#Penny is fun to draw have I mentioned that. I’m gonna do it again soon

[noxchievous]

Penny !!!! + one billie. Penny is so fun to draw by tha by it’s insane

don’t mind the bad lighting it is 2 am

[angstama]

god knows you tried | manjiro (mikey) sano

pairing: bonten!mikey x reader 

genre: angst

warnings: heartbreak, attempt suicide(?), original characters/manga plot (pls do not read if you haven’t read the manga D: ), mentions of religion, implied sex (no smut ok!)

summary: god knows you tried your best. if only mikey knew how hard you’re trying too then perhaps this love wouldn’t hurt as much as you thought. 

 words: 1823 words 

 a/n: i think this sucks but... i hope you enjoy it! <3

god knows you tried.

you watched the ex-toman boys eagerly catching up with takemichi quietly, hands resting against your chin as you took in the rare sight in front of you with a sad smile etched on your lips. this was the happy ending that mikey had sacrificed for everyone but himself. 

“a penny for your thoughts?” mitsuya asks, plopping down next you on to the stone steps. that’s right, it’s june 19th 2018, toman’s formation day anniversary and everyone had gathered around to re-open the time capsule from twelve years ago. “hm? nothing much. just missing a particular someone.” you hummed, dragging your fingers across the ground to draw a heart. mitsuya nods understandingly, knowing not to pry any deeper anymore and for that, you’re thankful. 

crouching down, you hesitantly picked up the the blue coloured envelope you left behind twelve years ago. unsure if you’d wanna read the contents of the letter your naive self written back then. with a deep breath, you slipped open the cover. revealing a photo of candid photo of you and mikey leaning on each other asleep with your mouths wide open taken by emma. 

dearest y/n, 

i wonder what you’re doing right now? 

are you perhaps finally studying in film? 

has that idiot manjiro finally proposed to you?

 or are you the one who proposed to him? 

“y/n, you’ll be with me for a long time right?” mikey asked, staring at the very sky that you both loved oh so very much with your hands intertwined. having grown up with each other since young had pretty much given you both the illusion that the two of you will always be a part of each other’s world. and you hoped with every inch of your heart that mikey wants it to be that way forever. “of course. you’re my heaven and home mikey. i wouldn’t go anywhere else without you by my side.” you squeezed his hand in assurance, knowing that at this very moment, mikey was at his most truthful and vulnerable self with you. 

whatever it is, i hope that you’re living the happy life with him that you’ve been dreaming of. 

signing off, 

toman’s honorary member, y/n l/n. 

everyone was silent. even hakkai who had been making fun of everyone’s letter kept quiet. the boys knew how much you loved and you still love mikey. each opting to give you the concerned and sympathetic look. you could feel you heart breaking even more for you knew you weren’t doing anything that you had hoped for back then. 

you felt mitsuya’s comforting hand softly grabbing onto yours. “well that’s depressing,” you chuckled softly, wanting to get rid of the awkward tension in the air as soon as possible. “let’s grab some ramen, i’m starving.” and with that, you let your feet drag you away from the heavy atmosphere with your head hung low. 

perhaps the hurt wouldn't be as painful if you weren’t the only one who knew what kind of path mikey had chosen to go down. you see, when mikey turned his back against all his closest friend, you had the privilege of staying as his only constant thanks to your stubborn nature but even with that, you weren’t enough to keep him away from his dark impulses. mikey chose the path to destruction and the only thing that you could do was watch from the sidelines and be there when he shows up at wee hours of the night to borrow your body. but you didn't mind. it was during these most intimate moments with mikey that you finally get to feel a piece of him again when he spews the words of “i love you” so effortlessly. 

god knows that you tried. 

“mikey those aren’t good for you.” you frowned, snatching the capsule away from his hand seconds before he could flush it down his system. “what the fuck y/n?” the angered male snaps. you felt yourself falling and back colliding against the hard ground. opening your eyes, you see mikey pining you down with nothing but void darkness in his eyes. “i’ll fucking kill you if you do it again.” mikey taunts, he was serious and you know it. 

“then kill me mikey.” the words slipped out of your tongue instantly. you were tired. tired of trying. you don't know what else can you possibly do to help mikey anymore. mikey says nothing but got off you. he dusted himself and without sparing you single glance, he showed you his back again, walking out of the door where sanzu was already holding open for him. “get her home.” you heard him say. 

it’s been a week since you guys opened the time capsule. nothing much had happened since then except you’ve been spending more time with hina considering how she’s often over to mitsuya’s studio for gown fitting. you admired and envy her love story with takemichi. but who were you to complain? you were lucky enough that mikey still wanted you around. so it shouldn’t hurt so much when you sae her adorning the beautiful wedding gown that mitsuya had spent months on tailoring. 

you let out a tired yawn, stretching your arms above your head as you finished touching up the last few bits of editing on your laptop. you looked over at the calendar on your table, a pink heart circled over today’s date and smiled. “mitsuya, i’m gonna knock off first okay?” you announced, tidying up your table and reaching out for the bag of the familiar favourite deserts of a certain male. 

mitsuya nods, “thank you for your hard work y/n”. he flashes you a smile, eye slowly trailing to the white plastic bag dangling from your side as you waved goodbye, back facing him and walking away. “you’re going to see him aren't you?” you stopped in your tracks. “i know he never left you. plus you got a bag filled with dorayakis and taiyakis. that’s pretty obvious.” mitsuya chuckles. you always knew mitsuya to be perceptive but it never once occured to you that your best friend who is also your boss would ever catch on to the secret you’ve been hiding for twelve years. 

“how did yo-” 

“be careful y/n.” mitsuya waves you off, going back to whatever he was doing. a fond smile creeps onto your lips as you watched mitsuya working hard. “thank you mitsuya. for everything. really,” you whispered, but loud enough for the dual dyed coloured hair boy to look up again when you walked away. 

you made your way towards the secluded vip section of the club through swarms of body swaying around you until you saw the familiar tall pink haired male standing outside the golden door. 

“hey sanzu,” you greeted, barely audible over the loud booming music. you were about to push the door open when sanzu towers over you immediately, denying you of your entrance. you looked at sanzu in confusion, “it’s me, y/n. i’m here to see mikey.” you said loudly, voice straining to over power the background noise. “ i know. but mikey will not be seeing anyone right now.” he retorts back. 

surely mikey knew that you were visiting tonight right? after all it’s your anniversary date. you tilted your head at sanzu. not fully understanding what he’s saying. to say that you’re feeling absolutely livid would be an understatement right now. you’re too tired, angry and broken hearted to process anything anymore so you exploded. you only wanted to see your boyfriend. was that a very difficult request? 

“sanzu,” you said lowly, eyes staring blankly into his and as if on cue, you brought your knees to his precious manhood before making another high kick at him, bringing him down. it was a technique that mikey had taught you when you were younger and attending martial arts lesson together with baji. god you missed baji so much. 

“y/n because you’re short, you can do this instead.” mikey suggested smugly, kneeing poor baji’s little friend before swinging his legs much more harder than he intended to at baji’s profile when he bent forward. the main point was to get your opponent to lean forward so that your legs could reach high enough to create an impact on their skull. you eyes lit up in excitement, “wow! that’s so cool! let me try it!” you jumped impatiently. turning towards mikey to execute the exact same move. “wait n-! AHH,” mikey’s eyes widened, and before he knew it, you had completely knocked him over. 

that day, as mikey and baji lied down with pain still intact barely moving an inch, shinchiro only gave you a thumbs up and praised you for taking down the invincible mikey. you were the only one who could do that. 

“sanzu, i’ll see my boyfriend as and when i’d like to.” you said curtly, eyeing sending daggers at him lying on the ground before stepping over him to swing the door open, revealing your petite self to the other bonten’s executives and hostess who were staring at you in surprise. 

you don’t see anyone else but your lover who’s currently sitting in the center with two pretty hostess sitting by his side. you don’t hesitate and begun walking  towards him. “get your hands off my man.” you said calmly. there was tension in the air and from the corner of your eyes, you could see the executives slowly getting up to leave as if on cue. 

“aren’t you as stubborn as always,” he raises a brow as you settled down next to him, pouring the bag of dessert on the glass table in front of you. you smile softly, grabbing a packet of taiyaki and handing it to him before grabbing one for yourself too. “happy 14th anniversary mikey.” you mumbled softly before grabbing a bite.  14 years, that was how long you two had been together for. “mhm. happy 14th anniversary y/n.” mikey hums, allowing you lean in close to him and resting your head on his chest. 

you take in the scent of mikey for you knew that this is going to be the last time you’re going to be able to hold mikey close to you. you didn't want this moment to end but you were too tired to continue on and see what's going to happen the next when you go back to just another normal day. you held tightly to the gun you hid in your bag, shutting your eyes tightly. 

“hey mikey,” you called out. you never thought you’d see it again but you saw a flash of endearment in his eyes when you called him. “i love you so much, promise you’ll take care of yourself alright?” you smiled warmly before pulling the gun out of your bag and putting it against your head. 

god knows you tried. 

god knows you did your best and now you’re going home. 

bang!

[deepdonutkid]

Buy me a drink and let me tell you why I need it

Authors note

Thank you very much for the request    @caelys​ I had fun writing it and actually I thought about modern!au John way too much. Like I made a model for his apartment and a playlist and I could possibly draw ten more fan arts of him.

It takes place in a modern setting, but it starts before John goes to the military. He and Tommy still work in the Garrison, besides some other shadier jobs. Arthur is a car mechanic or something like that. Ada still goes to school and Finn too. Polly and Michael are not mentioned here.

Female reader x bartender!John BIG PUNK VIBES HERE!

Actually, this was going to be a multi-chapter fic with intense slow-burn, but whatever there it is. Just say one thing and I’ll write a second part!

tagging  @bonniesgoldengirl​

 Warning: drinking, drug use, marijuana, swearing, infidelity mentioned, a little bittersweet

Word count: 2348

 The garrison was not a pub for everyone. It was full of gangsters and other low-life scum. A woman was a curiosity. Working there wasn’t pleasant, but John didn’t complain.

It was the only legal job he got after graduating. He worked at the Garrison twice a week, usually on Friday and Saturday.

The nice thing about this work was the free beer and he could make as many cigarette breaks as he liked.

Nevertheless, John was a little pissed that night, because he could see his friends drinking over there and he had to stand behind the counter. Tommy’s orders!

“Fuck off, Tommy”, he mumbled while cleaning bar. Of course, his brother didn’t hear that, he was busy making some phone calls. John didn’t want to know, who Tommy was calling or why. Probably their next job.

But while he was still on the first one, he didn’t want to think about more work. He already had enough. It was past ten and John hadn’t eaten for hours.

At first, he was to occupied from his work to notice you. You sat down at the bar and cleared your throat. It wasn’t on purpose or to get the bartenders attention. Actually, you just wanted your peace. You hated being trapped in your new apartment, while everything was still so empty. Since you moved, so much changed in your life, but you still felt lonely.

That’s why, you walked straight into the nearest pub, when you couldn’t bear the weight of your own thoughts. But now you realized you hadn’t a penny left. Or at least not enough for a beer. “Get me a glass of water please.”, you said to the bartender, who kept starring at you. First you thought he was a little weird and also a little intimidating, but then you understood what he expected from you. An order, of course.

“A glass of water?”, he asked with a grin on his face: “Really? You know, where you are, girl?”

Now you looked confused. Maybe there was an unspoken rule, to not order a soft drink in this place, but how you should know? After all, you’ve been pretty new to Small Heath. Three days ago you moved into your new place. It was small, but it was yours. Your private space and your sanctuary. “A pub… maybe?”, you joked: “So what about the water?”

“Ah, I get it… It’s the end of month.”, he responded.

You laughed and shook your head. “I’m always broke. Money is not my thing.”

“Not mine either.”

Now he got your attention. You took a closer look at the bartender. He was somehow handsome. A pretty face for a fucked-up place like this. Then you noticed the tattoos on his arms, that peaked out of the sleeves of his shirt. “Dead Kennedys. Nice”, you mumbled and smiled slightly, barely visible.

He put a filled glass in front of you and smirked. “No need to pay.”

Your eyes widened. That bartender really surprised you. He was nicer than he looked like. You took a sip from the glass and nodded. “Thanks… I guess.”

The water was okay, but everything you wished for was a beer or a whiskey. Something to stop your brain from thinking. However, you nipped the glass very patiently, because you didn’t want to leave this place too soon. You didn’t know the neighborhood and chances were high, you got lost on your way around town.

The bartender seemed to notice your tension. “Do you want to drink something else?”

“A beer would be nice.” You croaked

The handsome man behind the bar nodded and pulled out a pint. “A beer, it is.”

You didn’t know it yet, but you were the only thing tonight, that made his work bearable. Everything else was so boring and you were new in town. Every little thing about you was so exciting for him. Staring with the fact that you stumbled into the Garrison without knowing its reputation. Then your little comment about his shirt, yes, he heard that. And your overall appearance was just the cherry on top.

The leather jacket, the ripped jeans and your washed-out Kurt Cobain shirt said a lot about you and John was ready to listen. What else should he do in the next couple of hours until his shift ended?  

“I’m John.”, he said and served you a beer.

You noticed the twinkle with his eye and replied with a shy smile. “Just call me Y/n”

The two of you shook hands and exchanged a strange glance. Was he flirting with you? No, of course not, you brushed it off. It was part of his job, to be nice to his customers.

After a few sips of your beer, you calmed down a bit, but not enough. You fumbled in the inside pocket of your jacket for your package. You smoked Dunhill and probably started way to early in life. An end of your smoking addiction was not in sight. The package was already half empty, when you opened it.

“Fuck” you cursed and signed. How could you make it to your next pay check with just a few cigarettes left? Maybe skip dinner a few times.

“Cigarettes are empty too?” he asked “I would give you one of mine, but they are empty too.”

“No, I still have some left, but not enough until July. Maybe not even enough for the rest of this night.”, you explained.

You took two out of the package and put it back. “Want one? I don’t have money, but at least I still have something to smoke.”

“Whatcha smoking?” “Dunhill”, you answered.

A wide grin appeared on his face. “Me too.”

“I know, I shouldn’t… but I just can’t quit.” You shrugged and lit your cigarette.

John brushed it off. “Fuck em. I think, I’m never gonna quit too. This shit just stays with you forever.”

“True”, you signed and took a deep drag from your cigarette.

“So… why am I the only girl in this place? Is there something I should know?”

“Nah, not really. It’s just…”, he began to explain, but then paused to smoke. You liked how he leaned against the counter. Like there was no cooler person in this room. “I don’t know… most women don’t like it here. Too filthy or whatever.”

You nodded and looked around. Everything smelled like ashtray and whiskey. There was dirt lying around. Nobody seemed to bother, so you chose not to either.

“And you are new in Birmingham?”, he asked: “All the locals know to stay away from this place.”

Again, you nodded and hid your smile behind your hand. “I just grabbed my bass and some clothes and left.”

“Bass?” Now, John was hooked. Since he could walk and talk, he had a thing for music. Especially rock and punk and he blabber about his favorite bands all day. Of course, he never learned to play an instrument, because his family was too poor, but he stole every record he could lay hands on. “You play bass?”

“Yeah, I can also play guitar, but I sold mine to get here. I started playing in a band now and I really hope this is going to work out… somehow.”, you explained

“Maybe.”, he said: “I can ask Harry, if you can play here. Live music would be great.”

You beamed and jumped almost over the counter. “Really?”

“But I need to listen to a song first. Otherwise, I can’t do it with good conscience.”

“Yeah, sure thing! When I get the promo tape, I’ll come back here.” Finally, some good news for you. After all you went though you really needed that and right now you just couldn’t stop smiling.

Three beers later, you were already in an in-depth discussion about music and which bands paved the way for punk.

After six more beers, you danced to the song he put on. John watched you with the purest joy. Nobody has ever danced in the Garrison. Good for him, that Tommy left, because “something important” occurred.

On beer twelve you sang for all the man to watch. The Shelby just could take his eyes off you, even when you didn’t hit the right tone.

He even caught you, when you fell over the counter.

But in the end the bar had to close and you still had nowhere to go, so you waited for him to finish his work. It took twice as long, because John kept staring at you in awe.

After everything was done, he asked, if he should walk you home and you agreed. Actually, you didn’t say yes, you hugged him and rubbed your cheek against his. Then you made a purring sound and told him your address.

You even hold hands with him, but that was mainly, because you were to drunk to walk straight. But you had plenty of time to sober up along the way.

Finally arriving at the front door, you had to stop laughing and catch a breath to manage to say something. “Do you…”, you began and paused, because you didn’t know how to phrase it.

Without hesitation he answered: “Yes! Yes… I mean, it would be cool.”

And again, you started laughing. “I was about to ask, if you want to watch the stars on my rooftop, but I didn’t know you were going to be so excited about this.”

He scratched his neck and chuckled. “Yeah, we were talking about the same thing.”

“Oh honey, I’m taken”, you explained

That last three words crumbled his hopes, that have been build up since you walked into the Garrison.

But he was a gentleman and he shouldn’t expect anything from a woman. After all, you don’t owe him anything. Even though he thought you were flirting with him the entire night.

He just bit his lip and shrugged. “No problem here.”

Then he added: “But we might not see the stars though all the smog and light pollution.”

“Let’s give it a try.” you opened the door and smiled.

You took the steps up to your apartment, John followed you closely. When the two of you entered the small flat, everything was still dark. The alarm clock next to your mattress said four in the morning.

John was so curious, when he looked around. “You really didn’t lie, when you said, you just took you bass and nothing more.”

“Yup”, you mumbled and walked to a pile of clothes. “Do you want to smoke one with me?”

When you pulled out the joint, John grinned at you. His cheeks were still red. “Why not?”

Climbing out of your window and onto the roof sounded way easier than it turned out to be.

But the view was great, and that was enough.

You lit the joint and inhaled the white smoke, just to blow it out again.

“No stars in sight, babe”, he noted while looking up

He was right, but you were still glad, that he came up here with you. You feared the moment of being alone again. “Yes, but the view… is amazing.”

You didn’t notice, he was glaring at you when he said: “Yeah, it really is.”

Then you turned to him to pass him the joint.

John took one drag and coughed. “That shit’s strong.”

At first you tried not to laugh, but ended up giggling anyway.

“What?”, he asked with blunt curiosity.

When you calmed down, you had to tell him the joke that just crossed your mind: “I like my weed like my sex… keeps me paralyzed for a while.”

That was the last thing he thought he would hear from you. He would believe his ears, if he hadn’t starred at your lips the entire time. “Uhm, okay.”, he whispered and hit the joint one more time.

The longer you sat there with him, the more comfortable you two got. After talking the whole night about music and artists and stuff, you finally opened up.

You told him why you left your home town and moved to Birmingham.

And he told you in return something you would have expected either. “Just a few more months and I’ll be in the military.”

John didn’t look like a soldier or somebody who took pride in defending his country. You couldn’t understand, how a wonderful guy like him ended up serving the forces. It just didn’t seem to fit in. But then again, you knew him for a few hours now, so who are you to judge?

“I’m scared”, he whispered: “that nobody but my family will write me… and I’m going to be all alone in the middle of nowhere.”

That feeling was all too familiar for you. Your heart ached, when you glared at him. “I write you.”, you promised. “And phone you and what else.”

“You would?” His voice was full of doubt. “We don’t know each other really.”

It was true, but you always kept your promises. You moved closer to him, to hold his hand and look him in the eyes. “I would. I know this feeling too well.”

For one second you thought he was going to kiss you, and you were ready. The drumroll played, like it always did, when the first touch of two pairs of lips, unknown to each other, was close. But the drumroll was all you were going to get tonight. You kept staring at his beautiful mouth and how would it feel, when his lips meet yours. Infidelity has never been your thing and you would stay true to yourself, even when the chance was so tempting.

“Can you hold me?”, you asked, while avoiding his eyes. You felt pathetic for being so needy in front of a stranger, so you added: “Just for a while.”

John didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. Instead, he just pulled you in arms and stroke your back.

The two of you felt all alone in this broken world, but right there you met and became friends. What a weird thing to happen.

[triplexdoublex]

12:05

Pairing: Colson x Reader

Warnings/tags: smut, cheating, drug use, mentions of foot-fetish, mild blood (nose bleed)

Welcome to my first Colson Baker (MGK) fic. I used a lot of lyrics and lyric references in this. My goal was to make it seem like this toxic relationship and coversations between his and reader are what inspired a lot of his songs.

*************************

“C’mon get up,” your best friend Shawnie nudges you, pulling back the sheets of her bed she’s been kind enough to share with you since the breakup. “It’s almost noon,” 

“Grmmphf,” you groan tugging the sheet back over your head.

“I’m not gonna let you stay in bed all day again, crying over ‘Machine Gun Kelly’,” she says as she raises the shades on the window; the midday sun bright rays beaming through the thin sheet over your head. “It’s been three weeks now, get up. We’re gonna have a girls day.”

“He has a real name, you know,” you mumble from under the sheet. “Colson”

“Oh yes, Colson the compulsive cheater, how could I forget?” She rips back the sheet a final time.”How was he dumb enough to get caught this time?” She emphasizes, knowing it's not the first time you’ve caught him cheating. “Lipstick on his shirt? Hickey?” She taps the bed, “I mean it! Up! I'm taking you out.”

“Ughhh fine,” you prop yourself up. “Nudes on his phone actually. Found them his first night back from tour.” You swing your legs over the edge of the bed with a sigh. “ Do you know that dumbass really tried to convince me they were mine, like I dunno what my own pussy looks like!” You let out a half- amused chuckle.

“Wow, that’s pathetic even for him,” Shawnie rolls her eyes. “I don’t understand why you keep going back to him?”

“I dunno — it’s just..” you rake your hands over your face and into your hair. “I can’t explain it --it’s complicated. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me,” Shawnie responds, taking a seat next to you on the edge of the bed. “Seriously, I’m listening. I just wanna help you get over him. I hate seeing you hurt all the time.”

“I feel like I’m addicted to him, like he’s my drug or something,” you admit.

“Except what fun is a drug if you can’t even get high off it and only experience the comedown?” She retorts.

“See that’s just the thing — you don’t know him like I do — there is a high,” you smile as fond memories flood back. “When it’s just me and him, when he’s just ‘Colson’, he makes me feel like I’m on top of the world. He treats me like a princess, he makes me laugh, he makes me feel good about myself, and OH MY GOD the sexxxx!” You whine, “You know I always talk about how good it is,” you laugh. “For real our sexual chemistry is just something I never thought I’d experience with anyone. He makes me feel so comfortable and open and unashamed of the things I’m into, and he shares a lot of the same desires. Everything with him is perfect... until tour starts up again”

“I can understand why all that’s important to you, but what about being faithful? Isn’t that important to you too?” Shawnie questions.

“Of course it is, that’s why I keep breaking up with him! And at first I hate him, I really do. I swear to myself I’ll never even talk to him again, but as the hurt wears away, I start craving him again,” A tear rolls down your cheek. “And then I start questioning myself like was I too hard on him? What do I expect from someone who’s living that rockstar lifestyle, getting high and drunk every night with gorgeous women just throwing themselves at him, ya know?”

“No, that is not your fault, you cannot be held responsible for him giving into temptations on the  road!” Shawnie exclaims in a motherly tone. “If he truly wanted to be faithful to you he would.”

“In Colson’s words he ‘fucks up when he’s fucked up’.” you defend him.

“Well maybe he shouldn’t get fucked up if he can’t keep his dick in his pants!” She expresses loudly.”Don’t make excuses for him... Now come on I’m taking you out today; my treat.” 

“Shawnie, really you don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine”

“Too late I already booked us appointments at the spa, and —” her voice then  shifts to a fast whisper “I may have set up a blind date for you with one of Gabe’s friends Kyle for later on tonight!” She finishes with a cheesy grin.

“Shawnie!!!” You gasp.

“Relax, I’ll be there with Gabe too. It’ll be a double date. We’re meeting at Club Hell at eleven. Now get up and get ready before we're late to our appointment.” 

‘Hell… how fitting. That’s exactly what this nights gonna be,’ you think to yourself. You’ve seen Shawnie’s boyfriends friends before and they’re not exactly your type.They’re  

just a bunch of preppy frat boys who’s penny loafers and crisp button down shirts scream ‘trust fund baby’ and ‘my dads a lawyer’.

*************************

In the passenger seat on the way home from the spa  you look down at your bright pink toes and can’t help but frown.

“What’s the matter?” Shawnie asks, nudging you with her elbow as she drives. “Do you not like the color?”

“No, no. It’s not that. I love the color, and thank you so much for taking me to get them done, it’s just that Colson always used to take me — the man’s a sucker for a fresh pedicure,” you answer smirking to yourself as you recall his peculiar kink.

“That is more than I needed  to know,” Shawnie’s eyes go wide while keeping them fixed on the road.

“Oh please like you don’t know every detail of our sex life already,” you say tapping her leg playfully.

“But feet is where I draw the line!” She exclaims, pointing a finger.

You let out a chuckle,“Well then I guess I shouldn’t tell you about the time he —”

“Blahhh blah blaaaa I can’t hear you!” Shawnie attempts to cover her ear closest to you with her shoulder, keeping her hands on the wheel, making you bust out laughing. “There’s that smile I miss, I knew it was still in there somewhere,” she smiles back at you. “ Seriously, fuck Colson and FUCK feet!” She laughs.

“I thought you didn’t wanna hear about that time,” you tease.

“What is wrong with you!!!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” you clutch your stomach in laughter, “I couldn’t pass up that opportunity, you set yourself up for that.” 

***************************

Unfortunately Kyle is pretty much exactly what you were expecting and not at all your type but after a few rounds of drinks you decide to make the best of the night and invite Kyle out onto the  floor to dance  — Shawnie and Gabe to follow, the four of you forming a small circle. Not even five minutes into dancing you spot Colson entering the club with a tall brunette.

You grab Shawnie’s arm. “Look!” you say into her ear trying to be discreet about it.

“Oh my God, of all nights,” She rolls her eyes, “Is that the girl?”

“I dunno I didn’t exactly see her face, remember?”

“Is everything okay?” Kyle interjects, looking confused.

“It’s nothing, just someone I used to know,” you answer, returning to dancing as Colson and the brunette disappeared into the crowd. You were determined to have a good night, if not for yourself than at least for Shawnie. She was trying her best to help you get over Colson and have a good time. 

****************

“Wow, they really pack this place huh?” You yell over the music as the floor starts to get crowded. And as if you spoke too soon one of your elbows collides into someone behind you. Immediately you spin around to apologize. “Oh shit, I’m sorr — Colson!”

“Ah fuck man, why are you here?” Colson rolls his eyes, realizing it’s you.

“I could ask the same thing! I’m tryna have a good night and you gotta show up running shit.”

“Who’s this?” Colson’s date looks up at him annoyed before speaking to you, “Why you talking to my man?”

You throw your head back in laughter. “You’re man? Ha! You’ve got a lot to learn honey. Colson likes to run around. Colson’s everyone’s man! 

“Nah, c’mom,chill, chill,” Colson blocks his date with his arm as she tries to step to you. 

Shawnie reaches for you, pulling you back towards her by your shirt. “Let’s all be adults about this.”

“Fine!” you twist from her grasp. “Just stay away from me and I’ll stay away from you!” You shout at Colson before marching over to the bar. You need another drink. Your friends follow behind and Kyle sits awkwardly in the bar stool next to you. “Sorry about that, that was my ex, wasn’t exactly planning on seeing him here tonight.”

“No worries, seems like a total douche anyways.” Kyle responds.

“Yeah, something like that,” you answer in a daze staring into the crowded dance floor where you find Colson’s sky blue eyes locked on you from across the room. He watches you over the shoulder of his date, her back turned towards you.

“Can I buy you a shot?” Kyle offers.

“Uhh, yeah sure,” you answer, not paying attention, your eyes still focused on Colson.

Kyle pays for the shot, tips the bartender and hands you your shot. You don't even look to see what it is before throwing it back in one gulp. “Come on let’s go dance,” you slam the empty shot glass and  grab Kyle’s hand pulling him onto the dance floor, positioning his back to Colson. You don’t know what kind of game Colson is playing, but you can play it too — your eyes still locked across the room.

When the song changes — Closer by Nine Inch Nails now playing through the club speakers — Colson takes his game to the next level, grinding with “his girl” without breaking eye contact with you. You can’t decide if he’s trying to make you jealous or make you want him. And you can’t decide for what reason you keep playing along but it’s not long before you find yourself rolling your body against your date, your stare letting Colson know two can play this game.

“Damn, girl!” Kyle exclaims, shocked by your sudden shift in demeanour, his hands making their way to your ass, making you cringe internally at his touch. But you keep up the facade letting him push and pull your bodies together on the dance floor as Colson’s glare intensifies. 

‘I wanna fuck you like an animal, I wanna feel you on the inside…’  The chorus starts and you know things are about to get turnt up. Colson’s head dips down, his eyes still glued to yours as he sensually licks a stripe up his date's neck. Quickly, you spin Kyle around leaning into him as you grind your backside against the zipper of his denim. You reach behind your head with one hand, lacing your fingers in the back of Kyle’s hair and pull his face into your craned neck, simultaneously inviting him to taste you and shielding his view of you and Colson’s fervid eye fucking. You feel guilty feeling Kyle grow hard against you, knowing allowing his sloppy mouthing of your neck is definitely leading him on.

“Five.” Colson mouths to you, holding up the same amount of fingers behind his dates back, then motioning with his head to the bathrooms. You check your watch, it’s 12:00 exactly.

Five  minutes pass and you see Colson excuse himself to the bathroom. Immediately you push you date away frantically, making up a lie about feeling light headed and needing to go get some water at the bar, but head straight to the bathrooms. Inside the one person bathroom you find Colson doing a key bump of coke by the sink.

“What do you want?” You ask, annoyed.

“Ain’t that the tight little black dress from the first night we were together?” he asks, sniffing and wiping at his nose, as he locks the door behind you.

“Is that what you brought me in here for, to ask if this was the dress from our first date? You roll your eyes hopping up to sit on the edge of the sink counter, your fresh pedicured feet with open toed shoes dangling down in front of you. 

“MMMmmm you get them done just for me, baby?”

“Fuck off Colson, I didn’t even know you were gonna be here tonight, otherwise I wouldn’t have come,” you quip, folding your arms across your chest in annoyance. “Are you done wasting my time, I’d like to get back to my date.”

“Bullshit!” Colson calls you out. “ Little lawyer boy out there ain’t even your type, I know it and you know it. Your girl set you up on a blind date didn’t she?” He says cocikly. He knows you too well.

“You don’t know shit, Colson,” you lie, jumping down from the counter and heading towards the door to leave.

“Pretty impressive performance out there though, I gotta give it to you — .” Colson steps forward his body between you and the door, backing you back up against the counter. “-- letting him lick and touch all over you —-” he lowers his head, his whiskey-infused breath cascading over your neck and chest and he continues to speak. “-- knowing dayummm well you wish it were me.”

“You need to let me go, Colson. We’re over! You cheated … AGAIN!” You remind him, and apparently yourself, your head involuntarily cocking to the side, opening up your neck to him, your body half ready to give into temptation despite your anger with him.

“I’ll admit I took advantage of you every night that I was on the road,” he speaks in an apologetic tone. But don’t think for a minute i’ma let you convince me that what we started is finished, or for a second that I wouldn't take a bullet to the head for you!” He presses a single knuckle to your temple, his blue eyes piercing though your soul “You know we both want this. I know we’ve had some hard times but you said that even if it took forever that you and me would be together.”

 “You’re insane” tumbles from you lips in a last ditch effort to keep up your guard even though the breathy way it escape your mouth sounds a lot more like “fuck me.”

“Ok, yeah, I’m insane… but you the same!” He says, aggressively pointing at you and pressing his forehead to yours, his lips mere centimeters from your own.

You bite your lip; your guard, your walls, and common sense crumbling down around you. “We’re insane — both of us,” you laugh ,a single tear sliding from your eye. “I guess that’s just the way it goes.” You punctuate your words against Colson’s eager lips with a kiss.

There’s no turning back now, your fingers hurriedly undoing the buttons on the placket of his pink devil shirt as his hungry mouth devours kiss after kiss until you can barely breathe, his hands cupping your face so tight. He tastes of weed and whiskey, but you welcome the nostalgic flavor on your tongue. You slide his now open shirt off his shoulders, and let your hands trail down his tattooed torso. 

“Fuck, I’ve missed this,” he growls breaking the kiss, quickly lifting you back onto the counter, and letting his shirt fall to the floor. Nestling his face into your neck and hair, he breathes you in as if his memory is bottling up your scent for later.

“Colson,” you whine needily. Desperate to feel the heat of his mouth connect with your flesh, you rake a hand through his tousled bleach blonde locks, pushing down on his head until you feel his wet tongue begin to lap at your clavicle. You lean back against the mirror in pleasure as his tongue writes a sonnet across your neck and chest. He spreads your legs with his knee, your tight black dress inching up your thighs the wider your legs go. His hand slides up the expanse of your inner thighs to your core. Hastily, he pushes your panties to the side, the tips of his pretty painted fingers toying with your clit. The faster he rubs the faster and more sporadic your movements and breathing become, your body begging to be fucked. “Uhhh, Fuck me!” Your words echo your body’s pleas.

“Mmmmhh, he lets out a throaty rumble. “Thought you’d never ask,” he smirks, reaching for the delicate waistband of your black lace panties. He quickly pulls them down, struggling when they get snagged on the stiletto heel of one of your shoes. “Fuck it,” he laughs leaving them stuck in exchange for undoing his cherry red belt. With his belt undone he upzips his dark denim jeans pulling them and his ethika boxers down in one motion, springing himself free.

Wrapping his arms around your thighs he yanks you towards him, your ass teetering on the edge of the counter. With a hand behind each knee he shoves your legs back, bending you into one of his favorite positions; folded in half, legs up by your head. He loves how deep he can get like this. 

Still holding your legs back, he bends down, lowering his face to your core, tasting you. 

“Uhhhhh, Fuck, Cols,” you whine with eyes squeezed shut, griping his hair as he moves his tongue in a wide stripe from the bottom up, pausing to focus his attention on the sensitive bud at the top. 

“Ummghmm,” he hums against you before lifting his head. “No time for this right now” he says with glossed lips “but God, I had to taste you again.”

He removes one of his hands from your legs and grabs himself, bringing the tip to your entrance. Quickly, he slides it back and forth through your wetness before pushing in, a low gravely moan falling from his lips as he bottoms out. 

“Shit… Fuck...Oh my God!,” You slap a hand over your mouth.

“Nah, ain’t nobody gonna hear you over the music out there, baby” he says brushing your hand away from your mouth and replacing it with his lips, as he thrusts.

You moan into his mouth and he moves his lips lower, kissing down your neck, so he can hear your pleas of “Harder”. He obliges driving his hips forward with more force, and quickens his pace, the back of your head banging  against the mirror so hard, you swear the both of you are about to have seven years of bad luck. But you don’t care, the slight curve to his perfect cock ramming repeatedly into your g-spot. 

“Feels so good , uhhh right there. Yes!”  You scream out.

“Mmm, yeah you gonna cum for me baby?” 

“Ssso close.” You know you're practically guaranteed to cum before Colson; the man could go all night, often making you cum two or three times before he’s done. But you don’t have that kind of time tonight in this tiny club bathroom with both your dates nearby. A few more hard thrusts and your orgasm begins to  peak in your abdomen, the feeling as surreal as the Dali tatt on his back your fingernails are raking down. “I — I’m Cumming! 

He keeps up his pace, chasing after his own release, groaning with each clench of your walls as you ride out the waves of pleasure.

Still not there yet, he quickly pulls out, grabs you up by your hair, and shoves his cock into your mouth.You can taste yourself as he rams his cock in and out of your mouth. “Yeah, love watching you getting your throat destroyed’” he grits between his teeth, watching in the mirror as he face fucks you. “Uhhgh, gonna —” he exhales heavily, filling your mouth as he holds your head in place. After the last drop is out he pulls you off him with a ‘pop’.

The silence is awkward as you both get dressed, nothing but heavy breathing in the air. “Ah, shit,” Colson breaks the silence, a slow trickle of blood coming from his nose.

“Sit, sit. I’ll get it,” you insist, hurriedly grabbing some toilet paper from the stall, as Colson takes a seat on the counter. You dab at the dripping blood and pinch his nose shut. “Here hold this, like this,” you say, guiding his hand to his nose. “You really gotta stop doing coke, ya know.” you say in a caring tone as you finish buttoning up his shit for him.

He gives you a  simple “thanks” with a genuine appreciative smile. “Guess we would get back out there,” he gets off the counter giving his nose a final wipe.

“Yeah, Shawnie’s gonna kill me when she finds out.”

“Shhh,” he shushes your lips with his finger. “The homies don’t gotta know.”

[nanamikeento]

redamancy || din djarin x f!reader

Summary: You buy some art supplies for the Child to play and Din is worried about his precious ship getting scribbled all over.

a/n: based on this fanart that warmed my heart and it made me tear up. I’m so soft, very soft.

Warnings: very soft content, din takes his helmet off in this one but i guess foundlings and spouses are clear to see his face, right? mentions of sex

Word count: 2.3k

tagging: @loljulie​ @tarrevizslas​ @themandjalorian​

part ii || masterlist

redamancy (n); the act of loving one who loves you, a love returned in full

You know you shouldn’t. You know Din is gonna get pissed at you. You know it’s not a good idea. But, as you slip the credits to the seller on the counter, there’s a content smile on your face. Thinking about the green little bean’s face when he gets his present, you grab what you just bought and rush back to the ship quickly.

Din had gone on a supply run in one of the most beautiful planets you’ve ever seen. The Ulara planet, known by its stunning oceans, brings a lot of artists around this time of the cycle. Naturally, a lot of merchants sell art supplies at the markets and you just couldn’t resist. Your inner mother self spoke louder and before you could think twice, you were buying some art supplies for the Child.

You meet the Mandalorian on the way to the ship, the hoovering cradle just behind him. Almost smiling to yourself, you try to control your breathing as if you were a kid that did a bad thing, afraid of being caught in the act.

“What did you get?” He asks, tilting his helmet towards you.

Holding the bag close to your chest, afraid he’s going to take it, you shrug.

“Just some stuff,” you answer, nonchalantly.

You’re not sure if he’s going to approve your recent purchase, so you don’t tell him. Maybe he won’t, but who cares? Can’t you spoil your adoptive child by giving him some toys to play?

Din says nothing as he opens the hatch door, allowing the three of you to enter the Razor Crest. You wait for him to climb the ladder to the cockpit before hiding the supplies in the bunk. You don’t want to give the little one the present yet, you want to be sure you’re not needed in the cockpit before.

“Hey, little bean,” You call him by the sweet nickname you’d given to him as you pick him up, smiling. “Did you have a fun time with your dad today?”

He coos and smiles at you, trying his best to answer you. Letting out a chuckle, you climb the ladder and enters the cockpit as Din starts up the ship.

“Buckle up,” he says, softly. You almost roll your eyes as you sit on the copilot’s seat. All those years together and he still tells you to fasten your seatbelt before he takes off. Every time.

Placing the kid on the cradle on the other copilot’s seat you, you do buckle up, smiling softly. Memories of when he had committed the sin, when he had taken the asset back invade your mind as you watch him pilot the Razor Crest silently.

He was ready to take off then, you eagerly sat on the very same chair you are sitting now, your mind going crazy and your heart clenching at the thought of the kid being taken away. Ever since Din came back to the ship, mud covered, back in Arvala-7, you knew something was up. You knew he had imprinted on the kid somehow. And it took you a hot minute to accept his decision to go back for him.

“Wait for me here,” He had mumbled to you as he walked out of the Crest. You were confused at first, but it took a millisecond for the penny to drop.

“Din, maybe you should think about this better.” You had tried to reason, but he had made up his mind. He stopped his tracks and looked back at you; you knew he was giving one of his looks, even behind the helmet.

“Do you trust me?” He had asked in a soft voice.

You parted your lips with your tongue, sighing. “Yes, but your reputation–”

“I don’t give a damn about my reputation.” He interrupted you. “All I care about now is that child. I have to keep him safe, I don’t know–”

His voice cracked and your heart dropped. Reaching for his gloved hand, you took it and gave it a squeeze. Taking a deep breath, you had touched your forehead with his helmet and closed your eyes. You knew the consequences of that decision, yet you had nodded anyway, giving him your approval. Not that he needed it, but making sure you were okay with his decisions was always his things. Because it always involved you and him. Together, as it has always been.

When he had come back with the kid, that night, the sight of relief that escaped your lungs surprised you. Now, you’re glad he decided to adopt the Child, cause your days are brighter and happier. Not that you weren’t before with Din. Obviously, you lived a happy life with him before the little green bean entered your life, but it got even better when he did.

“Did you find the scarf you were looking for?” Din’s voice brings you back to the present, referring to the scarf you wanted to buy for yourself. You had completely forgotten about it as soon as you saw the merchants with the art supplies.

“No, I didn’t,” You reply, shaking your head.

“Maybe in the next planet.” You can see him shrug through the poor light of the chamber.

Watching him handle the control panel, pushing buttons and pulling handles that make the ship jump to hyperspace, makes you smile. However, you’re too excited to show the kid what you got him, so you quickly unbuckle yourself and take the little one into your arms.

“I’m going to feed him,” you say over your shoulders, already leaving the cockpit.

Back at the hull, you place him on the cot of the ship and smiles at him.

“I got you something,” You tell him smiling. “But you have to keep it a secret for now, okay?”

The Child coos and smiles at you as you walk back to the bunk and presses the button to open the hatch. Taking the cloth bag from it, you pour all the contents on the cot before him. You bought crayons, chalks, coloring pencils and even some finger paint, along with some sheets of paper.

“You can draw with these,” you explain to him in a soft voice. Taking a yellow crayon you draw a smiling sun, showing him how to do it. He watches you, intensely paying attention to the movements of your hands. “See?”

You hand him the crayon and he takes it, curiously studying the object in his tiny hand. Your heart warms at the sight of him trying to replicate your smiling sun on the paper. Smiling, you grab one of the pots of paint and show it to him.

“Maybe we can get to try these later,” You say, smiling.

“Try what?” Din’s voice makes you jump on the spot and turn around quickly to face him. He’s standing before you, leaning on the ladder with crossed arms. “What’s all this?”

Swallowing, you smile at him, shrugging one shoulder. “Art supplies?”

Din tilts his helmet and you hear him sigh. You smile at him, taking a step further to approach him.

“I just saw these and I immediately thought of him,” You tell him, trying to explain. He knows you can barely contain the happiness in your voice. “I had to buy it, but I used my own money, don’t worry–”

He interrupts you by calling your name.

“It’s okay,” he assured you, running his hands on your arms. “I just worry he’s gonna paint the whole ship with these.”

A laugh escaped your lips as you look back to the kid. He discovered the other colored crayons and it’s drawing a beautiful piece of art containing several scribbles in different colors. Your smiling sun is nowhere to be seen, now covered by the several colors.

“Maybe we need a little redecorating,” You say, looking back at Din.

…

“Your dad’s gonna kill me.” You laugh as you watch the scene.

A few days later after you bought the art supplies, you find the Child using the finger paints to decorate the inside walls on the ship. You left him for one second to go to the refresher. 

Walking towards him, you sit on the floor beside him, and dip your finger on the green paint and draw on the sheet of paper in front of you.

“Look, it’s you.” You show him a badly drawn portrait of him and he just giggles. His tiny hand, wet with paint, reaches for you as you take him in your lap.

The Child points to a drawing he did on the wall and, as you follow his finger, your heart warms at the sight. Two human figures hold hands with a green, smaller figure. One of the human figures has a comically large drawn helmet on and you want to laugh, but you hold back. You gasp softly and look back at him, smiling from ear to ear.

“Is that us?!” You exclaim, and he shrieks laughs. “You’re such an artist! How much do you want for it?” You only get coos from him. “Deal, a can of bone broth it is.” You take his tiny hand and shake it, simulating a handshake.

Behind you, you hear a soft chuckle that makes you turn around and look at the man who, again, was watching you both silently. You frown, but smiles at him nodding towards the wall.

“Come look at what your son’s done,” You say, watching as Din makes his way to you. He kneels to the floor and looks over the drawing on the wall. “That’s us.”

He doesn’t move for a second and you start to wonder if he’s getting mad because of the paint on the wall. But he just nods and says, with a cracked voice,

“That’s sweet.”

Biting back a smile, your heart swells at the thought of him getting teared up over the small family portrait. The baby giggles at him and stretches his little arms towards his father, who takes him almost immediately. Din holds him close to his face.

“You’re quite the painter, aren’t you?” He says in a very, very soft voice that makes your heart skip a beat.

You and Din had talked about having kids in a moment of your relationship. Once. You both had come to the conclusion that bounty hunting was a dangerous job and that a child in the middle of it would just complicate things. So you pushed these plans for another future, if he, one day, decided to settle down in a nice planet, maybe you could have a kid or two. Now, with the little one, it’s hard, you have admit. But it’s good. It fulfils your heart.

You’re not gonna lie to yourself and pretend you don’t think about having your own children with him, after watching how he takes care of the Child. But you never voice these thoughts, afraid he would push them aside.

“Oh, Maker,” You mumble as the kid touches Din’s helmet, smearing it with paint. You take him from his dad and stand up. “I think it’s time for a clean up, don’t you?” The kid pouts and his ear flop down, indicating he doesn’t like the idea of going to bed yet. “Aw, don’t be sad, we can always continue painting tomorrow.”

Din watches you as you make your way to the refresher, still talking to the kid. He watches you as you bathe him, trying to cheer him up, telling stories and humming an ancient lullaby at him. He sighs, feeling his heart swelling on his chest. If he was lucky to have you before he found the kid, now he’s the luckiest Mandalorian in the Galaxy.

After you bathe the kid and tuck him in, watching as he falls asleep immediately, you go back to the refresher to take a shower yourself. Din cleans his helmet and leans on the doorframe, watching you as you leave the small shower cabin.

“Hi, handsome,” You say, as you dry your hair with a towel, smiling at his bare face. “Come here often?”

Din rolls his eyes and chuckles. You dry your body in front of him, nothing new. But the way he’s watching you makes you wonder.

“Everything okay?” You ask, wrapping yourself with the towel.

He hesitates before speaking.

“I know we had this conversation already,” He starts, slowly. “But… How you’d you feel about having another baby?”

You look into his eyes, searching for any hint of a joke in them. Your heart beats faster and you part your lips with your tongue, choosing your words carefully.

“Like, you and me?” Your voice is small, almost a whisper.

“Yes,” He answers, patiently.

“In the conventional way?”

Din smiles and lets out a laugh. “Yes, in the conventional way.”

Trying to hold back your excitement, you bite your lower lip hard, holding back a smile.

“Okay,” You try to play it cool, but he knows you. He knows you want to jump up and down around the ship, yell in excitement.

“Okay?” He asks, leaning forward to kiss you.

“Yeah,” You mumble into his mouth as you kiss him back, softly and slowly. He walks in the refresher, backing you up inside and closing the door behind him. It gets cramped pretty easily, but you don’t care. Your arms lace around his neck, making the towel fall on the floor and leaving you completely naked. Your body presses against his, the cold beskar of his armor sending goosebumps to your skin. “You wanna try it now?”

He chuckles, his hands resting on your sides. He pulls away and looks into your eyes.

“I love you,” He tells you softly.

“I love you too,” You whisper, your eyes tearing up.

As you kiss him again, you feel complete. You think you don’t deserve this man, you don’t deserve his protection and kindness. But every time, he proves you wrong.

[puckinghell]

11:11 | Carter Hart

Summary: Hockey players are a little superstitious, so wishing on shooting stars, rainbows and dropped penny’s isn’t a rare occurrence. Normally, they’re wishing for things like wins and awards and cups, but Carter has a little something else on his wishlist.  Words: 2,5k Note: based on the song 11:11 by Jae Jin which is the cutest songs I’ve ever heard. Note 2.0: This has been sitting in my concepts for over a year cause I just don’t love it but I like it too much to throw it away, so I finally decided to just post it and be done with it. Hope you guys like it anyway!

---

It’s a well known fact that hockey players are superstitious. 

It’s a better known fact that hockey goalies are stupidly superstitious. 

So far, Carter has been trying to break the stigma, and he’s pretty damn good at it, thank you very much. He doesn’t care if he puts on his left or right skate first, he doesn’t have to turn the shower on and off twice, there’s no pregame meal better than others. Winning games depends on how well he’s playing, not on setting his alarm at 4:32 when he takes his pregame nap.

Carter isn’t superstitious, but he is a little stitious - and he’s watched The Office way too many times, clearly. There’s just one thing he can be superstitious about. Only one thing. 

You.

---

You’ve been sitting on your porch, sketchbook in hand, drawing your neighbor’s dog. He’s big and black and at 11 years old, you’re not really sure if you’re supposed to be scared of him. He looks a bit scary, but he’s never done anything bad, and your parents don’t seem to mind him.

It’s hot outside. Too hot, really, to be outside your air conditioned living room, but your brothers are yelling inside and you just wanted some peace and quiet.

Some peace and quiet, and to stare at the boy next door. 

He’s a little older than you, a lot taller too, and he’s always intimidated you a bit. Sometimes he hangs out with your brothers, who are older too, but today he’s with some boys from around the neighborhood. 

They’re playing street hockey, like they usually are. You like watching them play; it’s such a fun game to watch, and you really wish you could try it, see if it’s fun to play too.

But your brothers always tell you to go away, and you’ve not had the guts to ask Carter. That’s the boy next door’s name; you heard it one time when his mom called him in for dinner. 

You’re focused on where the dog’s ears meet his head - on your paper it doesn’t quite look right - when something goes flying past your head.

“Duck!” you hear someone yell, but you’d already ducked in reflex. A plastic ball comes zooming past your ear, hits the wall behind you and bounces back; it rolls past your feet and ends up in front of somebody else’s.

“Are you okay?” the same voice asks, a little worried, and when you look up it’s Carter staring at you with wide eyes. “Did he hit you?” 

It takes a while for his words to synch into your brain, but then you shake your head. “No, he didn’t.”

Carter smiles, at that. “I’m sorry,” he says, “I’ve told Alex his aim is so bad he shouldn’t be allowed to play in public, but he didn’t believe me.” 

The other guy, Alex you presume, comes running over, his hockey stick still in his hands. “Shit, sorry,” he says, and you’re pretty sure you’re not allowed to say that word but you don’t mention it. 

“It’s okay,” you say instead. “You didn’t hit me.” 

“Maybe keep an eye on the clock,” says Carter to his friend. “If it’s 11:11, you can wish to actually hit the target, some time.” 

“If you catch 11:11 you can wish to actually make a save,” Alex shoots back.

“If I caught 11:11 I would wish for you to shut up,” Carter snaps back and that’s when you giggle.

Instantly, both the boys turn to you. Carter is grinning at you, a wide and happy grin that makes it impossible for you not to grin back. “What would you wish for, if you caught 11:11?” he asks.

You know the answer; it’s right there on the tip of your tongue and it tumbles out with thinking, words filled with earnest honesty like only those of a kid can be.

“I would wish that I could play hockey.” 

The boy in front of you smiles, yanks the hockey stick out of his friend’s hands and extends it in your direction.

“Come play,” he says. “It’s not like you could be any worse than Alex, anyway.” 

And under loud protest of Alex, a new friendship is born. 

---

Your 16th birthday party is crazy exactly the way 16th birthday parties are supposed to be, with beers snuck into the kitchen as your parents go away for the night, telling you again and again that you can always call them if you need them, even if you think they’ll be mad.

There’s loud music everywhere, and people; you don’t even know half of them, but your brothers promised you they’d make it a party to remember and they’ve kept their promise.

The thing is, well, you’re not the biggest fan of parties, actually. You thought it would be cool, would be like in the movies and you’d feel all grown up and cool, but instead you feel a bit lost, with the noise of the people too loud and their drunken dancing having you worried about your parents furniture.

You also found out you really don’t like beer. 

You get a Pepsi from the fridge, where some friend of your brother’s is mixing some of your dad’s rum into a bottle of Sprite - it doesn’t seem like a good match, but then again, you’ve never tasted rum - while your brother is eating cheese straight from the packet. 

It’s all a bit too much, too sudden, and you find yourself yearning for some peace and quiet, some familiarity.

You make your way to the back yard; it’s quiet, there, the October air a little too cold for your guests, and you sit down on the porch, wrapping your arms around your knees.

The music booms through the walls and you can still hear people screaming, but it sounds more muffled, and it allows you to breathe.

Almost immediately after you sit down, you hear the creak of the backdoor and footsteps against the wood of the porch, and then a familiar body sits next to you, smelling like foresty cologne and floral laundry detergent. 

“Hey,” Carter says softly, smiling at you when you gaze up at him. “You okay?” 

“Yeah, just needed some quiet.” You take a deep breath. “It’s a bit too much, I guess.” 

Carter is your best friend; has been, for years, and you would trust him with literally anything, so you don’t hesitate, telling him the truth. You don’t think there’s anything you’ve not told him the truth on.

Except when he asked you why you never said yes to the boys asking you out on dates.

First, you’d tried to dodge, told him you never got asked, but that didn’t work because James had asked and you’d shot him down, and James was on the hockey team with Carter so obviously Carter had found out.

When he confronted you with that, you just shrugged. 

“Just not into it, Cart.” 

Because they’re not you. I would say yes if it was you. But those are words only meant for your own ears, words your heart utters into the silent void because there’s no way your brain would even let you say them out loud, not when it could ruin the best friendship you have. 

“You know,” Carter says now, “maybe we see a shooting star. Then you could still make your birthday wish.” 

You raise an eyebrow at him. “What are you on about?” 

He laughs, lightly. “I saw you when you blew out your candles, on the cake, earlier. You were super quick with it, there’s no way you made a wish.” 

It earns him an eye roll, from you. 

“Maybe I didn’t wanna make a wish. Maybe there’s nothing I wish for.” 

“Everyone has something they wish for,” says Carter wisely. He bumps your shoulder and then frowns, suddenly. “Fuck, Y/N, you’re freezing.” 

You put your hands on your own arms, wrap your arms around yourself, to feel that indeed your skin is cold and there’s goosebumps on your arms. Before you can comment on it, Carter has taken off his hoodie and is tugging it - not so carefully - over your head.

“Auw,” you whine, “you’re pulling my hair.” 

He immediately stops, then very slowly pulls the fabric down the rest of the way. It’s worse, that way, makes it feel more intimidate than it is. 

“Well,” you say finally, “there’s no shooting stars, so I guess no wish for me, this year.” 

Carter sighs, sounding defeated, then glances at his watch and his whole face lights up. 

“It’s 11:10! You can make a wish at 11:11!”

You can’t help but giggle at his excitement. “Cart, that doesn’t even have anything to do with my birthday.” 

“No,” says Carter, talking slow, as if he’s explaining something to a toddler. “They’re more special. Everyone gets a birthday wish, because everyone has a birthday. Not everyone catches the 11:11, though. That’s the universe telling you it’s your turn for a little bit of luck.” 

It’s dumb, and you don’t believe it, but he says it so adorably convinced, that when he motions at his watch that it’s time, you close your eyes and make a wish.

It’s fine if the wish will never come true. As long as it makes the tall, slender boy next to you happy, the way he does you. 

---

Carter’s first year as a Flyer is stressful.

You get to watch it from up close cause you followed him to Philly; there was never really an option not to. You know, after years of searching for something else, someone else that makes you feel the way he does, that it’s a lost cause.

It’s him, for you. It’s always been him. 

You’re driving to his apartment, the night of what you knew has been a hard game. They lost, again. You know Carter will - wrongfully - blame himself, again. You know you’re gonna do whatever it takes to pick up the pieces, again, and probably fail, again. 

Maybe Carter’s stupid goalie superstition has rubbed off on you, but when you drive through a tunnel, you hold your breath until the end of it.

Let him be okay.

His front door creaks as you open it; he gave you a key as soon as he moved in, and you’ve been using it ever since. You don’t even think you know what his doorbell sounds like.

“Carter?” you call out. You know he’s not asleep; he never sleeps well, after losses. It takes him ages, tossing and turning in his sheets until he just gives up and sits on the balcony, staring at the stars.

He says it calms him down.

You’re pretty sure you know where to find him.

“Cart?” you mutter, opening the balcony door carefully, and indeed, there’s a human figure slumped over the railing, head down, hands tucked into the sleeves of his hoodie. At your voice, he looks up, and you’re struck with how tired he looks. 

Dark circles surround his bright eyes, which seem to light up the dark night as much as the city lights below you.

You go stand next to him, close enough for your shoulders to touch; warmth is still radiating off him, his cheeks are flushed. 

“I don’t get what you’re looking at, here,” you tell him, giving him time to decide whether or not he wants to talk about the game. You know he doesn’t do well when you push him. “You can’t even see the stars. The city lights are way too bright.” You crinkle your nose in disgust. “The stars were so much more beautiful back home.” 

“Do you miss home?” Carter asks.

You shrug. “Sometimes. Some things. You?” 

“I miss my family.” Carter pauses. “Not home, so much. I thought I would, but, the one part I thought I’d miss the most...” Another pause, then a tentative smile. “Well, she followed me here.” 

Your heart flutters at that and you have to remind yourself that he’s just in a mushy mood, probably trying to hide his emotions about the game. 

But you still wanna let him know you appreciate it, and you feel the same, so you lean closer, letting your head drop to his shoulder. Right away, his head is resting on top of yours.

“Can you wish on city lights?” you ask, just to fill the quiet night, and he chuckles.

“Probably not, but I don’t think I’ll need the stars to wish on. I make wishes when I hold my breath in tunnels, when I throw pennies in wells, when I blow out candles...” 

“There’s no wells around here,” you interrupt, and you feel Carter’s shoulders shake with muted laughter. It’s so much better than the sad expression he wore when you got here, and you feel the brick that’s settled in the pit of your stomach since you saw the score, slightly dissipate. 

“I think it’s probably around 11,” says Carter, then. “If we catch it, we can make another wish.” 

You know what you would wish for; the same thing you’ve been wishing for for 8 years. You also know you might as well be wishing for the sky to turn purple, so you’re not really too worried about catching 11:11.

“What do you wish for, anyway?” you ask him. He turns slightly, so he’s facing you now, and incredulous look on his face.

“You really don’t know?” he says. “It’s the same thing, every time.” 

“How would I know?” you huff. “You’ve never told me.” 

“Guess.” 

You don’t see the fun in this game but you’d do anything to see him smile, anything to keep his mind off the game, so you humor him.

“Stanley Cup.” 

“No.” 

“Vezina?” 

“Nope.” 

“World peace.” Carter seems like that guy.

“No, but I would, if I thought it was possible.” 

“A puppy.” 

He laughs. “No, but I should.” 

“I don’t know, Cart,” you tell him, smiling now. You expect him to say something silly, but a serious expression crosses his face, and then his hands come down and grab hold of your hips. He takes a step closer and your breath hitches in your throat.

“What...” are you doing, you start, but he interrupts you.

“When I wish on 11:11, I’m wishing for you.” 

His lips touch yours before you’ve processed the words, but as soon as you realize what’s happening, you hook your arms behind his neck, push up on your tiptoes to kiss him deeper. 

You try to put everything you have into that kiss; try to tell him, wordlessly, that you wanna grow old together, wanna be his person, want him to stay with you even when you’re scared, that you think he’s beautiful and magical and everything you could ever wish for. 

That every time you wish on shooting stars and ticking clocks, you’re wishing for him too.

“I think we might’ve missed 11:11,” is the first thing you say when you finally pull apart, breathing a little heavily, Carter’s cheeks tinted a little pink.

He breathes out a chuckle, rests his forehead against yours.

“That’s okay,” he says. 

“I’ve got all I’d wish for right here.” 

[the-fiction-witch]

Wait What?

REAL LIFE

COUPLE TBS X READER

RATING SWEET AF

I smiled as I stood Infront of my mirror drying and sorting out my hair so I looked presentable as I did my phone went off.

Y/n <3 :

Just doing my make up should be ready soon

"Ahh fuck" I said out loud

Thomas:

Okay Hun, on my way

Even if I lied fixing my hair and grabbing my clothes knowing she'll get worried if I'm late I made sure I looked good and went down grabbing my keys

"Ahh!! Fuck! Fuck shit! Almost forgot" I said almost slapping my fucking self for being so dump, running back upstairs and digging thought my bedside draw desperate to find what the hell I did with it, grabbing the little blue velvet box opening it to make sure it was still in there, seeing the light twinkle in the rows of diamonds in the beautiful gold.

I shut it back up hiding it in my pocket and going down locking up and getting in my car.

I began the drive over to y/n's parents place, she had gone for the weekend just mostly to spend some time with her family but I used it as the perfect excuse to have her out the house so I could get ready.

I've wanted to propose to y/n honestly since I met her, but it never quite seemed right and then once we moved in together it was kinda a nightmare to plan in anyway without the suprise getting ruined.

But luckily she went away all weekend, the house empty, free to walk around the shops on my own so I could sort it all out, and it so happily fell on our anniversary.

I had been looking for about the last year for a ring and I found a little shop not to far away that had a nice one, I didn't care what it cost it was for y/n after all. So I reserved it a few months ago while we where out shopping and she conveniently went for a wonder in lush on her own, and I picked it up yesterday then booked us a nice dinner the same place I took her on our first real date, so I headed over to pick her up and I pulled up at her family house and as soon as I shut the car off and got out she opened the door in her perfect purple dress her make up and hair done so perfect she looked like a beautiful painting from a thousand years ago I felt so happy to see her I almost ran over hugging her tightly

"Whoa... Hi Thomas" she laughs giving me a little cuddle to

"You look so beautiful" I told her kissing her head "I missed you so bad"

"Aww thank you Tommy, I missed you too" she smiled pulling away and giving my lips a tiny kiss "come on Mr else we'll be late" she warns heading to the car I smiled widely and got into the car with her starting to drive off often resting my hand in her leg as I drove "so why exactly are we going so fancy?" She asks

"Well it's our anniversary" I laughed

"Thomas I'd have thought by now you'd have known I'd rather just cuddle up on the sofa with some popcorn and pizza watching breaking bad or something" she explained

"I know... But sometimes it's fun to be fancy" I smiled as we got to the restaurant and I parked up "umm I love you so much" I smiled giving her a kiss

"Aww I love you too, what's going on?" She asks

"What why do you ask?" I asked in panic had I given it away that early?

"Your being very... Affectionate today Thomas, and very lovey dovey" she explained "I'm not used to you being like this" she explained as she got out and I followed her

"Maybe I just really missed you?" I suggest

"I was gone two days Thomas" she laughs

"Well maybe I just want to show my love for you a little more" I shrug

"Alright, but I'm watching you Sangster" she warns as she headed inside.

We sat to dinner at the same table we had our first date laughing and talking about everything and nothing as we had dinner I couldn't help smiling as I looked at her as we waited for dessert while she had some wine I got the box out of my pocket fiddling with it trying to find a step in the conversation to maybe get onto the topic, or somehow get into that idea

I really should have planned this more.

I have to lead into it don't I?

I can't really just shove the box on the table and just pop the question.

"Sally? Will you marry me?" A voice asked from across the restaurant we both looked and saw another couple on a date and he was on his knee proposing

Oh thanks dude now I have to follow you!

He probably practiced, Or atleast wrote it down.

"Aww that's so sweet" y/n smiled

"Yeah, really sweet" I smiled trying to not act nervous

"What a beautiful way to propose" she smiled Dam I wasn't watching what he did! Should I have been? Or would that be copying? "Umm don't like the ring thought" she says turning back just as dessert got here

"Oohh what kinda ring was it? I didn't really see?" I asked

"Diamond, I know there a classic and all I just really don't like them" she explained

And I had a heart attack fiddling with the box in my hand containing the diamond ring I had bought

"Wait what?" I asked trying not to cry or scream

"I don't like diamonds, the whole thing is a old marketing campaign, and that's before you even look into the ethics of diamond mining. Plus honestly I just find them boring there just sparkly and white, I can get that from glass" she explained

"So... If someone where to, buy you a diamond ring? You wouldn't like it?"

"I'd like it, hell I'd be engaged they could ask with a haribo ring and I'd be happy" she laughs "but I think I would be a little disappointed, that they would do something special for me" she explained eating her cake "why?" She asks

"Just curious that's all Hun" I said faking a smile putting the little box back in my pocket "so... If let's for theory's sake, I was going to propose? What kinda ring would you want?" I asked

"If you where?" She asks slyly licking her spoon

"If I was" I smiled

"I don't know... Maybe a gem of some kind? Or a rare stone? Ooohh or like an opal I love opals there all so different and interesting" she explained

"Okay" I nodded

"Why are you so curious anyway?" She asks

"I don't know, I like finding out new stuff about you" I smiled.

I yawned sitting up having a stretch rubbing my eyes after being up so late last night, I looked over to the other side of my bed looking at y/n perfectly sleep.

Ummm you where meant to be my finance by now, I sighed looking at my jacket from last night still with that box in my pocket, I was mad at myself

I should have known that, instead I wasted that whole night because I bought the wrong thing. I smiled seeing her sleeping so I gave her some kisses

"Umm... Good morning" she yawns

"Good morning," I smiled kissing her "hun I'm gonna pop out okay? We need milk" I told her

"Okay Thomas" she yawns so I got out of bed and got dressed hiding the box in my pocket and heading downstairs I know she'll be fast asleep again I went to the fridge pouring away some milk so I had an excuse to go buy more. I went out locking the house behind me and hurrying off in my car to the jeweler I bought the ring from.

The second I step thought the door I think she could read my emotions and the fact I had the box in my hand likely gave her a clue why I was there.

"Oh darling, did it not go to well?" She asks

"Not exactly" I told her

"What do you mean?" She asks

"Look it's kinda complicated but long Story short I didn't ask because... She kinda mentioned she didn't like diamonds very much so is there any kind of way I could maybe trade this one in and get a different ring that's not a diamond?" I explain

"Well most if not all engagement rings are diamond" she says

"I know but it doesn't have to be a engagement ring just a ring that's not a diamond" I explain

"Did she say anything she did like?' she asks

"She likes opals" I told her

"Opals? Ahh I think I have something" she says taking my ring box and going into the back a moment before coming out with a luxurious tray of rings all with different sizes, shapes and colours if opals I saw one that caught my eye, a black and blue sort of colours and I think it clicked

"Yeah that one" I told her

"Your sure this time?" She laughs

"Positive" I laughed she checked and it happened to be the same price as the original ring I got so she swapped the ring in my little box and she smiled at me

"Good luck"

"Thanks" I blushed taking it home hiding it in my pocket as I came in and I saw her sat in her pjs watching TV "hi Hun I'm home"

"Hi, did you get milk?" She asks

Fuck! I knew I forgot something

"Uhh no they where out" I told her

"What took you so long then?" She asks

"I was Uhhh driving around looking for milk, can't fine any seriously it's a UK wide milk shortage" I lied

"Okay" she laughs

"Uhh Hun? You wanna go for a walk in the park?" I offer

"Aww okay" she smiled giving me a kiss and running upstairs to put a dress on.

We walked around the park for a while hand in hand chatting about things and looking at the sweet flowers till we stopped in the summer sun perched on a little water fountain people often throw pennies in I looked at her sweet face, hardly any make up her hair a little messy from the breeze, I squeezed her hand and she looked at me

"Hi Tommy" she smiled kissing my cheek

"Hi Hun, look I need to talk to you about something important" I told her and she looked worried "it's nothing bad don't worry" I laughed kissing her nose I kept hold of her hand Moving to kneel on the gravel and grass and she looked confused

"Thomas... What's going on?" She asked

"y/n from the second I saw you I wanted to ask you something, and I knew I couldn't because I literally just met you and it would be really weird. But I never stopped wanting to ask you, sometimes I actually thought you where trying to stop me from asking. But with everything we've been thought together, and having just had our anniversary... I think it's time I finally actually ask you rather then just thinking about it" I told her

"What?" She asked almost in shock as I got the little box from my pocket

"Y/n, your my world, everything I've ever wanted, and I know your just gonna argue it's just a bit of paper or its just a bit if jewelry but...I truly love you, crazy little sinic and all my darling. And if you'll have me? I'd like to be with you for the rest of time"

"Thomas what's-" she began as everyone was clearly now looking at us as it became obvious to everyone else in the park what I was doing

"Y/n, I'm asking you to marry me" I laughed showing her the ring "so?" I asked as she hadn't said anything

"Ohh Thomas of course I will" she smiled hugging me tight I hugged her tighter then I ever had before kissing her soft lips between tears of joy till I pulled away and helped her put the ring on "for the record... I knew" she laughs

"What?" I asked

"I knew you'd been wanting to ask for months," she laughs "I assumed it would have been last night, what did you leave the ring at home or something?"

"Funny story actually Hun"

"Oh?"

"I almost did leave the ring at home but... It was a uhh a diamond engagement ring, and when you said I just felt bad so I traded it for one you would like" I explained

"I still would have said yes Thomas" she laughs

"I know but... Now you have a beautiful ring that you like" I smiled kissing her

"I love you" she smiled

"I love you too" I told her

[rwbyremnants]

PLEASE NOTE: Extreme kink, including lots of petplay. Further warnings at the beginning of each chapter (but the warnings include spoilers). If you have a problem with that please don't read. These are gonna be looooong chapters again. 15-20 pages, depending.

Welcome back to the universe of White Noise! Sorry this took so long to get posting, I wanted it to be the best it can be before posting the first chapter. Hopefully you'll enjoy all the craziness from myself and B.A.Y. that you've come to expect, and maybe a few new surprises. For those of you into Princess and the Dragons, don't worry, it's not going anywhere.

Happy reading!

=Chapter 1

Is this weird? Showing up to someone's place just for this stuff? Is this weird it's my sister's girlfriend's sister?

These were all questions Ruby Rose was asking herself as she rode the elevator of the Schnee Records building. She had been a couple of times with Yang and Weiss before, mainly for helping Weiss move out to their lakeside home. Other than that, she'd never stayed for an extended period. A few years ago she would have just died to be in here.

But she was there for an entirely different purpose today: to see Winter, whose number she obtained after their brief meeting in The Clamp. There were one or two initial debates against it, but after what felt like an eternity, Winter had agreed to assist Ruby in her first Pet Play experience. She promised a safe environment, with no strict rules. Just a fun test.

Winter had been busy for a couple of weeks herself, having to deal with all the media coverage the Schnee family was getting thanks to their new arrival, but she had managed to free up an evening for Ruby. As much as Ruby insisted it was no trouble moving it, Winter reassured her that she needed the time off, to focus on something other than making sure any news stories were purely casting a good light on her favourite couple.

Finally working up the courage to knock on the door, Ruby stood with her hands behind her back, idly hopping up and down on her toes as she waited.

Why did she ask for my sizes for clothes and stuff? Maybe this is weird… but hey, I guess we're behind closed doors. How bad can it be?

When the door creaked open, there stood Winter Schnee, towering over the younger girl by several inches. Her black leather boots and beige sweater-dress only left her knees exposed, which was quite conservative given what they were planning on doing with themselves that evening.

"Ruby," Winter said with a pleasant smile, almost a professional one. "Do come in. I was beginning to worry you might have reconsidered."

"Sorry I'm late! Somebody pushed all the buttons on the elevator for the way up here…" When that only roused suspicion, she laughed nervously, scratching the back of her head.

“Quite alright. I’m just glad you’re here now.”

Soon enough, she got over the initial nerves and stepped forward into the room. Everything was so classy! From the water feature to one side to the occasional potted plant. She expected nothing less from one of the Schnee daughters. Although, there was something out of place.

"I thought you were more of a pricey-wine kinda gal?" she asked, pointing at the abandoned beer bottle her roommate had left to one side the sofa.

"Drat," Winter sighed as she spotted it, dashing over to snatch it up. "I did have company earlier. Sorry about this - I tidied the whole room and somehow missed this!" Already heading for the kitchen, she asked over her shoulder, "What's your pleasure?"

"Huh? O-oh! Um, do you have anything strawberry-y?"

Ruby still couldn't believe the situation she was in. Her sister's fiancé's sister's apartment. Her idol's sister. No one would have believed it if she had not told Blake and Penny. But as much as she wanted to blog about it, she knew she couldn't. This arrangement was strictly confidential; no one apart from a select few could know no matter what. Either way, it was going to be a hell of an experience.

"You are… in luck!" Winter announced when she returned a few minutes later. In one hand, she had what looked to be a dry martini with two olives, and in the other, a bottle of what the label proclaimed to be "strawberry ale". The liquid inside certainly was red enough. "Only had the one in the far back, but I'm fairly certain these things don't go 'bad'." It was already open, and she proffered the bottle. "Something light to start off for you? I think it's fitting for this evening."

"Thanks! Yeah, I think I'm gonna need it…" she agreed, taking the bottle from her and lightly tapping it against Winter's glass before she took the first sip. After a moment of standing awkwardly, she took a seat on the sofa. Sat upright and professional, the poor girl looked as though she was about to have a job interview than more intimate acts!

"Sorry, I'm still so new to all this," she admitted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Of course, Winter did suppress a little chuckle, and even hid the wider smile behind her glass. It was too adorable, and she wanted to reach over and pinch her cheek.

"Just don't worry. We have the entire apartment to ourselves, and no one's going to judge you here. Tell me what's on your mind."

"No other company?"

“Nope.” Luckily so. Qrow was out at Taiyang's for the evening while they both took turns looking after the little one for Yang and Weiss. Not that Ruby was aware her uncle was living in Winter's apartment. That would have been a mood-ruiner.

Taking another gulp of ale to try and calm her nerves, she crossed her legs nervously. "To tell you the truth I… Have only really done sex stuff a few times. And that was completely vanilla stuff! My partner’s not into receiving, so I'm not gonna be too good at the giving part."

"Oh?" The elder woman was genuinely surprised. "Well… to tell you the truth, I hadn't been intending to do anything underneath the clothes tonight. Just to test you out with a few things here and there, try some commands. Get you acclimated." Her head tilted slightly to one side. "Did… you think you were going to walk in here and I would fuck you silly?"

She lifted her spare hand to twirl a strand of hair around her finger over and over again out of habit. Something to distract herself from how nervous she really was. With a light dusting of red to her cheeks, she said in a quieter tone. "Well, I mean… isn’t that what most of the people at that crazy club were doing?"

For a moment, Winter was silent as she watched Ruby fidget. Observed the healthy flush of youthful uncertainty in her cheeks. Then she took another sip of her martini, set it on the coffee table, and turned to face her fully.

"I wouldn't do that to you unless you asked for it specifically. And yes, by all means, the next time you come over - if there is a next time - I can jerk you in the front door and have your clothes off in under a minute. But not tonight. I want us to get used to each other and try some easy things."

Her reassurance was certainly starting to help. Quite visibly her shoulders slackened, and she took another sip of the beverage before smiling gratefully. "I appreciate it! I'm just… I dunno, I'm so nervous about being too weird about things. Last time someone only mentioned the stuff they did in a truth or dare game and I was completely losing it. And even that was nothing compared to the stuff at the club!"

Cringing slightly away, Winter laughed as she said, "It's alright, I… well, I'm a little surprised Blake and Sun threw you into the deep end like that, but I'm sure it certainly gave you a few ideas of things for us to try! As we have discussed off and on, of course."

"They kind of did, but I guess I needed it. For myself, I mean. At least now I can look into that sort of stuff for research and not have an internal freak out about it." Taking another sip of her drink, she suddenly seemed to smile whilst in the middle of a sip, drawing it away. "Like before they took me there, all I had to do was remember what Yang said about her and Weiss recording one of their strap on sessions and I'd be completely…"

The instant the later name left her lips, she froze up. She herself had grown numb to her sister talking about her moments with her lover - mainly since it was Weiss, who she did want to hear about. But no doubt for Winter, that would be the opposite.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to, I-I mean I… We- um…"

"No, no, it's okay," Winter half-laughed, lowering her eyes to watch how Ruby kept fiddling with the hem of her black flounce skirt. It really suited the red tank top and red sneakers, but it was probably a little more leg than the younger woman was used to showing off - even if it was only her calves. If anything, the shapeliness of them was helping her ignore the mental image of their sisters engaging in acts that were better off not pictured.

However, to keep herself from getting a little TOO focused on Ruby's body, she took up her martini and sipped at it again. "So… over text, I believe we settled on a couple of things you wanted to try. First, just some 'first date' fun, like kissing and caressing. You also wanted to try the 'naughty schoolgirl', and the 'bad puppy', I think? Or did you decide about being written on like those twins in the club?"

Rather glad for the change of subject, she nodded reassuringly. Most of all she was glad Winter didn't think too badly of her for bringing up what her sister had done with hers in the bedroom. "The Bad Puppy is definitely one, but the writing part I'm still not sure. My partner's only condition to this is that she sees no evidence, so I don't wanna get marked then her to find it all over me, you know?"

"Oh, that's a good point. Hmm… alright, I'll try to keep any other marks to a minimum, as well." When Ruby's eyes widened, she grinned in understanding at her shock. "I'm not talking about anything extreme, just… hickeys are actually very easy to leave if you aren't paying attention, too."

"Oh, right yeah! I wasn't even thinking of hickeys but I… Guess they would…" Swallowing again, she quickly took another long swig of ale in an attempt to keep herself sane. The very thought of hickeys being something Winter could so easily accomplish was enough to make her feel nervous once again. The poor girl really was to be probably her least experienced sub.

Something about the way Ruby was so nervous was most definitely bringing out the Dom in Winter. She wanted to get started right away, to take control of the uncertain little thing and steer her in the direction she wished. But that would come in time.

"Listen… would you like to watch a movie with me?"

Taken aback by the sudden suggestion, she blinked for a moment, finally lowering the bottle from her lips as she swallowed again. "You mean… You actually want to, with me? Like, cover the actual 'first date' stuff?"

"I would. I mean, most of what I watch is documentaries, but feel free to select something else." Debating with herself for a few seconds, she decided to be forthright. "You seem willing to proceed, but not quite mentally prepared for it. The most sensible course of action is just take it off the table and come back to it later. You've never even been in my apartment before, have you?"

Yet again, Winter gave her relief. At least she wasn't all too disappointed in how nervous she seemed, or her strange requests for rather platonic things. She seemed more than willing to let her get used to things before they began their play.

"Not yours, no," Ruby admitted, putting the bottle down on the coffee table. "I went to Weiss's when she was moving out, but hers had barely anything really. You actually look like you… live here…"

With a quiet chuckle, Winter stood up from the sofa, carrying her drink along. "You're not wrong. Weiss never really made this building 'home'. Would you like the grand tour?"

Right away she seemed to brighten up again, collecting her bottle and giving a polite smile. "I'd like that! I have a feeling this apartment is probably bigger than my dad's house."

"Oh, I doubt that, but we'll see."

The tour didn't take that long. Winter led her through the dining room and kitchen, asking if Ruby wanted another drink; she declined, given that she was still working on the first. She didn't show her the spare bedroom, stating that it was just a mess of storage and not interesting. Then the bathroom, and wrapping up the tour…

"And this is the bedroom," she finished with a flourish. "Where the magic happens. Also, where sleep happens."

"Magic is good. Sleep is good too. Everything’s super good."

As the door opened to the bedroom, Ruby took in the various sights. The bed, with beams that looked too sturdy than was necessary, the various wardrobes, some that seemed locked for some reason. Everything pointed to this being a common place for her to bring back people for these activities.

"Everything is good," Winter echoed. Though she was still standing back by the door and gazing up and down Ruby's form. Considering possibilities. Then she cleared her throat and smiled. "Unless you want to try on some of my shoes or something, there isn't much else to see in here, I'm afraid. Not yet, anyway." The last was somewhat suggestive, but she was trying to keep it to a minimum until the girl was more comfortable.

"Sounds like you and Weiss have had too many slumber parties. Talking about swapping clothes, trying on shoes…" Ruby giggled to herself. Though she wanted to power herself into going in head first, she knew in her own mind it would be a bad move. She wasn't ready, and would need to be it they were going to go further. Relaxing for a while was a good idea.

“Does it sound like that?” Winter breathed with a melancholy smile.

Whoops. Ruby sensed she had stepped on a land mine. "So… movie?"

"Of course." Leaving the room behind them, along with its ominous possibilities, Winter went on, "Why don't I set you up with my Netflix so you can pick something good, and then I'll pop us some popcorn? Unless you're a bit hungrier. I have several takeout menus."

"Popcorn is fine! Unless you're hungry, in which case I'll have something. Or if you're not we'll just stick to popcorn, I'm easy like that." But upon realising the irony of that last sentence, how when she they were leaving the bedroom to head back to the living room again, she laughed nervously. "Foodwise, I mean."

After taking a minute to mull that over, she asked, "Just answer quick, don't overthink it; pizza or Chinese?"

It didn't even take her a few seconds to decide. "Not to sound stereotypical because I'm half that, but… Chinese."

"Well then, my little wonton," she chuckled. By this point, she had turned on the TV and was just getting Netflix pulled up, but she took a moment to smile over at Ruby. "I'll get the menu for Hunan Dragon. Anything you want is yours."

"Ooo! Do they do crispy noodles or mushroom chow mein? I love that!" She grinned happily, taking her seat on the sofa as she eagerly waited for Winter to return with the menu. Maybe the evening wouldn't be so bad after all.

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

An hour later, they were about halfway through their selected film, and their cartons of noodles and rice. Winter had opted for something with a lot of vegetables and a very slight amount of spice, and Ruby had her beloved chow mein, and they split an order of crab rangoons between them. Both of them were on their second drinks; the cumulative effect was beginning to show in them, but the aid of food was keeping either woman from turning into a bumbling fool just yet.

"You know, I never understood these films," Winter was saying as she finished off the last of her white rice. That they had been sitting closer and closer had not escaped her, but she hadn't been forcing it, either. "Why is he a wizard? Why him and not his brother, the fat one?"

"Because Dudley's a muggle, he can't see magic – and he’s a cousin, so he didn’t get the magical bloodline. Plus, he's not very nice until the very last book, but the film deleted the scene where he and Harry forgive each other which always annoys me." Ruby commented, clearly a fan of the series considering she admitted to reading the books as well as seeing the films. Now that one bottle had been finished, she found the confidence to lean further back into the sofa, and barely even noticed she was leaning against Winter's shoulder.

"Maybe we should draw a lightning bolt on your forehead," Winter chuckled, poking the tip of her index finger into the bridge-rest of Ruby's glasses. "Or would Penny be upset about that?"

"Over a lightning bolt?" Weakly shrugging her shoulders in the end, she simply giggled to herself. "Well if we taped my glasses up, we could say it's a cosplay."

"But didn't the bushy-haired girl fix that?" Taking a calculated risk, she draped her arm around Ruby's shoulders. Her intoxication level was just enough that the action looked entirely natural instead of stiff or unsure.

As luck would have it, Ruby didn't notice. In fact, she leant into the action a little more, resting her head rather contentedly against Winter's shoulder and nuzzling into it. "Because he doesn't know the spell but Hermione does! He's gotta learn it."

Nodding, Winter laid her own head against Ruby's as she sighed. "Ah. Well, I guess that's why they're at this school, isn't it?" Then crossed her legs in the opposite direction as she settled in more. "Thank you for teaching me the ways of the wizards."

Giving a small nod, she nuzzled against Winter yet again. Thanks to the mingling alcohol in her system, and the warm presence, she felt more than comfortable doing so. No longer was she worried about the fact it was someone in such an odd relation to her. All she cared about was that the warmth was welcoming.

"Thank you for letting me! Penny isn't all too interested in Harry Potter, nor Yang. Never really been able to nerd about it."

Stroking very idly up and down Ruby's bicep, she said, "Really? I find that surprising; Penny seems exactly the type."

The idle stroking was starting to awaken something in her. She had cuddled Penny before in the same way against the sofa at home, even cuddled in bed before they went to sleep. But when she knew Winter's intentions for the evening, and her own for that matter, it seemed to be the first step to initiate things.

To try and give Winter the upper hand, she began to tilt her head more, exposing more of her neck for the woman she was leaning against. "Nah… she's more Star Wars."

"Now there's a franchise I really didn't understand. Seemed more of a 'boys club'. But I guess it isn't if your friend is a fan." Winter didn't miss the tilt of the neck, and couldn't help but focus on it for a moment. But then she forced her eyes back to the movie. Ruby might not have even been entirely aware she was doing it, and she didn't want to overstep her bounds. Not yet.

"Girlfriend." Ruby had to correct. Even if it seemed like a minor detail, it was something that a lot of people forgot. Understandable perhaps, with them not being the most intimate couple, but it was important to Ruby.

And yet there she was, having agreed to come to another's apartment to engage in very intimate acts. Acts that she was still trying to leave hints she was ready for at last by leaving her neck exposed, and stroking one of Winter's legs idly.

The hand on the leg was a much more obvious green light than anything else. One Winter seized upon. "Sorry, 'girlfriend' it is," she said, raising the hand that had been on her arm to her neck and grazing the very tips of her fingernails up and down the skin. "I didn't want to make an assumption, and it seems I did in the other direction."

"It's okay. It's just not a… sexual… relationship." Now they were getting somewhere. The tips of her nails were creating small sensations of their own, right in such a sensitive part of her. One that didn't receive much attention from her partner apart from the odd peck. Continuing to stroke Winter's legs, she further adjusted her position, shuffling a little closer.

"I… have a question to ask you, if you don't mind," Winter breathed, her voice intentionally sensual as the scratching continued, as she bobbed one calf up and down to show she had noticed where Ruby's hand was. "But I don't have to ask it. We can go back to Harry and his wizardly world if you want."

Is this it? It was all she could ask herself. She had no idea what to expect, but assumed this would lead to the activities they had chatted about. Only one way to find out.

"What's that?"

No backing down now. Raising her neck up, Winter also gently pushed Ruby's upright so that she could stare into her eyes, holding her silvery gaze.

"Sorry if this isn't very sexy, but it's important." Clearing her throat, she went on, "You may be intoxicated. As you are, I can't just assume you're willing to… do things. Not like I would if you were definitely sober. I have to ask, and hear a clear answer. Am I allowed to kiss you?"

"…Oh." Well, it was one of her requests. Kissing was something she was reasonable at, something she and Penny did occasionally. But it was something she wanted to improve on. With a nod, she smiled. "Yes."

"For future reference," Winter breathed as she began to stroke the side of Ruby's neck again, turning in her seat so that they were facing each other properly, "am I allowed to touch your body?"

It sent another shiver down her spine. Oh how good that attention felt… she craved more of it, more attention to her body in general. If Winter could entice her by stroking her neck alone, what more was she capable of?

"You are."

A light smile pulled at her lips as the hand raised to tease lightly across cheek and temple. "Am I allowed… to take off your glasses, Harry?"

A smile that was mirrored in Ruby's own face. However, that was accompanied by the biting of her lip. Feeling a small bout of confidence for herself, she whispered, "If you'd like… or you could do that in the bedroom?"

"Hmm…" Reaching up, she gently pulled the glasses down her nose until they slipped out from behind her ears. Her mouth opened in a small, pretend-gasp. "Well, look at that; I can do it just fine right here."

"But I was trying- I- ugh, I have no game!" Her attempt at seduction seemed to have failed. But it did at least get that small barrier out of the way. She was still smiling back at Winter rather than fleeing. And she still had a hand on her thigh.

"I hope this isn't too forward," Winter told her as the fingers slid down to her neck, "but you are absolutely beautiful." Their noses were almost touching. "Very much so."

"What? My glasses?" she tried to joke, leaning in so their noses touched. Maybe that would give Winter that little bit more incentive to begin.

"Did I say you, or your glasses?" The question may have been rhetorical, but she wasn't above driving her point home as her lips came to within a hair's breadth of Ruby's. Then she breathed, barely a whisper, "With or without them, you're stunning."

"Thank you." Usually she would argue, be unable to take such a compliment. But when it was coming from Winter Schnee, it seemed only fair that she take it. Why would Winter lie, anyway?

When she noticed how close their lips truly were, she finally let them reach their goal. Going forward the final fraction of an inch, she allowed her lips to come into contact with Winter's, kneading against them gently.

The kiss was not overly emotional, not a hungry, needy one such as might have taken place if the two of them were romantically interested in one another. But that wasn't to say Winter didn't allow her carnal desires to show through slightly as her lips pushed against Ruby's over and over, as their bodies drew slightly closer the longer it went on.

As time flew by, the two had ended up shuffling their bodies together onto the sofa. Ruby lay eagerly on top of the more dominant woman, kissing back with just as much energy as Winter was putting in. It was a slow, intimate kiss. One clearly to set the pace of how they wanted their evening to go. Anything more would have ruined the moment.

Though Winter was about to up the pace, now that they had at least grown a little more accustomed to the closeness. One hand remained just behind her head, but the other was gliding further down her back, resting just above her hindquarters, rubbing in light circles.

A soft hum sounded from her. A hum that showed she approved of Winter's actions. And when she pushed her backside more against Winter's hand to encourage more contact, it was clear that she was ready to take things up a notch. So she tried to make a few moves of her own, placing one hand on Winter's neck to hold her in place, and the other against her hip, running up and down her side slowly.

Then Winter's hand drifted past her end to begin hitching up her skirt, and inch at a time. It didn't take long to get it bunched enough to touch her thigh directly, which she did so, lightly, teasing. At the same time, she also allowed her own mouth to fall open; should Ruby be ready for that, the way was now clear for her.

This is so nice… Winter is a good kisser. Yet again, she was fretting at herself internally, but she took the chance. Allowing her tongue to enter, she seemed to be beaming happily when they connected, allowing them to brush against one another slowly. No fierce battles, just gentle contact.

I wonder if Weiss kisses like this… I mean, they are sisters. Then she verbally berated herself, Oh my god… do NOT think about that, Ruby Rose. Do NOT think about how she looks like Weiss! That’s not cool! Winter is her own person, and she’s really hot! And nice!

For a few minutes, they remained like that, Winter's hand just resting on the back of Ruby's bare thigh and their tongues dancing with each other in a sensuous ballet. The more they writhed back and forth, the more she wanted, until she finally withdrew to gaze up at her, panting and breathless.

"You… are a quick study, Ruby."

Completely red, Ruby could only smile back giddily to the older Schnee. She knew not if it was to do with the alcohol, or just from how good the kiss was. Either way, it had accomplished what they wanted; she was feeling more than prepared to progress.

"Then teach me more," she encouraged, stroking Winter's side again.

Winter held her gaze as she slid her hand up to grip Ruby's rear firmly. Then she let out a small chuckle. "Are these silk? Very nice."

"EEP!" Feeling something as basic as Winter grasping one of her cheeks was enough to make that blush deepen, and she already looked a sight! But rather than edge away from the hand, she nodded, remaining still.

"Y-yeah… I really, really like silk, even… if I’ve never had any before today."

"I have some in the fridge." When Ruby's eyebrows drew together, she laughed, one of the most full laughs she had given in the girl's presence. "Silk. You know… the soy milk. Sorry, bad joke."

"Soy milk, huh?" She giggled at Winter's attempt at humour. She really was like her sister in that respect. No, time to cut that thought off before it came back again. And to do so, she bit her lip for a moment, before leaning in toward her ear and whispering, "It's got a matching bra, too."

Shivering slightly, Winter held her in place and whispered back in kind, "I wouldn't mind seeing that."

"Then…" Biting her lip once again, she looked into the icy blue eyes of her elder, and then toward the rear hallway leading to the bedrooms. "Do you wanna…?"

The smile she got in return was the barest amount more wolfish than any Winter had allowed herself up until that point. "You know things will move a lot faster once we're in there," she breathed as she sat up, kissing her lips briefly again. "Is that what you want?"

With the hand still on her rear, she allowed a moment to clench herself slightly against it, but it brought on an even bigger grin. She liked it, and was prepared for the pace to increase. "You bet."

However, Winter had something else in mind that Ruby might not have been prepared for. In a single fluid motion, she rose from the sofa and swept the smaller woman into her arms, sneakers dangling off to one side as she gazed down into her wide eyes.

"Shall we, then?"

There was another surprised yelp from Ruby. Within an instant, she threw her arms around Winter's neck for balance, looking back up into the icy blue eyes again. Once used to the weightless feeling of being in another's arms, she allowed herself to giggle. "We shall!"

And so Winter carried her down the hallway to her bedroom. By the time they entered, however, she was panting and had to drop Ruby quite heavily onto the bed.

"Whoo! Sorry, it's… not that you're heavy, just that my usual… yoga routine doesn't include so much… lifting!"

There was one more smaller yelp when she landed on the bed, but the instant she looked up at Winter's exhausted expression, she laughed to herself, quickly sitting up to face her. "Well I could have walked it if you were that tired! But y’know, that was fun!"

Taking a deep breath in, Winter let it out slowly, smiling down at her project for the evening. "Now… you had something you wanted to show me?" She was teasing, and it was obvious, but it was also part of the game.

The laughter slowly began to die down with Winter's words. She did somewhat want to show Winter that easily, but somehow she knew Winter wouldn't prefer that. She'd prefer to work for it. Therefore, she pushed her skirt downward again, covering back up the first item that was on show.

"Noooope?"

"Ohhhh," Winter replied, catching on to the teasing tone. "Well then… can I start here?" Her hand reached up to brush the tank top strap on Ruby's shoulder.

Taking a quick gaze at what she was doing, Ruby found her cheeks going red once again. But she nodded in approval. It was just the one sleeve for now, but no doubt she knew Winter would be taking the entire top off.

"That reminds me…" she trailed off, stopping Winter from progressing. "Why did you want my clothing sizes?"

"Don't worry about that right now," she reassured her gently as she traced her fingertip over the strap. Red. That told her Ruby was definitely in the state of mind to do fun things together, and had been in the planning of their evening. To that end, she asked, "Are you ready for me to get you out of these clothes?"

Despite her previous want for Winter to work at it, she was too desperate to see what the night entailed. Too eager to keep going. With a small nod, she raised her arms for Winter to do as she pleased. "Ready."

With no further delay, Winter began to peel the tank up and over Ruby's head, tossing it up toward the pillows. Then she ran her hands over the smooth stomach that had been revealed, gentle and attentive.

"I like your bra," she told her quite simply. "Red is your colour, definitely."

Smiling back warmly, she leant into Winter's touch willingly. It felt good to have such soft hands making their way over its surface, especially those of Winter Schnee. "Thank you," she whispered. "Everyone else seems to think so. E-everyone that I've shown, I mean."

"Do you show a lot of people your bra? Interesting…" But then she laughed to show she was only joking as the hands slid down Ruby's hips and legs, removing her shoes. Then she glanced down… and snorted with further laughter.

"You have socks with bunnies on them."

Ruby ended up covering her face with her hands, groaning outward in embarrassment. Instinctively she drew her legs back in, trying to keep them out of Winter's view. "UGH, I knew I shoulda picked a plain pair!"

Still chuckling, Winter patted her calf. They were no-shows; it was easily enough remedied, and she didn't want to embarrass Ruby any more than was necessary. Not when they were still growing used to each other. In a heartbeat, her fingers and thumbs pinched between the two longest toes on each foot and yanked the socks free, dropping them on top of the sneakers.

"Problem solved. See? Don't worry about it, I was only teasing."

Slowly dragging her hands down her face again, she began to peek over them, trying still to keep her blush hidden from Winter. But a sign that she appreciated such reassurance came when she brought her leg forward, and lightly tapped Winter’s shoulder with her foot. "Just don't want to ruin the mood."

"You haven't," he promised her, catching the foot and kissing the soft curve of her calf muscle. "Relax. I'm going to slip into something more comfortable, if you don't mind."

"Not at all." She began to smile. Although, her hands had began to train down her own body teasingly, until they got to the waistline of her skirt. In an attempt to be just as sultry as Winter, she half closed her eyes. "Do you want me to remove this for when you get back?"

"Please, if you prefer." Then she opened her wardrobe, acquired a couple of things that she hid behind herself, and backed toward the Japanese folding screen. "I'll try not to take too long, but if I do… well, you can help yourself to another drink."

"I think you're trying to get me drunk," she joked, but continued to smile and giggle to herself as Winter vanished behind the screen. In a quick movement, she had her skirt off and on the floor with the rest of her clothes, and lay back on the bed by herself.

Okay Ruby, be sexy. And be you. Be sexy-you! And don't think about how much she looks like Weiss or how much you want to blog about this!

That last thought had her covering her face yet again. Why couldn't she get that thought out of her mind? Weiss was with her sister, engaged to her sister! Thinking such thoughts about her was wrong, especially when she was about to be sleeping with someone else. And yet, she had pined for Weiss for years before Yang started working for her. Those feelings weren't going to vanish easily.

Alright! Just… Just don't end up calling her name or something. That'd be humiliating.

Meanwhile, there were a few ominous noises from behind the screen. Clinking and clunking. Had Winter been wearing a belt before? Not that she had seen. It certainly was taking a while for her to finish.

"Almost done, I promise!" Winter grunted eventually.

"O-okay!" While she was waiting, she thought she might as well make an effort to appear appealing, and so raised her hands either side her head. She remembered the few poses she'd managed to see in a few magazines and attempted to copy one of them, to try and appear as sexy as possible with one hand on her hip, lying on her side.

Yeah, nailed it.

When Winter came out from behind the screen, she was wearing a silky, pale blue kimono-style robe over a matching negligee. Nothing more. She had even taken her hair out of its usual bun, and it cascaded down her shoulders in gentle waves of platinum.

"Oh…" Turning her gaze toward the older woman as she lay back on the bed, she found her cheeks lighting up again. Beautiful, again something like she'd find in a magazine, like she'd aimed for in the first place. It was enough to entice her, flatter Winter's form, and put her at ease all at once.

Okay... Winter is no consolation-Weiss. She’s a heck of a woman all on her own. Don’t screw this up, Ruby!

"Do you like it? I…" Winter hesitated, then looked down a little bashfully. "I've actually never had occasion to wear it for someone. I mean, you know what sort of activities I usually get up to, and they don't involve… well, I'd be wearing something with more spikes."

"Or nothing, I guess. It does look really pretty, and suits you!"

The tiniest bit of pink was in Winter's cheeks now. "Thank you. And you look fantastic in that, honestly." Planting herself on the side of the bed, she reached over to trace a hand up and down Ruby's thigh. "Enticing."

"I tried my best. I didn't know what you'd like or if you even liked girls that much, so I… figured I'd try something out." She smiled, watching Winter's every move eagerly. Those hands could work miracles, she was sure.

"Normally, I'm not dead set against them or especially interested. But you're very… persuasive somehow." Leaning down, she pressed her lips into the flat surface just above Ruby's navel. It was such a light touch, like the whisper of a ghost. It was enough to coax a giggle from her, and to continue to watch Winter's actions.

So she was one of a few, eh? Or one of the only ones? That was unexpected. It was certainly enough to make the girl feel very special. And all she wanted to do was please her elder.

Which reminded her… "I think," she began, licking her lips lightly from nerves. "I think I wanna try the bad puppy first."

"We can do that," Winter sighed, kissing lower. Then she paused, eyes turning upward without the rest of her face doing so. "Or that is… did you mean right now?"

Biting her lip once again, she hesitated. Winter seemed to want to finish her with her mouth already. Maybe that was her plan, to finish once regularly and then begin play after. Such a prospect was making her redder in the face again, and her nerves grew. But play took preparation and set up. It would buy a lot of time for her to prepare for if she did actually let herself be pleasured tonight, and she'd be able to do something for Winter first. With that in mind, she nodded.

"Y-yeah. Yes, please."

"Oh." Winter sat back a little, blinking in obvious surprise. "Well… alright, I suppose we could… yeah."

"J-just so you're not waiting around too long, I mean! I want this to be fun for you, too, so… it’s a party for… everybody!" She fumbled at her words again, nerves seeming to resurface within her. But at the very least, she was willing herself to keep going.

Winter crawled up to lay next to Ruby, draping her arm around her middle. She leaned in as if to kiss her, but turned to whisper into her ear at the last moment. "I was already having fun. Remember when we discussed the 'first date' experience? That's what I was going for. And I was really enjoying it."

"Oh…" Now she felt a fool. That little lie made her out to be assuming things out of place. That wouldn't do. Finally moving her hands from the elegant position she'd kept herself in all this time, she rolled to face her, looking up nervously. "Then… can we keep kissing and hugging a while then? I’m not sure I wanna do more stuff just yet."

"Absolutely." There wasn't even a moment's hesitation, and she had been smiling gently the entire time. "And we don't have to do 'more stuff' at all." Pressing her lips into Ruby's, she slid the arm around to push into her back and hold them closer together, eyes sliding closed.

To accept that response, Ruby slid her arms around Winter in return. One hand went straight into her long, platinum hair, holding her head against her so they could continue to kiss longer. The other had began to rub up and down her back.

"Silk…" She couldn't help but smile to herself, eager to touch more softness, to embrace it. It was a little thing, but one she loved.

A lot sooner than their previous kiss, their tongues were sliding together, and now their bare legs were tangling, holding each other in a tighter embrace still. A heated little groan floated out of Winter's throat into the space between their lips at the pleasant sensations. And Ruby returned the favour. She continued to slide her tongue against Winter's, humming with interest at the sensations. Unable to help herself, she managed to sneak one of her legs between Winter's, using it to bring her in closer.

Another unintended side effect was a soft moan she made into her mouth. One that clearly signalled something. Once the leg glided up high enough, Winter hummed again, the slender thigh pressing into her through the silk material of her nightie. She found herself completely fascinated with the way Ruby could be both frightened and bold at the same time; such a unique paradox.

Eventually, Ruby broke away the kiss with one final moan of her own. But it wasn't over yet. She continued to embrace the older woman, cuddle her up closely and feel around her body. That counted at the first date experience, right? To cuddle and kiss in undies?

That was when Winter remembered something else Ruby seemed to enjoy. Her mouth sought out the vulnerable neck, kneading into it and grazing it with her teeth every so often as they shifted against each other.

"Oooh…" Ruby seemed to purr out, allowing her eyes to fall shut while her fragile neck was attacked and kissed. It was one of her weaknesses, more than she cared to admit. On the odd occasion Penny was feeling up to things, it was always the first place she aimed for. Gripping more of the silken clothing, she relaxed into the various fussings over her body, growling with delight at them all. Silken clothes and soft lips - she was in heaven!

"You smell divine," Winter told her after a few more minutes of light play. Her hands and legs had not moved any further, though every once in awhile, her hips rolled slightly up against the thigh.

"So do you." She hadn't really thought about it before, but she did. It was a soft fragrance that reminded her of the cold air, like on the rare holiday they used to take in the northern states for skiing. But how contradictory it was that Winter smelled so cold, yet made her feel so warm in an embrace.

One of the woman's experienced fingers slid up Ruby's back just under the strap of her bra, grazing up and down lightly. There was no move made toward the clasp, only to titillate the skin that had been hiding underneath. And she gasped. Though Ruby was prepared for this eventuality, she didn't think Winter would be so eager! Even if it was just to touch the skin beneath, it was more than welcome. In fact…

"Do you want it off?" she asked, backing her head away for a moment so she could look into those icy blue eyes again.

"Do you want it off?" Winter countered easily, though her hand withdrew from under the straps to rest very gently against the clasp. "I want what you want."

She didn't answer with words. Only with a more confident action. Reaching behind her, she managed to unclasp the bra rather easily, soon bringing it forward and off her chest. After throwing it aside with the rest of her clothes, she looked back to Winter for her approval.

But all Winter did at first was to lean down and leave light kisses on the top of each breast, well away from the sensitive peaks. Then she leaned her head up again to leave a tiny peck on the tip of her nose.

Giggling yet again, Ruby could only continue to smile. Winter truly did know how to put her at ease, with every little step. Even when half naked, she didn't feel afraid. In fact, the light kisses had her feeling something very strange. Empowered.

Speaking of which… "I think I'm ready now. For real, this time."

"Ready for what?" Then she made sure to follow up with, "You can tell me, or show me. Whichever works for you. Also, you can feel free to do whatever you want to me tonight if you feel up to some exploration."

"Ready to begin… playing," she clarified. Slightly hunching her shoulders as she smiled up at Winter, she then looked over toward the wardrobe. Winter had seemed to very quickly get what she wanted, then suddenly shut it before Ruby could get a good look. No doubt there were more items in there for these methods of play. "I'm pretty curious how you'll dress me up."

Chuckling, Winter left one last kiss on Ruby's cheek before rising. “You say that now. We’ll see.”

[rvnclwrites]

Romania 1999 Pt 3 (Charlie Weasley x Female MC)

Summary: AU where MC is an American who attended the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry instead of Hogwarts. Set eight years post graduation (1999) when she finally gets the nerve to travel abroad and follow her dream to be a Dragonologist in Romania. Check out my master list for parts 1 and 2.

Notes: So first of all, I suck and this is set eight years post graduation not nine. I for some reason had a stroke when I wrote part 1 and thought MC graduated in 1990 instead of 91. Oops. Also, I couldn't find any info on whether magical creatures can see Thestrals or what the rules are so what I wrote may not be accurate, but it worked for my plot line so idc lol.

Word Count: ~8000 (No, I’m not kidding. Sorry not sorry 😅)

(Y/N) had started visiting the owlery nearly every morning the following week in hopes of hearing back from one of her friends. Finally on Wednesday, her heart leapt as she cracked open the door and saw Pearl, one of the Sanctuary's beautiful barn owls, with a letter addressed to (Y/N) clamped in her beak. She tore into the envelope as fast as her fingers would allow, leaning against the cool concrete ledge behind her as she began to read.

(Y/N),

I am so proud of you!! I can't believe you're actually in Romania. I don't know what gave you the final push to make the move, but I am SO glad you did. I think this will be great for you, especially considering it's the one job you've talked about since we were third years. How long do you plan on staying? I hope indefinitely- if anyone deserves a place to settle down it's you.

Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. Things have been hectic since I took on this new teaching job. Can you believe I'm actually a potions professor? Professor Haywood does have a nice ring to it if I do say so myself. Don't worry though, I still have plenty of time for my shop on the weekends. Just let me know if you need any Felix Felicis to help you take on those crazy beasts you're working with. (Or perhaps a small vial of Amortentia if settling down is actually a possibility?? Only joking… sort of.) How's everything been at the Sanctuary so far?

I miss you so much and hope to hear back from you soon. Bea sends her love too!

Love, Penny

(Y/N) sighed as she finished reading, drawing the parchment against her chest. It was nice to know Penny was proud of her. The beautiful blonde had always known what she wanted to do and had her life as a Potioneer planned out since their very first day at Ilvermorny. (Y/N), on the other hand, had been interested in so many different careers in the wizarding world she struggled when it came to narrowing down her options and feeling confident with her decision. Funny how that ended up working in her favor with the way everything turned out...

(Y/N) shook her head clear, not wanting to think about that right now. Reaching out, she stroked Pearl affectionately, realizing this was her first encounter with a magical creature that wasn't a dragon in over two weeks. That was (Y/N)'s only complaint about working at the Sanctuary so far. She was well aware before she accepted the job that owls and Thestrals were the only other creatures permitted on the grounds, but it was an adjustment after having spent nearly two years bonding with all the different creatures back at the Reserve. (Y/N) frowned, feeling the ache in her chest grow, and decided she would have to write back to Penny later. Right now she needed a reminder of just how much she enjoyed being here at the Sanctuary, and maybe she could visit the Thestrals later.

Working alongside Charlie and Hank did just the trick at first. She had purposefully worked through the next two days to keep herself distracted, and it was working fine until now. (Y/N) stilled as Ventus bowed his head to her and flapped his green wings once, creating an all too vivid parallel in (Y/N)'s mind with her favorite Hippogriff back at the Reserve.

"Hello? Earth to (Y/N)?" Hank said, waving a hand in front of her face.

(Y/N) pinched the bridge of her nose in an attempt to ease the sudden pounding in her head. "Sorry, what'd you say?"

"I said I think Ventus here is growing quite fond of you."

(Y/N) forced a smile, admiring the dragon in front of her. "Yeah. Probably helps that he's the nicest one of the bunch." She felt Hank's inquisitive gaze linger on her for longer than she felt comfortable with, so she added, "We should probably get back down for dinner."

Both Charlie and Hank agreed, and the trio followed the path back to the village, joining Scott at their usual picnic table.

"Did you hear that the Wasps got owned by Puddlemere yesterday?" Scott asked as he piled his plate with a second helping of mashed potatoes.

Hank snorted. "No surprise there. I would'a bet twenty galleons on it with how rubbish Wimbourne has been this year." The forty-three year old who had already downed his dinner grabbed a piece of pie from the tray. "Hey Charlie, didn't you play with some bloke on Puddlemere's team?"

Charlie, who was seated beside (Y/N), nodded. "Oliver Wood. He became captain for Gryffindor after I left. Pretty good Keeper."

"Wait, isn't your friend Andre a Keeper too?" Scott asked.

"For Pride of Portree, yeah."

"Bloody hell," Hank said through a mouthful of pie, "and your sister may start playing for the Harpies? With all these connections, you better damn well get us tickets to the next World Cup."

The men carried on with the Quidditch conversation, but (Y/N) was distracted by the mention of Charlie's sister. So far she had only caught wind of a brother named Bill, and now an unnamed sister, presumably younger if she's just now joining the Harpies. Since (Y/N) didn't want to ask about anyone's family outright, she had resorted to making mental notes whenever something was mentioned. Hank had a sister named Chloe, but Scott had never mentioned family, only a friend named Steven.

"How's Andre doing?" Scott asked. "He should come visit again sometime."

"I haven't seen him in awhile actually. I'll probably send him an owl when I go home for Christmas."

(Y/N)'s stomach lurched at the thought of going home for the holidays. She hoped it wasn't uncommon for people to stay here around Christmastime.

"Awh man, you're going home this year?" Hank asked, disappointment etched on his face. "I was hoping Molly and Arthur were gonna come back here for a change. We haven't seen 'em since your siblings stayed at Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament."

Molly and Arthur, (Y/N) repeated in her head, adding who she presumed to be Charlie's parents to her mental list. She was surprised to find herself a little disappointed too. She would have liked to meet them.

"Seriously, that cake she made was the best I've ever had," Scott added, patting his stomach. "Plus it's always fun to get the scoop on Charles' childhood."

So his parents were still together and his mom was a great baker, maybe even a housewife since he apparently had so many siblings. From the sound of it, Charlie seemed to have a big, happy family. Of course he did.

"Are your parents gonna visit, (Y/N)?" Scott asked as he refilled his glass of Pumpkin Juice.

An anxious chill scattered across (Y/N)'s neck, traveling all the way down her back and legs. She hoped to God she didn't look as alarmed as she felt, and she shrugged in an attempt to ease some of the tension between her shoulders. "No, my parents and I aren't that close." She kept her tone casual, not wanting anyone to think it was a big deal. "But I'm sure my friends will sometime," she added for good measure. Even though her parents would never come here, Penny, Rowan, Barnaby or Jae might visit her someday.

"Don't you have any siblings that wanna come?" Hank asked, forking the last of his pie into his mouth.

(Y/N) stilled, feeling the color drain from her face. She shouldn't have been surprised. In all honesty, she was more surprised she had managed to make it this long without it coming up. For a split second, she considered lying- it's not like they would know the difference if she said she was an only child. But these guys were her friends, and she didn't want to lie to them.

Swallowing, (Y/N) looked down at her plate and scooped the last of her mashed potatoes onto her spoon. "Unfortunately my brother passed away several years ago."

"Oh shit," Hank said, his blue eyes going wide. "Sorry to hear that."

(Y/N) offered a smile, not wanting anyone to feel uncomfortable. That was always the worst part. "Don't worry about it. It was a long time ago."

Hank wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Were you two close?"

"About as close as your average siblings. We loved each other but did our fair share of arguing," (Y/N) said with a laugh. To her relief, Hank and Scott joined in laughing.

"Chloe and I used to torment each other all the time," Hank began before diving into a story of the best prank he ever pulled on his younger sister. (Y/N) let out a breath, grateful that they hadn't made a big deal of it. She was surprised, however, when she turned and found a certain dragon lover's gaze piercing right through her. Had Charlie been staring at her this whole time? Why was he looking at her like that?

(Y/N) kept her focus on Hank and Scott but could feel the redhead's eyes on her for the remainder of dinner. As Hank got to his feet, (Y/N) quickly followed, feeling oddly vulnerable. She desperately hoped her mentor wasn't about to start treating her differently- or worse, about to start asking questions.

"Anyone up for a game of Gobstones or Wizard Chess?" Scott asked, downing the last of his Pumpkin Juice. When his eyes flicked to (Y/N)'s, she shook her head.

"Sorry, but I'm actually going to fly for a bit before it gets too dark. I'll be up in the west wing if you guys need me."

Hank and Scott waved as (Y/N) went to retrieve one of the brooms from the storage shed by Aro. She made a point to not look at Charlie, not wanting to know if the confusing redhead was still staring at her like that.

As (Y/N) disappeared up the hill, Charlie reflexively glanced toward the west wing, the winding pathway and herds of workers just barely visible in the distance.

"Would you look at that," Hank said, stepping up beside him. "Yet another thing in common. You're running out of excuses, Weasley."

Charlie remained silent. He hated whenever Hank was right.

"That nagging voice in the back of your head asking if you should go talk to her?" Hank continued, crossing his arms over his chest. "Yeah, you should try listening to that for a change."

-

(Y/N) loved flying, but the real reason she was heading to the west wing was to see the Thestrals. The manufacturing team used them to pull carts and even flew on them occasionally since dragons couldn't see them.

As the creatures' resting spot came into view, (Y/N) lowered her broom handle, dismounting gracefully onto the secluded clearing. The area was easily one of the most beautiful and serene that (Y/N) had found at the Sanctuary so far. The sound of water from the creek greeted her ears, the steady stream leading into a dense forest ahead. Not many dragonologists seemed to approach the Thestrals when they were off duty. Whether it was because her coworkers couldn't see them or because of the bad omen myths about them, (Y/N) wasn't sure, but she was more than grateful for it.

Five Thestrals were there, two laying in the grass while the other three stood idly by, stomping their hooves and flapping their bat-like wings occasionally. (Y/N) didn't hesitate to approach the nearest one, watching closely for any sign of protest before stroking it's long, bony muzzle. The Thestral nuzzled his head against her hand, and that emptiness in (Y/N)'s chest vanished in an instant.

She stayed there for awhile, sitting in the grass and petting the creature, letting her mind wander to the Reserve for the first time since she'd been there.

"There you are."

(Y/N) whipped around, startled from her reverie and even more startled to see Charlie come into view, the matching Nimbus 2008 clutched in his right hand.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, assuming one of the dragons needed help for the redhead to come looking for her. "Norberta's wound didn't break open again, did it?"

"No, she's fine." He set the broom down beside hers and pushed his messy hair back away from his face. "Mind if I sit?"

(Y/N) blinked at him, wondering momentarily if she had fallen asleep and was dreaming- not that she had ever dreamed about dragon boy before. "Uh no, of course not."

He sat beside her, resting his forearms on his knees, and (Y/N) became far too aware of just how close he was. Sure, Charlie usually sat by her at the picnic table now ever since their trip to the pub, but it was a big table with plenty of room between the two. As (Y/N) stared down at the redhead's beat up jeans, she estimated less than seven inches between their legs.

"So why'd you come here?" Charlie asked, reaching forward and running a hand along the Thestral's back. "I could have sworn you'd be up on the landing. Took me awhile to spot you down here."

(Y/N) blinked again, her eyes following his hand before darting up to meet his curious gaze. He could see them. He could see the Thestrals. She bit the inside of her cheek hard, using all of her willpower to stay silent. She wanted to know more than anything, but how do you politely ask someone who they had seen die? You didn't.

"I like visiting the Thestrals," she admitted, glancing back to the creature resting on the ground. "Don't get me wrong, I love dragons, but it's an adjustment only seeing one type of creature everyday." (Y/N) frowned as the image of her Hippogriff returned to her mind. "I, uh, left a lot of creatures back in America."

"Oh. Do you miss home?"

A scoff fell from (Y/N)'s mouth before she could stop it. As far as she was concerned, home was wherever she was working, meaning the Sanctuary was her home now. She looked up at Charlie and wasn't sure why, but something in those big brown eyes made her confide in him. "This is my home now. Closest thing I've got to one anyway."

Unmistakable sadness flashed across Charlie's features. His eyes were fixed on the Thestral, but (Y/N) could tell his mind was elsewhere. "I lost one of my brothers too," he said quietly.

(Y/N)'s attention snapped back to Charlie and guilt swirled around in her stomach as she recalled her earlier assumption. A big, happy family. No wonder Charlie had been staring at her earlier. He may have had a bigger family, but it was broken just like hers.

"Oh." Her mind filled with questions, but (Y/N) knew the first one to ask. "What was his name?"

"Fred." He went quiet for a moment, and (Y/N) understood- she struggled saying her brother's name for an entire year after losing him. "Yours?"

"Jacob." She waited a minute before asking another question, not wanting to overwhelm him. "Was he older or younger?"

"Younger." The redhead rubbed his forehead with his palm before saying, "He and my brother George were twins. I can't even imagine what he's going through."

(Y/N)'s insides twisted, not only at the inconceivable thought of losing a twin, but also at Charlie's choice of words. I can't even imagine what he's going through. How recently had Fred died? "Can I ask what happened?"

Charlie looked down at her, and the sadness in those eyes made (Y/N)'s heart crumple. "Battle of Hogwarts."

(Y/N) sucked in a breath, her jaw dropping slightly. It had only been a little over a year since the battle. She had read about it of course. Even in America, Voldemort's defeat was all people talked about for months. After Grindelwald, Ilvermorny ensured students knew about Harry Potter and the history of one of the darkest wizards of all time for fear of him invading America. But she had never imagined coming so close to it all. Charlie's brother was amongst the fallen who had fought and died for the rest of the wizarding world. She suddenly felt stupid for not putting the pieces together sooner. Charlie had gone to Hogwarts after all. "Did you fight in the battle too?"

The redhead nodded. "My whole family did."

(Y/N)'s gaze flicked back and forth between the Thestral and Charlie. "That's why you can see them," she whispered, reaching a hand out to stroke the creature's muzzle again. "Did you see him- I mean did you see Fred-" (Y/N)'s voice cracked and she looked away, blinking away the tears gathering in her eyes. She hoped he knew what she meant because she didn't think she could get the words out.

"No," he said, and a wave of relief washed through her. "I saw a lot of people die that day, but not my brother. I came in halfway through. I didn't even know he had died until it was all over."

(Y/N) fell silent, unsure of what to say, before deciding to take a risk. She placed her hand on top of his forearm and squeezed, letting her thumb brush comfortingly across his smooth, freckled skin. "I'm really sorry. It's one of the worst feelings in the world and I know nothing I say will make it any better."

Charlie attempted a smile. "You sure? Because talking to you has made it a little better."

It was possibly the worst thing he could have said to her. Butterflies gathered in her stomach and she pulled her hand back, feeling stupider than ever as a smile tried to reach her lips. This conversation was definitely not helping her put an end to the idiotic crush she had begun developing for the redhead.

To make matters even worse, Charlie nudged the side of her knee with his own, causing a cluster of goosebumps to break out down her leg. "Your turn," he said, nodding towards the Thestral.

(Y/N) knew what he meant, but the answer approached dangerous territory. She didn't want to tell him anything, but how could she not after Charlie had finally opened up to her? She just wouldn't tell him the full story.

"My brother was a Curse-Breaker," (Y/N) started, continuing to pet the Thestral. "He went missing while he was at Ilvermorny, and I started looking for him once I got there. It took me awhile to find him, but I eventually did." (Y/N) let out a breath, trying her best to keep the flashbacks from her mind. "But he wasn't the same. He was obsessed with these Cursed Vaults around Ilvermorny and the last one killed him."

Charlie's forehead creased with worry. "You saw him die?"

(Y/N) nodded. "I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen. By the time I caught up with him-" (Y/N) broke off and cleared her throat. "Let's just say I wish I hadn't." The sound of thunder began pounding in her ears, and she shut her eyes, giving her head a slight shake as she forced the miserable memory away.

"Life really isn't fair sometimes," he muttered.

"No. But I still think everything happens for a reason."

"Yeah?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

Charlie let out a sigh, and he was quiet for another moment before whispering, "Does it ever get any easier?"

She looked up at him, wanting him to see the honesty in her eyes as she nodded. "Yeah, it does."

"Good. I'm sorry about your brother, and I'm sorry you had to leave all those creatures behind. I couldn't imagine leaving these dragons."

(Y/N) smiled. "You guys make it a little easier."

That brought a smile to the redhead's face, one of his genuine ones that lit up his eyes and tugged on (Y/N)'s heart. "What creature do you miss the most?"

(Y/N) frowned. "My Hippogriff Sirius. I'd never admit it to the other creatures, but Hippogriffs have always been one of my favorites."

"Sirius?"

She internally cursed herself for mentioning the Hippogriff's name. "Uh, after Sirius Black. I was a bit obsessed with him when his whole story came out. Couldn't imagine being in Azkaban for twelve years as an innocent wizard."

Charlie laughed. "I'm technically related to him."

(Y/N) blinked at him, completely astounded. "What?"

"My dad's mom was a Black."

"Oh," (Y/N) muttered, feeling suddenly embarrassed for some reason. "Small world."

"Yeah, I never got to meet him, but my siblings did because of the Order of the Phoenix and since he was Harry's godfather."

"You mean Harry Potter?" (Y/N) asked rhetorically. She knew that's who he meant because it had been all over the papers how tragic it was that Sirius never got a chance to be the father figure that Harry Potter deserved, but she couldn't resist a laugh. "You talk about him like you're friends."

Charlie seemed the least bit fazed by this. "Well, he is my brother Ron's best friend and has been dating my sister for over two years."

"What?" (Y/N) gaped at him, completely dumbfounded. "You mean the Harry Potter might be your brother-in-law one day and I'm just now hearing about it?"

Charlie laughed. "Sorry, I'm so used to him hanging around my family I forget how some wizards see him."

(Y/N) wanted to understand where he was coming from but just couldn't. It was Harry Freaking Potter they were talking about. That would be like saying meeting Newt Scamander was no big deal. She shook her head, still bewildered. "You're insane."

The pair sat there for a little longer as the sun began to set. When Charlie remained quiet, (Y/N) gave into the question that had been nagging at her since he had told her about Fred. "So does this mean we're friends now? Because to be honest, I feel like I've been getting mixed signals for the past two months."

"Sorry about that," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Hank's been telling me for weeks I need to get over it, but ever since Fred died it's been hard to let people in."

"A lot of people don't understand," (Y/N) said empathetically. "Nobody, not even my friends, knew how to act around me after my brother died."

"Yeah," Charlie agreed, a sad smile reaching his lips. "It's nice to finally have someone who gets it. And yeah, I'd say we're friends now."

(Y/N) smiled, feeling jitters dance around her stomach. She paused for a moment before peering up at him. "Well then as your friend, can I ask you a personal question?"

Charlie's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What?"

"So I know you love dragons and all, but you're not like into them, are you?" She bit back laughter at the look on the redhead's face.

He shook his head, laughing a bit too. "Funny. Real funny. Did Hank tell you to ask me that?"

"No…" She bit her lip, unsure how truthful she should be. "A certain blonde may have accused you of being more attracted to dragons than women."

The redhead rolled his eyes but didn't seem the least bit offended. "I swear my dating life- or lack thereof- has been of more interest to people around here than I would have ever imagined."

(Y/N) laughed, and luckily stopped herself from saying, "Can you blame them?" The last thing she was going to do was to admit to Charlie just how good looking and talented he was. "You don't have to talk about it. It's really nobody's business."

Charlie shrugged. "There's just not much to tell. I was pretty much consumed by dragons at Hogwarts. I didn't even have a crush on anyone until my last year."

That wasn't weird. People were allowed to be picky or have other priorities. "Did you two end up dating?"

"Yeah. But it was pretty stupid because I knew I was going to Romania and she was staying close to home."

"Ah."

"So then I came here and was primarily focused on work. And it's not like there was an abundance of options around."

(Y/N) nodded slowly, arguing internally on whether or not to ask the next thought that popped into her head. After a moment, she decided to go for it. "And what about Sydney?"

Charlie shrugged again. "She's nice, I just never felt comfortable around her. She didn't really understand the whole dragon obsession. This is just a job for her. Probably why she made that comment."

(Y/N) wanted to ask if he felt comfortable around her but realized how it would sound in that context. The last thing she wanted was for Charlie to think she was flirting with him. She was not about to ruin their new friendship. "Well, she doesn't know what she's missing. This has easily been the best job I've ever had."

"How many have you had?" Charlie said with a laugh, sounding surprised. "I thought you were a Magizoologist before this?"

(Y/N)'s smile faltered. "I was, but only for the last two years. I, uh, moved around a lot after my brother died. Had quite a few different jobs after graduation."

"Like what?"

"Healer, Potioneer, Wandmaker, and a couple others," (Y/N) muttered with a shrug.

"But you graduated the same year I did. Did you really have a new job every year?"

(Y/N) felt nervous being put on the spot. "No, I told you I spent two years at the Reserve." She elbowed him playfully in attempt to lighten the mood, but he frowned.

"So the longest you've ever stayed somewhere is two years? Does that mean…" Charlie didn't finish the sentence but he didn't have to.

Stomach acid churned in (Y/N)'s belly at the thought of leaving the Sanctuary. "I don't know to be honest. Like I said, this is the best job I've ever had, so you might have a harder time getting rid of me."

This seemed to reassure the redhead. He smiled at her, and (Y/N) knew she was doomed because all she could think about was that it seemed like Charlie didn't want her to leave, and that thought made her way happier than it should have.

Eyeing the darkening sky, Charlie said, "Race you back to the village?" Before she even responded, he was standing up and picking up his broom.

"Hey, you cheater!" (Y/N) called as the redhead kicked off the ground just as she reached her broom. She darted up after him, heading back home, and couldn't help but think that this was going to be the start of one of the best friendships she would ever have.

-

October and November came and went even faster than the previous months, and (Y/N) couldn't believe how much fun she was having with team. She felt entirely comfortable around all of them now and hung out with Charlie all the time. She was sure, however, to set specific boundaries for herself, not wanting her ridiculous crush to get out of hand. She was hoping it would disappear altogether soon enough and there would be nothing to worry about.

When the first snowfall of the season came one December morning, (Y/N) couldn't wait to visit the dragons and see just how glorious the Sanctuary's scenery looked.

"Hurry up," she groaned as Scott and Hank took longer than usual to get going. Charlie, on the other hand, didn’t disappoint and seemed as ready as he always was. He was definitely a morning person.

"I thought we agreed to start later in the winter," Scott grumbled mid yawn, pulling a hat onto his head and rubbing his hands over the sleeves of his coat. "It's bloody freezing out here."

"The sooner we start, the sooner we get hot cocoa," Hank pointed out even though he too looked less enthused about working.

They started with Gertie and Aro first, feeding them and making sure they had enough areas to stay warm. Most dragons could handle the severe weather due to their love of mountainous regions, but they weren't entirely immune to illness and overall irritation from the drastic change. Certain breeds in particular seemed to handle the frigid climate better than others, and that became clear as they approached Odie, the Antipodean Opaleye.

"Boy he's cranky," Hank said after dodging a second blast of fire from the agitated beast. Odie was refusing to let anyone feed him or even step within 50 feet of him.

Charlie laughed as he guided the raw sheep meat back onto the ground several yards away from Odie. "You probably would be too if you were from Australia."

"True." Hank stepped away from the rock he had hid behind, his eyes never leaving Odie in case another burst of flames came his way.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news," (Y/N) began, eyeing the purple patch covering the dragon's right ear, "but I think it's more than him just not liking the weather. I think he's developed frostbite from it."

"Shit," Scott grunted as his gaze followed (Y/N)'s. "I told you guys we should have made them wait until Spring to ship him here."

Hank slid his wand back into his pocket and turned to Charlie. "Guess I should go nag the research team to help us stun him. Should I get Logan or Felix to heal it?"

Charlie looked from Odie's ear to (Y/N). "Can you do it?"

(Y/N) craned her neck to see the full span of the injury. "If I can somehow get within five or so feet of him then yeah."

"Five feet?" Hank pointed out, quirking an eyebrow.

(Y/N) groaned in exasperation. They loved mocking her American ways. "One and a half meters, whatever. I think you should use the freezing charm instead though."

"Are you mad?" Scott spat.

"If we stun him we risk him not eating for another hour. Dehydration and starvation will only make the frostbite and his attitude worse."

"Can't we use the body-bind curse instead?" Scott asked. "I'd feel far better about you getting so close if he was more restrained."

"And traumatize him while he's hurting?" (Y/N) asked, flinching at the idea.

Scott turned to Hank, clearly looking for backup, but the forty-three year old shrugged and started toward the pathway. "It's your funeral, darlin'."

Five minutes later, Hank came back with Logan and Dave to help with the charm. "Six of us should do it, don'tcha think?"

The rest of them nodded. Half a dozen were usually plenty to subdue a more timid breed like Odie.

"You sure you want to do this?" Charlie asked, handing (Y/N) his gloves. "It's not exactly the safest task in the world."

She smiled at him, sliding the brown material over her hands. "If I wanted safe, I hardly would have picked this career."

He chuckled, seemingly satisfied with her answer. "I've got your back."

(Y/N) hated when Charlie made comments like that. They were crossing far too many of her boundaries and made her insides tingle in a way she wished it wouldn't. Still, she put on another smile and withdrew her wand. "You better."

The six of them lined up and waited for Odie to lay down. As soon as he was comfortably resting on the snow-covered ground ahead, they all shouted, "Immobulus!"

(Y/N) darted forward, unsure of exactly how much time she had, and moved to the dragon's right side, staying as far away from his mouth as possible. With a complicated wave of her wand, she used the hot-air charm first, letting a gentle mist of steam warm the affliction. As soon as the proper pearl color returned to Odie's ear, she performed two healing charms on the injured ear and one charm on the opposing ear to prevent it from facing the same fate later.

"Hurry up," Scott warned. "Or we'll have to do it again."

"No, I'm good," (Y/N) said, catching sight of the slightest movement of the dragon's arms. Just as she stepped back, Odie unfroze completely, standing up and flapping his wings. (Y/N) was almost out of the danger zone until his giant white tail flicked once behind him, hitting her thighs and sending her falling backwards. She winced as her back hit the ground, knocking the wind out of her momentarily and shooting her wand into the air. Luckily, the snow helped ease her fall and she recovered quickly, automatically reaching her hand out and saying, "Accio wand."

Big mistake. Odie's gaze hungrily followed the wand as it flew through the air, clearly mistaking it for potential food. As the wand landed in its owner's hand, Odie's eyes darkened, just now spotting (Y/N) and how close she was.

Knowing no one would be able to subdue or distract him in time, (Y/N) moved faster than she had ever moved before, scrambling behind the only boulder in sight as the Antipodean Opaleye sent a rush of flames her way. She overheard the men in the background attempting to extinguish the blast, but they could only manage to lessen the blow. She ducked as close to the snow as humanly possible, but she was so worried about her head, she forgot to move the hand resting against the rock. Pain seared the back of her left hand as the flames reached the glove, and she jerked it away, tucking her whole body behind the boulder. When she heard Scott and Hank taming Odie, she relaxed, sitting up and yanking off the glove to examine the reddened, already blistering skin. Their gloves protected them as much as possible but could only do so much against such direct contact with fire.

A familiar head of red hair came into view as Charlie crouched down beside her. "You okay?"

"Almost," she said before letting out a sigh of relief as she rested the back of her hand into the snow. She couldn't help but laugh a little, still feeling jolts of adrenaline course through her body. "Would you think I'm utterly insane if I said I'm even a little excited about my first potential scar here?"

A grin spread across Charlie's freckled face. "Not one bit." He stood back up and extended a hand to her. "Come on, let's get that cleaned up."

(Y/N)'s hand started feeling better after burn-healing paste was applied. She continued working for the rest of the day while Hank and Scott profusely commended her readiness and ability to stay calm.

"I could have sworn you were gonna lose your eyebrows like Scott did his first year," Hank had said, ruffling Scott's hair while Scott jerked away.

"It was only one eyebrow and that only happened one time."

The team retired early and (Y/N) was in her kitchen, enjoying a cup of tea and trying to ignore the occasional twinge in her hand, when there was a knock on her door.

"Come in," she called, and she was instantly annoyed by the flip in her stomach as Charlie's silhouette came into view. He was wearing a knitted crimson sweater she had never seen before with a dragon embroidered in the middle. None of them wore nice clothes much since they were usually out on the field, and she tried to avert her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself how well it suited him.

"Figured you could probably use some more of this," he said, closing the door behind him and setting a fresh bottle of the burn-healing paste onto the table.

"Thanks," she said, smiling up at him. "Want a cup of tea?" His eyes glanced uncertainly to the auburn liquid steaming in her teacup and she laughed. "Relax, I have milk and sugar if you want it."

He smiled. "Sure then."

"You Brits are weird," she muttered, moving toward the kettle as Charlie took a seat on the wooden loveseat off to the left and let his eyes wander around her place. The pair had hung out a lot, but not so much in each others' houses, and (Y/N) suddenly felt nervous.

She poured a second cup of tea and grabbed the burn-healing paste from the table before joining Charlie in the section of the room that would be considered the living room. She did, however, decide to sit in the chair adjacent to the loveseat. Boundaries.

"Thanks," he said, accepting the mug from her and leaning back into the cushioned seat. "You did really great today."

"All in a day's work," she said casually, feigning boastfulness with a shrug of her shoulders.

He laughed and set the teacup down on the coffee table in front of them. "You gonna put more of that on or am I going to have to do it for you?" he asked, indicating the bottle next to his mug.

Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries, (Y/N) repeated over and over in her head. As much as she hated to admit it, the tiniest part of her understood what Sydney had meant. Charlie was a little clueless when it came to how words and actions could be interpreted. "Okay, mom."

"I just know how much it hurts going on at first."

He wasn't wrong. It stung like a bitch the first time she applied it after the incident, but she wasn't about to admit that. She had a relatively high pain tolerance and was a little too prideful when it came to her resilience. "It's not that bad."

"Oh really?" He picked up the bottle and offered it to her. "Go ahead then."

She stared at it, trying to convince herself that it was like ripping off a bandage, but in the end she didn't want to do it.

Charlie grinned. "That's what I thought." He opened the bottle and poured some of the potion onto his palm.

"What are you doing?"

The redhead moved in front of her, sitting on the edge of the coffee table before reaching for her hand. "Doing it for you. We need your hand better before Monday."

The word BOUNDARIES blared in (Y/N)'s head like a siren, complete with flashing red lights, bells and whistles. She pulled her arm away, attempting a laugh. "I can do it myself," she insisted, trying to snatch the bottle away from him.

This didn't seem to deter him in the slightest. He just stared at her, a half smile on his lips. "And people say I'm stubborn."

She kept her eyes locked on his, refusing to be the first to break eye contact.

"Technically it's only fair,” he added, “considering I let you help me.”

Shit. That son of a bitch cornered her. She glowered at Charlie, feeling defeated as she pulled her sleeve up and extended her left arm.

"Was that so hard?" he asked right as he brushed the potion across the back of her hand, making (Y/N) wince as the orange paste fought to heal her burned flesh. The pain lasted no longer than a minute though and was soon replaced by jolts of electricity at Charlie's touch.

It was less than five minutes before Charlie screwed the cap on the potion and set it back onto the table, but (Y/N) was more concerned with the fact that he didn't return to the couch. Instead, he pointed to the scar along her forearm. "I've wondered how you got that for awhile now."

"Oh, I had to fight off a Chimera once. He got a good slash in but don't worry, I won." Her gaze instinctively flicked to his eyebrow. Her rules were screaming at her to resist the urge, but he had touched her hand first. It was only fair. She reached up, briefly brushing the pad of her thumb across the small scar that separated his left brow. "Your turn."

The redhead cracked a smile, raising his own hand up to touch the scar. "Why does everyone have to ask about this one? It's actually the least exciting of them all."

"Try me."

"Okay… my brother Bill and I wanted to try and play Quidditch once when we were little. He started teasing me, saying there was no way I could ride an adult broom, so I took it from him. Needless to say I fell, but I actually would say I did fairly well considering I was only five."

(Y/N) laughed, unable to ignore how cute a stubborn five year old Charlie had to have been. "No fair. I can't believe you got to ride on a broom that young. My mom would have had my head."

Charlie laughed. "I never said I didn't get in trouble for it."

The pair talked for a little while longer before (Y/N) said, "I like your sweater by the way."

Charlie arched a brow, following her gaze and pinching the knitted material between his fingertips. "You mean jumper?"

"Ugh, whatever." (Y/N) let her head fall back against the chair and Charlie chuckled. At least it wasn't as bad as finding out Brits thought you were talking about underwear when you said pants. (Y/N) had reiterated the word trousers until it stuck in her mind for good. “Where’d you get it?”

The redhead looked a little embarrassed. "Uh, my mum made it."

That was probably the cutest thing (Y/N) had ever heard in her life and she didn’t know which was worse- the fact that Mrs. Weasley was perfect enough to knit her children sweaters or the fact that Charlie was the type of son who actually wore them. "When are you leaving to go see them?"

"Probably a few days before Christmas. I usually stay for about a week."

(Y/N) hoped her disappointment didn't show on her face. She knew Hank and Scott were going to be there, but she was going to miss Charlie.

"Are any of your friends coming to visit you?"

(Y/N) frowned. "Not until early next year. A lot of them are stuck at work or visiting their own families."

Charlie nodded and looked like he had something else he wanted to say.

"What?"

He peered up at her, and if (Y/N) wasn't mistaken, a subtle tinge of pink highlighted his freckled face. "You could come to the Burrow with me if you want."

(Y/N)'s heart stopped. As her mind caught up with his offer, she waved a hand at him. "Oh no, that's okay. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine here."

Much to her dismay, however, Charlie didn't let it go like she thought he would. "It really wouldn't be a big deal. There's already nearly a dozen of us so there's always plenty of food. And to be honest, Christmas is a bit dismal here at the Sanctuary."

(Y/N) had no doubt that Christmas would be disappointing here, but this was exactly the sort of cluelessness she had been referring to. Charlie was just being a nice friend, she told herself, refusing to let the offer go to her head. But why was he asking her and not Hank or Scott?

No. She was overthinking it. Maybe he had asked Hank and he had said no because Chloe was visiting. And she already knew Scott said he would hang back to help Hank with the dragons. Maybe he asked the team every year and it was no big deal.

"Uh, I don't know… I'm not sure I could handle meeting Harry Potter. I'd probably embarrass the hell out of myself."

Charlie laughed. "If either of us stands to be embarrassed it would be me. My siblings live to humiliate one another."

(Y/N) fell silent, trying to ignore just how much she would love a chance to meet his family.

"Are you really going to say no to me two days before my birthday?"

"Hey, that's not fair," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I think it is. Think of it as a birthday present."

Why was he being so persistent? This was crossing dozens of boundaries. The last thing she needed to do was fall in love with his family. "What if I already got you a present?"

Charlie's eyes narrowed. "I told you guys not to."

"No, you told us not to buy anything," she corrected before standing up and walking over to her dresser. She opened the bottom drawer, withdrawing a neatly folded sweater before returning to Charlie. "My team gave me this after the Bludger I hit stopped the other team's Seeker and won us the House Cup." She held up the striped blue sweater, showing off the Snitch darting around the center of it. "I never wore it much because let's face it, two Bludgers moving around on it would have been much cooler, but I thought you might like it. I was going to turn it red for Gryffindor and use the enlargement charm on it."

Charlie stared at her, smiling one of those damn smiles- the ones she had become strongly opposed to because of the way they made her feel. "Can I see it on?"

(Y/N)'s eyebrows narrowed inquisitively, but for some reason she obliged, tugging the sweater on over her long sleeve shirt. "Well?"

"I have one word for you," Charlie said, his appreciative smile replaced by an alarmingly playful expression. "Run."

(Y/N)'s eyes grew wide and she darted toward the front door, swinging it open just as the redhead started after her.

After managing to somehow not kill herself on the slushy porch steps, (Y/N) ran toward the west wing, knowing the exact path to take to avoid any dragons. "You're insane," she called as she heard the redhead’s footsteps behind her, but she couldn't restrain a giggle. Pushing past a tall patch of brush, (Y/N) made her way toward the manufacturing team, passing by crates full of dragon-hide gloves and boxes of dragon heartstrings. She tried to slow him down by knocking a couple empty boxes back toward him, but Charlie easily sidestepped them.

"You're gonna have to try harder than that," he said, laughing as he gained in on her.

(Y/N) was panting hard by now, not used to breathing the cold air into her lungs. She kept running though, set on where she was headed, but her plan came to a screeching halt as the path she was intending to follow was covered with a pile of shoveled snow.

Before she could start running again, Charlie caught up with her, and just as she had anticipated, he tackled her onto the powdery mound of snow.

Neither could stop laughing as they landed in the pile, which was nearly deep enough to consume them both. It wasn't until (Y/N) had wiped the snow from her face and opened her eyes that her laughter died out.

"Gotcha," Charlie said, grinning down at her. He was bracing himself on his forearms to prevent from crushing her, and his face was so close- less than five inches from her own, making her go slightly dizzy. She dropped her head back into the snow, letting her eyelids flutter shut as she tried to steady her racing heartbeat- which was only racing because of all the running.

"Fine, you win," she said, and (Y/N) was more than relieved to feel the twenty-six year old collapse onto the ground next to her. She chanced a glance at him, but it wasn't much better. She still felt every urge to kiss him. "I'll go with you."

The redhead grinned at her, still panting slightly from the running. "Good. I prefer the jumper on you anyways."

(Y/N) knew Charlie just enjoyed messing with her and showing off his Seeker abilities, but that didn't stop her from wishing he meant something else by that.

Yep. She was completely and utterly doomed.

[dreamyjoons]

everglow // 4 // myg

Synopsis: Of course exes move on, but what happens when they move on together and want to tie the knot? You don’t know the answer, but with Yoongi by your side, you hope you’ll find out.

Warnings: some angst, fluff, some fluffy smut, briefest mention of death, some swearing.

Words: 5.4k

A/N: fourth and final part of this short series. Thank you so much for all the love and feedback, this has been such a fun and encouraging way to start my ff career 😉 as ever, please check out my growing masterlist for more! I hope you enjoy, and thanks for stopping by. 🧡

You walk back into your hotel room, stunned to see it deserted.

“Yoongi?” You call, checking the bathroom and finding it empty.

You walk to the side of his bed and find his phone gone. Worry tingling in you, you pull your phone out of your pocket and dial his number. It rings once before it ends, and confused, you try again. This time it immediately goes to voicemail.

You sit on the bed and worry your lip, wondering where the hell he had to be at five in the morning.

You sat back against the headboard, unlocking your phone and pulling up your messages.

[you: 5:02 AM]

Where are you Yoongs??

You hit send, and you tip your head back against the headboard, your head thrumming. Before you realise it, your eyes flutter closed as you fall asleep waiting for him

You wake up to the sound of the shower, and you shuffle up from your sleeping position to blurrily look around. Cursing yourself for falling asleep, you reach for your phone. It read 14:06, and you sighed. The wedding was at three, you needed to get moving.

You realise the shower had stopped for a bit, and you draw your lip between your teeth. Something was wrong, you just knew.

Despite the time crunch, you sit in bed and wait. Finally, Yoongi emerges. He’s dressed in a simple dark purple button-down tucked into black jeans, his hair silky and swept back slightly. He knocks the breath out of your lungs - but that was nothing new.

But then he looks at you, and his face turns to thunder.

“Hey.” You say dumbly. He doesn’t reply as he begins to gather his things and stuff them in his suitcase. You watch him for a moment, his ring-covered fingers snatching up everything that was his.

“Where did you go last night? I was worried.” You ask weakly, your heart thudding in your chest.

He lets out a harsh bark of laughter, stopping in his motions to turn and face you. He looks at you with a coldness you’ve never seen before, and alarm bells are screaming in your head. Something’s wrong. But how? It’d only been a few hours.

“Oh, I’m sure you were real worried.” He snaps and you mouth gapes.

“Yoongi, what’s going on?” You ask, getting out of the bed and drawing to your full height.

His eyes flicker over you, lingering on his shirt that you were still wearing. He drags his eyes away to look out of the window, before turning back and looking at you in a way that made you want to hide. You’d never seen him like this. Yeah, you knew Yoongi could be a grump but this was different - colder, and directed at you.

“Are you gonna tell Isla before the wedding?”

Your brain screeches to a halt, trying to understand his words. His eyes are wide and almost watery as he looks at you, and you couldn’t be more confused.

“Isla? What… what are you talking about?” You ask, your eyebrows knitting together.

“Even after this, you’re not totally a shitty person, so do the right thing and tell her.”

“Yoongi, what the hell do you mean?” You ask, your stomach beginning to whirl as he rolls his eyes.

“You can play dumb or whatever, but I saw you with Mark. It’s shitty of you to hook up with a man on his wedding night.” He snaps, and finally the penny drops.

You realise he must have seen you with Mark downstairs. You briefly imagining how that may have looked - you in Mark’s arms, touching his face. But it wasn’t like that - Isla knew you were meeting, and you definitely wouldn’t ever go back to Mark, especially since you have Yoongi. At least, you had Yoongi.

Your look of realisation must have been plain on your face, and Yoongi took it as an admission of guilt. He shakes his head and slams shut his suitcase. He throws it by the door, and you see that he’s got all his stuff ready to go.

“Yoongi, it’s not what you think!” You rush, stepping forward to him but stopping yourself short.

“Oh sure. So what, you were just playing with me until you got what you wanted?” He bites, and you gasp.

“No! I-I love you, Yoongs.” You half whisper, sadness creeping into your bones.

“I don’t believe you. To think that after all this time…” he trails, and you shake your head.

“I do, Yoongi. I love you. I don’t know what you think you saw, but I promise you-“

He laughs mirthlessly, cutting you off. He moves to the door and rips it open before pausing and looking back at you. Your eyes swim, tears threatening to flow. You were hurt, angry and confused. How could he get you so wrong?

“I’m getting the first plane out of here, but it won’t be until after the wedding. If you can’t do right by me, at least do right by Isla. Goodbye, Y/N.” He sighs, taking in your teary appearance before walking out.

“Yoongi! Wait!” You shout, but he’s already gone, the door slamming behind him.

You step back until your legs hit the bed and you collapse on it, tears finally flowing down your face. You wipe furiously at them.

You’d come so close, so close to something wonderful. And it didn’t even last twelve hours.

You roll over and grab your phone to call him again, but the time stops you. You had to be at the wedding in twenty minutes. You consider blowing it off, but you didn’t want to do that to Isla, or even Mark. Maybe you could get them to talk to Yoongi too.

You throw yourself off the bed, a new sense of purpose filling you. If they just talked to Yoongi, he’d understand. You weren’t going to let there be another option.

You run around the hotel room, dusting your face lightly with makeup and pulling on any dress that you’d packed for the wedding. Just a few days ago you’d packed at least five outfits to choose from to wear, and now it didn’t matter. All that mattered was your Yoongs.

You grab your phone and key card, throw your sunglasses over your puffy eyes and ran from the room.

The lift down is agonisingly slow, and as soon as the doors begin to open you slip out and hurry towards the ceremony.

The chairs that had been set up the day before are filled with wedding guests, the sun bearing down mercilessly overhead.

There was only a chair on the back row that was free, and you sneak in and sit down, pushing your sunglasses up into your hair as your eyes scan the crowd.

You finally spot a head of honey-coloured hair, sat surrounded by strangers. Your eyebrows draw together as you stare at him as if he will sense your presence. You’re a little stunned to see him here - you think he wouldn’t turn up after what he believes had happened. But then again, he does seem to have grown to like Isla a lot. Maybe he was here to see if you’d confess to something that you hadn’t done. You school your emotions, not wanting to start crying again. Yoongi really seemed to bring the tears out of you.

A gentle piano melody begins playing, and the crowd stand. Having barely just sat down and caught your breath, you stand back up, looking back to see Isla beginning her walk along the boardwalk towards a waiting Mark. You turn to look at him, having realised you hadn’t taken in your surroundings at all.

He stands at the end of the aisle with the lady who conducts the ceremony, his cream linen suit moulding to his body perfectly. His white shirt sits unbuttoned, with a simple lei hanging around his neck. You also notice he’s wearing cream-coloured sandals.

You flick your eyes back to Isla, her hair curled and bouncing. Her white dress hangs off her shoulders, a gentle dip in the back that barely touches the floor. A bouquet of daisies sit in her hands, and a light purple lei hangs around her throat. But most noticeably of all, they’re both beaming. You’d never seen either of them look so happy, and even though there was a slight tinge of hurt that you couldn’t do that for them, you were genuinely glad they had found each other.

As she walks by you, your eyes slip past her to Yoongi. He’s already looking at you.

His eyes only meet yours for a second, but the hurt you see makes you feel like you've been kicked in the chest. He looks away instantly, his eyes fixing on Mark up ahead with a thunderous look. You sit back and pull your sunglasses over your eyes, determined not to wallow. You were going to make this right.

Isla meets Mark and they hold hands, both laughing giddily. The crowd settle back in their seats, and you draw your lip between your teeth and watch the wedding get underway.

The ceremony drags, and the heat feels worse than it had been all weekend. The objections part of the ceremony passes, and for a moment you were worried Yoongi was going to say something, but he remains silently glued to his chair, his eyes never moving from Mark.

Eventually, mercifully, the wedding ends, and as the crowd cheers, Mark and Isla kiss. You clap along with the crowd, a small tear slipping from the corner of your eye.

They walk out between the rows of seats, grinning and waving. Isla waved at you and Mark offered you a shy smile, to which you grinned back to both of them.

Isla’s mother stands and directs everyone to move down the beach towards where the reception as being held, and you scan the crowd for Yoongi.

He goes to move away, walking out of the row he was sat and begins heading back towards the hotel. You try to scramble to intercept him, but Mark’s mother beats you to it, linking her arm in his and dragging him towards the reception area. You can see the torment in his face, and you almost choke in your emotions. You follow behind at a distance, watching as Mark’s mom talks animatedly at him.

You soon arrive at the designated area: tables and chairs set up in the soft sand, decorated with native flowers and candles. Tables of food have been laid out, and backing onto the decking behind was a bar and DJ, with an area for dancing. It was quaint and cute, but you couldn’t tear your eyes from Yoongi.

Mark’s mom peels away from him and he’s standing alone, and before you think about it, you’re marching over to him.

“I thought you were going?” You ask, and immediately want to smack yourself in the face. Yoongi looks round to see you, and you can tell you’ve put him on edge. He gives you a brief once over before finally meeting your eyes, jaw set.

“I thought you were going to confess the truth?” Your mouth falls open. Did he really think that lowly of you?

“Yoongs, I haven’t done anything! I was trying to comfort him.”

“Oh is that what they call it now?” He laughs spitefully, and it sets daggers into your heart.

“Yoongi, please don’t-“

“I’m sorry Y/N, but I can’t do this. You broke my heart, please don’t break anyone else’s.” He slams his eyes shut and takes a deep breath before walking away to the bar.

You stand there like an idiot, staring at his back. Frustration and hurt bubble up inside you, and you don’t know how to let it out without causing any more hurt.

The sun was already beginning it’s slow descent down, the sky starting to flash shades of orange and pink. You looked out across the ocean, and although you want to take in the beauty, a dark cloud still hovered over your heart.

Fishing out your phone, you dial the one person you think might be able to help you.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Jin-oppa.” You say quietly, moving towards the edge of the ocean for a bit of privacy.

“Oh, Y/N. What do you want?” He asks bluntly, and you realise you can’t take any more. Not today.

“I take it you’ve spoken to Yoongi.” You state, your voice cracking as you realise the frostiness of his tone.

“Yep. You should be ashamed-”

“Jin, I didn’t do anything! You know me, and Yoongi knows me. Why do you both think I’m that cruel?” You choke, hurt and betrayal bubbling in your chest.

“The evidence doesn't lie, Y/N.”

Jin, for fuck sake.” You whine, before launching into recounting the story of what happened with Mark. Jin is silent the whole time, and remains silent after you finish talking.

“... and you’ve told Yoongi this?”

“Not fully, he hasn’t given me a chance. He keeps telling me to confess to Isla about my ‘crime’.” You tell him bitterly, kicking at the sand with the edge of your sandal.

“Maybe you should get Isla to talk to him? Or go shout at him. He can never seem to hide from you when you’re angry. Maybe leave Mark out of it, Yoongi can land a mean punch if he wants to.” Jin remarks, and you briefly wonder if he knows that from experience.

“I will. She’s not here right now, and they have to do their first dance, but I’ll ask as soon as I can.”

“Okay, good luck, Y/N. And I’m sorry I believed that about you. I know you’re not like that, but Yoongi’s like a brother, and he’s loved you for a long time. I don’t want him to hurt again.”

“Thank you, Jinnie. I… I love him too. I’m going to make sure he doesn’t hurt again.” You say firmly. You’re determined.

You both say your goodbyes and hang up, just in time as a horn cuts through the chatter of the guests. You turn to see a man blowing through a shell, dressed in Hawaiian ceremonial clothes. He then lowers the shell and begins to shout.

“Please welcome Mr and Mrs Kwon!”

Isla and Mark walk through the hotel doors and onto the deck, giggling and waving as the crowd cheers. They stand in the middle of the deck and take their position to have their first dance, their bodies tight together and their hands clasping gently to one another.

The crowd gathers around to watch, and you join the back of the group, your eyes never moving from Yoongi.

A gentle melody plays and the couple begins to spin around the floor, but your eyes never leave him. Yoongi has a glass in his hands, and it looked to be a large whiskey- a very, very large whiskey.

His eyes seek you out too, and for a minute you’re both caught in an electrifying moment, as if no one else existed but the two of you. You wanted him to know you had nothing to hide, and only love to give. Whether he got it not, you’ll never know as he turns away, his face red and his teeth gritting.

Your eyes flick to Isla and Mark as you draw your lip in between your teeth and bite down, determined not to tear up yet again.

The song ends and the crowd cheer and clap, and you numbly clap along too. The couple then break apart and talk to the crowd, soaking in the love and congratulations. Yoongi had walked away then, Mark getting dangerously close to him.

Isla finally stopped before you, and even though you plaster a wide grin on your face, she sees right through it. She always did.

Grabbing your hand, she drags you out past the tables and towards the shoreline, before sitting on the sand and pulling you down with her.

“Isla, you’re meant to be talking to your guests at your wedding.”

“You’re a guest, and this is my wedding. If anyone can do what they want, it’s me. So,” she shifts and faces you fully, her light features pulling into one of utmost sincerity. Relief floods your system - a friend. “Tell me what’s going on with you and Min Yoongi.”

Tears finally break loose as you talk to Isla, explaining what happened with Mark and what had followed with Yoongi. She nods as you speak, giving you her undivided attention and you’re so thankful.

That’s until you stop. When you finally finish speaking, she nods once, looks out towards the ocean and then out of nowhere, bursts into laughter. You sit stunned, your eyebrows shooting up and your jaw dropping down.

She belly laughs and cries, and even though you’re hurting, a smile pricks up at the corner of your mouth. That was the Isla effect.

“I’m sorry,” she laughs, wiping tears from her eyes. “This is just so dumb. I know you’re both hurting but god, what a mess.”

“I know, I know. But he won’t let me get close enough to make it right.” You smile sadly, your eyes drifting out towards the ocean.

The sun was just hovering above the ocean, and the sky was darkening enough for the candles and tiki torches on the beach to be lit. It was beautiful, and you wanted to share it with Yoongi. You threw a look back over your shoulder, hoping he was still here. You had to make him hear you.

“Go to him. Deploy some of that Y/N stubbornness and get him to hear you. You’re both perfect together, even if you’ve only just realised that your feelings. They’re too strong to ignore.” She shrugs, and you snap your head to look at her. Did she..?

“Yeah, I knew you weren’t a couple. He always looks at you like you never see him. But I started to see you looking at him the same way, so I let it slide. Especially with my mother around.” You both share a giggle, before you throw your arms around her shoulder and pull her in for a hug.

“We may not have been the greatest couple, but you’ve been one of the best additions to my life.” You mumble as your cheeks squish together.

“Of course I am!” She laughs, pulling back and fixing you with a serious look. “Now go and talk to him. I want us to go on double dates, and we can't do that without Yoongi.”

You laugh and fix her with a confused look but she merely shrugs.

“You get good deals on things when there’s four of you.” She smirks, and you smile, before getting to your feet. You hold out a hand and pull her up, and share a quick hug before you both walk up towards the party.

You separate then, and you scan the guests for Yoongi. A bunch of people had made their way to dance, and a few sat dotted around the tables eating. Yoongi was at a table, leaning against his chair and sipping on his whiskey. He was watching you, and when you finally found him he snapped his eyes away. Steeling yourself, you march to him.

He looked beautiful in the dark and candlelight, and it made your heart thud in your chest - although that could have just been fear, plain and simple. You couldn’t lose him. That was not an option: not now, not ever again.

You stop before of him as he lays back against the table, his legs out in front of him and his hair covering his eyes.

“Get up.” You demand, and his eyes snap to you, surprised.

He stares at you for a moment before he laughs you off, turning away in his seat and throwing back his drink. You grit your teeth, before reaching out, snatching the glass from his hands and slamming it on the table. He spins back to you stunned, and you take the opportunity to grab his hand and pull him up, dragging him to the dancefloor before he can argue.

A slow song is playing and you’re silently relieved that you have the chance to be close and talk, but it does nothing to stop the panic that threatens to seize you.

You pull him to an empty spot in the crowd, and turn to face him, standing mere inches from you. You swallow thickly as you place your arms around his neck gently, and he huffs.

“Don’t be a child. Just do this, and if you decide you still don’t want to talk to me I'll… I’ll leave you alone. For good.” You whisper, your voice breaking repeatedly. He mulls over your words before slowly sliding his hands to rest on your hips.

You both begin to sway to the music silently, as you hurriedly race to sort out the emotions running around your head.

“What you saw isn’t what you think.” You start, taking a deep breath before you continue. You make eye contact and hold it - You need him to know how sincere you are.

“Mark wanted to clear the air before he got married. Isla knew about us meeting - she even encouraged Mark to talk to me.

“When I hugged him and wiped away his tears - which is I imagine what you saw - we were talking about his dad, and how he wanted him here. His dad dying had a lot to do with how Mark treated me, so it was rough for him to finally face. It was the ending of an era between us.” You end quietly, your heart hammering in your chest.

“But Yoongs,” you say, and you see him swallow and his eyes swim. “I love you. I do, and I would never treat anyone like that, but especially you. So whilst I’m hurt you think that, I understand you’re in pain. But I don’t want to lose you. Not ever.” You finish, before taking a shuddering sigh and closing your eyes.

You’d said your piece. Now it was all up to him. You opened your eyes to look at his face. He simply looked at you, his expression unreadable. You continued to sway in silence, fear prickling in you.

“Yoongi, please say something.” You ask, the air between you stifling.

“I’m sorry.” He says quietly.

“You’re… what?” You ask, eyebrows knitting together. Your blood rushed loudly in your ears, blocking everything out.

“I’m sorry. I know you’re a good person, but I just saw you in his arms and… freaked out, I guess.” His voice is quiet as he moves his eyes away for a minute to collect himself.

“Oh.” You say dumbly, and he looks back at you.

“I guess I never realised how deeply I feel for you until I nearly lost you. I think it scared me a little too, especially when you said you wanted me like I wanted you.” He begins, his words speeding so quickly you could barely keep up with him.

“Yoongi-”

“I know- I know I’ve probably fucked this up for us, but I don’t want to lose you. So if you don’t want to be together, I get that. But I don’t want you gone from my life. Please don’t go.” He pleads quickly, his eyes flicking rapidly over your face.

You feel your entire body ready collapse from relief, and your heart feels like it’s beating so fast it could burst out if your chest.

Suddenly, you begin to giggle. Shock flits across his face as your giggle grows louder and tears fall from your eyes. You move a hand from around his neck to wipe at your eyes as your giggles subside, and you put it back over him, a smile gracing your lips. The first genuine one you’d had in a while. His lips prick up slightly, and you know you’re a goner.

You lean forward and kiss him, gentle and sweet. He’s stunned for a minute, before his entire body relaxes and he pulls you flat against him, bringing a hand up to cup your face. His thumb dusts across your jaw as he deepens the kiss, the two of you stilling in your swaying to be totally engrossed in each other.

You pull back and smile at him, and he shows you that gummy smile that shatters your heart. You card a hand through his hair, looking as his face transforms with a smile and kiss-reddened lips. You liked how that looked. In fact, you loved it.

And him. You loved him.

The thought seized you so strongly that you needed to bask in it. Alone, with him.

You step out of his embrace and grab his hand before pulling him off the deck and onto the sand. You pull a blanket that had been left out for guests in the chilly evening off the back of a chair and begin running down the beach, away from the party. You hear Yoongi laugh behind you as you run, and you pause by a palm tree, secluded enough for you both not to be disturbed, but open enough so that you can see all of the beach and look at the sky. The moon was taking its place in the sky, the sun having fully vanished - it was perfect, and you could share it with Yoongi.

You drop his hand so that you can throw down the blanket. Once it’s spread out, you turn back to him.

He stares at you like you personally put the moon in the sky for him. And you look at him as if he was the sun - eternal, bright. Both you both belong in the sky together, and you both glow.

“You’re beautiful.” He whispers, and a smile slips onto your face.

“So are you.” You say sincerely, causing his grin to slip back on his face.

You stay there only for a few seconds before he’s on you - he’s kissing you, cupping your face and dropping you both onto the blanket. You’re pressed underneath his body, his kiss hot and fast - as if he’s making up for lost time.

He creeps a hand to unbutton the top half of your dress, pulling back from your kiss long enough so that he can shove the sleeves down and reveal your torse. He unclips your bra and pulls it off you, dropping it beside you before swooping down to seize a bud in his mouth. He’s rough at first, sucking hard on your nipple as he pinches the other. But then he slows, peppering kisses along your chest and gently taking the other bud in his mouth, flicking it lightly with his tongue whilst he draws light rings around the other.

You arch under him, the change in pace driving your body wild. You could feel your panties sticking to you with how we they were. It was heavenly, but you needed him. Now.

“Yoongs, we can take turns later. I need you.” You gasp, running your hands into his hair and tugging gently so that he releases your nipple and looks at you with blown out eyes.

He smirks, before dotting gentle kisses back up your chest, pausing at your neck and jaw and capturing your lips again. His kiss is deep and slow, pulling back to nibble on your lip. You both open your eyes and look at each other, each second electric.

You push him back so that he kneels up and you begin to unbuckle his trousers. You push them down to his knees before you guide him back to sit. Slowly you drag his boxers off him, letting his hard cock spring free. You take his length in your hand and pump him a little. He throws his head back as you run your hand along him, and you kiss along his throat as small groans slip out of him. You run your finger along his tip, moving some of his precum down his length. Sweat was beginning to form on his forehead, and his shirt was sticking to his body. He looked sinful, and he was all yours.

You slide your panties off and drop them with your bra before you straddle him, feeling his hard length brushing against your wet core. The feeling makes you both hitch and groan.

“You sure?” He asks, wrapping one arm around your back for support and other reaching between you to rub his tip against your wetness and clit. You take a shuddering breath as you meet his eyes.

“Positive. I want you.” You whisper before kissing him again.

Reaching between you, you place your hand over his and guide him into you slowly. Despite how wet you are, it still burns slightly as he pushes in. You whine into your kiss and he slows to a stop, but you kiss him back fiercely and continue to take him in.

When he’s fully seating in you, you both still, your kiss trailing from fiery to gentle, slow and gentle, with the occasional small smile dotted in.

You roll your hips, and feeling more accustomed to his size inside of you, you begin to move. You start with slow bounces in his lap, getting used to the drag you feel inside. The pain subsides and pleasure bubbles up until you start to pant into his kiss.

Yoongi breaks apart your lips to lean his forehead against yours, meeting your thrusts so that he can pull out further before driving back in, the sensation making you throw your head back. The pace is slow, but so soft that you can’t ever complain. You’d never felt so cared for.

Yoongi kisses up the column of your exposed throat as you roll your hips, clenching down on him causing him to growl into you. You bring your head back up and kiss him again, rocking your hips faster.

His breath gets more ragged as you speed up, his hands moving to your ass to push himself further into you. Your hands are in his hair, holding his sweaty forehead against yours. Your eyes flutter shut as he finds the angle to hit your soft spot inside, and you whine. He laughs, and you pay him back by clenching your walls, causing to swear under his breath

“Fuck... are you getting close princess?” He asks breathlessly, pulling back to meet your eyes. You preen at the nickname, nodding quickly.

“Me too, cum with me, Y/N.” He grits out, moving a hand from your ass to press gently at your clit.

You groan as you lean your forehead against his, moving one of your hands from his hair you place over his on your clit, both of you leading you over the edge.

“Yoongi-” you gasp.

Your orgasm crashes over you, making your eyes slam shut as your body rolls, your walls clamping down hard over his cock. The pressure becomes too much for him, and his orgasm rocks through him, his hot cum filling you as you both ride out your highs together, seizing each other in one last kiss.

He softens and pulls out of you, both sitting in the same position as you catch your breath. He lets go of you for a minute, grabbing your panties to wipe at your leaking core. He throws them off the towel before he lays you both down, facing each other on the blanket.

He shimmies his boxers and trousers over himself, and you take a second to flip back down your dress skirt and cover your chest back up. Then you’re both lying still, with nothing to do but exist together.

A chilly breeze rolls past, shaking the palms above you and causing goosebumps to raise over your skin. Yoongi pulls you flat against his chest and picks up the edge of the blanket to throw over you both.

You both get sprayed with a shower of sand, and you yelp as you hide in Yoongi’s chest.

“Uh, Yoongs! It got in my mouth.” You giggle, wiping at your lips.

“I’m sorry, I was trying to be sweet and romantic.” He cringes, his cheeks flushing red. You look up at him through your lashes and laugh, resting your head in the crook of his neck.

“I don’t need all that. You being you is perfect for me.” You sigh, pulling back so that you meet eyes. A small smile cracks at his mouth, which you return wholeheartedly.

“I love you, Y/N.”

“I love you too, Yoongi.”

With a grin, he leans down and kisses you again; light pecks turn into a gentle kiss, his arm circling your waist.

The kiss breaks apart and you lean foreheads together, your heart light. You feel like you’re glowing, and nothing could ever break this feeling.

You had Yoongi, that was all you had ever really wanted.

[avengers-nextgen]

All Things Grow I

“The news is so depressing,” Nathaniel grumbled clicking off the television, “everything’s all about the bad stuff happening in the world. Uhm hello? I experience it first hand people!”

“It’s what’s engaging unfortunately,” Wanda sighed having been watching it too, “the only way to attract an audience.”

“Yeah, well it sucks.”

“You sound like my brother,” She laughed.

“He was smart.” Nathaniel remarked. “Not to mention I can hardly turn on the tv without politics showing up every five seconds. I can see the headline, ‘local senator eats out at family restaurant. Guess what he eats.’”

“Shrimp, a cup of self righteous wine, and a bunch of carbs.” Fox glanced up from her tablet. “What? I pay attention sometimes.”

“You have a habit of being really quiet and then scaring people when you talk.” Nathaniel explained.

“My bad.” Fox wasn’t apologizing at all, instead she was storing that info away to be used later. “Welp, I have work to do so have fun being depressed.”

“She’s a wray of pitch black,” Nathaniel snorted.

“We have to go.” Nathaniel glanced over his shoulder hearing Enzo’s voice from the hallway.

“What’s he carrying on about?”

“Bianca and Enzo are trying to convince the others to go to a hockey game.” Wanda explained. “I think Scout’s going. He finds it mildly interesting, and Orion looked the sport up on YouTube. He’s going in hopes there’s a fight.”

“I’m not surprised.” Nathaniel sighed. “Are there tickets for everyone?”

“I believe so.” Wanda frowned, “Piper made sure to get extras.”

“Great. Then I guess I have something less depressing to do.” Nathaniel decided. “Enzo!”

“Yeah?” The boy scampered out of the hallway dressed for the cold rink.

“I’m coming along.”

— — —

“Churros.” Thalia didn’t even care about the size of the stadium. She’d spotted the concessions right away and so had Penny.

“Mountain Dew.” Penny grinned.

“More like Mountain Dew not drink it.” Chloe frowned. “You’ll have to pee every five minutes.”

“I have perfect control over my bladder.” Penny glowered. “Right Arthur?”

“Yes?”

“That’s a really uncomfortable question.” James mumbled. “And you just...agree?”

“Hey, I’m not about to start an argument.” Arthur whispered back.

“We are not going inside yet.” Enzo stated. “We are waiting like good people.”

“For who?” Siyanda asked, holding Thalia’s hand to keep her from running off.

“My friend.” Enzo said.

“There they are.” Bianca pointed out the blonde kid in the crowd.

“He’s small.” Sage remarked, “How can he play hockey if he’s so skinny?”

“Not he,” Enzo corrected, “they, or them.”

“What-oh shit. Sorry.” Sage winced.

“Not scoring any good big sister points today are we?” Piper teased.

“Shut up.” Sage glowered. Enzo ignored their banter and waved his friend over.

“Max, this is my family.” Enzo stated. “That’s Nathaniel. Nathaniel say hi.”

“Hi,” Nathaniel smiled kindly and waved.

“That’s Piper and that’s her best friend Gen. They’re weird. That’s Siyanda and her girlfriend Thalia. She likes food so guard it. Then there’s James. He’s really cool even if he looks scary. Then there’s Fox and she’s just...honestly I don’t know. Penny is fun you’ll like her. Arthur and Chloe are twins. Bianca you’ve met.” Enzo smiled.

Max seemed to relax a bit upon seeing a familiar face and waved at her, “Heya.”

“This is Alex she’s really nice and we all love her.” Enzo teased, “and this is my sister who is Alex’s girlfriend and she’s not as scary as she looks.”

“She’s pretty scary.” Max admitted.

“Nice to know I still have that effect.” Sage smirked.

“Oh! Almost forgot.” Enzo interrupted. “That’s Scout. He’s kind of shy but he knows nearly everything about everything. Next to him is his boyfriend Orion.”

Orion waved casually trying to seem as normal as possible. With the help of Scout and Piper he’d managed to cover his green face with paint for one of the teams. He’d made sure to wear gloves and dress warmly too.

“Well it’s nice to meet everyone. Enzo talks about you guys a lot. He says you’re all really cool.” Max smiled. “Anyways, I think the game is gonna start soon so we should get our seats.”

— — —

The group took up a section of the stands sticking close together and watching the players warm up with curiosity. Max was rattling off statistics to Scout and Enzo who both listened intently.

“If there isn’t a single fight I’m going to be mad.” Sage admitted. “I want to watch some losers knock each other out.”

“For once I agree,” Fox shrugged.

“Ew. Don’t ever say that again.” Sage frowned.

“I got churros!” Thalia grinned proudly having two in each hand.

“You’re sharing,” Siyanda reminded her plucking one from the Asgardian’s grasp.

“I know. You can have the fresh ones. But only because I love you.” Thalia stated.

“Oh she can have churros but I can’t?” Penny pouted.

“We have to limit your sugar intake.” Arthur reminded her. “Or you’ll be asleep halfway through once you come down from the rush.”

“We could always leave her in the stands.” Chloe remarked dryly. James stifled a laugh.

“Okay that’s just rude.” Penny rolled her eyes.

“Hush. They’re gonna do the preshow.” Bianca bounced excitedly in her seat. Sure enough the lights dimmed and color beams danced across the ice.

“Like a kid in a candy store,” Nathaniel snorted, setting a hand on Bianca’s shoulder to still the girl.

With the display of color and the excited announcement of players taking the ice the group was completely enthralled. Each seemed to pick a favorite player right away just based off of attitude and facade.

When the game started both Sage and Fox were pleasantly surprised by how physical it was. Players were slammed with sticks, pushed into walls, and shoved about with ease. Orion seemed to be the only one aside from Thalia who could easily follow the black speck ricocheting across the ice.

James’ brain went into tactic mode as did Bianca’s. The girl was rattling off strategies to Max who nodded in agreement. Siyanda studied the keeper’s finding their reflexes very impeccable.

Nathaniel boasted that with his aim he could have scored early on but Enzo was quick to shush him as tension built into a push on the attack. The buzzer sounded and the crowd yelled excitedly.

“Can you imagine hockey with rockets on the skates?” Piper grinned evilly.

“People would die, Piper.” Gen reminded her.

“But it would be so fun to watch!”

“I’d participate in the sport.” Orion smiled. “Seems exhilarating.”

“Not the smartest idea,” Alex warned knowing very well that Piper could and would test rocket skates on Orion.

— — —

At one point a fight did erupt which ended up being almost everyone’s highlight of the game. The gloves flew off and the men went at it swinging wildly. Even the refs took a bit of a beating.

“Max, do you ever fight anyone?” Thalia asked.

“No. I do school and club hockey which both give strong penalties for it you fight,” They said.

“Bummer.” Sage sighed. “I’d have enjoyed this as a kid.”

“The women don’t really fight,” Scout stated, “they’re much more socially sophisticated about the game.”

“Thank you captain encyclopedia,” Piper teased.

“Only trying to clear the air,” Scout shrugged.

All in all the game ended in a draw which was fine since none of them had a particular team to root for. Thankfully for Thalia the end of the game meant she could finally take that bathroom break she’d been waiting ages for.

“Gotta say I’m glad I came to watch this,” Nathaniel groaned, stretching his arms happily overhead.

“How’d you get into the sport?” James asked.

“Since I was little. My uncle got me involved, he’s from Canada, and then my parents indulged it. They don’t talk to him anymore though,” Max shrugged, “but I’ve liked it for as long as I can remember.”

“Nice.” Orion grinned. “Mind giving me a big stick I can hit people with?”

“Orion, you can get a big stick outside.” Scout rolled his eyes.

“It’s not the same.” Orion argued.

“Big stick energy.” Nathaniel mumbled and Piper and Penny were goners. The two dissolved into laughter which lead to tears.

“I don’t understand,” Thalia frowned having returned from the bathroom.

“My aunt showed me as did uncle Peter. It’s a meme: Big dick energy, except they made a parody of it.” Siyanda explained.

“Big dick energy? Seriously?” Scout huffed. “There’s nothing amusing about that at all. It makes no sense.”

“Just...drop it.” Arthur sympathized. “Let’s get going shall we?”

“Sure!” Enzo nodded. “See you at School Max. You have a ride don’t you?”

“Yeah I’m good.” Max nodded. Enzo gave his friend a quick fist bump before scrambling up the steps of the stadium to follow his family.

“I say that was a success.” Nathaniel decided.

“More or less.” Chloe corrected. “Let’s not forget that joke of yours.”

“It was legendary. Don’t be so bitter about it.” Piper laughed. “Man, Nathaniel I adore you.”

“You too kiddo.” Nathaniel smiled.

“We have Bianca right?” Alex asked glancing about. “And....we lost her.”

“Oh yeah she’s in the gift shop!” Enzo smacked his forehead. “I’ll be back.”

“From now on we have to do a headcount.” Nathaniel decided. “We cant afford to lose anyone. Not my little ducks.”

“Quack.” Sage glowered.

“That’s the spirit.” Nathaniel smiled.

“Anyone want quackers?” Thalia asked. It was a stupid joke but the look of pride on her face was enough to draw laughs from everyone else. Siyanda kissed the blonde’s cheek good naturedly. “I told you I was funny Si!”

[artificialqueens]

In Sickness and In Health Ch3 - shalaska - pureCAMP

A/N - its been a while!! i moved house friday 18th and ive only just got wifi!! but it’s here now thank god

i wanna show some love for my partner in crime nymph, who loves this fic more than she loves me (i think)

One thing Alaska had neglected to mention before the two of them arrived at the carriage station is that she’d never been in a regular carriage. Or any carriage, really. Her first time in a vehicle drawn by horses was that same day, accompanied by the King, Queen and Princesses. Granted, the regular carriages weren’t as lush as the royal ones, but that was to be expected. The interior was a shade of off-white, presumably painted with whitewash, and was a little bit dusty in the corners. There were two long benches on either end of the carriage, a thick blanket covering them. They were just long enough to lie across if one person shuffled to the side a little bit. The driver introduced himself and his horses – Star and Nutmeg – before helping them in. Sharon got in first, tugging the hood of her robe so it covered her face in case the driver recognised her. Alaska did the same, but to try and be untraceable rather than conceal her identity completely. No one would recognise her, but if she failed her task she knew she’d never be able to return home.

Fairly quickly, they were off, with Sharon offering double the cash to get moving as soon as possible. Light was beginning to fade and a lot of carriages didn’t travel throughout the night without extra coaxing. Alaska leaned against the wall of the carriage as she sat, letting out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding as she pulled the hood down again. Opposite her, Sharon did the same, drawing the ragged curtains closed before removing her own hood in the privacy of the carriage.

In the dwindling light of the evening, Sharon looked sicker than ever. The harsh shadows and lack of light were unkind to her sunken features. Alaska came to the realization, again, that the princess was inches from death, and there was little chance she’d get through it without Sharon dying, the witch refusing to treat her, or Alaska falling in love.

 But she had to. It had only been early that morning that Alaska had left her home, awoken to the news of an emergency town meeting concerning the health of the Princess. It was mere hours ago that Alaska believed she would attend the meeting, then go out to work, return home to her small house and eat the same dry bread as always.  The fact that she’d gotten entangled with the royal family so quickly, promising to complete a task that seemed damn near impossible, was so out of the ordinary that in a way, Alaska felt as though she had to deliver. If not, breaking out of her usual, albeit boring routine would’ve been for nothing.

“We’ll stop off at the next marketplace we find in the morning.” Sharon stated, her voice sounding grave. “For food, weapons, whatever we can find.”

Alaska nodded. “It’s gonna be a dangerous road ahead, if we even make it through the neighbouring kingdom. I’ve never been anywhere near it.”

“I have.” Sharon told her. “I used to accompany my father on peaceful visits to do with business and that. Not too exciting, but it’s something a future queen has to do.”

For a fleeting moment, the princess looked sad, staring off wistfully as if she were upset. However, she was quick to regain her stony facade. “I’ve been to a few palace balls there too. The place itself is beautiful, but I didn’t meet a single person there who didn’t make me want to drown myself in champagne.”

Alaska let out a laugh, strangely excited at the fact that she and the princess were conversing. “What’s Prince Ronald like? Heard he’s a real character.”

Sharon snorted. “Character doesn’t fucking describe it.” She swore. “If I’m honest, sometimes I wish that our kingdoms would go to war again, just so I could see him die in battle. The fucker loves me. His little brother does, too. Who is fifteen fucking years old.”

 For some reason, Alaska still found it shocking just how different their lives were. Sharon had everything Alaska could ever want or need, and more. She had endless stacks of money, a beautiful palace, designer clothes, men falling at her feet. She attended parties and balls and conferences, spoke with individuals from all across the region, far and wide. She saw the world and all of its people. Alaska had none of it. She lived in a small home near the orphanage she’d grown up in, not far from Willam and Courtney. Her purse had pennies in it, barely enough to buy the groceries she needed to survive. She worked, she went home, she worked again. She wore the same dress for as long as she could get away with, washed it in the small stream, and wore her other dress until she could no longer get away with that one. The contrast was astonishing.

Yet Sharon sounded unhappy. Complaining. She had everything that anybody could wish for, dream of and need, and she didn’t seem to have an ounce of gratefulness.

“Must be exhausting, having so many suitors falling at your feet. All that money and everything.”

Sharon caught the hint of bitterness underpinning Alaska’s words, and raised an eyebrow. “You really wanna swap lives with me? Trust me, it isn’t as great as you might think.”

Alaska scoffed. “You have wealth. I can’t think of a single problem of mine that wouldn’t be solved by the money you have.”

“Money isn’t everything. Money doesn’t mean shit.”

“That’s what rich people say.” Alaska countered, feeling brave. “I can barely survive on the money I have. Your money could literally change my life –”

Sharon cut her off. “You have freedom. That’s something I’ve never had and I never will.”

An uncharacteristic bubble of frustration swelled up inside Alaska. “Freedom? Sharon, how on this earth do I have freedom? I have to work every single day, scrimp and scrounge and save every penny I come across. I can’t go out, drink in bars, have fun, I can’t do any of that!”

“Neither can I!” Sharon argued back. “When you step out of your house in the morning, no one is stopping you. No one tells you how to dress, what to say, how to act, who to talk to. You make that decision yourself. No one tells you where to go. You choose where to go. No one tells you not to go out, not to have fun. You choose that. Until I was twenty, I wasn’t allowed out of the palace walls without Miss Michaels. When I did leave, my clothes were chosen for me, my hair styled, I was told what to say depending on who spoke to me, and who not to talk to at all. I had to be the sweet, intelligent young princess at all times, responsible and ready to be a Queen. Try upholding an image like that when you just wanna go for a walk. You don’t have to be anybody. No one expects anything of you.”

She sighed. “I can’t go to bars either. I can’t go to all those rowdy revels that happen in the woods. I can’t even make friends. I’m twenty four years old and I don’t have a single friend.”

Alaska looked down. “You have me.”

“Huh?”

“You have me.” Alaska said again, louder this time. “My name’s Alaska, and I’m twenty two years old. My birthday is March 6th. My favourite colour is red and my biggest fear is drowning.”

Sharon chuckled. “Okay, I see. I’m Sharon, I’m twenty four years old. My birthday is November 28th. My favourite colour is mauve or black and I guess… I don’t know what my biggest fear is.”

She went quiet, but Alaska was quick to remedy the silence. “So we’re friends now. That makes us friends.”

Sharon smiled briefly, her lips curving upwards ever so slightly at her words. She opened her mouth as if to speak, before quickly covering it with one hand and using the other to delve into her bag. When she couldn’t control the impending coughing fit, she leaned her head out of the window, pushing the curtain aside as she blindly scrabbled for the little spitting pot she used. Alaska watched helplessly, knowing Sharon would only push her away.

After a couple of minutes, Sharon fell silent again. She drew back inside slowly, dabbing self-consciously at her mouth. Her face was grey and drawn, the bags under her eyes suddenly seeming more pronounced than before. She tossed the small pot back into her bag, sinking back down into her seat and letting her shoulders slump. It was clear she had no energy left to hold herself properly upright. With one trembling hand, she lifted her hood up and covered her face with it once again.

The carriage stopped suddenly, the two of them jolting forwards as the horses whinnied loudly. Alaska frowned in confusion as the driver poked his head through the curtain covering the window.

“Hey! I heard coughing in here. I ain’t carryin’ no diseased bastards in here, I got a business to run.” He snarled, glaring at Sharon. She turned her head away from him, catching Alaska’s eye and managing to signal her to pull her own hood up before she attempted to speak.

“S-S-Sorry –” She began, hardly able to formulate words.

“Listen.” Alaska continued for her, noting the grateful nod that was sent her way. “We paid you double to drive through the night, not to stop and ask questions about our health.”

The driver narrowed his eyes, squinting beadily at the two of them. “You know what dirty fucks like her do to my business? They contaminate my carriage, meanin’ I can’t have no more passengers. And then? Business goes bust. No money. Ya hear me?”

Alaska scowled. “You were paid extra. Carry on.”

“I’m not movin’ an inch.”

“Name your price.”

It was a risky move, offering extra money – for all Alaska knew, this driver could scam them out of pocket and leave with all of the money Sharon had with her. However, it was all she could think to do. Already they were wasting precious time that Sharon didn’t have. It was a race against the clock, and every moment that passed was a moment she was getting sicker. If money was what it would take to get the driver to keep going, then that’d have to work.

The driver thought for a moment, before stating his figure to his passengers. Alaska’s eyes shot open, taken aback, but Sharon didn’t react.

“P-P-Pock-ket ch-change.” She stuttered, gesturing limply to the bag beside her. “C-Can you…”

She trailed off, but Alaska understood her meaning. Leaning forwards – making sure to keep a careful eye on the driver, in case he tried anything clever – she reached into Sharon’s bag, opening up the purse and taking out his desired amount of money. True to her word, it was practically pocket change in comparison to what Sharon owned. The little purse was stuffed full with more notes and coins than Alaska had ever come into contact with in all her twenty two years of life.

“There.” She said, firmly pressing the notes into the driver’s greedily outstretched palm. “You’re driving through the night and the morning. You’ll stop when we tell you and only when we tell you. Try and kick us out again, the money goes right back to us.”

The driver nodded. “Yes, ma’am. We’ll be off, then.”

With that, he was gone. Alaska felt strangely amused; the fact that she’d been referred to as ‘Ma’am’, or even listened to for that matter, was so different compared to her everyday life. Bossing people around was a little more enjoyable than she cared to admit. The carriage jolted forwards as the sound of a whip cracking came from in front of them, and then it was shambling down the road once again.

“Th-Thanks, Lasky.” Sharon managed, smiling weakly.

Alaska brushed her off. “Oh, it was nothing! I had to make sure we kept going.”

“N-No.” Sharon tried again. “F-For frie-friend.”

The sentence barely made sense, what with Sharon unable to speak fully, but the meaning was clear enough. Unwittingly, a huge smile filled Alaska’s face as she looked upon the princess. She was Sharon’s first friend. At the very least, despite the outcome that lay ahead, she could say for certain that something good had come from the situation. At least it could be said that the princess had a friend.

Opposite her, Sharon seemed utterly drained of all life. She was struggling to keep her eyes open, her eyelids drooping and fluttering as she slid lower down in her seat. Her body grew weaker and weaker after every coughing fit, reaching a pinnacle as soon as the fit was over, leaving her grey and sweaty and exhausted. Back in the palace, Miss Michaels or someone else equally versed in Sharon and her sickness would be at her side immediately, helping her lie back and gently tipping water into her mouth, but not now. Now she clung to the bottom of her seat as tightly as she could – a grip so loose that a breath of wind could knock her down – and tried to collect herself.

“You need to rest.” Alaska said, speaking softly. “It’s been a rough day for you.”

Sharon snorted. “Ev-Everyday is r-r-rough.”

“I know. Come here, come lie on my seat. I can take the blanket from your seat and drape it over you.”

Normally, Sharon would’ve protested, but she just didn’t have the fight in her. Nodding tiredly, she rose to her feet and stumbled to the other side, sitting a few feet away from Alaska to catch her breath. Alaska reached for the blanket on the opposite bench, tucking Sharon’s belongings underneath so they were out of sight and guiding the princess into a lying down position. She was just a little taller than the length of the bench, her legs awkwardly cramped against the far wall.

Alaska draped the blanket over Sharon’s shivering form. “Hey, you can rest your head in my lap so you’re not so uncomfortable. Here, I’ve got you.”

Sharon was practically asleep, compliant to everything Alaska told her to do. She made sure the blanket was covering as much of the princess as was possible as she shifted her head into her lap, her fingers absent-mindedly stroking Sharon’s dark hair. Sharon mumbled unintelligible words of approval, sleepily nestling closer to Alaska and breathing deeply.

“G-Good friend…” She whispered.

Alaska smiled tenderly down at her. “I’m nothing if not a good friend. That’s why I’m here with you.”

Sharon didn’t stir. “N-Not noth-nothing…”

Before Alaska even had a chance to respond, or piece together what the princess had said, she’d fallen asleep. Her eyes finally closed, her body slumping more so than it had when she’d tried to keep herself together. In her slumber, Sharon’s cheeks and lips were rosy, flushed with colour that she lacked during her waking hours. It was incredibly reassuring to Alaska – that and the feel of Sharon’s breath against Alaska’s leg, and the rising and falling of her chest. She’d been irrationally afraid that Sharon would appear almost corpse-like in her sleep, like her daytime self only magnified, but she didn’t. If anything, she looked more alive than she had during the entire day.

“I’d give myself a week, two weeks at most. Death will be a goddamn blessing when it finally arrives.”

Not likely, Alaska thought to herself. You’re not dying on my watch.

-0-

Somewhere around two in the morning, Sharon’s steady breaths must’ve lulled Alaska to sleep. She woke up to glaring sun shining through the flapping curtain, the fresh air like a slap in the face. It was still early, but Alaska was fully conscious now, the pale sunlight outside suggesting that it had not long been dawn. Sharon, unsurprisingly, was still fast asleep, having curled up towards Alaska even more as she slept. One of Alaska’s hands rested on the side of the princess’s face, resuming the gentle stroking of her hair that she’d spent what felt like hours doing the previous night. Although still as black as her mother’s, Sharon’s hair felt brittle and dry, like it would snap or fall out at any moment. Alaska supposed that, what with her illness and the fearsome temper it had brought along with it, Sharon had bigger priorities than whether or not her hair was glossy. Still, it was a shame to see it had deteriorated so much since Alaska had last seen Sharon healthy. Almost everything about her had deteriorated in some way. Back when she wasn’t so sick, she’d been the envy of every woman and the eye of every man in the kingdom. Her last public appearance – a celebration of the harvest, which had been particularly bountiful that year, Alaska recalled – had been incredible, and Alaska remembered noting how wonderful she looked.

“Good evening everyone, thank you so much for the warm welcome.” Sharon greeted the crowd, her face alight with joy. The twenty-two year old hadn’t appeared in public on her own many times, and although she must’ve been dreadfully nervous, she didn’t show it. The crowd was positively delighted to have the eldest princess leading their celebration, used to simply having the King or the Queen. She’d dressed for the occasion in a gown that was golden, complimenting her fair skin, and her eyes were sparkling.

“As we all now know, the harvest this year has been amazingly fruitful. Never before have we had such a spread of grains, vegetables and fruit from one single yield. Our animals, too, are plump and well looked after. All of this, of course, is down to our wonderful farmers. Please, everybody show your gratefulness for the truest foundation of our community.”

The crowd broke into applause as the farmers made their way up onto the stage where Sharon was stood – a group of middle-aged men headed by one older gentleman, and tailed by a young apprentice of about fourteen. Each one received an award and a kiss on the cheek from the princess, accompanied by a wide smile and some kind words. The young lad, after receiving his award and complimentary kiss, blushed a deep shade of tomato red and clutched his cheek, his infatuation obvious.

Alaska smirked as she watched him stumble, wobbly-kneed, to his seat. Sharon always had that effect on the young men, her charisma and beauty an unbeatable combination. She was utterly charming.

“Maybe I should get into farming.” Willam commented off-handedly. Alaska started to snicker as Courtney slapped his arm.

“Willam!” She scolded.

“What?!” He defended himself, turning to Alaska for support. “Tell me Princess Sharon isn’t fucking irresistible.”

Alaska laughed. “Sorry, Court. Gotta admit, she’s gorgeous.”

Courtney sniffed. “Does she know the bad reputation that comes with red lipstick? Really, they shouldn’t let her wear it. Everyone knows it’s for whores. And she’s a princess.”

Willam sighed dreamily. “Fuck, that’s hot.”

His comment earned him another slap and a shrill telling-off from Courtney, effectively drowning out Alaska’s murmured, “Yeah, it is.”

Her hair had been thick and full then, her face full of life, her clothes well-fitted and her body healthy. It was a stark contrast to the Sharon who lay asleep in her lap, with only a mere hint of her old beauty remaining to identify the woman as the same beloved princess of their kingdom.

Still, it couldn’t be said that Sharon was no longer beautiful. Of course, she didn’t look a thing like she had before she had gotten sick, but that was to be expected. But the sight of her asleep – her head cradled in Alaska’s lap, curled up underneath the blanket – was definitely a beautiful one. If it were possible, Alaska would’ve just stared at her forever. However, she needed to focus. She had a mission ahead, and completion was a matter of life or death.

No sooner had Alaska been pulled from her thoughts, the subject of her distraction awoke. Sharon lifted one bony hand up to her face, rubbing her eyes before struggling into a sitting position. Instinctively, Alaska moved to help her.

“Thanks…” She yawned, half-asleep. “You’re a very comfy bed.”

She leaned down to rest her head on Alaska’s shoulder, her eyes closing again. Alaska chuckled lightly and put one arm around her, unintentionally moving the princess closer. Whether it was purposeful or not, Alaska didn’t know, but she didn’t miss the way Sharon nuzzled into her, clearly too sleepy to think too hard about her actions. The gesture made a rosy blush shoot across Alaska’s cheeks, her heart rate quickening.

“Glad to hear it,” She replied softly. “Did you sleep okay?”

Sharon breathed heavily, her head practically lolling. “Like a baby. Are we near any markets?”

“Not sure.” Alaska told her. “I can ask the driver?”

Sharon made a kind of grunt in response, reluctantly shifting away from Alaska and curling up instead inside her big robe. As Alaska made her way out of the seat, she laughed to herself. Clearly, the princess wasn’t a morning person.

“Hey!” She called, leaning precariously out of the window to attract the driver’s attention. “Are there any marketplaces nearby?”

Thankfully, it didn’t take much waving for the driver to notice her. “Yeah, five minutes away? You stopping?”

“Yeah, thank you!”

Alaska ducked back inside. “Five minutes. Wakey wakey, sleepyhead.”

Sharon groaned.

-o-

Akin to the marketplace back in their kingdom, the city square was abuzz with activity, a flurry of colourful stalls and signs and teenagers yelling for sales. Despite the similarities, Alaska felt incredibly nervous stepping out of the carriage. She had debated with Sharon about whether they should leave or take their stuff with them – on one hand, the driver might not be trustworthy, but on the other, markets were rife with thieves and pickpockets. In the end, they’d decided that taking everything with them would be safer, both of them putting their hooded robes on top of the bags strung across their bodies to hide them from sight.

The crime in markets always worried her, even in her own kingdom. Over time, she’d learned to identify the faces of who couldn’t be trusted, who she needed to look out for, and where they lurked, too. But here, somewhere new, she didn’t know. She didn’t know whose smiles were genuine and whose were tainted with mischief. She didn’t even know her way around. Sure, there were signs, just like the ones at home, but Alaska never used the signs. She knew where everything was at home.

“Well, shit.” Sharon murmured, her voice still thick with sleep. “Sheltered princess mode activated. This is completely overwhelming.”

Alaska frowned. “You’ve been to markets before, haven’t you? Like the one at home?”

Sharon pulled a face. “Not alone. There’s – there’s so many people!”

Without thinking, Alaska put an arm around the princess, standing closer to her. “It’s okay. Just keep your bag close to you and try not to bump into anyone.”

“That sounds impossible.” Sharon breathed, hastening to elaborate when Alaska’s expression became confused. “Hello? There’s people everywhere!”

Alaska did her best to keep Sharon calm. “Let’s just have a look around, see what we can find. You said yesterday that we need food and weapons, we can wander and find it.”

It was clear she didn’t want to show it, but Sharon was visibly nervous. Each time someone brushed past them, her fingers gripped tightly onto Alaska’s wrist, and every yell made her tense herself up. She remained quiet as they walked, too afraid in the new environment to strike up a proper conversation.

To Alaska, it was a little strange to have someone to accompany her to a marketplace. Usually she was alone, nipping between stalls to pick up exactly what she needed and then leaving. Only here, not only was she with Sharon, she didn’t know where anything was. After a short while of walking, she found herself amongst the clothing stalls – which wasn’t where she wanted to be.

“Food, food.” She muttered to herself under her breath. “Where the fuck is the food?”

Sharon stopped and pointed. “Food’s that way.”

“How do you know?” Alaska questioned her, tilting her head to the side.

A confused expression flitted across Sharon’s face. “There’s a sign right there, look.”

Instinctively, Alaska glanced up to the sign Sharon was pointing at. She could see an arrow, and some printed letters, but she had no idea what the words read.

She smiled uneasily. “Right, right, of course… Yeah. Let’s go.”

She didn’t miss Sharon’s gaze lingering on her for a few moment after she had looked up at the sign, but chose to ignore the rising blush on her cheeks. Sharon didn’t know, after all. Intelligent as she was, Sharon was naive. Why would she know that someone like Alaska couldn’t read? Of course, she’d grown up rich and educated; she would believe that everyone could read. For as long as she could allow Sharon to believe that, or at least not have to enlighten her to the truth, she would.

Soon enough, they found the correct stalls, and Alaska picked out the food they would need as Sharon counted out the money. Things had settled – Sharon was calmer now, and Alaska less embarrassed. Alaska knew it wouldn’t last long, something would disrupt the peace. And of course, she was right.

“Hello, my good sir! One of your finest red apples, please!” A loud, sonorous voice rang out from the stall next to them.

Sharon winced. “Oh, shit.”

Alaska was about to ask Sharon why she’d cringed when she spotted the speaker.

It was only Prince Ronald, the eldest son to the neighbouring kingdom’s monarchy. He was one of those men that appeared to be uncomfortably perfect – his teeth were too large and too white, his smile too wide, his back too straight and his voice too loud. As expected, he was all dressed up in his finery, with a long sword hanging from his belt. Alaska watched as he took a bite out of his apple, chewed appreciatively, and then spotted the two of them.

“Ah! Ladies!” He called out, tossing the barely-eaten apple into a nearby bin – a waste of money, even if he did have mountains of it. “Let me pay for this!”

The shopkeeper eagerly stretched out his hand for the prince’s money, uninterested in Sharon or Alaska. Wordlessly, he handed their bags over to Alaska and started counting the notes, his eyes wide and greedy.

Sharon groaned. “You really didn’t have to –”

She paused suddenly, as she realized her voice would be a giveaway to her identity. Unfortunately, it was too late. Prince Ronald turned around incredulously, his gaze honing in on Sharon as if Alaska didn’t exist.

“Sharon? What on earth are you doing here? A market is no place for a princess, especially not for a princess from another kingdom! Now I’m positively ecstatic that I bought your shopping for you! You should know it isn’t safe for you here!”

Sharon grimaced. “Thanks, Ron.” She said insincerely. “Now I –”

“If anyone sees you!” Ron continued loudly, as though Sharon had never even opened her mouth. “Goodness me! This won’t do at all!”

He took Sharon’s elbow and began to drag her away, leaving Alaska no choice but to follow. Sharon was too weak to fight him off as she usually would have, and stumbled alongside Ron with a pissed expression on her face. When he finally let go, having pulled the two of them into an alleyway backing the stalls, he started to speak again.

“I must say, it is wonderful to see you again! Although – oh my. You look dreadful.”

“Thanks again, Ron.” Sharon deadpanned.

Ron laughed, obnoxiously noisy. “Oh, you. Of course you’re still beautiful. You always will be! Especially to me.”

Sharon rolled her eyes. “Flirting with me in a dirty back alley. You’re a class act, Ron.”

He laughed again, seeming to find everything that Sharon said hilarious, or perhaps interpreting her mixture of indifference and dislike as friendship. “A vixen, that’s what you are! Well-deserving of true classy treatment!” He exclaimed. “I say, let me tell you, my mother was talking about you just last week – just last week, fancy that! And she said, she said ‘Ron, that Sharon is a wonderful lady, you really should continue courting her!’ And she’s right! Wonderful, that’s you, simply wonderful. She tells me ‘All good women put up a fight before marriage, you’ll get her!’”

Sharon shot an apologetic look towards Alaska, shrugging helplessly. Alaska listened to the prince’s ramblings with a growing sense of annoyance.

“And I say, I say ‘Mother, that’s what you’re not understanding about Sharon. She’s not interested in princes!’”

Sharon’s breath hitched.

“I tell her, ‘She’s interested in kings, mother, kings!’”

She breathed a sigh of relief.

“Classy, see, classy! You want classy treatment because you know you deserve it! And rightfully so! My coronation is soon, and perhaps then I will be worthy of your affection. Until then, I will continue to shower you with gifts.”

Sharon’s brow furrowed in thought. “Oh, so you’re who’s been sending all those roses.” She said, mostly to herself. “Hey, look – can you help me and my friend?”

The ‘my friend’ made Ron finally acknowledge Alaska, sending a stiff nod in her direction before turning back to Sharon. Alaska wasn’t sure how she felt – on one hand, Ron’s eyes were too blue, watery and just plain wrong. His gaze was uncomfortable. However, on the other hand, she wasn’t sure she liked the way he acted towards Sharon.

Ron took to one knee, taking Sharon’s pale hand in his and pressing an awkwardly lingering kiss to it in what Alaska assumed was supposed to be a romantic gesture.

“Of course I can, ma Cherie.” He responded. “That’s Spanish for ‘my love’. What do you need?”

Sharon looked as though she wanted to correct him, but thankfully settled for an easy life. “I’m doing some travelling, to uh… you know, see the world before I become Queen.” She lied.

Ron looked affronted. “But Sharon! You really shouldn’t be travelling, especially on your own! A poor, defenceless woman-”

“I don’t have to be defenceless.” Sharon cut in, her fists clenched in an attempt to keep her cool. “If you can give me access to some weapons, I can be protected. I know you have an impressive collection.”

Alaska noticed the change in Sharon’s tone – subtle but deliberate flirting. Anyone with working eyes would see that Sharon despised the man before her, but he was so besotted, or perhaps idiotic, that he fell for her charm. In the meantime, she widened her eyes at Alaska, signalling for help.

“I do, I do…” He trailed off, his eyes dreamy. “But no! You shouldn’t be alone, it’s too unsafe for a young princess out there. Let me accompany you, and –”

“No!” Alaska burst out, spurred on by Sharon’s silent plea for help. When Ron frowned, she thought fast. “It’s… uh… she’s – it’s like a, a bachelorette-type thing. No, um, men.”

Sharon nodded gratefully, jumping on board. “Yeah, you know me. Bit of a lone wolf. I thought it’d be nice to… uh… fly solo, um, before I find someone to, you know… settle with. I have to be ready.”

Both of their lies were awful, strung together badly and riddled with pauses and gaps, but Ron nevertheless seemed swayed. He nodded slowly, although Alaska could tell he was secretly disappointed about not being able to travel alongside Sharon.

“That makes perfect sense!” He agreed enthusiastically. “Go off, ‘find yourself’ as all you women claim you want to do, and return! I’m sure then you’ll be ready to be my wife, hm?”

Sharon hummed uncomfortably. “Ha, maybe.”

Ron waggled his eyebrows, not picking up on any of Sharon’s hesitant body language. “Who knows, in a year’s time we could have some Prince Ron’s and Princess Sharon’s of our own running around the palace!”

Sharon shuddered. “L-Let’s not get too far ahead. So you’ll supply us with some weapons?”

“Of course!” Ron assured her. “Come with me, come back to the palace, and we can fetch some. I’m sure my mother will be delighted to see your gorgeous face again! As will Felix, of course, and my father!”

As Ron turned to lead them away, Sharon took Alaska’s hand. It was a small gesture, but it meant a lot. She’d obviously noticed that Alaska had been sidelined, and had been stood listening to the exchange feeling shunned and a tad jealous, although she didn’t know why. She’d noticed, and endeavoured to try and make her feel better.

Sharon’s hands were cold, but Alaska’s were warm. She rubbed gentle circles into Sharon’s skin with her thumb, trying to warm her up.

“Can’t wait, Ron.” Sharon called out, the hint of sarcasm in her words drowned in Alaska’s mind by the accompanied squeezing of her hand. “Can’t wait.”

Alaska was in big, big trouble.

[comic-voice-over2]

The Joker Strikes Back (Chp 15)

Their search is almost over...or in Joker’s case, not even close!

           Enraged, Talia forces Joker to attack Team Phoenix, yet the clown refuses to, trying to fight the possessed spirit on his own. Though this is unsuccessful—Penny delivers the first blow by smacking him with the lock she carries.

           “I swear, this’ll be a cake walk if Talia keeps this up” Penny chuckled out “Now then, we should continue finding Roy, and…”

           “Bitch, please!” Talia shouted “We figured he left a trail, so we had him dragged out someplace else! Best give up while you can!”

           Phoenix, enraged on hearing this, storms over to Joker, as he punches the clown dead in the face, breaking any teeth in the process. The others then begin to pull him from Joker, probably allowing him to hopefully explain his—or their’s, thanks to Talia—reason for being back, and for why he’s so difficult to kill, even for Batman himself.

           “Hmph. So you want to know about it all, yes? Fine…I will tell you…” Joker stated.

           As the other five stared and watched, Joker begins to explain as to what had happened. Even though he had died at the hands of Red Hood, he did get thrown into the Gotham River—thanks to Munki. But during some time, Talia’s spirit was still in limbo long after her death in Arkham City. She ended up dead thanks to Joker while being a human shield to protect Batman from getting shot.

           “Was this all during you being sick?” Red Hood asked “I remember Tim mentioning it to me once…”

           Joker nodded, as his sickness was from the Titan overdose he had during the final fight in the Asylum. He did so to hopefully kill Batman, but in turn…it ended up killing himself after Clayface was beaten. So for that, Joker and Talia ended up killed during the whole gang war…and with Batman’s interfering.

           “That would explain why Harley went nuts” Oxford muttered “Though…with Red Hood killing you again, how did you end up reliving between that?”

           Joker had wondered that himself, though he ended up being reanimated after he got cremated before the Scarecrow attack. This would also apply to Poison Ivy as well, who ended up dead after she helped Batman rid of the toxin that spread across Gotham.

           “O-Oh…I think I remember that…” Red Hood stammered “I had that tank…and tried to kill him out of revenge…”

           “So it was you who was assisting Scarecrow?!” Nightwing asked in anger “Why did you ended up siding with him?!”

           “I was…I was trying to…I dunno, I was just so fucking angry!” Red Hood replied, looking away from Nightwing “So angry, I didn’t know what I was doing, other than getting at Bruce for not saving me from…THIS GUY!” as he pointed at Joker.

           Joker laughs as he was busy dusting himself off, as he was gonna continue the story. Red Hood yells in anger as he pulls out his guns, shooting at Joker. Nightwing stops him, trying to calm both themselves down, apologizing for yelling at him in the first place.

           “Nightwing…I could never be angry at you. You did nothing to upset me…” Red Hood stated “…aside from the time you faked your death. But aside from that, I still love you…”

           “Hey, I hate to break up this love moment” Phoenix stated “But uh, we got a clown being controlled by my crazy mother so…want to fight some more?”

           The two nodded in agreement, as Nightwing allowed his fiancé to continue shooting at him, with Oxford casting some fire spells with it for increased damage. Penny summons a shield on the doors to prevent Joker from escaping with ease. She laughs with Talia commanding the clown to attack her, so the shields can break.

           “Not on my watch!” Phoenix stated, as he swings the sword at Joker, preventing him from coming at Penny.

           “Argh, you’re as crazy as they are!” Talia shouted “Joker…get the sword!”

           “Bitch, you crazy yourself! He’s got one in his hand” Joker stated, then realized what she meant “Oh I get it…you mean…”

           As the crew stepped back—Penny deactivating the shields in the process—Joker reaches around, as he pulls out a giant sword. To Phoenix’s surprise, it looked exactly like the one Ra’s uses.

           “That’s one big bloody sword!” Oxford yells.

           “Indeed. And speaking of the bloody part, there’s gonna be some blood on it!” Joker stated “Hopefully some of your’s!”

           “Not gonna happen, clown prune” Penny points out “We’ll take you down, so we can save Roy! You bet your ass on it”

           Joker snarls as he goes after Penny, trying to cut her with the sword. Penny tries to summon a shield to protect her from the oncoming attack—which succeeds. Joker rebounds as he hits the ground, the sword falling out of his hand. She then summons a thunder cloud, which allows Nightwing to hit Joker with a stronger electric attack.

           “I love this!” Red Hood said happily “But we’ll let Phoenix have his fun later on”

           “I agreed…save his ass for me!” he stated “He’ll pay for kidnapping Roy!”

           However, since Penny had removed the shields from the outer doors, more of Joker’s goons—and even some of Talia’s members started showing up—coming in, surrounding the group and Joker, who was getting up himself slowly. The assassins began to draw their swords, as they slowly stepped closer, making Team Phoenix gather around, wondering what to do next.

           “Who are these lesbian-looking ninjas?” Oxford asked in shock “I’ve never seen them before!”

           “They are my loyal subjects…members of the League of Assassins” Talia stated through Joker “They follow whatever command me or my father give out, and they do it with unfailing support”

           “Though that support system must’ve failed when they didn’t save you both from getting killed” Oxford chuckled “Yet they probably gathered the corpses afterwards”

           Enraged, Talia commanded her troops to go in on them closer, as she made Joker grab the sword. The ninjas glare at them evilly, with Joker’s troops chuckling nearby, preparing themselves just in case Team Phoenix manages to get through.

           “Mr. Wayne, do you know how to beat them?” Penny asked Damian “Because, y’know, given your history with the Assassins and shit…”

           “Well, with the memories coming back, I actually do…but I’ll need your help with this Penny” Phoenix stated “Maybe you can boost me up…”

           “Boost huh? Well, if you want that, I can do so” Penny stated “I just need some space first…”

           When Damian asked what did she meant by that, Penny lets out a giggle as she unleashes a gust of wind, pushing the assassins away from them—and directly at Joker’s troops. With that, she then chants a small spell to help out with Damian’s request of a boost. When she was done, he felt a surge of power swimming within him.

           “Did that help?” she asked.

           “Oh hell yeah! I feel great!” he replied happily “But enough talk. It’s fighting time!”

           Hearing that causes Team Phoenix to attack the combined—yet remaining—forces of Talia and Joker with surprising ease, much to the dismay of the latter watching on. He slams his fist in anger as he mutters out something, while nearby, sitting with him was Arsenal, who is pretty much tied up.

           “What’s wrong, Joker…army’s too wimpy to fight?” he asked sarcastically.

           The clown jumps up and began to smack Arsenal in the face with a gun, causing the hero to spit out some blood. Fighting the pain, he lets out a soft chuckle, saying that Batman may hit harder than Joker could.

           “You’re just lucky I let you live” Joker grumbles “Had it not been for your shrimpy boyfriend, you’d be dead by now!”

           “You wish, freak! I knew he’d come to save me” Arsenal stated “Besides, even the crazy bitch in your head has made you more deranged. Both of you belong in the grave!”

           Hearing that made Joker smack him in the face again, this time with the additional pain making Arsenal cry out in agony. With the nearby henchman asking Joker if they should relocate him, the clown said that let him stay where he is, since Team Phoenix is still looking for him.

           “A little game of cat and mouse wouldn’t kill us…yet it may kill them” Joker chuckled out “Besides, I think Phoenix and myself should have a little party of our own…”

           “What…are you saying…?” Arsenal groaned out.

           “Simple really. I wanted to fight him, but the bitch that’s possessing me wants him dead, namely for Batman’s part” Joker replied “Least both of us may get our wishes come true”

           With that, Arsenal barked at Joker—ignoring the fact that his face is hurting—saying that if he lays one finger on Phoenix, he’d tear a new hole on the clown. Joker simply laughs as he reaches for something he’ll need.

           “And with the condition you’re currently in, I doubt it” Joker laughed “And if you want to be beside him so much, a joint funeral would be glorious!”

           Soon, he pulls out a sword…which looks similar to the one that either Talia or Ra’s owns. In fact, the sword is more likely Talia’s, which she had used while inside the theatre over in Arkham City during that point. Arsenal questions the clown as to what he’s gonna do.

           “I basically told you earlier: I’m gonna kick your boyfriend’s ass…with this beautiful sword the bitch left behind!” Joker responds, admiring it.

           “Which basically you probably stole!” came Talia’s voice “Figure you would have sticky fingers! Even Batman must’ve known”

           “Oh, can it, bitch!” Joker snapped “You’ve been a pain even when you’re dead! I shudder to think of how Ra’s or Nyssa ever dealt with you…”

           Talia got furious as she makes Joker bang his head on the wall until he got too dizzy to walk. Of course, with her being a spirit, this is making her feel some pain as well. Arsenal couldn’t help but chuckle at the view in from of him.

           “What’s so funny this time?” Talia asked.

           “You two should get some help…though, I doubt that’ll happen…” Arsenal replied, but he got cut off by a henchman who suddenly enters the room.

           “B-Boss!” he startles “They’ve gotten pass the crowded room! They’re…they’re heading through the Treatment room!”

           Hearing this has got Joker feeling rather dizzy. He wonders how they’ve known about the Intensive Treatment room in the first place—but then they turned to Roy, who was busy watching them in return. This got the Joker upset yet again.

           “You told them?!” he asked in anger.

           “How else, by fucking smoke signals? Yeah, I told them!” Roy answered “Asylum’s too big anyway; they’d be lost for hours!”

           Joker then pushes the chair, causing Arsenal to land on his left side, hitting his head on the floor. He lets out a groan of pain, as he’s now sporting a headache. He grabs the sword as he stated that he’ll try and handle this on his own, and if he kills them, he’ll kill Arsenal afterwards. One of his henchman pulled up Arsenal and his chair back upright.

           “There’s a chance I can take Phoenix on without the need for his teammates nearby” Joker mutters “Makes killing be less of a chore”

           Meanwhile, the gang has traveled through the X-Ray area, wondering if they’re going the right path. Penny states that the Intensive Treatment area isn’t too far off, long as they follow the schematics. Red Hood himself has been a good help: He recognizes going through here at some point.

           “Wasn’t this during Joker’s time torturing you?” Phoenix asked.

           “Definitely. Going through here is giving me chills” he responded “I’m surprised I haven’t ran off like a punk, crying yet. So far so good”

           Nightwing pulls his fiancé close to comfort him a little as the group advances, but not far off, they noticed a door with a sign saying “Intensive Treatment” over it. They cheer for joy as their search for Roy is nearly over.

           “Hang on Roy, I’m almost there!” Phoenix shouted happily.

           But to their surprise, the door swings open—with Joker standing between them and where Roy is hidden. The group stops as they prepare to battle him, but Phoenix stated that they’re better off searching for Roy without him. They look at him in shock.

           “No way, dude. You have no idea what Joker’s capable of” Red Hood pointed out.

           “I know, which is why I want to experience it alone” Phoenix replied “Besides, I don’t mind a bit of bloodshed after I’m through with him…”

           Realizing that he truly wants to deal with Joker solo, they agreed to let him handle this alone. But since Joker won’t allow them to pass him, Penny mutters a chant that allows teleportation, sans Phoenix. Where they have landed is anyone’s guess, long as the trail to Roy remains hot enough for them.

           “So…it’s just you and me now, clown” Phoenix stated coldly.

           “Indeed. This will be quite a fight to enjoy telling over and over…depends on who still stands” Joker replied with a smug “And I know it’ll surely be me standing”

           Phoenix scoffs at that remark, as his hand hasn’t left the sword handle. He stated that it will be himself that’ll remain standing, and that Roy will be rescued after it.

           “I’d like to see that happen!” Joker shouts, pulling out the sword.

           “Bring it the fuck on!” Phoenix added, beginning the fight.

[0poole]

Man, Netflix is a godly invention

Seriously. Once my generation takes over, the only TVs will exist in restaurants. Once subscription on-demand services take over (assuming they haven’t already) then cable TV will be done for. Literally the only benefit of cable is that, if you’re punctual enough, and have enough free time, you can “technically” watch whatever you want. On the other hand, you could pay less to access a slightly more limited (when it comes to new stuff) catalogue of shows to watch whenever or wherever you want. Obviously, though, you can’t always find the old stuff you’ve never seen before on cable. That’s what this stuff is good for. 

I’ve watched so many great movies that I’ve definitely heard of time and time again, but either never watched, or watched so long ago that I don’t actually remember any of it. Basically, since I have nothing else to do, I’m just gonna talk about the old stuff I’ve watched so far.

Lilo & Stitch: Just finished this one, and it’s the one that made me want to talk about this. OH MY GOD Lilo deserves so many hugs. It was almost bizarre, like this character that, to me, has only existed in merchandise is now... actually... moving? How peculiar, it had feelings all along! 

Seriously, though. I thought I saw this movie once, but it really didn’t feel like I did. I definitely had McDonalds toys of discount Wazowski once, but I don’t really remember anything from the movie. It was surprisingly real. I can definitely see how people can appreciate Nani for being the most real and respectable character in all of animation (and also for being sexy despite not having a beautiful™ face). 

Also, aliens. When are aliens ever bad? I say, only when they’re mindless, killing lizards (excluding el Xenomorph, I can still like him (still need to see his movie tho)). But, I can always love the classic, bulbous alien designs ala. retro sci-fi. My god, they animated discount Wazowski so well... He looked so boneless and floppy. Not to mention Jumbo being so soft and squishy looking. Stitch himself is such an icon that it’s hard to see him as anything other than Stitch, if you know what I mean. 

Anyways, the only Lilo and Stitch derivative I remember was what I remember as a sort of monster-of-the-week series where they had to go around capturing and cataloging the other experiments. It definitely seems like a fitting idea, but of course I really don’t remember any of it. I do remember the yellow stitch-like guy who had a very normal-guy voice and had a thing for sandwiches, though. He was like the comical sidekick to the main baddy.

Bolt: The movie I definitely remember the most of, but wanted to watch again anyways, because I definitely remember liking it. Most of my movie re-watchings are just to solidify my memories of these movies in my current mind, because my past self seriously had a habit of living in the moment so much that I just didn’t bother to remember what I just experienced. 

Anyways, I’m just gonna be honest... I’m not a dog person... but when a dog makes a cute girl happy, I’m happy. Also, I have a habit of never crying at the sad parts, and always at the happy resolutions to the sad parts. Oh my god, I remembered the ending, but I still cried my eyes out. The superbark may not actually be super, but it’s super to him, dammit! Seriously, though. Emotions are always at stake when kids movies get real. That was a real fire, and a real risk of death, and he saved the girl. 

Also, why are so many cute girls named Penny? In animations, that is. Not that... no, not happening. 

I honestly can’t remember any other cute Penny’s (apart from my own Penny) but for some reason that name is eternally one of the cutest girl names out there.

Looking it up though, I can see why. There’s the main girl from the Proud Family (never watched it), the girl sidekick from the Inspector Gadget cartoon (never watched it), and the girl from the Peabody and Sherman movie (watched it and enjoyed it. She was almost a human sacrifice tho). All cute girls.

Atlantis: One of those too-good-for-its-own-good movies. It was seriously cool, but got a criminally low amount of attention. 

Really, the movie stands on visuals alone. The scene with Kida walking across the water to the giant floating carvings of past kings... That was some seriously amazing animation. Then, when she was walking back to shore with an invisible forcefield around her, which you could only see because of the water splashing off of it... That was amazing. 

I’m 0 for 2 in mentioning cute girls so far, so let’s keep going. Kida’s a big one I’ve seen around in, well, art... Meanwhile, Audrey was right there! How come I haven’t seen this chick anywhere? Did Kida steal her spotlight? I’ll tell ya, ancient technology as a whole is totally my style, but Kida herself isn’t pushing any buttons. But, a sun-kissed girl with bushy hair in overalls is my weakness.

Road to El Dorado: Okay, I actually can’t avoid talking about cute girls in this one. Chel is actually criminally sexy. This level of sexiness should be illegal. I’ve already drawn her. I can’t get enough.

You know, sometimes, when I draw or mention cute/sexy girls, I always have a thought in the back of my head: God, some people are gonna think I’m a creep because of this...

No fuckin shame here dog. She LITERALLY FUCKS ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS TO GET HER WAY. Sexy is one of her character traits, and the designers, animators, writers... they know it. How is this a kid’s movie? 

Anyways, the movie... I’ll be honest, I only remembered to watch this one because of the “Both? Both? Both is good.” meme. Being a part of the “artists who draw cute girls” circle, I can’t avoid that meme. Whenever someone says “Boobs or butts?” I see it. Whenever I see “Which of these cute girls should I draw?” I see it. Seriously, that gif has probably been posted more times than the number of people who actually went to see this movie. Then, there’s the gif of Chel bumping her armadillo pal with her hips... Like, come on. She’s hardly even wearing pants. You can’t do this to me.

I did actually enjoy the movie though. I definitely think the concept of “normal people visit ancient society and are believed to be Gods” has a lot of potential in it, and I love the idea that the king of El Dorado doesn’t actually think they’re Gods, and is just playing along pretty much... That’s really fun. I definitely prefer it to the wholly ignorant, possibly also stupid primitives that are 100% sure that the person is their God. It makes a nice dynamic. 

The Emperor's New Groove: Come on, what else is there to say? It’s the the-teacher-is-letting-us-watch-a-movie-on-the-last-day-of-school classic. It’s hilarious. It’s fun. It’s got the heckin PACHA MEME BROOOS AMIRITE FELLOW INTERNETERS?

I love the nonsense humor in the movie. I LOVE it. I love it when movies don’t take themselves seriously. It’s the time of the Aztecs, and yet they (didn’t) order a giant trampoline. Rollercoasters. Boy scouts. For some movies, it’s lame, but this one was probably the originator of the idea. Oh my god, the cut outs to Kuzco’s narration? I love it. I love it all.

Cute girls? Uhhh... I mean, Pacha’s daughter was pretty cute, but not the soul-wrenching kinda cute. What about ol’ Vexus? God, I rarely look up voice actors, but Eartha Kitt kills it both as Yzma and as Vexus. It’s the absolute perfect evil voice. It matches the stereotypical “evil” people know, but toys with it the perfect amount to make it super fun. Also, whenever I can relate something back to MLaaTR I’m happy. Cute girls, and all...

Song of the Sea: cute cute cute cute Cute CUTE CUTE. 

This is why I watch all movies with subtitles whenever I can. What’s the name of that adorable little girl? Surf-shuh? Shur-suh? It’s Saoirse. I’m honestly surprised I remembered how to spell it. 

Remember when I said I cry at happy resolutions? Well, I ALSO cry at scenes that are so impossibly pure, wholesome, and/or cute that it just pours out of my eyes. An example being Colette’s song in the Les Miserables movie. Gets me every time... Anyways, watch the movie, but also spoilers-that-aren’t-spoilers-because-it-was-obviously-going-to-happen: She gets her voice back, and hoooo boy... I nearly died from dehydration. Not much more can be said without actual spoilers...

Aside from the overflowing levels of cuteness in this movie (there are seals btw), I’d die for the mythical elements in this movie. It scratched every itch that The Book of Kells missed. Watched that one on Netflix too, but the ending was so... Bible-ish that I had a hard time feeling satisfied. Obviously it’s for a good reason, since, you know... It’s about the Book of Kells... But for a movie it wasn’t satisfying.

The animation couldn’t possibly fit the subject matter more, though. It has such a stylized stain-glass painting vibe to it. Isn’t there also another one by these guys coming out soon about a wolf girl? I’ll watch the hell out of that one when it comes out. It’s like Laika, but 2D. You watch it just for the animation, if not for anything else.

Monsters vs Aliens: Again, we’ve got aliens. Also, the birth of the giantess fetish, probably. Seriously, though... how did that dress hold up in that first scene? I’m just sayin

If I’m into retro-sci-fi aliens, then I have to also be in classic retro horror trope references. I should really watch the actual The Fly some time. It’s a creepy idea that I really want to indulge in.

I mean, that’s it for that movie. But, the original BLOB? Holy shit, I wanted to watch that movie just to make fun of it, and turns out the theme song did that for me. Hey, this giant alien monster is swallowing up Earth, what kind of a theme should we give it? Jazz with a touch of Surfer? Sure, why not. I love it. I’m a sucker for slimes, and I swear, if I ever manage to write a story about one of my slime characters, I will make a blood pact to reference that song in the story at some point. It’s so good.

Mune, Guardian of the Moon: I don’t usually rewatch movies, but I’m feeling like watching this one again.

Also, I spilled out my guts on this one a long time ago when I first watched it, and I loved it so much I posted it to Tumblr AND Facebook. Since my Tumblr got deleted, I’ll just link to the Facebook post, so I can give it the full respect it deserves: https://www.facebook.com/0poole/posts/967898463366639

Don’t even think about friending me there, though. Facebook is reserved for family matters only. No pesky tumblrs allowed!

There are also a good few I still need to watch. I’d put them in a different post, but since this blog is really just for me to rant, I’ll just keep going:

Shrek: I mean, I know how it starts for sure. Kinda... hard to forget, ya know? Yeah, “forget.” That’s the word. I really just need a refresher on this one. 

Astro Boy: Hey, what? There’s an Astro Boy movie? Well, if I’m ever going to understand this franchise, It’ll definitely have to be in movie form. I like MLaaTR and to a lesser extent Robotboy, so why not?

The Prince of Egypt: Remember when I knocked Bible-ish movies? Well, apparently it’s not a problem for this one. It’s clearly has great animation, so why not? 

Escape from Planet Earth: I forgot this existed. Everyone did. I saw a trailer for it ages ago, and that’s only how I know it. It’s got aliens, so why not? I remember seeing that Planet 51 was on Netflix too. It’s exactly the same movie but on the other side. I also remember there being an overt penis joke in that one, so...

The Guardian Brothers: What even is this? I don’t know. It’s animation, and not one of those cheap kids shows, so let’s do it.

April and the Extraordinary World: Also don’t really know what this is. It’s 2D animation, and therefore instantly puts it a step above 3D movies in instant interest.

Phantom Boy: I watched A Cat in Paris, and at least didn’t hate the artstyle. It’s a strange look, but unique, so I want to see more.

Look Who’s Back: A story about Hitler being revived in modern times. What could go wrong? Apparently something intriguing enough for people to review this movie well. Or, at least, well enough...

Gnome Alone: Technically these movies aren’t supposed to be Netflix Originals, but, you know... I see cute girl, I click. Looks kinda lame tho

Leap!: I heard that this is a movie with a generic plot, so I kinda left it out of sight. But, might I remind you... I see cute girl, I click. This’ll be my last resort if I’ve exhausted all other cute girl supplies. She is seriously adorable, though.

The Emoji Movie: haha jk we have fun here

There are way too many movies on Netlfix, so there’s obviously more than that. And, that’s not even counting the series... Might separate that into a different post tho

Also, Neflix, my boy... Can we talk about these synopsises of all these great movies? They make each and every one sound like the most generic, pandering bullshit you can think of. Also, I hate how the thumbnails change for some of the movies/shows. To an outsider, it makes it impossible to discern who’s the main character and who’s the bad guy if you don’t already know the content. People make title cards for a reason, you know!