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hyaciiintho · 11 months
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🌸。*゚+. @crystalmarred | smol starter
"My friend, a moment, if you will?" It's the elder simulacra that approaches X'kijin, sword at the hip as though prepared for COMBAT. With a hand poised against his chest, there's nary any sign of pending battle on his visage, expression relaxed as he stood before the other. "I have asked much from you already, and it is due to this that I would not give offense to your refusal."
There's a obvious shift beneath his hand, and an OUTLINE of a very, very tiny dragon makes itself known, head peering out from the edge of his palaka, to which a gentle chuckle erupts from the Au ra.
"You see, I would very much like to show my sister the places beyond Radz-at-Han, but I worry over her safety. If you would be willing to lend another blade to her protection...?"
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prncessjaeger · 9 months
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eren and his mystery cheerleader gf! ˚ ༘♡ ⋆。˚
syp: no one believed eren had such a pretty gf…until now
trin speaks!: be mindful i might have errors. it’s normal.  
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“so where’s your so-called "girlfriend" at? or did you make this one up too like the last time-”
“oh fuck off, connie, that was one time, and i was 12!” the rest of his friends surrounding him laughed at his embarrassment, (apparently he was the only one without a girlfriend so he made up having one…like i’m talking fake messages and everything.) currently, they were at a rival school’s basketball game since you didn’t go to their school and of course eren decided to come and support you…but his friends armin, connie, and onyankopon tagged along with him, wanting to see who his “special lady” was. “so is the game gonna start or…?” “uh, i think? it just turned 6-” armin was cut off with a set of claps and loud stomps from the side of the bleachers, cheerleaders could be heard shouting a set of words while the boys ran out through the middle of them. parents, children and other spectators could be heard yelling in excitement for the intense game that was yet to happen. 
eren looked around to spot you, finding you sitting on the bottom bleacher scrolling on your phone, and the boys traced his eyesight, “bro no way you date that girl sitting on the bottome row?” “huh?” connie pointed at you, “her? she’s toooo fine to be dating you-” “hey?! what’s wrong with me?” “-she should be dating me!” everyone around him rolled their eyes, “if anything she should date me, black love is the best love-” “right, but she’s entitled to date anyone she dates, besides we don’t know her,” armin was received with blank stares from all three of em while ignoring eren’s mumbling claims of, “i’m the one dating her,” soon or later it was halftime, which was a break time for everyone.
the dance team began to perform and all the cheerleaders went their separate ways. connie and armin went to concessions and onyankopon was talking with a girl he’d just met, so eren searched and searched for you, until he felt a pair of cold, soft hands hindering his vision. “guess whooo~”
“my beautiful baby i’d hope?” you kept his eyes covered as you moved infront of him, then removed them happily, “well you hoped right! hi eren!” you hugged him and sat next to him, leaning into his arms, “oh wait- you see our new uniforms?” “yes, its looks amazing- they added glitter to the school letters?” your curls shooks as you rapidly nodded, “yes! and the other sports coaches complained about it, wanting the letters to be unisex but i mean, glitter is glitter, and THEN the coaches made us run 5 laps before the game because someone left their bow at home, and now…” he turned towards you so he could listen to you better, and once the buzzer went off, you had to bid your goodbye, “you taking me home?” “you think you could ride home with sasha - i have the guys and i don’t wanna make it too crowded, i’ll get you once you get home?” your slight frown turned upside down and you noddied happily, “okay! see ya!” you waved enthusiastically and he waved back, sighing in content. “who’re you waving at?”
“my girlfriend?” they all stared at eren for like 5 seconds, then bursted out laughing at him, “oh man eren, you are too funny!”
⋆ ˚。⋆୨୧˚
after dropping his friends off, eren sat outside your home, waiting for your arrival and decided to do something that’ll hopefully get into his friends head that he’s actually dating someone. he smirked at his phone, editing up his caption and nearly jumped hearing his car door open, seeing you in his hoodie and some cute grey shorts, “hey baby,” you kissed his cheek and saw his phone, “uhh why are you…?”
“you’ll see.”
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lowkeyremi · 3 months
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𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄 !
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pairing: iwaizumi x fem!reader note: it’s his birthday!!!!! my silly little gym rat <3 happy late birthday iwa!!! summary: your husband doesn’t want too much for his 30th birthday, but you won’t stand for that! content: fluff, birthday, marriage, mentions of other characters like oikawa, kissing, gosh this is so gooey in the best way possible, drinking.
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“Baby, seriously, you don’t need to do all of this.” Your husband sighs at the same time that you poke your tongue out in concentration.
Currently, a piping bag of not too sweet icing is in your hands and you’re icing a one layered cake.
“Haji you only turn 30 once, this is big!” Hajime scratches at his neck, a little groan leaving his lips afterward.
“It’s just a reminder that I’m getting older.” Yes, that’s true, he is getting older. He’s no longer in his twenties. He would argue that he’s not in his prime anymore but you think otherwise.
There have been highs and lows to his twenties but his thirties are going to bring something new to the table. What exactly? You’re not sure, but it will present itself with time.
“Hurry up and go change into the clothes I put out for your special day. Your friends and past kohais will be arriving in like 30 minutes.”
A little what leaves his lips, “You invited those losers?”
“Those losers all love you very much, so of course I invited them.” He snorts, “Never thought I’d spend my thirtieth birthday with my old volleyball team.”
“Yeah, well, you told me that they were like a family to you soooo.” He can’t argue with you there, sometimes his volleyball team felt more like a family to him than his own family did. They all had the same goals as he did and they just understood him.
“Ugh, fine. I’ll go change.” Good, he can’t be seen in his white tank top and pajama bottoms. Even if that tank top is a little small on him and defines his aged muscles well.
Hopefully the slacks you picked out will define his ass some, and the navy button up will fit snuggly on his torso. You almost lose focus just thinking about it. Your determination to finish this cake is what brings you out of dreamland.
You set down the main icing and pick up one with a smaller tip to add little details and write “Happy 30th Birthday Hajime!” In the signature Aoba Johsai turquoise.
When the cake is finished you worked on making sure all the decorations were up to par. Since this is only a small party, the decorations are kept to a minimum. Minimal but fitting of course.
When your husband was away training professional athletes, he would send you silly snaps of him with different filters. Of course you saved all of them for this occasion. There were at least twenty different printed out faces of your husband with silly filters that you had saved from your chats.
You wasted no time hanging them up, giggles following suit as you looked at the silly pictures.
The last one doesn’t get hung up because Hajime surprises you and snatches the picture from your hands.
You got a little whiff of the cologne he was wearing, a smile graces your face when french vanilla and spicy cinnamon tickles your nose. Upon turning around you see him wearing the outfit you picked out and you gotta admit that he looks even better than you imagined he would.
“What’s all of this?” The pictures are what he’s implying but you can’t focus on anything besides the way his muscles bulge when he waves his arm around to signify all the pictures you had hung up.
“Oh nothing. Just something to entertain your friends with!” Your giggles only multiple when you hear a loud groan leave his lips.
“These look awful I’m taking them down.” He doesn’t even get the chance to because the doorbell rings at the perfect moment.
“I don’t think so,” you sing-song, “you need to go welcome in your guests.”
Said guests give a loud knock and four more doorbell rings. Hajime rolls his eyes so hard you’re surprised they don’t get stuck in the back of his head, “Must be that annoying Shittykawa.”
That nickname spilling from his lips proves just how much he needs this party. His friends bring out a side of him that doesnt have to pretend or worry about being judged, because they get him.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY IWA-CHAN!” Fills your ears when your husband opens the door. Hanamaki and Matsukawa join in mocking Oikawa’s voice, “Happy birthday Iwa-chan~” the two mock in unison.
“Shut up!” Oikawa quips before scoffing, “always being mean to me, I can never catch a break!” Of course he brings his dramatics into your kitchen.
His brows unfurrow when he takes sight of you and he gasps very dramatically, “[name]-chan! LOOKING AS BEAUTIFUL AS EVER!!” Oikawa basically flops onto you and wraps his arms around you in a hug.
But you have to remember this a 6’1 athlete, not someone of your stature so you almost fall over when he flops on you.
“Oi, idiot stop flirting with my wife!” Hajime screams from the front door.
Hanamaki and Matsukawa make their way into the kitchen. “Toru’s back to wife stealing again?” Matsukawa asks with a smug look. Oikawa has a huge reputation and he usually maintains it well, a scandal like this sounds quite interesting!
“Oh? He stole someone’s wife?” You ask setting out silverware and handing out party hats, which Yahaba says is corny, but what do you care?
“You guys are twisting the story! She didn’t tell me that she had a husband!” Hanamaki, ever the instigator, tells Oikawa that it’s still bad he was seeing a married woman.
More of his team starts to file in: Kunimi, Kyotani, Kindachi, and Watari.
These grown men (Oikawa, Maki, and Mattsun) are actually having a petty argument. You know the two are purposefully riling up Toru, maybe they wanted a reaction from Hajime, who knows, but you’re going to be the one to put it to rest.
“Hey! No fighting on Haji’s birthday. Also Oikawa are you really gonna let them rile you up like that, you’re a grown man for heavens sake.” Hajime makes his way from the entrance of your house to steal a kiss from your lips.
“Yeah listen to my wife.” Kunimi makes a gagging noise and you just giggle.
“Welcome everyone! I’m glad you all could make it to Hajime’s 30th birthday and yes, it means a lot for all of you to be here. He may not say or express it enough but he really does love you guys.” All eyes shift from you to Hajime and he blushes slightly at your confession.
“Babe-” He mumbles before he’s interrupted by his best friend.
“We’d be dumb not to be able to tell that Iwa-chan loves us!” Hajime glared at the brunette and takes that as a warning to shut up.
After dinner is served and cake is eaten, you all shift to the living room were you enjoy drinks and just talk about old times, or catch each other up on new things in life.
Hajime will never admit it but he’s a lightweight. After three drinks his face is already flushed and his words are slightly slurred.
“Hey! Listen up losers I have an announcement.” He says raising his glass (of water, you switched it out when he wasn’t looking. All eyes are on him and you can see Oikawa recording this moment, most likely to use to taunt your husband later.
“I- I fuckin’ love you guys so much. You guys are the best buncha’ idiots I’ve ever met. And- and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Not only were you guys there for me as a team you guys were at my wedding and I hope you’ll be there for me again in the future.” He yells out cheers and everyone raises their glasses to clink it with his.
“We love you too, Iwaizumi!” The group yells in unison. Well maybe not Kunimi— he kinda mumbles it.
The rest of the night contains laughter and pure joy from this amazing celebration.
“How do you feel, honey?” You ask him as he rests his head on your shoulder, no doubt ready for bed, since he usually doesn’t stay up later than 10:30 and it’s 1 am.
“Like the luckiest fuckin’ guy on earth.” That brings a smile to your face.
“That beats no party, huh? Mr. I didn’t want a party.”
“Didn’t realize how much I missed these idiots.” He sighs in contentment.
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archaeren · 3 months
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Hello!! I hope you're having a good day ^^ I came across your post about writing non-linearly on Notion and I'm excited to try it out because the advice resonated with me! Though, I'm really new to using the app and, if possible, need help with how to do this part: 'where every scene is a separate table entry and the scene is written in the page inside that entry.' ;v;
Hello! Thank you so much for messaging!!! Since that post about writing non-linearly (linked for context) blew up roughly ten thousand times as much as anything I've ever posted, I've been kind of meaning to make a followup post explaining more about how I use Notion for writing non-linearly, but, you know, ADHD, so I haven't done it yet. XD In the meantime, I'll post a couple screenshots of my current long fic with some explanations! I'd make this post shorter, but I'm unable to not be Chatty. XD (just ask my poor readers how long my author notes are...) (There is a phone app as well which syncs with the desktop/browser versions, but I work predominantly in the desktop app so that's what I'm gonna be showing)
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(the table keeps going off the right side of the image but it's a bunch of unimportant stuff tbh) So this is more complicated than what you'll probably start with because I'm Normal and add a bunch of details that you might not need depending on what you're doing. For example, my fic switches POVs so I have a column for tracking that, and my fic follows a canon timeline so I have a column for dates so I can keep track of them, and I also made columns for things like if a scene had spoilers or certain content readers may want to avoid, which they can access in my spoiler and content guide for the fic. (As I said, I'm Normal.) I also do some complicated stuff using Status and estimated wordcount stuff to get an idea of how long I predict the content to be, but again, not necessary. Anyway, you don't need any of that. For the purposes of this explanation, we're just gonna look at the columns I have called Name, Order, and Status. (And one called Part, but we'll get into that later) Columns in Notion have different types, such as Text, Numbers, Select, Date, etc, so make sure to use the type that works best for the purpose of each column! For example, here I'm using Select for Character POVs, Number for Order and WC (wordcount), and Text for the In-Game Date. Okay let's get into it! Name is a column that comes in a Notion table by default, and you can't get rid of it (which drives me up the wall for some purposes but works totally fine for what we're doing here). As you can see on the scene I've labeled 'roll call', if you hover over a Name entry, a little button called 'Open' appears, which you click on to open the document that's inside the table. That's all default, you don't have to set anything up for it. Here's a screenshot of what it looks like when I click the one titled 'I will be anything for you' (I've scrolled down in the screenshot so you can see the text, but all the data fields also appear at the top of the page)
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(This view is called 'side peek' meaning the document opens on one side and you can still see the table under it on the left, which is what mine defaults to. But you can set it to 'center peek' or 'full page' as well.) All my scenes have their own entry like this! Note that I've said scenes, not chapters. I decide the chapters later by combining the scenes in whatever combination feels right, which means I can often decide in advance where my chapter endings will be. This helps me consciously give most of my endings more impact than I was usually able to do when I tried to write linearly. So hopefully that gives you an idea of what I mean by writing inside the table and treating the table as a living outline. The 'Status' column is also pretty straightforward, and might require a little setup for whatever your needs are. This is another default column type Notion has which is similar to a Select but has a few more specialized features. This is how mine is set up:
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(I don't actually use 'Done', idk why I left it there. Probably I should replace it with 'Posted' and use that instead of the checkmark on the far left? whatever, don't let anyone tell you I'm organized. XDD)
Pretty straightforward, it just lets me see easily what's complete and what still needs work. (You'll notice there's no status for editing, because like I mentioned in my other post, I don't ever sit down to consciously edit, I just let it happen as I reread) Obviously tailor this to your own needs! The Order column is sneakily important, because this is what makes it easy for me to keep the scenes organized. I set the Sort on the table to use the Order to keep the scene ordered chronologically. When I make the initial list of scenes I know the fic will have, I give all of them a whole number to put them in order of events. Then as I write and come up with new scene ideas, the new scenes get a number with a decimal point to put them in the spot they fit in the timeline. (you can't see it here, but some of them have a decimal three or four digits deep, lol). Technically you can drag them to the correct spot manually, but if you ever create another View in your table (you can see I have eight Views in this one, they're right under the title) it won't keep your sorting in the new View and you'll hate yourself when it jumbles all your scenes. XD (And if you get more comfortable with Notion, you probably will at some point desire to make more Views) The Part column isn't necessary, but I found that as the fic grew longer, I was naturally separating the scenes into different points along the timeline by changes in status quo, etc. (ex. "this is before they go overseas" "this is after they speak for the first time", stuff like that) in my mind. To make it easier to decide where to place new scenes in the timeline, I formalized this into Parts, which initially I named with short summaries of the current status quo, and later changed to actual titles because I decided it would be cool to actually use them in the fic itself. Since it's not in the screenshots above, here's what the dropdown for it looks like:
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(I've blocked some of the titles out for spoiler reasons)
Basically I only mention the Parts thing because I found it was a useful organizational tool for me and I was naturally doing it in my head anyway. Anyway, I could keep talking about this for a really long time because I love Notion (don't get me started on how I use toggle blocks for hiding content I've edited out without deleting it) but that should be enough to get started and I should really, you know, not make this another insanely long post. XDD And if anybody is curious about how the final results look, the fic can be found here.
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auckie · 5 months
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I think the things that offend me most nowadays in like, smaller interpersonal interactions rather than grand, sweeping trends in culture, are when people chose to not partake in a wide set of things. Like musical close mindedness, or refusal to try different foods from different cultures. Not watching an entire subset of films bc they’re ‘french’. Avoiding reading bc you say you have adhd and it’s too hard. Like dude I get it, I’m busy. I can be picky. Everyone can. But the willful ignorance of closing yourself off to those VAST portions of the human experience, and not having curiosity and a lust to learn and explore art that was made by someone worlds apart from you either in terms of their culture, era, whatever. I dunno man it just pisses me off so bad. I think it’s arrogant. Like oh you’re comfortable in your safe little bubble huh? And you’re enforcing its barriers with the excuse that you’re autistic and have sensory issues. With music made by black people?? lol okay. It is pretty presumptuous for me to assume malicious intent but I think those prejudices are borne from either the comfort of being someone who’s wealthy and probably white not feeling the need to learn past what they think is enough, or it’s a reflection of a society that’s taught you to prioritize what it shills— popular, current (white, depending where you live ig) artists who are making streamlined, easy to digest content. Often when I meet people with these issues they’ll have one particular ‘niche’, and it tends to be like. 70s music. Victorian literature. Anime and Japanese games. But they’re still not really investing beyond the media presented. Like there’s so much more to Japanese culture than liking some cartoons put out between 2010-2020. You don’t gotta become some sorta Einstein who learns the background of every little freak in FGO yeah. But don’t you wanna aim higher? Aren’t you interested in any of the historical figures? And nothings wrong with hopping onto a trend. You read Dracula bc of that Dracula daily thing. Cool! Read more. Some people will say they’re chronically ill or disabled and can’t get outside. That’s okay. The internet is full of things you can read other than fanfiction, YouTube has a shit ton of free music. There’s Wikipedia and free articles online if you have questions about things. Yeah nobody is spending four hours a day looking at the national archives website and studying art history but it’s imbued in the things around you, and youll absorb it ambiently as you go along. you dont have to be a jack of all trades and cover every major genre of every major medium, but it never hurts to try! I really love seeing ppl ask too. Bc it can be kind of humiliating to admit to what seems like some jackass hipster that you’ve never delved into, idk, Serbian films (lol not that one). And hopefully if whoever you’re asking will give you honest good recommendations and not berate you. I’m kind of berate a straw man rn I guess. The hostile tone def doesn’t lend to an atmosphere of sharing but I cannot tell you how many times I’ve rbed anything involving specifically jazz only to see someone rb and add the stupidest comment on the post, or in the tags, or go into my inbox to be like waaah I don’t like jazz bc it’s boring and old and for pretentious hypocrites who hate neurodivergent people! Like what are you TALKING about. Fine if you don’t like it but don’t try and rationalize that as a moral standing you shit lark. And just as they’re allowed to dislike jazz I’m allowed to not really enjoy people who don’t like jazz. Or country. Nautical knots. Knit wear. Watching urbex YouTubers get their shit rocked by squatters. Korean food. Pachuco fashion and stupid ugly low riders. Bollywood films. and they don’t want to try any of those things either yknow? The next thing I’m getting into is circuit bending.
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greenplumbboblover · 1 year
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Simblr.cc
I made a website!
Now you've probably seen the attempt before, people getting mad at tumblr and then making a 'Simblr' (Tumblr clone). Though, despite tumblr being sometimes a bit frustrating because of their changes, that's not why this site came to be...
I wanted a place where Storytellers, Creators, and just generic sim players can all be together and get the exposure and fun that they deserve.
Not only that, but also for a place where the TSM community and TS1 can belong somewhere too without the use of a forum.
And eventually, I hope we can make it the home for Life by you and Paralives when that comes out :)
Plus, it's also NSFW friendly! While the site is initially PG-13, we've got tags and profile settings that allow you to browse NSFW items as well.
Simblr.cc:
Discord:
What can I find on Simblr.cc exactly?
Anything for all sims games, really! TS1, TS2, TS3, TS4 and TSM
Practically anything you technically can find on Tumblr and really other sim websites. We've got...
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Mods
I've specifically made filters for different games, and their needs in mind. For example, for TS2 there are so many awesome game fixes out there and clean templates, that you'll be able to navigate and find this easily.
Not only that, items can also be put in multiple categories! Especially great if you've uploaded a set!
You can also find Testers wanted only mods here if you feel like helping out fellow simmers with testing!
NOTE:
Mods do go through a "queue", but not in the same way as you may have experienced on MTS or TSR. I merely check if it's flagged as NSFW correctly, and then it's good to go! :) So the waiting time will be much less!
See TOU: Click me!
Eventually, I may see if I can get a bypass system in place, but that really depends on if NSFW isn't too confusing.
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Work In Progress
To show off your work to others! Even if it's project #94882 that may never get released, any WIPS are fine!
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Stories
It's really difficult to find new Sim stories or Legacies on Tumblr, let alone for these writers to get people to read their awesome stories! Hopefully this should make the process much easier now!
Also! You got any comic or "movie/cinematic" like stories? No problem! Just check the "carousel only" option, so no description needed!
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Feed
... and for the Simblrs here, a feed to see all the people you follow, their content (stories, WIPs, mods and general posts)! Or, simply check out sitewide, or even game-related, what people have been posting!
Customizable profile pages
Just like tumblr, you can make your own profile page! With it's own colours and a pre-made theme. (if you need a different profile page, though, Let us know on the discord)
Want a peek? Here you go:
What about moderation?
While there's a report system in place, and the items in the queue are checked for NSFW, but users could still turn their non-NSFW to a NSFW, items may be stolen. So do report these as that will never be condoned!
Additionally, all comments you get on your mods, story, etc. Those are primarily moderated by you. You can delete them, you can turn comments off even if you'd like. If things really go wrong, you can always ask an admin.
Got any ideas? Feel free to share!
Since I really wanted it to be a website we all create together in some degree, if you have any features you're missing or would like to see, feel free to share on the discord!
Where are the Advertisements?
If you're currently not seeing them as of reading the post, that's because that's still being set up. This is merely to cover the cost of the website! Though, I promise you I won't bombard the site with ads, as that's just annoying.
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blaxcunicorn · 8 months
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One-shot
Heeey! I just wrote something random as I felt a bit inspired after reading Just kids by Patti Smith. I have been busy with my exams which is why I've been gone for so long but we back!
Content: fem!reader, NSFW warning, Rockstar Eren before fame, friends to lovers, poverty
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You hissed as you cut your pinky finger on a thorn while making a flower bouquet for a customer. You sucked it up and gave the sweet lady her bouquet with a smile. “It’s perfect, thank you. My daughter is going to love it.” She smiled. Her smile warmed your heart. Being a florist wasn’t the most fulfilling job, but making people like her smile motivates you. Well, that and putting food on the table. You grew up in the city's poorer side, so there weren’t many opportunities for you after high school. The florist job was the best thing you could find, it isn’t all bad, the owner has been nothing but kind to you. You heard the doorbell ring as Mrs Johnson came walking into the shop with bags that smelled like heaven. She and her husband owned the bakery next to the shop, and they would always bring you the leftovers of the day. “Here, my love, it’s not that much, but hopefully, it is enough for a day.” She smiled gently. You opened the bag; it was a sandwich, a croissant, and a whole loaf of bread. “This is more than enough, thank you.” You said gratefully, setting the store ready for closure. 
You walked into your tired apartment building, greeting the tired landlord who was seated at his usual desk spot. He gave you a sad smile as you stood outside your brown door with an eviction note taped on it. They were increasing the rent, and you were already struggling to meet the current increase of the last one. You had to sell your bed in order to afford last month’s payment. You opened the door to your small yellow-walled studio. You put the bakery bag on the counter, grab the sandwich, and cut it in half, leaving the other piece on the plate. As you sat down with your sandwich, you noticed a pair of pants with holes on the left knee on the table. You shook your head and pulled out your sewing equipment. As you almost finished stitching the pants, you heard the familiar sound of the heavy steps of construction boots.
Eren entered the room, greeting you with a warm grin. “Man, I’m exhausted, Gold, but how was your day?” He asked, putting his yellow helmet on the counter. He has called you Gold since childhood, which you never entirely understood. You and Eren grew up as neighbours in the very same building. You lived in another apartment with your grandmother, and Eren lived with his parents. Life dealt the two of you shitty cards, and Eren’s mother was killed in a robbery gone wrong when you were only five years old. His father passed away from a heart attack when he was fifteen, and he had to drop out of school to find a job. Your grandmother didn’t have the financial means to help him, but she would cook him meals as often as possible. Unfortunately, that didn’t last long, as she passed away when you were sixteen. Eren offered you to move in with him so that you didn’t have to drop out like him. Mrs Johnson, who was your grandmother’s friend, helped you get a part-time job as a florist. You managed to finish high school, and well here you are. 
“Hello, Gold. Are you okay?” He asked, looking concerned. You jump a little as you had zoned out, I mean, how could you not? The construction job had made Eren quite built, he literally looked like a Greek God. “I’m fine, sorry. Just a little tired, that’s all.” You smiled while finishing the pants throwing it at Eren. “Thanks, you’re the best!” He grinned, caught it, and grabbed the other half of the sandwich. His smile disappeared the moment he came closer. He held your hand and stroked your finger with his thumb. “Don’t worry, I just cut myself a bit at work”, you smile, trying to ease the tension. Eren doesn't respond, his eyes are focused on the scar. “I will provide you a life where you don't have to take jobs that will leave you scars” he muttered. “Huh?” You said, looking confused. “Nothing..Hey, I brought a surprise!” He grinned, pulling out two bottles of cheap white wine. “What are we celebrating?” You smile, folding his pants. “The guys and I finished fixing the van! We are leaving for LA  by the end of next week!” He said excitedly, pulling out two plastic cups. You swallowed hard but tried to put on a smile for him, although your eyes were stinging. 
Eren learned how to play guitar from Armin’s grandfather at the age of fifteen. He owned an instrument shop and noticed that a couple of kids were interested in the instruments. It was first Connie who came in looking at the drums. Armin’s grandfather sat the bold boy down and taught him how to play the instrument. The second time Connie came, he brought his friend Jean. Jean was mesmerised by the beautiful black and white bass. Which after a few weeks, it became his best friend (after Connie, ofc!).
 Lastly, we have Eren, he was on his way home from work when he saw Armin’s grandfather struggle with some boxes. He offered to help, which the elderly man accepted. One of the boxes contained a black electric guitar. Armin’s grandfather offered Eren to try it out as he saw his green eyes glow at the sight of it. Weeks later, he introduced the three boys to his grandson Armin who could play both keyboard and guitar. The boys quickly became friends and started playing together in the evenings. Armin’s grandfather believed that it was better for the boys to be distracted from the crimes in the city, and what better distraction than music? The elderly man passed away four years later. From there on, the boys knew that they wanted to start a band and make it out of the city. They found an abandoned van that they spent a year fixing with the help of Jean’s mechanic background. The plan was to use the van to drive to LA and sleep in it if they couldn't afford a Motel. Now it being done meant that Eren would soon leave to follow his dreams. 
You took the cup, he offered you, “Cheers to you for making it in LA!” You said, smiling. “Cheers for the two of us making it in LA!” The Chestnut-haired man said, correcting you. “Us? As in..” 
“Would you think that I would leave you behind in this shitty city?” Eren asked, looking at you like you had stated something silly like the moon was made out of cheese. “Yeah, I mean…ehm”, you played with your fingers. The guys always referred to you as their fifth member. You weren't a direct member of the band, but you had sewed them a few pieces to wear when they’d do free bar performances. “I could never leave you behind, it’s you and me against the world. Like it always has been.” He grins, toasting his wine before downing it in one go. It warmed your heart to know that Eren would never forget about you. After finishing the bottles, the two of you are pretty drunk. “Eren, could you please play something for me?” You ask, batting your eyelashes.
You look so damn cute drunk. How could he say no? “Sure, what song?.” He says, picking up his guitar. “This Charming Man!” You say excitedly. You danced to Eren’s angelic voice, “Ah, a jumped-up pantry boy who never knew his place!” You shout, and Eren gets up and dances with you. One day, I will write you a song that will make you dance like that, he thought to himself.  The two of you danced like you had no care in the world, as putting food on the table was not an issue, as you weren’t surrounded by crime and death. 
The two of you lie in bed, dizzy and out of breath but happy. You turn your bodies to face each other. “Eren, did you mean it when you said that it was the two of us against the world?” You ask for reinsurance. “Of course I did, I can’t imagine any other woman by my side but you.” The alcohol in his system was exposing him. You smiled while massage his ear lobe. “Is that so?” You whispered, dying of happiness on the inside. He doesn’t respond but looks at you like a lovesick crackhead. Your cheek burned, and you turned your head to face the cracking roof in embarrassment. 
Eren cupped your cheeks, forcing you to face him again. You leaned into the warmth of his rough hands. “What am I to you, Eren?” Your lips were almost touching, and the smell of wine filled your nose. He leans in and kisses you passionately. His lips were a big contrast to his hands. You felt a needy heat growing between your legs, it seemed like Eren was reading your mind as he slid his two fingers under your dress. “Already wet for me?” He whispered. “Yes,” you whined.
 Eren removed your dress and underwear, and you hissed in the chilly air. Eren doesn’t break eye contact with your as he spreads your legs and gives your cunt a long lick from the bottom of your vulgar, covering his tongue with your sweet juices. “God, Gold…you…taste…so…good”, he whispered, diving into your cunt. “Ah, Eren” you moan. You were confident that your neighbour Eric on the other side of the wall heard you.
 All Eren cared about right now was to make you cum, to release you from all the stress from your everyday life. "'I’m gonna cum," you whimpered, realising all over his mouth. “Good girl”, he whispered, kissing you, letting you taste yourself. “Eren, can you please fuck me?” you asked pathetically. He flipped you on your stomach. He leaned over and growled in your ear, “You don’t have to ask me twice. Get on all fours,” and kissed your back. You did what he demanded, feeling shivers all over your body.
 Eren collected cum from your vagina and smeared it all over his veiny cock. He gripped tight around your hips and hissed as he was entering you. Eren pumped slowly back and forth, the air was filled with your moans as your pussy was getting used to Eren’s colossal size. “Fuck”, he moaned as he started speeding up, digging his finger further into your flesh. “Gold, fuck me back. Fuck your cock back, it’s all yours”, he growled. Being the obedient woman you were, you threw your ass back. “Harder” he demanded, spanking you. “Ah, fuck Eren”, you moaned as your arms gave up on you and collapsed on the bed. That didn’t stop Eren as he lifted your hips and placed his cock inside of you. “Fuck, your pussy feels good. Keeping this from me for six years,” he groaned, continuing fucking you. Your face was on the pillow, which was a good thing as you were a moaning mess. 
Your eyes teared up as you felt your second climax blossoming. Eren could tell as you clenched around him, “Give it to me, give it to me.” He growled, feeling you squirt all over him. “Gold, I’m not finished. Take this cock.” He demanded, filling the air with your whimpers and the sound of your skin slapping. You used the last energy to get on all fours again, fucking him back “Ah, fuck! You want me to get all out, too, all this fucking frustration. Fuck it all into you.” He groaned. “Yes”, you moaned, throwing your ass back. His thrusts became rigid and slow as he was filling you up. 
Eren collapsed on the bed next to you while catching his breath. He kissed your forehead before you went to the toilet to pee. You walked out to see Eren comfy in bed. You lay down beside him, and he wrapped his arms around you. “Eren, you never answered my question, " you said, turning to face him. I’m in love with you, silly. Always has been, and always will be.” He said, yawing.
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rosewaterandivy · 6 months
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stop making plans / start making sense
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Summary: eddie finds himself smack dab in the middle of an ap english iv class, all because some do-gooders at Hawkins High happen to “believe in him” or whatever. the catch? it just so happens to be your ap english class.
A continuation of this blurb and the result of an ongoing eddie munson hc convo with @powderblueblood 💚
Warnings: eddie’s senior year 2.0, no Upside Down, scary smart debate team captain reader, NHS president and tutor nancy wheeler, ap music theory nerd and general nuisance robin buckley, pretentiousness alert - you have been warned!
W.C.: 1771
It’s his second time around as a senior, not even the first week of school under his belt when Mrs. Meloy calls him into her office. The counseling center, which he is unfortunately far too familiar with, is busy as it usually is at the beginning of the year— schedule changes, registration, students complaining about not getting late arrival or early dismissal. Before he can settle in one of the worn chairs by the door, a woman pops her outside of an office door. She glances around, blue eyes searching for someone or something, before landing on Eddie.
“Think the wall can hold itself up just fine Edward,” She calls as she opens the door to her office and waves him in.
He grouses at the use of his full name and rolls his eyes, languidly strolling into the smaller room that smells overwhelmingly of cinnamon.
“Go ahead and make yourself comfortable.”
She’s turned around, fingers flicking through thick manilla files in the cabinet in front of her. A cup of coffee sits on her cluttered desk, cold, from the looks of it. Mrs. Meloy mutters under her breath before turning from the filing cabinet in annoyance.
“It’s only the first week of school,” Eddie points out, “I haven’t done anything.”
The yet between them goes unspoken.
The older woman merely raises a knowing brow and takes her seat opposite him. She sorts through a few loose papers on her desk before letting out a surprised huff, “Gotcha!” Flipping through the file, his file, Eddie supposes, her eyes scan over what is undoubtedly his lack of academic achievement.
Satisfied with her perusal, she sets the papers down on her desk and addresses him.
“Round two.” Mrs. Meloy begins, resignedly. “Hopefully the NHS tutoring placement will be to your benefit Mr. Munson. Miss Wheeler is an exemplary student and I have high hopes for you under her tutelage.”
She then runs through his current schedule, emphasizing the classes he needs to perform well in (mostly all of them, save for English and a few others).
“Which brings me to the reason for our meeting today,” she says with a smile. “It has not escaped my notice, nor that of Mrs. Seguin, that you are quite adept in English class. At least,” she qualifies with a pull of her lips, “When properly motivated.”
And yeah, okay, he was decidedly not trying all that hard in Mrs. S.’s senior English class last year and he breezed through with a respectable A minus.
Wayne even got a little choked up when he read that particular report card.
“I guess so,” he says with a cross of his arms.
“Rather than having you repeat the same content and curriculum this year, Mrs. Seguin and I have petitioned the principal for permission to move you into a more challenging and appropriate English class.”
Well, that perks him right up.
“Principal Higgins has agreed to the change, with a few stipulations.”
Of fucking course.
The gist of it is, Eddie’s admittance to the AP English IV class will be probationary for the first quarter, given his past exploits and record. If he can keep his grades at a respectable B across the board, Eddie will be permanently placed in Mrs. Seguin’s advanced class. If he can’t, it’s back to regular Senior English with that crone, Mrs. Cotter.
Easy peasy.
And he’s almost out the door when Meloy stops him with a furitive, “Eddie,” and pauses to look him in the eye. “We believe in you and we went to the mat with Higgins on this.” She says emphatically, standing up to escort him through the office, “You can do this, Eddie, we know you can.”
She smiles and sends him off with his newly revised schedule, the summer reading assignment, and information for Wayne to peruse about Advanced Placement courses.
The rest of that day unfolded as expected despite his new schedule. Slight differences were made, such as: Eddie sitting in the middle of the class instead of the back, hopefully next to Buckley or Wheeler if he could swing it.
With Nancy’s help, he was able to narrow the summer reading options down to books that would hold his interest. The librarian, Ms. Berkowitz, was more than happy to oblige him with checking out a copy of Notes from the Underground by some Russian dude whose name Eddie couldn’t possibly pronounce.
The bell for the final class of the day rang just as he slipped through Mrs. Seguin’s door.
“Timely as ever,” she teased and kicked the door stop into the classroom.
Her room was the same as last year, but the mood within was markedly different— more relaxed and at ease. Students sat where they pleased and chatted amongst themselves while Mrs. S. checked off the roll and fielded a few questions from the group.
Eddie settled in the only open seat right in between Nancy and yourself. He tried not to be offended that you didn’t even glance up from your furious scribbling on the page, seemingly writing a mile a minute, as if you couldn’t get the words out fast enough.
Ink smeared on the college ruled paper underneath your hand.
Eddie found it endearing.
“Okay, okay, let’s get this show on the road.” Mrs. S. set her clipboard on the desk and leaned against it with a casual grace.
She was one of the newer teachers to Hawkins High, from some big name school out west with not one, but two degrees framed on the wall behind her desk. She was young and quick to laugh; the older teachers were a bit weary of her and those “new agey” teaching philosophies, but the results produced were proof enough for her to granted the AP English III and IV courses for this year. According to Nancy, she’d only had AP juniors and regular seniors last year.
Eddie, being one of those regular students, would know.
“Alright, hopefully we’ve brought in our summer reading novels today. The goal is to break you all into thematic groups based on your selected text. From there, you will collaborate with your peers to create a presentation on your findings.”
With this, she steps away from her desk and begins writing on the chalkboard.
“Consider such things as character archetype, thematic resonance, literary merit, of course. But more importantly,” she says, turning to the class with a smile, “How did the story affect you? What new perspective or insights were gained? What concepts were reinforced? Did you despise the protagonist, or did you identify too closely with them?”
The class has fallen to a hush, you’ve stopped writing and are rapt with attention. Eddie, used to overworked teachers and coaches who could care less, is shocked.
“I remind you, as always, that there are no right or wrong answers in here. As long as you can support your interpretation—” She begins.
“With evidence from the text,” The class choruses in reply.
“Good, exactly.”
At that, students break away into smaller groups and begin talking in hushed tones about the project.
“Whatcha got there?”
This, from Robin, who unceremoniously plucks Eddie’s book from his grasp. She flips through it, eyes lighting in interest, just as Mrs. Seguin makes her way over.
“Eddie, always good to see you.”
“Right back at ya, Mrs. S.”
She smirks, eyeing Robin scanning through Dostoevsky. “Had a feeling you’d gravitate toward the nihilists. Got a chance to start reading yet?”
He swipes the book back from Robin and ignores her petulant pout.
“Uh, kinda. Started it during lunch today.”
She nods knowingly, “Well, I’m sure you’ll be caught up in no time.” Surveying the classroom she nods to herself, “And now that I think of it,” She turns back to Eddie, “Looks like you’re in the right group over here.”
He almost says there is no group over here, but then he notices Nancy and Robin chatting with you. Feeling his stare, you turn back from where you’ve set up shop on Robin’s desk and jerk your head, an invitation by any other name.
“C’mon Munson, we don’t have all day.” You say this softly, chidingly, with no real heat behind it. Your eyes narrow as a group gets particularly loud across the way, “Because I’m certainly not about to let Phillips show us up.”
“Oh, bite me!” Phillips crows from his desk.
“You wish, you cretin!”
Eddie does his best to hide the curl of his lips and stifle a laugh while Phillips sulks at his desk.
Robin thumbs through a worn copy of Nausea while Nancy talks Eddie through the plan thus far. She’s read The Death of Ivan Ilyich and come to the conclusion that the novels in the group are both deeply depressing and deal with themes of existentialism, and in some cases, nihilism.
“I dunno. Philosophy is all well and good, but,” you pipe up, “Mine had elements of magical realism and a satirical critique of Soviet Russia.”
Eddie attempts to process what you and Wheeler have just said. Sensing a lull in the conversation, you slyly pass your novel over to Eddie and start to take notes over whatever it is Nancy is rambling on about.
The Master and Margartia.
Huh, weird title.
He reads the blurb on the back cover and kind of regrets not choosing this one to read. Maybe you’ll let him borrow it after the project is over. Setting it back on your desk, Eddie peruses the syllabus Mrs. S. must’ve slipped him.
“So, will that work for you Eddie?”
Lost in a daze of genres and titles, he looks up. “Sorry, what was that?”
Nancy sighs, “We’re going to meet at my house on Thursday for a study group. I know you and Mike have that thing on Fridays, so.”
“Oh, yeah. Thanks Wheeler; that’ll work.”
With a smile, she goes back to chatting with Robin.
“Psst.”
A neatly folded paper lands on his desk. Eddie glances at you, curious, taking in your arched brow and smirk.
Scary smart, he reminds himself as he unfurls the page.
I know Nance is your NHS tutor, but if you feel like you need to catch-up for this class, give me a call.
Your deft hand and neatly printed letters dance across the page, an errant smear of ink where the heel of your hand drug across the paper. The digits of your phone number underneath your missive make his heart race.
Annotating your copy of Dune without permission was one thing. And at that you didn’t even bat an eye, but this…
Well, this had potential.
He tries not to let the possibility of what if turn to ash in his mouth.
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bundoesnotcompete · 3 months
Text
Based on this post. It is a continuation of my Lamb Stories.
The characters aren't aware they are in a game, but there is heavy cult themes in this series and imposter au so it gets tagged as SAGAU. No content warning this go round. See end for author notes
Excerpt from Character Demo: "The Lamb - True Heir of the Abyss"
"A simple rejection from the betrayers will not stop me from my goal." Thick clothes flutter along with The Lamb's attack patterns. A galaxy colored sludge coating enemies and devouring any elemental traces that are on them or currently being applied to them. The energy is stored until the elemental skill is used and any enemy with sludge applied on them will be melted with damage. Any ally with sludge applied will gain small amounts of healing scaling on their health and the amount of energy stored in The Lamb's passive ability.
If an enemy or ally is at low health, you will have the option to disintegrate them with your skill and feed them into the abyss instead. Doing so will fuel the elemental burst of The Lamb and amplify it….
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The Ludi Harpastum was a rather large festival. It had to be since people from all over Teyvat would be come and see Mondstat and try local things. It also meant that what few knights remained in Mond were being ran into exhaustion. Mondstat was far larger and had more people then what was let on in game. You had to give them credit where credit was do though, for as few knights as they have they are doing a good job keeping order. Pantalone had decided that your presence was not needed at this meeting with Jean so he told you to go enjoy the festival. His strained look was enough to tell you to not get into trouble and to behave.
Humming, you continued down the many steps to get to Good Hunter. They were doing a special dish for the festival and you wanted to try it. Hopefully, with you dressed in more casual clothing they would not be so thrown off by your appearance. As you approached Good Hunter you spotted two familiar people. It seems as though the Traveler and Paimon had a similar idea to you. The sound of your boots clicking against the ground alerted Lumine to your arrival. As she turned around and faced you, you felt the all too familiar presence of the watchers. No wonder she had the same idea as you, she was literally in the middle of a story or quest. You had the feeling that your trip was not going to be as peaceful as you thought it was going to be.
"Lamby!" Paimon had shouted at the sight of your arrival. Excitement showed on her small features and she seemed torn between abandoning her food and wanting to hug you. Confusion crept into Lumine's face. You gave Paimon a smile though, the mask only covered three-forths of your face so Paimon could ses part of your lip smile.
"My dear Paimon. Its been a long time and your not even going to give your best friend a hug? Or is it former best friend? I have heard you have made a new friend." You laughed, not missing the opportunity to mess with Paimon. You watched as Paimon huffed and stomped in the air, not dropping her food. You looked to Lumine. The watcher's presence was heavy around her and you could have sworn you heard whispering in the air around her.
"Fine. Let Paimon set her food down then you will get a hug." Paimon had playfully pouted and floated to a nearby table to set her food down, both you and Lumine trialing behind her. When Paimon set her food down, she flung herself into your arms. You hugged her and spoke, playfully scolding her.
"Thank you Paimon. Now, please introduce me to your new friend. It is rude to not introduce an old friend of yours when you meet one with your new friend." Paimon untangled herself from you and turned to Lumine.
"Traveler meet Lamby. Lamby meet The Traveler." Lumine smiled at you and held out her hand for you to shake. You took it and explained a rather important fact to her.
"I am formally known as The Lamb. Though some only really know me as a hand of the Tsaritsa." You let go of her hands as her eyes widened in shock. Smiling, you continue on. "Don't take that as us being enemies. You are friends with Tartaglia, right? We can be like that if you wish. Though i think I'd like to do it a diffrent way. There are many ways to skin a cat and i'd prefer to avoid Tartaglia's way." Lumine gave a strained smile and said nothing. Paimon was quick to fill the silence between bites of her ludicrous amount of food. A faint whisper could be heard in your ears.
"Paimon is friends a harbinger???? And not just any harbinger but The Lamb???" Your siblings voice had just barely reached your ears. Hearing your sibling's voice brought great relief, but you did not have time to bathe in the relief. Paimon quickly taking up your attention.
"What are you doing here? Paimon thought you had disappeared and she wasn't gonna see you again."
"Oh come on now. I told you that I was taking a small trip to the abyss when I left. You're the one who didn't stick around when i was delayed by a Darkeater." The smile never left your face as you talked. Lumine watched intently between your and Paimon's conversation as she ate. You turned your attention to her. "I am mainly here for the festival. I do have other things to do, so i can't be at the festival the entire time. Tell me Traveler, have you been to the festival any at all?" Lumine seemed to take a second to think before she spoke. Is this what the characters saw in game before she speaks? Oh no, were you going to be on a banner like the other harbingers? Was someone going to be in gacha hell for you?
"I've not explored much. Do you want to join us?" Lumine spoke carefully, as if she were improving a script. Paimon's excited face practically glowed at the suggestion. You fiddled with the mamy rings on your gloved hand as if you were thinking about it.
"If I am not bothering you, then i would be glad to join you." The thought of being around Paimon for so long made you slightly sick. You did like and care for her, but you did not have your Paimon tolerance levels built up like you used to. Nothing off importance was talked about as they both finished their food.
The festival was large and had many food and drink vendors. You did not ask if Lumine was old enough to drink when she got some sort of fruity drink. The faint background whispering is your sibling was easy to drown out in all the festivities and noise. You hadn't enjoyed yourself like this in so long, Lumine and Paimon made for good companions on this trip. As your group sat on the sidelines and watched a large group dance happen, you could hear the soft sounds of sludge summoning behind you. It appears one of your soldiers had a message to deliever. As the three of you turned around, a masculine voice spoke.
"Master. Pantalone has requested your immediate return to the hotel. He says that the matter is of utmost importance and that if you do not appear within the hour he was going to drag you back." The masked soldier was kneeling on the ground in front of you, his long coat spread across the ground. You tried not to be irratated, you really did. You swore that if this was not important you would harm him. Turning to the two beside you, you apologized.
"It appears that my co-worker has decided to ruin the fun. I will be in Mondstat for awhile. If you wish to find me, you can ask the guard at the Goth Grand Hotel for me. Goodbye you two. I hope to see more of both of you sometime soon. Now, my little soldier let's go see what he wants." As both got and the soldier left, Lumine heard the familiar whispering.
"I gotta bad feeling about them"
-----
Entering Pantalone's makeshift office was going to be a mistake, you could see it on his face. The meeting must've not gone to great if he looked like that.
"Get out." His simple command had emptied the room of any remaining soldiers, including your own. You strolled to a seat in front of him, not saying a word. He turned to you. "It appears that Acting Grand Master Jean has it in her head that the fatui are causing the recent troubles with the abyss and the local wildlife. It appears our rat has caused more damage then initially thought."
"She cannot do anything except pressure us to leave. Unless there is something you are not telling me."
"If she has enough reason to believe the fatui age a threat to Mondstat, she can say we are in violation of our contract and expell us. If we do not do something to prove we are on Mond's side, she will expell us."
"I do not see the issue then. We can just create an artifical crisis and then help solve. If she expells us after we help her, she could potentially damage Mondstat's reputation and her own. As long as we keep the smokescreen up and don't get caught, we can win the court of public opinion. We both know the power of that." That was a simple sounding solution, even if it was anything but. Pantalone seemed to contemplate your idea. He had one question though.
"Tell me, how do you plan to create a crisis?" You couldn't help the smirk across your face as asked his question. It would take a bit of finesse, but it would work.
"Why, we can just summon a darkeater from the abyss. I know of one that would be all to happy to follow my orders and cause some problems without revealing us." The large dragon you spoke of would gladly cause mayhem if it meant she could have elemental energy to munch on. "The real question is, where to put her." As plans continued to be put in place, you couldn't help but feel slightly bad for what you were about to do. On the other hand, sealing the dragon back would make for a good reveal on the fact that imposters sat on the throne of the Divine Creators. A reveal of your powers would give a sneak peek on who the true Divine was. It was a good plan in your opinion
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Lumine watched as The Lamb left the stand with the masked soldier. Something was off about them. They had seemed rather displeased at the fact that they had been summoned back to the hotel. She had enjoyed her time with them and was disappointed with the fact that they had to leave in a rush. Maybe she should take them up on their offer? Paimon floated beside her, slurping in her drink. The ever watchful presence did not leave her side.
"Ugh! They just left and didn't even give us a goodbye hug!" Paimon's high pitched voice rang out beside her. "Oh well, at least Paimon got to see them again. What do you say we get our minds off it and go try that slime drink a few stands over. Paimon had saved up lots of money for this trip." Lumine turned to Paimon smiling. A distraction would do her good and help her ignore the growing ball of uneasiness in her stomach.
"Let's go Paimon." Lumine said with a smile as Paimon cheered. They had a few more hours before they needed to meet her friends at the tavern. As the day drew to an end, the people of Mondstat remained unaware of the coming crisis. In only a few more days, Mondstat would have to deal with a dragon not seen out of the abyss in overs nearly five hundred years. Only Venti would truly know how the dragon is summoned, but he will not be able to say a word about it. Teyvat itself would not allow him to out its creator to betrayers.
End chapter one: Sundown in the Peaceful Days of Mondstat
Next chapter: The Madness of the Great Dragon, unleashed
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End notes:
This chapter was largely set up for the coming ones. I will need to make a masterlist at this rate. I realized reading back that my one shot with a Khaenri'an reader also has Lumine as the abyss sibling but thankfully i put that it wasn't connected to this little series. It would be a pain to change previous stuff en masse like that. If i see any mistakes I will try to go through and fix them. Everything on my end looks good for now. Have fun reading!
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fairykazu · 8 months
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GINGERBREAD COMPETITION WITH CHILDE contents // established relationship, cheesy pick up lines / nicknames, baking chaos, one f bomb notes // i wanted this to be longer but ive delayed it for so much. hopefully by the time this is up im working on the next oneshot masterlist
childe had that look in his eyes, the fighting spirit he gets when he gets an idea to fight with you. playfully, of course. "babe," you weren't looking in his direction, instead, you were wrapping bows over the presents.
once he gets an idea, he never lets it go. "babe," he began to pester you, poking you in the sides while you were as still as a rock, used to of his antics. he started to frown, "babe, name, c'mon, aren't you my my sweet pea pookie? the apple of my eye?"
didn't phase you yet? don't worry, he still has a lot of nicknames up his sleeve. you began to wrap more presents. "sweetie muffin?"
you know if you give in, you have to listen to whatever he says to say for the moment but if you don't, he will pressingly continue with the cringe nicknames to make you listen to his announcement. as much you do want to know his announcement, you also wanted to finish wrapping presents as soon as possible.
"pumpkin butter honey biscuit..." that actually sounds really good. he pouted, it's really cute how he pouts despite the current circumstances. he's like a pitiful dog.
you were keeping your defenses up until he got closer to the nape of your neck, whispering, "sweet mcdreamy nutter butter... please..."
now that was terrible, you winced, "what?" he smiled when he finally got your attention, he cleared his throat while he held a fake microphone, "ahem, may i announce an idea?"
after finishing two bows, you tapped your chin with your finger, pretending to think, "hmmmm," you looked into his cerulean eyes pleading you to say yes. "you may."
already from your answer, he was with glee. he began to act like a host in those reality tv shows, "in honor of the winter spirit and tsarita, i say, 'we shall, have a gingerbread competition!'"
the idea has crossed your mind but considering the baking skills and how much childe likes to wing his recipes, "gingerbread competiton? who's going to make the bread?"
he smiled, "we are!" snaking his arms around your waist, pulling you up from the floor. you tapped on his shoulder as he sets you down, you furrowed a brow,
"the recipe?"
childe waved his phone around, "xiangling!"
you nodded, thankful that childe wouldn't wing the cookies this time. last time it was too salty when salt was supposed to enhance the sugar in the gingerbread. "okay, fine. what's the prizes?"
he exhaled nervously as you peered at him, "i didn't think this far. i thought you would reject my idea."
"start with the thinking pretty boy!"
flustered a little, he replied back with "ok, my sugar snookums."
you sighed, "i need you to stop with these, ajax." he laughed a little,
"these won't stop, pookie dookie bookie."
⋆。˚❆˚ 。⋆
as the ingredients are prepped and ready, the challenge is set. the person with the best house, voting decided on instagram, would win by choosing the christmas movie and halloween costume for the next year, which isn't a prize per say but childe thinks so. despite the fact, you suggest he should choose and he always faltered to go with yours.
childe rolled up his sleeves as you tidied up your hair. glancing at your boyfriend, you recalled back when people had told you different rumors about him. how he was a playboy or indifferent cold hearted person, despite it all, you didn't fall for those.
but one particular one caught your attention, one being his eyes being always blank, missing a shine in his eyes. but when you look into his, it's always filled with light like how the sea reflects the light in every wave in sunny afternoons. "babe? is something wrong?"
"yeah," you replied as childe's face became concerned. he held your head in his hands, inspecting anything on your face.
"what's wrong?"
"you're too pretty."
he giggled, twirling one ginger lock around his fingers before turning around, clearing his throat. a dust of pink across his face, "i mean, thank you, babe. i appreciate it!! um, let's get started, yeah!!"
it was an hour in, the gingerbread cookies were done baking, cooling off away from the oven. while you were sketching your idea for your house, thinking about a castle or maybe a cottage? childe tapped your shoulder, you turned to his direction,
"hey girl, mind if we take a picture?"
you ignored him and continued to draw, "hey, c'mon," he pouted as sighing as you turned to him again. "'cause i need to show Santa exactly what i want for Christmas." he winked as you laughed,
"okay, childe."
"im the rizzler- wait what?"
"what?"
"childe? not even babe? you hate me!" childe bawled, dramatically draping his hand against his forehead. "didn't know that you are such an ice queen. i think im going to get a frostbite from your gaze of hatred and bullying," he started to frown, eyes pretending to water.
he's so dramatic. you sighed deeply, snaking your arms around him. he burrowed his head into your shoulder, soaking up the attention you're giving him, "i apologize, my blizzard babe, i'm trying to win the competition."
childe's jaw dropped, "YOU SAID A CHEESY NICKNAME???? i can't believe youre getting into the christmas spirit." he silently cheered as you retorted,
"and no one will believe you that i did."
"fuck."
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lcvernat · 2 years
Text
Medicine | Natasha Romanoff x Fem!Reader
Request: any chance you can write about reader cancelling Nat on a date for no apparent reason. Confused, Nat shows up a y/n’s house and finds her miserably sick with a horrible cold or something? y:n says shes fine but Nat insists on taking care of her? Just pure fluff 💕💖
Word Count: 1.6k
Content Warnings: tooth-rotting fluff, so so much fluff, mentions of the flu/painkillers
A/N: 2 fics in 2 days? it's a christmas miracle!!! i hope you enjoy this anon and i'm sorry for the wait <3 i've heard on tiktok about a terrible flu going around so if you've been hit by it i am so sorry and hope this fic helps somewhat <3
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Flu season this year was a bitch. Clearly, you had committed some heinous crime in your past life to deserve this. Your body was aching; every time you swallowed it felt like shards of glass were digging into your throat, your nose was so red and runny you could likely pass for Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, you were constantly coughing so hard you felt like you were going to ascend, and the headaches and earaches were torture. One moment you were burning up, the next you were freezing.
Tissues, empty water bottles, and an empty packet of painkillers scattered your bedside table. You couldn't even bring yourself to go buy more painkillers because it felt like someone had shot you in every nerve in your body every time you stood up. This was hell.
To make matters even worse, you had to cancel on your date with Nat. You were left with no choice, really, but you still felt horrible because it had been in planning for so long - having an Avenger for a girlfriend wasn't always ideal because you could rarely find a time when both of your schedules aligned to go out. And of course, the one time you both were free, the universe decided to stick a massive middle finger up at you and punish you for no apparent reason. Probably for something your ancestor did 400 years ago.
Your stomach rumbled, breaking the silence in your bedroom. You had no energy to do anything other than stare blankly at your ceiling, occasionally interrupted by a coughing fit. It was like you were on your death bed (it really felt like you were). But hey, at least your stomach had rumbled, hopefully that meant your appetite was coming back. Your gaze moved to your bedroom door, and you mentally calculated the distance between your bedroom and the kitchen, trying to see if you have the effort to get food right now. A hallway, a flight of stairs, some more walking, and then the kitchen. It didn't seem that hard. You could do this.
"Okay, Y/N, you've got this," your voice was so raspy and hoarse from both disuse and your aching throat, but you still decided to attempt to hype yourself up. You moved your body so slowly, wincing every time a shot of pain went up your spine. It took you approximately 5 minutes longer just to reach the top of the stairs than it normally would have. In your sickened state, the stairs looked way longer than usual. You sighed, maybe you should just give up. Was soup really this worth it?
Your stomach rumbled again. Okay, maybe it was. Very, very slowly, wincing every step, you managed to make it downstairs and to the kitchen. You grabbed some canned soup, poured it into a pot and set it on the stove. As you were busy making yourself some tea with honey whilst waiting for your soup to heat up, the doorbell rang.
You really were not in the right state to converse with someone right now. You looked like you'd been dragged through hell and back, because that is how you currently felt. So, the only option was to just ignore whoever it was, until it rang again. And again. And again. And then the person started banging on the door.
Good god. This person was desperate. No, you didn't want to buy their girl scout cookies. Shuffling over to the door, you huffed before swinging it open. "I am no-" You stopped speaking, your mouth agape as your gaze bounced between the face of your girlfriend and the gun that she was currently clutching in her hands.
She looked worried. Very, very worried.
"What happened? Are you okay?" Natasha pushed passed you and into your house, scanning her surroundings as if she was expecting a murderer to pop out of a hiding place. She slowly put the gun into her back pocket when she considered the coast clear.
"I'm fine?" You raised an eyebrow in confusion before a coughing fit overtook you, forcing you to bend over until it subsided.
Natasha hurried back towards you, concern etched into her features, "First you cancel our date, then you don't answer my texts, and then you take years to answer the door? I thought something had happened! I was worried sick!" She tried to pull you in for a hug, but you sidestepped her and shook your head.
"Bad idea."
"Are you sick?"
"Nah," you waved her off, "just a cough, but I don't want you to catch it. I'm fine."
"You don't sound fine. Or look fine, for that matter."
"Wow, thanks," you shuffle your way back to the kitchen, continuing on with your task of making yourself some soup and a cup of tea with honey, trying your hardest to ignore the aches in your body.
"You're sick. I know you are. Let me take care of you," Natasha followed behind you, her tone worried but also leaving no room for argument. The redhead was determined to take care of you, and your protests were definitely not going to stop her.
"Really, I'm fine," your body clearly hated you and took that exact moment to have a sneezing fit, so your statement couldn't of seemed more false if you tried. After the sneezes had subsided and you brushed the tears from your eyes, you looked up to see Natasha holding a packet of tissues in her outstretched hand. You weren't going to ask where they came from, but you were grateful and took them anyway. "Don't you have Avengers duties to do or something?"
"You're more important than that," she stepped closer to you, and you couldn't help but smile at her. "Let me take care of you."
You finally give in to her, desperately wanting to be in the safety of her arms and to let someone take care of you. You nod slowly, and she closes the distance between you two, pulling you into a hug and wrapping her arms around you tightly.
"You're going to get sick."
"Don't care, what hurts and what can I do?"
You bury your head in the crook of Natasha's neck, so your voice comes out muffled, "Everything. Literally. I've ran out of painkillers, my head hurts, my ears also hurt for some reason, my entire body hurts basically. My throat feels like nails every time I swallow. I am dying."
"Alright," Nat says softly, "let me carry you back up to bed. I'll bring your soup and tea up, and then I'll go to the shop to buy you more painkillers. I'll make you a hot water bottle, too, that usually helps with the aches."
"You're the best."
"I know," Natasha pulls back and kisses you softly on the forehead before scooping you up bridal style. You don't even complain, you wouldn't have the energy to walk back up the stairs yourself anyway. Though, you couldn't help but notice that you feel better already, it was like she was the medicine you needed all along.
"I feel like a princess right now. Even though I don't look like one," you tried to laugh, but it came out like more of a croak, and it hurt your chest, so you stopped.
"You are a princess, and you always look like one."
When you finally get back to your room, Natasha places you down gently on your bed and pulls the covers up to your chest. She tries to kiss you on the lips, but you move away from the redhead, still not wanting her to catch any of your germs. She glares at you before grabbing your face in her hand, forcefully planting a kiss on your lips and you pout when she pulls away.
"You're going to get sick."
"Don't care," she clears your bedside table, putting all the tissues into the bin and grabbing the empty water bottles and empty painkiller packet to bring downstairs, "I'll be right back up with your soup and tea."
Natasha does indeed return a few minutes later with a tray, a bowl of soup and a cup of tea sat on top of it. You sit up, smiling gratefully at her as she hands you the tray. "You are the best servant ever."
She rolls her eyes, "I love you too, moya lyubov. I'll just head to the store really quick to get you more painkillers, and I'll make you a hot water bottle when I get back. Then we can lie in bed all day and watch movies, okay?"
Your stomach warms at her words, and it definitely isn't because of the sip of tea you just took. "Are you really sure you aren't afraid of getting sick?"
Nat shakes her head, "If getting sick is the result of taking care of the love of my life, then so be it. If we can't go out for our date, we can still have one here. Okay?"
You nod, smiling so wide your cheeks start to ache. Natasha returns the smile, leaning down to give you yet another kiss, all thoughts of germs be damned. "I'll be as quick as I can,"
"I love you,"
"I love you more,"
"I love you most,"
"Not possible!" She retreats, closing the door behind her before you can offer a retort. You feel oddly lonely now that she's left, like a part of you is missing every time you're not around her.
Your phone pings with a notification then, and you pick it up from your bedside table to check it. It's from Natasha, 'Did I tell you that your raspy voice is really hot? Get sick more often', you roll your eyes and set your phone back down.
Despite feeling the worst you think you've ever felt when sick, you feel oddly better now that you know you have Natasha to take care of you. Maybe she really was the medicine that you needed all along.
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tags: @sheneonromanoff @olicity-boo @r4nd0mgir1 @tigerlillyruiz @dj-bynum3718 @lovelyy-moonlight
dm me, send me an ask or reply to be added to my taglist!
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ohsohoney · 20 days
Text
When it comes to love you're just as blinded.
Part Eight
Eminem x Musician
Summary: It starts with a drunk embarrassing video, it spirals into something a whole lot more.
Note: A real long one. Honestly don't know how I did it but it was one session and now I'm dead, hopefully it's good enough! Lots of cuteness though and another snippet with Danny! Be warned cake mix is too baking. So :)
| Set in 2014, just after the release of LP 2
taglist: @thelastemzy
Masterlist
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“This is a bad idea, right?”
“Oh, for sure.”
“Marsh.” I admonished, sighing as I rolled my head to the left to level him with a long look before my eyes eventually wandered back on over to the store’s front. 
“What? You said it.” Marshall chuckled lowly, hands interlocked in his lap. 
We were currently sat in the car park of a Trader Joe's, in a spot at a roundabout the midway mark. I hadn’t thought too much of the ask during my sudden excitement to roam around a grocery store I’d yet to see (What? I was showing my age. Bite me.). But it was now hitting me at full force.
“Why’d you say yes anyway?” I was quick to shoot back at him, voice a tad bit strained. I shook my head and eventually resolved into brushing the whole idea away, “Let’s just forget it.”
A scoff and Marshall was rolling his eyes at the notion, “We’re already here. No point in leavin’ now.”
“We didn’t think this through though. I mean, what if somebody spots us?” I pointed out, gaze already surveying the mostly empty parking lot for the next potential pap. 
“You make it out like we’re about to case the joint,” Em snorted, earning a wry smile off of me in retort, a reaction I couldn’t quite help. “Said you wanted to bake a cake, so we gonna. ‘Cause I’ll let you know now, I ain’t got the shit to make this back at the house.”
I blew a soft breath from out of my nose, vaguely amused. “No shit.” I replied, unable to imagine the man in a frilly pink apron and covered in flour on a casual Tuesday afternoon. I ended up sighing again anyway, “You sure? I mean, I could just run in.”
Marshall was already shaking his head at me, “Nah, it’ll be fine. If you really that worried you can take my cap. Or think I got another hoodie in the trunk.”
Blinking, I was unable to say much else before Em was hopping out and rounding the car to pull apart the contents of his boot. He muttered away, mostly to himself, before he returned a couple of moments later, standing by the driver’s door with an oversized hoodie in his hand. He held it out towards me and I found myself taking it with a gentle smile in thanks. 
It didn’t take long for me to tug the jumper on over my head, the hood messing up my hair and catching on the seat belt before I had the commonsense to just unbuckle the stupid thing. Marshall watched the struggle with a mirthful smirk, the silver watch on his wrist glinting in the sunlight from where it rested against the edge of the door, until he eventually moved to close it, cropping up outside of the passenger’s side a second later. He tugged on the handle and I blinked over at him when a gust of wind washed over me.
I guessed I must have looked a tad bit pathetic as I turned in my seat to face him, legs moving to dangle out the side of the car, or at least it felt that way, what with how Marshall’s expression had since settled into something almost akin to fondness. 
My nose wrinkled just as he let go of a soft laugh. It was a sound I found myself feeling a hint of pride about whenever I heard it, even if it meant that I was the victim of the current joke.
“Here, let me.” He spoke, already reaching out to fix my hood and to brush a tangled strand of hair behind my ear. If he heard the way my breath hitched at the sudden motion he didn’t mention it, but I witnessed how his keen eyes flickered back and forth between my own. “There. Screams incognito.”
Snorting at the heavy use of sarcasm, I smiled up at him, only to notice then how he’d crowded himself between my legs to help aid me. My stomach swooped at the realisation and I swallowed thickly, but before I could question the feeling, Marshall was stepping away again, sporting a wry grin of his own.
“Need my hat, Kim Possible? Or you good?”
Rolling my eyes, I shuffled further forward in my seat to jump out of the SUV, feet hitting the gravel with an audible scuff. “She doesn’t wear a hat and even if she did, I doubt it’d be Kangol.” I retorted, slipping by him to reach out and shut the door. 
“Aye, what’s wrong with my cap?” Marshall prodded as the headlights flashed behind us to signal the car locking. I noticed how his brow had wrinkled at the slight when I looked over at him and so I nudged my shoulder with his as we walked across the lot. 
“Nothing.” I claimed with a growing smile, reaching up to knock the brim of his hat just as we made it to the entrance. “Suits you.”
Marshall hummed a sound that was vaguely disbelieving, eyes lingering on me before he turned to pick up a basket. “Know what you need?”
“Sort of.” I replied distractedly, trying to take everything in. “This place is like every Hallmark movie I’ve ever seen come to life.”
“The fuck?”
Rolling my eyes, I just continued on, walking past Marshall, who’d since paused to shoot a bewildered glance my way, and towards a horde of fruit and veg stalls. “It’s just so fuckin’ American. Back home the closest place you’d get to this is a Big Tesco’s and even that’s like a standard food shop. This. It’s something straight out of one of them films.”
“It’s Trader Joe’s.” Marshall deadpanned, blinking back at me now with an expression that just had me cracking up.
“Stop making me feel dumb.” I rebuked lightly, head darting every which way as he slid on over to catch up to me before he then barrelled straight past. I let him lead, figuring he’d be better off knowing where everything could possibly be more than I ever would. “It’s just a big change, ‘s all.”
His cheek twitched with the beginnings of a smirk. “Everything's a big change with you.”
I poked his side in retaliation, pleased when he bristled but didn’t comment further on it. “Where do you reckon cake mix would be then?” I wondered out loud, peering around the aisle we were headed down. Honestly, cereals galore. Captain Crunch, Coco Pops, Cinnamon Toast Crunch… And those were just the C’s. Hang on a second, Eggo’s?
“Cake mix?” Em questioned me, flicking a raised brow my way and tugging me from my observations, “Bitch, I thought you was bakin’.”
Snorting, I couldn’t do much other than shrug. “It is baking!” I attempted to defend, but he was having none of it, shaking his head mockingly back at me. “Just the easier version?” I attempted to argue sheepishly.
I was rewarded with a soft tut, but Marshall did in fact then tilt his head over towards the right to signal where he figured the box mixes might be, “Cheat.”
Giving into the childish urge, I poked my tongue out at him and dipped around the next corner, smiling at the way his low humoured huff followed after me. It was only when I saw an all too extensive stock of baking goods parked up ahead that I quickened my pace, leaving him to trail behind.
“What do you reckon then, red velvet or vanilla? You sort of seem like a vanilla guy.” I commented when he finally caught up, gaze flitting between the two cake mixes I’d since picked up off the shelf before my eyes then darted over to meet his teasingly as he approached.
He kissed his teeth and batted the box of vanilla I held away from his view, rolling his eyes even though we both could see that he was trying to withhold another grin. I allowed the motion. “You don’t know me at all.” Marshall scoffed, getting in my space once more today to make a grab for a box sitting on the shelf just above my head. “All about the chocolate, sweetheart.”
Biting my tongue, I worked hard to keep my face from giving way to how the proximity seemed to make my skin prickle. His eyes found mine though as he held the winning mix up between the two of us. I swiped it from his hold, scanning over the necessary ingredients to keep myself from focusing too much on– whatever it was I was feeling. “Hm, only need to add eggs and milk. Could deck this out though.”
“Whatchu thinkin’?” Em asked me in that way he usually did, like he was genuinely invested in everything I had to say. He’d propped his forearm up on the shelf as he waited for me to weigh in and my stare tracked its way up from the back of the box to roam over the steady way he was now watching me. I reached up to tuck another fallen strand of hair behind my ear, the hood making the typically effortless action that much harder. 
“A shit ton of chocolate?” I proposed with a raised brow. 
“That mean you gone put my kid to sleep then?” He said, then snickered at my sudden change in expression, the corner of his lip tugging upwards. “Z will be bouncin’ off the walls.”
“It’ll be portioned!” I rebuted in the face of his amusement, quick to fall back on all my so-called years of parenting, “She’ll be fine!”
Marshall snorted in retort but appeared to relent, pinching the cake mix from my hand and throwing it into the basket haphazardly, “I’ll be sure to bring this moment back up when I’m right.” He added before he took off, probably in search of the confectionary aisle. 
But see, since knowing the man, I’d long since come to realise that he had a big enough sweet tooth that could rival that of my own, meaning that all this posturing back and forth about decking out the cake was just a facade of sorts, him attempting to put my neck on the line for when the fallout eventually happened. I couldn't bring myself to mind though, not when he was wearing that stupid smug smile and not even when he ended up tossing a majority of the chocolate we’d collected into the basket. 
I ended up grinning all the way back to the car.
“See! It was well worth it now, don’t you reckon?” I said with a sardonic smile, covered in cake mix, egg and frosting, my dirtied hands settled on my hips as I stared down at the hazardous cake we’d gone and created.
My head tilted just so, allowing myself to look at it from a normal perspective seeing as it had somehow managed to slant far left whilst it’d been baking in the oven. But I blamed Em for that one, the idiot having set the temperature up way too high.
“What, so we can cover up the monstrosity?” Marshall shot back at me from where he was stood by the kitchen sink, washing his hands free of all the frosting he’d been licking from the bowl moments before I’d stolen it out from under him. “Yeah, but you know what they say, a pig in lipstick is still a pig.”
Haughtily, I spun around on my heel just enough for my hip to press against the counter and for my eyes to hone in on him. I smirked, “Saying’s actually, a hog in armour is still but a hog.”
“Same fuckin’ thing.” Marshall admonished in a grunt, flicking his sopping wet hands out at me when he pulled away from the sink in search of something to dry them with. I tensed at the attack, feeling the splatter hit me before I peered down to spot a couple soup duds clinging to my arm and the collar of my top. He just chuckled, greatly amused.
“Dick.” I huffed and picked up an M&M from the bowl I’d just poured the bag into to toss back at him in retaliation.
Irritatingly, Marshall managed to snap the treat up out of the air with ease, pushing the blue ball forward on his tongue to flash it tauntingly between his teeth before he finally chewed on it. The crunch resonated in the quiet hum of the house. “You were sayin’?”
I narrowed my eyes, “Show off.” 
But all that did was earn me another light laugh, Em sliding on closer to pinch a few more from the same bowl. “I’m just that good.” He retorted egotistically, before he turned to level me with the last M&M he held, titling his chin ever so slightly to goad me into trying to catch one myself.
Relenting to the fight all too easily, I braced myself in a steady stance and waited. When he tossed it, I managed to extend my neck near enough that I was close to capturing the colourful sweet, but just not close enough, my nose scrunched in annoyance when it bounced off the side of my cheek and onto the counter with a clatter. “Fuck.” I sighed, but not one to be outdone I looked towards him again, “Again.”
He raised a single brow at the demand but followed, picking up another handful and smiling as he prepared to pelt them my way one by one. It was something we continued on with for a short while, tossing the things back and forth between us as we tallied up a score, he was winning of course, but surprisingly I wasn’t too far behind, which actually eased the loss a fair bit. 
We were actually at it long enough that we’d begun to squabble, calling one another a cheat, aiming for anything other than our mouths, even going as far as to switch up tactics by propping ourselves up on counters and barstools to annoy the other, before then crouching down as low as we could on Marshall’s tiled floors. It was there that we were eventually found.
Marshall spotted her first, arm already propped up before him and preparing to aim when his eyes shifted over to the left and caught sight of something standing in the kitchen doorway. His grin wobbled in further amusement, most likely due to the face I’d gone and pulled when I followed his line of sight, still stuck in my current position; squatting by the backdoor. 
We were trying for a record, okay?
“Hey creep, what’s with the face?” Marshall greeted, his laughter carrying throughout the room when he finally tossed the chocolate treat my way only for it to actually make it into my mouth this time around, hitting the roof and sending my startled frown into a gasping smile. 
Rosie was stood there, just off to the side by the counter now, seemingly content to simply watch us with a soft, goading smile on her face, her school bag settled by her feet. She shrugged, glancing over at her dad whilst I bounced on back to where I’d left Em to guard our semi-completed cake. “Nice to come home to noise, is all.”
The tip of Marshall’s nose did something odd then, a reaction to the words that went unnoticed by the girl, but he continued on smiling, dropping the few remaining M&M’s he held back into the packet we’d opened once the bowl had run dry. 
“Didn’t hear you come in.” He mentioned as he rounded the counter to pull his daughter into a hug, steering her away from the onslaught of chocolate that littered the side when Rosie attempted to make a grab for the nearest share-pack of Hershey’s Kisses. “Nuh-uh. Dinner first, kid, then we can talk about you gettin’ a slice of our masterpiece.”
“Masterpiece?” Rosie’s eyes widened as she gifted the two of us a disbelieving snort, gaze jumping back between her dad and me, I narrowed my eyes playfully in retort whilst Marshall settled for poking her dimpled cheek. “It looks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.”
“Hey!” I chided, just as Marshall responded with, “What we were aimin’ for.”
The pair of us shared a mirthful look before we both started cracking up, Rosie merely shook her head at our antics but it was with the distraction that she finally managed to grab a wrapped Kiss. My eyes widened at the flash of silver I caught sight of just as she darted around the island to escape Em’s outstretched arms when he caught on too, crowding into my side when he shot her a long look, obviously hoping to put her off eating the treat. But it was already unwrapped and on her tongue before I could even blink back down at her. 
I snorted, forever amused by the duo’s antics, and ran a hand over the girl’s plaited scalp. “Snooze you lose, Mathers.” I said encouragingly with a lazy shrug.
Z grinned at the show of support and sent a smug look back at her father, baring her chocolate covered teeth to him. Marshall leant forward so that his palms could press against the countertop and levelled the two of us with another long look, only this one was out of exasperation.
Rosie and I shared a glance of anticipation before we both turned back to face him with a matching set of innocent smiles, Rosie doing a much better job than me seeing as she could work that whole doe eyed perspective. Em heaved a hefty sigh. “Dinner, then cake. Cool?”
The girl beamed and was quick to nod her assent, squeezing my waist in what must have been a delayed embrace of hello, or maybe thanks, before she took a moment to assess our handy work. The cake was sparsely decorated, topped with a plethora of icing, at Marshall’s demand, and scattered with pieces of chocolate that we’d managed to stick on during our M&M disaster. I grimaced a tad whilst Em just looked on in pride.
“This is what you did whilst I was at school?” Z asked, dipping down to get a closer look at the disaster we dubbed a cake. Her expression truly was hilarious when she slowly stood again to dart a quizzical look between us.
“What d’you mean ‘this’?” Marshall answered her, raising a brow high enough to rival his daughter's own. “This is where hard work gets you.”
“Yeah,” I laughed, only adding fuel to the fire with my next comment, “Besides, we made it just for you. Don’t you like it?” I asked teasingly, batting my eyes over at her in hopes to see her crumble just a tad. 
Rosie looked back at the sad excuse of a cake and didn’t falter, “Cake is cake. But next time you guys should probably wait for me.”
“Oh, ‘cause you’re such a chef.” Marshall smirked, having moved to join us on the other side of the island to allow his eyes to roam over the tilting structure, he shucked Z’s chin in addition which only earnt him a prod to his bicep.
“A baker, actually.” Rosie corrected with a smile, ever so pleased with herself.
“Oo,” Em dragged out, taking a stripe of frosting off the cake’s side just so that he could wipe it across the tip of the kid’s nose. “She’s a smartass, too.”
Rosie’s eyes widened in alarm to the smear and her jaw dropped as she gasped, not having anticipated the move. “Dollar!” She exclaimed in turn, wiping the chocolate off her nose before smearing it down her dad’s front.
With a roll of his eyes, Marshall huffed but it was more of a chuckle than an actual sigh as he looked back up from his ruined tee. “Touche.” They shared a laugh as Em went to grab a kitchen towel to wipe his hands clean with, “Go ‘n grab my wallet.” He told her and I watched on as Z did exactly that, swiping a green bill from its contents so that she could go and stuff it in the jar.
I shook my head ever so at the dynamic they made, continuing to smile as Marshall dropped the tissue he’d just been using into the bin before he made a grab for his daughter, causing her to jump and laugh as they tumbled about the kitchen together. I was perfectly content to watch on, slowly packing away the ingredients we had yet to use whilst wiping down the sides, the pair of them eased up after a minute or two, making their way back to the island, Marshall still defending our chocolate monstrosity.
“It’ll taste good, so who cares what it looks like?”
“Most people, Dad.” Rosie countered with a sly smile as she settled onto a barstool, handing over a frosting covered spoon that had apparently strayed during our decorating. I smiled softly in thanks, grabbing the other utensils that littered the space and crossing the floor to wash up.
“I got that.” Marshall assured me, hip checking my side before I could even reach for the dish soap. 
My forehead wrinkled, “I don’t mind.”
He smiled in return, already moving to further roll up his sleeves, “I know, but I got it.”
I let it go, knowing when to pick and choose my fights with him now, and instead wandered back to see if I could make the cake work, picking up a couple of Whoppers that were supposedly meant to be the equivalent of a Maltesers, but I just couldn’t taste it. 
“Can I help?” Rosie asked after a moment, capturing my attention when she sidled up to join me.
“‘Course,” I replied easily, already handing over the bag, “I think if we just cover it with as much chocolate as we can it’ll look…”
“Better than it does?” Z finished for me, her giggles spilling from her lips seamlessly whilst she began to dot Whoppers around the rim of the highest tier.
“Hey, it’s not that bad.” I tried, nudging her elbow with mine, but ended up chuckling too. “It was your dad’s fault anyway, all my previous cakes have turned out perfect.”
“I can still hear you.” Marshall’s voice cut in from behind us, garnering our focus for a split second before I waved him off.
“Yeah, yeah. Just letting Z here know I’m not to blame.” I told him, scattering the remaining M&M’s we had to spare over the top, managing to cover up some of the frosting we’d gone and butchered with a colourful swirl. Rosie snickered, having since switched up with her choice of chocolate so that she could place a few Kisses to the lower layers.
“I was just followin’ your instructions.” Em argued with me, the huff that followed was evident.
“Not well!”
A giggle had me smiling down at Rosie, who was happy enough to let her gaze drift between the two of us. “I bet it still tastes good.” She interrupted, trying to soothe her father’s bruised ego probably. But it was sweet enough to have me agreeing.
“Yeah, I mean who doesn't like chocolate?”
Dinner was apparently a Mathers Household classic. Spagbol. Or well just spaghetti to these lot. Something I hadn’t been able to let slide what with me being a fan. Though Marshall seemed amused rather than put off by my attempts at rapping the opening to Lose Yourself whilst he’d cooked, something which earnt me points with Rosie seeing as she could spit it far better than the composer himself.
It was sort of strange to be a witness to him doing such a mundane task like cooking though, but I enjoyed it all the same, watching him talk with Rosie about school as he drained the pasta and added a couple of herbs to the ground mince. An odd sense of privilege came with the slight peak into his daily life, figuring that most would have just expected him to have a live-in chef or a plethora of meals waiting to be reheated in his fridge. But no, Marshall appeared to actually enjoy the activity, enjoy the hush of music that played overhead whilst the steam from a boiling pot simmered under his steady hand, enjoy how slowly the process came together so that he could boss Rosie and I into setting the table when the food was almost ready. 
Rosie had led me into the dining room they used, a room more intimate than the larger one the man had shown me during his grand tour, obviously used for when he had more than just one person over. As I set down a couple placemats, I guessed it was a room that only he and Rosie typically got use out of, the table circular and just large enough so that you had your own space but could easily be roped into another’s. It reminded me of the one we’d had as a kid, wooden, small and quaint, but that had been before one of mum’s boyfriends had fallen through it.
“You okay?” Rosie’s questioning broke me from my thoughts and I looked up to find her settling a fork down onto the mat opposite.
I blinked and then smiled, feeling how easy the gesture came to me. “Just lost in thought.”
She smiled too, hers crinkling the corners of her eyes as she finished setting up by dropping the last spoon down. “It’s nice having you here, you know. Sometimes it’s quiet just me and Dad, even when Ayla comes over.” She remarked, mentioning her older sister with the kind of sincerity that you only really held for your siblings, “You make him laugh, too. Like a lot.”
Blowing out a soft breath that sounded more like a chuckle, I reached out to fix a placemat that was a tad bit crooked, finding it simpler to focus on the small task rather than what the meaning behind Rosie’s words might possibly mean. “He makes me laugh too.” I replied and shot her a slight grin, it was then that Marshall emerged carrying two plates.
“And voila.” The man said as he set the dishes down, butchering the French word enough to have me hiding an indulgent smile.
“Smells good.” I commented, watching as a plethora of steam erupted up off the mountain shaped plate of spaghetti. 
Em flashed me a bright grin, an actual one with teeth that had my mind short circuiting for a split second before he was speaking again, “Lemme grab the last one. You want some drinks?”
Rosie, who had already settled into the seat she’d been standing behind, nodded eagerly in answer, “Soda?” When she received a single brow in retort, she giggled and relented, “Juice, please.”
Smiling at the exchange, I was only caught a little off guard when I looked back at Marshall to find him waiting on my own reply, I silently scrambled for an answer, “Um, just water, please.” I said and he gave a dip of his chin to show he’d heard before he turned to head back to the kitchen. “Want help?” I called out, just managing to catch him before he slipped past the hall.
He looked ready to wave the offer off, before he thought about it. Three drinks and a single plate was easy work for a girl who’d worked a majority of her teens in pub restaurants and the like, but Marshall seemed to realise the slight struggle he might face. “Sure.”
As easy as that. Or so it only appeared, because from the expression that clouded Rosie’s face when I glanced back over to shoot her a quick smile, the exchange seemed to have perplexed her ever so. 
Em had already continued on his route to the kitchen when I looked back to him, hoping to catch something in his answer to the face she’d pulled, but it seemed he hadn't been witness to it at all. “You okay?” I found myself asking, mimicking Z’s earlier question.
She looked a little startled when her eyes flew up to find mine, before she blinked and blew out a gentle laugh. “Didn’t think he’d go down without a fight.”
And oh. I had to chuckle a little at that too, having seen the way he’d been so prepared to deny the help just before he’d nodded. It made me wonder how much she’d bared witness to throughout the years. Em was strong, yes, but he also had a stubborn streak a mile long. 
“What can I say, Z?” I sighed dramatically as I headed towards the door, “I just have a way with people.”
Her cheeky grin was the last thing I saw before I was padding around the corner and then into the kitchen, finding Em stood by the counter with a bowl of grated cheese and the drinks we’d asked for already waiting to be picked up again. 
I snorted softly at the picture he painted, a handful of the shredded cheese halfway to his mouth and face only a tad bit surprised. He flipped me off as I came around to take hold of the drinks, only furthering my amusement. 
“I mean, what an appetiser.” I teased, the words followed by a bout of giggles when he flicked the remnants at me. Thankfully though, most of the cheese only made it about halfway over the countertop, causing my grin to widen that much more.
Marshall went to pick up another load and so I squeaked, grabbing the drinks and darting back out of the room before he could toss it at me.
I was chuckling away to myself by the time I made it back to the table, Rosie having already started in on her dinner, the dead giveaway being the slight red smear of sauce that stained her lower lip even as she pretended that she’d just been waiting patiently for us to return. 
I wiped the corner of my own mouth after settling down her juice in an attempt to warn her and watched as her eyes widened before she cleared the smear away with the back of her hand, the action seemingly saving her from another one of Em’s disapproving looks because not a second Marshall reappeared.
Taking to my seat in an attempt to hide my slight smile, I thanked him for the food, to which the man merely rolled his eyes, ignoring the gratitude altogether. I bit down on my smirk and instead opted for shaking my head as I picked up my fork.
The food was honest to God some of the best I’d had in a long while, whether it was down to it having been ages since someone had cooked a proper homemade meal for me or just him having mastered the art of the dish, I didn’t know. But I made sure to tell him.
Never in all my life would I have expected to have been a witness, let alone the cause of the light flush that coloured the tips of his ears. But it was impossibly endearing, so much so that I refrained from playfully mocking him for it. Rosie though, had no such qualms. “You look a little red, Dad. You gettin’ sick?”
If Marshall could have he would have scowled at the ask, but this was his baby and so I knew that the smile he gifted her as he turned was levelled with a strained edge. “Fine.”
I snorted quietly, but from the way the flush dropped to the back of Em’s neck it seemed he’d heard it all the same. 
Cake followed dinner, as promised. And to my surprise it hadn’t tasted half bad. The chocolate frosting wasn’t all it was cut out to be, not much of a shock seeing as I was alright with it in small doses but even my cupcakes lost their tops nine times out of ten, so Em was gifted the majority of it, something he seemed both pleased and a little guilty about, probably down to the excess amount of sugar. Still he worked his way through it, the three of us talking about Rosie’s day and then our own, leaving out the more exciting details as to not make her feel left out, before we all started packing away.
“Told you so.” Em commented when we’d loaded the dishwasher and wiped the sides free of cheese, his gaze was trained on his daughter, who appeared to be talking a mile a minute about the movie her and her friends had watched at their last sleepover whilst bouncing from foot to foot.
Ah, the inevitable sugar rush. I turned my face away to hide my growing smile before I lifted a shoulder in a small shrug. “It’ll die down soon enough, might even make it easier for her to fall asleep.” I murmured, passing him a tea towel that he used to dry his hands.
With a grunt that was more an amused hum, Marshall paused by the counter and waited for Rosie to take a breath before he cut in, “You got homework?”
The girl seemed to think about it, eyes flitting to the ceiling as though she could see the inside of her brain and was set about working her way through a catalogue there, before dropping her gaze back to him and shaking her head. “No, but I did promise Sara I’d call her tonight.” At her father’s expecting look, she tacked on, “If you said it was okay, obviously.”
“Obviously.” Marshall blew out a soft chuckle, lips quirking ever so before he waved the kid off, tossing the tea towel over his shoulder. “Go on, just not too late, yeah?”
“Promise!” She grinned, darting around the kitchen to knock into his side, arms encasing his torso in a brief hug before she jumped to do the same to me. I barely had time to wrap my arms back around her before she was darting away again, this time headed for the stairs after stealing yet another Hershey’s Kiss from the last of the cake we’d yet to hide away. 
“Z!” Was the only scold she heard before she was gone from sight, leaving only a trail of laughter behind her. 
I snorted too, shaking my head mirthfully whilst I worked my way around the kitchen counter to place a cover over the cake slices and putting them up out of reach.
“Kid’s gonna be the death of me.” Marshall added in a low sigh, still staring off after his daughter before he cracked a soft smile, eyes then flitting over to meet mine. “Best pray the sugar wears off quick.”
I widened my eyes in jest to his warning, but paid it no real mind, knowing he was only being stupid. “Dinner really was good, you know.” I mentioned it again, mainly just to see if I could provoke the same flush from earlier, but also so he knew I meant it. “Where’d you learn to cook like that?”
To my pleasure the tiniest hue could be made out from across the island, but Marshall hid it all too easily with a calculated tilt of his head. He shrugged softly when he answered me, “Know how it is, sort of had to provide for myself for a long while. Mom wasn’t always around when I was a kid, Nate grew up and relied on me most nights, then when I was out in LA tryna make it big, was skimming money off the top of the odd jobs I worked jus’ so I could eat and send some back home.” He levelled me with another look then, palms coming to rest on the countertop, “Sort of enjoyed it, I guess. After a while, just helped me escape.”
I nodded slowly in understanding. Before I could say anything though, the silence the kitchen had gotten swept up in was quickly broken by the sound of my phone.
Jumping at the ring, I blinked out of the dazed staring match I hadn't even realised I’d been a part of with Em before looking around to try and spot the last place I’d left it. Marshall picked it up and handed it over with a sly smirk, having caught on to my short term memory. 
“Thanks.” I breathed out in appreciation and then looked down to see who it was that was calling, my grin grew. “It’s Danny.” I let slip to Marshall before hurrying to pick up the call, “Hey stranger!” I greeted the second the line connected, surprised to note that the signal wasn’t as shitty as it usually was.
“Oh, it’s you.” Came my brother’s short reply as though he hadn’t expected exactly that, his face cropping into view from where he perched on a lower bunk, all tanned from the Cyprus sun. 
I let my eyes fall into a narrowed glare, “Know you’ve always been short of two brain cells, but who did you really expect to fuckin’ see when callin’ me?”
Danny’s smirk came into full focus before he was grinning away, stare jumping away from the camera for a brief moment before it darted back. “Love you, too.” He chided halfheartedly and with a slight tut, leaning forward to rest his forearms against his knees whilst I moved to settle my phone down onto the kitchen counter, “Just figured I’d give you a bell whilst I had some time, that so hard to believe?”
Even when rolling my eyes, I couldn't dampen my smile. “Yeah, it is.” I chuckled, taking in the background and anything else I could, “You at camp?”
He hummed around a nod, looking off to the side probably to get a feel for what I was seeing. “Told you, din’t I? At a base here for a couple weeks, doin’ some more trainin’ for the deployment followin’ my leave.”
“Well, you mentioned the first half.” I acknowledged, but wasn’t surprised. Danny always tended to stick to the most basic of explanations, such as the time he’d gone away with his mates to a festival for a weekend and said he was on his way back– failed to mention that it was a days fucking trip though.
The twat just waved me off, “Exactly. Anyway, what you up to, where you at?” He came in a little closer then to the screen as though he was attempting to look behind my head. “Not still in New York are ya? Thought you’d want shot of ‘em by now, all them Americans.”
Snorting and casting a chance glance up, I found Marshall by the sink, rinsing the few glasses we’d used earlier, he shot an unimpressed brow my way. “Not in New York, no. But still in The States, with said Americans.” I answered him, shaking my head at the way his lips pursed in a low hum, “So be careful, there are big ears listening in.” I also remarked, thinking back to Drew’s nickname for Em.
“Aye.” The man mentioned then warned, having since finished by the sink so that he could now point a warning finger my way, I rolled my eyes but my smirk was far too playful. 
Danny’s voice dragged back my attention to how he had since crowded in closer in an stupid attempt to see through the screen and into the kitchen. “Oi, who’s that? Don’t tell me I was spot on with the mystery man, El! Shit!”
The reminder of Dan’s earlier words the night before I’d met Em had me flushing slightly and immediately my traitorous gaze shifted over towards the man himself, who seemed far too amused as he slid on closer. “Fuck off, Danny.”
The twat only laughed though, all too happy with my reaction it seemed. “Ah, come on! Lemme meet him, just wanna say ‘ello!”
I pressed my lips together to keep the biting words which lined my tongue from springing forth, could always trust your own flesh and blood to turn on you at the drop of a hat. The traitor. “Fuck off.” I repeated, but my words lacked any real heat when Marshall rocked into the side of me to catch a quick peek of Danny’s glinting eyes.
My brother paused as he took in the sudden newcomer and his face was a right picture when he started to stumble over his next sentence, “Ah– right, hang on. Fuckin’ what?”
Unable to help myself, I laughed freely, feeling a little euphoric now that I was no longer on the end of all his ribbing. Em seemed to get a kick out of it too, even now that he was no longer in view he was still close by, smirking at both Danny and I’s reactions.
“Elia!” Danny called hotly, eyes wide as they flickered all over my face as if he hoped to find some sort of answer there, “Tell me that wasn’t who I thought it was.”
Snorting, I gifted him a smug smile, “Can’t do that, sorry.”
“Lia.” Danny practically hissed, before pulling out the face he knew I hated, one which he’d mastered decades ago and had since taught Lottie, seeing as it was the kind that always had me feeling guilty or had the two of them forcing my hand. “Come on, you know you can tell me anythin’.”
I flipped him off, scoffing at the attempt to butter me up but even so, I still felt my walls crumble. “Ugh, you’re such a prick, Danny.” I blew out, eyes straying away from the screen and over to where Marshall still stood, looking back at me, “Do you mind?”
With a smile that I couldn't quite place the emotion behind, Em rolled his eyes at the ask and slid back into view, close enough now that his entire side pressed against mine. I chewed on my lower lip as I watched my brother observe Marshall whilst slowly losing his mind.
“Jesus Christ, man. Shit.” Were the first few words he spouted, a hand coming up to rake across his face whilst Em shook a tad with a light chortle, “I mean, fuck.” Danny continued once his arm had fallen away, attempting to take in the scene again before his stare dragged back to me, “I know you’re in with these lot, El. But shit– Eminem? How the fuck does that even happen?”
I had to laugh at that, knowing full well how he was feeling.
“I mean, come on! Mate! It’s an honour, I swear.” Danny started to fangirl, jaw still agape and eyes almost starstruck.
“Good to meet you, man.” Marshall said in his usual voice, not the one reversed for the public, for interviews and the like, but the one he used with Rosie, with Soup and Drew, with me. I was immensely thankful for it. “Heard a lot about you.”
Danny seemed to remember himself at that, sitting back a bit in his bunk, dog tags rattling with the motion, as he dragged out a long breath. “Only good things I hope.” He chuckled in that charming way of his, the type that used to get him free sweets down at the local shops and have the old ladies outside the cafe swooning.
“Nah, I let him in on that laundrette heist you committed when you were fifteen and told him ‘bout the times you wet the bed.” I interrupted, smirking when Dan’s eyes cut to me.
“You know that weren’t me, it was Danny Evans.” Danny sniped back far too quickly, “How many times do I gotta tell you?”
I chuckled around a small a-huh, “Sure, Dan. How’d you barrel into the pub the same night and piss away a load of ten pences on the fruit machines then?”
He sniffed, feigning ignorance as he glanced away, “No idea what you’re on about.”
Shaking my head, I found Em watching me with a smile of his own. 
“So you ain’t gone deny pissin’ the bed then?” Marshall wondered out loud, chin coming to rest on the fist of his hand.
Startled, Danny’s head shot back round to the camera, he raised a finger at Marshall, “It’s slander, is what it is.” He told the man, “Always been jealous of me, she has. Me bein’ the fitter one of course.” 
“Ha. Hilarious.” I deadpanned, but allowed a small smile to creep through when Em’s knee knocked into mine. “What you been up to anyway, arsehole?”
“Fuck me and all my shit, question still stands, Li.” Danny was hasty to retreat back to his previous ask, “How’d you two meet?” 
Thankfully Em was the one to answer him. “I reached out.” He told him, gaze straying over towards me as he carried on, “Listened to her stuff for a while before I saw that video your sister posted online, figured it was a shot in the dark.”
“One which worked out,” I teased, before I shook my head over towards Danny, who appeared to be watching the pair of us with a dopey grin, “Acting as though I didn’t shit myself the second I found out it was him.”
Marshall snorted beside me, probably remembering the conversation, the way I’d stressed over sudocrem spots and my sound system, whilst he'd been perfectly content.
“Nah, I can imagine.” Danny laughed in ridicule, knowing how much of a fan I’d been growing up, “Failed to fuckin’ mention it though, din’t you?”
The way he’d levelled me with a look, which spoke more words than said, had me shifting somewhat sheepishly. “It was new!” I exclaimed, “Didn’t know how it would all work out. No one but Mila knows where I am, well Lotts too– sort of, I know she’d kill me if she knew knew.”
Smiling at that, Danny’s chuckles dimmed into a low titter before his eyes wandered back on over to Marshall, “Take good care of her for me, yeah? She acts tough but she’s soft as.”
I scoffed lightly, already prepping to roll my eyes when Marshall’s reply caught me a tad off guard. “I’ve realised.” He said gently, giving me a quirked smile when he caught me watching, “But no, she’s in good hands here. Me and my daughter are enjoying havin’ her here.”
My heart warmed at his words, the smile which overwhelmed my face too sappy even for my own liking. I made a vague sniff, pressing further into the man’s side as I hung my head to hide my reaction. Em didn’t falter, in fact he pressed closer too.
“Good to hear it.” Danny’s voice came through before there was a rather loud crash on the other side of the call, one which had Danny’s head shooting up, his eyes widening a fraction before a rowdy figure flew into him, knocking my brother sideways. 
I shared a startled look with Em, completely confused, but noted the way Marshall backed away ever so at the new figure who’d come and intervened. A few more blokes fanned in and around the background, though those seemed to be preoccupied, not even paying Danny and his fellow soldier anymind, as though it was all normal.
“Er?” I heard myself say and it was after Danny had managed to shove the man off him with a breathless laugh, attempting to right himself once more, that I caught sight of the slight amusement which shone in Marshall’s eyes. 
“Fuckin’ lump, I told you to stop doin’ that.” My brother exclaimed, and where I’d expected him to sound a bit miffed by the sudden attack, I was surprised to hear real affection there.
“But, my darlin’, I missed ya!” Came a bright Irish lilt just as a plethora of fawn coloured curls spilled over the bunk’s bedsheets before following his body back up into a standard sitting position. His grin was overwhelmingly white and almost large enough to hide his green eyes from view.
There was a bit more roughhousing as Danny shoved his army mate away when the kid started making kissy faces at him. “Piss off, you twat. I’m on the phone.”
It was that which had the other lad pausing in his messing, his head rolling over to the left where he found Dan’s phone, as well as me, I supposed. I waved, still a little surprised by the whole ordeal. “Hiya?”
“Fuck me.” The Irish man murmured lowly, eyes wide enough for me to see just how light his green eyes actually were, before he shuffled forward to flash a charming grin my way, “Aye, you’re lovely, have we met before? You look awfully familiar, mhuirnín.”
I had zero idea how to answer that, though I wasn't confused enough not to recognise the sweet name he’d used for me there. “Uh.”
“Leave it out, Lynch.” Danny huffed, swatting the other soldier who was still geared up in his tactical vest. “That’s my sister, you dickhead.”
“Wha?” Was the reply Danny received, before his mate turned back to the camera with another endearing grin, “I’m Tadhg, darlin’.” He introduced, name sounding more like Taig. “But I swear I weren’t lyin’ when I reckoned ye looked familiar. We din’t mess ‘round behind a Spoons on me last leave, did we?”
His brash words and assumption startled a loud laugh out of me, one which had Em’s brow furrowing slightly and Danny’s face falling into a scowl. “No we did not, you little shit.” I said, my head shaking at the cheek of it even as he continued grinning cheekily.
“Lynch, I’m warnin’ you.” Came my brother’s low mutter as he yanked his mate back away from the camera, Tadhg didn’t seem to mind the manhandling much.
“I’m just introducin’ meself, Danny boy!” 
“Well don’t, she’s taken.” Danny retorted, confusing me a tad, yet I didn’t deny it, rolling my eyes at my brother's obvious displeasure. 
My stare wandered over to Em, who was fiddling with his thumbs, he looked up at me as though sensing my gaze, I smiled. The gesture grew when it was returned. 
“El. El– aye, Lia!” Dan’s voice rang through, I snapped my attention back towards him but it was almost as though he hadn't expected his shout to draw in one of the lot behind him–
“Oh shit, is that Elia?”
It was sheer impulse, the way my head turned towards Marshall at the unexpectedness of hearing my name. Em seemed to sense my sudden dismay because he was plastered back to my side in a second, arm coming to wrap around my waist. The touch settled the anxious response that had been drilled into me and I was a tad bit thankful for the fact that he was only portionally in the frame when I looked back to my brother.
A third guy seemed to have joined our Facetime call, his eyes as dark as his braided hair and caught on me from where he’d come to kneel on the bunk behind both Danny and Tadhg. “Shit, it is!” His voice was layered in a thick Mancunian accent, one which reminded me of a friend I had back home, “How’d you know Elia, pal?”
“Elia?” Tadhg wondered, eyes flitting across my face before a sheen of recognition settled in there, “Fuck, I just asked Elia if we shagged behind a Spoons.”
“You did what?” The Manc spluttered slightly, his eyes alarmed.
I bit my tongue to keep from chuckling at that, but Em had no such qualms, apparently having picked up on a bit of slang whilst he’d been in the UK, that or just having been ‘round me far too long. 
“Idiots.” Danny sighed, giving Tadhg one last final shove before he let his shoulders drop and glanced over at me, “Sorry, El. I wouldn’t have called if I’dve known this lot would come bargin’ in.” 
“You’re alright.” I told Danny genuinely, I’d take any sort of interruption if it meant I got to talk to him for a little while. “It’s nice to meet your mates though, you lads doin’ alright over there?”
“All good, Els.” Danny assured me, but it was short lived because Tadhg was turning to grace the third soldier with a perplexed look. 
“How’d you know who she was anyway, Sully?”
Sully, the dark eyed lad with the Manc accent, shrugged as he looked back down at his friend, “Mate, she’s been like my crush for years. Had a poster of her on me wall when I were back home.”
My eyebrows raised at the admission (I mean how old was this kid? Fresh out of school?) and it was then that Marshall chose that exact moment to clear his throat. I shot him a knowing look, one which he returned with a rueful smile.
The three lads turned to us at that exact moment, Tadhg laughing at the sudden sheepishness Sully’s smile took on, whilst Danny just heaved another prolonged sigh. 
“Fuck, that’s well awkward.” Sully noted, only furthering said awkwardness. 
Marshall looked over to me, that smile still as present as ever, “Didn’t know you had posters.”
“Me neither.” I snorted quietly in return, leaning into him until our moment was cut short.
“What the fuck, Danny!”
Both Marshall and I’s head spun around to see what had happened, only to realise that it had been us. We were what had happened.
“What the fuck, man?” Tadhg said after a long moment had passed. Too long.
I cringed a tad, expecting to have Marshall move away now that he’d been spotted too, having leaned too far into the camera’s view when his head had ducked down to join mine. But he didn’t, move that is. Didn’t shy away at all. In fact, he nodded to the duo in a small hello. “Sup.”
Tadhg and Sully’s eyes were boring into us now, utterly stunned, which would have been funny if it wasn’t for the shock of it all. Danny sat off to one side with his face buried in his hands before he slowly lifted his head, showing off an all too apologetic smile.
I waved him away before he could open his massive gob to say something as stupid as sorry, it wasn’t his fault and it wasn’t like we’d really discussed anything, about his army friends knowing who I was and certainly not about them meeting Marshall, who Danny himself had only just realised was said ‘mystery man’.
“Alright, clear out.” Danny ended up saying instead, shooing his pals off his bunk. 
Seemed that the pair weren’t all that easily led though. “Oi, whaddya mean? Let us meet the famous people!” Tadhg hassled, shoving back on the hand Danny was trying to push him away with.
“Yeah, man! I mean, fuckin’ hell, Eminem was the last person I figured I’d be meetin’ today, lads.” Sully added as he rocked further into the little space that sat between Tadhg and Danny, elbows coming up to rest on either man’s shoulder. 
“He’ll be the last person you’ll ever meet if you two don’t piss off.” Danny huffed, swatting Sully’s hand off. 
“Ooo, tetchy!” Sully laughed, prodding Danny further by deeming it alright to hang over his shoulder instead now, Tadhg’s face being squished against his torso. “Heya, mate! Your last album? Fuckin’ fire, fella!”
Surprisingly, Em seemed to snort at the kid’s words and had since settled into the fact that he was now wholeheartedly a part of this conversation. “Appreciate it, man.”
I watched on as Sully continued to rant about all the emotions he’d felt whilst listening to the LP and was warmed by the way Marshall answered each of his and Tadhg’s questions with a genuine acknowledgement, delving when and where he could. Danny appeared to watch it all too, observing how his mates fawned over Marshall and even me at times, though Tadhg’s, I figured, was more down to the fact that he was a massive flirt, having picked up on him even trying his luck with Marshall, much to the man’s obliviousness. 
A while must have passed before Danny finally cut in, giving Marshall a small reprieve, “Alright, as enlightening as this has been,” He mentioned, eyes flitting over to Tadhg, who simply winked at him in return, “I wanna talk to my sister for a bit.”
“Awh, mate! We’re soldiers, this is like our make a wish or summat!” Tadhg almost whined, Sully and Danny snorting at his huffy behaviour as though it was typical, but the pair did eventually make a move to leave, Sully giving us a big thumbs up and a toothy grin whilst Tadhg shot us a joint wink. “Here if you ever need a rebound!”
Danny kicked his arse with the side of his boot as the man dipped out of view, though we heard the hearty laugh that followed in the Irish boy’s wake. He was shaking his head ever so when he glanced back at Em and I, “Sorry ‘bout them. Army life makes meetin’ normal people that more exciting, you know?”
I huffed a quiet chuckle whilst Marshall gifted Danny an easy but tired grin, he rapped the counter as he pushed to stand back to his full height. “I’ma go check on Z,” He mentioned to me before turning back to face Danny again, “Was good meetin’ you, man. Have to do this again sometime, for real.”
Knowing my brother like I did, I could see the slight ripple of surprise that echoed through his reaction to that statement, but on the surface he just dropped his chin and gave Em a sporting grin in turn. “‘Course, mate. Lookin’ forward to it.”
Just before he could slip away, Marshall lingered a second longer, hand squeezing my waist where it had failed to fall away in all the time we’d spent speaking and his smile widening just a fraction for me to see. “I’ll come find you in a bit.” I promised, he dipped his head and I listened as he padded out of the kitchen and over to the stairs.
Danny was the one to break the quiet we settled into. “He’s nice.”
I peered back at him to find him wearing a genuine smile, not a trace of animosity to be found in his voice. My grin was small, an attempt to hide the fondness I knew he’d find there. “Yeah, he is.”
Shaking his head around a knowing smile, Danny took his phone into his hand, “I was so right about there being a mystery man.”
Scoffing at the words, I cut my eyes at him but still looked back over my shoulder to make sure that Em hadn’t heard, even though it was impossible that he had, he was upstairs with Z. 
“Shut up, idiot.” I told him, slipping over to the backdoor and into the cool air the garden offered. I’d only been out there the once but it was just as lovely as the house’s front driveway, though a lot larger. “It isn’t like that.” 
Danny hummed, unconvinced. “Sure it ain’t. Remember though, I know you.”
“And what’s that meant to mean?”
He laughed giddily in reply, “You’re smitten!”
“Fuck off.” I huffed, looking away.
He wasn’t having any of it though. “You fuckin’ are! Know it too.” He continued to chuckle, all smuglike, “Deny it all you want if that’s what makes you happy though.”
I rolled my eyes, “It really isn’t like that, Dan. He’s– well, he’s him.”
“You’ve always been a right idiot, you know that?” Danny fired back, voice a little heated though his sigh told me that he wasn’t willing to expand on his statement, “What you been up to anyway? Seen his Porsche yet or is that reserved for red carpets?”
“You’re such a prat.” 
Danny grinned. “So I’ve been told.”
Blowing out a breath, I resolved to let the argument go. “It’s been good here, nice. It’s so different from London. I mean, I’ve seen so much already. Even had a fuckin’ rap battle with this friend of Em’s.”
Danny looked like he didn’t believe me.
“I swear it, Dan!” I laughed in defence, pressing my knuckles into my mouth to keep from being too loud.
“Come off it, you?” He asked, though there was a slight note of awe there.
“Me.” I retorted with a great big old smile, “It was so surreal, like I don’t know how it even happened.”
Danny started chuckling and he shook his head at me in utter disbelief, “Only you, I swear. Wish I could’ve been there.”
“Me too.”
A wave of quiet passed between us. 
“I’m glad you’re havin’ a good time.” Danny finally murmured, looking at me with those eyes that so often reminded me of Lotts, of Mum. “If anyone deserves a bit of happiness, it’s you.”
My eyes flickered between his, a tad bit teary after hearing that, and so I sniffed and looked away in hopes to cover it up. “Hush up.”
Danny’s chuckles resonated even through the phone, bouncing around me and filling my chest with a sense of nostalgia. “Okay, only if you let me know when it happens.”
Brow furrowing, I looked to him with a question, “When what happens?”
All I received was a gentle smile, “You’ll know.”
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ethereal-navi · 2 years
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Wounded Feelings
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Pairing: Neteyam x Navi! Omatikaya! Reader
Summary: You tend to Neteyam’s wounds after the war party returns.
Content Warning: Nothing besides some minor swearing.
A/N: Hii So this is my first Avatar piece and I’ve been eager to write ever since I saw the new movie. Shit really brought back my avatar phase 😭
“Y/N, don’t forget to have everything prepared for when they return.”
“Yes ma’am.” You moved from your spot and carefully set up all the supplies necessary for healing around the Tsahik’s tent.
Training under Mo’at was no easy task and on days like this you were always on edge. Whenever the war party was out you had to pray to the Great Mother that everyone would come back in one piece and your healing wasn’t needed.
This time around two of your favorite people happened to be close to the battlefield. Neteyam and Lo’ak were tasked with air support today and hopefully if they followed their father’s instructions they shouldn’t be in any danger.
Mo’at could sense your distraction as she watched you mess up the placement of supplies.
“They’ll be fine, Y/N. You need to focus.”
Shaken out of your thoughts and brought back to reality. You quickly fixed your mistake before mentally kicking yourself.
“Yes of course. I’m sorry.”
Suddenly the sound of war cries rang through the cave and Tuk ran into the tent.
“They’re back! Y/N come on, come on!!” She ran out as quickly as she entered. Leaving you to look at Mo’at for approval.
“Go. But be back soon.”
You nodded with a thankful smile on your face. After leaving the tent you quickly met up with Tuk, Kiri and Spider. The four of you eagerly waited as the Ikrans landed near the cliffs.
As the warriors dismounted their Ikrans the four of you ran up to greet them. Tuk immediately running up to her mother while you and Kiri checked on the boys.
A gash on Neteyam’s chest distracted you from the scolding they were currently receiving.
“Oh Great Mother, what have you gotten into this time?” Your fingers lightly danced around the wound causing him to wince.
“Y/N, go help Mo’at with the wounded.” You turned to look at the Oletykan.
“Neteyam is wounded.” Your statement made Tuk look over her other brother in worry.
“It’s fine.” Neteyam bowed his head in submission towards his father. Clearly he thought this scolding was more important.
Jake exhaled roughly.
“Y/N, Kiri, Tuk, go now.”
The three of you sighed and made your way to the tent.
“It’s my fault sir-“
“You’re right, cause you’re the big brother and you gotta act like it.” Jake shook his head in disappointment and Neytiri stood behind her child.
“Ma Jake, your son is actually bleeding.”
“I’m fine, mom.”
Jake sighed and looked at the boy.
“Go get patched up. Dismissed.”
Lo’ak was then left to deal with Jake’s wrath alone. Not before getting a warning look from his mother.
Once the two of them entered the tent you immediately sat him down as Mo’at worked on paste for his wound.
“Skxawng. The hell were you thinking?? You and your brother, always getting into trouble.” You lightly hit the back of his head causing him to hiss.
“I know I know. We just bit off more than we could chew, that’s all.”
You sighed looking at him. If only he knew how much you worry about him while he’s out there.
“You’re lucky it wasn’t worse.” You accepted the bowl Mo’at handed you and began placing the paste on his wound, which caused him to yelp out in pain.
“Aww does the baby need a kiss on the boo boo?” Spider said as stood behind him, taunting him as Lo’ak finally came to join the group.
“I would use yamna bark.” Kiri interjected.
“Oh you would? And who is Tsahik?” Mo’at said while smiling at her granddaughter.
“You are grandmother-move.” She nudged her younger brother out of the way. “You are grandmother. But it stings less.”
You scoffed at her comment.
“I think he should remember this sting for when he wants to do something reckless.” The tent laughed as you continued to apply the medicine.
After things had settled down you sat yourself on the edge of the cave, looking out into the night. It didn’t take long for Neteyam to join on the edge. His thighs touching yours while his eyes scanned your face.
“What’s on your mind, yawntu?”
Your cheeks flush at the nickname. After all this time you still couldn’t get used to it.
“You could have gotten really hurt today Nete, Lo’ak too. Or worse-“
His hand moved to the back of your neck, making you turn to him.
“Hey, I’m okay. With the help of you and my grandmother’s painful remedy.” The two of you chuckled.
“You don’t need to worry. I’ll stay out of trouble, I wouldn’t want this pretty face to be stained with tears.” His thumb moved to gently stroke your cheek, making you smile.
Times like these you really thought he reciprocated your feelings. But he was just being nice, right?
Translations
Yawntu- loved one
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lightandheatao3 · 4 months
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The Bunker - Criminal Minds
Chapter 11: The Bolt
Summary: Spencer Reid wakes up in a locked bunker to find half the current BAU and two of its departed members unconscious on the floor. The old team is back together but the reunion is not what any of them would have wished for. An Unsub from their past has decided it's time they all stop keeping secrets, even if it means exposing them by force.
Hotch and Derek have been pulled back into a world they tried to escape. Emily, Rossi, and JJ are doing their best to keep it together. Spencer is falling apart.
AKA a found family is reunited and forced to go through the most nightmarish version of family therapy imaginable.
Set months after the end of Criminal Minds: Evolution. Evolution referenced, but not necessary to understand the story.
Chapter Summary: Spencer has a plan. Derek wants to talk.
Read chapter 11 on AO3 or under the cut. Please check AO3 for content warnings. All comments and reblogs are extremely appreciated <3 I would love to know what you like about the story :)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10
He twisted the bolt, gripping it with all the meager strength he could muster. For the first time, he was truly glad that the others had refused to let his muscles atrophy into nothing, despite his protests.
His finger tips had developed calluses over the past five food delivery cycles since he’d started working the thick, entrenched bolt loose. It was spot welded, but water had dripped onto it and anointed it with blessed rust.
In stolen moments, when nobody was paying enough attention to wonder why he lingered just that little bit longer at the sink, he worked away at it.
Now, as they all slept, he gave it one final twist.
Then it was his.
The rusted, two inch long, half inch thick bolt sat in his palm looking entirely not worth the effort. It was brittle, but it had a surprisingly sharp edge on the bottom.
It was fine. It was good enough to serve its purpose.
Now, it was all about the timing.
The next delivery would be soon after they all woke up, if everything went to schedule. They had built their sleep cycle around it, so it resembled something like breakfast.
He had to make his move when he knew she’d be watching.
Quick enough that the others couldn’t stop him. Effective enough that she would have to intervene immediately, without having time to gas them.
A shuffling sound from somewhere to his left alerted him that one of the others was awake.
Just in time, he deftly slid the bolt into the hole he’d created in the elastic waistband of the scrub pants the Unsub had dressed him in. The years of practicing sleight of hand as a child had payed dividends throughout his adult life.
“What are you doing?” whispered a groggy Derek, leaning against the empty door frame of the tiny, prison-like bathroom.
“Just needed some water,” he whispered back. “Couldn’t sleep.”
It felt like they were meeting in the dead of night, like it should be dark. It reminded him of the whispered moments they used to have in dark motel rooms on cases when neither of them could keep the nightmares at bay.
Derek folded his arms over his chest. “I’m glad I got you alone for a second,” he said, glancing backwards to where the others soundly slept. “I want to talk to you.”
He sat down on the closed toilet lid like it was a chair. Spencer considered dodging past him, but instead he leaned back so he was sitting on the edge of the low sink. It almost felt like they had privacy.
“What’s up?” asked Spencer, like they’d just run into each other at the water cooler at work.
Whatever Derek had to say, hopefully he would get it over with quickly. He wanted to care, really. He did. But he had more important things to focus on than trying to conjure up his absentee feelings for a heart to heart.
“I just wanted to say… You know I love you, right?” he said, nudging Spencer's leg with his foot. “I know I’ve been kind of a dick, but it’s just because…” he looked out at the grey concrete and the solid steel door. “Well. You know.”
Spencer softened. Something close to sympathy crept its way through the invisible glass bubble that was separating him from the rest of them, and he almost felt it for real. “I know,” he said. “Me too.”
“Good,” said Derek. “Because I’m worried about you, pretty boy. You’re really freaking me out.”
Spencer stared at him blankly. “I think you have bigger things to worry about right now, man.”
Derek huffed. “Maybe. But I’ve got a bad feeling. I mean, none of us are really okay right now. I get that. I know I’m not. But you’re being weird, even for you. Do you realize you’ve stopped quoting statistics at us? You’ve been in the hospital recovering from gunshot wounds and still quoting stats at me,” he said. “I don’t like you being this quiet.”
“I don’t have any good statistics for this situation,” he said. “Do you really want to hear the chances of us being found alive after so long?”
“It’s not just that,” said Derek. “It’s like a part of you has shut off. I’m worried. I’ve seen you do some reckless, self-destructive shit over the years, especially when you get it into your head that it’s the only way to protect other people.”
Spencer’s mind raced. Could he tell what he was planning? What was he getting at?
“I’m fine,” he said. “I mean, not fine, but you don’t have to worry. It’s like you said, withdrawal has screwed up my neurotransmitter levels, and the lack of vitamin D and iron aren’t doing any of us any favors. But I’ll be okay once we get out of here,” he explained, trying his hardest to sound reassuring despite his complete inability to believe for a single second that he was ever going to be okay again.
Derek smiled tightly, straining to keep his voice light, even as his nails dug into his biceps. “I want to believe that, pretty boy, I really do. But the thing is, I think you were pretty fucked up before we ever woke up in this godforsaken bunker, and that you’ve probably been seriously depressed for a long time, because the thing is, happy people don’t do heroin. And I think if we get out of here, you fully intend to go right back to shooting up.”
He sounded like he was speaking to one of his kids. Spencer had been there once when his son had come home from kindergarten crying because another boy pushed him, and Derek had sounded exactly like this when he tried to talk his son through how to handle the situation.
“What’s your point?” he asked.
He hadn’t intended to sound petulant or sarcastic, but even he could hear how it came across.
Derek grit his teeth. When he spoke, he forgot to whisper. “My point, is if that’s the only future you’re capable of imagining for yourself right now, you might not be motivated to do everything in your power to keep yourself safe.”
Spencer stood up straight.
He knew. Derek knew.
“Whatever happens, Derek, you have to know that I am doing everything I can to get you out of here. To get all of us out,” he said calmly, stepping towards the doorway and the main room.
Derek put his arm across the exit, blocking him in.
“Give it to me, Spencer.”
"Give you what?" he shot back.
"Man, I saw you. You might be quick, but I know what to look for. Just hand it over."
The sound of the others stirring caught both of their attention. “What’s going on?” came JJ’s voice.
As soon as Derek turned his head, he took his shot.
He ducked under his arm and darted into the room, pressing himself against the corner farthest from the half-awake group.
Derek cursed and swung around to face him. The others scrambled to their feet.
“What’s going on?” repeated JJ urgently.
“You’re the one who said it first,” pointed out Spencer, still focused on Derek. “We need to do something extreme.”
“We doesn’t have to mean you, Spencer,” he said, stepping forward.
“Then who? You? I don’t have kids waiting for me to come home to them.”
Four sets of eyes widened in shock and comprehension.
“What are you doing, Spencer?” asked Emily, raising her hands and taking a step forward.
Faster than the rest of them could get to him, he pulled out the bolt, pressing the sharp, ragged end to his wrist. “Stay away!” he shouted.
JJ lunged for him. He pressed harder, ready to move, but Derek grabbed her and hauled her back.
“Everyone calm down!” yelled Derek.
“Spencer, what the fuck are you doing?” shouted Emily, who for the very first time since waking up in the bunker, looked like she was about to fall apart.
He glanced up at the camera. “I wanted to time this better,” he muttered, mostly to himself. “Emily, I’m sorry,” he said, meeting her eyes.
“I know what you’re trying to do,” said Hotch, putting a hand on Emily’s shoulder and as she clasped her hands over her mouth and fought back tears. “This isn’t the way, Reid. We don’t even know if they’re watching.”
“No, but it’s close to the next delivery and she likes to time them for dramatic effect. Have you noticed that? I’m willing to bet she is watching. Besides, I’m on camera now. We won’t have another shot at this.”
Rossi raised his hands. “It doesn’t need to be you. I’m a lot older. I’ve got less on the line.”
“Nobody is doing anything,” said JJ furiously. “This is ridiculous! Don’t you fucking dare, Spencer, or I swear to god I will never forgive you.”
“I’m sorry,” he said again. “There’s no time to discuss it.” He glanced up at the vent, afraid he had already waited too long. “This instrument is imprecise, but if I do it right I'll have three to five minutes. That number goes up if you put pressure on the wound. She won’t have time to knock you out if she wants to save me, so someone is going to be coming into this room. Be ready for it." He took a ragged, steadying breath. "She’s not going to let me die. It’s going to be alright.”
He shot one last guilty look at Emily. This was cruel on all of them, but after everything, it felt like it was cruelest on her.
“You promised me you wouldn’t do this to me,” she said through silent tears.
“I’m sorry,” he said one last time.
He pressed down on the bolt, driving the sharp edge into his wrist hard, and dragging it up his forearm in one swift and violent motion. No hesitation.
Somewhere, a vast distance away, he heard screaming.
He was utterly transfixed as dark, shining red came pouring out of his arm.
After a small eternity, there were people, grasping at him, pulling at his body. The waterfall on his arm was covered by a pair of strong, dark hands, holding his skin together like Atlas held the world.
Oh.
Oh.
There it was.
All those things he hadn’t been feeling, there it all was.
The edges of his vision darkened. All around him there was noise, but he couldn’t extrapolate meaning from any of it.
All that existed in the world was the unyielding, crushing hopelessness that came rushing into his body with every drop of blood that rushed out.
Had this unbearable, all encompassing sadness been with him the whole time?
He’d been telling himself the same thing that he told the rest of them. He was doing this because somebody had to.
He was doing it because he had the least to lose.
He didn’t really believe she’d let him die if she could help it, and if she couldn’t help it, then at least he’d given them a chance. It was a noble sacrifice.
“Hang on, Spencer,” came a voice from somewhere above him. “Just hold on.”
“I’m sorry,” he said again.
As consciousness slipped away from him, he finally understood that the awful truth.
He realized that he didn't really want to wake up.
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kimaswork · 4 months
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Could you pretty pleeeeeaaaassseee do a work of Thoma x Male!reader?? Or a Tighnari x Male!reader?
I love them both so choosing between them was really hard, buuuuut I had to go with my fennec fox baby. For the good luck on hopefully losing a 50/50 to him lol
"Dammit..." You mumbled under your breath as you picked through bushes to get berries. You were currently gathering ingredients for Gandharva Villes... medic? He was a the main forest troupe, leader, person, thingy, you didn't keep track of his titles very well. But you knew he was important and that he took care of the forest, the scouts, and most importantly, you.
Tighnari had recently started dating you, having asked you out nearly two or three months prior.
Hearing your quiet curse with his fox-like ears from the other side of the river, his head perked up. "You okay over there Lo?" He asked, his voice clearly concerned.
'Lo' was his nickname for you. You were his little lotus that bloomed and grew more beautiful everyday. You adored the name, it quickly became one of your favorites.
"Yea- Just these darn thorns, always pokin' me..." You responded, your voice growing more quiet near the end as your answer turned more into complaining.
Softly chuckling he walked through the shallow water, the ripples making the nearby golden bass swim away. "Here-" He said softly, his voice smooth. You could tell he was close by the way you could feel his warm breath on your neck, making a light blush creep up your cheeks. Turning you saw he was giving you his gloves. "Oh babe no, you need those-" You began before promptly getting cut off. "My hands will be fine Lo, I've gotten scratches before. But I want your hands to be okay, Archons knows how clumsy you can be." He says with a playful smirk as he pulls the gloves onto your hands for you, not giving you another chance to refute.
"And I don't want to have to treat my little lotus for a few scratches if I can help it." He mumbles as he pulls your hands up to his mouth and kisses your knuckles, his long ears sticking out and tickling your nose as he did so, making you laugh.
Once he had finished with his affections he released your hand and placed a gentle kiss on your forehead. "There- all better." He states confidently.
A quick glance to your basket later and he has you by the hand, walking to another bush full of berries. "This one here is full of ripe ones!" He says as he kneels down and picks at the miniscule fruits with you, throwing them into the basket.
Time passed slowly as the two of you gather ingredients for the infirmary, but you were content, you were with your boyfriend, so you saw this as a date. Over the span of multiple hours the pair of you gathered berries, lotus', sweet flowers, mints, and many other plants. Each plant the two of you picked was a new conversation starter, 'Nari had so many facts about medicinal properties and plants to tell you and you just let him go on. Truth be told you had no clue what he was going on about, but his voice was so soothing to you, so you simply listened to his rambles.
After the sun began going down you returned to Gandharva Ville to be met with a warm welcome from Collei. "Master Tighnari!" She said with a smile. He smiles back at her and the two began chatting away which had a massive grin crossing your face.
You were so thankful for the traveler, thanks to them Irminsul was saved and Elizar is a disease of the past. You had never seen Collei so upbeat and happy before, you were estatic you could see her as such.
You went to Tighnaris hut and began making the both of you dinner to share, this had became your routine. Tonight you were feeling a but lazy however, so you made simple chicken mushroom skewers. As you were setting the table 'Nari came in and helped you finish up then sat down to eat with you.
Mundane as the day was, it was sweet. Being with your boyfriend made your heart soar and it only got better when he said. "It's late. You should stay the night."
Oh Archons. When you say your heart was soaring.... Clearly you said yes and before you knew it the two of you were curled up in his cot, all cuddled up and cozy. His fluffy tail was draped over your waist like an extra blanket and your arms were around his neck.
Peeking over him you saw you still wore his gloves. "Oh, one moment." You whispered in his ear as you sat up to peel off the gloves and set them on his nightstand before lying back down in his arms with a smile. "Better?" He asked. You responded with a nod. "Thanks for letting me use your gloves, though I'm sure I would've been fine with a few scratches. Even if I had to wait in line to get patched up, I'd live." You chuckled. With a playful roll of his eyes and a shake of his head he kissed your nose to grab your attention.
"Lo, you wouldn't wait in any line for me to patch you up and of course I'd give you my gloves." He says, his gentle green eyes gazing into your soul. "You are my priority. My main priority. My first and foremost." He states, honesty in his words.
You knew you loved this man, but now you were pretty sure you wanted to marry him on the spot. He tenderly kissed you before pulling you close and cuddling you to sleep for the night.
I think I might like to try to get into trying some headcannons of some of the characters, so gimme ideas of scenarios and characters that you'd like to see!
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ginovasims · 1 year
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GI'S DISNEY PRINCESS CHALLENGE
A twelve generation legacy challenge based on the current thirteen Disney Princesses. Each generation will have a different set of goals and requirements before the new heir takes over.  Disclosure: I know there are other Disney Princess Challenges out there, but I wanted to create my own which I feel fit the films more and flowed nicely between each princess and generation. I've tried my best to add as many game features as I can to match their stories, but a lot of it may be down to your own storytelling. Some details have been left out because I don't want the challenge to be too strict, or all our games would be the exact same! Feel free to adjust any rules as you see fit for your stories, it's supposed to be fun. Tell your own stories and add your own elements, but my rules should hopefully help guide you. 
As you may know with a lot of the older princess films, the mothers often die when the princess is quite young. I know a lot of people hate the idea of their sims dying, so if you would like to forgo this rule, that is fine! I would instead recommend moving the mother out of the household and having no contact with them again.
Every generation has a prologue and then a set of rules. The prologues are there to establish the generations, and typically require more storytelling and gameplay with family members. You can use the prologues in any way you would like to set up your princesses' stories. The requirements are for when the main part of their stories would begin.
Rules:
Aging must be turned on, but you can have it at any length you wish.
Each goal must be met before the new heir takes over, unless specified in the rules.
Despite being 'princesses', the heirs don't have to be female. You can have any gender follow the requirements. Same goes for sexuality and romantic partners. You don't have to strictly follow the films in this sense unless you want to.
The Princesses can look as much or as little like their film-selves as you would like. Same for their names.
Mods and custom content can be used to help the story and gameplay.
The generations will offer three traits, you do not need the heir to have all three traits, but they MUST have at least TWO of them.
If you do not have all of the packs required to complete the requirements for each generation, either find a similar alternative or skip that rule.
If you do this challenge, please credit me (@ginovasims).
(OPTIONAL) Use the hashtag #GiPrincessChallenge on tweets, posts, and videos.
Thank yous:
Once again there are some lovely simmers I would like to thank for helping me with this challenge!
@SimBexBlue - you inspired me to start writing my own version of the challenge after I started watching your LP on YouTube! You have been there in DMs from the start and giving me feedback and ideas, and you’ve always been so enthusiastic and keen.
@Jackiester626 - your notes and feedback for each generation were so detailed and helpful and honestly really inspiring! You put in a lot of effort to help me out and it’s very appreciated.
@nicolesulsul - you sent me some excellent additions for the challenge which helped pad out the generations and make them more like the films. Your interest in the challenge has always been so encouraging! WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/-jSmoQYqHZk I posted a video talking about this new challenge and created all thirteen princesses based on their original animation film-selves! You can also download my versions of the Disney Princesses for FREE on my patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/sims-4-disney-84319256
THE GENERATIONS
Generation 1 - Snow White
Optional Prologue (child):
Snow's mother dies when Snow is a child. Her father should remarry a jealous/evil woman. When Snow becomes a teenager, her father must die so that Snow is left with only her stepmother to raise her.
Requirements:
Have an awful relationship with your stepmother who makes you do all the cooking and housework.
Never leave your home neighbourhood. 
Meet a teen sim in your neighbourhood who you build a friendship and romance with, but never kiss/woohoo.
Move into a cottage as a YA, and have no social interaction with anyone (including no contact with stepmother or boyfriend/girlfriend). This includes never answering the door to strangers.
Adopt seven toddlers (dwarves) in one go.
Give the children traits that match their dwarf persona (i.e. happy = cheerful, sleepy = lazy etc.).
Never eat apples or anything to do with apples.
When the dwarves are teens, you can finally meet your partner again. (If you would like, you can have them rescue you from your stepmother who visited your cottage)
Get married and move into your lover's castle.
Have one daughter (Cinderella).
Master parenting and baking skills.
Complete Big Happy Family aspiration.
Traits: Cheerful, Loves Outdoors, Good Aspiration: Big Happy Family
Generation 2 - Cinderella
Optional Prologue (child):
Snow White dies when Cinderella is a child. Cinderella's father should remarry an older lady who already has two daughters. Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters hate her and are always mean to her when her father isn't around. As if history repeats itself, Cinderella's father must die when she is a teenager, leaving Cinderella to be raised by her stepmother who hates her.
Requirements: 
Must live in the attic and do all the housework and care for the animals.
Have completely negative relationships with your stepmother and stepsisters.
Knit and wear your own clothes.
Never leave the home lot.
As a YA, you must sneak off to the magic realm in the middle of the night and meet all the sages and another powerful (but evil) spellcaster.
Befriend all four spellcasters - this is important for the next generation.
Attend a party off your home lot, disguised so your family doesn't recognise you - they must also be guests.
Meet and fall in love with someone at the party, but you must be home before midnight.
You must wait for the person you met at the party to knock on your door at home before you can run away from your family.
Get married and have one daughter (Aurora).
Master cooking, knitting and cross-stitch skills before being rescued by your lover.
Complete Soulmate aspiration.
Traits: Romantic, Neat, Animal Enthusiast  Aspiration: Soulmate
Generation 3 - Aurora
Optional Prologue (infant): Cinderella must throw a baby shower when Aurora is born, inviting the three sages, but not the fourth 'evil' spellcaster. Cinderella and the spellcaster must lose all relationship. Cinderella must send infant Aurora to live with the three sages in Glimmerbrook to protect her from the other spellcaster.
Requirements: 
Have no contact or relationship with anyone except the three sages. This includes your parents.
Meet a mersim as a teen in the Glimmerbrook forest. Fall in love with them but never kiss/woohoo, and they can never visit your home.
Never leave Glimmerbrook until your YA birthday.
As a YA, meet with the 'evil' spellcaster. She drains you of all energy and traps you in the attic of your family home. (Aurora is now unplayable until the curse is lifted)
Each spellcaster must defeat the spellcaster in a duel, and at least two of them must win.
Sages must find your lover naturally and they are the only one who can break the curse. Aurora is playable again. (The lover must either be found by searching the worlds/neighbourhoods, or they can arrive without being invited. You cannot call them over, or directly visit their home lot)
Marry your lover and move to Sulani.
Become a mermaid.
Have seven mermaid daughters, close in age, the last one being Ariel. (You may need to live separately from your lover as the household limit will be maxed with seven children)
Master singing and dancing skills.
Complete Beach Life aspiration, but you can only start working on it when you become a mermaid.
Traits: Loner, Family-oriented, Lazy Aspiration: Beach Life
Generation 4 - Ariel
Optional Prologue (infant): Aurora must die when Ariel becomes an infant, leaving Ariel's father to raise his daughters alone. He must befriend another mermaid who will help with all the children. When Ariel becomes a child, her father must cut ties with this mermaid and not allow the children any contact with her.
  Requirements:
Live on the small island in Sulani.
Only have friendships with mermaids on your island.
Befriend a dolphin.
As a teen, sneak out every night to visit the mainland and mingle with regular sims.
Meet a regular teen sim who you introduce yourself to, but do not build any friendship or relationship. Leave immediately after you meet them.
Return home and lose friendship with your father - don't enter the red, but have no green left.
Runaway from home and meet the mermaid from your childhood.
This mermaid will help you become a regular sim and find the teen you met before.
Only use romantic interactions with your crush, no friendly/funny interactions.
Discover the mermaid who helped you flirting with your love interest. Lose all friendship with them.
When you have a full romance bar with your love interest, only then can you kiss them, and after this, you can start using friendly interactions. 
Rebuild a relationship with your father.
Stay human, get married and have one daughter (Belle).
Complete at least two collections - ideally at least one from Island Living.
Master singing skill while still a mermaid.
Master fitness skill but only ever by swimming.
Complete The Curator aspiration.
Traits: Socially Awkward, Child of the Ocean, Clumsy Aspiration: The Curator
Generation 5 - Belle
Optional Prologue (child): Ariel must die when Belle is a child. Belle and her father move to a small town and he must focus on robotics. Belle mustn't have any friends growing up. She should spend her time with her father and reading books. There is an attractive teen, Gaston, in the small town who has a crush on Belle, but she has no interest in him and she always rejects his advances.
  Requirements: 
On your YA birthday, your father unintentionally runs into a rampaging werewolf.
You must move in with the werewolf in their castle, leaving your father alone.
Have a fully negative (-100) relationship with the werewolf.
You can never leave the castle.
Befriend the maid and butler, and have no friendships outside of the castle.
Slowly build a friendship with the werewolf.
Only when the friendship bar is in the green can you start looking for a cure for the werewolf.
Start romancing when you are friends, but do not kiss or woohoo.
When you and the werewolf are lovebirds, Gaston visits and he must fight the werewolf.
Only after the werewolf beats Gaston in a fight can they take the cure and become a regular sim.
Have your first kiss with your lover now they aren't a werewolf anymore.
Marry your lover, have one daughter (Jasmine), and have your father move into the castle with you all.
Have a perfect quality rose bush.
Write books either as a freelance author or as a hobby, but do not join the writer career.
Master writing and research and debate skills.
Complete Bestselling Author aspiration.
Traits: Bookworm, Loyal, Genius Aspiration: Bestselling Author
Generation 6 - Jasmine
Optional Prologue (child):  Belle must die when Jasmine is a child. Jasmine's father is still scared of the outside world because of his past, so should keep Jasmine locked in the castle for her safety. When Jasmine's elderly grandfather dies, Jasmine's father is left alone to raise her. He must enlist the help of an adult spellcaster, Jafar, to help him look after Jasmine.
Requirements:
Have no friendships outside of your family. Your best friend is your ginger tabby cat.
Go on blind dates that your father arranges, and always end them by making the other sim angry.
Sneak out in a disguise to a community lot and befriend a poor sim with the kleptomaniac trait.
Go on a date with them the next day, who is now dressed entirely differently in fancy clothes.
End the date with a kiss.
Jafar finds you the next day and traps you in a room with your father. (Jasmine is now temporarily unplayable)
Your lover arrives with a friend who is a spellcaster, who must duel and defeat Jafar. (When Jafar is defeated, Jasmine is playable again)
Marry your lover as a YA and stop living as royalty. Move to the forest and live off the grid with at least two other YAs who have one baby.
Have one daughter (Pocahontas).
Master charisma and mischief skills.
Complete Chief of Mischief aspiration.
Traits: Hot-Headed, Self-Assured, High Maintenance Aspiration: Chief of Mischief 
Generation 7 - Pocahontas
Optional Prologue (infant): Jasmine must die when Pocahontas is an infant. Pocahontas should be raised by her father and the tribe they all live with. There is a young boy who is a similar age to Pocahontas. The two must grow up as best friends.  
Requirements:
As a teen, get engaged to your childhood best friend, but never kiss or woohoo them, and have zero romance - you can cheat this up to get engaged, but then remove all romance after.
Befriend a stranger in the forest who is completely opposite to you, in  both appearance and personality.
Quickly build a friendship and romance with the stranger, but do not kiss or woohoo.
Your tribe must hate the stranger's family, so continue your relationship in secret.
Get caught with the stranger, so your fiance fights them.
End your romantic relationship with the stranger and never have contact with them again.
Break off your engagement with your childhood friend
As a YA, fall in love with an adult sim who is a retired soldier.
Move in with them and their mother.
Get married and have one daughter (Mulan).
Live off the grid your whole life until you move out and get married.
Master painting, gardening and fishing skills.
Complete Angling Ace aspiration.
Traits: Love the Outdoors, Ambitious, Green Fiend Aspiration: Angling Ace
Generation 8 - Mulan
Optional Prologue (child): Mulan never has any interest in tradition or expectations. She grows up very active and playful, and never has any romantic relationships as a teen. Mulan has a strict relationship with her mother, who wants her to be more 'normal', but has a stronger and closer relationship with her father.
Requirements: 
As a YA, completely change your appearance and move out of your family world.
Move in with a group of men, who are all in the military, and join the military yourself.
Befriend all of the men, and develop a crush on the leader of the group.
Constantly try and prove yourself by pushing the limits and becoming the strongest soldier in your household.
Fight your enemy who is in a rival household and win. After this fight, you must change your appearance back to how it was before.
Have an argument with the leader, who kicks you out of the household. You must return home to your family.
Sneak out one night to see your friends, and find them with the rival group. Fight and defeat all of the rivals, ending with your enemy.
Move back into the household with your soldier friends, who have accepted you back for saving them.
Fall in love with the leader and both quit your jobs in the military.
Marry your lover and have one daughter (Tiana).
Max your body muscles using the training bot machine.
Master fitness and wellness skills.
Complete Bodybuilder aspiration.
Traits: Active, Loyal, Bro Aspiration: Bodybuilder
Generation 9 - Tiana
Optional Prologue (child): Tiana should have a very close relationship with her father growing up. After leaving the military, he wants to pursue his dream of opening a restaurant, so he should join the culinary career. Before he can reach level 5 of this career, he must quit and instead join the military again and die. Tiana should be left to be raised by her mother, Mulan, who is poor since she and her husband left the military.
Requirements:
Cook with your father as often as possible before he dies.
As a teen, join the barista part-time career.
Have a childhood best friend who is rich and very different to you, but stay close your whole life.
At a costume party dressed as a princess, meet a royal sim who has been cursed with the curse of repulsiveness. You are now also cursed.
Befriend an old female spellcaster and a musician in a bayou/forest.
Befriend and romance the other cursed sim.
Visit Selvadorada with the cursed sim and explore the jungle.
Only when your romance and friendship is full can both of your curses be lifted.
The spellcaster officiates your wedding.
Open a restaurant using your new partner's wealth.
Have your restaurant reach at least four stars.
Become royal and move into your partner's castle and have one daughter (Rapunzel).
Master cooking and gourmet cooking skills.
Complete Master Chef aspiration.
Traits: Foodie, Ambitious, Overachiever Aspiration: Master Chef
Generation 10 - Rapunzel 
Optional Prologue (infant): Because of her parents' curse and connection to magic, Rapunzel is born with powers and long golden hair. An old lady kidnaps Rapunzel when she is an infant, running away to a locked tower, hidden away from Tiana's castle. The old lady, Gothel, is immediately young again, and will always stay this way when she is around Rapunzel.
Requirements:
Never go to school or work, and never leave the confines of the tower.
Have no relationships with anyone except Gothel, and this must be negative.
Have long blonde hair your whole life.
Spend your time playing guitar, painting, baking, singing, gardening, playing chess - anything to pass the time!
On your YA birthday, when Gothel is at work, a stranger makes their way into your tower. Quickly befriend the stranger and escape with them to the woods and eventually the town.
Make lots of friends along the way, and slowly build a romance with the stranger, but not kissing or woohooing.
Get found by Gothel, and both of you are trapped back in the tower.
Gothel kills your lover, but you are able to bring them back with a death flower which you have grown.
When your lover is brought back to life, you must immediately change your appearance to have short brown hair.
Gothel instantly becomes an elder and dies of old age - you will probably want to cheat this!
Move back to your family castle with your lover, meeting your parents again for the first time.
Marry your lover and have two daughters, close in age (Elsa and Anna).
Master guitar, painting, baking and singing skills.
Complete Renaissance Sim aspiration.
Traits: Creative, Paranoid, Cheerful Aspiration: Renaissance Sim
Generation 11 - Elsa and Anna
Optional Prologue (children):
Elsa inherits her mother's magical abilities and is born a spellcaster. Anna has no abilities, but the girls still have a strong relationship. The girls' parents are worried about Elsa's abilities after Anna gets hurt one day. They lock Elsa in her bedroom and Anna isn't allowed in. When the girls are teenagers, their parents both die.
Requirements: 
Elsa (E) and Anna (A) must never have any friends or relationships growing up. They have zero relationship with each other. Neither girl can attend school.
(A) when you become a YA, meet a stranger and instantly become friends and start romancing. Get engaged on the same day.
(E) throw a party honouring your new job and invite Anna's new fiance.
(E) argue with Anna about her engagement and run away to the mountains in Mt. Komorebi.
(A) befriend a stranger in Mt. Komorebi while looking for your sister.
(E) freeze your sister when she finds you (chillio spell). While Anna is frozen, her fiance arrives and argues with Elsa. Elsa is trapped in a basement by Anna's fiance.
(A) return home after thawing and let Elsa out. Rebuild your friendship and become best friends.
(A) breakup and fight with your fiance. Start romancing the stranger from Mt. Komorebi.
(E) stay living in the castle and make friends with people in the world.
(A) marry your new lover and move in with their elderly mother and family in Sulani.
(A) have one daughter (Moana).
(E) master singing skill and learn all the untamed spells.
(E) complete Inner Peace aspiration, but only after becoming best friends with your sister.
(A) master charisma and comedy skills.
(A) complete Friend of the World aspiration.
Traits (Elsa): Loner, Proper, Erratic Aspiration (Elsa): Inner Peace Traits (Anna): Goofball, Outgoing, Family-Oriented Aspiration (Anna): Friend of the World
Generation 12 - Moana
Optional Prologue (toddler):  Moana grows up in Sulani with her whole family. She loves the water and is closest to her grandmother, more than her own parents. The island is filthy and destroyed by environmental changes. Moana vows to make a change when she is older, but her parents think she should focus on the family and the land they live on. Moana's grandmother agrees that she should go off and follow her dream, but she dies when Moana is a teen.
Requirements: 
As a teen, leave your family to clean Sulani. Have no contact with them until the island is saved.
Meet a YA man on the island, but have a negative relationship to begin with. 
Work together with the man to clean Sulani, and turn your negative relationship into a completely positive one.
Join the conservationist career.
Become best friends with the man.
Find The Heart of Sulani (treasure collectible).
When the island is clean and you are at level 5 of your career, return home to your family and live off the grid.
When you reach level 5 of the conservationist career, quit and join the civil designer career (green tech branch).
Influence your neighbours to always vote and live in a green neighbourhood.
Master logic and fitness skills.
Complete Eco Innovator aspiration.
Traits: Child of the Islands, Child of the Ocean, Adventurous Aspiration: Eco Innovator
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