#I really need to start making bird ocs or SOMETHING. I have endless love

[randomalistic]

Look at this fucking FREAK !

[papipopsicle]

AFTERTASTE PART SIX

Pairing: Archie Andrews X Short!Reader

Genre: fluff and some angst

Summary: In which two best friends since childhood test whether sex and friendship can co-exist without causing conflict. Including OC's Flick and Cherry, a bisexual and lesbian in a sapphic relationship who are best friends of Y/N.

Song: Wildflower by 5 Seconds of Summer

Warnings: a high probability for swearing

Words: 1.7K

MASTERLIST

feedback is always appreciated

     "LEONARDO, MICHELANGELO!" An eleven year old Y/N Robins called from her porch door, impatiently tapping a food bowl against the wooden frame she leant against. Behind her, the sun was setting and painted the sky a gorgeous array of pinks and oranges, sweeping together like watercolours. She looked out on the street impatiently, finding its sleeping state both calming and unnerving. Elm Street was never noisy, but after three years of living there, the girl had realised it wasn't a place of silence either.

And she was completely right. A distant, yet soft, meow grew ever closer, finally appearing around the side of a bush. Y/N grinned, affectionately calling out for the birman to go find his dinner, "C'mere Angelo, that's it boy!"

He trotted past her up into the house where his found his dinner waiting.

"Leo!" Her small voice called out as loud as it could into the cool evening air. He had wandered off earlier that same day to enjoy the Riverdale summer heat elsewhere, and the Robins family didn't think anything of it. Just as her mouth opened to call out the name again, Vegas came barrelling out from the door of the Andrews household, across the street to her side with Mary and Archie following.

The Andrews matriarch noticed the empty food bowl, "Is everything alright, Y/N/N?" She asked in her usual professional voice, but the girl knew from experience how much love and warmth it really held. Elodie told her about Leonardo's disappearance and how it wasn't uncommon in this kind of weather, but he could be getting a bit hungry.

Mary handed the dog leash to her son and sent him a secret wink, "Why don't you two walk Vegas together and see if you can find him?"

Excitement had been bubbling through the small town of Riverdale for weeks now anticipating the big Fourth of July celebrations ahead of them. Y/N Robins had planned on keeping up with her old tradition of sleeping in until late afternoon, then rolling out of bed in time to catch the fireworks with her friends. But with with the drunkenly asking Archie to be her boyfriend, which was not something she remembered a few hours later, her plans for this year were flipped on their head. So she found herself getting dressed to go talk things out with her supposedly best friend in a quiet spot next to sweet water river.

With her hair half tied up, and a black denim jacket over her shoulders, Y/N left through the door in her bedroom, and waited on the edge of the pavement until she heard a door across the street open and quietly shut. Any butterflies fluttering in her stomach all but disappeared as Archie turned around and smiled into the early morning sun towards her. It had been three days since they had last seen each other, since the girl confessed she didn't really know what she wanted in the space between them.

He jogged over road, asphalt kicking up under his new Nike trainers, and immediately engulfed Y/N's small frame into his own. The two teenagers walked all the way to the edge of Sweetwater River in the silvery silence of early birds and rustling leaves, their hands every now and again grazing each other and lacing together.

"So," The Andrews boy sighed as he lay against the warm grass, watching as she sat next to him and propped her head up on his chest, "what's going on in that head of yours?"

"Leo!" Y/N's melodic voice rang out across the long stretch of stream. Crystal clear water you could see the smoothness of the rocks which lay underneath if you peaked your head over the bank enough. For some unknown reason, the young cat would always find his way towards some kind of water, even back in Phoenix.

"Hello?" Archie bopped the girl on the tip of her nose as she returned back to reality, evidently not hearing what he'd just asked by the puzzled look her face adorned.

She hummed and gave him her full attention, allowing him to rephrase his previous words. In the back of her mind, Y/N knew exactly what she wanted- to leave high school and go on endless adventures with the boy her head lay upon. She wanted an easy life, away from the eerie little town she called home- to decorate her own house with pictures of smiles and candid memories. But most of all, in that perfect moment, she wanted herself to let go and fall in love with her childhood best friend.

After finding Prince Charming and finding out he was really the one from Shrek and not Cinderella, her faith in true love was shaken at the age of sixteen.

"I'm scared of you hurting me, or doing anything that could possibly hurt you, Arch." Y/N's voice faltered at her blunt honesty, "I meant everything I said, but I don't think I'm over what happened with Chuck last year."

"Tiger," Archie interrupted her thoughts, sitting up slightly leaning back on one hand and using the other to cup her face, "I can't promise we won't ever hurt each other even just a little bit, but whatever happens, we'll learn and grown from it together. I don't think I'll ever fully understand how much that bastard hurt you. But, nothing in this world that's worth having comes easy, life is scary and I'll go through all of the shitty parts twenty three hours a day, if it means I get just one with you smiling up at me."

Half an hour of roaming up and down the river bank had passed before a twisting, nauseous feeling took over the pit of Y/N's stomach. She and her family adored their two fluffy boys, her dad would never admit it but they all heard the little 'goodnights' he'd whisper as he made his way up to bed finally. Though with her parents still working, and Y/S/N desperately needing to finish an assignment due tomorrow, the youngest Robins was the only one able to attend this search and rescue mission.

"What if he's -"

Vegas rubbed his nose against her shin in comfort.

"Y/N/N," A twelve year old Archie cut her off in his usual caring voice, "don't even let your mind go there. He's a little ninja cat he's probably off catching frogs or something."

He grabbed her hand, squeezing it in comfort and heading towards an unexplored area of the forest line. Truth be told, he was meant to be doing English homework with Betty Cooper right about now, but that had slipped his mind as soon as Y/N Robins adorably wonky smile found him across the road.

"Leo!" Y/N's sweet voice called out.

"Leonardo?" Archie followed with Vegas by his side.

"That's the sweetest thing I think I've ever heard." The girl admitted shyly, hiding her rose dusted cheeks by bringing Archie into a tight hug, her head resting in the crook of his neck while her long y/h/c hair tickled his face. It smelt of strawberries and mint in the morning breeze.

"Y/N/N, can I ask you something?" His voice sounded nervous, but as she looked up and nodded, his face held a smirk, "Will you stay my girlfriend?"

She answered with a small kiss, staring into his eyes innocently as her fingers traced his back under his thin t-shirt, about to lift the material from his body. But life had a funny way of throwing challenges their way, making them run before they could walk.

"I think I see him!" Archie handed the leash to his best friend, seeing a patch of grey in between the auburn autumn leaves. Vegas barked and tried to follow after his human, but Y/N managed to stop the Labrador from bounding away by distracting him with ear rubs. Wild growls and hisses could be heard as Archie wrestled the feisty long haired cat into his hoodie clad arms. Then Leonardo hissed so madly, the young boy almost dropped him, "Yep, definitely Leo."

Y/N ran over as fast as she could, dropping the lead as soon as she saw his pumpkin eyes and bare teeth, clearly not a fan of Archie. She grinned widely with glee and got to her tippy toes to kiss Archie's cheek. "You're a life saver!"

As soon as the fluffy animal felt Y/N's little hands rubbing his chin as she took him from the boy's arms, he switched into a completely different cat and started purring.

A gunshot sounded through the open clearing, and before a high pitched scream could escape from Y/N's mouth, Archie saw the terror in her eyes and pulled the petite girl behind him. He scaled the area, unable to see anything but birds fleeing from the unusual noise.

"We need to get out of here." The boy's gravely voice whispered with urgency, picking her up without hesitation and running until his lungs burnt and his trainers once again hit the comfort of tarmac.

"What the fuck was that?" Y/N screeched, her inquisitiveness telling to turn back, but thankfully common sense won that battle. She and Archie found themselves back on the pavement of Elm Street before they knew it.

"Y/N, we didn't see anything, it could've been a car backfiring a street away for all we know." Archie tried to rationalise, but in all honesty he was stuck to his core with dread.

"Right, or someone was just murdered and we could've been next on some psychopaths hit list." Y/N's dark mind shone through as she blurted out her inner monologue. The boy didn't have any words of wisdom, instead he lead her to his front door and brought her into his body. They stayed in their own little world for what could have been hours, thankful they had each other and not allowing themselves to think about what secrets Riverdale was really hiding under it's pretty exterior.

Nothing ever happened in the town with 'pep'.

Betty Cooper awoke early that Saturday morning, ready to get any assignments out of the way to enjoy the weekend ahead. She opened her curtains and tied her hair up into a ponytail, but as she looked out of her window at the beautiful blue skies, she watched in shock at the surprising scene unfolding in front of her. Y/N Robins up on her tippy toes, with Archie Andrews' hands wrapped around her waist as they kissed intensely in what the two thought was privacy.

PART SEVEN

wanna be tagged? just send in an ask x

[ashintheairlikesnow]

can we see chris just having a good day with like some happy stims? he is a huge comfort character for me and seeing an autistic OC who has the same stims i do and stims openly is just. amazing. sorry for no sentence prompt!

Of course, Anon! I know what I’ll do for this one, definitely.

CW: WRU/BBU and some pet whump references but this is pure fluff

Jake looks up, squinting as he hears a sudden thumping from the roof over his head, the kitchen light shaking very slightly. “Good or bad, d’you think?” He asks, and glances over at Kauri, who is leaning his back against the kitchen counter, sipping coffee from a mug shaped like a unicorn, his fingers wrapped around its rainbow tail. One ceramic eye seems locked on Jake.

“Fuck if I know,” Kauri responds, squinting. He’s been awake for twenty minutes and clearly has not had enough coffee yet to join the world under anything but serious protest. “It’s too early for anyone to have strong feelings, Jake.”

“It’s seven,” Jake says, gently, but he can’t help his smile. “You should’ve gone to bed before two, Kaur.”

“Used to be easier staying up all night. When did that change?”

“When you got old.”

Kauri glares at him, and Jake gives him a look of serene innocence in return. “You’re older than I am.”

“Yeah, and I also don’t go to bed at two and get up at six anymore without a damn good reason, now do I?”

Kauri snorts. The thumping starts back up above their heads, and Jake sighs, pushing himself out of his chair. 

“Okay, I’m going to go up there and see what’s going on. He keeps that up, he’ll wake up my household, and not one of them isn’t in dire need of as much sleep as they can get.”

“Mmmn. I’m going to finish this coffee and go back to bed.” When Jake raises an eyebrow, Kauri grins at him. “I didn’t say I would sleep, now did I?”

Jake’s kiss is brief but forceful before he turns to head upstairs and see what has Chris making that kind of noise this early in the morning. It could be good or bad - but things haven’t really been too rough lately. Chris is doing fine in school, his friends are good, he and Laken started talking about living together next year... Jake runs through the list and he can’t find anything of concern, not now, not in this odd period of something like peace. Still, he worries. 

Part of being somebody’s brother, he supposes, and finds a smile playing across his face. The eternal thought of I’m somebody’s big brother, popping in now and then, to remind him that how he started isn’t where he is now, and never has to be.

Chris’s door is closed and Jake knocks politely, the thumping stopping. Chris flings open the door, eyes shining and bright, wearing only his compression shirt and loose pajama pants, clearly interrupted during the process of getting dressed. Behind him, Jake can see a large blue t-shirt laid out on the bed, from the museum he went to with Laken a few weeks ago. It as some kind of dinosaur skeleton in black on the front, like a T-rex but Jake knows it’s not actually a T-Rex. He can’t remember what Chris said it was. Next to the shirt is his stim bracelet and a stim necklace, a flat black bat today instead of his usual feathers. 

As always, Jake hides the wince at the sight of his forehead scar, fading slowly but still too bright and red for his liking. Too permanent. Visible evidence that when it mattered, Jake couldn’t get in to him in time.

“You’re shaking the house,” Jake says, scanning Chris’s expression, but all he sees is sparkling brightness, a smile playing there, fighting his attempts to look serious. “What’s up?”

“He, he called,” Chris says, quick and rushed, and lets go of the door, stepping back, bouncing on the balls of his bare feet on the hardwood floor. “He called, Jake!”

“Who? About what?” Jake steps in, closing the door slowly behind him, leaning back to watch Chris spin and then stop and start bouncing again, almost jumping, his hands flapping rapidly and eyes closed. Jake thinks with a pang of regret about how his longer hair used to float around him like a halo when he was happy like this. Now there’s hardly enough to even move at all.

He’s so fucking excited, though, whatever it is...

“He, he, he-he called!”

“Chris, hey, who called? What’s going on? Is this about getting an apartment? Did Laken hear back from-”

“No!” Chris stops long enough to look at him, breathing hard, but even when he stops bouncing his hands are still moving, almost a blur in the air. He can’t keep his body from moving, and fuck if it isn’t something Jake loves to see. He can still remember the silent statue they’d brought into the house that first rainy night, the frightened, dehumanized rescued teenager that had bloomed into pure sunshine in human form and now Jake watches a grown man who doesn’t police his own excitement. “I mean. No. No, it’s, it’s not... no. Jake, do, do you-... when Laken and I went to to the museum, the natural history museum? Do you remember?”

“Yeah, man, it was a few weeks ago. I don’t-... I don’t follow. How does that-”

“The, the, the Romantic I saw! I, I gave him one of our our numbers, you remember? Do you remember?”

“Yeah... yeah, I do remember you saying-” The full picture hits Jake all at once and he nods, slowly, feeling a smile of his own echo Chris’s expression. “He called? That’s who you mean? The Romantic-”

“Nine texted me,” Chris says, breathless almost, his hands moving, his body bouncing, a low hum coming from him between sentences, fading long enough for him to breathe.

Jake has seen Chris so many versions of happy, but never quite the same as this. The closest is maybe when his college acceptance letter came, when they got the proof that all of Chris’s work for nearly five years had been enough to get him back on track to the life WRU had interrupted.

Not stolen. Not for good. Not now.

“He, he, he he he-he called, he called, they’re gonna go go go get him, they, they, um, they’re gonna go get Rafael, he’s, they’re gonna get him, it worked, it worked it worked it worked-”

Chris flings himself forwards and Jake’s back smacks into the closed door behind him. He lets out a soft ‘oof’ but holds Chris tight, feeling him still moving even now, hands shifting easily into finger-twist-tap-tap-tap on Jake’s sides, his arms. He laughs against Jake’s shoulder, bright and brilliant laughter, and Jake finds himself laughing, too.

“Well, how about that? You did it, Chris.”

“I, I, I did it,” Chris whispers, and he rocks into Jake, and this is so familiar, now, too. “I did it, Jake, I, I did it, it worked, I did it, I, I... I, I helped someone. I, I helped someone get get get get out, I helped someone.”

“You did. I’m fucking proud of you, man.” Jake doesn’t mention that the escapes don’t always go to plan, or how common it is for Romantics specifically to try and go back once they run headfirst into starting over. He doesn’t want to mention it, anyway.

“Do, do, do, do you think I could see him? When they find him somewhere? Do you, you-you think?” Chris pulls back to look up at him, and Jake smiles down. “Will he want to, to see me? Do you think?”

“I think so.” Jake lets him pull back so he can go back to moving, watching Chris full to overflowing with pride in himself and happiness for the other pet, a buzzing energy he doesn’t hesitate, not by now, to allow to find its own way out. “I know I would, if it were me you saved.”

Chris pauses and looks over at him. “I would, too. Save, save you. I would. If it it it were you.”

“I know. What are brothers for?” He’s rewarded with another dazzling smile. “I’ll tell Kauri you need to shake the house for a while longer, okay?”

Chris wrinkles his nose. “Why, why is Kauri up? We didn’t stop watching the-the-the movie until two.”

“Yeah.” Jake grins moving back out the door into the hallway. “And he’s regretting all his choices today. Tell Nine I said hey.”

He closes the door again and moves back to the stairs, unaware that at the end of the hall, Eli’s door is cracked open and the quietest current member of the house stares out at his back, mouthing Nine?

Then Eli closes the door.

Jake gets downstairs to find Kauri staring outside at a tree. “Hey, Kaur, so-”

“I hate that bird,” Kauri says, and takes another sip. “It’s too early to be so fucking cheerful.”

-

Tagging: @burtlederp , @finder-of-rings , @endless-whump , @whumpfigure , @astrobly @newandfiguringitout , @doveotions , @pretty-face-breaker , @gonna-feel-that-tomorrow @boxboysandotherwhump  , @oops-its-whump  @cubeswhump ,  @whump-tr0pes  @downriver914 @vickytokio @whumpiary

Rafael appeared in these three drabbles

[miekasa]

💉 in the case of erwintholomew, our most esteemed blonde dad

before the pandemic, they barely interacted. erwin was levi’s friend after all. although the rest of the gang had bonded with oc, erwin was less visible. he was polite of course, charming even! in uni days (erwin works in corporate now, so his major is business/econ/accounting whatever yall want!), every single history and literature professor fell in love with erwin. as did the barista at the school cafe, the friday night guard, the park street sweepers, and every member of the tai chi ladies club who practiced during weekends at the park where he made his morning run. he always greeted them and yelled “great form, keep it up, ladies!” when he passed by.

of course he tried to turn up the charm on oc (old habit). but. but. oc was just. unaffected. she treated him no differently from the others in his friend group. no swooning or giggling or bashful smiles. she didn’t even blush when he tried his smoulder while offering her some of his enhanced fruit smoothie (enhanced with spinach and kale). she laughed and declined, opting instead for a berry smoothie that she loaded with full-fat yogurt and honey. he was aghast. and levi said oc was a doctor? (levi might have been laughing silently in the background. hange was full-on cackling while moblit was trying to shush them.) he didn’t dwell on it much, it’s not like they saw each other a lot. but then the pandemic struck. being confined to one living complex meant he was lucky to see his friends still. they were at levi’s, watching a movie, when it happens.

oc walks through the door and hange yells “hiiiiii!” she waves at them tiredly. and starts stripping. at the door. in front of everyone. erwin’s blood pressure spikes. his face goes red. he’s staring with his mouth half open, thick brows knitted together. levi snaps his fingers to shake him out of it. moblit is tapping his shoulder more forcefully by the minute while hange has begun asking oc about her day. they’re talking amiably as if oc wasn’t by the door, in her underwear, spraying her things down with alcohol. she catches erwin’s staring and laughs out loud. by this time, moblit has hidden behind the couch and levi has buried his head in his hands from secondhand embarrassment. oc asks him if he’s never seen people in bikinis. “it not as if a bra and undies covers anything less!”. (erwin will later be relieved that she understood him and did not pin him for a creep). hange says erwin just doesn’t function like a regular human. he’s more of an intergalactic species with elements of dad-ness to him.

hange: he’s kind of like a DILF but also a dad!

moblit audibly groans in embarrassment. oc giggles and walks to the bathroom to shower like nothing happened. levi and hange both give erwin a slap, and that pulls him out of it.

levi: you’re redder than a hot cheeto, your elderly highness

erwin: what’s a DILF?

a few headcanons of their relationship:

he still gets flustered seeing oc strip down after work. he fainted once when hange began talking about oc’s bra and the little birds embroidered on her underwear (on her butt). oc sighs and just tells levi to elevate erwin’s legs and let him smell something pungent. moblit has a picture of him passed out. it’s printed and framed on hange’s shelf.

he almost popped a blood vessel when oc once asked him what was the difference between debit and debt and dividends.

oc: i’m a science nerd, erwin, i don’t know jack shit about business jargon!

erwin: these are accounting terms! they’re totally different!

oc: to-ma-to, to-mah-to?

erwin just really has to ask. really. because he’s erwin. “

erwin: do you ever think of a different line of work? i mean, it is a very scary virus and a pandemic

oc: erwin, i went through a decade of academia for this. still going through it. and i need to pay rent and put food on the table!

levi is rolling his eyes in the background because this little shit said that with her whole chest while she was literally living off peanut butter.

erwin is also stressed with oc’s eating habits with particular attention to nutrients and calorie count. he tried giving oc an organic diet plan, but oc sat him down and debunked every single thing about trendy diets. she also bugs him stop dieting. “diets are not foolproof! erwin, you are 250 lbs of healthy muscle! one burrito won’t hurt!”

they once had a romcom movie night. it was cheesy and fun and perfect for unwinding. until the sex scene happens.

oc: why do men just stick it in? where is the foreplay?

hange: mhmm the male gaze has ruined men, amazing how men ruin themselves

erwin, turning red: do people really talk about detailed sex so casually? i mean we’re in public?

levi: yes, erwin, grow up

moblit, whispering: it wasn’t even detailed, erwin, please

he does go to oc when he pulls a muscle or strains something. she tut-tuts while wrapping up a joint or icing and stretching his sore muscles and tells him to take it easy on the workouts. he’s also started sending fitness health articles to oc, and oc patiently confirms or debunks each one with sound medical and scientific basis.

he lets oc use his gym. she works out in a sports bra and cycling shorts because she says it means less laundry for her. oc usually just runs (speedwalks actually, and jesus, erwin is itching to turn up the speed) on his treadmill for 20 minutes. then she cycles for another 20 minutes and calls it a day. he tried to take on the role of her trainer and gave her a workout regimen. oc makes it to five sit-ups, ten burpees, and a single 1-minute plank before she falls flat, gasping like a fish out of water, and gives up. she’s flat out on his gym floor, but she tells erwin she appreciates him. erwin had to give her a piggy-back ride back to her apartment though.

levi:you died after five sit ups?

oc: shut uP, LEVI

whenever she uses his gym, she leaves him food. a slice of cake, donburi from the japanese place, a salad bowl, fajitas, some mochi, a parfait. not once has her gift of food been a part of his diet plan, but he eats them heartily. he hides when he eats the desserts, even if he’s roomie-free. he just feels like he’s cheating too much.

he never quite gets used to oc. she’s nice and wonderful, but she still manages to surprise him. a lot. to others, it may seem like oc enjoys pulling his leg (to hange’s endless delight), but in reality, she’s just trying to help him navigate and acclimatize to the ever-changing modern society and social norms. levi notices, of course, and it only makes him fall so much harder 😌

it’s fun to clown erwin within reason, really vibing with the modern au erwin on here 😌 but yeah, this is how i picture their interactions and dynamics 😭

THIS IS PERFECT OMFG BYE!! I love, love, love the idea of just... slightly socially aloof, but very professionally proficient Erwin trying to make friends with Levi's.... well not his s/o but his very obvious crush at least LMAOOO. I love it, I really, truly do anon, you continue to deliver 😌😌

OC: Erwin, I went through a decade of academia for this. Still going through it. And I need to pay rent and put food on the table!

Levi is rolling his eyes in the background because this little shit said that with her whole chest while she was literally living off peanut butter.

HELP LEVI IN THE BACKGROUND BECAUSE HE WOULD 😭😭 LITERALLY LIVING OFF OF PEANUT BUTTER BYEEE the amount of unconscious lies Levi could expose oc for... I get the feeling he's /this/ close to strapping her to the dining room chair and spoon feeding her himself

Levi: you’re redder than a hot cheeto, your elderly highness

Erwin: what’s a DILF?

HELP THIS IS MY FAVORITE EXCHANGE LMAOO. Levi clowning Erwin, Erwin being too confused too even respond to Levi's jab; he's still processing being called a DILF, and I just know that Levi isn't gonna be the one to explain it, but god forbid Hange does lmfaooo

OC makes it to five sit-ups, ten burpees, and a single 1-minute plank before she falls flat, gasping like a fish out of water, and gives up. she’s flat out on his gym floor, but she tells erwin she appreciates him. erwin had to give her a piggy-back ride back to her apartment though.

Levi: you died after five sit ups?

OC: shut uP, LEVI

Okay first of all, relatable, bye... something about the atmosphere of any gym, even if it were privately owned by a blonde businessman, makes it impossible for me to actually work out 😭😭 The fact that Erwin piggy-backed her back to her apartment is so cute please, I know they never quite get used to each other, but the friendship they have going on right now is so damn cute in an unconventional way, I adore it. Definitely an unexpected pair of friends and they don't... /quite/ work, but they also do. Incredible

Also not Levi coming for her, listen, not all of us are built like you, also you know damn well she's been living off of peanut butter sandwiches, OF COURSE she was gonna die after a few sit ups 🙄🙄 if you wanna help her improve, then start cheffing it up smh

[desiraypark]

Earth Angel

Continuation of SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL Characters: Flip Zimmerman x Mae (OC - Blk/F) Content: Fluffy/romantic; then a nasty lil’ quickie (PIV sex; FeedFlipSomeTiddies1975) Inspiration: Me telling some friends that this photoshoot (particularly the shirtless with hand in pocket photo) gave me “fuck you in the back of a Volkswagen on the way to Woodstock” energy lol

January 2, 1975 Dear Mae, I hope you had a good New Year’s Eve. And day. Also hope these letters haven’t been too much. I just think about you a lot I just enjoy talking to you. But anyway, I was thinking about my New Year’s resolutions. I’ve never really been big on them but thought 1975 would be the year I give one or two a try. Before I knew it, I got the crazy idea to go on a road trip. From Colorado Springs to Miami, perhaps? Shouldn’t take more than a few days--depending on how often we stop. Before I start stalling and using up this entire sheet to talk about bullshit, I’m going to come right on out and ask if you’d like to join me. I know it sounds crazy. But it would be nice to have some companionship and I can’t think of anyone else I’d like to see the country with. Let me know. Call me a fucking fool if needed.  Best Regards, Flip _____________________ January 16, 1975

Flip Honey, 

I’m definitely going to call you a fucking fool. You ARE a fucking fool. But God looks out for babies and fools, or however that phrase goes. I thought long and hard when I got your letter and you’ve got your answer: yes. I’d love to go on a road trip with you. Because I’m a fool, too. Spend a little change and call me when you get this, honey. You know the number. Better Regards, Mae

FEBRUARY 1975 Flip flew Mae out to Colorado Springs--her first plane ride. He’d temporarily exchanged his truck for a friend’s Volkswagen Transporter and filled it with supplies, dry foods, and toiletries. 

He was like an excited kid at the airport, waiting for Mae to walk through--and boy, did she! She wore a heavy red coat with some kind of fur at the collar and had her hair pinned up like a Park Avenue socialite. She had on a navy skirt or a dress, and some black high-heeled boots. “Look at you!” she said, meeting him halfway.  “Look at you,” he responded, wrapping his arms around her. “Looking great, as always.” It was about 4:30 when she and Flip arrived to his house. They’d picked up a pizza, sat in front of the television with it, and talked until they fell asleep. Eventually, they moved to the bedroom.  “No funny business, now,” Mae had said. Flip laughed. “You’d be too tired to keep up.” But they didn’t try a thing. Even with Mae’s perfect ass against him, and Flip’s strong arm holding her close, they didn’t try a thing. They slept through the night and hit the road for St. Louis (and whatever was in between) at 6:00AM on the dot. They got to St. Louis at about seven in the evening and stopped at a diner. 

“Thank you for saying yes to this, Mae,” Flip said before biting into a crispy chicken sandwich. She nodded.  “Thank you for askin’, Flip.” The lamp above them was dusty, but it made Mae look like an angel. Flip looked over her face. Every inch of it. And Mae felt him staring. The blood rushed to her cheeks and she looked down at her seasoned fries. “Why are you acting shy?” he asked. Mae shrugged. “Because you’re lookin’ at me all...I don’t know...”  Flip’s chest bounced, but no sound came out. Only a grin formed on his face--he was slightly amused by the sight. A woman who’d bounced up and down on him every night in Miami, suddenly blushing and averting her eyes over dinner. But he knew what had her blushing. They both knew that the air was different between them. And it wasn’t just because of the St. Louis cookin’. 

They finished off their food, got some gas, and found a motel to stay in. Even though they both know good and well they wanted to fuck each other’s brains out, the ride had worn them down a little. Especially Flip. Once again, they climbed in bed (well, on top of the bed, because Mae didn’t trust the sheets), and drifted off. ____________________ The Next Morning Flip and Mae hit the road just before sunrise. The road was empty and as much as Mae wanted to see the beautiful morning sky, she fell back asleep. Eventually, Flip turned the car radio on and hummed the songs to himself. Soon, the disk jockey decided to take him back about twenty years--when he was a tall, lanky kid who had nothing to get into but trouble. “Eaaarth angel, earth angel...will you be miiiine...my darling dear, love you all the ti-ime...” Flip perked up, turned the volume up and sang quietly to himself. He even tapped his thumbs against the steering wheel. “I'm just a fool, a fool in love with you...” he sang along. He glanced in Mae’s direction. She was slumped in the seat, the top of her head facing him. One of the buttons of her flannel shirt had popped open because her tits were so damned big. He looked back at the road and shook his head at his own self. He knew what was happening. Passion rushed his veins. His brain was foggy with adulation. Then, he looked gave her one more glance. She looked so good. Flip scanned every road sign he drove by for the next few miles--hoping for an indication of a truck stop or something. And there it was--a park en route! He followed the signs to the public park and drove through in search of a place to park. It took little time for him to find the park’s most discreet area--a wide open circle of dirt adjacent to a seemingly endless forest. 

It was early in the morning. No one else was there. Just the birds and insects that flitted and flew from tree to tree. Flip parked the van and tapped Mae’s thigh. Her eyes popped open quickly. “Mae?” “Yeah?” she asked yawning. “What’s wrong?!” “If I don’t get your tits in my mouth right now, I’m gonna lose my fuckin’ mind.” _____________________ Mae was nothing but nerves as her and Flip climbed into one of the back seats. Mae started undoing her pants, but Flip grabbed her shirt and ripped it open, sending the buttons flying. “Flip!” she cried. He grunted and pushed the cups of her bra up--causing her breasts to spill out. Then, he wrapped his lips around her left nipple, massaging the entire breast in the process. Mae ran her fingers through his hair, and watched him feast like a starving man. He held onto her breast as though it were going to run away from him, and moved his mouth to the other one--also giving the nipple a hard suck.  “Shit, Flip,” Mae whispered. “I missed you so much...” “Me, too Babygirl. Me, too...” he mumbled. 

He devoured her breasts for a few minutes before removing his belt and undoing his jeans. Mae lifted her leg--pulling it closer to her, and unzipped her boot. Flip grabbed the heel and pulled it off. They repeated the process on her other boot--which was hanging over the back of the seat. As Mae worked at her own jeans--pushing the denim and her panties down to the floor simultaneously--Flip pulled out his wallet, yanked out a condom and slid it on. He sucked his index and middle finger and shoved it into Mae’s pussy. She let out quiet moans as he worked her open, preparing her for him.  “I want you to get on top. You think you can handle that?” he asked.  “You know I can.” Flip bit his bottom lip and pulled his fingers out. Jeans stuck around his knees, he sat up and pressed his ass down on the leather seats. Mae sat up, straddled him, and gave him a hot, wet kiss. Flip held her hips and slowly--carefully--eased her down onto his rock-hard length. “Fuck...” they both groaned. Mae worked over him a little--trying to find comfort as he split her open like a log for firewood. Then, she began to bounce. He grabbed her hips and stared at her face. He couldn’t stare into her eyes--she had then squeezed shut, and was biting her lip.  “There you go, beautiful,” he mumbled. He gave her ass a slap.  “Mmph!” she hummed. She rested against his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck--groaning and clenching her teeth every time his tip hit the right spot. “Are you holding your moans in?” he asked. She was. But she wasn’t conscious of it until he asked. Suddenly, she realized the van was also bouncing and squeaking. Her eyes popped open and she scanned their surroundings. “There’s nobody out here,” Flip said, moving his hands directly onto her ass. He guided her up and down, and up and down--harder and faster. “Shit!” she shouted. “That’s right. Make all the noise you need to. Don’t hold that shit in. Didn’t I tell you in Florida?” he asked, his gruff voice booming so close to her ear that it made her temporal lobes feel like they were vibrating. “I’m gonna make you scream my name every time.” He smacked her ass hard. “Every...time.” “Oh, God...” Mae moaned. She fell against his chest again and closed her eyes--temporarily removing her own sense of sight so that touch was enhanced. She felt Flip’s chest moving up and down under hers; the calloused flesh of his large palms holding and kneading her ass cheeks; his dick dragging along her walls. Then, a hand moved away from her ass. He shoved it into the tight space between them and found her clit.  “Fuck!” Mae shouted. She sat up and stared into his dilated pupils. Her breasts smacked his chin until he stuck his tongue out and was able to capture one her nipples again.  Mae’s bouncing slowed down. She leaned across him once more, lifted her lower body just before the head of his dick came out of her, and expertly slid back down. Flip let go of her breast to let out an expletive.  “Do that shit again,” he said, throwing his head back and staring up at her. She did as requested--lifting off of him almost completely, then sliding back down. She did it one more time, and before she could lift a fourth time, Flip wrapped his arms around her waist, kept her down, and began to thrust up into her. “Aaah!” she cried. He dug deep inside of her, making her feel every pulse and every drag against her velvety walls--reminding her of what she hadn’t been getting for months. His pace was moderate, but each thrust was deep. He abruptly paused his stroke, grabbed her hair, and tilted his chin up. “You feel that dick deep inside of you, baby?” he whispered freakishly low. He pressed into her deeper. Deeper than she realized was possible. “Yes...” she squealed. Her nails dug into the nape of his neck. “Does it feel good?”  “Yes, Flip, yes...” she mumbled, shaking her head in disbelief. Flip gripped her scalp and banged into her one hard time. “Can’t hear you...” he said, his voice going above a whisper. “YES! FUCK!” she began to grind into him. “I wanna come, Flip. Please, make me come. Please!” Mae pleaded. Flip picked up his pace again, and Mae met his thrusts.  “Lean back and let me see you rub that pretty clit,” he said. “I’ve got you.” Mae leaned back and Flip held her with a palm against her lower back--making sure she didn’t fall backward. As she bounced her squelching pussy on his length, she rubbed her clit with the pads of her fingers. In no time, the heat began to build up in her belly. She tightened around him, and worked herself toward her release, screaming to the van’s ceiling. As she came, he drilled into her hard. “Fliiiiip! Yesssssssss!” she squealed, breasts bouncing all over the place. “Fffuuuuck!”

Flip began pumping shallow thrusts up into her--surrendering to the rush that soon fell over him. Mae looked down with a sweet (and pleased) smile as she rode out her wave--enjoying the spurt of warmth that filled her up. She could tell that it was a lot, too. Only a thin layer of protection keeping their sweet saps from merging and creating something more. 

Flip pulled her back to him and devoured her mouth. Then, they took a few minutes to catch their breath. Soon, they put their clothes back on. Mae had to dig in her suitcase for another shirt. Despite the place still being empty, Flip discreetly tossed his condom in a large garbage bin nearby. He climbed into the van and looked over at Mae. She returned the glance and burst into laughter, and he did the same. 

“Need me to drive, big boy?” she asked smirking.  “No. You just sit back and look pretty for me,” Flip said. He slapped her thigh and started the Volkswagen back up. 

They left the park warm and satisfied, and made their way down to Tennessee. 

____________________ TAG LIST @aloneandsleepless @tsarinastorm If you’d like to be on any of my tag lists, please leave a comment on my Tag List Request post!

[vanillawinston]

Mad World| Chapter ONE

Joker x OC(Jane Parker)

Summary: Jane was in the wrong place at the wrong time and suddenly her life was falling apart. The past and future of a dangerous obsession which changed his life and destroyed hers completely. 

Warning for this chapter: angst, mention of torture, depressive mood

Next Part HERE

Lost. I was lost and I'll always stay lost. There was no place for people like me. They thought the right place should be here, in this cell, but it wasn't. I would always stay lost, homeless, hopeless.

Lonely I couldn't do anything but look at the grey wall of concrete in front of me, just like I did it every day for the last two years. After all this time I've started to believe the wall might has changed, that the color got darker, it didn't look that moldy anymore, but to be honest, nothing has changed. I was the only one who has changed.

I was broken. They have broken me. This life has broken me. Piece by piece it has taken everything from me until nothing had been left, it put me through this painful and horrible hell and now I was here, been treated like a threat, like I was crazy, mad, something I'm not. But how much can a life in complete isolation for two years change someone? I've never seen anything else than the guards or some professors who thought it would be funny, to explore my head. I've forgotten how fresh air smells, how the lovely song of the birds outside sounds, how green a forest can look alike and how delicious good food can taste. I've forgotten so many things and it seemed hopeless to ever escape this endless torture of nothing.

"Hey, little one." I looked up when I heard the squeal of the little window made out of steel open where the guards shoved me some food every day through, or whatever they dared to call food. Now I saw to the amused face of my personal guard, Officer cocksucker, that is what I've named him. His real name was Dan, but he was such a piece of shit that he had no right to be called anything nice or normal. He had the most fun in torturing me and always being an assaulting, woman hating bastard through the time. When I'll ever come out of here, he will be the first person I will kill by cold blood!

Coldly I looked to the man, who was in his mid-thirties, had short blonde hair and cold blue eyes. The eyes of the devil in my opinion.

"I've brought you some food," he said, and I snorted, looked back to my beloved wall. I've refused to eat anything for four days now. They won't allow me to die, but this didn't mean I would stop trying. I couldn't handle being in here for another two years or more. I knew that I would never be free, that they would never let me be free. If I was innocent or not, didn't matter to them, I was too valuable for them, knew too much, they couldn't and wouldn't just let me go. They were the real criminals of this city. They were cruel, they were merciless.

"You are really trying to ignore me, little one? I can see how hungry you are and some day you have to eat, darling." I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of spending attention to him in any way, so I kept ignoring him.

"As you wish, but I've just tried to protect you from any harm. Bring her out of here!" Scared I looked to the door when he opened it, saw how six brawny guys entered the cell and I jumped to my feet, was ready to defend myself, to fight, but I was weak, so damn weak. I just managed it to hit one of them in his face when I got a slap in my own so hard that everything started to spin around me. Tears formed in my eyes when they cuffed me and Officer cocksucker threw me over his shoulder like I was some toy, like I was nothing but some thing he could transport around like he pleased to.

"I hate you!" I hissed, moved around as much as I could, wanted to make it as hard as possible for him to carry me, knowing it would be painful to fall to the ground like this, but I didn't care. "I know you love me," he laughed amused and I fidget with my legs, screamed and shouted, just wanted to be far away from him. Of all people on earth he was the one who had the least right to touch me in any way. I just couldn't stand him touching me, preferred falling to the ground and breaking every single bone in my body over being touched by him ever again.

"Let me go!" I screamed, saw how some other prisoners looked out of their open windows in the doors to us and I was searching for one face among them, the face of Floyd. He was the only friend I had here, though we only had seen each other in here not more than three times. I met him some months ago when a guard was torturing him and me at the same time. He was kind, tried to protect me from this monster. In his eyes it was shocking how someone like me could be in a place like this. He saw me as this fragile little girl, a child.

Yeah one needed to have a lot of bad luck to end up here or maybe it was good luck, considering the beginning of my story. I had no idea if this was my personal luck, but if so, I had to be a horrible person in my earlier life, that is for sure.

"Shut up or your punishment will be a lot of worse!" the douchebag screamed, but I don't care. It didn't matter how weak I was, I would never show it to him. If he knew that I gave up, then I would truly be lost, he would be my downfall.

"JANE!" I looked up and smiled, saw to Floyd while passing by his cell. It was a good and calming feeling to see someone you actually cared about, who was important to you. It made me realize, that I wasn't alone, that he was here, even if I had to survive this on my own.

"FLOYD!" I screamed sobbing, was scared of what will happen, was scared of getting hurt again, suffered enough and just wanted to have some peace. This time I had no luck with a Floyd by my side who would try to keep me safe. I was alone in the torture room. It was me against the rest of the world and I wasn't strong enough for it anymore.

"Let go of the child you fucking assholes!" I heard him screaming, but his voice faded away when we kept moving. Will this nightmare ever find an ending? I knew most of the guys in here were horrible villains, murderer, but after all I've been through, I was sure that nobody deserved this. Even the Arkham had been a better place, and I knew about what I was talking about.

"Now he will have to suffer too and that is only on you, darling," the bastard said amused and I stopped fighting. It wouldn't change anything. This was a fight without any hope of winning. I lost it two years ago already, and now I will probably lose my sanity too if it wasn't already too late for it.

The acquaintance with the chair I was tied to was one I've made a long time ago. When I first got here all this time ago, I was tortured on it almost daily, just out of fun. Batman personally wanted that they would treat me good and nice, but of course nobody cared enough. I wasn't important enough for anyone, and even the all so perfect Batman forgot about me. In the end I was still a criminal and criminals deserve to be punished. When he had brought me here, I've seen that he didn't saw me as a threat, but he knew it wasn't safe enough to let me free, and this is how I ended up here. In the past I tried my best to behave, to be good, so they will eventually let me go or transfer me over to an ordinary prison, but after some weeks I've realized, they would never let me go, the would always find another reason for hurting me.

"You know I don't like doing this," the bastard said while kneeling in front of me, "But you don't give me another choice." It was hard staying calm, while he stroked my face softly, tried not to shiver or to throw up. He was disgusting. When he stood up and walked over to one of the shelves where all the funny toys for torture were paced on, I felt how my heart started beating faster and how cold sweat spread on my forehead. I tried not to die internally out of fear, but I knew that whatever would happen now, it will hurt. I will scream, I will cry, and I will beg him to stop, but he won't. It was always like this, and I tried to tell myself, that the pain wasn't that bad anymore after all this time, but it was a lie. It still hurt, but it was more bearable, considering I knew what will happen, how bad it will be.

"I start to believe she likes being treated like this," the cocksucker laughed dirty while he put some wires on my body. Electricity. Oh yeah, this will be painful. I ignored the other guards and how they laughed over Dan's dirty jokes, tried to distract myself by thinking about a free future where I will find all of them and kill them one after one. This never had been my way of thinking, but this place has changed me truly.

"Ready to enjoy your pain?" Another guard asked me, standing by the switch and was excited to flip it and to see me suffer.

"When I get out of here, I won't just kill you, but your whole family, and I will force you to watch," I said with a dry throat and for a second he seemed nervous, but it didn't last long, he knew I won't ever get out.

"Not so rude, darling," Dan said, was ready to give the signal, but before he could do that, the doors opened and shocked I saw to the guards, leading no one else than Amanda Waller into the room.

"You fucking bitch," I mumbled quietly, could not believe, she was here, looked at her completely confused. I hadn't seen her for two years, since I've been locked up here and now, she was back. Back then she had promised me, I would only be locked up for a couple of days. Liar.

"Free her!" Amanda ordered and I saw how unhappy Dan was, while he freed me from this chair.

"Oh the hero of our nation is here," I giggled, tried to stand up, but my bloodstream was really fucked up and I almost fell to the ground when it wasn't for another guard who held me, although he didn't really looked like a guard, something was different about him.

"Thank you," I mumbled, teared away from him, and looked hatefully to the woman in front of me.

"I see, you haven't forgotten who I am."

"You are the cunt who had promised me that I will be free after some days, but instead I am here for two fucking years and have been treated like I'm crazy!" I hissed and saw how the man who had helped me looked confused to her. "Who is this girl? What is so special about her?"

"This is Jane Parker. She might seem harmless and innocent, but you will see how useful and dangerous she can be." Saying this she eyed me, then looked to Dan, "What have you done to her? Why is this child more dead than alive?" "She won't eat," Dan answered simply.

"And then you want to torture her?" the man asked in shock, saw to all the other guards here like they were crazy. Finally, someone who understood me.

"Methods of chastise," Dan said, and I laughed. "Yeah, they are very effective."

"You said she was a child. Why on earth is a child locked up here?" he asked upset, "And how can a child be useful for this mission?" "Mission?" I asked interested, but of course they ignored me.

"She isn't a child anymore. She is 19 but was 17 when we locked her up, and she is useful, because she was the favorite toy of the Joker," she explained and I flinched, felt like something inside of me ripped a little bit when she mentioned his name.

"The Joker... but Harley..."

"Harley Quinn is nothing compared to her, even though you should probably not mention it in front of Quinn, she thinks just like the Joker that Jane here is dead," Waller explained and I tried my best not to lose my mind with all those emotions inside of me. All this time I've managed it not to think about him, just for this bitch to show up and ruin it.

"Ok, but what exactly can this girl do?" the man asked still confused.

"She is good in close combat, the best person in throwing knives you will ever see, and her way of thinking is kind of useful." Her way of thinking. Wow, what a compliment.

"I have no idea, what all of this is about, but I won't do shit. I prefer staying here and dying," I said and saw how the woman smiled. "You will do as I say, and we can talk about your release once again," she said and to my dislike she kind of baited me with her words. I looked to Dan who went pale form her words and I smiled happily.

"I'm in."

"Stop, stop, stop," the man said. "What is it, Flagg?" Flagg? Interesting name.

"None of the others will be released, why her? She was the Joker's girl, isn't she extremely dangerous? I've seen Harley. You can't let her go."

"She was with him, and is dangerous, but still she was never found guilty." "And still I am here," I said amused and found the confusing look of this Flagg adorable. He didn't understand half of the things here, but he didn't have to. I didn't understand them either.

"She'd been locked up to weaken the Joker, and it worked, they've gotten him and brought him to the Arkham, but he escaped, thanks to his talent in manipulating Harley Quinn," Waller said and seemed like she had more than enough from this topic, "She only remained here, because we had no idea of how useful she might become one day, just like now. So, we have Deal." She looked strict to me and I nodded. Nothing would be easy, not at all, but there was finally this small chance of getting out of here and hope can be a bitch, but I don't care, I wanted to get out of here and this was my best shot.

Aloha :) Hope you liked the first real chapter. Sorry for any grammar or editing mistakes. Tell me if you like to be tagged. GIF IS NOT MINE

[meetmeinthematinee]

Torn -- Chapter 6 -- John Wick X OC

Catch up on previous chapters! 

CW for ankle injury, threats of violence, knives, talk of prescription drugs.

Could he really be this naive? He wondered, staring at her sleeping form, barely lit by the early morning light. How utterly ridiculous to think that a move--not even an out of state move--would allow him to scrape together a close approximation to a normal existence. Away from the mess and tatters of his former life. He laid there beside her and it rattled around his brain like a rock in an empty pop can. Loud and utterly useless. “You’re trouble.” Did trouble follow him or did he create it? He couldn’t be sure. Usually he thought the latter. Mostly he tried not to think of it at all. 

After Helen, after that taste of what life could be like with love and touch and not being a vortex of death and destruction he found it impossible to be alone again. To go back to living without the things he’d convinced himself were out of reach for him. He wasn’t looking for anyone. Kristen was just--something...just felt right about her. Then again, Helen had been a complete surprise too. Was this how it was for everyone? To have someone come into sharp focus out of the endless blur of monotony? Helen was someone he didn’t know he was looking for until she was there in front of him. He was ready to risk everything for her--and in fact had--twice. He inhaled slowly through his nose and paused, holding his breath for a beat before exhaling quietly. 

He closed his eyes and listened to the quiet of the house. The steady breathing of the dogs. The occasional soft-murmur from Kristen. She rarely talked in her sleep. Must be the painkillers. He mused. Everything was right in the house but felt so deeply wrong at the same time. He was used to the feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. He was much less accustomed now to feeling like that shoe was pressed against his throat. He took another steadying breath and only opened his eyes when he heard the rustling of the duvet and a murmur of discomfort. 

“You’re still awake?” She asked groggily.

John swiped a hand over his tired face and raised himself up on one elbow. 

“Just woke up.” 

“You’re lying. I can tell. But that’s ok.” She rasped with her eyes half-closed and a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

He leaned closer and pushed some strands of her hair out of her face. The smile’s a good sign, I hope. He thought to himself. She shifted a bit more under the covers and grimaced. 

“How can I get you more comfortable? Pillows? Ice?” He asked.

“Mmm what time is it?” She squinted and smacked her lips softly. Nuzzling her face deeper into her pillow. 

“Almost 6--you feel like you need another pill?”

She shifted her legs and grimaced again. Her brows drew together and her jaw tensed. 

“Yeah. It hurts like a motherfucker.” 

John smiled. He loved that she had a mouth on her. It kind of reminded him of some of the other assassin’s he’d known. He figured she could out cuss Perkins, easily. That’s saying something. She was tough but unlike them, she was also tender. Kind. Practical and calculating but not in a malicious, cold way.  

“I got you.” He said softly and pressed a kiss to her forehead before sliding out from under the warm duvet and heading to the kitchen to get what she needed.  

John bleerily made his way to the kitchen. He grabbed a glass from the cabinet and turned on the tap. Waiting for the water to run cold and clear. He caught sight of the reflection of someone standing on his dock from the corner of his eye. His hand froze mid-reach for the painkillers sitting on the counter. The person was well dressed and standing with their back towards the house. “Goddamn it.” He thought to himself as he slipped back into the familiar but now very uncomfortable strike mode. He turned off the water, set down the glass and grabbed the chefs knife off the magnetic strip on the wall. 

Silently, he crept out of the french door leading to the yard. The ground was cold against his bare feet but better to be cold and uncomfortable than risk detection. As he was halfway up the dock the person turned. Well dressed, blond. Younger than he expected. They took in John’s pajama clad figure and the knife clutched tightly in his hand, tucked in against his forearm--waiting to strike. They raised their hands in submission and tipped their head a little.

“Mr Wick, thought it was best I stopped by to talk. Winston told me you were an early riser. Hope you don’t mind my intrusion.”

“What the fuck do you want?” He glowered. 

“Charming.” 

“It’s 6AM and you’re creeping around private property.” 

“Mmm. Point taken.” The man nodded and looked down at his feet. Peering at the water between the slats of the docking.

“I don’t suppose your lovely partner mentioned me? By any chance?”

John remained silent, continuing to glare as he alternately relaxed and clenched his hand around the handle of the knife. 

“James. Manager of the newly revived Buffalo Continental.” He held out his hand, offering to shake John’s.

John remained still. Waiting to strike. James kept his hand extended for a moment longer before retracting it with something between a grin and a grimace on his face.

“I’m retired. Get the fuck off my property.”

“I’m well aware of your status, John. I’m here alone and I will take my leave without incident. That much I can promise you.” He answered. 

“What do you want?” 

“Simply put, I wanted to smooth over any misunderstandings before they had a chance to begin.”

“Misunderstandings?” John repeated, darkly. 

“Mmm, yes.”

“Misunderstandings? Like the kind that got me shot off the roof of the Continental?” John said cooly. His face maintained the same glare but he took a few strides closer to James, invading the shorter man's space. James had nowhere to go other than into the water or onto the end of the knife.  

He saw how small beads of sweat began to form along James’ hairline. The quickened pace of his breathing. 

“You’ve never been in management before, have you?” John asked. 

“No. It’s true--I have not. Mind you I have been second in command in---”

John interrupted the mindless babbling. “I don’t care. What misunderstanding?”

“I--I should have dug deeper but I wrongly assumed Kristen was in the business.” His cool demeanor was slipping fast. James was now shaking like a leaf. 

“We knew she was connected to you--and--frankly, how she can make a living owning a high end paper and stationary shop in a small city....”

“You thought she was dirty? It must be a front?” John said incredulously. He could feel his anger unfurling in the pit of his stomach.

“I wouldn’t put it quite like that...but yes I thought she might be under the table. I deeply, deeply would appreciate you NOT mentioning this to anyone, John. An error of this sort...well. You can just imagine--”

John put his steady hand on the trembling man’s shoulder and brought the point of his knife to his chest and pressed in just enough for James to feel the tip of the blade pierce his skin. He knew he wasn’t going to kill this man--but he also didn’t want James to know that. Better to leave him guessing about his fate. It’d been a while since John had anyone squirming in fear and the darkest corners of his brain took a sickening pleasure in it. 

“Here’s what will happen.” John said, looking James directly in the eyes. “You’re going to leave both of us--especially her--alone. I never want to see you or hear from you again. You conclude your business and then you tell her you’ve found out corporate has a preferred supplier--whatever it takes so you don’t fuck up her business’ reputation. After that, you stay the fuck away from her. Permanently. Understood?”

“Completely.” James readily agreed in an unsteady voice. “You have my word on that. I hesitate to offer you a favour in return as I know you’re re--”

“I want nothing. From you or anyone. That world is dead to me now--and I’m tired of being haunted by it. Your word will be enough and I give you my word.” He rasped, gripping James’ shoulder even tighter. “That I will start to dismember you while you’re still alive and then scatter your parts across Lake Erie should you or ANYONE from the Continental ever dare to speak to or visit me again.”

“Agreed.” James managed to barely squeak out. They stared at each other for a moment, the water lapping against the shoreline and the chirps of the early morning birds was the only sound. 

John withdrew the knife and held it back at his side before clapping James on the shoulder harshly. 

“Time to go.”  He gestured towards the house and ushered the man up the dock, following him around to the front of the house where he made sure James got into his vehicle--practically collapsing into it before starting the car and driving away. John waited until the car was completely out of sight before retracing his steps and entering the house through the french doors in the kitchen. He placed the knife in the sink. Leaning heavily with both hands spread wide on the rim of the sink, bowing his head and taking a few steadying breaths. This was an unexpected outcome--to say the least. 

“John?” She called. 

“Be right there.”

He shook his head as if to clear away all of the thoughts that were racing through his brain. Focus. Pills. Water. She’s waiting. He grabbed the still cold glass of water, her pills and headed back to the bedroom--where she was standing on one leg. Looking out the window at the exact spot he’d been in only moments before. His heart sank. It was one thing to have told her about who and what he was--it was another to see it. 

She turned, cautiously, holding onto the plush armchair by the window for stability as she kept her weight off her injured and throbbing ankle. 

“How much of that did you see?” He asked quietly, setting down the water by the bed before he approached her. 

“A good chunk of it.” She grimaced.

John reached for her hand and she didn’t move away or even flinch. She squeezed his hand tightly and it made John feel a tiny bit of hope again.

“It was--”

She cut him off. “The guy from the shop yesterday. I recognized him.”  

John nodded in agreement, running his thumb across the back of her hand. “Can we talk this through after you’ve got your foot up again? He’s gone.” He could see the question in her eyes and he felt so ashamed that she even had to consider it. “As in, he left. Alive. And unharmed.” He added.

She leaned against him. Enjoying how cool his arm was from standing outside in the early morning air. 

“I hoped as much. Let’s get back in bed.” 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[who-is-olivia]

Who Is Olivia?

Harry Styles x OC

Harry proposes during the recordings of Made in the AM. [4.2k]

Genre: fluff

Warnings: none

A/N: hello! fine line is on the way and i think i might have a creative meltdown when it arrives, so i'll just keep posting whatever i please with all the beautiful content harry's ever brought to light. this chapter is a throwback to old school 1D fanfics, bringing the boys back because i'm soft and i miss one direction =) enjoy xx

August 2015

“And you will find me... in places that we’ve never been, for reasons we don’t understand, walking in the wind” he sings in the booth for the 8th time, then stands quietly for a few seconds to give her a clean cut spot. “How’s that?”

“You’re almost hitting the note, but it’s not quite yet” Olivia comes over to the booth, “If you put more pressure in it you might find the best placement, come on, do it again”

He rubs his frown in stress, it’s late and he’s tired, having Oli press him is not helping at all. “Don’t we have a take already?”

“We have, but you can do better”

“Come on, love...”

“Trust me, you can do better-“

“Can we take 5?” he asks Julian, who just shrugs. It’s already late, it makes no difference. However, Olivia doesn’t take it half as well as him.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m bloody exhausted, that’s what, and having you... diss me every two takes is not helping”

“You think I’m picking on you?” she asks skeptically.

“I’m just saying you don’t criticize Liam or Niall half as much as you do me” he fires back in frustration. Instead of lashing out as he expects she will, Olivia waits for him to calm down and then spells it out for him.

“The only reason I push you is because I want you to give your best. If you want someone to pat your head and shower you in compliments, you’ll sound fine, but fine is also mediocre” he nods in agreement, letting his head fall embarrassed. At the comfort of that position, he almost lets his eyes close but he knows once he does that he’ll probably fall asleep. “We’re almost there, just help us out”

“Alright... I’m sorry” he replies with a small sigh and so she pulls him to a hug, letting him rest his head on her shoulder as she strokes his back.

“Forgiven” she leaves him with a small smile and a quick kiss, “Don’t forget to put pressure on it”

Julian starts the recorder once again, signaling to him that they’re rolling before playing him the playback. “And you will find me... in places that we’ve never been, for reasons we don’t understand, walking in the wind”

Oli waits for a couple of moments before grinning, “I think it’s the take, come out here”

  After Zayn left, making the fifth album was insane. The four of them kept pulling to completely different artistic directions, Julian could barely help them with the singles so little he could give some coherence to the album. That’s when Oli decided to step in.

  Harry knows he pales in the shadow of her abilities as songwriter, virtuosi and producer altogether so he willingly gave her the helm. At first, the other lads were uncomfortable with her command, fearful that this was one of Harry’s things he does for love, but surely enough Olivia proved herself to be very experienced. Harry always wanted to be an entertainer, but he never truly endeavored to become one before the X-Factor, however Oli’s been almost genetically programed for that, studying music ever since she could talk, studying every part of the process and also rubbing shoulders with generations of rockstars. She’s the woman for the job.

  For their luck, Oli and Frank have been touring across America keeping track of One Direction’s leg in there, often making shows in the same city but a few days apart. To keep up with the recordings, she’s been making an extra effort, dedicating almost all her vacant hours to the album. As they often record in hotel rooms, it at least offers a place for them to pass out after endless hours of work.

“Check it out” she places the heavy headphones over his ears so he can hear the mix with the guitar base. Her whole equipment lies on the bed and over the tables, it’s the best she and Julian could assemble... at least it gets a really great sound.

“That sounds really nice” he smiles at her.

“See? I told you”

  She takes all the material they recorded and starts mixing with Julian at their improvised studio. At some point, Liam and Louis decide to participate, leaving Oli free to rest after long hours of work. She curls up in the bed and immediately blacks out, making Harry feel a bit guilty – through all his hissy fits about exhaustion he never once considered how tired she must’ve been feeling, as not once did she bring it up. But now there’s no point in apologizing, he just lays behind her and spoons her back, holding her like a big teddy bear through deep slumber.

  He wakes up hours later with her still unconscious in his arms. It takes a moment for him to realize where he is, getting up without moving her the slightest he notices Julian and Liam still glued to the computer. At the balcony, he finds Louis and Niall sharing a beer and laughing while the sun creeps up the horizon, so he decides to join.

“Morning lads”

“Morning, Romeo” Niall pokes.

“What’re you up for?”

“Trying to come up with something, we’re still missing a couple tracks” Louis explains, taking a gulp of beer. “You’ve got anything?”

“I always do, just don’t know if it could make it to the album” he mentions while resting his back on the railing. He keeps a writing journal full of poems ever since the band started, and in it he keeps great ideas that never saw the light of day. Recently, he wrote one that feels very personal and very cheeky... just thinking about it makes him laugh. “I don’t know if you’ll like it, but I have a really great one”

“How does it go?”

“It’s silly...”

“Why?”

“‘Cause I just play around with Oli’s name” they raise their brows, ready to mock him. “One of these days she was telling me something about alliterations or something like that, and I just played around with the phrase-“ he blushes, “‘I love Olivia’, because the L sound just bounces off. So I wrote a song for her that went I live for you, I long for you, Olivia, I’ll be now idolizing the light in your eyes, Olivia... see? It bounces off”

“S’ a bit on the nose, don’t you think?” Niall comments skeptically but Louis is thoroughly entertained. “Using her name on the song, it’s not very subtle”

“We’ve got songs with names on them” he argues, playing with the glass bottle. “Don’t see why not”

“We better tell Liam about it-“

“Tell me what?” the man himself walks through the door to join his bandmates with a bottle of his own.

“Harry’s got a cool song for the album but it’s got Oli’s name on it” Niall explains.

“Is she cool with that?”

“She doesn’t know yet” Harry clarifies.

“Well, is it a good song?”

“It’s not done yet, but it has potential” he insists while noticing how much their confidence as a group has grown over the past few months. They embark on his idea without even hearing the full song, although they’ve been rewarded for their trust time and time again. Harry came up with some great compositions this time around, taking all his experience with the band and Olivia in consideration.

“If you want, you can make a demo when we get to London and show us what you’ve got. I think we booked Abbey Road for a couple of days”

“Alright, I’ll give it a go”

  Before they start the British leg of the tour, they get a couple weeks off schedule which give Harry some time to finish the melody before actually recording it. The last shows of the American leg take place fairly close to New York, so he and Oli get to go home ahead of everyone else. Sadly, one side effect of touring for three months in a row is an empty fridge, making them drag their already exhausted bodies out of the house for their meals.

“Do they need someone for the orchestras? I know a guy who can help” Olivia tells, holding her Starbucks cup in one hand and Harry’s on the other.

“Thanks love, but we’ll record the rest in London”

“Oh, right! I forgot... shit, I’ve got to book a flight” she gets ready to fumble for her phone but he holds her wrist.

“I’ll get a private one, just chill, I’ve got this” he soothes, pulling her hand to his lips then smiling amicably.

She smiles back but it immediately flips into an irritated growl. “For fuck’s sake”, he turns around and notices a couple paparazzi snapping at them. When they notice they’ve been caught they lose all decorum and just harass them.

“Harry, how’s the tour? Are you taking a break?” one of them asks, shoving the camera on his face.

“Hey, back the fuck off-“

“Oli, don’t” Harry holds her closer, taking the sunglasses from his shirt and handing them over so she can at least cover her face. “Let’s get a cab”

“Have you been talking to Zayn?” another one asks.

“Would you please let us through? We just wanna walk” Harry pleads politely.

“Sure man, I’m just doing my job” a third one steps out of the way, helping him and Olivia reach a cab and leave the streets for good.

“77th with Central Park West, please”

Olivia watches the paparazzi stay behind as the taxi speeds by, “Where are we going?”

“It’s a restaurant beside Central Park, I went there the other day, thought you might like”

She smiles, “Look at you, all local and stuff”

“I’m looking forward to at least a year of vacation, might as well learn my way around”

“Oh, thank you, by the way” she returns the sunglasses which he stores in his shirt once again.

  They disembark at Central Park, being faced with an enormous queue outside the restaurant they were set to enter. In spite of it, they decide to walk around anyway. The park is a couple blocks away from their apartment, a purposeful decision as Harry appreciates extensive morning jogs when he sticks around. Although they come from polar opposite backgrounds, they both grew accustomed to New York and truly built a life in the city.

“A little blue bird told me that we’re recording at Abbey Road next week... is it true?” she taunts.

“Yes...” she celebrates discreetly, “You’ve never been there?”

“No, never! I always wanted to record something there”

“And Uncle Paul never took you?” he mocks.

“Very funny” she scowls in return, pushing him away.

“You know, it’d be crazy to go to Abbey Road with a Beatle...” he pulls her back, “What do you say? I give you the Road, you bring the McCartney?”

“He’s probably busy” she laces her arm around his, “Uncle Jim used to say Paul and Ringo only show up if there’s a wedding or a funeral... let’s see which one comes first”

“Let’s see” he looks down, his mind immediately sinking deep in thought.

  They’ve talked about getting married, they agreed to it months ago but they never made a move to officialize it.  They didn’t arrange a party, invite their friends or consult a register office — hell, he didn’t even buy a proper ring. For a moment he frets she might think he’s given up, they’ve been living in good graces for three years straight, the only reason they’re not properly married yet is... inertia. Maybe, with the stars aligning and time on their side, he can come up with something.

“What is it?”

“Hm?”

“You got all quiet all of a sudden” she rests her chin on his shoulder, “What is it?”

“Just random things in my mind”

“Yeah, no shit!” he chuckles, “Mind to share?”

“Have you ever written songs about me?”

She frowns, “Not exactly... I usually write about what I feel, and you’re usually the cause of that but it’s way more complex than that. Feelings are a mix of all the baggage you have from life and a catalyst, something that makes you express that. Sometimes that’s you, sometimes it’s not”

He sighs, sometimes she’s humiliatingly clever, “That’s very... fancy”

“I know” she holds on to his hand, holding another over her eyes as the sun hits them directly. “Have you ever written songs about me?”

“All my songs are about you in some way, shape or form, I don’t even have a fancy answer for that” he takes his sunglasses off again and places them over her face, she mutters a small ‘thanks’. “And it’s a bit weird ‘cause I always want people to relate to the songs but I feel like they’re too specific, might as well just slap your name in the title” he suggests almost as an internal joke with himself.

“I think you’re not getting this right”

“Yeah?”

“Take Uncle Paul for example: he wrote a bunch of songs with names on them and people still relate to it. Like Michelle, Dear Prudence, Sexy Sadie...”

“I think they listen to it more like made up stories than like autobiographies”

“Maybe, but you see, these songs have a clear subject and yet everyone can be touched by the lyrics. When you hear Dear Prudence do you think about Prudence Farrow locked up in her room at an Indian meditation camp?”

“I didn’t even know that story” he admits.

“Exactly, and you don’t have to! ‘Cause when you hear Dear Prudence you understand it’s about going outside, enjoying the day and feeling good about yourself”

He ponders, maybe his song can make its way to the album like that: being based on this incredible experience he lives every moment they’re together but still describing something everyone goes through, “Yeah, it feels like that”

“See? And he’s not talking to you, he’s talking to Prudence” she points a finger on his face to prove a point. “The best art makes you feel personally addressed, even if there’s a name between the artist and the listener. You can quote me on that”

“Alright, clever clocks” he pulls her to a hug and presses a playful kiss on her lips, which extends to this sweet contact in the middle of Central Park. This last album has been challenging, it’s pushed Harry so hard he sometimes feels he’s not up to task as a singer, a composer or a producer. And having her beside him’s helped him realize all the things he can do as well as what he can be better at. He breaks the kiss but keeps his forehead pressed against hers. “Thanks, love”

“I can tell when you need a pep talk”

“Really?”

“Yeah, my left nipple starts aching” he laughs between them and curtly gropes her left tit.

“This one?” she pushes his hand away.

“Stop it!”

  Their domestic week ends too fast, soon they’re back in London to record the rest of the album. Her words help him finish the song without any insecurity holding him back, in fact it inspires him so much that as soon as he gets to London he walks into Cartier and buys her engagement ring. He chooses a delicate one in rose gold with flowers engraved on it and a small diamond nestled between the carvings.

  Today is the last day of recording at Abbey Road and he decides this is the day he’ll propose. However, to do it right, he’ll need a plan:

“Lou, keep her busy in studio 1” he instructs, gathering the four of them on a circle with their arms around their shoulders, almost like a football team, “mess up as many takes as you can-“

“That won’t be hard” he mocks.

“Liam and I will record the strings and the vocals at studio 3, remember, you have to stall her there”

“We get it mate, keep her in studio 1” Niall sighs tiredly.

“Right, when I call her up, you wait outside the hallway. I’ll play her the song and ask, if she says no... please, pretend like it never happened-“ Lou smacks the back of his head. “Ouch!”

“Stop saying that, focus!”

“Alright!... when she says yes, you can bring it on” they all nod excitedly, “Don’t forget to bring Frank up!”

“We’ve got this” Liam hypes, putting his hand in the middle so they follow. “3, 2, 1-“

“We push!”

  The plan gets into motion when she arrives at the studio, leaving her coat at the door. She starts taking pictures of the lobby to send her Uncle, but as soon as she crosses the security Louis comes over and drags her to studio 1.

“Come on lass, we’ve got loads to do!” he pulls her by the hand playfully.

“Calm down, I can walk!” she groans but jogs behind him nonetheless.

  While she’s busy recording Lou’s uncannily messy vocals, Harry and Liam greet a violinist that plays the sheet music for the chorus and the outro. They’re recording and mixing at the same time, hurrying to get a decent enough base for the vocals with what they’ve been working on for the past couple of days, skipping through compressors and equalizers just to get something done.

  At the hallway, Niall is returning from the restroom when he catches Olivia sneaking out studio 1 to look for Harry.

“Oi! What’s up?”

“I can’t take this anymore, if Lou messes up one more time I’ll hit him with my shoe” she pulls her braids out of her face. “Where’s Harry?”

“I... I don’t think he’s here yet” he messes up the last few words. God he sucks at lying, and his hard accent doesn’t help one bit.

She frowns suspiciously, “You  sure?”

“We can call him later, come on” he pushes her frustrated self back to studio 1, “we don’t have all day”

  Few more hours pass and Niall replaces Louis in the recording booth to give her a break, they know he’s got the best intentions at heart but it’s not working a treat. Harry steps into the booth to record his vocals in one go, it doesn’t sound great but he can work on it better if they actually decide to put it on the album. He’s got a lot to prove with this song: for once, he has to prove himself as an artist that can make something incredibly specific and still relatable; and then prove himself to the band, even if it’s probably their last album he wants to be relevant in it. His songs were never really taken seriously, neither were Zayn’s, and he doesn’t want to thread the same path as him.

At last his input is enough, they get great takes and start mixing it together with time to spare — that is, until Louis rushes inside: “Lads, come on, she’s not buying it! Tell me you’ve got it”

“We’ve got it!” Liam replies enthusiastically but Harry holds him back.

“Wha- No! I-I haven’t got anything!” his heart starts racing as it never did before, the prospect of the big moment being so close terrifies him. “I’m not ready for it”

“Of course you are! Mate, you’ve been together for ages, this is just one more step” he encourages, holding Harry by his shoulders.

“Bloody hell... what if she says no?”

“She won’t say no!”

“What if she does?!”

“Then nothing changes! You keep on living your life just without a ring and a wedding date” Louis argues, crossing his arms casually as he tries do play it cool. “Now, can I call her in?”

Harry takes a deep breath and nods, Liam’s hands slip from his shoulder with a friendly pat. “You’ll be great”

  They leave the studio with encouraging looks, leaving him alone and anxious in the vast studio. He pats his jacket to find the box safely stored inside his pocket, one more time he takes a deep breath. This is happening. The silence seems to extend for ages when the door opens again, this time for Oli to sneak in. Once he sees her it dawns on him what is about to happen, but he doesn’t panic... instead he feels at ease.

“What are you up to?” she tip toes inside and sits on his lap, pressing a quick kiss on his lips.

“Just checking this demo”

“Hmm, quite the professional!” she mocks, looking at the tracks. There’s too few of them, only one vocal track and three instrumentals. She’s about to mess with it when he holds her hand.

“Before you play... just bare with me, it’s not ready yet, it’s just a demo –“

“It’s okay Haz”

“– I know, but it just might not reach your standards...”

“Harry... look, I know how hard you’re working on this, I’ve watched you learn this bit by bit for years. I had a lifetime of learning what you learned in five years, don’t be harsh on yourself” she strokes his hair with a humble smile, as if she’s begging him not to torture himself about it. “Now, may I?” he nods in response so she hits the space bar.

 The metronome count starts and a simple violin chord plays before Harry’s vocal kicks in blasting around the room’s sound system. Although she loves every piece of him to the bones, there’s something special about his raspy voice that gets her weak in the knees. She listens to it keeping her eyes fixed on the ground to better focus on her hearing. The first couple of verses are a bit weak, but she won’t say anything to an already nervous Harry. The following ones sound a bit better until it comes to the pre-chorus.

“Please believe me, don’t you see the things you mean to me oh! I love you, I love you, I love-I love- I love Olivia”

“Wait” she frowns at the computer, then the chorus progresses.

“I live for you, I long for you Olivia-“

“Oh my god...” her eyes turn to him in a bolt, he only smirks with those cheeky dimples of his and hugs her waist closer.

“... I’ll be now idolizing the light in your eyes, Olivia. I live for you, I long for you, Olivia-”

“Oh my fucking god...” he laughs at her reaction, covering up her mouth in a struggled gasp. “You didn’t!”

“I did!”

“When you’re gone and I’m alone you live in my imagination, summertime and butterflies all belong to your creation. I love you, is all I do, I love you...”

She chokes a bit at the lyrics, and that is the moment Harry chooses to get the velvet box from his pocket and show it to her. “Oh, come on...” she cries absolutely overwhelmed at the sight of that beautiful delicate ring. She was successfully fooled, in no way would she ever imagine that the sound he was working so hard on was for her and that it was also his proposal... still, all she can do is smile and cry at the same time.

“I think I’ve said it all already, but still” he starts, her reaction causing him to tear up a bit. “You said you wanted a ring, a speech and an ugly cry”

“I did, didn’t I?” she tries to say through a sob.

“Will you marry me, love?”

“Yes! Of course!” she cups his cheek earnestly and kisses him with all she’s got, leaning into him gently but with the sheer will of a hurricane. She breaks the kiss only to wipe her own cheeks and leave a strained chuckle, “I swear to you, one of these days you’re gonna kill me”

“No way, who’s gonna finish the album” to that, she can only roll her eyes. “May I?” he takes her hand.

“Please” she watches him slip the delicate ring on her finger, astounded by his attention to detail. “It’s so beautiful... everything Haz, seriously, the song is...” she huffs, absolutely speechless. Harry smiles in satisfaction, lacing her hips as she hugs his neck pressing herself completely against him, feeling his love irradiating from every pore.

“I meant every word” he whispers, cupping the back of her neck and showering her with small pecks on the cheek.

“She said yes?” they both turn to the door and find Liam, Niall, Louis and Frank lining up at the frame waiting to come in.

“Of course she did!” Harry answers smugly.

“She said yes!” Lou screams, sparking a big celebratory mayhem of champagne popping and flying paper around them. “You should’ve seen his face when we left, he was totally passing out”

“He was shaking” Liam adds.

“Thanks mate, cheers”

“Were you stalling me today?” she points to Louis in accusation.

“In my defense, I was told to stall you for the whole afternoon”

“Can’t believe you were all in it... how long have you been outside?”

“We got here when the music started, I gotta say... it’s really good” Lou compliments, handing them plastic cups of champagne.

“Really good” Niall joins, “We should put it on the album... I mean, if you’re ok with it”

“I’m more than ok with that” she laughs.

“Than that’s it! Just missing another three songs” Louis mocks.

“Can we take a break? Just got engaged, if anyone noticed" Harry shrugs, his inner egomaniac begging the attention to turn back to him.

"Cheers!" they join cups in the center an down the content of their cups merrily, then doing it again this time with Harry and Olivia crossing their arms to do so.

A/N: and that's it! just a small taste, i've got more stuff cooking, adore you has been driving me crazy all week but i'm still figuring out how it makes me feel and how it can become a story... you'll see xx

Check more at masterlist

[mcrmadness]

🌺💘🌷 GET TO KNOW YOUR MUTUALS TAG 🌷💘🌺

Rules: When you get this, it means someone wants to know more about you, so list 5 things about yourself you want your followers to know! They can be as simple as your age or as complex as your deepest fear, as long as it’s something you’re comfortable with sharing. When you’re done and if you want to, send this to 10 people you want to get to know better!

Tagged by: @cats-crushesandhistory, thank you!!! Tagging: @stufenlosregelbar, @hanhan156, @charlotte-lancer, @autumnrebel, @cupcakecurl, @lycanrvc, - six is enough for now. I’m probably forgetting about basically everyone, I literally had to go through these by letters because I can never remember anything when I should make a list and I still feel bad for not including _everyone. But I decided to include only those who I have interacted with at least a little bit - I literally don’t dare to speak to anyone unless they tell me first that I am allowed to approach them. I also did not tag anyone who I haven’t seen doing these tag games or who I don’t know if they like these or not. And all of you can also just skip this if this is not your cup of tea.

***

I can never write anything short (surprise...) so I’ll just give you a short list here and you can click the read more link and see more of my thoughs on each topic there.

I am a teetotaler and I have never even tried alcohol. I also don’t and have never smoked and I stay the f* away from drugs, too.

I love cats. Like, for real, they’re the best thing in this whole world.

I love all animals overall, and I am actually a horse groom, I have a the “Vocational Qualification in Horse Care and Management”, specializing in harness racing, and I have worked with horses for over 10 years so far.

As a kid, I was a huge dinosaur nerd and I still love them.

I love comics and I have also drawn comics since I was a kid. I still have all of my old comics saved. Lately I haven’t been drawing even nearly as much and only fanart, tho. Drawing is fun but I simultaneously love and hate it.

Lol it seems I have love for everything but humans :D:D:D:D:D:D I didn’t even realize that before making this list looooooooool XD But yeah, more rambling under the cut :D But thanks for reading, if you end up reading it.

1. I am a teetotaler and I have never even tried alcohol. I also don’t smoke (and never have) and I avoid drugs - so much so that I don’t know if getting ADHD medication would break this “rule” of mine because they are made from the same stuff as one well-known drug...

I think it started as me just being so “lawful” all the time and the legal drinking age in Finland is 18, so I wanted to follow the rules at all times so I didn’t even think about drinking before the age of 18 and I was often very much shocked by other teens who did that, and I also remember being really worried when my best friend started experimenting with alcohol as a teenager. Despite the legal drinking age being 18, basically everyone here still started (and starts?) drinking between the ages of 13 and 15. So at school, from Monday to Wednesday, all that happened was overhearing the drunk stories of other kids. And from Wednesday to Friday, it changed to them discussing their plans for the next weekend. It was like this every week. And I never could wrap my head around it (I spent my weekends at home being happy that I could have free time and play The Sims 2 or something).

Then at some point I guess I just felt like I don’t even need alcohol for having fun and I still haven’t felt like that, and I don’t think I ever will either. When I turned 18, I was super annoyed by everyone because EVERYONE asked me “So you’re turning 18, did you plan on going to a bar?” and I would always answer something like “I don’t even drink (alcohol) so why would I?” and what still annoys me a little is people telling me “That’s good. That’s a good decision, drinking is bad.” and like... if you really think so, why do you drink yourself, then?

2. I love cats. Maybe that is partially visible from my blog too but I really, really love cats, and for decades my favorite animal has been tiger. When I was born, we had already 3 cats in the house and the last one of them died when I was almost 13 (he would have turned 16 that year). Before I moved out at the age of 23, there was not a single day without cats and currently my parents have 4 (plus a dog). I am still dreaming of my own cat but I can’t take one now because animals are not allowed in my flat but whenever I move out of this, I will choose one with pets allowed and I will adopt a cat. Most likely a rescue cat if I can find one, or even two so they can keep each other company. As cute as kittens are, adult cats are also important and need homes.

3. I also love animals overall. I actually like them more than humans (but technically humans are just apes so they’re my least favorite animal, then) and when I was 7-years-old, whenever I was asked about my dream job, I always said or wrote “I don’t know, probably something to do with animals!” And since my teens I have had lots of different ideas for jobs but when I was 25, I graduated as a horse groom. And have been (on-off) working with horses for over 10 years now (currently unemployed). Originally I chose the horse work because I was so pissed by the capitalist system and the thought of an office job or job at a grocery store and such was just... ew, no, never! So I chose horses because if I have to work, then I will do something useful and someone’s gotta take care of the animals too and I love animals, and animal work doesn’t feel like work but more like a lifestyle, so I’ve been basically fooling the system AND myself by that. Sometimes I also dream of the work as a zookeeper.

4. As a kid, I was a huge dinosaur nerd and I still love them (Land Before Time FTW). With my siblings we had a huge collection of dinosaur toys and I also have always loved evolution and genetics, so what we did was to give an individual name for every dinosaur we had. And we knew the species of each of them, and we knew so many facts about them too. Each dino also had their own personality and we even created family trees for them. There were generations of these dinos and we also created this “growing up order” which meant we put them all standing next to each other, usually under my brother’s bed because we had so many of them and they didn’t fit anywhere else lol, from the youngest/smallest to the oldest. And our biggest mission, that never got finished, was “The Big Play” which was us playing that the ancestor parents aka the oldest and biggest of our toys were born and we would play with them and play how they grow older and eventually start having their own kids - who were the next generation in our “growing up order” :D

No wonder why I still love playing The Sims games, especially TS3! (I even have a Finnish simsblog.) Lots of the things I have done and loved as a kid still live so strong in me, they just come out differently than what they did then. Imagination and toys changed to video games, especially The Sims (but I did play video games a lot as a kid too) and my love for genetics and evolution is still really strong.

5. I love comics. My favorite comic book character of all times is Garfield - he’s a cat and I grew up with cats so obviously I fell in love with the Garfield comics too, and I grew up with them as well. My mom subscribed to the Finnish Garfield comic in the early 90s and I have full volumes starting from the year 1994. I also have lots and lots of earlier comics and I always hunt for them from second-hand shops and I don’t have too many of them missing anymore, and I’m really proud of my collection. I also collect Lucky Luke, Rantanplan and Asterix - I have almost all of the (Finnish publications of) Lucky Lukes and Rantanplan.

I have also always loved drawing and I drew my first actual comic when I was 9 or 10 years old. Before that I had been drawing lots of “image series”, one image per paper. I still have all my old comics here in a drawer and I have had so many different characters and majority of them have had endless “plots” aka no plots whatsoever :D Before I actually never drew humans, I started drawing human portraits as fanart when I was 16 and the first human comic characters I drew (also as a fanart) when I was 18 or so. Before that everything was animals of some sort - I have had ants, flies, dogs, cats, birds... even ghosts at some point, and I also created one very simple anthropomorphic creature just so that it was easy to draw and I could concentrate on drawing clothes and hair. Oh my god I loved drawing hairdos to these, and so often I had one female “main character” and I gave her a “growth spurt” where I just drew her in different ages until she was “adult” and I continued telling about her life as an “adult”. Very often these differen phases were literally phases, there were soooooo many different styles each just for one year :D Then at some point I started coming up with actual ideas and plots instead of just drawing whatever I felt like drawing. I still draw comics nowadays, but those are mainly fanart and I haven’t drawn about OC’s in years and currently I have no active ones (except for the “self-comics” about my deep thoughts etc.) and I don’t know how to create new ones, I just have no creativity unless it’s provoked by a fandom thing or when I get a base like The Sims 3 where I don’t have an empty canvas but am given the tools for creating something new.

It might be fun to share some of my old comics here one day but this blog isn’t really an “art blog”, even tho I post some of my drawings occassionally. But let me know if you’d like to see some and maybe I will make a post about that in the future.

[naivesilver]

If you’re still doing the Sonic ask meme, can you do 32,33,34,37,42,51,62,74,75,96. You don’t have to answer all of them if it’s a lot.

YO ANON YOU ARE THE BEST I love talking about Sonic I’ll do them ALL

100 Sonic Questions

32.) Most underrated character, GO 

HOPE KINTOBOR!!!!!! So many Archie characters did a full 360 once Kenders left and I remember them fondly but Hope is the fucking best! I want to see her again! She’s such a good girl with a great story and I may or may not be planning a fic involving her

33.) Most overrated character, GO

I should say that they are all good and deserve endless love but it’s not true. I can’t lie. The Babylon Rogues are just too boring to me.

It’s fine if you love them! Even if they are your faves! I apply to this the same principle I have with other Pokemon fans loving Pelipper when I could easily go a whole life without seeing its soulless bird eyes again.

(Okay maybe I have something against birds.

Except the Hatoful Boyfriend ones. Those are good.)

The thing is I just don’t find them all that interesting??? I don’t hate them, I’m just kinda meh about them. But I follow some people who adore them with a passion and it’s very endearing to watch someone pour all their love on their fave characters so I tolerate it and even reblog some good art when the mood strikes. But they still don’t rank in my top ten and probably never will.

34.) Guilty pleasure game? 

When I was in middle school I watched 06 cutscenes all the time and I’ve never been able to replicate the surge of intense excitement I had in those days.

It’s a bad game. It’s true. But it holds a special place in my heart and it introduced the best boy ever so I can’t let it go.

37.) List your favorite platonic ships.

I have LOTS for a start Sonic and Knuckles have a great dynamic and I want to see it more. And while I ship Vector and Espio romantically the way they both interact with Charmy is ADORBS they’re the trash parent/older brother figures he deserves. And Shadow and Rouge!!! God I could go on all night maybe friendship IS a superpower.

42.) If you could say one thing to Sonic Team right now, what would it be? 

HAVE SILVER AND BLAZE INTERACT MORE IN-GAME YOU COWARDS

51.) If you were your least favorite character for a day, what would you do and why?

Given that my least favorite is Zavok I would sit down and have a fucking nap instead of causing problems on purpose

62.) Opinions on Japanese and English voice acting, GO 

I know next to nothing about the Japanese VAs but the English ones are quite good??? I feel like they often embody their characters quite well. Certainly better than the Italian ones looking at you, Luca Ward and your C-level Metarex roles

74.) What’s the best thing about being in the Sonic fandom?

The creativity! Canon is so flexible that everyone can pick and choose what they please and there are thousands of headcanons, redesignes and plausible backstories that one can find everywhere, it just makes me dizzy with joy.

And the OCs! I could spend days gushing over other people’s OCs (and mine, though I never gather the courage to do it here). I say it before and I’ll say it again, if you ever need to show someone the character you made, send it over! I’ll praise them from head to toe because they’re all great. Full stop. No exception. Cringe is fucking dead.

75.) What’s the worst thing about being in the Sonic fandom? 

Antis. Worse still, antis recycling old arguments that I thought we’d buried deep down underground.

You can’t - you can’t come at me in the year of the lord 2020 and tell me sonamy and sonadow are problematic ships and everyone who endorses them is a disgusting person. Dude. That’s the literal backbone of the fandom. What the fuck.

(Also, as someone who got called some really nasty words bc I ship vecpio: I don’t give a damn. Ship what you want. Indulge in your kinks. We actively cheer for brightly colored antropomorphic animals to win in made up races against time or fights against mechanic overlords, stop taking everything so seriously.)

96.) Which character annoys you? 

Shade. Not because I have anything against her. I just never understood where she came from and why I never see any screenshots of her game and at this point I’m too afraid to ask anyone about it.

[may8344]

The Journey of a Forgotten Soldier (Levi x OC)

This is a story I’m in the process of posting on both AO3 and Wattpad, though I decided to add it to Tumblr as well. However, since I’ll be behind on Tumblr comparing to AO3 and Wattpad, this may remain behind or I might bulk post.

Relationships:

Alana Frey (OC)Levi (Shingeki no Kyojin)/Original Female Character(s)Levi Ackerman/Alana FreyFurlan Church/Original Character(s)Furlan Church/Alana Frey

Characters:

Levi (Shingeki no Kyojin)Furlan ChurchIsabel MagnoliaAlana Frey (OC) - CharacterErwin SmithHange ZoëPetra RalGunther SchultzEld JinnOluo BozadoKeith ShadisSpecial Operations Squad | Squad Levi

Additional Tags:

Graphic Description of CorpsesBlood and InjuryViolenceMurder

Summary:

Alana Frey, a girl born in the Underground City, longed to see the true sunlight every morning that she would wake up. Alongside her comrades: Furlan Church, Isabel Magnolia, and Levi, Alana’s life as a thug continued with no way around it; until the sudden day she and her companions were offered the deal of a lifetime.

“Once you complete this job, not only will you be generously compensated for your work,

but you will also earn the right to live above ground.”

Word Count: 1.7k

---

CHAPTER 3: Freedom

As Alana woke up, she realized everyone else had left the shared bedroom. “Was that all a dream?” She mumbled to herself as she began to braid her long hair. “No,” she smiled to herself, “it wasn’t.” A low chuckle left her lips as she remembered all of them together, huddled on the floor as they slept. It was a new experience that she was happy about. Fiddling with the beaten ring that sat on her ring finger on her left hand, Alana’s thoughts were suddenly cut off by a stern voice in the main room.

“You call that clean? Do it again.”

Knowing all too well who that voice belonged to, she groaned and stood up from her mattress. After making up the bed and picking up Isabel’s hair ties, Alana made her way into the main room, greeted by Furlan’s smile. 

“Morning, sleepy head. Once we finish cleaning, we’re gonna head out to the open cavern. Isabel wants to let the bird fly off.” Gesturing with his hand, he looked at the small, white bird perched on top of Isabel’s head. 

A small huff left the ginger’s mouth as she complained, “I don’t understand why we have to clean first. The house is practically spotless anyways!”

A glare was sent across the room from Levi, but Alana stopped the two of them before any arguing took place. “Hey, now, no arguing. Let’s just get this done quickly, then we can go right after.” She, herself, picked up a wet cloth and began wiping down the wooden boards—the make-shift windows—in the rooms and near the sofa. “Besides, it’s probably not good to draw attention to ourselves this early in the day...” she trailed off as she heard the short, cleanfreak stomping towards her with his eyebrows furrowed. 

Levi halted as he was inches away from her face. He was wearing a cloth over his hair and one over his face to protect him from the dust flying around. Even though most of his face was covered, he wasn’t any less intimidating. “The cloth is too damp. You’re making the wood soaked, idiot.”

The other three sighed at their friend. 

[~]

“I’ll race you there!” Isabel shouted as she shot out her wires to the nearest building, zipping through the air as she flew towards it, but not before doing her own flip midair.

“For someone who couldn’t use ODM Gear a month ago, she sure is cocky,” Furlan remarked at their friend as he followed. 

Alana lightly scolded her blond friend, “This is her first time actually using it around the city. Let her have her fun.”

Loud cheering could be heard below them, as each of their friends and fellow workers waved. All of them, including the quartet, saw the gear as a way to finally free themselves from the hellhole they lived in. It was at least a tool to aid them in making money to survive. Knowing that another person was able to successfully use the ODM Gear made everyone ecstatic.

As the three caught up with their energetic partner, she started rambling on about what it felt like to fly. She even laid her arms out from her sides and closed her eyes, claiming it felt like a bird. 

“We’re here.” After some time of flying, Levi spoke his first words since they left as he gracefully landed in a little cavern area. Alana followed next, then Furlan, and finally Isabel. Although each three were decent with their ODM Gear abilities, they could never match their leader. 

Climbing around the rocks, Levi led the squad through the dark tunnel. Directly ahead, sunlight beamed through an open area. The large hole in the ground allowed a bunch of sunlight to peer through the darkness of the cavern. Along the stone edges, some grass and moss hung around the circular area—the only life beneath the ground besides humans and the occasional animal. Isabel rushed ahead of him at the sight and stopped in the centre of the area, gazing upwards to the sky. Taking in a large gulp of air, she yelled, “This is awesome! We can see above ground from here!”

Furlan chuckled as he leaned against the wall, just under the edge of sunlight. Levi sat further away from the tunnel, more in the light. Though he never said so, he really did love sitting under where the sun was. Right up there was freedom.

Alana climbed her way up to where Isabel stood, and set a hand on the excited girl’s shoulder. “It’s time to let the bird fly, right Izzy?” Her diamond blue eyes glistened in the light as she stared up at the clear, blue sky above them. “He can finally be back up in the sky by all of his friends.”

“Yeah.” Isabel rose up her hands, lifting the bird up towards the hole in the ground. “Go on! Be free!”

The beautiful white bird took no time to raise it’s wings and fly high into the endless, crystal blue sky above it. Each of the four stared up into the sky with a mutual goal in mind: to finally leave the Underground City.

But none of them saw the angel, white feather drift down into the dark rain puddle beneath them.

[~]

As the quartet walked back, Alana had paused her footsteps. The rest of the gang turned to her in question. Furlan and Isabel looked confused, but Levi had a serious look on his face. “What is it?”

“Someone is there.” She answered in a hushed voice.

Levi’s eyebrows furrowed as he carefully made his way to the open area in front of their house. Just as she had stated, a tall, old man stood staring at his pocket watch. He had gray hair and a mustache, but he seemed to be wearing a suit. As he heard the four come near him, he closed his watch and turned, making eye contact with Levi. 

“What is it, old geezer?” Isabel had spoken first. “You want something from us?” Her arms helped the back of her head, as she stood in a lackadaisical stance. 

“I need a job done.”

Furlan covered up his suspicion by trying to joke, “You sure you didn’t get the wrong address? We aren’t handymen.”

“I assure you, the pay will be good,” the suited man tried reasoning. 

“Piss off.” Levi grumbled as he walked past the man with the other three in tow. They began to climb the stairs to their front door, but were cut off by the man’s next words.

“I believe I have already put down a deposit for your services.”

“You’re kidding, right? This is the first time we’ve met,” Furlan’s curiosity left his mouth, as he eyed the creepy man. 

“That is true,” his husky voice agreed. “But I’m sure you will recognize that gentleman over there.” Turning his head, he stole a glance towards his left, the opposite direction of the confused group.

In the distance, a red horse carriage with gold trimmings awaited it’s passenger. In no time, a brunette, with his arm around the shoulder of another suited man, was being helped into the vehicle. His right leg had been impaired, so he used the helper almost as a crutch. A smile was on his face as he nodded to the second man who was stationed in front of the carriage.

Both Alana and Furlan’s eyes widened in recognition. 

“Jan!” He couldn’t help blurting out, surprised to see the brunette being taken away. 

The old man began his bargaining once more. “His leg is severely impaired. He must have it operated on in a hospital above ground.” Even without turning around to face the bunch, it was obvious he had a smirk on his face. “I am correct, am I not, Levi?”

“What are you getting at!?” The blond began to get angered at seeing his friend being taken hostage. 

“I’ll repeat myself. That is our deposit. Now will you hear me out?”

Alana turned to Levi with a worried face. “Levi…” 

He had been cornered. The stoic man was in a position where he was forced to agree to their terms. “Very well.”

[~]

The echoing of footsteps rang in the barely lit hallway. As they followed the staircase leading up towards the surface, behind the old man, each of the four were on high guard. Slowly, as they reached the top, a hole of daylight filled the cramped area instead of the torches. 

Levi was the first to emerge from the shadows of the steps, covering his eyes from the bright rays of sunshine. Next was Furlan, then Isabel, then Alana. A carriage, similar to the one seen carrying Jan away,  sat at the top of the stairway. Inside it was a man covered by shadows provided by the vehicle..

A husky voice left the mysterious man’s mouth. “Are these the ones?”

“Yes. I’ve heard great things about them.” The old man replied as he stood next to the door of the carriage. 

In frustration, Levi exclaimed, “Who the hell are you?”

“I understand your wariness.” He answered, avoiding the question. “But you’ll learn to trust me in time.”

“Oh? How so?” Alana questioned, becoming more stern than her typical self.

“The fact that I’ve contacted you personally proves it. I am risking quite a lot by being here. Have you received my deposit?”

“I don’t know what you call it above ground, but it’s called ‘taking a hostage’ where we’re from,” Levi responded coldly. 

“It’s proof that your reward will be ample. Do you understand?” The man paused, waiting for an answer. When he realized he wasn’t going to receive one, he continued, hoping that it was enough convincing. “Once you complete this job, not only will you be generously compensated for your work, but you will also earn the right to live above ground.”

That left the group absolutely speechless. Each person stared wide eyed at the man’s proposition. If he was telling the truth, then the four’s dream would finally become a reality.

If he was telling the truth, they would finally be free.

---

(A/N) As fans of ACWNR, these earlier chapters (until around Chapter 12) follow very closely to the manga/anime. Dialog as well as most actions are only changed into words for the fanfiction (adding in Alana). However, once we get past that, it will begin to become its own story and change to more original--and of course more Levi scenes. Personally, I enjoy seeing the progress from the entire beginning as it takes form. This chapter is definitely a favorite of mine to write, so I hope it came across that way. Thank you, Brianna, for the amazing editing.

Thank you for reading! See you all next week :)

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 

[mochasandwords]

I See Fire (Part 1)

*taps mic* Is this still on? 

Uh, hi! I’m back with another part of my Greater Beings AU! I’m still working on this fic, but it’s becoming very lengthy. Almost 4,500 words currently. There will probably four parts, and I am working on part three. (I’ve got my inspiration back! Woo!) 

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Warning: This whole fic is very depressing. Warnings will be used for each part individually.

Word Count: 2,849

Warnings: Near falling, snakes, homophobia, transphobia, implied stalker, aphobe, threats (let me know if there’s anything else)

Ships: Adster (Adonis x Aster (OCs)), eventual implied dukceit

Doran grunted as the stubborn apple finally came off of the branch it was on. He threw it into the basket of apples on the ground beneath him. He reached for another apple on a higher branch and felt the hand that was steadying him start to slip. He quickly wrapped his legs around the branch he was on and grabbed it with his arms.

“Doran, please be careful!” Papa yelled up into the branches. Doran smiled through shaky breaths.

“I am!” He shouted back down. Through the branches, he saw the figure of his papa standing with his arms crossed. His green eyes glittered nervously.  

“Come on down, this tree’s been picked enough,” Papa said, shaking his head. Doran looked back up at the apple he had been trying to reach. If he was just a bit taller...

“Don’t even think about it, mister.” Doran groaned but obeyed, making his way down the tree. Once his feet hit the ground, his papa ruffled his hair. Doran hissed and shrank away, running a hand through his blonde hair in an attempt to fix it.  

“You’re brave, Doran, but a part of being brave is knowing when to stop.” Papa chuckled, “Come on, there are only a couple more trees to pick.” Doran nodded and walked after his papa, eyeing his hat. A few seconds later, he jumped up and snatched it from his papa’s head, revealing his brown hair. Doran laughed and took off, hearing Papa gasp and laugh behind him.

Doran felt strong arms pick him up and spin him around, stopping him mid-sprint.

“You little thief!” Papa laughed. Doran giggled loudly as he held the hat close. Papa set him down after a while, Doran having to close his eyes to keep the world from spinning. When he opened his eyes, his papa had his hat on his head. Doran gaped; he hadn’t even realized he had lost it.

“Disorient the person and take your thing back. I’ve taught you this, Doran.” Papa said, wagging his finger playfully. Doran shrugged.

“I wasn’t looking to keep it.” He grinned. Papa smiled.

“No more playing or climbing trees so high you almost fall, ok? Your dad will have dinner done soon, and I want to be at the house when your sister gets there.” Papa said. Doran perked up and nodded. How could I forget that Zandra was coming home? His sister was a priestess of the god Roman and didn’t have many opportunities to visit. Doran loved his sister and missed her often. They had been close as kids and she had been a pillar of strength in his life. Other than his papa and dad of course.  

Doran couldn’t stop the memories that flowed back to him, and honestly, he didn’t want them to stop. The beaming smile paired with bright green eyes. Strong arms that made Doran feel safe. The games they would play where she was the Dragon Witch that had to be slain and he was a brave knight. All the things she taught him, like prayers to the different gods, their parent’s weak spot for puppy-dog eyes, how to hold and swing a sword, and most importantly, how to be a good older brother to Kit.

Kit was the youngest kid in the family, and once he could walk, he had been a handful. His curly hair was untamable, and his normally blonde hair was always caked with dust and mud. He had a chipped tooth from the time he had tried to jump over a stream and his green eyes were always filled with mischief. Doran loved him but got overwhelmed by the six-year old’s endless energy easily. He was learning to be patient.

Doran considered himself to be one of the calmest people in his family, even though he did have sudden spurts of energy and was always down to have fun. He was also hardworking, like his papa and dad. Since Kit couldn’t do many of the bigger chores, the responsibility fell on Doran most days. He didn’t mind though, it was something to do, and he got to bond with his parents.

“Let’s head back, Doran! That’s enough for today!” Papa called, pulling Doran from his thoughts.

“Coming!” Doran shouted, sliding down the tree he had been in. Once on the ground, he grabbed as many of the baskets of apples that he could carry and hauled them onto the cart his family owned. Doran wiped a bead of sweat from his brow and looked up at the sky, smiling at the beautiful sunset. Papa placed the last basket into the cart and then the two were off, both pulling the cart behind them.  

When they finally reached the house, it was almost dark, the god Logan’s stars already poking through the sky. Their house was small, just a hut with a straw roof. It had a kitchen area and three rooms, one for Doran’s parents, one for Doran and Kit, and one for Zandra when she visited.  

Papa and Doran dropped the cart off near the front of the house and walked in, letting the warmth and sweet smells wash over them.

“Papa!” Kit cried, jumping off the stool he had been on and running to Papa. Papa laughed and kneeled down so he could hug Kit. Doran smiled and took off his cloak, hanging it up, and pulled off his shoes, putting them by the door.

“Hi, dad!” Doran said, turning to his dad. His dad stood over the fire as he finished with dinner, blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail.

“Hello Doran, how did harvesting go?” Dad asked, turning slightly to look at his son.

“Good! We’re all done!” Doran answered, grunting as Kit barged into him, giving him an aggressive hug.

“So you’ll be able to attend the market with me tomorrow?” Dad asked. Doran sighed.

“Sure.”

“What’s wrong? You love the market.” Papa said.

“I just wanted to spend time with Zandra,” Doran muttered.  

“You’ll have plenty of time to do that.” Said a voice from one of the back rooms. Doran gasped and ran to hug the robed figure.

“Zandra!”

“Hey, Doran!” His sister said with a laugh.

“When did you get here?” He asked, muttering into her white robe.

“A few minutes ago,” Zandra said.

“Let me hug her too, Doran!” Papa said. Doran backed up and let Papa hug his daughter.

“Hi, papa,” Zandra said softly.

“We’ve missed you, Zandra,” Papa replied.

“I’ve missed you too.” Zandra smiled.

“You look good! Your work has been treating you well?” Papa asked. Zandra nodded and did a little twirl, showing off her priestly outfit. She had a long, flowy white robe on. The insignia that was sown over one of her breasts was a red flame. At her hip were a sword and a brown satchel. She was pretty muscular but had defiantly gained a few pounds from how well the priests and priestesses were treated.

Zandra gasped and knelt down, looking at Kit, who was currently hiding behind Dad.  

“Is this Kit? Hey, kiddo!” She held out a hand to him, “You’ve grown up so fast!”

“Who is that?” Kit whispered after a few moments. Zandra giggled.

“I’m your sister, Zandra. Gosh, the last time I saw you was when you were born.” She smiled. Kit still wore a look of confusion. Doran bent down to his brother’s side.  

“Remember the Dragon Witch? And who I told you came up with her?” He whispered. Kit gasped and pointed.

“You’re the Dragon Witch!” He squealed. Zandra laughed.  

“Well, I made her, yes.” She winked.

“Doran’s the Dragon Warlock!” Kit blurted out.

“Oh is he now?”

“Yeah!” Kit squeaked.

“I... might’ve taken some of your ideas,” Doran said, coughing.

“It’s good to have the team expanded, Warlock,” Zandra smirked.

“Witch.”

“No! They’ve made an alliance! I need my sword! The kingdom is in danger!” Kit shouted, running to his and Doran’s room, voice fading a bit. Papa and Dad chuckled.  

“You can fight them later, dinner is ready!” Dad shouted, taking the stew away from the fire. Doran, could you put the fire out?” Doran nodded and grabbed the bucket that they used to put out the fire. He carefully placed it over the fire, covering it completely. Zandra came by his side and said a quick prayer over the now enclosed fire. Doran was in awe with how reverently she was speaking, how her words wove through the air like birds flying through the sky.

Doran and his family had sworn an oath to the god Roman when Zandra had become his priestess. Though the family didn’t have to do as much as Zandra by any means. They honored Roman and the fires he let the family used. They prayed to him as a family before they slept. They welcomed any priestess or priest or cleric of Roman’s that came along. And they never put out a fire with water. To them, that was indirectly saying that Remus was more powerful than his brother, as Remus was the god of water.

“Kit! Help me set the table!” Dad shouted.

“But the kingdom!” Kit yelled.  

“Now, Kit!” Papa warned. There was a groan, and Kit walked back into the main area, dragging his feet. Zandra smirked and nudged Doran.

“He reminds me of someone.” She whispered. Doran stuck his tongue out in retaliation.  

Soon, dinner was placed on the table, with the entire family around it. Zandra said a prayer to Roman and Thomas, who was the head god. The meal was bigger than it normally was, as Papa and Dad didn’t want to make Sandra worry. They weren’t poor, but they weren’t wealthy either. They lived comfortably. At least, that’s how Doran would describe it.  

Doran tried to hold himself back from eating his food quickly, but the smell and taste of the food were hard to resist. Dad really pulled out all the stops. He thought with a smile. Too soon, the meal was over.

“That was really good, Dad. Thank you.” Zandra said, dipping her head.

“I’m glad you liked it,” Dad replied, glancing at the empty plates and what little was left of the stew.

“Kit, why don’t you and I clean up?” Papa suggested, standing up. Dad reached over and put his hand on his husband’s.

“Let me do it, Aster. You’ve been working all day.” He said, smiling lovingly. Papa sighed and nodded, resting in his chair.  

“Come on, Kit,” Dad said, stretching.  

“Fine.” Kit whined.  

“Oh, Doran! I have something for you.” Zandra said, standing up with a big smile. Doran raised an eyebrow.

“I have learned not to trust that sentence, Z,” Doran said hesitantly.

“I promise you, it’s nothing bad, D.”  

“Mhm.”

“You don’t trust a priestess?” Zandra grinned. Doran rolled his eyes and stood up. Zandra’s grin widened. She led him back to her room and sat on her bed, patting next to her. Doran sat down with hesitance. Zandra clicked her tongue and made a low ‘pspsps’ sound.  

A tiny head popped up out of a pile of dirt.

Doran felt his eyes widen in awe as he saw the snake slither toward him, tongue flicking out. Its black scales shone in the dull light.

“Woah!” He gasped. Zandra laughed softly and picked up the snake.

“This one was brought over from Nusantara. He was going to be sacrificed, but after praying and talking to a high priestess, I was allowed to keep her. I felt that she would be perfect for you. She’s not venomous, and Dad and Papa said it was ok for you to have her.” She said, holding up the snake to Doran.

“Really?” He whispered. Zandra nodded, loving the look of awe on her little brother’s face. He was a pro, holding the snake so that it was supported, but letting her slither around his arms. He giggled as she came to rest around his shoulders, flicking her tongue at his face.  

“She likes you.”

“Can... I name her? Or does she have one?”

“Go ahead.”

“...Nothing seems right.” Doran said after a few seconds.

“Let’s go get the night fire started. I want to show you something she does.” Zandra said, standing and walking to the main area of the house; Doran following close behind with his snake on her perch. When they got out to the main area, the fire in the fireplace was already going, with the rest of the family sitting in front of it.  

“Hold her up to the light, D!” Zandra said with a flourish of her hand. Doran gently took his snake off of his shoulders and held her up. Doran’s jaw dropped as his snake’s scales turned rainbow. Wherever the light hit the scales, they shone and danced with color.  

“She looks like a beam of sunshine!” Kit gasped.

“Liakáda.” Doran whispered, “That’s your name.”

“‘Sunshine’. It’s perfect.” Zandra nodded. Liakáda lifted her head higher, seeming like she was proud of herself.  

“Thank you Zandra,” Doran said, a huge smile bursting forth. He put Liakáda back around his shoulders and hugged his sister tightly.  

A knock came at the door.

“Who could be here at this hour?” Papa asked, humming.  

“I’ll get it.” Dad sighed, getting up. He walked to the door; a bit tense. Doran glanced at the window, noting how late it was. He released his sister, intrigued. When Doran’s dad opened the door, Doran heard Zandra give a huge sigh.  

A pale man stood outside, his outfit garish and startling. His hair was greasy and black, only reaching his ears. His dark brown eyes glittered with mischief. He wore black, flowy pants with a matching long sleeve black shirt. The shirt had puffy sleeves with green frills on the cuffs and on the bottom hem of the shirt. The top few buttons were undone, partially covering the wave insignia that was sewn over his breast. A medium-sized silver morning star hung on his back, supported by a leather sash. He had a leather pouch that hung from a silver chain around his waist. His pants were tucked into high heeled, black boots.  

The man bowed deeply.

“Hello, sir. I am Xeno. I am a priest of Remus.” Xeno said.  

“What are you doing here, Xeno?” Zandra snapped, suddenly upset. Xeno grinned.

“Zandra! Hello, my dear.” Xeno greeted.

“I have told you how many times to not call me that.” Zandra sighed.

“I will win you eventually.” Xeno winked.

“You know this man?” Dad asked, turning to Zandra.

“The head priests, priestesses, and clerics in our area have been trying to get Remus’ and Roman’s followers to get along. But like the twins and like fire and water, it’s not working.” Zandra growled.

“All of you Roman followers are just a bit too stubborn. You need to relax!” Xeno said.

“We’ll relax when you all calm down and stop gallivanting everywhere in search of fun.” Zandra snapped.

“Anyway. I was just on my way to town when I thought I'd drop by. I might have seen you through the window and decided to say hello.” Xeno suddenly changed the subject, looking around, “This must be your family. Is your mother out?”  

Everyone in the room stiffened.

“I told you, Xeno. I have two fathers.” Zandra whispered, venom in her voice. Xeno’s face fell into one of mean scrutiny. His eyes seemed to turn black. Doran moved in front of Kit and Liakáda hissed.

“You were serious about that?”

“And the fact I don’t experience romantic or sexual attraction.”

“I’ve told you, that can be changed.”

“Get out of here.” Papa spoke up as he stood, “Get out of our house. And never speak to us again.”

“You want to live like this, Zandra? With people that are not norm-.” Xeno started. Zandra cut him off by thrusting her sword against his throat.

“If I somehow change, which won’t happen, I would never be with you, Xeno. Get that through your head. You’ve insulted my family, me and Roman. You try and ridicule me when I have done nothing wrong and am accepted by my fellow followers of Roman. I suggest you leave this instant before my hand slips and I push this sword deep into your throat.” Zandra hissed. Xeno growled and backed away.

“You are all insane. This world is being infected with people like you. My fellow followers accept your kind for some reason. You’ve tainted them. I could fix you, Zandra, if you weren’t so stubborn. You’ll pay for breaking my heart and insulting me. For being one of their kind.” His head jerked toward Papa and Dad.

“Roman will protect us. And I'm sure even Remus wouldn’t be happy with what you’re saying.” Zandra said. Xeno snarled.

“I know my god better than you, freak.” He turned, as if to leave, then paused.

“And let's see how long your god will be willing to protect people like you.” After that, he stalked into the night, morning star glistening under the light of the moon.

[broadwaymarzipan]

Quarantine ideas I’m going to be using :)

These are a mix between my ideas and some I got from tumblr or friends. I may do a master list of EVERY idea I come across in the future even if I don’t use it. I don’t know. I’m in quarantine I don’t have anything to do. Let’s start

1. Listen to new musicals

I love broadway and there’s tons of musicals I haven’t listened to yet that I want to listen to. If you don’t like broadway, now is a great time to get into it. Join the cult.

2. Watch bootlegs

Another musical theater thing. Watch bootlegs. If you’re new, know that you can find a lot of them on YouTube by searching “[musical name] slime tutorial”. Enjoy!

3. Finish the books you’re currently reading

Finish them. If you don’t enjoy them, you don’t have to finish it, even if it’s a classic but if you do like it and you just don’t have time, now is your chance!

4. Listen to the entire discography of an artist

Pick an artist. Listen to every song they ever made since the beginning of their career. If you don’t feel like doing that, at least listen to one album, IN ORDER. The albums are in a certain order for a reason, it’s the artist’s choice to put it that way because they thought it was the best way to listen to it. So trust them.

5. Write an essay

It can sound boring but hear me out. You don’t have to have a perfect essay with a good thesis and antithesis. You can just write about anything you like. Your essay can be “The top ten sexiest women poetry writers of all time”. Literally write about anything you enjoy. If you’re alternative or belong to a subculture that is really present in tumblr, you can write about that too.

6. Draw whatever the fuck you want even if it’s bad.

It can be the ugliest drawing ever. Doesn’t matter. Draw it. Explore new art styles. If you always draw cartoons, try to explore something like cubism for example. If you like to draw realistically, how about trying a cartoonish style just once?

7. Watch a movie/TV show

Watch a movie without doing anything else or being on your phone. Just watch a movie and enjoy it. Or binge watch a TV show. It can be fun. Try a new one.

8. Call your family and friends

Ask them how they’re doing. Even if it’s just 5 minutes and then you pretend you can’t hear them and hang up. Call them.

9. Stretch

I use this more since I’m a ballet dancer, but stretching a little bit before going to bed or whatever time in the day can feel really good. (Some people like to do it first thing in the morning, I personally don’t because I feel like it’s the moment where I am absolutely not warmed up, but that’s just a personal choice)

10. Learn a choreography

If you are a Kpop Stan, congratulations, you have an entire world of choreographies in front of you. Learn one or at least the chorus. If you are a musical theater fan, you can easily find some too. And if you are neither, doesn’t matter! Find a song you like, either choreography it yourself or find an online tutorial. Even learn a tik tok dance if that’s what you want to do. It doesn’t matter if you suck at dancing, its entertaining and it makes you move a bit.

11. This is a hard one but work out.

Put on some music, find a tutorial on YouTube and do it. Even if it’s just 5 minutes. It’s something.

12. Bake/cook!

It’s fun, and you can eat it afterwards. Putting on your music while baking something can be really relaxing and you have endless time. Try it.

13. Plan a murder

Don’t murder anyone, but if you’re bored you can plan it. Thoroughly. Just please don’t get in trouble.

14. Perform a play alone

It’s fun. Even if you aren’t a good actor or if you have to read your lines. It’s really entertaining. Get in character. Perform, enjoy, use your voice.

15. Make OCs

Any fandom. They don’t even have to be fandom based. If you can’t draw, find pictures online, write down how they’re like, their backstory..... Make one, I promise it’s fun.

16. Do research and write down what you find

Look into something you like or are interested in. An artist, a social phenomenon, a TV show, rocks, plants, Marie-Antoinette..... You can either just read it or you can grab a random notebook and write down what you find. It can be really interesting.

17. Read fanfiction

Do I really need to say anything else

18. Write fanfiction because we are all that low in life and no has to see it and it’s fun

You don’t have to post it. It doesn’t have to be good. Just write fanfiction.

19. Write letters

You don’t have to send them, you can just have them in a notebook or piece of paper. Write a letter to your grandparents, to your best friend, Freddie Mercury, that cute girl from the grocery store... Just to get your mind off things

20. If you have a balcony, enjoy

Sit down in your balcony, with a cup of tea or hot chocolate or coffee or a glass of wine and observe. Is there people on the street? Are there more birds than usual? Put your phone away while you do this. This is also a way for you to get some fresh air. If observing isn’t for you, then read, or listen to music or a podcast.

21. Write an “apocalypse survival guide” because why the fuck not. It can be anything

22. Re-read your favorite books.

They can be easy to read. You can re read the entire Harry Potter series for example. And notice all the hints that Wolfstar exists.

23. Try new music.

Go to the Spotify recommendations. Let the YouTube auto play decide. Ask your friends. Make a playlist if you want to.

24. Deep dive into a Tumblr subculture

Enjoy feeling like Strange Aeons. Document your research. What is the aesthetic like? How do you get into it? Some examples can be witchcraft, dark academia, cottage core...

25. Make a 47+ slides power point about your favorite band

Look up every moment of their history and make a power point presentation about them

[chimmysoftpaws]

Business and Pleasure

Summary; In which OC (Ophelia) meets her charming King. Will she be able to move past her independent mindset and fall in love? Or will the past create a rift between need and want?

Characters : OC Ophelia Odinsdottir x Medieval!King Bucky

Word count : 7800

Warnings: some fluff and interruptions

A/N: this is for @waiting4inspiration 2k writing challenge. Congrats on the milestone. Can’t wait till you achieve more. You’re writing is a amazing. DISCLAIMER: pls excuse the way it’s written and the random paragraphs. I had to find a way to make everything fit cause tumblr is a bioch. The full version is on my wattpad page 🙈

Today was the day. The day our guests would be arriving for the ’Grand Celebration’ in 5 days. At least, that's what the people think. The Royals know better. We know the real reason as to why all the Leaders and Generals of every Kingdom are here. There is a threat that wishes to take over these lands, a threat that was defeated a long time ago. For centuries we have lived in peace, now the threat of Hydra stands in the way of between us and normality.

Mother forced us to accompany Father in the Throne Room to await our guest's arrival. Loki and Thor looked irritated to be standing all evening while Hela and I enjoyed our time, conversing with Valkyrie and Lady Sif. “So Ophelia, did you find your husband in the debriefing?” Hela asked, referring to the discussion our parents sat us through regarding who will be wandering our castle. I rolled my eyes and replied, “No. None of them fit my criteria.” . “I beg to differ. If I recall correctly you were staring at a particular King.” Valkyrie added to the conversation. Lady Sif raised her eyebrows and queried, “Really, who?” “Well, it’s rather obvious isn’t it. There is only one King who is not married and that is - “. “That’s enough all of you.” I bellowed, feeling my cheeks heat up. “Is that why you’re wearing such a lovely dress, sister?” Hela interrogated, running her hand down the side of my dress. Mother and I chose a lovely satin dress with a slit in the front. It was loose with an elegant design on the chest area. “It’s a simple blue dress and I did not choose it, Mother did.”

“Her objective was to make you look ravishing for King - “ Thankfully Hela was cut off by the sound of the welcoming horns. Mother hushed us and commanded we get into positions. The doors to the Throne Room opened and one by one our guests shuffled in as their names were announced. My feet started cramping as the line of guests seemed endless. Loki glanced at me and smirked, lightly grabbing my arm and looping it through his arm. I smiled and turned back to the guests as the name-calling finally stopped. Father stood up from his throne and greeted his guests. “Welcome to Asgard. As King, I would like to welcome you on behalf of my people. I hope that your stay will be pleasant and that, when you leave this palace, we may all have found peace.” Our guests clapped and cheered at Fathers words. “Your rooms have been assigned and our attendants will show you to them. Know that all our services and vicinities are open to you. Our meetings will commence after dinner.” Our guests cheered once more and many dispersed leaving the Kings and Queens behind. I rushed down the stairs and tackled Wanda into a hug. She giggled and hugged me back saying, “Well, hello to you too.”. “I missed you. Its been months since we’ve seen each other.”. “Is she the only one you missed?” I excitedly turned around to see Nat walking towards me with her arms open. I rushed to her and hugged her. “I didn’t know you were King Steve’s right-hand WOMEN.”. “I wanted to surprise you.” She replied. “Consider me surprised.” I confessed.

“So they're the only ones you missed? I’m hurt, Princess.” I turned around to find Tony Stark looking at me with a fake hurt expression. I smiled and hugged him dramatically. “Tony, you know you’re my favourite,” I said after our long hug. I turned to Pepper and greeted her. She was never one to get involved in these things so it was refreshing to see her. “And this must be Morgan. She’s gone so big.” I waved to the seven-year-old. She hid behind her mother and smiled shyly. I smiled and continued to go around, hugging and greeting everyone. It was nice to see them again even if it was due to negative circumstances. My favourite group was definitely The Guardians. They were so diverse and did not have the right etiquette around Royals. It was entertaining to watch Mothers expression and Thor secret laughs. The last person I greeted was Steve. He smiled brightly and kissed my hand, such a gentleman. “You know that isn’t necessary, Steve.” . “I know.” Steve responded with a smile. “Yea. As far as we know, you have a wife.” Sam Wilson said, walking towards us with his King in tow. I curiously watched as he quietly observed the area. He has long brown hair, captivating blue eyes and a light beard. His face was hard yet his deep in his eyes showed slight emotion. His eyes were hard and his posture stiff. He was constantly on guard, ready for any surprises. Must be the soldier in him. “I do. I’m just polite.” Steve replied. “Ophelia, I’m assuming you’ve met Sam and this is his King and my best friend, James.” Steve introduced me to his best friends. I smiled at Sam, already knowing him after his many encounters in Asgard with my personal guard, Vision. I turned to James and greeted with a curtsy. “Good evening, King James.” . “Oh, we didn’t get such a greeting.” Sam joked. I watched James give him a look before bowing and muttering a reply. “Bucky.”

“Excuse me?” I replied. “Everyone calls me Bucky. I’m not a fan of the title.” I smiled and responded, “Well that makes two of us, Bucky.” He gave me a light smile and voice, “Shall we, Ophelia.” He held out his arm for me to take. I smiled and gently looped my hand through his, allowing him to lead me to the garden where everyone was seated for dinner. This is going to be an interesting time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day before the ball.

I woke up to knocking on my door. I groaned and prayed it would disappear but it only grew louder. I tried covering my face with my pillow in hopes that it would with the headache it was giving me. I stayed up all night with Wanda, Jane, Mantis, and Shuri while everyone else was discussing the Hydra threat. I got to know everyone a bit more in terms of their passions and relations. It was a rather interesting night. Mantis is... strange but in a fascinating way, Jane loves stars - and Thor-, Wanda can’t stop mentioning Vision and all of them are convinced Bucky has a crush on me and me him. Is that true? Frankly, I don’t know. It’s been a flirtatious few days but nothing more. My days had significantly grown more interesting with his presence. We’d always be miraculously seated next to each other in every meeting - the works of Mother, Hela, Nat, Sam and Wanda. He was quiet during the meetings, speaking only when spoken to, and he was always attentive, eyes analysing everyone’s expressions and actions. Outside the meetings was a different story. I’d spot him in the garden, admiring the different flowers and creatures and watching the children play in the streets from the terrace. I enjoyed talking to him. He was calm, always open to learning new things. I spent days discussing Asgard’s architecture and history. I asked about his Kingdom and he explained that it still held the infamous aura of Hydra but things were brightening. He was sweet and very charming, whether he was doing it intentionally or not, was a mystery to me. I was very good at reading people by their eyes -courtesy of Mother - but he was extremely difficult to look at without blushing, let alone read.

“YOUR MAJESTY IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP! THE SUN IS SHINING AND THE BIRDS ARE SINGING AND YOU SHOULD BE TOO!” Hela shouted, storming into my room. I heard groans on the floor and peaked down. Everyone was cuddled up in their pillows and satin sheets, miserable at Hela’s noise. “Not now sister. You’re being a terrible host.” I groaned as she pulled open my heavy curtains. “This is not my house so, frankly, I don’t care,” Hela replied, plonking onto my couch as everyone woke up. “Breakfast will be served in an hour and you have entertaining to do.” The three ladies on the floor groaned and dragged themselves out the room while I thanked them for the night. I hopped to my bathroom, happy to see the bath full of steaming water. I sunk in and bathed, making sure everything was clean before jumping out. I hummed a tune I heard playing in the streets last night as people gathered the music for the Ball tomorrow while changing into an outfit picked by my sister. “I see you’ve chosen this.” I pointed to the three quarter, velvet green dress. It was plain and easy to move around. She topped it with a short, black heel.

“Well, you’ll thank me later. Mother and Father have got quite a lot to do today and they’ll need your help.” I laughed and fixed my hair into a half updo and followed Hela out. We walked to the Dining Hall for breakfast. “Have you seen Vision yet?” I asked. I hadn’t seen my personal guard since our guests arrived. I missed his odd persona. “He, along with everyone else, is at breakfast. You’re last.” Hela replied. I blushed. Father is not going to be happy. We strolled into the hall as everyone sat and enjoyed breakfast. Father was speaking to Mother on one end of the table. Thor was with his friends - The Avengers as he called them - on the other end. Loki was conversing with Nebula. Not the safest thing. The Guardians were having their own conversation. Fury was with Carol and Maria. I walked to the empty seat next to Wanda across Bucky and Sam. They were listening to a story Thor, Steve and Tony were trying to tell. Something about the woods and trees being destroyed. Loki smirked every now and then, adding comments about what he saw in this tale. I felt Hela push me out the way and sit next to Wanda. I glared at her while she smirked and Wanda snickered. I sighed and walked to the last remaining seat, next to Bucky.“Good Morning,” I said, sitting as my attendant brought me my dish. I thanked her and picked up my utensils. “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty,” Sam replied. Bucky gave him a look before greeting me as well. “We really need to sort it your tone towards the Princess” I chuckled and stated, “Don’t worry Bucky. Sam’s a friend.” Sam smiled and raised his glass. Bucky rolled his eyes and added, “Still shouldn’t talk to you like that.” Wanda looked at me and smiled. I looked back confused. Both she and Hela raised their eyebrows and snickered. “Am I missing something?” I asked. “Nothing sister.” Hela smirked

“So Bucky, are you excited for the Ball?” Wanda asked, trying to start a conversation. “Well not really. I feel like it’ll distract us from the mission.” Hela groaned. “He’s definitely a King. They never lighten up.” . “Well, he has a point Hela. Imagine how Tony will act tomorrow night.” I voiced. “Weren’t you the one most excited for this?” Sam questioned. “Well, Sam. Ophelia just knows how to separate business from pleasure.” Bucky defended. I smiled as he winked. “Aww, you two are adorable,” Nat stated from her end of the table. Everyone suddenly stopped and listened. “Like a married couple,” Valkyrie shouted from the other end. I shot my head in her direction and gave her a look that would have her wishing she was part of the chair. “I told you, Steve,” Peggy added. “Who’s married?” Thor asked. “I called it,” Scott added.

“You owe me 20 Rhodes,” Tony said happily as Rhodes groaned. My eyes widened as my cheeks felt hot. Bucky was clenching the fork and I noticed red on his face. “This is what I was telling you,” Mantis said. “Aww, young love,” Carol added with a laugh. “Sister, I had no idea.” Loki gasped sarcastically. I quickly got up and left the hall, having lost my appetite. I didn’t look back to see Bucky following me out.

~~~~~~~~~~

The whole day I avoided Bucky. Every time I saw him, I turned the other way. I was embarrassed by everyone’s assumptions of our relationship. We were just friends, nothing more. I busied myself with preparations the entire day, making sure to isolate myself from everyone as much as possible. The sun was setting and I was running out of things to do. Wanda and Nat had already found me and declared apologies on everyone’s behalf. They also said that Bucky was miserable because he hadn’t seen me and he felt guilty. I frowned at the thought of his unhappy face. He didn’t do anything wrong, we just have a bad choice in friends. I sighed and wondered about the halls. I was bored out of my mind, only looking forward to the night as we would be having another girls night. I forgave everyone but was not ready to face the music just yet. I turned to a corridor to see Bucky walking out of his room towards me. He looked up and his eyes brightened as they saw me. I quickly turned around, pretending not to see him but he stopped me by shouting, “Ophelia, wait!” I sighed and turned back replying, “I’m sorry Bucky but I’m incredibly busy. I have to go.” I turned for the third time and tried walking away but he grabbed my arm saying, “I know that’s a lie because Nat just informed me that our presence was not needed by anyone for the rest of the night.” Bloody hell this women is asking for a death sentence. I sighed. “I’m sorry... it’s just err -“

“I know, you don’t have to explain yourself.”

“You know?”

“Yea, we have terrible friends.”

I giggled. “That’s true but they’re all we have so I guess we’re stuck with them.”

“Unfortunately. May I join you?” I hesitated. “Umm... yes of course.” What’s the worst that could happen? Bucky smiled and let go of my arm. He followed me as we wandered the castle halls. We had been doing this a lot. “I see you haven’t gotten over your fascination with the castle.” I pointed out, watching him rake his eyes over the patterns that aligned the walls. “Every time I walk, I find something new to marvel at.” He replied, glancing at me. “And some things never cease to amaze me, no matter how many times I've looked at it.” I blushed. “That’s Asgard for you. Always holding new beauties.”

“And ones that have been here all this time, hidden from the world.”

“Are we talking about the same thing?”

“I don't know, are we Princess?”

“I told you not to call me that.”

“I know but it suits you.”

“So does your title, King.”

“No, it doesn’t. I was never born to be a King.”

“Yet here you are. Ruling a land of people thought to be cursed and from what Sam has told me, you’re doing quite well.”

“I hope Sam hasn’t ruined my name, cause that’s all he seems to be doing. He can never contain his tongue.” I giggled. “It’s who Sam is.” . “Unfortunately.” Buckley smiled. He had a charming smile. White and full. It always brightened his face, his blue eyes wrinkling as he did. “Your Majesty?” “Yes?” I reacted. “You’re staring.” My eyes widened and I flushed red, great just what I needed. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. I am guilty of the same.” I looked back at him and smiled.

“You were staring, at me?”

“How can I not?”

“Are you flirting with me, Your Highness?”

“No...I’m just being polite.” I nodded, not believing him. “Of course you are. You never mix business with pleasure.”

“I try not to. You’ve proved that to be quite difficult.”

“Have I? I apologise.” I flushed at his words. We stopped near one of the biggest terraces in the castle. It overlooked all of Asgard and further. The world was dark, the land filled with light from peoples homes. I walked outside and looked at the view. The stars shone despite its competition with the artificial light. “It really is beautiful.” “Yes, it is.” I turned to Bucky to find him already looking at me. I smiled as the wind picked up. Bucky tucked a piece of my blonde hair behind my hair and turned to the view before us. “What are you playing at, Barnes?” . “Last name basis is it?” I laughed at his dramatic statement. “Well if you must know, I’m differentiating the difference between pleasure and business.” He turned back to me and trialled his gloved fingers over my cheek. He only wore a glove on his left hand, wonder why? “Why do you wear one glove?” I asked, letting my mouth voice my thoughts. I watched his eyes darken before he turned away from me. “I’m sorry, I never meant to offend you. You don’t have to tell me. You are not obliged to” I rambled, not sure what to say. “It’s alright. Umm... it’s from a time in my life I wish to forget.” He left it at that. “Do you like horse rides?” I asked, desperately trying to change the subject. “I do.” He answered shortly. “Maybe we can go on one after the Ball. I’d like to see if you live up to the status as the fiercest warrior of all the land.” . “Is that what I’m known as around here?” He chuckled. “Well, it’s all Sam talks about when he comes. He goes on about how you raced though an army with just a horse and a sword, coming out unscathed.” Bucky lightly smacked his forehead and sighed. “Sam and I really need to have a talk about his dramatics.” I laughed. “So it’s not true?”

“It’s true but I didn’t come out of it unscathed. My horse was worse.”

“Your horse?”

“Yes, Starr. She’s a beauty but she’s very fierce. She doesn’t like people.”

“You two must be best friends.”

Bucky laughed quietly. “She’s in one of your stables. I can show her to you.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Anything for the princess.” I rolled my eyes at his sentence. “Do not do that.”Bucky smirked, “Do what love?” I shook my head and headed inside towards the stairs that would take us to the stables. Bucky jogged to catch up to me. “How do you walk so fast?”

“Years of practice in heels.”

“They are beautiful, as is your dress. It complements your transfixing eyes.”

I blushed, again. “My sisters work.”

“She has good taste but I doubt she could make such a dress look this beautiful on herself.”

“You don’t want her to hear that from you. She’ll kill you in your sleep.”

“I would say it to her face a thousand times if it means I see those gorgeous cheeks blush.” . “Bucky!” I stopped abruptly causing him to knock into me. I stumbled, tripping over my feet. I squealed as I fell towards the stairs. Bucky grabbed my waist and pulled me so that my back was to the wall and face flushed against his chest. “Are you alright?” He whispered as if out of breath. “Yes. Thank you.” I whispered back, clutching his shirt. I looked up, into his ocean orbs and smiled lightly. Bucky smiled back and let his right-hand trail through my hair, that had somehow come out of its updo, and down to my chin. I closed my eyes and as his thumb traced my bottomed lip. I bit my lip and opened my eyes to find his face closer. It was as if the world around us didn’t exist. All I could hear was his soft breathing and see his beautiful face. I glanced at his rosy lips before looking into his eyes again. I leant closer and watched as Bucky followed suit. Before I could feel his soft lips touch mine, a cough interrupted us. We quickly looked to the stairs to find Nat, Carol, Steve, Thor and Tony looking at us with huge smiles. “I told you they were up to no good,” Tony said with a giggle. I froze and stared at Thor who laughed behind the rest. Nat smirked at the two of us and said, “Let’s leave them to their... business.” “No no. Pleasure Nat. As you heard at breakfast, these two don’t mix business and pleasure.” Tony added. Carol and Steve laughed silently. It was as if his words spread through the rest of the castle because Wanda and Clint suddenly appeared with Sam and Rhodey in tow. “Aww, yea man. I knew it would happen.” Sam shouted to Bucky. Bucky groaned and hid his face in my neck. I giggled and pushed him away slightly. “Did we miss something?” Loki came around with Hela. “Sister was making out with the Soldier.” Thor's voice boomed through the already formed group. “Finally,” Hela said.

“Yes, you two were taking quite long.”

“I expected it to happen on day one.” I looked at my siblings with a shocked expression. “Alright, let's leave them alone.” Steve walked towards Bucky and smacked his shoulder. “But they’re right, you did take long bud.” Bucky huffed and pulled me away from everyone as they cheered for us. “Don’t forget about tonight, O!’ Wanda clapped. “That is if he doesn’t keep you occupied!” Carol added. “Not that we mind, we don’t,” Peggy stated. I picked up the paced, wanting to get as far away from them. Once we were near my room I stopped. “I’m sorry.” We both said simultaneously. We laughed as Bucky pulled me towards the opening. I sat on the ledge and sighed, “This has been the most embarrassing moment of my life.” “Honestly I’ve had worse. Bear in mind, Sam is my friend.” I giggled as Bucky walked towards me, his hand on my mine. “It was fun though.” “It was but I’m assuming you’re needed in your room. You don’t want to be keeping the ladies waiting.” I sighed and pouted. “I don’t think they deserve my presence. What will you do?” Bucky chuckled. “Knowing MY friends, we’ll probably be out drinking our hearts away.” I shook my head. “Men.” I hopped off the windowsill and grabbed Bucky’s hands. “I guess this is goodbye for now.” . “For now.” I walked in the opposite direction of Bucky, our hands lingering together. I turned to him while he stared at me with those adorable puppy eyes. I got on my toes and pecked his cheek, letting my lips linger for a second longer. I could feel his check spread with a warmth. “Goodnight.”

“...Goodnight.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bucky's P.O.V

I watched as Ophelia walked away from me, her beautiful green dress swaying with her hips as her heels clicked against the floor. Her hair flowed in the direction of the wind, her scent coming towards me. I bit my lip as I touched my cheek, still feeling her lips on me. I felt a smile spread on my face as she disappeared from my view and turned to find Steve and the other men. I found them outside with their horses. I saw Starr and took her reins, walking towards Steve. “Ah, lover boy is here,” Sam said. “Finally, though I thought you’d last longer,” Tony stated. “Tony that’s not necessary.” Steve reprimanded. “Yes, that’s my sister you’re talking about,” Thor said, cracking his knuckles. “We didn’t do anything if that’s what you’re all wondering. We just talked.” . “Yes, very intimate conversations,” Loki said with a smirk. “Well, let’s head out, the night does not last forever.” Vision said, getting upon his horse. Everyone else cheered and followed suit. I got upon my horse and thanked Vision. He replied with a smile and lead the party of men to the bar where we could take the opportunity to let go before the big day tomorrow yet no matter how much I drank, I could not forget those grey-blue eyes and the bright, wide smile of the Princess of Asgard. Maybe everyone’s assumptions were true, maybe I have found my Queen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ophelia’s P.O.V

I walked into my room to find all the ladies lounging in my room. Looking at it, I didn’t know my room was that big. “You’re back!” Peggy said. I sighed and walked to my room to change into my white nightgown and blue robe. “Did you two have fun?” Hela asked with a glass of red wine in her hand as I sat at the edge of my bed. Wanda and Nat sat on the bed with me. Hela sat on her own couch. Carol and Valkyrie sat of the two-seated couch. Peggy and Pepper on the other across them, Jane on the windowsill cushion and Nebula, Gamora and Mantis on the fluffy carpet. “We did not do anything. We just talked.” . “I don't believe you.” Carol said with a smirk. “Well then that’s a you problem.” I snapped. “Oh lighten up, O. You guys are cute.” Nat assured. I pouted. “I think she’s upset that we interrupted them.” Wanda added. “Am not!” I whined. “You so are.” Jane giggled. “Can we please change the subject.” I pleaded. “No! We want to know more about your intimacy with the Soldier.” Gamora said. Everyone nodded, agreeing with her. “Nothing. We’ve been talking. THAT’S ALL.”

“Well what is he like?” Pepper asked.

“You know what he's like.”

“Oh please sister. Every man acts different with the one he loves and his friends.”

“He loves you? Oh joy! You’re babies will be beautiful.” Mantis gushed. I blushed at her words. “He does not love me.” . “You don't know that.” Val said. “He’s a man. They are terrible when it comes to sharing emotions.” . “Where’s Okoye and Shuri?” I said, desperately trying to change the subject. “Shuri is very tired from todays activities and Okoye is doing guard business. She didn’t want to go away from her duties. Now don't change the subject.” Nat said as the tray of various foods came towards me. I grabbed three chocolate cookies and a glass of wine from the centre table. “I swear we didn’t do anything.” . “Fine we believe you. Now tell us what the famous Winter Soldier is like?” Jane asked. “Fine but after that we go to something else.” . “Promise.” Wanda said. I sighed. “He’s... dreamy.” The girls laughed as I glowed. “He’s kind and charming. He’s always complimenting me and always makes sure I’m comfortable. He’s curious, always asking me about Asgard and our family.” “Did you tell him the truth?” Hela asked.

“Yes. I did. Anyways, we just got to know each other. I promised to take him on a ride through Asgard’s forest.” . “Look at you making the first move.” Val cheered. I giggled. “What about the kiss?” Mantis asked. “Was it satisfactory?” Nebula spoke for the first time. I smiled. “We did not kiss because Natasha interrupted us.” . “NAT!” Peggy and Pepper groaned.

“It was unintentional, I swear.”

“Can we move on now - “

“No. Did you kiss him anywhere else?” Hela pressed.

“.... maybe.”

“HAH, YOU DID.” Wanda jumped on my bed, almost dropping my glass. “Hey, these covers we’re expensive.” Wanda sat, blushing. “To end this torture, I did kiss him BUT only on the cheek. That’s it.” Everyone awed and began complimenting me on our cuteness and Mantis continuously spoke of our future children. “Okay I get it. Now I have a question.” Everyone quietened as they waited for me to ask my question. “Does everyone know that Wanda has been snogging Vision since we got here?” Wanda squealed and tried tackling me but it because was too late. Everyone broke out into a series of shouts in shock. I smiled as she went as red as her nightgown. “Is that who you’re going with tomorrow night?” Hela asked. I nodded for her as she tried smacking my head. I giggled and caught her arm. “Well... who are you all going with?” Wanda mumbled. Everyone tired speaking at once but I quickly hushed them as to not wake the whole castle up. “We all know who’s going with who. Peggy and Steve.” Peggy smiled at the mention of her husband. “Pepper and Tony.” Pepper rolled her eyes playfully. “Nat and Bruce.” . “Why would you think that?” Nat asked, trying to play dumb. “Oh please Natasha, we’ve seen you and the shy boy.” Hela said laughing. “All sheepish glances and stolen kisses.” Nat blushed and grabbed a new bottle of wine. I laughed as she poured a full glass and continued. “Jane and Thor as they have also been snogging ever since she got here.” Jane blushed and chucked a pillow at me. “How would you know?” . “I have eyes and ears everywhere. This is my castle, the secret passages are everywhere.” Jane sighed as if giving up with this conversation. “Oh and Gamora is being accompanied by Peter Quill.” Gamora’s eyes shot to me in anger. “How would you know?” . “Your sister told Loki who told me. Never trust Loki to keep secrets from me.” Gamora looked at her sister and tackled her to the floor, her hands around her neck. I gasped as Val and Carol tried to pull them apart. Hela laughed and Peggy and Pepper tried to calm the situation down with their Queen words of wisdoms. After 10 minutes of shouting, laughing, fists and Wanda, Mantis and I sitting on my bed, munching on goods, things calmed down. “Is everyone calm?” Peggy asked. She was met with silence. “Good, now let’s all breath and continue to relax. Nat, hand them a cup of wine to calm the fire in them.” Everything calmed down from there. “Its the sister in them, isn’t that right O.” I nodded, agreeing with Hela. “We fought like crazy.”

“You almost threw me off a bridge.”

“You were being a brat.”

“I was 8.”

“And you were a terrible 8-year-old.” I chucked my book at Hela. Before she could throw her heel at me, Pepper shouted, “That’s enough! There will be no more sister squabble.” Hela and I rolled our eyes and smirked. “She doesn’t understand.” Gamora and Nebula smirked as well. “Anyways back to the dates.” Jane said, trying to move the conversation back to where we left off. “Yes. Hela, Mantis, Nebula, Carol, Valkyrie and I are going alone.” I continued. “I know Mantis, Nebula and I are but Carol and Valkyrie have had other plans...together.” Hela said as the two blushed and glanced at each other. I smiled widely as Hela continued. “And you sister, you’re going with Barnes.”

“He didn’t ask me.”

“He doesn’t have to. He’s a man remember. They’re not good at expressing their emotions.”

“You really think he wants to go with me?”

“Of course he does. If he doesn’t, we’ll make an example out of him.” Gamora said. I laughed and thanked her. “But if he is in love with you then he will want more than for you to just be his date tomorrow. He would want you to be his Queen.” Mantis voiced. I choked on my wine as everyone nodded their heads. “It is very obvious. He is not good at hiding his feelings for you.” Nebula added.

“Umm...”

“Better start thinking about marriage sister.”

“At least Father gets his wish.”

“To hell with Father. This is for you. Do you wish to marry him?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far.”

“You’ll have to if you want to be ready when he pops the big question and he just might, at any time. Remember, he’s a man therefore he also has terrible timing.” Everyone laughed at Hela’s statement in agreement and continued to drown themselves in wine and food. Tonight was going to serve us all a huge headache.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Night of the Ball.

“Ophelia, may I come in?” I heard from the other side of the door. I had been in my room since after lunch, preparing for the Ball. Frankly, this was not my choice but Mother wanted me - and my brothers - to look perfect. I smiled, remembering Thor and Loki’s groans of complaints as Mother forced us into our rooms to get ready. I had been in here for 4 hours washing and making sure every cell was spotless. My nails were a Livid Colour, to match my dress. My hair had been curled and styled to Mothers liking. Thank the Gods we had a similar taste in clothing and hair or things would’ve much more difficult. “Come in.” Wanda and Nat walked into my room with random gowns on. Attendants walked behind them carrying their gowns, shoes and jewellery for the night. The door closed and they took off their gowns replacing them with silk robes. “You two seem excited.”

“I just want to get drunk.”

“I can’t wait to dance.”

“You guys do realise we are not going to be allowed to ‘have fun’. We have responsibilities.”

“Our responsibilities won’t take all night,” Nat said taking a seat of the single couch and stretching. “Besides, I didn’t get this pretty for nothing.” Wanda nodded in agreement. “What time are we meant to be down?” I asked. “In 2 hours.” Nat answered. “Great.” I walked to my bed, where Wanda was sitting with her nail filer and pulled out my book. “Are we just going to sit here for 2 hours?” Wanda asked. I nodded, turning the page. “Absolutely not.” Nat interrupted. “We have to get ready. I have to do your make up Ophelia and your hair Wanda AND we still have to get dressed and be downstairs, ready when the doors open to the civilians. That will take 2 hours. So let’s begin.” Nat pulled Wanda to my vanity table and began doing her hair. I glanced up every now and then to see Wanda’s hair being pulled in different directions and Nat using strange products. “Done.” Wanda walked got up with a smile and hugged Nat, thanking her for her magical hands. “You’re turn.” She said, taking my place on the bed as I moved to the vanity table. Nat stared at my face for 10 minutes before pulling out various brushes, powders and shades of different colours and began touching my face with different objects. 20 minutes later my face was done. I turned to the mirror and gleamed. My face was a canvas of perfection. I giggled and hugged Nat. “I look... extraordinary. Thank you, Nat.” . “Oh darling, it was no problem. I want to make sure Barnes doesn't take his eyes off you.” I blushed at her words. “Not that you need it. You’ve had Barnes wrapped around your finger since the moment you laid eyes on each other.” . “Time for dresses.” Wanda squealed, pulling her dress out. Her dress as red - her signature colour - with a dip in the front as it flared to the ground. The dress was decorated with leaves from the top and spread to the middle of her dress and was matched with black high heels. “Wanda, if your objective was to captivate Vision, then you, my friend, have succeeded,” I said as she walked to my folding screen to get dressed. “Nat, let me see yours,” Nat smirked and pulled out a sexy black dress. It was satin as if started at her breasts with a slit that runs to her mid-thigh and topped with a belt at her waist. It was paired with red heels “Nat this stunning.” . “Yes, now let's see your dress princess.” I smiled shyly and asked to my closet, grabbing my dress and laying it out on the bed. Nat gasped. “It’s gorgeous.”

“What? What did I miss?” Wanda asked, stumbling towards us. She smiled at my dress. “Your Mother went all out, I see.”

“She did, didn’t she. Is it too much?”

“Too much? It's just enough. You are going to be the centre of attention. This is why mothers have daughters so that they can dress them up like life-sized dolls.” Nat sat, putting the dress to my body. “Go and put it on.” I did as told, trying to keep my hair and makeup perfect, and walked back. The girls smiled as Wanda twirled me around, my dress spreading as it moved with me. Nat handed me my white heels and sprayed our skin with perfume. “I’m so excited.” I gushed as we headed to the door. I opened it to find Vision nervously pacing in his uniform. It was less constricting due to the lack of armour but still had that Asgardian touch to it. He stopped pacing once we walked out and his face was priceless. His jaw hung and his eyes wide. I followed them to none other than a blushing Wanda. “Y-You look...breathtaking.” He stuttered. “I...I mean you all do, Your Majesty, it’s just...” . “It’s alright Vision,” I said as Wanda glided towards him. They exchanged shy words while Nat and I smirked at their not-so-secret conversation. “Wanda, I know you and Vision are having a moment but we’re going to be late,” Nat stated, walking past the two of them with me in tow. I smiled as the two as they rushed to us, Vision rushing to walk in front of Nat. “M’lady, the guests have arrived and your family is waiting for your arrival to begin the... celebration.” Vision muttered while Wanda and Nat slipped into the hall. I nodded and let Vision lead me to my family. Mother stood with her foot tapping anxiously as she waited for me. “Where have you been?”

“I’m sorry Mother. Love has no track of time.”

“Just because you have a boyfriend doesn’t mean you get leeway,” Loki said with a smirk.

“It was not me.”

“We don’t have time for this. Both of you get ready.” Mother ushered us to the entrance door. Sounds and voices could be heard as we entered the room. Cheers could be heard from all directions as Father sat on his throne and Mother, Thor, Loki and I took our positions beneath him. I scanned the crowd to see to find Bucky standing near Steve. They were quietly conversing, glancing at me ever so often. I smiled as Bucky kept his eye on me. Steve chuckled at our silent exchange and gave me a quick wink before focusing his attention to Father. I turned my attention back to Bucky drowning out father’s speech to the crowd. He looked very handsome in his black dress coat with his white buttoned-up shirt. His hair was jelled back nicely and his beard was trimmed to perfection. “Let the celebration of the lands begin.” I heard Father say as people cheered. Bucky clapped, keeping his eyes on me and mine on him. Everyone dispersed to the dance floor as Bucky walked towards me. I smiled, descending down the stairs. “Goddammit doll, you look... amazing. Beautiful. Ravishing. Gorgeous.” Bucky gushed, taking my hand and spinning me around. I giggled, “Bucky, you’re making me dizzy.” Bucky stopped and pulled me to his chest. “I just wanted to see how my princess looked from all angles.”

“Oh, so I’m YOUR princess?”

“Of course.” I smiled and shook my head. “Well, just so you know, this princess loves to be spoiled.” He pulled me closer and whispered in my ear. “Don’t worry doll, I’ll spoil you in every way imaginable.” I blushed and hid my face in his chest. “Shall we dance?” I nodded before he pulled me to the dance floor. We twirled along too the music, our feet following the melody. I watched as all our friends danced, along with other guests. Father and Mother smiled in my direction while we danced. People stopped dancing and gossiped about the couples, I could hear faint comments about Bucky and me. I couldn’t care what anyone said or thought. All I could see was Bucky. His beautiful ocean eyes and his bright smile. His laugh, his jokes and his charm were all my ears could hear. “Tell me, princess, do you ever desire to be more?”

“More than?”

“More than just a princess?”

“Well, I don’t know. I’ve never had the chance to think about it. My father always made decisions for me. If I had to think about it, really think about it, I’d love to be independent and free. I know it’s not much but for people like me, it’s hard to come by.”

“I understand. So, I’m assuming being a Queen is not your idea of freedom.”

“Not exactly but we can’t have everything. If I was a Queen, I’d be able to make my own decisions and see the world. I’d be included in the important things and be taken seriously. Unfortunately, that would only happen because of my husband.”

“I’d let you be independent. I wouldn’t force you to depend on me.”

“You would?”

“Umm....y-yes. My apologies, I never meant to be so forward.”

“No, it’s alright. I like a man who can picture his future. Tell me, what does your future look like, Bucky?”

“My future... is you.”

“Now you’re definitely mixing business with pleasure.”

“It’s not my fault. My business is exceptionally pleasurable.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. Though, I’d never marry you for business purposes.”

“So, I’m just pleasure?”

“You’re an image of my greatest dreams coming true.” Bucky spun me around and moved his hands to my waist. He picked my body up and spun us around. I gasped in surprise, grabbing his biceps while Bucky laughed. Once I was back on my feet, Bucky pulls me flush against him after placing my hands around his neck. I played with the hairs by his neck, placing my head on his chest where his heart was. I sighed softly as I listened to his heartbeat while running my nails through the shorter hair. Bucky groaned softly as he rested his head onto of mine, his soft lips grazing my forehead. His fingers traced figures on it back, causing shivers to run up my spine. We danced in silence for two songs, enjoying each other’s company before I lifted my head up from his chest and spoke,” So, about this whole marriage thing -“

“You don’t have to say anything. I was overstepping.”

“No. No, you weren’t, it just caught me off guard is all. I’ve never discussed this with anyone other than my sister, Nat and Wanda. No one else really cared for my opinion. I was always told to listen to my father because he knew what was best. I’ve also never spoken to someone who can make it happen.”

“Well, I’d love to talk more about it with you. If you’ll have me?”

“I’d love to and I’m sure my father will be satisfied.”

“It doesn’t matter what your father thinks or wants.”

“Pray he didn’t hear you.”

“You’ll protect me, right princess?”

“Of course. I’ll never pass up a chance to save you.” Bucky chuckled and pulled me towards him, kissing my cheek lightly. “As long as I get to save you as well.” I blushed as his lips lingered on my cheek. After a while, Bucky and I stopped dancing, grabbed drinks and walked to Wanda. She was flirting with Vision, distracting him from his duties.

“Look at you two.” Wanda blushed and snatched a drink from a passing tray. “We weren’t doing anything.”

“We didn’t say you were.” Bucky and I chuckled as Wanda groaned, hiding her face in Visions chest. Before I could continue my teasing, a clink of a glass quietened the buzz-filled room. “I would like to make a toast,” Father announced. “To new alliances, new beginnings, new love.” Father glanced at Bucky and I. I groaned while Bucky and Wanda laughed silently. “This celebration tonight is to announce -“ Father couldn’t finish his sentence as he was interrupted by the sound of the glass window on the far left, shattering. People screamed as guards stormed in with warriors from the other kingdoms, drawing their weapons to protect the Royals. Bucky pulled me behind him as Vision drew their weapons. The room fell silent, everyone alert from another unwanted sound. Father walked to the window, guards in tow. He picked the thrown object up and inspecting it. I walked to Father, Bucky right behind me, and peered at the object. It was a rock - a big one - with a note attached to it.

It read ”time to pay up.”

I looked at Father as his face paled. Mother and Thor rushed towards him as he stumbled back. “He needs to sit.” Mother said, ordering the guards to bring a chair. Father huffed and sighed as he fell into the chair. ”Mother... the people.”

“Everybody remain calm... there’s nothing to worry about.” As Mother said that, an arrow flew through the window on the right, landing in the pillar close to Steve's head. Hela grabbed the arrow from the pillar and examined it. People screamed and started running in a different direction. Steve and Tony walked to the now-broken window and peered out. Thor shook his head, walked to Father's throne and shouted, “EVERYBODY QUIET!” The room fell silent, no one moving a muscle. “Close the doors. NOBODY LEAVES.” The guards shut all the doors, blocking all exits.

“What does the note say?” Carol asked as we all walked to Hela.

“I can’t read this...” Hela said. “It’s coded.”

“Let me see.” Bucky said, taking the paper and translating. His eyes widened and his hand tightened around mine. “It says... ‘There’s nowhere to hide.’ “

[youcantkillamutant]

The Mystery of the Golden Fang: Part 4, The Discovery

Part 1: The Collision–––Part 2: The Enlightenment–––Part 3: The Exploration

Author: youcantkillamutant

Fandom: Marvel (Black Panther)

Pairing: Erik Stevens/Killmonger x Black!OC

Summary: A girl stumbles into another world. A baby disappears. A private investigator wonders if this will be the case he can’t solve.

Warnings: Mentions of blood and death, cursing

Words: 11.5K+

A/N: So…here’s another one of those AU’s that absolutely no one asked for! I only own my original characters of course, Marvel don’t sue me I’m broke.

Listening To: Ride by Lana Del Rey, Ridin’ by Lana Del Rey & A$AP Rocky, Nuit de baise II by YELLE, Barton Hollow by the Civil Wars, Bones by MSMR, Promises by India Arie and Godspeed by Frank Ocean

Part 4: The Discovery

—l—

Of all the languages the moon has mastered, magic is her favorite. Spells and enchantments slip from her lips like an endless waterfall and trickle down into every world she visits in her trips through the starry sky. Her power falls into the hands of the good hearted and strong willed, leaving them with a key to worlds otherwise unknown.

—l—

Earth Stream 328: October 20, 2040

5:06AM

Grooved rubber resting on the hard packed dirt. Golden pipes hugging the pitch black sides. Short handles cased in black, gleaming with reflective glass. A glittering silver grill beneath the engine. One piercing headlight, and the name Killmonger etched above the seat like a promise. This is the bike Harley had dreams about. Sleek like a silver bullet, so loud she could feel it reverberating in her bones, this bike is the first and only thing Harley had ever coveted.

Killmonger sat on the beast, sliding on black leather gloves and taping his foot on the dusty ground. Void black leather groaned beneath him as he shifted. Harley had finally emerged from the club, having spent the past few days preparing with Shuri. She hadn’t stepped foot into the Golden Fang, not without Ayana, and certainly not with the Golden Jags looking at her like that. They stared like she was already a lost cause, destined to be cannon fodder for Killmonger.

“Took you long enough.”

“I’m early.” The pair had agreed to leave at 5:30AM, but Killmonger had been waiting since 5. He wanted his daughter back. No matter how early he had to drag his ass out of bed.

“Whatever witch, let’s get going.” For Harley, it was too early for Killmonger’s shit. She’d tolerated his forked tongue for too long.

“Okay first off, watch your fucking tone Monger. Second, if you want my help you need to call my by my actual name. Not ‘witch’ or whatever else you come up with.”

“Fine.” Harley quirked her eyebrow. That was too easy. She needed more, and Killmonger knew it.

“Fine Harley.” Killmonger resisted the urge to savor the name as he said it. This witch was nothing more than a babysitter. She’d never be anything more to him. She shouldn’t be anything more.

“Great.” After a curt nod, Harley shoulder her bag and approached the bike. It was even more beautiful this close. She could smell the engine oil and longed to feel the bike purr. Killmonger pulled a smirk as she swung her leg over the bike seat and grabbed onto him, resting as little of her body as she could against his back. With a tap to his stomach to tell him she was situated, Killmonger really smiled as he started the bike with a roar.

The duo made it onto the open road in a cloud of dust, both of them reveling in the sound of the engine. There was something about riding west, the wind whipping around them, the sun beaming on their backs that made the both of them feel…whole. Not in a way that family or relationships bring, in the way that solitude could promise anything but loneliness. For a moment, Harley and Killmonger breathed as one. After all they both wanted the same thing. To find Ayana. And maybe a bit more. But for the first part, they drove west, past the mountain range and into the Cactacae Forest.

Juvian Sparrows survived on the liquid they could pull from the cactus and the few flowers the cacti bothered to grow. The cacti in this forest were known to bloom under the light of the moon, and anyone knew that a spirit touched by the moon could do amazing things.

The two barreled up the only road in the copse of towering cacti, saguaro’s on one side, and prickly pears blooming on the other. Killmonger took in the pointed orbs behind reflective shades, and Harley thought they reminded her of something, or someone. Monger rolled to a stop as the road fell to the overgrowth of a wildly growing barbary fig. A few small hedgehog cacti sat below it, small and plump with their bright white flowers.

“Look’s like we’ll have to walk the rest.”

“And where exactly is the rest wi––” Killmonger caught himself and shook the word out of his head. “Harley. Where is the rest Harley?”

“According to my research, about 5 miles in.” Harley’s research hadn’t been entirely scholarly. She remembered some of the legends of the Juvian Sparrow, and followed their trail. Apparently, the bird liked to rest on the highest spike of the largest golden barrel cactus in the forest.

“We’d better get going. We only have until noon.”

“Noon?” Harley only nodded, already having brushed past Killmonger to tread deeper into the forest. The time constraint was something she tried to ignore, Finding the sparrow would be hard enough, she didn’t need the added pressure of watching the clock. Besides, they had almost a week until the full moon. They’d be fine.

—l—

Earth Stream 947: October 21, 2040

1:23AM

Hazel had never met a witch. Especially not one so small. Bug was tiny. Teeny tiny if she was being descriptive. Point is, the baby girl didn’t look like any witch she’d ever seen on tv and movies. She was a kid. A kid that could apparently bring her through a faery ring into another world. Though that information didn’t matter much now, all Hazel needed to know was how to get back.

“You can send her through the faery ring first. She’ll be fine.” The Queen Mother said this so nonchalantly that Hazel almost believed her. The question tripped out of her mouth anyways.

“How will she know what to do? She’s an infant.”

“She did find her way into another world. Seems to me like she’s a natural.” Shuri said this with a grin and a shrug, tickling Bug with lightening fast fingers. She giggled so much Hazel thought she might shift her skin right in her arms. Ramonda sighed before answering with an annoyed sort of gravitas.

“She’s a witch. This will come naturally to her. It’ll be as easy as breathing.” Fixing her gaze on Hazel, her lips pulled tight. “You are the one who should be worried. Humans don’t usually make it out of faery rings whole.” That statement was enough to stutter Hazel’s thoughts.

“Um, what?”

“They usually lose their minds. Or their limbs. Or both.” A shrug from the Queen Mother.

“Oh. Great. And how exactly would I prevent that?”

“You’ll need a talisman from your home world and a blessing from a fae. Blood would be best, but I doubt you’ll be able to get that in time. The full moon is almost here.”

“Okay two impossible things to get to keep my sanity and a time constraint. Easy peasy.” N’Jadaka, Angel and Shuri recoiled from Hazel’s last words, something about it sitting uneasily in their ears. Human’s are so strange.

“Don’t you have a talisman already? What’s that black rectangle you carry in your pocket?”

“My phone?”

“That’s a phone in your world?” Shuri found herself feeling sorrier and sorrier for the human. In her world that tech was old they didn’t even call it tech.

“Okay you’ve got the talisman, does anybody know a faery?” N’Jadaka did his best to keep his annoyance at bay. The Queen Mother was only helpful when it suited her, and he needed all of the information up front if he wanted to get his life back. Humans are, in a word? Cumbersome. Not to mention the kid. Terra loved her sure, but she didn’t belong in this world. Neither of them did.

“I might know a guy who knows a guy. As long as you don’t mind a trip south.” Angel’s voice treaded lightly into the space between the group, unsure of her status. The Queen Mother wasn’t exactly what she was expecting; regal and enchanting for sure, but a little colder than she was hoping for. N’Jadaka might have been right about meeting your heroes.

“How far south?”

“You know where I’m from.” Angel shrugged as she answered N’Jadaka. They had started talking when she first made it to the Golden Fang and hadn’t really stopped since. The pair knew a lot about each other by now.

“Uh, I don’t.” Humans.

—l—

Earth Stream 245: October 21, 2040

7:16AM

“So, I just have to wait and see if she comes back on the next full moon?” Erik didn’t like the sound of that.

“From what I can gather, yeah.” Nakia’s voice crackled over the line, and though the words were no help the sound of her voice was a comfort. Erik was at the end of his rope, and this call transported him back in time.

When they were in university, Erik, Nakia and Okoye were a set. Most of the campus referred to them as the ‘Three Musketeers’ though Okoye curled her lip at the lack of ingenuity and Erik rejected the name for the sheer fact that the French were colonizers. Finals season had always been hard on Erik, quietly desperate to excel, and Nakia had always been the one to talk him down from 48 hour study sessions and coax him into sleep. Her voice took on that same tone now.

“Kia, I can’t just wait around.” He’d been waiting for nearly a month. Jules Fay had been waiting.

“I had a feeling you were going say that.” Nakia wondered if there would ever come a day when Erik would be patient. She supposed if there did she should get him to a doctor.

“So give me another option.”

“You said yourself that she’s a smart girl. I’m sure that no matter where she is, she’ll figure it out.”

“I made a promise––”

“You always do Erik.” Ever since he’d started as a PI, Erik made it a point to promise his clients a resolution. He always delivered, even if it wasn’t pretty.

“Nakia I have to do something.” This case was burning a hole in the pit of his stomach. The fact that the girl had gone to another dimension meant nothing to Erik. He still had a case to solve, and getting her back was his first priority. Answers would come after, but he needed her back here, in this world. Jules Fay needed her back too.

“Well go talk to the witch doctor again! He’s the one that came up with the theory in the first place.” Erik didn’t like the idea of going back, but it was all he had. Besides, Nakia was rarely wrong.

—l—

Earth Stream 947: October 15, 2040

5:14PM

Two days of traveling in the car had Terra and Bug growling at each other playfully while Hazel read all she could about Faeries. N’Jadaka, Angel and Hazel were the only “adults” on the journey. Shuri protested being left behind, especially when N’Jadaka brought Terra and Hazel refused to leave Bug alone, but the Queen Mother insisted.

“This will be a lean journey Shuri. They’re on a deadline after all.” No pressure or anything.

N’Jadaka spent most of the drive south staring between Angel and Hazel, marveling at their mere existence. The two were clearly similar, most would guess twins and they acted like it too. N’Jadaka would know, he’d met his fair share of vampire twins. Still, they weren’t just similar, in looks they were exactly the same. Even through Angel’s sweet soucouyant accent certain words the pair said were identical. From the pull of their jaw to the tenor that vibrated from their lips.

“N’Jadaka, are you done staring at us, or do you need another few minutes?” Angel question with a smirk, pearly fangs flashing in her laughter as Hazel whipped her head up in shock.

N’Jadaka for the most part wasn’t cowed. So he got caught staring at a beautiful vamp. He’s gotten caught doing worse. Still, he turned his attention to Hazel before Angel could get another rise out of him. He didn’t like the way she pulled every… emotion, laugh, smile, grimace, everything out of him with a turn of her lips. Pushing his black leather boot to kick Hazel’s paint and sticker covered sneakers he asked.

“Why are you reading that?” Hazel did her absolute best to ignore the fact that she was the knife cutting the UST between N’Jadaka and Angel, and answered with a finger pointed to the title. Fae, Fairies, and Earthen Magic.

“Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” For all intents and purposes, Hazel knew nothing about the blessing she was supposed to get. She’d never even knew there was a difference between fairies and faeries. N’Jadaka let out a laugh at her reasoning.

“We’re all the Devil’s creatures. Haven’t you heard?” He smiled that extra wide grin that made his fangs gleam. Hazel repressed a shudder, knowing N’Jadaka was doing this to be annoying. He did the same thing to Shuri all of the time.

“Are you always this unhelpful or is this a special occasion?”

“I am when you’re reading books that old.”

“Shuri game it to me. She said it might help.” Hazel had a hard time believing that Shuri would do anything to lead her off track. The girl had been so kind to Hazel this whole time. She’d been the one to explain all of the tech shit, kimoyo beads being the most important.

“Sorry to say, Shuri might be wrong on this one. This book is older than my grandma, and she’s like twelve centuries old.” Angel said this with a small shrug, sliding the book out of Hazels hands, leaving her grasping.

“Well what exactly should I be doing because I am the only one at rick of losing an undisclosed amount of limbs or my sanity in this faery ring!”

Hazel had done her absolute best to stay calm. She really had, but her heart flinched every time Bug shifted into her jaguar fur, and she shuddered every time some vampire dropped their fangs on the street. None of this was normal, or her normal, and it was all starting to add up. Angel could see her counterpart beginning to crack and tossed the book at N’Jadaka, ignoring the grunt he released, to pull Hazel into her side.

“I’m not saying you can’t do research but this book is way too old. Faeries have changed, hell, all creatures have changed since this was written. Change, evolve, adapt. It’s what we do, It’s in our nature.

“So I’m just supposed to fly blind?”

“No, but we won’t let anything happen to you or the little shifter. You’re safe with us.” Hazel shook her head even as Angel extended her own kimoyo beads towards her. They didn’t get it. They didn’t understand that all of this was life and death for Hazel. Hell, she had a hard time understanding that herself. Angel let Hazel wallow for only a minute, knocking her with her shoulder.

“Hazel, do you trust yourself?”

“Well yeah.” Out of everyone here, she trusted herself the most. Sure she somehow got sucked into another world, but she’d been smart enough to keep herself alive up till now.

“Then trust me. I’m basically you.” Angel finished her declaration with a smile, and Hazel couldn’t help but bark a laugh. She wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Fine.” Angel clapped and took a peak out of the window.

“Good, and not a minute too soon. We’re here!”

—l—

Earth Stream 245: October 21, 2040

7:16AM

“You need to call her.”

“Oh hello Okoye, so great to see you, please come in.” Okoye rolled her eyes and placed a cup of hot coffee on Erik’s desk. His attempts at making coffee were shitty at best.

“Erik, you need more help.” He raised the cup in thanks before taking a sip. Black and burning hot, just how he liked it.

“I don’t. I have you.”

“This is more than I can handle. Erik. Call Nakia, ask her to come down for this.”

“I’m not going to pull her away from the work she ‘actually loves’. Besides I already called her. She gave me whack advice.”

“Oh will you get over yourself?! You two had that fight years ago and you’re still licking your wounds. both of you! “

“I’m not––” A knock interrupted what was sure to be another lie from Erik and Okoye was grateful.

Jules Fay waited at the door, hand poised to knock again. It fell to her side as Erik pulled her into his office, guiding her to a seat and offering her water or juice. Anything but his shitty coffee. She waved it all away.

“I came to see if you’ve found anything about Hazel?”

“I’m sorry Ms. Fay, I haven’t yet. most of my investigation has come up inconclusive but I still have a few more leads to follow.” He didn’t have a few more leads to follow, but he couldn’t tell Jules Fay his working theory either.  

“If it’s money, I don’t have much but I can––” Erik waved off her words, walking around his desk to kneel in front of her. On his knees, he was nearly eye to eye with the woman. He could see fear in her eyes, exhaustion, and worry. He wanted to make all of that go away. He promised to make all of that go away. He would make good on his promise. By the full moon, he would get Hazel back to her mother. Somehow.

“Ms. Fay, it’s nothing like that. I assure you I’m working to find Hazel, it’s just that her case is particularly different than the others I’ve investigated.” A silent nod from Jules had Erik speaking again, if only to fill the silence. “I made you a promise and I intend to keep it. I will find Hazel.”

“Of course he will, he’s assembled the best team in the country.” Nakia entered Erik’s office, the third person today to come in uninvited.

“Ms. Fay, Erik is the best at what he does. We’re going to find your daughter.” Jules Fay nodded with more confidence. Nakia had that effect on people. The woman who had assured her that Hazel would be found oozed a confidence she had never seen, and there was no choice but to believe her. Jules Fay was out the door before long, and Erik raised brow at Nakia.

“You always knew how to make an entrance.”

“And I haven’t missed a beat.” Nakia mirror his gaze, raising her brow in return. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

—l—

Earth Stream 328: October 25, 2040

5:06AM

They were decidedly not fine. Killmonger grew more impatient by the day and Harley was starting to lose hope. They hadn’t even seen a Juvian Sparrow, let alone caught one. Cacti bloomed and grew before them as they waited each day, coming earlier and earlier when Harley read that Juvian Sparrows are easiest to find in the dawn. The pair tried everything they could, approaching from different angles, splitting up, setting traps, and still no sparrow bones.

They were running out of time and they could feel it. Each night on their drive home the moon appeared fuller and fuller. If they were ever going to get Ayana back, they needed to find that sparrow today or else Harley would need another plan. Harley and Monger made it to the forest before the sun began painting the sky. Harley took a moment to send a prayer up to the falling moon and marveled at the stars winking above.

They trudged through the forest in silence for a while, doing their best to avoid the pricks of the cacti around them. Sometimes they weren’t so lucky. Harley hadn’t said anything, but Killmonger knew that this was the day. The Last day they’d be able to search for this Bast forsaken bird. If they didn’t find it, well Killmonger wasn’t quite sure he wanted to know what Harley had in mind. he had a feeling it would churn his stomach.

“Did you know Ayana’s mother well?” Harley’s voice pulled Monger out of his thoughts. It was softer than he expected from a witch, but then again, Harley was turning a lot of his preconceived notions on their head.

“Well enough.”

“Was she…a shifter?”

“I…I don’t know.” Harley’s question was cautious and Monger tried to remember more than her brown skin and his bedsheets. He couldn’t.

“So you didn’t know her well.” Monger rolled his eyes at Harley’s remark. Maybe she was right but he didn’t have to admit that. Not now at least.

“Look, I don’t know what she was, but she had power.”

“Like magic?”

“Like I don’t know what. Why do you care?”

“Because, kids take after their parents. We already know Ayana is a shifter but if her mother was a––” Harley stopped before the word witch could fall from her lips. Monger had done a good job of respecting her, he’d even seemed to thaw to her for a bit, but she didn’t want to push it. Not now at least.

“If her mother had power, then it stands to reason that Ayana has that same power. Add the magic that crackles through the town and our girl is a ticking magical time bomb.” Monger pushed down the warmth that bloomed around his heart at Harley’s indication that Ayana was ‘their girl’ and tried to process what exactly she was saying. If Ayana’s mother had turned out to be some kind of creature, then…well that could mean anything. The possibilities scared Monger the most.

“You do know that I didn’t send Ayana anywhere right?”

“I––You’re the only witch around my kid. What was I supposed to think?” Harley was happy to hear the hint of regret in Monger’s voice.

“That I love and cherish her just as much as you do and would never let anything happen to her!”

“Well I didn’t know that then!”

“Well you know it now. Don’t fucking forget it Monger.”

“I’m only letting that slide because your stupid fairytale is sitting on that goddamned cactus.”

“What?” Harley’s voice dropped to a whisper as her head whipped towards the center of the field. There on the largest barrel cactus in the forest was the Juvian Sparrow. The birds wings were black as the night, but seemed to be changing as the sun rose, red rising through its body as the sun glided into the sky. It cocked it’s head this way and that, and Harley held her breath. When it looked away, she released it. She turned to Monger and before Harley could blink, Killmonger was an elegant, golden beast.  

—l—

Earth Stream 245: October 25, 2040

10:14AM

Zuri had that feeling again. It was a tug at his gut, a reminder that there was more to come. That someone would be coming. A pinch between his eyes, that signaled him this would require more than a cursory conversation. This would need him to use his brain, encourage him to think and hypothesize. Excitement thrummed through him. He rarely had feelings like this.

Erik, Okoye and Nakia wandered into Badu’s Botany with hopes the shouldn’t have bothered to bring. Erik had warned them that the man was eccentric to say the least. The pair didn’t believe Erik, and why should they. The man was a scientist, a brilliant one at that. They had no reason to think of him otherwise. The wealth of potted plants was their first indication that what Erik said was true. The wind chimes at the door were the second. As they studied the shop, with its figurines and paper piles, the evidence only grew.

The detective was back. Energy shot through Zuri’s body as the bell ringed above the door. He knew the man was searching for someone, the girl that slept with beasts. From the looks of things, he hadn’t found her.

“Detective Stevens. a pleasure to see you again.” He nodded to Okoye and Nakia. “Ladies…”

“Ten years ago, you wrote a paper. A Study of Universal Convergence.”

“I did.”

“Have you found anything that proves your theory?

“Have you?”

“A girl is missing. If you know something, anything––”

“Dr. Badu.” Zuri still at the name. No one had called him doctor in a long time, but Nakia pressed on. “We’re looking for someone who we think…fell into another world. We need to get her back. as soon as possible.”

“Trust in the universe. The moon is her daughter, she’ll see the girl home.” Erik scoffed at the man. If he ‘trusted in the universe’ he’d still be seven years old, waiting for his father to breathe again.

“Forget it. I should have known this would be a waste of time.” Erik couldn’t believe he’d wasted precious time talking to this…ugqirha.

“Don’t worry detective. She will fall into the nest of her making soon enough.” Erik pushed out of the door so hard the chimes screamed his exit.

—l—

Earth Stream 947: October 25, 2040

12:49PM

The Isle, like plenty of other things in this world, is unlike anything Hazel has ever seen. Not technically an island, the large land mass was surrounded by water on three sides, so the name stuck. There was also the matter of the water that flowed through it. Rivers and streams parted the land like hair, slicing through the sandy brush and practically glowing blue. Hazel had only ever seen water that blue in pictures.

Two vampires, a human, a shifter, and a sleek golden jaguar tumbled out of the car and into a boat. Angel’s manager sputtered as she shut the door in his face with a placating wave.

“Rocko, I’ll be fine. If I’m not back in 3 days, call search and rescue, otherwise I don’t want to hear you on my line.” The boat sped off before we could hear his response.

“Where to Miss Haze?” Angel didn’t seem alarmed that the boat driver knew who she was. In fact, she grinned and patted him on the back. N’Jadaka watched their contact with an eagle eye.

“I need to see an old friend.” The driver nodded, and with that they were on their way.

The streams were like side streets, the rivers like highways. Hazel wondered at the houses that stood tall and covered the land mass they reseted on, making them look like they were floating structures instead of tiny islands cut to creation by the waters that ran through the Isle. N’Jadaka stared hard at the driver, wondering how he knew exactly what Angel wanted, before he shook himself out of his jealousy and turned his attention back to the situation at hand. They were pulling up to a bar, if you could call it that. There was no signage, nothing to signify that this wasn’t the shack of a murderer, but Angel hopped out with glee. She gave the driver a tip and a kiss on the cheek and gestured for the group to follow her.

The group pushed through the sorry excuse for a door, wooden slats stapled together and moving on a pair of rusted hinges. Inside it was hazy and red. Sunlight filtered through the holes in the walls, only covered by thin white sheets, and blood red couches littered the space around a small stage. More of a platform really. A duo on an electric piano and colorful soundboard crooned something in what sounded like French, and Hazel took in the scene. Vampires lounged on the couches, velvety and soft, a few humans were bleeding, but other than that, nothing nefarious was happening. Maybe she came at the right time.

“Well slap my cat and call me Lucifer! Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but you young lady, look awfully familiar.”

“Nix.” The man in question approached Angel with open arms and a grin that showed off his platinum fangs. As he got closer, Hazel could see that all of his teeth were platinum. Angel couldn’t keep the grin off of her face. Between touring and writing and producing and life, she’d missed her childhood friend. She’d missed home.

“Well if it isn’t Little Miss Hazie.” The two were a gathering of brown skin and strong arms as they hugged tightly.

Nixie.” He scrunched his nose at the nickname, pulling away from there hug as N’Jadaka tamped down the jealousy the bubbled up in his gut.

“Yeah yeah, you’re too cool for that nickname, owning your own blood club and shit.”

“Well shit, I thought for a second you were a ghost, but not with a mouth like that.” The pair erupted into laughter, and N’Jadaka let them laugh for a minute before clearing his throat. Something about Angel’s smile was different here. Her eyes closed a bit more, her nose scrunched tighter, her shoulders fell back in laughter. She looked more than relaxed. She looked happy. Happier than she had been in Metropolis.

“Right. Sorry guys.” Angel righted herself and Nix. “You got an office?” Nix shook his head.

“I’ve got a bar.”

“Close enough.” As the group approached the bar, Terra prowling close to N’Jadaka with Bug on her back, Angel and Nix spoke in animated tones. Hazel couldn’t understand a word they were saying, though she wasn’t quite sure they’d switched languages, it was more like they had fallen into a vernacular that she wasn’t quite familiar with. Something southern and black and french? Though she couldn’t even be sure France existed in this world.

“Now Haze, I’ve known you for a long time, and never once did you mention having a twin.” Nix busied himself with wiping the bartop, obsidian black flecked in gold, and pulling a few glasses down.  

“She’s not my twin, she is me.”

“Care to explain?” Before Angel could elaborate A tall stocky vampire, with milk white skin sauntered into the bar. Most of the patrons turned their backs on the guy, returning to the conversations with a fervor. A few stronger looking vampires pushed off from their place on the walls of the bar and stood tall. The man in question either didn’t notice the reaction or didn’t care as he sauntered up to the bar.

“Nix! Serving straight from the source now? Very nice touch.” Angel and N’Jadaka pushed Hazel behind them and bared their teeth at the stranger.

“Clive. These are my guests, you’d do well to treat them as such.”

“Well what about that little lamb?” The man shucked his chin to Bug, still sat on Terra’s back in her jaguar fur. “I’ve always loved veal.”

“Back off Clive. You can order something on the menu or you can go. Either one suits me.” Nix balled his fist on the granite bartop and Clive sneered a grin. He knocked on the granite, flashed his fangs at Hazel and sauntered out of the club.

Angel released a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She’d promised to protect Hazel, and she didn’t take her promises lightly. N’Jadaka could see that Angel was shaken, and took the lead no explaining things, still keeping Hazel behind him and beckoning Terra closer. Sure the human and shifter were annoying, but they’d grown on him. And he was almost rid of them, it would suck for something to happen before they completed their little ‘quest’.

“We need to find a faerie. Preferably a nice one.” Nix blew out a big breath at Angel’s request.

“Tall order kid. I’ll give you the info you want. For a price of course.” Though his words were serious his tone was teasing and Angel couldn’t fault his hustle. Keeping a blood club this nice in the Isle couldn’t be cheap.

“What do you want Nix?”

“You got any old tour merchandise?”

“Seriously?” Of all the things she expected, this was not it. She had plenty of that shit locked up in storage, it was an easy trade.

“You seem to forget just how popular you are little Haze. Vintage shit sells like crazy.” With a few dozen shirts, Nix could expand the club and improve the sound system all the while investing in a few local businesses he personally wanted to see flourish.

“I’ll have it sent to the location of your choice as soon as you give me what I want.” Angel wasn’t worried about the merch or the money, she knew Nix would use most of it for the good of the community. Under all of his tough, bar owner exterior, he was a nice vamp. She would know, she grew up with him.

“His name’s Roaen and he lives in The Sink.”

—l—

Earth Stream 328: October 25, 2040

6:19AM

Killmonger and the Juvian Sparrow danced. Monger leaping silently and landing on the tips of his paws and the sparrow, fluttering like its life depended on it. It did after all. Harley watched in awe of the pair. Each time the sparrow flew above the cacti, she could see the dark night sky under its wings, once she even thought she saw stars twinkling in the feathers. She was just about to give up, and try to find another when when the bird squawked. Monger had it between his teeth, fangs bared and pinching.

The Juvian Sparrow never made another sound, even as monger snapped its neck and set it on the gritty ground. As quickly as he had become a jaguar, Killmonger shifted back into his human form. Of course that meant he was standing naked in the morning sun, blood streaking his chin and golden fangs glinting beneath his lips. Harley pushed her focus onto the bird, ignoring the way his perfectly brown skin gleamed in the sunlight.

“Okay, so, there’s your bird.”

“Alright.” The pair stood there staring at each other. Harley waiting for Killmonger to shift, and Monger waiting for Harley to do something…magical. Then the pair spoke at the same time.

“Well aren’t you going to––”

“Can’t you just use magic to––” Harley gestured for Killmonger to finish.

“Can’t you just use magic to get the bones?”

“The spell won’t work if I use magic to procure the ingredients. I can’t upset the balance like that, not if I’m asking for something in return.”

Years ago, when she had first discovered magic and powers and spells, Harley attempted a prosperity spell. Or rather, she summoned a load of cash to use for a school field trip her parents told her they couldn’t afford. With a candle and a wish, the money appeared to her and she took it. She never blew out the candle or thanked the elements for bringing her the money, never once thought about where the money came from at all, but as she found, especially in magic, you can’t get something from nothing.

In the end the money ended up burning a hole in her pocket, literally. She buried it deep within in the earth, giving it back to the soil to do with it what it may. She didn’t go on the field trip, and she didn’t try another spell until she turned 18 and began her own grimoire.

“Everything about magic is reciprocal. I can’t upset that balance.” Monger looked dumbfounded.

“So magic has rules?” Harley waved her hand in the universal sign for ’50/50’ as she responded.

“More like follow the laws of nature and you’ll be fine.”

“Well it’s a good thing I shifted back. I have a feeling I’ll need opposable thumbs for this.” Harley rolled her eyes at the ridiculous statement but Monger didn’t miss the smile that curled on her lips. He liked it.

—l—

Earth Stream 245: October 26, 2040

2:57PM

The trio ended up at Oakies, seated at the bar and shooting the shit, just like old times. The bar was a classic jet black, polished to perfect and currently clear of any patrons. It might have been a little early for a drink, but after their visit to the witch doctor, they all needed a drink. The couple on stage wailed about dead men walking over a country guitar.

Won’t do me no good washin’ in the river. Can’t no preacher man save my soul.

They all had their drinks. None of them had changed their orders, though today, they all ordered an extra set of shots. Erik eyed the glasses slid on the table. A Pimm’s Cup for Nakia, whisky from the highest shelf for Erik, and for Okoye…To be honest Erik still had no idea what Okoye was drinking, but he stayed away from her glass either way. The one time he took a sip from her cup, he woke up the next morning with no recollection of the night before.

“So do you think he’s right?” Okoye didn’t know what to say about Zuri Badu. At the very least the man was an enigma and Okoye had been out of her depth with this case since Erik stepped foot on her campus. At this point, she was just along for the ride.

“About?”

“Letting the universe work itself out? It’s not like he said much more. The man wasn’t exactly a sparkling conversationalist.” Erik was still bitter about that part. He had hoped he would learn more about Badu’s working theory of converging universes, but the man had been just as ambiguous as before.

“That is an understatement.”

“So E, answer the question, what do you think?”

“I don’t know what to think Kia. The man speaks in riddles. Do I feel like he told us something useful? Maybe, but I’m not sober enough or drunk enough to decipher it.” With that, Erik slammed his shot back and waved for another. Zuri had plenty to say, but none of it made sense to Erik. He wasn’t nearly as poetic as he needed to be if he was going to solve this case by the full moon.

“Well I think he was telling us to prepare for her. ‘She will fall into the nest of her making’ and ‘The moon will see her home’? That’s not telling us to sit around and wait. It’s a promise. She’ll be back on the full moon, and we have to be ready for her. You have to be ready for her Erik.” Nakia had seen Erik at his worst, and this surpassed it. By a mile. Or two. She’d never seen him so broken up about a case.

“Okay. So I go back to the Golden Fang and I just wait? What about all of the people?” After three days, Erik had recommended that Jules Fay take her case to the police as well. Just to have it on file. He had no doubt that they would screw things up, and the Ortega precinct did not disappoint. They turned the alleyway into a media circus. People were always there, taking pictures right where ‘that girl disappeared’.  

“Try and get it cordoned off. Remember, we’re supposed to rid the location of any malicious beings.”

“Right.” Erik knew what he would have to do to get that alleyway cordoned off for the night of the full moon. Nakia knew he knew too. She also knew he’d drink about five more shots before acknowledging it.

“You should call the Chief.” Erik slammed back another shot. He’d already made up his mind to go visit him tomorrow.

—l—

Earth Stream 947: October 26, 2040

11:09PM

The Sink isn’t actually a sink, Hazel was relieved to find. According the Angel, the Sink was in the center of the island. Angel led the four of them out of Nix’s bar and waved her hand as a few boats whizzed by before one stopped for them. N’Jadaka handed the driver the money before Angel could even bother and she stuck out her tongue. She was the popstar and the one with a doppelgänger apparently. She could pay for a boat ride.

Angel told the driver where to go in her soucouyant tongue. To Hazel and N’Jadaka the words were a garbled birdsong, confusing but enchanting all the same. There was just something about the way the words rolled off her lips that kept their attention. Hazel would have thought that she was a siren if she didn’t know any better. Being in this world for nearly a month meant that she does know better.

This boat driver wasn’t as tactile as the other, but Hazel thinks its because N’Jadaka was staring the guy down. Still, they floated their way towards the center of the Isle, passing houses and shops and even a floating hospital. As they travelled on, the buildings grew sparse. Trees grew wider and wilder, enormous frogs bumped into the boat hard enough to rock it, dolphins puttered through the water and the world grew quiet. Verdant foliage obscured the ground, and eyes peeked through the underbrush. Not silent, Hazel could still hear the crickets chirping and the waves cresting, but everything was quiet. Calm.

The driver docked at the shore of a tiny house. It was built of stone, with a wooden door and a paneless window. A few pieces of the thatched roof scratched at the house as the quintet unloaded. Terra prowled a close perimeter and returned with a snuff. Whatever she had found, she didn’t like. Bug seemed to feel the same way as she squirmed in Hazel’s arms. Soon enough the baby was on the ground, shifting into her jaguar fur and being nipped up by Terra.

“Come on.” Angel had heard of the faeries in the Sink. She’d never met one, but there’s a first time for everything.

The group padded to the door slowly. Angel knocked, and they waited. And waited. The moon was high in the sky for a moment Hazel wondered if they all shared the same one. The door creaked open before she could think any more of it.

“Uh, woah.”

The little thatch cottage was not so little, and not nearly as quaint as the exterior alluded to. A vast room stretched before them. The room with its shiny cherry wood floors, divine golden mirrors, and creatures of all kinds, could not be real. It was at least three times as large as the cottage itself. There was just no way.

“Don’t sound so impressed Hazel, this is faery magic.” N’Jadaka whispered this to Hazel, but the point was moot. He was surrounded by beings with heightened abilities.

“You scorn the name of my people and yet you come to me with a request. Interesting introduction N’Jadaka Udaku.” Angel cringed. They already had an impossible ask, and N’Jadaka was not making things easier. Any other time, she admired his snark, but now it was killing them.

“I assume you’re Roaen.”

The man in question was draped in women. Hazel wasn’t even positive he was wearing clothes. All she could see was brown butter skin and animal print. He was lounging on a tiger fur, and the women around him all wore that same print. Roaen gave a nod to Angel’s statement, and Hazel was taken aback.

Aside from the fact that she’d never even seen a faery before, he wasn’t as small as Hazel expected. Faeries in her world had always been perceived as tiny, cute, bell like beings with adorably short tempers. This guy was…not tiny by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, he was built like a house. Young, but carrying himself with the weight of a thousand years. Not dissimilar from N’Jadaka, though Hazel was smart enough to keep that thought to herself.

“I am.”

Roaen stood, and the fur beneath him took shape, morphing into a tiger. The dress the girl was wearing did the same and she was left naked, peering up at the man with hazy eyes. Jagged grey wings unfurled from his back, the only ugly thing on the man, and he jerked his head to the side. A signal for the girl to leave.

“Is he?” Hazel nodded to Bug who was lounging on Terra’s back, but N’Jadaka shook his head. The man wasn’t a shifter, just a faery. Magic is a powerful tool. Angel stepped forward discreetly, pushing Hazel behind her.

“Dia dhuit ársa amháin.” Roaen’s brow raised at the use of his native tongue, as mangled as it was, and responded with a grin. He loved messing with the young ones.

“Well, well, well. Two vampires, a human, and a shifter walk into a bar. There’s got to be a punchline there somewhere.”

“I––” Angel stuttered for something to say. This was her turf after all. “Arsa ársa, táimid tar éis teacht ar do bheannacht.”

“I’ll give you whatever you want as long as you stop butchering my language with your soucouyant accent. Dia.” Roaen laughed, and continued before Angel could close her gaping mouth. “Y’all must be in some deep shit to need a blessing from me.”

N’Jadaka, Angel and Hazel all exchanged a look. A look that debated on telling this stranger the truth. A look that implored the others to be reasonable. A look that annoyed the faery standing before them.

“Would you like me to leave?”

“Oh no Mr. Faery––Roaen––Uh, sir.” After that, the words fell out of Hazel’s mouth like apples shaken from a tree. By the end, she was winded. “So, I need your blessing to stay sane.”

“Interesting indeed.” A pause. “I’ll do it, but you need to do something for me. Quid pro quo and all of that stuff.” Hazel nodded. “I need you to get me a stone from the bottom of the Middle Well.”

The Middle Well was dangerous. At least, that’s what Angel had always been told. The well itself was rumored to be gorgeous, tranquil, enchanting, but Angel had never met anyone who had seen it first hand. No creature ever wanted to bother with the place. It was steeped in bad energy. Even N’Jadaka knew the tales of the south. That the Middle Well was more than just a scenic view, that it was a passage. An access point for those in the afterlife. That was no place for Hazel. No place for a human at all.

“No. No way. She is not diving down there.” Angel knew the faery would ask for something, but she figured it would be money, or tour merch, not this. The Middle well has no bottom. No creature has ever made it out of that water alive, let alone returned with a stone.

“Angel, I’m sure it’s not––”

“Hazel, you don’t even know what you’re agreeing to. That well is on faery land. You don’t know what you’re risking.” The stories Angel’s mother told her as a child were more than that. They were second hand accounts, memories of friends who had dived in for fun and never returned. “It’s a suicide mission.”

“It’s true that the well was built on the land of my people, but the well itself was made by the hands of hers.” Roaen nodded to Hazel lazily. “Humans built that well, and as such, we magical creatures have a hard time pulling from that place. Her on the other hand, should be fine.” Angel and N’Jadaka knew faeries couldn’t lie, but Roaen only said that she should be fine. That is not enough of a guarantee. Not by a long shot.

“Should be––” N’Jadaka had done his best to hold his tongue, he really had, but things were spiraling.

“There has to be another way––” Angel couldn’t let this happen. She couldn’t let her alternate self die. They had to find another way out of this––

“I’ll do it.” Hazel had been silent through most of the argument, letting Angel take the reigns. She was just a human after all. Apparently, in this instance, that worked in her favor.

“Hazel you can’t––”

“Angel, do you trust yourself?”

“Of course.”

“Then trust me. I’m basically you.” Angel relented to Hazel’s weak smile and shrug, hating that her words worked against her. She’d just have to find a way to keep her alternate self alive. No pressure.

—l—

Earth Stream 328: October 26, 2040

8:18AM

“Alright, I’ll pluck it and you shuck it.” Monger would be damned if he had to do all of the work for this witch. In all honesty, he didn’t mind the hunt, the early morning rides, even the cacti, but he needed a resolution. This bird was the key to Ayana and he’d done more than his fair share.

“I don’t know how to do that!” Harley’s frustration oozed out of her words, though it wasn’t all directed towards Monger. This may be the first time she wished she knew how to debone a bird, but that didn’t make the feeling any less true. Up until now, Killmonger had done all of the work and it irked her to no end that she still needed help.

“You’re a witch, ain’t dismemberment in your blood?”

“Oh fuck off Monger.”

“You seriously don’t know?”

“No. I never had a teacher okay?” Oma and Shuri were the closest Harley had come to having any sort of mentors, and they were a 4 hour ride away.

“So how did you learn control?” Killmonger wasn’t stupid. Sure he blamed Ayana’s disappearance on Harley, but at this point even he knew that was bullshit. There were bigger things at play here and he’d seen Harley’s powers enough to know that she had a good grip on them. He’d watched her play with Ayana, pulling rabbits from behind rocks and making the sand shine as she blew it from her fingertips. Harley had control, and if she didn’t have a teacher, how did she get it?

“I had to teach myself for the most part. My siblings helped sometimes. Sort of.” Harley cringed at the memory of performing magic in front of her family. The required love that lasted until you moved out of the family house, or were kicked out. Whichever one came first.

“Well come over and I’ll teach you.”

—l—

Earth Stream 947: October 26, 2040

11:09PM

Hazel knew clicking her heels with a chorus of ‘there’s no place like home’ wouldn’t be the thing to get her back to her own life, but she didn’t expect diving for some stone would be the answer either. She supposed she shouldn’t have even tried to guess at this point. She was out of her depth, literally.

N’Jadaka made Roaen state the deal before they left. He’d mentioned to Hazel that even though Fae couldn’t lie, they still loved to omit things and play with promises. She was glad to see that N’Jadaka and Angel wouldn’t let that happen to her.

“The Middle Well was built by your kind. Or shall I say on your kind.” Roaen began his story as they trekked through the woods behind his home. The streams were small enough to hop over now and Hazel savored the crunch of the leaves as she jumped. Bug  and Terra were having a grand old time too.

“That does’t make sense.” Angel and N’Jadaka spoke in sync and Roaen rolled his eyes. He was surprised at how…dutifully they protected their human charge.

“The early humans, the ones here before vampires and shifters and phoenix’s, they had an idea about the afterlife. You see they studied the tides. The watched them give and take. They watched the waves roll out into the sun and they thought that that was the only way to Elysium. Through water, through the ocean.”

“When they found this land, laden with streams and rivers all rolling out into the ocean, they decided to craft a well. A funeral space basically. For centuries they burned the bodies of their dead, praying as the fire kissed them to ash. Then they came to the Middle Well, they sprinkled the ashes into the water and watched as the connecting streams and rivers pulled their loved ones away, away, and out to sea. Out to the sun, moon and stars.”

They made it. The Middle Well was not what Hazel expected. It didn’t look like a well at all, more like a pool. It was in the shape of a half moon, stones built up on the sides to guide the water. Four streams connected to the mouth of the well, pushing the water to ebb and flow.

“This doesn’t look deep enough to dive into.” Hazel had been swimming. Hell, she used to dive in high school and this pool was not nearly deep enough. She couldn’t exactly see the bottom of the pool, but there were only three stone steps leading into the pool. It couldn’t be deep enough.

“The last human I met here said promised it was plenty deep.”

“So you do this a lot to humans?” N’Jadaka couldn’t stand the faerie’s casual tone. If Hazel was about to dive to her death for some pebble, the guy could at least show some respect.

“This well may have been build by humans but it is on fae land. It’s deep enough.” Angel could see the tick in Roaen’s jaw. His annoyance was obvious and she wondered if her hid a monstrous face behind the pretty one they saw. For a moment, she wished she could see beyond his faery glamour. Just so she knew exactly what they were dealing with.

“Alright well, wish me luck.” Hazel had stripped down to her underwear while the vampires were studying Roaen. She padded to the stone steps and Bug did her best to follow her on four legs. She turned, pushing the cub back towards N’Jadaka and Angel. Terra came and grabbed her by the scruff. Then she sat at the top step with Bug, like they were already waiting for Hazel to return. Hazel didn’t bother looking at her promised protectors, knowing their worry wouldn’t help her now. Instead, she turned to Roaen.

“Just one stone?”

“Just one. Ádh mór.”

She waded into the pool slowly. Counting each stone step she took. After the third, the world dropped out from under her and she fell. N’Jadaka and Angel had to hold themselves back. They knew interference was against the rules. if the so much as touched that well, their whole deal could be nullified by Roaen.

Hazel drifted back to the surface of the clear water, doing her best to stay clam. She had no idea what she was doing, but she decided to tread towards the sides of the well, hoping to catch an errant stone from there. After about five minutes of scrambling with her hands, she made peace with the fact that there would be no shortcuts. Not on Faery land.

Three strokes brought her to the center of the pool. A deep, swimmers breath filled her lungs. Then, heart in her chest and eyes wide open, she dove. The water was cold, pricking at her skin as she pushed. Deeper and deeper she swam, knowing that in a while she’d be too deep to save herself. She hadn’t swam in a long time. She wasn’t nearly as strong as she used to be. Deeper and deeper still, and no stones. Not even moss, or frogs or kelp. Nothing lived down here.

Before she could turn back she heard something. A sigh, no, a scream. The sound rang through Hazel’s ears, clear as day. She swam deeper, towards the sound. Breathing was the least of her worries if someone was down there. A few strokes further and an image flashed across her eyes. A bloody chest, scaly tail, and a face like hers. Hazel pushed back, away from the image, but it was in her head. More started coming, more blood, more pain, more death. And it was all her, every different version of her as she died, crying and screaming and gurgling through their last moments.

Hazel felt paralyzed. She let the water pull her deeper as the visions flashed through her mind. She cried as she saw her death over and over and over. Hazel was trapped. Stuck in this well, a hostage to the universe’s plans for her alternate selves. Then her hand brushed something smooth. The feeling of something in this empty pool, anything was enough to shock Hazel out of her stupor. She grasped, and pulled a stone free. It came loose easily, and the visions stopped. No screaming or crying or blood.

She was free. Hazel kicked her way up, up, and up. Further and further as her vision faltered. Her heart was on overload, she wasn’t going to make it. She didn’t have enough breath in her body. She couldn’t have enough breathe in her body. It was humanly possible. Her vision blackened as she rev another push, and then she broke the surface. Sputtering, gasping, alive, Hazel made her way to the stone steps, rock in hand.

Roaen was there to pull her up, and he sat with her at the mouth of the well. He hovered his hand over her shivering body, and murmured something ancient. She followed his hand, and for a second she thought she saw claws. He continued, and she peered up at his face. It was hideous, half peeled and rotting. His blessing came at a cost to the both of them.

“There, you’re blessed.”

“That’s it?” Hazel could hardly believe it. She didn’t feel any different, but she wasn’t a faery either. Roaen nodded.

“Now, leave me. I’ll need some time to reconstruct my glamour.” Hazel nodded, noting how he never turned from her, keeping his back to everyone else. “Oh and one more thing,” He tossed the stone to Hazel. “Hold onto this. I have a feeling you might need it one day.”

—l—

Earth Stream 245: October 27, 2040

9:22AM

The Ortega precinct was just as quiet as Erik remembered. Kinsey and Roles were still at their desk through sour worms at each other, Coles was still color coding her reports, and Frig still sat in his sergeants chair taller than he should. The receptionist waved him in with a manicured nail and a bitten lip and Erik rolled his eyes. Every little thing reminding him exactly why he left the force.

He mocked a salute to Kinsey and Roles as he passed his and Okoye’s old desks, still empty. They weren’t bad cops, just goofy. Frig straightened even taller somehow nodding to Erik as he knocked on the Chief’s door. There was no nameplate glistening at the handle or glittering on the glass. Just shuttered bulletproof windows that vibrated when the Chief’s accented voice shouted ‘Enter.’

“Well if it ain’t my favorite detective. Stevens, how the hell are you boy?” Erik cringed like he always did when the chief called him ‘boy’, but exchanged pleasantries either way. After being ushered into a set before the Chief, Erik finally relaxed. This used to be his normal, bringing cases to the Chief’s office with Okoye and finding new angles, sitting before the Chief and groaning about the grind. Though it was comfortable, in the end, it wasn’t worth it, it wasn’t nearly enough for Erik or Okoye.

“Well then, what brings you by? I know you’re not here to rejoin the force.” The Chief stated this with a pained laugh, and Erik shrugged it off. He didn’t need to feel guilty for leaving.

“Chief Klaue. I need a favor.”

“What kind of favor?”

“Tomorrow night, I need you to cordon off the alley behind The Golden Fang.” Erik didn’t mention anything about full moons or alternate universes. He had a feeling The Chief would be less inclined to help if he though Erik had gone off of the deep end.

“That shitty club? Why?”

“I’m looking for someone.”

“Is that someone going to be in that club?” A breath and another question. “Stevens are you into anything illegal?”

“No Chief. This isn’t illegal.”

“Then why not go through the proper channels?” Erik rolled his eyes at the thought of getting a permit from City Hall. He’d been in his late eighties before the paperwork even went through.

“It’s for a case. A very time sensitive case.”

“A case that isn’t police business. Stevens I can’t just––” Klaue could, and Erik knew that. It’s why he was here in the first place. The Golden Fang was in his jurisdiction, and he only needed the alley blocked off for a night. He just needed it empty long enough for Hazel to…come back.

“I’ve never asked you for anything Chief. Not one damn time. Even when I was on the force. Trust me when I say I’ll never ask again, but I need you to do this. Officially.” Chief Klaue heaved a sigh. The damn boy was right. If this was the biggest thing his best detective could ask for, he’d better count his blessings.

“Fine. I hope you find who you’re looking for. And call me when you’re ready to rejoin the force Stevens. We miss you around here.”

—l—

Earth Stream 947: October 31, 2040

7:12PM

They pulled up to the Golden Fang as the sun was setting. The journey back had been…difficult to say the least. Bug started teething. Sure she had fangs as a jaguar, but her human teeth were pushing through now, and the girl was not happy. The car was filled with her pained cries as the supernatural creatures in the car stuffed their ears. Hazel did her best to placate the baby, eventually giving her her finger to naw on. It turned her cries into whimpers, and they were all grateful. The second they hit the blood club Hazel was behind the bar, filling a clean rag with ice cubes.

Finally. You’re back! I’ve been waiting ages! How did everything go?” Shuri paused. “Wait. What is wrong with her?”

“She’s teething Shuri.”

“Yikes.” She shuddered and turned to N’Jadaka. “So?”

“Well, we got the blessing.” Angel snorted at his tone. There wasn’t much ‘we’ about it, Hazel had done the heavy lifting, and she respected the human––her alternate self for that. N’Jadaka did too, though he’d be loathe to admit it.

“And just in time. Better hurry, the moon is almost up.”

The group made our way towards the back of the bar, standing at the door where Hazel first entered the Golden Fang. Bug had stopped crying, and she was chomping happily at the icy cloth in her mouth. Tear tracks dried on her face, but she looked more like she did when Hazel first found her.

“Okay, Queen Mother told me what to do, so…I’ve got this.” Shuri waved to Hazel and Bug. “I’ve got to put you two into a salt circle, so, uh…” Shuri pulled the pair into a hug, doing her best not to squeeze too tightly.

“Thanks for proving me right. Especially because I got to prove N’Jadaka wrong.” She winked and pranced back, making space for N’Jadaka and Angel. Terra barreled between them and pounced on Hazel. Tackling her and Bug into a hug. Hazel let the two play one last time as she turned to N’Jadaka and Angel.

“So, uh, thanks for not eating me the first time we met.” N’Jadaka’s mouth quirked in a smirk and he shrugged.

“You’re not really my type, but you’re a better human than I expected. Even if you are a little slow––” Angel cut off his teasing with a smack and pulled Hazel close.

“It was nice to meet you. Or well, me. You still have the stone right?” Hazel nodded reaching into her pocket to feel its smooth edges. “Good. That way, you can come back and visit.” Angel squeezed Hazel a little tighter, and stepped back, taking Terra and N’Jadaka with her.

“Okay. Moon’s almost up, We’ve got to move.”

Shuri positioned Hazel and Bug before the door. She drew a semi circle of salt around them, lighting four candles on the way. She spritzed them with moon water, and sent a prayer to Bast. Then, she turned to Hazel.

“You have your talisman right?”

“My phone? Yeah.” Hazel fished it out of her pocket and pressed the home button, still disappointed when the screen didn’t illuminate.

“Tragic.” Hazel rolled her eyes.

“Shuri.”

“Sorry, sorry. Okay, Hold your phone and think of your world. Only your world. When I open this door, I want you to step through, and let go of Bug.” Hazel’s eyes flashed to Shuri in alarm. She wasn’t just going to drop a baby.

“Trust me. She’ll make it back to her world and you’ll make it back to yours. This door opens the universe, so you have to stay focused on your world or you could end up somewhere else completely. Again.” Hazel nodded and gripped her phone. She gave Bug one last glance and a kiss on the forehead. She’d miss the little troublemaker. Then Shuri opened the doorway and it was filled with the moon.

—l—

Earth Stream 328: October 31, 2040

8:16PM

Jet at the north. Celtic salt at the south. Cypress root to the west. The bones of a Juvian Sparrow to the east. A scrying bowl full to the brim with a dark, witching potion. All connected with a chalk circle on the wooden floor of the Golden Fang. Oma suggested that she do the spell and scrying in the place she was most comfortable, and even though Monger looked about ready to blow a gasket from his place behind the bar, he allowed her to stay. He even closed out the bar for the night. She only saw the moon as the Jags stumbled out, it was full and brighter than she’d ever seen. Hopefully that was a good sign.

The spell was easy. She had all of the components. She’d spoken the words until they slipped from her lips in her sleep. She knew her magic wouldn’t fail her in this. The scrying was the hard part. She’d only done it a few times more since that first time with Oma, and the nerves licked at her calm like flames.

Surrounded by candles and crystals Harley knelt on the paneled wooden floor. The spell was done in minutes, opening up the space in the circle to…anything. Hopefully she’d be pulling Ayana through the crack she’d created and re-warding the place as soon as possible. Harley hated the idea of opening the Golden Fang up to anything. One never knew what waited in the veil between worlds.

She turned her attention to the scrying bowl, grabbing it with both hands and sitting it in her lap. This time, as she saw her reflection in the liquid, she did her best to hone in on Ayana’s energy. Monger watched as Harley stopped blinking. He’s pretty sure she stopped breathing, but she’d warned him not to interrupt her. Not for anything.

Harley started with the version of herself she’d seen wrapped up with Ayana’s aura. Pale yellow curled around fuchsia. Now that she knew what she was looking for, they weren’t hard to find. The girl, and her rockstar counterpart were both mingling with Ayana’s essence, but before Harley could coax her aura out to pull Ayana back, the baby fell. Only, she wasn’t falling to the ground. Ayana was tumbling through worlds.

Harley could see tens and hundreds and thousands of creatures like her. A mermaid in one. A succubus in another. A crane. A child. A snake. A knight. She was everything and one thing, but Killmonger appeared in them too. He was her equal, then opposite, her friend, then enemy. Everything and one thing.

Harley tried to focus. Tried to follow Ayana’s aura streaking through the universe. Tried to grab a hold of the girl she cared so deeply for, but somewhere between her queen self and shaman self, she lost her baby girl. Killmonger couldn’t watch any longer. Harley hadn’t breathed in nearly two minutes. He wanted Ayana back more than anyone could know, but he wouldn’t let Harley die searching for her.

Rounding the bar and breaking Harley’s chalk circle Monger reached a hand to her arm. Electricity crackled up to his shoulder as Monger’s fingers wrapped around Harley’s arm. Her inhale was so sharp her body rolled. Shoulders fell back, down her spine. Head lolled away from her scrying bowl, but her eyes, her eyes were still blank.

Monger slid his hand from her arm to her chin. Gentle fingers lifted her face to his. Eyes unfocused. His mouth curved around her name, just a whisper. A breath ghosting past her lips. And then, a pop.

“I told you she was a trouble maker.” Harley was lucid enough to see that Monger finally had his arms full again, and she grinned right before passing out.

—l—

Earth Stream 245: October 31, 2040

9:25PM

Hazel landed on the hard asphalt with a thump and a huff, the wind rushing out of her. She could see the moon, full and bright shining down on her from its place in the deep dark sky. She breathed in the crisp fall air, and her phone began to vibrate in her pocket. It wouldn’t stop actually, buzzing with a months worth of missed notifications. Hazel breathed out a sigh. She made it. Limbs and sanity intact. Just as she was about to cry in relief, someone cleared his throat.

“Hazel Fay?”

“Yes?”

“My name is Erik Stevens. I’m a detective. Your mother hired me to find you.”

“Oh.” A pause as she processed this, and then. “Oh shit.” Erik’s lips curled into a rueful grin.

“Can you tell me where you’ve been?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you the truth.” Hazel shook her head after responding. Hell, she could hardly believe what had happened.

“Try me.”

Here’s Killmonger’s bike inspo in case you were wondering!

Translations

ugqirha: witch doctor

—l—

Dia dhuit ársa amháin: Hello ancient one (Irish)

Arsa ársa, táimid tar éis teacht ar do bheannacht: Ancient one, we’ve come to you for a blessing (Irish)

Dia: God (Irish)

—l—

Ádh mór: Good luck (Irish)

A/N: So that’s that on that. Baby Ayana is home safe and sound! So is Hazel!

 Low-key why do I write about bars so much I don’t even go to bars????? And I never really have????? Anyways…..here we are! The end. Didya like it? Did y’all have fun on the journey? This was as much a writing exercise as it was a passion project for me. I wanted to see if I could (1) even write a mystery (2) incorporate magic in a vaguely realistic way (3) ONLY write four parts and (4) write everything ahead of time and release it weekly like a TV show, while still keeping people interested. I feel like I low-key did that lolllllllllllll

That being said I can’t wait to revisit this and turn it into some type of script because I def want to expand on these worlds and characters even more. Especially Detective Erik, even though he’s the most human, there’s something more I think he deserves that I couldn’t quite get my finger on just yet. 

I have an inkling of an idea for a future take, but that won’t happen for a while I think. Writing this was my break from writing my book, and even with life stuff not going perfectly, I’m finally feeling good about diving back into my book and my characters! I’m so close to being done so wish me luck! 

My faerie Roaen is Irish, so you see Angel speaking Irish in that one scene because I have a light obsession with Celtic mythology and Ireland in general. I love that place. Everything is so damn green. 

Finally, I want to thank absolutely EVERYONE for reading and liking and reblogging and sharing this story. It really means the world to me especially as a fairly new writer. (This is only my second fic lol) You guys lift my spirit every time you read and I truly am blessed to have y’all reading my story. 

The Mystery of the Golden Fang Mood Board

A Map Made in Heaven

Masterlist

Taglist: @princessstevens @muse-of-mbaku @k-michaelis@queenamaniii@thatrandomfangirl98@dreadedphilosphy@killmongurl @thelovelyliterary@elaindeereads @thedom223 @muse-of-mbaku@bidibidibombaclaat @panthergoddessbast @writingmarvellousimagines @someareblindtoitsbeauty @jozigrrl@iamrheaspeaks @purple-apricots @thadelightfulone@janelledarling @killmongersgurl

[jojo-ocs-and-stuff]

OC Presentation: Colombina

Now I’m completely out of internet at home. Like, I was already before, but since I downloaded the tumblr app, I was able to use the phone access, but now even it died. I’m so sad and cursed I want to cry! The only places I can access it is at college and at work!

I was so down with this situation (I’m out of internet for an entire month) that I started to write about one of my OCs, Colombina. At first I wasn’t planning to post it here, because of... How much triggering stuff it have, but after some support that @kirakira-tae ​ gave me, I decided to post!

The triggering stuff isn’t in this post though. When I was writing, it ended so LONG, and I haven’t even finished it, that I decided to post about her past another time. For now, I will give just some basic informations. It’s not much for now, but I hope you guys like my girl :3

Name: Colombina Malvasinera Alias: Morte Rossa (Red Death), Presagio di Morte (Omen of Death), The Endless One Stand: Time of Dying Gender: Female Age: 26 Height: 165cm Occupation: Passione Hitman, La Squadra member Appearance: Colombina’s grandma, for her mother’s side, was black, so she have a more dark skin. Something more like dark olive skin or Avdol’s kind of skin color. I haven’t decided yet. She have freckles too. Her cheekbones and shoulders are full of freckles. Her hair is a dark shade of red. It’s long, reaching her waist, full, fluffy and curly. It almost form a perfect circle. It’s the kind of hair that if you put your hand on it, it will disappear in all the fullness. She just started to take care of it after her 18 years, but it’s really soft and nice to touch. Colombina normally put it in a braided bun while she works, otherwise, if she will let it down or not depends of her mood. Have three little moles on the curve of her neck, in the left side. Her eyes are reddish brown, and her body have a pear shape (average breasts and large hips). Athletic build, but more focused on elasticity and acrobatic movements. Colombina is good with both hands and legs, but she’s more focused on using her legs. She have powerful kicks, specially because she always find a way to impulse herself, making the kicks more potent. Also, she’s always using heels, so her kicks end as pretty lethal. It didn’t mean her arms are bad, though. She use them a lot to support her whole body, so her arms do have visible muscles. Kicks are her specialty, but her punches are no joke. Also, nice abs. Personality: Colombina, at first sight, gives the impression to be the “expressionless girl” (sometimes pretty average in media in general). She’s quiet, rarely talking if is not necessary or you’re not talking to her, usually in a corner, a little distant of the focus group. People even judge her aloof and that she isn’t even hearing them, but in reality, Colombina is really observant and attentive. She’s always hearing what people’s saying and will notice little details of people without they realizing it. Also, even looking like she don’t care about the others, due to her dull face, Colombina is, actually, a really nice and kind lady. She’s bad at showing it with words, and because she had… Traumas, she also can’t easily show it physically, so she show it by actions. For example, after see how each member of La Squadra likes their coffees, when she wake up earlier than everyone, she make their coffees exactly how they like it (she struggled with Prosciutto’s at first though). A lot of things happened with her in the past, so she have some problems of empathy. She does care with people, and to be fair, it’s not that hard to make she likes you, but Colombina lacks the ability to understand people’s feelings. She had some help in the past, but still need daily help with this. Colombina don’t like to be like this. Makes her frustrated that she lacks something so normal, but it’s grateful that she have people helping her. Colombina’s also very, very curious. She loves to learn anything you can teach her. She doesn’t care what it is, she just have and giant HUNGER to learn. You can talk about anything and she will be immediately interested, but will be disappointed if you’re lying. Also, absolutely STARVING to affection, but she just… Can’t be touched. If someone touches her, she’ll FREAK OUT, and she hates it. To be able to touch someone normally, she and the person will need to “practice” it. Trivia:

Colombina entered the group with almost everyone already complete, with the exception of Pesci;

Melone was excited when she entered because make Baby Face’s homunculi could be much easier with a woman in the group, but Risotto forbidden him to do anything with her. At first, he doesn’t see her more than a way to use his Stand in his favor;

Illuso was never good with girls, so he was taken aback at first. It was a pleasant surprise that Colombina is a girl easy to deal with;

Formaggio was excited! He have (had?) 3 little sisters, so Colombina’s presence makes he rememer nice times. He ends seeing her as a little sister, and Colombina starts to see him as an older brother figure in no time. They get along really well;

Ghiaccio is neutral about her, but when he see that she really loves to learn things, he starts to teach her about languages (and how to talk properly in his presence);

She scares Pesci (not intentionally). Her lack of expression, her quietness, sharp eyes (and when he discover about her ability) make him almost freak out, but he slowly learn that she’s actually nice. Colombina don’t like that he’s in the mafia. He’s a nice and soft guy, and she believes he deserve better. When he discover that’s the reason she don’t like him in the mafia, they start to be really good friends;

Prosciutto is neutral too. He finds her company pleasant and to time to time teach her something. He likes specially to give her a book and then they talk about it. He finds her curiosity to understand things pleasant too;

Risotto was neutral too. Outside the work, at first he doesn’t give her much attention, until one day they spent a time together, and they find they have things in common;

Sorbet is neutral too. He respects her personal space and treats her normally. Finds her fluffy hair cute;

Gelato finds her cute, specially with her hait down, but aside of that he’s just fine with her. Curious of why she can’t be touched, and is planning a way to try it in the future;

She loves flower, birds and have a sweet tooth;

Have insomnia, and when she’s able to sleep, it’s pretty normal of her to have nightmares, so she uses medicine to help her to sleep (sometimes). Colombina is able to go 5 nights straight without sleep, and in her worse days, even an entire week;

Colombina isn’t her real name. It was given to her by someone really special and important to her, and she absolutely loves it. She doesn’t care and don’t want to know her “real” name.