#am i supposed to be flattered that she wanted me to do her job for her while she was gone doing smth fun ?

[trendywaifus]

if it’s alright, could i request kafka with a reader who’s a medic for the stellaron hunters?

— medic for the stellaron hunters? i think you mean medic for her because she’s gate keeping you if she hasn’t already. like, you fr think you going to take care of the others when you’re hers? jk jk.

— kafka comes in for the smallest shit like if she somehow gotten a scratch on a mission, she wants you to “heal” her. she’ll fake moan in pain with that sly smile on her face while pointing at a little ass scratch on the expose skin of her shoulder. you’ll just sigh, “ kafka, don’t waste my time. you don’t need to be injured to come and see me, we are literally dating now. “ ofc she’ll claim that it wouldn’t be fun if she only had one reason to come.

— literally will flirt with you to the point where she sometimes asks for a “full check up” on one of the beds. knowing what she’s insinuating, you just push her out of the room much to her disappointment and amusement.

— surprisingly, kafka gets pretty jealous when you tend to others that’s not her. but it’s more like a puppy jealous, y’know? she knows that it’s your job to help out the hunters but damn, she wish those healing hands would be put into. .better use.

— if she walks into you treating blade (we all know bro’s getting injuried more often than not.) her demeanor changes ever so slightly, she’ll continue to smile like usual but will just flirt her ass off right in front of him. yeah, she thinks she’s a comedian. blade rolls his eyes and grunts whenever kafka says some real purposely cringey shit to you. hell, he knows she’s fucking with him when she’s glancing over at him time to time, smirking.

— in serious moments when kafka is actually injured, it’s filled with solemn silence. you’re quietly tending to her wounds and she’s just sitting there, her eyes watching your every move. of course, she’s smiling however it’s only the slight curve of the corner of her red lips that’s barely noticeable. “ what a beautiful mess you are. “ her smile grows larger at your comment, “ a beautiful mess? that’s one way to describe me sweetheart. i’m flattered. “

— if you’re on the mission with the crew, she’s watching over you. whether it’ll be glancing over her shoulder, making sure your close by or whatever maybe; one of her main priorities if not the most important one is you. i mean you are the one and only medic after all, and her dear lover.

supposedly, allegedly, kafka was having some foot pain after a mission and she came in complaining about how sore her feet was. you rolled your eyes, immediately knowing the problem, she literally does her duties in heels! you tell her to sit down and take off the heels so you can take a look and massage them, her reaction was honestly adorable coming from her.

“ make sure to get between the toes as well, sweets.“ she says smugly, enjoying the view of you concentrating on massaging her “ sore “ foot. you threw a quick glare her way before reverting your attention back to the massage. “ be quiet woman, I’m not suppose to be fucking doing this so you’re lucky. “

“ oh? maybe i am lucky or “ she drags out the syllable in her usual raspy tone, “ . . .you just wanted to touch my feet? “

“ do i look like i got a damn foot fetish, kafka? you’re the one who—g-get out of my office! “

[jessi4fanfics]

Broppy Dayyyyy!!!

Tis officially Broppy Day, so I wrote this really bad one shot for you- ur welcome😜

____________

"Branch!" Branch shot out of bed, startled by the sound of his girlfriend's voice shouting into his ear. He peeked over his bed and rubbed his temple. "Poppy, it's--" he checked his alarm clock, "--5am. What're you doing?" "I'm the queen, I'm supposed to be up this early. Besides," she said dropping to the floor next to him, "today wouldn't be as special if I couldn't spend a few moments with my favorite boyfriend?" Branch smiled at her and stood up, offering her his hand. "Well, I'm flattered, but why today specifically?" Her face fell. "Don't you know what today is?" "Trash day?" he suggested. Poppy couldn't help giggling. "No, I mean on the calander." He turned to his calender and said, "Well, yesterday was the 20th, so today must be the 21st." "Yup, good job, Professor." He scoffed at the tease, crossing his arms. "Yes, and?" Poppy considered something for a few moments, then took a card out of her hair, and handed it to him. "Read it," she urged gently. Branch lifted an eyebrow, opened the card, and read. He immediately recognized his wobbly handwriting from two years ago. Poppy, This adventure helped me realize my feelings for you are a bit deeper than I believed they were. I wouldn't say love (I think), though it may be easy for it to become that, but I have began to realize how special you are and how big of a part you are in my life. I can't imagine me ever again regaining my colors without you. You are the ropes that are holding the falling pieces to this broken troll that I am. As cheesy as it is, you have glued my torn heart with the love you always seem to be spreading around and throwing in my face especially and I hope you continue to be an amazing influence and part of me from now on. I know you will never read this, but I had to write it down. You are a beautiful, inspiring, and sunny troll that I have grown to admire, though I hated to admit it before. I wish that one day I'd be worthy of your friendship. With love, your friend: Branch Written, September 21st

Branch looked up at Poppy, surprised. "Wait…this was the letter I wrote to myself the day I became friends with you." Poppy grinned and shook her head. "Nope, says you wrote it to me." "Well, yeah, but I wrote it for myself because you weren't ever supposed to read it," Branch groaned. "How'd you find it?" "It dropped from your hair one day and, when I found that it was a letter for me, I've kept it since. For two years," she noted proudly. Branch glared at her. "Once again: nothing is private." "Not from meeee!" Poppy sang, taking his arm. He couldn't help smiling. "So…what? You came to rub this in?" "Yes and no. It's our official Friendiversary, Branch! C'mere, I want to show you something." She led him quietly out of the bunker so they wouldn't wake his brothers, towards the mushroom in the center of the Pop Village. Party decorations, refreshment tables, a dance floor, plus a banner that said: HAPPY 2ND FRIENDIVERSARY OF THE BERGENS!! were obvious signs of a party planned later. "I thought you could help me decorate!" she squealed. "Oh." He was a bit disappointed. "Great." She nudged him playfully. "Wanna hear a secret?" Branch didn't know how to respond. Of course he did, but should he say so? "Is it more letters from my bunker?" he decided to say instead, jokingly. "Nope!" She laughed. "I'll tell you once you catch me." She suddenly dashed off, and Branch was caught by surprise. He chased after her, laughing at her giggles as she called back at him about how slow and old he was, and all he responded with was a shout of how she wasn't that much younger than him, only by a few years. They passed trees, pods, and night animals getting ready to hide from the daytime again as the sun began to peek from behind the hills. "Byeeee!!" Poppy called as she began to eagerly climb up a huge tree, way ahead of him now. "Wait!" Branch used his hair to follow her into the leaves. But then she was gone. "Poppy?! Poppy!!" he called. He flipped tree leaves and calked for her, climbing faster and higher up as he did so. Then, he found her. She was sitting silently on the edge of a tree branch, looking out at the view of the village. He rushed towards her and sat beside her. "Poppy, why didn't you--?" Branch stopped, realizing something. "Wait…is this…?" She looked at him and smiled. "The place we met?" She nodded. "Yup." Branch was astounded. It didn't look so different from ten years ago when he had been gathering leaves for his bunker and Poppy had found him in the tree and followed him, bothering him with questions. Multiple times he had asked why she didn't go back down where it was safer (and away from him) but she hadn't budged. Branch chuckled. "Whew, we loved to bother each other from the start, didn't we?" "Still do." She laughed. "Welp, I guess it's time for my secret." She took his hand. "When I first fell for you, I had always dreamed we would meet here for our first kiss. I don't know why, but it seemed really romantic." Branch nodded. "That would be…too bad you already took our first kiss," he grinned. "Yeah, I guess I was a bit impatient," Poppy smirked. She paused. "I wouldn't mind a kiss… now, though. Ya know, on our friendiversary. Wouldn't be the same, I guess but--" She was interrupted by Branch's sudden kiss. She was a bit surprised from how quickly he went for it, but immediately melted into the kiss. After a bit, he pulled away. "Good enough?" he grinned. "For sure," she nodded. Branch brushed a bang out of her eyes. "Look, I'm sorry I forgot our anni- friendiversary. How about I take you shopping this afternoon for your gift?" Poppy smiled. "Why leave? We have all we need here." It was true. And, just as the sun rose just enough for it to make the sky a pretty rose and orange color, the birds began to sing their morning songs, and as the time came for Poppy to have begun her morning song… They leaned in for another kiss. They didn't know how in the world their relationship had gotten here. But they were here. And that was all that mattered.

[weemsfreak]

One shot with Jane Murdstone where she's being sexualy harassed and reader, her childhood friend, steps in and stops it. The two go to readers house and start talking, eventually confessing their feelings for each other which leads to a long session if love making. Sub!Jane?

Magnetic

Hello! I'm happy to say that this is my first Jane Murdstone fic! I've always wanted to write her, but I didn't know much about the Victorian times, or how to write a lady so metallic yet make her soft at the same time. Anyway, I tried my best to make it Jane as we know her, but in an interesting part of her life. Any tips are appreciated as I'm still not the best at writing smut, enjoy! :)

Warnings: Sexual harassment/assault, knives (no real violence), mention of blood, smut, Sub!Jane, Dom!fReader

(Also, apologies, this became big very fast ~9k words)

You found yourself at a saloon one Friday night, not that you didn't find yourself at one often. Your job was rather, well, emotionally scarring and energy depleting, you would say. Regardless of the fact that you had been doing this job for years, everyday took a toll on you. What was worse than your job, though, was that you felt alone. You felt so alone in this job and in life, and you couldn't talk to anyone about what you did or how you felt, so you didn't really talk to anyone, you didn't connect with anyone.

"Good evening sir, how may I assist you?" a woman asked strictly, staring with a frown at a man who was making his way over to her table.

"I have to admit, you're absolutely stunning, I can't keep my eyes off of you" the man mumbled, as he leaned on the back of the woman's chair.

The woman's face grew red with embarrassment. She was flattered by his statement, but taken back at how forward he was being.

"Well, thank you…I suppose" she said a little quieter.

"What's a pretty thing like you doing here alone, waiting for someone? Perhaps me?" the man grinned and spoke in a flirty tone. The woman's face grew colder.

"Sir, I appreciate the compliments, however, I believe you are being far too forward."

The man chuckled, "Come on now darlin', there is no need to be so uptight, loosen up and enjoy the night. I'm not harming anyone." The woman had grown tired of this man the second he walked her way. It seemed that at times she attracted people easily, for this wasn't the first time an unwanted man was this forward with her. Her eyebrows furrowed as she stood up from her chair and faced the man, towering over him. "Now listen here you scoundrel, if you cannot contain yourself like the gentleman you claim you are, I have no other choice but to remove myself from this situation" she growled, as a lady would. The man was not phased by her words as he moved closer to her and grabbed her waist.

The woman was caught off guard at his bold action, and her stern demeanour dropped slightly, she was nervous. She was always so confident and so sure, she was never one to back down. She was known as the metallic lady, not to her knowledge, though. She was strong and kept her iron walls up, she would never let anyone, let alone a low life man, get to her. Lately though, she had been struggling, she had been faltering.

"Let..me..go" the woman said, trying her hardest to sound unphased as she pushed at the man's arms. He didn’t let go, instead he stood tall and whispered in her ear.

"You are a tall, feisty woman, I like that in the bedroom."

The woman was absolutely disgusted by the man's behavior, and she tried even harder to shove him off of her.

"How dare you speak to me in such a way? I'll have you know that I am a respectable lady of higher society. Now, I said let me go!"

She desperately tried to pull away from the man, but she couldn't move very well. He didn't look very strong, but apparently he was stronger than her. Her blood started to boil at the mans audacity, and a low growl crept up her throat.

The man crept closer to her and whispered again, "Such a shame that an attractive lady like yourself has to play hard to get."

Suddenly, the man moved from the woman's ear to her lips and reached up to kiss her, not giving her a chance to say or do anything. The woman's eyes went wide as she felt the mans lips on hers, and she tried so hard not to gag. She was furious that a gross man would ever think she would want him, let alone take what he wanted without permission.

She pulled away from him with all her strength and hollered, "Enough!"

She lifted her foot and kicked the man in the groin, hoping he would back off. The man was somehow unphased by her kick, and he pulled her back towards him, determined to get what he wanted. Her kick was not hard enough it seemed, and she felt hopeless as she struggled to get away from him. She nervously looked around the saloon. It was a busy spot, but nobody seemed to be paying attention, or maybe they just didn't care. The woman felt helpless and terrified, which she had only felt a handful of times in her life. She wanted to cry as she thought that she may have to do something drastic.

You were lost in your drink, swirling it around and taking a big gulp. Your eyes panned around the saloon, ugh, there were too many intoxicated men. Halfway across the saloon, you spotted a tall woman dressed in black, a woman that you couldn't miss, as if your eyes were drawn to her and were unable to move elsewhere. She was wrapped in a mans arms, but you remembered seeing her sitting with a different man earlier, and then at one point she was sitting alone. Your face knit in confusion. She looked familiar to you, but you couldn't quite place why. She was pale with raven hair, dressed in all black. She had a stern looking demeanour and a confident stature, and yet she looked like she was scared. She reminded you of someone from your childhood. Could it be? As you were lost in your thoughts, the woman's eyes met yours. They were big, blue, piercing, and, terrified? You fell out of your daydream and landed back into reality, hard, as you watched the woman try to push the man off of her. You finally concluded that the man was not wanted by her, it was obvious. He brought his hand up to the woman's mouth and muffled her words, just as she tried to say something. The woman looked to you again with pleading eyes, and you knew she needed help. You abandoned your drink, patting a secret pocket in your dress to make sure you knew where your weapon was, just in case.

You walked over to the woman and the man and looked up at her, then at him. He didn't notice you, but the woman did, as she tried to mumble something to you. You reached up and grasped the mans hand, removing it from her mouth.

"Let the lady talk, sir" you said sternly.

The man turned to you, a shocked and angry expression falling over his face.

"How dare you interrupt me and my lady's fun!"

 You heard some men in the back who were witnessing the situation, laughing over the man's actions.

"Your lady?" you asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

The man smiled, "Why of course. We're having a good time tonight, isn't that right, honey?"

The man looked to the woman again, still holding her close. You also averted your gaze to the woman's. Her eyes were now watery, but she wasn't one to ever let someone see her cry, you knew that. She didn't say anything, and she wouldn't look at him, only at you. Her eyes pierced yours, as if she could see inside of you and knew your whole being, perhaps she did. Those eyes brought back memories, joyful memories. You nodded slightly at the woman and proceeded to dig your nails into the mans hands, pulling them away from her waist.

"Ah! What the hell are you doing?" the man gasped loudly.

You stood in between the man and the woman, peering up at the man.

You almost growled at him, "The lady does not want to be around you, sir. Please leave." 

The man's expression turned enraged again as he stood taller, he looked like he wanted to fight. He huffed and averted his gaze back to the woman, a smug look on his face.

"Your little lady friend here was enjoying my company" he mused.

Again, you heard people in the back laugh at his antics.

Your fists tightened by your sides in anger, "The lady doesn't want to be in your company" you growled.

You felt the woman's gaze on you from behind, there was a bit of relief and gratitude on her face.

"I think she was very much enjoying her time with me" the man smiled. Your jaw clenched, how stupid was this man?

"Sir, are you oblivious? Or do you perhaps enjoy assaulting women?" you asked.

The man's smile dropped, "Look, it was just one quick kiss! There is nothing wrong with that, ladies love some attention."

Your eyes widened as he confessed to kissing her against her will. You also found his comments to be incredibly insulting.

"Not all lady's like a man's attention" you grit at him.

The man looked at you with a smirk on his face, "I know plenty of ladies who enjoy attention from a gentleman. Are you not taken, pretty one?"

You had had enough, this was so insulting, so tiring, and so god damn annoying.

You rolled your eyes at him, "I'd never let a man touch me, pretty one."

The man laughed as he stumbled towards you, "Please, let lose and have some fun, woman."

A smirk crept up on your face, oh, you'd have some fun.

"I am quite enjoying myself now, actually" you sarcastically replied.

The man, who was clearly way too intoxicated, smiled and winked at you.

"Glad you think so, little miss."

You sighed and rolled your eyes at him as you turned around to face the woman.

You craned your neck to look up at her, "Shall we go, my lady?"

The woman fought back tears as she looked down at you and nodded.

Somehow, she spoke with composure, "Yes, I do believe we should."

You nodded back at her and went to lead her out of the saloon as you saw the man move closer to her in your peripheral vision.

"And where do you think you are going, sweetheart?" he asked hastily.

You moved fast to stand in between the man and woman again, staring up at the man with fire in your eyes.

"Oh, am I interrupting something here?" he asked sarcastically.

"In fact you are" you spat at him.

The man laughed again and smirked at the woman, "I'm sure your lady friend would like to stay."

The woman didn't hold back on giving him a disgusted look, she never would.

You smiled at the man, "Ah. So you are just straight up stupid" you mused.

The man frowned down at you, "You are the stupid one. Clearly, my lady here is enjoying my presence." Your eyebrows quirked up, "and blind" you muttered.

The man chuckled dismissively as he reached to grab the woman by her waist again. You immediately grabbed for your coffin handled bowie knife and pulled it out of your dress, forcing it against his neck before he could reach the woman. The men in the back ceased their laughter as the man froze and slowly looked down at the knife.

"I wouldn't touch her if I were you" you seethed.

The man's face was now filled with hesitation and fear, it made you happy. He looked over at the woman, then back at you, and he slowly retracted his hand.

"I guess I will be leaving now." You held your knife against his neck until he turned and walked away.

You spun around to face the woman and she looked down at you with her mouth open, as if she could not believe what had just happened.

She stuttered, "I… I cannot thank you enough my lady. I do not know how to repay you for protecting me."

You smiled and bowed, "No payment needed, my lady."

You couldn't help but notice the woman blush a bit as a small smile crept up onto her face.

"Well, you are just too kind" she spoke joyfully, but quietly. You looked around the saloon, men were still staring at you both, surprised at the turn of the show.

"Care to take a walk, my lady?" you said, reaching out for her hand.

You could see something in the woman's eyes as she looked into yours, hopefully it was relief.

"I would like that very much, yes" she smirked.

 The woman took your hand and you lead her out of the saloon, finally.

You and the woman walked down the dark, dimly lit street in silence. You lead her to a bench under a tall, beautiful filled out tree. You gestured for the woman to sit down, and you followed. There was silence for a moment as you both looked up at the night sky, then you heard her speak.

"Thank you, for everything you did. You were incredibly brave, I cannot thank you enough. When that man kissed me I just, I felt so scared."

 She sounded so timid, but rightfully so, she just went through something traumatic. You found it odd though, the girl you knew from your childhood was so cold looking, so serious, so stern, so sure, so metallic.

You couldn't believe that the man had kissed her, oh, you should've put your knife right through him!

You looked at the stunning woman, "Of course my lady, it's my pleasure, truly."

The woman nodded and averted your gaze as she looked up at the beautiful tree, full of small blossoms and the night sky, full of many far away stars.

"I must ask, what is your name?" the woman spoke, unsure.

You had kept your gaze on her, and she finally looked back at you. She had so many questions, you were a mystery to her.

"You can call me Silla" you smiled.

The woman's brows knitted, and she looked away.

"And what is your story, Silla?"

You took a deep breath, pondering over what you wanted to tell her, more like what you could tell her. Although, if she was who you thought she was, she already knew you.

"I go to saloons often, my job is very draining. I'm not very personable, I have my reasons. I live to protect people, it is my duty."

The woman pondered, that didn't tell her much about you, but still, she was incredibly grateful. She looked you up and down, an unreadable expression on her face.

"What is your job, if I may ask?"

You chuckled as you looked down at the ground, "If I told you, I'd have to kill you."

The woman's face fell at your words, and you couldn't help but laugh.

You continued, "May I ask why you were at the saloon alone?"

You watched the woman's lips perse, before she looked down at her lap.

"I was with my brother. We were talking about…well, something that he doesn't approve of nor want to deal with. So, he left."

Your eyebrows knit together. Something he didn't approve of? That sounded like Edward.

"I see" you said quietly.

You took in the woman's face as she was silent. Her face was long with high cheekbones, she had a high hair line, and she was white as a ghost with a scar on her upper lip. Her hair was darker than the night, she was truly beautiful. You could say that she was magnetic.

You smiled, it was funny really, how you had reunited with a long lost friend in such a way.

The woman caught you staring at her and straightened up in her seat, "What?" she asked.

You smiled wider, "I missed you, Jane."

 Jane looked at you like you had two heads, she was so utterly confused. Had you been stalking her? Why would you know her and she not know you?

In her defence, you looked a lot different than you used to. Your hair was light when you were younger, but it had darkened over time. Your build was much more defined than it used to be, and you were way more tired looking than you were at one point.

Jane stuttered, surprised, "You- you know my name?"

You chuckled, "I do. We were such good friends when we were children."

Jane tilted her head at you, eyebrows knitted together.

"Drusilla Hartman" was all that you offered.

You watched as Jane's mouth opened and eyebrows raised slowly, her eyes scanning your face.

"Drusilla?" she said in question, hardly believing that it was really you.

When you were children, you two lived next door to each other. You used to play in the gardens and with the animals everyday, you used to be very close. Jane was always bossy, dominant, and kept most things to herself, but she was a great listener, and you had a better connection with her than anyone else you had ever met. One day, your parents decided to move suddenly, never telling you why. You had a hunch that it had something to do with you, but you never knew what.

You smiled, "Yes Jane, it's me."

Jane licked her lips in thought as she looked deep into your green eyes, yes, yes, it was you. She leaned over and wrapped her arms around you, pulling you into her. You startled at the contact, but didn't hesitate to embrace her.

"Oh, in such a horrible way we had to reunite" she mumbled.

You took a deep breath, "No worries Jane, I'm just happy that you're safe."

She pulled back and smiled at you, still holding on to your arms.

"Jane" you heard a man call out, and your hand flew down to pull your knife out again.

"Jane Murdstone" a man yelled, and Jane whipped around to find her brother.

"Edward" she said in a shocked tone.

"Jane, I was searching for you. Why are you out here?" he asked in a controlling manner.

She took a deep breath, "I grew tired of the saloon, so I came out for some air."

Edward didn't say anything, then he glanced over at you and back to Jane.

"I'm retiring for the night, do you wish to come?" Jane looked at you, then back at him.

"I will be home shortly, brother." Edward nodded before looking at you again.

"What are you doing out here with her?" he asked, gesturing to you.

"I'm just reuniting with an old friend Edward. You must remember Drusilla" she smiled.

He looked you up and down before nodding.

"Yes, how do you do Drusilla?"

You offered him a small smile, "Very good Edward, and you?"

Edward nodded, "Very well, thank you."

He then turned to leave, but not before telling Jane he would be expecting her soon.

Jane was quiet after Edward left. You watched as she stared up at the stars, biting her lower lip, a worried look on her face.

"What has you upset, Jane?" you asked quietly and reluctantly, not wanting to pry.

She looked over at you, "I'm worried that my brother thinks ill of me" she frowned.

"I confessed something to him recently, and he hasn't taken it well."

Your eyebrows furrowed, "I'm sorry, Jane."

She smiled timidly, seemingly wanting to tell you more. Everything inside of her was screaming for her to keep her secret, but she knew that you must have found it odd how her brother was so concerned about you sitting with her. Her eyes told you that she wanted to tell you more, they were fearful, but in a different way than they were in the saloon. You smiled at her warmly. Jane opened her mouth, and then closed it again.

You took her hand in yours and whispered, "It's alright Jane, you're alright."

A silent moment went by and you watched as a tear ran down her cheek, before she wiped the evidence away. You knew that this wasn't the Jane that you used to know and love. Yet, she was still Jane, and you still loved her.

She wouldn't look at you as she spoke.

"Drusilla, I- I do not enjoy the company of men" she confessed almost in a whisper.

You tilted your head, you didn't either, but what did she mean by that?

"Yes, I don't enjoy their company either" you chuckled.

She shook her head, "No, I mean, I am not attracted to men Drusilla, I am attracted to women."

Your breath picked up as your eyes went wide and you stared up at her, blinking a few times. You couldn't believe what she had just confessed. She was, the same as you? Jane looked at you before she turned her head quickly, sighing and beginning to stand. You pulled at the sleeve of her dress lightly, hoping she would stay seated. She did, and you cupped her cheek.

"Jane, that's amazing. I'm so happy for you" you smiled, then you pulled her into a tight hug.

You could tell that Jane was conflicted as you hugged her, yet she hugged you back.

"It is?" she mumbled into your hair.

 "Of course it is!" you beamed at her.

You took a deep breath, it was time to confess to someone besides your one past love. Otherwise, you were scared you'd be alone forever.

"Can I tell you something, Jane?"

Jane pulled back and gave you her full attention, nodding her head.

"I am attracted to woman as well, but I've only told one person before." 

Jane's mouth dropped open as she looked at you in shock.

"You are?"

You nodded your head, but didn't offer anything more. Her lip quivered as she stared at you, nobody had ever confessed something so personal, something so deep and meaningful to her. Nobody she knew felt the exact same as she did.

"Oh Silla" she whispered, pulling you into her. "I'm so glad that I have you again."

You smiled into her shoulder, you were so happy to have her back. You pressed a kiss to her cheek without thinking, and she pulled away slowly to look at you. Your eyes met hers, and they reminded you of galaxies, the brightest ones you'd ever see. They were all consuming, all knowing, they screamed at you to understand. Alas, deep inside, Jane was a mystery.

Her eyes panned down to your lips, and you looked down at hers. She looked so soft, so pleasing, she looked delicious. Without realizing it, your face inched closer to Janes and you bumped noses. You let out a small gasp as you looked back up to her eyes, but she wasn't phased. Her hand moved to the back of your head to hold you close, and for the first time in a long time, you could say that you were scared.

"Jane?" you whispered, your breath warm against her face.

"Yes, Silla?" she whispered back.

You smiled, "You're beautiful, you always were."

Jane's breath hitched and you felt her pull your face towards hers. She pressed her lips to yours needily yet sweetly, a kiss of longing. You melted into her touch, you were right, she was delicious. You brought your hands to her face and kissed her back giddily. You wondered if this was what heaven felt like.

Suddenly, you were overcome with anger over the earlier situation at the saloon. How dare that man touch her, how dare he kiss her. He didn't deserve her for one second, he didn't deserve to feel this good. You pulled away from Jane, eyes going wide.

"Jane, it's not safe for us out here" you breathed heavily.

Jane came back to reality fast, "Right, you're right."

You reluctantly dropped your hands from her face, missing her touch instantly. You looked down at your lap, you wondered if she would want to stay with you for the night.

You looked up at her as she spoke, "I don't want to leave you so soon" she said with a frown.

You blushed, "I would love to catch up with you. Would you like to stay with me tonight, Jane?"

She hesitated, pondering over what she would tell her brother. A small grin soon formed on her face, screw it, of course she would.

"I would love to, Silla."

You unlocked the door to your small house and gestured for Jane to enter. You walked to the kitchen to tidy up quickly and pour yourself a drink, Jane followed.

"Would you like a drink, Jane?" you smiled up at the tall woman.

She smiled back, "That would be lovely."

You handed her a full glass as you made your way to the back of your house, hoping that you both could sit outside and enjoy the warm night. As Jane followed behind you, you heard her footsteps stop. You knew that she had stopped at the open room just next to your kitchen.

"What's this?" she asked, peering into the room.

You turned abruptly and closed the door, locking it and placing the key in your pocket. "Just…collectables" you mumbled, turning away and walking again, hoping that she would follow you.

Yes, you had a room full of collected knives and weapons and what not, it was part of your job, but that didn't mean that anyone had to know about that room. Nobody could know about that room. Your boss had taken you on even though you were a woman. Obviously, women were not allowed to do most jobs, especially highly skilled ones like yours. However, your boss thought that having you on his team was stealthy, an advantage, as nobody would ever expect a woman assassin, and he was right.

You opened the door to your balcony and sat down at a small iron table with chairs. You looked at Jane and smiled, hoping that she couldn't see the nervousness on your face. She sat across from you and looked out into the darkness. You wished that it was daylight so that she could see the beautiful flowers and pond that you were overlooking, you remembered how much she loved nature.

"So, how have the years treated you Jane?"

You thought that they had treated her quite well, considering she was still as ethereal as always, perhaps a bit more broken down.

She looked at you, "Quite well, I must say."

You studied her expression the best you could through the limited candlelight, and you knew that something had taken a toll on poor Jane.

You smiled sadly, "I suppose keeping a secret like that takes a lot out of a person."

Jane chuckled and nodded her head, "Yes, I suppose it did take a lot out of me."

You took a sip of your drink as she smiled sadly back at you.

"I never knew why you left, Silla" she stated quietly.

You looked down into your drink and shook your head, "I never knew why I left either, Jane."

A frown formed on her face, "I see."

You didn't know what to say to Jane, you had thought about her and missed her for so many years. The past few years you had thought about her less and less, but you still missed her more than anyone. You missed her comfort and her sternness, her caring demeanour and her protectiveness. You looked up at the sky and caught site of a shooting star, slowly making it's way across the sky. You reached over and grasped her hand, getting her attention.

"Jane look, it’s a shooting star! Make a wish!" you exclaimed.

Jane chuckled at you as she looked up at the star, and you watched as she closed her eyes. You closed yours as well, wishing for Jane to never leave you again, and for you to never leave her. You opened your eyes and smiled at her as you waited for blue eyes to meet yours. Part of you wanted to hold it all in, to not tell her how you felt, to not let her know that you missed her as much as you did. Another part of you was so, so happy to have her again, to have the old Jane that you knew and loved, to have someone who knew you, who loved you.

You were staring at Jane, and when she opened her eyes she looked right at you.

A smile slowly lit up her face and she chuckled at your wide grin, "What?"

You blushed, "Did you make a wish?"

Jane squeezed your hand lightly and nodded in confirmation.

You let go of her hand and placed your drink on the table. You took two strides over to her and kneeled before her. You brought your hands up to her black bonnet, untied the bow, and placed it on the table. You gently ran your hands over her silky raven hair. You looked up into her eyes and stroked your thumbs carefully over her cheeks, pulling her slightly towards you.

"I really missed you Jane. As pathetic as it sounds, I have never had anyone who I was as comfortable and free with after you, after we parted."

Despite the fact that your confession was quite sad, and the way that you and Jane had reunited was quite horrible, you were still smiling ear to ear, so content and giddy to be staring at Jane's gorgeous face. Jane brought her hands up to caress your cheeks as she averted her gaze to you kneeling on the floor.

She whispered, "I haven't either, Drusilla."

Your smile fell at her confession. It seemed that she was ashamed of that fact, when you were so happy to finally have her back. Perhaps she didn't feel the same way that you did, and you didn't know what to say. Jane looked back down at you as your smile fell.

Her eyebrows furrowed, "What's wrong, Silla?"

As you locked eyes with her again you found innocence, confusion, guilt, and maybe, longing?

"I um- I " you stumbled over your words as you started to pull away from Jane, but she kept her grip on your face, keeping you close to her. She pulled you even closer, her eyes scanning your face for answers. You didn't know if she'd find any, but you took the time to memorize her features. Your gaze ran over her hooded eyes, her thin eyebrows, her defined nose, her small chin, her plump lips, her -"I was there when you got that scar" you whispered.

Your eyes shot up to Jane's, you hadn't meant to say that aloud.

She smiled sincerely, "Yes, yes you were."

Many of your classmates picked on you. You were shorter than them, and a little bit chubby. You were quiet, and you loved talking to the plants and flowers. You also talked to the bugs and animals, and you often built them little houses out of sticks, leaves, rocks, and dirt. You and Jane had met at school, before you even knew that you were neighbours. Jane also had a love for plants, but your quiet, shy, demeanour was the opposite of hers. Somehow, she had taken a liking to you, and she took you, the 'weird girl', under her wing. Of course, Jane was bullied too. When you both got a little bit older, you had learned to stand up and fight back for her, like she did for you. You knew that Jane could fight for herself, but she didn't care very much when kids bullied her, she only cared when they bullied you. Edward was one of those kids who bullied you. Of course, him and Jane made fun of each other, but they were siblings, it was different. One day, you were in Jane's backyard, building a 'house' for the bugs and frogs that were around. You and Jane were a bit older at this point, but you both still loved nature, you loved spending time with the creatures. Jane was planting some flowers in the yard, when Edward walked up behind you. "Why are you playing with bugs, that's gross" he scoffed. You were crouched down and you turned to face him, holding a frog in your hands. "It's not gross, they're sweet, see?" you smiled, holding the frog out to him. "Get that away from me!" he spat, swatting at your hands and making you drop the frog on the ground. You gasped and looked down at the frog as it laid there, not moving. You poked at it gently, hoping it would get up and hop away. When it didn't move, tears filled your eyes and you let out a whimper. "No! Are you okay froggy? Please get up" you sniffled. You tried to stand it up so that it was on it's feet, but it just fell back down. Tears landed onto the ground as you stared at it, and Edward let out a menacing laugh. "It's just a stupid frog. Why are you crying, freak." Jane had heard you crying and had heard Edward calling you a freak. "Edward!" she hollered, standing from the garden and taking long strides towards him. "What did you do?" she asked angrily, looking down at you who was still poking at the frog. "It's just a frog, Jane" he defended himself. You had turned your focus towards them fighting, and watched Jane seethe in anger. She looked at you, "What happened, Dru?" You wiped tears away from your eyes as you spoke quietly, "I held the frog out to him and he swatted at it, knocking it out of my hands. Now it's not moving!" you cried. Jane turned back to Edward, pointing her dirt covered hand at him, "Don't you ever call her a freak you wimp. And don't ever touch her or her frogs!" Edward laughed at Jane, he rolled his eyes at her and mocked her. You turned back to the frog as you started to dig a hole in the dirt for it to lay. You heard Jane and Edward fighting behind you, but you continued to dig through your tears. A few moments later, you heard Jane scream. You quickly stood and faced her, finding her top lip cut open. She was bleeding profusely, staring Edward down with hatred. It turned out that Edward was messing with knives that his father had given him, and he was carelessly swinging them around. When Jane got mad at him, he took one out and 'threatened' her, but she knew that he wouldn't hurt her on purpose. Still, she got too close to him, and he sliced her lip by accident. Jane was in shock and just stood there, holding her lip in pain. Edward didn’t look like he had any mercy, as he stood there with a smirk on his face, not saying a thing. You lashed out at him and pushed him to the ground, ripping the knife out of his hand and throwing it into the woods.

You brought your thumb down to trace over her lip scar, carefully feeling the texture of her skin. She was so warm, so delicate, and you wanted to feel her lips against yours again, you needed to feel her lips again. Your gaze met hers and you saw her blush as her eyes suddenly averted yours, like she had been caught in an act. You giggled and placed a kiss on her nose, making her smile wider. You noticed that she actually supressed a giggle. Perhaps she did feel the same as you, and you decided to take the chance this time. You brought a hand up and tangled it in her hair. You ran your thumb over her bottom lip as you licked at your lips, and you heard Jane gasp quietly. You brought your lips as close as you could to hers without touching, and you waited to see if she would pull away. When she didn't, you let out a breath and smiled, softly pressing your lips to hers. Jane kissed you back immediately, bringing her hands to your neck and holding you close. You kissed her passionately, slowly, kissing her had been long overdue. You forced your tongue into Jane's mouth and she let out a whimper, which turned you on even more. It was so heartwarming to see Jane's walls knocked down, her stern guard dropped for a bit. You were honoured to be able to see her sweet side, to feel her give in. You had to sit up on your knees to reach her, but you brought your hands up to Jane's hair and started to undo the pins. You let her long hair fall down as you brought your lips to her neck, kissing up from what skin her dress wasn't hiding. You nipped at her neck, giving kitten licks and eliciting moans from Jane. It sounded like she was trying to hold them back, but you wanted her to be loud.

"Jane, dearest" you breathed, moving to bite and kiss at her pulse point.

"S-silla" she whimpered, as you brought your lips back to hers. Jane pulled you up from your kneeling position and sat you on her lap so that you were straddling her. She brought her hands to your waist as you continued to kiss, and you ground your hips down into hers. You weren't exactly sure how far Jane wanted to go tonight, but you would stop if she opposed to anything. You pulled away and pressed your forehead to hers, her lips were swollen and parted as she looked up at you. You figured that Jane was tired of being the stern one, the one in charge, the one who made decisions, the one who acted like she was always fine. You wanted her to relax, to feel cared about, so you took a deep breath in. Breathing heavily, you spoke, "Jane, I would like to take care of you tonight, if you want that, of course." She narrowed her eyes in confusion before she understood what you meant. Her eyes went wide and she blushed, nodding her head shyly.

"I would love that, Drusilla" she smiled.

You stood and held your hand out for Janes. When she took it, you walked her inside to your bedroom.

You searched through your clothes, hoping you would have a nightgown to fit Jane. You pulled out a black one and prayed that it was long enough.

"This may fit you Jane" you smiled as you handed it to her.

She smirked and raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean 'may' fit me?"

Your smile dropped and you stumbled, "You are, uh, you are much taller than me" you blushed.

Jane chuckled and placed a hand on your shoulder, leaning down to your ear.

"Perhaps it would be easier to sleep sans clothing" she whispered seductively.

Your jaw dropped as you looked up at her, before a sly grin spread across your face.

You shrugged your shoulders and winked, "Whatever tickles your fancy."

Jane turned and walked to your bed. She placed the nightgown down and began to undo the buttons on her dress. You knew that Jane would have a lady's maid, and you watched her struggle to reach behind herself. You walked over to her and calmly moved her hands away from the buttons.

"May I?" you asked innocently.

Jane didn't look back at you, but you saw her smile before she nodded, "Please."

You unbuttoned her dress and helped Jane take it off, then she turned to face you. She slowly unbuttoned her white collar shirt and untied her petticoat. She blushed as you gazed up and down her form, then you moved behind her again. You brought your hands to her shoulders, lightly trailing them down her arms. When you reached her waist, you began to untie and remove her corset.

"How do you feel Jane? Are you alright?"

You didn't give her any context, but she knew what you were referring to.

She sighed, "Yes, I'm fine. I'm relieved now that I'm with you Silla, and not stuck in the grasp of that slimy man." You couldn't help but chuckle at her tone, full of detest.

Once Jane was stripped down to her chemise and drawers, she sat on your bed. You were too busy staring at her breasts through her chemise, and the tempting pale skin of her long neck to notice that she had picked up the nightgown. You wasted no time as you straddled Jane's thighs and began gently kissing up her arm, to her shoulder and her collarbone. Jane let out contempt hums as you tucked her dark hair behind her ear and nipped at her earlobe, and she let the nightgown fall as she brought her hands to your hips, pulling you closer to hers. Suddenly, you felt a heat of dominance take over you, as you had asked Jane earlier if you could take care of her. You wanted nothing more than to take care of her right now. You got off of her lap and pulled her to stand. You sat on the bed and gripped her hips, pulling her to straddle you this time. She gasped as she basically fell onto your lap, and you smirked when you realized that your eye site was in line with her chest. You ran a hand through her long wavy hair to the back of her head. You grabbed a handful and pulled lightly to expose her neck to you. Jane let out a whimper as this, and you kitten licked up her neck to underneath her jaw as she began to rut her hips against yours.

"May I remove your chemise, Jane?" you purred into her ear.

She let out a hum and breathily replied "Please, Drusilla."

You brought your hands down to lift the bottom of her chemise and your eyes settled on her wet center. You could see her black hair and wet shine due to the crotchless drawers, and more heat travelled through you as you were overcome with the need to feel her against your skin. You almost drooled as you tried to focus on the task at hand. You pulled her chemise off and threw it to the side, bringing your lips to her right nipple and licking. Her breasts were on the smaller side, which was perfect to you. They were velvet in your mouth, and you moaned as Jane brought her hands up to grasp your neck and pull you into her chest further. She arched her back and ground down into your hips harder, and you closed your eyes as you sucked at her breast. You moved to her other breast to nip at her lightly, and you looked up to her face to see her eyes closed and her lips parted, chest rising and falling heavily. You tugged at her nipple and she gasped, "Silla, do that again" she pleaded.

You grazed your teeth over the sensitive spot as she shivered, and you began to kiss down her sternum and stomach, as if you had no way to oppose the gravity that was pulling you closer to her core. Jane's hands landed on your shoulders as she leaned back to allow you to trail lower. You moved down her body, your face close to her center. You looked up at Jane with pleading eyes, and she nodded briskly, pushing your head down. You smiled and stuck your tongue out, swiping it up her folds. You settled at her clit, sucking and licking for a minute as you listened to Jane whimper above you.

You brought your lips to Jane's and purred "You taste divine, my dear."

You then swiftly grasped Jane's ass and picked her up. She gasped as you stood and wrapped her legs around your middle. Jane giggled as you walked and placed her on your bed, and your heart swelled at the sound. You hastily removed your dress, taking your knife out of the secret pocket and flipping it up into the air, catching it. You heard Jane gasp from the bed and you looked down at her. She was wide eyed, staring at you in amusement. You thought you had made her nervous and red overtook your face.

"Sorry Jane, it's a habit" you chuckled. You placed the knife down on your bedside table and removed your clothes, down to your corset and undergarments, which you left on. You slid in behind Jane and let her head fall back onto your shoulder. You took her chin in your hand and turned her face to you as you captured her lips in a deep kiss. You swiped your tongue across her lips and she allowed you to enter her mouth. Jane moaned as your hand caressed her cheek, and it spurred you on to kiss her more fierce fully. You pulled away panting, letting your forehead rest against hers.

"Can I remove your drawers Jane?" you asked, hand reaching down to the waist band.

Jane nodded before helping you remove them. You pulled Jane closer so that her back was pressed against your front, and slowly trailed your hand down her creamy curves before letting it rest on the inside of her thigh. Jane parted her legs willingly and you chuckled, bringing your other hand up to squeeze at her breast.

You buried your head in her neck and cooed, "Is this alright with you darling?"

You heard Jane suck in a breath and then breath out a yes. You wrapped your legs around hers, holding them open as you swiped a finger through her folds. You brought your finger to your mouth and sucked on it, looking Jane in the eyes as you did.

You groaned, "You're so wet Jane, god you taste so good."

Jane moaned at your words and grabbed your face, smashing her lips to yours again. As your tongues slid against each other, you brought your fingers down to her center and rubbed at her clit lightly. Jane breathed heavily into your mouth as she began to squirm beneath you. As you picked up the pace, Jane parted from you and began to let out loud whimpers.

"S-silla" she moaned, and you couldn't help but tease her.

"Yes beautiful? What do you need?" you asked as you kissed behind her ear. Jane was silent besides the sound of her moans, and you figured that she wasn't used to not being the one in charge.

You slowed your pace, "Jane, are you okay with this dynamic?"

She turned to look at you, her eyes glossed over. "Yes" she whispered.

"I want you to relax and give in Jane, I just want to make you happy. How does that sound?" you asked with a smile.

Jane nodded reassuringly and grinned, "I want this, please" she whimpered. You picked up your pace on her bundle of nerves and watched as she closed her eyes and threw her head back onto your shoulder again. Jane stared letting her moans and whimpers become louder and you could feel your own wetness dripping onto your bed.

"Silla, please, I need more" Jane moaned, and you wasted no time in sliding two fingers into her. She groaned as you filled her up and you immediately set a steady pace. Soon you were curling your fingers inside of her and her legs were trembling under yours. You forced her legs to stay open and brought your lips to her ear. "What a gorgeous girl, such a good girl submitting" you purred.

"You feel so good around my fingers love, do you like that?"

"Yes, oh yes Silla!" Jane cried out as you brought her closer to the edge. You kissed her shoulder as you pulled at her nipples, and Jane didn't hold back.

"Please can I cum? God-please Silla!"

You smiled and picked up your pace, "Cum for me beautiful" you breathed into her hair. Jane's mouth opened and she scrunched her eyes shut as she screamed your name. Her legs shook and you kissed her shoulder to help her relax, then you pressed gentle kisses to her head.

Your own desire was too much to bare, so you quickly slipped out from behind Jane and rid yourself of your corset and undergarments. Jane eyed you up and down before she crawled towards you and sat on the edge of the bed. She pulled you into her by your hips and began to massage your ass with her hands. She kissed your stomach softly and you moaned. She reached a hand up and pulled you down to her by your neck.

She whispered in your ear, "You are gorgeous my darling, I need to feel you writhing beneath me." Your eyes went wide. As hot as it was, you didn't like Jane trying to turn the tables here. You grasped her thighs which squished under your touch and pulled her up to you. She wrapped her legs around you and squealed. It seemed she like to be manhandled, or perhaps she wasn't used to being the one that was carried, due to her stature.

"Do you like being handled baby?" you cooed, squeezing at her thighs harder. Jane blushed and wrapped her hands around your neck, her forehead meeting yours.

"Yes! You're so strong Drusilla, goodness you’re so enticing" she breathed.

You captured her lips with yours again, leading her to grind against your stomach. She moaned into the kiss and you felt her slick smear across your skin. You groaned and plopped her down into the bed again, more aggressive this time. You climbed on top of Jane and pried her legs open, placing one of your legs under hers and the other over hers. You lined your wet center up with hers and you let out a loud moan when you felt her heat. You bent over to kiss her neck as you rutted against her.

"Shit Jane, you feel so good against me! You are divine my dear" you whimpered. Jane let out a quiet cry into your ear and dug her nails into your back.

"Drusilla, that was so hot- when you threatened that man. Shit!" Jane breathed between moans.

"He's a wimp Jane…he doesn't deserve you, love" you panted. You pressed yourself closer to her, you needed more friction.

"You're so attractive when you protect me Silla, Oh!"

Jane moaned and her mouth dropped open. You took the opportunity to stick your tongue into her mouth. She whimpered against you and you grinded into her faster.

"Fuck him!" you gritted, holding back a cry.

Jane closed her eyes and screamed, "Fuck me!"

You hid your face in her neck, groaning as you felt your release approaching. You gripped Jane's delicious hips tightly, and her moans became more unhinged. Your pace got sloppier as you whimpered, but you wanted her to come first.

"Cum for me Jane!" you cried, and Jane threw her head back as she tightened her grip on you.

"Ugh, shit!" you muffled your cries into her shoulder. Her body twitched as her wetness dripped onto you and down your legs, and you followed right after. As the both of you laid there breathing heavily, you nuzzled your face into her black hair. Jane smelled of fresh linen, your favorite, and of floral scent and old books. You smiled, she was and would always be the only comfort, the best comfort, that you needed. You crawled off of her and rested beside her as you pulled her close. Jane smiled as you met her captivating eyes, she looked so content, she looked so pure.

"Thank you for taking care of me tonight Drusilla. In more ways than one" she giggled.

You smiled and kissed her cheek, "Taking care of you is my pleasure, literally" you chuckled.

Jane's hand caressed your cheek and she pulled you in for a sweet kiss.

"You were always mysterious, Dru" she smiled shyly.

Your heart swelled at the nickname that Jane had called you when you were younger.

Then your eyebrows furrowed, "Me? I always thought that you were the mystery."

Jane looked away, grinning. "Well, you’re the one with the knife collection."

Shit. Jane saw the worry on your face and giggled, "Don't worry my sweet, your secret is safe with me."

After a long silence between you and Jane, she rested her forehead against yours.

"Sweetling?" she asked timidly.

"Yes Janey?" you breathed.

She paused, "What did you wish for, on the star?"

You smiled as you blushed, and averted your gaze from Jane.

"I um, I wished for us to never live without one another again. I wished for us to never be separated, like we did when we were younger."

Jane's face became even softer and she pouted, she looked adorable. You were so sweet. When you were younger, Jane appreciated having you around to keep herself levelled out and sane. She always felt safe around you, she always felt like she was being pulled towards you by some force. She slowly brought her lips to yours and kissed you gently again, and you thought that you felt her eyelashes wet. She didn't open her eyes as whispered against your lips, "I wished for us, Drusilla. I wished for you." You pressed your lips to Jane's cheeks as you smiled, you couldn't believe that you had Jane back. She had been your person, and you left, but something had brought you two back together. She was yours then, and she was yours now, as if a force brought her back to you and you to her. You brought your hand up and ran your fingers through her hair, scratching at her scalp.

"I adore you, Jane Murdstone."

Jane's eyes fluttered open to find only truth and sincerity in your eyes, and she asked the question that had been bothering her all night.

"How did you recognize me Drusilla? I didn't recognize you. How did you know who I was?" her face twisted in confusion and shame as she trailed off. You chuckled and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I'd know you anywhere, Jane. You're truly magnetic."

[bedlamsbard]

Greetings from a Fan, I felt compelled to send this message after reading your posts regarding Queen's Gambit. My intent is not to upset or harm you, but I sincerely apologize if I do so nonetheless. I just wanted to say how much I absolutely *adore* the Ouroboros series. It's one of my favorites of all time across all the fandoms I'm interested in. It's also the reason I fell head over heels in love with the Obi-Wan/Anakin/Padme pairing. You've written the characters so incredibly well and I just cannot get over your amazing worldbuilding. I am an absolute sucker for the way you wrote Padme and the rich culture/history you created for Naboo. Those little details just added so much breath and flavor to your stories that to this day I remain speechless as to what you've created. With regards to Obi-Wan, oh my dear lord, what a heartbreaking masterpiece you created. The sheer level of love and anguish you brought forth after he lost Anakin was just devasting. He's such an incredibly complex character and you did a smashingly exceptional job with him. You really did him and his relationship with Anakin justice and I truly thank you for that. And Anakin, what can I say, there are so many layers to Anakin that there's never an easy way of writing him. But through his relationships with Obi-Wan and Padme, we can peel back those layers and you really took the time and care to do that. The entire series was an incredible concept in it's totality, and I love weird alternative universe/time-travel/fix-it fics. I will eternally lament that the series will never be finished because I would have loved to have read what happens in the next entry of the series which is where Obi-Wan fell to the Dark side (unless I'm mistaken). Nonetheless, I like to think that in the end they have their happy ending with one another (wherever it may have led them) and I thank you for sharing and posting this series with us. I know it meant a great deal to me and I would like you to know how I much I do sincerely mean that. Thank you. ❤️

Aww, thank you, I'm flattered to hear that! I know that Wake and Gambit (as well as the ancillaries Tales and Sound) are very loved stories for a lot of people, even when I get grief for them, which has been going on for more than a decade now. I'm always very glad to hear that readers do enjoy those stories.

The third Ouroboros story, which takes place in the universe that Padme arrives in during the last scene of Gambit, was supposed to be called All Along the Watchtower. There are bits and pieces of it in the all along the watchtower tag dating back about a decade now. It is a universe where Obi-Wan fell to the dark side and a bunch of other stuff happened as a result -- the three universes in Ouroboros are all meant to be the worst fears of the main three characters, thus canon (Wake) being Anakin's (he goes dark side and kills everyone he loves), Gambit being Padme's (she becomes a warmongering demagogue who causes a Jedi to betray himself for her), and Watchtower being Obi-Wan's (he goes dark side and is responsible for the downfall of the Republic and the Jedi Order). This is the most recent summary of what I remember that I was thinking; it went through a lot of development over the course of ten years, and as late as 2021 I was still trying to back into it via Rebels: the alternate universe where Ezra had been during The Starry Crown is the Watchtower 'verse, during the point in time where the Wake trio was there -- a.k.a. the Rebellion era, so they're also time traveling again. The Wake trio had all ended up in different locations in the Watchtower 'verse: we see Padme where she ended up at the end of Gambit, Anakin was on Coruscant, Obi-Wan was on Tatooine, and they're all dragged into the political events of that universe, which are very different from Wake, canon, or Gambit.

The intention was always for the Wake trio to end up back in their own universe, probably picking up Rex along the way; the base Wake universe is obviously suffering from Code Name Retribution, but the situation is not as bad as it could have been.

[brittle-doughie]

Concept: secret sands y/n tries to rob Yogurt cream cookie, but yogurt catches them. But turns out they get along (y/n is an antique lover, yogurt loves showing his best wares)

“Complete this task and many doors will open to you”, the boss said. You weren’t one to back down from a challenge, so you accepted the job. They didn’t call you a Sneaky Veteran Assassin for nothing.

Infiltrate the merchant son’s palace and clean out his treasures. That was the mission

You had thought it would be a piece of cake and it was…at first. Getting inside and sneaking past guards was just routine for you. You scoped around rooms for possible clues or items needed to get you to the treasure room.

After some quick snooping around, you managed to find yourself standing at the doors leadings to the treasure room, you rubbed your hands together in excitement, ready to get your hands on the countless gemstones and artifacts this palace was holding!

You opened the door with confidence, hehe that merchant’s son won’t know what hit them when you…cleared…out…:this room?

You were surprised to see the cookie himself lazing about amongst his riches, the sound of the door opening alerted him to your presence!

Yogurt Cream: What are you doing? What brings you here?!

Think fast, THINK FAST!

Y/N: O-oh, I’m just a…humble trader! I was told to look for you on here and my do I say that you’ve got quite the collection here! These artifacts are mighty fine if I do say so myself!

Yogurt Cream: Hhmmm...If you're a humble trader, you wouldn't be trying to steal my treasure, right?...Right?

Y/N: Of course not! As I’ve said, I was just told to find you here!

Yogurt Cream: You know, I'm not sure to trust you. Do you have any proof of who sent you here?

Y/N: Is that the Naga’s Heart I spot there? Now that’s quite the treasure!

Yogurt Cream: Oh yes! That heart is indeed one of my favorites! That is why I am proud to say that it's currently in my collection! You have a good eye!

Y/N: Is that the necklace of various gemstones there? I bet it would look great on someone as nice looking as you!

Yogurt Cream: Hehe, you certainly know how to flatter! Well, I suppose I can’t refuse a compliment. You have quite the eye for treasures, yes? Care to see what else I have?

Y/N: Gladly.

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Y/N: This crown may be valuable, it even has the gemstones of all types embedded in it, but the Cookie having it is certainly more valuable then that~

Yogurt Cream: Oh my, I am flustered!

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Y/N: The Golden Lynx! It shines brightly, but your shine is easily the brightest to me!

Yogurt Cream: Aw stop it, you flirt. You really had my heart skip a beat!

———————————————————————

Y/N: This ornate beetle, worth a lot. But the cookie who has it? Priceless~

Yogurt Cream: Stop this, I might faint with all this flirting. But please continue. I want to see more of this~

———————————————————————

Centipede: ….

Peppercorn: ….

They were just bewildered as they listened in from above on the roof. They were going to try and bail you out of there in case you were caught, but it looks like you have everything under control?

Peppercorn: I guess Y/N Cookie has it under control for now, we just have to wait for the signal, then we clear out the treasure room, alright kid?….Kid?

Centipede: ……

Centipede then suddenly got on her hands and knees.

Centipede: It should’ve been me! Not him to receive compliments!

Peppercorn only rolled her eyes as Centipede continued to complain. Though…if she were honest, she wouldn’t mind getting a compliment from Y/N Cookie too…

[i-mybrunettelady]

commander week day 4 - elder dragon

like mother, like daughter. set during icebrood saga. commander: alysannyra ainsaph.

It’s cold in the Eye of the North. Cold, sad, lonely; there are people around, Pact and its allies doing their jobs, and Nyra desperately wishes she could join them, organize them. Yet she can’t. Trahearne’s suggestion - and plea, because she doesn’t take orders - at least until the dust after her murder attempt at Phlunt dies down. 

People are scared of her. Part of her is flattered, another terrified of this. She wants to be a figure of inspiration, not fear. There was a time where she wanted to be a role model for the younger people who would want to be heroes. She’s too old and too jaded for the brunt of such fantasies now. She’s seen the reality of this choice of hers too closely to look away. 

She’s also not really in the right headspace. There’s a handy little term for this - mental breakdown, as it were - and the general advice is to just sit back, be useless and a recovering cryptid for a little while before going back into the whole war business. She’s hard pressed to admit this, but as much as she doesn’t know what to do with herself, she does need this break. It lets her go and see her daughter again, perched on her crystalized rock. 

And maybe she’s been a bad mother for actually not being… a mother. Then again, there’s no blueprint for raising an Elder Dragon. 

Aurene’s lost in thought when Nyra comes out of her little, cavernous room carved in the wall. Her clawed paw gently glides over the Scrying Pool in a rhythmic motion. It’s been getting harder and harder to tell whether she’s asleep or not, but Nyra can hazard a guess. 

Aurene, she calls out mentally. Are you awake? 

Aurene’s eyes open wide. “I do not need sleep in the same way I did when I was a hatchling, Nyra.” 

“Yeah,” Nyra says aloud. Her throat feels tight. “You’re not a kid anymore. You are a proper Elder Dragon now.”

“I am,” Aurene echoes. Nyra’s hands drop to her sides. She watches the Pool and the reflection shows her new, pale eyes, devoid of emotion. Yet her heart feels heavy and pulled in so many directions. No wonder people are scared. She pulls the furs tighter around her shoulders. 

“Any news of Jormag?” Nyra asks. “Nobody’s telling me anything, and as the Commander, I should be in the know.” 

“There is none,” Aurene replies serenely. “May I be honest?” 

“Yeah, sure.” 

“Nobody is telling you anything because you are in the know. You know everything they do. You are simply bored and have time to be introspective, which does not seem to suit you nor is something you particularly wish to do at the moment.” 

Nyra lifts her head and frowns. “Stop reading my mind, Aurene. Or I’m sending you to your room. No Elder Dragon friends for a week.” 

Aurene’s laugh echoes in the shrine. “Are you lonely, mother?” 

Mother. That is a rather strange term. And Aurene is using it snarkily. It makes Nyra feel old, somehow. She grumbles and deflates. “I suppose I am,” she says cautiously. “Trahearne is off replacing me and while I am proud to watch him be in charge again, I feel..” She kicks the ground beneath her boot. “I feel left behind.” She spits on the ground. 

“You are not. You are simply taking a breather. You are simply recovering.” 

“I know. Feelings do not make facts.” Nyra walks over to where Aurene is perched and climbs over her tail to reach that one place beneath Aurene’s belly. Her shoulder aches as she settles on a woolen blanket there and she groans. “I hate it here.” Her head hurts and her eyes prickle with tears all of a sudden. “I fucking hate it here, you know?” 

“I know,” Aurene says soothingly, and splashes some water with her giant foot in Nyra’s face. Nyra chokes out a laugh. “You are not crying anymore, Nyra. That is good.” 

“Last thing I need is a fucking cold, Aurene,” Nyra shakes her head. 

“There is something you can dry on. And remember, you are not left behind, you are simply recuperating.” 

Nyra lays down and digs her face in the blanket. It’s going to be a long, long night. 

[ave09]

i know

han solo x reader

note: this one has to be my favorite. i rewatched esb today which is what inspired this

also, han looks so pretty in this gif like wtf

“whatcha thinkin’ about, sweetheart?” 

you felt his arms around your waist, hugging you to him. “just thinking, nothing important.” you replied softly. “everything you think is important.”

you scoffed, feeling han rest his chin atop your head. “so, what are you thinking about?” he asked again. 

“well now i’m thinking about you.”

“i’m flattered.” 

you smiled, “i’m thinking about you, and how things are going to be once this is over.” “what do you mean?” 

“you said you had to go back to tatooine, to pay jabba. am i suppose to go back with leia and leave you? so much has happened so quickly han, it’s overwhelming.” 

your life seemed to be a blur now. one minute you are in alderaan with leia, and the next, you were in hoth falling in love with the scoundrel that was han solo, and now you were here in cloud city, awaiting luke’s return and spending as much time as you could with the man you loved.

“you could always come with me to tatooine.” you wrinkled your nose, “i’m not the biggest fan of sand.” “well i’m not staying there permanently. i’ve just gotta pay off jabba, once i do that, i’m free to go wherever i want. you could come with me.”

it sounded nice. exploring the galaxy with him. you’d give anything to live that life. but then you thought about your job, what you’d sworn to do.

“what about leia?”

“what about her?” 

your hands rested upon han’s wrists, your thumbs caressing his skin, “i swore an oath to the senate. i can’t just leave.” 

“says who?”

“says the oath i swore.” you let out a forced laugh. han lifted his head, slowly turning you around to face him. “leia is strong. she can handle herself.”

“i know, i know, but, i don’t think i can just leave.”

“i’ll put in a word with the princess. she’ll let you go. and if she doesn’t, i’ll find a way. you’re gonna be free, sweetheart.” his voice was stern, convincing. he made you believe that you could be truly free. 

and you were beyond thrilled.

“you’d really do that for me?”

“i’d do anything for you, darling.” 

you smiled softly, standing on your tiptoes to press a gentle kiss to his lips. every kiss with han was passionate, magical even. never did you think you’d find someone who would make you feel so happy. and then han strolled into your life. he was the light in your darkness, and you loved him more then anything. 

he pulled away, breathless, brushing a strand of stray hair behind your ear, “i love you.”

“i know.” you whispered, bringing your lips to his once again. 

you were thrown back into reality at the sound of chewbacca’s cry. you glanced at him, the wookie was thrashing against the stormtroopers, trying to fight. he wasn’t going to let his best friend die this way. 

“chewie!” that was han. tears stung your eyes as the severity of the situation suddenly became clear. 

“chewie stop! this won’t help me now!” the wookie let out a loud groan, you didn’t understand it, but you could tell he was hurting.

“hey! listen to me! i need you to look out for her, okay? that’s your job now, okay!” chewbacca stopped his fighting and stilled, allowing the stormtrooper to place cuffs upon his wrist.

you averted his gaze, extending your wrists as the soldiers clad in white armor placed the restraints onto your wrists. 

“sweetheart, look at me.” you choked back a sob. “look at me, please.” he begged. and so you did, you slowly glanced up, locking eyes. “you’re gonna be okay.” he assured. 

“not without you.” 

there was silence as he shuffled toward you, leaning down, kissing you hard. it was a lingering kiss, one that neither of you wanted to end. 

but then he was ripped away from you, being pulled toward the freezing chamber. suddenly, overcome with a burst of emotion, you called out, “i love you!” 

his reply was immediate, “i know.” 

your chest rose and fell with heavy breathes as you tried to remain composed. but you found it more and more difficult to remain collected as you watched him sink down into the chamber, a cloud of smoke covering him. 

you squeezed your eyes shut, letting out shakey breathes. “did he survive?” 

you held your breath as you waited for lando’s response. you prayed to the supreme maker, you needed him to be alive. you couldn’t lose him. 

“he’s alive. he’s in a hibernation.” 

a wave of relief washed over you. he was okay. he was alive. chewie let out a guttural groan. you pried your eyes open, feeling tears slip down your cheeks as your eyes fell upon the slab of carbonite on the floor, the outline of the man you loved etched into it. 

the last encounter before this horrid event replayed through your mind. 

“once i do that, i’m free to go wherever i want. you could come with me.”

“you’re gonna be free, sweetheart.”

“i’d do anything for you, darling.”

“i love you.”

“i know.”

[inkykeiji]

When did rei realise that her son was drowning in drugs? Did he have an accidental overdose like at natsu’s birthday party when she was near or did he just admit to it while conversing with her? im so curious abt these little details, u seem to do such a great job at humanising fictional characters

anon first of all i love u thank you so much for your compliment omg!!! it really made me smile so big hehe (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) i am always so flattered and excited when someone wants to know more about the lil worlds i’ve created; they’re so special to me and they mean so much to me and i love them with all my heart, and i love being able to share them with you!!! i’m always super excited to talk about them!!!

this is a phenomenal question and something i haven’t actually thought much about before you brought it up! touya’s drug use definitely goes on for a LONG time before rei begins to clue in on it; especially since touya is so meticulously organized and hellbent on keeping his private life private. he’s in his early twenties when his drug use is discovered.

she’s actually a bit shocked when she finally finds out, to be entirely honest. touya had been exhibiting some signs of use; his pupils were always either pinpricks or the gaping size of the moon, he constantly had the sniffles, his pockets jingled with the tap of narcotics against plastic, and sometimes his speech would speed up considerably—a stark contrast to his usual apathetic drawl. but these are all tiny symptoms, and they’re easy enough to write off…until she catches him cutting pills on her kitchen counter, with one or her favourite knives.

her presence startles him; she isn’t supposed to be home for a couple hours, and he had only just stopped by for a minute or two between jobs, so he definitely isn’t expecting to bump into his mother. he doesn’t try to make excuses when she catches him, either. just kind of shrugs in a it is what it is type of way, sweeps his halved pills off of the counter into his palm, and brushes by her with a brisk gotta go, see ya later. she tries to confront him about it again, goes on about her disappointment and her concern and her fear, but touya’s never listened, and he isn’t about to start now. she’ll just have to accept it, just as she’s learned to accept everything else.

[lordisitmine]

I know I've been gone forever, please know I am writing. Here, have a very fresh, very unedited excerpt for your troubles. (Minor spoilers for TTNBD, I guess).

February 17th, 1900.

Sebastian had not been hiding himself as he followed Lady Elizabeth through the damp and frigid streets. Nevertheless, he was surprised when she turned on her heel and marched back down the pavement toward him, seizing his coat sleeve and dragging him into the nearest alleyway. Though this was less of an alleyway and more of a narrow space between buildings. It was dark and foul-smelling, and Sebastian wondered- not for the first time- why human beings always chose locations such as this for private conversations.

“What are you doing?” Elizabeth hissed, as soon as the both of them were out of view from the street.

“Following you,” Sebastian answered simply, already delighted by the red of anger in her cheeks, the ruffle in her feathers. “I should think that would be obvious.”

“Shouldn’t you be resting?” she asked. “You looked like Hell-” a small, frustrated noise escaped her lips at her own humorous choice of words. “You looked half-dead when I last saw you.”

Sebastian placed a hand over his heart and bowed in feigned sincerity.

“The lady’s concern is most flattering.”

“I’m not concerned, you arrogant-” realising, though perhaps belatedly, that his objective was her exasperation, Elizabeth took a deep breath before she continued. “Why are you following me?”

“You were nearly killed no less than three days ago. Your death would be most unfortunate. Therefore, I am following you for your protection. I should think that would be obvious as well.”

“I have bodyguards,” she began to protest. “Bard, and Mey-Rin-”

“Yes, and what an excellent job they’re doing, letting you wander the streets of London unsupervised. Are they even aware that you’ve left the house?”

Lizzy glared daggers at him and crossed her arms in a typically childish gesture of defiance.

“I see now why Ciel became so taken with you: you’re just as much of a self-righteous and insufferable monster as he is. You two really are the perfect match.”

“Once again, you flatter me. No one has ever referred to me as righteous.”

“My parents don’t want me leaving the house without the servants as chaperones. And they don’t want me seeing Sybil, either.”

“Forbidden love,” Sebastian sighed. “An age-old tribulation.”

This time, Elizabeth ignored him altogether.

“They think she’s a bad influence on me. But I’m not going to see her just now, I’ll have you know. I am on my way to meet with Chief Inspector Abberline. You can tell Ciel that when you report back to him on my whereabouts.”

Duly noted, Ciel responded, after Sebastian had communicated the thought.

“Ah yes.” Sebastian nodded. “I assume it’s to do with yesterday’s murders. The stolen souls.”

Six dead in three households. All the supposed work of the Murderer of Midtown. It seemed that Druitt must be making himself come demonic bodyguards of his own.

“How did you know about that? Abberline has kept the details completely out of the press!”

“Hm. Quite a feat. But we monsters have our ways of gaining insight into the truth of a thing. And Ciel and I are now able to divide and conquer, so to speak. He didn’t think you would appreciate his presence, so he took to investigating- and here I am.”

He waited for Elizabeth to point out that she didn’t appreciate his presence either. Instead, a shadow fell over her pale, golden face.

“You should be careful, Sebastian,” she warned. “You’re not any safer than I am. Especially after what happened at the ball.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, Trancy si going to try to kill you again,” she told him.

“How can you be sure?”

“I spoke to him, during the party. He told me you killed his brother- that you killed their entire village.” Her green eyes were dull with disdain. “Killing you is his revenge. So, he’ll keep trying until it’s done. It’s what he sold his soul for, after all.”

“I do find that disconcerting,” Sebastian frowned, “given that I am innocent of that particular crime.”

Ciel, who had been listening through the bond, growled.

I’ll kill that blond bastard. I’ll tear his head from his shoulders with my bare hands, burn his house to the ground, and salt the earth for good measure.

Why, dearest, I’m truly touched, Sebastian thought. I do believe that’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me.

“I don’t know that I believe you,” Elizabeth was saying.

“I assure you; I am being most verisimilitudinous.” Not that it mattered to him whether she believed him or not. “I would swear on a Bible if I had one, but I’m afraid it might burst into flames the instant I did so.”

“Swear on Ciel,” she demanded. “Swear on Ciel’s life that you didn’t do the things Alois Trancy said you did.”

“Why does it matter,” he demanded in return, “if I did those things or not? Presumably, the young Lord Trancy believes I did these things under orders- presumably, you believe so as well. If it was at the behest of my master, how does it differ from any of the other lives I ended at his behest?”

“I don’t know,” Lizzy whispered. “But somehow it is.”

Sebastian advanced on her, then, until she had to flinch away from him until her back almost made contact with the dingy, dirty wall behind her.

“You should know that if Ciel did order me to do such a thing- to end a hundred, a thousand innocent lives- it would be because he had deemed it necessary- because he had deemed it right. And if he had been able to do it himself, he would have, without hesitation.”

“But I do not believe this is about anything Alois Trancy told you about past transgressions. I believe this is about the death of Constable Moore.”

“Shut up,” she croaked, voice caught in her throat like an animal in a trap.

“You still want to believe that he has changed, despite all evidence to the contrary,” Sebastian said softly, allowing pity to seep into his voice. “You are afraid to believe that he was always capable of the things you saw him do that night, and worse- because how could you have loved him, then?”

“Don’t-”

“You might not want to know, but you must, even if you are too afraid to ask.”

He took Elizabeth’s chin in his hand, forcing her eyes to meet his own. The shadows leapt and twisted around him.

“Well, young lady, the answer to your question is yes. And my question to you is this- would you have loved him, if you had known it all along? That even as a human, he was a creature of the darkness; that the darkness is what he chose? What he wanted?”

At her hesitation, he laughed, releasing his hold on her.

“You need not speak. I already know your answer.”

“You have your wish,” Elizabeth said. “I don’t still love him. I’m no threat to you.”

“My lady, you never were.” Sebastian stepped away from her. “He was always mine.”

“Then what is the purpose of your cruelty?”

I am a demon, he thought. My cruelty needs no purpose.

“Only to make it clear that you needn’t be concerned for my safety. There is nothing on this earth, nor above, nor below, that can take him from me, nor I from him.”

There was nothing Elizabeth could say to that, and so she said nothing- she merely turned on her heel once more.

“I am sorry to have delayed you,” he called to her retreating back. “I shall endeavour to be more clandestine in the future.

Elizabeth gave only her silence in reply, and fled.

[otherworldseekers]

FFXIVwrite2024: Third-rate

WoL Nero 595 words Enemies and Lovers AU Shortly after Bowl of Embers, Nero tol Scaeva seeks Severia Zetsuen out in Camp Drybone, eager to satisfy his curiosity about the adventurer.

Hey, it's the long neglected au! This is kinda in the middle of the full scene which will be posted all together when it's actually finished.

It was the way he looked at her, she decided, that really irritated her. It was not the same way she’d been looked at by anyone else before. Adventurers were often treated like second class citizens, a leech on society, or at best convenient muscle for hire. Though that had begun to change, since her defeat of the Primal. People began to look at her like a walking miracle, a savior. Both were uncomfortable in the extreme. It wasn’t the way the few Garlean soldiers she’d encountered had looked at her either, like some exotic but savage creature. No, it was more like the look of someone who already knew all about her, who knew what was under her skin and how she worked and liked what he saw. There was an intimacy in that look that made her want to shudder and gave her goosebumps. 

She couldn’t stand it another moment. Severia pushed her seat back from the table and jumped to her feet. “Look, I don’t have time for your games. Whatever purpose you came here for, I’m going to call the guards and let them handle you. It’s not my job.”

The Garlean sneered. “If you want to get a handful of third-rate goons killed, then by all means do so. The only one here who can match me is you, adventurer.”

Severia fell back into her seat. “Why?” she asked through gritted teeth. 

“I just want to get to know you, Severia Zetsuen,” he said with a smirk. “Is that so much to ask?”

“So you’re going to hold this town ransom to make me comply?”

“If I must.”

“Am I supposed to be flattered?”

He shrugged and sipped his ale. “You wouldn’t be as interesting if it was that easy to impress you. But you are a very interesting individual. You resisted Ifrit. You walked away practically unscathed. You are an impossibility. One whose secrets I would crack.”

Severia rolled her eyes. “And I’m just going to tell you my secrets, am I?”

Nero grinned. “That would be no fun at all.”

“Then what do you want?” she pressed him with a glare. 

He leaned forward across the table and reached out a thumb to caress her lower lip. She was so stunned by the action that she just sat there and let it happen, her jaw going slack. Again he smirked. “I want to kiss you.”

“What? Why?” 

“Because those lips of your look like sheer bliss.” He laughed and pulled back. “You needn’t look at me as if I’ve said something outrageous and bizarre.”

“You’re a Garlean.”

“And?” he countered. “You’re a beautiful woman. I’m not a stone.”

“I’m a… what?” Severia felt panic rising up from her gut. This conversation was getting so out of her control. 

“Come now, don’t act so surprised. Surely you’re no stranger to such compliments.” He leaned back in his chair and retrieved a cigarette case and lighter from his jacket pocket. 

Severia felt a telltale heat rising to her cheeks. She wasn’t about to confess to him that actually she couldn’t recall any instance where she had been called beautiful. “That… is not important. And this…” She waved a hand back and forth between them. “Is going nowhere. I’m not going to give away any secrets to a Garlean officer. And I’m honestly rather insulted that you think sexual harassment is going to work on me. Enough. I’m leaving. And if you really do intend to bring violence to this town to punish me, then I’ll just have to kill you.”

[raptorsaurusmelain]

Let me show you... Youtube - chapter 11

Guess who go permission to leave their work before time because they had a high efficiency ? me.

Warning : no proof reading, English is not my mother tongue.

If you are interested in reading this fic, the tag "#twst lmsyy" will give you all the chapters.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Victoria drank the last bit of her tea after her lunch. [I should buy a bigger gourd…]

She heard a knock on the door of her office. “You can enter !”

She was surprised to see Crewel enter the room. “Professor Crewel ? What can I do for you ?”

Crewel had a faint smile. “I am sorry to disturb you Mrs Devi…”

Victoria cut him “Please call me ‘Victoria’, I am tired of hearing ‘Mrs Devi’. It is my mom.”

Crewel nodded. “Very well… Victoria, I need help, one of the shelves of my classroom is dangerously leaning toward the ground.”

Victoria laughed, imagining the scene. “Ok, let me grab my tool and I am following you.”

Once in the classroom, the woman was flabbergasted. “It is not just ‘leaning toward the ground’, it is on the verge of breaking !”

Crewel protested like a child. “To my defense, it wasn’t this bad before lunch !”

Victoria laughed. “Yeah yeah, that’s what they all say… Let’s repair this bad boy. But first we need to empty it.”

Crewel helped her, since it was in a particular order and it needed to be careful.

Victoria then pulled out her phone and watched “... How to repair a shelf 101 ? Aren’t you supposed to be a jack of all trades ?” Asked the man.

The woman looked at him dead panned. “We can’t know everything. But WeTube has all the knowledge of the world.” 

Crewel smiled. “Good thinking.”

When they finished watching the video, Victoria repaired the shelf like she could with the help of Crewel. “I think we need to redo a new one… Don’t you have an Ikea here ?”

Crewel blinked. “A … Ikea ? What are you on about ?”

Victoria scratched her cheek. “I don’t know the equivalent here, but a store where you can buy every type of furniture in the world for a cheap price.”

Crewel answered. “Oh, I see. Like an Akea.”

[Well, close enough…]

Victoria nodded. “I see we have many things that have approximately the same name.”

Crewel nodded too. “So except for the magic, we have the same inventions.”

Victoria wondered. “We are not as technologically advanced as you are. I mean you have technomancy and we clearly don’t… In any case it is better for my world, they would try to adapt technomancy and mages as weapons.”

Crewel’s eyes widened. “You still have wars ? Our last one was with the briar valley a few decades ago !”

The lady didn’t answer, but the silence said everything he needed to know. He didn’t know what to answer. “I am so sorry. Your world didn’t deserve it.”

The woman shrugged. “Well, let’s change the subject.” She didn’t like to speak about wars. Too many deaths and illnesses.

Crewel wondered a few seconds before asking, full of curiosity. “What did you study ? I am intrigued by what a woman like you could have studied to land this job..”

The brunette woman looked at him, a grin on her face. “Good question but first… I bet you studied alchemy aaaand I bet you have a thesis in it. You seem like an elite in it.”

The bicolor man was flustered. “Color me flattered. Indeed I have a few patents here and there thanks to my thesis. But you are evading the question, what about you ?”

Victoria laughed. “Well… For what it is worth I have a 2-part diploma for a license in applied physics and a thesis in artificial intelligence. I also have a patent, my good doctor Crewel.”

Crewel laughed with her “I understand better why you don’t want to be called ‘Mrs Devi’. Had enough with your mandatory teaching hours ?”

Victoria wiped away a tear. “Yeah, I had a fun time, but felt old each time I was called ‘Mrs Devi’. But you can call me Dr Devi !”

Crewel tidied himself up. “I will do so then, Dr Devi. And before you say anything, it is not negotiable. You didn’t work your arse off just to be refused the title of doctor. You should respect yourself more.”

She looked at Crewel with sparkling eyes. “Thank you Dr Crewel !”

Once they were done chatting, she went back to her office to put her tools away. The afternoon was just beginning and yet, she didn’t know what to do. 

She sat on her chair and like magic, a new person knocked on her door. She opened it and was greeted by a… Red mantle. Surprised, she asked. “Hello, Professor Trein, what can I do for you ?”

Trein was uneasy. “I… Just wanted to apologize for my earlier remarks.” 

Lucius added in a plaintive. “Meoooow.” 

Victoria was surprised. “Oh no worries, I didn’t take it badly. I had disturbed your class after all.”

The cat tried to wiggle his way to her. The woman was totally distracted by the animal. “Can I hold him ? As an apology.” She winked.

The older man sighed and handed his cat. “Of course.”

She grabbed him delicately. Lucius purred loud. He was finally near the honey milk scent. He was in Heaven. And even more, she began to scratch him under the ear.

He ascended to Heaven.

While Lucius was literally melting inside Victoria, who was laughing a little about the limp cat, Trein had a little smile. “Do you like cats ? You know how to handle them well.”

Victoria looked at him in the eyes, a big smile on her face. “I love them. My mother has one, a Birman. I just didn’t have the financial stability to have one during my studies so I don’t have one. It is for the best apparently, since I disappeared from my world. I miss them.”

Trein had a little cough. “Well, if you ever miss them too much, you can come see Lucius. He will be more than happy to see you.”

Lucius had a pleased meow. Victoria looked at Lucius interrogatively. The older man answered her question. “He says he would love too.”

Victoria’s eyes sparkled as if the whole universe were in them. “REALLY ??? AWESOME !!”

Tag : @boba-tea-fish @hipsterteller

[thecorvidcurio-if]

I am, have been and always will be obsessed with your writing. I am soo inlove with Abby but exceptionally excited to meet Kaida. I am always drawn to the crude standoffish characters call me a masochist 🤣♥️ i would love to know how the RO's would react if MC got into a minor accident ending up in the ER and had them as an emergency contact. (If it's not too much trouble)

Also wanted to share my appreciation and say i hope you are doing well. I know writing can be stressful and alot of pressure. Take care of yourself. 😇

This is such a sweet ask thank you for your kind words and well wishes ♥ I promise I'm taking care of myself as best I can. I appreciate you reading and sending this in ♥

Vicente wouldn't think twice about the fact that you put him down as your emergency contact. He's used to it. He's Abby's as well, and Kaida's, and Thea's (Thea is Marina's, Kaida is Shiloh's.) He'd be a fretful mess but once he finds out it's minor he'd lose the frantic edge and just generally be fretting about making sure you're comfortable and have everything you need. Expect to be spoiled, he worries too much and finds the act of care-taking to be soothing.

Abby's reaction to "MC put you as their emergency contact" is "oh yeah I can totally provide emergencies!" Once it is explained what an emergency contact actually is (someone else filled out his form) his reaction is an attempt to be responsible. Trying to keep himself on task to get there and do what he's supposed to do. He'll bring someone with him to help him navigate, literally any of the others except Shiloh would do, and their job is basically to act as intermediary between Abby and Human Society until they can get MC home... and to grab him when he starts wandering off. He's very flattered you put down his name, but he really doesn't think he's the person you want them to call in an emergency. He'll just make things worse, he thinks. Marina would play up how irritated she is to be bothered but really she's just miffed that she's so worried. When she finds out it's nothing serious she's a lot more chill about it, pokes fun at you for whatever happened since it didn't cause any lasting harm, says she better not get a call like that again but notably doesn't say to remove her as the emergency contact.

Thea would seem very put-together on the outside but on the inside she's melting down until she can confirm with her own eyes that MC is okay. There will be a lot of "are you sure you're alright? You're sure that you're sure? Okay but are you s-" She's very attentive and is actually very relieved to be MC's emergency contact so she can personally be sure that all is well. Kaida, similar to Thea, is glad he's the emergency contact. If someone he cares about is going to be in a bad spot, he wants to be the one called about it so he can make sure they're properly taken care of. He's efficient, meticulous, and gets MC out of the hospital in record time. It isn't that he doesn't worry, but when Kaida gets worried it's usually because a situation needs to be Addressed, so he shuts down his emotional responses until he can afford to deal with them. So, his initial panic when called is pushed down to make room for logic.

Shiloh wouldn't know what to do. Not the same way as Abby, it knows what an emergency contact is, it just doesn't know what to do because it has no official identity. It doesn't technically exist, and it can't just walk into a human hospital and sign release forms or anything like that. It would definitely need someone else to go in, and it would sort of... travel with them, in a way I can't explain without spoilers, and that person would need to speak for it and essentially pretend to be it. It would be very worried, and very confused, and afterwards it will be very clingy because even if the issue was minor, you gave it quite the fight.

[pandorias-box]

Alpha Encounter

The trek to Deertrack Heights was scenic, as was most of the Fieldlands. She was asked by one of the Diamond Clan’s wardens to rid of a nuisance that had set up space in a sacred site that was said to be where the descendant of a blessed Pokémon dwelled.

Little did Pandoria know that said nuisance was a Kriketune. An Alpha Kricketune. The insect was taller than she was, its arms that would otherwise look flimsy seemed to appear as sickles. It stood its ground, emanating a distinct and very loud cry.

DELELELELE WOOOOOOOP!!

Pandoria covered her ears when the bug-type made the noise, and soon after, the Pokémon lunged at her with its eyes glowing red. It tried to pin her to the ground before she had any time to react. She stumbled back, rolling to the edge of the natural arena, kicking up dust and dirt from beneath her feet.

“Get up! You have to battle it!” The Warden shouted from the sideline.

I am going to, human. I was not given an opportunity to call forth any of my Pokémon! Pandoria thought, but refrained from saying to Mai. She wanted to have good relations with those of the Diamond Clan, and if she got irate at one of its members upon their first meeting, then that’d be a big problem.

But she had a bigger problem looming in front of her. Literally.

She grabbed one of her Pokéballs, an archaic iteration of the device, and called forth one of her companions. A bright azure light emanated from it before materializing as a small blue and yellow creature with a blazing backside.

A Cyndaquil. Though it was small and meek, it let out a small noise; that of a battle cry.

The Kricketune rubbed its arms again, making its distinct cry once more. This time it was in defiance. It was itching for a fight.

“Are you ready for this, Mira?” Pandoria asked the small fire-type.

Cynda!

“I suppose I should take that as a yes. Okay, let us begin!”

As she spoke, the Kricketune primed itself to slash the Cyndaquil with its arms using Fury Cutter. It knocked Mira back somewhat, but barely made a scratch despite it seeming to be quite the strong blow.

Not very effective…

Pandoria knew she had an advantage if such a move was doing minimal damage. She had to take this for granted.

“Mira! Use Ember!” She commanded.

The Cyndaquil’s back burst with a small blaze trying to muster all its strength and fiery energy it had. It then spat out a small spark that burst into flame upon contact, singeing the exoskeleton of the Kricketune somewhat. It was weak to fire, as all bug-types were. The insect too staggered back and fumbled somewhat, giving Pandoria an opportunity to strike at it again.

“Tackle!” She instructed.

The Cyndaquil made a running start at the Kricketune before ramming into it headfirst in its chest. That seemed to be a weak spot for it.

But the insect maestro stood up again, rearing to strike once more. It too tackled Mira, knocking it back. The tiny fire type seemed to be panting, but there was still a lot of fight left in her.

Once again, the Cyndaqil spat an Ember at the Kricketune hoping to finish the job. But it was still standing. In fact, the battle was far from over even though it was severely weakened.

But there was a way Pandoria could finish it without risking any further injury. From her satchel, she grabbed a Pokéball and hurled it right at the Kricketune as it was beginning to charge at Mira again. It became enveloped in a familiar light, and the sphere dropped to the ground.

It shook once.

Twice.

And then a small signal flare, akin to a firework went off.

It was done. The Alpha’s fury was quelled.

Mai jogged close to Pandoria looking at her with awe.

"You really are an impressive one, aren't you? Seeing someone best an alpha like that... It truly reminds me of the legendary hero of old!" She said.

“There is no need to flatter me like that, Warden. After all, it was not I who bested it, but rather Mira.”

The Cyndaquil squeaked in response to Pandoria’s praise. Mai then got close to the ground and fed the Fire Mouse a berry.

"We'd best make sure your Pokémon is taken care of after facing off against such a foe."

“Thank you for your kindness, Warde-.”

As Pandoria was about to thank Mai, another resonant noise echoed across the open plains. It seemed to be coming from the rocky outcrop that overlooked the arena that the Alpha and Survey Corp member fought in.

A shadow then leaped from the edge, and landed gracefully. The sound of clopping hooves on dirt could be heard before the source of it moved closer.

Its fur was grey and had a mane as white as snow, striking eyes that seemed to gaze into one’s soul. And those antlers. Those intricate and unmistakable golden antlers.

Mai staggered back, but not in fear. She then made a bowing gesture towards the creature. It huffed in response.

“The great Wyrdeer… He looks upon you with kindness, Pandoria.” The Warden said in a hushed voice.

The Pokémon then slowly walked towards Pandoria and huffed in contentment despite her being a stranger.

"I'd say the great Wyrdeer has taken a liking to you. That is fortunate. He is an esteemed Pokémon that can dash across the expanses of Hisui while bearing a person he deems worthy. He is a blessing to us all," Mai stated.

"The Hisui region is a land created by almighty Sinnoh for the sake of its Pokémon. As long as your goal is to coexist and thrive together with the Pokémon, then I imagine you should also be allowed to use this land."

“Y-yes. That is my goal, Warden. I am honored to have gained the approval of such an esteemed Pokémon.” Pandoria replied.

But in reality, my goal is to return home…

"You have my thanks for what you did today. Our clan leader will hear of how you aided us. I'll come to show my appreciation with a proper reward as soon as I can." Mai spoke.

“You need not do such a thing, Warden Mai. Truly. But, I am grateful to assist you nonetheless. Shall we be off then?”

“I suppose we shall…”

[bapydemonprincess]

“you know you’re the only one i want to be with.” please with any ship <3

(Hope you don't mind I chose the rare and elusive Sebwolf for this one, Anon! 🖤💚)

Another high end ball was taking place at Phantomhive Manor, where friends and fiends alike melded together to meet and greet, gossip, and somehow feel like they were just as important and high ranked as the Earl hosting the party itself was.

Wolfram Gelzer and his Lady and Mistress Sieglinde Sullivan were among the specifically invited for this; singled out due to actually knowing the boy much personally than any others.

And Sieglinde was actually actively participating, as Lady Elizabeth Midford had scrambled up about an hour prior, along with a small group of other young ladies, and started to introduce them to the German girl, practically gushing to the others of what she'd learned from Sieglinde, then proceeding to ask the girl to explain some more of the Sciences.

Wolfram meanwhile.. simply stayed a loyal silent sentinel by his Lady's side.

There was no real other reason for him to be here aside accompanying his Mistress and protecting her as he'd always done.

He hadn't really grasped this type of socializing. Especially not when everyone here mostly spoke English!

But that didn't mean he didn't pick up on some English speaking conversations with greater clarity than others..

...Especially when the voice was a familiar gentle but crisp British tone, confident and welcoming.

"Yes, this wine is certainly some of the finest we've had in stock, ladies. The kind we only bring out for occasions such as this, you see, to serve our finest guests."

This was followed by some high titters of a little group of women, whom Wolfram turned to see had surrounded Sebastian Michaelis entirely.

"Oh, splendid," one girl cooed, "and it really is quite good, Sebastian, especially when we get to be served by none other than you!"

The others agreed whole heartedly, and the butler was crinkling his eyes closed as he did in these times, his lips turned up perfectly.

"You flatter me, my ladies," he admonished, "if I couldn't serve all my Young Master's fine guests with only the richest wine money can buy,.. Well, what kind of butler would I be?"

The girls simply chortled more, some flushing over their thick blushing make up they wore.

"Oh now now, even if there was not a drop of wine in this fine estate, we'd still come to call!"

They all agreed at this point, still swarming ever closer to the butler, who still simply smiled and.. and.. accepted it.

The German man stared on, confused...

At why this was happening and why he was so... affected by it.

It was none of his business whom the English butler conversed with while also doing his job. He'd likely been doing this for years, and he'd been doing this sort of thing all night tonight, and it was the same song and dance with everyone, there was no special guests standing out among them..

..Though all these women were blushing and looking up at Sebastian.. so dreamily as they continued to surrounding him..

One even lifting a free hand, hovering it near.. near his chest-

"-Wolf... Wolf!"

Wolfram blinked, once.. twice.. then looked quickly down at his Lady, who eyed him rather.. suspiciously.

Also the young ladies she'd been talking to had all but vanished..

"..Ja?"

"I was asking you if you were alright," Sieglinde said, and said it to him in their German tongue.

Wolf blinked again, confused.

"I.. suppose I am. Why do you ask, my Lady?"

Sieglinde was already smirking though as if she knew something, and propped her elbow on her chair arm, chin in her hand.

"You were scowling, Wolf. Plain as day. And glaring in a certain direction as if you'd seen or heard something ah.. obscene."

The former soldier felt his face heat up, and he grimaced at his slip up.

"I.. it is nothing of importance, my Lady.. R-Really. I simply... o-overheard a.. dumb.. joke?"

Sieglinde snorted.

"Ohhh~? Then tell me, how did it go, Wolf?"

Wolfram ground his teeth more, sweating in place. Oh, this was exactly why he didn't fit in here!!

"Er it was in English, I only c-caught a few words, my Lady, I don't-"

"My goodness, Mr. Gelzer," that voice was purring very close by suddenly, "did you happen to over indulge in the night's spirits as well? You're as red as one of our garden's finest tomatoes!"

Wolfram faced the butler, and was met with that familiar smiling face that he'd seen seconds prior.

And yet..

Sebastian opened his eyes, looking right back at Wolfram.. then tilting his head a little and lifting an eyebrow.

"Well? How is the night treating you both, Lady Sullivan and Mr. Gelzer."

"It hasn't been too exciting," Sieglinde answered with no issue, "though I am happy to have met more girls who are also intrigued by Science, I know it'll likely only be a passing fancy for them, compared to me, before their minds grow flooded with things like boys and courting."

Sebastian heartily chuckled at this.

"Perhaps, though at least you know for certain Lady Elizabeth thinks of it more so than that, yes?"

And he winked to the girl.

Wolfram's young Mistress actually lit up with a blush, mouth opening and shutting as if she were mimicking a fish. And then, as if frantically looking for an escape from this topic, she instinctively shot a hand up to grasp her servant's sleeve, pinching Wolf's arm sporadically while still facing the English servant.

"W-Wolf I think was ah, w-was just about to tell me a joke he had just overheard in the crowd.. Th-that is what he'd said, anyway, and so-"

"M-M-My Lady!" Wolf choked out, starting to sweat buckets.

Dammit dammit DAMMIT he knew this looked and sounded bad, and Sebastian was very smart, he'd definitely catch on!!

"A joke, you say? Oh, please do tell, Mr. Gelzer," Sebastian practically chirped, looking openly curious and intrigued at the fellow servant in front of him. (And seeming as IF he didn't notice anything amiss..)

"Uh, it.. uhh... i-it was in English," Wolf basically repeated his excuse from a second ago.. as he started to crumple on the spot, "I.. I do not even know.. if it was meant to be a joke or.."

"Perhaps... I was wrong," Sebastian simply went on smoothly, now having a hand to his chin thoughtfully as he took in Wolfram as well as his excuse.

"Perhaps you actually haven't had any spirits at all, and are in dire need of it."

Wolfram groaned, keeping his head bowed even lower as if in dire guilt for his mistake, while overhearing his Lady beside him let out a burst of delighted giggles.

Wolf closed his eyes, though. He felt... he felt awful. He grit his teeth and clenched his fists and all he could think to say was-

"I'm sorry.. I.. I am wasting your time, m-my... my friend..."

Sieglinde's giggles had stopped immediately.

And it seemed every sound had suddenly turned off.

Until..

A warm hand touched his shoulder, and fingers squeezed the muscle there firmly.

"I have no clue what you have to apologize for, Mr. Gelzer. As I said, you need a drink, and I know exactly where you can get one. Seeing as I've run out of drinks in the first place to serve, this is a fitting situation."

Wolfram popped opened his eyes again, just as Sebastian let his shoulder go and waved the same hand for him to follow.

"Come, let us head for the kitchen,"

Wolf frowned in confusion, his own mouth now parting the same way his Lady's had before.

He'd been serious about that?? He was.. believing that Wolf was only anxious over the party?? He hadn't noticed how Wolf was utterly broken with shame and embarrassment for his clear and obvious indulging in listening in to the butler's conversations with others???

"Go on, Wolf!" Sieglinde was speaking up, and instead of gripping his arm she patted it assuringly. "I think it will do you good, too!"

"Ah, well... i-if you.. say," Wolfram choked out, now finding himself stressed over if this was alright, or if it'd be worse, and if.. if his dear young Mistress would be okay like this???

"I do," was all the young girl said in turn immediately, with one single firm nod.

And then Wolfram was moving, following the other man away from the party..

The millions of voices chattering away growing more and more distant as they went down a hall, and further into the depths of the manor's below stairs..

Until they were exactly where Sebastian had said they'd go.

The kitchen.

Immediately upon getting farther in, the Phantomhive Butler made a rather loud sigh, and rather uncaringly dropped the empty serving tray he'd carried onto a counter, before heading in a direct beeline for the simple table in the middle of the kitchen, surrounded by simple wooden chairs, and turning himself to promptly sit on the table.

And though his legs were quite long still, he swung them lazily back and forth as his hands gripped the edges of the table.

"Finally," Sebastian breathed out again, eyes closed and a worn expression on his pale perfect countenance.

"Ever since knowing you'd be here tonight, I'd been awaiting a moment like this to finally be alone together."

The tired look turned into a satisfied little smile, much more expressive than the stiff smile of moments prior.

And the Englishman opened his eyes fully to look directly at Wolfram.

Beaming with.. delight? Wolf didn't know the right proper English words to describe Sebastian Michaelis' look now, but..

It..

It merely made the German man grow red all over again and freeze up while still barely over the thresh hold of the kitchen entrance.

Sebastian blinked, and the delighted look vanished.

"Wolf..?"

"I-I-I am sorry, I... m-maybe this was a bad idea, I.. I should go back out, to.. t-to my Lady, a-and stay there... I-"

Sebastian's mouth puckered in confusion, brows going up higher than they did usually. (For Sebastian was a col, collected sort, or a smug and temperamental sort. There was never usually a moment where he was truly confused and uncertain..)

"Why?" He bluntly asked, a pinch of hurt coming through, "As I said, I'd been waiting for this moment, you know, and-"

"I know, I know," Wolf interrupted with a near choked voice, eyes shut with utter embarrassment and shame.

"But I .. I truly do not deserve this; to have this chance- this moment with you... Sebastian."

Those thin eyebrows went slowly, smoothly down once more.

"Why would you think that, Wolf?"

Oh, this was going to make things worse, he knew it. Oh, but he wanted to be entirely honest! He wanted never to hide anything from Sebastian...

For many reasons, from the obvious to the not so obvious...

"My excuse before, about.. about a joke I heard. That was- it wasn't true. I made it up."

The butler seemed unmoved for the moment.

As if... waiting for more.

"I'd actually.. I'd heard... W-What I had heard..."

Ugh, it was so hard to speak English while on the spot! It was so hard to admit to these things in English!

"You were talking... I... heard you talking. To.. l-ladies..."

His mouth once again opening and closing again in that fish like way...

"You were talking very.. nice.. s-sweetly..? You were... with them.."

Wolfram trailed off and then shut up entirely as he began to hear a new noise.

The sound of Sebastian Michaelis cracking up with laughter.

"You... Oh goodness, y-you assumed-" Sebastian giggled, before slapping a gloved hand over his mouth, his eyes shutting again.

His countenance so merry and delighted again, his cheeks were flushing very lightly with color!

"Uh.. I.. well, it- it sounded like you and them were h...having fun, ja...?"

"No!" Was Sebastian's immediate answer, while still laughing.

The German man frowned, thrown off entirely from his former feeling of guilt, which he'd assumed would have stayed with him the remainer of the night, but...

"Wolf... darling... Come over here," Sebastian suddenly demanded, though not firm and with anger in his tone.

Wolfram stared firstly once again at the other man's face, just to be sure of it that his love was not going to... he didn't know.. do SOMETHING not good to him for his stupidity in this.

But in a second Sebastian also lifted a hand from the table, reaching out towards the other, gloved palm turned and open.

Offered like to a scared animal to assess for danger.

Wolfram took practically baby steps up to Sebastian sitting on that kitchen table, still uncertain what to expect, but...

Soon enough the reaching hand and his form were close enough, and considering Wolfram's height compared to Sebastian's, especially with him currently sitting on a table, it reached about up to his shoulder.

Which Sebastian firmly gripped and helped to tug Wolf closer still.

His own legs bumped Sebastian's, pressing in just a little, and then his suit was released from that iron grip only for the same hand to reach up, gloved fingers touching the sides of his face.

Wolf wasn't sure by then if he should ask anything, or say anything at all, so he merely lifted his bushy eyebrows, and...

..Automatically let his upper body start to bend a little further towards the other.

In the whole process though, he'd also lost track of his thoughts, as he stared down into Sebastian's.. pretty... face.

Staring back up at him, with plush lips curled a little in a knowing, almost smug look... but also mixed with warmth.

"You know you're the only one I want to be with.. right, Mr. Gelzer?"

The low, deep purr of a whisper came from the seated man inches from him, and said tone and the purpose of those words had the German man.. feeling all... fluttery in his lower stomach..

"I-" Wolfram started, merely one single syllable managing to escape his mouth, which.. was also suddenly very dry..

A finger was on his lips, keeping any more from coming out.

"Especially right now, you see," Sebastian continued right along as if he hadn't paused at all.

Then that same exact hand that had silence him, and had also gripped his shoulder to pull him closer, was now tugging once again, at the German's suit front, in order to bend him further... Just a little further down..

Sebastian Michaelis' soft lips were at his ear.

"I find myself loathing crowds.. Full of foolish, selfish strangers who want to keep my attention away from more important things.. things like being with you, Wolf."

Wolfram may have realized at that point that he was truly.. so dumb to have ever felt even a pinch of jealousy like he had.

He started to smile too, then, his bigger hands slowly moving to rest on the table too, on either side of Sebastian Michaelis.

His arms and hands surrounded the smaller man on that table.

And if he'd had the nerve, he'd even insist on thinking in the manner that his arms to keep him there.

"That is funny, my love," he whispered back finally in response.

His own lips finally inching towards where he knew an ear hid behind pitch black glossy bangs.

"Because I've found myself thinking something similar.. all night, in fact"

Sebastian may not have laughed outright this time, but his breath did come out in a humored huff as he tilted his head, allowing access, and let his eyes close to just enjoy the sensation while he could.

"...You don't say," was all he murmured, though he'd known damn well exactly what Wolfram Gelzer had been thinking.

[donnerpartyofone]

man i hope this isnt weird and i know its a little weird but ive followed you for a while and feel a deep kindred spirit with you. i know its only parasocial and we arent mutuals so its all good but like some of the things you post resonate with me so deeply and you articulate things abt yourself that i also feel abt my self but you articulate them better than i ever could. also we have very similar hair but i usually weird mine buzzed but when it grows out it looks a lot like yours and you rock it in ways i never feel confident enough to do. idk i just saw your post abt being a bad person but not in the ways ppl think you are and thats like something i think to myself all the time like i wish ppl who think im good knew i was bad and ppl who think im bad knew how wrong they were abt the ways im bad. and things youve posted abt being a stupid person and having ppl be like "youre not" resonate too bcuz its like im painfully PAINfully aware of my own stupidity and bumbling thru like but my loved ones dont want me to think that way or acknowledge it but i think there is something truly liberating in knowing i am inherently dumb in a lot of ways and to a lot of things and i have to work harder to live a good life bcuz of it. idk. im doing a bad job of explaining myself here. but anyways. i just wanna say thanks for putting your thoughts on this website for me to follow and keep doing you, bcuz youre doing it great.

Well I hope it's not weird for me to post this, I suppose it is anonymous after all; it feels kind of private to me but also I am also having a freakishly difficult couple of weeks and it was meaningful to hear someone say "I know what you're talking about." (I think you are speaking very clearly btw) I feel like a lot of the rhetoric society uses to address people who have depression is devised by people who don't suffer from it, like there's a lot of language about how "you're not alone" and a lot of idealizing talk about how great the self-denigrating sufferer appears to others, and that's nice and all but it kind of dismisses the individual's own personal experience of themselves. A person is more complex than their need for extra hugs or attention or something, and a person's perception of themselves/experience of having to be with themselves is not contingent on the perceptions of others even if the external impressions are positive. I don't know, I hate to shit on supportive behaviors but a lot of them are basically dismissive of a person's status as the de facto expert on themselves; I don't really think it's ultimately helpful to make people feel like they don't know what they're talking about, about their own selves. It can be maddening actually, and idealizing talk in particular has a way of suggesting that things have to be great for them to be at all acceptable. Which is really oppressive to tell the truth.

Interlude: In grade school my best friend's class had to do this exercise where they made acronyms of of their first names using various personal qualities, and the teachers gave her shit because for the letter A she used Adequate, and they thought this was, like...bad and had to be corrected.

Anyway I have always written very obsessively and I think it's related to wanting to be understood. Which is not the same thing as wanting to be appreciated, or wanting to feel not-alone. I think I just want someone to say they know what I'm talking about, instead of telling flattering lies or suggesting that something is wrong to say or dismissable just because it seems negative or painful. As if discomfort is automatically invalidating. Someone asked me recently if I journal and I laughed because I've done it all my life, and also because I actually have a SACK of journals under my bed, one regular one, one for dreams, one that's about my dysfunctional relationship with money and materials, etc. And then there's my various blogs of course. I have a couple of semi-pro writing projects going too that I hope I get to announce soon. But it's really all about just the fantasy of articulating something so carefully, preferably in ink (or "ink"), that no one can possibly pretend that they don't know what I'm talking about ever again.

It's funny that we wear our hair the same. I used to wear it half-shaved but my hair grows so fast, it gave me a lot of anxiety. But on that note I must say that whatever pictures of me you see are like 1/1000, I find it very hard to take a picture I'm satisfied with and I often just wind up feeling embarrassed, but ultimately I think I'm just trying to fix some positive mental image of myself even though I know we're all different people at different hours of each day. I dunno. Actually it becomes problematic because a couple of people are always telling me how "photogenic" I am and then I'm like WHY DID IT TAKE ME THREE HOURS TO GET THIS ONE SHOT THEN, and they refuse to believe me when I explain how many pictures I throw out. They think they're doing me a big favor by pretending everything is effortless for me. I have especial problems with my hair, probably every picture you see of me was anxiously snapped at some exact moment when it was behaving! So don't worry, I'm having a really hard time with my appearance basically always. Pictures other people take of me are mortifying, and I'm always like FUCK, that's what they think is a good, representative photo of me? Uh oh. Pictures I take of myself are usually taken in an emergency in fleeting, ephemeral moments where I suddenly look ok to myself.

This morning I went to the church where I've been going since February, a beautiful place full of eccentric older people I have fallen a little in love with. Sometimes I'm tempted to actually convert to Catholicism, like maybe that would be the gothest thing I could do, but I know that I will always believe in abortion and the right to suicide and I'm not too sure about hell or the historical Jesus or papal authority. I just really like it in this specific church. This morning one of the oldest ladies who goes on the weekdays like me introduced herself, she was very sweet and she was wearing hoops that were styled like chains, I don't think she realized they were bad bitch earrings, they just looked nice on her. She said it was nice to see "young people" getting involved with the church, and I wanted to tell her I turned 42 last week, but I might still be the youngest person there! When I met some of the other folks last month they told my husband that he looked like Geraldo Rivera, and then remarked that they thought we were too young to be aware of Geraldo. I told them we're old enough, we're just packed in our own oil. Anyway this is my big excuse to post selfies I was struggling with, I feel more conflicted about them these days, but I guess I'm still compelled. Thanks so much for your understanding, and have a good night!

[sesamie]

i saw midsommar but didn’t form a strong opinion about it i’d love to hear ur thoughts!

welllll!!! i am always flattered to be asked my film opinions... it's been some time since i've seen it, and i did have to cover my eyes at a couple parts, so take this all with a grain of salt. first of all, it was a GORGEOUS movie - even if it had no story and no dialogue or music or anything, i would have liked it just for how nice it was to look at. even the most horrific scenes were so marvelously colored and composed!! now i have some caveats about the cinematography because there were a lot of times where they pulled the same mirror trick over and over which was very boring to watch once you started noticing it, like, it was cool the first time, but once they kept doing it and doing it, i sort of understood that they KNEW it was cool and were showing it off too much. an argument could be made for symbolism via repetition here but i'd have to see the film again to talk on that! the acting is of course very celebrated and i think they did a great job - the method acting florence pugh employed for her most emotional scenes is both impressive and worrying. now as for the content of the film itself, it didn't do a whole lot that was new? like i watch a lot of random uncelebrated horror movies and the whole greasy cult deal is very well-explored by now, so much so that i have accidentally confused scenes from other movies with scenes from midsommar. not a lot that it did with the story was special, but the way in which it was presented was very shiny and polished and that does put it a small step above. i liked the may queen dancing scene, it was done very well. the old couple's suicide made me nauseous and have to stop watching for a little bit. now i am always hesitant of stories that are like "there's this group of people and the way they conduct themselves is so savage and barbaric and horrific, not at all like our pure, normal, safe ways of life <3" for good reason, and midsommar is not an exception to that, but what it did with the elements it had at play were good. it wasn't really about the culture, it was about the individuals, specifically pugh's character's emotional and mental state and decline.

now i will say as far as horror films go midsommar was one of the best i have seen (but i also haven't begun my jordan peele foray that i am meaning to do all at once over thanksgiving break this year, and i know he's amazing) but as far as films in general that go for the type of tragedy that midsommar did, it wasn't my favorite execution. it's not a bad film by any means, it accomplished most of what it wanted to accomplish, and i had a good (read: very viscerally upsetting) time watching it. what mostly bothers me about midsommar is the general response to it? like and of course yes my interpretation is not everybody's interpretation but i think you have to be watching a completely different film to believe the ending was a happy ending and not a deliberate and succinctly executed tragedy. i don't like when people call it a good breakup film or a win for feminism or anything like that. it's a story of a young woman who is taken advantage of by every single place she turns to, and eventually her entire sense of self crumbles to that. her killing her boyfriend - while he was an ass and i definitely liked seeing him die - was not a win for her. she may have found absolution by the end of the film, but we as the audience are not meant to be finding that with her, we're supposed to be disturbed by what she is considering absolution. if that makes any sense???