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sisiofthemultifandom · 11 months

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My Massive SHIP LIST

The following is a LONG list of all the ships I enjoy from a moderate to an extreme amount and have probably looked at fanfiction for at some point. Keep in mind this doesn't include every movie and/or show I've ever watched and I may make edits to this at a later time. Godspeed you unfortunate witness.

Agents of SHIELD

Coulson X May

Daisy X Lincoln

Fitz X Simmons

Bobbi X Hunter

Mack X YoYo

Arcane

Caitlyn X Vi

Arrowverse

Oliver X Laurel

Roy X Thea

Diggle X Lyla

Barry X Patty

Wally X Jesse

Caitlin X Ronnie

Kara X Mon-El

Alex X Maggie

Brainy X Nia

Attack on Titan

Eren X Mikasa

Falco X Gabi

Bertdholt X Annie

Ymir X Krista

Levi X Hange

Avatar the Last Airbender/Legend of Korra

Katara X Zuko

Aang X Toph

Sokka X Suki

Aang X Katara

Bolin X Korra

Avengers (MCU)

Steve X Natasha

Tony X Pepper

Thor X Jane

Wanda X Vision

Peter Q X Gamora

Scott X Hope

T’Challa X Nakia

Matt X Karen

Luke X Jessica

Peter P X MJ

Bucky X Sarah

Ben 10

Ben X Julie

Kevin X Gwen

Berserk

Guts X Casca

Bleach

Ichigo X Rukia

Uryu X Orihime

Tatsuki X Orihime

Gin X Rangiku

Toshiro X Momo

Boku no Hero Academia

Izuku X Occhako

Todoroki X Momo

Bakugou X Kirishima

Eraserhead X Present Mic

Castlevania

Trevor X Sypha

Alucard X Greta

Class of the Titans

Jay X Theresa

Atlanta X Archie

Critical Role

Percival X Vex’ahlia

Vax’ildan X Keyleth

Scanlan X Pike

Sylas X Delilah

Fjord X Jester

Beau X Yasha

Caleb X Essek

Imogen X Laudna

DC Comics

Clark X Lois

Bruce X Selina

Diana X Steve

Barry X Iris

Wally X Linda

Hal X Carol

Carter X Shiera

Oliver X Laurel

Arthur X Mera

Constantine X Zatanna

Dick X Barbara

Tim X Stephanie

Garfield X Rachel

Conner X Cassie

Kate X Maggie

Hank X Dawn

Garth Ranzz X Imra Arden

Nura Nal X Thom Kallor

Jo Nah X Tinya Wazzo

Val Armorr X Princess Projectra

Kara Zor-El X Querl Dox

Lar Gand X Tasmia Mallor

Demon Slayer

Tanjiro X Kanao

Zenitsu X Nezuko

Giyu X Shinobu

Digimon

Taichi X Sora

Koushiro X Mimi

Takeru X Hikari

Takato X Jeri

Rika X Ryo

Izumi X Junpei

Disney Animation

Mulan X Shang

Eric X Ariel

Simba X Nala

Tiana X Naveen

Tarzan X Jane

Rapunzel X Eugene

Hercules X Meg

Aladdin X Jasmine

Doctor Who

11 X Clara

Dota - Dragon's Blood

Davion X Mirana

Evangelion

Shinji X Kaworu

Fairy Tail

Natsu X Lucy

Erza X Jellal

Gray X Juvia

Wendy X Romeo

Final Fantasy

Zack X Aerith

Cloud X Tifa

Squall X Rinoa

Tidus X Luna

Lightning X Snow

Noel X Serah

Noctis X Luna

Fire Emblem

Byleth X Dimitri

Fullmetal Alchemist

Ed X Winry

Roy X Riza

Ling X Lan Fan

GI Joe

Snake Eyes X Scarlett

Garo

Kouga X Kaoru

Ryuga X Rian

Raiga X Mayuri

Gatchaman

Ken X Jun

Gundam

Domon X Rain

Shinn X Stella

He-Man (OG Continuity)

Adam X Teela

Adora X Sea-Hawk

Duncan X Sorceress

InuYasha

InuYasha X Kagome

Sango X Miroku

Sesshomaru X Kagura

Kohaku X Rin

Invincible

Mark X Eve

Kamen Rider

Hongo X Ruriko

Godai X Ichijo

Shoichi X Hikawa

Shinji X Miho

Takumi X Mari

Kenzaki X Hajime

Yuuto X Airi

Wataru X Mio

Tsukasa X Natsumi

Shotaro X Tokime

Ryo X Akiko

Eiji X Hina

Gentaro X Nadeshiko

Ryusei X Tomoko

Haruto X Koyomi

Kouta X Mai

Kaitou X Yoko

Shinnosuke X Kiriko

Gou X Reiko

Takeru X Akari

Alain X Kanon

Emu X Poppy

Sento X Banjo

Kazumin X Misora

Gentoku X Sawa

Sougo X Tsukuyomi

Aruto X Izu

Fuwa X Yua

Touma X Kento

Rintaro X Mei

Keiwa X Neon

Kingdom Hearts

Kairi X Sora X Riku

Aqua X Terra

Lea X Isa

Roxas X Xion

Riku X Namine

Lucifer

Lucifer X Chloe

Maze X Eve

Magic Knight Rayearth

Hikaru X Lantis

Umi X Clef

Fu X Ferio

Marvel Comics

Steve X Sharon

Tony X Pepper

Thor X Sif

Hank X Janet

Reed X Sue

Peter X MJ

Wanda X Vision

Jean X Scott

Kitty X Colossus

Rogue X Gambit

Rachel X Kurt

Black Bolt X Medusa

Clint X Bobbi

Bucky X Natasha

Matt X Elektra

Luke X Jessica

Warren X Psylocke

Miraculous Ladybug

Adrien X Marinette

Alya X Nino

Naruto

Naruto X Hinata

Sasuke X Karin

Sakura X Rock Lee

Neji X TenTen

Shikamaru X Temari

Ino X Sai

Choji X Karui

Gaara X Matsuri

Kakashi X Might Guy

Asuna X Kurenai

Tsunade X Dan

Yahiko X Konan

Ouran HighSchool Host Club

Haruhi X Tamaki

Persona

Yu X Rise

Chie X Yukiko

Kanji X Naoto

Ren X Makoto (or Kasumi if we're going with Royal canon)

Power Rangers

Tommy X Katherine

Jason X Trini

Adam X Tanya

TJ X Cassie

Andros X Ashley

Karone X Zhane

Leo X Kendrix

Carter X Dana

Wes X Jen

Cole X Alyssa

Taylor X Eric

Tori X Blake

Trent X Kira

Sky X Z

Doggie X Kat

Nick X Madison

Mack X Rose

Casey X Lily

Dillon X Summer

Ziggy X Dr. K

Kevin X Mia

Mike X Emily

Troy X Gia

Tyler X Shelby

Eddie X Vesper

Marv X Chloe

Amelia X Ollie

Ranma ½

Ranma X Akane

Revolutionary Girl Utena

Utena X Anthy

Rurouni Kenshin

Kenshin X Kaoru

RWBY

Ruby X Penny

Blake X Sun

Weiss X Marrow

Yang X Weiss

Jaune X Pyrrha

Ren X Nora

Qrow X Summer

Sailor Moon

Usagi X Mamoru

Ami X Zoisite

Rei X Jadeite

Minako X Rei

Makoto X Nephrite

Minako X Kunzite

Saint Seiya

Seiya X Shaina

Hyoga X Eri

Shiryu X Shunrei

Shun X June

Ikki X Esmeralda

Deathmask X Aphrodite

Aiolia X Lyfia

Yato X Yuzuriha

Sasha X Tenma

Koga X Yuna

Souma X Sonia

She-Ra (Netflix Version)

Adora X Glimmer

Catra X Scorpia

Star Wars

Obi-Wan X Satine

Anakin X Padme

Ahsoka X Lux

Luke X Mara Jade

Han X Leia

Finn X Rey X Poe

Din Djarin X Bo-Katan

Super Sentai

Ryu X Kaori

Sasuke X Tsuruhime

Chisato X Kouichirou

Shun X Miku

Yuri X Tatsuya

Yosuke X Ikkou

Isshu X Nanami

Mari X Ban

Sen X Umeko

Doggie X Swan

Sakura X Akashi

Masume X Natsuhi

Rio X Mele

Sosuke X Miu

Chiaki X Kotoha

Takeru X Mako

Alata X Eri

Hyde X Moune

Marvelous X Luka

Joe X Ahim

Daigo X Mikoto

Tokatti X Mio

Hikari X Kagura

Yamato X Sela

Amu X Tusk

Lucky X Hammie

Balance X Naga

Keiichiro X Tsukasa

Sakuya X Umika

Koh X Asuna

Bamba X Asuna

Shigeru X Sayo

Tarou X Sonoi

Sword Art Online

Kirito X Asuna

The Dragon Prince

Callum X Rayla

Amaya X Janai

ThunderCats

Lion-O X Cheetara

Bengali X Pumyra

Transformers

Optimus X Elita-One

Arcee X Hot Rod

Bulkhead X Wheeljack

Silverbolt X Blackarachnia

Ultraman

Ken X Mari

Voltron

Shiro X Matt

Keith X Allura

Lance X Pidge

Hunk X Shay

Winx Club

Bloom X Sky

Musa X Riven

Flora X Helia

Stella X Brandon

Tecna X Timmy

Layla X Nabu

31 notes · View notes

helpersofindie · 1 year

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Hello lovely helpers!! <3 May I please ask for some POC female faceclaims? Between 21-40? Who have those bad bitch vibes, strong and alluring, please? Thank you so much for your kindness <3 :)

under the cut, you can find 165 woc faceclaims who i think fit the vibe! i hope this helps!

maitreyi ramakrishnan (21)

josie totah (21) — josie is a trans woman!

miah madden (21)

rowan blanchard (21)

halle bailey (22)

yara shahidi (22)

chandler kinney (22)

dara renee (22)

anna lambe (22)

tarayummy (22)

daniella perkins (22)

sofia bryant (23)

megan suri (23)

alycia pascual pena (23)

braydee cardinal (23)

imani lewis (23)

china anne mcclain (24)

chloe bailey (24)

madison bailey (24)

diamond white (24)

shina novalinga (24)

paris berelc (24)

brianne tju (24)

madison pettis (24)

antonia gentry (25)

coco jones (25)

lana condor (25)

alisha boe (25)

sydney park (25)

alyah chanelle scott (25)

becky g (25)

banita sandhu (25)

amber midthunder (25)

kiana lede (25)

rosé (25)

normani (26)

zendaya (26)

samantha logan (26)

joy sunday (26)

chase sui wonders (26)

madeleine madden (26)

anya chalotra (26)

brittany o’grady (26)

fernanda ly (26)

imaan hammam (26)

leah lewis (26)

park soobin (26)

pia mia (26)

snitcherty (26)

bree kish (26)

cierra ramirez (27)

courtney eaton (27)

tati gabrielle (27)

haskiri velazquez (27)

jennie kim (27)

megan thee stallion (27)

aslihan malbora (27)

im nayeon (27)

zion moreno (27) — zion is a trans woman!

adeline rudolph (27)

christina nadin (27)

camila mendes (28)

ryan destiny (28)

natasha liu bordizzo (28)

khadijha red thunder (28)

kim jisoo (28)

eva reign (28) — eva is a trans woman!

midori francis (28)

hoyeon jung (28)

sofia carson (29)

keke palmer (29)

aisha dee (29)

devery jacobs (29)

yasmine al bustami (29)

nadine lustre (29)

tinashe (29)

yalitza aparicio (29)

olivia liang (29)

saweetie (29)

yvette monreal (30)

kiana madeira (30)

ziwe fumudoh (30)

triana browne (30)

vanessa morgan (30)

chloe bennet (30)

nyma tang (31)

kiki layne (31)

malese jow (31)

grace dove (31)

chelsea tavares (31)

laci mosley (31)

michaela jae rodriguez (32) — michaela jae is a trans woman!

stephanie hsu (32)

keisha castle hughes (32)

la’tecia thomas (32)

lindsey morgan (32)

mitski (32)

patti harrison (32) — patti is a trans woman!

tristin mays (32)

alexa demie (32)

danielle brooks (33)

sza (33)

rachel colwell (33)

logan browning (33)

precious lee (33)

kat graham (33)

aimee carrero (34)

lizzo (34)

candice patton (34)

anna diop (34)

brenda song (34)

janel parrish (34)

melissa o’neil (34)

ashleigh murray (35)

michaela coel (35)

samira wiley (35)

shay mitchell (35)

naomi watanabe (35)

alina serban (35)

javicia leslie (35)

diane guerrero (36)

nicole byer (36)

da’vine joy randolph (36)

meaghan rath (36)

cynthia erivo (36)

amber riley (36)

lilan bowden (37)

karla souza (37)

jessica matten (37)

natalie morales (37)

meagan tandy (37)

nathalie kelley (37)

vella lovell (37)

brandee evans (37)

arden cho (37)

aubrey plaza (38)

america ferrera (38)

tala ashe (38)

issa rae (38)

aja naomi king (38)

jessica parker kennedy (38)

dewanda wise (38)

lupita nyong’o (39)

tessa thompson (39)

jamie chung (39)

janet mock (39) — janet is a trans woman!

gabourey sibide (39)

levy tran (39)

dascha polanco (40)

constance wu (40)

gemma chan (40)

dichen lachman (40)

tiya sircar (40)

ali wong (40)

cara gee (40)

melissa fumero (40)

kimrie lewis (40)

hannah simone (42)

jessica alba (41)

nasim pedrad (41)

stephanie beatriz (41)

tika sumpter (42)

vanessa lachey (42)

freema agyeman (43)

shannon dang (unknown age)

#fc help #woc fc #fcoc help #rph #rpt #indie rph #diana #answered #**#anonymous

23 notes · View notes

stainedglasstruth · 8 months

Text

TIMING: May, After Get Glad LOCATION: The Wormhole PARTIES: Arden (@stainedglasstruth) & Zack (@zackbanes) SUMMARY: Zack and Arden have a drink together and have a moment of queer solidarity. They talk about their feelings on relationships CONTENT WARNINGS: Casual drinking

Going to the Wormhole still felt a little uncanny to Arden. She’d been back for several months now, but going to some of her old haunts still gave her, well, a haunting feeling, and she’d only just started going back to the Wormhole after moving to Worm’s Row. The bar still looked almost exactly how she remembered it, the scratched and stained bar and tables, the shitty wobbly stools, the obnoxious neon signs on the wall, a colorful cast of patrons ranging from broke college students to slimy guys with terrible attitudes, and the overwhelming smell of alcohol. The latter of which, was a relief these days. She’d take the shitty dive bar over the ever present smell of sulfur hanging in the air, thanks.

She looked down at her phone, checking her text thread with Zack before peering around the bar. Where was… There. Spotting the familiar head of hair, she weaved her way between a few students and made her way over to a small booth in the corner.

“Hey,” Arden greeted, an apologetic smile on her face. “Sorry I’m a little late, I got caught up at the library.” She plopped down in the seat across from him, tossing her bag and jacket down next to her. “I’ll get the first round to make it up to you.”

—

Zack popped his head up from his tablet at the sound of Arden’s greeting. “Hey!” he echoed back. He swept the device into his bag without a second thought – he had just been flipping through some designs that would be off to clients the next day or so. Besides Arden wasn’t that late and even if she had been, Zack never minded spending time in a bar. Despite not being much of a drinker, he did find that he loved the ambiance of them.

“It’s all good,” he assured her with a wave of his hand. “Chasing a big lead or something?” he asked with a trying grin. Zack didn’t know much about what Arden did, aside from media portrayals of journalists. Did Arden even do that kind of investigative work? Who could say. Not him, that was for sure. Either way, he was sure to be careful around her, just in case. Just in case she thought to look into anything about him and where he had come from.

“Hell yeah,” Zack agreed with a grin, gesturing for the bartender. He ordered a shot and a beer back for both of them, happily announcing that Arden would be paying for this round. He lifted the shot glass to toast at his roommate and friend. “What’re we drinking to? Queer solidarity?”

—

Zack always had such an infectious energy about him that Arden found it hard not to smile whenever he was around. The man was infuriatingly likeable in a way that she was always striving to exude in her day to day. What required so much of her was seemingly effortless for him; it made her just a little jealous, not that she could hold it against him. He called himself a fellow trash raccoon, but he really was a ray of sunshine in his own right.

“No leads, unfortunately,” she grinned, “more research than anything.” Still stuck without any leads on Erebus or the situation in mines, she had continued looking into anything remotely related. Her searching had not gotten her very far.

Arden grinned, amused at his enthusiasm. “Hey,” she said, raising her glass, “I will always drink to queer solidarity.”

—

“What are you researching?” Zack asked, “Anything interesting?” He wondered, not for the first time, whether Arden held the same ideas about the town as Zack. That there was something else. That was why he had come, after all. And it had turned out to be at least a little right – Levi was here and he had helped get Zack on the track for some answers. Arden had grown up here, after all, and Zack wondered what exactly had brought her back to town.

They did their shots together, Zack wincing just a little at the burn. He still wasn’t much of a drinker when it came to liquor, but he was enjoying the other aspects more and more. Beer, he found, he could enjoy most times. And sharing one with a friend was becoming a regular thing. Which – if you had told Zack of 6 months ago that, he never would have believed it. That he had drinking buddies – that he had friends. That there were some of them, even, who knew what he was, knew all that was inside him, and still hadn’t turned away, yet.

“Speaking of queer solidarity,” Zack began, one eyebrow up. “I believe you owe me a story. About you and a night at Red Eye.” He couldn’t really imagine what Arden had been doing in that part of town, at that coffee shop in particular. But apparently it had been gay, which meant Zack was ready to hear about it. He took a sip from his beer and then laid into Arden with a pointed look, clearly waiting.

—

Debating for a moment whether she should say anything, Arden gave a very casual glance around them to make sure no one was close enough that they would be able to hear. For better or worse, she trusted Zack– enough to live with him, and enough to share some basic information at least. Maybe that was a mistake, maybe the desperate loneliness that plagued her was getting to be too much, was making her sloppy. “The mines,” she admitted. “The whole situation is a bit strange.” That was a fucking understatement.

Downing the shot, she chased it with a swig of beer. It wasn’t a go to for her, beer, but the taste was decent, and she was drinking with another person. It would be better to pace herself, keep speed with Zack.

She sighed, unable to keep a smile off her face at his prodding. Right. She had mentioned that night to him after some of her own prodding. “Damn, okay, getting right to it, I see.” It had been a long time since she had someone to talk shit with about the mundane yet personal things in life, though, to be honest, she had felt a lot more comfortable talking to him about it before she had remembered that Zack was friends with Andy.

“I don’t know how familiar you are with it, but Masque of the Red Eye has poetry open mic nights,” Arden began, “and as someone who enjoys poetry, I try to go sometimes. That particular night, I had a couple of drinks. Enough that I decided to participate, actually– a mistake because I fucking hate public speaking,” she admitted with a laugh.

“After, though, I got approached by someone, and we ended up talking for a while.” Ugh, she was feeling so nervous; she really wasn’t used to this. Any of it. Taking another drink, she decided to leave it at that, sure Zack would ask for more.

–

“A bit strange,” Zack echoed, incredulously. “More than a bit, if you asked me.” The mines, and all that came with them, were wholly unsettling to Zack. He had gotten as far as he had in life by being acutely aware of his surroundings. Any shift in the environment was something that could potentially set him off – or could be a clue that he had already been set off and it was time to start hunkering down. But with the mines seemingly making everything haywire, Zack was on edge. Any strange occurrence had him wondering whether it was him at the root cause or just that hunk of awful rock they lived right next to. “But hey, if you learn anything about it, let me know.”

Zack hadn’t know that about either the coffee shop or Arden. But he wasn’t too surprised. To Zack, poetry was for smart people, educated people, and Arden was maybe the smartest person he knew. “We’re putting a pin in the fact that you write poetry,” he commented, “definitely coming back to that one.” He imagined that it was probably like his sketches – not necessarily something Arden wanted to share. But maybe there was some that she would be okay with him reading.

“Oooh,” Zack drawled, wide smile on his face. “So you’re telling me, basically, you wooed a woman with your poetry? Like some kind of Jane Austen lover or something?” Zack hadn’t read any Jane Austen, but that seemed like the kind of thing that would be in her books. “Did you just talk? What was she like? Was she pretty? Are you gonna see her again?” Zack was mostly teasing with the barrage of follow-up questions, but he did keep his eyes on Arden. Showing that he was listening, for as long as she was willing to talk.

—

“Well, yeah,” Arden wavered. “But, you know what I mean. Besides, this town’s standard for weird is totally fucked anyway.”

Most things she learned about Wicked’s Rest didn’t even surprise her at this point in her life. She didn’t know how to talk about the mining situation, though. She didn’t want to scare the average townsfolk, but this thing– whatever the fuck it was– with the mines frightened her. There was a delicate balance she needed to keep with her job, a balance between outright lies and total honesty– maintaining secrecy without minimizing the severity of the problem. It was difficult on a good day, but now? She knew just enough to know it was supernatural and bad, but she was as in the dark as everyone else about any kind of specifics.

Taking another swig of beer, she nodded. “Yeah,” she agreed, “I’ll let you know.” As much as possible, at least. The last thing she needed was Zack getting dragged into whatever terrible thing was certainly going on. He had quickly become someone she could consider a friend– as much as was possible when your entire life feels like a series of facades– and she really didn’t want to see him get hurt.

She paused as Zack ‘put a pin’ in her writing poetry. “Right, I guess you weren’t aware of that. I dunno,” she shrugged, feeling a little embarrassed, “I write a lot of shit, not just articles for work.”

Like some kind of Jane Austen lover or something? Arden snorted, her anxiety only contributing to the laughter bubbling out of her. Was she blushing? She fucking hoped not. “Well, when you put it that way, it does sound wild.” Thinking of that night, the smile melted away somewhat. “It wasn’t– It wasn’t exactly an upbeat kind of poem, but I guess something in it resonated with her.”

Her embarrassment only became more pronounced at his barrage of questions. This felt so juvenile. The last time she had done anything of this sort was– …well, it’d been a while. “Yes, it was just talking,” she shot him a glare, though there was no heat behind it. “There was flirting, and we kind of ended up paying for each other’s drinks.” She propped her head on a hand, looking pointedly away from Zack. “She was really sweet, fun. A little awkward, maybe? She seemed a little flustered by the flirting, but it was pretty adorable.” Arden hadn’t been much better, but that was not the point here.

She snuck a peek over at Zack, only catching his eye in the process. Fucking hell, this was ridiculous. “I– I don’t know. I want to, and she seemed open to it.” But it was a bad idea. She would ruin it. Andy was yet another ray of sunshine, and she deserved so much more than Arden could ever give her, could give anyone, honestly. She chugged what remained of her beer, flagging down the bartender for another round.

—

“You can say that again,” Zack murmured into his glass of beer. His definition of weird on any given day had been shifted dramatically since arriving in Wicked’s Rest. And it had already been pretty skewed, after his whole flame-on situation. And he wasn’t specifically interested in the mines, beyond the hope that living as close to them as they did wouldn’t result in anything too fucked up. He only really wanted to learn more about this thing inside of him and how to maybe harness it, control it, to be sure he didn’t hurt anyone more. But with Wicked’s Rest particular flavor of weird, he wouldn’t be surprised if everything was connected, like the mines themselves under the town, like leylines passing through.

“Not wild,” Zack corrected. “Just…sweet. Maybe charming. Do the whole courting thing, ask her father for permission to take a stroll with her or whatever.” His head cocked and he wondered further about the poetry, about his roommate as a whole. If Arden’s poems were anything like his drawings, he could only imagine the deep-down hidden fears and shame she packed into them. “That’s cool, though. That she could relate. That’s a good starting off point, isn’t it?” Like Zack would really know. His longest relationship had been… Well. Fuck, maybe it was Levi which wasn’t even really a relationship.

Zack felt a soft, genuine smile find his face as Arden talked more about the night, the girl. “You’re a little awkward too, you know,” he pointed out, but kindly. He liked Arden’s awkwardness. Made his own felt like less of a problem. He bet that was how the other girl had felt, too. “Sounds like she was into you, then.”

Arden downed her drink and Zack could tell that she was uncomfortable with this line of questioning for some reason. Which wasn’t what he wanted. Sure, he wanted to tease her a little, but nothing that would actually hurt her feelings or leave her feeling badly. “So what’s not to know?” he asked, pitching his voice toward something more sincere. “It sounds like you really liked being with her, and talking to her. And like there might be a lot you two can relate on, if she was into your poetry and all.” Zack shrugged.

—

Arden couldn’t help but laugh at his suggestion. “Yeah, I’ll ask her to take a turn around the promenade, go full Regency. We may need a chaperone, though,” she grinned, “we wouldn’t want to create a scandal now, would we?” Her mischievous demeanor began to abate as the conversation became more genuine.

“I guess?” she shrugged, running a finger around the rim of her empty shot glass. “I don’t really have a ton of experience when it comes to relationships, to be honest.” it felt a little embarrassing to admit, but all of this was embarrassing anyway, why not double down? “I’ve only been in two, and neither of them lasted long.”

If she wasn’t flushed before, she surely was after Zack called her out on her awkwardness. She was ready to hit him with some fake outrage, so catching the fond look on his face really threw her. A sudden surge of emotion overtook her, settled in her throat in a way that made it difficult to speak for a second. “I know. Pretty sure we sounded like absolute disasters to anyone who might’ve been listening.”

Oh, she had downed that way too quickly, if Zack’s demeanor was anything to go by. Oops. His sincerity was another thing Arden admired about him, and yet another she was jealous of. Barely anything she did felt entirely sincere these days, and sometimes it made her yearn for days when the biggest things she had to worry about were tests and talking to friends about crushes.

She propped her cheek up on her palm, looking at Zack. They’d been living together for nearly two months now, seeing each other almost every day. Even if he wasn’t exactly a trash raccoon, there was something about their personalities did just kind of click. She was too tired to spin some more bullshit, especially with him.

“I don’t know how to do this,” she admitted. “I’m not good at any of it.” A chuckle bubbled out of her. “I mean, I’m pretty good with people; I can read them well, and I know how to play to my audience, get folks to talk. Hell, I’m even alright when it comes to flirting and flings and whatnot, but relationships?” She dropped her arm with a grimace.

—

“Oh, I absolutely volunteer as chaperone,” Zack offered with a laugh. “And I promise to be the worst chaperone ever. I will absolutely wander off the path to have my own rendez-vous and leave the two of you to get scandalous.” Pitching his shoulders back, he preened a bit, for the joke. “I bet I would look good in one of those vests, and the hat.”

As Arden leveled with him, Zack could only nod. “Hey, I’m not one to talk. Definitely. My track record with relationships is even worse than yours.” Try nonexistent. “But I think it’s just…all the stuff you just described, but for a longer time period. I think as long as you’re talking about what you want and you both want the same things, and all. That’s the basis of it, right?” Sounded right, even if he himself had never put it into action. “And I guess that’s easier said than done, though.” Especially considering Arden’s self-proclaimed awkwardness. Being honest was always a hard step to take. Zack knew that from experience, at least.

Finishing his beer, Zack waves at the bartender, indicating another. He has some catching up to do, after all. “Do you… Like is that something you want? A relationship? Not necessarily with poetry girl but just in general?”

—

Arden snorted. “We’ll be the talk of the town; Mr. Banes the devilish rake and that poor ruined Han girl.” She rolled her eyes, a smirk on her face. “Okay, you’d probably rock the vest, but I don’t think anyone can make those hats look good, sorry. Not even the Bridgerton guy could, and he’s so hot it’s actually ridiculous.”

She tore her gaze away from the glass, looking up at him. It was nice to know she wasn’t the only one, at least. She shrugged, eyes shifting to the bar around them. It was the first bar she’d ever gone to because the Wormhole was lazy when it came checking IDs. Sitting here, she still felt like a child somehow. “I guess so.” Easier said than done was certainly right, but she was here, having this conversation with him in the first place. That was something, right?

Poetry girl got a small smile out of her. “Andy,” she admitted, before quickly adding “and whatever you’re gonna say, put a pin in it for now.” She leveled a not-very-threatening look at him, finger raised as if to say ‘don’t start shit.’ But then her hand fell, as did the playfulness. “I don’t know.” She recalled the last time she had seen Nicole, that desperate ache of want that overtook her when she saw how Nicole had spoken about Leah, when she had seen how they looked at each other. “I think I do,” she said, looking down at the table. However, her past attempts had been absolute dumpster fires. I don’t know if I can, she didn’t dare say it out loud.

The idea of getting so close to someone, of opening herself up to such an extent, it was, quite frankly, terrifying. She wasn't even sure who she was or what she was fucking doing. She was a bunch of facades stacked up in a trench coat. How could she expect someone to see what a mess she was and choose that, choose her? She barely felt worthy of Leah’s love or the affection of her new friends. How could she even ask someone to love her?

“Do you?” Arden asked, meeting his gaze again. It was a genuine question, though it did have the added benefit of taking some of the heat off of her. She was curious to know more about who Zack was underneath the playful facade he so often defaulted to.

—

Zack’s eyebrows jumped to his hairline. “Andy?” he asked, surprise clearly coloring his voice. But then Arden’s warning came and he raised his hands, palms splayed as if to declare that he came in peace. “Okay, okay. But let me just say. If you do end up dating her, I would love the possibility of even more free pastries.”

He could tell that Arden’s confession came with no small amount of self-searching. And no small amount of doubt. “If it’s something you want, then it’s worth a try, I think.” His voice was saturated with sincerity, like it so often wasn’t between him and Arden. But it was important to him that his friend knew he was on her side for this, and wanted her to be happy. To get what she wanted out of life. “If you could end up really happy? I think that’s worth a try.”

The question turned back on himself, Zack found a laugh pressing out from his chest. “Do I? What? Want a relationship?” He spared himself from having to answer immediately by taking a long drink. Did he want a relationship? Sure, maybe. One day. He wasn’t exactly sure what his version of a relationship would look like, even, to be fulfilling. He had been on his own, in most aspects of life, for so long. He wasn’t exactly sure how to share his life. He could see the benefits, though. Like Levi nursing him through his injury, texting to make sure he got what Zack wanted from the store. That was…nice.

“No,” Zack answered, finally, voice clear. No matter what he wanted, he didn’t really have room for a relationship, right now. Navigating something like that, for the first time, wasn’t something he thought he had the bandwidth for. Not alongside trying to figure out what exactly he was and how it fit into everything else that seemed to be happening in Wicked’s Rest.

And then there was the Levi of everything to consider. “Besides, the guy I’m…sleeping with. I don’t think he’s the relationship type.” He hesitated to only call it that, sleeping with, but there wasn’t really a word for sleeping with and a little bit more but not a real relationship. Sleeping with but also he saved my life and paid off my medical bills and took care of me for a week. Sleeping with but he’s also sleeping with maybe half the town as well. Sleeping with but he’s also taking me to Greece maybe though I’m not entirely convinced that’s not just a joke.

—

She rolled her eyes at the pastry comment, but before she could say anything, he continued to talk. Annoyingly, he had a point. “You’re right,” she sighed. “I know you’re right.” But she was scared, and she had been pushing herself constantly since coming back to town. The fact that she had gone to the Red Eye and read her poetry that night? That had taken a lot out of her. It did lead to her meeting Andy, though.

So far, taking chances had been working out pretty well for Arden. If only that fact could help calm the fear that wrapped itself like a hand around her neck, her heart. Years of running away and refusing to process her grief or be vulnerable didn’t just go away overnight. She was trying so hard to do things differently, but there was still a part of her that just wanted to take Hobbes and go back to Boston, maybe Philadelphia. “We’ll see what happens, I guess.”

Arden couldn’t quite read Zack’s laughter. Nerves? Disbelief? “Yeah,” she confirmed as he took a long drink. He was clearly mulling it over as he stalled, though his face didn’t give much away. She didn’t mind giving him some time if he needed it, but she didn’t want to push him to talk about it if he wasn’t comfortable doing so. And she was about to tell him just that when he finally replied.

The ‘no’ was a bit lessened by the addition about the guy he was sleeping with. Zack was accidentally telling on himself there; he’d clearly at least considered the possibility of having a relationship with this guy. “Is that the guy you’ve been flirting with on main?” She tried to keep her tone light but cautious. He had been a little cagey about it when she’d brought it up before, and she didn’t want to poke at the issue and upset him, but Arden’s curiosity had been piqued.

—

“Of course I’m right.” Zack gave a cocky scoff. But his features softened quickly and he leaned to the side, nudging Arden’s shoulder with his own. “Hey, no pressure. Not from me, at least. I just think the short-term discomfort of being awkward and a little afraid is worth what could be long-term happiness. Or at least long-term regular orgasms.” His last comment was mostly in the hopes of getting her to laugh more than anything else.

He wouldn’t blame Arden if she ended up falling back into her comfort zone of not shooting her shot. Couldn’t blame her. While Zack could easily seal the deal of asking someone out, asking them to bed, anything more than that was…trickier. Short-term fear was not as easy a hurdle to overcome as he suggested to Arden.

At Arden’s further question, Zack’s nose wrinkled. Once more, he stalled with a drink from his glass. “Yeah. That’s… Yes. He’s the one who helped me out when…” Zack waved a hand down at his leg to indicate the attack and injury. “That’s where I was, at his house. But it’s not– I mean, it’s more than just flirting, obviously, but.” But they weren’t exchanging poems at a coffee house or anything. Zack would, though, was the thing. Metaphorically, at least.

Being around Levi was just nice in a way that was unfamiliar to Zack. He cared about Zack, Zack knew that much. He just wasn’t entirely sure to what extent. Or how far Levi would be willing to explore that care. And Zack was sure that he was more invested, anyway (because how could this ancient quasi-deity who had seen most of its partners live and die be interested in…playing house), and that meant that he had to be careful. Play it cool. “It’s just a little…nontraditional.” That explanation made him grin. Yeah, nontraditional for sure.

—

She rolled her eyes again, as she often did in Zack’s presence. She got enough of this shit from Leah, she did not need it from anyone else, thanks. But it was Zack, so, of course, he was legally obligated to be nice and follow up with some stupid joke before things got too genuine. It was the routine they had quickly fallen into as friends and roommates, and it was one Arden enjoyed, one she was familiar with from the years of keeping people at a distance. They had definitely become closer than she had allowed others in the past, though. With a snort, she shook her head. “You’re insufferable.”

She forced herself to keep her face as neutral as possible, though she couldn’t stop an eyebrow from going up. Interesting. She had known he was staying with a friend, and the thought had certainly crossed her mind, but that was significant– taking care of someone after they were injured. It wasn’t even like Zack lived alone or anything; Arden would’ve helped him out if he had come home after getting out of the hospital, knew Wynne and Sully would have done the same. Zack seemed pretty uncomfortable talking about it, though, so she would keep her thoughts to herself. …for now, at least. “Sounds it,” she grinned. “Glad he’s nice, at least, even if it is just a casual thing. You deserve that.” Offering him a sincere smile, she decided to change the topic

“Anyway,” she drew out the word, “I don’t know about you, but I’m still not over being forced to watch Cats. I don’t even– Was that a real movie? Were we high on something? What was that?” The easy smile back on her face, she leaned back in her seat, sipping her beer. “I love Sully, but what the fuck?”

#alcohol tw #writing #wickedswriting #zackbanes #wr zack #repost because i realized this thread was lost now that zack's blog is gone

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lockheartardenpublishing · 1 year

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So thankful for this progress I have been making on my novel! ✨🌌 It is the love story of Melanie & Levi. 💖

#blogging #writing #lockheart arden publishing #reading #books and novels #books #reading journey #christianity #lockheartardenpublishing #philosophy #romance book #contemporary romance novel #melanie jo ardnt holland #levi jarrett schoneveld

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closingwaters · 8 months

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TIMING: Today, Afternoon

PARTIES: @eldritchaccident @closingwaters

SUMMARY: On the way to try to get some treats to the Wormmates, Teagan runs into Teddy and they set out to finish the bridges together. It's a gooey mess.

WARNINGS: None

It was ominous, walking around town and seeing the petrified faces of people frozen in time. Their last moments forever etched onto their visage for all to see. It made Teagan bristle, the eerie energy causing a sharp, cold shiver down her spine. Perhaps venturing out to get a pumpkin treat wasn’t the best idea, but being cooped up in the cabin with not even the ability to see Wynne or Arden was beginning to drive the nix mad. The video calls helped, if only a little, to quash the discomfort that came with the creeping loneliness.

“Okay…” Teagan sighed, eyes widening and her mind growing alert at the sound of something skittering about in the darkness of the alley by the building she was trying to get to. Another shiver crawled beneath her skin, and she quickly made her way into the shop to make her mission quick. She was happy to find that there wasn’t much of anyone around, making quick work of buying everything that looked tasty. Which was to say, Teagan bought one of almost everything.

She figured if she could get to Wynne and Arden’s apartment, they’d be happy to have a new snack, so she left the business quickly and got her driver to get as close to the goo as he could. Teagan was disappointed to find out that he couldn’t get very close at all. She was left blocks away from her destination, and now that skittering sound was behind her.

Looking around, nothing seemed out of place. Just more buildings and a few passerby, but there was one who caught her attention. They looked like they were on a mission, heading straight toward…a fire escape? Teagan made her way to them and tapped their shoulder, giving them a quizzical look. “Excuse me, what are you doing? Are you trying to get into Worm Row?”

The conversation online with Emilio had been light, jokey, jovial. A bit more “I plan to prove you wrong” than the actual “I’m fucking terrified that anything would happen to you, Wynne, or Arden” that it was. Teddy abandoned all research almost immediately. The ritual was not a fixed point. It would happen whenever it would happen and Teddy would die and it would be fine because the world didn’t need people like them. It needed people like Emilio who could actually help save people. It needed the kindness of people like Wynne. It needed the hardheaded curiosity of people like Arden.

The car (finally retrieved after weeks of avoiding the place where they were duped and subsequently had a brand new part of themself chopped off) was puttering along with the weight of the beams and boards. Comically sticking out the front right and back left window of the little yellow volkswagen beetle, they added yet another challenge to the road. Avoiding the large puddles of goo, avoiding the people who had been petrified by… touching it? It was hard to say what they were doing, only that their frozen faces made for an incredibly eerie sight.

Ted had to stop a few blocks away, and had already made a few trips up and down with the lumber after finding a fire escape that wasn’t coated in the viscous substance.They weren’t expecting to find anyone else here, and certainly weren’t expecting anyone so… calm? The blonde was a little shorter than them, looked a little spooked, but more confused than anything.

“Ah– yeah” There voice was still pretty raw and ragged. They hadn’t actually spoken to anyone out loud since the incident with the stranger. Void below, they knew they weren’t talking to Levi. Too scared to make the disappointment greater, or to somehow make a bigger mess. Getting in their own head about it. The tail was the same. Why tell anyone when it was their mistake? Their fault. Most thirty-five year olds know not to get into cars with strangers. Not Teddy.

“Few of my friends are trapped in an apartment.” They continued, eyes flicking between the bright spot of yellow just a few yards behind the woman. “I’m building a way to get them out.”

Teagan’s curiosity was piqued, a wave of sympathy also washing over her features once she registered how tired the stranger looked. Perhaps she could help them conquer their mission while subsequently doing the same for her own. The more hands they had, the better. At least, that’s what Teagan thought.

“I…” She trailed off, the skittering distracting her once again. What in Fates was that? Couldn’t be a hunter, could it? No, that wasn’t it. Rolling her shoulders, Teagan refocused, blinking the paranoia away. “Well, I-Sorry. Bit distracted, I guess.” She took a deep breath, shifting the bags of treats around from one arm to the next. “I also have some friends stuck in an apartment. My girlfriend and her roommates.” Raising the treats, she presented what she wanted to deliver. “Wanted to try and get to them so they could have some treats to pass the time.”

Skitter…patter, patter…screech!

There was that noise again, only it was accompanied by others far more eerie. Teagan tried her best to keep her composure, moving on from the sounds quickly. “I’m Teagan, by the way. My people are in that apartment over there.” She pointed, "The one with the bricks missing at the top.”

Teddy was far too focused on their task and distracted by the woman (and her melodious accent) to notice the skittering. There had been noises all over during these treks. But nothing had come close enough to warrant a second glance. The rescue mission was far too important. The same one, apparently, that she was on. “Teagan!” Their expression brightened. “You are in luck my new friend cause that’s right where I’m headed to.” A wry laugh escaped the demon as they visibly relaxed. For some reason, the idea of having two sets of hands and two pairs of eyes trying to engineer their way across made the whole thing a lot easier. Hell, even just having someone there to talk to while they did it would make it better.

“I’m Teddy. Trying to un-stick two of the nicest people I know and one of the grumpiest, but still the best.” A compliment added, as if the sullen slayer was going to somehow hear the joke, and choose to stay behind. Sounded like something he might do honestly. Spite worked overtime for Emilio Cortez. “Who are your friends? What apartment in there? Don’t tell me it’s Jeff. No offense if it is but that guy is the worst.” They met the man like once, and it was not pleasant.

“Well it’s a pleasure to meet you, Teddy.” A grin spread across her face and she tucked her hair behind her ear. Their energy was welcomed, a bright and warm thing. Teagan couldn’t believe her luck that they both had the same destination. “So I’m guessing those boards are to make some sort of bridge then, eh?” She chuckled, a bit hopeful. With two people working on such an endeavor, the task would surely be done that much quicker.

“My friends are definitely not Jeff. Besides, I’m a lesbian. Would not have a man to save.” She scrunched her nose playfully, placing the bags of treats on the sidewalk. The chittering was much easier to ignore then. “My girlfriend is Arden, and her roommate that I know is Wynne. Don’t know the new additions. My focus is really those two.” Teagan shrugged, turning back to Teddy with her hands on her hips. “So,” She walked up to them, eyeing the boards. “Ya gonna let me help or what?”

"That's reductive, lesbians can be friends with guys." Teddy replied with an obvious grin on their face and a laugh in their heart, as they extended a hand towards Teagan. "And yes, bridge making. Got the first bridge to that building up and secured. Almost got all the materials up and over to get to their place." The demon paused for a second, gleefully balked, and began to bounce in place. Their hands joined, excitedly dancing because they just couldn't keep them still. Just absolutely incredulous at the sheer luck that they'd run into someone trying to get to the same people.

"Yeah!! Wynne and Arden!!" They were practically jumping up and down by that point. Giddy and filled with an energy they'd been lacking the last few weeks. Teddy motioned for Teagan to follow and grab the last load of lumber from the car. "And my bud Emilio too, but man. Small world. Or town I guess. I'm hella happy to have a hand. You have no idea how many screws I lost to the goo trying to hold them, the boards, and the drill all at the same time."

Teagan snorted, shaking her head and covering her face with faux bashfulness. It quickly turned into glee that matched her new friend’s, the two of them bouncing as realization took them both. They were like kids who’d had too much candy, kindred spirits feeding into one another despite the way acid began to build and ache in Teagan’s throat at the mention of Emilio. Arden and him were friends, and it was just the way it was. She’d tolerate him if it made her happy. It’s not like she had to speak to him to help save him anyway.

Quickly following Teddy, the nix put the muscles she had been refining with Andy to use. Balance was getting easier to manage, and in a matter of two hours, the pair had created sturdy paths. There was just a small stretch left, but Teagan needed a moment before they continued.

“Need a short break. Getting hard to keep my eyes open.” She laid on the ground and attempted to slow her labored breathing from all the work. Teagan’s sleep hadn’t been the best since having Arden in her bed wasn’t an option, and it didn’t feel right to use the quilt while her partner suffered. “I won’t be long. Once I’m good, I’ll grab the treats and we’ll make our way to victory.” She offered Teddy a tired grin, looking up at them a moment before she closed her eyes to rest. It was supposed to be for just a minute or two, but before Teagan knew it, sleep overcame her, glamour falling completely.

Well that was a little unexpected. Not completely, not in a town like Wicked's Rest, but the… well she must have been a nix or a nereid right? She was so exhausted that she conked right out. In a way, Teddy felt a swell of pride that Teagan felt comfortable enough to do that in front of them. Unless it had been unintentional, the actually sleeping part. Taking a quick breather and taking a nap were two very different things. Ted had to admit, they were feeling the adrenaline begin to wane. They still hadn't recovered from the mines, or the incident with the—

Shit.

Teagan's tail!

It was sliced not too differently from Teddy's own. The demon removed their cherry red glasses, dropping the illusion that they were human too. Blue skin, bright teal eyes, sharpened canines. Their more aquatic features were unfortunately hidden beneath their shirt and shoes, but the webbing between their fingers was enough to show the kinship. Part of them wanted to wake the sleeping fae and ask her all about it, what she remembered, how did she get away? But it was clear she was exhausted, they were too. But goddamn how many similarities did they share with this lady? Using all the patience at their disposal, Teddy waited. Sitting beside her protectively as the minutes passed.

The nap was dreamless, thankfully, and when Teagan finally woke up, she jolted up. She immediately glamoured herself, goosebumps raised at the way she stupidly fell asleep. For all she knew, Teddy was human, and she very well could have put herself in danger. “Teddy?” She looked all around herself, eyes landing on something else. No, it was someone else.

A toothy grin began to spread across the nix’s face, realizing that many of Teddy’s more human features reflected in their new ones. They were beautiful, absolutely magnificent, and Teagan couldn’t help but pounce forward to tackle them into a hug. “I’ve never seen someone quite like you! Dear me, you are gorgeous!” She kissed their cheek, nuzzling into them while she let her glamour fall again as if she’d known them for years.

“What are ya? Can’t be fae. Don’t sense you.” Scanning Teddy, her smile grew further, heterochromic eyes gleaming. Maybe they weren’t a nereid or nix, but the webbed hands and texture of their skin was enough to scream that they were a child of water. “Oh this is a cause for celebration, isn’t it?! We can-we can save our people and then-and then—” Teagan was far too giddy to finish her thoughts for a few beats, squealing with excitement before gasping with an idea. “We can get the treats and come back up to gather our strength with some food and conversation! Yes! Magnificent! What say you, darling?”

A joyous laughter echoed through the alleyway, muffled only by the leagues of goo that lurked around the corners. Teddy hadn’t expected quite that reaction either but it was welcome. Few people expressed their bliss so vividly, and Teagan was technicolor. “There ain’t anyone else like me in the whole ‘verse.” The demon returned her affection by wrapping long gangly arms around her, rustling her hair like she was a kid sister or something before bonking against her forehead slightly.

“Don’t meet too many nixies or nereids on land. You can absolutely smack me for this but I genuinely can’t remember which axolotls are from. That’s what you– Fresh or salt I mean. They’re like salamanders right? So probably freshwater but–” Teddy was jabbering, making a bit of a fool of themself. But when weren’t they? Couldn’t help that they were just overflowing with excitement. Only magnified by the exuberance on display. “Ah I mean, you’re the expert, clearly just look at you!” She was beautiful. It took a hell of a lot of restraint to not want to run off and go find somewhere to swim together.

Ah, but… Well that brought back an unfortunate realization. Teddy’s expression soured, combined with the second question and the unavoidable response if they wanted to give her the truth. Which they did. She deserved that. But not even Arden knew about Ted’s probability of untimely demise. It felt too heavy a thing to place on an already full plate. “The answer is a long story, and might be ending soon anyway. But don’t you worry about that. We have lovely people to save and treats to deliver.” There was a pause, and Teddy’s attention flicked away again. Maybe it was an excuse to change the subject, or maybe it was curiosity peaking once they saw the blunt cut on Teagan’s tail from a different angle.

“That wasn’t an accident, was it?” It was the first of their statements that sounded sure. Sounded like they knew something else, the context without knowing her or what happened to her. “I thought I was the only one– I–” Teddy offered something of a sympathetic smile. “We can talk about it later though, you’re right. We should save our people first.”

Teagan snorted, shaking her head and connected her forehead to Teddy’s. “Oh, you’re so lovely that I’m gonna let that slide.” When she pulled away, she offered another smile, “I protect freshwater bodies, so we’re clear. And yes, like salamanders, indeed.” Rolling her lips over her teeth, Teagan licked her lips and continued to smile, watching the way Teddy met her with the same level of noise. It truly was as she thought; water, salt or not, was all connected. Her new friend didn’t need to be fae to be kin. But her smile quickly faltered at the mention of her tail, and Teagan looked down to avoid Teddy’s gaze.

“Aye.” She sighed shakily, “Not an…not an accident.” The image of the hunter crashed through her mind, and Teagan wrung her fingers together to deal with the overwhelming anxiety that began to eat at her body. When Teddy continued, cementing themself further as her kin, Teagan let out a choked sob, trying her best to hold back the tears. And they were right. They could talk about it later. With people to save, conversation mattered very little. “Right. Let’s, um…let’s grab the bag of treats and then finish up. Been seeing people eye the bag anyway.” She smiled wanly, cupping Teddy’s face briefly before turning and heading back to the road. Luckily, the bag was still untouched despite how much time it had been left alone.

“All right…” Teagan picked up the bag, eyes still misty and red from her sorrow threatening to rush out. She hoped her smile was enough to show that she was trying to move past it. “The treats are—” Skitter, skitter! There was that sound again. “Did you hear that?” The nix’s head whipped around, finding nothing moving about. Nothing. Nothing that could cause that sound. She shuddered, wanting to leave. The goo was making her uncomfortable, probably getting to her, she thought. “Forget it. I-um…yeah! Treats. Let’s g—” Screeeeech!

“What fuck is…!” A gooey creature latched onto the fae, causing her to stumble back. She caught her footing enough to not fall into the goo, much to her relief. “Twll dy din!” Speaking in her native tongue, Teagan attempted to get the claws off of her, but the creature persisted, forcing her to scramble about and drop the treats. Its legs dug into her body, finding painful purchase in her flesh. She winced and tugged, frantic to get the thing off of her as she noticed it’s goo hardening on her skin. “Teddy! I—” With one more attack to her face, Teagan fell backwards, landing herself in a pool of goo and sending the creature somewhere else. Fear overcame her, and she stood quickly only to realize that her entire body, even her face had been covered. She was lucky that the hand that once carried the treats had remained untouched, and she quickly reached out for Teddy.

“Teddy, it’s hardening. I can’t move my legs.” Her voice remained oddly calm, but her body betrayed her. It trembled, continuing to tug, to fight for survival. After all, that’s what Teagan did. She survived. But maybe, she wondered, maybe that was the ending she was always meant to have. Maybe she doomed Arden from the beginning because monsters didn’t get happy endings. It was awful, really. She wanted to live, and for the first time, she was beginning to process and try to heal. Reach that life her and Arden dreamed of. It was a cruel fate, but it was a battle she was quickly losing while her outstretched arm became rigid. “Teddy. Listen to-to me. Give this ring on-on my hand to Arden. Please. Tell—” Her lips were getting harder to move, her breath quick and frantic. “Tell her I love…” She trailed off, no longer able to speak. Frozen and damned, with only a dangling, clawed hand remaining free.

In an instant the moment shifted. Going from one of mirth and shared exuberant experience to a nightmare of panic and ichor. Teddy didn’t have time to react properly, their seated position and strain on their already tired muscles made them slow. “TEAGAN–” Too slow to do anything about the insectoid creature that leapt from the shadows and onto their new friend’s face. Shock wiped the smile from their face as they tumbled forward trying to grasp for Teagan as she was pulled backwards and then– then…

Before the demon could blink, the goo was… encasing her. Changing her. Siphoning life from each spot where it touched. “No no– C’mon NO. NO PLEASE. FUCK.” Their voice was raw, ragged. Screams loud enough that the apartment next door would probably have heard. Enough that Emilio definitely would have. Enough that the dumbass slayer would try and come to their ‘rescue’ if they didn’t get up on the roof to show that they were alive. “We’re gonna–” They choked on tears and panic. “–gonna get you out of there.” They’d been able to save Ted from the crystals, maybe this was the same maybe it was–

Teddy’s breath hitched in their chest, hyperventilating while somehow not getting any air at all. Their head whipped around to find the bug, still skittering around nearby. It seemed smug, almost. Or maybe that was just how their brain interpreted it. Carful to not touch the vile thing, they grabbed the closest blunt object, a spare board they hadn’t needed to bring up the fire escape and swung it with every ounce of supernatural strength left in their body. It crunched and squished into a fine paste, but Teddy kept slamming the board down anyway. Fury rising up where it normally lay dormant.

The alley was too quiet after that. All that was left of Teagan was the hand, clawed and pinkish white. Teddy grabbed for it, carefully. They slipped the ring off, and looked at her frozen face with shaky eyes. “We’ll figure this out. You’ll tell her. You can do that, you have to be able to do that and– it’s gonna be okay. I’m gonna get them out of there, I’m gonna keep them safe– I’m sorry.” They couldn’t take their eyes off the statue. Couldn’t bear to. It was only the thought of losing anyone else to this mess that finally pulled the demon from this awful impromptu vigil.

They were going to fix this. They had to.

#wickedswriting #writings #waving words #teddy and teagan #c: teddy #building bridges #potw

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