#tiny sleep token is beyond adorable

[amournoir]

hiii! can I please request a fluff scenario, #2 for Elijah Mikaelson?

Fluff Prompt | E.M {request}

℘ prompt — #2, sleeping in and cuddling the entire morning

℘ warning — none, only fluff

℘ pairing — elijah mikaelson x f!reader

℘ count — 0.9k

A Furry Surprise

Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow across the room. I stirred in my sleep, blissfully unaware of the surprise that awaited me just a few feet away. As my consciousness drifted closer to the surface, I felt a soft sensation against my face – wet, warm, and incredibly affectionate.

Blinking my eyes open, I was greeted by the most adorable puppy, its tail wagging furiously as it showered me with enthusiastic morning kisses. Confusion quickly gave way to delight as I realized there was a fluffy little ball of fur in bed with me.

“Elijah?” I called out, my voice filled with a mix of surprise and joy.

He appeared in the doorway, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Good morning, love. I thought you might need a new companion to bring some excitement into your days.”

I couldn't help but squeal with delight, my heart swelling with gratitude for his thoughtful gesture. Clutching the puppy to my chest, I hugged them both tightly. “Oh Eli, you've made me the happiest person in the world! Thank you!”

The puppy's warm, slobbery kisses continued to rain down on my face as I sat up in bed, cradling the little furball in my arms. Its eyes, wide and full of innocence, stared up at me as if to say, “Hello, new friend!” I couldn't help but giggle at its playful antics, feeling an overwhelming surge of love for this tiny creature that had bounded into my life.

“Elijah,” I said, my voice filled with awe, “this is incredible! I can't believe you did this.”

He moved closer, his hand gently caressing the puppy's head. “I noticed how happy you were after spending time with Rosie's dog, and I thought this little one might bring some cheer into our home. Consider it a token of my affection for you.”

I felt tears welling up in my eyes, moved by his thoughtful gesture. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice catching with emotion. “I can't express how much this means to me.”

Elijah smiled, his eyes softening with tenderness. “You deserve all the happiness in the world, Y/N. I want to see you smile like this every day.”

As I held the puppy close, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer perfection of the moment. The sun streamed in through the window, casting a warm glow on our faces. The room was filled with the scent of fresh morning air and the sweet aroma of puppy fur. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the man before me, the one who had filled my life with such unexpected joy.

The little puppy, a bundle of energy and curiosity, seemed just as excited as I was. We spent the morning cuddling in bed, the puppy nestled between us, its tiny tail thumping against the mattress in contentment. It was as if the universe had sent us the perfect addition to our little family. As I stroked the puppy's soft fur, I couldn't help but marvel at the depth of Elijah's understanding and love. It was a testament to his thoughtfulness, his ability to see beyond words and anticipate my needs.

With the puppy in tow, we ventured downstairs to introduce our new friend to the rest of the household. The Mikaelson mansion, usually steeped in centuries of history and tradition, was now filled with the infectious energy of a playful puppy. Every corner became a new adventure, every toy a source of endless fascination.

Elijah and I took turns throwing a ball, the puppy's excitement palpable as it chased after it with boundless enthusiasm. Its tiny barks of joy filled the air, echoing through the halls and bringing smiles to our faces.

Throughout the day, the puppy became the center of our attention, its antics providing endless entertainment. We watched as it discovered the wonders of a squeaky toy, its eyes widening with delight every time it made a noise. We marveled at its bravery as it explored the garden, sniffing at flowers and chasing butterflies with unbridled curiosity.

In the midst of our playtime, I looked at Elijah, my heart swelling with love. “Thank you for this incredible gift, Elijah. I can't imagine a more perfect way to bring joy into our lives.”

He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, his eyes reflecting the same adoration I felt. “You deserve all the happiness in the world, Y/N. I'm just glad I could contribute to that in some small way.”

As the day turned into evening, we settled on the couch, the puppy nestled between us, its little body worn out from a day of excitement. I looked at our new furry friend, a profound sense of gratitude washing over me. In its innocent eyes, I saw the promise of unconditional love and unwavering companionship.

Wrapped in the warmth of our shared love, we spent the evening in quiet contentment, watching as the puppy dozed off, dreaming of more adventures to come. In that moment, I knew that our lives had been forever changed, transformed by the boundless joy and endless love that a tiny, four-legged creature had brought into our home.

As I pressed a gentle kiss to the puppy's forehead, I knew that this day would forever be etched in my heart as a reminder of the boundless love I shared with Elijah. Little did I know that our lives were about to be transformed by the antics, cuddles, and unwavering loyalty of our new furry companion. The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the three of us in our little cocoon of love and happiness. And as I looked at the puppy, my heart swelled with anticipation for the countless adventures and endless love that awaited us in the days to come.

🏷️ taglist:

⤷ @mrs-maximoff-kenner @thatfanficstuff @elijahmikaelsontrash @mxacegrey @thatfictionalwh0re @catmikaelson20 @loverswillowed @panic-at-the-fiction @iiskittles16ii @original-siphon @onlyfreds @onlyfredslibrary @slinthoex @i-love-nora @multiversediaries @decoffinated-vamps @hopester08 @aloneatpeace @hopes-wife @voidcameron @klaustopia @dreamingwithrafe @sweetestdesire @cottontears @cottonreads @buckyysdoll @spnandtvdudeservedbetter @impossibleheartflower @spike-and-angels-gf

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[littlemisssquiggles]

RWBY Musings #56: More Questions than Answers. A Squiggle Meister’s Views on Jinn of the Relic of Knowledge

…How can a being created by the God of Light possess the knowledge of the world the Gods create yet has never seen and explored it beyond their lamp imprisonment?

How can such a being recount the histories of the lives of man as vividly as a fairytale in living colour yet has never met or gotten to know the beings in said story?

I understand that Jinn was purposely created to aid humanity in their pursuit of knowledge but how can she aid anyone when the only thing she’s seen for the past millennia are the confines of the mystical lamb she’s bound to?

Knowledge isn’t just about gaining wisdom; it’s also about developing the understanding to full comprehend the things you learn around you and about yourself. So as a Being of Knowledge, how much does Jinn truly understand about the knowledge she possesses?

I don’t know about ya’ll but this squiggle meister has grown curiouser and curiouser about Jinn as of late. I have questions about this mystical genie of the lamp that not only inquire the scope of her abilities but more so question Jinn as a character in the general.

Like for example, Jinn sports golden chains as part of her supernatural attire but why chains of all things? Are the chains symbolic of Jinn being eternally bound to her duties as a genie of the Relic and nothing else?

I’d like to believe that that’s the case. I mean it makes sense, right? But in asking that question, it pegs another. What would happen if Jinn ever attempted to break away from her initial programming per say? Can Jinn only provide knowledge so long as someone, particularly the one in custody of the Relic of Knowledge, prompts her with a question or…can she actually give answers of her own fruition if a someone were to let’s say, bypass her coding and force her to ask the questions instead?

There is a memorable scene from Shrek the Third where Prince Charming attempts to garner the whereabouts of Shrek by interrogating Pinocchio since the villain is fully aware of the living puppet’s incapability to admit nothing but the truth. However in a clever twist, Pinocchio uses logic to avoid telling a lie. Unfortunately this trick only results in annoying one of the Three Little Pigs, who ironically, ended up being the one to squeal.

That being said, this got me thinking. I wonder if there is a way to do this to Jinn where, instead of directly asking her a question, the inquisitor phrases their question in the form of a command which then prompts Jinn to be the one to ask the questions---that is, if she’s even allowed to ask questions by decree of the God of Light and restrictions of the Relic.

Kind of like one of those helper AIs that prompt users for questions but if the user phrases their question in a way the AI can’t comprehend beyond their programming, it’ll either present an error or instead prompts the user with questions based on its interpretation of the information they’re searching that they can chose from.

According to Ozpin, the wielder of the Relic of Knowledge can ask any question and the lamp will provide an answer. However, the amount of questions to be asked is limited by the Relic’s three questions per one hundred year rule.

However, does it count as one of the three questions if the user phrases their question in a way manipulates Jinn into asking the questions herself? 

This presents the thing I’m most curious about surrounding Jinn: Is she allowed to ask her own questions beyond the default: “Tell me, what knowledge do you seek?” which I’m sure she says to everyone after they’ve summoned her.

Or is she similar to an AI that can only perform the task that it was initially created to perform?

Like for example, if someone interested in learning more about Jinn as a person were to say, not ask:

“Jinn, tell me more about yourself” ---Would Jinn either a) prompt the inquisitor to confirm if their statement is a question to which they can answer either yes or no. If yes, then Jinn will answer them but since the user didn’t directly ask her the question themselves, would it count as one of the three questions? 

I don’t think it would since the user didn’t ask the question themselves but that’s just me. I’m sure others may think differently.

Or b) assume that the inquisitor is asking a question. But then it would still ethically not be a question but an assumption of a question.

Now according to Oz, the only other confirmed drawback of the Relic is that it can’t answer questions about future events. Therefore, this raises the possibility of Jinn being able to ask her own questions if prompted, right?

In the decades that Jinn has existed, has any inquisitor she’s encountered ever prompted her to ask them questions in return? I know this probably sounds rather ridiculous since Jinn is an all-powerful being born to provide knowledge so she probably knows any and everything about the world with the exception of the future.

So why bother needing a being of absolute knowledge with the possible answers to everything to ask questions? Well…I’d figure for the sake of giving more depth and personality to Jinn that transcends the purpose she was created for.

After all, Genie from Aladdin desired to be more than just the typical genie of the lamp, so what of Jinn?

Call me odd but now that her existence has been revealed, I want to see Jinn interact with world and people she was born to aid with her wisdom.

My reasoning for asking these questions is because a part of me wants to see Jinn socialize with other characters outside of the lamp and outside of her duties as the being of the Relic. This idea was inspired by a RoseGarden fanart done by @stonehillart​ depicting a miniature Jinn quietly observing Oscar smiling down at a sleeping Ruby Rose with the Relic close by.

Similar to how the Relic itself can change its size, I love the idea of Jinn being able to do the same and move outside her lamp while never straying too far from it.

Perhaps the mystical jinn of the lamp even has a pintsized form that she can adopt for quicker manoeuvrability and to avoid detection from other life forms outside of the Relic.

I have this cute scene in my head where Ruby, being considerate enough of Jinn’s well-being decides to let her out of the lamp for a while to ‘stretch her legs’ so Jinn poofs herself into her sprite or kwami form---which is basically a Chibi-version of herself and makes herself at home inside the hood of Ruby’s cape finding it much cosier and admittedly warmer than her Relic.

And when things get extra chilly especially in the colder climate, Kwami Jinn also likes to make use of Oscar’s pants pocket which is her second favourite hiding spot--- not as roomy as Ruby’s hood but just as warm. I just love the idea of our two resident rosebuds taking turns carrying tiny Jinn around like a pair of kangaroo parents nursing their baby.

I also have this cute idea of Kwami Chibi feeling extra cold---she even sneezes a bit which then prompts Oscar to kindly loan Jinn the colourful woollen cloth he always sports in his pocket (and never bloody uses) and Ruby drapes the miniaturized genie in it. So imagine…Chibi-Jinn wearing Oscar’s woollen cloth but like a hooded cape because of course, Ruby would wrap her in it like a cape. This will most likely never be canon but let me have this adorable concept.

I don’t want Jinn to just be summoned for just knowledge purposes especially since, as of the third episode, the heroes will only have one more question remaining. It’d be interesting, not to mention cute if Jinn is given the opportunity to chum up to the heroes outside of the lamp.

After all, didn’t Genie in Aladdin get to befriend Aladdin? So why not have Jinn befriend the heroes or…at least of two of them anyways. My money is, of course, on Ruby and Oscar. It’s always them---more Oscar specifically.

As a Jinn and someone who's only ever been used for her power in the past, I don’t think Jinn has a lot of ‘friends’. So…what if…Oscar becomes Jinn’s first friend?

Imagine if…there is flashback where Ruby encourages Oscar to make friends and the first person he befriends outside of Ruby is Jinn. Perhaps Oscar develops a way to communicate with the genie allowing him to socialize with her without having to actually ask any questions; if that makes a lick of sense. I figured Oscar would be the type to make friends with the unlikeliest of characters including a blind pocket abuelita and a literal genie in a bottle.

I have this cute concept of Oscar giving Jinn his woollen handkerchief that he never uses as a token of their friendship. Imagine… Oscar giving Jinn his handkerchief as a present and Jinn becomes so elated (since she’s never gotten a present in the entirety of her existence) that the next time she is summoned from the Relic, Oscar’s gift becomes a part of her appearance.

If I recall, in the Sakura Cardcaptor series, in one of the episodes---the Clow Card known as the Mirror Card develops a crush on Touya, Sakura's older brother and at some point, Touya gives the spirit of the card a pair of ribbons. So when the Mirror resumes its card form, its look is updated to show that it’s wearing the ribbons Touya gave it.

So...picture something like that with Jinn accepting Oscar’s gift, conforming the mortal object to suit her design. Like she wears it in hair all Princess Jasmine style and since all of Jinn's accessories are gold, Oscar's handkerchief turns to gold as Jinn wears it in her hair but the meaning behind the gesture still stands.

I doubt Oscar actually befriending Jinn will become canon but once more, allow me to amuse myself with the idea. Like picture Ruby and Oscar are having a picnic together with Jinn in her tinier form and the two young teens are amused at the genie who is adorably bewildered at Oscar making her a sandwich (peanut butter and jelly to be exact) for the first time.

Can Jinn even eat? I mean she appears mostly human with a working a mouth that allows her to talk so I assume that her other body parts function like a normal being of life would. I mean I peg Jinn to be the kind of being who doesn’t need to eat but would entertain the human gesture if someone was considerate enough to offer her a morsel of food.

Like picture Ruby and Oscar being completely confused over whether or not Jinn can eat. They don’t want to ask her themselves for obvious reasons with both of their wild child-like imaginations going to town on what a genie of the Relic of Knowledge would consider food. 

And somehow, someway, Ruby comes to the brilliant deduction of feeding Jinn a dictionary or just books in general since according to her, they’re chockfull of Vitamin K for knowledge---perfect for a growing 1000+ year old genie. A statement which renders poor Oscar just gawking at the Silver Eyed girl incredulously.

Now that’s a fun little idea that would never be canon. But perhaps it can make a cool fan comic. Who knows?

Another curious question I have is, can Jinn ever be set free or will she forever be bound to the Relic of Knowledge?

What would happen to Jinn if the Relic of Knowledge was somehow damaged or destroyed; granted that this is even a possibility.

This in turn raises another question---how come Ozma never attempted to destroy the Relics? The God of Light told him that if the Four Relics were ever gathered, it would summon the Brother Gods back to Remnant to judge humanity for their sins, right?

So since the Relics are the notable key to calling forth the Gods then it makes me curious if Ozma ever attempted to destroy them or if the thought ever crossed his mind? This especially makes me more enquiring of the Relics’ origins. How were they forged? I’m guessing that the Relics must’ve been the second thing that the Brothers’ collaborated onseeing as they were gifted to aid humanity in their own advancement. Knowing the Relics’ origin can also explain why the Grimm are drawn to them so much.

I also wish to know if, similar to Jinn, are other beings attached to the remaining Relics; created with the same purpose of aiding humanity in their pursuit of one of the four gifts? Does Jinn have brothers and sisters---fellow beings specifically tailored for each Relic?

Colour me curiouser and curiouser again. Going back to my question on setting Jinn free, I raise more questions:

Does the Relic of Knowledge work solely because of Jinn meaning that the lamp is just a shell to contain Jinn while she herself is actually the physical embodiment of Gift of Knowledge that the Gods granted their greatest creation?

Or…is Jinn completely separate from the true gift of knowledge only acting as a buffer to regulate its true power so that others may never use it for malicious purposes? That being said, can the Relic function without Jinn’s presence attached to it?  

I ask these questions since Jinn’s characterization alludes to the Genie from Aladdin and in that story, at least in the Disney adaptation, Genie is ultimately freed from the lamp by Aladdin’s final wish by the story’s conclusion. So…will it be the same for Jinn?

Similar to how Aladdin wished for Genie's freedom and the magic of the lamp compelled it to come true, will the Relic of Knowledge make this feat possible if someone were to ask for Jinn’s freedom in the form of a question?

I know the Relic of Knowledge doesn’t grant wishes nonetheless…I’m still curious. Is it possible for Jinn to be freed or will she forever be a prisoner of her Relic?  

I even have questions surrounding Jinn’s creation? Was Jinn crafted from scratch to be the being of the Relic of Knowledge or…like Remnant itself, does she too share her own origin story?

What if…once upon a time, in a former life, Jinn was once a mortal woman who spent her lifetime pursuing knowledge and learning all that she can about the world so that she could pass on that knowledge to others in her teachings. She was a kind and humble soul who only valued knowledge for the sake of education so that it may live on in the hearts and minds of future generations.

This mortal woman also made it a habit to visit the God of Light at his shrine in the Realm of Light; not so that she can ask the God himself for answers but so that she can share with him everything she had learnt in her travels. When she passed away, the God of Light acknowledged this mortal woman for her service to humanity and thus transformed her into an immortal being who will live on to be the Guardian being of Knowledge helping others just as she did when she was a mortal.

That’s one idea. Doubt it’s canon but it would be interesting if the Jinn has a story herself.

Now I really want that Origin story surrounding the Birth of the Relics. I want to know if there are others like Jinn inside each Relic and if they were human before or not? I want to know more about Jinn as a whole.

So many questions with answers that I can only wait to be unveiled by the CRWBY Writers in the long-run of RWBY. Until such a time comes for me to gain the answers I seek, I guess this squiggle meister shall remain ever so curious. 

More Squiggles’ RWBY Content

 ~LittleMissSquiggles (2018)

[snowbellewells]

Captain Swan is my Favorite RomCom: “While You Were Sleeping” (Part Five)

So here’s the next installment, I think we’re down to just about two more, unless something changes. Hope you enjoy!!

While the little misunderstanding has complicated Emma’s life and made her feel all kinds of guilty, she can’t quite want things back the way they were either...

And I apologize now, I know this has no cut line, but I just can’t get it to work for me on mobile. I’ll try to do a morning reboot form my desktop with the cut!

Part Five

By: @snowbellewells (TutorGirlml on ff.net)

The morning after taking Emma to dinner at his folks’ and their near-silent drive back into the city, dawned chilly but bright; though Killian Jones woke to it groggy and angry with himself in the rented hotel room he’d booked in order to be in the city - nearer to the hospital for his brother and the various appointments he needed to attend while in Boston. He knew he had pushed Liam’s fiancé out of her comfort zone - despite his initial good intentions - and he had been beating himself up for the overstep ever since realization hit, mere moments too late.

Stumbling over the nondescript carpet, hand rubbing blearily over his face and his unshaven chin as he made his way to get his morning’s first cup of coffee, Killian kicked himself once more, berating his impatient prying. ‘So what if she has secrets?’ he scolded himself again. ‘Everyone does. You certainly have a few yourself. Just because she wouldn’t tell you her whole life story after knowing you less than 24 hours does not mean she’s hiding things from Liam - or that she has anything serious to hide at all.’

Cursing himself for a fool, and then literally cursing in pain as he clumsily managed both to burn his finger with the tiny complimentary coffee maker and spill the precious brew in the suite bathroom, Killian knew what the issue really came down to. He was disappointed, saddened, struck once again by his own bad luck - the sheer indisputable fact that he didn’t deserve good things, the things he wished for most. Of course Liam would meet the ray of sunshine that was Emma Swan first; he was everything that Killian wasn’t. Ever since they had been in prep school with his citizenship awards and class offices, Liam had been successful, admirable, well-liked...perfect, for all intents and purposes. Though he would never lord it over his five years younger brother, reaching adulthood had not done much at all to bring Killian out of Liam’s impressive shadow. He was successful in his work, even generating surplus for charitable giving, had made a good name for himself in the business world, drawing new customers even as he retained his ethics and honor, had a large, well-situated apartment and nice car, dressed well, and still retained his decent heart and character. What woman wouldn’t choose Liam Jones as a fine man to marry?

Killian sighed, running a frustrated hand through his sleep-disheveled hair and this time managing to pour his coffee into a nondescript white hotel mug - oddly missing his own chipped mug with the jaunty silver anchor on it that Nick had gifted him last Christmas. Not that he was a bad guy or a poor catch, but he certainly looked less promising on paper. He didn’t bring in the paycheck Liam did, nor did he carry the type of prestige his brother had earned. He was more of a jack-of-all trades who had turned his passionate interest in boats and sailing into a modest living at best. Though he well knew he would make a devoted, loving mate for the right woman, she would need to share his love of the sea and adventure, his family, and his simple, uncluttered lifestyle. He didn’t require the material trappings Liam could offer a woman, and if his brother had won Emma Swan’s heart, then Killian knew that he couldn’t truly compete.

And yet...something about her spoke to him, whispered that they could understand each other in a way most would not. He had been to her apartment - and though it had been clean and comfortable, it was nothing fancy. He might have even deemed it sparse, if it weren’t for the unique, cozy touches he had noted scattered throughout her living space: a hand-knit woolen blanket with her name woven in purple draped over the couch, not only a purring pet cat, but adorable personalized dishes for the clearly spoiled creature in pride of place on the very table across from the spot Emma clearly occupied at meals herself. Though he couldn’t pretend to known her whole life story, he sensed a woman with simpler tastes similar to his own - more interested in people and connection, items of sentimental value more than material worth; a kindred spirit more interested in experience than routine complacency.

Hanging his head, Killian sipped his caffeine Black, berating himself for wanting his brother’s fiancé – however briefly – before he shoved the thoughts far into the recesses of his mind, for thinking recklessly that he could make her happier, that he could read Emma Swan like an open book. Wincing at the sharp, strong flavor of the unsweetened beverage, still rather warm and burning his tongue a bit, Killian couldn’t help feeling as though he had earned the slight pain to the roof and sides of his mouth for his disloyal and traitorous thoughts, for his ever-cursed and unlucky timing and desires making him feel as though he had finally met the woman who could complete him and make him smile as he had ever seen his mother do for his father his whole life long.

Finishing the cereal and sausage link he had gotten from room service for breakfast, Killian tried to shake lingering romantic thoughts about Emma Swan from his tired brain. He had things to do, calls to make back to work to see that things were covered with his business and shop while he was here awaiting any changes or news on Liam’s medical progress, and errands to run before he was to have lunch with his father. It would do him no good to dwell on the fact that Liam had been incredibly devoted to his college sweetheart - a brilliant lass named Belle French, a PhD candidate currently abroad studying and lecturing upon ancient texts in Brittany - until a painful falling out they’d had a scant five months before over their future and settling down. Though Killian hadn’t heard as much from his older brother, he had always felt that Liam and Belle would find their way back to each other. Perhaps that was why this seemingly sudden engagement to Emma Swan, whom none of the family had even met until two days ago, didn’t quite add up. Of course, Killian also knew that could very well be his own foolish and impulsive heart influencing his thinking.

At any rate, as he gathered his keys and coat and made his way out of his hotel room, locking it behind him, he needed to focus on the rare chance to spend some quality time with his dad, to talk seriously without interruption. Though David Jones had not outwardly fought or dismissed Killian’s decision a few years back, to start up his own business rather than continuing serious apprenticeship to take on the family farm someday, Killian knew there had to have been a part of his father who found it difficult for a second of his three sons to turn away from the livelihood he had worked hard to build, to provide for them all and hopefully hand down into their care. Just as with Liam - though surely his elder brother’s success must have helped to soothe the blow - Killian knew his choice must have hurt his father, which he had never wanted. It was why he had hesitated as long as he had before striking out on his own.

It couldn’t be fought however. Eventually, he’d had to be honest with himself, and with his dad. There was simply something about boats and the sea which called to him. Though it had not been easy the day he’d brought those concerns to his father; it had been a dry mouthed, hands sweating sort of moment in truth. Yet, Killian suspected, that the way the soil, working the earth and being outdoors in the open air amidst his sheep fed his father’s spirit, helped David Jones to understand his middle son’s yearning better than Killian could have hoped. Beyond that, very thankfully, Nick seemed to adore the family farm - even now as he was almost through trade school for animal husbandry and agribusiness management. Nothing seemed to thrill the youngest Jones brother more than being home on the farm during breaks and vacations, and he loved his father’s flock more than anyone but David himself ever had or would.

Reaching the ground floor, Killian passed through the hotel’s open lobby and made his way to the parking garage across the street where he had left his truck the previous night. It was time - for the moment at least - to leave his scattered thoughts and the fleeting warmth in his chest caused by his memories of the way light had glanced off the gold in Emma’s hair and the bright, unguarded sound of her laugh. He needed to see to his business and worry about his family, not nurse pipe dreams with no hope of coming true…

~~~~~~~~*********~~~~~~~~

By that evening at the end of her shift, Emma felt no less conflicted over the secrets she was keeping, the things she had refrained from telling Liam’s family - and Killian in particular - and the convenient misunderstanding she had allowed to let stand; giving her the chance to experience what it felt like to have a whole, vibrant family for the first time, but also taking advantage of the Jones’ kindness shamefully. Equal warring parts of her had run back and forth in her brain all day as she took tokens and watched the trains fly back in and out of their station almost constantly. And despite the guilt she was suffering and the frustration with herself she felt for not correcting Nurse Ariel’s mistake immediately, before she’d known what she would be giving up, Emma found that as she clocked out for the night, there was still just one place her feet would carry her.

Stopping by her favorite street vendor for a quick bite to eat for supper, Emma was at the hospital and making her way up to Liam’s floor before she had even made up her mind to follow her gut. She waved to Ariel, who was on the phone at the nurses’ station and gave her a rather sheepish smile but still waved back enthusiastically, and then let herself into Liam’s room.

Upon entering, Emma felt her shoulders relax and a sense of relief coming over her, almost affirming that this was where she had needed to be. Perhaps it was the dim lighting in the room, the calm quiet where so much of her day had been full of bustling crowds and hectic noise, or maybe it was even that this man who had intrigued her for so long from afar - fiance or not - needed her in some way.

It was a double room, but as he had been two days ago, Liam was the only occupant presently. Even if unaware, he was very much alone, and Emma couldn’t stand that. She’d been all by herself for too much of her life; she wouldn’t leave another person in that painful solitude if she could make it otherwise. Settling in for the evening, she pulled the nearby chair right up beside his bed, sat down, and reached out to take his hand in hers.

Twining their fingers together, Emma gently squeezed Liam’s digits, whispering as she pulled his arm carefully over to press it against her chest while she began to speak. Bowing her head slightly, she whispered near him into the quiet room. “Liam? It’s your fiancé… Emma…” Though she had begun her statement with an almost sheepish laugh, as if he might wake up and appreciate the humor of the wacky situation with her, her words were cut off by the lump that rose in her throat which she had to swallow hard to speak around.

“Oh, who am I kidding?” she sighed, her eyes stinging with unwanted emotion as she looked down at the handsome man, peaceful and still as if merely sleeping. Where before she had always found herself wanting to wind her fingers through those stubbornly curling, close-cropped tufts of sandy hair, Emma suddenly pictured dark tendrils falling over his brother’s strong brow instead. This man - while he had intrigued her and drawn her in with his kind smiles and friendly greetings each week - she didn’t really know him; never had known him, truth be told. She merely wanted to brush an almost sisterly touch of fingertips across his cheek, hold his hand, and see him wake up - for the sake of his family who loved him dearly, for his own sake, as he didn’t deserve to be struck down so senselessly, and for hers, so she could explain what had happened and hope that - just maybe - he wouldn’t hate her and the rest of the Jones family wouldn’t either.

Finally giving into the urge, Emma laid her cool palm over his slightly warm forehead, wishing to bring him some comfort and to let him know he wasn’t alone before settling into her seat more comfortably, propping her chin on the fist of her free hand while the other still held his large one, rubbing gentle circles over the space between thumb and forefinger. “We both know I’m a complete stranger to you. I don’t know why I’m still pretending when you’re the only one here. You may think I’m the worst sort of person when you wake up, but it truly was a big misunderstanding. I didn’t know how to stop it at first, and then things just got out of hand. Your family…” she paused again, pressing her mouth into a thin line as she tried to bring the welling regret and longing under wraps, “they’re pretty wonderful really. You know that, right? I mean, they just took me in, and they’re so warm and funny. Even though my adoptive mom was great, she’s been gone a long time. It’s just been, well me and my cat,” a strangled little laugh escaped and she wiped a hand across her eyes, sniffling, “for years now. Like I was in the beginning…” She trailed off, shaking her head as the man she was speaking to remained motionless and unresponsive. “Sheesh, just listen to me,” she finally finished off, blowing out a breath and straightening slightly. “This must sound crazy!”

Turning to reach for her jacket and preparing to go, Emma touched Liam’s arm one last time, a parting squeeze of farewell. “Ever been so alone you’d spend the night confusing a man in a coma?” she asked self-deprecatingly. Then, she stood and leaned back down to press a light peck of a kiss to his hairline whispering, “Wake up soon, Liam.”

Then she was gone, slipping out of the room and soon the hospital without ever noticing Killian, who had arrived not long after her to check in on his brother. He had frozen in the doorway behind her, stunned into silence by the admission he’d overheard before he could announce his presence, and had just barely remembered to retreat down the hall far enough to escape detection when Emma had gathered her things to leave. Emerging after a moment, he stood dumbfounded in his brother’s doorway, conflicting emotions all swarming behind his eyes. “Bloody hell,” he murmured, running a hand over his face, “Now what are we supposed to do?”

Tagging: @csromcom18 @searchingwardrobes @kmomof4 @whimsicallyenchantedrose @kday426 @linda8084 @teamhook @revanmeetra87 @laschatzi @jennjenn615 @therooksshiningknight @resident-of-storybrooke @bcmbbcs4evr @coliferoncer @vvbooklady1256

[goldeneyedgirl]

pairing meme: alice/jasper

Who would be the big spoon? Jasper, because Alice is so small. And he loves holding her A. because he is secretly a cuddle whore and B. if he’s holding her, she’s safe.

Who would wake up first? Well they don’t sleep. But if they did, probably Jasper, because he’s always on edge. Alice would burrow into the bed and burrito herself, and try to avoid getting up for as long as possible.

Do they have nicknames for each other? Nothing fancy or elaborate.  Jasper calls her ‘darlin’ a lot, or ‘sugar’ if he’s teasing or sassing her.

Alice calls him ‘Major’ when she’s feel playful, occasionally Jas.

How do they apologise after an argument? Arguments rarely last long, tbh. And they don’t really apologise verbally; usually there’s a hug, and Jasper’s gift tells both of them how sorry they are.

What would they be like as parents? I honestly cannot see either of them wanting to be parents, human or vampire. But if they were, I can see Jasper being quite enchanted by the tiny person, and Alice being extremely ferocious to any threat to her baby.

Who is the better cook? Again, not an issue, but neither of them would be amazing cooks, they just have a handful of dishes they can both make comfortably, and that’s that.

Who is more romantic? Jasper. He adores her beyond comprehension, and tends to spend a lot of time compensating for his past, his lack of control, and as gratitude for her ‘choosing’ him that he’s always got a romantic gesture up his sleeve.

What sort of gifts do they get for each other? They aren’t big on gifts much, since they have so much money. Jasper does like attempting to surprise Alice with vintage Chanel accessories (compacts, jewellery) from the earliest days of the label when he can track them down. Neither of them have any idea why he fixated on Chanel, but Alice is always delighted when he presents her with something Coco herself designed.

Alice, in the past, tracked down a handful of things from Jasper’s human life - the only existing photograph of him as a human, a disintegrating Bible, and two of the letters he sent home during his time in the war. He treasures them, because of the fact that they are tokens from his humanity - that his years with Maria weren’t his only past. And in their early years together, having something tangible to connect to his human life helped a lot.

Who gets jealous easiest? Jasper is the worst, especially since Alice is naturally a friendly person. Though, that’s not to say that Alice doesn’t get irritated by pushy high school and college girls.  

Who gets more excited for events e.g.. Birthdays, Christmas? Alice. Between Alice and Esme, the house looks ridiculous for Christmas. Even though the gifts that are exchanged are usually joke presents, under a set budget (Carlisle had to reel everyone in after the Christmas of 1973), and that Alice always sees what everyone picks for her, she’s like a little kid Christmas morning.

Who is the most adventurous? Alice; Jasper is very cautious after everything he’s seen, and Alice trusts her visions to keep her safe.

Who is the most protective? Jasper. He’d do anything to make sure Alice didn’t so much as break a nail.

What would they have been like as childhood sweethearts? From day 1, they would have been a matched set, untouchable by anyone else. Friends to sweethearts, no amount of middle/high school drama could have touched them; they would have been sneaking over to each others house every night, just to be together. I imagine they would have lived together through college, and - unless Jasper was struck with some kind of moment of old-fashioned respectability - probably would have ‘forgotten’ to get married until all their friends were married and having babies, because they were already so together that it never occurred to them on a serious level.

Do I ship it?

NOTP / Crack only / AU only / Not really / Maybe a little / Well now I do / Yes / Of course! / OTP / LOL HAVE WE MET?