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vxmpdean · 20 days ago

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THE SOFTEST LIGHT

Sam Winchester x Reader

AUTHORS NOTE: Hey Alexa play “Fade Into You” by Mazzy !

WARNINGS: Slice of Life, Fluff, Mention of Size Difference (Reader is Shorter than Sam Winchester), Yearning, Stanford!Sam Winchester, Lots of Dialogue in the end lolz

WORD COUNT: 2.5k

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The drive to the coast was quiet, the kind of silence that had weight but no discomfort. The windows were cracked just enough to let that salt air drift in, and the sky hung in its greyness- soft like a hazy memory that was covered by a fog.

Sam didn’t speak much, just glancing at you every once a while, enjoying the way the faint light rays from the sunset painted your face, casting out all your features he adored so much.

You inhaled the sweet air, the comforting setting making the body at ease. Everything was good.

This was good.

You leaned back in your seat and gazed out in the distance, watching those waves crash onto shore, the sand darkening the moment the water swam over it. The music played softly from the radio, almost creating a background sound for them to enjoy this moment even more.

You glanced at Sam, silently soaking up his side profile and silent presence. His sleeves pushed up to his elbows, showing his muscular forearm and you forced yourself to look away, feeling your cheeks heat up.

He could feel your eyes on him and he suddenly felt very aware of his presence, feeling more than nervous the longer you held your gaze on him, “Once we unpack everything, let's share a beer and take a walk?”

Sam’s soft spoken voice alone can make your heart melt, just the pleasing sound of it was like a melody that cannot be described in words but feeling.

You looked at him again, nodding and watched the corner of his lips curl into a smile.

God that smile.

At this rate, it was like you yearned for him in ways that it became concerning to feminism.

When you discovered your feelings for Sam, you tried to push it down. It was worthless. It had to be some silly crush…the way his laugh made your stomach twist, or the way he looked down at you with those puppy eyes- fuck you had to stop yourself from thinking too much, and not fanasize about that stupid height of his.

_ _ _ _ _ _

“Sam how in the hell did you fit all this in the trunk?!” You laughed as you looked down at the bags and luggages that tumbled down to the ground. You moved your way through the maze of bags and huffed as you stumbled.

Sam caught you just as quick and pulled you close, his warmth radiating on your skin. His delicious scent drove your mind and thoughts you never knew existed flashed through your head.

Your heart raced at the close contact, wanting nothing more than to just lean in more and melt onto his skin. To feel his skin in ways you never felt before, to feel the way his body moved against yours in such inappropriate ways.

“A man never shares his secrets.” He said with a smile, finally letting you go- and thankfully not hearing the small noise of protest from the lack of warmth from you- as he quickly went over to pick up the bags, linking them one by one on his arm and he grunted his way back to the cabin.

You paused at his statement, frowning, “Isn't it supposed to be ‘a woman who never shares her secrets’?”

He let out a snort and turned towards the cabin, creating the perfect opportunity for you to flip him off. You smirked at the sight, amused and somewhat grateful that you didn’t have to do any of the heavy lifting.

_ _ _ _ _ _

The cabin was perfect.

Perfect from the hand crafted ceilings to the decorative pillows.

The big windows overseeing the grey ocean, the fireplace where its smell linger in every room, and the picture frames decorated in cracked seashells.

“What happens if I put an offer on this cabin?” You breathed out, jumping onto the couch and bounced on the soft cushions with a bright smile on your face.

Sam placed the last bit of bags onto the floor and chuckled, shaking his head in response to your ridiculous question. You grinned at his reaction, finding everything adorable about him- and threw a pillow at his head, laughing out when it hit him square on the face.

“Hey!” He protested.

Just the way his muffled laughter made your heart squeeze- it was too much. Maybe it was a bad idea for the two of you to be alone like this.

For you especially.

Maybe you'll do something you'll regret, like confess your feelings to him that's been gnawing at your chest for god knows how long. That desperate nag to let it all out just so you can hold him in your arms without guilt, or to finally kiss those lips you spent way too much time staring at.

This was almost pathetic.

And embarrassing.

But god, you can’t help it the way your body gravitates towards him, feeding off his smiles and soft looks, and wanting to sink your teeth into his neck to just taste him like a vampire.

Yeah, really pathetic.

All of a sudden it's too hot in this cabin and all you can think about is his lips moving over your skin to your lips and-

“Let's go on that walk hm?” You strained out, giving him a smile too wide and quickly jumped off the couch, making your way to the door without looking back.

“Wow and forget the beer? You're a changed person.” Sam teased, following you without question and shut the door behind him, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he protected himself from the cool salty air.

The water was cold, but it made every part of your body feel alive. Free. Awake. You squealed as new waves came washing by, drowning your feet with its foamy whites and clear blues.

“You’re going to catch a cold.” Sam grumbled, keeping his distance from the water as much as possible, and also keeping an eye on you. Watching your every move as you walked peacefully in the cold water, finding it hypnotizing the way the light breeze pushed back your hair, the soft look on your face as your lips kept forming in smiles whenever the water hit your skin.

You playfully kicked the water in his direction and snorted, “And you’ll be there to make me feel better.”

Sam groaned but couldn't help himself to smile, already creating images on how that would look, seeing you bundled up in one too many blankets, “You suck… the last thing I need is to get sick too.” “I will gladly buy you a hazard suit.” You hummed.

Sam laughed, a hearty sound that sent Cupid's arrows spamming into your heart. You weren't able to stop yourself from laughing along, his laughs are just as contagious as it is addictive.

_ _ _ _ _ _

His jacket.

Raw vanilla.

Sandalwood.

Coffee.

And most importantly, warm.

You didn’t know how to react when Sam offered his jacket, draping it over your shoulders before you could even say anything and quickly started the outdoor fire so he himself wouldn't freeze to death.

It should be illegal how he smells like comfort. Peace. Love. Hope. Stubbornness.

It sounds stupid when you put it into words.

But feeling it is a different story.

Sensing it is a different story.

You watched him silently, sipping on wine, as he grabbed a match, with a flick of the wrist, beheld the tiny spark of fire on the stick and threw it into the pile of woods. The hit of firewood washed over your senses immediately, filling the air soon after with its smog that crawled up into the dark sky.

The smell of firewood was one of your favorites, and today just seemed to hit more different than other times. You weren't sure why. Maybe you enjoyed it more because it mixed in the smell of Sam.

God this is pathetic. You don’t know how many times you said that already.

The crackling of the fire, the ocean waves, the seagulls all drowned out by the long conversations you both had. Some were filled with more laughter than others, some more thoughtful, and some more meaningful, emotional, soft.

You stared at Sam as he went on about his future, what he wants best and some of his worries. You listened, but some parts you zoned out when you followed the shadows that casted on his face from the fire, every now and then the light flickers and more features showed in the hazy light. It was mesmerizing. The way he was patient with you when you didn’t understand something, or the way he smiled and his dimples popped in, or the way he was able to voice out his thoughts so clearly, it was like he was painting a picture for you.

More like you were a painting to Sam.

He liked seeing you in his jacket. In some ways, there is a small part of him that enjoys it because it marks you as his and no one else's. Almost like marking you.

But it's the way you drown in the dark brown material, your eyes bright and clear where you can see every movement through them just as well as wearing glasses. It holds so much emotion and quality that it makes him feel grateful to be able to stare into them long enough before looking stupid.

You looked breathtaking in the light of the fire. The orange haze that shined over your face made every feature reveal itself. And Jesus fucking Christ- it was like falling in love with you again.

It was like realizing he wanted to kiss you more than anything when you guys went on that trip to the Dunes back in Nevada. How he wanted to brush off the sand from your cheeks just to have an excuse to feel your soft skin underneath his fingers.

As the night went on, bottles of wine seemed to go empty faster than usual and laughs were more in the air.

“I forgot how good this feels. Fire, waves, no phone signal… like the world finally shut up for a second.” Sam sighed, bringing the glass to his lips.

“Yeah, it's weirdly nice,” You hummed, placing the cool glass against your flushed cheeks, “I thought I’d hate being this disconnected, but I kind of wish we could live like this.”

Sam chuckled and nodded in agreement before raising an eyebrow at you, “Well, maybe not the part where I saw a raccoon steal our chips.”

You laughed, “Hey! He earned them! Bold little thief. You didn’t even try to stop him.”

“I wasn’t about to wrestle a raccoon, I like my face the way it is.” He grins before going silent for a second, “This place reminds me when I was a kid… those small moments of peace. No plants, just… whatever happened, happened. My dad would drive my brother and I do random wrestling games and… I miss that in some ways.”

You hummed again, smiling softly as he recalled that small memory.

There was a moment of silence, Sam's eyes stayed on the shining stars that panned over the dark sky, and yours was stuck between the fire and Sam.

“I don’t think I’ve felt this calm in a long time.” You said quietly, moving your gaze to the fire before Sam could meet yours, “You always have that effect though.”

Sam tilted his head, making sure he heard that right before fully looking at you, his puppy dog eyes digging into your soul, “What? Making people feel calm?”

“No, just…” You shrugged weakly, “Making me feel okay. Even when everything else feels messy.”

They fell into a quiet pause, Sam’s eyes still on you as you looked away, feeling flustered and fuzzy for saying such things, it almost felt like a confession more than a casual statement.

No more wine for you.

Sam couldn't help but smile faintly, looking down at the red liquid in his glass as he tried to find his words, anything to keep this conversation going to he could hear what's on your mind, What had possessed you to say such thing to him and how he just wanted to kiss your future worries goodbye,

“You know, I still remember the first time we talked, First week of Stanford, that giant lecture hall. You were sitting alone with your headphones in and somehow still looked stressed.”

“Because I was stressed!” You groaned in small protest,” But then you sat next to me and offered me half of your weird, sugar free granola bar.”

Sam rolled his eyes at the last comment, finding it amusing how much of a sweet tooth you can be with particular things. He opened his mouth to respond to that but you managed to beat him first by saying,

“And I thought, “Okay. Maybe I won’t fall apart.””

Sam’s gaze softened and you swear your heart stopped, his eyes were already soft- now they looked kinder, softer… he had to be doing some sort of witchcraft the way your mind seemed to spiral at the sight. “I didn’t know what I was doing either. I just saw you and… I don't know. Something about you made me want to sit down.” He said quietly, the crack of the fire jolting in the background.

“Funny how things stick like that.” You commented even quieter.

God how can you get cuter than this. Sam thought he could fall to his knees and praise the shit out of you to the universe, starting out every reason why you are perfect and why you should be with him.

“And somehow, we’re still here. You and me.”

“You and me.” You repeated back.

Your eyes meet for a second, a soft kind of silence settles, like you guys are both aware of something unspoken just under the surface.

“Have you ever thought about it?” Sam whispered, his voice low and steady, like he was scared to say something wrong, “How close we’ve gotten? What is this?”

It feels like your heart is going to explode, you kept your eyes on his, trying to read his expression the best you can,

“All the time.” You whispered a beat softer, “But I guess I never want to say the wrong thing and mess it up.”

“Me too.”

Another long pause. The seagulls sang while the fire pops, the waves crashing onto shore switches back and forth. The night heat made everything feel more vivid, more alive as the alcohol in your systems seemed to make everything move in slow motion.

Sam shifts, his knee brushing against yours and he inhales sharply.

Neither moved away.

“It feels right,” Sam croaked out, finally breaking the tension, “Being here with you. I don’t know how else to say it.”

“You don’t have to,” You said, leaning closer before grabbing at his collar and pulling him even closer, your breaths mingling in with each other, “I feel it too.”

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

AUTHORS NOTE: Sooo.. did we like this one chat?

What do you think Sam Winchester smells like? I honestly just did these scents because put together they make a yummy warm scent, which suits Sam perfectly with how strong and soft-spoken he is yk?

I am back on the grind of making more stories for you cuties !!

Love you lots ! Stay safe ! Drinks lots of water !

Requests are still open ;)

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bitethedevil · 6 months ago

Note

When Gale become a god how can he sent Raphael to hells? Isn’t Raphael supposed to be powerful? Gods are above ?

A Guide to Gods, Devils, and Raphael

To answer the first part of the question: technically we can send him to the Hells too. If you try to damage Mizora, she just goes back to the Hells. If you kill a devil on the Material Plane, they also return to the Hells. When it comes to the relationship between gods and devils, it’s a bit more complicated and some background knowledge is needed. I’ve written a bit about it here.

I’m going to take this as an opportunity to brush up on some things and collect them in one post. Brace yourself, it’s one of the longer ones.

Gods and Devils

It all starts with the Pact Primeval. I’ve copied some of this from my own post above.

In the beginning of everything, there was chaos. Out of that chaos came the demons (who are not devils). Lawful deities began to fight that chaos but eventually they got tired of it because there were seemingly an endless supply of demons. The gods couldn’t be bothered anymore and created angels to this job for them.

One of those angels was Asmodeus, who is still the top dog in the Hells. He was the shit at killing demons. The trouble was that the more the angels fought the demons, the more traits they came to share with them to fight them more efficiently. They turned ugly and twisted too because the demons they fought were so, and that is why they look like they do now.

The gods then saw how their angels had changed, and they were disgusted by it. They did not want those twisted beings living anywhere near them. They tried to banish Asmodeus and the other angels from the Heavens.

Asmodeus was not having any of that. There came a trial and Asmodeus essentially pointed out that “hey, I actually just did what I was made for, and I did it pretty damn well too. We’ve only dirtied our hands so yours can stay clean. If we are to be lawful beings, then this charge isn’t a fair one”. Asmodeus could “wield the law like a knife” and the deities had to admit that what he was saying was right, so they couldn’t do much.

Eventually, the deities had made intelligent beings (humanoids) and to protect these beings, they made barriers between them and the demons. To their horror, the deities saw that some of the intelligent beings they had so carefully tried to protect, insisted on breaking these barriers and letting demons into their world. The gods were confused and exasperated at this and weren’t sure how to stop them.

That is when Asmodeus comes in with a plan: There should be punishments for those who disobey the gods, or else there will continue to be chaos. So, Asmodeus, Mephistopheles and Dispater (who would all eventually become archdevils), along with the other twisted angels went out and punished the wrong doers.

As these tortured and punished people trickled into the Heavens after their death, the deities were once again disgusted and pulled in Asmodeus to answer for this. They did not want those punished mortals in their realm, so Asmodeus came with another solution: basically, creating the Hells. All he wanted in return was to be able to draw power from the souls of those he punishes, since they (the twisted angels) cannot draw power from the gods while being separated from them

The gods all agreed and signed what would be known as the Pact Primeval which held these terms. The gods then freaked out when they found out that what has now become the devils of the Hells encourage people to do wrong so that they end up in the Hells. When confronted with this by the angry gods, Asmodeus simply smiles and answers: Read the fine print.

And tadaa. The Hells are the Hells and devils are devils, and it had been this way since the Pact Primeval.

The gods are stronger than even the Archdevils, but some devils, like Asmodeus, has grasped at godhood and achieved it, which muddies things a bit. Generally though, devils don’t have much on the gods, but due to being tangled up in being Lawful, the gods can’t do much about what goes on in the Hells. Think of the Hells as a sort of republic that still has beef with the country they came from.

The Hells, Hierachy and True Devils

The Hells is a place where there is a strict hierarchical society. You start out as a Lesser Devil, which is usually lemures (creatures who are globs of stinking flesh that barely has a conciousness) and imps. If you’re good at what you do, you can eventually get promoted to being a Greater Devil, and if you are truly the shit and you stab all the right backs to get there, you can become an archdevil one day.

The process for promotion is pretty gross. With True Devils, they have a bunch of sacs inside them that explode and make them into their new form.

The whole point of bowing and scraping to the ones above you is so that you can get promoted. However, if you screw up, you will get demoted instead. Say that you are a Spined Devil, and you get caught sabotaging the Archdevil you work for: they might pull you down a rank or worse, they will demote you back to being a lemure and you have to start all over again.

If you have made a deal with a devil while alive, you will end up in the Hells when you die as a lemure. Everyone starts at the lowest level when they die.

Raphael and Cambions

Raphael is a cambion, which means that he is half mortal and half-devil, and thus he is not a True Devil. Raphael hasn’t died and gone to the Hells. He was never a lemure (though he might become one if his daddy eats him in your playthrough). He started out as a cambion, and a cambion he will continue to be. Cambions, to my understanding, can’t get promoted or demoted, since they haven’t died or started out as lemures.

Cambions are pretty far down in the hierarchy. They only have their cunning and their ambition to get them anywhere in the Hells. Raphael is essentially suffering from Chihuahua Syndrome, where he acts like a much bigger dog than he is, because the truth is that he doesn’t amount to much in the grand scheme of things and the other bigger and scarier devils barely give him a second glance (sorry pookie).

He has achieved much for a cambion though, and he uses his charm, cunning, and outside sources to achieve all of that. I suspect that the little trick he does with his ascended form is something that takes a lot of souls to achieve and isn’t truly permanent in any way. He is a cambion so his only true forms are the human one and the devil one (yes, the human one is actually not an illusion per Fifth Edition DnD. That is his form too and really him. I learned this recently).

Raphael’s main strong suit is the fact that him being a cambion means that he can go to the Material Plane and collect souls. Not all devils can leave the Hells like that.

So basically…

The gods are above the Archdevils in strength, the Archdevils above the Greater Devils, and the Greater Devils above the Lesser Devils. I think Raphael fits somewhere between just above the lowest of the Lesser Devils but under Greater Devils. It’s no wonder that he wants the Crown of Karsus. He needs all the help he can get to get where he wants to be.

Just imagine how much it sucks though: your dad is a literal archdevil and because your mother is a mortal, everyone else in your surroundings will treat you only slightly better than a damn lemure. Poor little guy.

(Thank you for the ask <3)

#raphael bg3 #raphael the cambion #bg3 raphael #bg3 #baldur's gate 3

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two-white-butterflies · 6 months ago

Text

CHANGED | part two

Description: You have found that there are different types of love. Self-serving ones who grovel when abandoned in pity for themselves. However, there is another greater form of love, one that creates life. What happens when your husband uses you in the creation of the rings?

Pairing: Annatar/Reader reincarnation trope that i am a sucker for

PART ONE || (graphic depictions of violence warning!)

Halbrand reminds you of a thing that you once knew... "You remind me of something," you suddenly blurt out.

He raises an eyebrow, non-verbally asking you to continue.

It happened thousands of years ago when all you knew were the green fields of Valinor — carefully tucked under the guiding hands of your ruined mother, Iellas.

Mother would accompany you in gathering the flowers near the valley, and songs of life would play in the background...You could only see the water from where you stood.

"Back then, I had never seen a ship before. My mother was a follower of Lord Ulmo, and every day, he would request my presence. He'd tell me to sing so the fishes of Yavanna would appear to him. I'd strike up a conversation and ask him questions about ships. I always wanted to see one." You smile at the faint memory.

Halbrand seems to be flooded with memories of his own.

"This is hardly a ship." Halbrand chuckles.

"It floats," you looked around with a smile.

After hours of silence, your eyes suddenly light up at the sight of land — the statue of Ulmo!

Something truly divine is at play here, from being forced to return to the Grey Havens to being caught in a shipwreck and landing in Numenor with a man named Halbrand.

This must be the work of Lord Ulmo.

"Ulmo," Halbrand muses, able to recognize the statue in front of you.

"They are a proud nation of seafarers; I assume that you are not fond of the lord of the seas?" You look at him with a knowing smirk.

"It is him who is not fond of me," he scowls.

"You cannot always blame the Valar for your suffering, Halbrand." Your voice turns soft again, optimistic, and filled with faith. Faith is the thing of the righteous, the pure, the clean. Faith is not for people like him. The men standing guard wave down their raft.

Halbrand does not doubt the power of your presence — he is sure they can see that you are an elf. One of the most powerful elves.

You cross your arms, staring at him from head to heel.

He looks nothing like the well-groomed elves of Lindon. His hair was brown and dry. His clothes are torn, wet, and smelling like the sea. There were scars all over his forearm, presumably stretching across his chest and littering his body with cuts and bruises. He did not have a slender body; he had a strong shoulder and the body of a bull.

A shiver runs down your spine, flashes of a man with auburn hair and sea-green eyes...you try to forget your dreams. They are merely visions that you can see due to your overactive imagination.

This is the real world that you are living in, Artanis, you sharply remind yourself. "Thank you for saving me, Halbrand." You thanked — and as if automatically, you press a kiss to his cheek.

Halbrand stares blankly at the ceiling. It has been a week, and not once has the encounter evaded his mind. His existence has been nothing but a black dread for millennia, but the feeling of your lips on his cheek... brought him back to memories he's fought to stay hidden.

He closes his eyes.

He cannot remember your face.

He has forced himself to forget about your features, your voice, your scent — because it was the very thing that Morgoth used to ruin him. The Dark Lord would make up visions, scenarios in which you are the subject of torture, and it ruined him a thousand times more. The sound of your voice against grating steel, the sound of your voice writhing in pain as your skin is stripped from your body.

It haunted him. It continues to haunt him.

"Mairon, our child will surely adore this bed." You place a hand on the wooden crib, it is littered with paintings of flowers, and a bed made of duck feathers makes it comfortable.

He hears the joy radiating off your voice. You were in the fifth month of your pregnancy, and the child inside of your belly grew by the minute, according to the healers — the child was big and healthy. Growing with all the light that radiated off you and your husband.

"Tell me already. Is it a son or a daughter?" You pleaded, leaning deeper into his embrace.

An amused chuckle escapes his mouth, pressing baby kisses on the crook of your neck. "It does not matter," he whispers.

"Yes, but I have to think of names." You pouted.

He presses a kiss to your lips.

"Artanis or Inglor, whatever shall it be?" He continues to tease.

"Annoying," your eyes narrowed. He laughs again.

He wraps you in a warm embrace, lingering in your presence. He feels utterly blessed to be alive — to have you waiting for him and the promise of a child that shall be a testament to the love you share. Every day is filled with joy and safety, and he knows that tomorrow shall be the same, for today is the same as yesterday.

He takes a deep breath again.

But he feels like something is missing, that life shouldn't be filled with this tranquil feeling of rest — it should have a purpose, should it not? Knowledge, innovation, making things easier.

He breaks free from the embrace.

He looks at you and — he realizes that your face is paler, no longer shining with the light of the two trees.

"Lover," his voice comes out as a whisper. He places both hands on your shoulders; there is no light hidden behind your eyes. "You are Sauron," his ruined name escapes your mouth.

His gaze trails down to your lower body.

Blood pools on the floor, between your thighs.

"...you chose the darkness over your family. You fell into temptation because you are not strong enough to stand against Illuvatar's test." The voice that comes out of your mouth does not sound like your own — your voice sounds like nothing but a cheap impersonation.

"Lover, please." He begged.

"You wish to return to the Grey Havens to seek salvation, but you are not welcome there, you are not welcome anywhere but the dark void that your master is cast-off to." You continued speaking, eyes boring deep into his. "You are ruined, and you will find no salvation."

"Lover," a whisper escapes his mouth before a cacophony of screams leaves him deaf and breathless.

"Halbrand," you place a hand on his sleeping figure, seeing that tears were falling down his irises, staining his cheeks.

He snaps awake — about to hit you, but you stop him with a hand. "Halbrand, are you well?" You asked with a concerned frown.

He looks around in a confused manner, surprised that he was able to sleep, but sleep never does come for a maia like him. It was nothing but a vision, his subconscious fighting against him, eating him alive with guilt. "What are you doing here?" His voice is rough.

"I wanted to speak, the pendant that you were wearing — I remember it to be the emblem of kings," You informed with a gentle gaze.

"It passed down from my father," he looks to the side. He wonders all the ways he can use you to his benefit. "It is a heirloom." Your lips pursed into a thin line. "I am not related to any king," He raises an eyebrow. He wants that idea inside of your head.

"Well, you have the pendant." You made an observation. Your breath is lodged inside of your throat once you realize his...indescribable stare on your face like he wanted to eat you alive or ravage you.

"Even if you are not king, I require a figurehead, a leader that shall guide men." You continued, certain that he'd accept your generous offer. It is not every day that a man becomes King.

"You would make me a King?" He stares again, licking his bottom lips.

"I do not desire to stay here for long. The darkness marches forward, threatening to engulf the realm with rot. Every moon counts, every day that we spend coddled near the fire, their numbers grow. I am asking you to be their leader, my friend. The man that they can look towards as they raise their banners." You carefully honeyed your words.

"My friend?" He opts to focus on the word that you used to describe him. He looks behooved.

"You are my friend now, for you shall help me." You insisted.

He flicks the blanket off his body, rising in his feet, pretending to march in the other direction. "I've found good work here. I'm not returning to that shite sea." Halbrand turns to look away.

His heart stills for a second; there is a small chance that you will deny his offer and find another human to pester. But, he knows that rejection is the best way to strengthen your faith in him — to make his alibi seem believable once cracks of his facade break.

He cannot seem too optimistic. He needs this to be your idea.

"Think about it, Halbrand." You placed a basket on his bed.

Casting him another glance before exiting his chamber.

"Halbrand," your voice floods his senses.

He pretends not to see you, opting to focus on forging a necklace. He had forged this necklace before when he was still in the Grey Havens. Your favorite flowers are roses...he resists the urge to chuckle. He still cannot understand why your favorite flowers are roses.

He finds roses to be boring, but that certainty is also what draws him to you. He used to be certain of your love. He used to be certain that every day would be the same — and that you would choose him regardless of his sins. He thinks about your spirit trapped in another elf's body — or perhaps a human, a hobbit, or a dwarf.

He thinks about you wrapped in the arms of the sun, and suddenly, Sauron turns back into Mairon, and he cannot bear the thought of you in the arms of someone who is not him.

"Halbrand, are you still there?" You wave your hand in front of his face. "What?" His voice comes out harsher than he intended.

You flinch.

"I'm sorry for interrupting you; I was saying that roses are my favorite kind of flowers." You smiled, showing him your dimples.

His grip on the axe loosens. His breath stills, and in this light, your face and smile look much like his wife. He has to manually fight against the urge to reach for your face and litter your lips with kisses.

She is not my wife, he reminds himself. You are merely an elf that he must use to further his position in Middle Earth. "— I'll buy whatever you're crafting, but you must promise to escort me to Middle Earth." You continued once more with your campaign.

A satisfied smile ghosts his face, but it returns to normal before you can notice. "Unless there is someone in Middle Earth that would be greatly offended seeing you in my company," you winked.

A sigh escapes his mouth.

He reminds himself to add more dimension to this Halbrand character. "I have a wife," he looks away, returning to his craft. "All the more reason to return home," you persuaded.

He does not know where home is.

"The gods have taken her." He says, pounding harder on the metal. Your face drops to the floor. You take a step backward. "Oh," your tone sounds apologetic. "I am sorry, Halbrand." You apologized.

A strange feeling enters his heart at the sound of your apology.

You lift your body until you are sitting on the wooden table, feeling the vibrations of the pounding of metals on your thighs. "When I was younger, I used to make up these scenarios inside of my head," you tried to distract him away from the previous subject.

He looks at you, his eyes a little more forgiving, and a smirk is plastered on his face.

"Well, I still make scenarios in my head, but I assure you that they are not as creative as they once were...Remember that story with my aunt and her husband?" You say, avoiding Sauron's name. "Yes," he nods his head, pretending to have no interest in your story.

He grabs one of the fine tools, beginning to create the intricate details of rose petals. "Mother was her closest friend, and she'd tell me stories. She'd say that my aunt is the fairest of Illuvatar's creations because her fea was strong — she was guided by Yavanna. She fell in love with a maia — one of the few of our kind to do so." You smiled, remembering the story of old.

"Mhm," Halbrand continues.

"All was well until Morgoth came and sang discord into Valinor. He took my aunt's husband, tortured him, and taught him the darkest of crafts. Grief made her feel weaker until she could not find happiness even in the Grey Havens." You stared off to the far distance.

As if the scene happened right in front of you.

Halbrand stopped forging in those very seconds, his glare on you was so intense — his eyes were watery with tears, but you were far too carried off in your story to realize.

"Her fea was not enough for her child's spirit to continue...and my cousin faded. My aunt faded, and she begged in the Halls of Mandos to be freed of this world, but she was brought back to us because our souls are chained to this land. Our family came to Lady Yavanna, and she agreed to grant my aunt a new life, so she shall have no memory of her husband — or her child..." Tears fall from your eyes, staining your cheeks.

You turned to look at him, and he looked away, pretending to have been forging the entire time. "You must understand how much this journey means to me, Halbrand. The darkness has already taken too many of my loved ones. It must end," You persuaded.

In your eyes, he knows nothing of the pain that you feel. Your mother, your friends, your aunt...have all been taken by the darkness.

"We are too weak to stop what has been standing for so long," he clears his throat, his emotions seeping deep inside the necklace that he is forging. He caused his own child's demise.

"It can be vanquished, I promise." You nodded.

"Lady Artanis?" a herald peeks through the closed doors of the forge.

"I shall speak to you again, Halbrand." You placed a hand on his shoulder, walking away once more.

"What is it, herald?" he hears your voice fade away.

Halbrand places the necklace on your palms. "What is this?" Your eyes narrowed, lips forming into a smile. "I liked your story yesterday. You can have the necklace, I've never been fond of sparkly things." Halbrand tries his best to sound like a lowborn human male.

"Thank you!" You beam with happiness, quickly attempting to place the necklace on your neck — but you struggle because of your hair.

"Let me help you," he blurts out.

You hand the necklace to him, turning around and waiting until the cold metal is securely on your neck.

He lays it on there, flicking your hair away, hooking the gold metal loops together. His calloused fingers dance against your nape, and he shivers. "It is beautiful; you should not have." You whispered, staring intently at the beautiful details of your new necklace.

It is beautiful, lover, you should not have, he remembers the words that exited your mouth a dozen lifetimes ago.

"You are truly blessed with the skill of forging. This type of detail, I have only ever seen Lord Celebrimbor do it." You complimented him. "My father was a smith before he died of sickness." He lied. His father is Eru Illuvatar — and he is now a disowned son.

"— your speech yesterday was convincing. I have decided to take up your offer." He agrees to your proposal.

"Really!" You beam with joy again, wrapping him in a warm embrace.

"The best news that I have heard the entire week!" You cheer, and the humans around you begin to look at you with raised eyebrows. "Easy, lass." He pats your back.

"I promise that the seas will be forgiving. No more of that raft." You smiled, dragging him away from the city center, entwining your fingers together as you began to lead him to the castle.

----

Halbrand finds himself marching inside the Numenorian library. He needs to read all books written about being born again...although he doubts that any of these humans could have written anything about such a divine topic.

His hands land on a book, its cover feels different, almost familiar. He takes the book off the shelf, landing it on the table in front of him. 'Reincarnation by ___, wife of Arnaur.' He reads the author's name has been scratched off the leather, and to his surprise, there is no table of contents — he must skim through all these pages.

A reincarnated soul does not lose their true identity. It is their soul that is changed, not their heart, Lady Yavanna says. The body that holds their spirit shall suffer dreams of the past and their loved ones...the Valar says they will dream of them, too, until their identity is made known. My daughter has been suffering from these dreams. I find myself dreaming of you, my friend.

Halbrand's eyebrows merged, all the other pages past these were tattered, covered by letters that he recognized as dark speech. He clenches his fist — this book is the only one in the entire world written about reincarnation, and it seems to him that Morgoth got his paws on the author before she was able to finish.

He stares at the cover again. "Wife of Arnaur," he mutters under his breath. The name sounds familiar (and he has been saying familiar a thousand times now.) Arnaur, noble fire. He has said that name before... Who are you, Arnaur?

----

"Are you ready to leave, Hal?" You asked, and he nodded.

He carries your shared bag on his back, not much to carry when you came here, almost wearing nothing. You offered a handshake before boarding the ship, "To vanquish the darkness?" You smiled.

"To vanquish the darkness," he flashes an indescribable smile.

As you turn your back to him, his eyes turn dark.

Middle Earth shall kneel to the might of its dark king, from the ocean to the land, from the moon and to the stars. All shall fear his name.

PART THREE >>

@louiselouve @justmasblack @anakinishotdoe

#annatar x reader #halbrand x reader #sauron x reader #mairon x reader #rings of power

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supahstarrr · 5 months ago

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i love watari nishino, and so i will ramble about obvious things relating to her background and character. insert heart emoji.

the parentification of watari makes me so so sick. can't stop thinking about that despite the strained relationship with her father she continues to reach out to him despite him not replying, just as she constantly reaches out to others in the game even when they don't reply to her. despite the strained relationship with her older brother based on the lack of energy to her and the younger ones, she is willing to hang out with him—which once again mirrors her tendency to reach out to others.

can't stop thinking about her reassuring her siblings that their mother still loves the family despite the constant emotional and physical neglect, as an attempt to ease their and her mind based on the (valid) perceptions of their mother making them feel unloved. its a reminder of how she tries to find reassurance in okazaki's character despite everyone perceiving them based on how they appear—both her mother and okazaki appear as negative uncaring characters yet it's nishino who is able to see and hope of the potential warmth in them that they don't or aren't perceived to show often, despite the negative perceptions from others having some validity to them.

can't stop thinking about her clinging to leadership roles because that is all she is used to, despite it exhausting her. her deciding to give herself responsibilities revolving around tending to others, despite those kind of responsibilities being forced onto her at a young age. she creates a dance team, and as leader she's the one looking for solutions for problems that risk the existence of her team *all while* constantly tending to her family.

notably her difficulties with the lack of control is what weighs her down, making her prone to being one of the weakest characters in the investigations and trials. this leads her to gravitate to the idea of being a leader.

i can't stop thinking about how the killing game allows her to play with a leadership role, which is something she cannot do while being a leader at home and for her dance team. through playing with the "headmaster" role, she tries to reinforce the false sense of normalcy for both her (that is leadership, tending to others and school) and others (that is school). its an attempt of finding comfort while grappling with the lack of control she's not used to, while also allowing her to be within a "leadership" role that doesn't require much commitment in contrast to being a leader for her family and dance team—thus being an interesting case of (very loosely) reclaiming leadership.

then okazaki takes advantage of watari's role. okazaki takes advantage of watari's "leadership" by utilizing the "privileges" they're given as "hall patrol" for the sake of committing murder. this give more layers to the tragedy that is watari and okazaki's dynamic, as this mirrors how watari's family members (mother, older brother and father) take advantage of watari's role as the primary caregiver so they don't have to put care into the family. watari's tendency to step up for others being taken advantaged by others is a norm for her, and yet okazaki contributed to that normalcy despite the validity to watari's "leadership" being more questionable. watari's attempt to mimic normalcy for the sake of her comfort and others just... became so sad.

i can't stop thinking about how her persistence and dedication leads her to giving energy to people despite them not giving it back the same. and i can't stop thinking about her hope for others.

#spoilers #sunny's thoughts #watari nishino #scared to use main tags but ghuhguognjg #tetro danganronpa pink #ill recheck the post later to see if i have to edit it more. sorry for any typos or grammar issues or possible incoherent stuff #constantly giving watari sloppy wet kisses on her forehead because she needs to be comforted...#honestly im still processing all of this because i found all of the info about her family late which is why #im still shocked about this and just need to ramble guijhgo. her background certainly adds so so so much to her

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is-today-tomorrow-in-nz · 2 months ago

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the reason i cannot excuse the darkling’s crimes is because he has no loyalty to his people. sure, everything he did was to create a better, safer world for grisha, and he did a lot of good things for them, but how many grisha did he kill because they didn’t agree with his methods? how many innocent children did he sacrifice because they were pawns in his plan? how many otkazat’sya that also wanted a better world for grisha did he kill or try to kill because, at the end of the day, his goals were not to make the world safer for grisha, it was to make a world where grisha were the rulers of society and everyone else was left to suffer

Hey,

Thank you for your ask. You're entitled to your opinions and I'm truly not trying to change your perspective here. You liking the Darkling is your prerogative. However, many of your points here seem to be conflating with the modern, post WW era with established institutes and bodies of governance to keep the governments in check and it's not your fault for thinking that way. The book claims to be in a historic setting but it has serious modern tones that it throws off the readers.

So let me give a quick background before I jump in. First, the story is set based on 19th century feudal Russia with an absolute monarchy. An absolute monarchy means there are no checks and balances. The government is run based on the whims of the king. You can have the king's favor one day and the next day, he can very well order you to be thrown into the dungeon or order your beheading without a trial. Bloodlines matter; your position and your influence in court are the only things that can save you or allow you to do whatever good you wish to do. So alliances matter and anyone who is not your ally is your enemy and a threat. And a coup is the only way to go if you want a regime change.

Now let me paint a picture of the lives of Grisha from the books. In Demon in the woods, we learn that not just Fjerda and Shu Han but Ravka itself was not safe to the Grisha. So the Grisha were scattered and they had to live and learn their craft in hiding and had no one to advocate for them because they were killed on sight. Time jump to 500-700yrs in the future, the Grisha now have a place to call home, have food in their bellies and have a place to practise their gifts without being killed. Does that mean, they are free? Nope. They're essentially serfs and they have earn their keep by serving in the frontlines or serving in noble family homes. They're not real citizens and cannot own lands. The're still treated poorly by otkazatsyas who were quick to turn on them and kill them in their sleep or sham trials when the chance presented(book 2). Also with the advent of technology they might soon make them obsolete. So the deal Aleksander struck up with the Lanstovs to spare Grisha lives in exchange for servitude is on a timer.

With that out of the way, let me breakdown your accusations:

You claim that the Darkling was disloyal to his people and I disagree with it completely. He was nothing but loyal to his Grisha and he has proved it time and time again.

He started as a nobody in the Demon in the woods and ended up building a palace for the people who once were forced to live in caves and woods. You think that's an easy achievement for a man who was born not only without a noble bloodline(probably in 12th or 13th century) but was also a Shadow Summoner who even Grishas are weary of? You cannot dismiss that as a 'sure he did a lot of good things for Grisha.' because without him taking that initiation, there would have been no Grisha. They would have been hunted to extinction.

In Book 1, we see how the Grisha are well fed, protected in keftas, have better living conditions and supplies than otkazatsya because Aleksander, as a General of the Second Army made sure that his people are taken care of unlike the corrupt First Army Generals. Even through Alina's POV we see how his soldiers love and respect him.

In Book 2, the Darkling survived but so did Ivan and a few others. He did not create the shadow monsters to protect himself alone, did he? He did not abandon his people, he took them to safety. Is that not a sign of loyalty?

In Book 3, he literally uses merzost over and over again, so he could spare the Grisha lives being killed in frontlines. Is that not a sign of loyalty?

You said 'how many Grisha did he kill because they didn't agree with his methods?' And how many people did he kill? Did he go around on a killing spree because he woke up with a crimp in his neck? Or did he used the Cut on his people because his tea was tepid?

This is again a talking point I often see amongst Anti-darkling. You take a canon event of him punishing the Grisha who chose Alina and talk about it as if that's how he normally treats all his opposers when there is no proof of it happening outside of the event. And I see this happening only to the Darkling. None of you anti-darkling folks seem to call Nikolai a rape-apologist although canonically that is who he truly is. Weird how double standards work eh?🙄

Anyhow, coming back, how do you think defectors are treated in military? A google search will show you even today defectors and deserters are killed in leiu of punishment across all the world armies without exceptions. Not just the defectors, even those who harbour them are punished. That's how war time crimes are treated. The Grisha who chose Alina forfeited his protection when they chose sides and cannot expect his loyalty afterwards. Loyalty is a two-way street.

Next you claim he killed innocent children as his pawn. Again where is the proof? When did he kill children? He took the grishenka and hid them elsewhere to deceive Alina. He never harmed them.

If you're meaning it in the context of him 'taking' Grisha children from their 'parents' as morally wrong then you must not understand the concept of x-men or why Charles Xavier uses cerebro to find mutant children.

Or if you're thinking of Genya and treating it as a standard for all then I suggest you read my other post.

You also claim he killed otkazatsya who wanted a better world. Again, where.is.the.proof? You're taking the grishaverse and treating it through the modern lens of oppression and allyship. The 19th century people were not well-read or educated. The majority of the people clung to religion and believed whatever was taught to them by their priests. Alina herself believed that the Darklings were born without souls. That's how common ignorance was. Even the final climax of Zoya destroying the Fjerdans and getting accepted by all people was not done as an acknowledgement of the Grisha genocide. The acceptance happened because they otkazatsya started believing in saints. So whatever allyship you're imagining never existed in the first place.

And your final claim was that the Darkling wanted a world where Grisha were rulers. I'm not gonna lie, I actually laughed out loud reading it. You've never read the books, have you? The fifth chapter of book 1 itself refutes your claim and gives you the answers you seek. And if he truly thought so less of otkazatsya why was his oprichniki only consisting of them? It was the oprichniki who stood with him through thick and thin and bravely fought off the palace guards when they attacked the Little palace, ensuring that the Grisha had a chance to escape.

If you're going to believe the anti-darkling rhetoric then I suggest you atleast do it after reading the books ( s&b, s&s, r&r, the Tailor and the demon in the woods). I also suggest you to read historic accounts on how 19th century was and why coup was the only solution Aleksander had. The anti-darkling crowd is an echo chamber and they do nothing but scream about how the Darkling should have done better without truly understanding the books or history of the oppression of marginalized communities. So if you're going to continue there, I hope you're intellectually equipped to see through their trauma dump and form your own opinions.

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ssr-archives · 7 months ago

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We Know Her Value

Celebrating Ten Years of Agent Carter

In January 2015, Peggy Carter did something no other female Marvel characters have done at the time: headlining her own show. She strutted onto our screens, knocked out some bad guys with a stapler, and told us to call her “agent”.

In the years since, Peggy, her friends, and the fandom have gone through a lot. We’ve seen the show get cancelled, and Peggy returning, Jarvis returning, Daniel Sousa returning. We tried to #SaveAgentCarter, we held fic exchanges, we cosplayed and Disneybounded, and we created zines. Despite the show’s premature end, these characters stayed in our hearts, and we made sure no one could forget them.

Agent Carter will turn 10 in January 2025. To mark this milestone, I am super excited to collaborate with @peggynet to launch We Know Her Value: Celebrating Ten Years of Agent Carter. Starting from 6th January 2025, the anniversary of the show’s premiere, we will be hosting ten themed days to celebrate ten years of our favourite show. You can join by picking a theme, making a post on that theme, and post it on the theme day. Tag me (@ssrarchives) or @peggynet, and add the tag #AgentCarterTurns10. Your works can be as simple or as elaborate as you like!

I can’t wait to celebrate this momentous anniversary with all of you! Under ‘Read More’, you will find the themes for the ten different days. Hope to see you all then! And if you have any questions, just drop me a line in the ask box or the DMs.

Day 1: Favourite Character

The show has presented us with a whole host of amazing characters, from Peggy to lab rats and background agents. So…who is your favourite?

Day 2: Favourite Episode

Agent Carter packed a lot into 18 episodes: fights, spy shenanigans, musical numbers, engagements, kisses. Which episode is your favourite?

Day 3: Favourite Ship

We cannot talk about Agent Carter without talking about the ships, especially not when the cast happily fanned our fandom flames. Whether you are headcanoning any two or three to be passionately involved, or you have the one true friendship that does it for you, what is your favourite relationship on the show?

Day 4: Favourite Scene/Arc

From Peggy threatening a fellow diner with a fork, to Daniel flopping his five-episode relationship, Agent Carter packed many interesting scenes and arcs into the overall spy shenanigans. Do any of these scenes or arcs stand out to you?

Day 5: Favourite Cast/Crew Moment

Time to look behind the scenes! Once the episodes were over, the cast and crew kept the party going, from the Stark Jar to on-set pranks to the legendary Dubsmash War. Do you have a favourite cast/crew moment?

Day 6: Into the Multiverse

Even though the show was cancelled in 2016, that was not the last we saw of Peggy and her team. Peggy herself returned over and over again, eventually becoming one of the few mortals privy to the knowledge of Loki and the Sacred Timeline tree. Jarvis returned in Avengers: Endgame, becoming the first Marvel character to debut on TV and move on to a movie appearance. Even Daniel made a return in Agents of SHIELD Season 7. Which of these cameos were your favourite? Who do you want to see in future MCU projects?

Day 7: Containment Breach

There is a life for everyone outside of murder gases and space goop. Since the end of Agent Carter, the cast and crew continue to entertain us with excellent projects. From Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning to Resident Alien to The Merry Gentlemen, we have definitely not seen the last of our favourite agents. Have you watched any of these? Do you have a favourite? Do they inspire any AUs?

Day 8: Favourite Fanfic

What is Agent Carter without its fandom? From SSR Confidential to Agent Carter Zine, from fandom-defining multi-chapter behemoths to short and sweet ficlets, the fic writers have not been resting at all. This is your chance to shout out your favourite fics!

Day 9: Favourite Fanart

Artists we haven’t forgotten you! The Agent Carter fandom is home to many talented artists who have graced our dashboards with everything from sketches to whole comics. Let’s share our appreciation by naming our favourite fanart/artist! (Please do not repost artwork unless you have consent from the artists. Otherwise, please reblog or link to the original artwork. Let’s make sure that the artists get the notes and credits they deserve.)

Day 10: Free Day

There is way more going on in the Agent Carter show and fandom for us to cover in one week, so like the title says, take this day to highlight whatever you want! The show’s costume and makeup? Meta writers? Peggy cosplays and Disneybounds? As long as it is Agent Carter-related, you can post about it!

#agent carter #AgentCarterTurns10 #marvel's agent carter #mcu #peggy carter #mod speaks #agent carter renaissance

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vitaminseetarot · 14 days ago

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Strawberry Full Moon Zodiac Reading 🍓🌕🌺

*･ﾟ✧Masterlist | *･ﾟ✧Ko-Fi

Hey y'all, I'm back with another reading! This time, I'm going to be looking into collective readings for the four elemental groups of the zodiac over this full moon period.

I am still in progress with the Nostalgia Pick a Card series as I've been enjoying it a lot, but I've also wanted to start another series that involves more general collective readings outside of pacs. It's not just about doing fresh new stuff on my blog, it's also because I've started a new job and have just now managed to find a schedule that actually works, cause for the last two weeks training has had me running ragged! I want to make sure that in between work I'm still posting stuff regularly, even when it's not always the long form content.

This post will cover the next two weeks after this Strawberry Full Moon, so please enjoy this zodiac reading however you like, whether you're reading for your Sun, Moon, or Rising signs. You can use whatever sign and chart system you prefer, but my background with astrology is mainly tropical placidus for anyone curious.

Fire Signs - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius 🔥 Earth Signs - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn 🌸 Air Signs - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius 💨 Water Signs - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces 💧

Fire Signs - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius 🔥

Fire:Ancestor:Star, Conjunction - Alliance, 10 of Wands, 4 of Swords; Algol - Defense and Alliance; "I am a compassionate and understanding being."

Hey fire signs! The word "alliance" has shown up twice in your reading, and it's not really a common word to get twice! This reading will likely be more spiritual than the other piles because I'm feeling so much activity from the other side. This could be your actual ancestors reaching out to you, or it could be spirit guides or deities you work with. Externally, this could be a large group or community of people you network with. Either way, you will be working closely with this group over this next fortnight.

This could be a group you already have been working with for quite some time, as the 10 of Wands represents a completion of spending energy. From the looks of it, you've spent all that you could to make everything function. The overwhelming advice here is to rest, rest, rest, fire signs! You have a lot of energy to make dreams a reality but your gas tank doesn't run on infinite mileage. There could be two factions here: one group that is sucking away at your reserves, and another group that wants to help you get better. It could be your spirit guides chiming in to remind you to remember yourself in between the commotion of the collective ocean. It's important to lean on the side of those who wish you wellness at this time.

"Algol" means "pain", and where the suffix -algia, "pain condition", originates. If you're not careful with your body and vitality, it could run up some kind of deficit in the coming weeks. Make sure to take time out to rest, specifically away from whatever group or network is creating this stress and sleep debt. I get that you have the power to walk away from this if you wanted to, so that this may be something you deeply care about and feel protective over. But it's okay to take a step back and feel right in your own self before helping out the rest for once. You cannot do the flapping for them, fire signs. I feel the need to reiterate again and again that you are fiery, and that taking time off will not extinguish the flame but make it burn stronger. Your care for your community is laudable, and this full moon period will give you the chance to lend that same warmth inwards.

"Protect yourself from those who do not wish you well, yet offer your help to those who most need it."

Earth Signs - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn 🌸

Land:Flower:Star, 3rd House - Communication, Ace of Swords, 3 of Cups; Aldirah - Glorification and Invocation; "I deeply and completely love and accept myself."

How's it going, earth signs? This is going to be a rather social time for you, even if you're the type to want to cozy up at home. I hear you'll be "blossoming" or opening up to others in a way you may not be used to. I'm also feeling a bit of blushing in the cheeks… the good kind of blushing! It seems some of you who have graduated or just got out of school have been feeling the extra attention and eyes on you and your progress. You could be trying out a new look that gets a lot of comments, like new nails or clothing style.

Maybe you're not used to the commentary or the events going on, maybe you're not used to feeling the validation of quiet hard work being completed. But I get that others are praising you for how you are growing and changing. If it's not school, people are noticing you glowing up overall and it's giving off the energy of openness. Your energy is having a charm effect on people, earth signs, so let yourselves loose and enjoy the company. It's not always about doing the next thing. Even Tauruses need this reminder about the power of inertia: if it's hard to start, it can equally be hard to stop. So let yourself stop and smell the flowers of your own achievements. Put your graduation bouquet in a nice vase and put it on display, try out that new shirt at the party.

This full moon period could grant you some insights into what it means to receive love and the sense of reward for doing good. No matter what the results were, there's an energy here that wants to warmly allow you to indulge in being congratulated. You may gather some small revelations over the power of being able to receive a genuine compliment from people, even strangers. Even if you believe you could have done more, or did better, you're realizing that validating the good vibes that others give you creates positive feedback. People like it when you thank them for admiring you, people want more heart-centered relationships and interactions. It's just that many of us get awkward and close up and create false impressions. But deep down humans enjoy being recognized, and embracing that in yourself with self-love will extend to your social circle in ripples.

"Success is determined by your mindset, treat your journey with patience."

Air Signs - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius 💨

Sky:Snow:Star, Capricorn - Achieve, Queen of Cups, 8 of Pentacles; Alichil - Guardianship and Protection; "I am grounded, grateful, and feel protected in this world."

Hi, air signs! It looks like you'll be very work and career focused over the next two weeks. Your elemental energy card looks like a threshold to a dreamier world, and it feels like your ambitions are tied with your soul and emotions like you're working on something you deeply care about. This is going to be a positive time for you if you were looking to get more productive, as the Queen of Cups softens the perfectionistic tendencies of the 8 of Pentacles. This is a sustainable kind of energy, not the kind that blasts rapid fire through projects, but steadily carves and polishes an image away as it was meant to be finished.

Some of you may have been a little worried regarding a security of some kind. I'm seeing interviews a lot here, as the portal signifies stepping into something new. So you may be spending some time wondering if you got the position or scholarship. My grandmother is Capricorn and often would tell me "if you've done all you can do, then stop thinking about it." In other words, anxiety can only get you so far, air signs. There is no need to fret over how things are going to go if you have already completed your tasks. There's an earthy energy here to let you land on your feet and perch for a change, to feel stillness and peace in the midst of all this striving and conquering.

The Queen of Cups reminds us that even when we're working hard, taking a moment to sip water can be like a break in itself. The tiniest things you do for self-care's sake will not go in vain in helping you reach the next pinnacle. It might not get you there faster, but there's something to take from the tortoise's race here. Affirm to yourself that what is truly meant for you will work out for you. The word "protection" shows up twice in your reading to clarify that your intentions are protected at this time. This full moon period will allow the right things to fall into place without the need to move harder and do overtime in order to fulfill them. You don't need to exert so much to prove to your guides that you're worthy for the next adventure. The mountain waits behind the queen for whenever she's ready to make her dreams real.

"Do not fear to lose what you already have, your heart is a guardian, and your soul the brightest star."

Water Signs - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces 💧

Water:River:Earth, Libra - Balance, 2 of Wands, 9 of Cups; Algebha - Strength and Benevolence; "Love is my guiding truth and I follow it."

Hello there water signs. Over this full moon you will be encountering a win-win situation in your life. Something that was previously serving as a blockage will now pass through and the result will almost be better than if that influence wasn't there. It's like if you couldn't find the dress you were looking for at the boutique, but you found something that looked and fit even better, so you end up happier for it. The outcome is worth the steps it took to get there as whatever is manifested will balance any given area of your life. If something has felt off kilter in your life, some of it should straighten out over the coming weeks.

Collaboration plays a big role in your reading, with the two streams of water wrapping around the tree. There could be someone in your life facilitating you in whatever you're figuring out. They will be supportive and encouraging, and they will listen to your concerns with interest. If you have some kind of scheduling conflict, for example, whoever this is (like a manager, for example) will help work with you to make a good compromise in your schedule. If you need help with carpool, there may be someone who will coordinate with you to find a fair solution.

The important thing is that you are listening to your own inner truth in asking for what you want. Others may not know exactly what you need, so it's important to voice out your struggles when they arise. You will find that more people are happy to help you than you may think. I feel a self-denying energy in this pile, as I got caught in multiple distractions before doing your reading and when I uploaded your picture, it came out blurrier than the others at first. It's like you're saying "I'm fine, I'll figure it out on my own," when there is support here for you, including support from spirit guides. When you're honest about what you need, then other people can meet you halfway. Remember that with many great things, it takes two, and spirit wants you to recognize your inner truth and the sacred boundaries you create to honor that truth. Boundaries are to be expressed, not hidden. So don't be afraid to ask for support as things will likely turn out for the better when you accept and empower yourself through teamwork.

"Speak your truth and unleash your soul, listen to the roar of your own heart."

This reading has not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or infection. Please ask your physician before going online.

2025, @VitaminseeTarot ™

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atamascolily · 11 months ago

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Having examined the first half of Homura's transformation sequence (the external), I thought I'd continue with the second half (the internal). This is a very dense scene full of symbolism I don't fully understand, but I'll give it my best shot.

First up, the spool of pink thread falling through the void. This has appeared several times earlier in the film, in keeping with the whole "threads of fate" imagery, not to mention Homulilly's sewing theme and Homura's own issues with karmic destiny in general (which is inherently linked to Madoka, hence the color).

To me, the background looks like an eye, but admittedly, it's a little abstract and there could be other stuff going on here.

The thread falls past Homura as she is floating in a field of red and yellow "oil drops"

I didn't notice it until the Rebellion Production Note pointed it out but Homura literally has stars in her eyes in this shot. Cosmic!

The thread keeps spinning, but I can't tell if it's winding or unwinding at all because it moves so fast.

Note that the same circles in the background appear elsewhere in the film, most notably in the curtains of Homura's umbrella in the finale.

Homura's pose here also mirrors that of Madoka when she becomes a concept, although notably there is only one Homura here vs. a whole host of Madokas:

Homura then bites down on her soul gem and it cracks... and there's a blink and you'll miss it shot of her intact original soul gem inside!

The circles then move about and form a line, which the thread hits and transforms into the Dark Orb:

The Rebellion Production Note has this to say about the Dark Orb in this scene:

If I'm reading this right, the first caption says, "It's like a perfume bottle", (香水ビン) and the second caption reads, "Contains pink light (Madoka)" [ピンク光まどか) with an arrow pointing to the glowing circle at the center.

So, uh, yeah, in answer to my earlier question, it sure looks like Homura does have access to the Law of Cycles (Madoka) in some capacity, because it's at the core of her reformed Soul Gem--and given the confluence between inside and outside, this is also a model for Homura's universe, as the two are no longer separate from each other.

(I mean, this could be a metaphor for how Homura's love powers the universe and not actually Madoka's powers as the Law of Cycles, but the show has always made its metaphors literal in the past, I don't know why they'd stop now.)

The wings wrapped around the orb didn't make it into the final cut, but after some deliberation, they ended up attached to the salamander that represents Homura instead, because it is a fusion between them.

If you've ever wondered why this sigil was only visible in this shot, it's because it's actually on the bottom of the orb, according to the Production Note, which is why the surface is flat and not curved.

Silverstorm79 pointed out to me that the "dark" part is a cage around the "orb" and I had to go sit down for a while because the symbolism was a little too much even for me. There was also some discussion about whether this makes them literal soulmates now, and I just.... can't even.... Everything in the Rebellion Production Book has to be taken with a grain of salt because a lot of its contents never made it into the final film, but damn if Inu Curry wasn't thinking about it here.

Madoka is also the "heart" of the universe/soul gem--all of which literally exists/was created for her sake. I wonder if this has the side effect of giving her even more karmic destiny/potential than she previously had... and if, so, what would she do with it.

There's a lot in this scene that is still opaque to me (once again I wish SHAFT had been a little less esoteric with their symbolism!!!), but Dark Orb is more complex than I had initially assumed, not to mention representative of both Homura and her new universe. This suggests that changing the universe will require personal transformation on her part; one cannot be accomplished without the other. Going to have to go back and look at the other sections on the Dark Orb in light of these new revelations and see what else I can find about it.

#puella magi madoka magica #madoka rebellion #pmmm analysis #rebellion production note

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puckpocketed · 4 months ago

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[ID: Monochromatic digital painting. A fake Yu-Gi-Oh card design for San Jose Barracuda/Sharks player Daniil Gushchin. It consists of three boxes; one for the title, the card art, and the card description.

The card name reads “GOOSH”, the card type is denoted by a tiny San Jose Sharks logo. It is a 6-star card, indicated by the stars stacked between the title and art boxes. The art box is an anime-style bust portrait of Gushchin in his Barracuda jersey holding a knife in his teeth. An anime starburst obscures his right eye. He makes a mischievous expression at the viewer. The card background is a tiled pattern of goose silhouettes, a reference to “Untitled Goose Game”, a video game in which the player takes control of a goose and causes problems on purpose.

The card description box reads: [SHARKUDA / EFFECT] This card cannot be Normal Summoned unless the [PRESEASON] or [TRADE DEADLINE] spell cards are in play. If there are seven or more [SHARK] cards in your graveyard, this card may be Call Up Summoned.

*Once per turn activate one of three effects:

CHOOSE VIOLENCE: create and play the [SCRUM] spell card.

PUCK LUCK: create one [SCORING CHANCE] spell card in your hand and one [HIT THE POST/ CROSSBAR] trap card in your opponent’s hand.

THE GOOSE IS LOOSE: automatically activate this effect after five turns. Play your heart out. Work and work and work to get your shot. Your opponent gains a [REASSIGN] trap card.

The card description box is divided with a line near the bottom. Text reads: SKILL / 5000 - WILL / 8000 - SIZE / 900. /. End ID.]

my piece for @18minutemajor for the Sharkudablr Gift Exchange <3 Your art inspires me every single day and particularly gave me the kick I needed to start practicing my ink/line art + anime style again. The rationale behind this piece was I remember you had a giggle at my Wekky trap card doodle + we both appreciate Goosh very much. I hope you like this, I had so much fun designing and writing it!

GLOSSARY:

[PRESEASON] Spell card: Given to the player who takes their turn first. No units may engage in battle until this card has been played. For six turns, Prospect/Hybrid units may be Normal Summoned.

[TRADE DEADLINE] Spell card: This card is mandatory for every deck in the [STANDARD NHL FORMAT]. This card must be played within 10 turns of being drawn. For the rest of the game, all [TRADE] effects can no longer be activated. Prospect units may be Call Up Summoned. Once played, all [TRADE DEADLINE] cards transform into [SHIFT CHANGE] cards.

[SHIFT CHANGE] spell card: exchange any unit in play for a unit in hand. Units in hand recalled by [SHIFT CHANGE] may not be Normal Summoned for 3 turns.

[SCRUM] Spell card: all units in play attack the nearest opposing unit.

[SCORING CHANCE] Spell card: attack the opponent��s net directly.

[HIT THE POST/CROSSBAR] Trap card: any unit attacking your net has their Attack Power reduced to 0 at no cost to your Goalie unit in play.

[REASSIGN] Trap card: send one of the opponent’s units in play to the bottom of their deck.

#san jose sharks #sharks lb #san jose barracuda #sharkudablr gift exchange #daniil gushchin #wont lie. did agonise for a hot minute about the card text and the lore implications for this silly card au #and then I realised that rules are fake and internal consistency is crazy and I do NAWT need to create a whole new functional card game LOL #anyway… here u goooo <3 #puckpainting #hockey card au

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t-u-i-t-c · 2 months ago

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once again, i want to talk about rikuo. we haven't seen too much from him recently, but i want to talk about some scenes of his in episode 9.

when kinjiro questions why hoeru turned on them rikuo insists it's best not to pry and that if someone wants to leave they are free to. however, when sumino says that hoeru's not the type to ask for help when he needs it he pauses. it's such a small thing but the idea that he's leaving bc he needs help and not bc he wants to seems to affect rikuo to some degree. this scene introduces the fact that rikuo believes that people can make their own choices, but he also cares somewhat for hoeru's well-being to some degree.

when kuon asks them to stay away from hoeru rikuo refuses on the basis that he believes hoeru can make his own decisions and so can everyone else. hoeru has taken a bit of a leadership role in this instance as he speaks for the team, and they agree with him. i think it's interesting how rikuo is about choice and freedom while kuon is about control and submission. he wants the gozyugers to submit to his demands, but the won't and so he pushed forth with the plan to get rid of them.

when kuon questions why they care about hoeru when they don't really have anything binding them together the team cannot answer in the moment, but eventually conclude that hoeru has debts to pay. hoeru's debt to rikuo is that he hasn't paid for his smiles. this is interesting as rikuo tends to smile a lot and one could insinuate this means he smiles a lot with hoeru, but that's another story. rikuo offers his smiles freely to people usually although they do help his image as he comes across as approachable (though his other mannerisms and overall personality also contribute to this), but it's not really about the reason for the debt. them bringing up the debts is to create a link between them and hoeru so that he will fight with them again, as they know that hoeru doesn't like to leave debts unpaid. it's about creating space for hoeru under the guise of something he can't ignore and letting him know they're not backing down.

rikuo declares that the team would be sad without hoeru and he throws hoeru his ring. it's interesting that it's rikuo who held onto hoeru's ring as he was the one trying to brush off the issue in the beginning, but it seems that while he respects hoeru's right to make his own choices, he also hoped he'd return.

we already know that rikuo has some interest in hoeru, as he chose to fight with him in episode 2 as he couldn't let such a big fool die, but it feels like his care for hoeru and the team is slowly developing in the background over time. i hope we get to see this develop further soon.

#quick little ramble for now #lion holding smiles over a wolf's head and giving him no discounts and getting annoyed he'd suggest a discount #gozyuger spoilers #super sentai lb #gozyuger lb #umbrella.posts #umbrella.thoughts #wolfleon #<< kinda #🦁💙

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pdriesta · 6 months ago

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CHAPTER TEN

“even when it’s bad, i love you”

pairing — trentxblack!girl

genre — angst, angst and more angst

word count — 9.3k

summary — y/n and trent's once strong relationship is strained by his growing distance and her unexpected pregnancy. as they clash over their future, y/n faces the painful choice of leaving behind the love and they love they worked so hard creating. will they overcome their struggles and rebuild their love, or will their fractured bond break beyond repair?

an — we are nearing the end 🥹 i cannot describe how dear this couple and their little family is to my heart

masterlist

trent checked his phone again for what had to be the fifth time in the last ten minutes, his knee bouncing nervously as he sat in the locker room. his teammates were laughing and chatting around him, the buzz before another match day filling the air, but his mind was somewhere else entirely—back home, where y/n was, heavily pregnant and possibly on the verge of labor.

it had become a constant worry, this gnawing thought that any moment she could call, and he wouldn’t be there. every time he left for training or a match, his stomach churned with the possibility that he’d miss it—the birth of their children, the moment their family grew from two to four.

he exhaled sharply, leaning back against the bench as a memory of last week came rushing back, one that both eased and heightened his anxiety. it was late at night, and they were curled up together on the couch in their living room. she was pressed close to his side, her head resting against his shoulder, her swollen belly snug against him.

“what would you do,” he had asked, his voice soft but laced with worry, “if the babies came while i wasn’t here?”

y/n tilted her head to look up at him, her lips quirking into a small, teasing smile. “close my legs until you get back.”

trent had burst into laughter, his head tipping back as her cheeky answer caught him off guard. “you’re not serious,” he said, grinning down at her.

she shrugged playfully, a twinkle in her tired eyes. “what else am i supposed to say? i’ll do my best to hold them off.”

he laughed again, but when his chuckles died down, the worry crept back into his expression. “no, really, though. what would you do?”

y/n shifted slightly, settling herself more comfortably against him. “i think they’ll come while you’re here,” she said confidently, her voice steady but gentle. “but if for some reason they don’t, i’d call our mums first. i know dianne would get me to the hospital, and everyone else would meet us there.”

he frowned, his hand instinctively resting on her belly. “and what if i miss it?”

she reached up to touch his face, her palm soft against his cheek as she turned his gaze toward hers. “you won’t,” she said firmly, her thumb brushing his skin. “you’re not going to miss it, trent. i can feel it.”

her words had calmed him then, the conviction in her voice soothing the storm in his chest. but now, sitting in the locker room miles away from her, the unease crept back in.

he couldn’t stop replaying their conversation, or the week that had passed since their wedding. they hadn’t been allowed to enjoy that newlywed bliss for long. y/n was lethargic most days, her body working overtime to carry the twins. she’d been clingier than usual, not that he minded. every time he left her side, she would tug him back, her voice soft and sleepy as she murmured, “just a little longer.”

he never said no.

at home, y/n lay on the couch, bundled in one of trent’s oversized sweatshirts. the house was quiet except for the soft hum of the tv in the background. her hands rested on her belly, which seemed impossibly round now, the twins shifting lazily under her touch. she smiled faintly, thinking about how trent would press his ear to her stomach every night, murmuring to the babies like they could already hear him.

she missed him, even though he’d only been gone a few hours. her eyes fluttered closed as she tried to nap, but the ache in her back and the pressure in her hips made it impossible to get comfortable. she grabbed her phone instead, scrolling aimlessly through pictures from their wedding—trent in his tux, her in her dress, the way his eyes had stayed locked on hers the entire day.

just as she felt herself getting emotional, her phone buzzed with a text.

trent: you okay?

her lips twitched into a small smile as she typed back.

y/n: just tired. and sore. when are you coming home?

trent: as soon as i can. i miss you.

y/n: i miss you more.

he called her immediately, his voice warm and steady in her ear. “what are you doing right now?”

“just laying down,” she murmured, her voice thick with fatigue. “the babies are being restless.”

he sighed softly. “i wish i could be there.”

“me too,” she said, closing her eyes as she let the sound of his voice soothe her. “but you’ll be back soon. and when you are, i’m not letting you leave.”

he chuckled. “deal. you’ve got me for the rest of the night.”

“good,” she whispered, her hand resting on her belly as the twins shifted again. “they’ve been waiting for you too, you know.”

he stayed on the phone with her until she felt her eyes grow heavy, his voice a steady comfort that carried her into sleep.

when trent got home later that evening, he found y/n exactly where he left her—curled up on the couch, her face soft and peaceful in sleep. he crouched down beside her, brushing a stray curl from her face before pressing a kiss to her forehead.

“i’m home, love,” he whispered, his voice low and tender.

her eyes fluttered open, and the second she saw him, she smiled sleepily. “you’re back.”

“told you i would be,” he said, sliding onto the couch and pulling her into his arms. “how are you feeling?”

“better now,” she murmured, nuzzling against his chest.

trent’s hand found her belly, his thumb tracing slow circles as he leaned down to press a kiss to the top of her head. “you’re amazing, you know that?”

she smiled faintly, her fingers tangling with his. “i’m just glad you’re here.”

“i’m not going anywhere,” he promised, his voice steady. and for the first time that day, the knot of anxiety in his chest began to unravel.

trent hovered in the doorway, his eyes locked on y/n as she moved toward the laundry basket by the bed. she bent down, slowly and carefully, to pick it up, but before she could even lift it, he swooped in, snatching the basket out of her hands.

“absolutely not,” he said, his tone firm but gentle as he set the basket back down. “you’re not carrying that.”

y/n sighed, resting a hand on her belly as she straightened up to face him. “trent, it’s just laundry. i can handle it.”

“you shouldn’t have to,” he argued, his brows furrowing in that way they always did when he was being stubborn. “you’re carrying two babies. you’re not lifting anything heavier than a pillow.”

she tilted her head, her lips twitching into an amused smile. “you do realize i’m pregnant, not made of glass, right?”

he ignored her, already grabbing the laundry basket and heading toward the door. “if you need anything done, just ask me. you’re supposed to be resting.”

“resting doesn’t mean sitting around doing nothing all day,” she called after him, her tone light but exasperated. “i’m still capable of helping around the house, you know.”

trent’s voice carried back to her from the hallway. “not while i’m here, you’re not!”

she shook her head, laughing softly to herself. at first, she had found his overprotectiveness sweet—how he insisted on fluffing her pillows, cutting up her food into smaller bites, even taking over the vacuuming after declaring it was “too much strain” for her. but now, as she watched him fret over every little thing she did, she couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed.

a few minutes later, he reappeared, laundry basket in hand, looking entirely too pleased with himself. he set it down in the corner of the room and turned to her with a self-satisfied grin.

“see? all done,” he said, dusting off his hands.

“congratulations,” she teased, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “you’ve single-handedly saved me from the great laundry disaster.”

he narrowed his eyes playfully, stepping closer to her. “keep it up, and i’ll start banning you from the stairs too.”

her jaw dropped, her hand flying to her belly. “don’t even think about it, trent alexander-arnold.”

“i’m serious,” he said, though his lips twitched like he was trying not to laugh. “i don’t like how much you’re going up and down. it’s not good for your back.”

she groaned, her head falling back dramatically. “oh my god, you do think i’m elderly.”

“i think you’re carrying my children, and that means you should be taking it easy,” he countered, his voice softening as he reached out to take her hand. “i just don’t want you to overdo it.”

her frustration melted slightly at the sincerity in his tone, and she let him pull her closer, their hands resting together on her bump. “trent,” she said softly, meeting his gaze, “i promise you, i’m fine. the babies are fine. i know you’re worried, but you don’t have to be this stressed all the time.”

he exhaled, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. “i can’t help it,” he admitted. “i just... i want everything to go perfectly.”

she smiled up at him, her annoyance fading completely as she reached up to cup his face. “it already is, trent. you’re doing more than enough.”

his arms wrapped around her, pulling her into his chest as he kissed the top of her head. “i just don’t want to mess this up,” he murmured.

“you won’t,” she assured him, her voice muffled against his shirt. “you’re going to be the best dad, and everything’s going to be okay.”

they stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other’s arms, until y/n pulled back just enough to look up at him. “but seriously,” she said, her lips curving into a teasing grin, “if you try to ban me from the stairs, we’re going to have a problem.”

he laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he pressed another kiss to her forehead. “fine,” he relented. “but only if you promise to take it easy when i’m not here.”

she nodded, smirking. “deal. as long as you promise to stop treating me like i’m 80.”

he chuckled, his hands settling on her bump as he whispered, “no promises.”

trent was leaning back against the headboard, his long legs stretched out as he scrolled through his phone, one hand resting idly on y/n’s thigh. she was nestled next to him, wearing one of his oversized t-shirts that barely covered the curve of her belly. her head rested against his shoulder, but her hand had other plans, trailing absentmindedly up and down his arm.

“you’re quiet tonight,” she murmured, tilting her head to look up at him.

“just tired,” he replied, glancing down at her with a soft smile.

“mm-hmm,” she hummed, unconvinced. her fingers trailed up to his chest, brushing against the edge of his shirt.

he raised an eyebrow. “what are you doing?”

“nothing,” she said innocently, though the way her hand lingered said otherwise.

trent looked at her, his brow furrowing slightly. “you sure?”

“you look good tonight,” she whispered, her lips curving into a sly smile as her fingers toyed with the fabric of his shirt. “and i miss you.”

his eyes softened, his hand instinctively coming up to cup her face. “i’m right here, love.”

“not like that,” she said, her voice dropping, eyes locking with his.

trent’s breath hitched, and for a moment, he was completely still. his gaze flickered to her lips, then back to her eyes, and she knew she had him—until he suddenly pulled back, his hand falling away.

“y/n,” he started, his tone cautious, “we can’t.”

her brow furrowed in confusion. “what do you mean, we can’t?”

“it’s not a good idea,” he said, sitting up straighter and putting a bit of distance between them. “i’ve been reading about how—”

“oh my god,” she groaned, cutting him off. “trent, not the forums again.”

“they’re not just forums!” he protested, looking genuinely distressed. “there’s actual science behind it. you’re almost full term, and, like... certain things can induce labor.”

she stared at him, her annoyance slowly giving way to amusement. “you think if we have sex, i’m going to go into labor right here, right now?”

“it’s possible!” he said, running a hand through his curls. he avoided her gaze, his ears turning pink.

“you’re serious,” she realized, sitting up fully. “you actually believe that—”

“it’s not crazy!” he cut in, his voice rising slightly. “i don’t want to take any chances, okay? what if something happens, and i’m not here? what if i make it worse?”

her irritation melted at the vulnerability in his voice, and she reached out to take his hand. “baby,” she said softly, “nothing is going to happen. and if it does, it won’t be because of that.”

he still looked uncertain, so she scooted closer, cupping his face in her hands. “trent,” she said, her tone firm but gentle, “i love how much you care, but you’ve got to relax. you’re not going to break me.”

he exhaled shakily, leaning into her touch. “i just don’t want to do anything to hurt you or the babies.”

“you won’t,” she assured him, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “you’re being paranoid, and it’s cute, but also really annoying.”

his lips twitched into a small smile. “annoying, huh?”

“very,” she teased, brushing her thumb along his cheek. “but you’re lucky i love you.”

he laughed softly, pulling her into his arms. “i’m sorry,” he murmured against her hair. “i just... i can’t stop thinking about everything that could go wrong.”

“nothing’s going to go wrong,” she said firmly, tilting her head up to look at him. “you’re not going to miss it. we’re all going to be fine. and you’re going to stop treating me like a ticking time bomb.”

he kissed her forehead, his hand sliding to rest on her bump. “i’ll try,” he promised.

“good,” she said with a grin. “because if you keep freaking out every time i touch you, we’re going to have a problem.”

he laughed, the sound rumbling in his chest. “i’ll work on it,” he said, pressing a kiss to her lips.

“you better,” she teased, snuggling back into his arms. “or i’ll find a way to ban you from the forums.”

trent’s ears turned bright red as he looked down at her, and y/n couldn’t help the smirk that spread across her lips.

“you’re blushing,” she teased, shifting to sit up straighter so she could see him fully. her bump made the movement a little clumsy, but trent’s hands were already there, steadying her with a practiced ease.

“i’m not blushing,” he mumbled, though the pink on his cheeks betrayed him.

“you are,” she insisted, leaning closer to him with a mischievous grin. “what’s gotten into you? i mean, it’s not like we haven’t done it all week. or all last week, for that matter.”

his blush deepened, and he groaned, hiding his face in his hands. “y/n, please,” he muttered, his voice muffled.

she laughed, the sound light and teasing, as she reached out to pull his hands away from his face. “what? am i wrong?”

“you’re impossible,” he said, shaking his head, though the corner of his mouth twitched into a reluctant smile.

“and you’re adorable,” she countered, cupping his face with both hands and tilting his head down to meet her gaze. “you act all cool and collected most of the time, but the second we talk about, you know, us, you turn into this shy little thing. it’s cute.”

he groaned again, but his hands found her waist, holding her gently as he leaned his forehead against hers. “you’re going to drive me mad, you know that?”

“that’s the goal,” she said with a smirk, her fingers brushing through the curls at the nape of his neck. “besides, you weren’t complaining last night. or the night before that. or the—”

“okay, okay,” he interrupted, laughing now as he tried to hide his embarrassment. “you’ve made your point.”

she grinned, proud of herself, and pressed a kiss to his lips. “you’re too easy, trent.”

he sighed dramatically, though his hands tightened on her waist, pulling her closer. “you’re lucky i love you.”

“oh, i know,” she said, her tone light and teasing, though the look in her eyes was soft and full of affection.

“and just for the record,” he added, his voice dropping slightly as he leaned in closer, “i’m not the only one who’s been weak-willed lately.”

her cheeks flushed, and she playfully shoved his chest. “don’t turn this on me!”

“i’m just saying,” he said with a grin, leaning back against the headboard and pulling her with him so she was comfortably settled against his chest. “you’re not exactly innocent, mrs. alexander-arnold.”

her heart skipped a beat at the name, and she smiled softly, resting her hand over his on her bump. “i guess we’re both a little weak, then.”

“nothing wrong with that,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “especially not when it comes to you.”

her smile widened, and she let herself sink into his warmth, feeling safe and content in his arms. “i love you,” she said softly, tilting her head up to look at him.

he looked down at her, his eyes full of so much love it made her chest ache. “i love you more.”

“not possible,” she whispered, pulling him into another kiss, one that lingered and left them both breathless.

trent chuckled against her lips, shaking his head. “you’re really not going to let me rest tonight, are you?”

“not a chance,” she said with a laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “we’re still in the honeymoon phase, remember?”

he groaned playfully, but his smile said he didn’t mind one bit. “you’re going to be the death of me, y/n.”

“maybe,” she said, leaning in closer, “but what a way to go.”

trent barely had time to react before y/n’s hands were on his chest, a sly grin on her face as she pushed him back against the pillows. he let out a soft oof as his back hit the headboard, his wide eyes darting to hers in surprise.

“what are you—”

“shh,” she interrupted, straddling his lap with an ease that made his pulse quicken. her bump pressed gently against him, a reminder of the life they’d created together, but it didn’t stop the wicked glint in her eyes.

“y/n,” he started, his voice a little shaky, “you’ve got to be careful—”

“careful?” she repeated, tilting her head as she leaned closer, her hands braced on his chest. “you’re acting like i’m fragile, trent.”

“you’re not,” he said quickly, his hands instinctively coming up to hold her waist, steadying her. “but—”

“but nothing,” she cut in, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, “you’ve been overthinking everything, baby. it’s driving me mad.”

he swallowed hard, his grip on her tightening slightly. “i’m just trying to—”

“to what?” she teased, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. “protect me? because if i remember correctly, you didn’t seem so worried last night.”

his face immediately flushed, and y/n let out a soft laugh, brushing her thumb across his cheek. “there it is,” she said, grinning. “you’re blushing again.”

“i’m not,” he muttered, though his pink cheeks said otherwise.

“you are,” she insisted, her grin widening as she leaned down, her lips hovering over his. “it’s cute.”

“you’re impossible,” he groaned, though his hands betrayed him as they slid up her back, pulling her closer.

“and you love it,” she murmured, finally pressing her lips to his in a kiss that was soft and teasing at first but quickly deepened, making his head spin.

trent’s resolve—if he had any left—crumbled completely as her hands moved to the hem of his shirt, tugging it upward. he broke the kiss just long enough to let her pull it over his head, his curls now a tousled mess that made her smile.

“you’re trouble,” he said, his voice low and breathless as she ran her hands across his chest, her touch setting his skin on fire.

“and you’re stalling,” she shot back, her lips curving into a smirk as she leaned down again, kissing the spot just below his jaw that always made him shiver.

“y/n,” he warned, though it sounded more like a plea, his hands gripping her hips now.

“what’s wrong?” she asked, her tone innocent despite the mischievous glint in her eyes. “worried you can’t keep up?”

his jaw tightened, his competitive streak flaring at her challenge. “you’re playing a dangerous game, mrs. alexander-arnold,” he murmured, his voice tinged with amusement and heat.

she grinned, brushing her nose against his. “maybe. but i always win.”

trent let out a soft laugh, his tension easing as he flipped their positions in one swift motion, careful to keep her comfortable. she gasped, her hands clutching at his shoulders as she found herself beneath him.

“you’re not the only one who can play games,” he said, his smile turning into a smirk as he dipped his head, his lips brushing against hers.

“we’ll see about that,” she whispered, her voice laced with anticipation.

and just like that, trent forgot all about his overthinking, lost in the moment with the woman he couldn’t resist, the love of his life.

the next morning, the steam from the shower curled around them, the gentle sound of water cascading against the tiles filling the space. y/n leaned back against trent’s chest, letting the warmth soothe her sore body as his hands lazily ran up and down her arms. it was one of their quieter moments, free from teasing and jokes, just the two of them wrapped in each other, savoring the stillness.

“you’re too good to me, you know that?” she murmured, tilting her head to look up at him.

trent chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to her damp temple. “i’m not doing anything special,” he said, though the adoration in his voice said otherwise.

“you are,” she countered, her fingers tracing over his forearm. “i’d be a mess without you.”

“well, good thing you’ve got me, then,” he replied with a grin, his hands moving to gently cradle her bump, his thumbs brushing over her skin.

she hummed in agreement, closing her eyes and leaning into his touch. they stayed like that for a while, content in their bubble, until trent eventually murmured, “i should probably get out and get dressed.”

“you’re leaving me?” she teased, though her voice was light and playful.

“only for a minute,” he promised, pressing a quick kiss to her shoulder before stepping out of the shower. she watched him go with a small smile, her gaze lingering as he wrapped a towel around his waist and left the room.

y/n turned back to the water, letting it cascade over her for a moment longer, but something felt... off. she frowned, shifting her weight slightly, and that’s when she felt it—a sudden, warm gush that had her blinking in surprise.

“uh, trent?” she called out, her voice calm, though her mind was racing.

“yeah?” came his muffled reply, followed by the sound of drawers opening and closing.

“i think... my water just broke.”

there was a loud crash—like he’d just knocked over half the bedroom—and then the frantic thud of footsteps. trent appeared in the doorway, his eyes wide, his curls sticking up in all directions. “what? your—your water broke? are you sure?”

“well, unless the shower suddenly malfunctioned and decided to release a whole new kind of water... yes, i’m sure.”

trent stood frozen, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “but—it’s too early! isn’t it too early? are we ready? oh my god, are the bags packed?”

“trent,” she started, trying to stay calm despite the rising panic bubbling in her chest.

“what if we forgot something? what if the car seat isn’t secure enough? i knew i should’ve double-checked it this morning. oh my god, what if—”

“trent!” she snapped, her voice louder this time, and it startled him into silence.

his wide eyes locked onto hers, and she could see the fear written all over his face.

“i love you,” she said, her tone softening as she reached out for his hand. “and i understand you’re scared, but i am freaking out right now. i’m having a baby—a whole baby, and possibly another one right after—and i need you to be calm, or else i’m going to panic. and you do not want me panicking, trust me.”

trent blinked, his lips pressing together as he tried to process her words. “okay,” he said finally, nodding. “okay, you’re right. i can be calm. i’ll be calm. super calm.”

“good,” she said, though her own voice wavered slightly. she took a deep breath, her hand trembling as it rested on her belly. “now, can you please call our mums? like, right now?”

“right. mums. on it,” he said, spinning on his heel and racing back into the bedroom.

a beat later, she heard him frantically talking into the phone. “mum? yeah, it’s happening. her water broke. what do i do? do i take her now? should i call the hospital first? or—or maybe we—”

“trent!” she shouted, cutting him off.

he peeked his head around the corner, phone still pressed to his ear. “yeah?”

“get dressed! i’m not letting you take me to the hospital in a towel.”

he looked down at himself, as if only now realizing his current state, and let out a nervous laugh. “right. clothes. good idea.”

as he scrambled to pull himself together, y/n tried to steady her breathing. but as another gush of liquid trickled down her leg, her composure began to slip. “oh my god,” she muttered, gripping the counter for support. “this is really happening.”

trent returned moments later, wearing the first pair of sweatpants and hoodie he could find, his eyes still filled with a mix of excitement and terror. “i called mum. she’s on her way. dianne too. we’re gonna be fine, yeah? totally fine.”

she looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes. “are we really ready for this?”

he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her despite the damp towel still clinging to her body. “we’ve got this, love. i promise. you’re amazing, and we’re gonna meet our babies. everything else doesn’t matter.”

she let out a shaky laugh, burying her face in his chest. “okay. okay. let’s do this.”

trent kissed the top of her head, holding her tightly. “just breathe, yeah? i’ll freak out enough for the both of us.”

she snorted, swatting his chest lightly. “you’re not supposed to admit that.”

“too late,” he said with a grin, his confidence starting to return. “now let’s get you to the hospital before the babies pop out!”

as chaotic as the moment was, y/n couldn’t help but feel a flicker of excitement. they were about to meet their little ones, and no amount of panic could overshadow the love they had for each other—and for the family they were about to become.

the hospital room was filled with the sound of soft chatter and the occasional beeping of machines as y/n paced back and forth, her movements a mixture of impatience and rage. trent sat on the edge of the bed, watching her with a mix of concern and amusement. after being checked in, the nurse had informed them that y/n was only a couple of centimeters dilated, meaning they still had time before the babies would make their grand entrance.

“seriously?” y/n groaned, her frustration palpable. she plopped down onto a yoga ball, bouncing slightly as she tried to find a comfortable position. “how can this be happening? i’m in so much pain! it feels like they’re staging a protest in there!”

trent chuckled, unable to hide his smile. “you’re doing great, baby. just think of how amazing it’ll be when they’re finally here.” he reached out to rub her back gently, but she swatted his hand away.

“don’t patronize me, trent! this is not great. this is torture!” she snapped, but there was a hint of a laugh in her voice.

“i think i deserve some credit for my part in this,” he teased, standing up to walk alongside her. “you do remember how this all started, right? you weren’t exactly shy about wanting to—”

“i was talking about the pregnancy! you’re the one who said it’d be ‘fun’!” she interrupted, her hands on her hips, although the fire in her gaze was softened by a teasing smirk. “fun for you, maybe, but now i’m the one in agony! you’re lucky i still love you right now!”

“well, you did say you find me sexy with my abs” he joked, flexing slightly as he walked next to her. she rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but laugh.

“don’t remind me,” she huffed, shaking her head. “you really created a monster, you know that? all those jerseys and abs—” she gestured wildly, “it’s your fault i’m obsessed with you and had to get pregnant!”

“if you keep bouncing on that ball, you’re going to send the babies flying out, and we don’t want that,” trent chuckled. “we want a safe arrival.”

“i’ll bounce them out of here if i have to,” she joked, her voice lightening as they shared a laugh. “just you wait, when those nurses come back in, they’ll think i’m some kind of crazy woman.”

their families soon began to trickle in, bringing a wave of comfort and support. y/n’s mother entered first, followed closely by trent’s parents. y/n's brother, marcel, and trent’s brother, malik, walked in together, their expressions a mix of excitement and concern.

“what’s going on in here?” y/n’s mom asked, a playful glint in her eye. “is my daughter torturing my son-in-law?”

“you have no idea, mum,” y/n replied, panting slightly as she resumed her walk around the room. “trent made me pregnant and now i’m paying the price!”

“welcome to the club, son,” y/n’s dad chimed in, grinning at trent. “every father has to endure some blame during labor.”

“don’t worry, y/n,” dianne said, stepping forward with a comforting smile. “it won’t be long before you’re holding your little ones in your arms. just keep breathing.”

as they settled into their roles, each family member became a source of support. y/n’s mom held her hand, murmuring words of encouragement, while trent’s dad joked about the stories of his own experience to lighten the mood.

“we should make a pact,” malik suggested with a laugh. “whenever y/n gets mad, we’ll all point at trent!”

“hey!” trent protested, chuckling. “that’s not fair! i didn’t do this alone!”

“but you’re the one who looks so smug about it,” marcel teased, nudging trent playfully. “seriously, though, are you ready for this? it’s going to change everything.”

“bring it on,” trent said, determination in his voice as he glanced at y/n, who was now focused, though still clearly irritated. “i’m ready for anything as long as we’re together.”

as the minutes turned into an hour, y/n’s mood swung between laughter and irritation, the journey of their relationship flashing before her eyes—the late-night talks, the silly fights, the dreams they shared. she turned to trent, a hint of gratitude softening her expression.

“thank you for supporting me,” she murmured, her voice serious for a moment.

“always, baby” he replied, leaning in closer, a warmth radiating between them despite the chaos. “i wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

the moment was fleeting, but it reminded them both of how far they had come. y/n could feel the anticipation building, the love in the room wrapping around them like a warm blanket. and as she bounced on the yoga ball, she couldn’t help but smile at the life they were about to create together.

the hospital room was packed with nervous energy. their families hovered, taking turns to peek in on y/n and offer encouragement, but after hours of labor, she was growing frustrated. trent was doing his best to stay calm, but the sight of her shifting uncomfortably in the bed made his heart ache.

“well,” the doctor said with a small smile, glancing at the monitor, “you’re not quite where we need you to be yet. i think walking around could help things along.”

y/n groaned, letting her head fall back against the pillows. “walking around? are you kidding me?”

“just a little bit,” the doctor encouraged. “it’ll help move things along naturally.”

trent, perched on the edge of her bed, reached for her hand. “i’ll walk with you.”

she raised an eyebrow at him. “you’d better. i’m not doing this alone.”

he smiled gently and helped her sit up, his strong hands steadying her as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. “easy, baby. no rush.”

“you try being in labor for hours and then hear someone say, ‘no rush,’” she muttered, shooting him a glare.

trent chuckled softly but didn’t argue. instead, he slipped his arm around her waist, supporting her as she stood. she leaned into him instinctively, her grip tightening when a contraction rippled through her body.

“you’re doing amazing,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. “come on, just a little stroll.”

she huffed but allowed him to guide her into the hallway, his hand never leaving her back. the quiet hum of the hospital surrounded them, but trent’s focus stayed entirely on her.

“how about a story to distract you?” he asked as they took slow, deliberate steps.

“a story?” she echoed, glancing up at him. “what kind of story?”

“our story,” he said simply, his lips curving into a soft smile.

her annoyance melted, replaced by curiosity. “you mean the story of us?”

“mm-hmm.” he adjusted his grip on her, keeping her steady. “remember when we first met? you were at uni, drowning in textbooks. i swear you barely even noticed me that first time.”

“because i was studying,” she teased. “some of us had exams to pass.”

he laughed, shaking his head. “fair, but i noticed you right away. you walked into that coffee shop with your backpack half open, papers sticking out everywhere. you sat at the first table you found and immediately pulled out three highlighters and a stack of notes. i thought, ‘this girl’s got her life together.’”

she snorted. “my backpack was falling apart, and i was running on two hours of sleep.”

“didn’t matter,” he said, his tone earnest. “you were the most beautiful thing i’d ever seen.”

she glanced at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. “you really thought that?”

“of course.” his hand brushed hers as they walked. “and when i sat down next to you and offered to help, you laughed at me. said, ‘what could you possibly know about molecular biology?’”

her laughter bubbled up despite the discomfort she was feeling. “because you don’t! your highest level of education is gcse science.”

trent grinned, his cheeks tinged pink. “true, but i was willing to learn if it meant spending time with you.”

her steps faltered slightly, and he immediately steadied her. “are you okay?”

she nodded, her breath hitching briefly. “just another contraction. keep going. distract me.”

“you know,” trent started, keeping his arm firmly around y/n as they shuffled down the hospital corridor, “i realized i loved you way earlier than you probably think.”

she tilted her head to look at him, her brows raised in curiosity. “when?”

“it was that day you got your first big grade back, remember? the one you were stressing about for weeks?” he glanced down at her with a soft smile. “you were convinced you’d failed, but then when you saw that ‘A’… the way you smiled, the way you threw your arms around me without even thinking. you were so happy. that joy on your face—i fell in love right then and there.”

her lips parted in surprise. “you fell in love with me over a grade?”

he laughed quietly, steering her around a corner. “not just the grade. it was the way you looked at me, like i had even a small part in your happiness. i’d never seen you that free, that proud of yourself. it hit me like a ton of bricks—i wanted to be the reason you smiled like that for the rest of my life.”

she stared at him, her heart twisting in ways she didn’t think possible at a time like this. “you never told me that.”

“you’d have thought it was ridiculous,” he admitted with a shrug, his cheeks warming up.

“you’re ridiculous,” she said softly, though there was no bite in her tone.

trent smiled down at her, his eyes crinkling. “that’s not all, though. i knew it wasn’t just a fleeting thing when you started coming to my matches. those early academy games, freezing your ass off in the stands with a cup of tea you never drank because you were too busy watching. you supported me when i was barely scraping by.”

“and look at you now,” she teased lightly, though there was pride in her voice.

“no, really,” he said earnestly. “when i got my first call-up to the first team, you were the one who kept me steady. you never let me lose sight of myself. you were so proud of me, but you never let me forget where i came from, or who i was off the pitch. i didn’t just fall in love with the way you cared about me; i fell in love with the way you made me care about myself.”

she paused mid-step, staring up at him, her eyes glistening. “trent…”

he shifted to face her fully, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “i don’t think i ever told you this, but you made me want to be better, y/n. for you. for us. and now, we’re here, about to meet our babies. it’s all because of you.”

her lips wobbled, and she buried her face in his chest. “you’re gonna make me cry, and i don’t need another reason to cry right now.”

“sorry,” he murmured, his arms tightening around her. “but it’s true.”

she pulled back slightly, sniffling as she looked up at him. “i can’t believe you remembered all of that. and you fell for me that soon?”

he smiled, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “when you know, you know.”

“i love you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

“i love you more,” he replied softly, kissing her once more before she winced, clutching his hoodie tightly.

“oh god, that one was bad,” she muttered, her breath catching.

“let’s get you back to the room,” he said quickly, his protective instincts kicking in.

as they slowly made their way back, she clung to him, the mix of love, annoyance, and gratitude swirling in her heart. no matter how this day ended, she knew she wouldn’t want to face it with anyone else. trent was her anchor, her calm in the storm, and in moments like this, she loved him more than ever.

the delivery room was a whirlwind of chaos and emotion, the sterile scent of antiseptic mingling with the sweet anticipation of new life. y/n was sprawled across the hospital bed, her face contorted in agony, and trent was right beside her, holding her hand tightly as the reality of what was happening set in.

“i hate you,” she gasped, her voice strained as another contraction gripped her. “i can’t believe you got me into this! if i make it out alive, i swear, i will kill you!”

“i’m right here, y/n,” trent murmured, brushing his lips against her forehead in a soothing gesture. “you’re doing amazing. just focus on me. breathe through it, babe.”

“easy for you to say!” she retorted, her grip tightening around his hand as another wave of pain surged through her. “you’re not the one pushing out two babies!”

“you’re stronger than you think,” he whispered, gently cupping her face with his free hand. “just keep breathing. remember what we talked about. you’ve got this. we’re about to meet our little ones.”

“our little ones,” she echoed breathlessly, but doubt flickered in her eyes. “what if something goes wrong? what if—”

“nothing is going to go wrong,” he interrupted softly, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. “you’re safe, and i’m here. you’re the strongest person i know, y/n. just keep pushing.”

the doctor’s voice cut through the noise, reminding her to focus. “you’re doing great, y/n. just a few more pushes, and we’ll have our first baby here.”

y/n squeezed trent’s hand, her eyes wide with fear and determination. “don’t you dare let go,” she panted, feeling the pressure build as she prepared for the next push.

“never,” he promised, his gaze unwavering as he locked eyes with her, his heart racing in tandem with hers. “i’m right here. let’s do this together.”

“on three,” the doctor instructed, and y/n nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. “one… two… three!”

she pushed with all her strength, her body screaming in protest as she fought against the pain. “come on, come on!” she cried out, the sound raw and desperate.

and then, finally, she heard it. the sweet, piercing cry of their first baby filled the room, wrapping around them like a warm blanket.

“it’s a girl!” the nurse announced, and y/n felt tears welling in her eyes as she turned to trent.

“we did it,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion as he pressed a kiss to her temple. “you did it.”

but before she could process the joy of their daughter’s arrival, another wave of pain crashed over her. “no! no! no!” she protested, panic flooding her. “i can’t do this again! trent, make it stop!”

“you’re almost there, y/n. just one more time, baby,” he encouraged, his voice steady and calm. “we’re so close.”

“i’m going to kill you,” she panted, glaring at him, though there was a flicker of affection behind her rage.

“i’ll take it,” he replied with a grin, holding her hand tighter. “just one more push. you can do this. i promise.”

“i swear, if you ever want to have another kid—”

“let’s not think about that right now,” he cut in with a laugh, his heart swelling with admiration for her strength. “focus on this moment, okay?”

with a determined nod, y/n braced herself for the final push. “on three again,” the doctor said, and y/n steeled herself.

“one… two… three!”

this time, the effort felt even more intense, but she was fueled by the thought of holding their child. and then, as if a dam had broken, the second baby was born, wailing loudly, a clear sound that echoed through the room.

“it’s a boy!” the nurse exclaimed, and trent’s face broke into a smile that lit up the room.

“we did it! two beautiful babies!” he exclaimed, tears streaming down his cheeks as he looked at y/n, who was panting but grinning through her exhaustion.

“i hate you,” she managed between breaths, but the love in her eyes told him everything he needed to know.

“i love you,” trent whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead as their two babies were placed on her chest.

“look at them,” y/n breathed, her heart swelling as she gazed down at their little girl and boy, their tiny hands grasping at the air.

“they’re perfect,” trent said, his voice filled with awe. “just like their mom.”

y/n beamed, the pain and exhaustion fading into the background as she cradled their children, feeling an overwhelming sense of love wash over her. “i can’t believe we did it.”

“together,” trent reminded her, their foreheads touching as they both lost themselves in the beauty of their new family, a bond forged through love, laughter, and shared dreams.

trent's heart swelled with an indescribable mix of love and pride as y/n held their babies close, her breath still heavy from the effort of bringing them into the world. tears streamed down his cheeks, a release of emotion he hadn't even realized he was holding back.

“they’re beautiful,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion as he reached out to gently caress the tiny hand of their daughter. she was perfect, with a tuft of dark hair and a tiny nose that crinkled as she squirmed against her mother’s chest.

“just like you,” y/n said softly, her eyes sparkling with joy. she turned to look at him, her smile illuminating the room.

“no, just like their mom,” he replied, his voice cracking with overwhelming love. “i can’t believe we made them.”

he carefully took their son from y/n’s arms, cradling the little boy against his chest. trent’s heart felt as though it was bursting as he looked down at the tiny face, marveling at the delicate features that mirrored y/n’s own. “hey there, little man,” he murmured, brushing a finger along the baby’s cheek. “welcome to the world. i’m your dad, and i promise to love you and protect you always.”

the boy let out a soft whimper, and trent instinctively rocked him gently, feeling the weight of his new responsibilities settle comfortably in his heart. “you’ve got your mother’s strength,” he whispered, a smile breaking through his tears. “and i’ll always be here for you.”

“let me hold him,” y/n urged, her voice soft yet filled with longing. she shifted slightly, and trent reluctantly passed their son back to her, watching as she cradled both of their children.

“you’re incredible, you know that?” he said, wiping the tears from his face. “you’re an absolute warrior.”

“we’re a team, remember?” y/n replied, her eyes shining with love as she gazed at their children, her heart swelling with pride. “this is just the beginning for us.”

“yeah, our little family,” he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. they sat there, lost in their bubble of happiness, surrounded by the soft sounds of their newborns and the rush of emotions that came with becoming parents.

“we’ve come so far, haven’t we?” y/n mused, glancing up at trent, her heart full. “from our first date to this moment… it feels like a dream.”

“it really does,” he agreed, his voice steadying as he looked at her, his heart full. “i never thought i could love you more than i did before, but here we are. you’ve given me everything.”

y/n leaned her head against his shoulder, and they sat together in quiet bliss, holding one of each baby close to their hearts, cherishing the life they had created. in that moment, everything felt perfect, a beautiful harmony of love, joy, and the promise of a future together as a family.

“welcome to the world rowan and tatum alexander-arnold” he whispered, before kissing the love of his life and now the mother of his kids.

the room was buzzing with quiet activity, sunlight streaming through the windows as y/n shifted uncomfortably against the pillows. the exhaustion was settling deep in her bones, but her heart was full as she watched her family gather around her. marcel sat on the edge of the bed, one of the twins cradled in his large hands, his face soft with a kind of awe y/n rarely saw. aura, her little niece with her wild curls and chubby cheeks, stood beside him, clutching the bed frame with one hand and reaching out curiously with the other.

“aura, sweetheart,” y/n said gently, her voice still raspy from the day’s events. “be careful, okay?”

aura’s eyes lit up as she turned to look at her aunt. her toddler english, still adorably jumbled, spilled out as she pointed at marcel. “uncle c-cel has baby cousin! my baby cousin!”

y/n smiled, her chest tightening in the best way as marcel chuckled.

“that’s right, aura,” marcel said, shifting slightly to let aura peer closer at the tiny bundle. “this is your baby cousin, tatum. you gotta be real gentle, though. like this.” he showed her how to pat the baby’s back softly, and aura mimicked him, her little fingers brushing tentatively against the baby’s onesie.

“baby cousin,” aura repeated, her tone filled with wonder. then she turned to y/n, her big eyes wide and pleading. “auntie y/n, i hold baby cousin?”

y/n hesitated, glancing between aura and marcel. aura was eager, but she was only a toddler, and the thought of her holding tatum made y/n’s nerves flare.

“maybe we can help you hold the baby,” y/n said softly. “how about that?”

marcel grinned, already positioning himself so aura could sit on his lap. “come here, aura. you can hold him with uncle cel’s help, okay?”

aura scrambled onto marcel’s lap, her excitement palpable. with careful guidance, marcel helped her support tatum’s tiny body, one of his hands hovering close in case she moved too suddenly.

“baby cousin,” aura whispered again, her face glowing with pride as she held the baby. “hi, baby cousin. i love you.”

y/n felt a lump form in her throat at the sight, tears pricking her eyes as she watched aura, so small yet so full of love, holding her newborn son.

“you’re doing so good, aura,” y/n said, her voice thick with emotion.

“like a pro,” marcel added, grinning as aura beamed at the praise.

meanwhile, the other baby started fussing in her bassinet, her tiny cries filling the room. y/n instinctively moved to sit up, but before she could, the door creaked open, and trent stepped in, balancing a tray in his hands.

“all right,” he said, his voice warm as he set the tray down on the small table by her bed. “i’ve got coffee, a salmon bagel, and…” his words trailed off when he spotted aura, sitting proudly with tatum in her arms.

trent froze, his eyes wide as he took in the scene. “is she—”

“holding her baby cousin,” marcel cut in, smirking as trent visibly panicked. “relax, i’ve got her. she’s doing great.”

trent let out a breath, though his brows stayed furrowed. “she’s a baby too, marcel!”

“and doing better than you would’ve,” marcel teased.

“uncle trent!” aura said suddenly, her face lighting up. “look! baby cousin!”

trent softened instantly, crouching down so he was eye level with her. “yeah, baby cousin tatum,” he said, brushing a hand gently over tatum’s tiny head. “you’re being so gentle, aura. good job.”

aura grinned at the praise, but her focus quickly returned to the baby, her tiny voice crooning, “baby cousin.”

y/n chuckled softly, her heart swelling at the sight of her niece and son together. “okay, aura, time to let uncle cel hold him now. you did amazing.”

aura pouted briefly but nodded, letting marcel take tatum from her small hands. “i hold baby cousin again later?”

“of course,” y/n said, reaching out to pat her niece’s curls.

trent leaned over to kiss aura’s cheek before turning to y/n. his eyes softened as he took in her tired face, her hair still damp from earlier, and the sheer determination she carried despite her exhaustion.

“and for you,” he said softly, picking up the coffee and bagel from the tray. “figured you deserved a little treat.”

y/n’s lips wobbled as she reached for the coffee. the familiar scent hit her immediately, and she blinked back tears. “trent…”

“don’t cry,” he said quickly, his voice tinged with panic. “it’s just coffee. and a bagel. your favorite. nothing fancy.”

“that’s not why i’m crying,” she said, her voice trembling. “it’s just… you thought of this. even with everything going on, you’re still making sure i’m okay. i feel so… seen.”

trent sat beside her on the bed, his hand reaching for hers. “of course you’re seen, y/n,” he said, his voice steady and full of sincerity. “you’ve just gone through something incredible. you gave me two healthy, beautiful babies. you’re the strongest person i know.”

she sniffled, taking a sip of the coffee as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. “you’re gonna make me cry more if you keep talking like that.”

he smiled, leaning in to kiss her forehead. “then i’ll stop. but just know—you’re everything to me. you and the babies.”

y/n exhaled shakily, nodding as her hand tightened around his. despite the chaos, the exhaustion, and the overwhelming newness of it all, she felt a profound sense of peace. they were in this together—every step of the way.

trent settled onto the bed beside y/n, his arm sliding naturally around her shoulders as she leaned into him. her exhaustion melted into a soft contentment as she sipped her coffee, the first taste she’d had since before the pregnancy. the warmth of the drink spread through her, and she let out a satisfied hum, her head resting against trent’s chest.

“good?” he asked, his voice low and comforting.

“so good,” she murmured, taking another slow sip. “you have no idea how much i’ve missed this.”

“oh, i have an idea,” he teased, his fingers lightly tracing patterns on her arm. “i’ve heard you say ‘i wish i could have coffee’ more times than i can count these past few months.”

she let out a soft laugh, her eyes drifting across the room. marcel was still seated on the edge of the bed, carefully cradling tatum while chatting with dianne, who stood nearby and peeked at rowan with the proudest smile on her face. aura was sitting on olivia’s lap now, babbling away about her “baby cousins,” her tiny hands gesturing animatedly. y/n’s mom, ever the doting grandmother, was cooing softly to their other baby, wrapped securely in her arms.

the room felt full—of life, of family, of love.

y/n sighed contentedly, nestling deeper into trent’s side. “look at them,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the soft hum of conversation around them.

trent followed her gaze, his eyes lingering on their families as they fussed over the babies. his hand shifted, finding hers and lacing their fingers together.

“they love them so much already,” she continued, her tone full of quiet wonder.

“of course they do,” trent said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “they’re perfect. just like their mum.”

she turned her face up to look at him, her lips curving into a soft smile. “you’re really laying it on thick today, huh?”

trent chuckled, his ears tinged pink as he shrugged. “can’t help it. i’ve got a lot to be grateful for.”

y/n sipped her coffee again, savoring the moment. “you know me so well,” she said, her voice warm with affection.

trent tilted his head, his dark eyes meeting hers with a depth of understanding that made her heart clench. “of course i do, baby,” he said simply. “you’re my wife, my best friend. knowing you is the easiest thing in the world.”

her eyes misted over, but she quickly blinked it away, giving his hand a squeeze. “you really are too much sometimes.”

“just making sure you know how much i love you,” he said, his tone light but his words heavy with sincerity

she leaned up, brushing her lips against his in a soft kiss. “i love you too. even when you’re a little dramatic.”

he smirked, pulling her closer. “you’re stuck with me now, dramatic and all.”

“forever,” she said softly, the word wrapping around them like a promise.

as they sat there, wrapped up in each other while their families doted on the twins, y/n felt a rare and overwhelming sense of peace. this was everything she’d ever wanted—a husband who adored her, two beautiful babies, and a room filled with the people she loved most.

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