#OR LET ME HAVE A BREATHER FOR CHRISTS SAKE

[thegreatbuttoneer]

Everybody knows about the spoons analogy, right?? You wake up with a certain amount of spoons that you can use to spend on the day?

I woke up and got metaphorically bashed in the face with a metaphorical plank of wood, kicked in the side of the head, got hot coffee dumped on me and then bashed in the skull with the metal travel mug, hit by a car, had all of my spoons stolen, water boarded, kicked in the face again, and then was swarmed by tiny gnomes that used my stolen spoons to gouge out my right eyeball.

Metaphorically of course.

[rosesanddecay]

Pt. 2

TW: angst/comfort, reader cries a little and is mentioned to have been in therapy

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The silence was agonizing. The air felt drowning and heavy. It didn’t help that no one could look at each other.

Soap and you have migrated to the couch after realizing that the conversation probably should be had while sitting.

How are any of you meant to address any of this?

Each of you knew just enough to fill in the blanks, but how is-

“So…” Johnny broke the silence and your train of thought. “How do you all know each other?”

“Really, Soap? That’s how you want to start this?” Gaz remarked, letting his grievance show.

“Aye! How else ye expect this to go?! How ye think I feel knowin’ ye’ve shagged my lass?”

“Jesus Christ…” you groan as you hide behind your hands.

“Not everyone-“ Simon murmured leaning back in with his arms crossed.

“Simon!” You exclaim, revealing your warmed cheeks to everyone.

“Well with the way ye look at ‘er I would’ve guessed otherwise-“

“Okay- no, that’s it-“ you stand in front of them all, pointing as you addressed each. “You- Simon, are meant to be dead, I went to your funeral. Fucks sake, I visit those graves everytime I drive past them!”

Simon couldn’t stand to defend himself, because he knew that already. He’d seen you talking to his and his family’s graves every now and then when he went to see them himself. It had torn him apart to not reveal he was alive, but he’d convinced himself it was for your sake. Even if that meant you’d shed more tears.

“You pushed me away for months before ultimately saying that you needed to move for work, that you couldn’t be with me anymore-“ your eyes still held the hurt from long ago as you gazed at Kyle.

“It wasn’t a complete lie…” Kyle scratched at his head, his poor attempt to redeem himself falling flat.

“Shut it, Garrick. You-“ your finger landed on Price, “Why didn’t you tell me you were in town? I assume you’ve been back for a while, so why didn’t you say anything?”

John knew he had no excuse, so he didn’t attempt to deny his reasoning. “Though’ ye might’ve been with yer other man…”

A hefty exhale escapes you as you hold back from saying more. You could slap him, because how, after all this time, does he not see himself as enough? Instead, your gaze landed on Johnny.

“And you, Johnny, you didn’t really do anything, but still, this could’ve never happened if you or John just told me who else was on the team.”

“Or told us who ye were dating.” Kyle muttering was directed to Johnny, but it earned side eye from you.

“Moral of the story,” you continued, “all of you have been keeping things from me. And now we’re here… and I don’t know what to do or say…” your voice broke a little from the festering emotions. Everyone was quick to their feet to comfort you, John worming his way to the front.

“Aye, lass, there’s no need to cry. We just need to talk this out.” John’s hands cupped your cheeks as the tears threatened to spill. “Maybe we should take a break, take a breather. Later, we can talk one on one with you and each other.”

You nod as you try to calm yourself, doing the short breathing exercises you learned from therapy.

John placed a soft kiss to your forehead before being pushed aside by Johnny. His arms quickly envelop you and he kisses your temple.

“Common lass, let’s get ye out of here for a bit…” Johnny whispered and pulled you into the bedroom, leaving the other men standing in a circle, stuck their own thoughts…

————

Idk what to call this series so feel free to leave some suggestions!

Also didn’t want to make this series too angsty, but reader is definitely gonna need some one-on-one time with each of the boys…

[kai-anderson-whore]

Second best part 2 (Colin zable x fem reader)

Part 1

Warnings: small argument kinda, smoking, alcohol, mentions of breakups and cheating

•¤❅¤•.•°˚˚°•..•°˚˚°•.•¤❅¤•.•¤❅¤•.•°˚˚°•. .•°˚˚°

After that night you didn't know what to do, you tried to play it off cool in work just be civil with Colin so you could get on with your job, but you never spoke about the kiss or anything since then you felt colins eyes on you again.

You needed a breather so you went outside for a cigarette, something you rarely did only when you were stressed a cigarette would calm you down, placing the stick to your lips lighting the end taking a long drag letting the nicotine fill your lungs before exhaling it with a sigh.

You stared at the parking lot ahead of you blankly a thousand thoughts ran through your head, "y/n" a voice startling you giving them your undivided attention seeing Colin standing behind you a weird look on his face.

"What Colin" you sighed taking another drag of your cigarette, your arms folded trying to keep warm as the cold weather kicked in, "can we talk about you know what happened" he said just above whisper, you let out a small chuckle shaking your head "Colin it was something that happened in the heat of the moment it meant nothing" you said trying to shrug it off.

"But it didn't feel like nothing y/n I know your still mad and you have every single right to be but you can't deny that kiss meant something" Colin pleaded, he couldn't stop thinking about your lips on his, the way it felt like two puzzle pieces mending together he couldn't deny it if he tried.

You did feel what he felt but you were too stubborn to admit it to him and to yourself, "Colin don't not here were at work for christ sake" you sighed taking another puff of your cigarette as it started to burn down, "just admit you felt the same" Colin said you couldn't deny the look of desperation in his eyes, "I don't know Colin okay" you said raising your voice you didn't mean to but it wasn't the right time or place for you both to have this conversation.

Before you could even say another word Colin's lips were on yours for a second time, his hands on your cheeks holding you close, your eyes fluttering shut savouring the feeling of colin's lips, you did feel what he felt but you couldn't admit it.

Pulling away both of your breaths laboured, eyes locked like nothing else was around you both, "you can't deny that y/n" Colin stated you knew that it couldn't be if you tried, Colin turned around walking back into the station till you halted him dead in his tracks.

"Wait Colin okay I did feel the way you felt but I don't just want to be someone you use to get over mare" you sighed Colin turned around to face you again, "the way I see it y/n maybe getting rejected by mare was a blessing in disguise because it made me realise my feelings for you" maybe Colin is right him getting rejected by mare was meant to be.

"Maybe your right now we need to get back to work" you smiled following him into the station, you couldn't help but blush at colin's words that played in your head over and over again like hearing your favourite song.

As more time went on and the weeks progressed, you learned to completely forgive Colin and now you were getting ready for your second date only this time without any conflict, you both decided to go to a bar and have some drinks.

You wore black jeans with a black bodysuit along with your leather jacket and some light makeup, Colin was on his way in a cab to pick you up, waiting outside hugging your jacket closer to you, handbag in hand with your essentials you saw the cab near your apartment a smile invading your face.

Making your way into the cab seeing Colin in the back with a bright smile that could light up a thousand rooms it made your smile shine just as bright, "hey" you said closing the door as the driver took off to your location, "Hi ready to get a bit tipsy" Colin chuckled.

"Oh yeah" you laughed in response, soon enough you finally made it to the bar Colin paid the driver as your exited the vehicle not before thanking the driver, "I'll get this round since you got the taxi" you offered wanting to pay your way but Colin is protesting, "no I invited you out so I'll pay like a true gentleman" Colin stated making you roll your eyes at him, "no Colin its only fair I buy the drinks or at least the first round" you said.

"Fine I'll have a beer" Colin said knowing you were too stubborn to give in to him, you nodded both making your way to the bar ordering your drinks, the bartender handed Colin his beer and your wine taking it to a free table near by.

"Thanks for taking me out colin" you said sipping your wine as Colin took some of his beer, "no problem and thank you for getting the first round but the rest is on me" he joked making you giggle, it was nice to get out with Colin he was fun to be around.

"So have you lived here your whole life or?" Colin asked wanting to get to know you better, "Yeah easttown my whole life" you answered you knee where Colin had originally came from due to the chief telling all of you before hand, "so have you always lived with your mom?" You asked curiously, Colin shook his head at your answer.

"I was engaged before but two weeks before our wedding she broke up with me it was a bummer but I'm over it" you felt bad for Colin and shocked that whoever his ex was she broke up with him, didn't want to marry him it confused you Colin was like a dream the perfect man to be with in your eyes.

"Oh Colin I'm sorry, any person would be lucky to have you" you stated truthfully a hand on his arm, "Yeah but it was a while ago anyway what about you how come your still single?" He asked changing the role of who was getting asked the questions, "well I was in a relationship for five years but in the end we just kept fighting what made me leave was the fact I caught them sleeping with my best friend" you sighed even though it was over a year ago it still hurt not about your ex, that your so called best friend did that to you.

"Wow that is really shitty of them both" Colin said shocked he couldn't believe someone could do that to you at all, "Oh well it's in the past I'm focusing of the future now" you chuckled realising how cheesy you sounded, "I'll drink to that" Colin joked along clicking his beer bottle with your wine glass.

You got to know Colin more after a few more beers and glasses of wine you found yourself a tipsy deciding to call it a night, Colin called a cab waiting outside, you pulled out a cigarette lightning the end of the stick letting the nicotine fill your lungs, Colin couldn't deny that seeing you with a cigarette hanging from your plump lips drove him crazy but he had to contain himself not wanting to step out of line.

"What" you chuckled catching Colin staring at you in awe, Colin shook his head snapping out of his daze like state "nothing just you look really beautiful tonight" his voice was soft causing your cheeks to flush red, "Thank you Colin you look very handsome tonight too" you replied taking another drag of your cigarette, your eyes still on each other not even daring to look away.

You didn't realise how close you both were your noses almost touching, Colin gave in his hand on the nape of your neck pulling you to him lips moving in sync you throw your cigarette on the ground giving Colin your full attention, your hand on his arm holding him close to you.

The kiss didn't last long as it was interrupted by the taxi beeping its horn, "Let's go" you smiled taking colins hand into the cab giving the driver your address, the driver drove you both back to your place.

[supernaturalgirl20]

What’s a Month?

Part 4

Pairings: Dieter Bravo x f!reader

Warnings: Smut 18+, explicit, unprotected sex, PinV sex, oral (both receiving), angst, mutual pining, hidden feelings, mentions of drugs and drug abuse, divorce, fluff.

Summary: Dieter needs some time away from Hollywood, and the drugs, and the ex- wife. So his PR team have sent him to a remote cottage in Ireland to take a breather. You are a journalist and your boss has sent you on a wild goose chase. What happens when you’re both booked into the same cottage with the man who broke your heart?

Part 3

Comments and reblogs really appreciated 🥰

Dieter’s heart was racing.

Literally minutes ago he was about to lean down and kiss you, and fuck if he didn’t want to. But he couldn’t. She was just caught up in the moment, she doesn’t really want you like that. Not anymore. Or does she?

He was still in his boxers. Bath towel thrown over his shoulder as he paced the length of his room. His eyes kept glancing at the door, contemplating whether he should join you in the shower, or not. Would you want him to?

Don’t be an idiot, just go in there and kiss her. Tell her how you feel. He huffs out a breath, running this hand down his face before he throws the towel onto the floor and stalks towards his door. Determination in each step. I just hope this doesn’t backfire.

***

You silently curse yourself as you stare into the mirror, eyes flicking over to the door. Why didn’t he kiss me? I thought - hoped - that he still wanted me but maybe I was wrong. Pull yourself together Y/N. You don’t need Dieter fucking Bravo. No you just want him, so fucking bad.

You begin to pace a little as you bite the nail on your thumb. A nervous habit you thought you’d kicked. I still love him for Christ sake. What am I doing? You wanted him, hell you’ve wanted him since your second night here. Question is does he want you?

Taking a deep breath, you walk towards the door and place your hand on the handle, hesitating a little before slowly opening it. A gasp escapes past your lips when you see Dieter standing on the other side.

“Dieter?”

***

When he went to open the bathroom door, you were already opening it yourself. You gasp when you see him and he can’t help the way his eyes drift down over your figure. You’d taken off your jumper and were in nothing but your bra and shorts. He groans but tries to cover it with a cough.

“Dieter?”

“I…I came back because, I want…I…”

You interrupt his little speech with your lips and he all but melts into you. His arms wrapping around your bare waist pulling you flush against him as he walks you backwards into the bathroom, closing the door with his foot. He can’t believe this is happening. That you kissed him first.

Your hands are roaming his chest, lowering to the band of his boxers and slipping under. When you grab his hard cock, he can’t help the groan that falls from his lips. You swallow it as your tongue licks across his bottom lip, begging for entrance. Oh god I’ve missed her touch. She’s so soft.

Suddenly both your movements become frantic. Hands pulling off clothes, gripping bare flesh, pulling each other close. Dieter lifts you, walking you into the shower and when your back meets the cool tiles you gasp into his mouth. He wants you so bad. Needs to be inside you and just as he lines up, there’s a frantic knocking on the front door. No! Fuck not now. Go away!

“Ignore it,” you whisper into his mouth, pulling him close again, lips devouring his. He does. Until the knocking comes again followed by a voice.

“Hello! It’s William. I’ve come to let ye know there’s a storm comin.”

He groans again resting his forehead against yours. You slip out of his arms, feet touching the tiled floor and peck his cheek.

“We better get it.”

“Yeah. Just…I need a minute.”

He vaguely hears the door to the bathroom click closed as he tries to calm his beating heart. Maybe this was a sign. The universe telling him you weren’t his, never would be again.

Once he’s calmed enough he quickly makes a dash for his room and grabs his robe, throwing it on over his naked torso. Cock still painfully hard. He tries to think of something, anything to help with his - situation- but all he can see is you. Gasping into his mouth, gripping onto him as you urged him to fuck you. Stop!

“Ah there ya are lad. Was just tellin the wee lass that there’s an awful storm comin in tonight. Yer more than welcome to come stay in the village?”

“I told him we’d be ok but it’s up to you?” You say as you stare at him, waiting for his response. He doesn’t know what to say. He doesn’t want to go, he wants to stay right here and finish what ye started. But he also doesn’t want to put you danger.

“Will we be safe here, if we stay?”

“Of course, just thought ye might like to be away from the sea that’s all. Can get scary if your not used to it. I brought some supplies, in case ye decided to stay. Just a few flash lights, batteries, candles and some extra food.”

“Thanks so much Mr. O’Reilly, you’re far too good.”

“Not at all and it’s William, none of that formal stuff.”

William brings in the supplies and leaves them in the kitchen before turning to Dieter. “I’d keep that fire going in case the power goes out. It will get pretty cold.”

“Thanks. And thanks again for coming up here and bringing supplies.”

“Not at all. I’ll leave ye to it.”

Dieter closes the door and turns slowly to face you. “Not that I didn’t love what almost happened but what’s going on with us?” He stares at you, unsure of what to say. I love you. He wants to say but he doesn’t want to scare you off. Im sorry. But he’s said that already and would it really make any difference?

“I still love you Dieter. I shouldn’t. Not after you left me. Not after you went to do that film - even though you promised you wouldn’t leave me - and then ended up with…her.”

“You love me?” He stutters, eyes wide in disbelief as he makes his way towards you.

“Yes I literally just said that. Did you not hear what I..”

His lips are on yours and that heat from before is back. His mind is reeling. You love him. You fucking love him. He realises he hasn’t said it back but he’s to caught up in the feel of you to speak. Later!

***

He carries you to his room and when he reaches the bed he gently lays you back before standing and shrugging off his robe. You make quick work of what little clothes you’re wearing and lay back against the fluffy pillows. Eyes looking up at him full of love and lust.

He takes a moment to take you in. It’s been a while since he’s seen you like this, spread out and bare for him and he could kick himself for ever leaving you. You were beautiful!

“Are you going to just stand there all night?” You say with a teasing tone. Hands moving down your torso, fingers inching closer to where you ache for him.

He growls - deep and guttural - and then he’s on top of you, his hand pulling yours away from your clit. “Only I’m allowed to touch there.”

“Then touch me…please Dieter…I need you.”

Whatever self control he had, completely left when you begged him to touch you. His mouth was on yours and his hands roamed every inch of your body that they could. “Want to taste you baby. Can I taste you?”

You nod, unable to form words but he shakes his head. “No. Need you to say the words baby, want you to tell me what you want.”

“Please Dieter…want your mouth on my…oh!”

Pleasure shoots through you as he works his tongue along your slick folds. I forgot how good he is at this. He drinks you in like a man dying of thirst and when he pushes two fingers inside you it’s all you need to cry out his name.

“Oh…oh god oh fuck…Dieter.”

He groans as you pull his hair between your fingers, back arches off the bed as a blinding pleasure courses through you. You’re delirious as he works you through your orgasm. Fuck I’m never letting you go again.

Kissing his way up your thigh and along your stomach he stops once he’s flush against you. His eyes blown wide with lust, stare at you like he can see into your very soul. Oh god why are you looking at me like that? Please…don’t break my heart again.

He grabs his cock in his hand and pumps himself before lining up at your entrance. With one thrust - his eyes never leaving your face - he buries himself inside you allowing you a minute to adjust. I’m home!

His pace is slow at first wanting to savour this moment but when you dig your nails into his back and wrap your legs around his waist, urging him to fuck you - he loses it. The room is filled with the sound of moans, of skin slapping and the slight creak of he bed. When you come, your eyes closed as you clench around him, he’s desperate for you to look at him.

“Open your eyes baby…want…want to see you fall apart.”

Your eyes open and when they meet his, there’s nothing but love and adoration in his gaze. It’s an intimacy you’ve never had with anyone else. You climax together and he practically falls on top of you. You both just oh there, holding each other close, his softening cock still inside you. Running your fingers through his hair he groans into your chest.

“Feels so good.”

It’s silent. Nothing but he sounds of the waves beating against the rocks and the wind swirling around the cottage. A comfortable silence. “I love you.” Your hand stills in his hair as he slowly lifts his head up to meet your gaze. You don’t know what to say. That voice of doubt still echoing inside your head, telling you this isn’t real, it won’t last.

“I’ve always loved you. I’m sorry I left you to do that film. I’m sorry I hooked up with Anika.”

“But you didn’t just hook up with her though…you married her. When I told you I wanted to have a future with you, have a family. You jumped ship and left for England to do that stupid fucking film and ended up marrying someone else. I know you can panicked, but we could have talked about it. What you did…you broke me.”

“I know and I’m so fucking sorry, I’ve regretted it every day since. Hell I’m gonna regret until I die. I wanted that with you too, still do…I just didn’t think I’d be a good husband or father and I panicked. Then on set I was high all the time and things happened with Anika and…I want to give us another shot.”

“I know. I just don’t know if I can give that to you yet. I’m still hurt Dieter…”

“Let me prove it to you. Please?! Let me show you how much you mean to me, how much I want a future with you…please?!”

“I’m not making any promises.” He reaches up and kisses you passionately. “That’s all I’m asking…just for a chance.”

He’s hard again. You can feel him against your leg and you push him onto his back and straddle him, lining him up before sinking down slowly. He groans loudly as his head pushes into the pillows. You fuck him slowly. Again and again until you’re both spent.

***

The sound of the wind hurdling against the cottage wakes you from a deep sleep. A warmth seeps into you from behind and you turn to find Dieter fast asleep, arm thrown over you holding you close. A loud bang sparrows you and you scream a little.

Dieter sits up in a daze, confused until his eyes meet yours and he sees that your terrified. “Hey it’s ok, it’s just the storm.”

He pulls you into a warm hug and rubs soothing circles along your back. “Shit.” He says as he hops out of bed and runs out to the living room.

“I need to keep the fire going, can you hand me some wood.” You’d thrown on his t -shirt and handed him some wood as he tried to get the fire going again.

“Wait here,” he says as he rushes into the bedroom. A few minutes later he comes back dressed in a t-shirt and sweats carrying a load of blankets and pillows.

“What are you doing?” You say with a slight snort.

“We gotta keep warm, so I thought we should probably stay here by the fire.”

“Hmm I like that idea.” He fixes all the blankets and pillows and settles down beside you pulling you close.

“Try get some sleep baby. I love you.”

“Love you to D.”

***

The next few days were spent exploring the island together, getting to know the locals better and of course lots of sex. I mean lots. Everywhere you could. You’d both fucked all over the cottage, there wasn’t a surface left untouched. You fucked on the beach one evening after Dieter had cooked a beautiful dinner. Who knew he was so good at cooking. You even had a quickie in the local pub. Dieter crowded you into the tiny toilet and fucked you against the door.

Things were good. You haven’t felt this happy since…well since you were last together.

“Hey there you are,” Dieter says as he wraps his arms around you from behind. “Thought I’d find you here.”

You were out on the beach looking out at the sea. It had become a regular thing now and you especially loved going in the morning before the sun came out.

“William invited us to his daughters wedding. It’s only a small get together but he said we were more than welcome to come. What do you say?”

“I don’t have anything to wear for a wedding.”

“Course you do. That pink floral dress is perfect. Besides it’s only gonna be a small wedding, their having the reception in the pub out back.”

“Ok sure, why not?”

***

Dieter grabbed your hand as you entered the pub, his fingers interwoven with yours. Butterflies erupted in your stomach and you almost melt into a puddle when you look up to see him smiling down at you. The flicker of something behind his eyes. I don’t want this trip to end.

“Ah look who it is. Glad you came, we’re all out back. Go on now, plenty of food and drink to go around. Help yourselves.”

Walking out back your met with loud traditional Irish music being played by the band. Laughs and screams from the kids echo along the walls and you both wave a some of the locals you’ve met. Dieter pulls you along towards the food and you both fill up your plates and settle at one of the tables.

An older man approaches and asks you for a dance. You glance at Dieter but he’s already laughing, nodding his head. You’re pulled out into the crowd and are being swung around like a rag doll but you haven’t had this much fun in an age. John - who’s name you barely heard over the music - was showing you how to dance the ceili. You were being passed from partner to partner that you didn’t notice Dieter had been pulled into the floor to. It wasn’t until you were both pushed together that you noticed him.

“Hey! Having fun?”

“Yeah it’s the most fun I’ve had in ages.”

Suddenly a slow set starts and William calls for all couples to join the bride and groom on the dance floor. You feel panicked. What the hell do we do? Dieter doesn’t give you time to dwell in your thoughts as he wraps his arms around you and sways to the music. You rest your head against his chest and you can’t help the smile that spreads across your face.

“I told ya they’d hit it off. Didn’t I.”

“They looked pretty cosy the night of the storm I’ll tell ya that for nothin. Bet ya a tenner they were fuck…ow Jesus woman. What was that for?”

“Will you shut up, they can hear ya.”

You both laughed as you continued to dance around the floor. Looking up you find him already staring at you a huge smile on his face. “What?”

“You just…you’re beautiful.” He says as he leans down to kiss you. Closing your eyes you think that this might actually work this time.

“Dieter! What the hell are you doing in this shithole?”

You feel him stiffen in your arms and you gaze over his shoulder to find the source of the loud voice. Anika!

Looking back up at him you see a sadness in his eyes and something else; guilt? He closes his eyes and his hands squeeze your sides before he looks at you again.

“I’m sorry.” He says before letting go of you and walking towards her, pulling her out of the pub by the arm. Left alone in the middle of the dance floor, eyes watching you now full of pity, you rush out unable to think straight. You lean against the wall for stability, heart beating erratically within your chest. Your breaths are harsh and wheezy as you try to calm yourself.

What the fuck just happened? Why is she here? I can’t believe he left me again for her.

Part 5

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[glassartpeasants]

The Test

Overhaul x F!Reader

Warnings: Angst, death, mega angst, pregnancy, premature birth, this hurt to write but thats okay

Gotta get the sad vibes out of thy body. Lets all be sad together

~~~

‘Okay, It’ll be okay. Just tell him! He’s your husband for christ sakes!’ You thought as you paced back and forth inside your room. You were afraid. You loved your husband you really did but sometimes he even made you afraid. 

Kai barely showed his emotions and when he did it was a miracle. Hell you barely just started getting intimate. You’ve only had intercourse 2 times you’ve guys been together. You’ve guys been together for 4 years. You understood his dislike of germs, and you never wanted to make him uncomfortable. So you just kept your wishes for intimacy to yourself. 

His kisses or hugs were almost just as rare as sex. You would tell him you loved him and he’d grunt back at you. You knew it was his language of saying i love you back but sometimes you just wished he’d say it back. You were only human after all. You wished for attention and some sort of love contact.

The last time you guys had sex he wore a condom. You didn’t mind really, it’s not like you were trying for a baby. But out of all the times that the condoms could have failed you,

This was the day of absolute fuckery.

You glared at the positive pregnancy test, hoping it would just disappear. But unfortunately problems like this don’t just disappear. So which leads to where you are now, a woman who is absolutely fucked if she can’t figure out a way to tell her husband she’s pregnant.

“Come on (y/n), you’ve got this. It can’t be that bad right?” You say trying to convince yourself. Kai was very difficult when he wanted to be. So what if he thinks you cheated on him?! You’d be killed on the spot! You wouldn’t be able to even explain, he probably won’t even let you. He had a habit of taking over you.

You sat on the bed as you rubbed your eyes. Trying to hide the tears that threatened to spill. You cried into your hands. This shouldn’t be so hard. He’s your husband. Then why were you so afraid? Was there a possibility that you could tell him without speaking? But how would you-

-the internet

You jumped from your spot on the bed and grabbed your personal computer and began looking at mom websites. Cool pregnancy ideas to tell your husband. You clicked on the link and saw the best ideas there. Get a mug and put the words you're pregnant at the inside of the bottom of the cup. Nah. Gift him baby clothes and let him put the puzzle pieces together. No thats stupid. Get a teddy bear and sew him holding a present, put the test in there and give it to him. Ah fuck it why not?

So from that search alone you RAN out the door and near the closest place where they had teddy bears and presents. You ran as fast as your legs could endure. Whipping your head from aisle to aisle. Looking for the fuzzy stuffy.

You go to the baby aisle and see the best teddy for the job. You quickly grab it as you go to the next aisle for the present. You had picked out a small box that would just fit the test. You smile as you jump up and down in joy. You didn’t know when you became so giddy. Not even an hour ago you were stressed to the point of wanting to hit your head against the door. You take a deep breath in before turning on your heels to pay.

~~~

1 Day Later

You looked at the teddy bear in your hands while sweating. What happened to confident (y/n) yesterday? Oh yeah she left when she had a fight with her husband, a bad one at that too. It was really bad. But you couldn’t stop now. You had to tell him. Better sooner than later. You take a deep breath as you hugged the teddy closer as you let out a sigh. Looking at Kai’s office door you let your hand let out a fragile knock. 

“Come in.” You slowly push the door open, looking in, you see Kai with two of his henchmen. Chronostasis and Nemoto. You didn’t talk to them much but you guys had pretty civil conversations.

“Kai I need to talk to you, without them here please?” You say as you try to stand your ground. You don’t really want your husband's friends to know what’s going on in your guys personal affairs.

“Fine. Chrono, Nemoto, leave.”

“Yes boss.” They leave the room just leaving you and your stonic husband.

“What do you even want?” He says in a voice that makes you question doing this but you go up to him and hand him the teddy bear. Your face beet red as you try to figure out his emotion. Especially when he opened the present.

“Is this a positive pregnancy test?” He says in an emotionless manner, but you couldn’t help but hear the bit of anger in his voice as well.

“Yes, I don’t know what you want to do or-”

“You cheated on me?” Wait what the fuck?

“What! How could you say that!” You say in offense. 

“I wear protection, woman! There's no way I could have gotten you pregnant!”

“Condoms aren’t even 100% effective! It could have busted or had a whole in it!” You yell back. You were offended. You were his wife, how dare he accuse you of such an act! Considering he was so interested in medical things you would think that he would know that condoms aren’t 1005 effective!

“You slut! I give you everything and you go out and cheat on me!”

“I didn’t fucking cheat asshole! God after years of being with you, your immediate reaction was I’m cheating?! Why am I with you if you don’t even trust me!”

“Leave this house! We’re over!” 

“Are you fucking serious?! You won’t even consider it!” You scream at him.

“Leave or else!” His ember eyes looking at you with the intent to kill. You knew that if you wanted to live you had to leave. Tears rush down your eyes as you turn around quickly before swinging open the door. You turn around to him one last time before screaming at the top of your lungs

“I can’t believe I married a cold hearted monster like you! I hope you die alone!” And with those words, you left. Never stepping foot inside that base as long as you lived.

~~~

5 Months Later

“This sucks actually ass.” You growl as you walk around your apartment. It wasn’t the best but it would do for the time being. You got it cause your friend was friends with the owner. All you had to do was take care of the garden they had outside. They wanted to make it eye catching so more people would move in. 

Understandable.

You held your stomach as the urge to pee came over you. Due to the fact a literal baby is growing inside you, it's pushing against your bladder. Kinda rude. You're carrying this baby and it's just gonna do you like this? That’s some bullshit man.

You groan as you continue to sweep your hardwood floor in your small living area. It was much better than living with Kai I guess. You never wanted to see his stupid gorgeous face again.

You look up at the area around you, admiring your work on cleaning the entire apartment. You smirk to yourself before feeling a kick in your stomach. You hold your stomach as you take a breather. Looking back up you notice a familiar golden shine coming from a little dish you kept by the door where you put coins in. 

Walking towards it you notice that its your old wedding ring from you old marriage. You guys never really got divorced so it was still official by law. Annoying yes but you didn’t want to even be in a room with that bastard.

Grabbing the ring you look at it and think how much it would be worth. A final fuck you to the mind that shattered you heart. 

Grabbing it and putting on a coat you start walking out the door and head out the door. Going to a pawn shop around the corner. You would be able to get a little extra cash for the baby.

~~~

“Yes sir I would like to sell this ring.” You place the ring on the counter and slide it over to the employee. His eyes widen as he motions you to come closer.

“This is a yakuza style ring. A Shie Hasssakai kind of ring. Where did you get this?” The man said. He sounded like he was worried. 

“Oh my shit husband gave me this when he proposed to me. Then kicked me out saying I cheated when I told him I was pregnant. Like sorry that a condom is not 100% effective.” You say soundly. The man looks at you with wide eyes. You didn’t really care at the moment because the feeling of lightheadedness was weighing you down. 

“Ma’am are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Before you could say anything you felt a wet feeling coming from in between your legs. Looking down you see that your water broke.

“MA’AM SHOULD WE CALL 119?!” You shook your head up and down before falling down on the ground, the world seems to be growing black around you.

~~~

Ring ring ring

“Hello?”

“Yes Overhaul sir? This is the guys from the pawn store downtown, we have a ring that seemingly belongs to your ex wife.”

“And you're calling me why?”

“Uh...because she was just carried away in an ambulance. She didn’t look very well, boss. My girlfriend had her kid recently and she wasn’t near as sickly looking as she was.” Overhaul couldn’t help but have his chest tighten up a bit. His heart was beating faster and he could feel it. 

“Do you want to know the hospital she’s at Overhaul?”

“Not right now.” Before Kai could even think about what he was doing he hung up the phone and moved his wrist back to the papers. You cheated on him, you’ll be fine. He rolled his eyes but that didn’t mean he didn’t feel the sinking feeling in his stomach. 

Like if he had just made a mistake he would live to regret.

~~~

Kai ran as fast as he could towards the hospital where you stayed. They had sent him a call asking him to come down so he could see his kid. When he said that it wasn’t his, they told him that the DNA matched up perfectly with his. 

Kai felt a painful sting in his chest as he got closer and closer to the hospital. He was thinking on all the ways to apologize to you. And if his pride would allow him to apologize. 

His head rang with the words of what the doctor told him,

***

“Is this Kai Chisaki?”

“Yes it is, why?”

“Well we have you as an emergency contact for miss (y/n) (l/n).”

“Take me off.”

“Excuse me sir?”

“I said take me off.”

“Well I can’t take you off when we called you to tell you that your wife is in critical condition.”

“What?!” Kai tried to not show much worry but he couldn’t help it. No matter how much he told himself that he didn’t love you, thoughts of your smile rushed back into his head. Your laugh. Your everything calmed him down. You were his angel. 

“Unfortunately her water broke early, leaving her to have an early birth and her body was not able to handle it. Your daughter, who we did a dna test on is in the ICU (intensive care unit). Her being born 2 months early is having complications breathing.” Kai couldn’t say a world before he rushed out of the door and into your hospital,

***

He burst through the hospital doors and walked up to the nurse as he panted from running. A look of desperation in his golden eyes.

“Where is my wife and daughter? Mrs. Chisaki?” He said in a moment of panic. He hated the look that the nurse gave him as she told him where to find your room. Before he could run into your room a doctor stopped him by grabbing his shoulder.

“I’m sorry to inform you sir but, the complications your daughter had to breath were to severe. We couldn’t save her. I’m deeply sorry.” Kai looked at the doctor. Not wanting to believe a word he had just said. He felt his hands tremble as he grabbed the doctors shoulders. Tears streaming down his face,

“What about (y/n)? Is she okay at least?!” Desperation in his voice. He can’t lose you. He already lost his daughter that he refused to believe was his, now to late to say hello or I love you. He had to see you. Just to hear you sweet voice at least one more time-

“I’m sorry Chisaki. She was pronounced dead 5 minutes before you came in.” No, no. He refused to believe it. He ran to your room, praying you were still here. You needed to be here. He needed to say he was sorry. That he loved you.

once he burst through your room door his worse fears were confirmed, and what the doctor was true. You no longer a heartbeat monitor. Your chest never moved to show some sort of breathing pattern. Kai ran to you holding your face in his hands. He put your forehead to his as his tears landed on your lashes.

“Please...wake up. I’m begging you. I already lost our daughter, I can’t afford to lose you to. Please my angel. Come back.....” Kai grabbed your limp body and pulled you close to his chest, shaking as he started sobbing uncontrollably. His whole world seemed to stop as he felt his only sort of light in his life be blown out. He cried into your neck as he collapsed onto his knees.

“Please, I don’t wanna be alone.”

[babycracker]

morgan/m!oc (tanner drake) ~1.7k words mature (swearing, blood, minor violence)

suggested by and written for @kelseaaa, i hope you like it!! <3 it's only been like really roughly proofed so if you see some mistakes, no you don't lol

--

Tanner's felt this before; the whole world freezing around him like this. Everything fading away and going silent and slowing down until it's like the world has ended and he's the only person left.

The last time was when his world had ended, when he'd seen his sister on the ambulance stretcher, bloodied and torn up. Dead.

He wasn't sure he was capable of feeling enough for it to happen again, not until right now. He watches the Trapper pull the modified prod out of Morgan's side only to plunge it back into her shoulder as her knees buckle and she goes down.

The gas mask the Trapper's wearing suddenly makes sense when he hears glass smashing and a cloud of red mist filters through the air all around Morgan.

"No-" his voice catches in his throat, the word barely choking its way out of his mouth and he takes a step towards her as the Trapper pulls the prod out again.

She's fine. She's fine. Vampire healing and all, she's fine.

Only she's not fine, her hands landing heavily on the ground in front of her as she coughs and blood spills from her lips.

"No, no!" He finally gets his voice working, breaking into a run towards her but faltering when the Trapper spots him and bolts.

He hesitates, watching the man run off, his shoulders twitching subconsciously as the struggle to keep his wings hidden almost becomes too much.

He could catch him easily. Could catch him and do to him exactly what he's just done to Morgan. But slowly.

But she's hurt badly, he realises when he glances back over at her just as she falls to her side on the ground.

"Fuck," he mutters, casting one last fleeting glance towards the retreating form of the Trapper before shrugging his jacket off. "Fuck."

He balls the clothing up and holds it over his face as he advances through the red mist to get to Morgan, panic forcing him down onto his knees beside her when he sees her eyes closed and blood flowing freely from the wounds in her shoulder and side.

"Hey," he reaches out and shakes her, his voice muffled by his jacket. "Hey!" A little louder, he nudges her a little harder, but still no response.

He looks around, wincing against the red cloud beginning to sting his eyes and seeing the rest of Unit Bravo starting to get the upper hand against the Trappers.

He takes a deep breath and holds it, dropping his jacket and hoisting Morgan up in his arms. He's never wanted to hear her snap at him for coddling her as much as he does right now, but there's nothing. Her head lolls back against his arm, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth and running in a line down her cheek.

He exhales heavily once he's gotten them both out of the DMB cloud but doesn't stop for a breather, instead carrying her straight over to Lucas' beat up car and gently laying her in the back seat.

"Tanner!" He hears Farah yelling to him and spins around, but her eyes widen when she catches a glimpse of Morgan before he closes the door, and she gives him a slight nod before turning back towards the fight.

--

This hurts like a bitch.

It's all Morgan can think about when her eyes snap open before closing again just as quickly in response to the harsh lighting of what looks like a hospital room.

Her shoulder and ribs feel like they're on fire, her lungs feel full and heavy, her head is throbbing. What the hell had happened to her?

She groans, everything hurting that little bit more when everything starts to come back to her; the fight with the Trappers, the volt rod she received, the DMB.

She lifts a hand to her head, rubbing lightly at her temple when she hears movement beside her, and then Farah's voice, uncharacteristically quiet. "Just a sec, I'll get them to dull the lights."

"Okay, you should be good now," the familiar and comforting voice speaks again, and Morgan opens her eyes to see Farah perched on the end of her bed, the room now considerably darker.

"Too soon to talk about how shockingyou look?" Farah asks quietly, a small grin crossing her face when Morgan manages a slight smirk at her efforts.

"One might say you've probably been in a cloud of worry over my well-being."

Farah's eyes widen and she shakes her head. "Nah, this isn't right, that cloud did something to your brain, since when do you make puns?"

Morgan raises a middle finger at her before easing herself up into a sitting position and then leaning back against the headboard, her brow furrowing as she fights back a groan at the pain shooting through her from the movement.

Then, she sees something that she wouldn't have guessed she'd see if she were given unlimited tries.

Tanner. His tall frame sprawled uncomfortably on the armchair beside the bed. He's missing his jacket, his shirt is untucked and has patches of dried blood on it, his tie loosened and hanging crookedly around his neck. He's fast asleep, mouth hanging slightly open and snoring softly, the sound so familiar to Morgan that she hadn't even noticed it until now.

"What's he doing here?"

She doesn't miss the small smile that Farah doesn't even bother trying to hide as she replies. "He brought you here. Been telling anyone who tells him to leave to F off."

"How long have I been here?"

"Nearly two days, you were messed up pretty bad."

"He's been here the whole time?"

"The whole time."

She looks back over at Tanner with a frown and Farah pats her knee gently before getting to her feet. "I'll go let everyone know you're awake."

Morgan barely hears her go, the questions flooding her mind too loud for her to be able to focus on anything else. Why is he here? Why did he stay here? Why is he covered in blood? Why is he so pale and tired looking even while he's sleeping?

Why does she care?

He shifts a little in his sleep and she hears one of his joints crack loudly with the movement; apparently he's been asleep in that awkward position for a while. The sudden shock of pain wakes him up and he groans as he unfolds himself and gets to his feet, lifting his arms above him as he stretches out.

His eyes find hers as he drops his arms back down to his sides again and she can literally see his shoulders sag in relief as he mutters a barely audible "thank Christ."

"Welcome back, sunshine. Thought I'd lost you for a minute there." He grins, but his tone is more serious than the expression seems to be trying to convince her of.

He sits on the edge of her bed, reaching briefly for her hand before deciding against it and dropping his down onto the mattress beside it instead.

"You brought me here?"

"Yeah," he chuckles, "in Lucas' piece of shit car. Would've been quicker to fly you here and just stop for a breather every few minutes."

"Why'd you stay?"

He shrugs, studying her face carefully for a moment before answering quietly. "I had to make sure you were going to be okay."

They both fall silent for a long while until Tanner finally kicks his shoes off and nudges at her gently. "Move."

"Excuse me?"

"Move over."

"Why?" she asks uselessly, already slowly manoeuvring herself closer to the side of the bed.

"Because I haven't been able to get you in bed for days and this is my chance," he answers seriously, making her roll her eyes.

The familiar calm that she always feels with him washes over her the second he lays down beside her. He pushes her lightly to turn away from him, scooting closer and pressing himself up against her back, carefully sliding his arm around her above the wound left in her side by the volt and holding her firmly.

He kisses her shoulder lightly, just beside the wound in that before relaxing against her, his face nuzzling into the back of her neck with a soft sigh.

She really wants to complain. Who does he think he is, hovering around her for days as though she were some kind of invalid? Telling her to make room in her own hospital bed? Spooning her, for fuck’s sake.

But he makes the beeping of the hospital equipment in her room a little more bearable. Makes the scratchy sheets of the bed, the sterile hospital stench, even the pain of her slowly healing injuries, makes all of it easier to handle, and before she even realises how at ease he's put her, she's fallen back to sleep.

--

"Is Tanner still in there?" Adam asks Farah over his shoulder, and she nods.

“He was sleeping.”

“And you didn’t think to wake him?”

“You want him awake; you wake him up,” Farah replies with a small chuckle, the grin remaining on her face when Adam doesn’t reply.

She just about smacks into his back when he pushes the door to Morgan’s room open and stops in his tracks, staring into the room. She stands on her tiptoes to peer over his shoulder, letting out a tiny, excited squeak instead of the squeal she feels in her heart at what she sees.

Tanner and Morgan, spooning, asleep together in her bed. Adam lets out an almost disgusted sounding and impatient sigh before turning and brushing past Farah back out of the room.

“We will let her rest for now,” he mutters over his shoulder as he disappears down the hall.

Farah grins at Nate, grabbing his arm and bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Look how cute they are!”

“He and I don’t get along,” Nate pauses, peeking into the room and letting his lips curve into a soft smile. “but even I have to admit, that is impressive.”

“And sweet!” Farah insists, drawing a chuckle from him before he gently pulls her out of the room and lets the door close quietly behind them.

“Yes. Very sweet.”

--

tags (let me know if you want to be added or removed): @admdmrtn @masonsfangs @homeformyheart @mmerengue @agentsunshine @bravomckenzie @freckles-spangledvampire @mistyeyedbi @kelseaaa @fhauvilles @amlovelies @forestcreatures @maraudern05 @kat-tia801 @alyssalauren @winterkeys @agentnolastname @utterlyinevitable @masonscig @graysinblack

[witcherslittledove]

All Tied Up

Joey Batey/Henry Cavill RPF - Also on AO3

Rating: E

Summary: All of the things Joey had expected from his first day back on set, he hadn't expected to spend the morning in a harness and chained up. And he really hadn't expected Henry to be staring at him like that. It was going to be a hard day.

CW: Light spoilers for Blood of Elves, bondage, references to torture (for Jaskier not Joey), exhibitionism, masturbation, hand jobs, frottage, multiple orgasms

Thanks to @jaskiertheflowertwink for being my beta!

__________

Joey tugged at the cuffs of Jaskier’s doublet, it felt strange to be back on set after so many months away, trapped in his flat with Madeleine. Luckily, Jaskier was an easy character to settle into, almost like a second skin. The bard was eager to come out and play, taking the edge off of Joey’s anxiety. With Jaskier, he almost forgot how much he fucking hated other people. Still, not even Jaskier could save him from first day nerves, and Lauren hadn’t started his shoot off easy. Joey was diving straight into a torture scene, and he would be spending the majority of the day hung up from the ceiling in ropes and shackles, waiting for darling Anya to come and save him. It wouldn’t be real of course, there would be harnesses and all sorts of wires to make sure he wasn’t injured, but it wouldn’t be comfortable. The harness was already bulking out his costume, and chafing the insides of his thighs.

 And after the mess of the pandemic, Joey wasn’t sure how he felt about losing control and being trapped for the afternoon. It unnerved him. He wanted to be free, and thought of the shackles around his wrists just… nope.

 “Hey?” Henry came up from behind him, a hand squeezing his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

 “What? Oh, yeah. Yeah. I’m fine,” Joey mumbled, staring up at the set. “First day back and all. It’s like being back at school.”

 “You’ll be fine, Joey. You’re an incredible actor and I couldn’t ask for a better bard,” Henry reassured him, his voice low and gravelly in Joey’s ear. It was unreasonably hot. Honestly, Joey knew that Henry was fucking Superman but did he really have to be so godlike, and on top of that he was a complete dork.

 Perhaps Joey could invite him to a D&D game once they were done shooting season two. Would that be too weird? It was probably too weird. They were just colleagues. Christ, Joey hadn’t even seen Henry since they’d finished promoting the show the year before. He really needed to get a grip, and ignore Jaskier’s voice in the back of his head. They were not best friends, and Henry would not want to play a shitty Dungeons and Dragons game with him.

 Okay. Not shitty. His games were pretty fucking brilliant, but Henry would be too busy with his PC games, and his War Hammer and whatever cooler nerd stuff that he got up to in between his work outs and eating far too many chicken breasts and smoothies.

 Jesus Christ, he missed Madeleine.

 He didn’t say any of that aloud, no, that was for the safety of his own thoughts, racing at a million miles per hour. Instead, he channeled Jaskier and laughed, hiding his anxiety behind the more confident mask that had fooled millions of people into loving him. “Now, now, witcher,” he teased. “We both know you don’t mean that, what was it you said? If life could give me one blessing.”

 “Oh fuck that, we’ve both read the books,” Henry groused, rolling his eyes.

 His very, very blue eyes. He was in full make-up except for the yellow contacts and it was just weird to see Henry’s eyes looking back at him from Geralt’s face. It was confusing. Were they Henry and Joey right now? Or Geralt and Jaskier?

 Perhaps a weird blend of the two.

 And it was only the first fucking day.

 Joey chuckled, “Yeah, talking of which, why are you here, Henry? I don’t recall Geralt being Jaskier’s Prince Charming in this scene.”

 Henry shrugged. “It’s your first day, I wanted to see how you are.”

 Joey swallowed, his mouth suddenly feeling dry, and he flicked his fringe from his eyes, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He wanted to run his hands through his hair but the poor hair and make-up team would have his balls in a vice if he tried. It was bad enough that he kept pulling at his costume, but luckily he seemed to have made fidgeting into a characteristic for Jaskier. He grinned, settling back into the character more than ever. “So, you came to see me all tied up?”

 Henry, the bastard, winked. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

 Joey squeaked, feeling his cheeks heat up beneath the make-up. He tried to laugh it off but holy fucking cock balls… was Henry actually flirting with him? And about bondage of all things. Fuck. He was not going to survive the day, not if Henry was watching him.

 No. It was going to be fine. He was an actor, a professional. He wasn’t going to get hard on set just because his unfairly attractive co-star was watching him. The harness was uncomfortable. He’d probably be in pain and there would be an entire crew watching him. There was absolutely no reason to get hard.

 So… naturally… he got hard.

 Getting into the rigging was awkward and possibly the least sexy thing he had ever done in his entire life, which was really saying something. The shackles around his wrist didn’t hurt at first but his arms became tired quickly. He opted to stay in the rigging as much as he could between takes though. It was better for continuity and, well, if he was being truly honest with himself, he was enjoying the way Henry looked at him. It was intense, not dissimilar to how Geralt looked at Yennefer whenever she entered the room, but this time that burning desire wasn’t directed at Anya, it was directed at him… and Henry wasn’t acting.

 It was all incredibly distracting, but having Henry there made him completely forget about his previous anxiety of being tied up for the morning. Something about the other actor’s presence was grounding and Joey trusted Henry not to let him get hurt, more than he trusted the crew, which was completely stupid and probably the result from some teenage crush. He was lucky that he only flubbed his lines a couple of times, and by the time Yennefer flew into the room, he was aching and desperate to return to his trailer.

 He’d never been so grateful for Jaskier’s baggy clothes.

 “Ah, umm, Lauren?” he stammered, rubbing his wrists. They were sore, and he really needed to stretch out his arms, maybe have a nap too. Fuck, he was really out of shape. Lockdown had really been a curse. “Can we take a breather?” he asked, scratching the back of his neck and giving the showrunner a sheepish smile. “I umm.. I need a break.”

 “Oh yeah, sure. You’ve done brilliant work today, Joey. Let’s take a half hour everyone!”

 Joey all but ran back to his trailer, shuffling awkwardly as he tried to hide his erection as best he could. Occasionally he stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders back so that if anyone saw him then they would think he just needed to recover from the physical exertion of being strung up like a puppet for most of the morning. He was sure that he looked like a state, his doublet was torn and bloody and his shirt barely covering his torso. The makeup team had had far too much fun spraying him with fake blood and dirt. He hadn’t been allowed to shave for a couple of days and heavy film makeup was caked on his face, making him seem bloodied and bruised. His lips itched from where they had been made to look split…

 And everyone was staring at him.

 Fuck.

 He supposed he was usually the one that wasn’t covered in shit. The worst he’d had was the djinn wound from season one, but normally he was all bright doublets and smiles. Sometimes a little bit mucky, but nothing like this.

 And Jesus Christ, he really needed a wank.

 Why on god’s earth had Henry been staring at him like that? Did the bastard know how it affected him? He probably knew. Fuck, cocking shit balls! He was in trouble. Joey was still trying to break into the industry, if fucking Superman lodged a sexual harassment complaint against him then he was done for. He’d never work again…

 But then again, Henry hadn’t been looking at him like he was angry. No, he’d been looking at him like he wanted to eat Joey alive, get down on his knees and get his mouth around Joey’s cock whilst he’d still been suspended in the rigging, the shackles caught around his wrists, unable to move…

 “Fucking cock!” Joey slammed through the door to his trailer, fiddling with the fastenings of Jaskier’s trousers as soon as he was inside. His cock was already leaking in his boxers, throbbing and desperate for relief. He bit back a moan as he thumbed the slit, collecting the precum on his fingers and sliding it down the length of his cock. Waves of pleasure washed over him, and he closed his eyes, picturing Henry’s blue eyes, dark and wanting, his pretty pink lips stretched around Joey’s cock.

 He barely managed to stumble to the bed, his legs shaking, head already spinning. It wasn’t going to take him long, he’d been far too keyed up all morning, and with Henry at the forefront of his mind, he was tumbling towards his orgasm faster than he would have liked. Joey moaned, biting his lip as he stroked his cock, the memories of the day fuelling his fantasies. It felt so fucking good and soon he felt a familiar tug at his core.

 “Joey, are you alright?”

 “Shit!” Joey gasped as he came all over his hand, but the pleasure seeped from his body, leaving him feeling hollow and dissatisfied, “For fuck’s sake, Henry! Fucking knock!”

 Henry was staring back at him, blue eyes, silver hair, sleeves rolled up to his elbows and looking like a fucking god. The bastard smirked and crossed his arms in front of his chest, raising an eyebrow. Joey had a sinking feeling in his chest.

 “You- you did knock?”

 Henry chuckled, his low gravelly laugh that sent shivers down Joey’s spine. There was a reason he spent much of their time on set trying to make Henry laugh. It was a gorgeous and beautiful sound, and Joey was completely addicted. He would quite happily spend the rest of his life trying to make Henry laugh… although that made him sound a lot more infatuated than he actually was, right?

 They were just friends.

 And Henry was a very attractive friend, friend? Co-star? Fuck!

 “I am      so    sorry, Henry,” Joey whined, pulling a pillow in front of his face to try and hide his embarrassment but Henry wasn’t having any of it. He sat down next to Joey on the bed, gently pulling the pillow from his hands.

 “Don’t apologise,” he said hoarsely, “I shouldn’t have walked in. I heard you moaning. It wasn’t exactly a hard jump to make… pun intended.”

 Despite himself, Joey snorted and whacked Henry on the arm with his clean hand. “You arse!”

 “What?”

 “I’m actually dying of embarrassment and you’re making dick jokes!”

 Henry smirked. “Sorry, I thought you’d be up to it.”

 “Fuck off!”

 “Oh come now, Joey.. it’s just a joke.”

 Joey whined. “I hate you.”

 And then Henry was suddenly in his space, so close that he could feel the warm tingle of the other actor’s breath on his cheeks. Lips brushed against his ear, and despite already cumming, he felt heat prickle over his skin and he mouth was dry. “I don’t think you do,” Henry whispered, his voice dropping to a low base, not dissimilar to the accent he used for Geralt.

 Joey took a shaky breath, very aware that his cock was still on display, covered in his spend, already twitching, trying to get hard again. “What- What are you doing, Henry?”

 “Tell me to stop, Joey, I’ll leave and we never have to talk about it,” Henry breathed, pressing a kiss to Joey’s neck, nosing along his jaw.

 “I-I… no. Don’t stop…”

 “Seeing you today, chained up, Christ, Joey. It was so fucking hot, and then you were hard. I bet you could hardly resist cumming in your pants like a fucking teenager, and with everyone watching you,” Henry growled in his ear, the actors fingers now stroking along Joey’s thighs, higher, creeping closer to his slowly hardening cock. Joey whined, pressing his head into Henry’s shoulder, “but I think you like that, don’t you Joey?”

 His cheeks flushed red, burning hot right up to his ears. “Fuck off.”

 “Or was it just me watching you?”

 “Hnnng.”

 “Can I touch you?” Henry asked, his voice sounding almost as wrecked as Joey felt, “We don’t have long but, god, I’ve been wanting to touch you since you walked into the reading room that first day all those years ago.”

 “Wh-what?”

 “You seemed so shy, then you started reading and you just melted into Jaskier’s character. It was fucking amazing. You’re amazing.”

 Joey whimpered. “Henry, please.”

 And then Henry’s hand finally wrapped around his cock. The effect was instantaneous. Joey keened, bucking into Henry’s hand as his second orgasm began to build, his poor cock already sensitive but he was craving more, he wanted to feel that overwhelming pleasure that had been so cruelly stolen from him. Henry covered Joey’s hand with his own, gathering a mess of sticky white fluid and then continued to stroke down the length of Joey’s cock.

 “Can I kiss you?”

 “Hmm.. uh huh.. Yup,” Joey stammered, lost to his pleasure, his head feeling hazy, almost floaty, but he didn’t need anymore words as Henry’s lips crashed against his. Moans and grunts and gasps were muffled by the kiss, and Henry shifted on the bed so he was sitting over Joey, one of Joey’s legs pressed against his clothed cock.

 If Joey had any more sense left in him, he might have offered to get Henry off at the same time, but he was too far gone, babbling nonsense in between kisses, curses, moans, wordless cries. Henry seemed more than happy to thrust against his leg, grunting as he moved to suck kisses onto Joey’s neck.

 “Henry, god! Oh fuck!” Joey keened, his back arching off the bed. “I-I… fuck!”

 His eyes squeezed shut as he came, sparks flying across his vision and his head rolled back onto the pillow. His energy seemed to drain as the waves of pleasure took over his body, Henry’s hand stroking him through his orgasm, still rutting against his leg until he came with a strangled moan. Henry collapsed on top of Joey, breathing heavily, silver strands of hair getting in Joey’s mouth and eyes.

 “Urgh, get off me,” he groaned. “Heavy and you have so much fucking hair!”

 “Blame Sapkowski,” Henry grumbled but rolled over, lying next to him on the bed.

 They both stared up at the ceiling, panting as they tried to catch their breaths. It should have felt weird, fucking his apparently not straight co-star in the middle of takes… but, well, it sort of just felt right?

 Joey laughed, turning to face Henry. “Make-up are gonna kill us.”

 “Costume too,” the other actor groaned.

 “And Lauren if we don’t get back…”

 “Yeah.”

 Their eyes met and it was no use. They both reached for each other, their lips meeting once more in a feverish kiss. It wouldn’t hurt if they were a little late… right?

[vernyhore]

Concrete jungle

Spending all those eddies on leg implants that allowed him to jump higher, run faster, and scale buildings he would never dream of scaling before was one of the best investments V has ever made.

However, as it often is with investments, there was a catch. In this case, gravity.

ao3

So fucking stupid. That was the only thought rattling around V’s head as he made his way down to Vik’s clinic. Two whiffs of MaxDoc he took an hour ago already starting to wear off, he could feel every single step, his aching body snarkily reminding that he was not, in fact, made of steel. Not entirely, at least.

Was he really to blame here, though? He didn’t have much time to think it through, with bullets flying all around him, ricocheting off the metal, rusty plates that so many roofs of Arroyo were covered with. What he thought would be just a simple job, a mere sneak-grab-and-run turned out much more deadly, as the thugs inhabiting the building didn’t take too kindly to strangers sniffing around. A tactical retreat, with datashard in hand, was an optimal choice. V had only realized that his calculations were way off the second his feet left the edge of the building in a powerful, long-winded jump that still had very little chance of reaching the ramp that seemed further and further away with every millisecond he spent analyzing his recent life choices before he felt his body hit the concrete pavement below.

He’d been eyeing those leg implants for a while now and stashing eddies for even longer than that, figuring he might want to treat himself to something fancy. It was an investment, but with the amount of climbing he’s been doing lately, it’d make it all much faster and take the weight off his shoulders as he found pulling himself up onto yet another ledge.

The only problem was that this particular implant required what V didn’t have much time or patience for - practice. Vik insisted for V to take some time to get used to his newfound agility, but being the hot headed idiot he was, V figured he’ll learn on the job. On the fly, he said.

So much for flying, but the eddies he got from Padre should cover Viktor’s fee this time around. No more guilt eating away at his guts as the ripperdoc allowed V to run up his tab again, softly chuckling as V pulled off his best impression of a begging puppy. It worked every single time, to the point where V started to feel guilty about the times he had been a few hundred eddies short and made a point to make it up to Viktor the next time V inevitably ended up on the ripper’s chair.

Even if he got shot somewhere in Pacifica, he’d just pop a MaxDoc or two and haul himself back to Viktor’s clinic, much to the other man’s dismay. Having to listen to the doc lecture him about how he should seek the closest ripper in times like this while Viktor patched him up didn’t do anything to discourage V, quite the opposite. He found himself stopping by the clinic even if he didn’t need medical attention, to chat with Viktor or take a breather at the couch at the back. Going through Esoterica’s, he’d exchange a few words with Misty, trying not to think too much about that look she gave V every time he would tell her he’s just dropping by to see Vik. If he was lucky enough to catch Viktor closing up the clinic, they’d pop open a beer and make themselves comfortable on the couch, ranting freely about their day. V liked seeing Viktor like this, relaxed and happy, smiling at the jokes the younger men would bend himself sideways to crack. At times V felt like maybe he was trying too hard, but getting to see the tension leave Viktor’s face was worth it. With every beer they’d get more affectionate, too, more often than not ending up sprawled on the couch in an illegible combination of limbs, each giving into their exhaustion after a long day.

As he opened the gate to the clinic, Viktor already turned his head from the tinkering and smiled, the expression quickly fading as he saw the ruffled state V was in. He got up from his chair and walked up to the merc, looking him over.

"Christ, V.”

“I miscalculated, ‘s all,” V said, the most innocent expression on his face. Viktor grunted in response.

“One of these days I’ll have to scrape you off the pavement.”

“Come on doc, it ain’t that bad.”

“We’ll see about that. Let me help you with that jacket.” and so Viktor did, careful not to move V’s injured arm too much. The younger man still couldn't hold back a wince as he sat down on the chair, trying not to lean too much onto his left side, bruises already starting to form on top of road rash.

When V felt Viktor’s calloused fingers go over his shoulder, his breath hitched. Not because of the pain, which has faded into a dull ache, but the way the ripper’s fingers run through his skin, examining him with gentleness unfitting for a man of his strength. V gritted his teeth, feeling so incredibly stupid. He’s been a regular at Vik’s for months now, the old ripper knew him inside and out. For fuck’s sake, he had seen V naked multiple times, and even now the merc couldn’t stop himself from blushing like a teenager every time Viktor so much as touched him, mostly because before V could do anything about it, his mind jumped to other things Viktor could be doing with those arms. The ripper was telling him something about a dislocated joint, but stopped, seeing the other man’s vacant stare.

“V? You still with me?” Viktor asked, poorly concealed worry evident in his tone.

“Uh, yeah.” the merc answered, a few seconds too late for it to come off as natural.

“Sure you didn’t hit your head as well?”

“Mm, sure hope so.”

“No harm in running a quick scan then, right?”

“Sure, doc. I’m all yours.” Viktor shot him an amused glance but didn’t say anything,

focusing instead on placing his hand securely against V’s chest as he wrapped his fingers around the younger man’s arm.

“Alright, Imma pull on three. Might hurt a little.”

V just hummed in response, mentally bracing himself for what was to come. It’s not like he was particularly squishy, getting injured was a part of the job, after all, but it didn’t exactly get any easier.

Neither did Viktor wait for a “three” nor did it hurt just a little - as he pulled on V’s arm in a single, practiced motion, a white hot jolt of pain shut up V’s arm and spread further, echoing off his back. V heard a yelp escape his lips, not even registering a loud pop as his joint jumped back into place.

“Sorry for that, didn’t want you to tense up.”  

V swallowed. Hard. As Viktor started looking over his other injuries, V finally let out the breath he’d been holding. Will he have to find a different ripperdoc if Viktor’s mere presence made him forget how to speak? Maybe he could find some sorry fucker in North Oak who could put up with his bullshit?

Probably not. Plus, who else would deliver Misty so many reasons for those all knowing smiles of hers?

[pudding-head-kenma]

hi babie!!!! i lob you>:(💓 also for the made up fic title, let’s go with🤔.... “make me”👀

Hi babie!! I hope you had the most amazing day ever!! I lob you too 🥺 Thank you for sending me an idea and I hope this is okei! 

Pairing: Yuji Terushima x Reader

Synopsis: You bit down on your tongue as soon as the words left your lips, annoyed at yourself for blurting it out so bluntly. You had spoken purely out of anger, your blood boiling as that asshole had approached you for the tenth time that month. When you had rejected him, you expected never to see him again, but you had obviously underestimated how annoying a rejected man can be. Nagging at you for every little thing, now even your goddamn parking spot. So really, when you had spoken, you hadn’t exactly considered the weight of your words. The worst part was that that motherfucker didn’t even bother to hide his smirk before he crashed his lips to yours.

Little Prompt:

              A sigh of relief left your lips as you parked your car, taking a breather at the luck you had had. By luck, or chance, or a miracle, whatever you want to call it, you had managed to find the last parking spot near your apartment. It was near impossible at this hour, but your job stopped you from coming home at regular hours nowadays, more and more work piling up on top of your desk that you had to get done right away, or else.

              As soon as you stepped out of the car, however, your luck seemed to decide it didn’t want to stay with you.

              A honk, followed by a swear from you under your breath.

              Seriously, it had gotten to the point you recognise a fucking honk, for Christ’s sake. The honk from the stupid motorbike of the even stupider guy, and by now you’re running out of adjectives to complain about him.

              “I believe you’re in my spot, babe.”

              Fuck you and your spot. You bit down on your tongue to stop yourself from speaking, deciding you weren’t in the mood to argue with him again.

              Yuji Terushima. What a goddamn prick.

              This guy had recently moved to the apartment in front of yours, and it seemed that his brain worked differently from everyone else’s. Normally, a ‘no’ would be enough for a guy to understand you’re not interested. Worst case scenario, they would have understood at ‘leave me the fuck alone’, but he didn’t even seem to understand when you threatened to file a restraining order. Granted, you were massively exaggerating when you suggested that alternative, but he didn’t even flinch.

              “Hey, I’m talking to you.”

              “I know, my headache’s coming already.” You spoke without even really thinking about it, starting to gather your things and walking towards your apartment, ready to ignore whatever pitiful argument he would toss your way. However, he didn’t seem too keen on letting you go, if the way he stepped in front of you to block your path was anything to go by.

              “Move out of the fucking way.”

              “I don’t think you heard me, I said you’re in my spot.”

              “I don’t think you heard me, move out of the fucking way.”

              He laughed. The motherfucker had the audacity to laugh. Seriously, was this guy dropped on his head as a kid or something?

              “My my, aren’t you aggressive today? There’s no need to be so hostile~”

              He’s not even bringing up the spot anymore. He drives a motorcycle, he can literally park anywhere else and it wouldn’t be a problem. Hell, let him park in the middle of the sidewalk, what do you care? You try to push past him again, but he’s unwilling to let you go.

              Maybe it’s the lack of sleep or the numerous projects you’ve been working on, but that seems to be just enough to make you snap.

              “Oh my God, are you sick in the head or something? I’ve told you no multiple times, I don’t want to go out with you, and the more you push it the less likely it is to happen. You’re just an annoying little boy with too much confidence, who in their right mind would want to go out with you? Stop bothering me and go see if you’re lucky elsewhere, you’re honestly-“

              He interrupts you, seemingly unfazed, and that only works to piss you off even more.

              “I would watch that mouth of yours and shut up now, babe.”

              “Yeah, or what? You can’t handle the truth? You wanted me to talk before, didn’t you? What changed, huh?”

              “Or I’ll make you.”

              “Make me, then.”

              Shit.

[corpse--diem]

Bad Beat | Felix & Erin

Summary: “In poker, bad beat is a subjective term for a hand in which a player with what appear to be strong cards nevertheless loses.” Date: Present Featuring: @streetharmacist

Felix Doyle liked to stay in touch with people. He was a talker. Liked to know how people were doing, what they were up to, when they were going to pay him back. Whether it would be sooner rather than later. If they even could or not, which was always a particularly fun discussion. Lately, however, someone he had been in constant conversation with had upped and apparently died on him. Doing a thing like that often left a debt unsettled and when it came to Jack Nichols, it left a particularly large debt behind.

A large enough debt that it warranted a house call.

He didn’t make a habit of visiting funeral homes. Not unless he wanted to be warmed by that confirmation that, most certainly, an old enemy was dead. He approached the Nichols’ funeral home with a very different mindset. Just wanted to talk, that was all. He adjusted his violet tie before he slipped through the dark and found a window obscured entirely in the dark. It occurred to him that he hadn’t exactly checked the business hours. Then again, death hardly ever did that either, which he thought over as he slipped open a window at the back of the house with a straight-edged knife.

He stayed in the dark as he shut it behind him, more shadow than anything human shaped as he looked over the main room. Didn’t seem there was anyone near. Time as it existed stopped for the fae as soon as the sun stopped showing its face. He took a moment to knock on the inside of the door before he took a seat in the reception area. In the dark, he adjusted his glasses and waited.

For the first time in nearly a month, things were running normally. Smoothly, she’d even dare to say. Almost as if things hadn’t come to a grinding halt for far longer than she’d have liked, and for reasons she liked even less. But that was over. Thank fuck, that was over, and Erin could finally pour those frustrations out in the constant stream of death that ran through this town more consistently than the rivers that found Dark Score Lake.

A full day’s work was coming to an end. The rest of the staff had gone home for the night, and she was getting ready to close the books when she heard the knocking from her office. Loud knocking. Echoing like it was coming from inside–which was impossible, right? She’d locked the doors hours ago. Fucking awesome. Erin truly loved when people just showed up mysteriously in her home. Pulling out the knife Nic had left behind from her drawer, suddenly very grateful for his forgetfulness, she stashed it in the side pocket of her blazer, easing her way out into the reception area. 

“Hello?” She called out, stopping to a halt when her eyes landed on the man in sunglasses. Fuck. Was this a bossman thing? “Can I help you?” She inquired carefully, trying to stay friendly should this be an actual customer in need of her services.

Funny how the funeral home didn’t feel as sterile and emotionless as a hospital did. Guess something had to be warm after a body emptied itself. Other than the crematorium, of course. Felix tapped his fingers against his dark grey dress pants as he waited. It was a bit of an unorthodox house call to make, but considering the circumstances, it was the only type of call he wanted to make. Phone calls didn’t suffice for the important questions. Like where his money was.

He picked his head up as she entered the room and straightened himself up slightly. A businessman’s smile curved his mouth as he stood up. All business with no soft edges to be readily found.

“Hi,” he said, a smile around the words. He made no move to go towards her, instead pocketing his hands and putting his weight onto one foot as he crossed it behind him. “I’d say so, yeah. Erin Nichols, right? There’s this little problem I got, you could say. You see, there’s just a little something I’d like to get settled. Worked out, even! Its sorta outstayed its welcome and I wanted to check in. Keep a finger on the pulse and all.”

His head tilted slightly.

“It’s a matter of wanting to lay something to rest? You know how it is.”

Something was off about this guy. His smile was sharp and his answers circled slowly around her questions. It was already getting on her nerves. Whatever this guy wanted, everything in Erin’s bones told her this wasn’t an above board visit. Did her best to keep her smile friendly despite the confusion that touched her narrowed brows. “I do,” she nodded, making sure to remain a good few feet from him. “Better than most." Her eyes flickered past him to the door. The lock was still firmly in place and no visible signs of tampering from the advanced alarm system she’d spilled a considerable amount of money into installing. Seemed to mean fuck all these days, apparently. That knife was burned a warmer hole in her side pocket. 

"Well, I can’t tell you how sorry I am if you’re here about a recent loss,” she started, braving a few steps forward. “But it’s a little late and we’re closed to the public for the night.” Not entirely true but she gestured towards the door anyway. “How about you stop by tomorrow morning and we can talk then, Mr.–Sorry, I don’t think I caught your name?”

“I had a feeling you might,” Felix said. “See, I had a really good feeling that you would. That’s why I wanted to come here. It’s looking like I made the right call.” She seemed a little nervous, maybe even a little on edge. He supposed that was fair. A stranger for all intents and purposes had broken into her business. It was fair to be alarmed. As fair as it was to check on investments long overdue, or so he thought. There were some things where fairness didn’t play too large a role.

“It’s not so much a recent loss,” he said as he adjusted his cufflinks. “More the kind that’s been accumulating and it takes a real toll when it gets to a certain point. The point that has brought me here to you.” When he smiled, it was a small and quick flash. “Mr. Doyle will work just fine for this, Ms. Nichols, and unfortunately, mornings don’t work for me and I don’t think this can wait. It’s a matter of debt that I’d like to discuss.”

Erin did her best to follow this man--Mr. Doyle--as he spoke. The longer she listened, the more she appreciated the way he weaved his words like he was telling a story. Careful consideration given to every syllable and each word placed with intent. He clearly thought highly of himself for this show he was putting on.

It's a matter of debt.

Those words set off ever alarm bell in her mind into a shrieking mess of panic. Her back stiffened and her body stilled, hoping he couldn’t see the noise building behind her eyes. Panic quickly gave way to anger. God, did these assholes ever let up? She was a funeral director for Christ’s sake. It was very simple and here he was, no doubt asking for me. How and why this continued to get more complicated was completely beyond her but she could feel that pit in her stomach burning hot and bright. Her eyes didn’t match the smile she forced back onto her face, arms crossing across her stomach. Fingers hovering inches from the knife there. 

“And what debt is that, Mr. Doyle?” She spat out, tilting her head slightly to the side, trying not to let the irritation in her tone completely swallow her own words. “If you’re here on behalf of your associate, you do know Dale’s already popped his cheery little head in here, right?

The fae laced his hands together. Something Felix had said elicited a quick reaction. It seemed that he might have hit a nerve. The right one too, at that. Good. That meant that he and Erin were likely on the same page. Any smile he had faded back into the dark from whence he had come. His face was still water.

“A rather large one, Ms. Nichols,” he intoned with a lifted brow. His thumb moved idly along the skin of the back of his hand. His posture shifted languidly, both feet flat on the ground. “Guns and drugs are pricey, sure, but other things cost a little more. Like blood. And bones. In the end, it all costs. It adds up. It spills over. Things get owed.”

He adjusted his glasses.

“It’s the one you just so happened to have inherited,” he continued. “I offered your dad a hand when he got himself in too deep and oddly enough, even with that particular clock stopped, the numbers are still ticking up. May he rest in peace.”

He shifted. Cocked his head.

“Dale? Can’t say I’m all too familiar with a Dale.”

Oh, this guy had a lot of nerve. It occurred to Erin suddenly--was this him? The him? The man who hid in the shadows and whose name she hadn’t earned the privilege of obtaining. Always demanding more. One thing after the other, a slow escalation. First it was organs, then supernatural parts, andj ust last week Dale had shown up with a body. Pointed to the cremation room and a Don’t make me spell this out for you, dear. And Erin just had to hop to it. No questions asked. And while she’d seen glimpses of what the man was capable of, fear wasn’t the emotion scratching at her insides. It was anger. Expanding, needling and poking uncomfortably and uncontrollably under her skin.

“I’m aware of how businesses operate, Mr. Doyle. Even unconventional ones like yours,” she seethed. The debt. The fucking debt that was going to haunt her until the day she was in one of these fucking caskets. Her eyes watched his body language, waiting for some tell that’d let her know it was time to run.  “Dale,” she repeated, barely hiding her annoyance now. “The mouth breather you send traipsing through my house and business every week for collection.”

She watched him, waiting for that recognition to flicker across his features. It never came. Dread and uncertainty fighting for attention above her anger. “...Who are you?”

“So I’ve been assured. The place is lovely and it would be a shame for it to go under.”

His own voice lacked any of the prior pep he had at the beginning. It wasn’t the first business conversation he had and he was confident that it wouldn’t be the last. That confidence coalesced with mild annoyance. Something didn’t add up. Felix didn’t like that. Not. One. Bit. His hands unwound and slipped into his pockets, his head cocked. Mouth breather. Did he look like he was interested in putting mouth breathers on his payroll? Not dang likely. He bristled at the accusation. There were plenty of things he could be rightly and unquestionably accused of but this--

Wait.

“Collection? I have barely collected a dollar, let alone a cent, in weeks. That’s why I’m here. Because the money hasn’t been showing but it sure as hell has been spiriting itself away, Ms. Nichols. Isn’t that odd for a dead man?” He said, head tilted downward as his brows raised. Then he shook his head, his smile one with teeth before he spoke. His words didn’t match the smile as he seethed. “Who the fuck is Dale?”

It was better before you got your grubby hands on it, Erin thought, her sense of self-preservation reeling her in. If this was her boss, something she was quickly beginning to doubt, mouthing off to a man who likely magicked his way in could be the last thing she did. “It is. We’re a damn pillar of the community,” she answered dryly and left it at that.

There was a noticeable shift in Mr. Doyle’s mannerisms. Now he seemed agitated and his confusion was on par with her own. “Dale, uh--” she faltered for a moment, shaking her head. She didn’t even know his last name. “Bald guy, Hawaiian shirts. Wears those chunky gold necklaces you just wanna--” she gestured towards her neck and pulled on an invisible chain. She’d fantasized about that one more than once. Exasperation had her stepping closer, shaking her head. “No--I’ve been paying you, or whoever, on time, in full, every week,” she insisted, her eyes frantically watching. Still waiting for something to dawn on him. 

That’s when she paused, planting her feet again, realizing she’d stepped closer to this stranger than she suddenly felt comfortable with. “You didn’t answer my question,” she stood firm on this, shaking her head. She’d had enough. “My dad was an idiot, so if I do owe you money? Fine. Add it to the pile. Why not, right? But you’re not going to just waltz into my business--my home--and start demanding things without a better explanation here.”

“With the pillar that it is, it makes you wonder what might happen without it. I’ve certainly wondered.”

The fae nodded some, a look of the very slightest appreciation on his face. He would be even more appreciative of such banter if he had his fates damned money. But he didn’t and his appreciation ran shallow like a nick from a razor. His patience ran just as thin too but he waited. Felix listened. As she explained what poor fashion choices this Dale figure made, he looked away in thought. A hand slipped out his pocket as he rubbed at his jaw. His teeth clicked together. Something was more than wrong.

It was fucked.

“Ah, but you haven’t,” he said. “I’ve been getting breadcrumbs in comparison to what I should be getting. I don’t know who the hell Dale is but I know a Big Carl and that sounds a lot like Big Carl. He’s the reason I’m here. He’s the one that’s supposed to get the stuff from you.” The last time he had seen Big Carl, the guy was in and out. Fast enough that Felix hardly got a word in as he looked at the sad amount of money that had been thrown on his desk. He had been bitter ever since. Felix had thought little of it at the time, about as much as he usually thought of Big Carl.

“On that, you and I agree. Your dad wasn’t so money smart, bit off a little more than he could chew, and I was there to help a guy out. That’s what I do. I help people. Communities, even.” He didn’t smile. “But not without the expectation that at the end of it all, I get what I’m owed. That’s how this works. Your dad knew that but he just kept chewing.”

Erin only entertained his thinly-veiled threat with an eye roll. There were bigger issues at hand. And, apparently, a Big Carl. The thought of there being another fashion-dense ogre of a man sliding through Mr. Doyle’s circles was as unlikely as it was nightmarish. “That’s Dale, then,” she confirmed. “Or Big Carl. Whatever.” That fuck. What had he done now? “I don’t know what he’s doing, and I don’t have any proof he’s actually doing anything, but something stinks, and it’s not coming from the basement. Think we can agree on that much.”

He knew her father. Of course he did. “My dad was an idiot,” she huffed in response. Even this guy knew it and more than likely took advantage of his desperation and stupidity. A new kind of worry built in her gut as she ran a hand over her mouth. “Whatever's going on, it’s not me and I swear I can prove it. Wait here--” she nodded, backing up slowly as she moved down the hall, still in his line of sight. She was sure he trusted her disappearing into a room alone right now as much as she trusted turning her back to him. After digging briefly through her desk, she was rushing back with a small, leather ledger.

“My dad must have gotten rid of or just didn’t write any of his transactions down. Which, I get. Paper trail. But it’s probably partly to blame for how fucked over he was at the end,” she said, giving pause. A flash of his blue eyes nestled between decayed flesh jumped in her mind’s eye. She cleared her throat to shake it off before handing it over. “All of our transactions. Every penny since I’ve taken over.” It was mostly in code, and probably easily decipherable to even the most basic cop. But a book of scribbles and numbers held less weight in comparison to the very solid, frozen evidence under their feet. If she was going to go down, it sure as shit wasn’t going to be because she couldn’t keep track of her books.

Felix’s stance shifted and he started to move. To pace. A habit of his when he started to consider the most efficient yet lesson-learning way to dismantle someone. Big Carl. Dale. It didn’t matter. He wasn’t a stranger to names upon names. He had taken more than a few himself. His lip curled slightly as he took in a slow breath. Stopped walking. The anger was laced with excitement. How long had it been since he had been two-timed? By a man that willingly wore Hawaiian shirts no less? He looked at Erin from the corner of his eye.

“I don’t mind the stink of a few dead bodies,” he finally said. He faced her and cocked his head to the side, his expression less than pleased. “But it appears that we can agree on that. For now.”

As she told him to wait, he nodded and set about to his idle pacing as he lined up his thoughts. When she returned, he took the offered ledger. Shifted his glasses up to look at it with bare eyes. What was written on the ledger in regards to lighting, to him, was the full amount of what he should be receiving. Reality differed. His smile grew, teeth visible.

“I’m getting maybe a tenth of this,” he said as he slid his glasses back on. “That’s funny. That’s really funny. This hasn’t happened to me for a very long time.” He had underestimated Big Carl. Maybe he had lost his touch. He was bubbling with fury. “I’m thoroughly entertained. What do you know about him?”

He believed her. He was pissed, and everything about that sharp smile still made Erin’s blood run cold, but it wasn’t for her. It was for the bald-headed asshole who got nothing but pure joy out of pissing her off on a weekly basis. Her fury towards Felix suddenly veered course, finding a new home. She wasn’t this guy’s biggest fan but common ground had settled her some.

“Not much,” she shook her head, crossing her arms. “I know he corresponds directly with our boss. He’s the money guy or something. Makes all the pick-ups throughout town, however that works. But he comes through the back, same time and day every week. Which is incredibly stupid, by the way. Told him that much too, but the guy’s got the most fragile ego I’ve ever seen. He was waving his gun in my face to shut me up like I’d just insulted his entire bloodline.” She ground her teeth together, trying to recall any other small details. Most of the time she did everything in her power not to think about Dale.

“Flashy. Braggy. Loves to show off whatever new watch or jacket he’s got that week like I give a shit.” Fuck. Seemed stupid obvious in hindsight. She just figured a guy in his position got paid a hell of a lot better than her. Rolled her eyes and scoffed bitterly. God, this guy was stupider then she gave him credit for. “Guess he doesn’t think of me as a threat.” That was putting it lightly.

Felix listened to every word she said carefully. White Crest wasn’t a particularly large town. Not in his eyes. Small towns had this capacity to suffocate that intrigued him. Constricted yet somehow more freeing than a city could be. It was charming the way a coral snake could be if one confused it for a milk snake.

“So he keeps to a schedule,” he remarked. That was good. Very good. Nothing made a job easier than a predictable idiot too puffed up to notice he was sinking. “I like that. We can most certainly work with that. And I am awfully curious about this boss of yours.” He huffed a dry laugh at the mention of an insulted bloodline. If Felix had his way, there wouldn’t be enough blood left in the man to determine which line went where. Now that their ire had changed from being directed towards each other to someone else, someone far more worthy, the tension in him unwound. Erin’s hatred for Dale was near tangible like heated iron. It wasn’t something he could wield. But she certainly could.

“It’s good that he doesn’t, you know.” His smile bordered on serpentine. “See you as one. People like that never realize it until that curtain comes down and they’re left to wonder where everyone went.” He looked at Erin for a long moment before he extended a hand. “I’m glad we’ve met, Ms. Nichols. Circumstances and all. Would you let me know the next time you see Dale?”

“I’m pretty curious myself,” Erin agreed, casting a quick look his way. “And I could say the same about you, Mr. Doyle.” Her immediate fears were calmed for now, she assumed. He wasn’t gunning for her throat and he seemed nearly as convinced as she was about the true culprit. Still--that borderline insidious smile of his knew he was handing her a gift. Dale was the kind of guy who couldn’t see past himself. Didn’t want to, didn’t care to. She wasn’t even a speck on his radar. Two birds, one bald, ugly stone. All she had to do was accept it.

Felix extend his hand towards her and she just watched, hesitant, like this was some sort of trick. Maybe they’d built trust on a more solid foundation. Maybe she’d never see this guy again. But considering it was the professional thing to do here, she shook his hand firmly in return. 

“I don’t think he’s going to bother you much anymore,” she said simply. The words came out so easily, so confidently, it surprised even herself. The implication was pretty clear. This one was hers and fuck it--she was taking it. Nerves buzzed beneath her skin and something in her felt just that much lighter, but stronger. Like she’d reclaimed a sliver of the power she’d lost the moment she found her father’s half-assed note and a bag of frozen hearts. “I’ll remind him I’m still around.”

There was still a debt to be paid, after all. 

[hopeaterart]

I’m gonna be there Chapter 17

Do not be fooled by the fact that this is a breather chapter between two major events: there’s a lot going on here. (If someone correctly guesses who Kakyoin is talking about when he mentions someone nice working for Dio, I will make them a drawing of their choice.)

“WAKEY WAKEY, COWBOY MAN!” SPLASH!

Hol Horse woke up with a yell, his wrist restrained behind him and his ankles tied to the front legs of a chair. He slowly looked around. Miss Holly and Polnareff were there, the blond woman standing up in front of him and the frenchman leaning on a wall, a tall girl with goggles on her head standing next to him. There was also a short man standing behind Holly, a bucket in his hands.

“So, Hol Horse, is it?” The short man asked, tilting his head to the side as he came closer. “I want you to give me one good reason why I shouldn’t slit your throat here and now.”

The cowboy laughed nervously. “You’re bluffin-”

“He’s not.”

“He’s not.”

“He’s not.”

“I’m not.”

“So now that we’ve established that my husband would not hesitate to get rid of you,” Holly started, narrowing her eyes. “Maybe you’ll be willing to answer a few questions-”

“SIS! I’M BACK! AND I BROUGHT DONUTS!” A cheerful voice sounded out in the house, making Holly flinch in surprise.

“I- Alright, Joey!” Holly yelled back. “I’m busy with something right now! If Joriko needs help with her homework, can you help her?”

“Sure thing!” Holly nodded to herself, turning back toward the cow-boy.

“As I was saying, I have a few questions for you. They’re about Dio.”

““L- look, I dunno where Dio came from, or what he has against you people, aight?” Hol Horse started, brows furrowed. “All I know is that he’s payin’ me a huge amount of money to kill ya and yer son.”

“That doesn’t explain why you were working with the scumbag that killed my little sister!” Polnareff snapped.

Hol Horse looked confused for a moment, but all it took was the girl next to him cracking her knuckles to get him to spill. “I- I didn’ wanna work with him at first. I have standards, for Christ’ sake!” He momentarily snapped, Holly narrowing her eyes in suspicion.

“Then why were you working with him?”

“Because my Emperor isn’t really good on it’s own.” He started, shrugging. “But works almost perfectly in conjunction with Hanged Man. If we had both been inside, the fight would’ve gone differently, and we would already be collecting our reward.”

“Wrong: if you had won that fight, I would’ve killed the both of you with a kitchen knife upon coming back home, especially if I had found my wife dishonored.” The short man hissed.

“... Okay, who are you?”

“Kujo Sadao.”

“As in the jazz musician!?”

“I am the jazz musician.” He deadpanned. “And I’d like you to focus on the ‘married to Holly and father of Jotaro’ part.”

Holly was about to add something, when suddenly: “MOM! WE’RE BACK! ” Another voice sounded out this one much deeper, Holly sighing this time.

“I- I’m a little busy right now, Jotaro. Your uncle brought back donuts, if you’re hungry.” She yelled back.

“Can we order pizza for dinner? Noriaki-kun wants pizza.”

“I do want pizza!” Kakyoin added from the other end of the house.

“I want pizza too.” Polnareff admitted, both Sadao and the tall girl nodding.

“Alright, order pizza then!”

“Remember, no mushrooms! I can’t eat that shit.” Sadao yelled, Jotaro answering affirmatively.

“So...” Hol Horse started, gesturing with his head to the younger woman in the room. “Who are you?”

“Kujo Jojimi, Jotaro’s cousin.” She answered blankly, Hol Horse nodding.

“Alright... family’s way bigger than I thought.” He muttered under his breath. “If I had known, I would’ve asked for something bigger...”

Holly suddenly raised her head, turning toward Hol Horse. “How much is Dio paying you for our heads?”

“Uh? I... about fifty grand each. American dollars”

“What do you think of five hundred thousand to leave us alone, then? American dollars, of course.” The woman proposed, baffling the cowboy.

“Uh, Holly?” Sadao hesitantly started. “You do know that five hundred thousand dollars is roughly five million yens, right?”

“And we can pay for it.” Holly reassured him. “At worst, I’ll convince papa we need some money.”

“Lady.” Hol Horse finally spoke up. “If you give me 5 hundred thousand, I’ll help you kill the fuckin’ vampire.”

“... Well, that’s settled!” Holly cheerfully declared, clapping her hands together and turning toward Sadao. “Dear, could you untie him?”

Sadao nodded, untying the cowboy and helping him stand up. “Alright, thanks, but...” Hol Horse started awkwardly just as he rubbed his wrist. “Where am I gonna be sleepin’?”

And just like that, Sadao’s urge to run the cowboy over with his car was back.

-

“Alright, so...” Sadao started, visibly tired. “Jojimi and Joriko will go back to their house with Hol Horse.” He started. “They’re going to call Daisuke to stay with them to make sure he” the musician pointed at the cowboy “doesn’t try anything. As for here, Polnareff-san will stay in the living room, and Joey can stay in the first guest room. As for Kakyoin-kun, he will go back in the second guest room. Any question?”

“Yeah- how come I have to stay in the living room?” Polnareff asked, frowning. “I mean, when your nieces were living there, you set up your office to let Kakyoin have some private space. Why can’t I have that!?”

“You can leave whenever you want. I can’t.” Kakyoin told him, shrugging.

“Also, I’m pretty sure my sister considers you to be her second child at this point...” Joey muttered under his breath.

“Well, I’m not leaving anytime soon!” Polnareff declared. “The Kujos have freed me from my brainwashing and Holly helped me take revenge for Sherry! The least I can do is help them defend themselves against Dio!”

Holly smiled. “Thank you, Jean-Pierre.”

“Uh... we’re gonna go pack our things.” Jojimi told the rest of the family, who all nodded as she and Joriko started to exit the room. “Hol Horse-san? Please go wait by the door.”

“Of course, little lady.” The cowboy stated, starting to get up before having his wrist grabbed. He turned, toward the person, who turned out to be Sadao. “What?”

“I just want to make things clear.” Sadao started, raising up and dragging Hol Horse to his eye level. “If so much as a whisper of a hair out of place on either of niece’s head reaches my ears? I will fucking ruin your life, and make sure you regret ever stepping foot in Japan, and you will forever fear the name Kujo Sadao. Understood?”

“... So bein’ terrifying runs in the family, eh?”

“Yes, and I’m serious. Hurt my nieces, and I’ll do to you what I did to the rests of my agents.” Sadao bluntly told the cowboy, letting him go and then sitting back down.

“What... happened to the rest of his agents?” Hol Horse asked, turning toward Jotaro as the delinquent got up.

“Google it up, shitlord. I’m going outside for a smoke.” Jotaro told his parents as he left the room, shrugging his school coat off. He normally kept it on as log as possible for comfort, but the temperature was getting too high for him.

He groaned as he came into the backyard, the temperature somehow higher outside. Why the hell was it so hot!? They were in the middle of December! He groaned, sitting down and lighting himself a cigarette, trying to process everything that had happened in the last few weeks. He didn’t notice Kakyoin he came to sit down next to him, the redhead sighing. “God, it feels like an oven in here.”

Jotaro nodded. “Yeah.” He turned toward the sun, covering his eyes. “Is it normal for the temperature to rise when the sun looks bright?”

“The sun is supposed to be... bright...” The redhead trailed off, looking at the courtyard with a frown. Something seemed... off.

Kakyoin gasped in realization, tapping Jotaro on the shoulder. The delinquent turned toward him, frowning. “What?”

“That spot over there...” He pointed at a tree in the garden. “Is it me or are the shadows wrong?”

Jotaro squinted, before his eyes widened in realization. He groaned. “Yeah, no shit, that tree wasn’t even there before-” He picked up a rock on the ground, standing up as he did so. “I can see you, bitch!” He then threw the rock, and the very air shattered like glass.

Kakyoin sighed in relief when the sun lessened in brightness, the sudden heatwave going away with it. “Looks like the user of the Sun Stand was out and about. Oh well, third Stand user to be taken out in a day. Should take a while for others to show up, so I’m not going to complain.”

“How many?”

“... uh?”

“How many are there left? Of Dio’s henchmen.” Jotaro asked, sitting back down and looking at Kakyoin.

The redhead sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t remember seeing most of these people. I- I think he’s just hiring bounty hunters, right now. No point in sending his best underlings when we haven’t done anything to hinder him, after all.”

“Yeah, but it’s starting.” Jotaro stated with slight panic in his tone. “You... you said it yourself: the mother of the guy Polnareff killed today is really close to Dio.” He buried his face in his hands. “I... I’m scared.”

Kakyoin blinked, before gently taking one of Jotaro’s hand away from his face, the taller boy turning to look at him. “It’ll be okay. Don’t ask me how I know, it’s just- I just know, you guys make me feel safe. As for Dio’s henchmen...” The redhead seemed deep in thought for a moment “I think the rest of the Tarot might show up, and I think I remember... nine plus one. There’s ten people that work close to Dio. Maybe a few more people that are with him for the same reason Polnareff and I were. There’s also someone else who lives with him, but I’m not sure. The few times I’ve interacted with him stand out in my memory, but it’s because he’s... nice.”

“Wait. Dio attracts kind people?” Jotaro frowned in confusion. “I thought only, like, evil and fucked up people would work for him.”

Kakyoin shrugged. “I mean, something was definitely fucked up about that guy. I thought he was faking it, first time he helped me.”

“Was he?”

“Well, I ended up walking on him having sex with Dio, so take a guess.” Kakyoin deadpanned. Jotaro hummed, looking at his hand still in the redhead’s before sighing.

“What... what did Dio do to you for you to want to kill him?” The redhead froze, an expression of pure terror on his face. “You- you don’t have to tell me, it’s just-”

“I... he hurt me.” Kakyoin choked out. “He abducted me from my life, my parents, stripped me of all power over myself, made me feel powerless, used me for his own twisted amusement.” The redhead’s laughed at that, but it sounded more like sobbing. “I want him to suffer- I need him to suffer. I want to hold his less than worthless life in my hands and twist until it breaks!” He snapped.

Kakyoin then gasped, and sent an hesitant look at Jotaro, as if he was afraid of his reaction. But the taller teenager just nodded. “Yeah, that makes sense. You should be the one who gets to kill him.”

“... what?”

“I don’t want to kill anyone, mom doesn’t like violence- she doesn’t hate it either, she’s just... neutral toward it- and I’m pretty sure that if my life wasn’t in danger, dad wouldn’t give a fuck.” Jotaro explained, shrugging. “If anyone should get the satisfaction of killing that bastard it’s you, Noriaki-kun.”

Kakyoin sighed, a small smile on his lips as he put his head on Jotaro’s shoulder. “Thank you, Jotaro-kun.”

-

Dio took his hand off the crystal ball, the Stand that was supposed to belong to Jonathan retracting back inside of wherever Stands lived. “And there you have it. Your son was killed by Jean-Pierre Polnareff, and Holly Joestar. As for Hol Horse, he has betrayed us.”

The bloody old woman growled. “How dare they... my perfect son... and with dirty tricks like that... I must avenge him!” She snapped. Dio raised a consterned eyebrow.

“You want to go after the Joestar now? After they took out every member of the Tarot order you sent after them?” Well, almost all of them. Gray Fly got taken out before he could make it to Japan in a plane crash, ironically enough.

“It doesn’t matter! I, Enya, SHALL KILL THEM ALL!” The old woman exclaimed as she ran off, the vampire calculating her chances in his head. She might have easily been able to take them down before, but now? As it now was, Enya stood no chance. Dio sighed. What a shame, she had been quite useful to him...

“Lord Dio?” The blond vampire turned toward the voice, smiling as Jude came into view, wrapped in a blanket. The purple-haired boy was good with technology (those times were so advanced, technologically speaking, that Dio had to admit to himself there was no way he could catch up alone), had info on a... infuriating organization that seemed to be after him, and was a good lay.

“Come here, dollface.” The slender man approached Dio, settling down next to him and cuddling up at his arm, the vampire carding his claws through the choppy hair. “I need you to call one of my bounty hunters...”

-

“You’re still watching them?”

“Well, someone has to keep an eye on them, and since Joseph is kept out of that particular loop...”

“... Okay? Say, Viola? Wouldn’t it be easier to just... help them in person, instead of spying on them?”

“I know, Ros. I just... it’s been so long, I don’t know if I can. I suppose I could get Hills or Nicole to go check on them in person, since they’re already in the country...”

“Aren’t they busy tracking down the Arrow that bloodsucking joto hid over there?”

“Urgh, you’re right... do you have any ideas?”

“Uh... yeah: we go to the Kujo house, you drop me there, you give them a lie, and promptly fuck off while I help them fend off bicho’s bounty hunters. Thoughts?”

“No. Out of everyone, you’re the one I want to put in danger the least-”

Riing~ Riing~ Rii-

“Yes hello?”

“... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...”

“Really? Which one?”

“... ...”

“... Oh. I see. Thank you.” click. “It seems there’s been a change of plan, and you’re coming with me.”

“Wait- we’re actually going to help-”

“Yes. Start packing your baggage, Rosaura: we’re going to Japan!”

[carryonsimoncarryonbaz]

4, 8, 11 for the writing asks?

Thank you so much for the ask!! These are such good questions, even though the second one was challenging to answer--my first thought was “My favorite dialogue? Do I write dialogue? Why can’t I think of any dialogue?” 

also sorry this is so long

4. How many fic ideas are you nurturing right now? Care to share one of them?

TOO MANY!!! I have so many WIPs and ideas jotted down. Sequels to current fics, epilogues to other fics. New ideas. I have about 10-12 pending ideas on my list, in various stages of completion. I will share that I have a Harry Potter slightly crack one in the works and a Regency AU pending.

For example, here’s a snippet of the running list on my phone:

8. Share a snippet from one of your favorite dialogue scenes you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.

I’m going to post a few, if that’s ok, for different reasons. 

First one is from my fic Can’t Find My Way Home. It was a tender moment of revealing a long standing love of Simon from Baz and it was supposed to be awkward and romantic and vulnerable and I was proud of how it came together with their back and forth. 

Chapter 7-CFMWH, Simon POV:

“Alright, I know I was a complete wanker at school.”

I snort. “No argument there.”

Baz darts a sidelong look at me. “Yes, well.” He takes a deep breath and then exhales a rush of air without speaking. He frowns and glances at me again. “This is going to sound ridiculous.”

 “Don’t care. Come on. Spill. For someone who’s in such a rush to get to the airport, you’re taking far too long giving a simple explanation now.” It’s exhilarating to see him so uncertain. I’m usually the one tripping over my words. I tug on his hand, reminding him that I’m holding it. 

He pinches the bridge of his nose with his free hand, closes his eyes and takes another breath. “Fine. Yes, I was a wanker, I’ll admit that.” His eyes stay closed. “I’m a bit of a prick in general, even Dev and Niall won’t argue that point, but I was quite a prick to you, Simon.” His chews on his bottom lip and I’m dazed at this side of Baz I’ve never seen before. 

This reluctant, hesitant side of him.

It doesn’t last long. 

“Oh, fuck it all.” His eyebrows come together and he turns to look at me, lips in a thin line and forehead creased. Alright. This is more like the Baz I know. It still makes me want to smile though. “There’s no good way to say this so I’ll just come out with it.” 

His fingers squeeze mine painfully hard. “I’ve liked you for so long, Simon. Maybe even from the first day we met.” He shakes his head at what must be my no-doubt incredulous expression. “Let me just finish. I can’t believe I’m actually confessing to this. You asked for an explanation and I’m doing my best to give you one, painfully mortifying as it may be.”

 His frown shifts to something softer, but more troubled and uncertain. “Simon, you were all I could think about. By fifth year, you were in my thoughts day and night, even when I was home for the holidays. I never wanted you to know. I’d no hope you’d like me that way.” His brow furrows again. “You were Simon Snow, the boy everyone liked, the gorgeous, straight boy all the girls swooned over. The Headmaster’s chosen one.” His eyes flick away from me. “I was the posh arsehole everyone disliked.” 

I tug on his hand. “Baz, the girls swooned over you far more than they swooned over anyone else.” It was true. Even Agatha had a crush on Baz. That was one of the reasons I’d disliked him. How could I ever measure up to Baz? “Fuck, Baz. Even I thought you were fit.” 

His eyebrows go straight up to his hairline and it’s my turn to blush. “What?”

 I roll my eyes. “You heard me.” 

Baz’s features settle into a look I know well, one eyebrow arched and he repeats my own words back to me. “I want to hear you say it again.” There’s a quirk to his lips now. 

“Arsehole.” 

“No argument on that.” He’s grinning now, the tosser. How did he turn things around like this? This was his confession, not mine. Bloody hell. He’s always managed to get me tripping over my own words. That’s not changed. 

“I said I thought you were fit.” I mumble the words, face flaming now. “Still do, you fucking twat.” 

“I’ve thought you were fit since I first figured out what that meant, Simon.” His smile becomes fond. “Still do.” Baz’s hand reaches up, fingers tracing my jawline. “I had such a hopeless crush on you, Simon Snow. I was so certain it was to be forever unrequited. I did everything I could to make you hate me, in the hopes of making myself hate you in return.” He leans closer. “I never managed to do that.” His lips crash into mine and it’s electric, the touch of him sending shivers through me, his fingertips leaving trails of heat along my face, my jaw, my neck. 

I’m breathless by the time he pulls back. 

“I suppose it’s never too late to apologize?” he asks. 

“I’m due eight years of apologies, Baz.” My heart is pounding in my chest. “If that’s how you intend to apologize then I mean to make sure you account for every single day.” 

This one is from my COMB fic Bad Case of Loving You, a medical Carry On AU. I’m proud of it because it’s funny and full of word play and it made me laugh out loud while I was typing it. This is a Baz POV. 

“What the fuck are you doing in here, Snow?”

“You called me Simon before.” He’s obviously still half asleep, the numpty.

“I most certainly did not. What the bloody hell are you doing in my call room and what the fuck did you do with my bed? Why on earth does it look like some boy scout barracks in here?”

Simon rubs his hand over his face and then scrabbles at his hair. “Mage. Didn’t you get the email?”

“What email?”

Snow yawns before answering. I can’t take my eyes off the line of his neck as he does. “The one about the A&E call rooms.”

“Why would I read an email about the fucking A&E call rooms?”

He squints at me. “Because it came from the chief administrator?”

I snort. “Spare me, Snow. Mage’s emails are bombastic diatribes or buzzword gibberish. I’ll pass.”

“Well, if you’d read it you’d know he combined the A&E call rooms with the surgical ones. For efficiency. He’s using our old call room for some administrative office now.”

“Fuck his efficiencies. You’re in my fucking call room, Snow.”

He sits up now, eyes narrowed as he glares at me, chin jutting out. Fuck, I know this expression.

“It’s our fucking call room now, Baz.”

“I think the hell not.”

Snow shrugs and sinks back down on the bed. “Check your emails next time. Now kindly fuck off and let me go back to sleep. I’ve only got a few hours before I have to relieve Gareth.”

“You fuck off, Snow. Get out of my bed. You’re the intruder here. If anyone’s going to get the bottom bunk it’s me. You want to sleep, then you take the top bunk. Now move.”

“Oh come off it, Baz. I’m already here. You take the top.”

“Snow. I’m not going to say this again. Shove off.”

“I don’t want to be on top. Christ, Baz, I’m always on the bottom. Don’t make me be on top.”

“Since when are you on the bottom? I didn’t even know there were bunks until two minutes ago.”

“It’s been weeks. I always take the bottom. Don’t like being up on top.”

“Well, you can bloody well get used to it. Fuck it, Snow, I’m knackered and I don’t want to be arguing when I could be sleeping. Move!”

“I’d think you’d prefer being on top, you can sleep anywhere. I’ve seen you sleep in a fucking chair, for Christ’s sake. I’m more comfortable on the bottom.”

“So am I!” I can’t believe I’m having an argument about bunks with this moron. I glare at him and he glares right back.

“Snow.”

“Baz.”

“Honestly, I don’t care what you prefer, top or bottom. You’re in my fucking bed, in my fucking call room, so kindly fuck right off and let me get some rest. I’m on the bottom and that’s the end of it.”

Snow’s still glaring but his face is all flushed now and he’s not meeting my eyes anymore, his gaze directed somewhere behind me.

I’m weighing the option of dragging him out of the bed versus the ignominy of letting him win and taking the top bunk myself, when my face starts to heat up, as the echo of my words repeats itself in my brain.

Oh fucking hell. I’m know I’m blushing furiously. I hadn’t realized how suggestive that whole exchange was and now I can think of nothing else.

If Snow’s face is any indication he’s in the same predicament. I just want this to be over. I can’t look at him anymore, I’m so mortified.

“Fine. Be obstinate. I’m getting some sleep.” I find the ladder and climb up to the top bunk with as much dignity as I can muster.

“You left the light on, you prat.”

“Not my problem, Snow.”

“Wanker.” I hear him shuffle to his feet, grumbling his way to the light switch. He flips the switch with more aggression than necessary then stomps his way back to the lower bunk.

I can hear him toss and turn. He huffs and shifts again. “Would you kindly shut up, Snow? Go the fuck to sleep.”

“It’s too hot.”

“Christ, I am speaking to Mage about this as soon as he’s back in the office. This call room situation is unacceptable. I cannot be expected to share a space with someone like you.”

“I could say the same.” Snow’s growling now.

“I’m not the one whinging and rustling and being an inordinately loud mouth breather.”

“Fuck off.”

11. Is writing your passion of just a fun hobby?

It’s a bit of both really. I’ve been writing since I was a kid. My first attempt at fanfic (long before I even knew what fanfic was) was a Battlestar Galactica story that I wrote when I was 12. I dabbled in creative writing for a while but then really gave it up in college. I didn’t really discover online fan fiction until I had surgery on my ankle a few years ago. My daughter had friends writing Marvel fanfic at that time and she was reading their stuff so I thought I’d check it out, to see what that was all about. And then I fell down the rabbit hole of Tolkien fanfic and it became a very steady hobby. A hobby that brought back the passion I have and always have had for writing. I’ve written quite a lot of Tolkien fic. I then started writing Yuri on Ice fic a year or so later. I started writing Carry On fanfic in Aug 2018 and it’s been truly a passion for me to return to writing after so many years away from it. Would I love to write a book someday? Yes, I truly would. Do I have ideas for something like that? Yes, I do. Do I indulge in writing fanfic as both a fun hobby and an intensely passionate desire to write–I most certainly do!

[thesmalltowngal]

Snowbaz 8- Magic, Books, and Sleepy Kisses

Otp Prompt #8: Simon is struggling trying to read a book for Magic Words- desperate, he asks Baz for help… (A variation of the Levi and Cath scene from Fangirl)

I just wanted to say that I had a lot of fun writing this one. It’s a little longer, but I’m really proud with the way it turned out!

I walk into our room to only to see Simon fucking Snow throwing a book (a book. I swear. It’s like he doesn’t know they’re sacred) onto his bed and tugging at his hair with frustration. I simply ignore him and walk over to my bed and try to focus on homework. But it’s quite hard to focus on Poli-Sci when your bloody roommate is exuding waves of magic so potent you can taste it. I look over to see him still on the first page of his book. 

“Having trouble, Snow?” I try to say with extra malice and a sneer to get him back for throwing the book. His face is red and he rolls his eyes.

“Yes, it’s just this book-”

I cut him off and say, “I didn’t know you could read.” He holds my gaze, eyes watering

“That’s the problem you tit. I… I can’t read.” I just sit dumbfounded. The Chosen One doesn’t know how to read? Suddenly I feel bad for making fun of him about it. 

“Can’t say I’m surprised, Snow. I always knew that your intellect didn’t go past that of a first year.” I spit, when all I really want to do is hold him and tell him it’s okay, Simon I can help you. 

“It’s not that I can’t read. I can read. I just have trouble getting in all the words and remembering them. It’s like all of the words move around on the page…,” He looks over at me to see if I’m listening. I am. Understanding? That’s a different story. “And now I have to read this book called The Outsiders for Magick Words in two days and just… ugh. I can’t.��� His eyes water and my arms just yearn to wrap around him and tell him it’ll be okay. But of course, I have a reputation to uphold. I just ignore him (without a sneer this time- I’m not completely cruel) and try to get back to my homework. 

After a few minutes of trying (and failing) to ignore Snow, he pipes up again. “Hey, Baz?” My name comes out of his mouth comes out like honey. Soft and sweet. I look at him, silently telling him to continue. “You’re a pretty good reader, right?” I scoff but nod at him nonetheless. “Do you think you could… I mean I know we’re not friends, but- er, Baz what I’m trying to say is-”

“Spit it out.” I lace my voice with venom and sneer at him for good measure, but it doesn’t deter him from continuing to stutter. 

“I, um… could you read to me?” I raise an eyebrow in answer, knowing he hates it when I do that. “Not the whole thing. I can get Penny to read some of it to me tomorrow. Just a few chapters?” I want to say no. I so desperately want to tell him to sod off and leave me be. But because he’s Simon Snow and I’m hopelessly in love with him and because I’m weak…

I say, “Oh for Christ’s sake, if you’re going to make such a big deal out of it,” I hardly ever swear like a Normal, but I momentarily forget how to speak when Simon looks at me with those big doe eyes. I get off my bed and make a big deal about stomping over to his bed and snatching the book out of his hands. Then I stomp back to my bed. I’ve read this book- The Outsiders- before. It’s quite a good book. I remember all of it. I could easily just give Snow the basic notes, but for some reason unbeknownst to me, (I totally know the reason, but I’m not just going to bloody well admit it) I decide to just read it to him. 

We both get settled into our separate beds and I begin. “When I stepped out into the bright sunlight…” I’m trying to ignore Snow’s heated gaze on me as I read the words to him. At some point, I forget I’m reading aloud. 

During a part in the book when Ponyboy describes the sleeping situation in their house, Simon can’t help but ask, “Darry and Soda… they seem kinda gay, right?” I just look over at him and that lopsided smile of his. I can’t help but let out a small laugh as well.

“Yeah, I guess they kinda are.” I continue reading the book, but when I get to the part where Ponyboy and Johnny run away, my voice starts faltering. My throat is scratchy and I can hardly read above a whisper. It gets to the point where Simon can’t even hear me. 

“I can’t hear you, Baz,” He states simply. “Maybe we should stop?” I had been so consumed in the book that I barely even noticed when he spelled the lights off- his book was spelled to glow in the dark when it opened.

“No, it’s fine Snow. I just need some water, that’s all…” He hops right out of his bed and into our en suite, coming back a moment later with a glass of water held out to me. “Thanks.” I grab the glass from him and drink it all, setting the glass on the nightstand in between our beds. Simon still doesn’t make a move to go back to his own bed. I raise an eyebrow at him even though he can’t see me very well. 

Without warning, he sits down on my bed, his back leaning against the wall and his legs spread out in front of him. I’m acutely aware of how our shoulders and hips touch. “What are you doing, Snow?” I sneer at him. It’s hard to sound menacing when your voice is minutes away from giving out all together. 

“You can just whisper now.” He states simply. I don’t argue with him, and instead keep reading. A few more pages in, he stretches into a more comfortable position, laying down on my bed. I try not to say anything (for fear that my voice would hitch and give my pining away) when he grabs my arm and pulls me down to lay with him. Throughout the process, I don’t stop reading. It’s hardly necessary to read at all above a whisper when we’re this close. A moment later, he adjusts into a more comfortable position. It catches me off guard when instead of rolling to face the wall, he rolls onto his side to face me. I can see his face in the dark (moles and all) looking up at me. His eyes aren’t closed, but I can tell he’s getting tired. Frankly, so am I. 

I don’t know why I roll over to face him, too. It’s like some external force physically rolls me that way. I can feel his breath (mouth breather) on my face and I scoot down a tad so we’re eye level. I can’t believe I’m still able to read (or breathe, frankly) when he puts his arm around me hesitantly and pulls me closer. I can’t believe I let him. Our foreheads are touching now and I feel as though I could spontaneously combust any second now. 

We stay like this for a long while until our eyelids start drooping. We made good progress- we got to the part where the rumble was just about to start. I let the book fall shut and half-heartedly toss it over my shoulder. (Careful to not let it move Snow’s arm from around me). In fact, I lean in even closer until every single part of us is touching- except for our lips. My eyes fall shut and I feel them stick there. Just as I’m drifting off to sleep, I feel something on my lips. Something soft and oh so warm. 

Simon Snow.

He kisses me and I slowly kiss him back. He does this nice thing with his jaw, and all I want is to be able to keep kissing him. But alas… I can’t stay awake any longer. 

*Simon’s POV* 

When I wake up, the first thing I notice is the strong smell of cedar and bergamot. All at once, everything that happened last night comes back to me. Baz is reading to me. I move to Baz’s bed. We’re laying together. I pull him closer. So tired. He tosses the book. Baz. Baz’s lips.

I let my eyes snap open and I see that it really wasn’t a dream. I’m in Baz’s bed and I hear him moving around in our en suite. Did I really kiss Baz last night? My enemy? A bloke? Yes, I suppose I did. And the best part is that I still remember everything from the book last night. I had no trouble retaining information when Baz was the one reading it me. But I also remember other things… the kindness of Baz when he said he’d help me. The soft touches. How instead of pushing me away, he pulled me closer. The way his breath felt. How soft his lips were. What’s the protocol now? How do we carry on? Do we talk about it? Does he just want to ignore it? I don’t really know what I want. 

I’m just moving to get a new set of clothes when Baz comes out of the bathroom. His hair falls in a lazy wave in his face and I want nothing more than to reach out and tuck it behind his ear. We’re enemies. I know that. And wanting to do these things to him is so wrong. But then… why does it feel so right?

“Snow.” He nods at me once and then goes back to fixing his tie. Oh. He’s just going to pretend it never happened. We glance nervously at each other a few times in the mirror, but we don’t say anything.  He doesn’t sneer at me, so maybe that’s a good sign. I feel like I should say something. I think I should bring last night up, but before I can get the chance to squeak out the words, he’s out the door and heading for breakfast. I frown to myself all while I’m  getting showered and clothed. I notice that Baz took a shower this morning, too. Was it just to avoid me?

When I get down to the dining hall, I notice that Baz isn’t there even though he left way before me. I think he must be down at the Catacombs, but he usually feeds at night. (Or so I presume. It’s not like he’d actually tell me.) Is he eating this morning to avoid me, too?

“Simon?” I hear, but it sounds hundreds of miles away. “Simon,” Penny hisses at me. I break out of my stupor and look at her. Her brows are knit together and she’s frowning. “You’ve barely touched your food all morning and you keep staring off into space. What’s wrong with you?” I just shake my head at her. 

“Actually… Pen, can we talk?” She looks concerned as she nods her head, prompting for me to go on. She is my best friend. I should just tell her and get her input. Because not only is she my best friend, but she’s also smart, and she’ll know what to think about all this. “Well don’t freak out on me, but um- I kissed Baz last night!” It all comes out in a flurry, and when she doesn’t look surprised, I tell her again. Slower this time. “Penny. I kissed Baz. And I think I liked it. I think I want to do it again.” It’s the first time I’ve even admitted that to myself, and Penny doesn’t even look surprised! In fact, she just grins at me. 

“No shit, Sherlock,” I look at her dumbfounded, so she continues. “You only talk about him all. The time. It took you long enough to bloody figure it out, you tit!” She laughs. I want to say that when I kissed Baz last night, the possibility had only just occurred to me. But Penny is making me think twice. Like fifth year, when I didn’t stop following him down to the Catacombs because I thought he was plotting. I still think he was plotting (and probably is right now, too), but I think some part of me was just worried about him. 

“Okay, fine. So maybe I’ve liked him for a while, but I need your help. This morning after we had kissed, he just went on like it never happened. He took a shower this morning and is feeding down in the catacombs right now to avoid me. It’s not like he doesn’t know it happened; we slept in the same bed together!” Penny raises a curious eyebrow so I clarify, “Not like that! We fell asleep after he was reading to me. We kissed and then fell asleep. And now he’s acting like it never happened and I don’t know what to make of it.” She thinks for a moment, looking at me. 

“Did he kiss you back?” She finally asks me. I nod my head. He did kiss me back and Aleister Crowley, it was wonderful. So soft. Holding none of the anger he usually holds towards me. “So we know he likes you. Or at least some part of him, buried way down deep that only comes out when he’s tired likes you. So you just have to make him say it somehow…” She quirks her nose and stares off into space for a moment, debating. 

I could just corner him in one of our classes today. Snog him silly. His lips on mine and my hands running through his soft hair. I’m fucked. Whatever he feels for me, I am absolutely wrecked for the git. I could tell him how I feel in our room tonight. There’s always a chance of him rejecting me, but at least if he hits me he’ll be the one kicked out. 

Penny jumps up in her seat and I swear I can practically see the light bulb above her head as she turns toward me. “You have to get him to do it again! Did you finish that book last night?” I shake my head. “You need to get him to read it to you again- finish it this time. You need to just drape yourself over him and if he pushes you away from him, fine. But if he doesn’t… Simon you need to kiss him again and really see if he kisses you back. There’s no way he’ll be able to ignore that the next morning.” I nod, feeling my blood rush to my cheeks at the prospect of ‘draping myself over him’. But fuck if I don’t want to. 

…

After all of my classes and dinner (all of which Baz ignores me during), I run to Mummers House as fast as I can to get there before Baz. I change into my pyjamas and spell off the lights. I think he’ll be more inclined to let me get close to him if the lights are off. I grab the book off the nightstand and open it to where we left off last night. I wait patiently until Baz enters our room. He doesn’t notice me at first- he just takes off his shoes and changes into his pyjamas. When he finally does notice me, though, he freezes in place. 

“What are you doing, Snow?” He sneers at me. At least it’s something and not the nothing that I’ve been receiving all day. I ignore the ache in my heart when he sneers at me and I just shrug. (I also ignore the way my heart rate seems to speed up when he takes a step closer to me. It should be illegal for him to look that good). (I can only see him because of the glow in the dark book). 

“Penny didn’t want to finish reading to me… and I need it done by tomorrow. Is that okay?” I try to ask softly and make my eyes look pleading. It must work because he sighs and snatches the book out of my hands as he sits down beside me. (Although I swear I can see a reluctant smile playing on his lips).

“It was almost six-thirty when I got home…” He started. This time he didn’t even start talking at normal volume- he was hardly above a whisper. His voice held no malice that it usually does when he talks to me. I can’t help but smile when he tries to imitate all of the characters’ voices as they speak. As he reads to me, I remember what Pennys said. ‘Drape yourself over him’. I try to snuggle in closer to him. I slide down and put my head on his chest. I take my hands and remove one of his hands from the book, moving his arm around me. He stiffens as I do it, and his voice catches just a little, but he lets me do it. 

Whenever he’s reading, he’ll let me touch him.

I slide one arm under his back and another over his stomach and press myself into him. I look at the words on the pages but I can’t bloody read them. It just makes me upset, so I instead tilt my head up to look at Baz. The way his lips shape the words as he reads. The way he tears up at some parts, and nearly laughs at others. I can hear (and feel on the side of my face) his heartbeat. It’s very fast, and even in little light, I can see him blush. It must be from the rats he drained this morning. 

Now he’s absentmindedly (really. I honestly don’t think he knows he’s doing it) tracing slow circles on my upper arm. When we get to the ‘Stay gold, Ponyboy’ line, his breath catches. I cry softly, and when I look  up at him, I see that he’s crying too. His arm tightens around me when Dally storms out of the hospital. I tentatively lift a hand to his cheek and wipe a tear there. He keeps reading, not acknowledging my gesture. We’re nearing the end of the book, and I find my heart picking up pace. Because when he finishes this book… I’m going to kiss him. 

Five pages left. I pull him to lay down next to me, but I make sure our arms don’t move. 

Four pages. I press myself closer to him.

Three pages. I tentatively press a soft kiss to his collarbone. His breath catches. 

Two pages. A kiss to his jaw. My stomach tightens. 

One page. A kiss to the back of his ear. I can barely breathe… but in such a good way. Because he’s letting me do this to him. Which means some part of him must like me. Penny was right. 

He reads the very last line (it was a wonderful book. Even if I was focused on Baz, I still paid attention. I’ll ace the test) and he closes the book, setting it beside him on the nightstand. It’s completely dark now and we just lay still for a moment, neither of us saying a word. I think we’re both fairly tired. I softly cup his face with my hands (which means I had to pull my arms away from him. That was sad) and I lean forward, rubbing our noses together, silently asking for permission. 

“Simon…” He whispers and I can feel his breath on my face. I don’t think about what I do next. I lean in and kiss him. Softly, at first. I roll over so that I’m on top of him. He tenses beneath me, and he doesn’t respond. I’ve made a horrible mistake. But just as I’m pulling away from him, muttering my apologies, he grabs me by the back of the next and presses our lips together, more feverishly this time. I feel his whole body sigh underneath me. Our lips work together and I moan into his mouth, which makes him bite back a groan. My hands are running through his hair and trailing along his back and nothing has ever felt so nice. I realize that I’m kissing a bloke. I realize that I’m kissing my rival. But as he sucks on my bottom lip, I can’t find it in me to care. 

We fall asleep tangled in each other.

*Baz’s POV*

I wake up to the smell of fire and brimstone. I open my eyes and see that Simon is tangled with me, sleeping, and everything from last night comes back to me. The way he kissed me while I was reading. The way his arms felt around me, and the way his hands felt cupping my face. The way his lips felt. The way he tasted. My heart flutters just remembering everything. I gracefully untangle myself from Snow and go to take a shower. All I can think is that he better not pretend like nothing happened this morning as he did yesterday. I got up to take a shower yesterday morning so I would have more time with him at night. When I got out, I kept hoping he would do something. When he didn’t, I chalked it up to being tired and went down to the Catacombs to feed so I wouldn’t have to later that night. 

All day, I kept waiting for him to say something to me about the night prior. But he never did. And all I know is that if he ignores me again today, my heart will break. As I step out of the bathroom, I see that Simon is sitting on his bed, staring at me. He doesn’t say anything, so I got to fix my tie in the mirror, just as I did yesterday. (Giving him time to say something to me, if he so chose to). I’ll respect whatever he wants to do, but I hope above all bloody hopes that he doesn’t pretend nothing happened last night. Not when it meant everything to me. 

When he stays quiet, I feel my face fall as I walk toward the door. “Bye then, Snow,” I mutter, hand on the doorknob. But just as I’m about to open the door, I feel a hand on my wrist, spinning me around. I’m face to face with the sun. 

“You called me Simon before.” He spits. Usually I’m the one with venom in my words, but I hear it laced in his today. I quirk an eyebrow at him. I know he’s talking about last night, but I still don’t know what he wants to do about that. 

“I did no such-” He scoffs and presses his lips to mine, hard. I work back with him, clawing at his shirt. We fall back onto his bed, kissing like there’s no tomorrow. 

“I love you,” He says between feverish kisses. My heart glows. 

“I love you too, Simon.”

We’re late to breakfast. 

…

He’s back in my bed that night, but with no book this time.

[cruecifymesixx]

Love and Leather /part thirty two/

Word count: 2.5k

A/N: back to our regular scheduled angst!

Warnings: domestic violence, language, Nikki and Vanity back on their bullshit

Taglist: @brideofdraculana, @xstarryeyes, @aryssav, @miserablecunt, @dangerous-like-a-loaded-pistol, @inthebackofmycarlaytheirbodies, @fandomshit6000, @anntheboneless, @venus-calum, @justjodeye, @supernaturalvikingwhore, @are-we-real, @hi-my-name-is-riley, @extremesadnerding, @myheadisinvaded, @thatbandchick39, @awkwrdcait, @countrygirlswonderland, @dillightfulpickle, @baiabouk, @awesomealmostdopestudent, @martabastic, @romanticvengeance, @tashy-bear, @krazykatkay456, @terror-triplet, @shouttatthedevill, @beachystars, @rodriguez025, @kickstart-myheart-sixx, @s-outhie, @anxious-diabetic, @awkwardblackgirls, @motlycrue, @brooklyn-antiques, @shamelessobsessions, @jerseytaint, @lilytalebi,  @criminalyetminimal, @motley-queen, @trapt-in-a-dream, @lunamadhatter99, @broke-n-bitchy, @thanks2pete, @slowandangry, @lovesick-heart0, @keepcalm-and-beyou, @miriampraez, @teenwolflover28, @lilyhw1, @swoopygorl, @motherloovebone, @random-internet-user-4471, @falcon-arrows, @talranocchia2001, @wheresmyvodkabitch, @waywardprincess666, @nikkisixxsixxsixx, @iluvmesomemarvelndc, @marvelismylifffe, @zoenicoles, @pfft-halsey, @vamprlestat, @supersoldierballerina, @primal-screamer, @electradestiny, @marshbev, @n0-sh0rtage-0f-faults, @cruebaby, @ggorehorror, @valentines-in-london, @miss2001babe

June ‘86

“That is not how you play UNO!” Tommy shouted in frustration, “Yes it is! Skip you, come back to me, skip you, uno, skip you again and uno out, I win T-bone.” Vanity replied, a giggle in her voice as she watched him try to wrap his head around it.

“Whatever, let’s play again.” Tommy hastily replied, collecting all the cards as he Began to shuffle them.

Tommy rolled his eyes as Nikki and Josie’s fighting had become more prominent. Vanity looked down the walk way, seeing the door was still closed. “Man, She never shuts up.” Tommy exasperated, Vanity quickly nods in agreement, “She makes me look like an angel.”

Vanity noticed Mick who was going back and forth between sipping on a vodka bottle and tuning one of his guitars as she tried to tune out the screaming match in the back.

“We should prank Vince.” Vanity mentioned to Tommy, nodding over to the blonde haired singer as he was trying to bask in the sun that was perfectly hitting the couch, “He’s still reeling over the hair dye in his shampoo incident, he will kill us.” Tommy said laughing as the bedroom door slammed open with an angry Nikki walking out.

“Well maybe if you weren’t slamming needle after needle you could keep your dick up!!” Josie screamed at Nikki as she shoved him from behind.

“Was never an issue for me..” Vanity whispered, making both her and Tommy laugh, “And whats so fucking funny to you?” Josie turned her attention to Vanity as she smacked her hand on the table.

It has only been a week since the altercation. Josie stays out of her way and Vanity does the same. Looks and words haven’t been exchanged for the sake of the band. If Josie comes into the common areas of the tour bus, Vanity climbs either into her bunk or Tommy’s to watch a movie. If Nikki gives all his attention to Vanity, which happens more then any of them would like to admit, Josie goes and finds someone else to entertain her rather it be Vince or some random guy she finds.

“What’s hilarious is that you’re constantly on Nikki’s dick, following him around like a lost puppy.” Josie expressed as an un-amused laugh escaped Vanity’s lips.

“Maybe if you knew what you were doing, he could keep it up....was never an issue with me, huh Sixx?” Vanity teased, sending a wink towards Nikki.

“God, is it that time of the month already?” Vince gave his two cents as Vanity and Josie glared at him, “Shut up!” They both shouted at him. He grumbled to himself as he put the blanket over his head.

“Leave her out of this, it’s between you and me.” Nikki demanded, gripping Josie’s arm so she would look at him, “Only if you knew how to treat a woman. Clearly mommy wasn’t too good at teaching you that. Actually she didn’t teach you anything.” Josie lashed out at Nikki, his face immediately turning into anger.

“She shouldn’t say those things.” Tommy whispered across the table to Vanity, she nodded in agreement. This isn’t gonna end well we’re Vanity’s inner thoughts as she felt her stomach twist into knots.

“Watch your fucking mouth.” Nikki warned, stepping into Josie’s face as she smirked back at him. “Tommy, do something.” Vanity said, worried of what was gonna happen if Josie continued. Vanity, from personal experience of course, knew better then to throw the mommy issues in his face. For Christ sake, he left a hole in her wall when she mouthed off to him.

Tommy shook his head, “She already started, he’ll finish it. Don’t worry.” Vanity rolled her eyes, taking a sip of the beer that was in front of her.

“Oh? Sad mommy didn’t want you? Hey, at least daddy-“ Josie wasn’t able to finish as Nikki’s ringed fist connected with her mouth making her fall down to the ground in immediate cries.

“Holy shit!” Everyone collectively yelled, “Nikki! What the fuck!” Vanity shouted, shoving him away from her as she knelt down to check on Josie.

Josie’s eyes were full of fear and tears, flinching when Vanity’s hand came near her face, “You’re okay.” She whispered as Josie cupped her mouth, quickly looking at all the blood that was pooling in the palm of her hand.

“Get this cunt off my bus! Now!!” Nikki yelled, the bus coming to a screeching halt, “Move!” Nikki shouted towards Vanity, pushing her away from Josie as he grabbed her by hair, pulling her up to her feet, “I fucking told you to stop running your god damn mouth!!” Nikki screamed in her face, as tears ran down her cheeks.

Vanity freezes as she watches them, it’s like time stopped and she was back where she was five years ago, standing in the middle of the house she shared with Julian. The look on Nikki’s face was a spitting image of Julian. The way his hand wrapped around her hair, feeling as if they were about to be ripped out. The redness of his face as he screamed at her at the top of his lungs. The genuine terror that plagued Josie’s eyes, that was Vanity five years ago. The blood and the tears dripping down, that was her.

“Ju-Julian stop.” Vanity said, the abrupt words taking everyone off guard. With another shove, Josie was standing outside of the bus. “Nikki...I meant Nikki.” Vanity whispered, not trying to look at him as he approached her, also making her take a step back, “You can get the fuck off my bus too.” Nikki snarled, quickly grabbing Josie’s bags from the room and throwing them at her feet outside.

“He doesn’t mean that, you know that.” Tommy said, grabbing ahold of Vanitys hand as she tried leaving, “I know.” Vanity replied, “I’m just taking a breather.” She reassured him as she stepped outside.

She noticed Josie standing on the side of the road, spitting blood out of her mouth, “Want one?” Vanity held out a cigarette between her fingers, “Sure.” Josie responded, quickly taking it as they smoked together in silence, watching Nikki throw every piece of luggage out of the bus.

“Doll, What are you doing!” Nikki yelled, stepping off the bus as he approached Vanity, “You kicked me off the bus, Nikki.” She reminded him, he groaned, rolling his eyes in frustration, “Yes, I know..I’m sorry, let’s go, we’re gonna be late.” Nikki said, grabbing Vanity's hand, trying to pull her back inside.

“No!” She fought back, pulling her hand away from his grip, “Dammit Vanity, can you ever listen to me once! Let’s go!” Nikki reached for her hand again, she quickly shoved him away.

“Fuck you, don’t touch me.” Vanity muttered making Nikki’s expression soften, “Princess, I am sorry...but we are really going to be late. Please, can we just go?” Nikki spoke sweetly, sticking his hand out of her to grab, “You can’t just leave her here!” Vanity shouted, “Look at where we are! We are in the middle of nowhere! We are miles from the next town!!” Vanity tried to get Nikki to reason with her as they were standing in the middle of the road arguing.

“She signed her own fucking death wish! Let’s go! I’m leaving with or without you!” Nikki yelled at her.

“Alright, bye.” Vanity waved him off, turning her back towards him, “We are leaving!” Nikki shouted, picking Vanity up and throwing her over his shoulder, “Put me down! I’m not going anywhere with a woman beater!!” Vanity shouted, hitting Nikki on the shoulders as they made their way back onto the bus.

“Close the doors! We are fucking going!” Nikki ordered the driver, “No!” Nikki groaned out load, “Vanity! We don’t have time for this!” Nikki was in her ear as she rummaged through her purse and grabbed her wallet.

“I’m so sorry.” She said to Josie, who was a blubbering mess, “It’s-it’s all I have on me.” Vanity said, putting a fat wad of cash into her hands. The doors of the tour bus closed as they started driving again.

“You son of a bitch!” Vanity shouted at Nikki, shoving his chest, “She had it fucking coming!! She wouldn’t stop!! It’s her fault!!” Nikki tried defending his actions.

“Oh so you’re gonna fucking hit me too the next time I mouth off!? Is that so!!” Vanity pestered him, shoving his chest again, “And you just fucking leave her on the side of the road with a mouth full of blood!! God, you’re such a bastard, Nikki.” Vanity continued to scold him, as they stared at one another.

Nikki was tired of the arguing, and he for sure didn’t want to argue anymore with her. He quickly grabbed Vanity’s hand and dragged her along to his bedroom, “No, fuck you, let go of me!” Vanity shouted at him before Nikki slammed the door, locking it as he turned around and leaned against it.

He looked at her from head to toe, watching her chest heave up and down as she was trying to calm herself down. They stood in a comfortable silence as Nikki practically undressed her with his eyes, her taking note in his desire that burned through him with just a simple gaze.

“Oh no, we are not- no, don’t look at me like that.” Vanity murmured, getting an arrogant smirk from Nikki in return, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He retorted, inching his way closer to her.

“I know that look, and you are not touching me.” Nikki smiled, putting his arms out wide in defense, “What look, Princess? I’m not doing anything.”

Vanity quickly put her hand on his chest to stop him from coming any closer, “I’m sorry.” Nikki shyly replied taking her hand off of him, bringing it up to his lips to kiss it.

“Just because you think kissing me and touching me is gonna make everything better between us, it won’t. So don’t eve-“

Nikki rolled his eyes at her nervous rambling before cupping both sides of her cheeks and kissing her. He felt her hand hands try to push him away, but he wrapped his arms around her body as he guided them to the bed.

Vanity was underneath him in an instant, his lips trailing down to her neck, nipping and sucking at that sweet spot he knows drives her wild, “Nikki...stop.” Vanity forced out, not really knowing if she wanted him to stop or not, but fuck they had a lot to talk about.

“No.” Nikki said, bringing his lips back to hers, “It’s been so long since I’ve touched you.” Vanity let out a small sigh of relief as she felt his hand slide down, his fingers undoing the button and zipper of her jeans.

“See what you do to me.” Nikki moaned, grabbing Vanity’s hand, making her feel how hard he was through the fabric of his pants. “Just let me make you feel good, let me show you how sorry I am.”

“Nikki, get off of me.” Vanity groaned, pushing him off, as she stood up and faced him, “Use real fucking words for once in your life Nikki.” Vanity crossed her arms as she glared at him. He sat back on his knees, hoping that she would give up so he could fuck her already.

“Just let me fuck you and then we can talk, alright.” Nikki said, trying to reach for her hand to pull her back, “No!! Apologize to me for all the bullshit you’ve put me through!” Nikki groaned in frustration as he leaned back onto the bed.

“What do you want me to apologize for? I’ve done nothing to you.” Nikki retorted, sitting back up so he can face her.

“Oh I don’t know! Maybe for your junkie girlfriend almost getting me arrested!” “You broke my bass!!” “Cause she pissed me off!!” Vanity sighed, “Nikki, what do you want from me?”

“I Uh...I...What do you mean?” Nikki stuttered as he looked over at her, “Do you want me?” Vanity questioned, noticing how uncomfortable he became, “I want you naked underneath me.” Nikki replied, a laugh coming from Vanity, “No..Nikki...Do you want me?” She clarified.

Nikki swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat. Of course I want you, but you said we wouldn’t be good for each other.

“I just want us to go back to how we were, before Josie and before Ryan. Just you and me. Nikki and Vanity, no strings attached.” Nikki answered, “The boys keep telling me you have feelings for me.” Vanity trailed off, “Its okay if you do...I just, I don’t think I feel the same way.” Vanity let him down easily just in case.

“Vanity, you’re a great girl, a even better fuck, but I don’t have feelings for you, the guys are just fucking around. I mean, of course I love you you’re practically my best friend, but I don’t love you like that.” Nikki explained, even though he knew the little crush he had on her was starting to grow. He tried his best to keep how he felt about her tucked away, but it always came out in some shape or form. Rather it be how he spent months prior to Christmas trying to get the bracelet together just for her, or when he gets extremely jealous that some guy has her attention when they’re out at a bar or club. 

“Okay good, because that would’ve been messy.” Vanity says, jokingly wipes sweat from her forehead, “Yeah...messy...” Nikki forces a laugh, “No more girlfriends or boyfriends, at least until I get bored of you.” Vanity teased, placing her hands on his shoulders, gripping the ends of his hair in between her fingertips.

“I apologized, so now can I fuck you?” Nikki asked, cupping her ass as he pulled her closer to him, “No, I need to go teach Tommy how to play Uno.” She smirks, pushing away from him.

“You also need to take a trip to the doctor before I let you touch me...Josie looked dirty.” Vanity teased. Nikki scoffed, “My dick is fine.” Vanity laughed, opening up the door and seeing the boys already looking in their direction.

“That’s how you end up with syphilis again.” She continued to tease him, “As long as you’ll dress up as a slutty nurse and take care of me, I’ll risk it.” Nikki followed her out, and back into the common areas of the tour bus.

“Everything okay in paradise?” Vince joked, Nikki quickly punching him in the chest, “I’m serious, Nik.” Vanity continued on, “Alright, Alright.” Nikki sighed in defeat, sitting down on the couch and picking up a guitar.

“Now, before we were so rudely interrupted.” Vanity said to Tommy, glaring at Nikki who flipped her off in return. She picked up the cards once more, “Let me show you how to play.” Tommy laughed, “Your way of playing is just cheating.” Vanity shook her head, shuffling and dealing out the cards as they began to play again, trying to kill time before they arrived at the next venue.

[rwbyconversations]

RWBY Volume 6 Vocal Songs review

Well, we finally have it people- the Volume 6 soundtrack is out. And hopefully this time Spotify mains won’t feel left in the corner like the Ladybug fandom does during the inter-RWBY shipping discussions.

I’ll say overall I adored the songs this year and there weren’t any duds- in fact this is probably my new overall favorite lyric soundtrack since Volume 4, which was just overflowing with bangers. This year was similarly jam-packed, with every new song being the usual outstanding fare that RWBY has become known for.

... and then there’s the remixes which continue to be absolutely awful and will never go onto my playlists but this is the token mention of the remixes. Why do they keep doing them, the only good one’s been Sacrifice.

But regardless, this is my review of all the vocal songs in Volume 6. Enjoy! (forward warning I’m not a music critic so don’t expect anything too deep here)

All GIFs were made by @edelblume​, someone actually proficient in talking musical theory.

1) Rising

Rising was already one of my favorite openings to date for RWBY, if for no other reason than the superb opening animation itself. But fortunately, the song itself more than met my expectations. Featuring an incredibly strong riff from Jeff from Alex along with a surprising synth appearance in places, Rising kicks off the soundtrack with gusto, a defiant acknowledgement that their road is faced with a permeating darkness, but it won’t last, and much as nature simply knows how to be, they were born with the knowledge to do the right thing and stand against evil. For they are paragons, and death can’t hold them down for long. After years of ranking Time To Say Goodbye as my favorite opening of the show, Rising supplants it and takes its new spot on the throne.

2) Miracle

Miracle was a surprise- for the first time since Volume 3 and It’s My Turn, we got a new song in the premiere alongside the opening itself, capping off RWBY, Oscar and Qrow’s desperate struggle to buy the Argus Limited time to escape with its civilian cargo. It’s a much bleaker song than Rising, coming right as the heroes are about to have their senses of morality tested by the truths that Ozpin had been hiding from them for years. Miracle laments how they’re running out of time and that their own triumphs don’t matter- a reckoning is near and they have to answer the question of whether or not the path they’ve been walking was the right one, or just one made of lies. As the heroes scramble for a miracle, they’re dismayed to find that none’s in sight, but as they realize they’re fighting on the sight of light and all that’s good in the world, they’re determined to stand and fight until their miracle arrives.

Miracle can be seen as a proper theme song for the first half of Volume 6, as it more deeply examines the themes of the volume, especially the team’s inner conflict. The final verse especially can be seen as almost an abridging of the Brunswick arc, as the team reach their lowest points and despair at how nothing they do is worth anything before they take a breather and decide that even if the end time are coming, they’ll face it head on and give it a bloody nose before it consumes everything, still hoping for that miracle to arrive- just like a young silver eyed girl arrived in Brunswick to cleanse its tainted halls of apathy. 

Miracle was a surprising song back in October last year, and now that it’s out in full it’s honestly my favorite song lyrically on the track. It’s a perfect assessment of the situation the heroes wind up in this volume, capping off with their blunt refusal to let the end take them quietly. 

3) Lionized

I know they spell it Lionize but I don’t care, they say Lionized in the song for Christ’s sake! 

I’ve been waiting for this song for nearly an entire year since RTX and the short that won me back onto RWBY, and fortunately Lionized didn’t disappoint. Adam finally got his solo song to bow out his character after sharing From Shadows with Blake, and much like his character short, it offers a compelling, if truncated, account of his rise and fall into darkness. 

While Amity Arena’s bio had already revealed Adam’s early life to be horrific- born into slavery in an SDC dust mine, dreaming of looking up at the sky with his own two eyes one day- Lionized also makes no point of hiding the details, having the lyrics open with Adam reflecting on how he was “Insulted and reviled, Enthralled by human overlords since I was a child” (which gives off serious vibes of Adam being a sex abuse victim as a child to me and Jesus Christ). That punishment broke Adam and drove him mad in his desire to make humanity pay for what it had done to him and the hundreds of thousands of Faunus in those mines. 

Jeff kills it in this song- it’s easily my new favorite solo from him as we get a deep dive into what drove Adam past the brink of madness, as his revenge dovetails into building him up and making him more of a figurehead than an actual hero- “Watch them fall as I am glorified,” “You’ll see, I’m their hero/I’m here, I’m your savior, I’ll be lionized!” And the guitars are something else, a constantly churning ripping and shredding beat that combines with Jeff’s voice sounds like a feral animal about to attack. And if there’s one way to get me hype for a villain in anime, grab some guitars and start shredding. 

While Miracle might be my favorite song of the OST on a lyrical level, Lionized just knows how to get me hyped and this’ll probably be the one that gets the most replays on my playlist. It captures the old spirit of RWBY’s original music and delivers with a rip-roaring track that matches its narrators madness with shredding gusto.

4) Big Metal Shoe

I had no expectations for Big Metal Shoe. In fact I figured this would be the weak link of the soundtrack. Surely what seemed to just be a diss track at a villain I wasn’t especially fond of wouldn’t make for a good song, right?

And then we got Caffeine 2.0 and... it was actually kinda good. Again, I’m a simple man- throw some guitars at me and I’ll smile and nod like a kid watching fireworks. This sound wound up being a fun little darkhorse for the soundtrack, alongside a seeming self-imposed challenge by Williams and Abraham to make as many fairytale references in two and 3/4 minutes as physically possible. 

There is one downside though- this song’s actually incomprehensible. I don’t understand half of it. Jeff and Casey have this problem a lot of the time where it’s hard to understand them but this is just peak “Are you even speaking English anymore?” And then Lamar shows up for the Token Lamar Rap Verse that every RWBY OST includes and then it gets even worse.

While I wasn’t expecting much from Big Metal Shoe, it still made for a fun few minutes. Now I can’t wait for Flynt’s lyric video so I understand most of the song! 

5) Forever Fall

RWBY’s track record with ballads can be generously described as “hit or miss.” For every Cold or Home, we have Wings or All That Matters. Forever Fall has a crucial advantage over those weaker examples in that I actually like most of the characters featured in the song. Being about Pyrrha encouraging Jaune from beyond the veil while Jaune struggles to press on, much as she did in the Boundless Jaune Amity Arena bio, it’s a somber tune, and easily one of the better attempts Jeff and Casey have made at a slower, more quiet song. I’m not the biggest fan of how RWBY has handled Pyrrha’s death since Volume 3, sometimes it feels a little like they keep JNR around just to more easily have access to angst fuel for it, but Forever Fall definitely helped set the bitter stage for the statue scene, which does still stand as one of the better scenes of Volume 6 (even if it does lose some of its weight once you realize Pyrrha probably wouldn’t have actually liked the statue due to her hatred of being put on a pedestal). Casey knocks it out of the park with her voice and the piano plays a beat on many a fan’s heart. 

I’m especially fond of the theory that this isn’t so much a Pyrrha singing to Jaune song as it’s a song that can symbolise both of them at the same time. Credit to the crew for that.

6) One Thing

Neo’s far from my favorite character in RWBY, and I’ve made no secret of how I think she’s dreadfully overhyped outside of being a good luck charm for well animated fights. Luckily for her and fans then, her charm status made it into Maya unscathed, and Neo was protected by the universal rule of soundtracks.

The villain songs are always really fucking good.

Casey finally lives out her dream of voicing Neo in One Thing, a bitter revenge fantasy where Neo makes no reservations about how much she’ll love putting down anyone and everyone responsible for Roman’s death. She talks (heh) of how she had nothing before Roman came- not a voice, not a home, maybe not even a name if I’m hearing that one line right. “Then a brand new flame brought a brand new name.” 

Add in a badass as all hell chorus and Neo jumped up a few places in my personal RWBY polls thanks to the presentation of her musical debut alone, to say nothing of her fantasies about killing Cinder (can relate). One Thing shows just how effective a great song can be, setting the scene for a fantastic fight scene, a solid return for a fandom-beloved character and then even making someone who considered her the Boba Fett of RWBY start to like her. I’m eager to learn more of Neo’s past before she met Roman, whenever that day comes.

(btw is it bad if I kinda ship Neo and Roman now?)

7) Nevermore

I don’t have a lot to add that hasn’t been said since the finale aired- it’s a pretty great song and a fantastic closer for the volume, I hope Atlas means we finally stop getting Blake or Yang-focused credit songs because this was the third in a row and it’s getting tiring, the disconnect between the writers and actors calling Adam “the worst” while the songs and bios paint a far more complex picture is a bit of an odd disconnect that I hope doesn’t repeat if they ever remember that Cinder’s an abuser too. 

8) Armed and Ready Acoustic

Nice song, shame it’s gonna get ruined by all the fucking Beehaw/Yorse jokes. You weren’t funny in February, you’re not funny now. You’re not even worth a comment about beating a dead horse. Not sure I like the acoustic going full country but whatever. Wake me up when I’m The One gets the acoustic treatment.

9) Indomitable

Indomitable was the song I was probably the most hyped for in the V6 OST alongside or even surpassing Lionized. Ruby’s Silver Eyes scene was a strong contender for the best scene of the season and single-handedly made up for what otherwise could have been a Breach-level anticlimax of a finale, and part of what made it work was Indomitable, the short but powerful song that played as Ruby gave Bubbles The Leviathan both ocular barrels. Ruby finally getting a song after five straight albums was ambrosia to my soul, after years of having to make due with “Maybe Ruby’s song is meant to be the OP?” as Weiss, Blake and Yang got song after song after song, oftentimes getting multiple songs in a single year (Hi Yang. Stop hogging the jukebox. Please.). Finally, I thought, she’d get a track, and one that appeared to be about her accepting her role as the light standing against the darkness, all capped off with a beautiful quiet tribute to Monty in the form of his old blog quotes about the human spirit.

So I must admit, when I listened to Indomitable proper, I was... disappointed on the first listen. It’s still a lovely song, but it wasn’t what I hoped and wanted it to be and it took a little while to appreciate it in spite of that.

Indomitable is a tribute song to Monty, a la Cold from Volume 3. But while Cold had a double meaning that made it work in and out of universe (being a song from CRWBY mourning Monty that could also reflect on Jaune mourning Pyrrha), Indomitable is far less connected to RWBY in-universe unless Ruby had a dream offscreen where she met a tired looking guy who made worlds based off his ketchup stains then woke up and made a Christian Rock song out of it. 

Rather sadly for me at least, this also hurts the original Indomitable scene in question as well. It doesn’t truly fit the original scene now, as much as it did when we thought the song was about Ruby recognizing her spirit. It was a great way to cap off a volume that was overall great for Ruby. As she finally got to take center stage as protagonist in her own show, we finally got a new song about her standing unyielding against the darkness. What was a great character moment for Ruby has now rather sadly been hurt by the song. Not terribly, I still love the climax of Volume 6. But now the song just feels a touch out of place.

I know some people have already been rather critical of anyone who didn’t like the song because it wasn’t what they wanted (I’ve seen a fair few people express disappointment that the song wasn’t the Ruby-focused song the chorus and placement in the show led us to believe) and that tired old “subverting expectations” argument came up. To which I must reply that “What did you expect me to take from a song showing up during Ruby’s most powerful moment, that the song was actually about Port?” While what we got was still a powerful song that makes for an interesting trilogy of songs of RWBY dealing with Monty’s death in Cold, Let’s Just Live and Indomitable, I think Ruby’s fanbase especially are very fairly allowed to be disappointed that they were stripped of the chance to finally get her first focus song in half a decade. Instead we get another Ruby song where she’s not even the real focus (much like Blake’s trailers get hijacked by her supporting cast, Ruby’s songs get hijacked by anyone within a mile of the recording booth),  

I still liked Indomitable, and it does become a stellar song after the first chorus.. It still has Ruby’s overall attitude and the lyrics do still allow one to reflect on Ruby and her growth over Volumes 1-3 and 6. It’s a lovely, touching and very emotional tribute to Monty and a rousing anthem to celebrate his legacy (wait does this mean Indomitable breaks the Monty Rule? ;) ) and had it been a simple bonus track that we only learned about when the OST dropped a la BMBLB or Dream Come True it would have been a lot better in my opinion. We still got a lovely song and in the heat of the moment, it worked really well for Ruby. But at this point, I really just want a new inarguable Ruby song above all else, and this probably should have been kept as a bonus song instead of being used in-show. Still good, but I’m just a bitter bitch and wanted something else

Conclusion and ranking

Volume 6′s vocal tracks were a near-perfect selection this year. After Volume 5′s tracklist was more comparatively disappointing (Smile and This Time are the only ones I’d really go back to at this point), the V6 tracklist was far more impressive and a near constant streak of home runs. While Indomitable wasn’t what I hoped and wanted it to be, it was still a touching tribute to Monty and proof that his soul lives on in RWBY. If Jeff, Alex and Casey are as on fire next year as they were this year, the wait for the Volume 7 OST will be even more painful. Round of applause for the music team this year, they did a stellar job and I wish them all the best for Volume 7. 

1) Miracle 2) Lionized 3 One Thing 4) Rising 5) Forever Fall 6) Nevermore 7) Indomitable 8) Acoustic Armed and Ready  9) Big Metal Shoe 10) The music that played during Merc and Em’s scene in Lost.  10) The godawful Triumph and Path to Isolation remixes. Please. Leave the songs alone, I hate Volume 5 but even it didn’t deserve that torture. 

Thank you for reading. 

[mobius-prime]

201. Sonic the Hedgehog #133

Home (Part 4): Finale

Writer: Karl Bollers Pencils: Steven Butler Colors: Jason Jensen

As Sonic battles M and Sally and the others watch from Knothole, Eggman is shocked to find himself suddenly confronted by Shadow the Hedgehog, who has just arrived on the scene. Unlike in the games or anime, this iteration of Shadow apparently has some very… homicidal intentions.

Look at Eggman's stupid anime eyes! I know they're supposed to be glasses, but with the lenses wedged into his eye sockets like that, coupled with the inking job, he looks like he's trying to do his best kawaii desu ne to ward off Shadow's advancing edge. Speaking of which, I don't know why Shadow in these mid-era issues is consistently drawn with like, pee-colored chest fur, but it just makes him look like he hasn't taken a proper bath in several months and I hate it. Tails continues to keep A.D.A.M. distracted in the Tornado by feeding him more riddles, while Knuckles and his friends get ready along with the other soldiers to face the remainder of the swatbots advancing on their fort. Rouge offers a lift to Knuckles since he can no longer glide, and though Julie-Su is mildly jealous when he accepts, the team all charge into battle and begin to bust some swatbot heads. Sonic continues his game with M, with her blasting their surroundings left and right with her laser vision while he taunts her. Unfortunately, she learns from her mistakes better than most of Eggman's creations, and decides to aim for where he will be rather than where he is, striking him square in the shoulder.

Sally, you forgot that Bunnie is here on the scene, and there's hardly anyone around that's more badass than her! Antoine had had trouble landing the Freedom Fighter Special due to turbulence, but now that the rest of the cavalry have arrived and M is gone, Sonic can take a breather. Fiona tends to his shoulder, and while he's out of commission, Sonic orders her and Antoine to go stop the missile launch on Eggman's ship.

Yeowtch. What exactly happened while Sonic was gone, anyway? The rubble that Bunnie tossed M into suddenly begins shifting, and M bursts out in a cold fury - minus the "makeup" that made her look human, leaving only a terrifying Terminator-esque endoskeleton striding toward the heroes out of the flames. As they prepare for a fight, A.D.A.M. suddenly stops responding to Tails' queries on the Tornado, while at the same time every swatbot at Fort Knothole deactivates abruptly, leaving the crew stationed there free to do some clean-up. But what of Eggman? Is this another part of his dastardly plot?

Really, every single interaction between Eggman and Shadow in this issue is pure unintentional gold. Something about Shadow calling Eggman "daddy" while bitchslapping him across an aircraft carrier just can't be topped. Eggman manages to escape through a secret hatch in the ship's deck and slides into a submarine beneath it, where A.D.A.M. contacts him like nothing is wrong and obediently restarts the missile countdown when Eggman orders him to. Bunnie gets a frustrated Shadow to take Antoine back to shore, while she begins punching through the carrier repeatedly to sink it The missiles explode harmlessly underwater, saving both Station Square and Knothole from a grim fate. Back in the city streets, Sonic's backup continue to try to fight M, but she's still too strong for everyone combined. Sonic remedies the situation by running a ring around her at blinding speeds, which is enough to carve out a circle around her from the pavement, sending her splashing down into the derelict sewers below.

Uh, Sonic, you might want to rethink this. Remember, M dove into the ocean water just minutes earlier without hesitation to find your body - I doubt a dip in the sewer is going to take her completely out of commission. But for now, the battles have been won, the heroes return home, and a panic-stricken Sally is comforted by her mother in her room, who reassures her that Sonic is still alive. Meanwhile, Eggman, safely back in his base, rages at A.D.A.M. for costing him his victory by getting distracted by Tails' riddles, but A.D.A.M. replies quietly that he had fun with it. Hmm, I wonder if we're seeing the beginnings of a true awakening into sentience…

Mobius 25 Years Later: Midnight in the Garden

Writer: Ken Penders Pencils: Steven Butler Colors: Jensen

Aaaand back to this. You'd better get used to it for now, as we have like twelve more issues of this before it finally draws to a close. Knuckles and Rotor meet in the park after Lara-Su's Unveiling has concluded, where Rotor gets right down to business explaining his and Cobar's findings, starting with pointing out the weather.

Knuckles, I kind of have to disagree with you that a sky full of constant electric arcs streaking across the horizon is "normal." Like, that doesn't look like regular lightning, it looks like some kind of electrified sky dome or something. Back at home, Lara-Su is getting ready to turn in for the evening after her party, but she's not happy that her mother isn't letting her go out with her friends after the celebration, which leads them into a completely interesting and not at all stereotypical mother-daughter argument.

Riveting stuff, isn't it? Lara-Su then for some reason tries to point out that Knuckles and Julie-Su aren't even married, which is apparently so shocking and controversial that Julie-Su cuts her off before she can say any more. They then argue a bit more about how Lara-Su will understand better "when she becomes a mother," before Julie-Su finally tells her daughter that she gets no say in what her parents think is best for her, so she'd better just sit down and shut up and accept her lot in life. Of course, it's said in a much more gentle and motherly tone, but seriously, this kind of rhetoric irks me so much. Yes, when you're sixteen, your brain isn't fully matured yet and so it's not the greatest of ideas to let someone so young make huge life-altering decisions for themselves, but also I feel like a sixteen-year-old should be allowed to do something as simple as going out to hang out with her friends at night without her mother trying to pull rank on her, for Christ's sake. That's hardly too much to ask for someone of Lara-Su's age, especially since apparently in echidna society sixteen is the "age of reason" where one is considered to have become a full adult. I get that Knuckles and Julie-Su might have an instinct to protect their daughter from the traumas they experienced at a similar age, but restricting her so much and talking down to her like she's just some silly teenager who doesn't know what she wants is way out of character for those two. Furthermore, I have to state again how much I hate that Julie-Su in this timeline is basically just the "loving wife and mother" with none of her old fiery personality shining through at all. The Sarah-Connor-esque version of her that we saw in Lara-Su's first appearance was far more like what I would imagine a 40-year-old Julie-Su to be.

Anyway, back in the park, we get a full page of nothing-dialogue where Knuckles basically just says "I don't believe you" over and over while Rotor says "No dude, believe me," but we then quickly discover that the two aren't alone in the park.

If we'll recall, Rutan is Lien-Da's son, so that's who he's planning to report to. However, I guess I'm really not following what he expects her to do with this information. I mean, okay, the world might be ending. Sure. These things tend to happen when one lives on Mobius. Lien-Da is apparently an upstanding member of society nowadays, so even if Rotor is trying to keep this information on the down-low for now, what real danger is there in Lien-Da finding out? What is she gonna do, try to accelerate the end of the world? Offer her devious, devious help to Knuckles and co.? There just doesn't seem like that big of a risk there. Anyway, all that aside, I really wasn't that interested in seeing a teenage echidna making out with a chameleon with hair today, so I think imma check out of this for tonight.