#thread: Crow 03

[esotericdescent]

   ❝No,❞ Rae muttered against his shoulder. She shifted slightly and looped her arm through Matt's bent elbow, loosely holding onto him. Her eyes tracked the movement of his hand as he sketched. ❝I'm just ... comfortable ...❞ a hesitant pause followed before she let out a soft sigh and added, much more quietly, ❝... and I miss you.❞

   She didn't exactly sound tired, but something more akin to relaxed, at ease. What they were doing was undoubtedly the right thing to do and she was thankful that she'd finally managed to break through the barrier of manipulation and belief his grandfather had been building into his mind since he was a child. Regardless, it was difficult — not only because moments like these now felt like they were stolen fleetingly, but because Rae knew there was nothing she could do to protect him.

   Matt could take care of himself, she knew that, but ... she couldn't stop herself from worrying about him. Her Da had warned them both how difficult this would be — it meant the world to her that her parents were helping them and Rae didn't think they'd be able to handle this without them, but ... on the bright side, she'd begun to see a side of Matt that she'd only caught glimpses of before. The parts of him that he kept hidden in order to please and to survive his situation.

   She loved watching him draw, too. Rae had rarely gotten to actually just ... sit and watch him and, truly, he was indeed mesmerizing to watch. A small smile curled at her lips and she nuzzled into his shoulder just slightly. While her left arm was looped through his, her right hand rested idly against the inside of his elbow. ❝Have you ever used paints or anything? ❞ Maybe she was asking because she'd had a passing thought once or twice about how good his style of the setting sun over Ketterdam would look if he'd painted it. It'd look incredible with his other mediums too of course, but ...

@esotericdescent said: “[ relax ] sender rests their head on receiver's shoulder while they talk ( from Rae, but - idk if I'm jumping too far ahead lmfao just ... *clenches fist* so cute ..... )" {♚ x PROMPTS FOR COMFORTABLE INTIMACY ||  Accepting x}

 There was no doubt that he was doing the right thing. Now. Finally. And no matter how difficult, Matt was determined to pull through with it. There were several sacrifices he had to make along the way, but he was willing to make them all in an attempt to right the wrongs he had done. In an attempt to refuse to become the monster he had been raised to be.

 The hardest sacrifice, however, was not being able to see Rae as often as he was used to. Sneaking out had always been difficult, but Matt was under more scrutiny now than ever before. So their meetings were few and far between. Having temporarily dropped out of University, they were lucky if they got to see each other once a week, in the middle of the night, preferably on the rooftops of Ketterdam where no one else would be able to see them.

 Tonight was one of those nights. And, as though the Saints were on their side, the sky was clear and the weather mild. The chimney they were leaning against gave off a comfortable heat as they talked about anything and everything. Well… Everything, but all the things currently weighing heavily on his mind. There was a time and place for that, but tonight wasn’t it. He just wanted to enjoy the time he got to spend with her, and he had no intention of ruining it by bringing down the mood.

 In his lap, Matt had a small bone light, as well as the well-worn sketchbook he always carried on him in case he got a chance to use it. He’d been mindlessly sketching in it, but was focused enough that it took him a few seconds to realize that Rae had stopped talking. Just as he was about to turn his head to look at her, he felt a weight on his shoulder and froze in place. He didn’t have to see it to know it was her head. His heart skipped a couple of beats at that realization and, for several moments, he wasn’t sure what to do. In the end, he simply exhaled and continued drawing. For Saint’s sake, chill out. She’s your best friend. She's comfortable around you. Don't ruin it.

 “Are you tired? We can wrap it up for tonight, if you want.”

[what-have-i-unleashed]

UTMV WRITING MASTERLIST

(because i write too much and don't know when to shut up or organize my blog smh)

last updated: 2025-01-03

all my "complete" writings should be tagged #i write

i do have some series that are also tagged:

🐟🐇 mermaid bunny au: a doomed kist story where dust's one-sided affections for killer turns toxic. loosely based on many mermaid mythologies and iconographies, as well as other fairy tales and folklores -- tagged #fic: mermaid bunny

the concept post that starts it all. and its continuation.

dating start! - cross takes dust on a date per nightmare's order.

the debriefing - what happens after the date.

in your eyes - the new killer has some difficult time sleeping.

when the fog thickens, blurring one's sight - a look into dust's irregular dream.

rivers of red - killer has a one-sided argument with dust.

🛜 netverse:

an alternate multiverse focused on mtt poly where murder is a true crime mukbang micro-celebrity, killer is a serial killer, and horror is a somewhat well-adjusted park ranger. mostly in conceptual phase right now -- tagged #netverse or #murder mukbang au (when focused on murder)

bump in the night - murder and killer have their meet-disaster.

you'll never take the blame like me - killer sees a familiar face. he's not happy about it.

❤️ bitter end:

an alternate multiverse with a more supernatural twist to it. will be expanded upon as the story progresses. this is a series of longer fics so i'm putting it up on ao3 instead of here. slow updates because i want to make this one good.

are you satisfied with an average life - about a dusttale sans in the bad sans gang -- tagged #fic: are you satisfied

also includes my own golden thread au, mostly focused on frisk and chara -- tagged #golden thread au

🪖 multiversal war au:

a mtt-poly-focused alternate multiverse in which there is a war going on between four factions. very inspired in tone by transformers -- tagged #multiversal war au

resolution for the new us - something old becomes something new for killer as time goes on.

the line in-between - dust is mad at chara for a rule they broke on the battlefield.

of freedom and of pleasure (part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4) - an unfortunate reunion between dust and killer.

🪽 the angel: an interactive fic where killer goes through the most surreal day of his life -- tagged #fic: the angel

one - two - three - four - five - six - seven - intermission - ???

ao3

📝 other writings:

all my other writings that don't necessarily fit in any au

a happy life - set in something new au. about killer and chara.

i dream of one so far away, far away - cross and killer in a twisted fluffy relationship.

figure by the window - blue and dream encounter a weird sighting.

don't feed the hungry spirit - dream-eater nightmare fulfills a request from an insomniac dusttale sans.

will love come to me someday? - unhinged love triangle between the murder time trio.

just a quick stop - fluffy kist meets multiversal travel mishaps.

your hand-grenade heart - cross comes across a place he didn't expect to see again.

the sweetest poison - murder makes a grievous mistake with crow.

chasing infinity - killer has always waited for this moment to happen, and all that comes after.

kinda miniseries of cross being bullied by the murder time trio (rip to him):

a little trust exercise - horror and cross do a little trust exercise.

stealth lesson - a little play of hide-and-seek between cross and the murder time trio.

dining etiquette - killer teaches cross how to eat like a proper henchman of nightmare.

🎯 challenges:

i have a series of challenges where i take requests, which include:

#flash fic spotify challenge

#flash fic spotify challenge: mtt ver.

⚠️ all my 18+ writings will be labelled mature and under this tag #certified freaky post (please don't access this if you're a minor. i prefer if you block it too. thank you.)

dividers by @\k1ssyoursister here

[obsessiveviewer]

OV440 - The Crow (2024) & Blink Twice (2024) - Guests: Mitch Ringenberg and Sam Watermeier

This week, I welcome Sam Watermeier and Mitch Ringenberg back to the show to review The Crow (2024) in both a non-spoiler and spoiler feature review. Then, in this week’s secondary review, I share my thoughts on Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut Blink Twice. We also talk about recent movies we’ve seen, the latest AI controversy surrounding Megalopolis, and more.

  Timestamps

Show Start - 00:28

News - 10:25

  Feature Review

The Crow (2024) - 35:48

Spoiler - 1:13:31

  Secondary Review

Blink Twice (2024) - 1:39:20

Spoiler - 1:50:43

  Closing the Ep - 2:03:00

Patreon Clip - 2:04:01

  Related Links

  Start Your Podcast with Libsyn Using Promo Code OBSESS

‘Megalopolis’ Trailer’s Fake Critic Quotes Were AI-Generated, Lionsgate Drops Marketing Consultant Responsible For Snafu

Francis Ford Coppola Didn’t Want ‘Megalopolis’ to Be ‘Some Woke Hollywood Production’ and Says the Cast Includes ‘People Who Were Canceled’

‘The Crow’ Original Director Roasts Reboot After It Flopped at the Box Office: ‘I Thought It Was a Cynical Cash Grab. Not Much Cash to Grab It Seems’

Nick Rogers’ Class of 1994: The Crow

  Mitch’s Letterboxd

Mitch’s Writing on Midwest Film Journal

Mitch’s Review of Longlegs

Mitch’s Review of In a Violent Nature

  Sam’s Letterboxd

Sam’s Writing on MidwestFilmJournal.com

Sam’s Review of The Crow (2024)

Sam’s Review of Trap (2024)

Scene by Scene: The Matrix Series

  My 2024 Podcast and Writing Archive

One Year of Criterion Channel - Dec 24, 2023 - Dec 23, 2024

Movies I Own But Haven't Watched/Rated Yet

  Follow Us on Social Media

My Letterboxd | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter/X

Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | TikTok | Tiny’s Letterboxd

  Subscribe to the Podcast

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Audible

  Support Us on Patreon for Exclusive Content

Official OV Merch 

Obsessive Viewer

Obsessive Viewer Presents: Anthology

Obsessive Viewer Presents: Tower Junkies

As Good As It Gets - Linktree

  Mic Info

Matt: ElectroVoice RE20 into RØDEcaster Pro II (Firmware: 1.3.4)

Sam: Samson Q2U via USB in Google Meet

Mitch: Blue Yeti USB Mic via Google Meet

  Episode Homepage: ObsessiveViewer.com/OV440

  Next Week on the Podcast

OV441 - Afraid (2024) & Slingshot (2024)

Check out this episode!

[karmotrinelifesaver]

Starter | @haemoneiron

This name was still in her phone, that was good. She had unfinished business with Crow... assuming that business was still open.

TO: Crow FROM: Jill Stingray

[—>]: Hey, it’s been a while.

[—>]: Do you still work in that clock place?

[—>]: Can I still buy that watch? I’ve been gone.

[beckonsosweetly]

Event Starter | @haemoneiron

“From hearing all that, it’s my understanding that your double seems far more...” What was the word she was looking for here?

“...different, from the norm, than mine is.”

She didn’t know what kind of double life Crow was capable of, which is why she’d asked, curious how it matched up to her own memories of her own alternate self.

“At least you didn’t have to deal with shareholders.”

[actuallymuffet]

Event Starter - Team Blood Drive

The decision to group up came easily. They were all friends, or so Muffet considered them to be, and in a way, this is almost like a sort of double date. One that might end with death, sure, but a double date nevertheless.

And with two bloodsuckers on the team with their respective blood donors, the team name Blood Drive came easily to Muffet. No objections from the rest, even if it did turn Nami red after Muffet explained it.

To make up for that, Nami was given the honor of holding the gun for the time being and leading them to the first beacon spot. Muffet was leaning up against her, watching the radar to see when they would get close.

“So~... it’s far from an ideal situation to be together again for, what with the looming threat and all. I can’t say I trust that girl too much, but~...”

“I suppose we don’t have a choice. But I’m curious— how are your climbing skills?” she asked to the group as a whole. “This first beacon doesn’t seem to be at ground level...”

@actuallymuffet – [ @haemoneiron ] – @bladeverbenas – @mellifluencex

[esotericdescent]

@barrelcrow | starter from INEJ - Her First Return.

   Finding Kaz Brekker, seeking him out, was something Inej did as easily as breathing. Before Van Eck had taken her, before the events of the auction, this fact would have no doubt left her with a complicated mix of emotion; what she felt for him was deep and unyielding and she hadn't been sure if he felt the same for her. Sometimes she'd seen it, felt it; but then he would push her away again, make her question the things she saw and it would fill her to the brim with hurt and frustration.

   Now, however … she knew where they stood and she understood more of the things he struggled with. Saints knew that, while out at sea, Inej had learned first hand how unforgiving her own trauma could be. How she could be sent into a spiral of panic from the way in which someone touched her, from the way the slavers she hunted looked at her, the specific tone of their voices as they spoke to her, just as they did when she was fourteen.

   This was the first time she'd come back after she'd set sail and she hadn't understood how deeply she'd missed him until she caught sight of him; clad in black, broad shoulders, the hat atop his head and the cane at his side, resting against his shoulder as he sat on the cold ground of the graveyard. Inej felt her breath catch in her throat and her eyes burn, but she swallowed the burst of emotion down against the tightness in her throat. The profound ache she felt in her chest was barely contained—was this how she would feel every time she returned? At the brink of crumbling?

   Kaz sensed her presence as he always had and the familiarity of it left her with an unfurling warmth that spread throughout her chest as well, easing some of the ache a little. He tilted his head towards her, his profile stark against the dim late afternoon light. The sound of his rasped voice was like a balm she didn't know she'd needed. Inej took a breath, steadying herself, before she slowly made her way to his side. How did you find me? Kaz asked, as if he didn't already know the answer.

   ❝The way I always do,❞ she said, the fondness and the ache no doubt audible in her voice, despite how quietly she spoke. She managed to tear her eyes away from him long enough to glance at the headstone; Jordie Rietveld. Inej knew without having to ask that he wasn't buried here, but … she understood the vulnerability of this moment, the depth of it, and she sank down beside him, their shoulders just a hair's breadth away from touching.

   ❝What was he like? ❞ She asked eventually, her eyes seeking him out again. She felt another aching twinge at the sight of his face this close and the urge to touch him was overwhelming, but … Inej knew better. They'd begun working on that particular struggle of his before she'd left, but it was an all-encompassing thing for him; they had to go about it with careful intention and even then, it didn't always work so well. So Inej held herself back as she always had, but … she was just grateful to be near him at all.

[elsecrytt]

Masterlist - Obey Me

Last updated: 2022-03-31 2022-08-28

Headcanons/Worldbuilding

Demon Culture

Part 1 (Ignoring a demon)

Part 2 (Demon courting)

Part 2 Continued: Whip of Love Interactions

Part 2 Continued: Demon courtship gestures

Demon courting

Theorycrafting/Speculation

So what's up with Diavolo?

AUs

An unreasonably long thread about Pet AU Lucifer

Cat Witch Reader vs Satan cat obsession:

-Initial Idea

-Satan is soft on cats... when you are one.

Shared AUs/Fics

Coward!MC my beloved

-Your Courage, My Love (Lucifer/Reader, Satan/Reader, implied Mammon/Reader)

-Sucks to be Murdered (Lesson 16 aftermath)

-Something to Protect (Lucifer/Reader, Satan/Reader, implied Diavolo/Reader, Mammon/Reader)

All 7 Brothers + A side of side character

Waking up with the Boys

Bridal Carrying your man out of Nowhere

Lucifer

In Pursuit of Pleasure Part I

Bad Dog (Lucifer jerks it while thinking of you,,, so romantic)

Lucifer's Type

Character Musings Part I - Part II

Pet AU Luci and his AMAB!Reader owner

Mammon

Mammon can be a littol dom... as a treat. Just a little

You are a witch and MAMMON owes you MONEY, what happens next will SHOCK YOU

Levi

Thoughts on Admiral!Leviathan

Satan

"Bite Me" means what it says for demons

Would Satan fuck you with his brothers sleeping in the same room? The answer will SHOCK YOU

Why won't vampire!reader come out of their room? Detective Satan is on the case!

What if you and Satan liked each other so much but were too scared to say so and it got... toxic? But you still had sex.

Asmo

He is beauty, he is grace, he is yandere all over the place

Belphie

Domming Belphie post Lesson 16

Simeon

dom!Simeon/Reader

Barbatos

Slap... the butt

Thirteen

Blue Raspberry (more like... blew raspberry hehehe)

Multiple Characters

Crow Familiars [Lucifer, Mammon]

Scratches on his back... [Diavolo, Lucifer, Mammon, Simeon]

Scratches on his back... [Satan]

MC Immortality? [Lucifer, Mammon, Levi, Satan]

Heartache [Lucifer and Diavolo triangulation]

The Son he Calls Brother [Satan and Lucifer after the fall]

Sandwiches

Satan/MC/Diavolo Manifesto Part I - Part II

Cat(3) Manifesto w/ Sources

Cat(3) Solomon/MC/Satan

Satan/MC/Asmo

Satan/MC/Mammon

Satan/MC/Lucifer

Satan/MC/Diavolo SFW

Satan/MC/Barbatos SFW - NSFW

Satan/MC/Simeon

Levi/MC/Diavolo

Solomon/MC/Barbatos

Simeon/MC/Lucifer

Lucifer/MC/Barbatos

Lucifer/MC/Mammon

Asmo/MC/Belphie

Yandere

Among Demons - Intro

Among Demons - Routine

Thoughts on Yandere Diavolo/MC/Lucifer

Yandere!Diavolo Part I

MC!Elsey

The Price of Wrath (Elsey/Satan)

-The Price of Wrath - The Bargain

-The Price of Wrath - Inspection

Elsey Preys on an Unsuspecting Satan

MC!Monday Part 4

General MC!Elsey ramblings

Rambling about MC!Elsey and their pacts

Elsey Rambles

Rejection Series - WiP Idea

Rejection Series - Ask

About Barbatos in S3 and S4

L71 re-write (Barbatos)

L70 Ranting

Season 4 Ranting

Season 4 Ranting Part II

Season 4 Ranting Part III

Rambling about MC!Elsey and their pacts

[electricea-archive]

I posted 6,636 times in 2021

2350 posts created (35%)

4286 posts reblogged (65%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 1.8 posts.

I added 5,889 tags in 2021

#( promo! ) - 1798 posts

#( ooc. ) - 1497 posts

#( v; unspecified. ) - 1054 posts

#headcanons - 687 posts

#joker tag tbd. - 231 posts

#( closed starter. ) - 217 posts

#crow tag tbd. - 106 posts

#( valentines day 2021 ) - 101 posts

#morethanaprincess - 101 posts

#panther tag tbd. - 97 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#but rae is one of two dr muses that has really inspired me to want to check out the game and see just what exactly sonia is like in the game

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

Also, while I do love that dash meme, I feel bad that it clogs the dash a little, so I’m going to use this post to shout out some amazing blogs you should all consider following - they’re all wonderful blogs in their own right and it’s always a pleasure and an honor to write with them!

@earthssprout        @deity-of-calamity         @keywcilder

@mysticallities        @deceitfuljustice           @twofacedcriminal

@psychcdelica        @neuroticsurgicalclinicdirector    @eris-the-phantom-thief

@shymaru              @c0in        @verratensduo       @tazmilyxfamily

@melatoninburst     @thenihilistofthevoid   @arianatheangelworld 

@whiskeysrpcenter   @stoopidrppalace   @silverhearted-robin-hood

@bygraceofflames    @oflegendariesandtrainers    @vere-flores

@theshytigergirl      @fullmtal​

36 notes • Posted 2021-11-19 00:24:19 GMT

#4

does anyone else remember those poo chi robot dogs that were super popular in the 90′s

45 notes • Posted 2021-03-31 03:13:47 GMT

#3

inbox call!

i want to be doubly active and also i just really like the idea of getting a chance to interact/reconnect with both new and old people, so here’s an inbox call as well! feel free to like this if you’d like a visit from ryuji in your inbox - doesn’t matter if our muses have interacted before, i’d actually like to see this as an icebreaker for muses he maybe hasn’t yet gotten to meet or muses he hasn’t seen in a while! also if you wish to continue the asks into full blown threads, that would be awesome! i’m also completely okay if you’d prefer to just leave it as a one-off ask.

47 notes • Posted 2021-08-28 07:34:23 GMT

#2

Summer starter call!

...So, it’s May, but it already feels hot enough to be summer up here and just in general summer threads are fun.  Don’t feel like this really needs any explaining - if any fun in the sun shenanigans interest you such as our muses going swimming, eating popsicles, kicking a beach ball back and forth - or anything even remotely summer related, then kindly give this post a like! As always, I’m more than happy to hear your ideas beforehand if you have a particular request or idea in mind! 

51 notes • Posted 2021-05-30 07:13:41 GMT

#1

One-liner starter call!

I feel like this is pretty self explanatory and I’m in the mood for some small and bite sized threads so kindly like this post for a one liner starter! As always, you’re more than free to approach me with any ideas or plots for the starter, beforehand.

59 notes • Posted 2021-03-02 06:42:00 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[xjoonchildx]

airplane, pt. 2 | jjk x reader chapter five: home

pairing: jungkook/reader

word count: 2.9K rating: 18+

genre: smut | silly smut | nonsensical smut

warnings:  criminal!jungkook, koreanamerican!jungkook, reality has left the chat, plausibility has left the chat

A/N: i've never had so much anxiety posting an update. next time i decide to fly by the seat of my pants and turn a one-shot into a full chaptered fic, just punch me in the face, okay?

all kidding aside, standard smut warnings apply to this chapter and i really hope you guys like it.

xoxo

Chapter 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06

artwork by the shmexy @ppersonna​ who’s smut is even better than her art

*****************************

“You broke into my house.”

It takes you a solid minute to find the breath to power that shaky sentence.

Your legs are already like noodles from your run and at this point they are threatening to come right out from underneath you. You reach a hand out to the wall to stop yourself from hitting the deck.

Jungkook stands slowly from where he’s seated on the couch, a careful smile on his lips.  

“You gonna call the cops?”

You stare at him.

Jungkook is in the country.  In Los Angeles. In your living room .  

He’s wearing a leather jacket over a t-shirt and jeans and his hair is cut short again.  He is alive and in one piece and looks somehow even more handsome than he did the last time you saw him.  How does he do that?

You’re so distracted by Jungkook -- in your fucking house -- that you miss the look of concern that comes over him the longer you stand there without saying something.  It’s like your brain is hung up -- glitching -- trying to process the scene in front of you.

“You okay?”

“You broke into my house ,” you say again, as though that should answer his question.

“That is a matter of semantics,” Jungkook argues.  “I would say that I let myself in because I knew you wouldn’t want me just standing around outside. Aren’t you the one always telling me to keep a low profile?”

A disbelieving laugh bubbles up your chest.

His sarcasm is comforting, even right now, when your heart is still racing and you can’t seem to stop sweating and you’ve just realized that you’re pretty fucking pissed that he dropped off the radar and didn’t contact you for weeks.  

“So we should probably talk, huh?”

“You think?”

Now it’s his turn to laugh. He sinks back down onto the couch and gestures for you to join him. 

You don’t.

“How the hell did you get here?” you demand.

“Same way I got out, pretty much,” he shrugs.  “Mexico. Hitched a ride to San Diego and Yoongi was able to pick me up there. Good thing I’m not from Iowa or some shit, huh?”

He aims a hopeful smile at you like he’s searching for a way to connect but you don’t return it.

A flash of disappointment crosses his face.

“Yeah,” you say quietly. “Good thing.”

You look down to his lap.  His hands haven’t stopped moving, fingers winding together and unwinding over and over.  He’s nervous.  

Well, good.

“I’m gonna turn myself in tomorrow,” he says after a long moment.

He knocks the wind out of you with that.

“Holy shit,” you breathe.

“Yeah.  Turns out, I’m being represented by some incredibly-connected, high-dollar attorney.”  He looks up and fixes you with those dark, hypnotic eyes. “Any idea where I could have gotten one of those?”

Seokjin, you fucking angel.

“Maybe,” you murmur.  “What did he say?”

“Well, he told me to get my happy ass back to the States.  Said the Marshals would appreciate me walking in on my own as opposed to having to drag me back.  Said I’m going to have to eat some crow if I expect them to listen to anything I have to say.”

He rubs a hand across the back of his neck, against the grain of the now short hairs at his nape.

“Told me to get a haircut, too.”

That makes you smile.  Jin is nothing if not thorough.

“So what does -- “ you clear your throat, “ -- your attorney say about what happens after that?”

“No way to know for sure,” Jungkook admits.  “They could lock me up and throw away the key or they could decide on something else.  Kind of a roll of the dice at this point.”

Your chest squeezes at the thought of Jungkook walking into that Federal Building and leaving in a transport van.  You shut your eyes like that will somehow stop the mental image.

“And you’re turning yourself in anyway.”

He fidgets with his ear like an anxious kid.  

“Yeah.”

“Alright,” you say on a shaky exhale.  “Okay. Wow.”

A tense silence falls between you.

“I need you to talk to me,” Jungkook says after a moment. “I need to know where your head is at right now.”

Do you know how hard I went to bat for you? you want to scream, which is unfair, really.  He’s never asked you for your help. Everything you’ve done, you’ve done on your own. But now he’s here and in front of you and you are practically buzzing with the urge to vent your frustration at him.

“Why didn’t I hear from you?”  

You hope like hell you’re the only one who can hear the thread of insecurity in your voice.  “You had the burner number and I just -- never heard from you again. And now you’re in my house.”

“I know,” he admits.  His fingers keep lacing together, unlacing. “I know it’s really fucked up to just ambush you like this. It’s just that shit got really hairy for me in Nicaragua. These guys stole my phone.”

“But you managed to call Yoongi,” you snap.

“Well yeah,” he fires back. “We’ve known each other since we were kids.  I’ve had his number for years. I got in touch with him as soon as I could get my hands on a new burner.”

You tell yourself to relax.

You tell yourself that it’s a totally plausible explanation and put a hand to your forehead as though you expect to be able to feel your temperature coming down.  As though you’ll be able to feel the anger draining out of you until all that’s left is the relief that he’s here, that he’s okay.

You take a deep breath, release the tension that’s had you wound so tight.

“I left the bureau.”

Jungkook’s eyes widen.

“Holy shit,” he breathes, “Did they -- Did I -- “

“Don’t give yourself too much credit,”  you cut in, rolling your eyes. “It wasn’t really about you.  Not all of it, anyway.”

He opens his mouth to say something, but thinks better of it. There is a melancholy in his eyes that unnerves you.

You’ve seen him cocky and arrogant and unrepentant and flirtatious. But this — this hat-in-hand version of him, devoid of his trademark bravado is so disconcerting.  

He looks away from you, back down to his hands.  You wrap your arms around yourself and take a moment to just look at him, to appreciate his striking face.  You think back to the first time you saw that face, how dumbfounded you’d been by his physical appearance.

Then he opened his mouth and your fate was sealed.

One way or another this debacle ends in just a few short hours.

The rational part of you craves a conclusion to this insanity, an end to the near-constant anxiety you’ve felt for months now.  But there’s the other part of you that worries this will end with Jungkook behind bars for the rest of his life. You don’t know if you’re ready to accept that just yet.

“Can you um --“ Jungkook wets his lips, “-- can you come sit with me?”

“Yeah,” you agree quietly.  

You cross the room and slide next to him on the couch.  

He reaches for your hands, but does not meet your eyes.  His fingers stroke over your wrists and not for the first time you wonder how he manages to make the most simple touches feel so good.

“You asked me one time,” he starts quietly, “about why I quit school. And I -- “

“Don’t -- ” you interrupt, “-- you don’t owe me an explanation.”

He shakes his head.

“Uh yeah,” he chuckles cynically.  “Yeah, I do. I owe you pretty much any explanation you want at this point.”

You look down at where your hands are joined, down to where Jungkook is rubbing the calloused pad of one thumb against your palm.

“My mom got sick.  And it didn’t feel right to stay in school when I could be working and helping to bring in some money.”

You remember the dig you made at him -- the way his face had shuttered -- and you feel an acute pang of guilt.

“I’m so s --”

“No, listen to me please,” he says adamantly.  “She’s doing a lot better now and I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. But I need you to know that for every good thing I’ve ever done, I have done something equally as fucked up. And I just want -- “

He exhales heavily, scrubs one hand along his jaw.

“ -- I just want you to know that this shit with the money and the running is just some of me. I’ve done some really stupid shit but that’s not all I am.”  He leans closer to you, pins you with that bottomless gaze.  “I need you to understand that. Am I making any sense?”

You swear you can feel your heart squeeze in response.

“Yeah, you are,” you say softly.  He reaches one hand out to cup your cheek.

“So can I kiss you now or are you still mad at me?”

You’re tempted to tease him but he looks so unsure of himself in this moment that you resist.  You look down at yourself, remember you are still in sweaty running gear and cringe imagining what you must look like at this moment.

“I’m gross,” you protest in a whisper.

He leans closer, mouth hovering just over yours.

“Ask me if I care.”

******************************

Jungkook at least has the decency to let you shower before taking to you bed.

But just barely.

The second you are clean and dry he’s on you, mouth and hands everywhere at once.  Your skin -- already warm from the hot water -- heats even more under his touch.

He’s different tonight you think, as you lie back on your bed and his lips work up the column of your throat.  There’s a determination to the way he’s holding you, an urgency to the way he’s pressing his body against yours.  

You stroke your hands down his back, feel the answering ripple of muscle underneath your fingertips.  His body is leaner than it was in Puerto Rico and the realization sparks a sad throb in your chest.  

Nicaragua must have been a lot tougher than he’s letting on.

But then his lips skate across your collarbone and you force yourself to push the thought from your mind. Whatever happened to him there is over.  He’s here and he’s okay and he is literally on top of you and that’s the only thing you want to think about right now.

“I missed you,” he whispers and a shudder runs up your spine in response.  

You rake your nails against his nape, fingers teasing his freshly cut hairline and he makes a satisfied groan against your mouth, pressing his hips firmly into yours.

It’s impossible at this point to ignore the nudge of his hard cock against your stomach.  You snake a hand between your bodies to wrap warm fingers around his pulsing length and he pulls back to suck in a pained breath.

“Jungkook, I -- “ you start to speak, but an uncomfortable tickle in the back of your throat stops you.  He opens his eyes to look down at you.

“You okay?”

Hell no, you’re not okay.  

It feels like if you open your mouth to answer him, you’ll cry and you are not a crier and he’s looking at you expectantly, waiting for you to say something -- anything.

“Yeah, I just…um,” you stumble over your words and it takes a moment for that uncomfortable feeling to subside long enough for you to speak. You have to wait until your voice comes out even and controlled before you can finish.

“I missed you, too,” you say, finally.

His lips curve into a small smile.  

“I know you did.”

He drops his mouth down to pull at one soft nipple with his lips and teeth.  You sigh, arching into his touch.

The soft exhalation seems to set Jungkook off, makes the steady grind of his hips pick up in speed.  He tongues at your nipples until they are aching and hard then slips a finger into your channel to test your wetness.

He brings his mouth close to your ear, breath warm against the shell.

“I can feel just how much you missed me,” he teases in a low voice.

Arrogant bastard.  He’s right, though.  

You huff a laugh as his fingers work in and out of you slowly, drawing out your wetness. He covers your mouth with his as his thumb rubs slow circles against your clit and you moan into his kiss.

“Fuck me,” you say quietly and you feel the tremors that run down his back at your words.  “Please,” you beg, “I don’t want to wait anymore.”

Jungkook kisses you again -- long and hard -- before pulling away to grab a condom from his jeans.  

You take the moment to appreciate how handsome he is, chest covered in a sheen of sweat, lean body tense with the need for release.  You watch the corded bands of his arms move as he crawls back onto the bed, sheathed and ready. He leans his weight on his forearms and the muscles in his shoulders become even more prominent as he lines his body up with yours.

You lift your head to suck at the hollow of his neck just as you feel the blunt tip of his cock nudge your entrance.  

“Do it, Jungkook,” you moan, rolling your hips against him. “ Now.”

He groans as he obliges you, pushing slowly inside and you brace your hands around the tight muscles of his arms until you can feel him anchored deep.  

“Fuck,” he whispers. “Every time it’s like I forget how good you feel.”

Strange how you were just thinking the same thing -- thinking about how no one else has ever pulled these responses out of you.  It’s like your body knows this man -- like it knew him way before your brain ever did.

He rocks into you slowly, deeply, pelvis flush with yours each time he strokes to the hilt.  His pace is languorous and it makes your entire body feel heavy with pleasure. You wrap your legs around him tight, willing him deeper even though you know that’s not possible.

The painfully unhurried rhythm is so, so good , but it’s not enough.  

Not when you can feel the threat of your release building between your legs and you need more to get you there.  You angle your hips up, trying to capture more of the friction.

Jungkook takes the hint, moving one hand to cup your ass. He pulls you into each snap of his hips, forces you to take every inch on every thrust.

“Come for me,” he pants. “I can’t hold out much longer.”

You can only whine your response, too fucked out at this point to form sentences.  It takes just a few more deep, desperate thrusts to make you start to unravel. Jungkook lets go the instant he feels you start to quiver around him and he doesn’t back off, lacing his fingers into yours and pinning you down into the mattress with the full force of his body.

Once the loud moaning and desperate movements slow to a stop, he drops his forehead down on yours.

The two of you breathe each other’s air for a while until your chests stop heaving and your hearts stop pounding.

***********************

“When does this all go down?” you whisper, cheek pressed to Jungkook’s chest.  

You’ve spent the last five minutes enjoying a warm, comfortable silence.

But that hasn’t stopped your mind from wandering back into worry.

Jungkook presses the length of your body into his side with one firm hand. You feel him tense when you ask the question.

“10 AM.”

“10 AM,” you echo numbly.  

“Yeah,” he whispers, stroking lazy patterns with his fingers down your back.  

“So,” he clears his throat. “Are you...ready to talk about what’s going on here?”

You’re glad that from this angle he can’t see your reaction, can’t see the flush that spreads over your face.

“No,” you mumble childishly.

“You’re such a brat,” he teases, dropping a kiss on your hair. “So fine. I’ll do the talking then.  I met someone.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. She’s got her head on straight, and…” he trails off for a moment.  “...she’s got me thinking about how I can get my head on straight, too.”

You smile into his skin.

“What’s she like?”

“Well, she’s a lot of different things at once. Kinda feisty, super smart, very cool,” he murmurs.  “Unemployed, but hey — no one’s perfect.”

Your shoulders shake with laughter.

“Is she hot?”

“Nah,” he teases, and he jumps when you pinch his stomach.  “Way better than hot. She’s beautiful. And she’s into me.  Really, really into me.”

Your cheeks heat but you keep the tone light.

“How do you know she’s not just using you for sex?”

“Well in the beginning she was,” he chuckles. “But then she showed up for me in a big way. A really big way. So even though it’s really hard for her to come out and say how much she likes me, I already know. She’s already shown me.”

That uncomfortable itch in your throat returns when he says that. It’s so weird to be understood so thoroughly by someone you barely know.

“She sounds pretty amazing,” you say after the sensation subsides long enough for you to speak.

“Yeah, she is,” he whispers. “So I’m gonna go to this meeting tomorrow morning and try to fix the mess I’ve made. Cause maybe now I have a reason to stop being such a reckless asshole.”

You screw your eyes shut and will the unexpected tears that spring to your eyes not to fall.

“10 AM, right?”

He drops another kiss into your hair and pulls your body in closer.

“Yeah. 10 AM.”

**********************

[astudyinfreewill]

I posted 6,235 times in 2021

378 posts created (6%)

5857 posts reblogged (94%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 15.5 posts.

I added 7,310 tags in 2021

#spn - 3371 posts

#dean winchester - 830 posts

#destiel - 705 posts

#castiel - 556 posts

#deancas - 439 posts

#spn cast - 398 posts

#art - 309 posts

#fanart - 261 posts

#jensen ackles - 224 posts

#ambra.txt - 217 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#prev tags it’s the ‘you are not you’ for me hands down. how do you know someone so intimately that at one glance at their soul you can tell

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

I took the boys, said good-bye to Missouri, and got the hell out of Lawrence. If I never go back, it'll be too soon. Not for Dean, though. The first thing he wanted to know was when we would go home. But we don't have a home anymore, Dean. The sooner you get used to that, the better. We don't have a home until we find what killed your mother.

John Winchester’s diary, November 16th 1983

1017 notes • Posted 2021-01-14 12:17:08 GMT

#4

the gaslighting experience of being a supernatural fan includes being accused of being a conspiracy theorist for suggesting that the cw might be silencing the cast only for one of the main actors to reveal that THEE WARNER BROTHERS literally silenced him

1272 notes • Posted 2021-03-16 19:54:18 GMT

#3

“did you get fucked by a whole baseball team dean” is the new “did you fuck the michael sword castiel”. send post

2470 notes • Posted 2021-02-18 23:16:52 GMT

#2

so you're telling me that the moment castiel came back from the empty dean INSTANTLY turned from a miserable depressed bastard into little mr sunshine?? and you’re telling me that all it took was cas coming back to restore his faith and optimism in life and to even suddenly see jack as family?? asshole to nurturing parent in the blink of an eye??

and on a separate note: you’re telling me that the moment jack mentioned dodge city and dean got all excited it was castiel who locked eyes with him and immediately got a look of alarmed recognition that oh no dean has entered cowboy fetish mode?? castiel, and not sam who literally grew up with dean and should be infinitely more aware of his cowboy kink? just HOW many cowboy movies did dean force cas to watch?? was that their only downtime activity?? (as a result of that-- you’re telling me cas put on a silly little hat and then said the silly little line from dean’s silly little movie?? just like THAT?? just to make dean happy, which it visibly did???)

but hang on you’re also telling me that cas told jack not to wake dean up because somehow he knows dean’s an “angry sleeper” despite the fact that that’s not exactly established canon? and then made dean coffee?? and then waited patiently and penitently for dean to drink his coffee??

and wait let me just backtrack for a second you’re actually also telling me that dean told cas “welcome home” before wrapping him in his arms in the middle of a deserted road? and that when asked how long he was gone he only said “too damn long”?? and then went on to crow about what a big damn win it was to have cas back with such obnoxiously relentless cheer that even sam was baffled?? because this is embarrassing now. i am embarrassed for him. it is embarrassing to witness

3718 notes • Posted 2021-01-03 23:08:57 GMT

#1

anyway i just think it’s interesting that castiel’s possessed-by-an-archangel-and-trapped-in-his-own-mind contentment fantasy is hanging out in the winchesters’ kitchen and dean’s possessed-by-an-archangel-and-trapped-in-his-own-mind contentment fantasy is hanging out at his bar waiting for sam and cas to come home.

so, for dean, contentment is being in a place he calls his own, where he can shelter and feed the people he loves. for cas, contentment is being in the place dean calls his home, specifically the place where dean shelters and feeds the people he loves (we know he does the cooking at the bunker).

it’s worth noting that neither of these fantasies constitute a happy ending. they’re more a situation of stasis, of “bare minimum requirements” for contentment, as i mentioned in my 14x10 meta. cas is in the winchesters’ kitchen, but they themselves are not there. dean is waiting for sam and cas, but they never seem to arrive (until real life sam and cas show up). the common thread? they both want something they subconsciously think they can never have. 

specifically, dean wants to be somebody’s home, and wants people to come back to him and stay with him, and he’s willing to be that for somebody -- that’s what makes him feel content and at peace -- but on some level, he doesn’t believe people will ever choose to make a home in him. cas, on the other hand, wants to be invited into a home, wants to be part of dean’s (and sam’s, but mostly dean’s lbr) life, but he doesn’t really believe that that’s ever in the cards for him. we never really see him settle down in a room of his own in the bunker, so he hangs out in the kitchen, where a guest would stay.

and they’re always waiting for each other. and they don’t believe the other will meet them in the middle. but the distant, unspoken hope that they might is enough to create a place of contentment for them.

4371 notes • Posted 2021-01-12 12:14:08 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[thetaoofzoe]

Fic Pt 7: Which part of her do you want, August Walker?

Summary: You are a medic and a member of what’s left of  The Apostles. August is healing well and the plans for destroying the IMF team are coming together. 

Ilsa is the first to go down and you’re going to relish every moment. 

Word Count: 1178

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Want to start from the beginning of this challenge? This challenge needs to be read in order. Click to get started with the first prompt entry.

Prompt 01 - Please Come Back, August Walker

Prompt 02 - Hello August Walker I heard you were dead

Prompt 03 - Watch your hands, August Walker! People might talk

Prompt 04 - Don’t talk to me, or August Walker again

Prompt 05 - Does August Walker Even remember you?  

Prompt 06 - How do you like your coffee August Walker  💖NEW💖

The thumping down the stairs distracted you from your work. Smiling a little, you got up and poured a fresh cup of coffee and sat it on the table across from you. Then as an afterthought, you got up again and plated a few chocolate Hobnobs that Mr. Instant Coffee had bought with the weekly grocery. You had barely put the plate down before August appeared in the kitchen doorway.

Seeing the mid-morning snacks waiting for him, he smiled a little and now down to one crutch from two, he hobbled into the kitchen and sat down in his usual spot across from you.

'Look at you, speedster,' you teased.

August's brows rose with pleasure, but he smothered his growing smile by lifting his cup and drinking the coffee.

'I prefer your coffee to the other one,' said August, raising his eyes to meet yours.

You hesitated to meet his gaze, and when you did, the praise in his face melted you.

August quickly looked away and down at the plans on the table between the two of you.

'So, tell me.'

He gestured with the cup to the papers.

You grinned, feeling pleased with your progress.

'Ilsa. I finally got a bead on her. And I will be travelling to her location today.'

'Today?' he asked, sounding surprised and your brows drew together a little.

'Too soon? I mean.. do you want to come?'

August shook his head and suddenly looked concerned.

'I don't want you rushing into something.'

Ah, was that it? 

You reached out to tap the back of his hand with your index finger. 

'Whilst I thoroughly enjoy your concern, there's no need for it. Do you umm, want a trophy? An eyeball? A finger?'

August was clearly surprised, and your offer startled a laugh out of him.

'No,' he said, shaking his head. 'No, I don't want any of that. But ah... I appreciate your vigour.'

You smiled at him.

'You sure?'

He laughed a little, again, and asked, 'And your flight?'

'Coupla hours,' you replied checking your wristwatch.

'And your plan?'

'Delicious,' you promised.

And it was.

**

Los Angeles was hot and sweltering and you were much less prepared for the weather as you had hoped . But you didn't let that deter you, for you had a mission to accomplish. 

You found the target sitting at a table beneath a colourful umbrella at a crowded outdoor cafe. 

Carrying a load of bags from emblazoned with names of high-end shops you stopped by her table and made a show of looking into the cafe and then down at the chair across from her.

She looked up at you and you tried a smile.

'Hi, I am sooo sorry, but do you mind if I just sit here. I am dying in this heat!'

As you were actually dying in the southern heat, you knew that you came across sincerely. She took a moment to consider you. Judging you harmless, she nodded to the chair and you collapsed onto it gratefully.

'Oh, thank you, honey. That's so good of you. I thought I was going to get all of my shopping over and done with before noon, but you know how it is. Just one more shop, one more try on.... maybe they got those shoes in the back in your size, right? Am I right?

You giggled easily and she nodded, then glanced into the cafe.

'I gotta wear these gloves to that my hands don't tan,’ you said. ‘There's nothing worse than having your arms one colour and your hands 5 shades darker.'

Ignoring you, she raised her hand hoping to alert the waiter standing inside.

He eased up to the table.

'Yes ma'am.'

'I ordered my...'

'Yes, I know ma'am. We are working on it right now, please give us some time. The broiler is currently holding on by a thread. May I offer you a cold drink? On the house?'

You looked at her and she sighed.

'Sure, go on. You want one?'

Her attention was on you.

You shrugged.

'Sure! I'll have what she's having.'

When the waiter left, you looked appreciatively after him.

'He's cute.'

The two of you chatted amiably for a little while and the waiter returned with your drinks. You immediately sipped at the fizzy fruit drink and put your glass down next to hers.

'Are you single?' you asked the waiter.

He looked at you for a long moment and then smiled.

'A single pringle,' he replied and you laughed.

'I should come back after your shift, shouldn't I.'

'You should,' he said, winking and returned to the inside part of the cafe.

Ilsa gave you  probing look and you smiled.

'Striking whilst the iron is hot, kiddo,' you said.

Several minutes later someone inside shouted, 'Janie Fellows?'

The woman across from you stirred and then stood up.

'Finally,' she said and went inside to pick up her order.

You watched her go and quickly, unobtrusively, you dumped the contents of your travel perfume bottle into your glass, stirred it, and then moved it closer to her place setting. You pulled her undoctored glass towards you.

Ilsa returned with a plate brimming with meat and salad and set it on her placemat.

'Looks good,' you said admiring the dish. 'I might get one, but I do need to get on, I think.'

'You can stay as long as you like,' she assured you and began her meal.

You ordered another drink and sat and chatted whilst she ate.

You were in the middle of a long drawn out story about your imaginary husband when she stopped devouring the rare steak.

Ilsa dropped her fork and you turned towards her.

'Something wrong?' you asked, faux concern in your voice as you let your natural accent slip. 'You've gone quite pale... Janie.'

Ilsa’s wide eyes shot up to your face and she spat out her chewed mouthful.

'I probably overdosed you,' you said quietly. 'I mean, you were ten pounds heavier the last time I checked. But you and your hot yoga classes have done wonders. I might take it up myself.'

Eyes bulging as the poison squeezed closed her throat, Ilsa gurgled and staggered upright. The chair screeched on the concrete, fell away and you got up.

'August Walker says, hello,' you snarled at her. Then changing your attitude to something more helpless you shouted, 'Oh My God! I think she's having a seizure, help, help!'

A crowd began to form allowing you to slip away, but not before giving the thumbs up to Mr. Instant Coffee who had posed as your waiter who had perfectly distracted the mark enough for you to poison her drink.

**

'Went well, I take it?' August asked when you bustled into the kitchen the next morning.

There was coffee waiting for you at your usual spot. 

You threw your arms round his neck and gave him a hearty kiss in greeting.

'Better than you could ever imagine!' you crowed and left him in stunned silence.

continued in part 8

[wistfulwisteriawitch]

Arthur Morgan x Lilith Vallent OC: Vas Ura (My One)/ Vas Soluna (My Bonded) Part 01 Chapter 03: Colter

Part 01 Chapter 03: Colter

I managed to get myself set up, knowing we’d actually be going after John since he was still missing. Attaching the leather over bust corset riddled with knives as well as the leather leg guards I exhaled, it would be interesting to see what they thought of our way of doing things but they seemed rather accepting thus far.

And as we moved to go out, Abigale grabbed my sleeve. “Miss Vallent?”

“Yes Abigale?”

“John…”

“Oh the gentleman that you said was your sons father?”

“Yes…”

Arthur had walked into the room and was warming himself by the fire. “Where’s little John gotten off to?”

“Arthur he hasn’t been seen in a couple days, I fear the worst.”

“John is fine, he gets himself out of scrapes all the time.” Arthur huffed. "Granted he could throw himself on the ground and miss so that's a feat in and of itself."

I cocked a brow, “I’ll go find him.” I pat her arm, “I can track him.”

Arthur groaned, “I’ll go with ya.”

“How kind.” I grinned as I walked by, Hosea nudged me as I sidled by with a smirk and a whispered thank you.

“I’ll come too!” Javier noted. “John would do the same for me and Arthur.”

“Sure, might be good considering the wolves.”

“Wolves?” Javier asked as we mounted up.

I nodded, after ensuring I had everything needed including shotgun with slugs. “Yes, alright you two, flank me, head forward in a V position, and try to keep it unless we head up the mountain, in that case line up.” With that I spurred Luna into a gallop. “Let’s go! Belladonna shadow!”

“Aye Milady!” And with that her horse charged off into the wilderness.

“Shadow?” Arthur inquired as we moved at a quick pace.

“She’ll scout ahead, and send Aristotle if she finds something.”

“And that is—“ A screech above as a Ferrugius Hawk soared past.

“She is skilled in Falconry, her family learned for many years in her home country. Normally their line uses Peregrine, but him...he's been with Belladonna alone, and each member has their own Falcon breed. Birds like that are the largest of hawks to be used for Falconry. And he is quite protective. She found him in Mexico.”

“Ha!” Javier seemed a bit stunned, “you all keep surprising us.”

“We are a surprising people. Javi.” I managed to find John’s trail and exhaled, “fuck he went up the mountain.” Just like the game.

Arthur rolled his eyes, “just like him to have someone dig his ass out of snow.”

I sighed, “Arthur take the middle, Javier take the front, I’ll watch the back.” And with a chiding look as he glanced over his shoulder. “This is what family does.” I noted as we lined up and began to trek up the mountainside, myself taking the end. “Javier do you see where the trail picks up?”

“Yes, he headed up this way.”

“We’ll have to leave the horses.” Arthur noted and I agreed, we got off and began to make our way further along a cliffside. “John!” Javi shouted.

“HELP! DOWN HERE!”

With that I took off, making sure to keep my movements swinging forward to help me trudge through the snow faster. “Mister Marston?” I called finding him on the ledge. “Awe poor puppy.”

“Puppy?! Who in the fuck are you?”

“A friend. Hold the fuck still. We don’t need you bleeding and bringing a bear. Wolves are a pain in the ass enough.” I gathered what I needed from my satchel and made him down a few tonics and salved him up with an antiseptic solution of old mans beard and golden thread. “That will have to do for now, I’ll need to draw any infection out at the cabin. Alright, come on.” I gripped under his arm and hauled him up. “Arthur!”

They were there reaching for him, Arthur laughing, “well now Marston, looks like ya got yer head ate by wolves. How much’a yer brains did they get?”

“Shut up Morgan.”

“You gonna have to come up with a better story for those scars.”

“Getting half eaten by wolves ain’t enough?”

“We got company gentlemen!” I shouted, ”Javier, Arthur— get him to the horses!”

“I got you.” Arthur had one shot down in seconds as the others charged down the slope.”

“BELLA!” A shrill whistle as a large hawk circled over head and dove into the eyes of one of the wolves screeching.

A black streak of horse and woman charged forward from behind us as she leapt off it's back, her body clad in leather padding as she took the tackle of a she-wolf head on while I dodged and sliced a death blow to a jugular. “Come on ya wee bitch!” Bella roared plunging a blade into it’s throat.

Aristotle soared high, blood splattering from his talons and across his feathers as Bella let out a snarl of glee when the final wolf was downed by a blade thunked into it’s throat.

Arthur shot down the final one, sighing and glancing at the two of us. “Remind me never to make her angry.” He mused as Bella ruffled Aristotle’s feathers and set him loose again, “that is a big bird.”

“He’s a beauty inn’e?” Bella asked fluffing her hair out and wiping blood off her face. “We ready?”

“Yes, John how you holding up?” I asked.

“Feel drunk.”

“Good that means it’s working.”

“Oh joy.” Was the sarcastic reply.

We managed to make it down the mountain, Belladonna staying to get the meat and pelts from the wolves.

“She gonna be alright?” Javier asked.

“Worry about the woodland creatures who piss her off.” I laughed.

“Bella?” Belial asked as we rode in, “ah…hunting.” He chuckled and walked off back towards the kitchen area.

Arthur sighed and leaned over to speak to me, “watch the golden boy not get a scolding despite holding up a job.”

Dutch of course was ecstatic John was back and Arthur rolled his eyes.

“Siblings?” I asked smiling.

“We both was raised by Dutch and Hosea. They taught us to read.”

“Awe, I can see that.” I smiled wide at him, and he returned with a shy smile back. He gets a bit of a playful look, “you know for someone so small you sure as hell take up a lot of space.” He sniffs and cocks a brow.

“You know for someone so big you can curl up on the edge of a bed real easy. Next time just huggle-up and I won’t have to latch on like a damn possum.”

It was the first time he genuinely laughed. “I’ll remember that little wolf.” He was glancing over my gear and had a look of confusion.

“Leather, protects quite well.”

“What ya goin to war?” He poked my arm guards and outer leg guards as well as the leather corset flicking a knife handle.

“Life is war.” I tilted my head.

“Hmph, ain’t that just bout right.”

As I was about to ask what he meant Belladonna zoomed into camp with furs and blood all over her. “I’m back!” She said prancing off her stallion Bairn.

I chuckled, “welcome back sister.”

“Didja see the pelt on that she-wolf?” She crowed tugging it off her horse, “it’s like ya hair milady, I should make a new cloak and we can trade.”

“I would like that thank you Bella.” She grinned and whistled for Aristotle who landed on her thickly gloved forearm. “There’s a good boy.”

Everyone in camp balked.

“Wah ya never seen’a damn bird afore?” She scoffed. “Come on pretty boy.” She was feeding him strips of wolf, “lessee what ya da is up ta.”

I rolled my eyes. “You get used to her.”

“Body can get used to anything…”

“Even hanging.” I finished and we laughed walking over to Hosea and Dutch.

“Got anymore maidens that need saving?” Arthur asked.

“No,” Hosea chuckled. “Thanks you three.”

“Javier tipped his hat and walked off as Arthur joined me in the cabin where Abigale tended to Marston.

“Alright, lemme work.” I shooed most people away, and grinned. “Marston this is gonna hurt like a bitch.”

“Ya aint gotta look like ya gonna enjoy it!”

Arthur chuckled, “I will.”

“Of course you would.” John muttered.

I forced willow bark tea down his throat, irrigated the wound with stinging solutions of horsetail and once it was cleaned I made a salve and packed it with bandages. “Don’t touch it. You’ll have a mark but congratulations you were chosen to bear them by a powerful creature. In our ways it means you are protected.”

“Sure felt like that when they bit me.”

“They could have killed you.” I said softly. “But they did not. They left. Think upon that. I do not play with coincidence or dice to tell me my fate rather that things happen for a reason.”

John pondered and cracked a slight grin. “Guess so.”

“Either way, get rest, I shall have Bel bring food, you need to gather your strength to heal.”

“Thank you.” Abigale clutched my hand tight and I nodded, “let Jack see his Pa.” I leveled a gaze at John, “I am sure he was quite worried for his father.”

John seemed to squirm under my direct gaze and I softened it before leaving.

“What was that?”

“It seemed there was some tension in regards to little Jack.” I said.

“That obvious?” Arthur huffed an annoyed sound.

“Yes, but Marston is young, he can learn.”

Arthur glanced me up and down, “hm.” Was all he said.

I really wished I could get into his head sometimes.

— - - - - - - - - - - -

Arthur grumbled, “some people learn too late.” And he walked away, his chest heavy with memories long past. “Other’s should be so lucky.”

She caught his hand, “Arthur, despite that lessons can be passed down to prevent more pain.” Her voice is soft, and that damned look she gives him— it’s not pity, he couldn’t stand it if it was but this is somehow worse— she has an air of understanding, an acceptance about her with him as if whatever he lays at her feet is perfectly fine.

“Maybe so.”

That hand retreats, she seems to be thinking as she chews her bottom lip looking at her feet for a moment.

“S-sorry I know I probably—“

“S’fine.” He assured her rubbing the back of his neck. “Just a hang up he and I have had.”

Lilith nodded, “my brother and I had something similar happen.”

“Oh?”

“Yes…but we managed to talk it out.” Arthur lets out a bark of harsh laughter.

“Me and him? Talk? Shoot, ya ain’t known us long but ya gonna see that’s a bit hard for us Van der Linde boys.”

“Oh that’s plain as day Mister Morgan. But as I said, everyone can learn.” A wink as she sauntered off.

“Damn woman.” He grumbles to himself striking a match on his boot to light up a smoke. He couldn’t make heads or tails of her as she checked in with Dutch and asked him several questions, Dutch did seem to be in a better mood, and she was always checking in with him— she said the word was deference. She acknowledged he was leader. But she herself led the two people she had.

Arthur had to admit the way she did things did scream leadership. It was rare to see such things. There wasn’t anything she herself wouldn’t do that she’d ask of others. Mucking a stall, hunting, ensuring people were clothed, mending, healing…Dutch hadn’t done that for a long time but he did get his hands dirty when needed.

It further solidified Arthur’s ideology that if women ran shit it might be a mite better, he glanced at Susan who was chatting with Hosea before she went off to screech at someone for not working hard enough.

Belladonna walked up to him and grinned, offering her hawk, “wanna pet’im, seems ta like ya.”

Arthur was never one to pass up petting an animal.

Shit he’d pet a bear if it wouldn’t rip his damn arm off.

“Sure, Aristotle was it?”

“Mmhm. He had many ideas of the stars that man. Mi’lady said it suited because this hawk could damn near fly to them with these wings.” She kissed the hawk who let out a little chirping sound as Arthur placed a warm finger against it’s chest feathers. The big raptor fluffed his feathers and crooned, leaning forward and nudging Arthur’s hand.

“Here, he likes meat.”

“Here boy.” Aristotle took the piece and gulped it down and flapped his wings before Bella let him go. “He just nests somewhere?”

“Oh aye, he has a mate somewhere, but I canna catch her, she is too fierce. But she hunts with him and has never left his side. They keep the same mates their whole life.” She smiled up at the sky and sure enough, a smaller hawk circled with him swooping and gliding. “Quite a sight.”

“Sure is.” Arthur grinned. “You all keep any other animals?”

“Oh aye, you should see the family wolves.”

Arthur paused as he walked by, “beg pardon?” He furrowed his brow.

“Milady found a pack of wolves who’s cubs were abandoned. She took them all in, they are the sweetest, deadly, but they are the comfiest things to snuggle with. Sometimes all four of them are with her.”

“And these are….ah…”

“No here. They in the wilds probably hunting, somewhere up north west in the Grizzlies. They look different, no from here. Timber wolves from the west. Darker coats. Then the wolf dogs…all except for Talla—they look like they wolf kin. She is almost a strawberry color but she’s half wolf and half some big dog from Alaska.”

“Been round a lot.”

“Aye, we been all over. The wolves are bout five or so now. Talla and her siblings are with her brothers, she breeds them.”

“Breeds wolves.”

“Just for the family.”

“Ah.” This family got weirder and weirder, “they guard? The wolves not the half breed ones.”

“No no, wolves are quite timid despite people thinking they fierce, unless the family is attacked, they no just go about attacking randomly, Talla and her siblings though, they were bred with a type’a dog that will protect their master anywhere, any time. Talla especially, her mate is a full wolf, but she is far fiercer than he.”

Arthur laughed, “you talk like they people.”

“You talk to yer horse like it’s people.”

She had him there. He kicked at the snow. “Never knew an animal to dislike it.”

Belladonna grinned, “you ken for a scary bastard, ye pretty nice.”

“Don’t know nuthin bout that.” Arthur snorted as he walked off.

Dinner was a lighter affair now that John was back, everyone celebrated with some whiskey and a meal of wolf steaks and deer meat. Arthur watched as everyone milled around, chatted, and tried to liven their spirits, the deaths of ones close still loomed— as did the damn frost.

Some spring this turned out to be.

He glanced at the three strangers who had dropped into their lives as he scribbled.

It is rather strange to be in the company of wolves.

I find that they are a gentle people unless provoked, despite their appearances, the females are far more aggressive then their male counterparts, as Belial seems to have a very playful nature, they all do in fact. Shoving at one another as they walk in the snow to push the other into a drift. Or leaping onto one another’s backs as they run off.

I have only seen wolves play once, when I came across a den by accident when the welping season came. Indulgent and confident in my spot I had used binoculars to watch a game of tag played by the pack. It is of similar air.

Hosea is doing alright, but I know the dark haired woman named Lilith is concerned, he is coughing a lot, and his breathing is labored, he stays indoors mostly under her direction, and she’s been shoving tonics into his mouth whenever he allows it. Seeming hell bent on keeping him alive.

John is alright, a pain in my backside still, but he’s lucky to be alive. … We all are.

Not sure what in hell happened on that boat, but whatever it was it weren’t good. Charles heard that a girl died. Dutch outright shot her…saying it needed to be done….

That ain’t like him…

The red head reminds me of Sean, I wonder where that Irish bastard got off to. Knowing him he’s probably found trouble. Davey…Jenny….Both gone in a matter of weeks….We lost folks before but not like this— so needlessly. They are calling it the Blackwater Massacre.

This family is strange, stranger still is the kindness they show everyone. It is gentle, despite their steel hard spines and unwavering eyes…unnerving eyes.

Eyes that gleam when they look at ya, like a beast’s catching firelight in the dark.

She looked at Micah as if he were nothing but an ant to be pitied for facing a mountain.

Wonder what that’s like….ain’t never said I was confident, I can fight with the best of em…

But I have a feeling this woman could give me a run for my money…

Half inclined to piss her off and find out…

[whosxafraid]

NAME: Crow

ALIAS(ES)/HANDLE(S): Crow

ARE YOU OVER 18?  Yes  /  No

IS  YOUR MUSE?  Yes / No

WHEN  WAS YOUR BLOG ESTABLISHED?   03/25/17

– W R I T I N G –

ARE YOU SELECTIVE ABOUT WHO YOU WRITE WITH ON THIS BLOG? No (anyone)  /  Semi (most people) /  Yes (some people)  /  Highly (few people)  /  Private (mutuals only)

ARE YOU SELECTIVE ABOUT WHO YOU FOLLOW ON THIS BLOG? No (anyone) /  Semi (most people) / Yes (some people) /  Highly (few people)  /  Private (mutuals only)

IF YOUR MUSE IS CANON, HOW MUCH DO YOU ADHERE TO CANON? Not at all  /  A little (Headcanons)  /  Some  /  Mostly  /  Strictly  /  Not Applicable

WHAT POST LENGTHS DO YOU WRITE? One Liners  /  Single-Para  /  Multi-Para  /  Novella

DO YOU USE ICONS AND/OR GIFS? No  /  Gifs  /  Icons  /  Yes

DO YOU WRITE ON OTHER PLATFORMS? No  /  Yes

WHAT LEVEL OF PLOTS DO YOU WRITE? Unplotted  /  Open-Ended Plots (set up a meeting and see what happens) /  Semi-Plotted (one or two steps ahead)  / Fully Plotted Epics (plotted beginning, middle, and end)

HOW QUICKLY DO YOU USUALLY RESPOND TO THREADS? Very Slow (more than a month) Sorry!  /  Slow (3-4 weeks)  / Average (1-2 weeks)  /  Fast (less than one week) /  Very Fast (less than three days)  /  It depends ( sometimes i am fast sometimes i am slow)

WHAT TYPES OF THEMES DO YOU LIKE? (feel free to add!) Fluff /  Angst  /  Smut /  Violence / Tragedy  /  Domestic  /  Family  / Conversational / Action

WHAT GENRES DO YOU LIKE? (feel free to add!) High Fantasy  /  Supernatural  /  Science-Fiction  /  Historical /  Horror  /  Comedy /  Romantic  / Smut  /  Drama  /  Action  /  Adventure  /  Espionage /  Crime

ARE THERE ANY THEMES YOU’RE UNCOMFORTABLE WRITING ON YOUR BLOG? (not triggers) No  /  Yes  /  Sometimes (Underage smut mainly.)

DO YOU HAVE ANY TRIGGERS?  HOW DO YOU REQUEST IT TAGGED? No  / Yes, the list is in my rules.

– S H I P P I N G –

WHAT TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS ARE YOU OPEN TO? Romantic /  Platonic  /  Familial (if it’s discussed ahead of time)

WHAT TYPES OF PRE-ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS ARE YOU OPEN TO? Romantic /  Platonic  /  Familial / (PLOTTED AND FULLY DISCUSSED PRIOR TO ONLY)

DO YOU HAVE OTPS? No  /  Chemistry Only  /  YES

DO YOU HAVE NOTPS? No  /  YES

WHAT IS YOUR MUSE’S SEXUAL ORIENTATION? Heterosexual  /  Heteroflexible  /  Bisexual /  Pansexual  /  Homoflexible  / Homosexual  / Demisexual  / Sapiosexual  /  Asexual

WHAT IS YOUR MUSE’S ROMANTIC ORIENTATION?

Heteroromantic  /  Heteroflexible  / Biromantic /  Homoflexible /  Homoromantic / Panromantic  /  Demiromantic /  Sapioromantic /  Aromantic

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WRITING SMUT?

NO / Selectively (depending) /  Yes [SELECTIVE AF]  / I haven’t tried writing any yet but I’m up to it

HOW EARLY IN A RELATIONSHIP DO YOU SHIP ROMANTICALLY? Autoship /  During plotting  /  After a couple IC interactions  /  Several IC interactions/ Slow burn / Never

ARE YOU OPEN TO TOXIC SHIPS? No / Selectively / Yes

ARE YOU OPEN TO PROBLEMATIC SHIPS? (incest, canon history, age difference, complicated, etc.) No  /  Selectively (not underage) /  Yes

ARE YOU OPEN TO POLYSHIPPING? No  /  Selectively /  Yes  /  Maybe, I have to think about it

ARE YOU AN EXCLUSIVE SHIPPER? Never  / Sometimes (certain verses Luka is single ship) /  Yes

DOES CRACK SHIPPING EVER HAPPEN? No / Yes / SELECTIVELY / Not Applicable

Tagged by stolen from: @untamed-good-ole-boy

Tagging: are u reading this? TAG UR IT.

[andydaly]

Game of Thrones Trailer Recap For Real This Time

Okay!  So this is an actual for real no screwing around trailer this time.  The other little things that came out, the thing where the feather froze and then the thing where Arya looked up at the dragon, those were just teasers but this one here is a proper trailer and I will now endeavor to recap the shit out of it.  For reasons that continue to elude me, I am recapping Game of Thrones teasers, trailers and ultimately every episode of the final season.  It’s been a wild ride so far!  To recap my recaps, let me fill you in on my two very bold and correct predictions about the final season of Game of Thrones:

1. I predicted that all of humanity will be wiped out within the first five minutes of the first episode of the season and the rest of the show will follow the white walkers as they build a civilization on whatever planet this show takes place on (Earth?).

2.  I predicted that Arya is going to kill a dragon and then become a dragon. 

I’m happy to say that nothing I have seen in this new trailer challenged those predictions in any meaningful way.  Yes, this trailer features plenty of alive people doing things but all these  scenes can easily happen in the first five minutes of the first episode.  I concede that that will be a very frantic and haphazard five minutes of television, but all in all, I still think I’m right because nothing beats that zombie dragon. Period.  That zombie dragon is just going to kill everyone very very quickly.  And okay, maybe it’s more like ten minutes.  Are we really going to argue over five minutes?  It’s beneath both of us. 

That concludes the recap of my recaps.  Now onto… the recap! 

First off, this trailer is most notable for what it DOESN’T tell us about the new season, namely the year in which these new episodes will air.  So far, every teaser and trailer has simply said that the new season premieres April 14.  Many fans have speculated, probably correctly, that this is April 14, 2019 or, in other words, six weeks from now.  That is still the best guess but it’s very interesting that even in this longer look at the new season the year isn’t specified.  What exactly are they up to?  Seems like weird marketing to keep us guessing on the year.  But anyway…

The trailer opens with a young person running fearfully through a castle.  There’s a cutaway to an old dude walking in a graveyard-looking place and then another cutaway to that guy Varis looking bored at a meeting.  Meanwhile Arya is speaking poetically about death and then holds something up.  We can’t tell what it is but it’s probably a pinecone tied to a stick.  Scratch that, it’s definitely a pinecone tied to a stick.  Weirdly, she says that she looks forward to seeing the pinecone WHILE literally looking at the pinecone.  Is she losing her mind?  Or just so distracted by her desire to kill and become a dragon that she can’t think straight?  There’s no time to think too much about that question because now it’s time to look at ships! 

We cut to the deck of a ship where there’s a whole bunch of soldiers standing there ready to do something.  I have zero naval experience so take me with a grain of salt but in my opinion, there are too many soldiers on that boat.  It looks uncomfortable.  But again, no time to dwell on it.  This trailer moves fast!

We cut to a dungeony type place where three bearded guys are walking with a flaming sword.  I vaguely remember a flaming sword from last season.  What was the deal with that?  And who are these guys?  I don’t remember.  Weren’t they there when the dragon got shot down?  Is one of them the guy who’s been brought back to life multiple times?  Is it okay that I’m going to be recapping the new season of Game of Thrones and I can’t remember this kind of thing?  

Yeah, it’s probably fine.  I’ll bet when these dudes pop back up for the first time, there’ll be some context clues to help me out, right?  Plus my wife read the books and watched the first couple of seasons (which I didn’t) so she usually has a better idea of what’s going on.  I’ll ask her.  It’ll be fine.  You’re in good hands!

Then we see the handicapped boy, I want to say Bram?  He’s there with Samwell Tarly (I know that guy’s name.  See?  Good hands).  I’ll be honest, I kind of lost the thread on Bram a while ago.  I am unclear on his superpowers or how they’re going to help anyone.  He can see through a crow’s eyes?  Don’t get me wrong, I can’t do that and I would be psyched if I could, but mostly that whole guy just kind of confuses me and I’m a little worried that Samwell is wasting his time hanging out with him.  But I’m not about to tell Samwell Tarly what to do because that guy doesn’t care what anybody thinks about anything.  He does whatever.  The fuck.  He wants.  Every time.  Check the record.  Total rebel.

Next up, Cersei is standing next to an old guy.  She seems happy and good for her.  That poor lady has been through a lot.  

Then it’s Winterfell, spears, dragons and more dragons.  If your big hope going into this season was ‘more dragons!’, Game of Thrones has heard you!  If you would have preferred fewer dragons or you felt the amount of dragon content in previous seasons was just right, Game of Thrones has not heard you.  You were too quiet.  This looks like a very very dragony TV show.  

We see some getting ready for battle, some fighting, some kissing.  Meanwhile John Stark says some pretty obvious things about zombies.  Oh do they not tire?  Yeah I kind of guessed that when I noticed that they were DEAD ALREADY.  C’mon John!

Then it’s a bunch more dragon stuff and a whole lot of shots of people reacting to things we’re not seeing, which is hopefully just a trailer thing and not how it’s going to go in the actual show. I’ll be pissed if the actual show does what this trailer does and just cuts between people being upset about stuff and they never show you why.  I’m sure it won’t be like that.  Probably just a trailer thing, right?

We finally get a glimpse of Tyrion, who still has that big scar on his face.  If I were Peter Dinklage, I would have sidled up to the producers at lunch one day and said “hey guys, since there’s all kinds of magic and stuff in this world, maybe some warlock or whatever could heal the scar on Tyrion’s face and good ol’ Pete Dinklage could spend 45 minutes less in the make-up chair every morning.  Whaddaya say?”  And then if the producers said no, I’d play it off like a joke and spend the next few days making clear how lucky I felt to have the job.  That’s what I would do, but maybe Dinklage didn’t think of it because that scar is definitely still there.

The trailer ends with a bunch of badasses ready to throw down and then a, looks like a horse? steps into the frame.  I guess that’s the horse the main white walker guy rides.  Right?  Doesn’t he ride like a dead skeleton horse?  That’s probably what that was.  I’m pretty sure what happens is that main white walker guy rides up on his dead horse for the big battle at Winterfell and there’s a moment when it looks like there is about to be an epic sword battle and then he just points up in the sky and the zombie dragon swoops down and everyone dies.  I’m glad they didn’t show all that in the trailer but also they didn’t have to because I can see it very very clearly, like Bram seeing through the eyes of a crow.

If HBO releases more trailers. check back here to find out what you saw.  Otherwise I will see you either six weeks from now or else a year and six weeks from now or two years and six weeks or whenever they cough up this new season.  Okay bye!   

Here it is:

https://ew.com/tv/2019/03/06/george-rr-martin-game-of-thrones-season-8-interview/

[pleasurextreasure]

❜Cutlass ( pt. 4/?)

genre: Aristocrat!reader x Pirate!Jeno, ft. NCT Dream

warnings: all nct Dream members are above 18+, multi-chapter, swear words here and there throughout fic

word count: 1.3k

prompts: in which Jeno is cursed to live for three more years and only loving someone and expecting nothing in return can break it

a/n: why is lele attacking me with my biases like this ➵admin kiki // gif credit to: haecan

01 | 02 | 03 | Current | 05 | 06

Ξ r e q u e s t Ξ

“Is this what you do all day?” Your eyes on Mark’s fingers, noticing the way they tighten and loosen their grip with every turn he makes. His gaze is set on the open sea beyond you, not sparing a glance as he responds.

“It’s funner than it looks.”

“Is ‘funner’ a word?” You never heard such a word be used before, it didn’t seem like something you’d hear from the people you grew up around.

“Even if it wasn’t, I just made it up, okay? I’m smart like that,” he jokes, tapping his temple while finally turning his head to look at you. “Why are you out here, anyway? I’m pretty sure I gave you a shirt yesterday to stitch but I don’t have it on which means you’re not doing your job.”

“I ran out of thread.” You smugly reply, matching his tone. “Your Captain said he’ll buy me some more once we dock.”

“He’s buying you something?” Mark repeats, baffled. Never once during his time on this ship did he ever witness his Captain willingly buy or get something for someone other than himself.

“It’s not for me, if you think about it. It’s for you guys, really.” Your eyes reflexively squint from the sudden breeze, and you bring your arm up to shield your face. You notice how Mark is unaffected by this. “How long have you been on here?”

“Long enough to know Captain doesn’t do things without a favor in mind.” He smoothly answers, attention back on the water. “Some rough waves up ahead. Want to make yourself useful?”

Before you could reply with a snarky remark of how useful you have been, he continues on, “Go ask Jaemin if he can see anything.”

“If he can see anything?” You echo and he nods. “Where is he?”

“Crow’s nest.” He points his forefinger into the air, your eyes following where it was directing towards.

You were unsure of whether or not your gulp was audible.

⚓⚓

It had taken you some time to work up the courage to make your way up to the crow’s nest. Before you attempt, you tried calling Jaemin down to meet you on the deck. But to your dismay, he refused to come down, claiming he just couldn’t.

So there you were now, shakingly climbing up the ropes that lead to the structure he was perched in. With the high winds rattling your bones and the chilliness that nipped at you as you ascended the ropes, you were beginning to regret coming up this far.

“Oh my God you really came up here.” Your hear Jaemin exclaim as soon as you grasp onto the hole that served as entrance. He grabs you by the arms, heaving you upwards and onto the small platform. “Are you crazy?”

“You wouldn’t come down.” You argue, hands flying to opposite arms to rub them warm. You glare at him, “I just wanted to ask one simple question that wouldn’t have taken long to answer. Honestly, how hard is it to-”

Jaemin cuts your sentence short as he points behind you, a gleeful smile on his face, “Land ahoy!”

You gingerly turn to look at where he’s pointing to see a small strip of land far in the distance. Your previous anger diminishes as you grin widely, excitement bubbling inside you.

Jaemin claps your shoulder, sending you teetering forward. Your heart lurches at the sudden view of the deck and you flail to grab onto the handrails. You shriek, squeezing your eyes shut in a panic.

“Oh, shit, I’m sorry.” He quickly apologizes, helping you stand straight.

“You almost killed me.” You grit out, body wracking with nerves once again. “I almost died.”

“I know.” He sighs, head hung low as he shakes it. “I would have had to clean that up.”

⚓⚓

After your near-death experience and Jaemin’s wrongful joking, you found yourself walking along the loading docks of the land you ended up stopping at. You stray behind the obnoxiously loud crew, eyes scanning every shop and stand that lined the docks.

Back home, you only knew the sightings of the rich part of town. You were never allowed to stay close to surroundings such as these because of supposed thugs or beggers.

“We can break off here,” Jeno’s voice pulls you away from your short-lived admiring. You look through the group to find him already staring back at you. Your cheeks warm at the sight. “Meet back at dusk. No later or you’re left behind.”

The boys shout in response and break off, running off in pairs or by themselves to wherever they desired. You realize you’ve been left alone, and you begin to internally panic at this. If it were a place you knew well, you’d be fine but this was new territory you had no clue or knowledge about.

You glance around and see the retreating, lone figure of Jeno. Without a second thought, you pace yourself to catch up with his long, hurried pace. He looks to the side, noticing your presence before you’re even next to him.

“What are you doing?” He questions, eyebrow raised in curiosity.

“Walking?” You try, a shy smile gracing your lips. The way he rolls his eyes and shakes his head shows it doesn’t work on him. “I don’t know where I am, and I need guidance around here.”

“And you think I know this place?” He chuckles, causing your eyes to widen. “What? Just because we visit places doesn’t mean we actually know their names. I think this here is a first for me. I don’t know any of these shops.”

“Wait,” you grasp onto his shirt, catching him more than off guard, “you really don’t know where we are?”

The nervous look and the way your eyes grew in worry and gazed at him made Jeno feel weird inside. Admitfully, he didn’t dislike it.

“I’m joking, sheesh.” He grins, enjoying the scrunching your face issues due to his words. He notices your hand still grasping his shirt and he clears his throat, shrugging forward to loosen and release your grip. “Anyway,  the shop is just over here.”

“What shop?” You ask.

He doesn’t answer but continues to walk ahead, weaving through the crowds. Despite his swift pace, Jeno’s steps didn’t allow you to stagger behind. You allowed yourself to believe he was purposely letting you keep up with him so you wouldn’t get lost.

Minutes of walking passed before Jeno stops before a small shop that was overpowered by a bar on one side and a restaurant on the other. He enters the shop without a word, and you follow suit without further instruction.

A bell chimes as you both enter and, presumably, the shop owner greets you. “Welcome, welcome.”

Jeno struts to the front counter, his usual aura of pride basking around him. “Do you sell thread here?”

“What kind are you looking for?”

He looks back at you, at which you point to your dress, before answering, “Clothing thread.”

“Ah.” The shop owner smiles before scampering to the back room.

You’ve made your way next to Jeno by now and you happily look up at him, grabbing his attention. “Thank you.”

His ears redden and he looks away from you, muttering something you couldn’t make out.

“Here you are,” she calls out, emerging from the room with a basket of thread rolls. “You can pick from this batch, I have an assortment of colors you can choose from.” You both stare at the colorful material as you wait for Jeno to grab the plain black one that contrasted from the others.

“Well?” he asks, nodding at you.

“What?”

“Pick whatever you want.” He urges. “We haven’t got all day and I need to do my own errands.”

“Oh,” you mumble in embarrassment. You grasp the black thread and hold it out to the shop owner, “We’ll take this one.”

“That’s it?” he questions and you nod. He sighs before shoving the basket towards the shop owner. “Give me one of each.”

You and the shop owner both gape at Jeno, who you assume has lost his mind. “One is enough.” You meekly comment.

“One of each.” He repeats, blatantly ignoring you.

Despite your previous opposing words, you couldn’t help the smile that appeared.