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#down down we go into the death spiral
redwinterroses · 6 months
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yeah, i don't think i can be on tumblr today.
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braskide · 11 months
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you know it's kinda funny when i gotta make myself remember at least once a day yuna is theoretically married? to a maester? she killed? he commited patricide? and forced her into marrying him? wanted to become sin on purpose? used his mother's aeon?
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bludraws094 · 1 year
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ykw im bored im gonna sing tme from memory in the tags
i memorized it probably at least over a year ago, idk i have no concept of Time
#think of these thoughts as limitless light exposing closing circuitry of fright think of each moment holding this breath as death minute in#decimal resident minor how do you plead we need your testimony on the stand solomnly swear to tell the whole truth so help you son now raise#your right hand father your honor may i explain my brain has claimed its glory over me ive a good heart albeit insane condemn him to the#infirmary all mine towers crumble down the flowers gasping under rubble shrieking in the hall of lull thy genius sates a thirst for trouble#scattering sparks of thought energy deliver me and carry me away here in my kingdom i am your lord i order you to cower and pr*y nuns#commence incanting as the lightning strikes mine temples thus electrifying mine chambers wholly scorching out thine sovereignty so spiraling#down thy majesty i beg of thee have mercy on me i was just a boy you see i plead of thee have sympathy for me see how the serfs work the#ground (see how they fall) and they give it all theyve got and they give it all theyve got and you give it all youve got till youre down#[HAHAHAHA] see how the brain plays around and you fall inside a hole you couldnt see and you fall inside a hole inside a someone help me#understand whats going on inside my mind doctor i cant tell if im not me when it grows bright the particles start to marvel having made it#through the night never they ponder whether electric calming if you look at it right#i may have fucked up the ‘‘so spiraling down thy majesty’’ part i always get the beg and plead mixed up#anyways#miracle musical#hawaii part ii#hawaii part 2#the mind electric#april fools
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neverendingford · 6 months
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#tag talk#I made three new earrings. I've wanted to turn pennies into earrings for a while and I bought a small grinder wheel attachment last month#and I finally felt like making them. two are a silver wire pair for my sister and one is a blackened wire single for me#I refuse to give presents exactly on Christmas but I'm going down there because I care about my sister even if I don't about my parents#and she cares a lot about Christmas so I'm glad I made her something. she's one of the only people I feel comfortable giving gifts to tbh#anyway I'm not posting pictures because I don't feel like it and idk. I don't feel like posting on tumblr for real.#but I still wanna say the words into the void yaknow?#first new earring design I've made since march/april since my lantern earring#I've had even more people asking whether I sell them and like. no I don't. I don't want to make them for people I don't know or care about#I'm not about to mass produce my passion projects that help me express my identity. that would be honestly really fucked up.#like. yeah this lantern design I thought of while sitting next to a nice trans girl who made me feel okay to be myself.#let me just make fifty of it. this earring that I created at my point of recovering from almost bleeding to death. let me mass produce it#this shell earring that I made sitting with my boyfriend in the park on a windy october day. let me make it until I hate it.#this spiral shell earring that I made from a shell my cousin found while we wandered the wash the year he stayed for three whole months#no. everything is memories. everything is a part of me. everything I make because I love it. if I don't love it I throw it away.#I'm not going to mass produce these. I'm not going to sell them online for fucking... for fucking money.#like.. what should I do? be like “yeah I sat down and made some art for an hour. pay me some cash for it. that feels disgusting to me.#anyway. I made some new earrings and I'm glad because now I've got a good gift for a sibling that genuinely cares. and also for myself#cause I was getting a bit bored of the earrings I've got. I needed a new one for a while
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darkbluekies · 4 months
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Ring go down well (bad idea)
yandere!king x female reader
Warnings: mentions of behading and death, threats of eating rats, locked in a dungeon, threats of burning
"You wouldn't fucking dare", Edmund warns you through gritted teeth, glaring at you as you hold the expensive wedding ring over the open well.
For a short moment, you contemplate listening to his warnings, but you're too mad at him to be able to think clearly. Then, suddenly, your hand opens, and the ring falls, almost like in slow motion. The two of you wait until you hear the 'plop' of the ring hitting the water. Edmund lunges forward.
"What the Hell?!" he bursts out, looking at you intensily. "What the fuck was that good for?!"
"You deserve it. Good luck finding it."
Edmund grabs your arm and you're rushed off to the dungeons while he demands his servants to dive down and fetch the ring. Anger is boiling in his body. You absolute maniac.
"But, your majesty, it's deep", one of them say hesitantly. "If we dive down there are chances of death-"
"Either you dive and risk death, or I behead you at sundown with a hundred percent of certain death", Edmund screams. "Get that fucking ring!"
The two servants look at each other and sigh, giving up. Edmund monitors while they take turns diving. He keeps his arms crossed over his chest while he damns you in his head. You're going to pay for this, he thinks. You spoiled brat. Maybe you should stay in the dungeon for a while, just until you recognise everything he does for you. But how does he make sure that your wedding ring stays on your finger? Does he glue it in place? Melt it on? He will make sure that you never take it off again.
Finally, after an hour diving and multiple near death experiences, one of the tired servants hold up a golden, diamond ring. Edmund gasps and grabs it and runs off. He runs all the way down to the dungeons where you're sitting on the floor with your arms crossed.
"Look what I've got", he says mockingly, waving the ring in front of the cell's bars. "Better luck next time, my love. I'll burn this onto your finger so you never take it off again, do you hear me?"
You glare at him.
"Did you get it yourself or did you make someone else get it for you?" you question.
"That doesn't fucking matter."
"Go shove the ring up your ass, Edmund."
Edmund scoffs and nods. "Okay, I see how it is. You don't care about everything I do for you. That's fine. I hope you'll have fun with the rats down here for the rest of the week, they'll be your only source of company, and perhaps food if you continue to be difficult. Be careful, they bite."
With that said, he smirks and starts walking up the spiral stone stairs.
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not-my-final-account · 5 months
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I’VE FALLEN DOWN THE RABIT HOLE OF DANNY PHANTOM AND NOW I CAN’T ESCAPE
Once the Justice League was losing. It was the end of the world. No seriously, the world was an hour away from being blown to bits.
-
Constantine sighed and rubbed his face, he had just ran out of cigarettes and it was making him more jumpy than was truely necessary in any given situation. Him and most of the bigger heros in the Justice League sat in a cave and were forced to wait out the apocalypse, well, the hour left of it anyways.
Constantine sighed and looked up to what you could see of the sky from inside their cave, he was almost… afraid. Afraid of what was going to happen, afraid that it had come to this, afraid that the rumours were true or even worse than they seemed, Pariah Dark was not known for caring nor his mercy.
Honestly Constantine was going to consider it lucky if he died and got to rest in peace, even more lucky if the world actually got saved! This was a last ditch effort.
Constantine grabbed a piece of chalk from his pocket, it was worn from years of carrying it around. He settled it on the flattest piece of stone he could find and started drawing the circle he had memorised. “John what are you doing?” Wonder Woman asked, he ignored her and took a deep breathe
“Oh dark king of the ghosts.” he prayed, there were truely only a few necessary words but Constantine felt like he needed to add a message, so he kept speaking as he drew the intricate patterns of the circle “My world may be of no importance to you, but I am willing to make a deal to save it. Please accept my summon, please be merciful, please save earth, please K I N G O F T H E G H O S T S.” Constantine begged, Wonder Woman and most of the others sat up or got more defensive, it truely said something that Batman didn’t bother.
-
Danny Phantom sat playing DOOM with Sam and Tucker, cheering when we got to a higher level. Suddenly something tugged at his core and a voice whispered through his ears
…oh dark king of the ghosts. My world may be of no importance to you, but I am willing to make a deal to save it. Please accept my summon, please be merciful, please save earth, please…
“-anny? Danny?” Sam asked “Hello?” she said in a sing song voice
“Still with us Danny?” Tucker asked, Danny swallowed,
“I- I’ve got to go.” he said
-
Constantine sat on his knees in front of the circle and… nothing happened, Superman glanced at him and started to sit back down when suddenly the stone inside the circle fell away into a green spiral.
Superman gasped and jumped back up
“Don’t attack him, bow.” Constantine instructed, reluctantly Superman and everyone else did, except for Batman of course, what’d you expect? Him to change? Just because the world was ending?
A pale hand reached up from the circle and grabbed the edge; whoever was in the circle pulled themself up slowly and as they came closer to the mortal realm Superman got a sense of dread, of death, of… something else, of authority, and everyone in the room seemed to find themselves bowing lower. Superman couldn’t help but think, had Constantine double-doomed the world?
-
Constantine looked up as the figure hovered above the circle, he was the first to move from his bow. This… wasn’t what Constantine expected Pariah Dark to look like, he was still imposing but didn’t fit the ghost kings reputation.
He had a cape as dark as the shadows with glowing constellations and stories sown into the fabric. He had a crown that burned with green fire and floated above his head, his eyes glowed the same green as the crown and his hand had a single ring. He wore royal looking clothes, white boots and gloves with a black shirt and pants.
This was the ghost king “Pariah Dark, King of Ghosts. I am Constantine-”
“Pariah Dark? I dethroned him years ago! I’m Danny Phantom.” the ghost king introduced.
“I meant no disrespect your highness.” Constantine quickly said
“I don’t- never mind. You asked for me to save earth?” King Phantom asked, Constantine gulped
“Y-yes, we can’t win, please, I- I’ll do anything.” he begged,
“A favour.” King Phantom said
“What?” Constantine asked
“A favour, I’ll save your world for a favour from you and your friends.” King Phantom said.
A favour to a ghost king who was probably very evil, that is so stupid and such a horrible idea, who in their right mind would-
“Deal.” Constantine agreed.
There was a flash of bright light and King Phantom disappeared, after a few seconds of him being gone the sounds of a battle echoed through the cave.
“Constantine what did you just rope us into?” Batman asked. Constantine really, really needed a cigarette.
-
Years ago, the world was ending. In a last ditch effort Constantine summoned… something. Superman didn’t know much about the ghost king that had appeared, just that he was powerful, and that the better half of the Justice League owed him a favour. It had been on everyone’s minds for a few months after that deal, waiting for the day they would be called for something horrific and hoping it wouldn’t ruin them or their morals. But truthfully, after a few years everyone sorta forgot about it; it was the type of thing no one remembered unless the subject at hand related to it, and even then you were uneasy for a day and forgot all over again.
So when a scroll appeared in a flash of green light during a meeting one day, Superman would like to say that the freaking out was justified.
Batman (who seemed to adopt everyone he met in one way or another) shushed the group of panicking superhero’s and picked up the scroll “I am calling in your favour, when you finish reading this you will all be teleported to my aid. Signed, Phantom.” Batman read. Oh no.
In another flash of green light they appeared in a park with a few heros who hadn’t even been in the room. Everyone immediately put up their defences and raised various weapons, then they realised the park was empty. Superman looked around using X-ray vision, he had no clue what was going on in the seemingly peaceful that could make a ghost king ask for help, then he looked through a hill and saw a giant green dog running with two kids gripping it’s lead.
As the dog jumped on top of then off the hill and ran in front of them Superman could make out the words in their screams
“Sit boy, sit!” the Batman looking one called
“I’M TOO YOUNG TO DIE! NO OFFENCE DANNNYYYY!!!” the one with devices falling out of his bag and pockets yelled.
Everyone lowered their weapons and Flash relaxed and scoffed
“This is what that ghost guy called us in for? This is going to be a breeze!” Flash said happily
“Don’t judge a book by its cover Flash.” Constantine warned. Superman was about to agree with flash when the ghost king suddenly appeared in the air in front of us, dripping in something green which looked alarmingly like blood- oh god the ghost king was dying!? Re-dying?!
“Forget I said anything,” Flash raised his hands in the air and got ignored as we rushed over to the ghost king who had fallen out of the air and onto the ground.
Before anyone could do anything though another person appeared out of thin air and then floated down
“Join me Daniel! Together we could rule the world!” he asked, okay that was an evil guy if Superman had ever seen one, he even had the looks to go with it, you could mistake him as Dracula … was that Dracula?
Suddenly another guy who looked like the ghost king body slammed Dracula from the air
“I WILL RULE THE WORLD AND ME ALONE!” as he stood up Superman noticed he looked just like the ghost king only older and more evil looking. As if the mention of look-a-likes summoned her, a small girl who also looked just like the ghost king only younger and female body slammed evil twin number 1.
“Not on my watch you fruitloop!” she yelled. Suddenly a woman in a track suit with ridiculous looking googles and carrying an oversized gun jumped down
“Get away you evil ghosts!” she yelled and fired some energy weapon at the small group, they all scattered and the four of them fought when some girl on a hover board swooped in and pointed her hand at the ghost king
“Danny Phantom! You and all of ghost kind will pay!!” she yelled, something on her wrist started glowing when
“GET AWAY FROM DANNY!” a school girl yelled. Her orange hair swung around as she discus threw her books and bag right into the girls face. They also ran off into the distance to fight.
“What?” Flash asked,
“When he said.” Green Lantern agreed.
“The Dracula looking one is Vlad, he’s a bad guy, so is my evil self from an alternate timeline, we call him Dan, Dani is the small girl who looks like me, that’s because she’s my clone, she’s on the good side but she might steal your stuff just because she can so be careful,” he took a wheezy breath “My sister Jazz is the one who hurled her books into the air to protect me, she’s good. The girl in the red suit is Red Huntress, she’s good she just doesn’t understand -same with my parents, the couple in the jumpsuits, their ghost hunters.” the ghost king explained
“Wait, your parents are ghost hunters?” Flash asked
“Yeah?” the ghost king asked- oh I see.
“But you’re a ghost?” Flash said
“I’m technically a halfa actually, but trust me I know. It’s all ‘we’re going to tear apart the ghost boy molecule by molecule’ and never ‘is the ghost boy good or bad’.” the ghost king groaned, I reached out to help “I’ll be fine go fight or help!” he said
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surftrips · 7 months
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CROSS YOUR HEART AND HOPE TO DIE
pairing: young coriolanus snow x reader
word count: 600+
summary: based on "follow you" by bring me the horizon. young/slightly ooc coriolanus snow finds comfort in y/n's arms.
a/n: yeah, i can't believe i'm returing from my hiatus with a coriolanus snow x reader fic, but here we are. please feel free to send in prompts/requests with him though ;)
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"Because I don't want to fucking hurt you.” Coriolanus snapped. "God, half the time, I'm scared I could break you, even though I'm doing everything I can to hold back."
Your boyfriend was having a hard time lately. The anniversary of his father's death was creeping up and you knew he was having those thoughts again.
He had confided in you early on in your relationship his two biggest fears: losing you, and turning into his father. Now, he was spiraling with thoughts of both happening.
"Talk to me," you said, trying to reassure him. The two of you were by the lake, entangled in each other's arms on a blanket.
"I- I just..." he was trying to catch his breath. "I'm so angry all the time and you, you're an angel. You've never done anything wrong in your life. I don't deserve you, I don't know how to not fuck this up."
You couldn't help but smile at his name for you, reaching out to caress his cheek. He leaned into your familiar touch, one of the few things that could calm him down when he was like this.
It was true, he did get mad at the smallest things. Just last week, he got jealous of Sejanus for holding up your skirt as you went down the stairs, even though the two of you were clearly just friends.
And yesterday, he was frustrated with something that happened during training and came back to the cabin furious. You had asked him how his day was, like usual, and he had snapped at you.
"It was bad. Do you have to ask me that everyday?" he retorted, knocking over the items on the shelf closest to him.
But even though he got jealous or angry sometimes, you knew that he was working on it. He always felt awful afterward, and always made sure that you knew how sorry he was. That night, he had drawn a bath for you and even added some wild lavender he found near the water.
"Hey, you know I love you, right?" you said.
He sat up slightly to make better eye contact with you, "I do. But what if that's not enough?"
You frowned, "My love isn't?"
"No, no. I meant what if love, in general, is not enough? What if that's not enough to change my fate? Y/N, you know about my father, he was awful."
"I know, Coryo," you sighed. "But I also know you, and you're a good person. You love me, you love the Covey. You care about me, and your family. You want to be good, and I think that is enough."
Still, he didn't seem convinced. "I hate that I can barely remember him anymore, but he's still haunting me. The rebels that killed him haunt me. What if that happens to me?"
"Stop. No one here is going to do that, they know you're on our side. Don't you see? You're trying so hard to not be like your father, but you don't have to try to be good. You just are, deep-down in here," you pointed to where his heart is. "You are."
He leaned down now to pull you into a kiss. "Angel, can you promise me something?"
"What is it?"
"Promise me you'll never leave my side."
"Coryo, you could drag me through hell if it meant I could hold your hand. I will follow you to the ends of the earth. We're in this together."
That seemed to please him, finally. He wrapped his arms tighter around you and pulled you to lay back down with him. The two of you stared up at the stars, each silently wishing for this to work out.
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lowkeyremi · 2 months
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Choso who went into battle not knowing if he'd ever see you again. You knew this as well as he did, but he didn't want you to worry so he tried to comfort your mind.
"When I get back you gotta make me one of those cakes with the strawberries in it. I'll be thinking about it the whole time." He's hugging you, your head resting on his chest, tears from your leaky eyes stain his shirt.
"Don't go." Is all you can say. For some reason your heart is telling you that this is the last time you'll ever see your husband. This isn't just an assumption either, it's a very, very strong feeling inside of you.
"Baby. You know I have to.." His cold hands rub up and down your back, the coldness reminds of you of death.
"But.. what if this is our last time together?" He freezes completely, even his breath stops for a few seconds.
"I promise you, honey, this will not be our last time together." Choso leans down to meet your lips in a kiss, this kiss held so much slow, raw emotion. His hands caressed the back of your head and you felt more tears roll down your face.
"Choso! We gotta get goin'!" Yuki says tapping her foot impatiently. You have nothing against Yuki, but at that moment so much hate builds up inside of you- she's trying to take him away from you. She's trying to bring him closer to death.
"Choso please..." It's desperate and whiny, your voice cracks upon the last syllable. He gives you one last tight squeeze before muttering a, "I'll see you later baby."
The worst part about the departure is he doesn't look back, but you don't blame him. If he had looked back at your weepy eyes, he probably would have stayed instead of fighting for Japan.
Over the months of his absence you grow bitter, hateful, and quiet. Rarely do you talk anymore so when you hear your own voice it sounds foreign. Even your closest friends can't bring you out of the house without you bursting into tears, because the same door you walk out of is the same door he left out of.
"[name] you have to get out of here, you're going to spiral sooner or later," Your best friend mutters for the nth time.
"I'M NOT LEAVING! THIS IS ALL I HAVE LEFT!" You scream out. Regret instantly washes over you. "I'm-"
"I know you're hurting, don't worry about it." They say in a calming manner.
"I just- it's been two weeks since he's called me. Two. Weeks." Your best friend joins you on your couch, the same couch you and your husband have had many movie nights on.
"I know you're worried, [name]. About him, about your future, about everything... and I'm not going to tell you to be optimistic about the whole thing because it's 50/50 but I do want you to stay strong. It's what your husband would want, right?" They're right, if Choso were here he would tell you to push through and stay strong like you always do.
"Okay- fuck- alright. I'll go put some different clothes, let's get out of here. I haven't left in a long time."
The call came a month later. It was Yaga, he didn't sugar coat it, not that you wanted him to anyway.
"I'm sorry for your loss." It hurts when you hear those words being said to you over the phone. Your ears get a fuzzy feeling your vision blurs, and you start to hyperventilate.
"[name]? [name] are you there?" Everything went dark after that.
Trying to cope was the worst part of it all. Yaga had called you a couple of weeks later saying his body was so mutilated that they couldn't bring it back to bury him properly.
Now, you truly have nothing left, well, technically you have all the things he's given to you over the years, but you don't have him.
You went to therapy, you went to stay with your family, none of it worked. All you could think about was the last time he held you, his body was warm but his hands were cold to the touch.
As much as it hurts, your therapist has suggested moving out of your house because your pain is still raw and being in the house will bring up painful memories. Of course you refuse, why is everyone trying to take away what you have left of your husband?
In your bed was a picture of Choso, one you'd always keep with you when you missed him horribly. As you lie down for the night, you hug the picture tightly while tears silently fall from your eyes. At this point you don't even make sound anymore when you cry, it's just tears.
Ultimately, Yuji was the one to help you start your healing process. When everything had faded he came back, in rough shape might you add, but at least he was back. Instead of going to see all his friends when he returns, he goes to see you.
When he knocks on your door you assume it's your friends or a family member coming to get you out of the house. Seeing Yuji at your front door was very unexpected on your part. Before you can even get a sentence out he's squeezing you in a bone crushing hug.
"Choso told me to give you a hug for him. It was the last thing he asked for." His softly spoken words meet your ears. Almost immediately you squeezed Yuji tighter, "Thank you ,Yuji..."
"I know that you've known him longer than I have but.." he pauses, "his death hurt me just as much, and shit- I'm not gonna lie and say everything will be okay or everything will go back to normal, but I will say that he wants us to continue on even when it's rough."
Yuji's words sink into your brain and your first thought is selfish 'he wouldn't want me to keep going without him'. After a few seconds of rethinking you agree with Yuji, Choso was a fighter and he pressed on for what he believed, and yes, he would want you and his brother to do the same.
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too-much-tma-stuff · 1 month
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Not Without Me (part 3)
Part 1, part 2
Jason was still absolutely furious, and grieving about what had happened with Bruce, despite Danny’s best efforts to comfort and look after him. The Joker’s death had helped a lot but there were so many other villains out there, and now with the knowledge that Bruce would never change Jason’s thoughts turned to Tim. The new Boy Wonder, going out night after night and putting himself in danger for the sake of adults who Should know better! Leading the Teen Titans and Still working with Batman, when did the fucking kid sleep?!
What was it going to take for everyone to realize he shouldn’t be out on the field?! Maybe an argument could be made for some of the more powerful teen heroes like Superboy, but Tim was Just a teenager! A super smart one sure but he could get hurt so easily, he could die just like Jason had. Was it going to take a serious injury to show them what a bad idea it was? 
And maybe a part of Jason did blame Tim, not for his death obviously, but for taking Robin from him when it had been his pride and joy. It had meant everything to him, and it seemed like between the original Boy Wonder and the new genius boy Jason had nearly been forgotten. 
So no he wasn’t thinking particularly logically when he got ready to go to Titan’s tower, and the closest thing he had to a plan was to get Robin alone and beat the shit out of him until he agreed to put the suit back in the memorial case where it belonged! The anger spiraled up and out as Jason prepared to leave, working himself up into a cold, green tinged fury.
He hadn’t told Danny what he was planning to do, and he hadn’t on purpose. Danny was loyal and sometimes almost too submissive, but Jason seriously doubted his boyfriend would let him do this. Maybe that ever-permissive Danny would have stopped him should have been a sign to Jason he really Shouldn’t, but he was not thinking logically in that moment. His blood was rushing in his ears, which was probably why he didn’t notice someone else was there until the door slammed.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Danny demanded and Jason looked up to see him standing in front of the door, arms crossed and legs planted staring Jason down. His head was lifted and there was a stubborn set to his jaw that Jason Hated seeing because it meant Danny was not backing down. Alright, he hated seeing it directed at him, when Danny directed this at other people Jason thought it was hot as hell.
“Out,” Jason practically snarled, slinging his bag over his shoulder and stomping towards the door in the vain hope that Danny would get out of his way.
“Like hell you are, not till you tell me Where you’re going worked up like this! What happened?” Danny demanded, and did not move an inch. When Jason got too close and tried to push past Danny he grabbed Jason and pushed him back hard. It was easy to forget how Strong he was.
“Don’t fucking touch me right now,” Jason snarled at Danny who stepped forward, infuriatingly fearless. 
“Or what? You’ll hurt me? Good, then we can actually have a productive conversation about this.” Danny accused, jabbing a finger against Jason’s chest. 
Jason grabbed Danny’s wrist without even thinking and twisted, throwing Danny over his shoulder and to the floor. He tried to bolt towards the door but felt a hand around his ankle and fell heavily as well. He’d only managed to roll over onto his back before Danny was on top of him, his own sharp teeth bared in fury. “You’re not running away from me, Jason!” He hissed as Jason struggled under him, still with just barely the presence of mind to be trying to get Away! If he started fighting Danny, or beating him properly there was no way Jason would be able to stop until he’d tired himself out and wouldn’t Want to go after Tim anymore.
Danny wasn’t going to let go though, and Jason’s eyes widened behind his mask when Danny lunged down, his teeth clamped down on Jason’s shoulder, tearing through his shirt and into his flesh easily. He howled and flipped them both over, the pain and perceived threat of someone near his vulnerable throat finally making him lose control. 
By the time the green retreated from Jason’s vision again his knuckles were bloody and bruised. He was breathing heavily and his shoulders ached, and not just where Danny had bit him but the muscle ache of exertion. Under him Danny panted, eyes closed tight and bruises still fading slowly from his skin under Jason’s stunned gaze. 
He pulled off his helmet and cupped Danny’s face with gentle hands. Danny opened his eyes again and looked up at Jason, eyes bloodshot and suspicious. Jason gave him a small smile and Danny relaxed, smiling back and lifting his arms to drape them around Jason’s shoulders, they were heavy, Jason could practically see that fatigue dripping off of Danny. He kissed his boyfriend gently and sweetly, peppering feather light kisses over any lingering bruises as Danny gave a soft, happy sigh. 
“I need a bath,” Danny murmured softly. Even though the wounds healed the soreness lingered sometimes, baths helped, even if there wasn’t blood down Danny’s face and staining the collar of his shirt. Jason must have given him a bloody nose a few times over.
“Of course,” Jason murmured and got up off of Danny, helping him to his feet before scooping Danny up in a bridal carry. He was light, Jason’s arms weren’t too tired to carry his lover. In the bathroom Jason set Danny down on the counter and kissed him again softly before putting the plug in the tub and started the water running. He grabbed a dark coloured cloth and wet it before handing it to Danny so he could clean the worst of the blood off his face.
Out of habit he turned to leave, Danny still hadn’t let Jason see him with his shirt off so when he bathed he did it alone. But not this time it seemed, Danny grabbed Jason’s arm before he could leave the room, eyes wide and a little panicky. Shit, Jason didn’t mean to upset him! Did Danny still think Jason would try to sneak away once he was out of sight?
“No, please stay,” Danny said softly, looking like he might cry which was a knife in Jason’s heart honestly. 
“Of Course I’ll stay, I just thought-, I mean you’re not going to bathe with your shirt on,” He said, trying to make a joke as he stepped forward to wrap his arms around Danny. For the moment he’d almost forgotten why he was angry before, they’d have to talk about it soon but taking care of Danny came first.
“Well, no, but I don’t want to be alone right now and you’re going to have to see the scars eventually anyway. I just don’t like looking at them, or thinking about them really, but… ya.” Danny sighed and leaned back, finally stripping off his shirt as Jason braced himself, then carefully controlled his reaction and pushed down his nausea. 
Danny’s scars were… extensive. They didn’t make Jason sick because they were unattractive of course, far from it, but because of the story they told. There was the lichtenberg scar Danny had shown him before, branching up his arm and curling over his chest, but that was probably the least disturbing. The most were the surgical wounds. Straight and clear forming a pronounced Y on Danny’s chest and abdomen, there were straight ones down both of his arms, and a vertical one up the front of his throat, though that one was just slightly less pronounced to the point it could be missed on first glance, out of contact with the rest of This.
Jason knew Danny didn’t scar easily, even when Jason had stabbed him in the shoulder the wound had not scarred. How bad, how extensive, how Deep had these wounds been, that they scarred like that?
Jason realized he was staring, and Danny was looking at him with concern slowly transitioning into panic. Jason stepped closer, leaning against the counter between Danny’s legs when he opened them for him, resting his hands on Danny’s soft hips. He pressed his lips against Danny’s forehead, hearing it as Danny let out a shuddering breath he must have been holding. 
“I just… wish that hadn’t happened to you Danny. And I really wish it wasn’t taking so long for my hackers and agents to find out Where the other GIW bases are, I want to tear those people apart,” He said. He could feel the Pits stirring just slightly inside him, though they were too spent to really react right now. 
“I could probably find them myself if I tried, but honestly I’m scared. I’m not sure I’m ready to face them again,” Danny said softly and Jason sighed.
“I get that Danny, it’s okay,” He promised. He wanted to blow up those bases ASAP, especially since they might be hurting other people, but he couldn’t Force Danny. Hopefully his people would find out more soon and Jason might be able to handle it on his own, maybe with some help from old friends.
The bath had finished running so Jason turned away from Danny to turn it off while he undressed the rest of the way. Jason gave him a hand to steady him as Danny stepped into the water and sank down into it with a sigh. Jason sat beside the tub, leaning against the edge and holding one of Danny’s hands as he relaxed. He’d wash off the remainder of the blood when he was ready to get out so he wouldn’t be soaking in bloody water till then. 
“So, where were you headed That upset?” Danny asked, watching Jason with half lidded eyes. 
“You know, one of these days I’m actually going to be going to do something time sensitive and you stopping me like that is going to cause problems,” Jason grumbled without heat. He knew he was a liability at times when his rage really took over and needed Danny with him then more than ever. Danny knew it too judging by the disbelieving huff he gave Jason in response. “I was… not being rational, I was freaking out about the new Robin.
“He’s just a kid like I was, I don’t want him to die,” Jason muttered, crossing his arms over the edge of the tub and resting his chin on them.
“So what were you planning to do? Kidnap him?” Danny asked calmly.
Jason avoided his gaze. 
“Jason… you weren’t planning to hurt him were you?” Danny asked, and his disappointment was cutting and gentle. Jason’s shame was deep and heavy, making him shrink into himself.
“I thought maybe if I showed him how dangerous it was, how easily he could die he might Want to stop,” Jason muttered, barely audibly. 
“You DID die and nearly the first thing you did once you came back was hop back into costume! Do you really think that would stop him when it didn’t stop you?! He doesn’t seem like he’s any less stubborn,” Danny accused him.
Jason groaned and buried his face in his arms, but didn’t let go of Danny’s hand. He was right of course, Jason had been being an idiot, driven by emotion and the blood rushing in his ears. He should have talked to Danny about this ages ago. “No, it wouldn’t have stopped him. So what do we do?” Jason asked, his voice muffled. 
He felt Danny’s other hand in his hair and leaned in to the soothing touch a little, letting him card his fingers through Jason’s hair. “I know you’re not going to like this Jason, but I don’t think we can make him stop.” Danny said softly and Jason let out a sound that was half a groan and half a growl. “He won’t stop for pain, if we kidnap him we won’t be able to keep him and drawing that much attention to ourselves would definitely be a mistake. We can’t make him stop, but we can probably help him.”
Jason hummed and peaked at Danny who was gazing into the middle distance thoughtfully. “Danny? What are you thinking?” Jason asked a little warily. 
“What did you need when you were Robin? What would have made you stop?” Danny asked, looking back down at Jason. 
It was his turn to fall silent, thinking deeply about that question. He sighed and shifted, leaning his back against the edge of the tub and stretching his legs out in front of him. He tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling in contemplation. “Someone.. Who would support me unconditionally. Bruce didn’t Make me be Robin, but a lot of the time it felt like it was the only way I could get his attention. Being rewarded for Not going out… help?” He said with a vague little gesture of his free hand.
“Can we try to do that for him? If we can get in contact with him we can offer him support, places to hide if he needs a break from Bruce, help with homework? Whatever he needs. At first he’ll probably take advantage of that as an opportunity to spy on us, but as long as we’re careful about it, that could be our in,” Danny suggested.
“What would I do without you,” Jason sighed, looking at Danny with his damn heart in his eyes as Danny gave him a fond but sardonic smile. 
“Apparently, nearly beat a teenager to death,” Danny said and Jason groaned, his head thunking back against the side of the tub.
“How long is it going to take for you to let that go?” He asked preemptively. 
“Never,” Danny replied blithely. “I will bring it up every time I need to remind you Why you need to talk to me before doing something drastic.” 
Jason groaned again, but he definitely deserved that.
--------
Instead of breaking into Titan Tower to fight Tim, Jason broke in to leave him a note in his room.
Hey Timmy (A.K.A. Replacement)
I know I’ve made a pretty damn terrible first impression but I want you to know that it’s not you I’m mad at. I understand wanting to be Robin, I loved the role more than anything before it killed me, and even though I don’t want any more dead kids I don’t think I can make you give it up. 
But you know it’s dangerous, we both do. If you ever get in over your head, you need a place to hide, get in over your head in a fight? Hell, you need help with your homework. I'm really good with English and Hyena knows more than anyone I’ve met about Astronomy.  
If the old man is with you we won’t let you in, but if You need anything you can call me, or come to the Alley. As long as you’re alone you are welcome, and I swear on my own grave no one will hurt you.
Red Hood
Masterpost
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waitimcomingtoo · 2 months
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All Those Shadows Almost Killed Your Light
Pairing: Peeta Mellark x Reader
Synopsis: you leave the cave to go get supplies and get lost, leaving Peeta to panic while you’re gone
Masterlist
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While Peeta was still asleep, you quietly gathered some of your things around the cave and packed them in your backpack. You had managed to change the dressing on his leg wound without him waking up so you hoped you’d be able to slip out to gather some supplies without him noticing. Just as you were about to leave the cave, you heard him waking up.
“Sweetheart? Where are you going?” He asked in a groggy voice. Even half asleep, you could hear panic in his voice at the sight of you leaving.
“I’m just gonna go get some supplies. I’ll be right back.” You told him as you put some arrows into your quiver. Peeta frowned at your answer and tried to sit up but winced from the pain.
“You’re leaving? But what if something happens to you out there? The Careers are still looking for us. It’s not safe for you to go out there alone.” Peeta worried and tried to catch your ankle to stop you. You moved away from his hand and bent down to get on his level.
“We need more water and you need food in you. I have to go. Don’t worry about me. I have my bow and I know where I’m going.” You assured him as you pushed the hair off his forehead.
“I’m coming.” He insisted and tried to get up again. You gently pushed him back down to his reclined position.
“No you’re not. You can barely stand. Let alone walk around. Just stay here and rest. I won’t be long.”
“No. I can’t let you go alone. If something were to happen to you-“
“Nothings gonna happen to me.” You cut him off before he could spiral. You could tell from Peeta face that he was deeply upset over you leaving without him. He knew you could protect yourself, he just hated the idea of not being able to help you if something were to happen.
“But-“ He began to protest again so you put a hand on his chest and cut him off with a kiss. You felt his eyelashes brush your face as his eyes shut and he tilted his head up to kiss you back. He wasn’t sure if you were actually kissing him or just putting on a show for the sponsors and honestly, you weren’t sure either.
“Now there’s no way I’m letting you go.” He said when you pulled away.
“I’ll be okay. I promise.” You assured him you as held his face in your hands.
“You can’t promise that.” He whispered and shook his head. You could tell there was something more Peeta wasn’t telling you that was making him so anxious.
“Do you think I’m not gonna come back?” You asked and sat beside him to give him your full attention. Peeta stared into your eyes and looked a little guilty for what he was about to say.
“I trust you.” He began. “But I’m such a burden. You and I both know that. If you didn’t have to take care of me-“
You cut him off with another kiss, taking your time with this one. You pulled him in by his face and laid on his chest to give him a proper kiss goodbye that you hoped would satisfy him.
“I would never leave you behind.” You promised him. “We’re a team. It’s not a burden to look after you. So let me get you some water and food so that I don’t have to lose you.”
You thought that was enough for him but he let out a whine once you got up. He grabbed your hand and tried to pull you back down to keep you from leaving.
“Please, don’t leave.” He begged. “The Careers are after you. You didn’t see Cato. He was really adamant about killing you himself.”
“I’d like to see him try.” You smirked as you picked up your bow.
“Don’t even joke.”
“I’m not. I have precious cargo to protect. Cato has a death wish if he tries to get me. Maybe I’ll go hunting for him while I’m out there.” You joked and slipped your knife into your belt loop. You were trying to make Peeta laugh to distract him but he wasn’t having it.
“Please stay.” He pleaded. “It’s not worth it. Don’t risk your life for me.”
“But you see, that’s the problem. I’d do anything for you.” You clicked your tongue and shrugged. Peeta didn’t even crack a smile as he stared at you with eyes that begged you not to go. You felt bad for not doing the one thing he asked but you needed supplies. You bent down beside him again and gave him a soft smile.
“Aren’t you gonna kiss me goodbye?” You asked. Peeta didn’t move at first so you took it as a no. But suddenly, he slipped his hand behind your neck and pulled you into a needy kiss. You let it last as long as he needed it to because you needed it too. When you pulled away, you smiled softly as him and pressed your forehead against his.
“Don’t let this be our last goodbye.” He pleaded quietly as he looked you in the eyes with his giant puppy dog eyes.
“It won’t be.” You promised. “I’m coming back for you.”
“You better.” He said as you stood up. You threw your backpack on your back and said goodbye to him one more time before leaving the cave.
You got the water first since it was nearby and then went to go hunt for some food. You kept your eyes up as you walked to look for birds you could shoot at. A flock of birds caught your eyes and you began to run after them with an arrow drawn. Your eyes never left the sky as you ran as you were determined to bring some food back for Peeta. The floor suddenly disappeared beneath your feet and you found yourself tumbling down a steep hill. You held your arms close to yourself and tucked your head in as you went crashing down to the bottom of the hill. A large rock was waiting for you at the bottom and collided with your head, making you come to a stop.
A few hours passed and by the time you woke up, the sun was setting. You went to sit up but the throbbing pain in your head sent you back down. You winced and rubbed your eyes before slowly sitting up. The arena was blurry and louder than you remembered. The ringing in your ear slowly went away and you were able to hear the sound of birds again. Carefully, you got up off the ground and started to look around. The forest looked unfamiliar to you so you knew you must be in an area you hadn’t explored yet. The setting sun made you anxious to get back to Peeta to tell him you were all right. You had left him around noon so you had been gone a good few hours at the point. He was already low on food and water when you left and added to that now was him almost positively losing his mind over how long you’d been gone. You rehearsed an explanation for your disappearance and prepared to counter any and all of his scoldings you were sure he’d been preparing for you all day. The sky was completely dark now as you traveled north to where you knew the lake had to be. The silence of the forest was cut into by the sound of rusting near you.
“Wait, is that her?” You heard someone say. You didn’t take a chance and took off running in the opposite direction. The voice could have been Cato or Marvel but you weren’t going to stick around to found out. Instead of taking a chance on foot race, you scaled a tree as fast as you could and hung out at the top. Cato and the Careers traveled under the tree at some point and much to your dismay, set up camp nearby. They didn’t know you were there but if you couldn’t risk climbing down and having them hear you. That unfortunately meant you’d had to leave Peeta for even longer. You sighed and tied yourself to the tree to settle in for the night.
Come morning light, you stayed silent until you had watched the Careers pack up and leave the area. As you were untying yourself to get down, the cannon boomed. Your mouth went dry and you had to tell yourself that you had just seen the Careers and you were nowhere near Peeta so the chances of it being him were slim. Even so, you felt sick to your stomach as you descended the tree and started making your way through the forest again. The feeling of dread would not be eased until you were sure Peeta was safe. And so, you moved quietly but swiftly in the direction of the cave. An hour passed and you were still far from where you needed to be. Suddenly, the sound of a twig snapping behind you made you reach for an arrow. You swiftly loaded your bow and drew your arm back as you spun around to face you target. Instead of an assailant, you found Peeta. He threw both his hands up, one hand was full of flowers and one was making a fist. His fear filled eyes were wide and red from the tears he’d shed. He let out a little whimper until he realized it was you. His eyes immediately softened as the color returned to his face.
“Peeta? What are you out here? Why would you leave the cave? It’s not safe out here. And you shouldn’t be walking on your leg. What were you thinking?” You whispered harshly as you pulled him behind the safety of a large tree. You were glaring at him with confusion and anger over why he was this far from the cave without any weapons and on his bad leg. Peeta was dazed and slack jawed as he touched your hair as if to make sure you were real.
“You didn’t come back.” He said in a strained voice. Your face softened and all anger dissipated when you remembered you had promised him to be right back over 24 hours ago.
“Oh, honey.” You frowned. “I’m so sorry. I fell down this huge cliff and got lost. And then I had to camp out for the night in a tree until it was safe to leave.”
Peeta was breathing heavily as he stared into your eyes. You recognized that he was coming off of a panic attack, something you’d seen him have a few times on the train when the stress got to him. His shaking hands made you look down at the flowers he was holding.
“Why do you have flowers?” You asked him. Peeta looked down that the little white flowers in his hand and his bottom lip began to tremble.
“I went to look for you. Then I heard the cannon. I didn’t know…I didn’t know what I was going to find.” He said in a wavering voice. He started to cry again as you put two and two together.
“You came to burry me?” You asked quietly. Your heart broke at the thought of him dragging himself around on his bag leg and collecting flowers to burry you in despite the pain he was in.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of them taking you without saying goodbye. I needed to see you one more time. And I wanted to give you a proper burial for your family.” He confessed. You smiled sadly and wiped his tears with your thumb but they kept coming. You rubbed his arm up and down to comfort him before realizing his other hand was still in a fist.
“What’s in that hand?” You asked him. Peeta immediately put the hand behind his back and looked ashamed.
“Nothing.”
“Peeta.” You said warningly and grabbed his arm.
“It nothing.” He insisted as you pried his fist open. His hands were stained with a purple juice you knew all too well.
“Nightlock? Are you crazy? You’ll be dead in a minute.” You shouted as you knocked it out of his hand. Peeta looked you in the eyes and sucked in a sharp breath.
“I know.” He said quietly. “That was the point.”
“What?” You furrowed your eyebrows as you poured some water on his hand to clean off the juice from the berries.
“You didn’t come back. I waited for you all night. When I heard the canon….” He trailed off and you knew what he was implying.
“Oh, Peeta.” You whispered and touched his face. You immediately felt bad for yelling at him given the state he was in.
“I’m sorry.” He sniffled as more tears streamed down his dirty face.
“Did you eat any yet?”
“No. I promise. I was going to after I buried you.” He said, only breaking your heart more. You finished cleaning off his hand and fixed his hair.
“You’re lucky you even got this far. Anyone could have seen you. I don’t know what you were thinking leaving the cage with no weapons and a barely working leg.” You huffed.
“Don’t be mad at me.” Peeta said weakly. You folded your arms and stared at him as you tried to think of what to do.
“Please.” He pleaded. “You promised you’d be right back and then never came back. I was worried sick about you. And then I thought you were dead. So you can be mad at me tomorrow all you want for leaving the cave and not bringing a weapon or whatever else, but don’t be mad at me today. I just needed to see you. Please don’t yell at me.”
You looked at him in his vulnerable state and felt your heart ache for him. You dropped your bow and backpack to the ground and stepped toward to hug him. Peeta immediately wrapped his arms around you and buried his face in your neck. You rubbed his back with one hand and stroked his blonde hair with the other to calm him down.
“I’m sorry. I’m not mad at you. I love you very much. I won’t yell at you anymore.” You said into his ear before kissing the side of his head. Peeta sniffled and hugged you tighter.
“I love you too.” He told you. He pulled out of the hug to cup your face and bring you into a long kiss. When you pulled away from air, he kept his hands on your face and kissed all over it as you laugh.
“All right, all right. I hate to tell you this, but I never actually got any food. I still need to hunt.” You told him with an apologetic smile. Peeta grumbled like a child and picked up the bow you had dropped on the ground. Before you could ask what he was doing, he took an arrow from your quiver and shot a bird out of the sky with ease. Your eyebrows went up as he went to collect the bird without any acknowledgment of his perfect shot. He returned to you and held out his hand.
“Let’s go.” He said and nodded towards the direction of the cave.
“I’m sorry?” You laughed. “Where did you leant how to aim like that?”
“Years of watching you. But don’t expect me to be able to do it again. I just really want to get you home safe.”
“So I see.” You smiled and wrapped your arm around him so that he could lean on you and not put pressure on his bad leg.
“And don’t think I haven’t noticed the cuts on your face. We’re putting that medicine on you as soon as we get back.” Peeta told you as you walked back to the cave together.
“So bossy.” You clicked your tongue. “I would’ve stayed lost longer if I knew you were gonna be sassy when I got back.”
“That’s really funny but you’re actually never leaving my sight again.” He replied. He cracked a smile to let you know he was onto kidding and you smiled back as you gave his shoulder a squeeze.
“That’s okay with me.”
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theminecraftbee · 1 year
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alright, so, one more thing i've been thinking about during all of this, and apologies, because i normally try to keep my blog fairly discourse-free in the grand scheme of things. but.
there are hermitcraft fans who act irritatingly morally superior about this fandom. i think it's out of some impulse to try to distance yourselves from any other mcyt fandom. it needs to stop.
the worst behavior during the polls was from the hermitcraft fans.
period.
there were so many instances of hermitcraft fans accusing the other side of cheating, of hermitcraft fans making attacks on the character of their guy's opponents, i have heard what i HOPE are isolated reports of racism in the grian/quackity fight (it was genuinely impossible to keep up with the blog's notes that round without both going into a death spiral thanks to the horrible behavior of scar fans during techno/scar and also without losing track instantly of where we were due to the frankly insurmountable volume of notes, so i did not see it, but unfortunately i fully believe it). i have seen people receiving awful asks - saw people being accused of 'betraying' the hermitcraft side due to voting for quackity or techno, for example.
and for a fandom that likes to act like it's better than the other guys, well. the dsmp fans were generally very well behaved in comparison. (shoutout, for example, to quackblr - i saw maybe one or two possible instances of bad behavior, but for as intense as you all were, you all were normally mostly just retaliatory towards whatever energy was thrown at you.) it wasn't supposed "outsiders coming in" that was doing this bad behavior, either.
folks, you can't blame the dsmp when the problem is inside the house. you can't blame twitter users when you're doing it here. you can't blame the reddit when you're the ones throwing the first death threats.
get off your high horses. we're all mcyt fans. we're all having the same fun. get off your high horses. you can hardly claim we're entirely all "unproblematic" when keralis accepted a sponsorship from the wizard game and xisuma periodically gets another round of getting shouted down over something he said on xisumasays. get off your high horses. you can't claim we're the accepting, good behavior fandom, unlike those other guys, when you're the ones causing the problems.
now, as always, i'm sure this is a law of large numbers thing to some extent. as technoblade, wise as he is, said: sometimes when you get a large enough group, you're going to have a few serial killers. but for the amount that hermitblr likes to act better than Those Other Minecraft Fandoms, and those Other Fandom Websites, it wasn't those guys that made me cry.
to be clear, the majority of you have been well-behaved. but there's a persistent tendency in this fandom to act strangely morally superior to other fandoms. and, y'all? you aren't.
you just aren't.
and the sooner you acknowledge that, the less likely this is to happen again, because once you admit that yeah, we can be toxic too? that's when you can start actually looking at yourself and trying not to be.
anyway, sorry again to make this post. i don't want to be a downer, hence why, outside of the official mod statements of "chill the fuck out", i didn't make this until now. (it also helps that i wanted to wait until i was no longer furious, upset, and death spiraling.) i have seen a lot of the best of this fandom over the past two weeks! i've just also, unfortunately, seen some of the worst, and feel the need to make this statement because it's just... been eating at me.
i don't want this to continue to be a trend. i think we can do better. do so.
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pillowspace · 7 months
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Thinking about how Charlotte Emily most likely regularly hung out with the Aftons.
William comes downstairs at 9 in the morning to see Charlie and Elizabeth with empty teacups and a teapot, and is just like, ah. Of course. Little girls love tea parties, but indulges them anyway like "what are you two up to?" Elizabeth immediately lights up. "Charlie said that we should play British People 'cause we're British!" William, now a bit more confused, "...ah. I see." Elizabeth, "oh won't you join us? Pretty please?" Charlie then pipes in that she had also asked Mike, but that he had very unfortunately said no, because "Liz plays too mean." Elizabeth, "I do not, you're just too scared to lose!" Michael, "I can't fucking lose at 'British People.'"
Charlie and Elizabeth do atrocious things to their dolls. Drama. Tragedy. They always clash on the endings though, as Charlie wants their dolls fo have a happy end while Elizabeth wants their dolls to have an even worse end
Michael doesn't know Charlie's staying over, and brings home his schoolmates one day. William Frowns TM like "I tried to tell you Henry was dropping off Charlotte today, but you were already halfway out the door." Michael later re-enters the room to find his schoolmates picking on Charlie and pulling at her hair. The closest Michael ever feels to peace is when he's with the Emilys, so he immediately spirals at the sight like, "oh god, if Uncle Henry finds out I brought people over who hurt his daughter, he might not bring her over anymore. What do I do then? What do I do if he stops liking me?" He quickly shoos off his friends, going "dude! She's a guest, leave her be" while Charlie recovers. Before he too can follow after them, Charlie asks Michael if he'll draw with her. He hesitates. The Emilys are the closest he ever gets to peace, so he agrees and sits down to draw. "What are you drawing, Char?" "Marionette!" "'S that the creepy thing that's always watching the guests come and go at Freddy's?" "He's not creepy, he's my friend. Dad made him for me :(" "ahh. You know, my father's been building something for Liz too." "You think that it'll protect her like Marionette protects me?" "Maybe."
Charlie notices how anxious CC always seems to be, and declares one day that she'll keep him safe. She makes him a drawing of them both holding hands, and gives it to him so that he may always look upon it and know that Charlie's rooting for him. He nearly bursts into tears at the kind gesture. The whole household tries to be nicer to each other whenever Charlie's around, but CC tells her about Michael's behaviour to him. Knowing how weak Michael is to her, Charlie gives Michael a look while he's grabbing cereal the next morning like "you should be nicer to your brother. He's just a little kid." Michael immediately pauses, then awkwardly closes the cupboard like "ummm. Okay." Not wanting to use Charlie as a means to make fun of CC, he just never brings the interaction up afterwards
The Emily and Afton families joining together are constantly filled with different forms of jealousy from the Aftons. William, he's jealous of Henry. Michael, he's jealous of Charlie's positive relationship with her father. CC, he's jealous of how Michael seems to like Charlie so much more than him. Elizabeth doesn't even notice her own jealousy, but deep down, Charlie's completely peaceful household... confuses her. She rationalizes the lack of favouritism or hostility as it only stemming from Charlie being an only child, rather than Henry's good parenting. Being so young as well as being the perfect golden child, Elizabeth doesn't know how to express doubt in her father. Clearly, it must be her siblings doing something wrong if Charlie and Uncle Henry are doing so well on their own!
After CC's death, the house is filled with an unbreakable tension. It's grief. It's guilt. Michael and his schoolmates completely cut ties after what happened. And as always, the Emilys feel so separate from the tension of his own home. Michael starts talking to Charlie more frequently, more often at Henry's house rather than his own. He tries not to, or at least usually tries to hide first, but he accidentally has a complete breakdown in the living room one time. Charlie hums a soothing lullaby to him until Henry eventually comes back, notices the state Michael's in, and takes over calming him down while sending Charlie off to do some other seemingly helpful task. After Elizabeth's death, Michael only really has the Emilys left. Charlie stops just being his source of peace, and becomes his best friend. His only friend. Then after Charlie's death...
It's rather lonely all of a sudden.
Later, years later, when Michael's flesh is rotting on his bones and everything is just about to finally be done with, he sits down on the edge of a cheap creaky stage he bought, and lightly knocks his knuckles against Lefty's calf. "Charlie? Can you hear me alright? It's Michael ... I'm sorry. I know I never acted like it, but... for what it's worth... you were my best friend back then. ...Whatever's beyond this, would you like to be friends again there too?"
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etfrin · 6 months
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❝ꜱᴏᴜʟꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴄʀᴜꜱʜ❞ — chapter three | coriolanus snow
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「ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ:」 NSFW | minor character death, Coriolanus Snow is his own warning
「ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ:」 young! Coriolanus Snow x fem! Reader
「ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:」 Coryo finds out the consequences of his actions and finds one of his friends dead
「ᴀ/ɴ:」 third chapter is here!! Do remember to give feedback, thank you!!
beta read:: @nowitsmissing <33
series masterlist | navigation | previous chapter
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According to Coryo, Dean Highbottom deserves to be punched. Coriolanus truly wishes he could punch that man's face and break his teeth in the process.
As soon as he entered the classroom, with you in tow. Highbottom doesn't waste a second to praise your insight into welcoming the tributes at the zoo and how you acted in front of the cameras. Creating the very spectacle they had been aiming for. Snow was fuming because he was sure it was because of his songbird, not his soulmate that the views had gotten up.
But, he doesn't think Mr. High As A Kite cares. Coriolanus almost thought he wouldn't even get any attention, neither positive nor negative. He was willing to accept that outcome considering the fact he perhaps broke several rules being inside the cage along with the tributes.
He was wrong.
‘Three demerits and you will be expelled.’
And he officially has his first demerit, on his perfect darn record. He opens his mouth to speak against it-
“Snow falls down on the cage.
It falls down on the cage
But it landed…” Dr. Gauls’ voice echoes around the classroom as she walks down the stairs to Coriolanus level.
“On stage,” he replied, his face nonchalant but his hands fisted on his lap, hidden from view. He had an urge to kick at the table, his mind reeling over what if Dean Highbottom removed him from the games. Would that mean he will be disqualified from the Plinth Prize?
He can't have that. He can't.
Before his mind spirals into a panic attack, dr. Gaul steals his attention with her words.
“You're good at Games,” she said, “Perhaps one day you'll be a game maker like me.” Coriolanus Snow couldn't possibly think of a future in which he's a gamemaker, he never thought of it as a real career. Nothing of his interests nor challenging enough for him. Of course, he doesn't say his thoughts out loud.
He doesn't reply at all, he doesn't have to because Dr. Gaul asks him a question. What are the Hunger Games for? There's no true answer to that. Something so cruel, something so horrible. There's no way to justify that with the truth. Lies perhaps, lies he was taught in the textbooks.
“They’re to punish the districts for their uprising,” he said, only to be replied with “Dull, dull, dull,” by Dr. Gaul.
“Why the games?” She asked again. And Coriolanus had no answer. Because there were plenty of ways to punish the districts. Starvation. Bombing. Public execution.
Why the games?
Coriolanus Snow had no answer and Sejanus Plinth took over instead. As usual, he spewed about the wrongness of the games. The words that will go one ear in and another ear out. Dean Highbottom butts in the discussion as well, talking about how the game had run its course.
Coriolanus can't have that, he can't even fathom the thought of the games gone and in return losing his chance of winning. Coriolanus stands up, gaining the attention of his peers and authoritative figures alike with a daring but simple sentence.
“Dean Highbottom is wrong. My classmates too,” he said, his voice filled with the confidence he didn't feel.
His fingers twitch, feeling the urge to touch the burned soulmate mark on his wrist as a way to calm his soul down. He did no such thing, burying the urge deep in his mind as he began to explain his reasoning.
“People need someone to root for and to root against. . .” He continues, “And if we bend a few Capitol laws, we can even get people to place bets.”
He swallowed, trying to ignore the fact that his palms had begun to sweat as he waited for a reply. After a bit, dr. Volumnia Gaul grinned. Her smile made his bones chill.
“Very well, Coriolanus Snow,” she said, her tone calm yet underneath laid excitement. “I’d like you to write a proposal of these thoughts, Mr. Snow.”
Before Coriolanus could agree to the opportunity, you jump in. You stand up, beside Coryo. Your soft voice rang in his ear and he subconsciously closed his eyes to savor your voice no matter what it said. For a moment he didn't even seem to hear what you were saying, he quickly opened his eyes, looking down on the wooden floor instead. His pale cheeks burning, praying that no one saw that.
He finally hears what you say.
“Let's not limit the Games to the Capitol. Let's unite the whole of Panem with it,” you said, your voice filled with conviction. “I am sure Dr. Gaul if you give me the chance to write a proposal too, you won't be less than impressed.”
“Very well, miss,” she said, cordially, “I will be looking forward to seeing what the star mentors have to say.”
“Do not disappoint,” Dr. Volumnia Gaul grins before taking herself out of the classroom.
✧ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ✦✧✦ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ✧
After a quick lunch (not, he decided to sneak food for Lucy Gray) and a plan to meet up with you in the library at night. He sets out in the Zoo with Sejanus Plinth on his toe. The rich boy carrying a whole bag of food, something Coriolanus could only dream of. While Coriolanus had some sloppy sandwich and cold cookies wrapped in a napkin.
Shamed filled his veins about the fact that in his current abilities, he could bring stolen food for his tribute. He takes solace in the fact Sejanus’ tribute refused the bacon sandwich offered to him. A satisfaction in his mind to see Sejanus being rejected by his tribute while Lucy Gray was cooperative as before.
She takes the food, giving some of it to the district twelve boy. Coriolanus frowned as he saw her share the food he bought her. He leaned into the cage to whisper, “Are you going to share everything I give you?”
Lucy Gray replied, not skipping a beat, “You think I ought to build up my strength so I can strangle him in the arena?”
Coriolanus wishes to snap at her and say yes but he knew he had to show kindness to the songbird for her to do his bidding. He takes a deep breath to calm himself down, as Lucy Gray's eyes divert to his classmate, Arachne, his classmate who was busy amusing herself with her district ten tribute.
“Hunger is a weapon in the districts,” Lucy Gray comments, “Seems like your friend here knows it.”
Coryo barely suppressed a snort as he replied, “She's not a friend. She's poison with perfect teeth.” He smiles along with Lucy Gray. He leans down to Lucy Gray's level, his fingers gripping the bars between them. He whispered, “I may have the chance to help you. Make suggestions. I might even get the chance to send you gifts in the arena. Food and water.”
Lucy Gray replied, her voice hardening with the fact that she knew there was a catch, “What's the catch?”
“You might need to sing.”
“I don't sing when I am told. I sing when I have something to say.”
Coriolanus furrows his eyebrows as he hears her response. She would rather die in the arena than create a spectacle of herself. Stupid in his opinion, to value the integrity of art over their life. He opens his mouth to convince her otherwise but then an incident happens that leaves him shaken to his core.
The district ten girl, the tribute Arachne was playing with snatched the water bottle from his peer, smashes it against the cage… and in a blink of an eye, Arachne had her throat slit.
Horror fills Coriolanus as he rushes to her side. His hands over her wound, putting pressure to stop the flow of never-ending crimson blood. He sees her eyes losing life, he almost didn't hear the gunshots killing the tribute who caused this. He cried out for help, only to be ignored. He was grabbed by the shoulder by a peacekeeper. He was dragged away, as Arachne Crane bled out in front of him.
She was dead.
The people from the district were truly animals is his last thought, as he blinks away the tears and shock and goes to his home.
✧ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ✦✧✦ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ✧
In the comfort of his ruined home, he had taken a shower and had dinner with his family. He listens to the warnings his grandma’am spewed and hears Tigris voice her opinion against it. He doesn't say a word in between, his fingers tracing the scar over and over again, it was the action that managed to keep him sane for the moment.
After the dinner, he begins to change his outfit. He wears a black shirt, something from his father's closet, and too-tight grey pants. He looks at his hands and imagines Arachne on them. He takes a sharp breath and watches the red fade away from his mind. He tugs at his shirt sleeve and the burned tissue comes into view.
He does so hoping that you're waiting for him in the library. Lucy Gray was a disappointment, Sejanus too. Arachne death is a disappointment too. You were the only one he could rely on not to do the same.
He pressed his lips to the scar and for a mere flash of the moment imagines kissing you instead. For a moment, he forgets you're District, for a moment you're just his and he indulges himself in the fantasy of having your soft lips against his.
Tigris breaks him from his daydream by asking, “Are you sure that she will be waiting, Coryo?”
He looks back at Tigris, his lips pulled in a smirk, his thoughts free of mourning. He covers the scar and replies,
“She was never one to disappoint.”
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nkogneatho · 5 months
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𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍
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—cw: this is just hella angst and a lil fluffy, character death, jjk au but altered a bit, megumi is reader's son and toji and reader are couples so don't get this twisted because of the tags.
—a/n: please cry. or do inhave to cut onions??? no but fr i was sobbing hard while writing this because yaknow how much i love my man :(( please give feedbacks tho i love reading them.
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your eyes were resting close. there was sense of guilt, panic and fear gnawing megumi as he sat on the stool next to your hospital bed. there were a million reasons he could've prevented this. a million. but what is supposed to happen, happens. if he rushed home quicker, you, his mother wouldn't be lying on the hospital bed right now. if only he would've been aside you, keeping you company instead of on a mission, he would've saved you from those corrupt sorcerers. but it happened. and now he was scared, praying every god to turn back time or save you somehow even when the doctor's had announced you wouldn't make it.
you fluttered your eyes open, and slowly adjusted your head to meet your son who was resting his face in his hands, probably sobbing.
"me-gumi..."
"MOM?" his voice was drenched in panic and fear but he eased it out, making sure not to startle you. "you're fine. you're completely alright. just rest and go to sleep okay?"
"since when do you lie to your mom?" he was stunned you caught his lie "i know...i know my body better than anyone else," you stated. his lips quivered in guilt. poor boy. why does he blame himself for everything?
"gumi?" he couldn't form words so he just replied with a hum. "it's not your fault. i don't blame you for anything."
"but—"
"you're the best son i could ever ask for. i know i didn't give birth to you, but not once i ever felt like you weren't my son...not on—not once did i ever feel like you weren't a part of my heart...", a tear rolled of his eye. "so don't blame yourself or you'll be insulting my heart."
"you are the best mother ever." you chuckled lightly because you remembered once he brought an essay home with the same topic. "my mom is the best mom in the world," in his crooked handwriting and drawing of you and his dad holding hands with him. oh right. dad. he knew it was his dad that he fought in shibuya when you told him when he was finally ready. he spiraled into a emotional mess to gulp everything and then your words finally cleared the blurry pictures he had in his head of his childhood.
"is there something you want me to tell your dad when i meet him?" megumi stopped breathing for a few seconds before he finally let out a sigh.
"tell papa...i am sorry." megumi and toji never really had that deep and close father-son bond. there as never a right time in their life.
"he is not mad at you megumi. we're—we're parents. we will always love our child even when they hate us. and you hated him for the right reasons." he was in the verge of sobbing. "megumi...look at me." he lifted his head to meet your eyes. "your dad loved you. he really did. and i am sure when i meet him...he will ask about you first."
"promise me you'll be my mom again in the next life?" he offered his pinky.
"i promise." you entagled your pinky with his.
"i love you mom." you smiled. you didn't say it back. you didn't need to. he knew that you loved him so much.
megumi gently took your hand resting on the hospital mattress and tucked it between his palms. he was warm. or maybe it was your blood running cold. colder and colder till you shut off your eyes, the smile disappearing as your muscles relaxed and heart gave up. megumi's eyes lost inq containing the river of tears and they finally rolled down.
*sounds of waves*
you opened your eyes to bright blue sky mirroring on the ocean, the waves emerging and lacing your feet, the sand tickling your toes. you looked around to find something else but it was all just...beach. till your eyes fell on someone they've been starving to see for years. your husband. the love of your life was right in front of you.
toji smiled and you exhaled in relief, but the exhale bought the years of pent up pain appear on your face, making tears fall constantly.
"i waited for so long, baby." god, his voice. you missed it so much.
you ran. you ran till you were in the arms of your lover, and toji embraced you like he would never let go. "i am here." you cried and he did too. his lips pressed against yours so tightly. he stopped to look at you and ponder at your beautiful face. a face everyday that he tried not to forget. he never could but now you were here finally.
"how's megumi?"
"that idiot. always blaming himself. did you mention how shitty i was?"
"he said "tell papa i am sorry, ha."
toji laughed.
"i did. but he still loves you." you both thought it was funny. "he's your son after all. doesn't show it, but he's stubborn like you inside."
"i am not stubborn."
"yes you are. you got yourself killed even when i told you not to. you left me alone to survive in a world without you even when i told you don't. do you know how hard it was everyday to live without you, toji?" your words getting a little unclear towards the end as you sobbed and yelled.
toji hugged you once again. "i am sorry."
"you should be!"
"i know." he kissed your forehead. "why don't you tell me what happened all these years while we take a walk on a beach?" your puppy eyes peered up at him. "we have forever now."
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AITA for putting a hit out on an ex friend’s dnd character?
A few years ago I [M 18] was the link between two different online friend circles along with my longtime friend A [M 22]. Essentially, both A and I ran two different dnd campaigns that acted as a melting pot between our two friend groups. It was really fun, super casual stuff. Enter C [M 19], who was originally one of my friends and played in both groups. Over time it became clear that C was, to put it lightly, not a great person. At the time, I was a really new DM and struggled a lot with my self confidence. C was a super disruptive player in my group, going off the rails and generally trying to undermine both me and other players. I tried to sort it out between sessions, but it didn’t end up working out. It came to a head where I ended up shutting down my campaign, claiming school got to be too much, but in reality I just couldn’t deal with C’s behaviour. It was a really big blow to my self confidence at the time.
At this point a lot of people had been cutting out C for various other things like this - generally being disrespectful and callous, not taking responsibility for harm he caused, etc. Pretty soon the only times I was interacting with C directly was during A’s campaign.
A, who wasn’t 100% aware of the situation, came and talked to me after a session one day about why I’d shut down my campaign, and I told him everything about how I was feeling. He was really understanding, and said that he got the feeling that I probably didn’t want C around anymore, and neither did he. I agreed, so A offered to ‘sort out some stuff with C’s character’ and shuffle him out of the group. I made a joke about wanting C’s character to die, in a pretty flippant way, and the conversation diverted.
This is where things get kind of weird.
So, at the time, I was expecting A to just talk with C and kick him out of the group in between sessions, but that didn’t end up happening. C was at the next session just as planned, and continued to show up for several weeks. During this time A, and I really don’t know how else to describe this, pulled some Machiavellian scheme on C’s character as the DM to ruin his life. A wove in this story where C’s character got this evil mask shard of a dead god, and played on C’s want to sabotage other players & go his own way in a very ‘lone rogue’ way to isolate him from the group and get him involved in all these evil deeds (killing minor npcs, etc). None of our characters knew about this in character, but A dropped all these hints and the context lined up to make it seem like C’s character was slowly going insane. C, unable to communicate in or out of character, backed up this idea by refusing to talk about the god IC or OOC. Eventually this god fragment lead to the death of C’s character when an overpowered assassin struck him down, in a fight that felt very ‘well this could’ve been a party boss but because you didn’t tell anyone, you died’. Immediately following this the party found out about C’s character’s evil deeds, meaning he wouldn’t be mourned by the party. The whole death felt so… hollow. It really felt like C had ended up in this situation because of their own hubris. But they hadn’t.
A had masterminded the whole thing. He’d given me live updates about his plan to essentially manufacture a situation where C’s character died a miserable death that felt totally deserved in the eyes of the other party members. And then we all just blocked C anyway???
I’ve never seen someone manipulate somebody like that in my life before and I’ve never seen anything like it again. I’ve never told anyone else in the group that the death was masterminded by A because of my petty grudge about my failed campaign. I don’t speak to either A or C now but I still feel bad about not doing something. Should I have just told A to kick C way before this?? I had no clue it would spiral into actual months of chess mastering his demise!!
What are these acronyms?
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dreamwritesimagines · 5 months
Text
The Eye of the Hurricane [5] - Unyielding
A.N: Here’s the new chapter my loves! ❤️ Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback, you made my day! ❤️I hope you’ll like this chapter as well and please don’t forget to tell me what you think! ❤️
Summary: Certain arguments can’t wait.
Word Count: 3600
Pairing: MobBoss!Bucky Barnes x Reader
Warnings: Violence, death, guns, crime, blood, explicit language, drinking. This is an AU, friendly reminder that I don’t condone any of the actions depicted on this story and please read with care.
Series Masterlist
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For a couple of seconds, you could do nothing but stare at him with wide eyes, frozen in your seat.
“Excuse me?”
“Just hear me out before you grab your gun, it would—” he started but you scoffed and stood up from the lounge chair, the familiar anger rushing through you so fast that it almost made your head spin.
“Do you think this is funny?”
He shook his head fervently. “I’m completely serious.”
A dry laugh spilled from your lips. “Oh really?”
“Charm…”
“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but my stupid little crush on you went away years and years ago,” you growled, glaring daggers at him. “You made sure of that, so if you dare assume for even a moment—”
“Oh my God, that was the wildest bachelorette I’ve ever been to!” Becca’s voice cut you off as she pushed open the door and stepped into the rooftop. “Also I’m pretty sure I’m in love now, so…” she stopped when her eyes fell on you two. “Uh, what’s going on?”
“Nothing,” you said after a beat and threw your shoulders back. “Did you just say you’re in love?”
“Yeah!”
Bucky stole a look at Becca. “Who did you fall in love with?”
“That’s a long story. What’s going on in here?”
You pursed your lips together, your heart still beating in your ears as you tried to focus through the fury, then cleared your throat.
“We were—”
“Y/N, we’re leaving!” you heard Ian’s voice and your head whipped around, then you cleared your throat.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” you said, pressing a kiss on her cheek in a rush. “Let’s get coffee at the usual place?”
“Uh, sure?” she said slowly and you walked out of the rooftop like someone was chasing you, without sparing Bucky so much as a glance.
The road back home was considerably quiet but it did nothing to silence the chaos in your mind. You had excused yourself to your room as soon as you got home, but after an hour of tossing and turning in the bed, you huffed out and kicked the covers off of you, sitting up in the bed.
This was nonsense.
There was no scenario in which you’d marry Bucky. You weren’t even sure you could spend more than half an hour together without being at each other’s throats, let alone being an actual couple—
Not that you had thought about it.
Much.
Fine, back when you were younger and Bucky hadn’t ripped your heart out yet, you used to spend a lot of time thinking about you and him ending up together. He was your best friend’s cool older brother and you were both heirs to your families’ empires, so your little crush let your imagination run wild.
And then he had broken your heart but after everything, even now, your imagination still liked to conjure him up in your dreams some nights.
But unlike before, you weren’t an idiot. You knew what kind of an asshole he was, so there was no way you could even entertain that stupid proposal, no matter what kind of a promise of power it held.
You rubbed at your eyes and got up from the bed, then padded your way down the hallway, then went down the spiral stairs. You stretched out your arms over your head as you followed the hallway to the kitchen where the light was coming from, as you knew it would, then peeked your head in.
Oh good.
It was just Jennifer, your genius chef who was now busy with making a sandwich on the counter while Ryan sat on one of the chairs, his hands clasped together, his back completely straight. Ryan was Ian’s right hand, -ex military, as much as you knew- but unlike Ian, he was much calmer and rational. He was tall and very muscular and didn’t like to talk much, and that added more to the air of mystery he held, considering no one seemed to know much about his past, or his personal life.
“Hey,” you knocked on the door, making both of them turn their heads. “Is this a bad time?”
“Not at all!” Jennifer said as Ryan stood up from his chair.
“Ma’am.”
“Oh don’t!” you motioned at him. “Please don’t stand up, I just…I couldn’t sleep so I figured—”
“Warm milk with honey and cinnamon?” Jennifer finished your sentence for you, making you smile and nod your head.
“Yes please,” you said and pulled yourself a chair, resting your elbows on the counter. Ryan eyed you, then sat down as well.
“There you go!” Jennifer said, putting the plate in front of him, then smiled at him. “Chef’s special sandwich.”
“Thanks Jen,” Ryan said, his voice gruff and Jennifer turned to you.
“Would you like one as well?”
“Ah no, thank you,” you said and heaved a sigh. Jennifer stole a look at you.
“Are you alright?”
“Too many thoughts,” you muttered, leaning your chin on your fist. “Ryan, are you married?”
Ryan’s head shot up as he chewed on his bite, then cleared his throat.
“No ma’am.”
“Any partner?”
“No ma’am.”
“He’s single,” Jennifer said with a grin. “And all my friends are very eager to change that.”
Ryan offered her an almost abashed smile and shifted his weight on the chair as if he was uncomfortable with the sudden attention while Jennifer put your glass of honeyed milk with cinnamon in front of you with a couple of cookies on the plate.
“Thank you so much,” you said as you took a sip, then bit on the cookie.
“Jen, you’re married and in love, right?”
“And I’m also the luckiest woman in the world in addition to all that,” she said, making you smile.
“Do you think people could get married to people they hate?”
“Why would anyone get married to someone they hate?” she asked and Ryan took a huge bite of his sandwich, looking between you.
“Common interests,” you said. “I don’t know, I had this strange thought…”
Jennifer tilted her head. “What?”
You heaved a sigh, then shook your head.
“Nothing,” you said. “Don’t mind me. Just some late-night thoughts, that’s all.”
                                                 *
By the time you met up with Becca, you still couldn’t stop thinking about last night and Bucky’s proposal, if you could even call it that. It was nonsense, you knew it was, but considering Becca was your best friend, the mere thought of keeping it from her was simply absurd.
“He proposed?” Becca asked, gawking at you. “He actually proposed?”
“Well it was technically a business proposal.”
“And a marriage proposal at the same time?”
You shrugged your shoulders while the waiter filled your coffee cup.
“You know…” Becca trailed off. “Hypothetically speaking—”
“You cannot tell me this is a good idea.”
“I’m not but think about it,” she insisted. “You and Buck already hate each other kinda, so you’re technically already married. You just skipped like ten years into it and got to the resentment part.”
“Becca!”
“You fight like a married couple.”
“If some married couple is fighting like me and Bucky, they should get a divorce,” you pointed out, leaning back in your seat. “I blocked his number, and just…ugh the nerve of the guy, can you believe him?!”
“Mm hm.” Becca said, sipping her matcha before checking her phone. “Oh thank God!”
“What?”
“Sarah is coming to the club this weekend,” she said and pointed at you. “So are you, right?”
“Yeah, me and Ethan.”
“What?”
“I’m bringing Ethan with me,” you explained. “I had to ditch him today, we were supposed to meet for lunch but as you can tell, this couldn’t wait.”
“My brother asking you to marry him even if you hate his guts? Yeah, that beats lunch with the cute ex.”
“And you know, since we’ve been texting a lot, I figured…”
“Yeah yeah, bring him over!” Becca said. “It’ll be fun—oh my God, so my brother’s audacity and ego aside, I need to tell you about the girl I met last night.”
“Yeah, I was going to ask you!” you said. “You said you were in love?”
“I am!” she said with a smile. “You know, I was thinking I could invite her and some friends as well, but now that I think about it, maybe I could just take a page from Bucky’s book and open with a marriage proposal.”
“Becca!”
“I’m just saying, we can just skip to the happily married part, flirting is a waste of time at this point and—”
“You’re not doing that!”
Becca let out a laugh.
“I don’t know,” she said. “Just because it didn’t work for him doesn’t mean it wouldn’t work for me.”
“It wouldn’t work for anyone, Becca,” you told her and she hummed.
“I’ll just say one thing about this, then I’ll talk about the love of my life, alright?”
“Alright,” you said and she turned her cup in the saucer, then clicked her tongue.
“You and Bucky being married is an absurd idea yes,” she said. “But he did have a point.”
“How is that?”
“Well, I’ll ask you the same thing my aunt asked me when I took my civilian boyfriend to my cousin’s wedding, and I have a feeling your answer will be different than mine.”
“Which is?”
She smiled at you mischievously.
“Do you want love poems, or do you want power?”
Your eyes shot up to hers before you shifted your weight, then motioned at her with your hand.
“Come on,” you said. “Enough about that. Tell me about the love of your life.”
                                                     *
You and Becca ended up spending the whole day together, and by the time you decided you would go back home, it was already dark outside. Watching outside as the driver drove you home, you leaned your head on the window, then felt your phone buzzing in your purse so you grabbed it, smiling slightly at the name before answering it.
“Hey there.”
“Hi,” Ethan’s voice reached you, and you could tell he was smiling as well. “How was your day?”
“It was good,” you said. “Full of romance.”
“Romance?”
“Becca is in love,” you said and he let out a whistle.
“Your best friend Becca?”  
“Oh yeah,” you said. “I had to talk her out of looking at bridal shops, but we still went cake tasting.”
“Does this person know they’re getting married to Becca?”
“That’s just a small detail,” you joked, making him chuckle. “She invited her to the club for the weekend, I’m pretty excited to meet her. How about you?”
“Do you find data analyzing romantic?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then it was less romantic than your day.”
“And the hospital?” you asked and he took a deep breath.
“Oh everything is fine. Should be free of the bandages next week.”
You bit inside your cheek. “I still feel responsible—”
“Don’t,” he cut you off. “Seriously. The incident had nothing to do with you.”
“Mm hm.”
“Besides, you can’t really blame the rollercoaster if someone gets hurt on one.”
“No one is supposed to get hurt on a rollercoaster,” you pointed out and he thought for a moment.
“Okay in hindsight, it wasn’t the best analogy…”
You pulled your brows together. “Wait, am I the rollercoaster?”
“No! No, you’re sitting next to me on the rollercoaster,” Ethan explained. “We’re both riding it.”
“That’s not—” you started but a black sports car wheezed past yours and sharply drifted sideways as soon as it got in front of your car so that yours would have to stop.
“I’ll call you back Ethan,” you said and hung up the phone, your heart skipping a beat as you grabbed the gun from underneath the seat, looking to your right to see your bodyguards’ car stopping as well. The driver lowered the partition as the bodyguards stepped out of the car.
“It’s Mr. Barnes’ personal car, ma’am,” he said. “I know the plate.”
“Oh Jesus Christ…” you murmured as you put the gun back to where it was and opened your door, then stepped outside at the same time Bucky left his car. Your bodyguards hesitated as soon as they saw him, looking between you and you waved a hand in the air.
“It’s fine guys,” you said and turned to Bucky. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Bucky shrugged his shoulders as if nothing was wrong.
“You blocked my number,” he said. “It’s not like I can text you.”
“And what, it wasn’t enough of a clue?” you asked tersely and Bucky nodded in the direction of his car.
“Come on, get in. We’re going to talk.”
You crossed your arms. “Nope.”
“Charm for fuck’s sake…”
“I’m not going to talk to you, and I’m certainly not getting in your car.”
“You seriously want to do this right here on the road?”
You threw your hands up in frustration. “You are the one who’s blocking the road, motherfucker!”
You could see the petrified expressions on your bodyguards’ faces before one of them gazed up at the sky while the other one put his hands into his pockets and kicked at a tiny pebble on the road, both desperately trying to look like they weren’t hearing you two.
“Listen—”
“I will not,” you retorted. “What is your deal, seriously?”
“We need to talk about last night,” Bucky said and out of the corner of your eye, you noticed the bodyguards exchanging glances, so you gritted your teeth and grabbed Bucky’s arm to pull him to the other side of the car in an attempt to get more privacy.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” you said through your teeth and Bucky ran a hand over his face.
“No I’d say there’s plenty to talk about,” he said. “I mean you didn’t even give me an answer—”
“That poor excuse of a joke doesn’t deserve an answer.”
“It wasn’t a joke to me.”
“Well, it was to me.”
He shook his head slightly.
“Just—” he said. “Why not?”
You raised your brows, gawking at him in disbelief and a look of realization dawned on his face before he heaved a sigh.
“Charm…”
You shot him a mocking smile, crossing your arms.
You and Becca sneaking into nightclubs wasn’t a new thing, and now that you were leaving for college in a month, you were trying to spend as much time together as possible. Becca threw her arm over your shoulder as you walked through the crowd to the bar.
“Two martinis please,” she told the bartender and he took a look at you two, but before he could say anything the other bartender muttered something into his ear, then motioned at you.
“Coming right up,” he ended up saying as you turned to Becca.
“So you were saying?”
“Yeah like, he keeps saying he’s too busy but I’m not buying it—ugh, you gotta be kidding me!”
You frowned, then followed her line of sight to see Bucky and Steve stepping outside from the other exit that led to the back alley behind the club, your heart starting to beat faster.
“Where are they going?”
“They’re probably gonna beat someone up, who cares?” Becca said with a shrug of her shoulders. “He’s in such a mood nowadays, I’m not even gonna let him know I’m here. Arrogant asshole.”
You tilted your head. “…Oh?”
“He and daddy had a huge fight the other night,” she said as she took the drink from the bartender while he put the other one in front of you. “Like my mom had to step in because they were at each other’s throats, that kind of a fight.”
“Why?”
Becca shrugged again. “It’s probably about business. The golden heir made a mistake I guess.”
You took a sip of your drink. “Interesting.”
“Yeah and then he went and broke up with Laura.”
Your head shot up. “They broke up?”
“Yeah!” Becca said. “Which, I’m not sorry at all because she was so annoying, but no girl in the world deserves to get dumped by Bucky so I have mixed feelings about the situation.”
You could feel the small glimmer of hope warming your chest and you pursed your lips together, then cleared your throat.
“I just—I forgot I was gonna call my dad, he gets so mad when I don’t let him know,” you said. “I gotta step outside for a moment, I’ll be right back.”
“Okay!” Becca said and you made your way through the dance floor before reaching the second exit, but before you could open the door, Steve had already beaten you to it.
“Y/N,” he said when he saw you. “Hey.”
“Hi,” you smiled at him. “Um—have you seen Bucky?”
Steve looked over his shoulder, then turned to you with an apologetic smile.
“He’s not…” he trailed off. “He’s not in the best mood.”
“Oh that’s okay,” you said and pushed the door open before he could say anything else, then stepped outside, holding your phone for the sake of appearance. When you saw him, Bucky’s bodyguards were dragging a nearly unconscious man out of the alley while he wiped the blood off his knuckles with a tissue, then lit a cigarette.
You could feel your heart beating in your ears, but you bit down on your lip, fixing your dress before clearing your throat.
“Bucky?”
He turned his head when he heard his name, then exhaled the smoke.
“Hey Charm,” he greeted you, making your heart skip a beat. “Is Becca here too?”
You bit inside your cheek, trying not to get discouraged by that, then nodded your head.
“Um, yeah we just got here.”
“Great,” he murmured. “Tell her not to drink too much, will you?”
You nodded again and smiled at him, your hand shaky a little as you fixed your dress again, desperately hoping it looked good on you.
“I didn’t know you would be here.”
“Yeah well, here I am,” he said, taking a drag of his cigarette, leaning back to the brick wall and you licked your lips.
“And are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
“Oh, just...” you stammered. “Becca mentioned you and Laura.”
Bucky shrugged his shoulders. “Happens. I’m fine, it was my call.”
Dear God, he was so handsome that you could just stare at him for hours.  
“Are you going to that gala thing as well?” you asked, nervousness pulsing through your system. “My dad is basically dragging me there, is George doing the same?”
His jaw clenched at the mention of his father, and he nodded quietly, exhaling the smoke.
Your voice was trembling a little, your throat incredibly dry because of the nervousness mixed with anticipation, but you still managed to get the words out.
“So I was thinking, do you—um—do you wanna go together?”
That managed to get his attention and he pulled his brows together, then let out a dry laugh.
“Jesus Christ…” he muttered. “What, you rushed here as soon as you heard about me and Laura? Seriously?”
You pulled back slightly, your stomach doing a flip and you shook your head.
“No, I just—”you stammered, tears stinging the back of your eyes already. “I was just thinking—”
“Listen, I know you don’t see it right now, but this little crush of yours is just…” he trailed off with a small chuckle, motioning between you. “It’s kind of adorable, but it’s not going to happen. If I go to that gala with you, you’ll get your hopes up, so will everyone else around us and I’ll end up trapped in something serious—which is out of question. I can’t trust you with the business, not when you’d probably report everything back to your own family and I can’t afford a mistake, not right now.”
You tried to blink back the tears, staring at him as he threw the cigarette butt on the ground, then put his hands in his pockets and shrugged.
“Not to mention,” he said. “I don’t go for daddy’s spoiled whiny princess type, and you’d be better off with a nicer guy anyway.”
You could feel the sobs threatening to climb up your chest, so you sniffled and turned around to rush back into the club, leaving him there before he could say anything else.
“Don’t tell me that’s the reason,” Bucky’s voice pulled you out of your thoughts and you arched a brow.
“I said nothing.”
“It was what, almost ten years ago?” he asked. “I was an idiot—”
“I am really not interested in whatever this bullshit is,” you told him. “And I’m going to be late for dinner, so…”
“Just hear me out first—”
You looked over your shoulder and motioned at the driver.  “Turn the car around please!”
The driver did as you asked but before you could step away from Bucky, he grabbed your arm.
“Charm, I can help you get the power you want,” he insisted as you rolled your eyes. “You might hate me right now, but you know I can do that. Just let me get you that crown.”
“We’re done here.” You yanked your arm out of his grip and walked to the car but stopped when you reached it, turning your head to look at him.
“I’m not going to marry you Bucky,” you called out, fully aware that the bodyguards could hear you, and the mere thought gave you a strange sense of satisfaction. “I would never marry you. I don’t go for the arrogant asshole type, and you’d be better off with a nicer girl anyway.”
 With that you got in the car, and the driver started driving as soon as you slammed the door shut, the car gliding down the road smoothly.
“Unbelievable,” you muttered to yourself and leaned your head back, closing your eyes. “The fucking audacity.”
Chapter 6
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