#(mostly young earth ladies but there have been others)

[cosmicallyavg]

i get a lot of dw edits on my tik tok fyp these days and i keep seeing the ones that are like “lgbt characters in doctor who” and like everyone sort of collectively agrees that the doctor is genderfluid and pan but a lot of them forget the ace part?? like the other ones i feel are sort of up to interpretation on how you see them but the ace one is like.. non-negotiable . to me anyway

[whytheylosttheirminds]

I Remember Everything - Rafe Cameron (Chapter 2)

Summary: You left the island two years ago, leaving the love of your life a shattered man in your wake. Now, when you return, you find the sweet boy you once loved has transformed into a monster of a man. How can you detangle the real Rafe from the terrible things he's done?

Timeline: begins toward the end of obx season 3 and is mostly canon.

Content: this story contains sexual content, alcohol and drug abuse, and brief mentions of violence. All chapters are 18+, minors do not interact!

(Prologue and Chapter 1)

You tried to close the door quietly behind you, wincing everytime it creaked, but as you tiptoed through the foyer into the living room you quickly realized your stealth was of no use. Your mother sat in her chair in the corner of the room, flipping the page on whatever cheesy self-help book she was worshiping today. She looked up at you and then to the oversized clock on the wall pointedly.

“Really? Sitting up under a single lamp light?” You rolled your eyes. “What are you gonna say next, ‘where have you been young lady?’”

“Actually, I was just going to ask if you had a good night,” she said in her all-too-familiar-guilt-trip tone. “But since I’m apparently such a stereotype, maybe I should ask where you’ve been. I’ll be the overbearing mother you’ve made up in your head.”

You just sighed. “I’m not doing this with you, goodnight mom.”

“Don’t forget we’re having dinner at the island club tomorrow night!” She called after you. “Just you, me, and Chip.”

You winced. “I don’t know if the Island Club is really my vibe anymore, mom.”

“Y/N,” your mother said in warning. “The other 51 weeks of the year, you are welcome to walk around like you’re better than all of us. But this week is my week and I want to have dinner at the Island Club with my daughter and my fiancé.”

In your twenty years on earth, you’d had approximately one million fights with your mother. You were wise enough by now to know which ones you were going to lose.

You sighed in defeat, “Alright mom, I’ll be there.”

Like she said, it was just one week and then you could get the hell out of here. Thinking of the night you just had with a pang of sadness, you thought, this time maybe for good.

Two Years Ago…

“Happy birthday, baby,” Rafe said, beaming.

“Rafe what did you do?” You asked.

“Got you something,” he shrugged, his casual tone betrayed by the big, bright smile on his face, his dimples on full display. He looked so excited it made your heart swell.

“You got me a car?” You said in disbelief.

“Not just a car, your dream car!” He extended his long arms, displaying the vehicle like a Price-is-Right model.

“You actually bought me a car?” You said quietly, shaking your head in awe.

“Do you like it?” He asked, now wringing his hands nervously. His sudden timidness made you weak, wanting to hold him in his vulnerability.

“Baby,” you said quietly before suddenly breaking out in a run toward him, leaping into his arms. Even in his surprise, he caught you, like he always did. 

You tucked your head into the crook of his neck as your arms and legs wrapped around him. He held you back so tightly, you thought he might never let go. 

“I love it,” you mumbled into his skin. “You have no idea.”

He pulled his head back to get a look at you. You had tears in your eyes as you beamed back at him.

“I love you,” you said before dropping a gentle kiss to his lips.

“You have no idea,” he said, before kissing you back harder. 

The kiss turned more passionate as he started walking the two of you toward the car, removing one hand from you to open the door to the back seat. He lowered you in slowly, both of you laughing into the kiss. You scooted backward to the other side of the back seat, pulling your legs to your chest to make room for him. For a moment, he just stood in the open door, taking you in. You giggled nervously under his hungry gaze.

“You gonna join me?” You asked, taunting him with the low, sexy voice you knew made him crazy.

“Just wanna look at you for a sec,” he explained. “Wanna remember.”

You leaned forward and started to crawl towards him, hands and knees sinking into the soft leather seat. 

“You have your whole life to look at me, baby,” you assured him. 

Once you were close enough to him, you stretched your neck forward and kissed him again, grabbing his shirt collar and pulling him into the car with you. He gladly obliged and shut the door behind him. Once he was settled, you threw your leg over him and climbed in his lap, arms outstretched past either side of his head to hold onto the seat back behind him. 

“You're not gonna hit the road in the middle of the night and leave me here now that you’ve got your own ride?” He asked, close enough to your lips that you could feel his breath sweep across them as he talked.

“I’m not going anywhere,” you promised. “Unless you’re in the seat right next to me.”

You leaned in to kiss him again, but he pulled back before your lips met. You furrowed your brows in confusion.

“I got you another gift,” Rafe said.

“Rafe,” you said, “you already got me a car. I don't know what could possibly top that.”

Removing one of his hands from your hips, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a little black box.

“Open it and find out,” he held the box out to you.

With wide eyes, you took what was clearly a jewelry box from him and opened it slowly. Rafe reached up to turn on the car light so you could better see what was inside. It was a dainty gold ring, twisting around itself to make a small knot right in the middle. It was simple, but so beautiful.

“It’s a promise ring,” he explained.

You watched him watching you, realizing he was nervous, afraid you were about to reject his gesture. You could tell by the look on his face that he had more he was struggling to say, so you silently reached out your hand and placed it on his cheek, letting him know you were listening, that he was safe.

He nuzzled his head into your soft hand and closed his eyes for a moment to gather his thoughts. After a moment, he opened them into yours and took a deep breath.

“You are…everything,” he said, eyebrows knit together in sincerity. As if he could somehow look at you hard enough to make you understand. “I don’t care what our parents say, or what all the people on this fucking island say, you are it for me, y/n. I will love you forever. Even if they cut us off, if we have no money and have to live out of the back of this car, I don’t care, I want you. Forever.”

He searched your face for any sign that you’d reject him, or laugh at his earnest desperation. You’d never treated him like that before, but he had been raised to believe that vulnerability was weakness, and even with all the loyalty you’ve shown him, he couldn’t fight the thought that when he told you what he was really feeling, you’d shoot him down.

Instead, you simply said, “Well, am I going to have to put it on myself?”

He laughed, relief spreading through his chest. He took the box from you and removed the ring, slipping it on your left ring finger before placing a kiss over it.

You grabbed his face with both hands and looked at him hard, praying he’d believe you when you swore, “I will love you forever, Rafe Cameron.”

His lower lip flinched slightly as he fought back the tears he could feel springing up. He kissed you quick, hoping you didn’t notice. You did notice, but you kissed him back to take his mind off of it, knowing how much he hates crying in front of people. You slid your hands back to tangle your fingers in his hair, tugging gently in appreciation as he moved his lips to your neck. 

“Don’t leave any marks,” you whined. “My mom…”

“You’re 18 now, baby, she can’t do shit,” he mumbled before going back to sucking on the tender spot at the base of your neck. 

“Yeah, except stop feeding me and kick me out of the house,” you protested, though not exactly pushing him away.

“Like I said, we’ll just live in this car,” he joked. 

“Or,” you said, pulling back from him to separate his lips from your skin before it could change color, “you could leave your mark somewhere she can’t see.”

With those words, you lifted your shirt over your head. Rafe watched hungrily, your words and movements making him grow harder than he already was. You smirked as you pressed down on him, making him hiss. Eyes locked to his, you reached back to unclasped your bra, letting the straps slide away as you revealed yourself to him slowly.

“Fuck,” he whispered as he took you in. He’d seen you naked countless times now, but the way he always looked at you like it was the very first time was the hottest thing in the world to you. 

“You’re so fucking beautiful.” With those words, he sunk his head down and started pressing gentle kisses to the top of your breasts. 

“I love when you talk to me like that, baby,” you gasp and arch your back as he captures the sensitive skin just above your nipple between his lips and starts sucking, taking you up on your suggestion to mark you somewhere no one will see. 

 You grab the back of his neck for stability, lightly letting your painted nails sink into his skin, the blissful pain of it making his hips buck up into yours. You moan as his length presses perfectly against your clit. You’re so wet you wonder if it's soaked through to his jeans yet.

“You like this?” He asked before releasing his lips and sinking into a spot on your other breast to add to the masterpiece he was leaving on your skin.

“I love it,” You answered.

“It’s your day, baby, just wanna make you feel good,” he told you.

“You always make me feel good,” you whimpered as you continued to writhe on him.

He pulled his mouth from you suddenly and moved his hands to your ass, holding you up so you couldn’t push down on him anymore. You pouted slightly, and he smirked at your neediness. 

“Today’s all about you,” he said. He moved you off of him and laid you down on the seat, kneeling so he could hover over you. He caged you in with an arm at either side of your head. You twisted your neck to look at his arm, admiring the veins that ran up the side, committing the sight to memory. You loved everything about your boyfriend’s body, but something about his arms really drove you wild. Impulsively, you leaned over and placed a kiss on the inside of his forearm, loving how soft his skin was. 

The gentleness of the moment made his skin break out in goosebumps and he looked down at you with hearts in his eyes. The only thing in the world he wanted at that moment was to make you feel how in love with you he is, so he lowered himself between your legs and got to work on your third gift of the day.

Now…

Rafe had two meetings today to sell some of the melted gold, both of which went exactly how he’d hoped. He didn’t understand how the high from the sale could wear off so quickly. So, like most nights, he found himself at the Island Club bar, three bourbons deep. He chuckled to himself, shaking his head at the conversation he just had with Topper about Sarah not answering his calls. 

“What a cuck,” he said to himself under his breath. 

Little did he know that just a few yards away, inside the club dining room, the girl he used to regularly ditch all of his friends for was sitting down to dinner.

You liked Chip just fine, he was a deputy at the sheriff’s department and though you had never been a huge fan of cops, he seemed to genuinely care about helping people. He made your mom happy, and she appears to have worked through some of the anxiety issues she had in your teens, which you were grateful for.

Even though you were tucked in a dark corner of the Island Club dining room, you and your mother still clocked all of the stares from nosy neighbors, wine moms, and kids you grew up with. It was like an Elvis sighting, after the wildfire of rumors that had engulfed the island after your disappearance two years ago. Chip, however, seemed to be none the wiser to your storied past. You didn’t know if your mom had told him all that had happened, and you kind of hoped she wouldn’t. He seemed like a simple guy with a simple view of the world, and you’d appreciate it if your mom would let him stay that way.

Chip was telling a story about one of his coworkers getting their arm stuck in the vending machine, when a commotion from outside the restaurant cut him off.

“I pay just as much as all of you assholes!” A man’s voice bellowed through the open windows.

Your heart froze and you closed your eyes, recognizing the voice immediately. When you looked up, you caught your mother’s glare, she had apparently placed the voice, too. 

A glass shattered, followed by the voice yelling, “take your fucking hands off me, douche bag!”

“I’m just going to…” you set your napkin on the table and pushed your chair back.

“Y/N,” your mother said in warning. “We’re having dinner.”

“I’m just going to make sure everything is okay,” you said, hoping she didn’t realize that you were trying to convince yourself you had a reason to go out there just as much as you were trying to convince her. 

“You’re not here for him,” she said. “You’re supposed to be here for me, for your family.”

Chip’s eyes darted quickly back and forth between you and your mother, totally lost. The two of you gave each other a look that clearly had years of history behind it, and he decided he might want to just stay in the dark.

“I’ll be right back,” you said definitively, standing from the table. Your mother sipped her wine bitterly as she watched you go.

You made your way out onto the patio, following the booming of Rafe’s voice over to the bar. He was face-to-face with another member, a middle aged man who was jabbing his finger into Rafe’s chest as he yelled at him.

“Everyone here is just trying to have a nice evening and you’re over here running your mouth,” the man spat.

Rafe shoved the man’s hand away from him and looked to the much younger woman who was standing behind him.

“I’m sorry for ruining your date with grandpa here, sweetheart,” he joked loudly. “If you ever want to be with a guy who can get it up without a truckload of Viagra, you give me a call, gorgeous.”

The man shoved Rafe and he stumbled backward, laughing, clearly drunk.

“Woah there cowboy,” Rafe chuckled. “We wouldn’t want to make a scene, now would we?”

He was being smug, dripping with arrogance, and it was making you sick. You couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. You thought this time you’d be able to confront him, try to understand why he was treating people like this, but the twist of your stomach forced you away from the scene as you fled from the patio towards the beach.

Rafe was about ready to cock his fist back, too drunk to care about escalating the situation further, when he saw it again - a flash of long hair and a flowing skirt disappearing from view. He suddenly felt completely sober. He patted the guy on the back and threw back the last of his drink before following the mysterious figure down to the beach. 

You stood at the edge of the water, doubled over with your heels in your hand, trying desperately to catch your breath. Maybe your mother was right, maybe you should just keep your head down and act like the only thing that matters to you on this island is her wedding. But both of you knew that wasn’t true, that it could never be true, not when he’s here. Not when something has clearly changed him, and you can’t sleep at night not knowing what horrible thing could’ve happened to make him behave this way. Just because you buried your love for him, didn’t mean the ghost of it had stopped haunting you.

You composed yourself and decided to go back to dinner. You’d fake your way through the rest of the week. You’d lie low, send your mother on her honeymoon, and finally get off this island for good. But when you turned back toward the club, he was there. Standing ten-feet away, just watching you.

“It is you,” he whispered, the wind knocked out of him from the shock of seeing your face in the moonlight.

“Hi, Rafe,” you say, but it doesn’t come out in the confident, casual way you had practiced for the last two years, preparing for the moment you’d inevitably see him again. Instead it’s meek, shaking with your unstable breath.

“What are you…” Rafe is speechless. For just a moment, he’s that soft, insecure boy you used to know. The boy you loved, who loved you desperately in return. He must catch the faint smile you can’t hold back, because his mouth slams shut and his jaw clenches. His wide eyes become steeley again as his shield flies back up.

“What are you doing here?” He practically spits.

“My mom is getting married,” you say, no smile gracing your lips anymore. “I thought you would’ve heard.”

“Been busy,” he shrugs. “Believe it or not I have actual shit going on.”

You chuckle humorlessly, “I can tell.”

“The fuck’s that ‘sposed to mean?” He takes an angry step towards you.

“Just the way you were talking back there, and at your party the other night,” you say. “Looks like you’re the big man now.”

It was you at the party. Rafe shakes his head in disgust, this is the final confirmation he needed to make-up his mind about whether he’s pissed at you. He’d prepared for this moment too, not sure if when he saw you again, he’d want to kiss you or kill you. Right now he was leaning toward the latter.

“Yeah, maybe I am,” Rafe says. “Now that I don’t have all of you holding me back.”

There’s a flash of something you can’t quite place in his eyes. For just a moment, he’s not here, like he’s losing a battle to stay in the moment. You wonder what kind of demons are roaring in his mind. You wish you didn’t want so desperately to exorcise them.

“All of us?” You repeat his words back to him, wondering who else joins you in the club of people Rafe Cameron now hates. You look him up and down with soft, sad eyes. 

“What happened to you, Rafe?”

“I don’t have to fucking explain myself to you, Y/N,” your name shoots off his tongue like a bullet, nothing like the way he used to coo it in worship when he held you, or moan it in awe when he was inside of you. “Why don’t you just fuck off back to wherever you’ve been. You don’t belong here anymore.”

You just look at him, head tilted as your narrow eyes size him up in a way that makes him feel like an exposed nerve. You know the second you get home tonight, the tears will come, but right now you put on a stoic demeanor to match his own. This was the opposite of the reunion you had dreamed of. You thought you’d be back in the arms of the person who knew you better than anyone in the world, but instead you stand face-to-face with a total stranger.

You start to walk back up the beach in his direction, noticing the way his Adam's apple bobs as you get closer to him. Once you’re next to him, you look up into the blue eyes that you used to imagine your kids would have someday. So many things you’d wanted to say, hundreds of letters never sent, millions of tiny memories you’d hold onto forever, but now, with his frame looming over you, all you could think to say was,

“I hate your hair.”

And for the third time this week, he stood breathless as he watched you disappear.

(chapter 3)

a/n: THANK YOU so much for all the support on chapter one, I am actually blown away I did not think so many people would enjoy my words!! Special thank you to bestie @nadvs for all the inspo and advice!!! 🫶🫶🫶

taglist: @maybankslover @dark1paradise @lmg-stilinski24 @idkdudsworld @mimipanini09 @patis643 @readingsmuts

[just-jordie-things]

video games - takuma ino

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ 10k follower event special! ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

word count: 11.6k warnings: mentions of blood, drinking summary: ino has been infatuated with his non-sorcerer roommate since day one. but he's convinced she couldn't feel the same way. more info: roommate!au, friends to lovers, gojo hits on you but it's for the greater good ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

[ it’s you, it’s you, it’s all for you // everything i do // i tell you all the time, heaven is a place on earth with you // tell me all the things you wanna do ]

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

How Takuma Ino ended up with a non-sorcerer roommate wasn’t as interesting of a story as his colleagues always thought it would be when they’d first find out.  They were always so eager for the details- was she his girlfriend? Did she know about his career and lifestyle? Was she cute? How did they meet?- and even though Ino would often laugh sheepishly and duck his head to hide his smile, the truth just wasn’t that exciting.

The truth was that as fun as being a jujutsu sorcerer was, it didn’t pay well.  So he needed a roommate in order to better afford rent.  One ad led to another, and soon (y/l/n) (y/n) was showing up asking for a tour.  It only took one visit for her to decide to move in, and they’ve been roommates for the better part of a year now.

Ino always leaves out the part where he didn’t believe she’d actually agree to join the lease with him- when she’d shown up at his door he figured she’d only asked for a tour to be polite.  In his mind there was just no way that a young woman as beautiful and hard working in her field needed a roommate- much less some random dude like him.  She’d been so friendly and easy going upon their first meeting and they seemed to click just right, so she’d shook his hand and set a move-in date that very day.  When she’d left, Ino had collapsed on his sofa with a beer and a bewildered laugh to himself.  Even now, he’s not sure how he managed to make it happen.

“You wanna order chinese? I don’t feel like cooking” 

(y/n’s) call from the other side of the room drew him out of his thoughts, and he glanced over the back of the couch to see her rummaging through the pantry.  Logic reared it’s head, reminding him that they’d just bought groceries so they should probably save the money and eat at home tonight.

But then she gave him that hopeful little smile that he couldn’t help but return before nodding his head.  Logic never won in a battle against something (y/n) wanted.

“Sure” He agrees through his smile.

By the time she’s dressed in her comfy lounging clothes, he’s already called their usual place and made an order.  He’d long since memorized her go-to order and was usually the one put in charge of calling.  He never minded.  How could he complain when everything about their situation was just so perfect? 

The roommate of his dreams, she was.  Tidy, quiet, a great cook, and one of the most pleasant people he’s ever gotten to know, Ino truly believed he struck gold when (y/n) answered his ad.  So even when his colleagues teased him for his living situation, he could hardly care.

And tease him they did.  Gojo was the main assailant.  Often joking about how strong Ino must feel all the time, being in the presence of a weak non-sorcerer human.  How she must think he was some superhero compared to all the lame human men she’d meet at her job or through her friends.  How Ino must be so lucky to have a young lady as his roommate.   Still, no matter how much he messed around, Ino knew that there was no harm in Gojo’s words.  And he also knew that if he’d actually met (y/n), he’d shut his ignorant mouth.

Nanami didn’t invest himself too much in Ino’s private life, he was simply respectful and reserved like that, but on occasion he’d been known to ask about his roommate.  Mostly situational to their occupation- such as what she thought of the nasty cuts and bruises he’d come home with- but once in a blue moon he’d make a comment suggesting it was only a matter of time before one of them developed feelings.  Ino always flustered under the light of those questions and found a way to avoid them.

In the few times throughout his week that he’d cross paths with Shoko, she always made a point to ask about his roommate.  Which was sort of odd, seeing as her work in the infirmary didn’t make them the closest of colleagues, but at first the casual conversation was welcomed.  But it was only a matter of time before she, too, would begin pestering him about making a move on her.

They all seemed to have the same underlying message.  How could you share a living space with someone and not catch feelings for them? And Ino spent a lot of his time and energy trying to convince them that it simply wasn’t like that.  Just because they both happened to be single, and close friends, and sharing a small two bedroom apartment, didn’t mean that romantic feelings were bound to happen.  They were both adults, they could live in such a situation and keep their hands and hearts to themselves.

He was a liar, though.

Takuma Ino had fallen completely, head over heels in love with his roommate, and there was no chance of him ever getting over that feeling.

It had taken relatively no time for the feelings to develop.  Shortly after her moving in, she’d made an effort to be close to him.  There wasn’t a moment where he felt like she wanted space or privacy away from him.  She often offered to help him cook, or invited him grocery shopping with her, or out to a movie she wanted to see, and a fast friendship blossomed.  The way she always reached out to include him had him swooning in no time.

Coffee runs, movie nights, and frequent texting throughout their days before they both came home all snowballed into one undeniable truth.  He was falling in love with her.

When Ino had first realized that’s what was happening when his heart would leap out of his chest when she’d scoot close to him on the couch so they could share a blanket while they watched a movie or played a game together, he’d tried to bury it.  Because surely his mind was just playing tricks on him.  Surely he was just excited that a pretty and kind girl like her wanted to be so close to him, and his feelings were strictly platonic.

But then he found himself relaxing just from the smell of her shampoo wafting close to him.  He realized that when he would come home from a late assignment and she’d be waiting for him that his heart was skipping a beat because it was just so perfectly domestic.  He couldn’t deny it for too long at all, not when she so sweetly saved him the leftovers from her dinner and would heat it up for him while he showered and de-stressed from the particularly rough assignment.

The only problem was that he knew she didn’t feel the same way, and he’d been struggling to keep his true feelings hidden.  From her, and from his pesky fellow sorcerers.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

(y/n) hated when Ino came home late from his assignments.

Not because the squeak door woke her up, or because it meant she was alone taking care of the evening chores.  It was simply because she’d stay up every time, too consumed with anxiety to go to sleep without knowing he’d returned safe and sound.

Which, in all fairness, he always did.  He always came home, and most of the time he’d shoot her a message saying he’d wrapped up with work and was on his way- even when it was one in the morning- like tonight.

She waited up on the couch, wrapped up in a fluffy blanket with the title screen of a movie she’d watched hours ago playing it’s intro for the thousandth time.  In all fairness she knew he could handle himself, and he’d never not come home, or come back with life threatening injuries.

That didn’t mean he didn’t come back hurt, and that didn’t mean she wouldn’t fuss over him, every single time.

And tonight when he finally stumbles into the apartment, just as the clock ticks past two, she’s practically gnawing at her nails as she rushes towards him.

Despite the way he limps, and there’s blood trickling out of his nose, he gives her a smile, and he’s the first to worry.

“It’s late, you should be in bed” He scolds without any real threat to his words.  This routine had established itself months ago, and he knew damn well that she wouldn’t get a wink of sleep until she knew he was safely returned home.

Still, he worried about something as silly as her sleep schedule every time.

“Shut up” Is all (y/n) mumbles, beckoning him further into their apartment, until he’s following her to the bathroom.  

She’s faster than him, pulling out the well loved first aid kit and getting everything prepped and ready on the counter while he slowly staggers in behind her.  It was practically the same scene every time he came home like this.  No matter how beat up he was- with a mere scratch or bloodied to a pulp- she was forcing him to sit down on the lid of the toilet seat so she could tend to his injuries herself.

Ino wasn’t sure if it was for her own well being and comfort, knowing that she’d taken care of him and none of his injuries would get infected.  Or if maybe she just didn’t trust him to take care of them himself, maybe she knew that his idea of first aid was slapping a hello kitty band aid on it and calling it a night.

(There was one instance a few months ago where he’d left a hello kitty band aid on the back of his hand that she’d so lovingly placed there, and Gojo didn’t let him hear the end of it for the entire day.  Not that Ino minded.  Every time he caught a glimpse of the pink band aid it brought a smile to his face remembering how gentle she’d been covering the cut underneath, how her thumb had stroked over the sticker so lightly to ensure it was well placed and would do the trick.  He left that band aid on his hand for as long as he could before eventually it lost his adhesive and in turn he lost it)

Either way, he never tried to talk her out of tending to him.  Even when he knew it was too late for her to be staying up just to clean up some silly injuries that were nothing compared to the things that Shoko healed with her Reverse Cursed Technique- but he’d never tell (y/n) about the broken bones or brushes with death.  He’d just keep his mouth shut and sit on that toilet seat while she soaked a cotton pad in antiseptic and gently dabbed at the cuts on his arm.

“Sorry” 

She’d mumble the apology every time she’d make first contact with the injury, knowing how the alcohol tended to sting.  And every time, Ino would give her a small smile and tell her it was alright.

“How was your day?” He hummed as she continued to clean up the few cuts on his arms.  She had his sleeve rolled all the way up and tucked carefully at his shoulder so it wouldn’t be a hindrance.  She hummed thoughtfully before shrugging a shoulder.

“Pretty boring, nothing of note,” She murmured back truthfully.  “Until now” She adds, her eyes meeting his just so he’d catch the hint of reprimand in her tone.

Ino can’t help but chuckle to himself, he’d forever be amused by the way she worries over him.  She may have been new to the world of jujutsu sorcery, but it never failed to humor him how she’d fuss and worry over such minor injuries.  Injuries that Shoko wouldn’t treat even if Ino walked into the infirmary and begged for it.  Surely he’d be laughed at.

“So you’re saying I’m the highlight?” He teases quietly, and (y/n) rolls her eyes, but doesn’t deny it.  She chooses the safe route and keeps her focus on her handiwork.  He still laughs at her obvious non-answer.  “Work was alright, though?” 

“I suppose,” She answers.  “Got home early because some people in my department were going out and convinced my boss to join, so they let us all leave early.  That was nice” 

Ino gave her a small frown, but it went unnoticed.

“How come you didn’t go?” 

Her eyes briefly flicker up to his, and she purses her lips before shrugging her shoulders in a small movement.

“Wasn’t really in the mood,” She says, and it’s not a total lie, but she averts her eyes shortly after, reaching out to the first aid kit on the counter again.  She fishes around a bit before finding the package of square shaped band aids.  “Besides, I didn’t know when you’d be back” She added.

It deepens his frown, but she’s completely avoiding his gaze now.  He expects as much, seeing as he’s had this conversation with her before.  He encourages her to go out with her friends more, or make new friends at work to hang out with, and she always has an excuse at the ready.  Sometimes her reasoning was decent, but most of the time it was obvious she came up with them on the spot, and it made his heart sink.

Of course he wanted her around all the time, pushing her away was absolutely a struggle for him, but Ino knew that if they continued only spending time with one another, then his feelings would never go away.  It would be hard, but tremendous help if she made a new best friend, or better yet a boyfriend, and then he’d have to get over her, he was sure.

“You shouldn’t avoid your friends cause of me,” He tells her quietly.  “It’s late, you could’ve gone out… if you wanted to” 

After placing a band aid on his skin and smoothing down the corners so it stayed intact, she glanced up at him.  A small knot formed between her brows before she cracked a goofy smile.

“They’re not my friends, Ino,” She chuckles at him.  “They’re coworkers.  I see them plenty enough, I don’t need to hang out with them outside of work- where we would probably still only talk about work” 

As far as excuses went, it was a pretty damn good one.  So this time he gave in, smiling and nodding back at her in understanding.

“Guess that’s fair,” He mumbles, and she laughs quietly again as she opens up another band aid.  “I just… I dunno, I don’t want you missing out of stuff, that’s all” 

“I think I’m old enough to decide what I want to do with my time,” She teases, her cheeks warming at the insinuation in her admission.  “If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be” 

His heart skips a beat, and as lovely as the feeling is when his stomach flips, Ino wishes she wouldn’t say stuff like that.  It gave his heart the wrong idea, and it was hard to fight with his heart.  He was convinced his brain just wasn’t strong enough to fight the delusion.

“So your ideal night is patching up this idiot, huh?” He wiggles his eyebrows at her in that way that always makes her laugh, and she does, bubbly and sweet, and again his stomach does a flip.  Making her laugh always brightened him up completely.  Like a video game character maxing out his health bar.

“I think I would’ve made a great doctor” She teases back, shaking the box of band aids at him before carefully tucking them back in their spot in the first aid kit.

“You don’t even give me lollipops, how could you say that?” Ino retorts in mock offense- although it would make these little patch up sessions even better if he was rewarded with her close proximity and candy, but he’d accept one sweet thing at a time.

“Shut up,” She says through her giggles, finally closing up the whole kit.  “You’re lucky I don’t do any of the scary stuff.  I’ll leave that for your sorcerer friends” 

“Eh, it might come to that,” Ino shrugs.  He stays seated as she puts the small case back into it’s spot in the cabinet, lingering in her space for however long she’ll let him.  “Shoko will probably get tired of me eventually, you know.  How comfortable are you with stitches?” 

The grin on his face is nothing short of teasing- and he knows he should stop.  He knows that eventually the lines get blurry and he’s not sure how much his teasing is starting to blend into flirting, and with how playful her nature is she’s never afraid to dish it back.  Not once had she reacted in an uncomfortable manner to something he’s said, but that only makes it harder for him to draw that line in the sand.

(y/n) shuts the cabinet and turns to him with her hands on her hips.  A serious look flashes across her expression that he can’t tell if it’s meant to be in humor or if she’s actually about to drop the playful atmosphere.  With a step towards him, she leans over so her height matches his, and they’re face to face.

“Takuma Ino,” She declares, eyes boring into his with an intensity that makes him gulp down on air.  “Unless you want some really funky looking scars, don’t go asking me to stitch you up.  Leave it to your magic friends” 

His anxious expression drops as he breaks into a smile, amused by her choice of words, and her own face softens as she smiles back at him.  It was infectious, the way he smiled.  It could get her to crack even when she was really trying to be stubborn.  A secret weapon of his that (y/n) was pretty sure he used on purpose, but there were some instances she could be convinced that he had no clue of this power.

“My magic friends, huh?” He repeats with a smirk.  

He’d definitely have to tell Gojo about that one when he saw him next.  Surely it would feed into his ego, if not make him cackle.

(y/n) stands up again, her cheeks suddenly feeling a little too warm, before she spins around and heads out of the bathroom.  Finally, Ino stands, stretching his sore limbs and checking over the array of bandages on his arm before following after her.

“Or better yet, just don’t get yourself hurt anymore” (y/n) adds, her back turned to him as she makes her way towards her room.

“Oh wow, I hadn’t thought of that” He shot back in a mocking voice.  He knows she rolls her eyes, even if he can’t see.

“Just sayin’, why don’t you work on that technique where stuff doesn’t touch you? Like that one guy?” 

He has to bite his cheek to keep himself from breaking out into a fit of laughter.  She was trying her best to understand how jujutsu worked, even if she was a little off the mark.  There was also something so rewardingly funny about someone not remembering who Gojo Satoru was- even if she’d never met the guy.

“Not exactly how it works,” He replies.  (y/n) turns to him as she stands in the middle of her doorway.  Her tiredness is more evident now in the way she leans against it and blinks slowly back at him.  “Pretty sure I gotta stick with the one I was born with”  

She hums, pursing her lips as she tries to recall all of his explanations for the finicky sorcerer world.  But her mind is foggy with exhaustion and she’s getting a little too swept up in how softly his brown eyes gaze at her, so she shakes her head and finally turns towards her room.

“Noted,” She tells him, knocking twice on her frame before grabbing the handle of her door and pulling it behind her.  “G’night Ino” 

His heart warms as he bids her goodnight, and he lingers in the empty apartment for a few more seconds before making his way into his own bedroom.  

Every minute spent with her felt special and worth basking in, even when nothing significant happened, even when it was a completely normal night.  Just being around her was enough for his insides to melt into a buttery mess.

When he goes to sleep, he hopes to see her in his dreams, where he doesn’t have to feel anxious or guilty about his feelings, and he can be with her freely, without a care in the world.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

“There’s gonna be this… work thing… next weekend,” 

He brings it up out of nowhere, although he’s spent a while trying to find a way to say it, he actually blurts it out in the middle of the two of them watching a movie.  So it’s not actually surprising when (y/n) turns towards him with a puzzled look on her face, already reaching for the remote to pause the movie.

Tonight she sits close enough that with his arm strewn across the back of the couch, it could almost feel like they were cuddled up together.  Even though they’re not touching- unless you counted the stray hairs that fell from her claw clip and brushed his arm behind her head.

“If you wanted to come, anyways,” Ino clears his throat uncomfortably, suddenly feeling a little more on the spot with the movie stopped and her full attention on him.  “Gojo’s hosting, said anyone can come, I- I don’t have that many details yet, but, um, I’ll probably go, since Nanami said he was-” 

“And I’m allowed to go?” She ends his suffering with her question, her brows raising in shock.

“Allowed?” Ino repeats the choice of word, followed by a short chuckle.  “Of course you are, why do you say it like that?” 

“I dunno,” Her shoulders shrug limply, although she knows exactly why she asks.  “Cause… I’m not like you, I guess” 

Ino’s never given too much thought to their differences.  Besides when he’d realized he’d have to tell her the truth about his career, and they had spent hours on this very sofa while he explained the complicated history of jujutsu, and the ins and outs of curses and cursed techniques.  She’d had her uncertainties, and endless questions, but after that talk, the stark differences in the lives they led outside of this apartment rarely came up.  He could almost say it didn’t matter, but he didn’t want to diminish either of their careers.

Now, as he watches her begin to curl up like she was trying to shrink into herself, his heart falls a little bit.  Did she really feel like she didn’t deserve an invite? Just because she was a non-sorcerer? In his eyes, it certainly didn’t make her any less of a person.  He could almost laugh.  How could a person like her feel that way? Someone so good hearted, hard working, brilliant, gorgeous- 

“Ino?” She presses forward, drawing him out of his derailed train of thoughts.  He blinks a few times as he comes back to the present moment.

“I want you to come” He says, feeling much bolder than he had when he first brought the subject up.

Now she’s blinking back at him wordlessly, eyes going round and a smile tugging at her lips.

“You do?” She asks, just to be sure, even though there’s not a doubt in her mind that he means it, with how genuine and hopeful his expression is.  Warmth blooms in her face, and she hopes that her blush isn’t too embarrassing.

It’s not.  Ino finds it utterly adorable, and quite endearing.

“Yeah,” He affirms with a nod of his head, before pushing a hand through his hair to pull it away from his face.  “I want you to meet everyone.  And I want them to finally meet you, too.  If you want to, that is” 

Her smile widens a little further as she nods back at him, the movement jittery and short, displaying her eagerness in it’s fullest.

“Sounds fun.  I’d love to,” She says softly.  Ino lights up with excitement, sitting up a little straighter as he beams at her.

However, before he can reach for the remote and start their movie up again, she snatches it away, a curious expression crossing her features as she studies him.

“But what do you mean finally, hm?” She muses, the question only half-playful.  Curiosity did get the best of her after all.  “Have they been dying to meet me or something?” 

He makes a face at her that makes her laugh, her eyes lighting up as his expression alone confirms what she’d been thinking.

“Have you been talking about me to your coworkers, Ino?” She teases, her grin practically splitting her face.

“Don’t be an idiot, of course I do,” He tries to play it off, reaching out for the remote again, but she pulls her hand away just before he can take it, subsequently having him lean almost fully across her, his arm outstretched towards the object that could free him of this torture.  “(y/n)” He huffs in annoyance, frowning at her when she still doesn’t play the movie.

“Nuh uh,” She says childishly while shaking her head.  “What do you tell them about me?” She presses further.

He wants to roll his eyes, and huff and groan until she’s annoyed into going back to their movie- which had just been starting to get good before he started this whole thing- but he can’t.  He just can’t bring himself to do it.  Not when she’s grinning up at him and he swears he sees an actual sparkle in her eyes.

“C’mon dummy, they know all about you” Again, Ino tries to play it off like it’s not a big deal.  

(As if he hadn’t gone on a long winded story to Nanami just the other day about how he was going to surprise her with a fruit bouquet of mangos on her nearing birthday, because she’d recently become obsessed with the tangy fruit and demanded they picked up the most overpriced ones every time they went to the grocery store.  Nanami had little to know interest in hearing about all the places Ino had researched who make fruit arrangements and how he hadn’t deemed any of them good enough yet) 

“All about me, huh?” She repeats curiously, before humming, content with the response.  

Then she finally pushes play on the remote before dropping it onto the cushion beside her.  Ino sends a silent thank you prayer to whatever greater force was looking out for his dignity, and settles back into his seat.

He swears when (y/n) gets settled, she’s sat just a little bit closer to him.  He’s pretty sure her shoulder wasn’t grazing against his earlier.

They’re a few minutes in before she speaks up again, her voice merely a soft whisper beside him.

“You didn’t have to be all shy about it.  I talk about you at work all the time” 

Ino can barely keep his focus on the whole rest of the movie.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

The work event isn’t necessarily a fancy one.  There’s not a dress code, and despite Ino’s worries with Gojo organizing it, it’s not at some five star establishment he couldn’t even afford to look at.  It’s held at a small local restaurant and bar.  

Gojo does, however, rent out the place for the evening, so the only patrons tonight would be those from Jujutsu Tech, and whoever they decide to bring.

Despite it being business casual at most, it still feels like it’s the most dressed up he’s ever gotten for going somewhere with (y/n).  Maybe it’s just his heart working on overdrive after seeing the simple but sleek black dress she’d chosen to wear for the night, paired with a little mesh wrap that was tied in a little bow at her chest and flared at the sleeves for some personality- but as soon as the evening began, Ino was starting to overthink.

“I’ve never been here before,” (y/n) hums as they approach the venue.  “I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this” 

She peeks a glance over at Ino as he’s also admiring the building.  It’s a rather small restaurant, but the architecture has enough character that it’s worth getting a good look at before going inside.  Or maybe he was just stalling where he could.

He looks really nice tonight, she thinks, and the thought instantly makes her heart skip a beat as she takes a few more seconds to look at him.  He’s in dark slacks and a cotton black sweater that looks so soft she’s suddenly dying to pinch the fabric between her fingers to see for herself.  It’s paired with a white collared undershirt for a little extra flair- something she knows she once told him she liked seeing on a man- and without his mask piled up on top of his head his long hair wisps in slight curls around his ears, just barely touching his shoulders.

She knows she’s been staring for too long, but it takes a few tries before she actually pulls her gaze away from him.

“I wasn’t either,” Ino says, and it takes her a minute to remember what she’d even said.  “Knowing Gojo, I was expecting something… worse” 

(y/n) chuckles to herself, before nodding to the door.

“Time to enjoy not worse?” She prompts, and he grins before gesturing for her to follow him inside.

Ino reaches over her shoulder to push the door open, only to follow behind her with a gentle hand on her back guiding her in.  The silk of her dress is so smooth and thin against the light graze of his hand that he can feel the heat of her skin through it, and it takes a mental talk with himself in order to keep him from pressing his hand fully against her back.

She gives him a sweet smile in gratitude, before both of their attention is pulled away by the shrill of cheering amongst the chatter of people in the restaurant.

There weren’t a lot of people- there weren’t many jujutsu sorcerers to begin with- but there were enough to fill the room with a certain level of white noise with background conversation.  All of that was drowned out by a small group of people currently shouting and beckoning Ino and his date over towards them.

Most of the shouting came from Gojo, but Shoko and Utahime seemed to be at just the right amount of intoxicated to join in with loud bouts of laughter.  Nanami is also at the table, politely sipping his drink with a mere nod of greeting as Ino brings (y/n) their way.

“I guess I should have given you some warnings” He says under his breath as they make their way through the slight crowd. 

Most of the managers are grouped together, Nitta giving a friendly wave in passing before going back to a heated argument that made Ino and (y/n) chuckle to themselves.  It lightened some of the tension in (y/n’s) shoulders.  She didn’t want to bother him with her silly anxieties, but she’d been quite worried about showing up to an event full of people who were extraordinary, meanwhile she was merely a salary worker.

Don’t get her wrong, she worked hard and was proud of how quickly she’d moved up in the ranks, but how could she compare that to people with other-worldly abilities? People who actively saved lives? 

“Warnings?” She murmurs, glancing over at him, only to find his gaze already set on her.

“Not- not bad ones, necessarily,” Ino stammered.  “It’s just… Gojo is loud, and nosy, but he’s a good time and he means no harm, promise,” 

(y/n) nods in understanding, eyes flickering back to the table of sorcerers they were currently headed towards.  She had a pretty good idea of which one was Gojo.

“Nanami’s quiet.  He looks judgemental, but he’s not.  Well- maybe a little, but he’s polite.  So.  It’s fine, I don’t have any warnings about Nanami, he’ll like you a lot” 

“Yeah?” A flattered smile spreads across her glossy lips.  It was silly to take pride in being liked by a stranger, but she knew how much Ino looked up to his mentor, and it made her heart flutter to think he believed the man he respected so much would approve of her.

“Absolutely,” Ino’s voice is rich with certainty as he nods at her.  “Shoko’s kind of a weirdo, that’s just cause she works in the morgue all day so her sense of humor is… warped.  Utahime is her not-very-secret girlfriend, I’ve told you about that right?” 

(y/n) nods in confirmation.  She may have never met these people, but she felt like she knew most of them well enough just from the late night gossip sessions they’d have after a shared bottle of wine.

“Any questions?” He asked, slowing their steps the closer they got to the table.  

It was just like Gojo to set his little crew of odd semi-forced friends up in the corner where they could have some privacy, even though they were the loudest bunch of the whole gathering.  At least he had the decency to rent the place out so the only people he was bothering were those he already bothered on a regular basis.

“No,” (y/n) said softly, before reaching out and curling her fingers around the sleeve of his shirt, bringing his attention back towards her.  “Just one request?” 

Ino gives her a small nod, halting in place as he stares at her with a grave seriousness in his eyes.

“Don’t ditch me here?” 

He almost laughs at the ask, but he stops himself when he notes the hints of anxiety hidden in her expression.  The twitch at the corner of her mouth, the slight pinch in her brow.  He clears his throat and nods at her, before grinning widely.

“Of course not!” He declares, squeezing her wrist gently before she drops her hold on his sleeve.  “What do you take me for? A gentleman would do no such thing” 

And as they finally approach the table of Ino’s closest colleagues, they’re both laughing, and some more tension is relieved from her shoulders.

Ino’s quick to introduce her, and he goes around the table to remind her of everyone’s names quickly, trying to get the awkward stage out of the way as quickly as possible.  Everyone behaves well enough, or as well as he could hope for.  Utahime’s a bit excitable as she compliments (y/n’s) dress and sparkling accessories, but it helps to break the ice as the two slip into conversation about their favorite boutiques.

Ino wants to point out that the Kyoto based sorcerer never was one for small talk with him, but he keeps his mouth shut solely because (y/n) warms up to her and Shoko quickly and he doesn’t want to throw a wrench in their bonding.

Gojo’s clearly in the middle of some wild and possibly partially made up retelling about a special grade curse he’d exorcized on a recent assignment, so after introductions he resumes his exaggerated storytelling, giving (y/n) and Ino time to order drinks and chat with Shoko and Utahime a little longer.

“You’re pretty brave for coming,” Shoko points out to (y/n), earning a slight glare from Ino, to which she backtracks and waves her hand dismissively.  “I just mean because this is the worst” 

“I don’t think so” (y/n) shrugs with a sweet smile as she sips her drink.

“You don’t know us that well yet, you’ll change your mind later,” Utahime chimes in.  “This,” She gestures towards Gojo, who’s talking wildly with his hands as he reaches the climax of his story.  “Is why I took off to Kyoto, first chance”

It earns a laugh from Shoko and Ino, so (y/n) forces a small chuckle as well, but so far she couldn’t complain about the company.  Sure, the white haired man wearing sunglasses inside in the evening seemed a bit theatrical and high energy, but it was a party setting, right? So she could give him the benefit of the doubt for now.

“Speaking of-” Shoko gets up from her seat, not so subtly tapping Utahime’s hand, “I need a smoke” 

“Oh, yeah, me too”

Utahime glances at (y/n) and Ino with a raised brow, silently offering them to join, but one look at Shoko’s wide eyes tells them to shake their heads and stay in place.  Even if they did smoke, they were clearly not wanted at this particular break.

Once they’re out of sight, (y/n) turns to Ino, obviously fighting a grin on her face, before she leans in close to talk a little more privately.

“Oh, it’s painfully obvious” 

He laughs back at her, nodding his head in agreement before tapping the rim of his glass against hers.

Their moment is broken up when long limbs stretch across the empty space that Utahime and Shoko had left, and apparently Gojo had wrapped up his story because now he’s slinking towards the two with a coy grin on his face.

“We haven’t been properly introduced, have we?” 

(y/n) fights the urge to stagger backwards as he comes close.  He has a wild sort of energy surrounding him.  He’s intimidating, but not in a way that makes her afraid, just very aware of how large and powerful he is.  She wonders if even a non-sorcerer like her can pick up on signatures of cursed energy, or if this was just his raw aura.

But the way he smiles is inviting and the bubbly giggles that erupt from him provide nothing but a feeling of friendliness, as if he was someone (y/n) had known for years.

“Almost a year” She answers, forcing a smile that she hopes doesn’t come across as awkward as it feels.

“Wow, a whole year!” He cheers, raising his glass at the accomplishment.  “That’s absolutely marvelous.  A whole year, huh?” He repeats it again thoughtfully, tilting his head just slightly.

Ino’s not sure if she’s noticed, but since Gojo approached them, he hadn’t once torn his eyes off of her.  Perhaps she couldn’t tell with the dark shades covering his line of sight, but Ino had gotten quite used to reading Gojo’s body language even with the blockage of a blindfold.  

He also wasn’t a complete dunce, he knew that the way she looked tonight made it difficult for anyone to take their eyes off of her.  Even Utahime had gotten that glazed over look after they talked for long enough.  No one was immune, it seemed, but Gojo was probably the only person in the room that sparked a nasty feeling in Ino’s chest with the way he smirked down at her.

The feeling is a dull heat, only ignited into something worse when Gojo pushes his sunglasses to the top of his head, bright blue eyes on full display, and now so obviously focused on (y/n).

“How does someone go a whole year living with a pretty thing like you and not make a move, hm?” 

Ino’s face twists up with shock and disgust, which humors Gojo as he begins to cackle, but he still doesn’t spare a glance away from (y/n), who barely reacts at all as she stands before them.  She simply tilts her glass around, slowly mixing the ice around her drink.  She doesn’t crack a laugh, but she also doesn’t give any sign that she’s upset with the unabashed flirting.

Neither of them are given the proper chance to respond to the bold comment, as suddenly Nanami’s approaching them, shooting Gojo a look that made the special grade sorcerer head off with some excuse about a fresh drink.

Thankfully, Nanami completely changes the subject of conversation, and Ino does his best to forget about what just happened as (y/n’s) properly introduced to his mentor.  They shake hands, exchange a few pleasantries, but are ultimately quick to jump into conversation about Ino himself- even with him still standing there.  

A lot of the stories they share are more embarrassing than he’d like, but he’s able to stand it for a little while.  For both of them, at least.  They were the most important people in his life after all, he’d been eager for them to finally meet.

But as soon as (y/n) gets Nanami to actually laugh about her first witnessing his cursed technique over an unwanted bug in the apartment, Ino finds himself using the same lame excuse of grabbing them a couple more drinks before he’s darting away from the downright humiliating memory.

(y/n) giggles and doesn’t even indulge Nanami in the story once Ino’s walked away.  She’d just wanted to make him sweat a little, and clearly his mentor had gotten a kick out of it as well.

“He clearly adores you,” Nanami says, cutting through the light hearted atmosphere with a statement so genuine that (y/n’s) features soften as she takes in his words.  “I’ll give him that.  He’s a good sorcerer, and person.  And clearly his judgment is well founded” 

It’s a… distinguished compliment, that’s for sure.  (y/n) finds herself blushing and she can’t even quite explain why.  Was it the compliment itself or the insinuation behind it? Ultimately she decides to play it off due to the slight buzz she was running on.

“I’m certainly lucky to have him,” She says, and just as she glances around the room to see where he’d gone, he’s already heading back towards her with two drinks in his hands.  “I owe a greater force big time for bringing me to him, don’t I?” She murmurs.

She doesn’t look back at Nanami when she speaks, her eyes too focused on the man headed in her direction.  The blonde sorcerer ducks his head and tries to cough over his chuckling.  It’s a pitiful attempt, but judging the glazed over look in her eyes as Ino comes near, he could probably count on her not having noticed his humored state.

“Thank you” She hums when Ino hands her the fresh glass, taking the empty one from her other hand and placing it on an empty table behind him.

“Did I take too long?” He asks, just quiet enough for her to hear.

There’s a look on her face he can’t quite read, but it’s so lovely he couldn’t even be bothered to try to decipher it as he smiles fondly back at her.

Nanami takes a subtle step backwards as he watches them mirror that lovesick look at one another.

“Not at all, I was just getting to know your mentor a little better,” She tells him, gesturing to Nanami, who had now turned and was walking away completely.  “He has very kind things to say about you” 

She tilts her head at him as her smile grows a little wider.  Ino raises a brow back at her, unable to help the small bit of laughter that escapes him as he holds her stare.

“That so?” He hums, growing amused as he realizes she’s just a little bit drunk.  “Are you having a good time?” He asks, and she knows he’s really asking if she’s feeling the alcohol a bit, but she nods back at him anyways, unbothered by the hidden question.

“I am, I’m glad you brought me” 

His smile softens.

“Me too” 

Utahime and Shoko return shortly after, and soon the four of them are seated at one end of the table sharing all sorts of stories, from work to drama to things they definitely didn’t need to share for being new acquaintances, (y/n) hit it off with the pair so well Ino didn’t want to do anything to reel her in.  He was just relieved to see her getting along with the people of that part of his life.

It also helped that throughout the night she seemed to draw closer and closer to him.  Whether they were walking up to the bar and she kept so close their arms brushed together, or when they sat down and she pulled her chair close to his so that when she was leaning into the table she was reaching across his lap and almost completely in his space.  Ino could almost pretend that she was his date for the night.  He’d weakly mustered up the courage to drape his arm over the back of her chair, but that was as much of a leap as he was willing to take.

Not long after though, she raised her empty glass in his direction, and her free hand reached over her shoulder where his hand dangled off her chair, so her fingers could wrap around his.

“Another?” She hums curiously, still swirling the glass in a small circle.

His hand unintentionally twitches when her soft skin brushes over it, and as if on instinct, she slots her fingers between his.

She’s touched him before, of course, it’s not like he’s never had skin-to-skin contact before.  When patching him up, or bumping into each other in the kitchen.  One thing was certain, though… they never held hands.

And she holds his hand now with that pretty smile on her face as she waits for him to answer her question- wait, shit, how long has it been since she asked him that question?

“Yeah, yeah, let’s get another round” He agrees, and carefully slides his chair back before standing, not wanting to bump into hers.

Even when she stands, she keeps her fingers curled between his.  Ino’s not sure if she’s even aware of it- should he pull his hand away? Or perhaps she was just a bit drunk and didn’t want to stumble in her heels- so keeping his hold on her would be the right thing to do, right? 

She gives Shoko and Utahime a cheeky little wave before following beside Ino towards the bar.  Their hands still clasped together between them.  He wonders if she knows that she’s making his heart race at an unhealthy pace.

But she must know, she must realize she’s still holding it, because once they approach the bar and wait for their drinks, she’s lazily swinging their conjoined hands back and forth as she strikes up a conversation with him.

“This is much cooler than any work event I’ve ever gone to,” She tells him.  “It’s always at a chain restaurant, and there’s a socially acceptable amount of drinks you can have” 

Ino chuckles at the slight pout on her face, and finds himself giving into the slight swing of their arms.  “This stuff barely ever happens,” He shrugs.  “Probably because most people can only take Gojo in concentrated amounts,” 

Her eyes are wide as she nods at him in understanding.  In the brief interaction she’d had with the special grade sorcerer, she already completely understood what he meant.

“But if this doesn’t end in disaster and there’s a chance for another one in eight to eighteen months, you’re invited” He teases.

She lights up like a christmas tree, as if he’s just promised her tickets to a sold out tour of her favorite artist, or a seat on the next shuttle to the moon.  Her lips curl into the most beautiful smile he’s ever seen, eyes glimmering with her excitement and honor, and if Ino wasn’t swooning as hard as he was, he might’ve chuckled at the drunken delight.

“Really?” She gushes, eyebrows raising with her hope.  “You will?” 

A breath of a laugh escapes him as he nods, and she rocks on her feet momentarily, too giddy to stand still.  He can’t help but reflect her grin back at her.

They’re handed their drinks, and finally (y/n) pulls her hand out of his.  He tries not to show his disappointment.  Before Ino can think of something clever to say, something that borders the line of teasing and flirting that he’s usually so good at tip-toeing over, someone else joins them at the bar.

Gojo Satoru on a regular day is a menace.  Although Ino didn’t always mind, not like his mentor did.  More often than not, he’d match the energy and get a good laugh in for the day.  But at a work-social event?  Gojo was insufferable.  Ino had already decided this the second he’d decided to hit on (y/n).

Was he irritated for the right reasons? No.  Was he actively trying to get over his feelings for his sweet, perfect, beautiful roommate? Maybe.  Did that mean shit? Absolutely not.

He’s decided that as soon as Gojo purrs out another flirty line- which he’s bound to do judging from the way he’s currently looking at her- that he’s going to take her hand again and drag her away without a word.  His heart starts to race in his chest from the anticipation, knowing that it’s soon to come once Gojo’s done chatting her up about how swell of time she’s having.

As powerful as he was, Gojo Satoru could be a bit predictable.

“You know, I could show you some pretty neat things at Jujutsu Tech if you ever wanted to learn more about sorcery,” He’s good at disguising his propositions as simple acts of kindness.  Ino’s jaw twitches as it tenses, his teeth clamping down together.  “I’m a really good teacher, you know” 

“Oh?” (y/n) scoffs, she’s faster to react than Ino, and for being at a giggly-level of intoxicated, she plays off her scoff as playful as she quirks an eyebrow up at him.  “You should probably save it for your students, then,” She says, and Ino fights the urge to snicker.  Not very well, though, it’s pretty obvious when he purses his lips and his eyes crinkle with humor.  “Besides, I’m taken” 

Ino does a full double take, the joy on his face falling and transforming into one of utter bewilderment.  If (y/n) notices the reaction, she chooses to ignore it, too busy staring down Gojo with a pointed smile that seemed sweet but screamed get lost instead.

Gojo doesn’t seem remotely offended by the bomb drop of a refusal.  In fact, he almost looks amused by it.  He grins from ear to ear as he nods back at her in understanding.

“Of course,” He murmurs, his gaze finally shifting towards Ino, only for a moment, before it’s focused on (y/n) again.  “I wasn’t trying to offend” He says, and it’s genuine.

(y/n) beams.

“You didn’t” 

With that, Gojo nods again, and then he disappears again.  Off to mess with someone else, they suppose.  Ino’s pretty sure Nanami was left unattended and he’s likely the next victim.  If the situation wasn’t so pressing, he’d probably rush off to save his mentor from the torment.  

Sorry, Nanami.

“Taken?” 

He turns to (y/n) with a look on his face that makes her brighten up.  That cute look of confusion mixed with curiosity, she just had to bask in the adorable way his brows would pinch then relax, then pinch and relax, as he struggled to keep his expression neutral.  She giggles, her smile turning toothy as she lets him baffle himself for a few seconds longer.

And then, in that soft, saccharine voice, she murmurs up at him.

“Well, I sort of am, aren’t I?” 

The night didn’t last much longer after that.  Once Shoko and Utahime were tapping out and slowly leaving the venue so as not to be bombarded by anyone- Gojo- (y/n) clung to Ino’s side a little more, and grew a bit quieter as it got later, her buzz turning into sleepiness.  

It wasn’t until Nanami made his departure that Ino decided to call it.  The only other people who were still in for the night were the managers who didn’t know when to quit.

(y/n’s) leaning back in her chair, working on drinking a second glass of water and hardly paying attention to the conversation happening around her.  She’d pulled her arms out of the sleeves of her wrap, but she let the material stay draped over her shoulders.  Ino was convinced that she might fall asleep right there in her seat.

In the last couple of minutes, he’s glanced over to find her staring at him five or six times.  Eventually he can’t hide the way his smile betrays him, and he mumbles a ‘what?’ under his breath at her.

She giggles back at him, airy and carefree, before she leans over to brush a lock of hair that curled around his ear.  A noticeable blush dusted over his cheeks as soon as her finger grazed his skin, even though the motion is just her drunken form of platonic affection, she leans so close that he can smell her perfume, and even once she’s tucked the piece of hair behind his ear, she lingers there for just a minute longer.  The lump in Ino’s throat is too large for him to talk through, so all he can do is hope his eyes aren’t ridiculously wide as he stares back at her, before she settles back in her seat again.

He thinks he might cancel his upcoming haircut appointment.  Even though it’s length was starting to get a bit annoying, he might try out the longer hairstyle for a while.  And if (y/n) continues to reach out to give it a little tuck behind his ear then that would simply be a minor bonus, wouldn’t it? 

It dawns on him after he spirals on the thought for a while that the night should be wrapped up soon.  It was time to get back home where he could chug some water and hopefully forget about how much he’d embarrassed himself tonight.

“Hey,” Ino murmurs, tapping the back of her hand gently to get her attention.  Her eyelids are heavy as she glances over at him, a small smile gracing her lips.  “You ready to go home?” 

(y/n) wakes up a bit more at that, nodding her head and tucking her arms through the sleeves of her wrap.

They slip out not long after that.  Ino keeps his arm around her waist, murmuring something about keeping her upright that he’s not even sure she hears before she’s leaning against him, slowly walking along the sidewalk on their way to the train station.  The walk and ride home is mostly silent, but it’s comfortable.  He wouldn’t ask for anything else, as long as she was tucked into his side like she belonged there, like he was made to hold her like this.

He’s not sure if the heaviness in his heart is because he’s so full of love, or if it’s because he knows deep down that this would be the closest to having her as his as he could get.  Nonetheless, he keeps his hold on her secure until they’re back in the safety of their apartment.

“Thanks for the fun night, Ino,” She murmurs after kicking her shoes off by the door.  “Let’s definitely do it again sometime, ‘kay?” 

He can only manage a small smile and a nod of agreement back at her.  

“I better get to bed, I’m going to pass out,” She lets out a tired little laugh, but before heading off, she steps closer to him, hand reaching out to give his shoulder a squeeze.  Again, he gives her a smile, about to bid her goodnight as he usually does, but before he can say anything, she’s leaning up and pressing her lips against his cheek.

She kissed him.

He blinks, and she’s already pulled away, still smiling before she’s headed off to bed with a quiet goodnight hanging between them.  

Needless to stay he stands at the door with his shoes still on for embarrassingly longer than necessary, his fingers ghosting over the spot on his face her lips had just blessed.

He was set back a few paces in his whole getting over her plan, tonight.  In fact, he might’ve been knocked all the way back to square one.

Oh well, there was always tomorrow to try again.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

“You should really make a move on that roommate of yours, you know” 

Nanami’s sudden advice has Ino swiveling his head away from lunch, nearly giving himself whiplash as he stares at his mentor in shock.  They hadn’t even talked about the event last friday, so far their talk today had been strictly work related.

(Except for when Ino saw a cat across the street while on a patrol and he insisted that Nanami named the stray before they went on their way.  That was less-than work related)

“What?” The word comes out in a mere squeak, disbelief evident in his twisted expression, but he’d heard Nanami perfectly clear.  The man nods again, chewing thoughtfully on his food before swallowing, and continuing on with his moment of advice.

Nanami didn’t often feel the need to give his pupil guidance outside of jujutsu sorcery.  Ino was quite capable of taking care of himself, for being a young man with an odd form of income, he’d always taken care of himself well.  

Now, however, the 7-3 sorcerer felt the need to involve himself with this one.  And he wasn’t afraid to tell his apprentice that he was being an idiot.

“She’s a quite lovely young woman,” Nanami continues, and Ino already feels himself begin to blush.  “It was a pleasure to meet her.  I can see why you like her so much” 

Ino gives a shaky nod, still suspicious of where this was all headed, and why Nanami was pushing him to make a move- or so he’d said.

“Yeah…” Ino agrees unsurely.  “(y/n’s)... great” 

Nanami hums as he nods his head, adjusting his glasses before sitting up straighter in his seat, giving Ino an unsettling amount of direct attention.

“She’s clearly infatuated with you,” The blonde sorcerer says bluntly.  “So what’s holding you back, hm?” 

Ino opens his mouth, but when an excuse doesn’t immediately come to mind, he shuts it again.  He gapes a few more times, and Nanami is patient as he waits to hear whatever terrible excuse he comes up with, but eventually it becomes clear that Ino’s been stunned into silence, so Nanami takes over again.

“You’re a capable young man, Takuma.  Whatever is holding you back, it’s time to let go of it.  I only had to talk to her for a few minutes to know that that young lady is in love with you” 

Ino’s still gaping like a fish, but as the words sink in, he snaps his mouth shut, and swallows the lump in his throat.

“What- uh- why are you telling me this?” He stammers out.  

Nanami sighs softly, a small smile gracing his lips.  It was heartwarming to see the shy young love blossoming before him.  At least, when it wasn’t obnoxiously ignored by Takuma.

“Because it’s obvious when you two look at each other.  Usually that means it’s time to fess up” 

“Wait wait wait,” Ino put his hands up, leaning over the table they shared as he wrapped his mind around the sudden advice.  “Are you giving me… romance advice right now?” 

“I wouldn’t call it that,” Nanami grumbles, fighting the urge to roll his eyes.  “But you’re ignoring it” 

“So you agree it’s romance advice-” 

“You love her, don’t you?” Nanami interrupts him then, brows raised pointedly as he waits for the confirmation.  It was a simple yes or no question, wasn’t it? 

When Ino shuts his mouth and swallows hard, Nanami accepts that as answer enough.

“Then don’t you think you should tell her?” 

“I…” Well, he couldn’t exactly argue with such sound advice, could he? And he certainly wasn’t about to argue with the mentor he respected beyond belief.  “I just don’t want to ruin a good thing” He admits quietly.

Now, even his ears feel like they’re on fire with the admission.

“And if you never say a thing and eventually she moves on to someone else? You wouldn’t regret your choice?” 

Ino frowns.  He should have known Nanami was only going to hit him with logic.

He finishes his lunch quietly, a silence settling between them as Nanami feels as though he’d said what he needed to say.  Ino was clearly thinking it over pretty hard- seeing as he was making his thinking face throughout the rest of their lunch break- and now all Nanami could do was hope his words would stick.

At the end of the day he wanted to see his pupil happy.  Takuma Ino was a good egg, and he deserved happiness.

It would also help if he didn’t have to sit through another event where they made heart eyes at each other for two and a half straight hours.  But mostly that first thing.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Ino’s nervous when he approaches the door of his apartment that evening.  It was a nice night, his final assignment didn’t go too late, and he made it home at the early early time of seven p.m.

When he does unlock the door and let himself inside, it’s not a surprise to be instantly greeted by (y/n), who grins at him from the kitchen.

“Ino!” Her smile stretches from ear to ear when he walks into the apartment.  She’s in the kitchen, wearing the silly but cute duckling themed apron she wore anytime she was in the kitchen, even if she was only using the toaster, she’d put that apron on.

So cute, he sighs as he leans back against the door, at a loss for words.  So domestic.  (y/n) looks puzzled by him staying at the door without coming in all the way, or saying hello.

With a concerned knot between her brows, she drops the utensil in her hand on the counter, and makes her way towards him.

“Ino?” She calls worriedly.  “You alright?” 

“Yeah- yeah, I’m fine, just tired, s’all” He stammers back, finally pulling the beanie off his head and dropping it on the small table they keep by the door, then kicking off his shoes.

(y/n) frowns.

“Long day?” She lets out a sigh, then wraps her arms around herself as she awaits whatever terrible thing he has to share.

Jujutsu sorcery wasn’t always about unique talents and powerful people, she’d learned quickly.  She’d seen Ino return home with a weight that only failing innocent people could place on his shoulders.  Tonight, she assumes that the lost, glazed over look on his face is due to something of the sort.

“It’s not like that,” He says as he watches her expression sadden.  Ino forces a quick smile as he shakes his head at her.  “Don’t worry about it” 

She doesn’t look at him any different, still frowning, still waiting for him to tell her what’s on his mind.

“I am worried,” She murmurs gently.  She doesn’t want to push him, but she needed him to know that she was there for him if he needed to get something off his chest.  “Did something happen-?” 

“No- no it’s really not…” He tries to explain to her that his anxiety tonight has nothing to do with work, but he doesn’t yet know how to tell her that it had everything to do with her.  He wasn’t sure how she’d take it.  Wasn’t sure if it would come out right.

Growing more concerned by the second, (y/n) takes a larger step closer, her hands reaching out for his out of instinct.  He flinches slightly when she first takes hold of them, but he lets her.  He lets her squeeze onto them and pull them close to her.

“If you need to talk about it-” 

Ino doesn’t like the way she looks at him like she could break just thinking he was in some sort of pain.  So before he can refine the words in his mind, he blurts out what had been plaguing him.  

“What did you mean the other night when you told Gojo you were taken?” 

It does the trick, because her expression morphs instantly.  She’s staring at him with wide, unblinking eyes, lips still parted around the rest of her question that she now drops completely.  It catches her so off guard that she’s dead silent for a few seconds.

“And then you said you sort of were- what does that mean?” Ino’s prepared with another question, and she worries he’ll keep piling them on before she could come up with the proper answers for them.

Her face feels warm, and a nervous smile spreads on her lips, followed by a small chuckle that dies in her throat.  It’s a cute sound, anxious, but cute nonetheless.  It makes the corner of Ino’s lips tilt upwards upon hearing it.  It was a natural reaction, smiling whenever she would laugh.  He couldn’t help it.  Seeing her happy, even in a state of nervous energy, set butterflies free in his stomach in a way he hadn’t felt since his childhood.

“I… I meant…” She’s stuttering, voice failing her the longer his honey brown eyes are staring into hers.  “You know what I meant” She finishes the thought quietly, barely under her breath.

He softens, and then melts before her.  His hands squeeze her with the smallest amount of force, barely there, but enough for her to feel it.

She’s blushing, her cheeks a rosy shade of pink that’s so lovely he almost can’t stand it.  He leans towards her, watching as her eyes grow a little rounder upon the close proximity.

“(y/n),” He murmurs, so soft she wouldn’t have caught it if the syllables of her name didn’t brush against her skin with his breaths.  “I need you to tell me, alright? Because-” He pauses, his eyes flickering between hers for a moment, and she swears they dart down to her lips before raising to her eyes again.  “- because I need to know I’m not seeing things and- and making them up before I do something stupid that I can’t take ba-” 

“How stupid?” She cuts him off, pressing closer, as if it could get her an answer faster.  It might work, because she barely finishes the question before he’s replying.

“Very stupid” He breathes through the words, like it pained him to even say them.

The faintest of laughs fall from her lips, before she tilts her head and gazes up at him fondly.

“Who knew you thought twice about stupid things before you did them?” She teased.  It’s so soft, so sweet, that he cracks a smile.  It washes away all of his nerves, and his stupid idea doesn’t seem so stupid anymore.

Tugging on her hands, he pulls her closer to him, until she’s practically tripping into his chest, but he doesn’t care when they collide unceremoniously.  He’s already letting go of her hands so that she can brace them against his shoulders, steadying herself, and just in time before he’s cupping her face in his hands and slamming his lips against hers.

As sudden as the kiss is, (y/n) meets him with the fervor of a long awaited passion.  Her hands squeeze his shoulders, latching probably too tight but if it hurts he shows no sign of pain.

His lips are so soft, despite being chapped and his kisses being rushed, they were so gentle against hers that she could feel her knees wobbling.  He’d probably tease her for it later, but right now she couldn’t care.

He kisses her like they only have a limited amount of time.  As if they’re not at the entryway to their shared apartment.  His hands slide from her cheeks to the sides of her head, into her hair, holding onto her with a firm grip- as if she’ll slip away from him at any moment.

But the truth was, this was heaven.  She could stand here and kiss him and be kissed by him for hours.  Days, even.

He only pulls away from her when his body has him gasping for air, chest heaving, lips hanging open as he pants, she has to giggle just a little bit at his desperation.  Even if she matched it as well.

Their noses are still pressed together, and their hands remained latched onto one another as they both caught their breath.  Ino shares her laughter once the haze over his mind clears up and the reality of what they just did sinks in.

“So,” He mumbles, heavy eyes finding hers, making her fight the urge to steal another kiss.  “Stupid?” 

With a smile she tries to bite back, she shakes her head at him.

“No,” She murmurs back.  “Not stupid” 

Dinner is forgotten on the counter, going cold the longer it remains that way.  

Ino beats her to another kiss.  It feels like ages as they stand at the door embracing one another, kissing in between fits of giggles and sweet confessions, and kissing just to kiss.

He understood exactly what she meant when she’d said she was taken.  Because, well, he sort of was too.  Long before now.  His heart was stolen the day she responded to his ad, and with it their fates sealed.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

[ it’s better than i ever even knew // they say that the world was built for two // only worth living if somebody is loving you // and baby now you do. ]

[wandamaximoffsbadgirl]

Let's Talk About That

Love of my life, would you lie? (8)

Psychiatrist!Avenger!fem!Reader x Wanda Maximoff

Summary: The team discusses what to do about Thanos

Word Count: 3.1K

Warning: Mostly angst, but some fluff too!

A/N: Writing through Infinity War has been a hell of a journey and I still have more to do!

"Hello secretary." Steve said to the hologram of secretary Ross as we entered the compound. You held Natasha’s hand with Wanda and Vision behind you.

"You have some nerve coming here." Secretary Ross spoke.

"Looks like you could use some of that right about now." Natasha stated bluntly.

"The world's on fire and you think all's forgiven?" Ross asks Steve.

"I'm not looking for forgiveness and I'm way past asking for permission. Earth just lost her best defender so we're here to fight and if you want to stand in our way then we can fight you too." Steve stated to Ross who turned his attention to Rhodey.

"Aresst them." Ross said.

"Will do." Rhodey pushed the holograms effectively ending the virtual call.

"That sounded like a court marshal." Rhodey stated flatly before smiling. "It's good to see you Cap." Holding out his hand which Cap shook. Then Natasha let go of your hand giving Rhodey a hug.

"Well you guys all look like crap." Rhodey jokes and you let out a chuckle.

"You should have seen the other guys. I got there and they ran with their tails between their legs." You told him a big smile on your face.

"Went all power stone on then didn't you?" You nodded, earning a hair ruffle from Rhodey.

"Of course they were hurting people I care about." You looked back at Wanda and Vision with a smile. "No one gets away with hurting the people I care about."

"I think you guys look great." You hear as you turn your head to the familiar voice of Bruce. Natasha doesn't move, but you do, running up to hug him.

"Missed you big guy. Both of you." You say as he picks you up.

"Missed you little lady."

"Hi Bruce." Natasha speaks and you let go looking back at her. The faintest smile in the corners of her lips.

"Nat." He does a nod of his head.

You run back over to Tasha. "Go." You whisper through your teeth. She shakes her head ever so slightly. "If I did it you can do it. Go." You move behind her and push her. Making her stumble forward, Bruce catching her as you move back next to Wanda and sigh. "Young love...or old...I'm not quite sure anymore with those two." You state to the now red head, last you had seen her Wanda still had brunette hair.

As you glanced back at Natasha and Bruce, a sense of hope flickered within you, a reminder that even amidst chaos and uncertainty, love and connection could endure, serving as a beacon of light in the darkness.

When Vision is taken by Bruce to be examined and Nat talks with Steve, Rhodey, and Sam, Wanda pulls you away into the compound. You trail behind her, relishing in the way her hand feels in yours. You had missed how it felt; almost forgot how it felt actually.

You don't realize it until she opens the door that she's taken you to your office. She looked back at you and gave a small smile as she sat on the couch like she always used to. You walk to your desk, seeing everything as you had left it. Your notebook for Wanda sitting there. You smile, picking it up along with the red pen you always used for her notes, testing the pen to make sure it still works.

You move back over sitting across from her, clicking your pen as you look at her over your glasses.

"Are you happier with her?" Wanda asks, making your throat dry up instantly. It felt hard to swallow, hard to breath.

"Don't make me answer that." You manage to say.

"Why? 'Cause it's true?"

"You know it's not. I love Natasha. Truly I do, but I'm not happier with her. The only thing that makes me happier is knowing she's made me a better person for you if you can ever give me a second chance and if not. I'll settle for her." You tell her flat out, putting your feelings out there. "My heart has always been yours."

"Does she know that?"

"Of course she does. She's not stupid." You respond with a slight bite to your words as you write in your note book.

Feeling a need to lay bare the depth of your feelings, you flipped through the pages of the notebook, searching for a particular entry. As you found the right page, you turned the notebook toward Wanda, revealing a love note you had penned after she returned from Lagos, a moment etched in my memory where she broke down, finding solace in your arms.

The emotions spilled across the page, a raw expression of love, hurt, and comfort. You saw the reflection of those sentiments in Wanda's eyes as tears glistened, capturing the spectrum of her feelings in a poignant dance of colors. The room held a heavy silence, interrupted only by the quiet sobs that reverberated between the two of you, bridging the gap between past and present.

"You took my hurt away...?" Wanda's voice was soft, laced with disbelief and a hint of wonder. You nodded solemnly, feeling the weight of your actions settle heavily on your shoulders.

"I know I said I'd never do it without your permission, but I had to take some of it. I could see it overtaking you. It was bitter and tasted like bile," You explained, a shiver coursing through you at the memory. "You know I don't like eating emotions, especially negative ones."

Wanda nodded in understanding before rising from her seat, crossing the space between you until your knees touched. Her touch was gentle as she cupped your cheek, coaxing you to meet her gaze. You hesitated, but her commanding tone compelled you to look into her deep green eyes, the same eyes you had always found solace in.

"Hey. Look at me," she urged softly, her voice carrying a mixture of warmth and familiarity. You met her gaze, feeling a sense of calm wash over you as your eyes locked.

"I missed the fuck out of you. I was upset with you about that jealous outburst, but you were just a kid still, and I forgot that along the way because you're you and so smart and mature," she confessed, her words washing over you like a soothing balm. You leaned into her touch, finally allowing yourself to relax in her presence.

"I'm sorry for what happened to us two years ago, Y/N," Wanda apologized, her voice laced with genuine remorse. You smiled softly and pressed a kiss to her hand in response.

"I'm sorry too, Wanda. If it hadn't been for those stupid accords..."

"We don't know what could have or would have happened, Y/N, and we shouldn't dwell on that. All we can do is move forward and see where that takes us," she reassured you, her words resonating deeply within you.

You nodded in agreement, pulling her into a tight hug, reveling in the familiar warmth of her embrace. As you buried your face in her neck, you breathed in her intoxicating scent of vanilla, feeling a sense of peace wash over you. Opening your eyes, you saw the telltale red aura surrounding her, a manifestation of love and passion that stirred something deep within you. With a smile, you allowed yourself to fully embrace the moment, knowing that your journey forward held endless possibilities.

"Vision and I have a connection through the mind stone, and I do love him just like how I know you love Nat. What you and I had, I will always hold close, but I can't just leave Vision," Wanda's words cut through you like a knife, each syllable piercing deeper into your heart.

You struggled to find a response, your mind reeling with a mix of emotions—heartache, disappointment, and a lingering sense of resignation. Before you could gather your thoughts to form a coherent reply, Tasha's voice interrupted the heavy silence, drawing your attention to the doorway where she stood.

"Figured I'd find you two here. Time for a meeting on what we're going to be doing," Tasha announced, her presence offering a temporary respite from the weight of the conversation.

You stood up at Tasha's words, leaving Wanda behind in the office. Tasha pulled you close, her kiss on your cheek a fleeting reassurance amidst the turmoil brewing inside you. Her whispered question echoed in your ear, and you offered only a small shrug in response as she wrapped an arm around your shoulders.

"We'll talk later, okay?" You assured Tasha, and she simply nodded in understanding as Wanda joined you, her presence feeling like a heavy weight on your shoulders. You didn't pay much attention to her, but you noticed Tasha's subtle glance back at Wanda, a silent warning simmering beneath the surface of her gaze. If looks could kill, Wanda would be dead from whatever Tasha had conveyed in that single glance.

"So we gotta assume they're coming back, right?" Bruce asks, his tone laced with concern as he scans the room for answers.

"And they can clearly find us," Wanda reminds the group, her voice tinged with a sense of urgency.

"We need all hands on deck. Where's Clint?" Bruce inquires, his gaze sweeping the room for any sign of the absent Avenger.

"After the whole Accords situation, he and Scott took a deal. It was too tough on their families. They're on house arrest," Nat explains to Bruce, filling him in on the latest developments.

"Who's Scott?" Bruce's confusion is palpable as he seeks clarification.

"Ant-Man," Cap offers, providing the missing link.

"There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man?" Bruce's incredulity is evident as he processes the information.

"Look, Thanos has the biggest army in the universe... and he is not gonna stop until he gets..." Bruce's voice trails off, his gaze shifting between Vision and you, hesitating to voice his next words. "Till he gets those stones," he finally concludes, pointing at the two of you.

You feel a surge of anxiety grip you as Bruce's words sink in. Tasha, sensing your unease, moves closer to Bruce, her protective instincts kicking in.

"Well then, we have to protect them," Tasha declares firmly, her eyes darting between Bruce and you, a silent vow of defense.

"No, we have to destroy them," Vision interjects, his tone resolute and unwavering.

You can't help but chuckle at Vision's suggestion, though the humor quickly fades as the gravity of his words settles over you.

"Ha! No. Hell fucking no. I don't plan on dying, or did you forget I said that? I will die without the stone," You retort, your defiance clear to everyone in the room, especially Vision.

"I've given this a great deal of thought, Y/N. I do not say it lightly, but if he does get his hands on these stones... especially yours, he'll be unstoppable," Vision insists, meeting your gaze with a solemn intensity that sends a shiver down your spine.

You struggle to catch my breath, the weight of Vision's words bearing down on you like a suffocating blanket. Your hand instinctively reaches for your chest, as if seeking reassurance from the stone that rests within you.

"I've thought about the nature of my stone, along with yours and some of the last words you said while we were allies. Knowing what your stone is capable of. We must destroy them and I think if they were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source," Vision explains, his voice tinged with determination as he approaches Wanda.

You rise from your spot, brushing off Tasha's attempt to stop you, and step closer, feeling Wanda's eyes flicker to you before returning to Vision, who gently places his hands on her arms. "Something very similar to their own signature perhaps," he continues, his touch reminiscent of the way you used to hold her, though his hands are much larger than your own. "Its molecular integrity could fail."

"Yeah, and both of you with it," Wanda responds, her gaze shifting between Vision and you. "We aren't having this discussion. It's too high a price to lose both of you," she declares firmly, trying to contain her frustration.

Vision's hands move to Wanda's cheeks, holding her gently, but she steps away from him, her resolve evident. You move closer to her, feeling the tension in the air thickening.

"Y/N, don't," You hear the tremor in her voice, the raw emotion threatening to spill over.

You bite the inside of my cheek, grappling with the gravity of the situation. "Wanda," You address her firmly, reaching out to grasp her shoulder. "If you refuse... I will take Vision's stone out of his head because I know I can, and I will personally crush it, and then my own if that is our last resort," You declare, your tone unyielding. "And I will do it in front of you," You add, squeezing her shoulder for emphasis. "I don't say this lightly because I'd rather not die. I personally think that between the three of us we can take him down, but if you won't do it, I will," You assert, speaking with a deadly seriousness before returning to your spot, your heart heavy with the weight of your words.

"I won't entertain the idea of trading lives," Cap asserts firmly.

"Seventy years ago, you laid down your life to save how many millions of people?" Vision responds, his voice carrying a weight of history. You tune out their exchange, feeling a sense of unease settling over you. You lean forward, pulling Tasha back to you, seeking comfort in her presence. Wrapping your arms around her waist, you settle her between your legs, resting your chin on her shoulder as you gaze at Wanda. Regret and guilt weigh heavy on your heart, and you grip Tasha tighter until she makes a small noise of discomfort. Quickly, you release your hold, whispering an apology.

"Sorry..." You murmur softly, your voice barely audible.

Tasha responds with a gentle pat on your arm, understanding in her touch. "It's okay, Y/N," she whispers back.

As Bruce delves into an explanation about Vision's complex composition, your brows furrow in confusion. "What?" You whisper, turning to Bruce. "How did I not know there's parts of me in him?" You ask, bewildered by the revelation.

"Tony put everything of you that Jarvis collected over the years of your sessions," Bruce explains matter-of-factly.

"Good to know my sessions were private," You mutter sarcastically against Tasha's shoulder.

"You're saying Vision isn't just the stone?" Wanda interjects, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

"I'm saying that if we take out the stone, there is still a whole lot of Vision left. Perhaps the best parts," Bruce elaborates, prompting a moment of contemplative silence.

"What about me?" You inquire, releasing Tasha and standing up once more, your emotions bubbling to the surface. "You told me years ago that this stone is attached. It's wrapped around my lungs and my heart. If we take it out of me..." Your voice cracks, tears spilling down your cheeks. "I will die," You confess, your vulnerability laid bare for all to see.

Bruce places his hands on your shoulders, offering reassurance as you struggle to maintain composure. "I've thought about it a lot over the years, and I was thinking maybe, similar to Tony, we could do an open-heart surgery. Open you up and basically cut away the tendrils that the stone has put around your heart and lungs. Take the stone out and put an arc reactor in its place to keep you going," he suggests, his words hanging heavy in the air.

"D-do you think we can do that?" Tasha's voice quivers with fear and concern.

"Not me. Not here," Bruce replies solemnly, withdrawing his hands as you retreat back to Tasha's embrace.

"Well, you better find someone and somewhere fast," Rhodes interjects, breaking the somber atmosphere with a practical reminder.

"I know somewhere," Cap offers, his voice cutting through the tension with a sense of urgency.

As you holed yourself away in the small room of the Quinjet, facing the wall to hide your tears, the weight of your emotions overwhelmed you. Sobs wracked your body, your throat burning with the effort to contain your grief. In moments like these, you longed for the ability to numb your own emotions, to escape the pain that threatened to consume you.

A knock at the door startled you, and you called out for whoever it was to go away. Despite your plea, the door opened, and you tensed, expecting Tasha's presence. Yet, as the cot beside you shifted, you realized it was someone else. you didn't dare look, even when I felt soft lips press against the back of your shoulder, and tears dampened your shirt.

"I can't lose you," came the whispered confession, confirming your suspicion that it was Wanda behind you.

"Why not? You have Vision," you replied, your voice strained and cracked from crying.

"I do, but I don't want to lose you. You're too important. I meant what I said," Wanda insisted, her arm tightening around you as she pulled you closer.

"It's too high a price," she added, sending a shiver down your spine. You reached out, placing your hand over hers, and then turned to face her, allowing her to pull you into her embrace.

"Come here," You whispered, giving in to the flood of emotions as you cried in her arms. "Wands, I don't want to die... I know we're Avengers, but I'm terrified of death," You confessed, your tears flowing freely as she rubbed your back in a comforting gesture, mirroring the care you had shown her countless times before.

"I won't let that happen. I promise," Wanda whispered soothingly. "Just rest for now. We'll be in Wakanda soon enough, and I don't want you thinking about it anymore."

Looking up at her, you found the courage to ask something you had never asked before, a desperate plea born out of fear and desperation. "Can you take it away? Can you make me forget it?"

Wanda cupped your cheek, her touch gentle yet determined as she searched through your thoughts, sensing the depth of your distress. With a nod, she moved her fingers to your temples, her crimson tendrils reaching out as you closed your eyes, surrendering to her power.

"Shhhh, don't worry anymore, Detka... rest now," were the last words you heard, and you swore you felt her lips brush against yours before sleep claimed you, offering temporary respite from the weight of your fears.

[nicolesainz]

Hey, really love the writing😍 I was perhaps wondering if it were possible to do a Jenson Button x reader x Fernando Alonso. (Age gap with a young reader like 21years old)

Where the reader is Jenson's girlfriend and Jenson takes her along to a grandprix. After the race while Jenson's busy with interviews the reader walks around the paddock and runs into sweaty, sexy Alonso and he flirts with her FULLY aware that she's Jenson's girlfriend.... And yea some romantic drama perhaps... I fully understand if you're not able to do it though, it was just a suggestion. Thank you for your awesome work❤️

Hands close and teammates closer (JB22 x FA14)

Jenson Button x f!reader x Fernando Alonso

Author's note: Thank you so much for the support, it means the world to me! I am so sorry this too way too long to write. I hope you like it and enjoy it as much as possible.

Also Jenson admitting publicly that Fernando is his man crush, is my new Roman Empire. What do you think? Will Nando go to Mercy along with George for the 2025 season?

Warnings: angst, jealously, possessiveness,

Summary: requested

Monaco has to be one of my favourite circuits on the calendar. And trust me it is not because of the luxury and mamma mia vibes its feeling radiates. What I love, is the fact that I can get lost in the streets of the crown jewel and still be able to guide myself through the lines of the circuits and the fierce sound of engines.

Since this is Jenson's final year in Formula One, I have decided to follow him along in all the races taking place in the calendar, so that this historic season finishes off in a smooth but memorable way. What better feeling than witnessing twenty men in front of your eyes racing hard core in the fastest vehicles on earth and one of them being your boyfriend, right?

With all the eyes being on focused on the two silver arrows that are the championship contenders as well, no one really pays attention to Mclaren's lack of luck this season. Multiple engine failures, pit stop difficulties, strategy errors. It hasn't been the most perfect season the team has had.

Whether it is first, second or even twentieth place, for me, supporting Jenson through thick and thin is my priority. I have witnessed his glory days but that will not stop me from enjoying watching him fight for points in the championship to help the team get back on their feet.

What pleased Jenson even more was when both he and Fernando were into the points after a difficult races. This helped them gain some confidence agains the other midfield teams. Although Jenson wasn't very pleased when Fernando was always following me and him during the race weekend at the paddock. Well, it was mostly me he was following.

Fernando has just gotten out of a long term relationship and seeing his teammate in a happy and healthy one, wasn't boosting his mentality very much. It was the exact opposite. Jenson couldn't really be able to help him given that he hadn't been through such a difficult heartbreak ever.

At first, everything was innocent and friendly. Me and Fernando were casually chatting about our daily lives, his as an F1 driver and mine as an English Professor. Always laughing, making jokes and freely giggling with one another.

Then, when the Spanish Grand Prix arrived and all the drivers were waving at the fans from the paddock and grandstands, everyone was cheering and shouting Fernando's name, given he was the national hero and as he was waving at the audience, he grabbed my waist and held me against his side, as if I was his lady.

That night, Jenson was about to murder his own teammate for the first time. Because the downfall didn't start there. At the Austrian Grand Prix, when Fernando had an unfortunate DNF due to an engine failure, he rushed angrily back to the garage and everyone was trying to console him.

After a few moment, one of the mechanics asked me to go and seek him, given that they were told he wasn't in a position to talk to anyone else but myself, which was very odd.

Austrian Grand Prix flashbacks

"Hey Nando. I am so sorry for the malfunction." I open the door to his driver's room slowly, given that I wasn't aware if he still had his race suit on.

"Come in, Y/N, and thank you. But you know, it's never easy to retire the car after having a good race." Fernando still hadn't looked at me. It is a gutting feeling for a champion to retire so unfortunately.

"I am sure a win is close. One final push and you will be back on the top step of the podium. I have no doubts." I tried to sound as positive as I could, although I knew deep down Mclaren was not capable of winning any race or barely making it to the podium.

"You are the only one who believes in me anymore, y/n. I do not know how to repay you." He got up and took my hands into his, caressing them softly. I really wanted to pull my hands away from his grasp, but instead I made small steps towards the door.

"Jenson believes in you as well, the whole team does. Just do not lose faith in yourself."

"Don't try and give them your credit sweetheart. You are the only one." Before I could react, Fernando landed a kiss on my cheek but I quickly removed my body away from his and walked out of his room.

End of flashback

When I told Jenson, Fernando kissed me he was fuming. Obviously he asked me if I kissed him back, but I denied it. Because I hadn't kissed him, I simply ran away. If there was a hidden camera on Fernando's room I would use it as proof.

At the next race in Hungary, Jenson was still very angry at Fernando that he willingly pushed him off the track and lost 5 places at the beginning of the race, which led to Fernando getting P15 by the end of Lap 1.

Mclaren mechanics were disappointed at Jenson's behaviour. Why would he push his own teammate off the track. Rumors started spreading around the paddock that Jenson was plotting against Fernando and trying to sabotage his races so the team would take into account his bad performances and eventually fire him.

Jenson finished the race in a worthy fourth place, whilst Fernando in P11. Very mixed feelings for the results given that this was the best Fernando could do with a damaged and already underperforming machinery.

Interviewers were flooding Jenson with questions about the first lap incident, what was the actual cause, if he had done it on purpose or it was an accident. All the replied was "I didn't want to lose my position".

As if there wasn't enough drama with Nico and Lewis in the paddock and on the track, now Fernando and Jenson were fueling the media with the answers each were giving to the press.

"I needed to guard my position in order to gain more places"

"I was trying to avoid the cars behind me and eventually fell."

"I did not mean to push Fernando. Clearly driver's error that he went off the track."

"I don't know what Jenson was trying to achieve but he clearly had things going his way today. Pushing off his own teammate. Unbelievable."

"If he thinks I did it on purpose, fine by me, but I know my worth and I am aware of the mistakes I do. First lap incidents occur very often, if he doesn't already know that."

"He is a world champion, like myself. Why is he behaving like we are in go-karts? We should work as a team."

After the interviews, Jenson was called in from McLaren so he could explain himself about the incident and try to save his reputation from getting wrecked because of what he said in the press.

When I walk away from where I left Jenson, I am met with a full blown red, still in his overalls and sweaty Fernando. He is very angry and you can tell from the way his knuckles have gone white.

When he raises his head and looks at me, somehow all the anger that had possessed him, seemed to wash away with a smile covering the pain.

"I am so sorry Fernando, I have no idea why he did so. This all seems ridiculous. I will try to reason him."

"No need cariño. I will take care of him. I know exactly why he is doing so."

What did Fernando knew that I didn't? What was going on, I thought to myself as his eyes were getting shadier and lustier. The use of the pet name made me feel uncomfortable as he was crossing a line that shouldn't have been crossed.

"Why is he doing it then?"

"Because he is clearly jealous. Can't you see it? You are always coming to me in the end."

"I care about you Fernando but not in the way you imagine."

"That is why you let me kiss you the other time in Austria? I know what you are trying to do sweetheart. If you want to be with me just say it."

I was stunned by his statement. From where exactly did he extract this conclusion that I wanted to be with him. I was so disgusted by his saviour. He knew I was Jenson's fiancee. I loved him dearly, so why on earth would I want t be with another man?

I didn't calculate my actions and as Jenson was coming out of the office, my hand instantly landed on Fernando's smirking face. The slap echoed in the room and Jenson's eyes widened enough to pop out from anger.

"I love Jenson so much. There is a reason why I gave up my job to be with him and travel around the world. I will marry this man and I will not allow anyone to interfere in our relationship. I don't know from where you drew the conclusion that I am in love with you, Fernando. I am sorry but you crossed the line."

I ran away from the room and Jenson was following me along, trying to catch up on what was had happened. Tears were storming down my cheeks and I was all flushed up and tensed. If Fernando marked the end to mine and Jenson's relationship I would never forgive him.

"Darling please wait up. What happened?" Jenson's soft voice stopped me on my tracks. I turned around and he was met with a distraught version of myself that he had not met before.

Jenson took me into his arms lovingly, kissing the top of my head, shushing me to calm down, whilst caressing my back gently. I was so shaken by what Fernando had accused me. How could he?

"Talk to me dear. What did he say to you?" His voice was calming me down as he knew I wasn't to blame for what he saw.

"Fernando accused me of hitting on him and wanting to be with him instead of you, which in no way is true." Jenson didn't reply to what I had said. He was silent but tightened his grip on me.

"Say something, anything. I promise to my life that I did not do anything of what he said. Please trust me." I was begging him to utter a single word.

"I am trying not to go back there and chop of his dick. I know you would never do anything to harm our relationship baby. I believe you." He looked deep into my eyes and my heart instantly softened.

"I will stop being in the garage if it means avoiding him at all costs. I will go into the grandstands. I don't mind really." I offered but Jenson instantly rejected it.

"Are you insane? I will simply ask Daniel if he can take you in with him and Max. I trust them blindly, plus you will have much more fun over there." Daniel and Max, the super dynamic duo everyone had been talking about. They are two very funny guys and Jenson has a very good relationship with Daniel.

"I would never want my future wife to not be in the paddock supporting me. I love you immensely and I would hate not having you around, seeing your beautiful face and having someone encouraging me."

"I love you with all my heart Jenson. I am your and only, forever. Thank you for taking care of me. Even in a different garage, I will cheer for you. Even if that means silently so the Red Bull guys don't kick me out."

"Everyone loves me darling, I am sure they won't mind. But don't root very much for Daniel cause he is a womaniser" He winked at me and I laughed with my head hidden inside his chest.

[the-cimmerians]

a storytime story. Not my story, it's my friend's, but she doesn't go here so I'm sharing for her. We'll call her Mara. Mara is a high-femme, lovely queer girl from a wealthy family in the southern US, but when I met her she'd been living in California for many years, chugging through her postgraduate education in Women's Studies. She rarely went home, because being at home was always a bit of a fraught experience: not unendurable (because to most heteronormative casual viewers the radiant queerness of a high-femme is pretty much indistinguishable from a quirky beauty queen waiting for the right football quarterback to sweep her off her feet), but still--not the most fun. Yet every once in a while, Mara would have a fit of 'dutiful daughter'-itis, and go home to mend some fences and keep some peace.

Mara's mother had often asked her to come with her to philanthropic events, but Mara had always said no. On this trip, however, Mara's mother had purchased a full table as an event sponsor, and she cajoled Mara into going with her. For those of you who haven't ever attended such an event, they are all different, and yet terrifyingly all the same (and I say this not as an attendee, but as an event-runner for various nonprofits; an event-runner who, fair warning, hates everything about these events, and this part of nonprofit work). There is some form of lower-calorie food (chicken or fish on greens with a very light citrus-fruit dressing is de rigeur, along with some sort of fruit-based airy parfait served in the smallest and most elegant glasses imaginable for dessert), usually an emcee (occasionally entertaining, but always inoffensive to the assembled guests), sometimes speakers (high-profile or famous women on a local or national level depending on the 'get' of the organization in question, or extremely well-spoken young people or teens for youth-serving organizations--with the youth in question being very carefully coached), and an 'ask'--the fundraising portion of the event, where the wealthy attendees compete with the rest of their friends and enemies in the social scene to be the most gracious and beneficent person in the room.

And there is gossip. So much gossip.

Poor Mara knew enough to expect some of this (mostly due to listening to me complain bitterly about how awful these events are), but there were aspects for which she was completely unprepared. Her mother had filled her sponsorship table with all of her closest friends, and the 'social hour' before the event started in earnest was a haze of white wine and a constant stream of excessively perfumed women dressed in full southern socialite chic, coming by the table to air-kiss cheeks and say how it's been ages since they've seen each other and what a darling ensemble, where on earth did you get it? and who does your hair now?--you must tell me, it's simply scrumptious--you look incredible, we really must do lunch some time soon--

...and the moment the woman or women in question moved on, the table, as a whole, in excited, urgent-whispered voices, would drag the everloving fuck out of every single lady they'd just been gushing over.

"Did you see how botched her last lift was? I hardly recognized her--I'm surprised she recognized me, with her eyes yanked back like that--" "so terrible, but she did go to the cheapest surgeon in town--husband has money troubles, you know--"

"Didn't expect to see her here, but I suppose you have to go somewhere to show off that large a collection of paste jewels--" "oh, stop, you wicked girl! But you're right, of course--and she gives herself such airs, like we don't all know--"

"Poor dear looks exhausted--apparently keeping up with her pool boy isn't easy at her age--" "Can't say that I blame her; that Carlos, have you seen him? Of course, she's hardly his only client. I've been dying for a pool, but my Henry just won't--"

"Quite a plucky little attitude for someone whose husband just left her for his twenty-two year old secretary--" "And after she put him through college and law school--I heard she's not even going to get to keep the house. She really should have sprung for a better lawyer--"

"I can't believe she still thinks she can fit into that dress, with all the weight she's packed on--" "Truly grotesque--just ghastly! Seems like last summer at the fat farm didn't do her as much good as one would have hoped--"

::giggle:: ::giggle:: ::giggle::

Mara was horrified, sitting there with a bland, polite smile frozen on her face, with her white gloves and vintage pillbox hat and charming little clutch bag, her seamed stockings and her kitten heels and her classic red lipstick and pin-curls (because in true unquenchable femme spirit, she had taken this occasion as an opportunity for dress-up, an opportunity for fun and play and sexy whimsy--a Gene-Tierney-does-pin-up-girl kind of vibe), utterly unable to see how to extricate herself from this terrible situation.

Another woman glided away from the table, coyly waving heavily-beringed fingers. "Yes, Darling," Mara's mother said, coyly waving back. "See you soon! Kiss-kiss! Love to Laurent!" She sat down and hissed to the cabal at the table: "Ha! Her husband just gave her an STD."

The woman to Mara's left leaned forward excitedly. "Really? Two-door or four-door?--wait, if it was the latest Aston Martin, I'm going to literally perish of envy--"

And that was the tipping point--Mara fled. Walked until she found a suitably divey coffee shop. Had a coffee and a slice of peach pie, and flirted with a soft Butch waitress until the world seemed less dire.

[thevalleyisjolly]

Some Eärendil and Elwing headcanons because I love them:

It took a long time for Eärendil to start singing again after Gondolin, and it was mostly sea shanties and Mortal tunes.  Only in private and only with Elwing (and later, his sons) would he sing in Quenya the songs of his childhood in Gondolin.

When Elwing was 12, she decided that she wanted to be a great seafaring explorer and sail all the way around Middle-earth.  Her hopes were rather harshly dashed when she stepped foot on a ship to pay Círdan a short visit on Balar and discovered that she suffered from terrible motion sickness.  Eärendil gallantly vowed to go on the adventures instead and come back to tell her all about them.

Elwing is just a little bit taller than Eärendil.  He quite likes it, even though it’s not a very great difference.

Eärendil is fantastic at sewing, and has a good eye for embroidery as well.  When he has downtime on Vingilot, he creates beautiful patterns and designs on tunics, handkerchiefs, shawls.  The crew of Vingilot was the most well-outfitted crew to ever sail the Sundering Seas, and he’d always make sure to bring back little embroidered patches with scenes from his voyages, which first Elwing and then the twins would add onto an ever-growing quilt.

Elwing learned how to make lembas from Idril, but for Eärendil’s journeys, she bakes him hardtack in the Mortal fashion.  He likes to make “pudding” out of it with sugar and water.

Elwing loves math, and is very good at it.  By the time she was ten, she could do complex calculations in her head in a matter of seconds that Elven scholars thousands of years her senior would need several minutes and a writing surface to do.  She didn’t have the time or resources to seriously study it while she was in Middle-earth, but in Aman, she does a correspondence course with one of the universities in Alqualondë and promptly has to deal with a whole hoard of mathematicians coming from all over the Blessed Realm to her tower wanting to learn from her.

In their own home, they speak a mixture of Quenya, Sindarin, and Taliska with each other.  They also have a secret written code that they came up with as children, which they leave little love notes for each other in.

Neither of them have ever learned to ride a horse.  Eärendil has fuzzy memories of being put on his grandfather’s saddle for a gentle trot when he was young and the Gondolindrim assure him that he once briefly had a pony, but there were very few steads or mounts at Sirion. Frankly, both of them find horses a little bewildering.

The twins were a surprise because they’d been aiming for triplets.  Mostly just to see if that was even possible, and also because neither of them had ever been pregnant before and didn’t truly understand what it would be like to carry and birth triplets.

Despite the harps of gold they brought to him, Eärendil does not actually play the harp very well.  He’s not fond of wearing white either because he thinks it’s too hard to keep clean.  Elwing looks very good in white, but it’s a mourning colour and she generally prefers warmer yellows and oranges.

Eärendil’s favourite colour is the soft silver of Elwing’s hair, and Elwing’s favourite colour is the warm gold of Eärendil’s hair.  Their favourite wedding present was a tapestry woven by some of Idril’s ladies depicting the intermingled light of Telperion and Laurelin in those exact shades.

Elwing is a vegetarian.  Eärendil isn’t, mostly for practical reasons onboard a ship with limited supplies, but is happy to eat vegetarian when he’s at home.  The real challenge at mealtimes came from Elros being a picky eater and Elrond having a seafood allergy.

There is an outdoor bathhouse at Elwing’s tower because Silmaril glitter is absolutely impossible to get rid of once it’s in the house.  The grout in the tiling there has become permanently shiny, despite their combined best efforts at scrubbing.

[elentari-celestaire]

✧unyielding pillar, fleeting mist✧

ii. blooming mist-flower amongst golden peaks and azure sea.

[ previous ll masterlist ll next ]

pairing: morax x f!reader, osial x f!reader

synopsis: a story of a human female from Earth, who was thrown into the world of Teyvat during one of its most dangerous era. despite being bestowed with a power far stronger than any Teyvat mortal could wield, y/n decided to use her gift of mist to hide away from the burning and bloodied war-filled world. but, what will she do when Morax, the warrior god, one of the seven victors of the archon war and future geo archon waltzed into her mist-concealed island, that she had hidden away from the inhabitants of Teyvat for decades?

author’s note: or u can call this the chapter y/n almost die from constantly being breathless. this is kinda rushed since I’ve been sick and busy the past week. tbh this chapter is mostly just y/n being on a roller coaster of emotions the whole time. also, i apologise that my writing isn’t as well written as other writers though i’m hoping with time and practice i’ll improve. i hope you’ll enjoy this. 

When those glowing molten ambers focused on her, y/n felt as if she had forgotten how to breathe. Fortunately for her, her brain remembered how to.

As her chest heaved to compensate the prior lack of oxygen, the unsettling feeling from before dug deeper within her. Those golden hues brought her back to the very first time she had laid eyes on them, many decades ago.

His history as the feared god of war was something she was well aware of. Yet, even knowing that, she could not help but feel intimidated — wanting to shrink and hide away like she had always done.

And so, ran away she did.

Taking in a deep breath, y/n turned to the young man next to her, breaking eye contact from those golden ambers.

“Hirotaka, tell Seiran to serve the two outsiders tea and to treat them with the utmost respect,” she spoke with the calmest voice she could muster.

The young man next to her, whose name was Hirotaka was surprised for a moment before hastily responding, “yes, my lady…” His eyes glancing towards the direction of Seiran and the two outsiders. “But, my lady, shouldn’t you -”

Not giving the male a chance to continue, the divine priestess exclaimed, “I just remembered that I have some urgent matters to attend to!! There is nothing on this island so, they will probably get bored soon and be on their wa-”

Y/n paused mid-sentence when she noticed Hirotaka, whose eyes were wide and his form trembling at a presence behind her.

“Taka?” her brows furrowed in worry, which then turned into a look of dread as a shadow loomed over her.

“Found you.”

E/c hues widened at the sound of the familiar baritone voice yet, the lack of gentleness that she was accustomed to made her heart ached.

Even after decades having not heard the future geo archon’s voice since she arrived in Teyvat, his voice never fails to make her weak — turning her legs into jelly. Speaking of jelly, she really could use one at that moment.

‘Think, Y/n! Think!’ snapping her thoughts away from the dessert, the divine priestess mentally screamed at herself, her body slightly shaking as she willed herself to find for the best course of action.

Her anxious thoughts were cut short when she felt her wrist being grabbed, eliciting a high-pitch squeal from her lips.

“Are you going to run away again, mist flower?”

“W-what?! No!! I wasn’t inten-”

As y/n’s worried mind was trying to comprehend whatever that had transpired, she unconsciously turned towards the owner of those hands — those very hands decorated with geo markings that she had only admired seen through images or the game.

“Did you just called me mist flow-”

The divine priestess inhaled sharply as her e/c eyes travelled upwards to meet golden ambers. He had removed his hood, exposing his umber locks, his low ponytail swinging in the chilly breeze.

Y/n let out a breath she had not realized she had been holding. He looked exactly the same as he had been that many decades ago — intimidating but still, breathtakingly beautiful.

The staring contest moment between the Lord of Geo and y/n was cut short when Seiran came running towards the divine priestess — worry etched on the younger priestess’ features, and trailing after her was the other outsider, his long azure tresses flowing behind him.

Y/n’s eyes widened as she moved her gaze from the god towering over her to the blue-haired male, who had just arrived at the scene — his bright cerulean hues assessing the situation — seemingly asking for an answer as to why the god of war was holding on to the divine priestess’ wrist.

“Morax. What are you doing?”

Slightly irked at being interrupted, the younger god in question grumbled, “I merely spoke to her…Osial.”

“Do you grab everyone's wrist when you speak to them…Morax?”

Morax glared at the older god, like a child caught red-handed, before letting go of the divine priestess' wrist. But, y/n was too distracted by a certain name that she had just heard to notice the lack of pressure on her wrist.

“What?!”

The sudden outburst from the divine priestess took everyone by surprise, even the two gods standing in front of her. “Osial?! Even the Lord of Vortex is here?!”

For a moment, y/n swore there was a deadly glint in those crystal blue eyes when they met hers. Slightly parted lips turned upwards into a faint smirk.

‘Why is he smirking?’ cue the start of another mental breakdown for y/n. She was aware of Morax’s personality based on what she had read. But, Osial? The only thing she knew about the Lord of Vortex was that he’s a huge hydra-looking sea creature that got speared by Morax and then, stoned by the jade chamber centuries later.

Never would she have thought that she would meet Osial. At least, not expecting to see him in human form — a very good-looking form at that. At first, it was the Lord of Geo, now with Osial as well. She just wanted to scream from how beautiful these two gods are, but she had to maintain her dignity in front of her people.

“Oh?” the azure-haired god hummed as he held his chin in his fingers — the smirk still plastered on his lips. ”It seems our host knows who i am?” he continued, his voice a mixture of curiosity and amusement as he side-glanced the younger god next to him before returning his gaze towards y/n.

Both of their attentions were then focused on y/n and solely on her — Osial’s expression was one of interest while Morax’s demanded answers.

“And yet, we know nothing of you or your island, divine priestess y/n.”

‘Heart, please stay strong,’ y/n pleaded internally, having long given up on praying to any gods.

[itonashi]

FOR YOU

pairing: chigiri hyoma x fem!reader

warning: royal!au, fluff, romantic (idk)

note: sen req me this and yes. idk how to do dance idk... anyway i read some historical manhwa and that's that i guess.. im using like my manhwa knowledge to write this.

the newest rising star lady among the young nobles, [first name] [last name]. she's considered a one in a million genius. usually it's the men who will be sent to academy. the rarity of women in the academy is low. the majority is mostly men.

as men is supposed to be the head of the family. they need education, but who said that women can't be a heir too?

[first name] [last name] the only child and the heir of [last name] family. the pride and joy. [last name] family is known for their multi-talented. an all-rounder, simple as that.

every year, the academy will host an event showing off their best students; hosting an event especially for them to be known. the academy is keeping everything inside private from the public so this is the only time they would reveal to the world on who is their best students.

the event will be lasting for three days. the last day as predicted is always the time for them to have fun. they're required to go to the ballroom night with a partner but going there alone is okay.

"[first name], who will you be choosing to go to the blue lock event this year?" every year, students will be curious on who [first name] will take to go to the event with her. it has been years she's going to the event alone. maybe this year she will choose someone.

"it's a secret." putting a finger across her lips.[first name] already have her eyes set on someone and wish that the guy would be the one to ask her out. his speed amazed her, it was as if he have become one with the wind. a beautiful eyes and hair, he's what she desire.

he was a new student, just one year younger than her and yet in the first day of the academy — he already made a big impression on [first name], but he doesn't know about it. through gossips, [first name] heard many things about him. some say he could be a princess in disguise because of his feminine features — the best yet, is that this man might be a superpower user. which is a rare sight in the world.

only 10% people in the world have it. if people knew among them that there is a superpower user. one might be jealous and kill them. so that's why, those superpower user have to keep secret.

if you think that [first name] is one of those lucky 10%, no she's not. she's just like any other human.

"did you hear? you and that guy have a fanclub! probably better than the prince." one of your friends giggle. you asked her to lower the voice so passerby won't hear what she just said about the prince. it will be devastating if she was charge for insulting the royal members.

skimming through the pages of your book, suddenly your friend tap your arm rapidly. you look to see why; it was love at first sight really, ah no well you have already been smitten by that guy now. let's just say we're reenacting it. you are sure that your eyes is widen and pupils dilated right now.

putting a hand over the lower part of you face, you hide your blushing face. suddenly someone shake you hard "earth to lady [first name]! are you okay?" your friend flick her fingers again and again to get you out of your head. "don't tell me... you have a crush on him!" she grin, your other friend agree with her.

"just keep your voice down, ana." you replied. you aren't denying it all as you are quite sure of your feelings. would it be weird for a lady to ask the man to dance? the blue lock event is just two months away. you cannot let this chances go. ana and cecilia (the other friend) , eyed you suspiciously but shrugged what you just said off.

you bid your friend goodbye and make your way to the dorm. when suddenly you hear a meow and a voice. "were you really that hungry?" a soft man voice could be heard and it was soothing to your ears. you walk towards the voice, and see the scene you weren't expecting to see in your life.

chigiri hyoma! i think he's the only one here...

"looks like the cat is fond of you." you spoke up. the red-haired man slightly jump by your sudden presence. he look into your direction, while you make your way towards him. he's looking at my direction!! you may look like a calm person on the outside but certainly you're not on the inside.

"not really..." he chuckled and softened his eyes "when i first encountered this little guy, he scratched me and hissed at me." he added. you may be crazy right now but when he soften his eyes he look so cute to you. you tried to keep your composure, keyword 'tried'. "a-ah.. is that so? pardo have always been wary of new people..." you stammered, looking at the black cat.

curse me for stammering there!

"pardo...?" he mumbled under his breath with curiosity. does this cat have a owner and is it her? he wondered. "pardo is a name given by the students. so it basically means this cat is the unofficial pet for the academy. the professor doesn't mind at all about this one cat wandering here." you shook off your thoughts and beamed at his curiosity on where did the pardo name come from.

"i see..." he raised his eyebrows and look back at the cat, eating the treat he had given the cat. the slight end of his lips perked up. why is he so pretty... there's really no turning back from not liking him. maybe this is the time for you to get to know him for a month and ask him out to be your partner for the ball a few days before the event.

"why are you standing up, lady [first name]? you should go and take a seat here." he pointed to the bench that's empty beside him while he stood up from there. "well then, excuse me." you sat on the bench, fixing up your skirt.

"i wouldn't be a gentleman, if i let you a lovely lady to only stand there while i sit here." he reasoned with you when you ask him to sit too. your body stiffened at the 'lovely lady' and could feel the warmth coming in but you kept the composure and smile at him. "thank you, chigiri." you thanked him, putting a hand on your chest.

"you knew my name?"

"were you uncomfortable? i knew it because of the gossip that was around. the nobles wouldn't really shut up about it..." you worried if you make a mistake there but he doesn't seemed surprised about the gossip and only shake his head indicating he wasn't uncomfortable at all.

"well, do you know my name?"

"of course, who wouldn't know the rising star in the academy? one would say lady [first name] [last name] is also the rising star in the empire ever since your debutante ball." he stated, making you more flustered than ever. you humbly denied the empire one even if you're the duke's daughter, you wouldn't think that you're the rising star in the empire when there is the prince.

"welcome back, lady [first name]." your roommate greeted you as soon as you enter the dorm room. "you're late than usual. today is not the day you study at the library, right?" she added, you nod your head and explained that you were playing with pardo which is half of the truth and leave out the fact you met with chigiri hyoma for the first time formally.

you finish showering and put on your pyjamas, sitting on the side of your bed. kira, your roommate called out to you. "yes? do you need anything, kira?" you replied "why do you never request for your own room without any roommate? im sure the academy will give you the special treatment." kira rambled on how you could be getting the luxurious life in the academy but you're not using your authority right. "i would've done that, you knowwww..." kira sighed, burying her face into the pillow.

"all the students here is equal, kira. you're amazing yourself as you're a commoner that managed to get into the academy. even nobles that studies here may or may not get here into illegal meaning..." you explain, almost pissed off.

"im sorry for the sudden rambling just now. i was just thinking on how you're a noble and not disgusted by the fact me, your roommate is a commoner." kira express her apologies towards you, hugging her pillow tight while looking at you. you smiled and just simply accept it. you bid your goodnight and goes to sleep. kira does the same thing and goes to sleep.

now that you have finally become acquaintance with chigiri hyoma, whenever he passes by you would greet him and he will greet you back. cecilia nudged you and ask "since when did you two know each other? if i recalled you were still shy to even speak to that guy." she tease you with a grin but it soon turned into a neutral face when you look infront of you.

"your highness, good morning." you and cecilia greet the prince and bow. "[first name], do you have anyone in mind this year...?" the prince ask you with his neutral voice. you hate to admit it but you have known the prince since you two were children. one of you two is bound to like the other person. the prince like you ever since that time but you don't. this may be the final chapter, the prince will go up to you like this.

"with the utmost apologies, your highness... i already have my eyes set on someone." you stated while looking straight into the prince's eyes. he stiffen and wanted to open his mouth but couldn't. cecilia was stun by what you said and felt the awkward tension going on. you were lucky that there was no passerby and took cecilia hand walking away from the prince.

the prince clench his fist and grimace. if people knew about this it would spread like wildfire.

"uhhh... the prince wouldn't do anything to you, right..?" cecilia whisper when you two arrived at a place where there's a lot of student. "he wouldn't." you nonchalantly said.

"i gotta go. im sorry, cecilia." you run away from your spot and saw pardo — laying around doing nothing. you approach the cat and sit beside it, the cat notice you and sit on your lap.

how did it happened? how did you managed to bag the fastest student in the academy? either way, you're happy with the results — about you asking out chigiri hyoma for the last day of the blue lock, it spread like wildfire. it was the talk of the academy.

left and right, students will question on how and why you did it. how long? are you and chigiri a couple? their curiosity exceeded your expectations. they even went out their way to interview ana, cecilia and kira for the answer.

"[first name], are you excited for the first of blue lock event?" ana is ecstatic for the blue lock event that she even stated she didn't got a single sleep last night. "since when are you excited for this, ana?" you said while reading through your book. ana start to ramble about how she's only excited for the last day to see you and him dancing in the middle of the ballroom taking the spotlight off the prince.

"that's..."

"my lady, don't tell me you're not excited..." ana pout while crossing her arms. she will only call you my lady when she want a reaction out of you. cecilia snicker at ana acting mode.

"i am excited."

three days later...

"i cannot believe it. it's time!" ana hug you tightly, beaming about the fact that this day is the day for the last day of the blue lock event. the time for the students to relax and interact with other nobles. the time when even the emperor himself may make an appearance.

"did you already have a dress for the night?"

"i do. don't worry." you nod and put a hand on ana shoulder "you should worry about your cookies instead." the smell of burning flew into ana's sense of smell and she rush to get the cookies out while you just mind your own business looking at her being a mess.

you walk away from the scene, walking along the hallways of the palace that was made for the blue lock event only. you notice a red head lingering infront of your personal room. you fasten your step and he hear footsteps, he look towards the direction and see you. the moment he saw you, his lips raised and make a smile that's truly so beautiful to you.

"what's wrong, chigiri?"

"i just wanted to see you."

this is very bad for you health. definitely. you take his hand and enter your room. he jump at the sudden contact but didn't resist you. "then, let's just hang out in my room." you beam at him, and he just couldn't stop smiling in your presence.

night time...

"and here comes, the heir of [last name], [first name] [last name] with her partner, chigiri hyoma!"

the servant announced your arrival with chigiri hyoma. you mouth at chigiri hyoma 'be confident' and he nod. the nobles gasps that you finally have a partner for the event.

"the duke's daughter finally have a partner?"

"oh my, this is a surprise."

"isn't this an interesting moment?"

"this will shake the duke."

father, im sorry. i think i won't be single at the age of 25...

time passes in the ballroom. the only thing you did before the dancing was talking and laughing with chigiri. you didn't pay a mind to other surroundings when you are with him. some might say chigiri is lucky for having you at the tip of his fingers.

a melodious sounds started, and that means the dancing have started. people start getting with their partner and ask them for a dance.

he hold out a hand infront of you "shall we? my lady." his voice that's pleasant to the ears. you accept his offer and hold his hand "we shall."

"do you actually know how to dance, my lady?" he put a hand around your waist and start to sway left and right, getting accustomed to the melodies that's playing by instrument. "im a noble. of course i know." you slightly smirk.

"don't you think the music is getting faster now?" chigiri twirl you around and you gotta admit he really got the move to sway you over. the two of you move with the flow of the music as you felt yourself drifting to his world where you guys hearts connected as one. the melodious music of the piano and violin filled the air, giving the glamorous ballroom a romantic glow.

chigiri is the one leading this dance at this point and you follow only him to take you away, to save you, to lead you. to be the only one for you.

taglist: @seneon

[meekmedea]

brain rot - dis aliter visum au rambles

ugh I have so many random thoughts about this AU that my mind feels like it will explode if I don't type it out.

so this au I had where Clemensia manages to mentor Reaper (successfully)

Reaper knew full well what he was doing during that interview when he 'confessed' his love for his mentor

it's even more scandalous now that he's survived and they have to stick to the story - but mentor and tribute duo manage to make it work

Read the AU here on AO3

SPOILERS below (these are things I mostly imagined happening in this AU - some are more background things)

CLEMENSIA & REAPER

it took them a while to be close - it was like begrudging allies (on Reaper's part) to wariness, then neutral feelings - then hmm maybe we are somewhat friends - to friends - to whatever this relationship we have with each other is

they are close enough that he tells her of District 11, of his and her political leanings (they were young and drunk)

in a way, Clemensia is trapped in the Capitol, he has freedoms that she cannot (travelling between district 11 and the Capitol)- he is her only window out. Clemensia never tells him that, of course. But she also misses him a lot when he's away.

Reaper never tells her that because of his flag stunt - his family was killed. He figures out pretty quickly that she has no idea of it either.

He's very lucky that the 10th games weren't that well advertised in the districts. Because otherwise, people might have mixed feelings about him - whether that be seeing him as a suck-up to the Capitol or just doing what he did to survive. Especially with how Clemensia and him have tied their fates together so publicly with the whole 'knight/lady' role they've played up.

while he was in the Capitol, he attended many events with Clemensia - mainly because she is part of the elite, and also he will only attend if she goes with him.

but even at these events, he is pretty closed off. Uninterested for the most part to talking to just about anyone else. If anything, she gains a menacing/brooding bodyguard who just glares at anyone who just as much speaks a word that rubs him wrong about Clemensia.

There's a reason why people thought Clemensia and Reaper were lovers - and that was one of them. Their game plan when he'd been a tribute also contributes to things too.

TBH I considered making their constant appearances together is where the idea of having a Capitol escort to keep the victor in line/show them around coming from

the years where they were apart because of his 'betrayal' was hard on both of them. Clemensia refused to speak of Reaper to anyone. Reaper, on the other hand, had nobody he could speak to about her. It doesn't help that in the early years after his betrayal Clemensia remains one of the 'elite' and known as part of President Snow's close circle.

Reaper writes letters. Many letters, but never has the courage to send them out to her. Eventually when he meets Clemensia's son, he decides to give some of them to him.

both Clemensia and Coriolanus married in their late 20s, and rather close to one another. So when news comes that Clemensia is married - for a moment, he does fear very briefly that it was to Snow.

He's in his late 40s when the ribbon is sent to him from Tigris - it's the same burgundy that Clemensia tied around his wrist when they were 18. And while there's no note, he just KNOWS its from her.

there's a deleted line where Reaper tells Clemensia once they remeet after the districts have successfully rebelled, "I'd have named my son Clementine if he wasn't born a boy."

because yes, Clemensia and Reaper both have grandchildren that are meant to remind themselves of the other. Clementine (Reaper's granddaughter) is more obvious in name, but Rhea's name (Clemensia's granddaughter) is based off the greek myths and is a nod to D11's agriculture. Rhea is said to be derived from the word meaning 'earth'

CORIOLANUS VS REAPER

the beef between them

and YES, every time Reaper mentioned that Clemensia's friend was strange (pre and post games)- he was referring to Coriolanus.

Coriolanus: You are NOT good enough for my best friend, and I don't want you around her. END OF STORY.

Reaper, immediately going to look for Clemensia: Hey Clemmie!

the fact that Coriolanus despises how Clemensia allows Reaper to call her 'Clemmie' - Reaper knows it and calls her that, mostly to piss him off. Also, because he's grown fond enough of her to call her that now.

Coriolanus sort of gives off she was my friend first vibes. And he is like classist too...

to be honest, I considered both as possible/potential love interests for her, but ultimately, I decided against it. But you do see hints of where Coriolanus' route may have gone in the dis aliter visum AU

if these 2 were left alone in a room, it's not a pretty scene for long. The only thing keeping each other from killing the other is Clemensia.

CLEMENSIA & CORIOLANUS

these two could have gone in so many directions, I have to admit that my drafts had quite some variety: from love interest, to former lovers, to being in-laws. But they would have never had a happy ending

regardless, they stayed pretty close friends for quite some time. Enough that Tigris worried whether Clemensia would ever see Coriolanus for what he was

they did hook up (sort of) in their 20s - they were drunk, and both were attracted to one another - but it never went anywhere

she did have a crush on him at one point - her father admits that he thought she'd marry someone else (Coriolanus) when she announces her plan to marry Felix - I like to imagine Coriolanus and her had this sort of are they/are they not dating vibe to them when they'd been younger

Coriolanus keeps her around for a variety of reasons - 1) friendship 2) attraction (since she was never bit, she remains the prettiest in his eyes, and like most of society's eyes) 3) she's a victor 4) their little lie to Dr Gaul, if they are close, there's no reason either will betray the other --- there's more reasons, I'm sure, but I can't remember them all at the moment haha

they drifted apart with their respective marriages to others - one of those things, you know? But their children were close so they remained in contact with one another.

haha there's this whole alt scene where I imagined how their respective children were: Selene (Clemensia's daughter with Felix) + Lucius (Coriolanus' son with Livia[?])

much like Coryo + Clemmie, Selene + Lucius were good friends. Except where their parents remained friends, they did not.

Livia is livid when Lucius spurned his arranged match (she set up the match), in favour of Selene. Coriolanus is annoyed, but more so that it causes a scandal, and not much else.

the two go to Clemensia to ask for her blessing & because they know that she (and Felix) are the only who could really argue in their favour.

ultimately it is Clemensia who convinces Coriolanus to agree to it.

TBH these 2 were potential parents of Snow's granddaughter that he asks Clemensia about. but in the end, I scrapped that idea. Snow's granddaughter is just related to Coriolanus, and has no blood relation with Clemensia.

What really sealed the coffin in Coryo and Clemmie's deterioating friendship was her daughter dying because of his orders.

there was this deleted line from the scene where Coriolanus and Clemensia are arguing over her daughter's death and his son's death (since the 2 were rebels) - in this deleted scene, he says Clemensia should be grateful he kept her name/rest of her family out of this. Furious - Clemensia screams back that he might as well kill her too - for being the mother of a rebel.

had I gone down the route where Selene and Lucius having a child left behind - you can bet Coriolanus and Clemensia would have fought tooth and nail over custody for the granddaughter. Coriolanus would have won eventually - but would have yielded to the occasional visit to Clemensia.

I can't find the line anymore, but to show he bears no (little) ill-will, he would have allowed their shared granddaughter to visit. And on that first visit, the granddaughter brings along a bouquet of red roses.

the 2 former friends have this strange understanding near the end of the AU

It's kind of like how Reaper and Clemensia have this relationship at the end that there can't quite be defined by anything. But Coriolanus and Clemensia's at this point, is far more twisted, and there's no way the two would ever fully be able to reconcile.

there's an understanding at the very least- and perhaps for Coriolanus, no matter how their relationship turns out, he has this soft spot/degree of affection for her.

SHORT callout to FELIX RAVINSTILL

he is such a minor character, but in the end, Clemensia chooses him, and he is the one that she sticks with

it's such a small thing, but if you keep an eye out on the clementines in the fic, he is the first to 'give' them to her - granted he is sending them to Reaper, but he is the one who donates them to her

in all other cases, Clemensia is the one to give them out - she gives them out to Reaper, to Coriolanus - and they are never given in return to her

while she's in the hospital, though she gives clementines to Felix, it's more reciprocal by this point.

In return he brings her orange blossoms, clementine inspired desserts, dedicates his writings to a 'Miss Clementine' that later becomes 'Lady Clementine'. And even in their marriage, he ends up being the one giving them to her all the time

[hazbinextgeneration]

Demon Bride Ch5 The Pathway To Monsters

(WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMERS!!! EVERYONE in this story is in their early 20s-30s! This story will contain mentions of past abuse and death! I'll be keeping it as SFW. Some backstories have been slightly altered for this particular story, and some characters cannonically dead or harmed is alive and well. I own nothing.

Credit to @flanelltees​ for the designs I based the demons off to look more demon-like with tails and pointed ears.

This story will be sfw, but there will be some blood, implied death, fighting, some gore mentioned, and a few other things that will be made aware by warnings. Pay attention to warnings at the top of any chapters just under the summery please.)

Once in the mountain villages it was a custom that once a year on the night of the new year's first moon, an unlucky young lady would be selected and left for the demons to become one of the unlucky few who married such a husband. In exchange for this offering the demons would protect the villages and leave the humans in peace. Until one day a powerful warrior drove the demons away freeing the humans of them. Now 2,000 years later, it's become a tradition that once a year, a new young lady would be picked and wait for her future husband to retrieve her from a shrine in the mountains. And now the lucky tradition would fall upon Y/n L/n. It would be her own turn to take on the tradition and not have to worry about demons. After all that part of the old tradition was just fake, made up by paranoid ancestors. Everyone knew demons didn't exist.

...Right?

(WARNINGS: None in this chapter .)  

First Part Here:

https://at.tumblr.com/hazbinextgeneration/demon-bride-ch-1-thus-it-begins/dibtpmvn5d42

Last Part Here:

https://at.tumblr.com/hazbinextgeneration/demon-bride-ch4-freedoms-grasp/6i07ue1em642

Next Part Here:

https://www.tumblr.com/hazbinextgeneration/711697291135844352/demon-bride-ch6-the-monsters?source=share

(UPDATE: I wanted to specify in this fic the demons are NOT cannibalistic towards humans. Mostly because I wanna keep this as sfw, and the main plot of the story doesn't really revolve around that aspect of them.)

The earth was a beautiful thing if you needed it to be, or if you wanted to make it become that way. And in a way, it was both to you in the end. The sweet smells of flowers and grass encouraging your lungs. Combined with the warmth of the sunlight warming your muscles and urging them on. Both made you feel as light as a feather on your mere feet and the ground felt soft under you. You were smiling. Arms out splayed against the wind blowing around your hair like crazy and cooling your body against the warm sunlight beaming down on you. Step after step. Faster and faster. You joyously ran through the fields as though a huge weight was lifted off your shoulders after so many years.

It was the first time in forever that you ever, truly felt free.

Because now you were. The day before and the day before that you had been paranoid. You only really just left home after all. When you first bombarded Genya who was the last lock to the gate with your key and letting it unlock your path to freedom. You'd been scared if you'd stayed even a moment longer someone would stop you maybe even by force, so you took the first chance you took and ran with it quite literally. Right out of the village you grew up in and called home, heading straight for the mountain. You had ran as fast as you could for as long as you could, your boots digging into the earth with each hard slap of a footstep urging you onwards. And even when you couldn't run anymore, your body making you slow down to gasp for breath like a drowning man, you still willed yourself to walk. Your paranoid brain screamed at you to get away as fast and as far as you could, lest the send someone after you and force you to come back. You could be married to someone far more worse than Sanemi as punishment and that was one of the more tame ones your scared mind came up with. You didn't allow yourself any rest or relaxation as you trudged on through the morning sun until the bright ball rose to the middle of the sky directly over you. Which signaled it must've been sometime in the afternoon, and it was then when you perked up at the sound of running water and soon after came across a small stream. It was only then you allowed your poor sore legs a rest by sitting down on the bank and using your hands to gather a sip from the cool water. You must've been sitting there for a solid half hour before you finally remembered something. Something very important. This was the very stream that you were supposed to be lead to in order to await for Sanemi to get you later, which was a bit ways up the mountain but not far from your village. In fact if you climbed one of these trees and looked down, you'd be able to make out your village. Which was too close for comfort. Someone could come here and still find you, so you HAD to move on. You remained there sitting nervously for five more minutes before getting back up and stepping across some stones sticking out of the water to the other side to continue on your way along a path until night fell. Which is when your paranoia for your first night alone first hit. It was your first night alone, without a house's walls to close you to the outside world, there was so many new sounds and the darkness of the surrounding open world frightened your body, making you grip the strap of your bag and refusing to get any sleep, constantly looking over your shoulder in fear someone would come at you from the dark to snatch you away. By the time the sun rose the second day, you made quite the bit of distance between yourself and your old home but were incredibly tired. So sometime in the morning, you found a set of large bushes on the side of the old dirt road and decided to hide yourself in them in case someone came looking for you or some robbers came by. Curling into the soft grass you used your bag as a pillow and slept. The time you woke up that second day was somewhere in the late noon, and you walked until nightfall hit again every so often looking over your shoulder, and you again decided to sleep. This time behind a big tree with your back leaned against it hiding you partially while the darkness of the night hid the rest of you.

But all of that was within the last two days. Now was your third day away and when you again saw no one, you had realized you had done it. You were without anything tying you down. You were without anyone to order you. You were without fear of Sanemi. You were FREE!! As free as the birds who flew around your dancing body of happiness as you ran giddily through a large meadow sun raining down from the sky! The freeing feeling was what brought you so much joy. It was clear now no one was after you, and even if they were, you were far ahead of them all with no intent of returning. And you doubted anyone would travel any farther beyond the stream even after you. After all, the stories and superstitions about demons on the mountain forests were what kept everyone away from anywhere farther than the stream believing it was bad luck or that the demons would devour them like they did long ago, but you knew better. You knew those things didn't exist anymore than talking mice or enchanted flowers. You were always skeptical of those things which was another reason Sanemi hated you for 'doubting the Elders' words and our beliefs'. Eck. Well screw him! He can have Kanae to rant about you now. For all you knew you were going to become another story. 'The Story Of The Runaway Bride Who Dishonored Her Village Tradition And Got Eaten By A Demon Of The Mountains.' That thought made you laugh at the thought of parents telling their kids such a story about you. You supposed you should feel guilty about the lying and running away and the one theft you committed, but with a brightness in your eyes you tried not to think about that, especially about people you would never see again. On your fourth day of walking, you came by another village slightly smaller than your own. There you asked one of local farmers for directions towards up the mountain and managed to bargain some food rations with one of the leftover coins you kept from what you had to give up to the brothers, it'd last you for three days if used sparingly. You weren't sure how long it'd take you to reach the mountain and reach the other side of it especially just on foot but you were determined. You felt like there was something to be discovered up there.

Day after day, night after night. You traveled, slept, and scrounged for food when you could. Stopping by a pool of water to bathe or drink. Sometimes you'd pass by another small village or a house or two, but it was mostly just peaceful silence and a beautiful world you never got to see otherwise stuck in that small house of yours. It was..releiving and every day was like a breath of fresh air in your lungs. You lost count of how much time had passed by this point. You were just passing by another gathering of small houses when you heard something coming up from the road behind you. When your head turned in question, you only saw a mule driven wagon full of hay bales in the back and a man old enough to be your grandfather at the reigns. You paused watching them approach before you smiled gaining an idea and waved your full arm to get his attention, which worked as the old man pulled back once the two of you were about to cross paths until the mule came to a complete stop in front you.

"Excuse me! Good morning to you, Sir! May I ask where you're headed?," you asked him with a smile on your face.

His head nodded towards the path up the mountain which became steeper the longer you looked. "To sell my goods to the people in the village closest to the cursed forests and peaks."

"May I bother you for a ride there? Where I'm heading is beyond there, and the ride would be very much appreciated."

He hummed before nodding in agreement. "Sure, although I should warn you I won't get there until near sundown tomorrow.

You agreed and hopped onto the wagon next to him before he whipped the reigns and made the mule start off again. The ride throughout that day was mostly quiet but you appreciated it that way. Night fell and with no signs of the man stopping the mule you fell asleep leaned against the hay. The next day was even warmer, and it was then you noticed the thick, dense woods. You were stunned. This wasn't here yesterday and it stunned you. The trees were as big as a three story building, and with trunks so thick you wouldn't be able to wrap your arms fully around them even if you stretched and strained them. They were also so, so, SO many and so closely together, it was mostly shady with a few spaces of sun peeking through.

"I've never seen a forest like this before."

"Because there's none quite like it before, and if you're smart, you'll never give it a second glance at it."

You blinked at the old man's warning but didn't pay it too much attention. It was a beautiful day. The sun rays shone down upon the world as the calm quiet woods sounded with the life of birds and insects happy the sun warmed them from up above. The light shone through the tree leaves as their branches leaned over the road and blocked most of the sunlight, casting long shadows to dance on the old dirt road that only lead deeper and deeper into the mountains. The mule walking the wagon was the only thing interrupting the silence of the silent woods as it walked down the dust path. It's was almost like a dream to look at. A small bump sent you jostling and reaching a hand over to grab the side of the wagon. When no more bumps came after a few moments she slowly let go and sighed when they didn't fall over and leaned back into her seat.

"You ok there?," the driver bluntly asked not even taking his eyes off the road. His tone was just bored.

You pushed some of that hair out of your face and taking a breath. "Y-Yeah. I-I'm ok. Thanks." He didn't answer you back and you sighed, looking back out the at all the trees and other nature scenes. "This forest sure is big."

"It's the Forbidden Forest. Our world is small and these woods make up a big chunk of it what land we have left." You jumped slightly and blinked back at him. He muttered something else under his breath you didn't quite catch, his black eyes seemed almost nervous gazing out at the woods like he was expecting some kind of monster to pop out in front of him and glance back up at you with a almost stern look. "....Some folks say this place is cursed. Cursed for thousands of years."

"I-I know, but it all sounds rather silly." Your shook your head and looked back out with a small smile. "Fairies and strange powers that doom anyone who harms the forests. Heard it over and over before. Curse thee those who's hearts are easily closed minded." You gave a chuckle to it all trying to lighten the mood but stopped once your eyes looked over and caught him giving you a stern look.

"These aren't things that should be joked about young lady. If I had it my way, I'd turn around right here and now and drive back as fast as I could to the safety of my home." His eyes darted back to the brightly lit dirt road and even though it was daytime he acted like it was night time and something would jump out at them at any given second. "B-But lucky for you I need to sell my goods to make a livin'. I've seen things. Strange things. That no one could explain in these very woods."

Your eyes scrunched up in curiosity and perhaps mild fear at why he was acting so weird. "Like what exactly?"

"Shadows! If you look out right now and look around you may or may not see one!" He stated matter of factly and looked around quickly again at the peaceful woods. "It doesn't matter if it's day or night for them. They'll always move around waiting for their victims, but as long as you stay out they'll leave you alone. Oh, nono. They'll creep to the very EDGE of the last tree that begins the forest line and reach out for you I heard. Snatch you if you get too close. But they'll never fully leave the safety of their vast woods. Just never go into the woods and stay away, and you will always b-be safe." His voice trembled as his grip on the reigns increased. "May the gods have mercy on the poor souls who don't heed the warnings and travel to places they don't belong."

Another moment of silence passed and Y/n temporarily gazed out. She didn't know why but she squinted her eyes out at the forest surrounding them and especially the shadows. There wasn't anyway she was superstitious but looking never- She jumped seeing something move behind a tree, but quickly relaxed when her brain registered it as a deer. The poor thing ran off probably scared from the humans passing through it's home and she smiled. Fairies and shadow ghost and curses. And she supposed a magical fairy wand was right around the corner too. Her small smile returned as she looked over to the driver again.

"And I don't suppose there's a legend behind these woods too is there?" She couldn't help but sound a little amused which still made him irritated.

"This isn't funny! People say these woods were cursed by demons and witches thousands of years ago. Making this place a literal hell on earth!"

"Well. I grew up around woods. And nothing ever bad happened to me," she said smiling back out into the beautiful woods, "I never saw any scary shadows or anything."

"Then you're really lucky young lady." He seemed to almost shudder with his next warning. "If I were you I'd never get anywhere near these cursed places."

"Don't worry about me. I'm not afraid of any words or things that don't really exist."

"Mark my words. Nothing good could ever come from this place. Just don't say I didn't warn you, Kid."

The rest of the trip there was rather peaceful except for the man staring at the woods around them with a scared matter, until they reached it. A smaller village than the one before, and you got off, thanked the old man for the ride.

"Where will you go now if you don't mind me asking?"

You gestured up the mountain. "I intend on continuing my way up the mountain after a short rest here."

His brow rose higher at the audacity you had. "You're still intending on traveling that way? By yourself of all things?" You nodded and he hummed frowning. "I personally think that's a stupid choice to make...but then again it's none of my business. But a word of warning to you." You blinked as he narrowed his eyes hard at you and spoke to you in a very serious tone. "Here my words, Child. Don't travel at night alone especially tonight as there's a full moon. It always gets more dangerous as the moon goes through her fullest phase, but if you insist on taking on that challenge, then make sure you at least do one thing. STAY. AWAY. From the woods edge. As long as you stay away from the forest then you'll be safe. They never leave their woods but if you get too close they'll snatch you away and you'll never be seen from again."

Despite the fact that you didn't believe a word he said, his tone made a shiver run down your spine. You nodded politely to him however. "I'll certainly think about your words. Thank you for your kindness."

"Hmph. I see...I bid you good bye then. And good luck. You'll be needing it."

You did keep your promise to think over his words, but in the end you brushed him off with his superstitions and made the choice to continue on in your path. After all they were all just superstitions and fairytales without any real threat to them, you just needed to prepare for the next leg in your journey. And you did. Paying some left over money to clean yourself and your clothes in the local bathhouse and getting some more food before you continued along the path up towards the mountains but not before giving the small village one last look as the old man's words mulled over in your mind once more. A brief thought of if you should stay amongst the houses for the night...but shook that thought off before turning back to face the dirt road and continued on. The old man was right in the fact that you two didn't make it to that small village until it was nearly mid day, so it was already late in the day when you started walking but you weren't worried about anything. Partially through what was left of the limited daylight, you passed by some wild peach trees that made your stomach rumble and helped yourself to them for a few minutes, even going as far as packing a few of them for later, packing them safely away in your bad before leaving. But night soon fell and with it came a different feeling.

The feeling of being watched.

It didn't start out that way. At first it was just an aspect in the back of your mind you brushed of as paranoia of the man's words echoing in your mind. The feeling first came around when the sun had just started to set and it wasn't strong enough to warrant anything more than a two second thought and hand waving them off. However thing's changed. The sun soon disappeared over the horizon to be kissed good night by it's counterpart, the moon, and the traveling woman was glad that it was a full moon, for it brought moonlight strong enough for you to see the pathway as your feet continued to walk. With it came the feeling but tenfold. You've only felt this way before back at your village whenever Sanemi was glaring his rage at you or when you first ran away paranoid that someone was following you, that same feeling also returned with the feeling of being followed, but every time your head snapped over your shoulder towards the darkness behind you....

There would be nothing.

Literally nothing. Nothing but the cold wind starting to pick up. You brushed it off as just your paranoia getting the better of you and you set your jaw against the wind. There was nothing there anyways so what did you have to worry about?

"Come on, Y/n." You thought to yourself with a shake of your head and a deep inhale. "You're just being irrational is all. You need to get your barrings and figure out what to do with a clear head."

A hand broke from the grip they had on your bag strap and reached for the inside of your bag, leaving yourself standing within with moonlight, wind blowing through your hair around as your hand gently felt around the insides of your bag. Come on. Where is it? Where is it? Ah! There it was. In the hand that was pulled out of the bag, was a folded paper. It was old, signaled by the yellowed color and the tears it had along the edges, and it wasn't any bigger than a normal book's page but it had it's importance and use. For it was a map. A very old map left by someone who by now had long since passed and it only by chance Y/n stumbled upon it in the library tucked away between some old books in the corner. Not sure how accurate this still was but you'd need it to get over the mountains if you ever became lost or unsure of your way. The wind threatened to rip it from the hands that tenderly opened it and looked at the sprawled writings beneath that surely would fade away someday. Eyes trailing along the poorly seen lines and drawings of the mountains and forests surrounding them, surely this was once a beautiful peice of work now faded to barely nothing to be made out especially in the dim moonlight luminating the shadows.

But the shadows moved.

Quiet night. Unholy night of beasts. Feasting their sights upon the stray women who dare stay out at night when the full moon rises, lighting the pathway for the beasts to claim their prey. Gnashing teeth, snarling fangs waiting to take a bite into innocent flesh where the terrible claws miss. Waiting to snatch you away down into their dark abyss never to return.

The bark of trees felt rough against the palm of grey skin, perfect to blending into shadows and walking along the darkness of the cursed trees that beckoned any unknowing traveler further into their branches. A light step. Another light step. Light enough to not be heard by anyone my dear. A quiet mouse amongst the darkness a contrast to the many others in the surroundings. Many preferred brute force by tooth and nail, fang and claw to drag off their unwilling prey in the name of twisted love they've come to claim or give. Ears perked just now hearing the far off wails that sounded like some sick love sick beasts. A whoop of triumph from the lungs of some lucky beasts who was able to stake a claim on some poor soul that accepted their twisted gift of love. Dark black claws dug into the harsh bark of the thick plant that would otherwise not feel the pain it would usually cause another living thing. An aura of annoyance flooding forth from the source of the claws, and the darkness only received a scoff, as blue eyes as dangerous as the bottomless ocean looked up towards the sky, towards the source of the happy wails from far into the trees' abyss of darkness.

"Tch. Dam fools. They act like dogs in heat! The lot of them!" A voice. As rough as it was envious. The idiots. No brains at all. Now all that celebrating would do was attract others towards him in wanting to fight him for the claimed prize he just received. He knew that was the case entirely because many a shadowy beasts was already flocking towards that noise. "They have no dam senses to them!"

Fools. All of them fools. They should've quietly snuck away when they had the chance. But then again he couldn't expect any of them to be close to the intelligence he held. Whatever. He wasn't out here to watch the rabid fighting of fools, as entertaining as it was to watch others rip either apart. No. He had something else long thought over he wanted to be done with. And it all started with the wind. And the air filling his lungs. And a sweet scent that wafted within both.

Huh....That was different. Not one he was often met with, but one he was familiar with.

One he liked very much.

But why would one such as this be this close to the forbidden areas?...Unless someone carried it with them. Either way it was something that had gained his attention, and even if it was nothing, there might be fun had in seeing why this was there. And so light steps approached the direction of the scent, back against the few remaining lights of the setting sun. Step after step as the scent grew stronger and the forest less dense around him which was the more interesting part to it. It was the more confusing part of all about it really. After all-

"No peaches should be this dam close."

He recognized that scent now. It was one he often craved and made his mouth water, but one thing he could barely have as it was out of bounds of the forest line. Often he could catch the faintest of their scent from further down the mountain where he was sure a plethora of them grew, but he could never see for himself. But sometimes on rare occasions he worked hard enough to please his master, he would be rewarded with the succulent fruits of his labor. The soft fruit being devoured within seconds before being missed again. Perhaps it was someone else who had gotten their claws on them? If so he'd cut them down and take what he wanted as a prize for disobeying the one law no one shall disobey without permission from the Master. And he would rectify it. Then maybe he'd be rewarded with more fruits for his loyalty. The thought excited him. Maybe this night wouldn't be such a dull fest after all. The scent lead until the tree line forbiddily broke and it left him standing there cloaked in darkness as the last few rays of sunset left the world, and saw nothing. After just a moment of standing against the wind he cursed himself for being stupid enough to even entertain the goose chase that was this night. He cursed this night, and his luck and the stupid hope of rewards. He would've turned around and disappeared back into the shadows if it weren't for one thing that made him pause in his actions.

A ghost in the night.

A white shining in the dark up the pathway that lead away which lead the sweet scent of fruit with it. Odd. What was that? He hadn't see something like that before. Not around here and especially not at night, but there was visibly something there. Alive and moving within the moonlight. Well, well. Now what was this he wondered? His curiosity got the better of him. After all he did have nothing better to do than to follow from the shadows and get close enough to see what exactly this strange new oddity was. And the end result was what surprised him the most. The white movable object was indeed a living being, not a ghost or figment of the light like he suspected. But...it was not an animal either which was what both confused him more. It was a woman. No older than him, maybe by just a year or two in her early twenties, judging by how young and beautiful her form looked. This was...intriguing. And quite the interest. It was-..

"Human."

This was not a topic lost on him. He heard many tales of the humans from his Master's engagements with them and Douma's countless rambles (that often gave him headaches-) and he had even seen one although rarely if ever. Master's wife was human. Their child was human. He sometimes saw them when the Master made mandatory meetings or surprise inspections. The woman was...Kind. He was indifferent about the Master's choice in mate, as he didn't know her enough to have an opinion other than she was a lovely woman in appearance. And sometimes if he walked near the edge of the forest at the right time, he'd see humans traveling along the roads but he could never get this close or ever saw a sight stranger than a long young human woman walking by herself at night, especially tonight of all nights. Unless she-... No. It couldn't be. A-...

A offering?

A tempting. Young offering of scents that caught his interest and tempted him enough to follow. Yes. A nice offering for a nice night. Oh how the tides have turned in his interest.

"....Where am I?"

It was official...You were lost. And not just lost. REALLY lost. At one point the path before you disappeared and you just looked on map in your hands and your eyes squinting out in the dark for any similar sightings you could make out in the moonlight, which wasn't much. ...Maybe you should've heeded the old man's words and waited until daylight to continue traveling because now you reached a dead end in your road. Literally. You looked down at your boots where the dirt path abruptly ended and was replaced by grasses which lead onto a large meadow and eventually more woods. This wasn't the right path...The path you wanted to take was supposed to lead a bit up the mountain before going around it and then leading away, according to the map (once you were able to make it out in the limited moonlight-), you took a wrong turn in that fork in the road you passed by when it was still sunset, and instead of leading away from the mountains, you just went further in! No wonder the map showed a line abruptly stopping when you checked it! It was because you had reached a dead end!

"UGH!!" You threw your hands up holding the map in a moment of frustration. "Why does this have to be so difficult!?"

Of course nothing answered you but the echoes of your voice around the dark woods and the wind still blowing your locks of hair around you. After a moment, you brought it back down to your face and scowled at the paper...but then blinked at what you saw. According to the map, there was another...fork in the road? You looked around. ..You didn't see any forks in the road or another pathway. But when you looked back down, there was one..at least according to the map, but when you literally leaned half way down to look upon the side of the dead end road that faced the woods, you saw nothing. On the map however was a small path that went through the woods, and then disappeared under the drawings of trees but oddly enough if you squinted, there was something oddly shaped with the tree drawings. It looked like a ....House? A big house...Maybe? You couldn't tell. It was oddly shaped and smudged for whatever reason, and the colored ink used to draw it was faded already. So even if it WAS something important, you couldn't tell what it was especially in the limited light. So it might've been a house, but at the same time it could've been just as likely to be a random tea stain from whoever drew this. However you weren't given time you find out, because you heard a cry. A shrill animalistic shriek from somewhere deep in the woods to your far left. And you yelped, whipping your head in that direction as the sound echoed out and died. You weren't the only one as a shadow with blue eyes also turned it's head towards the noise-....before rolling it's eyes. Unfortunately you didn't have much time to wonder what that was, because the startle loosened your grip on the map, and the wind blew the map from your grip.

"H-HEY!!" Your eyes snap forward and your eyes widened as the wind whipped the map through the air with a fluttering paper sound, it flew through the air towards the forest. "Come back here!" You shouted at it before giving chase.

Past the side of the road, across some grass, and past the tree line into the woods. You followed. Into the abyss following the flutter of paper. As you entered leaving the path behind, it didn't take too long for it to get dark really fast. You didn't pay attention at first running after the map that fluttered within the air catching your attention and you still sped after it. You'd need that if you wanted to get off this mountain! Unfortunately you weren't paying attention to your surroundings as you ran deeper and deeper into the forest with a shadow following your ever move which was easy for them to do. At one point the map fluttered down closer to the earth and you began jumping at you hands outstretched between you dodging trees and trying not to crash into any of them, but the wind as if taunting you kept pushing it further and further away now skittering across the ground and tree roots until you FINALLY were able to snatch it back with one lucky grab but just barely between two fingers. But it was enough for you to snatch it up immediately into a tighter grip into your hands with a sigh of relief. You brough the map to your face to inspect for any damaged, before you brushed off some stray dirt and turned. ...And then froze.

You were....not where you were supposed to be.

You were in fact...very much surrounded by darkness. And tall trees. Trees that were so big their branches intertwined and blocked out most of what limited moonlight was even available. So now you weren't able to see barely anything now....and you were even MORE lost. Your eyes widened, and your gut sank. ...And now the panic set in. WHERE THE HECK WERE YOU!? HOW DID YOU LET THIS HAPPEN!? You were just trying to get back the map! The grip on your map increased until it would be permanently wrinkled and you stepped back until your back hit the rough bark of a tree as you stared out into the otherwise silent forest besides the wind will whistling and the creaking of branches and leaves as they rubbed against one another to create a scene straight out of a ghost story the Elders of your old village would often tell as a warning to children. And you were dumb enough to run into a dark forest you'd never been in before.

You breathed as your heart raced, eyed darting around at every shadow. Alright. Calm down. You're alright. You're alright. You're just a little lost, but you're fine. You're not hurt. You're not gonna die. You had no need to be scared. There was nothing here but shadows and trees. They couldn't possibly harm you at all. You slowly repeated the mantra like a prayer in your head as you began to calm down. You were right. There wasn't possibly anything to be afraid of. What WAS there to be afraid of? Shadows that was just made by moonlight and branches? The trees that couldn't move? The wind that just blew air around? There wasn't anything dangerous in these woods! The most dangerous thing you could encounter here was a bear, and while that thought did still frighten you somewhat, you were still able to rationalize that it was unlikely for you to run into one in a forest this big, and even then you would be able to climb a tree for safety. HA! You gave a small smile and huff from thinking such a ridiculous-

THUD!!

You shrieked as something HUGE and MASSIVE and HEAVY fell from the very top of the tree right next to you and it had caused you to shriek out a high pitched wail echoing across the forest and making you jump a few feet away and whip your head to what you assumed was just a dead tree branch falling from the old tree.

But it wasn't...And you froze.

THERE. WAS. A. BODY. LAYING. THERE!!

A literally human was lying there face down in the cold dirt. Your brain instantly went back to panic mode and you felt sick to your stomach instantly. Your body's reflex to made you gag and turn your head slightly away in case you got sick as a sick fear coursed though your body as your body locked up..

And then it groaned.

The body moved an arm to push against the dirt making it sit up just enough to turn it's head at you, and for a brief fleeting moment, you felt relief that maybe the man was still alive-...But any good feelings were dashed when an inhuman face creaked an inhuman sound as a smiling insect-like face turned to smile at you with a single horn protruding from his left cheek.

"Well. A pretty bride has come to me. How .....delicious.~"

You shrieked again.

[coulsons-fullmetal-cellist]

A Rather Magical Super Sexy Secret

(Dieter x horror loving female)

Words: 711

Summary: Dieter surprises you with a magazine photoshoot, except he forgot to tell you about it

Warnings: a sexy photoshoot and the consequences when that happens

Check out masterlist here

While waiting at the supermarket checkout, you were aimlessly checking over your shopping list. Everything was checked off, but your brain just had to check again. And they had Dieter’s favourite snacks on special, so you decided to get extra. He’d been working really hard the past few weeks, mostly coming home late, only able to kiss you goodnight before completely zonking out. Tonight, you decided to treat him to a nice hearty dinner as you rightly assumed he hasn’t been able to eat properly. Your double-checking reverie was interrupted by a bunch of girls twittering like harpies.

“Oh my god, look how hot he is!”

“I want to be his controversial young girlfriend!”

You rolled your eyes and looked over to the offending culprits, but you stopped when your eyes caught the object of their desire: starring back at you from a magazine was the face of your boyfriend. It felt like you were suddenly hit in the face with a shovel. Before you got buried in six feet of confusion, your attention was called by the checkout in front of you becoming free. Again, Dieter’s face was staring at you from the magazine rack in front of you, so you decided to add one to your conveyor belt of purchases.

The checkout lady looked at the cover of the magazine while she scanned it. She had that look like one would to an indulgent bar of chocolate.

“Mmm, that is a man right there,” she said, “I’d like to cover him in whipped feta, feed him pomegranates and use him like a fine charcuterie board!”

Well that was a new, certainly interesting one.

You thanked her as you grabbed your grocery bags. As soon as you got in your car, you opened the pages of the magazine. You were greeted with arms. Very well-defined arms. You saw Dieter’s arms every day and you knew he’d been working out a bit more lately, but this felt like you were looking at your boyfriend with newly replaced eyeballs.

You quickly shut the magazine and threw it in your tote bag before it burst into flames, sending you into the fiery lusty hell you were currently feeling.

Dieter greeted you when you pulled up your car in the driveway. He seemed more well rested, and he just had to be wearing one of his Henley shirts. You hated those shirts purely because they made every muscle of his fine body stand out which you certainly did not need right now.

And now he was helping you carry in the groceries, making his arm muscles stand out even more. You could not stop staring at them. You would walk into a pole if there was one for how much you kept staring at his arms.

You followed him into the house, and he lifted the bags onto the kitchen counter, making his shirt ride up a little, giving a peek at his cute tummy.

“Actually, could you put the bags over there?” you asked him.

He replied with a nonchalant shrug and moved them over to the other side of the kitchen. You followed his arms, mesmerised at the material of the sleeves stretching and straining out.

“Sorry, I meant over there,” you said, almost hypnotised.

Dieter put the bags back onto the other counter and swooped in to pick you up, breaking you out of your state. “What is up with you honey cakes? You’ve been staring at my arms since you got in.”

You wrapped your arms around his neck. “Why didn’t you tell me about the photoshoot?”

The realisation slowly spread over his face. “Oh shit, that’s out already? I wanted it to be a surprise.”

He slowly placed you back to the earth, apology written all over him.

“It was a surprise, a nice surprise,” you pulled the magazine out of your tote bag and showed him. “I mean damn, I see you naked all the time, but this…” you started to fan yourself with it.

“Wow, you really are swooning” he moved, ready to pick you up again, “Have I made you weak in the knees?”

“Not yet. Did they let you keep the boots?”

“Oh, I got to keep everything.”

“Okay, now I’m weak in the knees.”

Lovingly tagging @boliv-jenta @simpingcowboy @ellenmunn @o-sacra-virgo-laudes-tibi @brilliantopposite187

[ironwhumper359]

Tenets of Growth: Part 6

Sapling

First: The Path of Cultivation Prev: Replanting || Next: Rejoice in Her Pruning

CW: nightmares, conditioned whumpee, a whumper who is also a whumpee, religious themes, religion used to justify torture, fantasy world.

Word count: 2,000~

Author's Notes: This chapter is mostly a filler to show illuminate some things and move characters into position for next chapter, which is one, long, 3k word whump scene, which is all finished and will be posted in a few days!

— — — 

Aster was exhausted. 

She’d assumed, because she had seen multiple classes go through their Replantings in the fours years since she herself had undergone the ceremony, that she’d be capable of performing the ritual without too much difficulty. 

And maybe she would have, had her first time been with a willing initiate. 

But watching the young man struggle in vain as he was slowly buried, listening to his desperate cries until they were muffled by the soil had been one of the most harrowing things she’d ever witnessed in her time at the Nursery. 

Her hands had trembled while digging the boy back out from beneath the earth, and the relief at finding him still warm and breathing was short lived. She barely had time to officially appoint him with a new, holy name before his eyes rolled back and he went limp in her grip. 

Aster had, embarrassingly, panicked and called for the assistance of the Pruners who stood waiting outside the cell. The shorter of the two, a woman judging by her voice, knelt to take the boy’s pulse and check his breath. 

“He is fine, Initiate,” she’d said. “He is merely unconscious, likely passed out from stress or exhaustion. There is no reason not to proceed with your duties.” 

Cheeks burning, Aster had thanked the Pruner and dragged Cedar against the back wall of the cell. She slid the dowel rod free from its position, then unhooked the chain linking his collar to the shackles on his ankles, allowing his body to straighten. She undid the cuffs around his wrists next, and quickly rolled him onto his stomach. She pulled his arms behind his back and secured his wrists again, breathing a sigh of relief when he did not stir. 

Privately, she had been worried about removing him from the Replanting position on her own, and was thankful that she had not needed to request help from the Pruners in that regard. While they had stayed in case she was unable to subdue him alone, Lady Lantana had warned her that any deference she showed to others in his presence would damage their relationship as Seed and Cultivator. 

“You must fully represent the Goddess and the Nursery to him, and he must be utterly dependent on you for everything. If you show him that you alone cannot dish out Perivyta’s will, then he will believe neither in the Goddess’s authority or yours. Send for the Pruners only if absolutely necessary.” 

Aster maneuvered her charge onto the thin straw mat that had been laid out for him, then took the chain that still hung from the iron collar around his neck and connected it to a loop jutting out of the wall. 

There. Now when he woke, he would be easier to direct as she needed. 

Satisfied that she had completed her work, she turned back to where the two Pruners stood waiting for her. 

“I beseech you for guidance, to the Third Cultivator’s chambers,” she said, and they nodded and turned without another word. 

She followed quickly, doing her best to take in the details of the route. She’d have to walk it many, many times in the coming months, and the sooner she could do so without help the easier it would be. 

She did know that the Seeds and Sprouts were housed in the lowermost basement level, the Buds and Flowers on the ground floor, and the fully Ripened members of the Order lived and worked on the top floor, but navigating the corridors to find a specific room was still beyond her. 

They came to a stop at a door in a long corridor, and Aster took note that there were only two doors left before the hallway ended. 

“Thank you,” she said, nodding to the Pruners, who turned and left without another word. She took a deep breath, then reached up and knocked four times on the door. 

“Enter.” 

Aster stepped inside, sinking to her knees as soon as the door was shut behind her. She almost clasped her hands behind her back, but remembered just in time to fold them in her lap instead, and to keep her head up. 

“Report,” the Third Cultivator said without looking up from the scroll she was reading.  

“Replanting was a success,” Aster said. “He has been appointed in Perivyta’s name to the Order as Initiate Cedar.”

“Very good. How did the Initiate respond once unearthed?” 

“Well…he didn’t. He was conscious when initially unearthed, but passed out nearly immediately after being appointed an Initiate. A Pruner confirmed there was no pressing health issue, and he was left in position for lessons to begin tomorrow, as previously discussed.” 

“I see,” Lady Lantana said slowly, looking up from her work and regarding Aster with a pensive expression. “And why did you deviate from what you had planned for the Initiate’s appointment?” 

Aster swallowed. 

All initiates were appointed a holy name by their Cultivators after successful replanting. Aster had intended on using the name Yarrow for the criminal. But when she’d seen the boy for the first time, the shade of his hair had reminded her of the red tinged wood of the forests at the edge of her village long ago, and when she opened her mouth to appoint his name, she could not bring herself to follow through with her initial plan. But the last thing she intended to do was tell the Cultivator that she had acted on impulse.

“When I first interacted with the Initiate, I felt a whisper in my soul, telling me to not be bound by the expectations that I had for him. I had chosen the name Yarrow because I had assumed this to be a bitter task, but now I believe that Perivyta has chosen the two of us for a reason, and I must not let my own thoughts intrude upon her plan.”

Lady Lantana looked down at her, and Aster held her breath. 

“I see…” the Cultivator said slowly. Then, to Aster’s amazement, the corners of her mouth ticked up just the slightest bit. “Well done, Aster. The Goddess’s voice is not always clear, but we must always follow where it leads us.” 

“Thank you, my lady,” Aster said, bowing her head to hide her smile. 

“Initiate Cedar is asleep now? Then there is no reason for you to return to his chambers today. You are to spend the rest of the day in private study to further prepare for his lessons, which will begin first thing tomorrow.” 

“Yes, my lady,” Aster said, lifting her head. She moved to stand, but the Cultivator held up a finger. 

“A moment, Initiate,” she said. “There is one more matter that must be addressed.” 

As if on cue, five knocks rang out through the room, and at Lady Lantana’s call of “Enter!” a red robed figure stepped inside. 

“Excellent timing,” the Cultivator said. “Initiate Aster here has shown evidence of Rot beginning to take root in her mind. Please escort her to Pruning Chamber four.” 

Aster’s smile vanished and she froze. Lady Lantana looked down at her calmly. The woman’s expression was unchanged, but Aster swore she saw a satisfied glint in her eye. She could never quite shake the suspicion that the Cultivator enjoyed her discomfort, and in her weakest moments she wondered if Lady Lantana ever invented reasons to send her to be Pruned, just to cause her more misery. 

But these thoughts were heresy, and Aster quickly shoved them down. Pruning was not a punishment, it was a gift of Perivyta. A chance to reflect on your mistakes and deepen your bond with the Goddess here on earth. If you submitted to her pruning and attoned in this life, then you would be welcomed to her table with a clear conscience in the next.

Aster rose to her feet and bowed her head to Lady Lantana. 

“I thank you, my lady, for recognizing my need,” she said.

“I expect a report from you on the initiate at the end of the day tomorrow. You are dismissed,” the Cultivator replied curtly. 

Aster nodded, and turned to the Pruner who stood waiting. 

“I beseech you for guidance, to Pruning Chamber four,” she said, proud that her voice did not waver. 

The Pruner turned and left the room without a word, and taking a deep breath, Aster followed them to her fate. 

— — — 

Cedar dreamed of his mother. 

They were kneeling in a garden, hands buried in the rich, black earth, though through the dreamy haze he couldn’t tell if they were planting or harvesting. 

“Look at you, my little sapling. So tall and strong now, just like a tree. Just like your father. I just know he’d be so proud of you.” 

He looked up at her, but couldn’t quite manage to bring her face into focus, and her voice sounded far away even though he could feel her warmth next to him. 

“Why did you leave?”

His mouth formed the words, but he couldn’t hear his voice. She looked down at him with a smile, but when she spoke, it wasn’t her voice, but the voice of the priest in the black robe who had buried her. 

“All things must wither in their own time. You must rejoice in this time of Pruning, my boy.”  

Cedar recoiled from the words, but as he pulled away his mother reached out and grabbed his shoulders.

“So proud…” she said in her own voice, then to Cedar’s horror her face began to crumble away before his eyes, turning into the same rich earth that had covered her in her burial. Her mouth opened, revealing a mass of crawling worms and beetles as she spoke in the priest’s voice.

“You needn’t fear, my boy. You are thirteen in six months, and the Order would be glad to welcome you into service. I know it’s what your mother wanted.” 

“No!” Cedar screamed, wrenching out of his (her?) grip. “You don’t know anything! My mother wanted to live! To see me grow up!” 

The shape that had once been his mother reached for him, then collapsed on top of him in an avalanche of earth. Cedar cried out but his mouth was filled with soil, it was pressing in all around him, crushing him, he was going to die-

“Your old self has been cast off.”

The girl with the sandy hair reached through the earth, grasping Cedar by the arm and pulling him free, her eyes shining and her mouth stretched in a welcoming smile. 

“I appoint you, Cedar, Initiate in service to Perivyta’s Holy Order,” she said, and when she spoke again, the voice was once again his mother’s.” 

“You’ll grow so big and strong here, Cedar. Your father would be so proud…” 

Cedar woke with tears on his cheeks and his hands cuffed behind his back. He shifted, trying to roll into a sitting position, and realized that he was chained to the wall behind him by the collar around his neck. He looked around, but the feeble strain of moonlight shining through the single window did little to illuminate the cell, and he lay back down on the floor. At least they'd bothered to give him a mat to lie on, though it didn’t do much to keep the cold from the stone below seeping through his bare skin and deep into his bones. 

Light, life, love, and warmth. 

Those were the hazy memories he had of the Nursery of Perivyta from his village. Looking around him now, it was as if everything good about the Goddess’s Holy Order had been stripped away from him.

Just like his mother had been. 

The words of the priest that had echoed in his dreams haunted him now. 

“The Order would be glad to welcome you into service.” 

He had tried to run from those words for the last five years, and in the end he’d found himself right back where he’d begun: staring down a path that he didn’t know and didn’t want. 

But this time, it seemed he would end up walking down that path…whether he wanted to or not.

— — — 

Prev: Replanting || Next: Rejoice in Her Pruning

Tenets of Growth Masterlist

Author's Note: As always, please let me know if you'd like to be tagged in this story, and I'll make that happen!

[shebeafancyflapjack]

All That Remains

Taking a page out of @idiotwithanipad book, I'm suffering so my oc Silver must suffer to. This is the way.

What year is it now, she wonders. She'd long since stopped trying to keep track with her cycles. Wake up, three nights, sleep, wake a month later. Rinse and repeat. One would think just going a month at a time would be easy to keep up with how long it had been since she heard another human voice. But it's amazing how little the mind cares to keep records on when it makes so sparse a difference.

Perhaps if she had a piece of flint and a cave wall, she could keep a tally. That would be a nice tribute to the first friend she'd made in this new realm. Her phone still worked, to a limited point, but lacked even as basic an 'app' to keep notes. Had app even been a noun when she'd died?

It's something to occupy her time with. She plays Snake but purposefully never beats the high score. It's all she has left of the Tory MP who, if they weren't enjoying her retro games, he was shrinking into his chair as she hurled a tirade of abuse at him for his misogynistic banter. They had a....complicated relationship.

But, fuck, did she miss him. She missed them all.

Even Fanny. Gods, what she would give to hear the old bat berate her for how her piercings made her look like some Parisian concubine, not to mention her sinful heathen religion. She'd offer her phone to Hekate if it meant just hearing Cap call her 'young lady' in that mostly patronising but somewhat affectionate tone of his.

As for some of the others...She'd be willing to risk never ascending at all and facing annihilation, if it meant one more day with her friends.

Kitty had been the first to go, long, long ago, back when the house was standing firm and rebuilt to surpass its former glory. They'd suspected she wouldn't be too long after Alison, who had managed to pass away in the Usual Room as they'd always hoped. The fates had allowed the briefest of moments for them all to reach and touch her hands for the first and last time - before that light whisked her up into the beyond.

Then went Pat, a few decades later, still riding the high of seeing his home team win the cup. Then Julian, who funny enough outlived the Tory party itself, in a sense.

And then the war started.

Cap, who had been bouncing on his toes as they'd watched the announcement on the floating TV screen in the lobby, had put himself into Prep mode, readying everyone for what to do in the event of nuclear war - which they were all familiar with as it was hardly a new topic on the news. They'd all stood and listened, nodding along, Amy asking her in a whisper why any of this mattered as they were already dead. Silver just smirked. Anything to make old Cap feel useful.

And yet he'd gone up before the first one fell. Then Thomas, who had never got to finish his apolocalyptic epic that he'd been rehearsing to a partly comatosed Silver. Thank Hades.

London got hit and they felt the earth shake, the house crumbling in the older brickwork.

Even though they may not be at risk, it was no fun to watch the panic unfold for the livings around them. Alison's children may not have come to the hotel since their mum passed, but they all hoped they were safe and away from the blast. All around them were sobs and screams and hysteria.

"Seen happen before. Earth do big shake, dust cover sun, water dry and crop fall. No food, children cry, mum's smother them to make easier de-"

"Thank you, Robin, we get the idea." Fanny cut him off before he could help traumatise them further.

Silver spotted Amy huddled beneath a table, hoodie up over her head, clutching Humphrey in her lap.

"Hey," She smiled, sitting beside her, "I'm sure we'll be fine. Like those stories of the war hundred years before us, when they just targeted the major cities but the countryside was safe." She tried to console her friend.

"She's right, Poppet." Humphrey mumbled against the thick black fleece.

But she knew it wasn't the danger that was getting to Amy. It was the noise. The distress. The loss of hope. She felt it too and wondered why she wasn't going into a panic attack. Many nights she'd look at Robin and wondering how he was keeping his sanity.

But the answer came to her as she watched him cradle his wolf pup and whisper to her. It came as she listened to Humphrey reassure his adopted daughter. Looking after the ones you love takes priority over letting yourself shatter.

When Silver is proven wrong and the house is hit - not by a bomb but a crashed plane that had its signal scrambled - it's the first time she ever sees Fanny Button sob. Sure, she'd shed a tear or two as they'd gathered at Alison's bedside. But there hadn't been this harrowing wail. This grief.

Robin had hugged the older woman and, to everyone's greater surprise, she hadn't pushed his 'smelly ape paws' off. Instead she'd clung on for dear life as she mourned her home, the memories of her husband and descendants. Of Alison.

The next morning, when she'd been due to fall out of a window that no longer existed, at the strike of a clock that no longer functioned, she looked up to the sky and smiled as the light enveloped her.

That was it.

Survivors stuck around the remains of the hotel for shelter, many of whose homes had already been destroyed by previous bombs. Silver had lost track of how this stupid war had begun or who was winning. Robin was convinced it was aliens. Maybe he was right, the reports over the wireless - back to old school tech, Cap would be proud, were patchy and incoherent at best.

People were sick. Radiation poisoning. They wait for new ghosts to join them but none come. It reminds Silver to check on the plague ghosts and Jemima but they've all gone. She feels sad she has no idea when it happened.

It's tragic and a nightmare. And Silver only sees a fraction at a time. She asks Robin not to take her to her bed. She wants to sleep in the house, close to all of them. It's not as if anymore bombs will wake her.

One time she wakes and there's a deafening silence. All around her are bodies in what was once the drawing room.

"Big sick. Many die. Others leave to find family." Robin explains, at her side.

"Where's Humphrey and Amy?" She asks.

All he does is give her a look.

Her stomach drops. He catches her in his arms before the first sob leaves her.

"'Doption paper magic. Link their souls up. Family leave together." Robin tells her, rubbing her back.

Silver clings to his fur. She holds onto him tighter than she's ever held on to anything in her life or death. Because he's all she has now. Just like the night that she died, and the first time she awoke. Her mysterious god. Her guardian.

He senses her fear and chuckles, pulling back to press his forehead to hers.

"Moonah girl no worry. Me stay ten thousand years already. Will stay another to keep company. Me always stay." He reminded her with content acceptance.

And she'd smiled, not because she wanted him to be trapped with her. But because the fear of waking up without his wild mane and bumpy brow looking over her was more horrifying than all the death and decay around her.

On the night she'd died, when her brain had bled and her head felt ready to explode, she'd begged him to stay. And he had. Always there. He kept his promise.

Right up until he couldn't.

She'd awoken one night and was back on her bed. Not much of it remained, the not having been tended to in decades, the plague on the tree nearly illegible. The dirt kept its shape and there was the moon above. Artemis. Moonah.

And no Robin.

For days she walked. She called his name. Screamed his name. She waited for him to jump out from behind a tree or one of the crumbling walls of the old house and yell Boo. She waited ready to smack him for scaring her. She waited to run into his arms and bury herself in his furs once more.

She waited. And waited.

When dawn broke, she searched the hotel. Withered corpses still decaying littered the floors. Vines and shrubbery twirled their way up the walls. There were no birds. She wondered where the birds had gone. And the mice. Was the land poisoned now? There were still insects, beautiful spiders that she watched grow their glistening webs in the vast gaps.

She names one Kitty.

And in what was once the suite named after the bubbly Georgian, she finds her friend's little wolf cub, mewling and wriggling on the floor. Looking for her dad.

He would never have left her alone. Not his cub. Not her.

It's just the two of them now. She walks the grounds, round and round, until its time to sleep again. She takes herself to her bed before the sun rises and tucks Kya into her pocket. She wishes there was someone to watch the pup properly while she sleeps for a month, but she hopes she will just sleep with her until then and be comfy.

The cub is gone when she wakes and Silver searches frantically to make sure she's not lost somewhere. She prays and begs to her gods that they took the cub up. Took her up to be with her dad. But she keeps an eye out all the same.

Often times she sits on the tallest part of the decaying mansion and wishes she had asked Robin how he did it. How did he keep himself sane in the silence all those years. How did he amuse himself with nothing. Snake and Tetris can only save ones mind for so long.

Until then, she talks to the spiders. And the cockroaches. She visits the fish in the lake and lays at the bottom for hours watching them.

And of course, there is Moonah.

She wonders if the humans who left here are still alive. What if her people are dead just as Robin's own tribe had gone to be replaced with humans who looked similar but different.

When they come, which they will, one will eventually die. She's almost certain of that. And that's why she remains, she tells herself. Someone has to be here so no one dies alone. Never leave. Never leave. She hadn't agreed to take up that mantle of her old friend, but if it's what the Goddess intends, so mote it be.

All she can do until then is walk. And wait. And sleep.

[mentelosse]

Questions/Answers about Mentelossë

@yellow-faerie asked me A LOT of questions on the Tolkien OC discord server ! here a little transcription of our exchange to keep track about everything Mentelossë related on this blog !

Question 1 - how did Mentë and Glorfindel meet?

They met in Gondolin for sure, Glorfindel being a lord and Mentelossë being Turgon niece. However they truly got to know each other because Mentelossë was going out in secret and exploring the city, he found out and decided she needed company and safety ! They visited the city and the valley and rode horses and talked and did very dumb things while trying to make everyone else think they barely knew each other at formal events (Idril and Ecthelion are not that dumb tho, and find out pretty quickly). Mentelossë previously lived in Fingons fortress city during the siege of Angband so not very fun for a child and a young lady, so coming to Gondolin gave her a lot of freedom and she really wanted to go out and explore and meet people !

Ohhh ok neat!! I didn't know she was in Gondolin at any point (makes sense tho, considering her husband) - I imagine his death must have been super upsetting for her! Did they get married in Gondolin then or after his reembodiment?

yaaaah ;-; she almost faded after the fall of Gondolin ! But they got married in Lindon when he came back to Middle Earth, they were just dating and then engaged in Gondolin

Ohhh ok!! Poor Mentë :( Who else did she spend time with in Gondolin then? And just generally - who are her friends over her life?

She was a very lonely child, only surrounded by soldiers etc even her mother was very VERY distant. She mostly spent her time with her father when he had time or maids and sometimes Fingolfin. She took care of her little brother when he was really little but that didn't last long since when Gil Galad was sent to be with Cirdan, she went to Gondolin. In Gondolin she spent her time with Idril mostly and other ladies ! She loves to make friends. Then she goes to Sirion and stays friend with pretty much the same people. When she lives with Maedhros, Mags and the twins she grows close to them but has trouble to make friends with other feanorians there (no feanorian hate, I just hc the mood to be very very very down during this part of the story). It's in the Second Age where she meet her best friends. She really gets along with her brother (she's basicaly meeting him as an adult), Celebrimbor, Celebrian, Erestor, Cirdan, other OCs of mine that I never drew XD And she stays really close to Elrond of course ! In the third age she gets closer to the few Noldor still living in Rivendell like an OC who is a former smith follower of Celebrimbor who swore to never forge or use a sword again

Oooh fascinating!! How does she end up with the feanorians at the end of the first age then?

She went back for Elrond and Elros (had to kill an elf: traumatic event, "am I doomed now ?) Tried to attack Maglor which was brave but dumb and she did it out of anger but Maedhros managed to stop her. She used to see him very often during her childhood (guess why 👀 😏 ) and used to love him a lot.

Ohhhh complicated feelings that come from Russingon - JUICY

Also Mentelossë understands that Maedhros was NOT here only on diplomatic mission very late 😂

LMAO I'm cackling at the idea of someone just like being…real gentle and like…Mentë….Mentë Maedhros did not need to be there that much They weren't just friends Mentë

(we continue to talk about how Russingon works in this headcanon and how naive Mente was)

I also hc that there's like rumoooors about the both of them. Stable boys, maids, servants etc making dirty jokes

They're talking and Mentë is like I'm so glad my dad had such a good friend in Maedhros. And everyone is like *deep breath * TALKING ABOUT PARENTS Do Glorfindel and Mentë ever have kids, or are they a kids in the far future when everything is safe (or no kids at all) kinda couple? (also how does she get on with her parents-in-law??)

No they never have kids but they tried, a lot, because they're horny and because they really strike me as people who just LOVE children ! Especially Glorfindel ! I like it to be unexplained but in truth it's because it's something really spiritual to procreate for elves, and it can be very straining and Mentelossë's fëa is too damaged and strained by everything that happened and her almost fading. And also I think she wants children but is unconsciously afraid that they are going to live the same fate as all the children she knew, being separated from their parents or unloved however elves need to WANT children to have them.

I can't imagine Glorfindel's parents something other that SUPER KIND and happy people who like to do good around them, Glorfindel's kindness and positivism come from them ! They have a nice relationship and they're happy to have a new member in their family ❤️ I hc that they never went to middle earth and Mente meets them when she leaves for Valinor and they have a HUGE family (I need Glorfindel to have sisters.)

Ahh ok so it's kinda big and tragic - but I guess this means the both of them (Mentë and Glorfy) are the super aunt and uncle to all their friends kids

EXACTLY ! They're pretty sad in the beginning but come to terms with it when it's obvious it's not going to happen

There was also a lot more idiocies ;) Thank you very much dear for expressing so much interest in my girl <3

[panthera-tigris-venenata]

parents meeting when they take their kids to class au with Harriet & Anthony but the kids are CJ and Dizzy. Throw in any other character you want for drama, convenience, or funsies.

Here you go!

It sounded like a first meeting prompt to me, which doesn’t work in canon, so I had to show it into an AU.

...The vaguely 1920 mafia AU for which I still didn’t do any research because I don’t have energy for that, okay? I do however have vibes and the vibes are great and I love my silly AU <3

I also added Ginny Gothel, for Reasons. (Ehm, mutually destructive threesome, ehm.)

Btw it is important for you to know that Harriet and Anthony are using Formal You for eachother the whole time.

Now, please enjoy!

Harriet steps onto the school grounds in one of her best dresses, with just a hint of black. It’s not too long since her first husband oh so tragically passed away, and black <i>does</i> look good on her.

It’s never too early to start looking for new options, especially for such a young widow as herself…

Harriet smirks a bit at that thought.

Nevermind that she’s in fact only there to invite her younger sister to her second wedding – the groom won’t be a problem soon enough, Harriet is sure. Older, the owner of a match factory, has been smoking all his life… He had it coming for quite a while, really, Harriet would say.

She reaches out her hand and rings at the bell by the gate, again. This is definitely not the high end institution that she (by the courtesy of her late husband,be the earth light to him) is paying for.

The thought that the staff might not be coming to greet her because she chose to come in the middle of the morning, and thus the school day, didn't cross her mind. Harriet did not care for time.

She rings again, mostly just to do something.

Time definitely passes (and Harriet hates it).

Finally, someone comes, an older lady. Probably a secretary or something, maybe a janitor. She’s wearing a dress-suit that does not flatter her at all.

She introduces herself to distracted Harriet, who does not care, thank you for asking, and starts apologising and chattering away: „I’m sorry for the inconvenience, really awfully sorry, we didn’t expect you here, miss– …ehm, …ma’am?“

Harriet smiles at the woman. She likes being called like this.

„Hook,“ she says, „Harriet Hook, though it will be Kensington soon.“ Harriet flashes off the abundantly expensive diamond ring on her finger. „I’m here to speak with my sister?“

„Your sister, ma’am?“

„Yes.“ Well, now the woman is just playing dumb, and Harriet has no patience for that. She throws her hair over her shoulder and continues:

„My sister. Calista Jane Hook. I need to speak with her.“

„She’s in her classes right now?“ the woman more asks that says, and Harriet could swear she heard her whisper „hopefully“ under her breath, but also:

„I don’t care,“ she says with as much dramatics as she can muster; if she had a watch, she’d check it right now.

„I need to speak with my sister.“

The nice school lady gulps nervously and Harriet smiles at her.

„Yes, yes, of course. If you’d wait a few moments, ma’am, I’ll fetch her for you.“

The woman turns to leave and Harriet raises a single eyebrow: She does not have the shoes for waiting by the gate, thank you.

„Sorry. Sorry, if you’d follow me?“

„Well, since you’re asking so nicely…“ drawls Harriet and follows into the institution.

She finds herself seated by a small office, which the lady has the audacity to call a saloon. As if. Harriet sits down regardless and allows the lady to flutter away, muttering something that Harriet doesn’t care to hear.

She’s quite preoccupied, you see: There was another person in the room already.

A young gentleman in a tailored if a bit faded suit stands up and greets her with a slight bow of his head.

She nods at him too, her eyes lingering a bit. (He sees and notices and Harriet almost blushes which is absolutely unbecoming.)

She steps closer and extend her hand to him, introducing herself to him, her rings and bracelets shining in the dim light; he presses a light kiss to her knuckles, barely a brush of the lips, and replies:

„I’m Lord Anthony Tremaine, the pleasure is all mine.“

A lord?

Interesting.

Harriet wouldn’t have thought this man a lord, but then again, barely anyone would call her a killer. Life is full of surprises, isn’t it?

The man stays standing, only as close as the etiquette allows, obviously, and asks her:

„What brings you here today?“

„I’ve come to talk to my younger sister,“ Harriet idly plays with her ring (the one that contained an exact lethal dosis of arsenic about three months ago), „Invite her to a family celebration, you see?“

Now, Harriet won’t tell the attractive stranger that she’s getting married, will she now?

„And you?“

„Oh, likewise,“ he replies and she can see him lying through his teeth. Interesting.

Nice young gentlemans shouldn’t lie.

Harriet smiles at him and ignores the way his eyes linger on her lips.

„Miserable weather, isn’t it?“ she says idly and he is quick to agree, glad not to linger on family matters any more.

They settle into a polite conversation, way more intriguing than any conversation with a lord has the right to be, up until steps and voices in the hall interrupt them.

A pouting ginger girl comes into the room first, escorted by the lady that greeted Harriet earlier, and immediately bolts to Anthony, hugging him around the waist and muttering something like „But do I have to?“

Harriet looks at him and raises her eyebrow at the way he smiles at the girl, just a small curve to his lips, really–

„Right,“ he clears his throat, „This is my cousin, Desdemona Tremaine. Desdemona, this is Harriet Hook. Greet her.“

The girl steps away and does a very hasty curtsy, looking in between them the whole time, and then beams: „I go by Dizzy actually!“

At that, Anthony quite helplessly shrugs his shoulders, like, what can one do?

…What can one do, really?

Especially since Harriet can already hear her younger sister, kicking up a fuss as she’s escorted to the room by two (!) teachers, one of which looks mildly… Irate.

Yes, that would be the word.

She doesn’t run to hug her, and, gods, she has soot on her cheek.

„I’m guessing that one is yours?“ Anthony says, voice barely above a whisper.

„Yes,“ sighs Harriet, loud enough for CJ to hear clearly, „Unfortunately.“

Then she raises her voice: „Calista Jane. What did you do?“

„Nothing!“ comes the swift and defiant and definitely pouty answer.

Harriet gives her sister a glare, that means „Really?!“ and „I call bullshit,“ and „Keep talking at me, I want to hear what that handsome man over there is saying and not look like I’m eavesdropping even though that’s most definitely what I’m doing.“

…Though the last one might have been more of a predetermined hand gesture, but figures. Calista Jane caught it and keeps chattering at her, likely driving her teachers crazy, and Harriet is left to eavesdrop in relative peace.

(„But Anthony! I don’t want to leave here!“

„You have to, little princess. You have to.“

„But I don’t want to! I like it here, I have friends here!“

„Your grandmother wants you home.“

„But I don’t want to go home!“ The girl is whining by now, and Anthony lowers his voice and god damn it, Harriet wants to look at him. (She doesn’t.)

„I know, but– Listen, Desdemona. Dizzy. We… We don’t have the money to pay for your school right now. We’ll get it soon, I promise, but… You have to come home with me now.“

„But… But I don’t want to…“

„I know–“)

Harriet risks a glance at the man hugging his younger cousin, just a quick look, really, barely a heartbeat– before focusing on her sister. Just in time, it seems:

„…And that’s why absolutely nothing that happened in the lab was my fault!“ finishes CJ rather triumphantly. She smirks as her eyes flicker between Harriet and Anthony, and Harriet shakes her head a little. Not him. No–

No.

CJ smirks even more.

„Yes, yes,“ dismisses Harriet, to the eternal horror of one of the teachers and the secretary, „Not your fault whatsoever, I’m sure.“

She wrings her hands in a gesture that means „We <i>will</i> talk about this later and CJ pouts at her.

Not paying that any mind, Harriet hands her sister the wedding invitation, hand-written on heavy paper and paid for by the groom-to-be, of course.

CJ snatches it and scans the text with eager eyes. She always liked shiny things.

She looks up, her eyes flickering between Harriet and Anthony again, and then she switches languages:

„Is he rich?“ she asks in Latin, and Harriet just hopes the Tremaine lord doesn't understand that, or isn't listening at the very least. 

She smirks and answers regardless: „Filthy rich.“

„Good for you! Will I be invited to the funeral too?“ CJ beams.

„Obviously.“

CJ, still smiling maniacally, switches back to English again:

„Oh Ettie! I need a new dress!“

„No you don't–“ Harriet quickly refuses, ignoring the numerous recent additions to her own wardrobe and jewellery box.

„Yes! I absolutely do!“ CJ drops her voice to entirely inconspicuous whisper, „Once in a lifetime occasion and all that…“

„Calista Jane–“

„Come on, Ettie, pretty please! I really need them! For school!“

„Your school has you wearing uniforms, Calista.“ 

Extremely distasteful piece of clothing, that, but. Small rules must be followed occasionally, to keep up the appearances.

CJ pouts to let everyone know what she thinks about rules in general and uniforms in particular (she isn't wearing hers anyway), and then adds:

„I don't wanna be there anyway.“

„Sounds like a you problem to me,“ says Harriet, her eyes gliding from Anthony to one of the teachers, the only person in the room who appears to be having a good time besides CJ. She's smiling slightly, only a slight curve to her lips, and Harriet likes the glint in her eyes. She watches her winding up her curls around her index finger and then letting it bounce back up.

„Harriet!“ 

Harriet blinks as her sister snaps her fingers in front of her face.

„Harry doesn't have to go to school anymore, so why do I have to?!“

…Yeah, that would be because Harry didn't ask. He run away to roam the streets with some girl, who, quite coincidentally, seems to be running a gang. Harriet has seen him once since her first wedding, when he and the girl delivered her the arsenic more swiftly than she could hope for otherwise.

All in all, Harry has fallen in with the uglier part of Auradon City Underworld, and has no intention of leaving.

Just as Harriet has no intentions of telling her younger sister about the vivacious criminal street life right now.

…He also might or might not have opened a highly illegal alcohol-bar, which CJ also doesn’t need to know. Yet. It’s not like she could make any useful connections at high-end, highly exclusive privileged-girls-only internate school, is it now?

„Harry is older than you,“ Harriet says instead.

CJ doesn't argue, thankfully.

Well, for the moment, at least, likely rendered speechless by the flawless argument, but Harriet doesn’t want to give her a chance to start.

„So,“ She claps her hands, „If that’s all, I'll be on my way.“

She hopes Anthony stops her, though, and maybe invites her for a tea or something. Yeah, tea would be nice.

It’s not Anthony who stops her.

It is a rather furious whispering of the teachers that has Harriet frozen on the spot, and making a long face into the doors.

She could leave anyway.

„Ma’am?“

But that would be rude, wouldn’t it, and Harriet Hook cannot afford to be seen as rude. Too much, anyway.

„Yes?“ Harriet turns around with a fake smile with too much teeth that would make smarter people run; come to think of it, the youngest teacher <i>does</i> look like she wants to run.

Good for her.

The others just look like they’d like to be away from CJ’s general vicinity, which is the general state of being.

„While you are here, ma’am, we hoped to go over some things relating to your sister, if that’s all right.“ The lady does not wait for an answer, which is just crude, and instead motions to the youngest teacher. You know, the pretty one, with the survival instincts?

„Ginevra here will go over some of the concerns we have with you.“

Consequently, Harriet might or might not stared at Ginevra with her curly hair and murderous stare so hard that she didn’t notice the other staff leaving nor Anthony shushing his cousin to listen in. She did notice her sister’s giggles, though.

She shakes her head, her own curls bouncing around her shoulders, and extremely subtly gives CJ the middle finger. Manners, you see.

„Will we be discussing Desdemona’s progress here as well?“ asks Anthony, voice cold and deep but curious, „And might we get your name, miss…?“

„Right,“ the woman taps at her clavicle, thus causing Harriet to look somewhere else too. Before she can look away, CJ subtly hits her, and, judging by the quiet „ow,“ Dizzy does the same for her cousin.

Interesting.

Harriet will not be thinking of that.

„Right,“ the teacher repeats, „I’m Ginevra Gothel and–“

–And Harriet Hook almost chokes on pure air.

„Gothel?! That Gothel?!“ she gets out just as the young Tremaine Lord recovers from his coughing fit and asks the same damn question!

Harriet would like to know why the interesting handsome young lord knows who Gothel is, please and thank you.

She wouldn't put him down as the type to recognise the name of a human trafficker, even as famed as Gothel is. Well, famed.

That bitch usually just goes by „Mother,“.

Gothel widens her eyes at them and frantically gestures towards the door: Not now!

From which Harriet concludes that she is, in fact, that Gothel, (Wasn’t she older?), and that she is leaving immediately. And CJ is too, tuition fee be damned.

She grabs CJ’s wrist hard enough to bruise and across the room, Anthony brings his cousin close.

„I’m– I’m not that Gothel,“ her voice drops, „I’m her daughter, okay? I run away. Please, don’t tell?“

She’s looking around the eyes with wide eyes and a strand of her hair curled around her index finger and god damn it–

„Ettie?“ CJ quips up, „She’s the best teacher there. My favourite teacher.“ (Calista Jane is making the exact same doe eyes as Gothel.)

„Don’t make them fire her?“

Harriet looks at her sister:

„Well, as long as she makes you go to the school…,“ she drawls.

She looks back at Gothel’s daughter, eyes as cold as she can manage:

„We <i>will</i> talk about this,“ she assures her, and Anthony (!) agrees from the other side of the room, one arm still protectively around Dizzy (!!).

„That we will,“ he says, stone and steel. 

(Damn it, damn it damn it–)

„So, you know,“ shrugs Harriet nonchalantly, throwing her hair over her shoulder, „If you want to live, meet me Saturday six o’clocks by the Revenge.“

With that, Harriet Hook leaves the dreadful institute, and by all that is holy, does she hope they’ll both turn up.

If not, well. 

She can track them down.

It’s not like she has anything to do besides marriage planning, and funeral arrangements.

As she leaves, she can hear Ginevra Gothel telling her colleagues that she agreed to sort everything school-related with her over the weekend, how kind of her, right?

She turns around to wave at everyone and glare at CJ a bit, just so she wouldn’t think she’d get away with whatever happened at the labs.

„See you soon, Harriet Hook!“ Anthony Tremaine calls after her and why, yes, this visit was certainly something.

Do not listen to the childish giggles of the girls, please.