#TIS A FINE LINE I'LL TELL U

[stevebabey]

s3 post mallfire angst just hit 5k words and steve has only just started crying everybody say wahoo

[ca-suffit]

i'm sorry your blog has turned into a forum to discuss lestat's queerness lol ppl could at least try to keep it on topic, this blog is about racism. the point is that louis gets treated differently by fandom because ppl are centering white queerness, idk if this is the right space to try to qualify how that white queerness is presented, or if it's even worth it to try and determine if the way lestat is presented is queer enough. let's bring the conversation back to louis and claduia pls!! one anon said that the show does not try to set a line for what is or isn't queer enough and that's so true and such a fucking fantastic thing, but then most conversations about queerness (whether positive or negative) are about lestat or fucking santiago of all characters! and i'm already getting annoyed at the amount of posts i see about nicki. luckily i have somehow managed to curate my tumblr and twitter so i see stuff about louis and claudia too but content like that is hard to find

there's a new topic every day tbh so it's fine lol. I'm trying to clear my inbox today and there's like 6 diff topics. it p much always ties back to racism tho, no matter what it is, ppl just need help connecting the dots. I find it rly interesting watching the things ppl pick up from each anon and the topics ppl come to talk about here in the first place.

tbh all of these conversations have had me thinking about claudia and her queerness but I don't have full notes yet. I keep thinking of her interest in emily dickinson, someone who was isolated a lot in her life and also known thru her writing after death. I feel like claudia is talked about the least of all in these conversations and has the most to explore tbh?? she got to see queerness "growing up" but not exactly always in a healthy way or a way she'd relate to for various reasons. her line to louis in S2 "tell me what a woman is, I'll tell u what a woman is." she's influenced by both louis and lestat, succeeds where they fail, then is killed bcuz she's never allowed to be her own person outside of them anyway. and it's insane how everyone was literally saying "happy pride" cos lestat shouted down the homophobe when claudia and madeleine later died. the audience disconnect in some ppl jfc.

there's also been some talk of gabrielle and claudia meeting (in fan theories, not like it does happen or will happen). I think that's interesting to explore too bcuz gabrielle also has vaguely canon queer vibes at times but is also uncomfortable with what "woman" means, however ppl wanna interpret that. claudia has to create a version of "woman" for herself and defend it constantly. they're both trapped in their bodies in ways and I think a lot could be said in many ways surrounding queerness, gender, and privilege between an older white woman and a young black girl, especially from the same family. I don't think they'd rly get along but I do wonder what claudia would think about seeing a version of lestat as a woman instead. I also think putting lestat in a room with both of them would make him want to kill himself lol.

[ultraviolet-cello]

Alright since the @tristampparty is Well under way now I'm gonna do a little day by day analysis or details I like about the episode of the day, along with my usual art hustle :3!

Because this is going to end up being Super long we'll put this under a cut! [Spoiler warning for All of Trigun, primarily Tristamp and Trimax]

Tl;dr? I'm normal about how Knives is in Tristamp

So I'll be going point by point in chronological notes that I kept while writing abt this episode :] thank u to Mal for putting up with my rambles hehehe.

So the Seeds ships specifically are reminiscent, to me at least, of the Angel Arm (probably moreso the tristamp version which, can you believe, is incredibly difficult to get a screenshot of lmao)

That's interesting to me because it could be just a design choice but if it is an in-universe thing, it does,... imply some things about Plants. Granted, Independents probably weren't known abt when the Seeds ships launched, but is there another aspect of Plants that takes that form? And is that impactful enough for a human fleet to design their ships after that? Much to think about for something that's probably just symbolic lmao

Now for Knives! So a little bit of context that I will elaborate on as we watch, but I think the narrative is heavily biased against Knives when he was a child, and that we will get some recontextualization next season that's more in line with how we know him in Trimax.

In particular, I think the beginning flashback is possibly theeee most unbiased depiction of events because all the rest are specifically memories being told to others by Vash or Knives, or the whole memory thing in July. Granted it's still very Vash-focused but it gives us two major things.

Knives seemingly wanting to take Rem along with him. In Trimax, it's semi-implied that Knives would have initially wanted Rem to live and spirals very hard into telling Vash he hates Rem as a coping mechanism (which I will elaborate on if anyone's interested in my reading of those scenes), and it seems to be even more overt here.

He doesn't stop reaching out either until Rem shuts the escape pod/pulls the lever (Unclear on when that is)

2. From that scene, the only time we see Knives' face/expression again is when the escape pod is being like. Slung out of the ship. The rest of it always blocks his face and expression in favour of seeing Vash's far louder and emotional reactions.

and we just straight up do not see knives again until his big maniacal speech thing and that's,,, well we just don't know how long it's been since they crashed. could be minutes. could be hours. could be enough for knives to have had a breakdown and start laughing at the sky because he just doesn't know what else to do

i think (hope) season 2 might end up having a lot of the same flashbacks from knives' pov/an unbiased pov :]

Moving on with the episode: Roberto! I love Roberto a lot actually, he definitely grows on you. Something I did notice is that throughout this ep he says that Meryl and Vash would not last long on this planet which. That's interesting, considering he doesn't say that to Wolfwood, and yet Wolfwood and Roberto are the ones doomed by the (sometimes meta) narrative.

So when Vash is found he's been strung up by the Bad Lads gang (who have far more presence in episode one than I originally thought lmao), and he looks... a little dehydrated maybe, but overall fine.

The guys next to him, though? not doing remotely as well. Now while there is the possibility that he just got tied up later there's also the possibility that. While he does need to eat he doesn't need to eat as much as the average human. Which. is a lovely thought for the two dead guys. [Also a possibility that if Vash does need to consume less than a human, it could be another justification to himself for his eating issues]

The bounty! So it's technically Knives' bounty but whatever. [Sidenote: the idea that Vash and Knives look very similar is hilarious to me because they do not and never have to me] The particular notes are that Knives definitely had a hand in this - Vash is the only person specified alive, the bounty is obscenely high (compared to the other wanted posters), and it's specifically stamped with July Military, which. Well Knives and Conrad operate in July, and Conrad (by extension Knives) very clearly has a Lot of power in that City because he has the tower, that massive lab, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if they were the ones who initially created the bounty/wanted poster.

This Thomas carrying co... coffins? Are they coffins??

Background wanted posters for B.D.N, Marilyn Nebraska, Rai-Dei, and some other characters from trimax/98. And also for Nightow. for 30 $$ you can bring in Nightow the Comix Artist dead or alive! Wanted for Couch Crimes

Roberto kinda fascinates me as a character, especially when he sticks up for Vash and suggests a duel. My friend Mal describes him as a tsundere for friendship and. yeah okay that works lmao. for all his,,, roberto-isms, roberto has a a bit of a moral streak (he gets maddddd when he learns that children have been experimented on, hesitates in defending himself against Elendira, and lies to the police to get information out of them). He's just a Lot jaded, and we're already primed to like Meryl because, well she's Meryl, but he tends to be right when it comes to Meryl's inexperience. i like him. It's also, come to think of it, possibly because Vash fascinates Roberto a little bit. Roberto really saw Vash and went "I gotta study this guy" lmao

Vash having absolutely Perfect trigger discipline lmao

OKAY SO THIS PART IS MY FAVOURITE. For reference I am a black belt in a couple different martial arts, and working to become a sensei in Goju Ryu Karate, so this sequence is delightful! Let's break it down :] The initial block is one we use to open up a person's body - if that arm is clear out of the way you can keep control of the gun arm in this case by just pushing outwards (And with Vash's additional strength in his prosthetic that's Pretty Dang Effective, especially because in gun situations you want to keep the gun barrel away from you, so you're taught to use two arms - Vash doesn't need to do that)

From there, he goes and grabs the guy's shoulder to pull him forward unexpectedly - this throws him off balance and shifts his weight onto Vash's, so Vash is taking all that bodyweight. From there, all Vash has to do is maintain his grip on the gun arm's wrist (keeping the gun away from both parties in case he accidentally fires or there's a misfire), then turn sharply and let the body follow through!

From there he keeps the grip on the wrist and twists, which sends the gun out of the guy's grip and out of danger. At the same time, he spins his own gun's grip and hits the back of the head with the barrel - Notably he lets go of the wrist, which, if he'd kept holding it, would break the arm. I'm not entirely sure which martial arts were referenced for Vash's style, but this is exactly the type of thing I teach! [For anyone interested, I practice Goju Ryu karate, aiki jiu jitsu, iado (sword), self defense, and general okinawan kobudo (weapons like the bo staff, sais, and nunchaku)]

okay i blacked out and am no longer in teaching mode. Vash's arm, when he picks up that rock, glows very very green

what does that mean? I have 0 idea, it could be that it's overstrained, or using more power than usual. I mean, he did rip a rock out of the ground.

Zaziecam birdworm heading to July from Jeneora Rock! Probably how Knives got word of where Vash was

This fucking scene. man y'all this scene HAUNTS me.

It's so. unreliable at best. this scene goes adult vash saying he has a brother into this flashback. knives says, in order, that "he finally did it", not to worry because the plants are fine, he got rem killed, and tells vash not to get mad because he's already his accomplice, and nothing else. now we Know that that's not the case because Knives directly adds in information in future renditions of this flashback (That Vash gave him the launch codes). Which. What else don't we know about this scene. Clearly it's been a little while, the fire is burning, and Knives had all this time to climb the tower while Vash was (unconscious?). I want to see it from Knives' pov.

Knives keeping a bunch of last run plant corpses as statues to.. remind himself of his goal I guess. I read Tristamp Knives as Trimax Knives taken to the extreme (will elaborate in one of the flashback episodes), so I think he's a touch uh. Extremely unhealthy.

And that's it for episode one! I hope if you read this you had fun and it wasn't too much of a slog to read lmao i'm just rambling. I hope you had fun if you made it this far :]

[leynaeithnea]

Oh yeah good call doing this song by song becase our essays are getting so long it's illegal at this point haha

Before we get into it, one of the chorus is "kill for love"? DAMN , that's totally not gonna ruin me at all, nu-uh I'll be super fine for sure

Okay let's go

This song is literally my fave of the saga, stuck in my head on repeat because of the melody and the beautiful vocals but also the story?? She is actually a siren trying to trick him but he pulls out a uno reverse card and tricks her even harder ??? Once again LYING CUNNING CHARACTERS FOR THE WIN AJSKSNBSB

Also I'm so jealousy of you bc I did not have it in me to wake up in the middle of the night for the stream but I wanted to see it so baaad, I would have been even more confused than you at 5am don't worry your wild theories are valid

Their little banter is impeccable "answer some questions for me please ?🥺" " Of course babe ����🙃" let's say I was on the run from Poseidon that big meanie 😔" " Oh nOo pookie poor you 🥺" They are so unserious !!! And then the vocals in her reply keep me up at night " sailing where he's scared to roam" is done so majestically akdmndns

Can't fight you on this , Ody saying he's shy and terrified is so fuckin funny and random hahahah

Oh good gods don't let me think about it because I know ,I KNOW HE'S PRETENDING A LITTLE BIT THIS IS REALLY HIS PENELOPE AND IT HURTS SO BAD the way he says he'd die for her and he misses her so much , "more than you know "because the siren actually doesn't know , she has no idea how much he misses his wife asakkksnns free my boy he deserves some smooches from his wifeee

( I love how you keep slipping Neil in the conversation and I do not fault you for it bc liars= Neil-Josten-hiding-his-whole-ass-murderer-father-with-ties-to-the-japanese-mafia-like-it's-nothing )

ALRIGHT I have a bit energy again

I agree with everything u said moving to the next song now!

22. Different Beast

the arrow followed by this ear piercing screaming (good think they all had beeswax in their ears fr)

ODY IS SO MAD "lets cut the charade you are no wife of mine" I almost feel like he hates the Siren even more for DARING to pretend to be Penelope, and making him yearn for her even more

the music in that one is also soooo sinister and creepy

and how his voice changes with "i know underwater theres packs of you hiding, yeah i know exactly what you are, a siren" its so vicious and cunning iTS soo good

Then the siren hiss seigsegj

AND THEN THE DRUMs when he starts singing "my real wife knows im not scared of the water, and my real wife knows i dont have a daughter" like the drums rise when he speaks and between the lines and when the strings or whatever they are come up again, the drum gets quieter again for a moment only to rise up again when he speaks...its so cool, i love this drum beat, which continues while he tells his whole big-brain plan (love how we see Odys hubris in this one, he gets so smug about his plans with the sirens that he spends a whole song explaining it to us, on one hand its exposition and him just recalling what happened for story purposes but also it fits the character for his pride - which in the myth is also his fatal flaw - takes over)

also "we are a different beast now" chorus: basically is just "we are the monsters rawr rawr rawr"

"we've been away from home for ABOUT 12 YeARS OR SO" JORGE; JORGE WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID HERE

I've also been wondering, i kind of feel like the ryhtm of the music doesnt fully-align with the lyrics bc theyre shifting between singing and sing-talking, and ive been wondering if thats maybe like a suble sign that acutally Ody and the crew dont hear a thing rn? kinda? idk, i dont have enoguh knowledge about music theory to actually explain the sort of dissonance i feel is happening, it could also just be done like this to showcase how theyre the different beasts now

Sirens singing "spare us" is eery and pretty

Odys embracing the lesson people have been trying to teach him throughout act 1 finially "why, so you can kill the next group of sailirs in this part of the sea, nah you wouldve spared me"

"cut of their tails we're ending this now, throw their bodies back int he water let them drown" HE IS THE MONSTER RAWR RAWR RAWR

AND THen the CHOIR LYRIcs shift to "HE is a different beast now, he is the one to feast now" (i lowkey imagine him just snacking on some Siren tail in that line ngl, the only way the lyrics "the ones to feast now" makes sense is if they literally feasted on these tails, it would also explain why Ody specifically wanted to cut of their tails)

also Ody plss "Kill them all"...ow, but fair i suppose, but you couldve just slit their throats

ADN THEN The last lyrics being "Odysseus" omg gsiejgisejg love it

Also i dont know when this shifted from "my favorite lines in the musical" to "my reaction and analysis to every song" but by now im just vibing with it

[aprillikesthings]

Man, I meant to get more of these done this weekend. I will attempt to get two done tonight, yeah? Yeah.

I mean...maybe three? Depends? But the fact is, the end of s3 has some of my fave shit in the whole show.

It would HELP if I stopped trying to describe EVERY SCENE

okay. trying to cut back. again.

s3 ep4 Moment of Truth

Glimmer and Bow and Huntara show up at Bright Moon and are like WE GOTTA GO TO THE FRIGHT ZONE AAAAUGH and Angella is like "explain yourself young lady," roll theme music

pfft

okay plot shit: they only need to open the portal long enough to tell Horde Prime YOOO HEYYYY WE'RE HERE and then Horde Prime can open it the rest of the way from his side of things

and she realizes that means her boyfriend will leave

and that'll take ages, right??? HA HA

also the swelling harp music when they're making eye contact is great

okay the degree to which my personal tastes in fictional lesbians engaging in various forms of villainy (including but not limited to bondage of possibly dubious consent) is becoming incredibly obvious to me to a degree that is a tad embarrassing, because I remembered what shot was going to happen next as it was about to happen and my heart rate jumped (emphasis on fictional don't get weird on me)

Wait no now I'm thinking about some of my K/DA fics

....and some of my Steven Universe fics for that matter....

OKAY LISTEN

Just LOOK at them okay

fucking christ

(on a related note, a friend of mine wrote a smutty fic where Catra takes advantage of how Adora is tied up in the Crimson Waste, I meant to link to that and forgot)

Catra basically shoves her to the floor with the hand holding the sword.

And all the fancy computers/machinery in the room goes NUTS now that the sword is there

hrrgh

I have always LOVED the way Entrapta says this line ahahaha

they're having an entire conversation and meanwhile Adora is bound and gagged on the floor and yelling through her gag.

she's so reluctant ;_;

😬

(Hordak is saying this.) but also, like, why IS she in there and not in one of the prison cells

oh, right

YOU'RE THE REASON MY CHILDHOOD SUCKED, DUDE

he's all smug about it

girl why do you keep struggling

anyway she taunts him and he's like "whatever, I will crush you like a bug," but then his little exoskeleton zaps him and Entrapta goes to comfort him and he shoves her away and yells at her

how dare u mistreat her!!!

and then sword frees itself and flies into the little setup for opening the portal, uh oh

Glimmer and Bow pop into Shadow Weaver's room/jail cell and

did she like, pose that way ahead of time

Glimmer: Horde's gonna open a portal Shadow Weaver: shit, that's bad Shadow Weaver: but oh if you let me out I can help you teleport right into the Fright Zone :) I'll just use your connection to the moonstone :) Bow: me too Shadow Weaver: ugh I guess

Bow: you just want out of jail Shadow Weaver: I want Hordak dead

poor Bow

She literally looks away AND pulls her welding mask down poor bb

Adora: "Catra will say anything to get what she wants" Entrapta: "Catra is my friend....I think" Adora: "She was my friend, too...but she makes bad decisions" [understatement] "The Horde's armies will come through and then it's all over for Etheria. You can't open the portal!"

and then Entrapta takes her words super literally

Poor Entrapta just wants to explore space and can't without the portal, but as Adora points out, the last She-Ra basically fucked with things so a portal would end up destroying the planet

Angella fliying towards all the princesses and Shadow Weaver as they teleport away is animated really beautifully

I'm sure it's fine that the last conversation Glimmer had with her mom was an argument :) I'm sure that won't be an issue later :)

They get to the Fright Zone, various princesses fight off members of the Horde, Lonnie pulls the alarm, and--

Hah I got Catra's reaction without having to rewind

but yeah Catra's face before she gets it under control is uhhhh expressive

ugh Shadow Weaver's tone here. It's the kind of thing that's meant to sound kind to anyone listening but is obviously condescending and awful to Catra

oof

Fucking hell her angry rant to Shadow Weaver (who basically has her tied up via magic) is so raw. "Do you know what happened to me after you escaped? Do you even care? You couldn't wait for to get away from here, from me."

but of course she actually came back to stop Hordak, or at least that's what she's saying, and Catra's like NOPE IMMA OPEN THAT FUCKIN PORTAL

But yeah Shadow Weaver didn't have a good reason to just torture Catra at this point but she does it anyway until Bow stops her

Entrapta: yo so it turns out if we turn on this portal it'll fuck up all of reality

oh god Entrapta makes the mistake of telling Catra "Adora is right"

yeah this is the moment she...genuinely starts to fucking lose it

noooo

yeah you just intentionally hurt her out of anger and frustration that's not great and YOU KNOW IT (and so does Scorpia)

AND I'M OUT OF IMAGES time to reblog bc I'm not deleting anything lol

[markinvinsible]

Writing prompt

Kate is called by her cousins to their base 

A captured spy doesn't want to give info.

Has been in the interrogation room for hours. 

They're in a room with a one sided glass that looks like a mirror on the inside,and a control center (where everyone is currently).

He's been tortured for a long time but doesn't give in...

Notes: 

Theo and William work in the same team. Kate works in another.

Theo is Kate's half-brother (elder)

William has a crush on Kate but doesn't know her well... yet.

Kate walks in:

"Why is there so much noise" [sees a screaming man tied to a chair]

"He doesn't want to talk" Theo looks like he could use some sleep.

Frustrated Kate bellows "Someone duck-tape his mouth," *sigh* "this is so unprofessional" 

"He, is a spy and i want information he just doesn't want to give. And apparently he loves screaming." Theo wipes his face with his hands. 

"We called you here to get him talking not to get him quite" frustration was eating at poor man at this point.

"Seriously??? I've had a long day already and u make me do this? i thought we were going out to eat or something, i was so happy ... ugh ill loose my appetite with this" Kate frowned. 

"We'll get food after. Theo says ur an expert at this, we've been at it for hours but he doesn't give us anything. I don't see how you could get him talking" William huffs. Disbelief shows true at his face.

Kate has a feeling he's not going to like this.

"You want me to tell you or show you?" She gives in. "Get me a chair, and five small pieces of cloth-"

"You already know what to do?" A doubtful look on William's face 

"-And do NOT disturb me!!" She enters the room that's finally gone quite.

"Rumour has it you like screaming? ... i think people are wrong, u like something else" kate says prowling towards the spy now.

*quite*

She takes the chair "You like pain, you like when someone punches you in the face."

*quite*

"And you like to smirk at them when they do"

*starts smirking*

"That oh so sexy smile that drives people so crazy to point of punching you, endlessly"

*smirking*

"Do you know how i know that?" Looks at his pants. "So sexy". Trails her palm from his right knee to his upper thigh.

"Ugghhh"... *strangling noises* 

"Its so strained, dont worry. We'll take care of that later." she gives him a delightful smile, caressing his dent.

*spy huffs in disbelief*

Takes out her dager, with a slight smile"You know what I like?... I like cutting people open."

*smirking again*

"I like to look at their pained face when the blood is trails down their body"

*smirking*

"I'd like you to keep that smile for as long as you can. Cz i also like to look at beautiful people"

*smirking*

[Advice to look at the figure]

*Kate takes his index finger in her hand and slices it down vertically*(yellow line)

*screaming in tape*

...

...

...

...

*panting*

Kate smiles "How does that feel?"

*panting with a stubborn smile*

"I thought so" takes the half cut finger and slices it down horizontal(green line).

Two pieces fall into her hand. She takes the rest of his finger (blue part) and wraps it in the cloth to stop bleeding. 

*spy has a strained smile on his face*

...

...

... 

...

(a minute passes in quite)

*sigh* "Unfortunately, i dont have all day for this. And my friends need something from you." Takes his middle finger and slices it down vertically again (blue line) just like the first one.

*strangling noises again*

Kate looks at the blood trailing down the armrest. "They've given me three questions, meaning i need three answers from you. I've decided I'll take them in one go."

Now she looks at the spy

*angry / shocked / pleading? (not pleading!)* 

"You look like you have something to say... Well i dont want to hear it now."

*gone quite?* 

Kate cuts the finger the other way (green line) and wraps it in the cloth.

*screams in pain*

"How disappointing, i thought you would let me look at that beautiful face a little longer." She looks at him a long while. 

"I guess its fine tho, considering I'm destroying your hands here"

*panting*

"I'm bored with your hands"

*panting*

Smirks, " I'll take care of that now". Kate starts un-buckling his belt.

*blinks twice* "huh?" The spy is wide eyed, confused ...

She has taken his ____ out now, dagger ready in the other hand.

... but then it clicks .... he starts yelling and screaming as much as the tape allows....and he's shaking so bad the chair is moving now.

*something bangs on the mirror but Kate ignores it*

The spy is begging now, giving pleading looks, tiers rolling down his cheek, he's whimpering, breathing ragged, staring down.

"Wow, calm down now love!! What is going on with you?? " Kate looks at him feigning innocence but still holding his ____ "do you want to say something ?"

Spy is breathing heavily now and starts nodding. He looks at her and down and then looks at her and then down again.

"Aww! Careful now, you dont want to say something that is useless to me" Kate keeps the dagger down between his legs on the chair and caresses his cheek wiping a tier away.

He's almost defeated, and shakes his head sideways. 

"You know i really do think you're pretty. Can you give me a smile first?"

*tries to smile*

"That's not what i expected, but i guess it works. Do you want to answer my questions for me? Remember i don't want anything useless from you." She gives him a small smile.

He nodes again desperation clear on his face. He glances down and at her face again.

She picks up the dagger "Alright then! I believe you already know them from the previous time you've spent with my friends, but I'll repeat them for you incase you've forgotten. Q1)_____

Q2)_____

Q3)_____

Now I'm going to remove the tape, and you will give me the answers as I've asked them. Ok?"

She's absent mindedly moving her fingers on his ____.

He cant stop looking down but nodes once more.

*removes the tape*

"A1)____

A2)____

A3)____

Plea-" 

*puts the tape back*

"Good job!" She smiles at him "I expected nothing less" puts his ____ and pants back. "There, you can rest now."

*sighs and hangs his head backwards still panting*

"Or do whatever my friends plan for you. Dont worry they're not as ruthless as i am." She gives him a bright smile, and leaves.

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

Context [for me] : (can read or leave it. It can be  read as the lovers pov i.e. William)

Angry that Theo is calling kate for this.

Kinda likes Kate.

Believes Kate knows a lot about blades but not about interrogation. 

Theo is the one that bangs on the mirror bcz he thinks Kate is going too far. Can you blame Kate tho, he's the one who called.

William is shocked at the end is an understatement.

[terrifictoonman]

[WP] You should have thought twice before joining this team; now you're stuck with a pyromaniac elf, a fearful orc, a flirtatious dwarf, and a fairy with depression. [Reddit - u/Unhappy-Ad-3593]

~Just Another Night~

[Heads up, gets a lil' hot under the collar]

It was deep into the night at the forest campsite. The moonlight gently illuminated the area as the few remaining embers of the camprife faded to ash. From one of the four tents, a short, shadowy figure sneaks their way across the campsite, giggling as they make their way into another tent. Suddenly, a loud *CLANG* echoes throughout the entire forest.

"What the hell!?" yelled a woman's voice from the tent. What little heat was left of the campfire quickly erupted into a pillar of fire, followed by an elven man covered head to toe in soot and burnt blonde hair leaping from his tent through the fire to the center of the camp.

"Who is ready to meet their un-maker!" yelled the elf, pulling fire from the inferno behind him. With a harmonic tune of a harmonica, a gust of cold air flies from the tent that the figure went into, forcing the torrent of flames back into a manageable campfire.

A young, tan man with messy black hair and a starter mustache walked out from the windy tent with a rope and harmonica in hand.

"Easy there, Kharis," said the man as he holstered his instrument. "I doubt even the bandits roam at this hour."

"It would be easier to tell without all these damned trees and their shadows," growled Kharis before throwing a fireball toward the woods. The man blew a short whistle as the wind blew the fireball into nothing. "It would be wise for you to trust in my wisdom, August. The Shadows hold monsters & secrets men like you would be unable to fathom."

"I'll take your word for it," said August. The man walked back to the first tent, rope in hand, and he pulled out a completely tied-up dwarven woman wearing what one could loosely call a robe.

"Speaking of creatures of the night," said Kharis.

"Bite me, hellspawn!" said the dwarf.

"No, thank you, I'm spoken for," said Kharis as he flashed a string necklace tied around a golden ring.

"Then there truly is no God," said the Dwarf. Kharis blew smoke from his nose before returning to his tent. The Dwarf turned her attention back to August. "You know..."

"Here we go," said August.

"If you wanted me at your mercy, I'd have been more than accommodating," said the Dwarf. "At the very least, I could show you how to tie a proper knot."

"I think it's doing just fine for what it needs to..." August suddenly felt the rope jerk lose. He turned to see the Dwarven woman freed, spinning the rope playfully in her hand. "of course."

"You know," said the dwarf as she sauntered toward August. "I do have to give you credit. Your trap, while poorly built, was expertly planned. Why, who would expect a bard to depend on a machine? It was clever." The dwarf wraps her part of the rope around August's waist, pulling him close. The dwarf gently rests her chin above Ausgt's belt line as she stares up at him. "Very clever."

August whistles a tune, causing the wind to stir. A cold, gentle breeze begins to dance around the camp, from sharp flickers of the campfire to the bristling of the tree leaves and even the soft sound of the wind pressing down on the tall grass, nature's melody.

Meanwhile, inside Kharis' tent, he is re-awoken by the sounds of quiet whimpers. He rolls over to face a bolder of an orc, barely able to fit under his blanket. The ogre shivering acts almost like an isolated earthquake.

Kharis pushes against the orc to get his attention. The orc peaks over his shoulder, a bright red eye piercing through the tent's darkness. Kharis smiles as he opens his arms wide, waves of heat radiating from his body. The orc quickly hugs Kharis, nearly enveloping him completely but leaving just enough room for Kharis to poke his head free.

"Thak...yu," muttered the orc. Kharis freed his arms and held the orc's head as he purred.

Back outside, August manipulates the wind to pick up the dwarven woman until she's just under eye level with him. August takes hold of the woman's waist, feeling her whole body shiver at his touch. The woman's face was now bright red. August leans in close to her face, maintaining eye contact for what feels like several eternities.

"Goodnight, Ranlen," whispered August. The man let go of Ranlen as the wind flung her back into her tent like a soccer ball. With a chuckle, the man began his trek back to his own tent.

Inside Ranlen's tent, the dwarven woman lays face down, groaning in frustration as a small, dimly lit blue fairy watches from her blanket cocoon.

"Had a fun night?" asked the fairy.

"Shut up, Anah," said Ranlen.

"Ok," said Anah. The fairy then shuffles her blanket fortress over to Ranlen, parking by her head and using her magic to place one of her blankets over the dwarf.

"Thanks," said Ranlen.

"Don't mention it," said Anah as she shuffled back to her corner.

[followmythoughts]

11/06/23

To: M

we were too close to the stars, i never knew somebody like you - falling just as hard.

i have always liked the song called reflections by the neighborhood, but then you came; and then whenever i hear this song my stomach churns. i don't know whether it's positive or negative. you made me relate to the lyrics, and i associated the song to you. i honestly never knew somebody like you. i have never known a person who could read me so well and can put my feelings into words. you comfort me everytime, you understand me, you're kind, you're everything.

i think that's why i fell for you. everything about you is daylight, but slowly it turned red. no, nothing changed about you - it's just when i realized that you will never ever see me more than a friend. it was getting unhealthy for me, because it was distracting me from everything. and i wanted peace. so i lied. i lied about being busy, i lied about going somewhere despite actually going nowhere. you know me so well that i see my reflection in your eyes - and i guess that's what scared me. you knowing the depths within my soul also meant you knew how to break me just as hard.

is it morally permissible for me to prioritize my feelings this once? if i were to sever all communication then it would be beneficial for my own peace but then this act could make u think u did something wrong when you actually did none. it's all me.

i can't justify my feelings of jealousy because in your perspective our relationship remains confined to mere friendship. severing our ties solely based on these emotions makes me selfish. we talked once about your values about friendship and one thing i noticed was your unwavering commitment to preserving them. if, i, as a friend chose to cut off our relationship it would undoubtedly make you feel hurt. and my sincere wish is to make you feel happy at all times. if doing so would make you feel hurt then i would rather bear the burden of my unrequited emotions than make u feel bad by cutting you off just to evade the weight of my own selfish desire to escape this one-sided feeling.

i can never escape you. for even the way i write serves as a constant reminder of your encouragement and guidance, and your music preferences have woven themselves into my playlist. i may think of you softly from time to time, but i’ll cut off my hand before i reach for you again. i will cut off my own hand because nothing hurts more than knowing if the world were to end in 5 minutes, i would call you to tell you i like you, but the line would be busy because you’d be on the phone to someone else and i don't think i have the capability to endure that.

i sometimes think it would've been better if you hadn't reached out to me that day, it would've been better if we stayed as old friends. but then other times, i take it back.

i take it all back because then who was gonna teach me how to write these deep big english words? who can stay up late night and talk philosophy topics with me? i am forever thankful that you came into my life, but i just wish i hadn't caught feelings.

yes, yes yes. i do. i do like you. i'm afraid of saying the bigger word but i do. please hold my hand one more time. it's fine if you break it, atleast you cared enough to hold it. how can i deceive myself into believing that your laughter doesn't stir something within me? they will hook me up to a polygraph and ask me if i still like you and i will say no but the needle will jump and sputter exactly how you laugh.

i know all the details. the way your eyes crinkle, the way your small fangs show and the way your eyes almost disappear. i know it all.

please let me move on. i want to move on. please don't call me again. please don't message me again because i want to achieve peace for myself. and i know that one message and i'll come running back so i pray to whoever is up there that please. please let me forget about you. forget about me too.

i hope one day, i forget the way you sound, the way you talked to me, because if I don't forget, then i will truly never be able to move on. please be well. go succeed and become a successful therapist with your own name and clinic.

i wish you well. i hope you get everything you've ever wanted in life and i hope i never hear a single thing about it.

[hotxcheeto]

could you write (could be a series or an imagine) where y/n and ellie meet after everything happened in santa barbra and after dina left. Thanks also I love your writing for tlou and arcane

━ 𝐀 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐏𝐓 #𝟏

𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜(𝙨) - Ellie Williams x G/N!Reader 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 - Kind of angsty, kind of sad reader & ellie, really not that angsty actually

𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙? - Yeah/Nope

𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚 - I'm in love with this already, yes it's going to have more than one part I'm inspired leave me alone also thank u sm

Part One (Current) | Part two | Part three

You were fairly new to Jackson, having only been there a few days. Despite it's more than welcoming nature, you couldn't quite seem to settle. Instead, on this early morning, you sat on a bench in the graveyard. You weren't sure why you gravitated towards the place where so many were lost.

But here you were, knees pulled to your chest, staring at the many gravestones that lined up row by row. It had been a long time since you'd seen an actual gravestone, having used pieces of wood tied together as a cross your entire life.

It was cold, the chilly morning air nipping at your cheeks. The pretty pink, orange sky cascaded above you. Slowly beginning to turn it's usual blue color.

You hugged your jacket close as you laid your head on your knees. Listening to the sounds of the trees ruffling in the wind, then the sounds of someone walking. Footsteps you'd grown to recognize, to fear, your head shot up only to realize it was a woman. Just a woman, walking in.

Suddenly you felt bad, threatened by someone just trying to visit their loved one. You set your head back down, shutting your eyes as you mentally wished you were somewhere else. Maybe somewhere before the world fell apart.

You wished your family could have been buried in a place like this. With their own special crosses or stones. At least you'd be able to see them again, but instead they were all lost to the world outside the walls.

"Hey... you alright?" You suddenly picked your head up, wiping the burning tear marks from your face as the harsh air did not treat them nicely. You hadn't even realized you were crying. "Yeah, sorry, I'm... I'm fine." You pushed a smile onto your face.

She was pretty, her hair in a short, mullet-like hairstyle. She was wearing a crewneck sweater, jeans as she stood holding something in her hands. You couldn't tell what it was, but you didn't really mind. It wasn't your place to know, it probably wasn't your place to be here either.

You looked down at your shoes, feeling her eyes on you. But you didn't dare look up. Praying she'd ignore you, it wasn't awkward. Just... quiet. You could see her moving, a ways in front of you as she crouched down in front of a grave.

Though, you paid no mind. Instead, putting your head in your arms. Staying curled up into a ball. You only spoke a few words, but it was comforting with someone else now here, even if they were going to be gone in just a few moments.

It felt nice, knowing you were no longer alone. Out there, in here. Even if it was just for a few seconds. You picked your head up again hearing movement. Wondering if the girl was leaving, but something in you felt dread. Sadness at the thought of her presence leaving.

But when you looked up, she was already looking at you. For a moment, you both just stared. Waiting for the other to talk.

"This place is pretty." You said softly, looking down at your hands. "I just... needed to clear my head. I can leave." The girl quickly shook her head. "You're fine." You nodded, the sun now coming up higher in the sky. Basking you in an orange glow, warming your skin.

"How long have you been here?" She asked, taking a few steps towards you. "I don't really know. Since before the sun came up." It was her turn to nod, looking down at her hands. "How long have you been awake?" You then questioned her. "Since before the sun came up." She smiled slightly at that, admiring you as you did the same looking away from her eyes.

"I'll be honest, I don't really know anyone here. I guess I just found it... comforting?" She took a few more steps forward, getting closer to the bench you were sitting on. "I only really knew one." "I'm sorry for your loss." You looked at the empty spot beside you, then at her, the girl who wouldn't really meet your eye.

"Wanna sit?" She then suddenly looked up at you, the sun hitting her emerald green eyes. They reminded you of the trees, the nature that surrounded this place. The nature that had been both your enemy and your best friend.

"Yeah. Yeah sure." You hugged your knees closer as the woman walked over to sit beside you. Looking down at her hands in her lap.

"I'm Y/n. I'm new here." "Ellie." You smiled a bit at each other, before both of you looked away into the deeper areas of the graveyard. "How long have you been in Jackson?" "A few days. I'm guessing you've been here for a while." Ellie nodded, tucking some of her hair behind her ear.

"Since I was fifteen." You looked around at all the gravestones. Some in religious shapes, some just curved stones. Some had flowers, dead and alive. Some looked like they hadn't been visited in a long, long time.

"I wish my family could've been in a place like this. It's beautiful." Ellie had looked over to you, before looking down. "I'm sorry..." "Can't dwell on the past can you?" You shrugged, turning to meet her eyes. You noticed a few scars on her face, along with her freckles that seemed to be more visible in the sun.

"Yeah, I guess not." It went quiet between you both again, though, there was no awkward silence. Instead you both sat as the sun came up over the trees. The streets beginning to become busy with families. You sat side by side, both watching the birds flying from branch to branch, singing beautifully in the morning air.

And it wouldn't be the last time you saw the green eyed girl.

It might've been the first, but it certainly wasn't the last.

A/n: I love u my little chicken

[watchyourbluesturngolden]

songs that make me think of vampy and why

this is for drea and leyla ONLY thank u

daylight- taylor swift "i don't wanna look at anything else now that I saw you, i don't wanna think of anything else now that i thought of you" bc vampy loves her so much he only wants her 😔 midnight love- girl in red "I know I'm the last one you try to call but I always give in to give you it all" "your silver is my gold" bc miss chiropractor treated him terribly but he loved her with everything and would have gone back to her no matter what watch you sleep- girl in red this one is obvious: bc vampy watches bloodbag sleep :) also "the scar on your spine, you fell off a roof when you were nine" is all appreciating the tiny details about someone and that is definitely something vampy would do :( paper rings: taylor swift "i hate accidents except when we went from friends to this" line without a hook- ricky montgomery "oh baby i am a wreck when i'm without you" bc vampy loves bloodbag so much he just wants to be with her always 😔 dead girl in the pool- girl in red this one is kinda weird but i feel like bloodbag is gonna die at some point and then vampy will just be like "theres a dead girl in the pool (or wherever her corpse is laying slfjskldfjkldsj) i don't know what to do" and then he's gonna make this face

bad habits- ed sheeran bc he was just slutting around before he met bloodbag demons- imagine dragons dont make fun of me for this I KNOW but fr it's vampy renegade- taylor swift "you wouldn't be the first renegade to need somebody" he needs bloodbag 😔 starting line- luke hemmings i can't really explain this one but it's like how you always talk about how his happiness is overshadowed by the fact that he's a monster or whatever million dollar bills - lorde "theres nothing i want but money and time" and vampy has literally all the money and time :) solar power- lorde this is harrys hot girl anthem idk happiness- taylor swift "there'll be happiness after you, but there was happiness because of you" this is him reminiscing on miss chiropractor i wanna get better-bleachers "i didn't know i was lonely til i saw your face" "I didn't know i was broken til i wanted to change" come on 😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔 good 4 u - olivia rodrigo this is his fuck u song for miss chiropractor my tears ricochet- taylor swift "if i'm dead to you why are you at the wake" it's ironic innit 😌 what a feeling- one direction "what a feeling to be right here beside you now, holding you in my arms" please 😔 "everybody needs someone around" 😔😔😔 "but i can't hold you too close now" bc he has severe attachment and commitment issues :) all you had to do was stay- taylor swift "had me in the palm of your hand, then, why'd you have to go and lock me out when i let you in" omg miss chiropractor really hurt him 😔 king of my heart- taylor swift "and all at once you are the one i have been waiting for" bloodbag @ vampy 😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔 cruel summer- taylor swift "I love you ain't that the worst thing you ever heard" bc he knows getting close to bloodbag will ultimately only lead to pain for everyone involved "i don't wanna keep secrets just to keep you" bc he can't tell bloodbag everything about him even tho he probably wants to :( thank u next- arianna grande this is weird BUT if miss chiropractor hadn't fucked him up so much he never would have met bloodbag tear in my heart- 21 pilots again don't make fun of me for this I HAVE AN EXPLANATION "you fell asleep in my car i drove the whole time but that's okay i'll just avoid the holes so you sleep fine" if bloodbag fell asleep in his car he would definitely do this :( shape of you-ed sheeran "now my bedsheets smell like you" his room probably smells like honey and lavender all the time now and he's probably foaming at the mouth constantly cowboy in LA "let's skip the club, lets skip the crowd, i wanna take you on a date" bc they both hate clubs!!!!! "I'll hold your hand I'll hold the door bc that's how i was raised" he's a gentleman 😔😔😔😔 & burn- billie eilish "i'll sit and watch your car burn with the fire that you started in me, but you never came back to ask it out" idk for some reason this has vampy and miss chiropractor vibes take me to church- hozier religious trauma babes 🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼 speechless- dan+shay "i'm speechless, staring at you standing there in that dress" love 😔 yours- russel dickerson "i came to life when i first kissed you, the best me has his arms around you, you make me better than i was before, thank god i'm yours" SCREAMING AND CRYING AND SHAKING tolerate it- taylor swift "i know my love should be celebrated, but you tolerate it" MISS ******** DIDN"T APPRECIATE OR CELEBRATE HIS LOVE MIA- anarbor "thinking about my life and everything i did wrong along the way"😔 lay low- josh turner for when bloodbag and vampy go to a cabin in the woods for a week and just love each other 😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔 who can save me now- anarbor "you stabbed me in the back" this one is pretty literal LSKFJLKSJFLKDSJ "you could have at least been kind enough to let me turn around" ouch 😔 dopamine- anarbor "i'm hooked on your dopamine" vampy and bloodbag ugh lie to me- 5sos this give me vampy and ******** vibes "i wish we never met, cause you're too hard to forget" "while i'm cleaning up your mess i know he's taking

off your dress" bc she probably cheated on him while they were together 😔 and he would have stayed with her if she told him she loved him, even if he knew it was a lie 😔 cotton candy- yungblud it's just a happy song with good vibes like bloodbag and vampy currently have :) small talk- niall horan i don't even have to say anything here pillowtalk- zayn "so we'll piss off the neighbors" chappy 9 vibes dancing with our hands tied- taylor swift "i loved you in spite of deep fears that the world would divide us" vampy rn 😔 once in a lifetime- one direction vampy will live a million lifetimes but he will only ever have one bloodbag 😔 holy ground- taylor swift "tonight i'm gonna dance for all that we've been through but I don't wanna dance if i'm not dancing with you" they've come so far omg 😔 since we're alone- niall horan "you can show me your heart, if you put it all in my hands no i swear no i won't break it apart" crying if i could fly- one direction "for your eyes only i'll show you my heart" rollercoaster- bleachers again i can't explain it but it makes me think of him 😔 so long- niall horan "so if we knew all along why did it take so long" good question bestie current location- LANY "i need your current location to be my current location" they're idiots in love and want to be together all the time 😔 why dont we go there- one direction "hey i don't want you to be the one that got away i wanna get addicted to you you're rushing through my mind i wanna feel the high i wanna be addicted" well hes already addicted to her blood so might as well like you lots- LANY bc they both have issues and can't say love lmao too much to ask- niall horan vampy though wanting love was too much to ask of miss chiropractor 😔 walking in the wind- one direction this one just has his vibes man 😔 heartbeat- carrie underwood "dancing to the rhythm of your heartbeat" bc vampy is obsessed with listening to bloodbag's heart (fan behavior if you ask me) idfc- blackbear this is vampy and ******** bc "tell me that you love me even if it's fake" city of angels- 24kgoldn "i sold my soul to the devil for designer" yes this made me laugh the woods- olivver the kid "waking up in the middle of the woods" "don't you wanna get out of here, out of the woods" flashback to when he was dead in the woods oop "you brought me down to the river, and you pushed me in, hoping that the white rapids would challenge my ability to swim" bc... she's a murderer omg this verse is talking about leaves and i'm freaking out it fits 100% this is crazy "You pick up two handfuls You tell me they're all dried up & dead You know that's nothing like us We'll live forever instead" just a little bit of your heart- ariana grande vampy bc he loves so deeply and completely that he will give all of himself to someone even if they won't do the same my strange addiction- billie eilish bc he is addicted to her blood :) cross your mind- niall horan this is vampy and ******** "love the way you hurt me and it doesn't even cross your mind" "leaving me in pieces (literally lmao) but i swear it's worth it every time" everywhere- niall horan that scene where vampy smelled some perfume or soap or something and it made him think of bloodbag 😔 everything makes him think of her now 😔 "swear it's hard to think it's hard to breathe when you're in the air" put a little love on me- niall horan "you're the only one i need" 😔 bend the rules- niall horan VAMPY AND ******** ALL THE WAY "i'm not saying that you're lying but you're leaving out the truth" heartbreak weather- niall horan "all of my life i've been sleepwalk living, running around the same bars i've been in, it can be so lonely in this city, but it feels different when you're with me" bloodbag and vampy 😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔 mr loverman- ricky montgomery "i miss my lover man" vampy is probably dramatic like this all the time now that they're official 😔 bad blood- taylor swift again, just for the irony 😌 vapor- 5sos "i want to breathe you in like a vapor i want to be the one you remember i want to feel

your love like the weather all over me" they're so in love like this 😔 catch fire- 5sos "all my life i've been waiting for moments to come" he's been waiting for bloodbag his entire life 😔 beside you-5sos "i wish i was beside you" they want to be together all the time 😔 black and white- niall horan "that first night i was standing at your door fumbling for your keys then i kissed you" ARE YOU KIDDING ME not in the same way- 5sos this is vampy and ******** just bc they were so toxic lkfjskldfjsdlkjf lonely heart-5sos "and i haven't slept in days" lmao ghost of you-5sos "my feet dont dance like they did with you" thinking about when vampy danced for bloodbag and what if they break up 👁️👁️ why wont you love me- 5sos vampy at ******** 😔 he just wanted to be loved 😔😔😔😔😔 fool's gold- one direction "i let you use me from the day that we first met" "i know your love's not real, but that's not the way it feels" STOP IM SAD last first kiss- one direction "let me be your last first kiss" i want them to be together forever 😔 truly madly deeply- one direction "foolishly completely falling and somehow you kicked all my walls in" bloodbag really snuck into his heart huh 😔 fireproof -one direction "nobody saves me baby the way you do" ugh 😔 long story short-taylor swift "clung to the nearest lips long story short it was the wrong guy" (or in vampy's case the wrong vampire) gold rush-taylor swift "and the coastal town we run around has never seen a love as pure as it" bloodbag and vampy are all i want 😔 no judgement- niall horan bc vampy would never judge bloodbag 😔 daddy issues- the neighborhood again im not even gonna say anything here new angel- niall horan "the touch of someone else to save me from myself" this is vampy 😔 god is a woman- ariana grande vampy after he brought bloodbag home the first time something like this- the chainsmokers "just something i can turn to, somebody i can kiss" ALL VAMPY WANTS IS LOVE sweater weather- the neighborhood idk this song makes me think of him all of me- john legend "all of me loves all of you all your curves and all your edges all your perfect imperfections" KSFLKSDJFKLDJSFLJSDKLFJDSKL i like me better- lauv "i like me better when i'm with you" she makes him a better person 😔 sex- eden "oh no, i think i'm catching feelings" vampy when bloodbag went on a date with someone else half a heart- one direction bc bloodbag completes him 😔 theyre so disgusting 😔 only angel- harry styles "turns out she's a devil in between the sheets" woman- harry styles vampy when she was on a date with someone else bc hes a jealous moron temporary fix- one direction this has chappy 1-2 vibes a.m.-one direction when they first started falling in love and he wanted to be with her more often 😔 something great- one direction "i want you here with me like how i pictured it so i don't have to keep imagining" through the dark- one direction just all of this song 😔 happily- one direction "you know i wanna be the one who holds you when you sleep i just want it to be you and i forever" 😔 electric love- borns "i can't let you go now that i got it" canyon moon- harry styles they're just happy like this rn 😔 sunflower vol. 6- harry styles "kiss in the kitchen like it's a dancefloor" "mouth full of toothpaste" when they brushed their teeth together 😔 adore you- harry styles obviously

[imagineteller1]

Horror Night

Warnings: language, gore.

Pairings: Daryl x reader x Negan.

My heart felt heavy on my chest. I choked in every breath I took. I watched, what used to be Abraham, crushed in the floor. Everything was ringing. The tears blinding my vision.

Negan talked but I didn't pay attention, I couldn't. He was in front of Rosita, trying to get her to see the bloody bat of the man she loved. In a second, Daryl took a swing at Negan.

"Daryl! No!" I screamed and ran towards him, my hands extended in an attempt to grab him. Before I could reach him, some of Negan's men were already holding me down as well as Daryl.

"No!" Negan yelled pointing his bat at Daryl. "That- oh," he chuckled. "That is a no no. The whole thing, not one bit of that shit flies here." He now kneeled in front of me. His rough hand was pulling on my chin to look up at him. "Brave little thing here, eh?"

I pulled my face away from his grasp. He stood back up. A blonde man held Daryl's crossbow at his face.

"You want me to kill him? Right here?"

"No!" I screamed. Trashing my body in the men's grip, I kicked around.

"Hey! Hey, what part of staying quiet do you not get?" Negan turned to me with his bat.

"Please, please, don't kill him. I'm begging you." I sobbed and I felt like I couldn't breath. My breath was stuck in my throat. I felt like I was having a panic attack. When I started shaking more violently I knew I was. My limbs felt as if they weren't there. I felt heavy but at the same time lite.

I heard Negan say something and then Daryl was thrown back in line. He approached me and kneeled back down. I tried to push the men away but they just gripped tighter. "I c-an't brea-th." I stuttered.

"What did you say again, darlin'"

"I-I can't br-eath." He signalled his men and I was dropped. My palms were on the ground as I tried to calm down. My chest heaved violently as I gasped for air. I felt like I was drowning.

"Holy fucking shit, she is having an attack." He joked.

New tears reamed down my face and fell to the dirt. This could be it. I looked at Daryl. He was looking at me, I saw a tear flow down his cheek. He tried to walked towards me but he was pushed down.

I closed my eyes and tried to calm my breathing. Deep breaths. I could feel the oxygen make its way to my lungs. I heard Daryl's voice telling me to calm down like he had done countless of time, but in difference, he wasn't holding me this time.

After what felt like hours I opened my eyes and felt like I could breathe again.

"Still with us, doll?" Negan asked jokingly. "Both of you are so impulsive, not surprised you two are fucking." He took my face in his hand forcefully.

I glared up at him and he chuckled. "Get her back in line." Like that I was thrown in my back and dragged to where I had been kneeling before.

"Anyway... that's not how it works. Now, I already told you people, first one's free. Then what did I say, I said I would shut that shit down." He had a maniac smile on his face. "No exceptions. Now I don't know what kind of lying assholes you've been dealing with, but I'm a man of my word. First impressions are important." Short silence. "I need you to know me. So, back to it."

In a second Negan's bat connected with Glenn's head. I blinked a few times. Not being able to believe this was really happening. We had just lost two of the strongest men of our group in a couple of minutes. I looked at Maggie and saw her sobbing.

I looked back at Glenn. You could see his skull and one of his eyes was bulging out of its socket.

My heart was beating out of my chest and I could hear every beat thumping.

"Buddy, you still there?" Negan asked mockingly. He muttered something and then exclaimed. "You are trying to speak! But you just took a hell of a hit. I just popped your skull so hard your eyeball just popped out. This is as gross as shit."

"Maggie I-I'll find yo-u." Glenn finally was able to mutter out.

"Oh, hell." Negan spoke. His voice was calm and serious. Like he actually felt sorry. "I can see this is hard, amiga. I am sorry. I truly am. But, I did say..." a smile now played in his lips. "No exceptions." He swinged at Glenn again. I jumped back in place.

No, no, no.

"You bunch of pussies... I'm just getting started. Lucille is thirsty." He kept hitting and hitting. There was nothing left to hit yet he kept swinging his bat. After he got tired he stepped away and joked. "She is a vampire bat."

The only sound was Negan's boot and our cries.

"What? Was the joke that bad?"

Rick looked up from his spot with a trembling yet determined look in his eyes. "I'm gonna kill you."

"What? I didn't quite catch that. You're gonna have to speak up." Negan mocked.

"Not today... not tomorrow... but I'm gonna kill you."

"Jesus," Negan scoffed. "Simon, what did he have? Knife?"

"He had a hatchet."

"Hatchet?" He smiled.

"An axe."

Negan laughed. "Simon, is my right hand man. Having one of those is important. I mean, what do you have left without 'em. A whole pile of work. You have one? Maybe one of these fine people still breathing. Oh, or did I-" he made a clock sound with his tongue.

Rick remained silent. Negan sighed. "Sure, yeah. Give me his axe."

Who I believed was Simon, stepped up with axe in hand and gave it to Negan. He stood up and grabbed Rick by the shoulder. "We'll be right back, maybe Rick will be with me. If not, well we can just turn these people's inside out. I mean, the ones that are left."

With that he shut the trailer's door closed and drove away.

I looked at Daryl. He was shaking. His gunshot wound could get infected with all the trauma his body was going through right now. I went to stand up but was held in place.

"I'm not gonna do anything. You have all of our weapons, what could I do?" I tried to reason with the men.

"You stay on your knees, bitch. Unless you want to end up like your friends over there." He signalled to the bodies that laid on the floor. With a thud I sat back in the ground, pulling my legs to my chest.

--

Hours had passed and the sun had come up when the trailer came back. No one came out for a couple of minutes. The air was full of tension as we hoped to see Rick still alive. When the door finally opened, Rick was pushed to the ground and Negan came out, he dragged Rick back to us.

"Here we are. Let me ask you something, Rick. You even know what that little trip was about?"

Rick remained silence.

"Speak when you're spoken to."

"Okay... okay."

"That trip was about the way you looked at me. I wanted to change that. I wanted you to understand. But you're still looking at me the same damn way... like I shit in your scrambled eggs, and that's not gonna work." He paced around and then kneeled next to Rick. "So... do I give you another chance?"

"Yeah. Yes. Yes."

Patting Rick's shoulder he stood up. "Okay." He chuckled. "All right. And here it is- the grand prize game. What you do now will decide whether your crap day becomes everyone's last crap day or just another crap day. Get some guns to the back of their heads.”

Guns cocked from behind us.

"Good. Now... level with their noses, so if you have to fire..." he imitates an explosion. "It'll be a real mess."

Silence.

"Kid." He said looking at Carl. "Right here." He pointed to the ground beside Rick. Carl was frozen in place. "Kid... now." Carl took slow steps. Negan took of his belt. "You a southpaw?"

"Am I a what?"

"You a lefty?"

"No."

"Good." He smiled as he took Carl's arm and tied the belt around it, cutting the circulation. "That hurt?"

"No."

"Should. It's supposed to." He finished tying the belt. "All right. Get down on the ground, kid, next to daddy. Spread them wings." He took Carl's hat off.

Carl did as told. "Simon, you got a pen?"

"Yeah." He threw it at Negan. He took of the cap with his teeth and kneeled next to Carl.

"Sorry, kid. This is gonna be as cold as a warlock's ballsack, just like he was hanging his ballsack above you and dragging it across the forearm." We all watched in horror as Negan drew a line in Carl's arm. "There you go. Gives you a little leverage."

"Please. Please. Please don't. Please don't." Rick begged.

"Me?" Negan chuckled. "I ain't doing shit." He stood up. "Ah. Rick, I want you to take your axe... cut of your son's left arm off, right on that line. Now I know- I know. You're gonna have to process that for a second. That makes sense. Still, though, I'm gonna need you to do it, or all these people are gonna die. Then Carl dies, then the people back home die... and then you, eventually. I'm gonna keep you breathing for a few years, just so you can stew on it."

"You- you don't have to do this. We understand. We understand." Michonne spoke.

"You understand. Yeah. I'm not sure Rick does." He advertido his attention back to Rick. "I'm gonna need a clean cut right there on that line. Now, I know this is a screwed up thing to ask, but it's gonna have to be like a salami slice- nothing messy, clean, forty five degrees- give us something to fold over. We got a great doctor. The kid'll be fine. Probably. Rick this needs to happen now- chop, chop- or I will crush the little fella's skull myself."

"Please, we all understand. Rick understands. We all work for you, stop this. You don't need to prove a point because you already did." I tried. This was my family. I wasn't gonna stay quiet and not try anything. My arms pointed at the fallen bodies.

I felt a gun press against the back of my head.

"It can- it can- it can be me." Rick stuttered out. "It can be me. Y-you can do it to me. I c- I can go with- with you."

"No. This is the only way. Rick... pick up the axe." Rick didn't move. "Not making a decision is a big decision." Negan's voice raised. "You really want to see all these people die? You will. You will see every ugly thing." He still didn't move. "Oh, my god." He groaned. "Are you gonna make me count? Okay, Rick. You win. I am counting."

"Three!"

"Please." Rick cried out. "Please. It can be me. Please!"

"Two!" He kneeled next to Rick.

"Please, don't do-" Rick sobbed and I looked away.

"This is it."

Rick screamed. I shut my eyes closed. Tears running down my cheeks.

"One!"

"Dad... just do it. Just do it." I heard Carl whisper.

I looked back at the scene.

Rick held the axe high, preparing to cut his son's arm.

"Rick." Negan stopped him. "You answer to me. You provide for me. You belong to me. Right?" Rick nodded hastily. "Speak when you're spoken to!" Negan's voice beamed making everyone jump. "You answer to me. You provide for me."

"Provide for you." Rick answered shakily.

"You belong to me, right?!"

"Right." Rick breathed heavy.

"Right. That... is the look I wanted to see." He stood up and took the axe. "We did it... all of us, together... even the dead ones on the ground. Hell, they get the spirit award, for sure." He sighed. "Today was a productive damn day! Now, I hope, for all your sake... that you get it now... that you understand how this work. Things have changed. Whatever you had going for you... that is over now." He chuckled.

There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. "Ah, Dwight... load him up." He signalled to Daryl who struggled in, who I suppose was Dwight's, arms.

"What are you gonna do to him?" I asked. Trying to sound as strong as I could. Negan turned to me.

"How could I forget about you?" He took long yet calming strides towards me. "You, darlin', are coming with me too."

"Why?" I sounded more panicked than I wanted to.

"Because..." he smiled. "You've got a mouth on you and I really, really like it. Keeps me on my feet. I have a proposal for you..." he waited for my name.

"Lucia."

He smiled and licked his lips. "You hear that, Lucille? They sound similar... okay, Lucia. I have this proposal for you. You come with me, be one of my wives, and I, won't kill another one of your group, for your blabbing mouth. How does that sound, hm?"

Shock was written all over my face. "It's your choice, Lucia. Either you come with me or... I kill another one of your friends. So, what will it be?" He passed his finger along my jawline. I looked at the truck where Daryl was in.

Maybe, if I went with him I could find a way to help Daryl escape. I looked around the group. I wasn't gonna let anyone else die, much less because of my fault.

"Okay." I said. Turning off all my emotions.

"Great." He smiled. "You and I are gonna have a lot of fun together." He licked his lips while scanning my body. "Fan-fucking-tastic. Simon, put her in my truck. I still have some words to say to our new pal Rick."

As Simon grabbed my arm and led me to a truck I looked back and saw Rick watching me. I gave him a slight nod with my head, telling him I had a plan.

I wrote this a some time ago but hadn’t posted it here. Requests are open ❤️

[final-girl96]

Hate That I Love

Daryl Dixon x Grimes!OC

Slow Burn Relastionship

Warnings: language, violence, abuse, sexual content, little bit of depression, anxiety

Chapter 43

We came around a tree and two woman jumped up one woth long brown hair am d another with short blonde hair.

"You found us, okay? Here we are. We earned what we took." The girl with brown hair said.

I heard another twig snap and as me and Daryl went to turn around a man came up hitting both of us with a thick branch knocking us both out.

Daryls PIC

I opened my eyes to see it was dark out. There was a fire going with two woman and a man sitting on the other side of it. I started going in and out of consciousness. When I came to again I saw the woman with brown hair shoving my crossbow into a bag they were talking but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I ended up falling back into unconsciousness.

When I finally came to again the man was in front of me. "Hey, get up. Hey, get up" he said.

I was proped up against a tree MY hands tied in front of me.

"Where moving" The guy said point a gun at me. I just glared at him then it dawned on me Nikyla was with me.

"Where is she?" He growled.

"Where is who?" The guy asked.

"The girl! Where she is?! I'll kill ya if ya hurt her!" Daryl growled.

"She's fine she's over there" the guy said. I looked over where he was pointing to see Nikyla laying on her side still knocked out.

"You don't say shit and I won't have to" the guy told him.

"We ain't who ya think" Daryl told him.

"Say something else. Go ahead." The guy said pointing the gun at my head. He grabbed me by the front of my shirt and pulled me up to hmy feet.

"Follow them." He said.

"I ain't goin no where til she's awake" I said.

The man lead him over to you "get her up or I kill her" he told me.

I glared at him but knelt down. "Hey, Nik. Wake up" I said and nudged her with my tied hands.

"Hmmm" shehummed.

"Come on. Time to get up Nik." I told her.

She opened your eyes "Daryl?" She said.

"Yeah, it's me. I need ya ta get up" I said. She looked up at me and noticed my hand were tied. Her eyes widen and she shot up seeing a man with blonde hair and the two woman behind me. She looked down to see her hands were tied together as well.

I stood up helping her get up the best the I could. "It's gonna be okay" I told her. She stood up looking at him then at the blonde haired man, she walked over and started to walk behind the two woman.

"Here, drink the rest." The brown haired woman said handing the other girl a bottle of water.

"We should save it." The blonde woman said.

"We'll find some more. Drink. You're supposed to stay hydrated. It all works together." The brown haired woman told her.

"Yeah, it does." The girl said and drank the water. She handed the battle back and then the woman took it handing it to me "here take it" she said but I ignored her. The blonde guy took it walking over to me.

"We don't need you falling down. Drink." The guy said.

I took it walking over to Nick "here drink" I said.

She took the bottle drinking some of it and giving it back to me.I took it drinking the rest of the water.

"They find us, maybe we give you to them, they let us call it even. You see, we're reasonable people. Everybody's got their code. You feel you gotta kneel, that's fair enough. We don't." The guy said.

Nik looked at me mouthing "What the fuck?" I just shrugged my shoulders.

"let's go" the guy said taking the bottle and handed it back to the woman. He went to grab Nik but I wasn't having any of that.

"Don't touch her!" He growled.

"Come on" Isaid looking at her and she walked over to me and started to follow the two women.

"Who do you think we are?" Nik asked As we walked through the blackened burnt forest. No one answered and just kept walking. She were in front of me and behind the blonde girl.

"Can't believe were back" she said.

"Its not home anymore. But it's better then where we were" the brown haired girl told her.

"This is a pit stop. We pick up Patty nothing more than that." The guy says.

"How'dyou do it?" The blonde girl asks.

"You saw where I left the truck? We opened the valve and drove all the way in from Farmview Road. Ran from the tree line till we got to the pavement. Lit up a matchbook from the Sweetwater and dropped it in on the trail.

Then we just ran for the car. Got in and the dead ones were there. They were beating on the hood, and then-- and then boom! Knocked 'em on their asses and I took an axe to each one." The guy told her.

"Then we just watched it go up. No more moans, no more of that wailing. It was just the fire, just burning them all away." The brown haired girl said.

Nik and I listened looking around at the chard blackened burnt trees, forest floor and bodies.

"You did all this?" I asked.

"It was right at the start. Everything stopped-- the TV, the radio. We were here. The forest was full of them. And the other ones in town, they were drawn to it. They just walked right into the flames. We got most of them. Thought we ended it for us, and she was in DC. We thought everyone was fighting them wherever they were." The brown haired woman said.

"Yeah, we thought that was what everybody was doing. Fighting it. That we'd all win together. We were stupid." The guy said.

Nikyla and I stopped "Y'all don't think you're being stupid right now?" I asked.

The guy walked over to me putting the gun in my face. "Are you saying I should kill you? I mean it, are you gonna try and pull something on us? Are we just being thick here by not removing all doubt? Right now, by me not pulling this trigger, is that a mistake? I'm serious. I really wanna know. You made a choice to kill for someone else, to have them own you for a roof over your head and three squares, so maybe I'm not considering all aspects here. You tell me, am I being stupid?" The guy said.

I looked at him calmly you how ever were freaking out inside. "No. Look, I got somewhere to be. We can make a deal. We can help you out." I said.

"You're one of them. You're hurt and you're alone and you'd say anything. We should've never trusted you people to begin with." The guy said.

"Go on. Keep moving." He told the both of us. We kept walking until we were out of the burnt forest and came out to a small field to see a fence with rigs and walkers behind it.

"Son of a bitch." The guy said walking towards the fence with the two women. The walkers growled and slowly walked closer to the fence.

"Patty." The guy says.

"She could be..." brown haired girl started.

"No, she's gone.the guy told her. Nik and I just stood back watching them.

"Then we make another plan." Brown haired girl says.

"Yeah, we get out of here, that's the plan." The guy tells her.

"Then that's the plan." She says.

"You guys didn't have to do this for me." The blonde girl said.

"It was the right thing for all of us." The brown haired woman told her.

"This was the right thing? Even if just you guys went back now, if you just told them that it was me..." The blonde girl started.

"No, we'll find a way. Just think about it."

"No."

"Look, maybe we don't get as far, but we'll get--" the guy started when the blonde girl fainted.

"hey! Hey, hey, hey! Tina," they both said.

I grabbed the bag. "hey! Hey, baby sister, look at me." The brown haired woman said.

"Hey, stop! No!" The guy yelled standing up shooting at me and Nik as we took off.

"Don't! We need that, please!" The woman yelled.

Authors Note: If anything in the warning bothers you please do not read. I do not own The Walking Dead or it characters. I only own my characters that I make up. Something's may be out of order I'm going to try and follow the time line but It might change a little with the new character added. It starts in season 1 I like to start from the beginning. Please like, reblog, and comment if you like the story it really helps me get motivated to continue and helps me know what you'd like to see. And please if you like to read this as you feel free to do so. I understand some people my rather read as themselves I know I do sometimes. Thanking you for reading! ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Taglist: If you'd like to be (un) tagged please let me know on the comments and click on the link to my Google Doc and you can add or unadd your name.

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[what-the--curtains]

Braving the Elements

Chapter 20: Another Party

Part 1/2

Tw: Swearing, sex in pt2

Authors note: TWO IDIOTS IN LOVE, yes this was inspired by moulin rouge dont @ me. love u all❤️❤️

Both versions r so good they both get included!

“He really thinks he’s James Bond doesn’t he?” Wanda laughs

“He sure does, much better ass though.” you respond the other two nodding in agreement as you head into the board room for the briefing. Everyone gathers in and Tony pulls up an infographic on the main targets, who they were, how they may be contributing, and the best way to get information out of them.

“So, Nat and Sam, we want you to engage with those I’ve identified as “salespeople”, act as if you, as non-mutants, are interested in obtaining temporary powers. I’ll be with the investors, acting as though I’m hoping to get in on the ground floor. Wanda if you wouldn’t mind, pretend like you’re interested in the genetic side, say you would be willing to donate some DNA but you need to know how it’s being used and processed first. Y/N you’ll help Wanda but see if you can get to the seedier parts of their operation. Based on your dubious past and ties to Roman they may be more inclined to share any less than legal aspects with you. Everyone else you’re there to keep up appearances, don’t interfere, play along. The most important thing is that we do not reveal what we know already. Everyone needs to pick a target and latch on for the night”

“ (y/n) you get the hot one!” Wanda exclaims

“Why?” you ask, forgetting that people didn’t know about you and Bucky.

“Cause you're single and hot so it should be easy for you to seduce him.” Tony says.

“Well put Tony thanks for the objectification” you say, rolling your eyes. The guy was hot and rich, and probably full of himself, used to getting what he wanted. Getting information out of him would be a breeze.

“Fine i'll use my womanly wiles” you say making some spooky hand gestures.

You quickly look to Bucky to see if he’s appreciated your joke, but he’s avoiding your gaze. You notice his jaw is clenched and his body seems tense, you wonder what’s got him in such a mood. You go to ask him but he’s gone by the time you stand up. Shrugging you follow Wanda into Nat’s room to get ready. Sitting down on her bed you feel something poke you in the butt. Reaching under the sheet you pull out a whip.

“Oh my god do you use this on Steve?” you ask throwing it at Wanda

“Wait what??” Wanda exclaims, tossing it onto the ground in disgust and surprise.

“Shit sorry Nat!” You exclaim.

“How long!” Wanda asks. Nat goes on to explain about that night you all went out together and then again in Russia and how they’ve talked about dating but didn’t want to have it fully out in the open yet because of the press and all the paperwork that would go into it, but they were very much exclusive.

“How long have people known?”

“Well Y/N and Barnes saw us in the kitchen and he told Sam immediately. Literally the second he could, and I was going to tell Wanda and Vision tonight but” she gestures to you.

“Sorry! So what, you going steady now?” You ask giggling

“Ya, how does it feel to date someone who can get a senior discount?” Wanda riffs off of you. Nat jumps on the bed hitting you two with pillows, instigating an all-out war only calling a parlay when you realize you were all going to be late if you didn’t get dressed. Unlike last time you actually had a dress procured for you, one of the benefits of being a hero, people sent you free stuff now. Your dress was a deep forest green. The off the shoulder top was decorated in overlying fabric leaves lined with gold beading. It cinched at the waist and gently flowed out with a slit going up the right side. You wear your hair down in waves and you finish it off with a headpiece. It’s a crown made of gold branches twisted together with a few gold leaves and flowers scattered throughout.

“You look like a goddess.” Nat says, looking at you as she puts in a diamond earring. She’s in a scoop back mermaid black dress with a high neck, simple, elegant and gorgeous.

“Well you’ll fit Sam’s need for a bond girl!” you say, linking your arm in hers and heading out to meet Wanda and Vision in the lobby. Wanda’s in a satin hi-lo plum colored dress that matches Vision tie, it has a halter top, and her hair’s twisted up. Vision escorts Wanda into the venue and you and Nat go in behind them. Nat nods her head towards the bar, she’s spotted your target. You let go of her arm, straighten your dress and pull your hair forward. You make your way over to the bar, stopping next to him and pushing your hair to the side to expose your neck leaning over in an attempt to get the bartender's attention. You can feel your target staring at you.

“Hey aren’t you that mutant girl,?” he asks, you turn to look back at him, biting your lip as you do so.

“How often does that line work out for ya?” you laugh

“Rarely, but for someone as pretty as you I figured it was worth the risk.” he smirks

“Well flattery will get you everywhere, Y/N.” you say extending your hand

“Pleased to meet you, Max Van Der Bilt, what are you drinking?” he asks, kissing it.

“Whatever you’re having” you say smiling at him. He beckons to the bartender and orders two double vodka sodas. Bucky’s standing near the bar, trying to get an optimal vantage point on you. You looked beautiful, statuesque, he'd never seen anything like it. You looked like something out of a Greek tale. He wanted to tell you that, he wanted everyone to know that you had chosen him, but instead he’s stuck watching you flirt with another man. He feels his heart ache. He tried to calm himself and stop the feelings he was having, but he can’t fight against them. He reminds himself that it was all just an act, but he can’t help but fear for the worst. Why had you agreed to go for the only attractive target. Why did he suddenly feel like he was being deceived by you? Everything you did when you were alone with him, you were doing with this other guy, was this just some big game to you? He’s pulled out of his thoughts by Nat elbowing him in the ribs lightly.

“I said, god what’s got your panties in a knot?”

“Nothing.” He grunts out. Following his eyeline Nat notices he’s burning a hole in the back of your head.

“Fuck Barnes relax she’ll be fine she can handle herself. Besides what’s he gonna do to charm her to death?”

“Where’s Steve?” He asks, downing another drink.

“Oh somewhere playing his part.” She says, handing him her drink saying he looked like he needed it more.

“How are things with you two?”

“Good. It’s actually really nice to have someone amongst all the chaos, someone who gets it, ya know. Also doesn’t hurt that he’s a snack with an ass that won’t quit and superhuman stamina.” She responds.

“Alright didn’t need to hear that.” He cringes.

Nat laughs “C’mon Barnes there’s plenty of hot girls here go after one maybe you’ll finally relax.”

“Go after one? When have I ever needed to do that?” he says smiling.

“There’s the lady killer I’ve heard so much about.” She says, patting his arm and heading off towards the bar. Well, if he was supposed to keep up appearances he shouldn’t be standing alone in a corner should he. He makes his way over to a nearby group of women who had tried to approach him earlier. Apologizing for his abruptness he begins conversing with them, hoping to get a rise out of you. You’ve moved into a booth and Max is droning on about genetics, which are super interesting but not when they’re being condescendingly explained to you. I mean seriously you were a literal mutant, you’ve known the basics of genetics since middle school thanks to Charles. You tilt your head trying to get a look out into the rest of the party. You see Bucky with a group of women laughing letting them feel his metal arm up, amongst other things. You feel hurt, no let down. Why was he doing this? Did he always act this way when you weren’t around? Have you been played for a fool?

“It’s a shame you know,” Max says loudly, catching your attention once again.

“Pardon.” you respond, turning the charm back on.

“That all mutants aren’t beautiful like you then society wouldn’t be so afraid.”

You’ve never wanted to punch anyone more, but you don’t have the information you need yet so you force a laugh and gently touch his arm.

“So this genetic coding, how do you extract the gene?”

“It’s a simple process using DNA from hair, nails, teeth or bone. We don't need much, just one strand of hair is enough to create an entire dose.” He touches your hair moving it behind your shoulder.

“And where do you get your samples from?” you ask allowing your leg to cross slightly over his.

“That is classified information, but you may just get it out of me” he laughs, placing his hand on your thigh, rubbing it gently. You know you’re close to getting what you need.

“I think I may know a few ways to do that.” you smile

“Let’s dance” he says “They say private conversations are best had on the dance floor.”

[chenles-moonpies]

Mission, failed

• An nct mafia au, chapter 1

• 2k words

-----

"You go to china, find the boy, bring him back. Plain and simple."

"Plain and simple my ass. Does he know how many people are here!?" Winwin cursed as he looked around the corner from a fight they were observing. Taeyong, leader of his gang NCT, had sent him and Yuta on a mission to track down someone that fancied his eye. Normally Winwin did an exceptional job at spy work, but being paired with Yuta lately has had it’s consequences. "Also why am I with you?” Winwin complained,  “You don't speak a lick of Chinese and always mess up important details." The two had been paired together recently after Yuta begged a reluctant Taeyong to do so for weeks without consulting Winwin. He agreed eventually, “Fine. but I'm not sending you in the private jet when you go to China. Just Business class.” He had told Yuta.

"I'm offended. You know the rules! No solo missions." Yuta reminded his friend, "Unless you're in-"

"What's going on over there?" Cheers, or rather yells, were piercing the air around them. Citizens flocked to the middle of the bustling shopping roads where a fight broke out. Winwin and Yuta looked at each other before racing over to see as well. 

"I think that's the one." Yuta whispered. The crowd was rather large so it was a bit difficult to see, however Taeyongs words echoed loosely in his mind. "Short hair, gets in fights, Winwin I think we're done!" Yuta smiled brightly at the taller male. His response was a bit delayed. Could it really be him? Wasn't he a bit… small? 

"You IDIOTS!" Taeyong yelled, hands banging down on his desk. "I told you exactly what he looks like and what do you do? Bring me someone not any bigger than a Dream member!?" 

The man scoffed, "I'm not that small-?"

"Look, you want us to do well? Stop sending me with him!" Winwin fought back, pointing back to his partner. Yuta's face grew rather disgusted, if not disappointed. "What do you mean?" He questioned. "You always mess around and distract me." Winwin huffed. 

"Then stop getting distracted. It's not hard!" Taeyong bellowed. The room grew quiet until the tied up boy spoke, “You guys seem tense. Maybe you should take a bath or something, some tea might help, maybe some Vodka-”

“Shut up!” Taeyong shouted, cutting him off. The four men stood in Taeyong’s office for a moment, unsure of what to do. “I’m sorry, sir. Should we bring him back to China?” Winwin spoke sheepishly, suddenly aware that he should probably just comply with his boss.

“Are you insane or did you break into the drug stash on floor 15? We can’t let him go now. Leave him with me,” Taeyong sat down onto his chair and spun to face his back to the other three men, “I’ll talk to him.” Winwin and Yuta promptly left while bickering quietly. The door shut quietly with a click. “Ok, let's get to it,” Taeyong pulled up a pen and paper, “Name, date of birth, nationality, family and blood type please.” The man shuffled out of the ties restricting him, 

“People call me Ten. I was born 27th of February 1996, I have a mother and father and sister and I don’t know my blood type.”

“Whatever, we’ll just get someone in to test you. You didn't tell me your nationality.”

“Well i’m not Chinese as you thought.” 

“I didn't ask where you aren’t from, I asked where you are fr-”

“Why do you need to know, huh?” 

Taeyong stared at Ten with sharp fury. But that was only the exterior he showed. Inside he was shocked. No one had ever interrupted him like that. 16 members prior to Ten and it hasn't happened once. And that wasn't even the ones he had to “dismiss”

“Just tell me where you're from, pretty boy.”

Ten looked around at the pointings that hung around Taeyong’s office, “Is this you? Who painted it? Their brush technique is very… unique.”

“I Think you’d better sit down and tell me where you’re from before we have a problem.” Taeyong spoke through gritted teeth

“Thailand.”

“Was that so hard?” Taeyong pulled some papers from his desk, “Sit down, Ten.”

“Fine,” he responded, “But I'm sitting because I want to. Not because you told me to.” 

Taeyong slid a thin pile of papers across his desk and into the other man’s lap. 

“I’m not reading all that.” Ten said, picking up the pile.

“Don’t worry, I'll give you the summary.” He sat back in his chair, “This is the NCT X Building. Its headquarters for the NCT gang. I prefer the term mafia but… to each their own.”

“Oh, shit ok.” Ten pulled out a pair of glasses from a pocket in his silk shirt.

“Long story short my father founded the mafia and I took over after the incident. I never liked the way he ran it so i changed a lot of things. So if you ever think I'm treating you unfairly i’ll remind you he was incomprehensibly worse.”

“So you’re recruiting me?” 

“Call it what you want, you’re lucky I didn't just kill you.”

“Fair enough.” 

“You’ll get to meet the other members soon but essentially there are two sections: 127 and Dream. 127 handles korean affairs, mainly based in Seoul. Dream…” Taeyong paused to laugh, “Honestly it's more of an experiment than anything and the only reason I'm maintaining it is because they’re good kids and you can't exactly leave this organisations unless you leave in a hearse.”

Hang on, did you say ‘kids’?” 

“Yes, they're all pretty young. The youngest is 17 though so don't worry they aren’t too young. Anyway Dream only really handles very minor affairs but they've been doing well.”

“Jesus, you’re not gonna put me with them, are you?” 

Taeyong laughed, “You should be so lucky. You’ll probably get put into 127 but for now you’re a trainee. Sign here.”

Taeyong presented ten with a black piece of paper with a light grey print and a white signature line. “That's some shady shit, man.” Ten said,

“Fine,” Taeyong took the paper away, “this is a gang, you don't actually have to sign it,” He said, signing the name ‘Ten’ in neat cursive on the white line, “It’s just so the less intelligent members get a sense of security from the legitimacy of a contract. But you seem smart, so you don’t need that.” Ten laughed quietly in response,

“Now,” Taeyong whispered, pressing a black button on his desk, triggering the large mahogany doors to open, “Would you like to meet the others?"

"You said there's sixteen others, right? Why so many?" Ten questioned, following his new leader out of the room. "I have my reasons. This way."

The hallways were long, some narrow, Ten noted. It wasn't dark like he imagined gang buildings to be either. Most rooms had a large glass window to show into it but a few were kept a secret behind locked doors. They peaked his interest for sure, so the male made a mental note to explore once he has a bit more freedom. 

"In here is the main break room on the floor. Usually you can find Johnny, Jaehyun, or maybe even Jeno in here." 

"So many J names." Ten laughed. Taeyong couldn't disagree there. "Come in." He nodded his head as he opened the door. 

"Johnny, Jaehyun, meet Ten." Taeyong said, introducing him. Johnny nodded while Jaehyun presented his hand. "You must be the new recruit!" Another voice spoke out. A head popped over the edge of the old, slightly tattered, orange couch in the corner of the room. "Who are you?" Ten asked.

"Mark Lee. I'm in all the units. Well, was."

"What do you mean, aren't there only two?"

"He was in dream but graduated. He doesn't have an official position yet."

"That's why I'm in all of them. In Hopes of finding out." Mark said, pointing his thumb and finger at Ten like he held a real gun. "Enough chat. Anyone know where Doyoung went?" Taeyong asked. Everyone shook their heads no. 

"Maybe in U-" 

"Right, later then. I'm sure someone is in the cafeteria." Taeyong blurted, interrupting Mark. The leader walked out, the heavy door slamming behind them. "Mark, you idiot. No one can know about U so soon!" Jaehyun scolded, smacking the younger boy on the shoulder.

"What's U? I don't understand." Ten asked, his mind buzzing to know what secrets Taeyong was keeping. He'll be damned if he gives up trying to find out. "Who knows Honestly. Kid is so overworked I don't think he would know where his head was if it weren't attached." 

Taeyong re-entered, brushing something off his shirt, and was immediately bombarded with Ten’s questioning "What positions were they all?" Ten asked. 

“Does this guy ever shut up? Why does he want to know everything so bad…?"  Taeyong thought. "Johnny is the muscle. I count on him to keep people in check, sometimes to do the dirty work. Jaehyun is 127s Charmer."

"Charmer?"

"Every talented mafia needs someone to swoon others to get desired information." 

"That desperate huh?"

"You won't understand. Not yet."

Ten took in his sudden surroundings as he noticed Taeyong had been leading him down a couple flights of stairs. "Elevators?" He asked. Taeyong shook his head. "Not to the floor we're going to. Doyoung likes his privacy." 

After walking for what seemed like hours, Taeyong and Ten finally got to their desired floor. “I get this dude wants his privacy but this is ridiculous.” Ten complained, pretending to be out of breath. Taeyong let out a small laugh, “You know, Ten, I hope your sense of humour helps you get around obstacles and doesn't cause you problems.” 

“Well,I'd be lying if I said they hadn’t before.” The two approached a tall, oak door with a silver “DY” on it next to an eye hole. “Kind of weird that you guys have peep holes on bedrooms.” Ten said as he got on his tiptoes to look through it, “It’s blacked out!”

“Mhm. Everyone but me is supposed to have an eyehole to make sure no one’s up to any funny business but Doyoung has a tendency to disagree with that rule.”

“Ah.” 

Taeyong knocked three times on the door before opening it, “Doyoung, you’ve got company!” He yelled. A tall, slender man with dark wet hair entered from around the corner, “Taeyong, you might be everyone’s boss but you can't just come in here unannounced. I’m your right hand man not your slave,” he looked up from tying a black robe around himself, “I don’t just do whatever you want me to like the others d-” He paused, “What does he want?” 

Taeyong laughed, “Doyoung, you’ve never been the best at making people feel welcome.”

“This looks like a Jaehyun thing.”

“Huh?” Ten looked at Doyoung, puzzled,

“Is this another ‘date in exchange for information’ thing because I'm not doing that again, that's why we have Jaehyun.” Doyoung walked back around the corner.

“No, it’s not.” Taeyong yelled over to him, “And if it was, you’re not supposed to say that to the person.”

Doyoung re-entered from around the corner now fully dressed in a white dress shirt, a silk tie, and tailored slacks. “I have to go out.”

“I don’t remember you telling me that.” Taeyong responded.

“I don’t remember me needing to.” Doyoung pushed passed the two men.

“My name’s Ten.” Ten shouted as Doyoung started up the stairs,

“Thats nice.”

“He’s going to be rooming with you for now.” Taeyong yelled.

“What?!” Doyoung came back down the stairs.

“It’s only temporary while we make up a room for him. Everyone has a roommate and they have smaller rooms. You’re alone and you have a room that could fit at least five people.”

Doyoung stared angrily at Ten, “Fine. But if this lasts more than a week, You and I,” Doyoung looked Ten up and down, “We’re gonna have a problem.”

“I’ll see you around, Doyoung.” Ten responded with a smile. Doyoung stormed off leaving a tapping sound on the marble floor echoing throughout the halls.

Taeyong and Ten looked to each other as Ten laughed, “I like him.”

[punkscowardschampions]

Buster & Rio

Buster: Let me in, like Buster: Come on Buster: Where are you? Rio: What you chatting? Buster: I'm here, why are you not? Rio: You better be joking Rio: 'cos I ain't even in the country rn Rio: Why would you not ring ahead? Buster: Fuck's sake Buster: Where are you then? Rio: Idk what to tell you boy Rio: Paris 🥐🍷💝 Buster: Hilarious Buster: Where are you really? Rio: I'm not that shit at the jokes Rio: Really Rio: [Hotel room snap with suitable Paris view] Buster: What the fuck Rio: Always a good time for Paris, yeah? Buster: Says you Rio: like I said, you shoulda hmu before Rio: be back Monday Buster: Whatever Buster: Catch you later then Rio: Don't be like that Buster: Don't be in Paris Rio: Oh yeah, I'll just cancel and fly back now Rio: If you wanna see me I can stop off in London or can you wait the 2 days Buster: Forget it I'll go find something else to do Rio: Alright Rio: well, I'm sorry I missed you Buster: Sure whatever the fuck you're doing in Paris will be worth it Rio: No shit, why else would I be here Rio: Not gonna get a souvenir with that attitude though Buster: Save the french maid outfit, it's basic Rio: ew, you don't need to tell me Rio: what's sexy about maybe just having had your hand down the u-bend like 😷 Buster: If you were in Germany they'd be into that Rio: Thank God he ain't then Rio: no thank you Buster: Won't keep you from enjoying where you are, like Rio: Obviously Rio: though make the dinner chat more awkward if I'm having to swerve that level of filth Rio: be like talking with you 😜 Buster: Yeah well don't feel the need to keep this convo going Buster: Didn't come to chat Rio: Good job, like Rio: natural conversationalist, you Buster: Fuck off Buster: You've never complained before Rio: What you in such a mood for Rio: Sure you got plenty other connections in Dubo Buster: So have you Buster: Don't need to be jet setting Rio: Yeah but it'd be stupid not to take the chance when it's all being paid for Buster: And you wouldn't wanna be stupid, yeah? Buster: 'Cause this is such a smart move Buster: And you never lose your shit when I offer to pay for anything for anyone, like Rio: This ain't my first rodeo, don't worry, I know what I'm doing Rio: everyone knows where I am, separate rooms, never going back to his, all that jazz Rio: and that's different and unrelated Buster: Whatever you say, babe Rio: Tah for the concern, though Buster: I ain't Rio: Yeah you are Buster: You wish, Cavante Buster: Be as stupid as you want, I'm just mad that it ain't benefiting me this once Buster: Like you said, I'll get over it Rio: Sweet Rio: Don't worry, it's not weird, you'd be a pretty shit cousin if you just let me die without batting an eyelid Rio: Ma'd be radging Buster: Shut up Rio: 😂 Buster: You're not funny, I don't know how many times I've gotta say it Rio: But you say so much bullshit Buster: Trying to keep up with you, that's all Rio: Try harder next time Rio: 🛫 Buster: If you want me to come there you're gonna have to ask me nicer than that Rio: As if you would Buster: What like that cunt is the only one who can afford the flights? Come on Rio: Yeah, but you're not that cunt Rio: don't have to make flights or fly girls out to spend time with you Rio: sad, really Buster: Don't have to, nah Rio: You're really gonna come here just to fuck me? Buster: Do you want me to? Rio: Yeah Rio: I'm bored Rio: but why do you wanna, what's in it for you? Buster: I'm bored too Rio: Alright Rio: I'm not going to stop you Buster: Good 'cause I clicked confirm when you said yeah Rio: You're crazy Rio: also, you've gotta be subtle, do you think you can manage that? 😏 Rio: hardly be buzzin' I'm having other blokes over, like Rio: not his kink Buster: You know how good I am at keeping secrets Rio: Fair point Buster: Yeah Buster: I make them a lot, you just don't listen Rio: Ha, don't get carried away Buster: Bit late for that Buster: I'm throwing my shit in a bag right now Rio: just a day in the life for you, is it? 😂 Buster: Obviously Rio: when you getting here Buster: [sends flight deets] Buster: Reckon you can handle that? Rio: Whoa, you are keen 😉 Rio: make sure you give yourself time to pre-drink in the airport though Rio: catching up must be done Buster: Cheers Buster: 🍾 Rio: Seriously Rio: had so many bottles sent up I could bathe in the shit Buster: Yeah? Rio: Mhmm Rio: Hopefully that wasn't the idea 🤔 soz babe Buster: Probably Buster: But you've had a better one so Rio: 🤷 Rio: Can't deny Rio: s'cool, I used the ice buckets to their full potential Rio: everyone's happy Buster: Behave Buster: I don't need to know about how you've been making him feel Rio: Why not? Rio: Just giving you an idea of why you're coming Buster: We both know why I'm coming Buster: And there's no comparison, like Rio: Yeah, not saying it's a competition, like Buster: Don't need to hear it then, do I Rio: Got it Rio: only worth mentioning if it strokes your ego otherwise 😶 Buster: That goes without saying Buster: Nobody better Rio: Not gonna agree 'til you prove it, like Buster: Alright Rio: You spoken to Nance recently Buster: Why? Rio: Just wondering how they're getting on Rio: Never get hold of Bills these days Buster: Ask Nance yourself Rio: That's a no then Buster: What are you bringing her up for? Buster: Way to kill the mood, like Rio: Whatever, you've got a whole plane journey to get it back Rio: I can ask questions Buster: I just don't see why that'll be the question you'd choose to ask Buster: But like you said, whatever Rio: What do you want me to ask then? Rio: What's up? Buster: Nothing Buster: You know I'm bored, already said it Rio: Yeah Rio: you gotta get new friends Rio: can't get a bird or Chlo will be even more of a dick Buster: I can do what I like Buster: But I've got enough crazy in my life with her, that's true Buster: Don't need to be tied down to anyone else Rio: Yeah, obviously but girls like her are always cunty when you get a new missus, guarantee Buster: When isn't she? Buster: Only happy when I fucked her that one time and I don't even remember it Rio: Bless Rio: Wonder what's actually up with her, or she's just a natural-born cow Buster: Other than being hopelessly in love with me, I don't know Buster: Nance might have some ideas though Rio: I know, I know Rio: you don't wanna chitchat with me Rio: I've done one too many lines I'm chatting shite Buster: Say something to change my mind then, it's not that hard Buster: And you better save a few lines for me Rio: Like what? Rio: we don't talk that's not what we do Rio: just get him to get more Buster: We're talking now Buster: Ain't my fault you keep bringing him up Buster: Or my sister Rio: Yeah but that's the real shit Rio: real life Buster: So what? Buster: You want this to be real now? Buster: Fuck off Rio: Nah Rio: Ugh, forget it Buster: No Buster: Tell me Rio: I don't know Rio: My head's just fucked, nothing new Buster: How much have you had? Buster: Don't just say too much Rio: rinsed this whole bag Rio: pretty much Buster: Take it easy now until I get there, yeah? Rio: yeah Rio: sorry, just ignore me Buster: You know I can't, babe Buster: You're too fucking hot for that Rio: Idiot Rio: thanks Buster: No need to thank me Buster: I'm not there yet Rio: I can thank you properly when you get here Buster: Yeah Rio: 😣 Rio: i said forget it Rio: sound more excited yeah Buster: You know I am Buster: But I can give a shit about the state of you, can't I? Rio: You reckon I'm always one Rio: not stopped you before Buster: Shut up Rio: Truth hurts, babe Buster: Might if I heard it, but you're chatting shit Rio: You want the truth? Okay, truth is you've been fucking this state and you love it, so what does that make you Buster: Fuck you Buster: I'm just trying to make sure you're alright Rio: Ain't your job Buster: Well, he ain't doing it Rio: Definition of looked after here Rio: check the bank balance Buster: I know you ain't the smartest, but even you can check a definition on your phone, like Rio: Fuck you Rio: don't come Buster: You can't stop me Rio: Fine but I'm gonna smack you one Rio: twat Buster: No you aren't Buster: You want me there, still Rio: you reckon? Buster: I know you do Rio: so what Rio: don't mean nothing Rio: i wanna get fucked and he's not gonna cut it Buster: 'Course Rio: so fucking arrogant Buster: You love it Rio: Whatever Rio: if you're coming at me with the old catchphrases I'm off Rio: room 223, i'll let 'em know you're coming Buster: Don't Rio: You reckon they'll clock me as a working girl? Rio: Valid, here's hoping they look the other way Buster: Rio Buster: Stop it, yeah? Rio: I don't think I can Buster: Bullshit Buster: Just wait for me Rio: Fine Buster: Fine Rio: Mature Buster: I'm not 95 Buster: If you want mature get him back in Rio: Shut up Rio: He ain't that old Rio: if he was there'd be no time for you, tryna get in that will asap Buster: Behave Rio: Yeah, that's what you want Buster: With him, yeah, I do Rio: I don't sleep with them Buster: I don't wanna know Rio: Just saying Buster: Do what you want Rio: Plan to Buster: Yeah Rio: You're cute Buster: Fuck off Rio: Aww Buster: Who's immature now, like Rio: I ain't pretending otherwise Buster: Got enough pretending to do, yeah? Rio: Ha, you sure you're in a position to come for me on that one? Buster: I ain't Buster: Just saying, that's all Rio: Anything else you wanna say, McKenna? Buster: Nah Buster: Like you said, we don't talk Rio: now's your chance Rio: you already getting smacked when you get here so in for a penny, like Buster: You wish, babe Buster: You've clearly got something you want me to say though Buster: Go on Rio: Why should I if you won't Rio: play fair Buster: Why should I? Rio: Try it, you might like it Buster: You'd love it, you mean Rio: Yeah, you got it Rio: I'm OBSESSED with you Rio: 🙄 Buster: Deny it Rio: Please Buster: You can't Rio: Your pillowtalk needs are getting a bit much, babe Buster: Still not a no from you, is it? Rio: Just protecting your fragile ego, boy Buster: Bullshit Buster: You're protecting yourself Rio: You what Rio: Why do you want me to say it Buster: I'm on a flight to another country for you Buster: You can say it Rio: Alright Rio: You already know Buster: Tell me anyway Rio: I'm obsessed with you Rio: and I want you here Rio: 😶 gah Buster: I'll be there soon Buster: I wanna be Buster: It's alright Rio: it's not though, is it Rio: but you know Buster: It will be Buster: Don't worry about it Rio: How can I not? Buster: You know I'll help you forget Rio: Yeah Buster: Do you want me to take you somewhere else? Buster: I can Rio: You trying rack up your airmiles, babe? Rio: Where Buster: I don't care Buster: Wherever you want Rio: No, it doesn't matter Rio: here's as good as anywhere else Buster: It matters Buster: But we can stay Rio: why do you bother Rio: so much hassle Buster: Shut up Buster: You know that's bullshit Rio: Genuinely, though Rio: I know I'm a delight most of the time but Buster: You have your moments Rio: Dangerously close to a compliment, there Buster: Yeah, well Rio: s'alright Rio: you can say it Buster: Sometimes I can stand you Buster: You're testing it now, like but Rio: 😘😂