hook,” Emma begged again.

He reached out and captured a lock of her hair between his thumb and fingers. “I’ll allow him aboard on one condition.” Emma raised a brow, silently encouraging him to continue. “You join me for dinner on the Jolly Roger once we’re back.”

“Seriously?”

“You’re asking me to bring my worst enemy onto my beloved ship and sail him to Storybrooke in an effort to save his life - the life I’ve been trying to take for hundreds of years. One dinner with me isn’t too much to ask, is it?”

Emma glanced between him and the men on the dock. Then she seemed to deflate a bit. “Fine. I’ll have dinner with you.”

Hook watched her walk back down the gangplank and help Baelfire maneuver Rumplestiltskin up to the ship, swallowing down his malice with every step they took. When they got the injured man aboard and began making their way to the hatch which led down to the living quarters, Hook quickly stepped in front of them.

“I may have been forced to allow him on my ship, but he will not be given the luxury of being in my quarters, or even those of my crew,” he growled menacingly.

“Where are we supposed to put him then?” Emma asked, breathing hard from the exertion of hauling the man around.

Hook walked over to the starboard side of the ship. “There,” he said, pointing to a specific place on the wooden deck.

Giving him a quizzical look, Emma helped Neal lower Gold down to the designated area. While they helped the man get as comfortable as possible, Hook went about sailing the ship out of port.

Once they were out on the open sea, Emma climbed the steps to where Hook was standing behind the wheel. “Is there any way you can make this ship go faster? If we don’t get back to Storybrooke very soon, it’s going to be too late.”

“Our speed is dependent on the wind. I can’t control that.”

Emma looked thoughtful. “I wonder if I could.”

Hook narrowed his eyes. “Are you thinking of using your magic?”

“You have magic, Ems?” Baelfire asked incredulously, taking them both by surprise. Neither had heard him approaching.

Emma sighed and turned toward him. “Yeah, it seems the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming somehow has the ability of performing magic.”

“How did you figure that out?”

“When the evil queen’s mother tried to pull my heart out of my chest to crush it, she couldn’t. Apparently it was because I have magic inside me.”

Neal laughed humorlessly. “You expect me to believe that?”

Hook moved to stand beside Emma. “It’s true. I saw it myself.”

The other man crossed his arms over his chest. “It doesn’t mean Emma has magic. Maybe it just means pulling a person’s heart out isn’t possible.”

“It bloody well is possible,” Hook growled. “I watched your father do it to…” He stopped short, suddenly realizing what he was about to say.

“To who, Hook?” Baelfire challenged.

Hook set his jaw, determined to set the record straight at last. “To your mother. That’s how she died. Your father” he spat, pointing to the man writhing in pain on the lower deck, “reached into her chest, pulled out her heart and crushed it right in front of me. She died in that very spot. That’s why I had you lay him there, to remind him of the horribly despicable act he committed.”

“You’re lying,” Baelfire said through clenched teeth. “He told me pirates killed her.”

“That’s the thing about the Dark One,” Hook shot back. “Dark One lies. Dark One tricks. The truth is, Milah and I loved each other and she was miserable with him, so she ran off with me. He couldn’t stand the fact that she left him, so he killed her.”

Baelfire’s face lost all color. “Is that true?”

Hook’s eyes softened, seeing the boy he once took care of within the man. “Aye, and I’ve been seeking my revenge ever since. I tried to tell you when you were a lad…”

“But you can’t deny that you took her away from me,” Baelfire accused.

Hook dropped his head and swallowed. “Not a day went by that she didn’t miss you and talk about you. We always planned to go back to get you when you were a bit older and better able to live aboard the ship, but she..she was killed before we could do it.”

The two men fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Emma looked between them, then cleared her throat. “Do you, uh…do you want me to try using magic…”

“No!” Neal shouted, making her jump. “Look, I don’t know if you have magic or not, but even if you do, I don’t want you to use it.”

Emma gaped at him. “But your father may die!”

“Let him die. He’s destroyed countless lives and killed so many people. Now it’s his turn. You reap what you sow,” Bae said bitterly, then he turned and walked to the port side of the ship, completely ignoring his father’s weak pleas.

Emma turned to look at Hook. “I, um…I understand now.”

“Understand what, Love?”

“Why you sought revenge against Gold for so long. Is that what Cora intended to do to me? Tear out my heart and crush it?”

“If I remember correctly,” Hook said, sauntering toward her, “she meant to rip out your mother’s heart to present it to Regina. You simply got in her way.”

Emma mulled that over for a few moments. Finally, she looked up at him, sincere sympathy shining in her eyes. “I’m sorry about Milah, Hook. That must have been very painful to watch.”

He sighed. “Aye, it was. Even the pain from him cutting off my hand didn’t hurt as badly as seeing the light go out of her eyes as life left her body.”

Her head snapped up. “He…he cut off your hand after he killed her?”

Hook nodded grimly, subconsciously rubbing his hand over the curve of his hook.

“That explains why you call him ‘crocodile’.”

His brow raised in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“You know, like in the book Peter Pan, when Pan cuts off Captain Hook’s hand and feeds it to the crocodile.”

“That book is a work of fiction. Pan is a demon, but he had nothing to do with me losing my hand. However, I am intrigued that my fame is so widespread that I’ve been written as a character in a novel.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “So why do you call Gold the crocodile, then?”

“When he’s in his true form as the Dark One, his skin is scaly and greenish-gray, like the cold-blooded reptile he is.”

She hummed in understanding, then turned her eyes to the deck. Neal was leaning on the ship’s railing, his back turned toward his father. His jaw was clenched tightly and that, combined with the way he agitatedly rubbed his hands together, clearly conveyed his anger.

On the other side of the ship, Gold lay on his side, one hand clutching the wound in his chest, while the other stretched toward Baelfire futilely. Emma could see his lips moving, mouthing the words, “Please, Bae” over and over.

With a quick glance at Hook, Emma went down the steps and over to Neal. Hook didn’t follow, but couldn’t help himself from listening to the conversation. Years of being on the sea allowed him the knowledge that sound carried on the water and most private conversations were anything but private.

“Don’t you think you should go over and talk to him?” Emma asked. “If you don’t and he dies, you’ll probably regret it for the rest of your life.”

Baelfire shrugged indifferently. “I haven’t talked to him for years and I don’t regret it. I could have lived the rest of my life without seeing him again and I wouldn’t regret it.”

“You can’t know that for sure…”

He whirled around, his face contorted in anger. “He fucking killed my mother, Emma! Then he lied about what happened to her and went on living his pathetic life as the fucking Dark One! He chose being the Dark One over being a father to me! I owe him nothing!”

Hook felt a twinge of jealousy as Emma laid her hand on Bae’s shoulder. “This is your last chance, Neal. Ask him why he made those decisions. The man is dying. He may be ready to confess and cleanse his conscience.”

“He wouldn’t be able to cleanse his conscience if he had an eternity,” Baelfire spat.

“Then at least tell him how you feel. Make him understand how much he hurt you. I…I did that with my mom and it helped me deal with my feelings of abandonment.”

Bae glanced over to where his father lay in agony. Hook could tell he was contemplating what Emma said. Finally, he blew out a long breath, gave her a grim smile and patted her hand where it still rested on his shoulder. Then he slowly crossed the deck and lowered himself to sit beside Rumplestiltskin.

After following his movements, Hook looked back at Emma. She was standing with her arms crossed, watching the scene unfolding on the other side of the ship. She must have felt his gaze on her, because her eyes shifted to him for a brief moment, before flicking back. Hook reluctantly turned his attention to the two men.

Father and son sat without speaking for several tense moments. When Baelfire finally broke the silence, it was through gritted teeth. “I’m going to ask you some questions and I want you to do something you rarely do and tell the truth. Agreed?”

“Bae…”

“Agreed?” Baelfire asked again, barely containing his rage.

Rumplestiltskin sighed. “Yes, son.”

“How did my mother die? Did you kill her?”

“You have to understand…”

“Did. You. Kill. Her?” Baelfire bit out.

Rumplestiltskin closed his eyes. “Yes.”

Baelfire clenched his hands into fists. “By tearing out her heart and crushing it?”

“Yes, but she…”

“Save it! Nothing she did was bad enough for her to deserve that kind of death.” Bae pushed himself to his feet and paced back and forth beside his prone father. “Did you kill her before or after you refused to follow me through the portal?”

“After. I was…” He sucked in a sharp breath and clutched at his chest, a wave of pain obviously passing through him. Hook couldn’t help but feel a macabre sense of satisfaction over being the one responsible for the crocodile’s suffering. “I was trying to obtain a magic bean…in an effort to find you. I knew she had one.”

“You planned to find me?”

“Yes. I…I’ve been trying to find you ever since you left.”

“Since I left?” Bae exploded. “You mean since you let me go!”

Rumplestiltskin stretched out a bloodied hand. “Please, son. All I wanted all these years was to be reunited with you. You have to believe me.”

Bae suddenly slammed a fist down on the railing. “How can I believe you? You’re the Dark One! All you do is lie! If you truly wanted to be with me, why didn’t you come through the portal with me in the first place?”

“I was afraid…”

“Afraid of what? Losing your power? Not having magic? What could make you so fearful that you couldn’t even stay with your only son?”

“Bae, I…I wanted to give you everything…”

“I didn’t need everything! I just needed you, Papa!”

“Please…forgive me,” Rumplestiltskin managed to say between labored breaths.

Baelfire studied him for several seconds. “I…I don’t think I can. My whole life has been tainted because of your terrible choices.”

“Bae…please…”

Squatting down beside him, Baelfire looked into his father’s pain-filled eyes. “Let me ask you something. If you could do it all over again, would you still have become the Dark One, or would you have stayed with me, even if it meant being known as the town coward?”

Rumplestiltskin opened his mouth to answer, but seemed to reconsider. When he finally spoke, he said, “I wanted to protect you…and I couldn’t do that…unless people feared me…”

Bae stood up. “That’s all the answer I need. You’ll always choose power over me or anyone else. Now, you’re going to die alone, just like you left me.” With those words, he walked away from his father.

Hook watched Baelfire move to the bow of the ship, then shifted his eyes to the pathetic, sniveling form of the Dark One. He expected to feel nothing but glee over the heartbreak and demise of his nemesis, but to his surprise, he felt a tiny pang of sympathy for him. Hook himself knew what it was like to have Baelfire turn his back on him and walk away.

“Do you think I should talk to him?” Emma asked quietly.

“Baelfire or the crocodile?”

“Bael, um, Neal. Maybe I should try to convince him to give his father another chance. He is dying, after all. It’s the last chance he has to forgive him.”

Hook speared her with an intense look. “He doesn’t deserve forgiveness.”

“I know he’s the Dark One and has done some horrible things, but…”

“That’s correct, and you just heard him tell Bae that, given the chance, he wouldn’t have changed anything.”

“Still…”

“Look, Swan, if you feel sorry for the bloody crocodile, perhaps you should be the one to comfort him in his dying moments. Bae made his choice, and the underworld will freeze over before I give him any sympathy.”

“I understand, but it just seems really sad for him to die all alone on the deck…”

“In the same spot where my Milah died?” Hook growled. “I consider it poetic justice.”

Emma looked back at Gold and chewed her bottom lip. Then, after a quick glance at Hook, she made her way down the steps. Hook watched her go, jaw ticking in agitation.

She knelt down beside the dying man and murmured something Hook couldn’t quite hear. At the groaning acknowledgement of the man, Emma continued in a louder voice. “If we don’t make it back to Storybrooke in time, do you, um, is there anything you want me to tell Belle?”

“Tell her…I wish…I could have…seen her…one last time.”

“Anything else?”

“Thank her…for loving…a beast…like me.”

Emma nodded. Hook could see Rumplestiltskin’s chest rising and falling more shallowly with each breath and knew the end was very near.

“You…and Bae…” Rumplestiltskin gasped. “Do the…two of you…”

Emma’s eyes widened. “If you’re asking if I love him, the answer is no.” Hearing those words, Hook couldn’t help breathing a small sigh of relief.

“But Henry…”

“Today was the first time Neal heard about Henry. He didn’t know I was pregnant when he, um, the last time I saw him.”

The two fell silent and Hook wondered if the crocodile had spoken his final words. Just as he was convinced he had, he heard the man mutter, “Tell…Bae…I’m sorry.”

Before Emma could respond, Rumplestiltskin emitted a rattling breath and went completely still. Emma put two fingers on his throat to feel for a pulse. After a few moments, she announced, “He’s gone.”

At her words, Bae turned and made his way back to his father’s side.

“He told me to tell you he was sorry,” Emma said. “Those were his last words.”

Baelfire shrugged his shoulders. “It’s too little, too late. He had the opportunity to tell me himself, but he didn’t.”

As the two of them stood looking down at him, a swirl of black smoke began rising from his body, causing both of them to jump back.

“What the hell is that?” Emma asked.

“It appears to be the darkness leaving its host,” Hook explained, ambling over to stand beside her.

Her eyes widened. “It…it’s not going to attach itself to one of us, is it?”

They warily watched the haze floating in the air, ducking when it got close to them. After hovering for a while, it drifted away and dissipated.

“Where did it go?” Emma asked. “Is it going in search of the next Dark One?”

“There won’t be another Dark One,” Hook said.

“How could you possibly know that?” Baelfire snapped.

Hook looked at him pointedly. “How is the power passed on?”

“By killing the Dark One with the dagger,” Emma answered.

“Aye, and since the crocodile wasn’t killed with the dagger, the darkness has no one to whom it can attach itself.”

“So it’s just…gone?” Emma inquired skeptically.

“It would appear to be.”

Bae’s eyes shifted from where the darkness disappeared, down to his father’s lifeless form. Squatting down, he brushed some strands of hair away from his forehead. Emma hesitantly reached out to pat him on the shoulder. “I’m sorry, Neal.”

“He wasn’t always a bad father, you know. When I was a little boy, he was the best Papa. But then, the darkness and his thirst for power took over and he…” He hung his head and rubbed his eyes with one hand while the other remained on his father’s forehead. Suddenly, he shouted, “Damn you, Papa! Why wasn’t I enough for you? Why did you have to become the fucking Dark One? Why?”

As sobs wracked his body, Hook and Emma exchanged helpless looks, unsure of what to say or do.

“Bae,” Hook began.

Baelfire jumped to his feet, face contorted in pain and anger. Jabbing a finger into Hook’s chest, he screamed, “NO! Do not say anything! You took both of my parents from me and I hate you!”

“Calm down, Neal,” Emma said.

Neal turned and unleashed his wrath at her. “Are you taking his side? He’s nothing but a selfish, filthy pirate, Ems!”

“I’m not taking anyone’s side, but just a few minutes ago, you made it sound like you couldn’t care less that your father died.”

“That doesn’t take away from the fact that he killed him!” he raged, poking Hook again.

Hook didn’t respond. He understood that Bae had anger he needed to work out. If Hook was the recipient of that anger, he would accept it, as long as he didn’t direct it toward Emma.

“Look,” Emma said forcefully, “we’re gonna have to be on this ship together for quite a while yet, so just try to stay away from each other, alright?”

“Aye, Love,” Hook said. “I think we can do that.”

Baelfire took a step away from Hook and eyed him critically. “Where do you get off calling her ‘love’? Is there something going on between you two?”

“No!” Emma replied quickly. At the same time, Hook poked his tongue into his cheek, before answering, “Perhaps.”

Bae looked from one to the other, eyes squinted and mouth set in a hard line. “Stay away from her, Hook.” Grabbing Emma’s arm, he said, “Come on, Ems. Let’s go below deck.” Before she could respond, he started toward the hatch, yanking forcefully on her arm.

She planted her feet and tried unsuccessfully to pull out of his grip. “I don’t want to, Neal. I’m going to stay up here.”

“With him? You can’t do that. He’s…”

Emma jerked her arm free and glared at him. “Do not tell me what I can and cannot do, Neal! I’m no longer a teenage girl that you can manipulate. I may have helped you with your father, but don’t get the idea that I have feelings for you any more or that we have any chance of getting back together. I’m older and much, much wiser now.”

Hook watched Baelfire’s expression change from anger to confusion. “But you said we have a son…”

“We do, but that doesn’t mean that we’re going to be a family! You set me up for your stupid crime then abandoned me, so I had him while I was in jail and had to give him up for adoption. He managed to find me last year and talked me into going to Storybrooke, the cursed town created by Regina, who is the Evil Queen and his adoptive mother.”

Hook’s brows raised. That bit of information was news to him.

“You let the Evil Queen adopt my son?” Bae shouted.

Emma’s expression became furious. “Let her? I didn’t let her do anything! I didn’t know who was adopting my baby! I had no idea a fairytale world even existed where I’m the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming…”

“For real?” Bae interrupted. “They really are your parents?”

“Yeah, which makes them Henry’s grandparents along with Rumplestiltskin, and his step-great grandmother, the Evil Queen, is also his adoptive mother. If you tell me you’re actually the big, bad wolf - which would be very easy for me to believe, by the way - his family tree will be complete.”

Hook couldn’t help but smirk at her statement, but sobered the next moment when he realized that Milah was also the boy’s grandmother.

“I already told you why I had to leave you, Ems,” Neal said, his tone almost pleading.

“Oh, that’s right. Pinocchio told you he knew who you were, so rather than face your father, you decided to let me take the fall. It seems being a coward is a hereditary thing.”

“That’s not fair. You don’t know what it was like having the Dark One as my father. I was forced to make that choice…”

Emma took an aggressive step forward, her finger pointed in Baelfire’s face. “You told me you loved me! We could have had a good life together with our son!”

“We still can, now that the curse is broken and my father is gone.”

Emma turned her back, folding her arms over her chest. “It’s too late, Neal. I don’t love you any more. Maybe it would be better if Hook turned the ship around and took you back to New York.”

“I want to meet my son and bury my father. Besides, I would never let you sail back to Storybrooke all by yourself with that pirate.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “I just flew to New York with the Dark One. I think I could handle Hook.”

Hook pressed his lips together to keep from smiling at her words. She had proven more than once that his assessment of her being a tough lass was accurate.

“Emma…” Bae began.

She whirled around to face him again. “Look, Neal. Just because we’re on this ship together until we get to Storybrooke doesn’t mean we have to talk to each other. I’ve said all I want to say. Now, I’m gonna go over there,” she said, pointing to the other side of the ship, “and you can go…wherever you want to go, as long as it’s nowhere near me.” With that, she stomped away.

Hook turned and climbed the steps up to the helm. Standing behind the ship’s wheel, he watched Bae find a piece of canvas to lay over his father’s body. Then he sat down on the deck beside it and unabashedly stared at Emma, who was standing with her back to him, gazing out at the waves.

Hook’s eyes were also drawn to the blonde spitfire, her hair whipping in the wind. He could tell she was still angry by the way she stood stiff and straight. Knowing she couldn’t see him, he continued to observe her openly.

The first time he laid eyes on her, he was struck by her beauty. As he spent more time around her, he admired her fire and determination. Most people who held a knife to his throat would have found themselves on the pointy end of his sword. Then she chained him up in the lair of a giant. Yet he felt himself inexplicably drawn to her.

“I can’t take a chance that I’m wrong about you.”

He had plenty of time to think about that statement after she left him there. It gave him a strange feeling of hope that perhaps she thought of him as more than just a thieving, murderous pirate. Perhaps it was possible for her to see the good and honorable man still underneath all of his leather and bravado.

As the Jolly Roger sailed silently toward Storybrooke, Hook contemplated what he would do now that his quest for revenge was finally over. He had no family and no home, other than his ship. He had already sailed to numerous realms and seen almost everything the world had to offer. Nothing held any appeal for him.

Except Emma Swan.

That’s the moment he made the decision to stay in Storybrooke and try to win her heart.

*********

Thanks for reading!

@qualitycoffeethings @grimmswan @cs-rylie @wyntereyez @kmomof4

@hookedmom @ultraluckycatnd @paradiselady19 @xarandomdreamx @motherkatereloyshipper

@lfh1226-linda @pawshapedheart @vampcoffeegyrl23 @tiganasummertree @bluewildcatfanatic

@eleveneitherway @elfiola @kday426 @julieenchanted-swans @gingerchangeling

@andiirivera @djlbg @jonesfandomfanatic @snowbellewells @anmylica

@booksteaandtoomuchtv @cocohook38 @ilovemesomekillianjones @zaharadessert @lyssapup27

@undercaffinatednightmare @winterbaby89 @jennjenn615 @xsajx @jackieorioncat

@teamhook @soniccat @jarienn972 @softkilly @kymbersmith-90

@apiratewhopines @hollyethecurious @laianely @resident-of-storybrooke @exhaustedpirate

@caught-in-the-filter @stahlop @veryverynotgoodwrites @darkshadow7 @fleurdepetite

@whimsicallyenchantedrose @earanemith @superchocovian @idristardis @captainswan-kellie

@beckettj @killihan-jones

#exacting his revenge #jrob64 #chapter two #birthday fic for krystal #ouat season 2 canon divergent #ouat fanfiction #csff #major cs fic rec ❤️⚓️❤️#such a talented shipmate ⚓️🩷⚓️

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annoyinglyobsessive · 2 years ago

Text

It was the first day of school at a new school. God this was my worst nightmare. It's hard to make friends when you’re shy, much harder to make friends who will accept that you’re nonbinary and respect your pronouns. But what can you do? I just had to make it through the day and then I could cuddle up with a warm blanket and a wholesome romance novel. I walked into the office where there were about five other new students. We would all be assigned a person from our grade to show us around.

I sat down and dropped my bag hoping desperately that whoever I got assigned to was friendly. This could be my only chance at making friends. There was no way in hell that I was going to “put myself out there” as my parents said I should do. There was no way I could risk doing something wrong and embarrassing myself.

Just then into the room walked the two most gorgeous people I had ever seen in my life. They were tall, much taller than me, altho that wasn't hard considering I was 5 foot nothing and usually the youngest in my grade. I had started school early which meant I was usually at least a year younger than everyone else. Just one more reason not to draw attention to myself.

There was one masculine person and one more feminine person (presumably a girl and a boy, but I didn't want to make assumptions) the masculine one was wearing a ripped tie-dye teeshirt and ripped blue jeans. He has blond messy hair and small silver stud earrings. He also had what appeared to be a black tattoo peaking out under his shirt.

The feminine one was wearing black cargo pants with a chain looped around it and a tight black cropped shirt. It definitely wasn't within the dress code but no one in the office gave her trouble for it. She had a black tattoo along her side and a few piercings on her ears. Her hair was a short black wolf cut. She was muscular too. Not in a buff way but in a lean way. She looked like she could outrun a bear and also rip me in half.

“We’re here to pick up one of the newbies”

the masculine one said and I could see that he had a tongue stud.

“Ah right,” said the lady. “You two have that one”

she said pointing right at me. Holy shit. The most attractive people I had ever seen, were assigned to show me around. ME.

“Hi,” the feminine one said, walking over to me. “Im Alex, I use she/her pronouns and this is Julian he uses he/him.

Wow, I had never heard someone introduce themselves with pronouns. Did this mean they would respect mine?

“Um hi,” I said softly. “Nice to meet you. I'm Sage, I use they/them pronouns, I guess.”

“Cool,” Julian said before turning to Alex. “Let's give them the grand tour then. Where do you want to start?”

“Let's show them their dorm first. Do you know which dorm you're in?” this last part was directed at me.

“Umm, it says on my paper hold on,” I said grabbing the paper out of my bag. “Uhh, where is it? oh there, dorm 347.”

“Oh that's just a few dorms down from ours,” Julian said as we started walking. “Each person has their own dorm and there's not supposed to be anyone in your dorm after eight”

“But since we are quiet and do well in our classes they let us share a dorm.” Alex cut in. “it also helps that he's trans and can't really get me pregnant. The staff don't care as much”

“Wait so you guys are dating?” I said slightly disappointed.

“Oh yeah, we forgot to mention that didn't we?” Julian said. “Yeah, Alex and I have been dating for almost two years now.”

“Oh that's cool,” I said, trying not to let disappointment into my voice.

We eventually got to my dorm and I dropped off my bag. Then they showed me their dorm before snatching my class sheet and taking me to all of the classes on it. After that, they showed me the cafeteria and the large open field at the back of the school. Then they took me to a small secluded corner behind one of the buildings created by a few trees and a dip in the ground.

“This is where we go when we need some space.” Julian said, “No one knows where it is other than the three of us, and it's a nice spot to hang out. Feel free to come here whenever you need.”

“Why are you showing me this?” I asked, “you barely even know me.”

“Yeah but we have a good feeling about you,” alex said tapping my lightly on the head. “Besides queers are hard to come by at the school. We got to stick together.”

“You guys are queer?”

“Yep, we’re both bi and im trans,” Julian said

“Oh cool. Um im actually bi too.”

Alex looked at Julian and something passed between them.

“Well even more reason to like you” alex said with a smile. “Now come on we need to show you the rest of the campus” she said standing up and reaching for my hand.

I grabbed her hand and she pulled me up of the ground effortlessly. If this new school doesnt kill me than these rediculously hot friends i made just might.

I was walking with Alex down one of the halls in between the buildings. The past couple months the three of us had gotten closer and i had learned to ignore my massive crush on them. It was the middle of the day and Julian was in class and so me and alex were alone. we had decided to take a walk around the campus to pass some time. I was rambling away about something inconsequential when all of a sudden i was violenty shoved against the wall. I cut off what i was saying as i looked up at alex who had grabbed my wrists and was now pinning them to the wall on either side of my head.

“A-alex what are you doing?” i asked confused as fuck.

“Im sorry i just couldnt resist.” she leaned her head down next to my ear. “You’re so cute when you ramble”

Alex leand down and kissed my neck softly.

W-what, i- uh- what about Julian?” i asked trying to figure out what the heck was going on.

“What about me?” said a deep familiar voice. “Oh babe are you having all the fun without me?” Julian asked, wrapping his arms around alex and biting lightly on her earlobe.

Alex turned her head up to look at him not releasing my wrists. “Im sorry love i just coundn’t resist. You know how cute they get when they start rambling.”

“I- what- you-” i said still trying to compute what the heak had just happened.

“You ok darling?” alex said with a smirk. “We can stop if you’d like.”

“NO” i said loudly startling myself. “Um i mean, no. pl-please dont stop. B-but i dont want to go farther than kissing if that makes sense. Im- im actually asexual.”

“Oh thats ok darling we dont have to do anything more. Do you want to just come to our dorm and cuddle? Theres something alex and I want to talk to you about.” Julian said, smiling at me comfortingly.

“Um o-ok”

Julian backed up and alex let go of my wrists and stepped back aswell. I took a step but my legs were shaking so bad that i fell forward. Right into Julians arms.

“Do you need me to carry you baby?” Julian whispered into the hair above my ear.

“N-no im ok” i said trying to push myself out of his arms.

“Are you sure? You look pretty unsteady there.” then without warning he picked me up bridal style.

“Wh- i said im fine!”

“Should i put you down?”

“...No i guess its fine” i said burying my face in his neck and wrapping my arms around him.

“You see what i mean?” alex said looking at Julian. “Theyre fucking adorible.”

Alex grabbed Julians arm and we started walking down the hall toward their room. Thankfully everyone was in class and there was no one in the halls to see us. Once we got to alex and Julians dorm alex opened the door and we walked in. once we were in she closed and locked the door.

Julian walked over and sat down on the bed placing me in his lap with his arms comfortably wrapped around me. Despite my better jusdgment i couldent stop myself from leaning into his warm touch. Alex smiled and sat down on the bed nest to us placing on hand on my thigh.

“So, me and Julian have been talking a lot,” she began.

“And we’ve realized that we're both really into you.” Julian continued.

“So we were wondering if, maybe”

“You would want to date us?”

I was stunned. Like i knew something was going on obviously, im not that oblivious but i was still in shock that these two beautiful people wanted me.

“Were sorry for springing this on you so suddenly,” Julian continued

“And we understand of your not interested.”

“wh-what , no wait, of course i'm interested, i mean you guys are, well your you!” i said, not looking t them. “I just don't get why you would want me.”

“Oh baby, why wouldent we want you?” Julian said nipping my ear with his teeth.

“Your, as you so eloquently said, you,” alex said tilting my chin up to look at her.

“So,” Julian said squeezing my softly, “will you be our partner?”

“Yes of course i will.” i said leaning my face into alexs hand and looking up at her.

“Perfect” she exclaimed, tackling Julian and I and knocking us down onto the bed.

After a bit of maneuvering we all settled down for a quick cat nap before our next classes. As i fell asleep i looked at julian and alex drifting to sleep on either side of me i realised everything was perfect.

#first time posting anything with my ocs #please be nice #polyamourous #trans masc #bisexual #nonbinary #lgbtqia #trans

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