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littlepeakydevil · 2 months ago

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Love Me Where I'm Most Ruined

PART 29: Back From Under the Ground

CHAPTER 1: Across the Tracks

Warnings: Violence and sexual content.

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It was a cold, dreary day on Miquelon Island. Fog was setting in, the skies grey and air bitingly chilly. Snow speckled the shoulders of Lily and Tommy’s coats, a fine white dusting against the woolen black material.

They strode quickly through the streets of the island. On their way, a little black dog followed alongside them. Lily smiled at the little creature, wishing that she had some dog biscuits stowed away in her coat that she could have given him.

Beside her, Tommy was clutching a briefcase, his shoulders hunched against the bitter cold. At one point, they stopped so that he could speak briefly with a police officer, giving him instructions on what to do should the two of them be killed. And then they were on their way again. Traipsing up a snow covered hill and picking their way towards the hotel that the meeting was to be held at. The sign creaked ominously above the door in the slight wind.

Lily let out a breath of relief when they stepped inside and were greeted by an immediate rush of warm air. She didn’t need to look in a mirror to know that her cheeks were likely pink with the beginnings of frostbite, and even inside her leather gloves, her fingers were freezing.

A pub took up the bottom floor of the hotel. Dimly lit, its only other occupants were two groups of men seated at tables at the far side of the room. A couple of them looked up at them warily when they came in.

Following Tommy to the bar, Lily took a seat next to him. Dragging her chair close enough that their sides could press together.

They were far enough away from England that they didn’t need to worry so much about being seen being affectionate towards each other in public. And besides, she was very cold and he was always warm.

“You alright?” he asked, after ringing the bell to alert the bartender that they were there.

“Yeah.” Pulling off her gloves, she stuffed them into her pocket, smiling a little to herself when he slipped an arm around her, pulling her closer to his warm body. Hand rubbing up and down her shoulder.

The owner of the pub came out from the back, informing them that some pigeons had gotten into the meeting room, and his wife was clearing them out now. Tommy pulled out his cigarette case, offering one to her before taking one for himself.

“I’ll have a glass of water, please,” Tommy requested in response to the owner asking if he wanted anything to drink.

“I’ll have the same,” Lily added when the owner’s eyes moved to her. From one of the tables near the wall, she sensed some of the men seated there still staring at them.

Tommy lit her cigarette for her, then his own, pulling an ashtray closer to them. The owner bustled behind the bar, pouring them each a glass of still, clear water. Lily looked behind him at the bottles of amber and brown booze, and felt her throat burn a little with longing.

It had been years since she and Tommy both quit the drink, and yet the desire for one never fully left her.

The owner of the hotel set a newspaper down in front of Tommy, and one of the men from the table by the wall came over. Slouching against the bar and ordering another bottle of whiskey. Lily eyed him from around Tommy’s shoulder.

As the man–Jean-Claude was the name that the hotel owner referred to him by–talked to Tommy, lamenting the ending of prohibition, Lily observed him closely. His agitation was obvious and growing by the minute. Tommy shifted, angling his body a little so that he was more or less a shield between her and Jean-Claude. Even when Jean-Claude dumped the remaining water in Tommy’s glass onto the floor and replaced it with whiskey, demanding he drink a toast, Tommy remained stoic and calm.

He’d gotten more patient, since he stopped drinking.

The men at the tables were all watching silently. Lily was suddenly deeply aware of the weight of her pistol in its holster, sitting snug against her ribs. Her eye caught Tommy’s while he set about stubbing out his cigarette. Attempting to placate Jean-Claude without consuming the glass of whiskey he’d placed before him.

Be ready for violence, his eyes told her silently. She gave him an almost indiscernible nod.

Jean-Claude’s already fraying temper snapped, smashing the whiskey bottle against the bar. Before he could do anything more, however, Tommy flew from his chair, hand out, pocket knife catching Jean-Claude across the cheek. He went down, his friends already leaping from their seats, on the attack. One tried to take a swing at Tommy and Lily hurled herself at him, bringing her knee up to crash hard into his balls. He doubled over, and she kicked him to the floor. Another charged at them, and Tommy sent him flailing to the ground.

Tommy tried one last time to explain that they would not drink their toast not out of disrespect, but because four years ago they’d foreswore alcohol. But Jean-Claude scrambled to his feet. His cheek was bloody where Tommy sliced him, hand fumbling to grab up a knife.

“No.” Tommy raised his gun. Lily pulled hers from her coat, leveling it with a man who had been inching his way towards them. He immediately backed off, hands raised. Tommy fired a warning shot at the telephone in the corner. It sparked, the bullet clanging when it struck the metal. Most of the men save for Jean-Claude hit the deck. Jean-Claude tossed his knife aside and raised his hands in surrender. “Don’t.”

A pigeon flapped through the doorway in the corner of the room, and Tommy’s next bullet struck it cleanly from the air in a spray of white feathers.

“Since I forswore alcohol, I’ve become a calmer and more peaceful person,” Tommy announced to the room, fingers flexing around the grip of his pistol. Lily bit the inside of her cheek to keep from snorting. She imagined that the pigeon he’d just shot would have had an alternative view on that statement.

The hotel owner’s wife came running down the stairs to see what all the commotion was about, her arrival putting a final punctuation to the already concluding conflict. Tommy started to gather up his things from where they’d been sitting. Giving the men a final look of warning, Lily lowered her weapon, tucking it away back into her holster.

“Don’t try anything,” she told them, stepping backwards a few paces, turning to follow Tommy up the stairs to the room they would be having their meeting in.

It was a dusty, dingy room. While Tommy and the hotel owner’s wife pulled away the coverings on the windows, Lily started to arrange the chairs around the table in a calculated semi-circle.

“You can go,” she told the woman in French once the windows were all uncovered.

“Do you want anything more to drink?” she asked, eyeing the pitcher of water already on the table.

“Bring a tray of whiskey and glasses. For our guests.”

The woman nodded, and went to descend the stairs. Tommy poured them each a fresh glass of water, then checked his pocket watch.

“He’s late,” Lily commented, stepping around the table towards him. Tommy grunted in agreement. Taking off his cap, he balled it up and shoved it in his coat pocket. Lily did the same with hers, trailing a finger through her red hair to try to smooth it down.

Tommy lit another cigarette while they waited, his movements deliberate. Lily sidled up a little closer to him. This time not just because she was chilly from the brisk air in the room. She could recognize the anxiety underlying his actions.

“Are you alright?” she asked, softly. Tommy sighed.

“I’ll be fine.”

“If he tries anything, I’ll kill him.”

He touched her face. “I know.” Reaching over, he pulled up a chair next to his behind the table. “I’ll do most of the talking. You just sit here and stay close to me.”

Smiling a little to herself, she took a step towards him, looping her arms around his neck and stretching up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “You got it, boss.”

That got a ghost of a smile tugging at the edges of his lips. A hand came to settle on her waist, thumb rubbing circles into her hip. At the sound of boots on the stairs, Tommy pressed his lips to her temple.

“Here we fucking go,” she heard him mumble under his breath. Giving him a squeeze, she let him go and went to the chair he’d pulled up for her. Sinking into it, she angled her body towards Tommy, crossing one leg over the other, slouching back casually. Seemingly lazy, bored, and unworried. Her forearm rested on the table, hand dangling off of it with her cigarette clutched between her fingers.

One by one, men filed into the room. The last one to enter paused in the doorway, reaching up to pluck his hat from his head.

“Hello, Tommy, “Michael said.

Just the sound of his voice was enough to have Lily’s grip on her cigarette tightening. He looked more or less the same as he had four years ago. When they’d last seen him at Polly’s funeral. Except for the small mustache lining his upper lip. That was new.

Tommy greeted him, hands clasped in front of him, eyes fixed on his cousin, assessing. Michael made zero acknowledgement of Lily. He didn’t even look at her. She took a small amount of petty glee in that.

The little idiot must really hate her. More than she’d even thought. Good. They were on common ground, then.

Michael and his men all took their seats and the meeting commenced. Lily kept her eyes trained firmly on Michael, rolling her cigarette lazily between her fingers. She could sense some of his comrades eyeing her, probably wondering who she was and what she was doing there.

“No one said anything about you bringing a woman with you, Shelby,” commented the man seated to Michael’s right. Connor Dunn was his name, according to the research she’d done on all of Michael’s associates. He was looking at Lily with narrowed eyes.

“Aw, Michael, did you really forget to tell your new friends about me?” Lily asked, taking a lazy drag from her cigarette. Michael still refused to acknowledge her.

“Lily is my personal assistant, she comes along for all my business meetings,” Tommy informed Connor.

“She’s also his whore,” Michael finally chimed in. Lily raised an eyebrow. Beside her, she heard Tommy heave a small, exasperated sigh. Before he could bark back at him and potentially cost them the deal they’d come to propose, she spoke up.

“It’s good to see you too, Michael. How’s your son? How’s Gina?” She wondered if he would still look so smug if she brought up his wife’s escapades behind his back.

Michael sneered at her. “They’re fine.”

“Good.” I hope your wife trips and breaks her pretty little neck.

Michael returned his gaze to Tommy. The other men in the room seemed to lose interest in her.

Tommy gave them his proposal that they use the systems already in place on the island for bootlegging alcohol to instead ship their opium into North America. Lily spent the rest of the meeting closely assessing each and every one of the men seated in the room with them. Most of them were generally insignificant. But Connor interested her. For as much as Michael may have been trying to present himself as the leader of the group, it was actually Connor who was in charge. He was higher up in Jack Nelson’s organization than Michael was. Despite Michael being married to Jack’s niece.

Her leg rested against Tommy’s under the table when he finally took his seat next to her.

The hotel owner’s wife came back up with the drinks they ordered. Lily caught herself gazing longingly at the glass of whiskey that was set in front of her. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Tommy doing the same. When the men tried to pressure him into drinking it, she felt herself tense. But the toe of Tommy’s shoe rubbed back and forth along her calf soothingly under the table. Leaning forward, he plucked the glass of whiskey in his hand, holding it up so that the pale light filtering in through the windows gleamed off of the dark, rich amber.

“You know, since we last met, Michael…well, I’ve become a better man. I now realize that whiskey is just fuel for the loud engines inside your head.”

All the other men in the room burst into jeering laughter.

“What is this guy, a fucking poet?” Connor snickered. Tommy exchanged a knowing look with Lily.

“Oh, I do read poetry, but I don’t yet write it.”

The men’s smiles fell at the lack of impact their taunts rendered.

“They say the fog is going to get worse.” Tommy stubbed his cigarette out into the ashtray. “Better get off this island before it traps us here.” He stood to leave, Lily right behind him, but one of the men blocked their way. Lily’s muscles squeezed with preparation for a fight, fingers itching for her pocket knife or pistol.

“Just understand, Uncle Jack decides everything. Okay?” Connor was still lounging back in his chair. “And I decide when the meeting is over. So sit down ‘til I say.”

Lily swept her gaze across the room, annoyance prickling under her skin. Michael was staring at them with an air of snugness that made her want to lunge across the table and smash his face in.

She turned her gaze back to Tommy, silently pleading with him to let her. They could take all of them. So long as they were quick enough.

Do as he says, love, Tommy told her silently with his eyes.

She gave him a slight pout, but returned to her seat. Tommy settled down beside her, expression growing deeply unimpressed as the man who had blocked them from leaving pushed the glass of whiskey in front of him, filling it with amber liquid until it was nearly overflowing.

From across the table, Connor smirked at Tommy. “Good boy.”

The men around them chuckled. Lily glanced around at them, unimpressed. Was this what they called intimidation? Some attempt at a power play? If so, it was incredibly transparent and childish in its execution. Like bullies in the schoolyard rather than professionals.

She hoped Jack Nelson would prove more sophisticated than his lackeys. Or else this was going to be a very boring business transaction.

“Now, give us all a poem before we go,” Connor demanded. Lily had to raise a hand to her face to stifle a snort. Tommy was going to run fucking circles around these boys.

Hell, he already was.

His eyes swept across the room, fixing on each of the men in turn. Pushing the overfilled glass of whiskey aside, he leaned forward, hands clasped and elbows resting against the table. Eyes closed, he began to recite:

“I was angry with my friend. I told my wrath, my wrath did end.”

She was briefly transported back to the ship ride across the Atlantic from England. Laying in bed in their cabin with her head on Tommy’s lap while he read to her from the book of poems she’d gotten him as an early Christmas present. His fingers stroking through her hair, the deep rumble of his voice and the gentle rocking of the ship helping to lull her.

Tommy’s eyes opened, fixing on Michael.

“I was angry with my foe. I told it not. My wrath did grow.”

Michael started clapping sarcastically. But everyone else in the room was silent. Lily swept her gaze across the room, taking in their faces. Pleased to see that they appeared to have finally started to understand just who it was they were dealing with.

“Meeting over,” Tommy declared firmly, rising to his feet. Lily followed him with smooth movements. Before they left, Tommy informed them that there was an informant in their organization in South Boston, and passed on the briefcase full of opium to Michael.

She followed him out the door and down the stairs. In the pub, Jean-Claude was getting his face stitched up by his friends. Tommy slid his business card his way, and set a large wad of cash in front of the hotel owner. In French, he mumbled a message to them.

“Every catastrophe is also an opportunity.”

Pulling back on their caps, they ventured outside, into the cold.

“Right,” Tommy said. “What did you get from that?”

“Connor Dunn obviously is in charge, like we thought. I wonder if he’s also a sort of handler for Michael. Keeps an eye on him and whatnot.”

“You think Jack Nelson doesn’t really trust him?”

“Would you, if you were him?” She looked out at the roiling waves of the ocean in the distance. The fog was indeed growing thicker. “He hasn’t changed much.”

“No,” Tommy sighed in agreement. “He hasn’t.”

“I don’t think any of the other men with him were of much significance. Just lackeys brought along to protect Michael and Connor.”

She slipped her arm through Tommy’s. He pulled her a little closer to his side.

Instead of going directly to the docks, they headed to the police station. Tommy went straight to the phone when they came in, dialing the St. John’s Harbour Marine Police. Lily smiled at the little cat who jumped down from where she was sitting on the windowsill. Reaching down to give her a few pets along her soft back. The cat brushed up against her legs, purring. A twinge of missing her own little furball back at Arrow House throbbed in her chest.

The cat darted away. Straightening, Lily leaned against the desk at Tommy’s side while he finished giving his anonymous report as a concerned citizen. Informing the police of where to find Michael when he docked and the contents of his briefcase. A delighted smirk pulled at her lips when he gave his name as Mr. Jones.

Phone call done, Tommy reached for her, linking their arms back together and leading her outside.

“You have the tickets for the boat?”

“In my pocket.” She huddled in closer to his side. The wind had picked up. They made it to the dock with hurried footsteps, Lily passing their tickets to the captain. Tommy climbed aboard first, hand held out for her to grasp to help keep her balance while she climbed in behind him.

“The boat ride isn’t too long,” he comforted, wrapping his arms around her after they sat down. Letting her huddle into his body against the freezing air. His voice lowered. “Then we’ll go back to the hotel and I’ll get you nice and warm, eh?”

“Mm…” she hummed contently at the suggestion, head moving to rub against him a little like a cat. “That sounds like a plan I can agree to.”

He chuckled, cheek resting against the top of her head. Her fingers hooked in the material of his deep red scarf, giving it a little tug, running the tips of her fingers along the soft fabric and smiling to herself. Tommy nudged her.

“What?”

“I like the scarf.” She peeked up at him shyly. Tommy’s lips twitched up, one brow lifting in intrigue.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Later, long after they’d returned to the mainland, he insisted they duck into a shop. Where, to her absolute delight, he purchased several more scarves. In a variety of colors. To go with different suits, ties, and occasions.

—

Like her husband, Gina had not changed all that much. Still smug, spoiled, and thinking herself far more important than she actually was.

Lily almost laughed when she let it slip that Jack Nelson was on his way to London. They had heard rumblings about him making such a trip, but with no direct confirmation. Until now.

Also like Michael, Gina hardly made any acknowledgement of Lily at first. So she parked herself on one of the couches in the sitting room, lighting a cigarette. Watching in quiet amusement while Gina paraded smugly in front of Tommy how far her uncle had risen. And the message that Jack left with her, saying no to their proposed deal.

Oh, please tell her, Lily begged Tommy with her eyes, longing to see the stupid little girl’s smirk wiped from her face. Tommy raised an eyebrow, taking a seat beside her on the couch whilst Gina lounged on the one across from them.

Lily didn’t bother even trying to stifle her grin as Tommy informed Gina that it was him who orchestrated Michael’s arrest. The way that her smile fell was delightful. Even more so when the look morphed into one of horror at Tommy’s threat to sell their opium to the East Boston Jews if Jack didn’t want it.

When he bid Gina goodbye, Lily rose to follow him to the stairs. Gina irritably kicked the stereo she’d been listening to before they came in. Sound roared out of it once more. Her hand shot out to circle around Lily’s wrist and Lily turned to her, eyes wide, ready to shove her away if she needed to.

“I see you’re back to being his little shadow, Callaghan.” Gina hissed. Voice low enough that over the booming jazz music, Lily had to assume that Tommy couldn’t hear her. She sensed him making a move towards them to rip Gina away from her. Lily raised a hand to let him know it was okay, and to stay put. She was interested to hear what Gina wanted to say to her. “Pity. When this all goes to hell, there could have been a place for you here.”

Lily raised an eyebrow. “You and your husband hate me.”

“Yes. But I told my uncle about you. And he’s not one to waste those with skills that can be of use.”

Lily looked her up and down, brows pinching together. So was that Jack Nelson’s play? Try to tempt her away from Tommy?

He was in for a nasty surprise if he thought that was actually going to work.

“I’d rather eat horse shit than be a part of your family, Gina.” Ripping her hand from her, Lily went to where Tommy was waiting for her by the stairs. She took his outstretched hand.

“What did she say to you?” he asked once they were outside.

Lily shook her head. “Just some nonsense about how Jack could have use for me.” She let her head rest against his bicep while they walked. “I told her to fuck off.”

Tommy hummed, but she could see him frowning. Cocking her head, she gave his hand a squeeze, trying to get his attention. He always did worry so much about someone swooping in and taking her away from him. Even if it was a complete impossibility.

“Tommy?” When he didn’t respond, she rolled her eyes. Giving his arm a sharper tug, pulling him with her into a side alley they were passing by.

“Lily, what–?”

She pressed his back up against the brick wall and curled her fingers in the material of the scarf he was wearing. Pulling his face down to hers so she could kiss him. His hands caught at her waist, holding her to him while his lips parted against hers.

She kissed him hard, using her body to press him more firmly against the wall. A soft moan left his lips, one of his hands cupping the back of her head. Their tongues tangled together while their mouths moved.

When she pulled back, just enough so that their foreheads touched, it was to find him looking a little out of breath. Cheeks tinged pink from more than just the cold. Eyes hazing over with awakened lust.

“I thought…maybe we could look into getting a girl for tonight,” she suggested softly, voice barely above a whisper. Tommy’s brows rose, leaning in closer to her.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. It had been a long time since they’d had someone else in their bed who wasn’t Lizzie. Threesomes had lost a lot of their shine over the years. And Tommy never complained about her pulling back from them. She sometimes suspected that he shared her feelings.

But it was still something that could be fun. Every once in a blue moon.

“Only if you want to,” she added.

His hands cupped her face, thumb rubbing along her cheekbone, eyes searching hers. His lips slotted against her mouth in answer.

“I want whatever you want.”

Lily smiled, taking his hand in hers, bumping their noses affectionately. When they started to walk back to the hotel, Tommy let go of her hand in favor of putting his arm around her shoulders.

“What do you want to do now that we know Jack’s headed to London? Aren’t Lizzie and the kids supposed to board the ship tomorrow?” They were running out of time if they needed to cancel.

“I haven’t decided yet. We really should go back to England…”

“Yeah,” she agreed. “I was looking forward to having the kids here.” It would have been nice to have a holiday with all of them.

“Me too. Lizzie was going to call me before they left Arrow House. I’ll decide by then.”

“Alright.”

“In the meantime, dig around and make some calls. See if you can find any more information about who Nelson is meeting with and when.”

“Sure.”

His thumb smoothed up and down against her shoulder, face angling to touch his cheek to the top of her head. “I’ve enjoyed this, you know,” he said softly. “Just you and me.”

Lily smiled to herself.

“Me too.”

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#tommy shelby x oc #lily callaghan x tommy shelby #lily callaghan #love me where i'm most ruined #back from under the ground #tommy shelby fanfic #peaky blinders oc #peaky blinders fanfic

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bucket-barnes · 2 years ago

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(Suggestion from @shouldwemaybe)

Isle Christmas traditions

The Isle of the lost isn’t a place many would consider “merry”…quite the opposite actually, joy is an unknown emotion to most residents of the Isle, schadenfreude sure, but not any forms of Joy or merriment. When winter rolls around, and when Auradonians start getting ready for the holidays, Isle residents find their own ways to celebrate…though that term is used loosely, more so “things done to make the winter more bearable”.

The pirates often found winter to be the ample time for “caroling”, or more accurately “getting drunk and singing sea shanties at the top of your lungs to distract yourself from the frostbite” (pirate ships aren’t exactly known for being warm places to sleep). This was a tradition that the lost revenge crew found themselves partaking in during Uma’s absence (Uma wasn’t very fond of the tradition as the pirates drunken singing often drove away customers). Harry, as de facto captain in Uma’s absence, was definitely a leader in this intoxicated choir, because if he drank enough rum and sang enough shanties…who’s to say his fingertips weren’t turning dark blue? Severe frostbite? No! You’re just drunk! (Safe to say Uma was less than pleased once Gil spilled the beans after she asked him where all the new scars on Harry’s hands came from)

The Tremaine’s were a more sophisticated lot, often decorating their apartment above the salon with whatever tossed out and broken ornaments from Auradon that came in on the barges, Anthony doing his best to make a nice dinner with whatever food was the least spoiled, and little Dizzy making gifts for her family, often taking inspiration from what she saw Evie wearing on TV and daydreaming about when she would get to Auradon and would be able to give her grandmother a broach made of real emerald or give Anthony a new coat not made from leather scraps

If you were of the more religious variety, Claud Frollo often held church services from inside the crepery (a church to some), though attendance tended to be low since most people abandoned their gods once they realized they were on the isle. The Tremaine’s were often in attendance, on occasion Captain Hook would be there if the sober guilt started getting to him, maybe a couple goblins wandered inside. Claudine didn’t mind her father’s sermons, it was nice change from him berating her and calling her a sin and disappointment. She always sat at the register listening to her father speak as she continued to serve customers that weren’t there for religion

The Legume family had their own traditions. Gaston would take his sons on a “hunting trip” on the far side of the isle, well…except Gil, he was too busy making sure no one had to cut off Harry’s hands because of the frostbite he refused to acknowledge. This hunting trip usually consisted of picking off whatever wildlife managed to survive on the isle and then taking it home for Gaston’s wife to cook into…they wouldn’t call it a feast, more so the only decent food the Legume boys are gonna see for a while. Gil’s stepmother, though married to Gaston, wasn’t terrible, she always saved a little bit of meat for Gil for when he came home, it wasn’t much but, better than nothing

Overall, the Isle of the lost is far from merry or very festive but…people adapt

Hope you liked this! It’s kinda short and admittedly not my best work (it’s kinda hard to come up with unique traditions while keeping the Isle’s normal levels of overall shittiness) I’d love to flesh out some of these ideas though so let me know if you have one in particular you’d like to see made into it’s own story! And feel free to keep giving me festive writing prompts!

#disney descendants #harry hook #descendants 3 #gil descendants #ben descendants #carlos descendants #jay descendants #evie descendants #mal descendants #disney #christmas #festive #i don’t care that it’s november i want to be christmas festive #descendants fandom #descendants fanfiction

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storywritings-cabin · 1 year ago

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(cw: death, puppets, screams)

"Hey Chief..." Barry enters through Chief Azrael's office. Where his back is facing the cat. "Ah Barry! Welcome! I suppose you want to know why I want you to come here." Barry nods his head, but is worried that it might be trouble.

"Don't worry my friend, your not in trouble. I like to introduce you to seven new members of our team."

"Seven?!"

"Yes, seven." Azrael then places his rather large hand on Barry's shoulder, "and I think you'll be interested to see them all."

-----

The voices were heard upstairs, once Azrael claps his hands to begin their arrival. The first to arrive digs themselves towards Barry and Azrael. Until it pops out to be a mole wearing goggles.

"You called Chief?" They straighten their goggles out.

Azrael: Yes Twigs, I like you to meet our youngest supporter; Barry. Barry, this is Twigs

Twigs: (looks at Barry) So your the supporter that has been with our whole team eh? Chief has told me and my pals some things about you kid.

(Barry becomes silent a bit)

Twigs: I meant that I heard good stuff about you from Chief

Barry: Oh! Uhh, thanks Twigs

Twigs: It's alright kid (raises his claw out to Barry)

(Barry raises his paw out and the two began to handshake)

(Azrael watches the two handshake, then the three hear a pleasant singing voice coming ahead. It comes from a red cat wearing London style clothing and holding a cane, and a blue cat wearing French style clothing walking together)

???: You brought us here Chief Azrael sir

Azrael: Indeed I do, Claude

Twigs: Alright con cats, Chief brought us here to meet his young supporter of his team, aaand he isss right here (pulls Barry over to Claude and his blue cat friend)

Claude: Good evening boy (tips his hat) Allow me to introduce myself, I am Claude and this right here is Nigel, my blue French companion

Nigel: (bows to Barry) Greetings chat(cat)! That means 'cat' in French

Barry: It's nice to meet you guys

Claude: Oh yes a marvelous pleasure to meet you dear boy

(The five then hear sounds of a running animal, it comes out with someone riding a giant warthog who turns out to be a reddish orange fox wearing warm western style clothing and chewing a small skewer stick in his mouth)

???: Howdy here Chief!

Azrael: Pleasure you came here Iram

Iram: Hell yeah I do Chief, so what you got me here today for? (Grabs out his ladle) Oden?

Azrael: (laughs) Oh no no no no Iram. It's just that I like you to meet the supporter of Team Frostbite, this is Barry

Iram: Whoa! I never seen your supporter to be this... frickin' adorable! I mean look at you fella!

Barry: Uhh thanks? I think?

Azrael: (laughs a bit) Ok Iram, maybe try give lil ol' Barry some of his personal space here

Iram: Oh right, sorry pal (tips his hat to him, then steps back a bit to give Barry space)

(The six then hear a glass window break)

Nigel: Oh no

(It releases a windy blizzard towards the office, which makes their bodies start to freeze in the cold)

(Then Barry, while couldn't see well in the blizzard, he sees a silhouette of a woman in it)

Barry: Huh? (Sees the silhouette) guys there's someone out there

Twigs: It's... her

Barry: Who?

(The silhouette vanishes into an female ice demon when she enters the chief's office, she unleashes an icy blast in her hand at the broken window, frosting it)

Twigs: Thanks Blizz

???: (turns her head at Twigs and glares at him) Excuse me!?

Twigs: Damnit, I mean uhh... thanks Blizzard

Blizzard: That's better. Oh hey Chief. (Looks at Barry) Oh! (walks to him and kneels down to about his height) now who's this little fella right here?

Azrael: This is my supporter Barry. Barry, this is Blizzard

Barry: Uhh hi, miss

Blizzard: (smiles) Well aren't you so sweet, and so pure (pats his head)

Barry: Your hand is kind of freezing

Blizzard: Oh, sorry my dear. How about a kiss in your cheek

Barry: Hmm sure, I won't mind

(Blizzard kisses Barry in his cheek, then walks off to the others)

(Barry then looks at them talking to eachother and hanging out and he smiles to that)

(Azrael smiles at them too, he looks at Barry)

Azrael: Aren't these guys wonderful Barry

Barry: Yeah, they sure are sir

(Suddenly they all became shocked when they hear banging sounds coming from up on the top)

Claude: Blimey!

Twigs: Chief, what's going on

Azrael: I think he's found an another victim to torture for his entertainment

Barry: What do you mean by that- (becomes really shocked and scared) Oh... god... no (quietly) No no no no, it can't be. I thought what he is now is a classic urban legend tale but now... no no no no no no!

(A scream of horror is heard along with gruesome, bloody sounds coming out of it. Then the door slowly opens to reveal a shadow travelling itself down the stairs and onto Barry's own shadow. It then rises onto the wall, but then the shadow begans to laugh maniacally, which made Barry really unsettled to hear)

Barry: Oh... g-god! (Clings onto Azrael's leg)

(The shadow now reveals as a pale white demon wearing a black suit with blonde yellow stripes over it, a red bowtie and a black tophat with a comedy theater mask on top. He also has four mini puppets, two each sitting on his shoulder)

???: Now that was good show of mauling, ain't that right Smiler

Smiler: Yeah it really is master

(They do a handshake but a really fun one and they both laugh off)

Azrael: Whoa Lucifer... I don't know what to say on how you tortured that person alive... and given that you appear as a shadow and go downstairs as one (laughs) that's really unsettling but it fits you so damn well my man

(Azrael and Lucifer high five eachother)

Lucifer: (laughs) Man this is why I'm in your ginormous team Azrael

Azrael: (laughs)

(As the two laugh Barry who is still silent in shock sees Lucifer's eyes staring at him. Until he is heard by Smiler)

Smiler: Hey! Hey cat! Buddy! Hello?

Barry: Gah! (Falls over and catches his breathes) What the hell!? (He sees Smiler's hand, he grabs hold off and gets back up)

Smiler: (helps Barry get back up) You weren't hearing that much though lil buddy, you might've went into a big shock there right

Barry: (shakes his head) Am I seeing you right now or have I gone back to reading my book about the Puppeteer of Terrors

Smiler: (gasps) You know who my master is? (To Lucifer) Hey master!

Lucifer: Yes Smiler

Smiler: (has Barry in her arms) I believe someone has known so much about you. (Quietly) from that book he has been reading

Lucifer: You read my own story about my life as a terrorist and a puppeteer!? (as his eyes change from yellow to black with light yellow pupils)

(Barry becomes intimidated by his eyes changing. But then Lucifer's eyes change back to yellow)

Lucifer: I cannot believe that in my own 2 eyes (chuckles) (or perhaps 10 because I have my four mini puppets sitting on my two shoulders) I have someone who ultimately admires my own stories! (Gives Barry a medal) Here you go my little admirer!

Barry: (looks at his medal) Hmm "The best admirer of my stories ever award!" Huh never knew that there was a medal like that, but thanks for that sir

Lucifer: (laughs) It's no problem my dear cat friend! (handshakes Barry) Now allow me to introduce myself; my name is Lucifer or you might know me as 'The Puppeteer of Terrors!" And over on my shoulders are G, R, I and N, my mini puppets. Come say hello to my admirer my children.

The Mini Puppets - G, R and I: Hi!

Mini Puppet - N: Hello!

Lucifer: And over here on the left beside you is my best accomplice ever; Smiler!

Smiler: (hugs Barry) It's a great pleasure to meet you honey

Barry: (feels squeezed) Mmhmm, it's nice to... see you too

Lucifer: Pff. Smiler dear, would you mind

Smiler: Oh right, hehe (lets Barry go, which left him dizzy)

Barry: (rubs his head and looks at the Seven Tribes of Honour all together) So I guess that's all of them Chief

Azrael: Yep

Lucifer: Yep your correct there Barry boy (playfully elbows Azrael)

(dividers owned by @strangergraphics)

#courage the cowardly dog #ocs #story #ctcd oc: chief azrael #ctcd oc: barry #ctcd oc: twigs #ctcd oc: claude #ctcd oc: nigel #ctcd oc: iram #ctcd oc: blizzard #ctcd oc: lucifer the puppeteer of terrors #ctcd oc: smiler #seven tribes of honour #📖flicky's stories📖#🖊flicky writes🖊#EDIT: it's outdated a bit

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imnothinginparticular · 8 months ago

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#finishedbooks Romance in Marseille by Claude McKay. Another book I had saw Mekel read during the pandemic and not having any money just left it on my wishlist. This is a recently re-discovered novel from the Harlem Renaissance writer that was too transgressive at the time going into the legacy of the black diaspora, queer identity, and the black body & historic mutilation of it...cleverly combining it all thru its symbolism. The story is about a black sailor who has to stowaway and is caught and locked in a freezer causing frostbite leading to a complete amputation of both of his legs. He meets a lawyer while in the hospital who wins him an unprecedented lawsuit. In it, already you can see the metaphor of the transatlantic slave trade and mistreatment of the black body. He is apperently made whole through the money but is left questioning whether it cannot ever trying compensate what was done to him. He returns to his old town in Marseille where his old friends treat him differently before falling in love again with a prostitute wishing for them to return to Africa before tragedy befalls the affair. In Marseille a lot of the characters are openly queer while the dynamics of the town is explored through race and history. A really tight concise package in under 130 pages.

#finishedbooks

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verseandrhyme · 3 months ago

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Magic is one thing. Blades and weapons of iron and steel are another entirely.

Mitama yelps as a lance swings her way, tearing at the uniform jacket that sits on her shoulders. She will need that repaired, now. Lovely. Another task to the never-ending list of burdens and things this school asks of her. Stumbling back on unsteady feet, there are only two simply realities before her; fight or flee.

Without question or hesitation, Mitama holds up her hands in surrender.

"You might've just asked for me to move, if that were the case!" Were all house leaders so headstrong and gung-ho. Edelgard and Claude much the same...ugh. She could not stand people who were eager about their work and took to it enthusiastically.

Well, she certainly had no interest in straining herself for the Deer. Hands held high, she turns her back to the battlefield and walks away. Those responsible for taking the students to the medical tent have already descended from where they watch on high, but Mitama waves them off as she continues to march. She has enough pride at least to accept her loss on her own two feet.

"Oh, remind your friend to check for frostbite when she defrosts! Losing a finger over the exam does not make for as funny a story as one might think!"

Mitama has been defeated?

With eyes on the departing student, nobody expects the arrow that comes from the student who has otherwise been completely silent until now.

Edelweiss 5/5HP hits Dimitri 5/5HP with Vorpal Bow (Roll 13, -1.5HP), Dimitri 3.5 HP)

"Well this blows!" She whines, loudly popping the bubble gum she's been chewing. "I don't think she even tried at all!" Which means she definitely doesn't have to try either, right?

"Heey, Dimitri! You're friends with Sylvain, right?" Edelweiss pulls out another arrow and draw it back aiming it at the Blue Lion's leader. Is it just her, or is that smile a little...threatening? "You can totally introduce us after this fight, right? You'll do that, right?"

@luminousrider

Allies? Since When?

TOA BOEL 2025 | Round 2 Battle 16

#thread: allies? since when?#ic #toaboel2025 #vallitevoice #twistedisciple #blaiddllodi #luminousrider #((byeeeeee nap time))

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cheesecake-beech · 2 years ago

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Hey me again i wanted to know if you could do claude and wild knuckles ( I love there relationship and there romance)

I drew old gay people GSHSJBCSJH

GRANDPAS respectfully of their own little groups 🙏🏽🙏🏽 GAUGDHD I MISSED DRAWING THESE GUYS SM 😭😭😭😭😭

sobbing and crying and sobbing

#Bro my art style has changed and you can tell #SLAY #I yassified the old men #LMAO #BRO this has been sitting in my inbox and I just hadn’t had the motivation to answer it 💀💀💀#BUT I FINALLY GOT TO IT AND IT FEELS SO GOOD AHHH #cheesecake's art // my art #cheesecake's babies // my ocs #claude/frostbite #tako/heartache #wild knuckles #minions rise of gru #my doodles #I was gonna add a menacing Sugar doodle where she would be at the end of the hall and Knuckles would be standing in the doorway #but i think this is a good doodle dump LOL #Also Tako doesn't believe In privacy #Plus he also doesn't know what they're doing LMAO #he doesn't know what two old men kissing looks like #DJSGFKJADSHFGDSJHLFJGADSKJDFSHG #I WAS GOING TO DRAW THEM SMOOCHING EXCHANGING SPIT FRFR #But nah not yet have a little tease 😼😼😼 ;)#SKDJFHSKDHFDGS #They're talking about coffee and going golfing in the top left corner pic #yknow just old people activities

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georgiapeach30513 · 3 years ago

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Fresh Fallen Snow, Part 6

Summary: Wilfred’s plan is kicking off.

Pairings: Curtis Everett X Reader

Rating: mature

Warnings: language, movie equivalent violence, threats to a child, protective!Curtis, 18+ ONLY

Word Count: 1.8K

Series Masterlist

*dividers created by @firefly-graphics

“Aspen,” Curtis coos down at you, and you turn your head away. It wasn’t true. “Aspen, we need to talk about this,” you shake your head no, taking a step back from him. “Quit, you’re acting like a child, and you’re…”

“No, there’s no way.”

“You’re sure about that? How many times have you begged for me to cum inside your sweet little cunt?” you feel your cheeks heat up in embarrassment, and you have to look away from him. “Don’t be like that. You are very well aware of what causes pregnancy.”

“We can’t have a baby on this stupid train.”

“Well…it’s a bit late for that, sweetheart,” his hand presses against your stomach, and he sighs. “The first time they measured you, was it always your stomach they focused on?” nodding your head at him, you wrap your arms around his neck. “And they’ve always checked your chest?”

“You think that’s what they were looking for? It was always the necklace?”

“Possibly. I don’t try to make sense out of the front end. But if they were measuring you and looking for the necklace — they have a plan for you, and I will murder them all should anything happen to you. I don’t know how I missed this,” he gives your belly a bit of a squeeze, and you lift your shirt up. He peers down at you tummy with a wistful smile. “Yeah, this is ours.”

It’s true, you just thought you were bloated, but there was a clear bump. His fingers splay out, and he gives your stomach a little tickle. “Stop it.”

“I’m guessing that this is in fact our baby you’re housing. What do you want to do?”

“What do you mean?” your eyes flit around his face, looking deep into his eyes, and you move to step away from him.

“Nothing what you’re thinking I’m sure. I was only asking when you wanted to say anything? We don’t owe anyone on this train an explanation,” running your hand up and down his arm, you gaze up at the man that had gone from your protector to your husband, and now you were on a journey to become parents. You didn’t care.

“I always wanted to have a family,” his voice low and raspy, and you pull him closer. He leans into your neck, ghosting his lips over the sensitive skin. “Wanted to make something of myself. Design us this beautiful house. Have plenty of kids in the yard. We’d have us a nice warm bed to sleep in, probably practicing for another baby,” you sigh, giving him a kiss on his head. Wrapping your arms even tighter around him.

“It could happen. Gideon’s arm was outside of the train for fifteen minutes, and there was no frostbite.”

“You’re forgetting one thing,” his head shoots up and he looks over your face. Those petal pink lips giving you the softest kiss. “We’ve got to get off the train. We’ve got a baby coming. We have no shelter,” he nods his head, before leaning forward to press his forehead against yours.

“One day, Aspen. One day, we’ll get out of here. I just know it. And I know this sweet little snow bunny is going to love her daddy.”

“Well, I think he is going to look just like his daddy,” his eyes flutter close, and he listens to your steady breathing. Both of your arms still wrapped tight with each other.

“Regardless, I am happy.”

“Me, too, Curtis.”

“She couldn’t deny that she was pregnant now,” Claude informs Wilfred as she cuts up his steak. Sliding it over the table to him, she leans back in her chair.

His eyes move directly to the monitor where he watches Curtis’ arm always resting on your swollen belly. Not in a comforting way, but a protective stance. “He doesn’t leave her side. That’s going to be an issue.”

“What’s a few lost,” he whispers. He never expected the two of you to actually fall in love. It was supposed to be a contract. “Send in some guards that are disposable. They don’t need to know how fiercely protective he is on his dear Aspen. How far along are they thinking?” she shrugs her shoulders, it was hard to tell in this circumstance. Curtis was too untrusting to let anyone from the front touch you.

“Maybe send some warm socks for them. A cute little hat for the baby?” the woman’s unchanging face looks at Wilfred with such disdain, shaking her head.

“She’s still not wearing the necklace,” he has to look away from the intimate moment of Curtis kissing up your chest, even on your neck, while you giggle at him. Dragging him away to your bunk.

“They’re savages in the tail. They’d take the necklace from her,” Wilfred slams his hand on the table, and glares at her, but she doesn’t flinch. Narrowing her eyes at him. “What does the girl mean to you?”

“Nothing,” he answers too quickly. “The tail has nothing to gain by taking the necklace. They can’t go to a pawn shop. They’re survivors. Everyone in the front is used to the lap of luxury. Useless even. The tail is resourceful and determined. And oddly enough, right on time. We’re getting closer to our destination. I want Aspen to make her journey. Take her, grab the necklace first. Let’s see how far Curtis will go to protect his own. That little boy, Timmy, the one she’s always with, bring him too. He’ll need others traveling with him.”

“Many will die,” she cocks her brow up with a sneering smile.

“Good. We’re getting overcrowded. Let’s hope the right ones don’t die. You may go. I want Aspen here tomorrow.”

Seeing the doors open unexpectedly you grab Timmy’s hand and shuffle behind Curtis. His tall stature stands in front of you, while Timmy goes to Tanya as she steps beside the two of you, his hand still tangled in yours with Edgar on the other side of you.

Most of the guards stand in front of the group, offering no explanation. But when one goes to your bunk, you gasp. Grabbing tight to Curtis, “The baby’s things!” it wasn’t much. But they meant something. Every piece of clothing that could be spared for your little one had been handed to you and Curtis for safe keeping.

“Shh,” the guards’ attention turn towards your small group, and you tremble on Curtis’ arm. “Edgar, they looking at you?”

“They’re looking at Aspen,” he whispers, glancing at Curtis from the side. He could see Curtis’ stance change. Could tell that he was pissed, and they would not look at you.

“That’s what I was afraid of,” he cracks his neck, fully stepping in front of you. His head downcast as he glares at the one in front.

“Where did you get this?” the guard’s voice is almost jovial as he walks back to the front, your necklace dangling from his grasp. “Whose bunk is that and how did you manage to steal from the front?”

He holds the necklace up for the group to see, but when there’s no response, he kicks at an older man, and points the barrel of the gun at him. “Did you not hear me? Whose bunk is this?”

Your body twitches, and as if knowing your fear, Curtis whispers out no. Without hesitation, he spins the rifle in his hand and hits his head hard, and the man collapses to the floor. You let out a strangled scream, and Curtis pushes the two of you back further into the crowd.

“Someone has been stealing from the front and I need to know who?” this time reaching into the crowd he pulls up a young girl, and she screams, arms reaching towards her mother.

“Curtis, do something,” you cling to him, but he doesn’t move. “Curtis.”

“Whose bunk…”

“It’s theirs,” the mother screams, pointing at you and Curtis, and all the guards look at you with a smile. “She did it. Please, let my baby go!” he slings her daughter down, and marches towards the two of you.

“If you touch her,” Curtis starts to growl, but with a snap of his finger he has all the guards pointing their guns at the two of you.

“Look, another tail ender fucking pregnant,” his gun scans down your body, and stops on your belly. “How did you get it?”

“My mother gave it to me. I didn’t.”

“Take the fucking gun off of her,” Curtis grits teeth, but the guard only smirks cocking the gun.

“C-C-Curtis!” you hiccup, trying to stand still, when you’re terrified. “I didn’t.”

Faster than anything you had imagined, the remaining guards pull Curtis to the ground while the one pulls you into him. “Just behave, and you and the baby live,” he growls on your neck. Pulling you towards the door.

“Curtis!”

“I’ll have them shoot him. Comply,” your body becomes pliant as they drag you to the unknown. Looking at Curtis horrified, as he struggles to get free.

“Aspen!” his arms flail around, punching whoever he can get his hands on, but when the doors close, Curtis turns animalistic. Able to stand up, before one of them points a gun to his head. Curtis sneers, pushing the barrel more to his head, “Do it.”

Hesitating, Curtis gets all the confirmation he needed, “They’re not loaded.”

Other members of the tail join in on the battle to overtake the guards, and they do so quickly. Leaving them battered and bruised. “Where is she?”

“Timmy!! Timmy! Curtis, he’s gone,” Tanya pulls the rifle out of his hand, and pounds it onto one of the guards face. “Where did you take them?”

“There’s only one direction, Curtis.”

“You,” he stomps over to Mason. Hands around her neck, and he shoves her up against the wall. “Where are they?”

“The front.”

“Why?” baring his teeth, his breath pants and he shoves her up against the wall again, “Why goddamn it!”

“So it is.”

“You better start talking, you skinny bitch. Why did they take them?” Tanya stands beside Curtis. “Why?”

“I just know Wilfred has a divine plan for young Aspen. But he needed to see how she mothered. That was the reason for the child.”

“If anything happens to either of them, you pay with your life. Open the fucking doors.”

“I can’t do that, Curtis. You are in the tail.”

“Open the fucking door!” he yells right in her ear, before slamming her face on the wall. “Open the door! Open the fucking door!” pulling back on her body, she stops. “I’ll pound your head into this door so many times, you won’t be recognizable. Open. The. Fucking. Door!”

Mason shakily lifts her hand to the scanner, and places her hand on it, letting the doors open wide, and Curtis waves his head towards the door, getting followed by several of the tail enders. “You’ll let me go now?”

“Not until I know all three are safe. You’ll just be collateral damage,” his hands tight on her neck, he starts his journey. Looking over to the side of the next room’s wall, he spots an axe. Punching in the glass, Curtis’ thick fingers circle around the handle, and nods. “This will do. Lead the way, you fucking bitch.”

Masterlist

Taglist: @tis-thedamn-season @marveloustaylortot @pono-pura-vida @sstan-hoe @peaches1958 @1960memories @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @tripletstephaniescp @read-mermaid @thedarkplume @nana1000night @bookwormvoyageuse @curlycarley @ronearoundreads @supraveng @redbloodedgurl

#fresh fallen snow #curtis everett #curtis everett x reader #curtis everett x fem!reader #curtis everett x y/n #curtis everett x you #curtis everett fluff #dilf!curtis everett #snowpiercer #snowpiercer fanfiction #curtis everett fic #curtis everett fics #curtis everett fanfiction

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manias-wordcount · 3 years ago

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Kinktober 2022 M.list

Day One: Sleepy

Sweet Dreams (Loid Forger)

Day Two: Oral

Taste of You (Tighnari)

Day Three: Corruption

A Colonel and His Cadet (Roy Mustang)

Day Four: Lingerie

Pretty in Pink (Vi)

Day Five: Hate Fuck

Only Human (Osamu Dazai)

Day Six: Balcony

When In Paris (Akira Kurusu)

Day Seven: Almost Caught

A Dangerous Game (Spike Spiegel)

Day Eight: Cockwarming

Angel’s Hand (Tomura Shigaraki)

Day Nine: Toys

Cruel (Illumi Zoldyck)

Day Ten: Biting

Frostbite (Alan Sylvasta)

Day Eleven: Knifeplay

Boring (Yor Forger)

Day Twelve: Threesome

Teachable Movements (Arataki Itto, Takuya)

Day Thirteen: Aphrodisiac

Something in the Water (Merlin)

Day Fourteen: Voyeurism

Freak (Jayce Talis)

Day Fifteen: Free Use

Satisfy (Greed, Wrath, Father)

Day Sixteen: Aftercare

In the Sheets (Goro Akechi)

Day Seventeen: Phone Sex

Right Here, Right Now (Laurent Thierry)

Day Eighteen: Mirror Sex

The Watchman (Keigo Takami)

Day Nineteen: Thigh Riding

The Bold, The Fortunate (Chrollo Lucilfer)

Day Twenty: Predator/Prey

The Hunt (Shirou Oogami)

Day Twenty-One: Collaring

Pretty Little Thing (Howl’s Moving Castle)

Day Twenty-Two: Soft Domination

Strangers (Kazuha Kaedehara)

Day Twenty-Three: Rough

With Death Itself (Ban)

Day Twenty-Four: Body Worship

Eye of the Beholder (Viktor)

Day Twenty-Five: Begging

On Your Knees (Mori Ougai)

Day Twenty-Six: Taboo (Teacher/Student)

Young and Alive (Takuto Maruki)

Day Twenty-Seven: Edging

Pretty (Makoto Edamura)

Day Twenty-Eight: Spanking, Choking

Bruises (Midnight, Miruko)

Day Twenty-Nine: First Time

Special (Adult Link)

Day Thirty: Overstimulation

Despite the Differences (Sebastian Michaelis. Claude Faustus)

Day Thirty-One: Morning Sex

Never Wake Up (Ningguang)

#manias masterlists #masterlist

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cheesecake-bich · 10 months ago

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“Human’s Touch” animatic

Animatic progress lol 🤡👍🏽

Wow the gay is gaying

it’s like, 80% more gay

#cheesecake talks #cheesecake's art // my art #original character #animation #storyboard #despicable me #ocs #digital art #artists on tumblr #oc #oc art #claude/frostbite #wild knuckles #character art

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loyalflutist · 6 years ago

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Snowstorm (F!Byleth x Edelgard)

Challenge: Edeleth Twitter Week (09/29/2019 - 10/05/2019) Day 1: Snow Day

A/N: If I told you that I did this all under two hours, would you call me crazy? (please nod) I had totally forgotten that this challenge existed right after I uploaded Dorothea’s Birthday fiction, so I went ham on this. Please look forward to the rest of this week’s content!

---

“I didn’t expect us to be separated from the snowstorm…”

“…”

“…Hey, are you doing okay, my teacher?”

“…yes.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“…”

A misty exhale escaped from the vermillion female. What should have been a simple mission for the Church of Seiros ended up having the entire Black Eagle House separated from one another from an unforeseen snowstorm. Its powdered droplets blurred their visions and forced the students to scramble for the nearest shelter on this high mountaintop. Their screams and hollers were muted by the whipping gusts. Eventually, that led to a dispersion of the class.

To make matters worse, their professor collapsed in the middle of their operation. Byleth had not been feeling well for almost a week straight. It started off as a simple cold. A couple of coughs erupted from her throat during lecture and training. Many of the concerned students suggest that she get some rest. The instructor brushed it off. By the third day, Dimitri and Claude teamed up with Edelgard to drag her into Manuela’s clinic. Lest to say, the simple cold had transitioned into the flu. Medicinal herbs were provided in large quantity and a long scolding from both the experienced songstress and Jeralt.

Unfortunately, the Church of Seiros was not as lenient as Jerealt, Manuela, and the students had expected. Not even her girlfriend’s pleas could budge Rhea from her decision.

“I expect a great deal from Byleth… for if she were to fail this mission, then I have no use for her.”

Questionable, yet none were courageous enough to object with the archbishop’s commands. The holy maiden’s words were absolute, especially on monastery’s ground. Not that Jeralt and Edelgard trusted her in the first place. Had it not been for Byleth’s abrupt interjection during their dialogue exchanges, the Adrestian Empire’s princess would sock Rhea squarely in the face. It did not matter if she was marked with treason. What mattered is how out of character the archbishop was when it came to Byleth’s well-being.

The end results were the collapse of her significant other in midst of the deadly storm. A fever ravaged the poor instructor as her respiratory rate picked up its pace. Byleth furrowed her brows, her strengths trickling out of her body with every passing second and the cold seeping inward in replacement. If it weren’t for Edelgard’s presence, the teal-haired would have accidentally been left stranded within nature’s fury.

Thus, that led to where they are right now after hiding out in a nearby cave.

She stood in place for a second. Edelgard pursed her lips as she adjusted her hold on the older woman from behind. Despite the frigid temperature that threatens to cause frostbites and the relentless sunshine that dare to cause sunburns, the fur-coat student continued to march through the blanketed landscape in search of her comrades.

She marched like a little toy soldier.

Every single step dug her legs past her ankles. There would be the occasional wobble whenever she jutted her boot out too soon. Sometimes, if she was unlucky, she would land face-first on the soft surface with a small “oof!” Byleth would slip off from her back and gently plop on her side. The professor’s eyes peered through her slits as the white-haired struggled back up to her feet. She would brush off as much snow as possible from the older female’s figure and return to piggybacking Byleth.

She marched like a little toy soldier.

Another adjustment with her grip. The student glanced over her shoulder to check on her girlfriend. Fortunately, the ex-mercenary was still awake. Though there were times she would fall into a minute nap during the traverse… Edelgard grimaced whenever Byleth violently shuddered from her back. The fever was not going away anytime soon, and it appears to have worsened thanks to the harsh weather. She would rather freeze than stay warm from the flaming body heat that protrudes from her teacher.

She marched like a little toy soldier.

How long has she been walking for? Trails of her footsteps slowly came to erode due to the rapidly falling snowflakes. She paused and glanced upward at the sky. The sun was still high, yet the snow was not stopping any time soon. Misty breaths puffed out of her mouth as Edelgard resumed her travel. They had to travel upward to the summit. If she remembers correctly, there should be a village for them to rest. From there, she could reunite with her comrades and make plans to unify those that are still lost on the mountain. As for the mission… well, they could always do something about that in a later time. Rhea did not explicitly tell them when it should be completed. Newfound energy kicked her into gear, the student’s legs picking up the pace to their destination.

She marched like a little toy soldier.

It was becoming steeper. Natural, as climbing any mountain requires mental and physical fortitude. This was extra challenging considering how she had to carry Byleth. She dryly swallowed and examined her surroundings. Rocks and slabs… These minerals that formulated the structures of these mountains were becoming no more than hassles. If only the land was flat in its entirety… Just imagine how much time and energy would be saved for everyone! Edelgard shook her head and tightened her hold on Byleth. She must continue forward to their goal. As much as she wishes to sit down and take a breather, if the sun were to sink, they would be left in the darkness. During darkness, the temperature begins to scale down to a zone where no living creature would survive. Harsh conditions were avoidable with careful planning.

She marched like a little toy soldier.

Her worst-case scenario came true. Traversing by foot was too easy for the female, says the gods. It was time to place a barrier between where they were located and the village. The white-haired frowned with the sight of the white plumes. Those smokes were clearly from the area they were headed to. There’s just one complication to overcome… A rock wall presented itself before the female. Edelgard mouthed a numerical value as her lilac hues darted. If Byleth is able to remain awake and firmly hold onto the student for a minimum of 15 minutes, the axe-wielder should be able to safely cross them over.

“Byleth?” she gently shook. “Are you awake?”

“…”

“Byleth?”

“…?”

“I need to climb this wall.”

“…”

“So… I need you to hold onto me as tight as possible.”

“Okay.”

She marched like a little toy soldier.

Difficult is a euphemism to describe her situation. Perhaps it is her short stature to blame. Edelgard cursed her slow growth in heights as her white gloved hands grasped ahold of the rocks. Although she had no issue rock climbing, the fact that Byleth hung onto her added additional weight. It would be wrong to call her teacher a burden. She blamed herself for not training hard enough. What kind of emperor would she be for the Adrestian Empire if she fails to carry someone important towards their destination? Edelgard grit her teeth as she pulled her body up, sweat rolling down her face from the extreme condition. Half-way there… She just needs to hang on a little more…

She marched like a broken toy soldier.

Stupid, stupid, STUPID! A careless mistake led to an outcry and hand reaching outward. Hot breaths brushed Edelgard’s earlobe as Byleth began to whisper incoherent mumbles. The young lady ignored her instructor’s babbles. Feverish symptoms were likely to explain the teal-haired current personality. Yet she should have been more careful. She should have been more attentive to her girlfriend.

“I’m… sorry.”

Those were her last words as Byleth’s grips loosened. Edelgard had no way of catching her. She immediately released one hold on a rock, twisted her body around, and furiously attempt to snatch the free-falling professor. The older woman’s naturally outstretched fingers slipped past the grabbing motion.

“BYLETH!!!”

She marched like a broken toy soldier.

Nightfall came. It was to be expected as Edelgard had spent most of the evening searching for her professor. She trampled and fished for the teal-haired after scaling down the rough terrains. Although it should have been easy to spot the landed woman, the strong wind began to kick up a flurry of white flakes. Old footprints and traces of their travels were well-beyond recognizable with a new layer planted on top. Another snowstorm also rumbled from the distant. Edelgard’s arms swished and swooped her surroundings. This caused the normally stoic house leader to go into a frenzy. Now that the moon replaced the sun, she began to uncontrollably tremble from the lack of heat.

Before, she had Byleth to keep her warm. Now, she had no one. Her teeth chattered as her shaky hands scooped another chunk of snow and tossed it to the side. Still no trace of Byleth. Just… where could she be? Edelgard began to sniffle as she tearlessly wept from her fatal mistake.

How will she face Rhea? How will she face Jeralt? Most importantly… how will she face herself?

She marched like a broken toy soldier.

“I’m not dead… am I?”

Edelgard cracked open her eyelids. Safe to say, the darkness that had engulfed her earlier dissipated in a matter of seconds… though it is likely from the illumination of an oil lamp. She blinked. Then, she sat up from the straw mattress. A quick scan told her that she was inside of a hut. Decorated furniture and supplies resided. Nearby was Hubert, who crossed his arms and slept while sitting. The noble stared at him for a short period of time. He would normally be awake by now by the sound of her movement. Alas, he did not. The young male continued to slow his breathing, and his eyelids sealed shut for the public.

“…”

He must be tired. If Edelgard was beyond exhausted from the march, then the same could be said for her classmates. She widens her eyes. Classmates… Professor… Byleth! The vermillion female hurried out of the hut and broke out of the shelter in her casual wears. What a mistake for her to go out unprepared as a blast of cold wind tore through her epidermis and into her frail bones! Edelgard immediately hugged herself, teeth chattering, and nearly backed into her hut. She rooted her bare feet to the snowy grounds and glanced at her surroundings.

There were many huts. Fortunately, many of them had a source of light during this dark time of the day. Edelgard moistened her lower lip and began to hurry into the nearby hut. When she peered inside, suffice to say, it was a stroke of luck she did not need to rush into another hut.

Byleth was sleeping on the straw mattress, her blanket falling and rising at an even interval. Sitting by her side were both Linhardt and two elder males. All three were awake, so when they spotted the Black Eagle’s house leader, their brows rose.

“You’re finally awake, Lady Edelgard,” one of the older men spoke. “How are you feeling?”

“How’s Byleth?”

“Straight to the point as always, Lady Edelgard…” Linhardt scratched the side of his face as he diverted his attention back to their professor. “The professor got a nasty fever, but with the medicinal herbs and the power of her Crest, she should be fine.”

“…”

Linhardt curled his fingers inward and shot a look at Edelgard.

“Are you worried about the others?”

She nodded.

“…Don’t be. We’re all here by some miracle. It perplexes me as to how we all manage to come back together after our separation…”

Turns out, Linhardt, Caspar, and Hubert were the first ones to find the collapsed Edelgard. They frantically took her to the village first. As for Dorothea, Petra, Bernadetta, and Ferdinand, they were tasked by Hubert shortly afterward to search for the professor. It appears that Lady Luck marathon through her blessings as they had found the half-buried instructor in a nearby forest just minutes after the discovery of Edelgard.

“It seems a little too good to be true, isn’t it?”

“…Perhaps. If it weren’t for you all, then we could’ve lost the professor because of my mistake.”

“Don’t take it the hard way, Edelgard. You have us. We’re always here for you.”

She marched like a big toy soldier.

They had spent almost a week in the village. Lucky for them, their mission was situated in the same premise. A simple chore of exchanging goodies from the monastery with the merchants was all that had to be done. Not a single bloodshed became reality during their exchange. As for Byleth, she has been recovering at a steady pace. The medicinal herbs that have been ingested were conducting wonders upon her vitality. During this time, her students went out and about to assist the villagers with any other activities. Many of them studied and grasped the necessary survival skills for any snow day. Perhaps this trip wasn’t such a waste after all. Throughout their stay, Edelgard was always seen popping in and out of Byleth’s hut.

“You’re such a worrywart,” she teased the student and rubbed her head. “I won’t go anywhere.”

She marched like a big toy soldier.

Everyone had said their farewells to the villagers and their chief. Supplies were replenished and, even luckier for them, Pegasus riders were prominent here. Many of them were eager to bring them back to ground level from the mountain. It was the least they could do for these children and the recovering professor.

Many of the students engaged in their last-minute banter with one another as they hopped onto the horses one-by-one. Before the duo left onto their respective ride, Byleth pulled aside Edelgard. She planted a kiss on the girl’s forehead and smoothed her white hair.

“Thank you, Edelgard, for everything.”

Finally, she came home like a big toy soldier. This would be a snow day Edelgard and Byleth would never forget for a long time.

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