#clinging hugs and soothing touches and sharing a bed in order to not be alone

[thisshitisridiculous]

buck and eddie expanding their level of intimacy because of the want and need to comfort each other in their grief only to suddenly not have the need for that grief anymore and being left with the question of where they go now that they've crossed these lines could actually be something so good for the soul

[strawberrylabs]

Being Freminet's biological sibling

warning!!: this will contain spoilers for Freminet's backstory and lore! there are also mentions of dissociation, identity crisises!

also this is kind of angsty ngl? I promise it's mostly fluff tho

Freminet is known for being quiet and reserved. Whether or not you are the same doesn't matter to him; he knows whether he articulates his thoughts through words or through a simple look, you'll know exactly what he wants- what he needs- to say to you

He normally uses his diving to get away from people. Please don't be offended, he just needs time away.

But that doesn't mean he goes alone all the time. In fact more often than not, he brings you with him. It's honour really, to have him share such an intimate part of himself with you. He trusts you more than anyone.

Usually the only times he goes alone is after a particularly troublesome mission when he needs time to process all that happened.

But after he's sorted his emotions, he's seeking you out to just be in your presence. Usually youre sitting somewhere doing whatever it is you do in your spare time, and Freminet would sit himself beside you and fiddle with Pers as he leans into your side.

Which brings me to affection. He's not usually the most keen on physical touch, but he appreaciates the times where your grab his hand to ground him. You seem to know exactly when to grab his warm hand when you tell people his hand is warm they always look at you with shock. It seems they don't understand how someone who is so reserved and cold, could ever be as warm and gentle as you say in your cool one and give it a slight squeeze to remind him you're there.

When you two are alone after moments like that, Freminet lets his head fall on your shoulder as you hug him. Only you hear the small "thank you" he lets out.

Lyney and Lynette are just of protective of you as they are Freminet. Doesn't matter if you're older, younger or the same age. You're still one of their precious siblings.

They're also deeply gratefull for having you to help Freminet where they can't.

You are incredibly protective of Freminet. If anyone dares to say anything mean you're quick to shoot them down and comfort your brother, soothing his self-doubts.

Speaking of, you're really the only person that calms down his racing mind. You've been in his life well.. for his whole life. You are the one and only constant he has.

He listens to you. He trusts you. Don't abuse that.

He relies on you to ensure him he's not some clockwork toy made simply to look unassuming and follow orders.

He has moments in the night where he struggles with his identity, sometimes contemplating if he's even a real person. When this happens, he often slips into your bed beside you, clinging to you as you card you fingers though his hair, lulling him into a comforting sleep knowing his sibling is there with him.

You're not the only one who's protective.

If you go diving with him, he's checking your equipment thrice over. He also insists on accompanying you on your missions, even if he has to stay a certain distance away.

He sometimes feels bad that he has to rely on you so much to comfort him. He doesn't feel as if he's worth the touble.

He makes you a matching penguin clockwork toy as a thank you gift one time. You bring it with you everywhere.

He also brings you shells and sea flowers that he thinks you'll like. One time he slowly collected and dried out enough romaritime flowers to make you a flower crown. You now keep it in a box with your most prized possessions Freminet thought it wasn't good enough to be in that box but when he saw how fondly you smiled, he couldn't bring himself to say so

Whenever Freminet has his helmet on, you know he's likely dissociate. This is one of those times you hold his hand tightly. But something else you do that he is deeply thankful for is you make sure no one bothers him when he's like this. If someone gives him a dirty look, you give them one right back. If someone tries to say something, you quietly shut them down and say to come back with any concerns or jobs later.

You know exactly what to say to get Freminet to start talking for hours which most people didn't even know was possible. For example; get him talking about the sea.

One time Paimon and Traveler overheard Freminet talking you about a field of romaritime flowers he found with a content smile on his face. What was most surprising was he was making eye contact with you. Later that week, Paimon tried to get Freminet to talk about the flowers, and he just shyly looked away and gave a brief explanation and summary.

However after that, the traveler asked about you, and Freminet spoke a little longer about you.

"I appreciate my sibling very much. They've always been there for me and I hope I've succeeded in being there for them when they need me too.."

Going back to the thing about diving..

When Freminet confides in you about sharing his problems with the objects of the water, he's scared that you may be offended he doesn't tell you as much as he tells the sea.

He nearly cried when you just smiled and told him it was ok.

You explained that everyone has their own ways of coping with the world. You had your ways, and Freminet had diving.

That's why you understood just how much trust Freminet was putting in you the first time he brought you with him.

Freminet's first instincts when he gets overwhelmed is to run to the ocean. However his instincts also tell him you need to be there.

If something has gone wrong, he has to know where you are, otherwise he panics more. He often drags you away from whatever you were doing to take you with him to the ocean. Even if you don't go underwater with him, he feels comfort knowing you're nearby.

If you have any specific situations that your uncomfortable with or things that trigger you, Freminet will do whatever he can to make sure the two of you avoid them in missions or just in general. He usually tells Lyney and Lynette so they can help too.

If you ever have moments where your mental health isn't the best, Freminet will sit with you as long as it takes for you to feel better. Minutes, hours, days. He'd sit with you, holding you hand as long as you need him too. He may not know what words to say, but he can be a grounding presence for you in the darkness.

If you were ever injured, Freminet's first reaction is to shut down. The thought of living life without his sibling who's been there since he can remember, through the drunken singing and the yelling, through the debt collectors asking for you father, through the nights of listening to the same lullaby with your mother. The thought of your constant presence just suddenly not being there is too overwhelming.

He stands at your side, not moving or saying a word. The second it's confirmed you'll be ok, he's torn between running to the ocean or staying with you.

He decides he won't abandon you. He won't leave you the way your mother left the two of you. even if at the time she had no choice

It's tradition for the two of you at least once a week to read a fariytale. You often go out and buy new ones each time. However usually you both end up re-reading the story of Pers.

The day Freminet got his vision, you were on the shore waiting for the group that went diving. You saw a burst light and suddenly felt a chill... Freminet made you promise not to tell anyone that he saved the children.

You make a point to remind him how brave and heroic he was whenever he feels down. Just because no one else will ever know or appreactiate what he did, doesn't mean you won't.

What Freminet would never tell you, is that the only reason he had the will to survive in that situation, was because he couldn't bear the thought of leaving you the same way mother did...

When you got your vision, Freminet wasn't there. It was before he started going on all you missions with you.

When you came back with a vision in hand, he immediately asked what happened and if you were ok after all, people seldom get a God's favor unless in sardonic situations..

The two of you are inseperable. You're eachothers life lines.

You need Freminet.

And Freminet needs you.

@rainswept that was for you pookie

this was geniunley so much fun to write???

Freminet my son. Ugh. I want to hug him.

Masterlist

rules

[writingsofanobsessedwoman]

Cannons fired, and orders were being tossed around faster than anyone could process. The crew of the French ship had begun swinging onto the Morrigan. It was one hell of a battle. You glanced over, and took a leap back, a cannonball missing you by mere centimeters. It could've touched it with your bare hands. You stood in shock for a moment, completely numb to the war waging on deck. The only thing that pulled you out of your state was a hand on your shoulder, and the word, "Lass?". Shay didn't know what to do, as you yanked him into the tightest hug you could, and broke down. He looked to his two quartermasters, Liam and Gist. Finally, a crewmate spoke up, explaining what had happened, and why you couldn't even speak. You'd been in some tough fights, sure. But that cannonball was the closest you'd come to death's door. Shay guided you to the captain's cabin, and you slumped into the bed, passing out from the loss of adrenaline.

It was Liam who woke you up, letting you know that the Morrigan was now docked at the fort. He kept his arm around you for the walk up the docks. Haytham was waiting to hear how things had gone, along with Colonel Monro. You kept your head low, and Liam, sensing that you didn't want to talk, tugged you along. Shay lingered with the two men, giving them a full report as well as filling them in on what happened to you. The Colonel's eyes were filled with concern, and even the Grandmaster seemed worried.

When Shay finally made his way to the corner of the fort you all shared, he saw you curled against Liam's chest, sobbing and shaking. He couldn't make out what you were saying other than the words scared, died, alone. His heart tore, and he came to your side, in hopes of comforting you.

It took a while, but you were eventually able to tell them. The fear you felt, and how you didn't want to leave them. You told them how much you loved them both. That night, Shay insisted you slept between them. Both men passed out quickly, exhausted from the day. You, however, couldn't sleep. Your mind kept playing the scene over and over. And each time it did, you grew more anxious. Finally, you decided to get up, thinking that taking a walk would soothe your racing mind. As you crept down the old wooden stairs, you saw light from under Haytham's door. He must still be working, you thought, and moved past his door as quietly as you could.

As you stepped out into the night air, you wished you'd grabbed a coat, or a blanket at the very least. But you didn't want to go back in, and risk waking your boys. You leaned against the stone wall, looking out at the ocean, hearing her gentle waves, while your mind thought of everything, yet nothing simultaneously. After a while, your legs grew tired, and you took to the bench under the pavilion of flowers in the garden. Your eyes fell shut, and you saw them. Shay and Liam, standing beside a coffin, eyes red and puffy from tears. You had begun to shed your own, the fear and realization of just how close your vision was to being reality.

You jumped when a warm cape got placed onto your shoulders. You opened your eyes to meet the steel gray ones of Haytham, concern etched into his face. He took a seat next to you, his shoulder lightly touching yours as you shook. He drew in a breath before pulling you into his chest, and trapping you in a hug. He didn't ask you if you were okay. The answer was clear that you weren't. He just let you cling onto him for a bit, before pulling away, only for his arms to be replaced by Liam's. Shay's arms wrapped around your waist, and his chest met your back. Haytham excused himself, figuring if anyone could comfort you, it would be the men you loved above anyone. Liam shushed you, while Shay hummed shanties and lullabies into your ears. When you finally found your voice, you croaked out, "I almost died. I almost left you two..." Your words became slurred, and your breaths became quicker. Liam looked to Shay, and the latter nodded. They took you inside, placing you between them. Then Shay began to sing. "Come over the hills, my Bonnie Irish lass. Come over the hills, to your darling." Liam joined the melody, and your eyes began to grow heavy. You were asleep before you knew it, your Irishmen watching over you the whole night. They made a vow that night. They would never, ever, allow anything to happen to you under any circumstances, come Hell or high water.

This is based off something that actually happened to me. I was almost hit by a car. If I hadn't moved when I did, I might not be here now. The song, if you're wondering is:

[angstymdzsthoughts]

the real reason jzx opposed his engagement was not bc he dislikes jyl, but bc hes actually fallen for wwx. and in this au wwx returns his feelings, but wont do anything in fear of hurting shijie. he still meets jzx in secret though. after the fall of lotus pier, the marriage couldnt be avoided and wwx had to let jzx marry jyl while he couldnt even attend the wedding. afterwards, jin sect began pushing jzx to have an heir, only to find that jyl would definitely die if she has children. 1/

jyl couldnt bear children without losing her life. jzx wouldnt do that to a friend he has come to hold dear. one time jzx went with jyl since she insisted on visiting wwx. he hasnt met wwx in a while, he missed wwx but couldnt hold wwx the way he wanted to with his wife there. there jyl met a-yuan and liked him so much, she cried to wwx that she couldnt have a little family she had always wanted. to everyone's surprise, wwx offered to carry a jin heir for her. he couldnt look jzx in the eyes. 2/

jzx shouldve been happy, that he would be able to embrace his lover, but neither of them couldnt break through the sheer transactional nature of the affair. in return of a jin heir, the wens are to be left alone. jzx agreed. after wwx confirmed his pregnancy, jzx took him in and closed his quarters off, telling everyone his wife is pregnant and will be in temporary seclusion. the few months wwx lived together with jyl and jzx were utter bliss. 3/

jzx kept wwx posted on the wens condition and no one bothered him. wwx got to spend time with his shijie and got to steal kisses from his lover every once in a while. when the time of birth came, jzx was nervous at best and distraught at most. he couldnt deal with his emotions and left, he wasnt there for the birth, not for the baby and not for wwx. wwx decided a couple days is enough for him to be with jin ling, the precious baby he will now hand over to be raised by his precious sister. 4/

jin ling was only 3 days old when wwx left. to the end, jzx regretted not being there for wwx when he needed the most. wwx bid his farewell to jyl, promising to visit and spoil jin ling as uncles should. after birthing the heir of jin, wwx decided he couldnt trust the jins after all, using his shijie and her husband as mere tools. he turned jzx away everytime the other stole away at night to meet him. it was better if jzx didnt get tainted by him too. 5/

soon, jin ling's first month celebration was fast approaching. wwx was giddy. of course he missed his little baby. he had a gift prepared, both for jin ling and for jyl. if only the ambush didnt happen. wwx was angry and panicked, everyone was enemy. he didnt hear jzx calling out for him to please listen, and suddenly wn had his hand through jzx's chest. wwx heard his name being said before jzx breathed his last. did he just kill his own beloved? 6/

wwx passed out and wn took him back to burial mounds. he spent the next days in his mind. the crashing truth of it all, that he killed jzx, that jin ling will grow up fatherless, that he ultimately had no control over his powers. in the conference in nightless city, wwx didnt expect he would meet his sister again. he wanted to kneel to her, to apologize for killing her husband, but he fled when madam jin noticed him. wwx wouldnt fight unless attacked, but suddenly everyone wanted to kill him. 7/

wwx raised his corpse and cried, he cried for all his regret and his pain. he only wanted to do the right thing, why does everyone want him dead? it isnt fair. all of the sudden someone was calling out for him, it was shijie. he panicked and ran to her, but it was hard, with thousands of cultivators and corpses fighting each other. he didnt even have time to order the corpses to not hurt shijie. as he got near, he saw a corpse with a sword charging from behind jyl. 8/

he threw himself at jyl, taking the sword through his chest. he collapsed in jyl's arms. with the master incapacitated, the corpses stopped fighting. wwx didnt care. his shijie was crying because of him. "its okay shijie, its my fault. im sorry," hes sorry for a lot of things. for bringing lotus pier's downfall, for disappointing jiang cheng, for killing jzx, for not being in control, for making shijie sad. "jin ling is lucky to have you," she heard wwx speak before going limp in her lap. 9/

someone yelled "wei wuxian is dead!" and the thousands of men yelled in triumph. for what, jyl didnt know. she could only care about her brother, who gave everything he has for his family, a cold lifeless body in her arms. he gave her happiness, he gave her a son, and now he gave her his life. she didnt even see jc approach. only when he kneeled in front of her did she saw him. the only emotion she could project was disappointment and regret, why didnt we save him sooner? 10/

jyl allowed for jc to take wwx's corpse with him to lotus pier for him to arrange a funeral. corpse. her brother is now a corpse. but she must fulfil wwx's wish, she will now pretect the wens in his stead. she asked meng yao, now jin guangyao, if he has any news about the wens. nothing, he said. good, that means nobody had touched them. she had a funeral to attend and she brings jin ling with her. in front of his coffin, jyl stopped. she lifted a-ling and put him on wwx's unmoving body. 11/

"say goodbye" she told the baby. wwx didnt even get to see jin ling for the last time. jin ling is the last thing she had of her husband and her brother. jyl vowed to protect him no matter what. she would raise him to be a son wwx could be proud of. jyl couldnt stay in lotus pier for too long. every corner of lotus pier reminds her of the times they spent together, the laughter and hugs they share. jc didnt have the heart to stop her. she went back to lanling the next day. 12/

who knew, when she got back, the only news she heard was that wen ning and wen qing are finally arrested and executed. her heart fell through her stomach. if wn and wq are here, who is protecting the wens? jyl hurried and contacted jc, asking him to meet her at the burial mounds. jc arrived about the same time she did. what they encountered there made her nauseous. the stench of blood permeated the walls as she saw broken bodies upon broken bodies, bloody and strewn across the floor. 13/

jc checked wwx's previous living quarters, it had been ransacked. but nothing prepared her for that. laid across the bed was a tiny body. she recognized it to be the little boy she remembered clinging onto wwx's leg. the little boy she remembered wwx soothe and coo at. the little child wwx called his own. laying in a dried pool of his own blood. his big innocent eyes are open, lifeless but glaring as if asking why. it was a-yuan. she failed. /14

[sunonyoreface]

Forest Nymph | Geralt of Rivia Pt.5

Hello!  Sorry it has been a while since I have last posted, I am quite busy with my final essays right now.  Thanks for taking the time to read my story! This is part five of my first series.  This chapter is more of a filler chapter so it is a bit shorter, but I can’t wait to get more into the juicier stuff!

Word count: 2587

 The King’s words ring despairingly in your ears.  A declaration of war.  A war you certainly cannot win.  Just look at what they did to your forest!  Angry tears well up in your eyes.  If anything, you should be the one to declare war.

You hate crying.  It happens so easily and always at the worst of times, but never when you’re sad.  Why can’t you just cry when you’re sad?  It would make life so much easier.  At least Geralt can’t see your tears.

Roach gallops at a steady pace heading north of Asenguard towards Kafka, you think the village is called.  You cling onto Geralt’s stiff back.  His body is full of adrenaline both from the fight and what still remains from the elixir. Metal and leather armor rub against each other quietly, however, you find the sound soothing to focus on, at least more so than the sound of the King’s threats.  His hair whips in the wind and if you were any taller it would strike you straight across the face.  Thankfully, that is not the case.  

Neither of you has said a single word since leaving the village and given the chance, you don’t know if you can.  What will you say?  Thank you? At this point, such a simple gesture feels so insignificant.

If someone were to ask you how long the ride took, you wouldn’t have an answer. Somewhere between twenty minutes and twelve hours.  It feels as though you have been on his horse for ages, yet seemingly out of nowhere the nearest village appears.  The Kingdom of Kafka, reads a wooden sign posted at the edge of town.

Paranoia fills your thoughts.  Has King Cassius set his army after you?  Do the villagers of Kafka know how many coins they could get for your head? It’s only time before they find everything out.  Unless they already know.  

Geralt brings Roach to a slow canter upon entering the quiet town. Everyone is asleep except for a few wandering drunks who pay the two of you no mind.  You don’t know where he is going until Roach stops in front of an inn.

“Put your hood up.”  Geralt’s rough voice breaks the silence.  You wordlessly follow his orders. “Look, the king won’t send for us in the middle of the night, so we’re safe for now, but tomorrow we need to keep moving.”  His amber eyes pierce through the night, gently searching your face.

“Do you have anywhere you can go?”

“There’s a woman who lives near Norwich, a friend of a friend who will house me for a bit.” Your voice comes out rough from prolonged silence.  The words feel as though you are no longer the one truly speaking them, your native language suddenly feeling foreign.

“Ok.” He sighs. “Good.”

Upon entering the inn, you come to realize it is more of a whore house than anything.  A brothel, to put it politely.

“And what can I do for you?” A woman’s voice made thick from excess mucous, cuts through the warm, slightly musky air of the room.  She wears a red hat of unfamiliar fashion and pants. Something most women would be beaten for wearing.  She exudes power over the dimly lit and certainly unethical business of hers.  

“I’m looking for someone.” Geralt’s voice is much quieter than it has been previously. “A bard.”

“In a blue suit? Well, we had one check-in not that long ago, but it will be extra to share his girl.” She smirks.  “My girls aren’t cheap.”

“No girl.  Just the room.”

“Right then, five coins.  He’s down the corridor to your right, last room on the left.”

Without another word, Geralt drops the coins in her hand.  He spares a quick glance down your way before starting off. You are nearly stepping on his heels, suddenly afraid he might leave you behind.  The wooden floors are uneven with boards sticking up every few feet or so. The whole structure of the building has greatly shifted since being built.  That isn’t uncommon as you go more north.  The forests become littered with different areas of muskeg which freeze in the winter and cause the ground to shift.  Kafka sits right on the edge of one of those swamps.  Nothing lasts long around here, not even the infrastructure.

Geralt doesn’t knock on the door.  So, when the two of you walk in on a naked man and a woman hard at work earning her coin. You can’t really blame the so-called bard.

“Jesus Geralt! Fucking knock first!” He shrieks in surprise.

“Leave.” The demand is directed at the woman on her knees.  She looks to the bard for permission and it becomes clear her job is now done.  She takes her coin and rushes out of the room, leaving the bard to frantically look for his knickers.

“What the hell was- wait a minute.  Who are you?”  His attention suddenly becomes fixated on you as he finally finds his trousers.  Your tongue finds itself in a knot.  You freeze, stiff as a board, not sure whether or not he is safe to introduce yourself to.

“Her name is Briar, of Asenguard.”  The bard’s head snaps up at your place of birth.

“Asenguard?” He questions.  “Is that why you went back Geralt? For a girl?” An excited gasp leaves his lips.

“Well Briar, you must be pretty special.  A girl, Geralt what has gotten into you?” He shoots a mocking glance at Geralt before turning to you.  A genuine smile spreads across his face.  He smiles with his eyes especially, they gleam like crystals.  His presence carries no sense of threat and you start to feel your shoulders relaxing.

“Hello, Briar.” He reaches for a handshake.  His hands warm and welcoming, slightly calloused at the fingertips from the strings of his instrument, but otherwise soft. “I’m Jaskier.”

“We need to talk Jaskier.” Geralt interrupts.  You take the chance to finally look around the room.  It is large for a brothel, with two midsized beds and a closed-off area for washing.  You poke your head inside to find a wooden tub.  A bath would feel amazing right now.  

Geralt tells Jaskier about the fire, a topic you wish you could just escape.

“Uhm.” Your voice cuts into their conversation. “Sorry to interrupt, but do you know how I could get water for a bath?”  Geralt’s eyes quickly flit to yours, you can’t tell if he’s annoyed at you for interrupting.

“I’ll ask some of the lovely ladies if they would be able to bring some water for you,” Jaskier says as he heads for the door.  The room stills in his absence.  Your eyes have yet to leave Geralt’s.

“Look, I know saying thank you could never even compare to what you have done for me, but thank you.”  

“You don’t need to thank me.” He speaks softly. “I’m partially at fault. I am the one who told the king you were a witch.” Confusion arises at his statement.  A witch?

“Why’d you tell him that?”

“I thought if he thought you were a witch, he’d leave you alone.  Witches aren’t to be dealt with lightly.”  Guilt laces his voice, but how could he have known the king would burn down the forest.

“So that’s why they started the fire.” The words feel tight in your throat, your quiet voice barely above a whisper.

“Briar, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”  You blink back a stray tear, threatening to spill.  “It’s not your fault.  It’s mine”

He hesitantly reaches out to you, clearly out of his element, yet he doesn’t pull back.  You lean into his touch and find yourself in a comforting embrace.  You all but dissolve into Geralt’s warm hug, his firm arms gently wrapping around you.  His broad figure easily engulfs you, as you nuzzle your head into his chest.  He reluctantly rests his chin on the top of your head, still shocked at the fact that you accept his embrace.  Neither of you are used to physical affection, not in a world as cruel as this one.  A feeling of acceptance of who you are and what you’ve done is mutual.  One thumb traces circles between your shoulder blades as you scrunch your eyes closed and inhale his scent.  Although still masked in the smell of smoke, underneath it all he smells like the forest, like home with the additional comforting undertones of leather and a trace of Roach’s pungent odor.  You never want to leave his strong, safe arms, but of course, good things never last.

Jaskier barges through the door with four girls carrying buckets of steaming water.

“Bath time!” He announces in a sing-song voice.

 The pleasantly warm water embraces your smooth skin and washes away the last traces of ash from the fire.  The sour smell of living wood being burnt is taken away with a bar of lightly scented lye soap that was generously provided by the working women.  If it weren’t for the circumstances which brought you here, you would consider this a lovely vacation.  Of course, you’ve never been on a vacation before so you don’t know what else to compare it to.  The brothel is certainly different than your forest.  Oh, your forest.

You grieve for your home as though it was another person.  In many ways it was a living, breathing being which provided for you in the same way your mother used to.  You haven’t felt this type of sadness since her death. She is the one who taught you to live in harmony with the forest, and now it too is gone.

On the other side of the thin bamboo-like divider, Geralt and Jaskier murmur in low voices.  You know they’re talking about you.  

You and all the trouble you bring along.  Despite this fact, their voices don’t sound angry, tense yes, but not angry.

“Briar!” Jaskier calls out.

“Yes?”

“You can take the bed on the right, Geralt and I will share the other.” You hear a scuffling of feet and what sounds like a grunt of disapproval from Geralt.

“What? It’s not like it’s the first time.” He directs towards Geralt. You have to stifle your laughter at his stubbornness.

Eventually, the water is no longer warm and you begrudgingly let it out through a plug at the bottom of the wooden tub.  It methodically flows out into a tiny trough in the floor which leads through a small hole in the bottom of the wall and to where you can only assume is a dugout of some sort.  You can’t really tell, it's too dark and there is only a small stub of candle light left.

The room is silent on the other side of the divider, they must have gone to sleep.  You can’t bring yourself to find out.  Instead, you turn back to the damp, wooden tub.  

When you step inside, the hem of your dress absorbs the last of the water pooling at the bottom.  You flatten your hands onto the base and let out a warm stream of energy that flows through your veins and out of your fingertips.  A emerald glow momentarily lights up the room as a layer of moss starts to form on the bottom of the tub.  You’ve always loved moss.  It is one of the first plants you learned to grow.  Moss simplistic in nature with only one set of DNA and doesn’t need any dirt to grow, just a bit of moisture.  Soon enough it covers the entire interior of the tub and provides a soft, cushiony bed for the night.

Morning comes all too soon.

“Did we seriously share a bed just for her to sleep in the tub?”  You awaken to Geralt and Jaskier looking down at you cocooned in your makeshift bed.  Jaskier, while mildly annoyed is clearly impressed at whatever you pulled off with the plants. “Huh.”

“We need to leave.” Geralt’s raspy morning voice cuts through the air.

 Roach happily greets Geralt in an unspoken language only the two of them seem to understand.  The horse blatantly ignores Jaskier but makes a point of saying good morning to you, by nuzzling her head to your hand.  Okay, maybe she isn’t greeting you, but rather looking for some apples.  

“I’ll grow some more for you once we’re out of town.” You whisper to her.

The trip to Norwich should take anywhere from five days to a week on foot. While you are lucky enough to get a lift from Roach, Jaskier is forced to walk and while it is not his fault, he does slow the three of you down.  

“Why does she get to ride on Roach?  The only time I got a free ride was when you nearly killed me with that djinn.” He whines

“The djinn was your fault.”

“Maybe so, but it has been the only time I didn’t have to walk.”

“That’s because Roach doesn’t like you.” Geralt states plainly.

“Doesn’t like me.” He gasps in astonishment.

“What do you mean she doesn’t like me? She’s a horse!”

“I think it’s your singing.” A sly smile spreads across Geralt’s face and you can’t help but laugh at their childish pettiness.

“Maybe you should feed her some apples, as a peace offering.” You suggest.

“Apples! Where in the world am I going to get apples? They aren’t even in season.”

“I’ll grow some for you.”

“Right, with your magic voodoo powers.”

“Voodoo? It’s not voodoo!” You laugh.

“So if it’s not voodoo then, what exactly is it that you do?”  The question catches you off guard.  What do you do?  You have never really had to explain it before.  With almost no connection to your relatives and any other mystical creatures, you have only ever compared yourself to humans, which feels almost unfair since you share no lineage with them.  

“Well, I suppose it is technically magic.  I live in harmony with the forest, its energy is my energy and I can shift that energy into different forms.  I’m not sure how else to explain it.  When one of us thrives, we both thrive.”

“Is that why you stopped the farmers?”  He asks. “No need to worry, Geralt filled me in on everything, I won’t tell” He jokingly whispers to you, but the atmosphere has already changed. Geralt hasn’t said anything, but his eager ears hang on to your every word..

“It is.” You pause a moment, struggling to find the right words.  “When the farmers cut the trees down, it pains me. Not physically, but spiritually I guess would be the closest way to explain it.  All I wanted to do was protect it and now, well now I can still feel the fire burning.”

“I’m sorry to hear that Briar.” He says sympathetically.  “Do you still have your ‘powers’ then if we leave the forest?”

“I can still feel the energy now.  As long as I am in the forest, I think I’ll be fine, I don’t really know what happens if I leave, I’ve never had a reason up until now.”

“If it eases your sorrow, we don’t actually leave the forest to get to Norwich.” Geralt speaks up.

“It does.” A gentle smile finds its way to your lips.

“Did you say Norwich?”

“Yes, there’s a friend of a friend I’m going to stay with there.”

“Well, I’ve got some friends there!” A sly grin spreads across Jaskier’s face.

“Friends?” Asks Geralt.

“You could call them that.”

---

pt.4

https://sunonyoreface.tumblr.com/post/613676968381136896/forest-nymph-geralt-of-rivia-pt4

Tag list: @nadia-rosea @nerdstuff1994 @whatawildone @mac-the-oregonian  @mac-the-oregonian @romanoffs-heart @atozfantazyxx

[selenecrawford]

The Odd Pair 6

Warning: Cursing and some intense fluff red alert fluff.

Selene's stay on the hospital proved to be a bit longer than expected. Ieyasu wanted to make sure she was completely recovered since having a sepsis was not something light. Shingen cooperated with him one hundred percent, leaving Selene a bit frustrated. Spending her whole day in bed was not funny, but she had to manage. Masamune visited from time to time, but it was like having a force of nature enter the room. Shingen was not happy, he just bit his tongue and let him be. Being jealous was new to him, although Masamune was a complete gentleman he still was jealous. Selene was completely trusting with him. Her whole demeanor changed and he wanted to have that with her. On some occasions he had to take a walk in order to calm himself down. During one of those walks he encountered with Ieyasu at the cafeteria.

“So, is rare to see you here Shingen, is Masamune visiting?”

“Yes.” Shingen took a drink of his coffee but avoid to add another world.

Taking a seat on the table, he waited for Shingen to speak. His frown was deep but no word.

“OK, what is the matter with you? This is not your usual behavior. You have such a murderous look on your face.” Ieyasu fold his arms.

“Since when those two are so close? I mean she is a married woman.” Shingen just blurted out.

“So, are you jealous?” Ieyasu was raising an eyebrow surprised.

“No, I'm not. I just think Masamune is too close, he is always interested in forbidden things...”

“Whoa wait a minute. You had to stop right there. Masamune can be crazy but he won't do that. Not to Selene and you. Specially Selene. Let me tell you something since it so obvious you haven't got the memo. Selene and Masamune are friends, they had always been friends. And Selene had always been clear on that and Masamune had  respected that, because he PAID ATTENTION. Apparently it seems you are the only one who hasn't. In the time you was having a harem, Selene was struggling, so Masamune was there for her.” Ieyasu was really upset. “For once why don't you sit with her and hear her. Actually listen. Instead of letting your ego run around. I'm out.” Ieyasu just went off without a second glance.

Shingen stayed there in silence, perhaps Ieyasu is right. What was really stopping him from talking with her? Maybe because he wasn't ready to hear her say what he wanted to hear? In business he was always quick to study his opponent, see their weakness, exploit them and win. With Selene...

“Lass, how you've been lately?” Masamune was peeling an apple.

Selene was peeling a mandarin orange.

“I can't complain, I mean ever since I woke up Shingen had been more attentive than before.” Selene was cautious with Masamune he assumed his role of adopted brother seriously. “Although I wish to be at home, this resting, taking blood samples is really annoying me.” Selene evade Masamune's eyes.

“And has he tried to talk with you know you more....”

“OK, Dragon what is going on? Quit beating around the bush.” Selene was suspicious of Masamune's inquiries.

“To be honest the guy is a playboy, I thought your father will have better taste. I remembered we used to hang out together he never took a second look at you when we were growing up. Now, he acts like a dog who is protecting his favorite bone.” Masamune went straight to the point. He was worried about Selene, and she appreciated that, but she also had her own battles to fight on her own.

“Masamune, you know how much I love you, but this was something dad did. Why? I'm not really sure, but if something happens it will happen.” Selene shrugs.

“And what if you decide to risk it and fail again?” Masamune stopped peeling and looked her at the eyes.

“I won't be the first time he broke my heart, but also, it will not be the end of the world. I learned thru the years that you don't die of love you just decide what to do. I'll be OK, I promise” lifting the pinkie  finger.

Taking her pinkie with his Masamune and Selene made a promise.

When Masamune left, Shingen went back to the room. He felt uncomfortable, awkward. Selene noticed he was fidgeting with his keys avoiding eye contact. Resigned she sighed . “ OK, come one on. Let it out, what's eating you?” Shingen's started to frown.

“Shingen?” Selene took his hand.

“Why you are so close to Masamune? There he said it. He waited for her response. Taking a deep breath Selene took Shingen's hand and started to talk.

“OK, growing up, while you spend your time with dad at the car shop I was alone at home. One day I was crying because I burned a pot with water. Yes, I was bad at cooking. Masamune was passing by so he stopped and offered to teach me how to cook. After that we stick together always. After school, always working on new recipes. We talked about anything and everything, so yeah we were pretty close. When we hang out as the whole gang he decided to be with me. I used to be jealous of you and Yuki all the time. So, I prefer to avoid you and yet got that crush on you.” that last part Selene avoided to look Shingen in the eye.

Shingen took a look at her hand. Compared to his it was small and delicate. He wanted to ask more but for some reason he couldn't bring himself to do it. He was good with words, some glitter, some sweet manipulation voila, people was doing his biding. But when those emerald eyes, looked at him, his resolve to use his charms vanish. She confronted him, challenged him and provoke him. Yet she  didn't budge. Even managed to out smart him.

“Shingen we have nine months to go, what are we going to do? Because ��I'm getting tired of fighting, for once I will like to go home, and just watch TV and cuddle. I don't ask much. Tell you what. Let's take one day at a time. If something happens it happens if not we part ways. What you think?”

“Usually it's me who said that. You beat me to it Princess.” his smile was half there.

“I learned a long time ago, to deal with the present. If you don't want to do nothing, we are good. But I will try not to hide stuff anymore.”

“You scared me to death Selene, I thought you were going to die on my arms. It was the first time after dad's death that I was clueless as to what to do.” his confession was said softly. Shingen decided to try and be open with Selene see where that choice will took them.

“I was scared to death also Shingen. When they told me I had to go to surgery I thought I was going to die.” Selene blink several times trying not to cry. Again getting emotional.

Shingen hug her rubbing her back softly. “It's OK you are safe now. I won't let anything happen to you. Never.”

Selene cling to him closing her eyes. His touch was soothing, comforting. When he broke the hug he looked at her eyes. Their faces were closed their nose almost touching. “Can I?”  Selene just kissed him before responding. Their tongues started to tease each other while exploring their mouths. This time Shingen lower one hand to her chest caressing one of her breast until her nipple went up. Selene's felt she was burning inside. A soft moan escaped her mouth between kisses encouraging Shingen to start playing with her tip already harden against her pajama top. Selene broke the kiss when she felt a bit of pain on her right side.

“You OK?” Shingen was concerned when the kiss ended suddenly.

“I think I did a sudden movement, I'm still sore. Sorry.” Selene face was flustered on a lovely scarlet red. Biting her lip she lower her eyes.

With a low chuckle Shingen kiss her forehead accommodating her on the bed with caution. He left a hand on her left side under her pajama top. Her skin was warm and soft, she was feeling stirred up by his touch. Shingen just stopped at some point to talk.

“ That first kiss we shared left me wanting more. So I want to get more as soon as possible.” he began a new assault on her mouth when Ieyasu entered clearing his throat loudly.

“OK, Casanova time for visits are over. Now get out, I need to check on her to see how she is doing. Out, out, out.”

Selene was mortified but started to laugh. Never thought she was going to get caught like that. Her laugh was contagious, Shingen soon followed her. He gave her a last peck on the lips.

“I'll see you tomorrow?”

“Yes, please.” Shingen heart skipped a beat when he saw Selene's smile.

In a unspoken agreement, Shingen, always went to visit Selene. They noticed a lot of common topics they liked as well as their differences. Selene loved red meat while he was more a seafood lover with a sweet tooth. When she was allowed to walk, Shingen brought her some clothes from home. She lost more weight after the surgery which worried Shingen. Selene reassure him she was getting enough to eat, to which Ieyasu gave confirmation. With a bit of help she walked a few steps toward a bench. Shingen will sit behind her to hug her and rest his chin on her head. On some occasions they will comment on the nature or simply stay silent. Not everything was easy going, at times they but heads and had to ask for time out. Selene was making an effort to understand Shingen's point of view and vice versa. Progress was being made, Selene little by little was opening up to him. Shingen on the other hand, reciprocated her by talking more about the time they were apart. Time went by until one whole month passed.

Selene soon was discharged once the test confirmed she was completely recovered. Ieyasu still wanted some periodic visits to monitor her health. Shingen promised Ieyasu, Selene will be there for the checkups. He wasn't going to let her suffer another health scare, not on his watch. The trip home was made between jokes, music, and chatting about common topics.

“So, are we sure the house is still up and not burned down to the ground?” Selene was playing a hard game of teasing she knew it.

“You are asking for a punishment Princess. I know how to tend a house, come one have a little faith in me.” Shingen tried to keep a straight face failing after a few moments laughing.

“Who me? I'm innocent until proven guilty. Besides, there is a favor to ask. But I will wait to get home to ask for it.” her look was playful and Shingen wondered what could it be.

Upon arriving the house, Shingen told Selene to stay on the car while he got the bags inside. Once everything was in he went back, to help her go inside the house.

Selene went to their room to get change, getting a hold on one of Shingen's shirts. In a bold move she put on the shirt and a pair of capri pants with her red panda slippers. Shingen looked at the slippers raising an amused eyebrow.

“I never saw those before.”

“I have one or two things I haven't share with you yet. So, do you have time to talk some more of you need to go back to work?”

“I can spare some time what you have in mind?”

“I want you take the pillows of the middle of the bed. If we are going to give this a chance, let's begin with this.”

Shingen kept his poker face on. He was excited at the prospect of this new development.

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

Notes: A calm chapter, I’m really happy for the feedback and comments. Thank you soo much for reading. Let’s see where this take us. Enjoy!

@elievalentine @colivara @notsafefortum-blr @datemasamunemaiwaifu @unstoppablelinda @epicdragonlady @yeshasays @masa-little-kitten @mikamiw @kimi00twin @kouei116 @blue-bean-exe @mitsuhidethesnek @la-piperina @pirateprincessyuki @jennacat84 @valfraeyja @little-blue-octopus @sengokuotaku82 @serenity-writes @xathia-89 @shouta-bakugou @cailannuesugi @kitsune-mana @atatera-blog

[masterlistcrawford]

The Odd Pair 6

Warning: Cursing and some intense fluff red alert fluff.

Selene’s stay on the hospital proved to be a bit longer than expected. Ieyasu wanted to make sure she was completely recovered since having a sepsis was not something light. Shingen cooperated with him one hundred percent, leaving Selene a bit frustrated. Spending her whole day in bed was not funny, but she had to manage. Masamune visited from time to time, but it was like having a force of nature enter the room. Shingen was not happy, he just bit his tongue and let him be. Being jealous was new to him, although Masamune was a complete gentleman he still was jealous. Selene was completely trusting with him. Her whole demeanor changed and he wanted to have that with her. On some occasions he had to take a walk in order to calm himself down. During one of those walks he encountered with Ieyasu at the cafeteria.

“So, is rare to see you here Shingen, is Masamune visiting?”

“Yes.” Shingen took a drink of his coffee but avoid to add another world.

Taking a seat on the table, he waited for Shingen to speak. His frown was deep but no word.

“OK, what is the matter with you? This is not your usual behavior. You have such a murderous look on your face.” Ieyasu fold his arms.

“Since when those two are so close? I mean she is a married woman.” Shingen just blurted out.

“So, are you jealous?” Ieyasu was raising an eyebrow surprised.

“No, I’m not. I just think Masamune is too close, he is always interested in forbidden things…”

“Whoa wait a minute. You had to stop right there. Masamune can be crazy but he won’t do that. Not to Selene and you. Specially Selene. Let me tell you something since it so obvious you haven’t got the memo. Selene and Masamune are friends, they had always been friends. And Selene had always been clear on that and Masamune had  respected that, because he PAID ATTENTION. Apparently it seems you are the only one who hasn’t. In the time you was having a harem, Selene was struggling, so Masamune was there for her.” Ieyasu was really upset. “For once why don’t you sit with her and hear her. Actually listen. Instead of letting your ego run around. I’m out.” Ieyasu just went off without a second glance.

Shingen stayed there in silence, perhaps Ieyasu is right. What was really stopping him from talking with her? Maybe because he wasn’t ready to hear her say what he wanted to hear? In business he was always quick to study his opponent, see their weakness, exploit them and win. With Selene…

“Lass, how you’ve been lately?” Masamune was peeling an apple.

Selene was peeling a mandarin orange.

“I can’t complain, I mean ever since I woke up Shingen had been more attentive than before.” Selene was cautious with Masamune he assumed his role of adopted brother seriously. “Although I wish to be at home, this resting, taking blood samples is really annoying me.” Selene evade Masamune’s eyes.

“And has he tried to talk with you know you more….”

“OK, Dragon what is going on? Quit beating around the bush.” Selene was suspicious of Masamune’s inquiries.

“To be honest the guy is a playboy, I thought your father will have better taste. I remembered we used to hang out together he never took a second look at you when we were growing up. Now, he acts like a dog who is protecting his favorite bone.” Masamune went straight to the point. He was worried about Selene, and she appreciated that, but she also had her own battles to fight on her own.

“Masamune, you know how much I love you, but this was something dad did. Why? I’m not really sure, but if something happens it will happen.” Selene shrugs.

“And what if you decide to risk it and fail again?” Masamune stopped peeling and looked her at the eyes.

“I won’t be the first time he broke my heart, but also, it will not be the end of the world. I learned thru the years that you don’t die of love you just decide what to do. I’ll be OK, I promise” lifting the pinkie  finger.

Taking her pinkie with his Masamune and Selene made a promise.

When Masamune left, Shingen went back to the room. He felt uncomfortable, awkward. Selene noticed he was fidgeting with his keys avoiding eye contact. Resigned she sighed . “ OK, come one on. Let it out, what’s eating you?” Shingen’s started to frown.

“Shingen?” Selene took his hand.

“Why you are so close to Masamune? There he said it. He waited for her response. Taking a deep breath Selene took Shingen’s hand and started to talk.

“OK, growing up, while you spend your time with dad at the car shop I was alone at home. One day I was crying because I burned a pot with water. Yes, I was bad at cooking. Masamune was passing by so he stopped and offered to teach me how to cook. After that we stick together always. After school, always working on new recipes. We talked about anything and everything, so yeah we were pretty close. When we hang out as the whole gang he decided to be with me. I used to be jealous of you and Yuki all the time. So, I prefer to avoid you and yet got that crush on you.” that last part Selene avoided to look Shingen in the eye.

Shingen took a look at her hand. Compared to his it was small and delicate. He wanted to ask more but for some reason he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He was good with words, some glitter, some sweet manipulation voila, people was doing his biding. But when those emerald eyes, looked at him, his resolve to use his charms vanish. She confronted him, challenged him and provoke him. Yet she  didn’t budge. Even managed to out smart him.

“Shingen we have nine months to go, what are we going to do? Because  I’m getting tired of fighting, for once I will like to go home, and just watch TV and cuddle. I don’t ask much. Tell you what. Let’s take one day at a time. If something happens it happens if not we part ways. What you think?”

“Usually it’s me who said that. You beat me to it Princess.” his smile was half there.

“I learned a long time ago, to deal with the present. If you don’t want to do nothing, we are good. But I will try not to hide stuff anymore.”

“You scared me to death Selene, I thought you were going to die on my arms. It was the first time after dad’s death that I was clueless as to what to do.” his confession was said softly. Shingen decided to try and be open with Selene see where that choice will took them.

“I was scared to death also Shingen. When they told me I had to go to surgery I thought I was going to die.” Selene blink several times trying not to cry. Again getting emotional.

Shingen hug her rubbing her back softly. “It’s OK you are safe now. I won’t let anything happen to you. Never.”

Selene cling to him closing her eyes. His touch was soothing, comforting. When he broke the hug he looked at her eyes. Their faces were closed their nose almost touching. “Can I?”  Selene just kissed him before responding. Their tongues started to tease each other while exploring their mouths. This time Shingen lower one hand to her chest caressing one of her breast until her nipple went up. Selene’s felt she was burning inside. A soft moan escaped her mouth between kisses encouraging Shingen to start playing with her tip already harden against her pajama top. Selene broke the kiss when she felt a bit of pain on her right side.

“You OK?” Shingen was concerned when the kiss ended suddenly.

“I think I did a sudden movement, I’m still sore. Sorry.” Selene face was flustered on a lovely scarlet red. Biting her lip she lower her eyes.

With a low chuckle Shingen kiss her forehead accommodating her on the bed with caution. He left a hand on her left side under her pajama top. Her skin was warm and soft, she was feeling stirred up by his touch. Shingen just stopped at some point to talk.

“ That first kiss we shared left me wanting more. So I want to get more as soon as possible.” he began a new assault on her mouth when Ieyasu entered clearing his throat loudly.

“OK, Casanova time for visits are over. Now get out, I need to check on her to see how she is doing. Out, out, out.”

Selene was mortified but started to laugh. Never thought she was going to get caught like that. Her laugh was contagious, Shingen soon followed her. He gave her a last peck on the lips.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yes, please.” Shingen heart skipped a beat when he saw Selene’s smile.

In a unspoken agreement, Shingen, always went to visit Selene. They noticed a lot of common topics they liked as well as their differences. Selene loved red meat while he was more a seafood lover with a sweet tooth. When she was allowed to walk, Shingen brought her some clothes from home. She lost more weight after the surgery which worried Shingen. Selene reassure him she was getting enough to eat, to which Ieyasu gave confirmation. With a bit of help she walked a few steps toward a bench. Shingen will sit behind her to hug her and rest his chin on her head. On some occasions they will comment on the nature or simply stay silent. Not everything was easy going, at times they but heads and had to ask for time out. Selene was making an effort to understand Shingen’s point of view and vice versa. Progress was being made, Selene little by little was opening up to him. Shingen on the other hand, reciprocated her by talking more about the time they were apart. Time went by until one whole month passed.

Selene soon was discharged once the test confirmed she was completely recovered. Ieyasu still wanted some periodic visits to monitor her health. Shingen promised Ieyasu, Selene will be there for the checkups. He wasn’t going to let her suffer another health scare, not on his watch. The trip home was made between jokes, music, and chatting about common topics.

“So, are we sure the house is still up and not burned down to the ground?” Selene was playing a hard game of teasing she knew it.

“You are asking for a punishment Princess. I know how to tend a house, come one have a little faith in me.” Shingen tried to keep a straight face failing after a few moments laughing.

“Who me? I’m innocent until proven guilty. Besides, there is a favor to ask. But I will wait to get home to ask for it.” her look was playful and Shingen wondered what could it be.

Upon arriving the house, Shingen told Selene to stay on the car while he got the bags inside. Once everything was in he went back, to help her go inside the house.

Selene went to their room to get change, getting a hold on one of Shingen’s shirts. In a bold move she put on the shirt and a pair of capri pants with her red panda slippers. Shingen looked at the slippers raising an amused eyebrow.

“I never saw those before.”

“I have one or two things I haven’t share with you yet. So, do you have time to talk some more of you need to go back to work?”

“I can spare some time what you have in mind?”

“I want you take the pillows of the middle of the bed. If we are going to give this a chance, let’s begin with this.”

Shingen kept his poker face on. He was excited at the prospect of this new development.

—————————————————————————————————

Notes: A calm chapter, I’m really happy for the feedback and comments. Thank you soo much for reading. Let’s see where this take us. Enjoy!

[minidog]

portrait of a family

pls review or leave kudos on ao3 if u are so inclined

Snapshot. Title: Love is Blind. Pictured: A man, sans shirt, caught mid-laugh, hair messy and face tired. His eyes are lit up.

He never meant to take it this far. Marvin isn't the type Whizzer usually goes for. Though his taste is, admittedly, older men, he loves style and pizzazz. Men who can sweep him off his feet, men who pay at five-star restaurants, men who dress sharp, men who are well-spoken, men who are sexy. Men who aren't Marvin.

Marvin is more or less the aged version of the boys Whizzer fantasized about in high school. That is, to say, the quarterbacks with Letterman jackets slung over their broad shoulders and arrogant grins despite never having gone to state. Rigidly straight men with one arm wrapped around the cheerleader's waist as they strode the halls. They're the type you always know won't amount to much more, floating off to a university for a degree they don't care for and taking and office job to support their wife and children. The type that seem content in most every way except for those sad eyes.

He doesn't do love, he's never known love, but he thinks he just might be in love with those eyes. Tired eyes on a man with a struggle inside him. Why him, why now?

Marvin sleeps beside him, one arm wrapped around his chest. Even though he holds on too hard, Whizzer can't bring himself to pry himself from his grasp. It makes him feel warm, and safe, and loved. And then he feels guilty, because Marvin has a family. A family like the kinds in picture books.

Marvin makes it clear that when they're together, they do not exist. He takes Whizzer in his arms to forget them, as if his whisperings and the electric touch from his fingertips wipe him completely from his mind.

He tries to understand why the most vulnerable facet of Marvin is always the man withdrawing back into the sheets, begging for him to keep these rendezvous a secret between them, them alone.

Most of the time, Whizzer is content to this agreement, when Marvin's family is simply blurry, two-dimensional figures in the back of his mind without names and faces and feelings. But then he can't help but drink him in and let his thoughts wander, like now, when he's lulled to sleep by the end of their fucking. (They fuck, Whizzer thinks. Marvin does not love him, and he cannot love Marvin. All they are is physical, they fuck, because that's a cold, unfeeling word.)

What is Marvin like as a father? Does he sleep in the same bed as his wife? Does his son shake him from his sleep with worries about nightmares and monsters, or is he too old for that? Do they have dinner every night at the dining table and laugh and talk? Does he drop his son on his way to work and pick up his wife's favorite meal on the way back home? Who is his wife, who is his son? Is he distant? Do they suspect?

He never had a tight-knit family. Even as a child, his father and mother worked long, odd hours to keep food on the table and barely spoke a word to him, much less expressed their love, if they had any at all.

He enjoys how it's rough with Marvin, how it's a constant game of power and control between them. It's all new and exciting; he's never taken much to men ordering him about and making him beg, but for some reason it's different with Marvin. He likes all that, quite a lot, but he's finding himself falling for the part of the man that's left to his imagination, the doting father and husband. Does he even exist?

Snapshot. Title: Mother. Pictured: Kitchen with white tiles tinted with warm hues from the outside sunset. Profile of a woman, suited in apron, cutting carrots into small pieces with a sharp knife, suited with a look of determination. Her hair is pulled back messily and mascara clumps her eyelashes. She is beautiful.

"You should hate me."

"I know." She smiles a dry smile, maybe bitter, maybe regretful. "I've tried, I really have," she tells him, her eyes meeting his from across the kitchen counter.

The house seems empty without Jason and Marvin. The former, at a sleepover. The latter, well, he hasn't been around for a while. But it's not a bad, lonely sort of empty, not the type that once tore through the house as what was once a well-kept secret began to come unraveled. It's no longer unbearable.

"I never really loved him, I don't think," Trina admits with a small shrug. "I mean, I cared for Marv, I really did. It was just... My father, he was so overbearing. I promised him I'd marry. So I did."

Whizzer feels like he's lived this same story, only where he went down a different path. Settle down with a nice girl, son. It'll pass. It must pass.

"Whizzer? Can I talk to you about something?" she asks, pulling him out of his briefly wandering thoughts.

"We're talking now, aren't we?"

She smiles once more and pushes a cup of tea towards Whizzer because she's nothing if not a polite Jewish wife. He takes it from her hands that are far more worn than he would have expected, blowing the steam away before taking a small sip. He looks at her expectantly, eyebrows raised, but says nothing more.

"Mendel was saying something to me last night, about being trisexual or bisexual or something or another. What I got from it was that he's queer," she says with a humorless laugh. There's no mistaking the fear in her eyes despite her nonchalant chatter. "He's queer!" she repeats. She laughs again because it's mind-boggling, the fact that her second husband shares her first's same gaze for men.

"He's not gay," Whizzer says gently, only  because it looks to him like she might break.

"Do you think he's been with men?" she asks.

"Why don't you ask him?" he says back.

Trina looks down at her hands, not even realizing she's been twisting and fidgeting. "I don't think I'm bothered by it, Whizzer," she says. "I just wish that this wasn't so hard for me. To adjust, I mean. I don't want to be that person, and I don't want Jason to see that person as his mother. I want him to be better than me."

She swallows hard, and Whizzer offers her his tea. She pauses before accepting, taking the cup daintily in her hands and taking a long sip, the warmth soothing. "I'm glad Jason has you, Whizzer," she admits, looking down at her distorted reflection in the tea. "I try my best, but I'm so afraid I'm messing up with... with all this."

"You're doing just fine, Trina."

She looks back up at him. "You promise?"

"Promise."

Snapshot. Title: Father to Son. Pictured: Bearded man with a wild mess of curls throwing a line into a lake. Boy next to him is trying to prepare bait, with difficulty. NO FISHING sign obscured by the two figures.

"Can you be my psychiatrist again? For just a second?"

Mendel doesn't question; he only pats the place next to him on the sofa. Jason pauses, trying to form some sort of thanks, but nothing seems to be appropriate, so he shuts his mouth and sits down, the plush cushion sinking slightly under his weight. He sits up straight, hands folded in his lap, looking much like the boy who adamantly refused any sort of therapy years ago.

"What's up, Jason?"

He lets out a sigh, obviously not pleased with this response. "What kind of psychiatrist are you? What's up, Jason?  Really?"

"I try to be friendly with my clients. It creates trust between us."

"Sounds like bullshit to me," Jason mumbles.

"Hey, watch your language," Mendel says in a way that clearly shows he's just spitting out instructions from Trina.

"Mendel, you're my psychiatrist now, not my step-dad."

He gives the boy an odd look.

"Please," Jason says, leaning back and melting into the seat. He sounds less snarky and more worried which calls Mendel's attention back to him immediately, though it never really wandered much in the first place. That's one of the things that Jason can't ever get too worked up about with Mendel; he always makes him feel like he's the only person in the room, the most important by far in a sea of lives.

"Okay," Mendel agrees, miming and pencil and paper in his hands, pretending to jot down notes.

"Can you please not do that?" Jason asks.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Of course. Go ahead."

"What if I was gay?" Jason asks, making an effort to avoid eye contact.

"That'd be okay with me, Jason," Mendel says.

"I know... It's just, what if I am?" he asks, words feeling jumbled in his mouth.

"Are you?"

"I don't know!" he shoots back, trying to worm his way out of the grasp of the sofa and ultimately failing. "I'm just asking, if I am. How do I know? How do I know if it's real? What if I'm just trying to copy Dad or Whizzer or something?" He lets out the whole sentence in one breath, sounding far too close to tears.

"I think you just know, Jason," Mendel replies, resting a hand on the boy's shoulder. He flinches at his touch, resisting the urge to draw away. He allows him to keep his hand there, though he tenses, grateful for the attempt that he's made, and grateful that he isn't trying to envelope him in a hug or has begun to cry or laugh. Mendel's indifference to the situation is somehow comforting, and something he would never get with Trina, Marvin, Whizzer, or even Cordelia and Charlotte.

"Why do you always have to be so cryptic?" Jason says with a sniffle, surprising both himself and Mendel by moving into his arms, clinging to his horrifically out-of-fashion and scratchy sweater. Mendel pats his back with a hand a couple of times, the movement unsure but still coming natural and comforting to him. He doesn't make much of a comment on the fact of Jason wiping his running nose and tears onto his top, thinking it best not to make Jason anymore upset than he already is.

"Thank you. I'm sorry."

"Hey, man. Don't be sorry. I've got you," Mendel says softly. He hugs Jason and he doesn't pull away.

Snapshot. Title: Happy Endings. Pictured: Two women embracing and kissing, their lips tugged up in smiles, faces powdered with flour.

"Hon, they'll be here any minute," Charlotte whines, watching anxiously as her girlfriend sets the table. It's not the most pretty table ever, circular and a tad too small for seven people, but it's made up with a classy maroon tablecloth with gold accents. Cordelia fusses with the cloth, tugging it every which way in an attempt to create a wrinkle-free surface, but the more she watches, the more Charlotte realizes that the end goal is impossible.

She stands by with a stack of plates in her arms, watching Cordelia until she finally straightens up and looks back. "Yes, yes, any minute," the blonde repeats, whistling as she takes the plates from Charlotte and places them around the table, taking her time to make sure they are all equal spaces apart. The doorbell rings just as Cordelia is finished putting napkins and tableware down.

Charlotte moves to get the door, glancing back once at the table. It's still a definite mess, but she decides that anyone who has a problem with that will simply have to deal. She opens the door to find Mendel, Trina, and Jason, the last of which carrying tupperware in his arms.

"You eager for some leftovers, huh?" Charlotte teases, using her hand to muss up Jason's hair.

"Ha ha," Jason says sarcastically. "No, this is just in case Cordelia makes another inedible flop. Which she always does."

"Hey, mister, I don't have to let you into my home and eat my food, so watch it," she warns, tone playful as she steps back to allow them in. Trina and Mendel make comments about the decor of their home and Cordelia rushes over to make an obligatory comment about how much Jason has grown, the humor being that they see each other most weeks.

As soon as the Charlotte has closed the door, she's drawn back by a rap on the wood. She opens it once more, saying hello to Whizzer and Marvin. Marvin looks about the same as usual, fit with a casual button-down a size too large for him and some jeans, while Whizzer seems as though he's shown up to a job interview, wearing a navy blazer and matching pants. "Come on in," she says, taking great amusement in the stark differences between the two men.

Cordelia rounds everyone up and directs them to their seats, making apologies for the lack of nametags. ("Charlotte told me it was too much! Can you believe that?") When everyone is seated and silent, she disappears back into the kitchen and brings out her prepared dishes, which, admittedly, don't look too bad at all.

"Come on, Charlotte, I saved you a seat next to me," she says, taking her by the hand and pulling her to the table. Charlotte laughs and allows herself to be pushed into a chair, Cordelia sitting next to her as promised, their whole family gathered around.

Snapshot. Title: A Game. Pictured: Sickly man in a hospital bed and boy playing chess. Image is slightly blurred and tilted, unprofessionally, but still adding character to the gloomy, dull room.

"Don't let me win, Jason," Whizzer says, chuckling a bit before erupting into a fit of coughs.

The boy watches him fearfully, as if he's afraid just a cough will snuff the life from him forever. He holds a knight in his hands, squeezing it tight until finally, the coughing dies down. He then places it back on the board, eyes flickering back to the husk of a man before him.

"I'm not letting you win. You've just gotten better at this."

Whizzer doesn't look anything like the healthy man he once knew. Only a couple of months and it seems that the old Whizzer is gone, replaced by this sickly, gaunt man dressed in hospital gowns at all times and stuck to bed for the better part of his time. He's still retained his inability to win at chess, though.

"Bullshit," Whizzer hums, pushing the pieces off of the board.

"Hey!" Jason complains.

"I told you not to let me win, and you lied to me about it," he says matter-of-factly, though he's unable to mask the hurt in his eyes. "Just because I'm dying doesn't mean you let me win."

"You aren't dying," Jason mumbles, moving to the ground to pick up the chess pieces. The tile is cold on his hands and in some places sticky.

"I am."

He returns with a handful of pieces and drops them before Whizzer on the board, all tumbling out of his hands. A sour look has pulled itself over his face, mixed with the all-too-familiar expression of fear and hopelessness.

"Dad says you aren't," Jason replies.

"Your dad is fucking stupid," he yawns, letting his arm rest over the side of his bed. He grabs Jason's hand, pulling it to him. Jason gives it a squeeze, which Whizzer returns, though he can barely even feel the pressure, attribute to his weakened state. "Anyone can see I'm dying. You just don't want to believe it."

Jason glares down at Whizzer, frustration rising in his throat and hot tears welling in his eyes. "Is that so bad? That I don't want to believe it?" he scoffs, tears trailing down his round cheeks.

He is silent, watching the boy try to swallow his angry despair. After a few moments, he smiles.

"What?" Jason asks, cheeks hot.

"You look just like your father right now," Whizzer laughs. It's genuine, something like nostalgia in his gaze. Foggy, like he's already gone.