#i also touched my fanfic for the first time in months so yay

[winterfireice]

look at me posting a fanfic for the first time in months (also the first time this year so yay) anyway here is some Sophiana because when and doubt write random gay stuff for pride month.

story under the cut

Age 13

I’m walking through the pier with my family, it’s June 15th and my parents wanted to find somewhere to eat with a good vegetarian menu and outdoor seating. My brothers are playing some random game where they try to attach sticky notes to each other’s backs without the other noticing and my mom has tried to stop the game three separate times but since then has given up, they’re both being quiet and that seems to be all my parents care about. 

I on the other hand am window shopping. I’m looking at colorful beach bags and darkly-tinted sunglasses, I pass by all of them without a problem. The only thing that catches my eye is a flowy sundress that looks long enough to touch the floor even if I am wearing heels. But my attention is quickly taken away by a little piece of fabric on the counter. It has all the colors of the rainbow and a thin tan stick anchoring it into a pen cup. 

My mom notices me hanging behind and wraps an arm around my shoulders into some weird side hug and gives me a look I don’t know how to process. Just a second later Fitz, one of my brothers yells out because he finally notices there has been a bright green piece of paper stuck on the back since we left the house and Alvar has just been adding to the collection. Aka Fitz has been losing this made-up game since it started. 

The rest of my family’s attention is diverted to my brothers and even mine is taken away from the flag.

Age 14

I’m on a run with my brother Fitz’s best friend, Keefe. I hate running alone and he was the only one free so I asked him to go with me. My dad gave me an extra long look which I ignored, I’m pretty sure the majority of people we know think we are going to start dating since he’s only a year older than me, and were both single. Plus he’s been hanging out around our house a lot more, one of my friends said it's because he likes me but I’m pretty sure he likes my brother more. 

My side starts to cramp so I slow down waiting for the pain to subside and taking deep breaths. Keefe notices I’m no longer next to him and turns around to find me. He gives me a second to catch my breath and looks around, we are on a residential street a couple of blocks away from my house, and while there are a lot of trees providing shade the June heat is still beating down on us so much I can feel the sweat dripping down my neck. 

I’ve closed my eyes to try to get the sun out of them but when I open them I see Keefe’s head turned to one of the houses. I follow his gaze and see a flag hanging by someone’s front door, it's the same color pallet as the one I saw a year ago and I can see Keefe smile to himself before asking me if I’m ready to finish up our run.

Age 15

I’m on a picnic with one of my best friends, Sophie. She has pined up her long blonde hair to beat the heat of mid-June. She prepared the whole day, made little sandwiches, and packed different fruits and cookies, there are even some baked goods her mom taught her how to make.  

The two of us are leaning against a huge oak tree in the park and watching the neighborhood kids fly kites and chase each other around the other trees. 

“Ooo look a rainbow!” Sophie gasps and points past some clouds on the other side of the park. She pulls out her phone and I notice her lock screen has a photo of her holding two little flags, one is rainbow and the other is a combination of pinks and oranges, she swipes away the photo as she opens her camera to take a photo of the rainbow and I can't ignore the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

Age 16

It’s June and I’m sitting in my room with my brother, his boyfriend, and my girlfriend. We’re getting ready for a parade that Sophie and Keefe heard about. Soph is using her phone as a mirror since all the other ones in my room are currently being used but before she opened her camera I saw her newest lock screen which is a photo of the two of us holding up a pride flag just like the one she got me a couple of months ago that sits in an old cup on my desk that I use to hold my pens.

But hey, it's just a cute little flag.

[livvyofthelake]

ok dead poets society album as a concept album about my special little guys…

fortnight- i mean. come on. how long does tda take place over. one month? ish? exactly. sidenote why did we doubt post malone so much he gave lana del ray in snow on the beach here. yay <3

the tortured poets department- i am going to be honest i did not like this song. or. i liked it in the way i liked slut in the 1989 vault tracks. which is to say i can see myself listening to it on repeat but i don’t like. Like it. do you understand? anyway we could say it’s about kit herondale but i fear it’s one of those taylor swift songs that’s about taylor swift. and. dear god. matty healy. girl… lucy dacus mention though

my boy only breaks his favorite toys- i fuck with this song heavy first of all. anyway this happened to my buddy kit herondale… “i knew too much there was danger in the heat of touch he saw forever so he smashed it up”!!!!!! i can’t get into it 😐

down bad- this is literally about emma carstairs and jules blackthorn…

so long london- in many ways this happened to cordelia carstairs at the end of chain of iron. i don’t care about this song

but daddy i love him- i’m sorry i liked this song so much i forgot to think about characters during it hold on let’s give it another go! i’m gonna be real. this happened to my friend blue sargent. that’s not relevant to the shadowhunter chronicles except in all the ways it is do with that what you must. this also happened to my friend belle. the artful dodger….. sorry for loving straight people as if that’s a fucking crime oh my god… in a way this also happened to my buddy gabrielle. let’s not get into that. some absolute bars of lyrics in here it must be said also… taylor calm down wow

fresh out the slammer- i shan’t speak on this one. don’t ask me about it i’m not supposed to even be thinking about this shit dear god.

florida!!!- made me cry. sorry for being emotionally moved by florence welch’s beautiful voice singing about the state my dead aunt lived in my whole life. i’m fine

guilty as sin?- elio pearlman you would’ve loved this joint. anyway we move on. this happened to my friend kit. in a sense. to me…

who’s afraid of little old me?- we must break from form and say a very midnights era thing. this literally happened to my good friend morgana pendragon bbc merlin. and i fuck with this song immensely

i can fix him (no really i can)- first of all this one is going to be huge for ao3 fanfic titles it’s already formatted…. i digress. in my beautiful world this will be dru blackthorn… and i believe her

loml- well. who’s gonna stop us from waltzing back into rekindled flames if we know the steps anyway. we embroidered the memories of the time i was away stitching “we were just kids babe”. must it even be said. let’s not be gauche. divorce ass song…

i can do it with a broken heart- taylor swift ass song… but i loved it…. in a way this happened to kara. don’t worry about it

the smallest man who ever lived- THIS HAPPENED TO MY FRIEND ALINA STARKOV. I HOPE THAT MAN DIES. both the darkling and joe alwyn. put him in jail actually i decided. he’s not seeing the pearly gates.

the alchemy- so happy my travy made it to the big game….. i’m sorry. i love the song genuinely it’s camp. it’s CAMP. it’s riverdalian. america strong fr! clace core they’re the blueprint to me idc…

clara bow- clary…….

[scereplop]

portrait of a lady of fire (yay movies)

The reason why I decided to watch ‘The Portrait of a Lady on Fire’, or even found out about it in the first place, is because of a citation in the footnote of a fanfic. The movie had been rotting away in my ‘to watch’ tab group for months, and when I’d finally gotten around to actually give it a go, I wasn’t as interested in that particular fanfic as I was at first. I feel that a huge reason for this is that I actually quite dislike the very ship it is about, however I liked it a lot back then, and with every morsel I got I was bursting at the seams. It doesn’t change the fact that it is still fairly well written, but upon rereading it, the spark in me failed to burst into flames. I blame the characters, not the writer nor the idea. The important thing, however, was for me to be as impartial as possible when watching the movie (I can never be fully unbiased but I can try my best to. I’m also far from a trained film critic of any sort, so feel free to take any of this with a pinch of salt. But I’ll really try my best.) and so I didn’t read any reviews of any sort before watching the movie or writing this, and I had no clue what I was in for. I also had completely forgotten which scene from the movie that part of the fanfic had been based off of, so I really was going in helpless. And honestly, I was and am glad of it. It’s always best that way. (Warning: spoilers ahead)

Of course- the cinematography. I don’t think I have to say much because the gorgeous shots throughout the entire movie speak for themselves. I’m sure that there’s some deeper meaning to the placement of the characters in each frame and an art to the delicacy of the lighting that I am sorrowfully unfamiliar with, but to me it was simple, it was plain and there for me to see. And there was a charm to that simplicity. It felt like I was watching it through the eyes of the very characters in the movie. I was never bored, each pause was purposeful. It felt like life. It felt real. When I wake up on holiday, I have no backing track as I brush my teeth or walk along the seashore. I have no special effects or superhuman powers as I play in the sea. I have the the sounds and things I and the people around me make. The movie never really was silent, just like life never is. There was the sound of the sea cushioning sparse dialogue, and with the sparsity of dialogue I treasured every word, I mulled on them and I understood them like they were spoken to me. There’s always the risk of me getting incredibly bored when I watch these kinds of movies, but I am so glad that I wasn’t with this one. Not once.

Then there was the fire. There was the portrait itself on fire, there was her dress on fire, the very image of Héloïse that Marianne had remembered, and not just remembered but held so dear to hear that she had to see it again, had to paint out and stow away, there was the bonfire that boomed with song and the art done by candlelight. It felt like an ever pressing, omnipotent presence throughout the film, but despite its destructive nature, never once did it feel threatening. Just like fire, I don’t think it ever stood for a specific, concrete definition, never bloomed for specific purpose but served one nonetheless. A means of communication, of warning, of foreshadowing. To share a pipe, it must be lit first before two pairs of lips can touch the same mouthpiece. To see faces (or the lack of one) in the dark passion of night, we must play with fire to keep those impassioned stares held no matter the destruction it may bring. Because fire is bright and burns with a hope that demands attention, it was a perfect constant because it never felt constant- it grew, like their love with time, and longing too.

Even though I’m not a huge fan of the horror genre in films (mostly because most of the time all it composes of are jump scares and no substance that disconcerts me at my core), when included in subtle amounts in films that you’d think have no reason to have it really is the cherry on top. I don’t know if these scenes would even be considered horror per se, but it really did give me fucking chills because of how unexpected it was, even though I wasn’t scared out of my skin. The white garbed vision of Héloïse that appeared before Marianne twice in the film before the actual scene from which it was from (before she left for good), felt like some sort of warning. It always appeared right before a key moment between the two of them like some ghost of futures past and was genius. Whatever it was meant to do, I think it did perfectly.

______________________________________________________________

from here on out i kind of went a little mad and and completely ditched paragraphing and sentence structure and grammar laws and any sense at all. i don't know what happened because i wrote this like ages ago and left it to wither and die for some reason that has now escaped me, and i'm way too lazy to figure out what on earth i was trying to say. hopefully it makes sense for someone out there!

______________________________________________________________

their relationship. the secrets. the fights. the PIANO i mean harpsichord scene. the OTHER FIGHT. the whole dynamic in relation to the rest of the film. ever moving never stationary

THE STORY. the looks back. that was so genius and the new take on it n stuff DAWG

(i suspect i was talking about the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. i do remember that there were so many overlapping themes in the film itself, and every time i managed to pick the likeness of one of them out, it was so satisfying. and especially for this theme in particular. i had only vaguely heard of the myth before but after watching it i think that story has been seared into my mind for good. and i agree with past me- it was such a genius move to have the story be a reflection of their life. the shots of their last goodbye were STRAIGHT OUT OF THAT STORY. fight me. and the uncertainty of it all. LITERAL GOOSEBUMPS.)

the ending and teh conceert! is it a sad ending it s not happy but typica l sad ending - someone dies boo hoo but no theyre alive and they seem well but the thought of what couldnve been if if if

it just lies dormant and with these kinds of things you cant really forget (LIKE THE MOVIE NUOVO OLIMPO - where no one dies and theres no tragedy but instead this slow descent into, not madness, but like sadness and stuff and like you can do somethig but you cant at the same time and like UGUGUGUGUH)

[pinkvelve]

3th bored

1. What time do you go to bed?

my notes app just deleted the wrong note and it PISSES ME OFF

2. Who is your celebrity crush?

karina next question

How would you rate your childhood on a scale of 1 to 10?

7 i guess

What is your middle name?

caroline my army bunny last name😇

What are your favorite values in friends?

being funny

What is your funniest memory from high school?

dude..literally so many OH my god i cant even pick one and i m laughingd trying to remember

What is your favorite holiday?

christmas? also doughnut came on the second i got to this question that was crazy

What is your best trait?

no comment

What is your favorite restaurant?

bro chipotle and i really wish it wasn't

What is an interesting fact about you?

i really want to do my laundry but I CANT and i will tell you why.. i go in the laundry room TWO DAYS ago right? and i'm like yay time to wash shorts🩳 but there is laundry in there already so im like alright whatever. scene change - next day. laundry is still there entire day. im like this is a health hazard but i dont text roomates that but i am like wtf is going on... my roomate is like sorry but i don't have any hangers to hang it up right now so can you wait🙁

the shock i felt in that moment...like girl I GUESS? but the fact that you're just leaving it in there is insane..not even the dryer literally the washing machine all wet like What... so yeah i wanted to on monday and it is now 8pm on wednesday. i have no clothes btw

What is the first thing you notice about people?

if they smell good

What is your spirit animal?

i'm going through every twice song to put on my 27 hour long playlist rn

What is your favorite piece of clothing?

rn my unc sweatshirt.. wish i could wear it

Did you go to college?

unfortunately

How long was your longest relationship?

dude. i guess six months

What would you (or have you) name your children?

boy name: andrew

girl name: idk actually. maybe a month name

What was/is favorite subject in high school?

why did my brother just text me a snoopy sweatshirt that is 218 DOLLARS

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

okay there's this haagan dazs which i definitely spelled wrong flavor I DONT EVEN KNOW THE NAME but it's like double chocolate and publix is the only store i have ever seen it sold in... like it's crazy

What was your first job?

okay now my brother just texted me his address in prague should i just throw up and die

What is the first item on your bucket list?

the first thing that comes to mind is the desert in brazil that has water in it for some reason

What are your pet peeves?

LAUNDRY. apparently.

Do you have any bad habits?

i touch my face so much when i'm working on smth I WAS LITERALLY JSUT NOW DOING IT.

How many siblings do you have?

two brothers

Do you prefer the city or the country?

city

Where did you grow up?

i was born in dallas i lived there until i was nine basically then colorado and now ga😛

What social media platform do you use the most?

instagram probably

What is one thing you wished people knew about you?

to not piss me tf off

When was the last time you embarrassed yourself?

everyday. actually at the oil change like two hours ago cause he asked me what kind of oil i need and i literally just stood there🤍

What are your life goals?

best nayeon song just came on

What is your morning routine?

basically i get up (GET UP ALARM❤️) then i always shower in the morning then i do my hair and my makeup and get dressed and put all my shit in my bag...perfume..yeah

How would you describe your fashion sense?

terrible

What is your favorite book?

fanfic

What are your hobbies?

going to the beach

What inspires you?

the beach

What is your favorite color?

the color of the sky at the beach

What is your coffee order?

TOMOROWWWW IT WILL BE PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE😝😛😜

What was your dream job as a kid?

that was so annoying my computer wouldnt let me put more than one at a time

What phone do you have?

14+ with a craxked screen protector

What is your favorite TV show quote?

i got bored i have to listen to kaytranada now

How many countries have you traveled to?

five i guess

Who are some of your favorite YouTubers?

the ones that make playlists of italian bossa nova

Do you have any siblings?

snap my finger by kaytranada

Do you prefer tea or coffee?

i like both

What is the first thing you do after going home from work or school?

wash my hands🤣

What is your favorite movie?

spirited away

What is your favorite drink?

pumpkin cream chai

Do you have any weird quirks?

my hero

How many languages do you speak?

i need to learn czech so bad IM RUNNINgfout of time

What is your go-to fast food order?

chipotle

What is your favorite Netflix show?

bridgerton

What year were you born?

best year of all time 2003...like its such a good number

How tall are you?

55

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

barcelona

Who is your role model?

don toliver

Which of your parents do you resemble?

feel a way by kaytranada and don toliver

[lambertslambstew]

Hey all! I know its been a while since I posted. My gaming PC is at home while I’m all the way up in school, but on the bright side I’ll be able to bring up my PC this weekend! :D So I can finally go back to playing my Witcher 3 playthrough and make more gif sets. Thanks all for your support! It’s crazy seeing notifications even though this blog has been inactive for months. I appreciate the love <3

[spn-fanfic-reblog-writes]

Cowboy

(OFC Insert)

Pairing: Sam x OFC!Alex x Dean (No Wincest. Poly/ENM)

Characters: Sam Winchester, OFC!Alex Morgenstern, Dean Winchester

Word Count:~750

Warning: None. Fluff with a touch of angst.

Author Notes: I watched Spn’s Tombstone episode and got inspired, and finally wrote it once I read @deancaskiss ‘ cowboy destiel fanfic Not Beta’d. All mistakes are my own.

Feedback is gold.

Alex sat and waited at the map room bobbing her right leg quickly, nervously. Sam looked up at her from his reading seeing her hands splayed flat on the table. He quirked an eyebrow and leaned towards her, “You okay?”

She looked at giving him a posed smile and nodded. “Just waiting,” she explained.

“What did you do?” Sam asked.

“Remember last week when I got you your early anniversary gift— those first edition lore books that you wanted?”

Sam smiled and looked her, his eyes darkening at the thought —such a dreamy smile for Alex to see; she almost felt lightheaded. She shook her head, “I did something similar for Dean but not books.”

Sam grinned and chuckled, wondering what she did and kind of excited to see Dean’s reaction. “What did you get him?”

“Remember how much he loves Dodge city and cowboys?” She asked.

He widened his eyes and facepalmed, “Oh my God, Alex, what did you get him? He is gonna be cowboy this, cowboy that for the next month. Wearing his hat no less.”

She grinned and spoke, her voice a bit husky, “I know.”

Sam looked a bit shocked and thought a moment, “You like him in his hat and boots, huh?”

She grinned a bit embarrassed, “I like him in his hat and boots, and then when we does that twange, mmm.” She quickly added, “I know he is gonna go cowboy crazy for a bit but totally worth it when he wakes up and you see how, hopefully, excited he gets.”

“What did you get him?”

She tried to hide her smile licking her lips, “Working replicas of Wyatt Earp’s and Doc Holliday’s guns, a print of a painting of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, the movie poster of Tombstone signed by some of the cast members, and replica cowboy hats of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.”

Sam’s eyes widened with each item she spoke of. He put his head down in his hands on the table and grumbled, “We're doomed.”

“He’ll be happy,” she tried to justify. Her mouth drowned when she added, “I also found a movie theater close to here where you can buy time there to watch a movie, so I did Tombstone for him. “ She looked down at her hands and her face turned red because she just realized he had going to make everyone come see it with him, including the Sioux Falls gang. She smiled to herself.

“How often does he smile and laugh, truly?” She asked Sam.

He sighed and sat up looking at her, “True. Fine.”

She clapped, “Yay.”

Sam glared at her, “I’m going to get you back.”

She looked to her lap then at him, “Prank or bedroom?”

“I haven’t decided, maybe both,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Fuck,” she whispered to herself as she saw the wicked smirk on his face.

After twenty minutes in tense silence, you could hear Dean yell excitedly from his room. Alex grinned and stood up walking to the kitchen waiting for him.

“Alex,” Dean yelled. “Ale—“ he stopped when he saw her, he was wearing one of the new cowboy hates which Alex thought made him look even sexier. He wrapped his arms around her, trapping her, and lifted her up then passionately kissed her. She melted into his lips and hummed.

When he set her down, she felt a little dizzy and grinned.

Dean was flabbergasted, “Oh, Baby, I don’t deserve you. How did you—? Why?”

“They’re early anniversary gifts for you while it is next week, I couldn’t wait. I knew you’d love them. The—the guns are working replicas.”

Dean’s jaw dropped, “They’re working? I can use them in a hunt?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Baby,” Alex grinned at him.

“I’m gonna go shoot them,” Dean grinned like a little kid getting what he wanted on Christmas from Santa.

“The bullets are in that blue ammo box,” she called as he went back to his room.

Alex walked back over to Sam but stopped upon Dean rushing back out with a piece of paper in hand. “You rented a theater to watch Tombstone?” He asked incredulously.

“You said you always wanted to see it in theater,” she explained meekly. She could see Dean’s mind working and planning.

“How many seats are there?” He asked

“150,” she confirmed.

He turned around and got his cell out, “I’m inviting everyone!”

She continued walking back to Sam, put her hands on the table, tilted her head to one side and sighed. “We’re doomed.”

Dividers: @firefly-graphics

Tag list:

@riley-phoenix @fluffiest-dreams @myloversgone

[mrs-cavill-wife]

Forbidden Witch (3/?)

Pairing: Charles Brandon x Female Reader (Cassandra of Boudicca)

Warning: Fantasy. Language. Forbidden Love. Tell me if I miss something.

Author's Note: Yay, our sorceress is back! I'm so so so sorry for taking so long to back to this Fanfic. I've been sick, my mind got "blocked" and stuff but I'm back to it and sorry if this one is short. yes, I decided she'll have purple eyes. Hope you guys enjoy it, if you do, like, reblog and/or comment. I'm all ears to feedback.

Tag List: @lexyvaldez26 @thereisa8ella @natura1phenomenon @mrsavery @number1chonie @themanfromu @littlefreya @legendarywizarddetective @lovingbearherringhairdo @zealoushound @deangal-101 @everydaymultifandom @rmtndew @summersong69 @jgtfvhsg @tellingyouastory @sillyrabbit81 @nuggsmum @pussyverson @oh-for-fic-sake @foodieforthoughts @fanficlover91 @r-t-doll @its--fandom--darling @poledancingdinos @hlkwrites

Cassandra's POV

Soft knocks woke me up from my messy dreams. I blinked my eyes a few times getting used to the light. I sat up in bed and stretched my body looking around a little confused. Sometimes I have dreams so messed up that I forget where I really am, but within seconds, everything was fresh in my memory. Days ago, I saved a child, a boy, who was swimming in a river in the middle of the night. On the way back to his house, I found out that he is a prince, from the kingdom of Aluma, and since then, out of gratitude, I have been here, in a beautiful large and comfortable room, in the castle.

"Come in"

I got out of bed and Lady Juliette entered my room, just like every morning. I should have stayed only one day, two at the most, but the hospitality, the politeness, the ambient, the treatment of the King and Queen, the happiness of that little runaway, I couldn't refuse to stay any longer.

I smiled at Juliette, watching her open the curtains and the huge windows that looked out onto a beautiful balcony. Then she approached the bed and I stood up as she bowed slightly.

"Good morning, Lady Cassandra. did you sleep well?"

I tilted my face playfully looking at her with mock disapproval and she smiled shyly.

"Oh Juliette, I've told you that we don't need cordiality. How long have i been here? A few weeks, probably months, we're confidants, already friends and I have no title."

She's still shy and started to make my bed and I helped her with the pillows.

"I know, my la.. Cassandra.. It's the orders, I'm just a lady-in-waiting, a helper, I must respect whoever is above me."

I got closer to her after we make the bed and held one of her hands.

"I'm not above anyone else, we're equal inside and I consider you my friend and I want you to act as such, do we agree?"

When I arrived, I was a little unsure, but in front of so many good people, I had nothing to fear. And to make things better, Juliette and I got closer over time. I never had great friends, I guess I never really cared. Since from my childhood in Boudicca, to Aretuza and then to whatever path fate takes me, it's always been me and Atlas, but at the moment, I'm very happy to have someone, who really responds when I speak, at least with words, and not neighs. Juliette smiled happily and went to the bathroom to prepare my bath.

I went to the balcony, the view was just incredible, the birds sang, the sun shone and burned against my skin, on the horizon, I could see part of the Kingdom, the village, but in the distance, mountains. I took a deep breath, basking in the morning scent, eyes hooded, just concentrating on the sounds, until Juliette informed me that the bath was ready.

As soon as I walked in, she left so I could take off my nightgown. We're friends but I still don't feel good about exposing myself like that.

After a relaxing bath with warm water, rose petals and sparkling foam. I put on a robe and found a tray on my bed with my breakfast. It had fruit, bread and juice. Normally, the king and queen would like me to join them at the dinner table, but today was different.

"The kitchen is quite busy, the king is having an old friend today. He is very excited, asked them to prepare the best dishes."

A couple of days ago, I heard some buzz in the hallways. A friend of the king was coming to visit him and it seemed he was creating a commotion around the servants. Maybe it's my imagination, but the ladies looked as fervent as a pan of boiling oil. At a dinner, the king said he would love to introduce me to one of his great friends, I just nodded.

That same night, the queen visited me in my room with a woman. A middle-aged seamstress, a few strands of gray, the queen said she was one of her favorite seamstresses and the most sought after in the kingdom and among her royal friends. She asked the woman and me to talk, and agree on nice clothes for me. I had been wearing dresses loaned to the queen for a while and she knew I didn't feel very comfortable so she contacted her seamstress.

Since today is a big day for the king, I had several options above my bed, my hair was already done with a simple braid. Time passed and I couldn't make up my mind. Juliette was nervous about my lateness, soon the king's friend would be there. For some reason, I felt more indecisive than ever, I almost didn't recognize myself.

But after so much choosing, he manages to make a decision. I looked in the mirror, admiring my necklace and my dress.

"Not that bad"

I walked downstairs with Juliette behind me on our way to the throne room. Madeline played with her son's blond strands while King Alexander chatted with some guards. The castle was cheerful, everyone seemed to want to give the guest the best reception.

As soon as she was seen by little Eric, he smiled and ran to me. I bent down a little and we hugged. Eric and I have bonded, he's an amazing kid with a thirst for adventure.

"Oh dear, look at you"

The queen approached me, looking me up and down and smiling as if I were blood of her blood. Her cheerful voice caught the attention of her husband, who approached, he took my hand and twirled me around making me feel a little shy.

"Cassandra, with all due respect, you look beautiful today."

Madeline and Juliette both chuckled softly at my blush, which also made the queen elbow her husband lightly, scolding him playfully.

Noises echoed in the distance, some voices, horses and carriages

The big door opened, one of the servants reported that the duke had arrived. The king released him, taking his queen's hand on his arm and inviting me to meet his friend at the castle entrance. I walked behind the royal couple with the little prince beside me, chattering about something I didn't hear, my hands sweating with every step I took.

When we arrived at the entrance, I could see two carriages. One loaded with suitcases, so I assumed the guest was in the other. The door of the second carriage opened and a man was the first to exit and suddenly, it was like everything had frozen around me.

The birds stopped singing, the wind got warmer, the sun didn't burn my skin, which was now chilled, my feet felt numb and my heart didn't slosh with blood. A brief deja vu flooded my mind, the memory of my imagination, every detail I imagined came alive and was right in front of me.

Tall man, defined body, strong, noble, fair skin, blue eyes.. like the sky in a spring morning, dark short hair like the night, lips that held perfect white tooth.. I am dreaming or..?

"Charles"

The king shouted happy. The handsome man bowed to the king but quickly the two of them ignored the formalities and embraced.

"How long?"

Charles. It's a good name. And his voice.. only two words left his mouth but that sound, it was like i heard a fire, hot, warming my frozen heart... but with some air of danger, like an unexpected fire that leaves you anchored. He complimented the queen and her son then took back his attention to the king that respectfully, put his hand on my back, approaching me to your friend.

"Charles, I want you to meet someone."

Alexander talked and Charles approached, finally he noticing me and our eyes crossed.

"That's Cassandra of Boudicca, the sorceress."

Charles eyes got wided while showed his beautiful smile, he delicately held my hand and softy pecked my knuckles without taking his eyes from my face.

"My lady."

He said directly at me and I could feel the air leaving my lungs.

"I am Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk"

I bent slightly, still looking at the being that came from my dreams.

"Wow daddy, she has purple eyes"

My body woke up to reality with a sweet childish voice. I looked down and beside Charles, there was a little girl, blue and curious eyes just like her father..

Wait a minute? Father? Did she really say.. daddy?

"Yes darlin, but it's not polite to look at people like that and point."

A beautiful young woman exits the carriage and stands beside Charles and the little girl, bowing towards the King and Queen.

"I've never met a sorceress before. It's a pleasure to meet you, Cassandra, and I'm sorry for my little curious daughter behavior"

Daughter..? So she and Charles..?

"I am Phoebe, Duchess of Suffolk, Charles wife and MacKenzie's mother."

Yes, they are..

A few seconds ago, I found myself in some kind of.. dream? and now, it felt like the beginning of a nightmare. It's actually quite real, just like the shiny ring on her finger.

Charles Brandon POV

As soon as I arrived, I was greeted by the king and his wife, and their little son. I greeted them, I missed them, Aluma, the castle, the memories at each place.

After the greetings, Alexander wanted to introduce me to someone I hadn't noticed at first. A beautiful woman, with a gorgeous dress, braid hair, her aura was mysterious, especially with those bright lavender color eyes, her expression looked frozen. I was able to confirm that that wasn't just what was cold, as soon as I touched her delicate hand, I felt her fingers tremble, her palm was sweaty.

I cordially kissed her knuckles with my eyes still locked on her colorful eyes, I never saw something so pretty, so magical. Magic could be the right word to describe her, after all, she is a sorceress.

"This wonderful young lady saved our Eric."

Madeline said and my cheeks burned instantly. Charles laughed and ruffled the boy's hair.

"Still getting in trouble, Eric? You need to stop running away."

The king and I had a brief conversation, until Alexander invited us inside. We both decided to go riding, to remember the old days in battle. So I went up to mine and Phoebe's room to get ready as soon as the servants told us the bags were already there. We went upstairs and left Mackenzie and Eric running together.

Cassandra's POV

As soon as the King and Charles were getting ready to ride, I excused myself from the Queen and went to my room, without running, but walking as fast as I could.

I walked into my room and slammed the door, then leaning my back against it and laying my head back as my breathing was uneven.

How was someone I imagined, now, here? Face to face. There are many people with these features, but everything about it seemed so perfect, like when it turns a short story into a play, bringing people and events to life. He was a dream, but a dream I couldn't dream.

I jumped in fright feeling them knock on the door. I took a few deep breaths, trying not to look crazy, tried to look decent and slowly opened the door to find one of the servants.

"Yes?"

"My lady Cassandra. Your Majesty requests your presence in the stables. He would like you to join him and the duke to ride."

Oh great.. I don't think it would be polite to deny it so I nodded my head smiling a little uncomfortably.

"Tell him I'll be there in a few"

The servant bowed and left. I closed the door again and ran my hands through my face.

I'm not feeling myself anymore, feels like this man has awakened something in me, something difficult to control and I think I'll have to learn because I can't seem to get away from him and these confused sensations.

[hostess-of-horror]

Danse Macabre

Finally! After so many days of writing, I have finally finished my biggest fanfic yet! It's another Phantom x Peach fanfic and it is a bit of a sequel to my previous one "Encore at Midnight". I had this really cool story concept for a little while and I felt like I just could not do anything else unless I write it down. It was a bit of an experiment since I had to do a little bit of research just to pull some things off (however, it is far from perfect, so please forgive me). Also, I have officially made some OCs for this fanfic, yay! Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy what I have created!

Number of Pages: 17

Word Count: 9358

[Content includes: Themes of Death/Mortality and Some Suggestiveness (not smut though!), OC “Death”, Graphic Body Horror, and Slight Profanity]

For @salamifuposey, @kindpopstar, @jawaii-chan, and everyone else who wants to read this fanfic!

____________________________________________________________

My Dearest Princess,

Forgive my absence these past few days. I have been preparing the final touches in my newest masterpiece, and I have been dying to show you what I have created. It is something I have not done before; consider it an experiment of sorts. My excitement cannot be contained any longer! Tonight, I invite you to a performance unlike anything you have seen before. I have arranged a carriage to arrive at your castle at around midnight. It will take you to Spooky Trails, where I have made refuge, and you will be accompanied along the way. She will be your guide, and I assure you she will not lead you astray. I pray you receive this letter and that you accept the invitation.

Your Humble Host,

P

---

Princess Peach reads and rereads the letter. So many questions run through her mind. What does he mean by “experiment”? What kind of performance will this be? And who is this guide? She looks up from the letter, and across from her is an unfamiliar face. Sitting across from her is a woman looking out of the carriage window, admiring the night sky. Or, at least it seems like she is, for the bright reflection on her tea shades completely covered her eyes. Her guide is abnormally slender and taller than her, however she could not tell exactly how much. Her alabaster skin pops in contrast of her dark attire, which consists of a frilly ivory blouse and high-low trail skirt, a velvet violet corset, leather pants, and a long onyx black coat embellished with jewels. Her frizzy, unkept silver hair is pulled up into two buns with small strands of hair shimmering like a diamond. Peach had never seen anyone quite like her before; it’s like she came from another world entirely. The guide turns her attention from the view towards Peach and smiles. Peach averts her eyes and looks towards the window – it was rude to stare, especially at a stranger. “So, you must be the one my master has been interested in all this time? He has told me so much about you.”, the guide spoke. Peach brings her attention back towards the guide. “I am, miss.”, she responds, “And, he has?”

“Oh yes! He is simply infatuated with you! I dare say, obsessed, even. And now that I have a chance to see you up close, I can definitely see why.”

“Infatuated is a good word to describe him. He has shown his affection quite often since our first reunion.”

“Has he now?”

“Mm-hmm. He’s been nothing but a gentleman towards me, even if he does get pretty… excitable from time to time.”

“Consider yourself lucky, your highness. Having an enthusiastic partner makes the relationship a lot more interesting!”

“Well, yes, I agree… I- um…”

“Is there something wrong?”

“Phantom and I have only met a little while now; almost a month I believe. I’m not sure if I want to start referring to him as my partner.”

“Just yet, you mean?”

“Oh, please don’t get me wrong, I do like him! I just like to… take things a little slow.”

“Ah, I see. I completely understand. You want to get to know him a little bit more before you make any decisions. A rather smart move on your part.”

“Exactly.”

“Don’t tell anyone this, but my master isn’t one to do such a thing. That is not to say he’s completely reckless, but whenever there’s something – or someone – he’s interested in, he becomes determined. Stubborn even. And personally, it is not his best quality sometimes. It makes him look like a moron. A blind one at that.”

“I guess you can say he becomes inspired. Phantom is an artist, after all. Art is meant to invoke emotion, no matter the medium. It would make sense that he himself is the same way.”

“Insightful! And right you are.”

“Not to mention, Phantom is an opera singer. Opera, of course, is highly emotional and very dramatic, and so is he.”

“That too. I know this might be a personal question, but your first reunion with my master…”

“Yes?”

“What happened that night? I ask because I remember seeing him wallowing in shame after his trip over to the Mushroom Kingdom. When he returned, he threw himself onto his fainting couch, murmuring curses, almost about to cry.”

“Oh my! Well, Phantom was in the ballroom inside my castle that night. He was singing this beautiful melody. When I found him, we talked for a bit and discovered we both have something in common.”

“And what would that be?”

“Companionship.”

“Ah…”

“As we talked, he told me about his life after that battle at Spooky Trails a few years ago. He was so lonely, unable to find friends to call his own. Soon he became… anxious. I cannot describe exactly what came over him, but it was obvious he was in pain. Then, his eyes turned red, and suddenly darkness. I fainted.”

The guide stares at Peach, her mouth slightly agape. Although her tea shades cover her eyes, her expression is readable. It is a look of shock – that look of knowing exactly what had just happened with Phantom on that very night. She sighs, “I see. That is not the first time he has done that. My master can be terrifying when he has his moments.”

“Everything was just so overwhelming. I was scared, yes, but afterwards I was more concerned of his well-being. I cannot bear to see someone in pain; being alone can take a toll on anyone… Oh, that poor thing! He must’ve thought that he harmed me when I fainted!” Peach exclaimed. Silence takes over the conversation. Peach’s eyes wander towards the carriage floor while the guide’s attention never breaks. Her eyebrows furrowed, Peach fidgets with her gloves. The guide adjusts her position, leaning over towards the worried princess. She reaches out and holds her hand; Peach stops fidgeting. “I’m glad that you care about him, your highness. Very few do.” she gently smiles, “There have been many times I believed that the only people who care about him is me and the others.”

“The others?”, Peach asks.

“The rest of my master’s theatre troupe. Just like him, we are all one with music.”

“…may I ask what is your name?

“My name? Oh-! my name, how could I forget my manners? How rude of me! I am Dolores, your highness.”

“And if I may ask as well, if you don’t mind, where do you come from?”

Before Dolores has a chance to answer, a flash of shadows sped by the carriage. Dolores motions towards the window, her head peeking out, looking over the view. Her pearl white teeth shows as she grins from ear to ear. “We’re almost there! Ah, soon you will experience the greatest show yet, Princess Peach!”, she exclaims with glee. Peach takes a look at her window. Memories flooded her mind like a rushing river coursing through the barren earth. Spooky Trails.She remembers now; it was all coming back to her. This was all leading to the very location where her battle with Phantom took place. She, alongside Mario, Luigi, and a few Rabbids, witnessed Phantom’s creation and fought him as he flaunted about on the old, decrepit stage. To think, he was an almost entirely different person. Phantom wasn’t as gentlemanly as he is as of recently, but since their first reunion, he has been wanting things to change.

He wants her. Her heart. Her soul. Her beauty. Everything.

To think it has come to this. To think the princess, who has been known for being saved by her plumber in shining armor and being in love with him, would fall for such a character. But has she truly fallen for Phantom? Or is it all just nonsense? If it was just nonsense, then why would she accept the invitation? Peach takes in the environment as the carriage rolls across the cobblestone path, driving through the dead trees and the old, seemingly abandoned village. Despite having never returned after the battle, Peach regains her memories of Spooky Trails, almost to the point of knowing exactly where Phantom resides. Dolores returns to her position, her shining grin still on her face. Peach turns her attention back at Dolores and asks, “What was the inspiration behind this performance?”

“I would tell you, but it would ruin the surprise! My master has ordered all of us to never reveal his masterpiece until it is time.” Dolores answers.

“Oh…”

“All I can say is that this is no ordinary performance. My master is quite the visionary, you know!”

“Very well, then. I won’t ask any more questions, if it’s going to ruin the surprise.”

“Are you excited, your highness?”

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be? It’s not often that I get invited to such events.”

“Really? But you’re royalty! I thought you would be invited to all sorts of performances.”

“I do, but it just doesn’t happen that often, and I honestly don’t know why. I adore the theater!”

“We all do too. Our lifestyle is nothing but the theater… quite literally!”

“Gosh, that must be so wonderful, to be part of a theatre troupe. To perform for all to see, to entertain others through amazing plays! I’ve always wished to join when I was a little girl.”

“Oh! Would you look at that! We’ve finally arrived!”

After what it seemed like more than an hour, the carriage, at long last, finally stops. Dolores gets up from her seat, slowly crawling her way out of the carriage. Her elongated body almost struggles through the small door, but she succeeds with grace. She then offers her hand to Peach with a softer smile, “Your midnight show awaits, Princess Peach…” Taking Dolores’ hand, Peach steps out of the carriage and immediately she is greeted by a massive silver gate. The very gate that stands guard the entrance to Phantom’s stage. It is beautifully sculpted, shaped into swirls and patterns holding up an illuminating full moon, with two music notes placed on each side as the borders. Yes, Peach remembers now. Dolores walks up to the gate and peers through it. She waves at something or something – Peach could not tell – and opens it, allowing themselves to enter. Peach follows behind. She didn’t know how tall Dolores was when they were in the carriage, but now she could get a good look at her stature. Dolores was tall – taller than any human she has ever seen before. If Peach could guess, her guide was three to four (maybe five!)feet taller than her and was practically towering over her. Ever since they met, she had this feeling of uneasiness. Who is this woman? What is this woman? Where did she come from? So many questions. There was something off about Dolores, and it wasn’t necessarily her abnormal physique. There was something, but Peach couldn’t put her finger on it. Whatever it was…. Perhaps she doesn’t need to worry too much about it.

Approaching the decrepit stage, the two ladies are met by a small man wielding a large, glowing lantern. This man is the opposite of Dolores in terms of height and physique. He is a short and stout dwarf, donning a regal yellow robe over his slightly mismatched clothes. The light emanating from the lantern reveals his nicely trimmed beard, his long, curly chocolate brown hair tied back into a ponytail, his fluorescent amber eyes giving them a warm welcome. His smile grew bigger once Dolores waves again; he waves back. “Dolores, there you are! And you brought our special guest! Wunderbar! It is a pleasure to meet you, eure hoheit.”, the dwarf greets them, bowing in courtesy. “Are the others ready, Stefan?”, Dolores asks.

“We’ve been ready for a while now. Just making sure everything is perfect for tonight.”

“And what about our master?”

“He will not show his face. In fact, he wants me to tell you that no one must see him until he has shown himself to us all.”

“Ah, well that makes things interesting.”

“I agree. Anyway, enough chit chat! Let us proceed! We must not keep our master’s little freundin waiting.”

“Por favor, Stefan! Don’t tease… that’s my job.”

Stefan chuckles as he ushers them to go into the stage. Dolores follows Stefan, and Peach follows Dolores. They all walk deeper through the torn platform and dusty curtains. Damaged props, broken wires, hanging ropes, and mangy fabrics scatter the place. The further deeper they went, the larger the backstage seems to be. Peach looks in awe as she continues to follow her guides. Who knew that this abandoned stage held such secrets? After a few minutes of walking, Stefan places his lantern on the floor, lighting up the entire floor, and begins to crawl on his hands and knees. His fingers trace the nooks and crannies of the floorboards, mumbling to himself. He searches until he finds a small hole and grabs it. The hole turns out to be a handle, and Stefan pulls and lifts up the floorboards. He reveals a decent sized door leading to a much darker pathway – a long stone stairway stretching far into a secret tunnel. Stefan’s lantern gave light to the darkness, making the trip down into the underground refuge much less intimidating. Dolores holds Peach’s hand as they go down the stairs. This was such an odd way of attending a performance. Peach could not imagine what kind of performance involves having to venture underground in order to see it. What could she possibly expect from all of this? Part of her mind began screaming for help, pleading to go back to the Mushroom Kingdom. Part of her mind wanted normalcy, no surprises. It wanted her to stop and return to her chamber, to her castle, to Mario and her friends. However, the other part was curious. It was that familiar curiosity – the same curiosity she had when first reunited with Phantom. She could never forget that night. Never in a lifetime. Everything about him, whether it be music or shadow, is just so…. Alluring.

Alluring… Beguiling… Captivating… Enchanting…

Her mind finally gives in. She goes for the latter. How could she not? She has ventured too deep into this tunnel to start leaving. For once, she is able to take a break from her royal duties. To forget her troubles. To finally experience something new. For once. As for curiosity, she was more concerned about Phantom. Why would he not allow anyone to see him? Of course, it must be for the performance, but what exactly does Phantom have in store? The more Peach thought about him, the more impatient she became. Phantom. Oh, where are you, Phantom? Her mind falls into that familiar trance. She wants to see him again. She wants to hear him again. Perhaps Peach has become just as obsessed as he is with her. This must be an addiction. It must be. If it wasn’t, then she would never be where she is right now. Whether it be curiosity, obsession, or madness, Peach will continue to walk into shadow if it meant she will meet her friend again. Stefan, Dolores, and Peach finally reach the end of the tunnel, finding a wooden door decorated with gold etchings, which looked out of place amongst the cobweb-shrouded stone walls. With a strong push, Stefan enters through, allowing the door to creak wide open. Behind the door is a humongous hallway, adorned from wall to wall with a vast multitude of paintings, flyers and posters of plays and musicals, candles, and curtains. To think a dusty tunnel would lead to a beautiful makeshift palace! It’s like discovering a treasure chest inside of a dank, murky swamp. Is this where Phantom was residing all these years? Peach gasps. Dolores turns around and smiles, “Welcome to our humble abode, your highness. In this place, music is our lifeforce. We eat, we drink, we breathe, we sleep in music. Just like our master, we are not only creators of art – we are art itself. And tonight, we shall once again breathe life into another masterpiece. I cannot describe how immensely happy we all are. We are so glad that you accepted our master’s invitation, you will not regret it! Now, come along with me, let us go into the Ladies’ Dressing Room. Natasha has designed a wonderful costume for you to wear, and Ophelia will help you with your hair and makeup. I assure you they will make you absolutely gorgeous. Of course, that is not to say you’re not already beautiful.”

Stefan leaves the two ladies and heads towards the Gentlemen’s Dressing Room, which is across from the Ladies’ Dressing Room to the left, placing the lantern onto an iron hook built into the wall. “Well, I’m going to get myself ready and meet up with the others. I’ll see you all at the Gallery! Bis bald!”, he says as he closes the door. Dolores enters through the door to the right and holds it open for Peach to walk into the room. There sitting inside are twin sisters, both garbed in fine, flowy silk and chiffon gowns, working on their latest projects. To the left is a somber young lady sitting near a vanity, dressed all in Aegean and periwinkle blue, her pale pink hair intertwined into exquisite dreadlocks that reaches down to her shoulders. Wrapped around her head is a flower crown composed of lavender, Baby’s Breath, Fairy Foxgloves, and Forget-Me-Nots. To the right is a cheery young lady wearing a similar gown but in shades of fuchsia and rose, checking over the details of an extravagant costume, which is porcelain and peach in color. Her pale blue hair is also made of dreadlocks, as well as composed with the same flowers with the addition of small vines, but is pinned up into a lovely cornrow braided bun. The twin in pink looks up from her work and gasps, “Dolores, you’re back! And the princess is here! Ophelia, look! They’re here!” Ophelia turns around, her saddened expression softening into a weak smile, “Oh, hello again. And it’s nice to finally meet you, your highness.”

Dolores greets them back, turning her attention back to Natasha’s project, “Is the costume ready?”

“Yes, it is! I was just making sure everything’s perfect!”

“It looks amazing! Buen Trabajo!”

“Aww, thank you!”

“Alright, now we must hurry. I need to be in costume. I’ll meet you all in the Gallery, and don’t dottle please.”

“Don’t worry, Dolores, we’ll be ready as soon as possible.”

Dolores leaves Peach with Natasha and Ophelia, entering through a darkened room to get ready for the performance. Once she leaves, Peach witnesses what is perhaps the most amazing thing she has ever seen. The speed in which Natasha and Ophelia got her ready for the performance was astounding. What should have lasted for about a few hours or so ended up lasted for a few mere minutes! No human possesses this level of speed, especially with makeup. Any makeup artist would take their time getting every detail right. There would be no possible way anyone could apply eyeshadow, eyeliner, blush, concealer, lipstick, and every other detail really fast without messing up. But Ophelia proved that such an ability was possible. Natasha was no different. She helped Peach get into the extravagant costume without any struggle at all, as it fit perfectly onto her frame. How did she get her size just right? And it’s so comfortable too! “And… done! Oh, look at you! You are just beautiful, your highness! Don’t you think so, Ophelia?”, Natasha exclaims happily, proud of her job well done. “Oh yes, I agree…”, Ophelia smiles weakly again. Peach looks over to a nearby mirror. They were right; she is beautiful. Perhaps even more so, she thinks to herself, for she had never worn anything like this before. It is true that, being of royal blood, she is accustomed to an extremely elaborate (and expensive) wardrobe. But this… this is different from any other dress. It is a ballroom gown, completely encrusted with diamonds and pearls, with lovely black roses making a long trail from her waist down to the skirt. The white skirt is massive, flowing down towards the floor like a mass of billowing fog. Her shoulders and bosom are exposed completely, giving room for a glistening choker made of the same jewels. Her hair is done up in a high bun, lightly sprinkled with silver glitter, and tied together with another black rose.

She looks heavenly. Like an angel.

With everything all set and done, Natasha and Dolores begin preparing themselves. As they do, Ophelia pauses for a moment. “Oh, your highness! I almost forgot something. Before we go, our master wanted me to give you this.”, Ophelia says, handing her a small card. It reads: For the Princess. Before heading back to primp herself, her expression slowly turns gloomy, barely keeping up with her smile, “You are so lucky to be chosen…” Peach turns over the card as she waits for the twins to get ready and continues to read:

Tonight’s performance is a one-of-a-kind experience. You, my dear, will not only be the audience, but also part of the story! Everything and everyone around you will be interactive, so please do not be shy. Converse with your newly found friends! Eat, drink, dance with your heart’s content! And please, do not wait for me. I hope you enjoy my masterpiece.

- P

Ah ha! So, this is what Phantom’s performance is! It is a role-playing experience, and based on what the card says, it must be a party he’s hosting. What delightful news! Although, Peach must admit that she has never role-played before, especially in something like this. But wait – didn’t she say to Dolores earlier that being part of the theatre was her childhood dream? Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity to try out her acting skills! Peach beams. She could not believe Phantom would make something like this. Whatever this role-playing party entails, she thinks to herself, she’s going to do the best she can. “We’re ready!” Natasha exclaims in a sing-song tone, “Are you ready, Ophelia?” Ophelia nods. Natasha excitedly takes both her and Peach’s hands, leading them out of the Ladies’ Dressing Room and into the Gallery. Peach almost could not keep up with the twins, for they have remarkable speed, as shown by their natural talents on makeup and costuming. How fast can could they possible go? If this is how fast they can walk, then how fast can they run? Natasha’s ecstatic giggling echoes through the hallway, and with every step they take, the upbeat tempo of music could be heard from behind the Gallery doors. The closer they went, the louder it became. The melody drifts in the air like a calm perfume for the ears, capturing Peach’s attention with its harmonious essence. A delicious delicacy for the senses. Just like Phantom’s voice. He must have composed this melody, for there is no way Peach could have been so immersed and entranced by its sound if it wasn’t. The three ladies approach the Gallery doors, the music muffled behind them. Natasha takes a glance back at Peach and Ophelia, unable to contain her excitement anymore.

She pushes the doors wide open.

What words could possibly describe the sheer extravagance of the Gallery? To think that all of this is completely underground! To think Phantom created this gargantuan chamber, big enough for him and perhaps one hundred guests! Maybe even more than that. Peach could tell, just by admiring the Gallery, Phantom is quite the fan of marble, silver, and velvet. Marble floors and pillars framing the chamber and silver-framed mirrors and portraits decorate the walls. Deep black velvet curtains cascade from the middle of the ceiling and down towards the floor, giving the appearance of one massive Bohemian tent. In the middle hangs a glamourous jeweled chandelier, giving a dim light to the darkness. Looking around, Peach notices there are seven rooms divided by the curtains, each one color-coded, with three rooms on both towards the left and right. To the left are the colors blue, purple, and green, and to the right are orange, white, and violet. The seventh room is located right in front of the ladies, right across from the Gallery entrance. Inside is completely shrouded in shades of red – wine, scarlet, crimson, garnet – and there sits in a shiny throne a crowned gentleman – a prince – with a glass of Amontillado in his hand. His wavy, champagne blonde hair falls delicately around his party mask and square facial structure. His rosy lips gently purse as he raises his glass to drink. He is accompanied by two other women, who are garbed to the nines in the richest finery, blushing and laughing amongst themselves. Every now and then, the prince would turn to one of them and whisper in their ear, making their faces turn into deeper shades of red. As Peach follows Natasha and Ophelia, she finds more guests, all conversing amongst one another in the color-coded rooms. The costumes they wear are vibrant in color and theme, ranging from jesters, to creatures, to knights, to fairies and pixies. These guests, including the prince himself, must all be part of Phantom’s theatre troupe. Peach begins to count: one… two… four… six… nine… eleven. Eleven members of the troupe. She wonders if there are any more, considering how large the Gallery is.

The prince turns his attention suddenly towards Peach, and so do the two women. Soon, almost everyone begins to stop for a moment and do the same. Simultaneously, Natasha and Ophelia bow, gesturing to Peach, “My Lord, we have brought you your special guest, Princess Morrigan of the Stygian Border.” The prince sets down his glass on a nearby silver platter, and stands right up from his throne, adjusting his vest and coat. “C’est magnifique, my loyal subjects! Now the masquerade can truly begin! Come, come! The night is young, gather around everyone! Let us celebrate all of our blessings and forget our grievances!” he declared, “May we prosper in these trying times, and may we never run out of wine to drink.” The crowd laughs and cheers, some of them raising their own glasses. He turns to Peach, his eyes wandering up and down, and smirks, “My, my… Enchantee, your highness. I must say, you look… ravishing tonight. I am Prince Fortunato, at your service. Why don’t you join me, my dear, in the Red Room? Surely, we can have some… fun together, what do you say?” Greeting her, Prince Fortunato places a soft kiss on her hand, his emerald eyes admiring her beauty. Or perhaps something else. Although Peach has to be polite, she immediately had no interest in him. Too cocky, she thinks to herself, too full of himself. It reminds her too much of Bowser. Then again, Phantom was that way, too, at least in the past. But she learned that he was not licentious. He never looked anywhere else but into her eyes. He never searched for anything other than her eyes. He ever seemed like he was after a particular goal other than seeing her whenever they meet. That is the one thing Peach was sure about. Ah, but remember! This is only roleplay; nothing is real. Prince Fortunato, as well as everyone else, is only pretending. In that case, this gentleman is an excellent actor!

Prince Fortunato leads Peach back to his throne, the two women still standing to accompany him. Envy fills the air. Their expressions turn sour as they watch Peach get even more attention than them. Peach could already tell that this is no ordinary masquerade. She has been to many royal revelries throughout her life, and all of them were filled to the brim with sophistication. Every guest, staff member, and host had class – anything that was considered less than classy wasn’t allowed. This masquerade is different in terms of the usual standards of hosting such parties. It was as eccentric as its Gothic décor, consisting of tables filled with silver platters of fruits, meats, bread, and desserts, goblets of beverages, and candles. Every once and a while, a few guests would stuff themselves and each other with this feast, disregarding etiquette for sheer pleasure. Peach isn’t used to the cacophony of this kind of merrymaking. All of this was nothing but pure, unadulterated debauchery – something she was taught never to delve into. She is a princess, after all, and princesses never do those sorts of things. However, did she not accept the invitation to let herself loose? Did she not agree to join this performance – this masquerade – to experience something new for once? For once? Feeling out of place just standing idle amongst Prince Fortunato and the guests, Peach goes over to one of the tables and picks at a plate of grapes. She watches as the guests gather around Natasha and Ophelia in one huge circle, clapping to the music’s rhythm as they frolic together. The fabrics of their dresses fly with their movements as if they were colorful wings dancing in the darkness. As she plops the grapes delicately into her mouth, her eyes continue to wander over the décor. Suddenly, she stops at a grim sight. There as the centerpiece sits three skulls, two of them from a different species, ones Peach isn’t familiar with. The skull placed in the middle, however, is human. She could not tell if these skulls were real. She hopes they aren’t real. Taking a closer look, an engraving is found on its forehead: Ars longa, vita brevis.

Without warning, the Gallery doors burst open! The music stops – the crowd jumps in surprise! Prince Fortunato rises to his feet, alarmed by this sudden interruption. Peach turns around. There standing in the doorway is an aged peasant woman in old, torn rags, her hair glowing bright red like a burning inferno. Her complexion is dirtied, her makeup is smudged, her eyes red-hot with fury. She scowls as she approaches the partygoers, her hands clenched as if she is about to attack. “For shame!Have you no shame?!” the peasant chants, flailing her arms with rage, “Have you no compassion for your people?! The plague lays waste throughout the land! And yet, here you are, surrounding yourself with wealth and whores! They are suffering! They are dying! There is no hope for us! For shame! For shame! Have you no shame?!” Peach watches as everyone else steps back, avoiding her filthy presence. Twelve. Twelve members in Phantom’s theatre troupe. Prince Fortunato steps forward, confronting her, “Who dares… who dares interrupts us?! Who dares trespass Fort Fortunato and speak against the Crown?!”

“It is your undoing that dares enter your home! This, all of this, will be your downfall!” she responds back angerly, gesturing to the masquerade.

“Leave this instant, or else I’ll have your head for this!”

“I have seen it, Prince Fortunato! I have seen your fate in the deepest of dreams! Doom is upon you all!”

“Ah, it’s one of those so-called soothsayers my people love so much… how lovely. They love having their fortunes told, don’t they? Superstitions and all that. Hmmm. Well, in that case, go on. Amuse us with your… dreams and visions, fortune teller. We do love to be entertained.”

“It will come, Prince Fortunato, in retribution of your indulgences. You and your party may hide all you want; it will still find you! Mortals cannot escape from what is inevitable. In the end, it shall visit us when our time comes… and your time is nigh.”

“Qu’est-ce que tu racontes? What is this ‘it’ you’re talking about? Whatever ‘it’ is, I am sure it will not ruin this masquerade. Princess, do you hear all this? She’s simply mad!”

“Our time is nigh!”

“Tu es timbre!”

“For shame! For shame!”

“Quitter cet endroit!”

“Have you no shame?!”

The peasant stops. Her eyes shift towards Peach. A look of horror falls upon her face. “You…”, she whispers, slowly raising a pointed finger at her. Peach watches as she approaches her, still pointing, terrified. Her expression contorts as if she is studying, searching for something. “You… are to be Death’s Bride… Yes! You are Death’s Bride!” she exclaims, falling to her knees, clutching Peach’s skirt, “Oh, you poor soul! So young… innocent… all to be swept by its dark embrace! I beg of you, your highness, leave this place! Forget these fools! Forget all of this! Save yourself!” With a swift grab, Prince Fortunato pulls the peasant away by the shoulder and pushes her aside. “Unhand her this instant! You trespass my fortress, you waste our time with your superstitions, and now you insult me and my guests?” he yells, “Everyone! Let us show this insolent wretch what it means to insult those higher than her! Bring me a chair! Bring me some rope! Let’s play a game with her, shall we?” Peach could not believe it. A prince sacrificing the well-being of his people for an elaborate masquerade! And now, he and the other guests have decided to torture this poor woman! She cannot stay silent any longer – she must act! “Wait!” Peach cries, making everyone stop in unison, “Have mercy on her! Please!” Prince Fortunato scoffs in amusement, “Why, and for what? She insulted us, you heard her!”

“Yes, but none of that would have happened if you attended to your royal duties as Prince and took care of your people!”

“E-excusez-moi?”

“This poor woman is in dire need of assistance, and you have all the wealth to help her! Maybe you should consider.”

“Ha! My dear, you jest! I have no need for peasants! Why should I dabble in their affairs?”

“Because their affairs are yours as well. They have relied on you for so long, and you rely on them. Without your people, you’re done for!”

“Do you not see the extravagance of this masquerade? The bountiful feasts presented on the tables? Our costumes? The wine in our glasses? I am rich, Princess Morrigan! Wealthy beyond imagination!”

“Wealth that came from people like her! Please, my Lord, have mercy.”

“Are you mad? Ha, you must be! Just as mad as the fortune teller!”

“If I am as mad as her, then I must be! Yes, that’s it! Perhaps your foolishness is just another wild hallucination, for what respectable royalty spoils themselves to the point of gluttony and greed?”

A crowd of gasps shatter the silence. The crowd glance at Peach, then at the prince, then back at her, awaiting another response. Prince Fortunato stands silent, completely stunned by her audacity. His face becomes flushed, his teeth gritting, his emerald eyes bright with anger. His fists clench. “Oh…. I’m a fool, am I? Am I a fool?! I am not a fool! I am Prince Fortunato, the next in line! Heir to the throne! I am as respectable as royalty can be!” he furiously shouts, “I will not be insulted like this! I will not be degraded like this! I need not your judgment, or hers, or anyone else’s! I am no fool, do you hear me? I am not a fool! I am a Prince, full of riches and beauty! I am perfect! I am powerful! I am untouchable! You think I’m a fool? You call me a fool, eh? Ha ha! Well then, let me entertain you all! Come, gather around, my lovely guests! Let me show you what a true fool really is!” With a whip of his cape, Prince Fortunato rushes from the crowd and goes behind the throne. Everyone watches as he switches his coat and cape with another coat and removes his crown with another accessory. In a matter of seconds, he reappears, this time donning a shiny blue coat and a mask in the shape of a rabbit’s face. Raising his arms, he presents his new costume to the crowd, “Here! Here! I am now a fool! But Prince Fortunato? Oh no, no, no! He is no fool! You imbeciles! He is a national treasure!” Has Prince Fortunato finally lost his sanity? What could he possibly gain from this? Peach is stunned, as much as the rest of the others. However, she is not as terrified as everyone else. She sees Natasha and Ophelia cradling each other, comforting one another despite both being in distress. She sees Stefan in costume backing away, almost seeming to run away and hide somewhere safe. She sees Dolores frozen in utter fear.

Peach remembers what she had said: “My master can be terrifying when he has his moments.”

No one could help but watch as Prince Fortunato danced along the ballroom floor, singing random songs in a mocking fashion. He flails his arms, waving his hands wildly as if no one is watching him. Is this even part of the roleplay? This moment feels too spontaneous to even be scripted. Peach could not imagine Phantom having his own theatre troupe mock him, regardless of whether or not it would be intentional. Whoever is playing Prince Fortunato must truly be a fool. Prince Fortunato sings in a sardonic tone:

🎶“Look at me!

Watch me float and gloat and show off my coat!

Watch me as I sing about plumbers – oh, how I hate them!

I hate them so much, oh what a bummer!

Watch me as I make sweet, sweet love to my precious spotlight

Under the moonlight!”🎶

Although the song is less than perfect, Peach admits to herself: he has an amazing singing voice! And he sings opera, just like his master! She wonders if all of the members of the theatre troupe can sing as well. Ah, no! Enough of that! Don’t get distracted now! As he sings, Prince Fortunato runs and leaps onto a nearby table, knocking over huge plates of food, skulls, and candles on the floor. Everyone else watches as he spins and taps his feet on the table, his arms still flailing around. No one in the theatre troupe tries to stop him – they’re all too shocked and afraid to even do so. They did not want to get involved in such mockery. Peach could. However, what would happen if she did? As much as she would like to stop him, she just couldn’t. For whatever reason, whether it be out of shock, or out of fear, or out of curiosity, she did not move at all. Still, the Prince continues:

🎶“Imbecile, imbecile, imbecile!

Everyone’s an imbecile but me!

Listen to me, listen to me!

My ego is as big as it can be!

Come, my Princess, marry me please

Or else I’ll cry, cry, cry!”🎶

Then, the sudden drone of a large bell rings! It brings everyone into a hush, sending an immense chill down their spine. No one moves. The drone continues. And continues. And continues. Is this what the peasant woman was talking about? The impending doom that is to fall upon this masquerade? The fate of everyone who stands here on this very night? This inevitability that will claim those who still walk on this earth? Whatever is coming for them… has arrived to make its debut.

The Gallery doors creak open. Seeping through the entrance is a cloud of fog, billowing across the floor like a massive white sheet. It surrounds everyone, almost rising up to their knees, and soon the entire chamber is filled to the brim with gloom. Prince Fortunato finally steps down, his eyes staring in fear at the entrance, and retreats behind Peach. As fate approaches them, soft murmurs of terror arise from the crowd. One by one, each and every actor and actress trembles in anticipation. Peach awaits as well, but more out of curiosity than the shock of terror. This feeling; she remembers it all too well. She has to know what happens next. She has to know what kind of resolution this entire roleplay performance is coming to. Although the resolution is frightening, it was the satisfaction of discovery that keeps her within the Gallery. She will not leave. Fear will not take over. Only curiosity. Only awe and wonder. Only fascination.

And lo and behold, there stands the face of Death in his newest and blackest masterpiece.

He stands tall, bejeweled and shrouded in crimson, emerging from behind the murky darkness. The sheer size of him is intimidating enough, but the opulence in which he had adorned himself gives him an almost divine presence in the masquerade. Out of all the costumes Peach has seen, this one is more magnificent – more vibrant and elaborate – than the rest. Blood red veils cascade down from his large cavalier hat and alongside his cape. His vest a skeletal ribcage, patterns of bones scatter his scarlet greatcoat, and in his paws is a colossal gold cane. Hidden underneath the shadow of his hat is a golden mask, formed into the shape of a skull. Everyone slowly backs away as this masked red-clad stranger approaches them. But not Peach. Instead, she stays, completely in awe. She has become too enamored by his Gothic glamour to even be remotely scared. Finally. After so many days, they finally meet once again. She could see his sapphire eyes peering through and meeting hers with a sign of notice. He stops for a moment. That look… that tender gaze! Although they had only met for a little while before this moment, Peach confesses to herself: she could never have enough of those bright eyes. Those gleaming sapphire eyes. Even through that skull mask of his, she could stare into them all night long.

Alluring… Beguiling… Captivating… Enchanting…

Phantom shifts his attention to Prince Fortunato, his eyes wide with fury. The partygoers cower as he floats over to the foolish prince, towering over him as he looks down. Prince Fortunato scrambles, quickly taking off his blue coat and rabbit mask, full of sweat, almost hyperventilating. His face is revealed with a terrified expression. His eyes look up at Phantom, awaiting whatever fate – whatever punishment – shall bestow upon him. Phantom twists his cane and slowly he pulls it apart, revealing it to be a scabbard with a long, sharp sword inside it. Peach gasps as he unsheathes his weapon, raises it up in the air, and points it down at a quivering Prince Fortunato. “Please, monsieur!” Prince Fortunato gasps and swallows, “Spare me! It was only a mere jest! I was only having some fun entertaining my guests! I-I am the host, after all! Monsieur, please… Have mercy…!” Everyone watches in horror as he pleads for forgiveness. Phantom takes in a deep breathe; music begins to play again. It is in minor key, deep and dramatic – the orchestral equivalent to an imposing force. Peach holds her breath. Finally. With a smooth, baritone voice, Phantom sings his haunting solo:

🎶“Fortunato!

Surrender to me,

Look upon the face of Death!

It is meant to be,

Now savor your last breath!

Fortunato!

Your time has come at last,

Take your final drink of wine!

For your sins in the past,

Oh Prince, your soul will be mine!”🎶

“No!” the prince cries out, “You cannot take me! I will not let you! My guests need me! My people need me!” What hypocrisy! What foolishness! Peach watches intently. What is going to happen next? Will this masked presence spare Prince Fortunato? Will Prince Fortunato’s mockery be forgiven? She anticipates what comes next, whatever that may be. But although she tries to expect the unexpected, there is one thing she is certain about: the masquerade was doomed from the very beginning. Phantom lowers his sword, just by an inch, almost as if in contemplation. A few moments of silence passes. Everyone watches him in anticipation. Peach. Prince Fortunato. Dolores, Stefan, Natasha and Ophelia. Everyone. Anticipating. Anticipating. Anticipating.

Phantom smirks, letting out a soft chuckle. His sword lowers even more, and finally inserts it back into the scabbard. A sigh of relief fills the Gallery…

Then sudden horror! It happened so swiftly. So much so that if one were to blink at that moment, they would miss it completely. A scream pierces the silence! It was Prince Fortunato, now on the floor collapsed to his knees! He screams in agony as his covers his face! Phantom had made a sharp wave of his hand, almost as if he were to slap him across the face. But no! It was much, much worse. A terrible fate had fell upon the prince.

Blood…!

Oozing from his face is a gush of crimson blood! His eye sockets, his nostrils, his mouth, his pores – all drenched in blood! Horrid blemishes begin appearing on his flesh, leaving opened, pus-filled wounds as they pop one by one! Tears and yellow fluids mix with the blood, staining the floor with a pool of secretions! And the screams! Oh, the screams! Prince Fortunato tries to hide his face once more, only to find that it hurts too much! His hands pull away from his face – and, oh God! His flesh, his flesh – it is rotting away! What was once the pristine beauty of a spoiled, gluttonous prince is now the face of nightmares. He coughs and chokes; he cannot scream anymore – blood has filled his throat! He falls onto the floor, panicking, suffering! To think that this is what his people had to endure while no one was there to save their lives. With eyes stained with tears and blood, he rushes over to his guests and reaches for help, but in vain, for who could ever touch a diseased man? With a final cry of fear, Prince Fortunato falls. There lays on the floor is a twitching corpse, the face mutilated by the worst of illnesses…

This display of gore puts the guests into a state of frenzied panic! More screams and sobs fill the Gallery, as well as the sound of footsteps running and chairs and tables knocked over. If they don’t do something, Phantom will come after them next! Anything to get away from this face of Death. Chaos ensues! All except for Peach. Peach stands still amongst the disorder of the partygoers. Her widened eyes are fixated on Phantom. Is it shock? Is it fear? Is it something else entirely? Of course, anybody would be frightened by the sheer grotesqueness of the prince’s death and the possibility of meeting the same fate. But strangely, it seems to not bother Peach at all, almost as if she isn’t aware of the situation. Perhaps she is still mesmerized by Phantom’s extravagant appearance? Perhaps she is somehow desensitized? Whatever is going on, Peach still remains, as well as the peasant woman. The two ladies stare as Phantom slowly turns to watch over the terrified crowd. He observes the scene quietly. All in unison, the panicked guests rush toward the Gallery doors. With a wave of his hand, he blocks the entrance, slamming it tightly shut. Ophelia throws herself on the doors, slamming her fists frantically, “Open the doors! Open the doors! Oh please, open the doors!” Everyone begins to do the same. But alas, their attempts of escape are futile, for their master – the Red Death – had already claimed their souls. Once again, Phantom sings:

🎶“Crowned with privilege and villainous

Bathe in the blood of your wickedness

Tonight, retribution is at hand

For this masquerade shall be damned

Mask yourselves to hide your shame

But in the end, they know your name

Into the earth, your corpses will sink

May your blood be the wine they drink…”🎶

And one by one, each guest fell, forming a massive pile of bloodied bodies in front of the entrance. Peach takes in what had just happened. She had never seen something so macabre before. Roleplay, she thinks to herself, this is all just roleplay. This is all just pretend. No one is hurt. They are all just acting. This is all just roleplay. But by the stars, it looks so… real! There is blood everywhere. Not just the red pool on the floor, but also smeared handprints on the doors too. How did Phantom do all of this? This must have taken so much effort and hard work to even pull off such a remarkably gory scene! Peach couldn’t help but wonder what exactly went through Phantom’s mind when making this performance. This was something she never expected, let alone how absolutely graphic it was going to be. But regardless, the entirety of the roleplay screamed Phantom. It was bold. Dramatic. A complete subversion from a usual masterpiece. There was grandeur, there was beauty, there was mystery, there was tension. Then finally the payoff – an act of karma against the avaricious Prince Fortunato and his hedonistic friends. Now only she and the peasant woman are left. Peach cannot imagine what this powerful reaper is going to do next. Ah, no – she suddenly remembers!

Death’s Bride. She is to be Death’s Bride…

Her thoughts are interrupted by another cry, this time from the peasant woman. She turns to find Phantom approaching her, his hand lifting up to claim another soul. But why must the good die? Death is inevitable, it is true. Life is short. Peach knew this. But what did this poor woman do to deserve such a fate? Why do bad things happen to good people? Perhaps it is meant to be, just like what Phantom said. Roleplay. It is all just roleplay. Should she stand by and let things take its course? Or maybe… what could she do? Roleplay…. Ah, of course! Peach dashes over and stands in between them. “Wait!” she says, defending the peasant woman, “Have mercy on her!” Phantom pauses, taken by surprise for a moment, but then resumes in character. “Young or old, poor or rich… Death waits for no one. Her time has come.” Phantom calmly responds, his voice low. “Can you at least give her enough time to live another day? Can you see she has suffered enough? Please, I beg of you.” Peach pleads.

“You stand in front of the face of Death… and yet you are not frightened. Are you… not afraid of me?”

“I do not fear what is inevitable. I just want to give her another chance.”

“Such compassion… and all of this for a stranger. However, as painful as it may be, you cannot persuade me to spare her.”

“If that is not enough, then I will offer a gift to you.”

“And what is this gift you speak of?”

“For this woman’s life, I offer you myself. You can have my soul. You can have everything, all of me, and I will not refuse you.”

Phantom is rendered speechless, despite staying in character. Do his ears deceive him? No, it couldn’t be. It couldn’t possibly be! Deep down inside, he could not believe what Peach had just said. He watches as Peach ushers the peasant woman to flee the masquerade, and so she does, retreating to a small secret entrance hidden by the large curtains. Silence. As much as he tries, Phantom seems to be unable to speak. Now only he and the princess are alone. Together. Just like that one night. “I believe that is enough to persuade you?” Peach says with a soft smile. That smile. Oh, that sweet smile! He could stare at it forever! “I can be yours, and yours only. I will not leave. I will be not be frightened.” she continues, “It must be lonely, going around the world and reaping souls for those who’s time has passed. You don’t have to be lonely. You can have a companion! Someone who will join you by you side. Don’t you want that?” Companionship. Is Peach talking to Death or to Phantom himself? The lines between roleplay and real life begin to blur before his very eyes. He could not differentiate which is just acting or an actual confession. She must be playing a trick – she must be! This could not possibly be real! This is just too good to be true! Taking in a deep breath, staring deep into Peach’s pretty eyes, Phantom sings one last solo:

🎶“Oh, Sweet Maiden!

Surrender to me,

Look upon your paramour!

It is meant to be,

Together forevermore!

Oh, Sweet Maiden!

Your time has come at last

Take your final drink of wine

For this spell I shall cast

My Bride, your heart will be mine!”🎶

With a wave of his hand, two shiny, black feathered wings sprout from Peach’s back! Peach glances over in surprise, admiring her new wings. They sparkled under the light of the chandelier with iridescent glitter. Natasha must have added these in while making her costume. Once again, she continues to be impressed be Natasha’s work. Then her eyes glance over towards the Gallery entrance. Peach stops. Something has changed. Her eyes squints as she tries to make out what she is seeing. Confusion floods her mind until realization hits her.

The bodies… are those…. Mannequins?

Phantom places his paw on her cheek, delicately turning her face towards him. The softness of his caress fills her senses, and she is greeted by his tender gaze. What a tender gaze he has! As her eyes are locked in his gaze, Peach feels herself being gently embraced around her waist and leaning back into a dip. Her heart begins to race. Beat after beat it quickens its pace, her breathing becomes more and more shaky. It must be adrenaline – all of this is so new to her. Peach finds herself reaching out towards Phantom and, ever so gently, she takes off his skull mask, revealing his face. At long last, she finally sees him. Oh, how she missed him! “Did you enjoy the show, your highness?” Phantom grins, “I must admit, there were some things that weren’t… intended to happen, but as long a—” He is stopped, as Peach catches him off guard. Locked in a tight hug around his neck, he feels his lips being locked with hers. It was passionate yet gentle and warm. Peach, the princess he has adored for so many years, is giving him a kiss. A kiss! Is this a dream? Is this actually happening? So many thoughts went through Phantom’s mind. He could not process all of them at once; his head could possibly burst from excitement! His eyes flutter and close, letting himself melt into Peach’s embrace. If they could pull each closer than they already are, they could. But no matter how much closer they can be, it just wasn’t enough. They wanted each other. They craved each other. The unbridled desire for connection and companionship broke loose, and immediately they find themselves losing all control of their yearning. Their lips break apart, their hot breaths mingling with each other. They open their eyes; Peach grins and so does Phantom. They kiss again, neither of them wanting to stop. “Ah…!” Phantom gasps in between her soft lips, “Mon ange de la mort…!”

Overwhelmed, Peach swoons as Phantom dips her even further and surrenders herself to his kiss of death.

---

She woke up the next morning. The first thought that would have come to her mind was how she even managed to return to her castle without any notice. But no, the very first thought that came to her mind was what happened last night. She laid in her bed and, as stares up at the ceiling, touched her lips softly with her fingertips. Then up her rosy cheek, then down to her neck, and across her bare shoulders. She could still feel his touch. She sighs deeply – what a performance that was! Peach stretched her whole body and curled up, sinking back into sleep. A love stricken grin appeared on her face as she whispered to herself, “Until we meet again.”

[otp-holic]

I made it! I really did made and posted something once a day and I cannot believe actually finished it. Thank you to all of you that followed along, shared, commented, sent heartwarming messages... I have no words.

I hope know this is not the end of the line because I'm full of love for these boys and this fandom (and i have at least 12 things started, lol), but it feels like a shift and I’m still in shock about this being done.

So indulge me because I'm about to do a long and drafty personal recap of this "Month with Steve and Bucky", now in bullets (and under a cut, for length) with my main scattered takeovers.

Delivery: Done is better than perfect is a classic we have all read everywhere and we (somewhere deep down) know it is true… But this is the first time I have experienced it first hand; or at least that I have stuck (haha) to a project from beginning to end. And it's true even when you wished you were closer to "perfection".

Share: If I hadn't made sharing a part of my auto challenge, I wouldn't have posted anything. I think just one post turned out close to what I had in mind and up to my self-standards. Sharing was the scariest part of it all even if at first I was sharing it with basically myself (I’ve been on this site just liking and reblogging for like 7 years, my tumblr had “Placeholder for things I like” as a title until a couple of months ago, so when I made this self challenge it was easy because I was going to share it with two people). Also, I always just programmed the post instead of publishing it so I would't chickened out :)

Joy: As the challenge progressed, I felt more self pressure, more moments of brain freeze and more head-desking (but also more inspiration, but i will get there). Then I breathed in (and/or ranted out at you all, thanks!) and followed up or stopped the idea depending on if I was actually enjoying the process (even if it was deep deep down) or I was just anxious as hell. This made the difference for me.

Community: I've taken so much from fandom over the years; it's given me so much joy, entertainment and peace. Being back to being active in a fandom, a community, is my favorite part. As I mentioned I started this screaming into a void, and now I feel there are people out there. If just one of the pieces I've done has touched any of you in some way, as other pieces out there in the fandom have touched me... more than worth it!

Inspiration: I hadn’t had the itch to create in so long… and when it came I decided to embrace it for the first time in forever (first with two fanfics, then with a couple of graphics and finally with this gigantic project). And I'm so glad I did. I have a creative mind that likes to wander and not sticking to a plan, but I never do anything with it because it's never good enough. But I did... and guess what? Not perfect, not up to my standards, but the more I let inspiration be free and the more I delivered, the (mostly) more inspired I was. And that was new and amazing (except for brain freezing moments where my rational and critical brain took over).

Overachieve: When I thought about "daily content" I thought about alternating some graphics, with some headcanons, maybe with a Steve/Bucky lyric I liked... but my brain (of course) had other non-plans. As I mentioned, inspiration kept coming up with crazy big ideas and I kept wanting to do them... which lead to some frustrations (limited time, limited resources, gigantic ideas, lack of some skills), but also to MAKING SOME STUFF. And to a worryingly lack of sleep during these past 30 days.

Learner: I love to learn, to solve puzzles... and I learned so much SO MUCH doing this. For example, I used to love video a long long time ago, but I hadn't touched an edition program in 8 years? And now I have. And enjoyed it. Yay for building skills through fandom!

Coward: There are a couple of things I wanted to go forward and make and share (specifically fanfic and doodles). But self-judgement took the best on me on those and wasn't able to deliver. Maybe in the future, I don't know.

Pride: I feel it. Small and in the depth of my heart, but I was so prepared to fail that it never occurred to me I could actually finish. And I did.

[minecraftrelatedrandomness]

Aqua’s Live Reactions: “Tommyinnit Breaks Into Prison and Tries to Kill Dream”

So... I was asleep during the livestream (I’d say I was recovering from my past 4 days of tests) and apparently this one’s a bombshell of a stream, so I’m reacting to this one as well! Since the vod isn’t even up as of the time I’m watching this, I’m watching an unofficial vod here (warning: thumbnail is a spoiler).

Once again, a few things before we start:

For once, I don’t know what happens during the stream. Like, not at all, I slept in until like 11:40am. I might have been spoiled a little by a meme on a community post that I got the moment I went on YouTube to look for the vod, or maybe some hints of spoilers in fanfics written by speedrunning authors on AO3. That’s all I know, I’m going in blind this time. Also, thumbnail of the vod seems to be a massive spoiler, that’s literally all I know.

I hate how I’m going in blind, because I can’t go on Tumblr because people liveblog, I can’t edit TV Tropes because they update fast (nor the DSMP Wiki, for that matter), I can’t go on Discord if I’m looking in the spoiler channels, I can’t even use YouTube to look the damn vod up without getting spoilered... ugh. Time zones, amirite?

Like always, if there are any ads, you’re probably going to see me raging over them.

This whole post is within the context of the SMP, so /rp and /dsmp applies to everything under the cut.

If you don’t know what happened, be warned, as spoilers go unmarked. I’m only adding the spoiler warning because it’s within the first 24 hours of the stream, but in all the other cases, it was later, so it was all fair game.

0:00 – GHOSTBUR??

0:19 – Ranboo and Tubbo and Ghostbur... it’s the boys! <3

0:42 – Are you guys seriously trying to wither the prison?!

1:58 – You do realize that this is a risky play, right? No wonder there are fics where Sam apparently kills Tommy that are tagged spoilers... also, doesn’t Ghostbur melt upon touching water and stuff? There’s a water path in the security measures, how are we supposed to do that? (Wait, sending Ghostbur in... is that the catalyst for the spoiler in the thumbnail?)

2:35 – Ooh, the Axe of Peace, huh? Perfect metaphor. Also, would Dream be under the impression that Quackity’s showing up for the daily torture session again? Hmmm... wonder how that plays out.

2:59 – “We only need to take one of his canon lives, right?” Arguably, yes, actually, considering he only has the one left. We take one of his canon lives, and he’s permadead! Exact words trope, my man!

3:57 – But don’t you need to die to get into the prison? Non-canonically, that is, but seriously... security measures and all, you need to reset your spawn at least twice... how are you going to bypass the very security measures of the prison? In theory, you can’t keep anything on you, and you need inside help to sneak anything into the jail, as Quackity demonstrated a month and a half ago.

4:11 – “...but... I like women!” Man, Sam’s so going to think that Tommy put you up to this, no one on this server talks about liking ladies as much as Mr. TommyInnit does. Dead giveaway, pal.

4:16 – “This is gonna work.” No, I doubt it, I know it has to work for the plot to work, but realistically... I don’t think it’s gonna work.

4:35 – “I’ve been thinking a lot about girls.” Please... don’t do that. Don’t talk about boobies when the only woman you’ve been with (as far as we know) is a literal fuckin’ fish, and fish definitely don’t have boobies, no matter what the content mocked in r/PointlesslyGendered may suggest. Also, choose a more inconspicuous topic... please? Changing the subject so abruptly is only going to raise suspicion.

4:46 – “You look very kickable. You’re gonna--” “Yay!” LMAOOOOOOOOOO why would anyone want to kick the cinnamon roll?

5:36 – “They’re not gonna try and revive me, right?” I don’t know for sure, but considering what Dream said and the spoilers that are insinuated... I’m sorry. 

5:56 – I’ll be honest with you, Tommy, this plan is far from sound.

6:17 – No, I don’t think you have a backup. This scares me. It’s too risky of a play.

6:37 – FRIEND!! My beloved!!!

6:48 – What the hell does ‘ruminating’ mean? Is this some fancy word for ‘eat’ or is it English as First Language exclusive learning term? *looks up on dictionary* “to bring up food from the stomach and chew it again”... specialized biology term... ew. I never learnt this word. Does the English education system cover this sort of stuff in their Bio curriculum? *sobs*

7:08 – Bringing friend for cute points? I doubt that’s gonna work, but sure. Just... try not to die, okay, dearie?

7:55 – Does Ghostbur seriously have a sword named lore?! And Tommy has a Manburg shield? What the... (Speaking of that, Quackity had a Manburg shield or banner in his ender chest as well, from when he tried to blow up the Egg? What’s up with that? I know this is super off-topic, but I want to know how they got their hands on enemy merchandise.)

8:04 – Ghostbur and friend... this is way too adorable

8:15 – I love them being happy, but hm... Dream and Sam are both online right now... I wonder why...

8:26 – MY HEART GHOSTBUR AND FRIEND THIS IS AMAZING

8:34 – FRIEND EATING GRASS............................... THIS IS THE CUTEST THING I HAVE SEEN ALL DAY AND THE BOYS ARE HAPPY, MY DAY IS MADE, GAME OVER, WE CAN GO HOME NOW

9:27 – Imagine this plan succeeds and Quackity comes in the next day and sike! Dream is officially deceased and he still doesn’t know how to bring people back to life yet! (I pray that his somewhat addled moral compass is still intact and he won’t go after the kids.)

9:32 – HE GAVE THEM BOTH HUGS AJKS;FA;LSDLKSA;SRW;AFDSC

10:29 – “shame I feel because of him” *screams*

10:57 – Are we gonna have to go around, because Ghostbur melts in water?

11:08 – This genuinely scares me, his feet are gonna be melted!

11:40 – Is that the shaky breath everyone has been talking about?

12:28 – How did a baby zombie get in? Please don’t get Philza’d.

12:55 – I’m noticing all these white particles in the nether waiting room section, is it built in a basalt delta biome?

13:16 – Bye, friend ;-;

13:33 – “he’s my comfort sheep” I CAN’T (also perfect way to change the subject, as planned)

13:55 – Did Sam ban all the visits on the prison after the whole death incident, or did he loosen up ever since the whole daily torture routine started?

14:21 – While he’s reading, Tommy’s making weird expressions and probably mentally prepping in silence in the background

15:13 – No, Ghostbur, you’ve never visited the prison before this, and most certainly not your living counterpart...

15:20 – “Where’s your place of residency?” “L’Manburg.” Excuse me while I cry over Doomsday again..

16:01 – “There’s not much of me physically.” Oh, is he gonna talk about being a barely corporeal (that word is so hard to spell, I had to look it up) ghost-- “I’m quite small.” Oh...

16:59 – Hey, why did he pull the lever?

17:16 – I honestly really love Sam for being relatively nice and patient here.

17:43 – OH, HE’S GOING IN THE GUARD’S WAY!!

17:52 – “Hello, lights! How are you!” I CAN’T, HE’S A CINNAMON ROLL

18:09 – I wonder if the “ahhhh!” was... was it because of pain or a positive emotion? If it’s pain, “that was a lot of fun, can we do it again?”... did he forget?

18:39 – I really am into his acting here, he has to cough, and coughs into his shirt in real life, like to muffle the sound... very pogchamp!

18:52 – Fun definitely isn’t the word to describe this, Sam, I’m with you on this

19:25 – I’m glad that it took this long for there to be an ad, I’m guessing it’s because this channel is relatively small?

20:09 – “[These literal prison cells] are nicer than my house” oh, ghostbur.......

20:33 – Wait, there’s a courtyard?!!?

21:07 – I can definitely feel with you, Tommy, his face... yeah, this search requires literally having a sword stuck through you... like Wilbur’s final canon death...

21:22 – Oh no, it’s the waterworks... Sam, he melts in water... this is what I was scared for.

22:12 – WHEW! I thought this wasn’t gonna be brought up for a sec.

22:34 – I’m not sure if I should feel guilty for being more concerned for Ghostbur melting in the prison than Tommy’s potions running out.

23:22 – DRINK THE POTION WHILE HE SIGNS THE CONTRACT

23:35 – Tommy’s eyes be poppin’... yeah, you’re kind of being the security breach here, pal, and you got traumatized heavily the last time there was a security breach... in other words, BIG YIKES.

23:43 – Can ghosts even catch colds? You gotta catch a virus for that... can ghosts get affected by viruses again? Also, thanks for the cover-up.

23:57 – Really, really thanks for the timely cover-ups, Ghostbur.

24:11 – Yeah, this would be funny, Ghostbur’s already completely dead... *smile drops* unless...

25:13 – OH NO EXTRA PLUME OF FIRE... SAM, PLEASE OVERLOOK THIS

25:51 – HE’S HERE! WE’RE HERE! I FORGOT HOW CLOSE THE FIRE PART WAS TO THE CELL!!

26:24 – Here’s my question, is that once Dream is dead, would Tommy be trapped in there again, since he didn’t set his spawn? Or would he just die (losing a canon life, since all deaths involving the prison are canon unless it’s a security check thing) and leave his tools behind? I’m just very concerned for if all of this goes to plan.

27:20 – NO HE’S SINGING THE ANTHEM I’M GONNA CRY AT THIS RATE

27:26 – TOMS LOOKS SO CLOSE TO TEARS I CAN’T

27:34 – HELLOOOOOOOOO GREEN BOY!!!

28:12 – GODDAMMIT WE JUST HAD TO DO THIS AT SUCH A CRUCIAL MOMENT TOMMY WHY DID YOU TAKE OUT THAT AXE WHY

28:24 – DUDE THEY CAN HEAR YOU..... SAM IF YOU KILL THIS INTRUDER I WILL TAKE ALL YOUR GODDAMN CANON LIVES YOU HEAR ME

28:51 – SAM, ARE YOU DOING THE MILK AS A SECURITY MEASURE OR DO YOU NOT RECOGNIZE THE VOICE OF THE TEENAGER WHO SCREAMED FOR YOUR HELP BUT YOU REFUSED TO ANSWER HIS CALL

29:47 – ARE YOU SERIOUSLY HERE TO RULE-FU HIM

29:54 – Seriously, man, let your reckless teen son go feral for once /hj

30:41 – “Yeah, and I’ll revive him if you don’t let me free!” DREAM WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU ON, YOU’RE STILL THREATENING TO KILL A MAN AND YOU’RE HOLDING HIM HOSTAGE, BASICALLY, WHAT THE LEGITIMATE FUCK

31:27 – DREAM BASICALLY JUST BROKE OUT OF JAIL BY LEAVING THE GAME YOU STUPIDHEAD WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON

32:21 – YES YOU COULD HAVE DAMN WELL DONE SOMETHING BUT YOU DIDN’T

33:20 – GHOSTBUR BEING IN DISTRESS MAKES ME SAD 

33:48 – THIS IS GENUINELY HEARTBREAKING YOU KNOW

33:55 – coping mechanisms and getting out of panic attacks? I- *heart shatters*

34:39 – NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

34:58 – What has he done? What has he done, Sam? What have YOU done? If you let Tommy kill the fucker, he wouldn’t have killed Ghostbur in front of everyone just as the lava curtain started falling! I know it’s a terrible idea to mess with the prison in the first place but he was SO CLOSE!! WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!

37:21 – “I’m not corrupt, Tommy!” SAYS THE MAN WHO IS AN ACCOMPLICE IN ACTION FOR TORTURE!! I HATE DREAM JUST AS MUCH AS EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ESTABLISTMENT DOES BUT STILL

37:51 – “the only reason you’re not dead is...” is because you want to protect him, I know, it breaks our hearts, but GHOSTBUR QUITE LITERALLY GOT MURDERED BACK THERE, THAT’S TWO PEOPLE THAT DIED IN THE JAIL ALREADY... THREE IF YOU COUNT PONK AND HIS ARM INCIDENT

38:37 – oh no... what is he going to tell friend? that his owner is dead? as he waits in the nether? TT-TT

38:58 – “you can blame me all you want, you did this.” SAM PLEASE STOP

39:15 – “every single problem in this prison is caused by you” WHAT THE FUCK SAM... TOMMY DIDN’T SET OFF THE TNT THE LAST TIME HE VISITED, YOU STUPID FUCKHEAD, HOW ARE YOU BLAMING HIM?? WHAT THE HELL...

39:28 – “you’re the greatest security risk” DUDE YOU SAW HIM WITH AN AXE, YOU KNEW WHAT DREAM DID TO HIM IN EXILE MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE KNOWS, DID YOU THINK HE WAS SERIOUSLY GOING IN TO BREAK DREAM OUT?? LOGIK???????????/

40:41 – if I check the wiki and don’t see their relationship status as a smacking negative, I’m firing whoever’s in charge of the editing and I’ll change the status myself... also SAM WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU THINK HE WAS THERE TO BREAK DREAM OUT AND LET HIM ROAM FREE WHEN DREAM HURT HIM AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE SERVER????????? WHAT THE FUCK KIND OF LOGIC IS THIS, DO YOU HAVE NO BRAIN CELLS????????? YOUR NEURONS ARE GODDAMN WHACK

41:19 – *sobs over friend* what is happening... what have they done? why? *cries even harder*

41:21 – “oh no...” i know, right............................. *cries even goddamn harder*

41:54 – “i think he’s dead.” “that’s not possible.” i don’t even know what to say ;-;

42:16 – oh shit....................................... dream brought the og wilbur back, I think... he couldn’t have revived ghostbur because he’s already dead..........

44:15 – at the brief glimpse of the tablist... wilbur’s face... it’s not grey... it’s in full colour... wilbur is back...

45:46 – take care of friend.... oh no.......... does wilbur get a redemption arc now? we kind of literally dragged a suicide victim out of the afterlife where he thought he belonged...........

46:08 – his distress................ i can see why the wham episode page on tv tropes is updated now............ because what the fuck happened

46:19 – guys, be careful of l’manhole.......

46:34 – there’s the shrine....... do we get to see quackity’s message?

47:05 – HOLY SHIT HE REALLY IS BACK

47:13 – HE HAS A WHITE STREAK, I REPEAT, HE HAS A WHITE STREAK FROM THE REVIVAL, EVERYONE STAY CALM, THE HEADCANON IS NOW CANON

47:36 – does he have a bandaged left arm? and a literal stab wound? is that from... the death?

47:44 – “who the fuck’s ‘friend’?” oh shit he doesn’t have ghostbur’s memories................

48:14 – “did i do that?” no, sir, it’s your dad, him and his cronies bombed the place to smithereens, even more than you did. he genuinely doesn’t have any memories from since he died, i think............

48:41 – he’s laughing at l’manhole................

49:10 – “I have spent... thirteen and a half years--” holy fuck this man isn’t dead, if he was right about dying at age 32, then now he would be... 45 and a half?? that’s almost as old as my parents, jesus christ almighty

50:07 – “this is my sunrise” the sun rises as he is brought back, what a dramatic bitch, i love him

50:48 – wilbur being back from the afterlife is oddly funny

51:27 – sir, you are kinda retrauming him

51:49 – “my personal limbo was a train platform, tommy” IS THIS A YCGMA REFERENCE?????? I HAVE SEEN. SO MANY. FANART. OF THAT. THAT I THINK HE SAW IT TOO AND MADE IT CANON. YCGMA IS CANON, EVERYONE STAY CALM

52:21 – “you got on a train and you left!” OAAHFASD;KFJALASSASDFJKL;S *SCREAMING INTENSIFIES*

52:50 – ghostbur................... *sobs*

53:00 – “it was dream” holy fucking shit.......... is that a metaphor for him being in control of life and death?

53:08 – he thinks of dream as his hero?! i understand why tommy is looking at him like that, what the legitimate fuckwit...

53:21 – while I’m happy he’s no longer suicidal, I am still genuinely concerned for this man.......... so concerned. so very fucking concerned. no wonder there were so many tv tropes updates. holy shit.

53:40 – whew, he knows what ghostbur knew.

54:39 – needless to say, I am SUPER DUPER VERY CONCERNED FOR REVIVEDBUR

54:50 – “oh fuck” is a fantastic way to put it... and what the fuck is the perfect summary for the stream, thanks

[maxiarapamaya]

Are you here to stay?

Pairing: Javier Peña x Female Reader

Warnings: Mostly fluff, but there's some mild smut (+18) in there as a bonus.

Word Count: ~ 2900 words

It’s Christmas time! This is a 12 Days of Pedro Christmas fic. Yay! My secret santa is @dindjaringf​. You are such a talented writer, baby. I hope to bring you some smiles during this time of the year. Enjoy your Javier Peña fanfic. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas. All the love, @maxiarapamaya​.

Colombia, December 1988

You love Christmas. Since you were a little girl, as soon as Halloween was over, you were barely interested in Thanksgiving, so you would always ask your mom about Christmas: 

"Can we make a Christmas countdown and put it on the fridge, mom?" You asked your mother once, and even though she had a lot of stuff going on in her mind, she said yes, and helped you with your crafts, so you could have a cute little display on the fridge.

Every morning after that, you woke up - oh, she would not let you stay up late on weekdays -and went straight up to the calendar on the fridge, excited for the most wonderful time of the year.

Years later, when you had finally moved out of your mom’s house, Christmas would still be your favorite time of the year. You would be the first one to put up the decorations in the coffee shop owned by your mom, the one where you have been working hard every single day since you were a teenager: Las Americanas. 

You were proud of how far your mother had come. You were proud of her small business. You would happily go to work, especially during December, and be extra kind to clients, one free coffee here and there.

Things were nice and easy until you met him.

When you met Javier Peña in the year before, your world turned upside down.

Javier Peña did know about how much you loved Christmas, because that’s almost the time you met him at the coffee shop the year before. "You can keep the change." You heard from his lips. "Oh. Thanks. Merry Christmas!" you smiled. He looked a little puzzled back at you: "It's not Christmas yet, girl." He said, when he could have kept his mouth shut. He looked tired. 

"Well, it certainly isn't... But what harm is in celebrating just a little earlier? Have you heard about the Christmas spirit...?" You couldn't stop smiling. Until you noticed he was a cop or something like that, so you got a little tense. "Well, enjoy the rest of your day." And you promptly left him alone.

He kept coming every other day. Eventually, you found out his name. 

He noticed how you kept your distance, and he asked you to come a little closer so you could see how the gun's safety lock worked. You listened attentively. Sometimes, he would ask you to change the song when it was too romantic, or too upbeat for his taste. Your mom noticed him too but kept being discreet. She secretly wanted to you to get married and start your own family, as you were living alone in your apartment. Also, Peña looked like a nice guy. He would hold the door for the other clients, and he would always say 'thank you' which was a much-appreciated gesture for her: "He's a gentleman!"

Javier, or even, Javi, as you soon started calling him, would also let you know when you were not paying him enough attention. 

"Jealous, Javi?" You would walk pass his table, and slightly touch the top of his hand, without giving him a second glance. He didn't really know that he was.

"You know your coffee is not even that good, right, honey?" He said once, looking straight at you, wanting to get a reaction out of you. An angry look, a small, unhappy nod. Anything. 

"If you are less than satisfied, sir, maybe you could drop a suggestion in our box. It's been empty for months. We'd be glad to..." 

And he just got up, getting a little closer to you than you would be comfortable with, if you didn't know him for some time already. Almost a year had passed. 

"Maybe another time" and he left you alone. His coffee breath still in the air. You closed your eyes, feeling your whole body shivers. 

It wasn't even a cold morning.

Soon, it was almost Christmas again. Your mom had traveled to the United States for the first time in a decade, and you were happy for her. But that also meant a sadder Christmas this time, and Javier noticed. 

"You should come!" You invited him, a little more excited than you wanted him to notice. "You can bring some cognac, we could make some hot cocoa." You hinted at him, but he was absolutely paying attention to something else in his pile of files. Sometimes, he would just bring work to the coffee shop, sitting quietly and alone in the farthest booth.

You sighed, knowing that half of the people that you invited would not come over. Including him. "I'll see what I can do." You saw the smoke from his cigar rise right in front of him, filling the air. You couldn't believe how excited you were for this 'maybe'. 

"Oh..." You let it slip. "Sure. Yes, you are busy, I understand that. But I invited you for Christmas and didn't ask you to come and help me save a cousin from trouble. It was an invitation, not a favor..." You did not know why you said that, but that's when you realized you had his complete attention on you. He was so focused you saw his cigar pending from his mouth. "I will go then." He said. And you smiled at him. "Oh... Thanks, Javi!"

When he got to your home, there were a dozen of people there, and he looked a little out of place. "I thought you were going to be alone..." He gave you the cognac bottle, and you laughed. "What? I never told you I was going to be alone, Javi! I said my mom would not be here, not that I didn't have anyone to spend Christmas with!" You smiled, and you noticed that for an instant, he looked a little hurt, but you pulled his hand and introduced him to a few people.

He was still annoyed by it; he wasn't even trying to hide it. He had one thing in his mind when he came, and one thing only. "Look..." He whispered, close to your ear. "I'll have to go very soon." He looked a bit anxious. "Oh, come on, Javi. We didn't even get to the best part yet!" 

He looked serious. "Well, I just came to see you, but in a couple minutes I'll have to leave." And now you were annoyed. 

Your hushed voices were not heard by the others, especially with the loud music. "Just promise you're coming back." You lightly touched his chest. You might have had one or two glasses of wine. Maybe three. 

"You know I can never promised you that." And then he left. And it was better if he had never come in the first place, because you missed him instantly. The moment he was gone, you knew Christmas wasn't going to be the same.

Hours passed, and you were finally able to exchange gifts with your friends, and you almost forgot about Javi. They helped you clean the kitchen, and soon, the Christmas decorations were the only trace something more than ordinary had happened in your apartment that night. 

The last one of your friends left, giving you a kiss on your cheek, and all by yourself, you realized how lonely and touch starved you felt. 

You closed the door, sighing, feeling disappointed. Not in the Christmas mood at all. You walked to your closet, changing your clothes, wearing something more comfortable, and sat on your armchair, in front of the TV. You were not paying attention to it, though, you were listening to music on the radio.

That's when you heard the knocks on your door. 

Your eyes immediately caught one of your friend's coats on top of a chair near the center table. You got it in your hand and opened the door. 

"Javi?" He was standing near the opposite wall. "Javi... You came back..." He closed the distance between you two, and soon enough the coat was on the floor, his hands were all over you, his mouth brushing the sensitive skin of your neck, and your own hands were all over him, too, brushing his hair, holding his face, kissing him over and over again. "Yes, yes, I did." You knew he did not want to lose any more of his precious time, so you just went with it.

He closed the door with his foot, and held you in his arms, taking you to your bedroom, where you could only dream of having him asking you to be on your knees, and asking oh so nicely to you to look at him, while he would hold your chin, and tell you what a good girl you were being, waiting patiently for him to come back... You couldn't help but smile at him: "Oh, Javi..."

Hours later, you were on his lap on your favorite chair, your robe open, close enough to him so you could feel the warmth of his breath on your skin. 

Javier traced with the tip of his fingers on your arms, pressing soft kisses on your neck and shoulders. Of course he didn’t bring you anything, but you bought him a watch on that same day. 

He was a preferred client, after all - you lied to yourself.

You saw it while shopping for presents, and you knew that watch looked like something Javier would use. He was using it now. You made sure the older one hadn’t been gifted by his grandfather or something, and he denied it. “You are not saying that just so I don’t feel upset, right, Javi?” You asked him, and he shook his head. Right now, the new watch was the only thing he was wearing. “What’s the deal with Christmas, by the way? Why do you love it so much?” He pressed his chin on your shoulder, and even though you were not looking at him, you knew he was looking at the TV.

“I really don’t know when it started, but I’m like this since I was a little kid. Christmas is like a really magic time for me, I love all of this… Cooking at home... Actually, carefully planning the meal for weeks, and then, making it all from scratch. I love to watch Christmas movies, oh, I definitely love to open the presents in the morning!” You said, smiling, and then he turned you so you could look at him. “You have to wait until morning?" He looked concerned.

“Well... Only because I'm a very obedient girl...” You teased him, giving him a kiss on his neck. You were so close to him, not only physically, but also you were both connected somehow. You didn't really know how to explain.

“Actually...” He stopped you, in a soft, unusual voice. “I bought you something, and I forgot to give you. Well… I didn't have time. Did I? It’s in my pocket.” He pointed to his jacket, hanging behind the door. “Go get it.” He said, almost throwing you out of his lap, and when you were about to protest, he gave you a smack on your ass.

“Dear lord.” You straightened up, walking directly towards the door, a smile on your face. Javier Peña had bought you a Christmas present. Why would he do that? You felt weirdly touched by that. And excited too.

You got to the jacket, and put it over your shoulders, over your robe. “Why?”

You asked him, as you got closer. There was a gun somewhere in there, you didn’t want to mess with that. “Why what?” He looked back at you, a shadow of confusion on his face. “Why did you bring me something?” 

You got near him, and instead of saying something, he put his hand between your legs, and suddenly, you forgot what you were about to say. 

“Because you were nice enough to ask me to come for Christmas, even knowing I'd say 'no'... You are such a good girl, you know?” He whispered. Knowing very well you would accept his answer, close your eyes, and melt with his touch. You lower yourself until you straddle him, your arms around his neck.

He stuck his hand on his jacket's pocket and took something from there. You stopped rubbing yourself on him and looked at what he had on his hand. 

“A new pair of hoop earrings.” You said, and then you had a vivid memory of that one time you interacted with him, you were trying to close your earring, swearing a little, because you knew that one was doomed. You just took it off, both of them, and threw them away in the bin. “Are you sure you were supposed to do that?” He frowned. “What? They were a favorite... But also, they were old as dirt. Anyway, are you going to have coffee or...?”

“And people don’t really believe you have a heart deep inside you.” You smiled, easily getting them out of the package, and putting them in your ears. 

“How do I look?” You asked, showing them off, playing with your hair a little. He didn’t answer. Instead, he cupped your face with his hands and kissed you. So tenderly, so softly. "Are you staying tonight, Javi?" You meant to sound casual. 

He didn't answer, but he looked at you with tender eyes. At that moment, precisely, you fell for him.

***

Christmas morning. You were both in the kitchen, near the small table. Javi and you.

You were close enough so you could smell his breath and grab his chest if you wanted. He touched your chin and held it so you could look straight into his eyes. “You smell so good in the morning.” He said, and you fell your whole body respond, you didn’t even know how. 

You knew you wanted him, you wanted him inside you again, rather fast. “Look at you...” He murmured, deeply. “Yes...?” His free hand went to caress your thigh and he squeezed it. 

You were pretty sure there was going to be a mark over there later, as your skin was so sensitive. “What?” You sighed. “What, Javi? What?” You were so drawn to him; you couldn’t even think properly. You could barely breathe.

Forget about being patient and obedient. You would keep asking 'what' until he gave you the attention you deserved, pretty much how he would try to get yours when you were both at the coffee shop.

He pushed you softly towards the table, so you could feel the wood edge on your back. "Spread your legs for me." He demanded, getting you on his arms, and placing you on top of the table. 

You obeyed immediately, falling back a little bit. Yes, daddy. You didn't have the courage to say it out loud, but there it was. Just an innocent thought. Wasn't it?

You wanted him to get on his knees, and lick you, you wanted him to push two fingers inside you with no time to warn you. You didn't need a warn.

You had time to think about all of that in your mind, but he didn’t fulfill your wish. He opened his fly and pushed your underwear to the side, and in just a few seconds, he was deep inside you, his arms around you, holding you in place, groaning in your ears. "Fuck, Javi..." You moaned in response.

It was feral, and ruthless, and you could barely think. 

Last night, both times you had sex, he was gentle and soft to you, he smelled like cognac and cinnamon, and you loved every second of it, but this time, after some rest, your own hands carving marks in his arms, you just moved your hips as he moved, and let him pull your hair as he wished. 

You let him take his hand to your neck and choke you as you came for the first time, while he was attentively looking at you. Only you. 

He put a finger in your mouth, and you sucked it, then he bit your ear and whispered that if you wanted him to think you were a good girl, you did have to keep showing him.

You promised you would if he let you come again. And so he did.

You were on his mind, and he was still inside you. He bit your neck when he came, and you crossed your legs behind his back. 

It was shockingly delicious. You couldn't stand still anymore.

"Merry Christmas." You murmured. Happily. "Oh... For you too." He smiled.

--- Few months later, when you started hearing the name 'Steve Murphy' more and more frequently, you casually asked Javi if you could meet him. 

Javi was reluctant at first, but eventually, he brought him to the coffee shop once, quickly introducing him to you, a little anxious maybe about your reaction or Steve's, like both of you mattered to him and he didn't really know why.

Steve Murphy looked attentively at you, like that was not the first time he heard your name, and he looked really curious. You knew he wanted to ask you some questions, but Javi wouldn't let him. 

When you left them both alone to get them more coffee and maybe some yuca bread, you were able to hear that Steve ended up teasing Javi, and you just secretly smile, knowing pretty well Javi had been talking about you.

[fandomtrxsh19]

So, when I read ACOSF, I made kind of play by play notes as a listened to it( I read the audiobook) so.........here’s the chaos

HEAVY SPOILERS FOR ACOSF!!

CASSIAN SAID FUCK

WHOA there’s a LOT of swearing in this

“It’s SEVEN in the morning gods damn it” -nesta archeron

OVERSIZED SHIRTS FOR THE WIN

Feyre and Rhys have 5 houses? Not surprised...

full, inviting breasts......BIG BOOBS OMG CASSIAN YOU HORNY SON OF A BITCH

7 siphons to keep his magic under control? Dayum

So, she rode this unnamed male like a fucking roller coaster?

Depression sex? Depression sex

“Her father was ashes in the wind” DAMN THATS EDGY

“A moment of release among the darkness inside her” NESTA BBY THIS ISNT HEATHY

“She avoided both of them” not surprised

OOOOH RHYS HATES HER TEA IS BEING SPILT

So, depression sex and depression alcohol? Yup

*checks chapter count* 80 CHAPTERS??!?! Oh shit this is gonna be a triiiip

OOOOOOOOO RHYS AND NESTA BEEF

Feyre trying to apologize to nesta........she’s trying

“You’re done, Nesta” The fuuuuuck.....

So, nesta’s moving and training with cassian...........Feyre, this isn’t a good idea omg

Feyre holy shit what the fuck are you doing, you TOTAL HELICOPTER SISTER?

“I never want to speak to you again!” damn

ELAIN TRAUMA!!! Yay???

MOR FOCUSED CHAPTER!!!?

she has brown eyes? Ok

FUCK SHES WEARING A BLUE DRESS FUCK

nesta knows about mor NESTA KNOWS ABOUT MOR!!!

“I am worthless and I am nothing. I hate what I am.” DAYUM I’ve been in that exact mindset numerous times. I can relate, Nesta

Briallen? Who the fuck is that?

Scars being trapped in magic? Good fuck that’s dark

“Ooh a dark skin character? Lit

OH SHIT SHE CANT FLY HER WINGS ARE CLIPPED

Is her name Emery?

“I am the monster your fear” BBY OMG GET THERAPY

Gwyn? Seems a bit aloof

“Two gentle conversations” GOOD JOB

Fairy lights omg lol

Nesta reading smutty books.....I’m imagining this omg

THE HOUSE IS ALIVE? Sweet

OMG ELAIN SHIT!!!! BBY

“All she wanted to do was touch him” OOOOOHHHHH NESSIAN

“All I need is a hot meal and a good book.” Mood

Nesta’s worried about Mor??? REEEEEEE

“Nesta needed Feyre more than she realized.“ OOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOO FAE BARGANS

They’re bound by magic on the body?? Ooh

IT’S TRAINING TIME BITCHES

“I don’t hate you too,Cassian” OMGGGGGG REEEEE

Nesta SMILED

THEY MENTIONED VALKYRIES!!!!!

“You might be my only friend.” HMMMMMMM

*hears how cassian was born * OMG HOLY SHIT CASSIAN

*hears cassians backstory* DAMN THESE CHARACTERS NEED THERAPY

OOP SLIGHT DEPRESSION SEX

OOP CLOTHING REMOVAL

“I’ve loved you since the first moment I held you in my arms.” HMMMMMMMM

I’m loving this Nessian sparring training.

ELAIN! SHES IN THE STORY KIND OF

Elain has small boobs........same

“I thought I would drop by to see how you were doing.” AWWWWWWWWW

Yayy.....awkward sister talks........

“She was the monster.” Nesta.............I can relate.

Nesta’s angry at Elain.............

Elain’s trying to reach out and Nesta’s denying it.

MY HEART

AGAIN...THE👏RA👏PY👏

“No more seeing her sisters without her permisson.” That’s smart.

Soooooooooo......Rhys is now a German Shepard.........?

OMG CASSIAN KILLED EVERYONE THAT HELPED KILL HIS MOM........good for him

“Use that training and make me.” OOOOOOOMGGGGGG

Rhys is overprotective of Feyre and shields her......daaaaaaaaaaaaamn

“What exactly happened in the cauldron?” FEYRE BAD IDEA BAD IDEA BAD IDEA

Again, Nesta, ✨THERAPY✨

Put a stop to what, D-does the IC know of the ✨depression smut?✨

“There was touching, but with her permission” WE 👏STAN 👏A KING👏

THAT ASKS👏FOR👏CON👏SENT👏

“Who do you think I am?” “A drunk fool who’s wasting my time?” OOOOOOOHHHHH SHOOTS FIRED!!!

Emery and Nesta to Emery’s cousin: GO HOME YOUR DRUNK ASSHOLE

*hears Nesta’s grand✨mama✨* me: grandmama, it’s me....ANASTASIA

Bruh...NESTA BIT CASS’S EAR

ugh the tool

“Baby making” hehe lol

“Nesta like gwyn”...............could she also be biiiiiiiii??????????!!!!!! YAY FIRST FRIEND IM PROUD OF YOUUUUU

NESTA SMILES AGAIN YAY!!

Alright, Meryl is BITCH

GWYN’S A QUARTER NYMPH?? Cool

“She’s failed everything.” BBY

HER POWERS? HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT SILVER FLAMES

ICY FIRE??? FUUUUUUUUUCK

Nesta must’ve been petrified being surrounded by fire

It’s a dream? THE FUCK

WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT SHE WAS DREAMING????

Cassian saw HER TRAUMA?????? FUUUUUUCK

HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HER POWER IS DEAAAAATHH FUUUUUUCK

THE BABY HAS WIIIIINGS!!!!!!

Why is Rhys angry about the wing thing?

Ohhhhhhhhhh shiiiiiiiiiit the tool

*hearing the possibilities of half Illyrian baby* OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH FUUUUUCK OMG

“I loved it when you fucked my mouth cassian?” GAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH NEEESTAAAAA THIS ISNT HEALTHY

“What could go wrong?” DONT JINX IT

fairy monsters? OHOHOHOOOO

NONONONOOOOOO NOT AN ASH ARROW

BLACK EYES???? Fuck fuck are they in the cauldron?

OMG THE KELPIE IS DOING SHIT TO NESTA!!! Are they on the cauldron?

the MAAAAAAASK

ohOOOOOOOMGOMGOMGOMG SHE SUMMONED THE FUCKING DEAD REEEEEEEEEEE

Omg NESTAS POWERS ARE SO FUCKING COOL

She LITERALLY HAS AN UNDEAD ARMYYYYY

death HERself........badass

“Because you and cassian has been giving each other sultry looks all morning” SHE KNOWS

“For the first time in her life, she finally felt good in her own skin.” GROWTH

Omg Nesta created a swooooord!!!!! Cool

ITS INFUSED WITH MAGIC??? HELL YEAH

“I can’t lie to her!” SIIIIIIIMP

“I’d be careful when fucking her.” Oh amren

FUUUUUUCK FUCK BOOOOOOOOO TAMLIN

“You will not touch us.” YES TELL HIM

“I can’t believe Feyre ever loved tamlin.” ME TOO

“Elain saw everything Nesta did.” Daaaaaaaaamn

OOOOOOOO NESTAS PIIIIIIIISSED

OOOOOOOOOOO SECRETS FEYRE’S PIIIIIIISED

Nesta messed up and I think she realizes that

Rhys is pissed now and wants to kill Nesta....SHIIIIIIIT

Nesta: heads for a tavern me: NONONONONO GODS DAMN IT YOU’VE COME SO FAR

“I will fight for him. For us. Until I can’t anymore.” FEYRE IS GONNA BE A GREAT MOM

“Wishing to disappear into nothing.” I’ve been there.

“Cassian knew Nesta hated herself, but didn’t know how sometimes she wanted to unexist.” I RELATE TO THAT SHIT

“She had been born wrong.” AWWWWW BBY SHIIIIIT

“Was she worth being counted?” I CAN RELATE

*hearing Nesta blaming herself for her fathers death and for the horrible things she’s done, saying she can’t fix it* SHIT IM CRYING (I’m not joking)

“ I deserve nothing.” I CAN RELATE BITCH IM ACTUALLY CRYING

*hears Cassian calmly reassuring and comforting her* AWWWWW I NEED THIS QUOTE

CASSIAN CARES SO MUCH FOR HER I LOVE THIS

(I really needed that cassian talk. I literally wrote most of the quote down just in case. Thank you SJM)

EMERY CAN SENSE THE SEX HOLY SHIT

“After he’d fucked her with her fingers...” O NONONONOOO

*skips to chapter 52*

Lanthis??? Who the fuck is that?

“Gwyn and Emery are my friends” SHES GROWN SO MUCH!!!

26 dimensions? OH THIS IS SOME DOCTOR STRANGE SHIT

IT CANT BE KILLED

cassian and Nesta really went *yeet* .......... I’m sorry

THE SWORDS NAME IS ADORAXIA!!!!!!!!!!!sounds like a dnd character IDEAS

OHOHOHOOOOO BLACK THRONE AND A CROWN DEATH QUEEN NESTA WITH HER HAIR DOOOOOOWN

Rhys vs Cassian standoff *western duel music starts*

NESTA APOLOGIZED FOR EARLIER IM SO PROUD

Did Elain have a vision? DID SHE???

“I want you to seduce him.” NESTA THE HIDDEN BARD ROLL FOR PERSUASION

Mor teaching Nesta the waltz? NESTA AND MOR CAN NOT HATE EACH OTHER

Are they back at their childhood home? Because oooooooooooof ✨ childhood trauma✨

MOR AND NESTA HAVING A CONVERSATION YAY!!!!! (This’ll make rping them so maybe easier)

“We’re in a book!” Holy shit they know. HIDE THE FANFICTION

The relationship between Nesta, Emery, and Gwyn is so wholesome

“Oh FUCK you” .... NESTA

“I was just checking on dessert” MOOD

MOR AND NESTA ARE HAVING A FRIENDLY CONVERSATION

I sense tension between amren and Nesta

ERIS WANTS NESTA????

“I’m not with you.” Lier

A SNOWBALL FIGHT WITH THE BATBOIS??? Holy shit they do have one(1) brain cell

A sleepover with Emery, Nesta, and Gwyn? SIGN ME UP

“Do it for the miniature Pegasus!” INSIDE JOKES

OOOOHHH i see the gwynriel ship

Wait....HER POWERS MADE THE HOUSE BE ALIVE??? Sweet

Alright 2 months til FEYSAND baby

The mating bond between cassian and Nesta?????.............

“Say it, SAY IT” GODS DAMN IT NESTA SAY THE FUCKING THING

So, Nesta’s afraid she’s gonna loose her humanity?

EMERIE NESTA AND GWYN ARE IN THE BLOODRITE? Fuuuuuuuuuck

OH NO EMERIE!!!!!!

“High Fae bitch” PUT THAT ON A SHIRT

OMG OMG OMG HELL YES VALKRIES

oh Cassian you restless bastard you

*hears Emerie’s backstory and their heart to heart* AWWWWWW I LOVE THEM

“The morrigan.” The fuck Eris?

“She’d hit the archway of stone” OOOOOOOOOOF

“For being my friends when I didn’t deserve it.” AWWWWWWWWWW

What about Feyre’s pregnancy???? Hewwo?

“Lord of bastards” heh true that’s cassian alright

Wait, OTHER set of wings

CASSIAN!!!!!!!!!!

“Now, I’m going to slit your little throat.” FUUUUUUUUCK NONONONOOOOO THIS ISNT CASS FUUUUCK

What’s the trove?

NONONONONOOOO WHYD HE GET STABBED SHIT HE GOT STABBED

Nesta’s pissed.....MAGIC TIME

wait wait wait wait wait HES NOT STABBED HELL YEAH!!!!

“You are my mate, Cassian.” ITS ABOUT FUCKING TIME

Nessian: kissing when the world is in ruin

“She started bleeding hours ago. “ BABY TIME???

*hears the blood and feyre’s appearance*!FUUUUUUUUUCK

So, no C section? OOOOOOH SHIT THEYRE DOING IT

IM SCARED IM SCARED IM SCARED

“Silent babe?” Shiiiiiiiiiiiiit

Nesta Nesta Nesta What the fuck are you doing???????? FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK

SHE HAS ALL 3! ONONONOOOOOFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK

OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOOOOOOSHE PLUCKED IT FUCK

SHE STOPPED TIME?????????

WHOS the female voice?

“ I love you, Feyre” SHE DID IT IM SO PROUD!!!!!

What is she doing what is she doing what is she doiiiiingggg?

GIVE WHAT BACK?????

WHAAAAAT? A BARGAIN WITH THE FUCKING CAULDRON???

feyres alive? FEYRE’S ALIVE!!!!!!!

NESTA THE MVP!!!!

*the sister hug* AWWWWWWWWWWW

AWWWWWW I LOVE THE NAME NYX!!!!

How much did the Cauldron take from Nesta, tho?

FEYSAND IS BEST PARENTS

Alright, I want to see LOADS OF WHOLESOME FANFICS AND FANART ABOUT DOMESTIC IC AND ELAIN AND NESTA GOT IT?

[extremelyblackandwhite]

the unseen one - 30

Pairing: Hades!Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: none

A/N: i’ve been foreshadowing this ending since like mid fic and i’m proud for not giving up on this ending which i almost did but thankfully i did (yay plot consistency). i’m rly emotional about finishing another fanfic, it’s been such a joyful ride and i wanna thank everyone who commented and liked/reblogged my work for these past months, you guys are fantastic. enjoy xx 

A kaleidoscope. A kaleidoscope was the first thing that broke through the darkness in various shades of pink, white, and grey. The images were blurry and the colours vibrant as it spun through the darkness, soon enough becoming the only thing occupying what once was a sea of darkness. The once silence that wrapped itself around like a tight hug gave way to the sound of stream water, sounds of nature and spring slightly blooming in her ear drums. What once was nothing was blooming and alive. 

A warm feeling settled over her chest and in a harsh move she opened her eyes, raising her chest and gasping up for air. The first sight was bloom, the perfect utopia of what spring sounded like in every song and every fairytale with various different flowers and tones of various colours. She looked down at her hands, noticing how warm they were, almost too warm and as she was about to snap her head back, petals started falling onto her palms. 

She should be scared, but she somehow wasn’t and as if it had been a taught movement, her hands moved up to her hair, feeling more white petals falling on her palms and legs. Y/N looked around, not understanding where she was standing or where she was for that matter. She was surrounded by a blooming environment, blooming so slowly yet so fast she could see the flower buttons open. 

Slowly but surely her senses started to recover to her, noticing the cold marbled stone she was sat on and the warm sun hit her skin. Bucky. Was Bucky alright? Where was Bucky? Her mind couldn’t wrap itself around her last memory of Bucky’s terrified face. Was he okay? Where was he? She was removed of her line of thinking by a shattering sound. Y/N immediately turned her head towards the sound seeing Hecate mouth wide open as if she had seen something fantastic.

     - Where’s Bucky? - her voice came rather raspy but the goddess of witchcraft was still standing there wondering if Gaia was playing tricks on her. Dead mortals don’t come back to life. Dear gods, dead mortals who gain the hatred of half the pantheon don’t come back to to life as part of the pantheon itself. - Where’s Bucky?!

She questioned again, turning around and placing her bare feet on the grass patch yet unlike normal, the grass did not turn dark green, instead blooming from her steps as if she herself controlled nature. Hecate stopped her by putting herself in front of Y/N. She knew better not to annoy a newly born goddess specially because she didn’t seem to know what she was and therefore had little to no grip with what she could do.

    - I’ll get someone to get him, you need to sit down. - she motioned for Y/N to sit down as carefully as someone handling a bomb. Hecate quickly send a equally confused nymph to go grab the incredibly depressed god of the Underworld.

Y/N sat down against the bark of a cherry blossom, looking at Hecate who had a very confused yet careful look in her eyes. The goddess of witchcraft sat next to Y/N as more petals started to fall on her hands. She had forgotten how it was to be next to a very nervous goddess of spring.

    - Where are these coming from? - Y/N threw the bunch of petals onto the ground, noticing they kept falling onto her hands.

    - They’re coming from you. You need to stop stressing or they’ll keep showing up. No harsh emotions, just breathe. 

    - Why are you talking to me as if I were going into labor? - more petals fell off making her huff, throwing another bunch on the ground. - What’s going on? 

    - In the easiest ways of putting it in ... I would say you’re ... well, the goddess of Spring. - she pointed out at the once dead grooves which were now blooming like the rest of the Elysium. Damn, it was better than the rest of the Elysium with his beautiful tall blossom and fruit trees with a substantial amount of flower bushes and other grass weeds. 

   - The goddess of Spring no longer exists, Bucky told me so. - she replied, very overprotective over the answer she had gotten from her beloved. Like an expression of her huffing, more flower petals fell over on top of her hands. 

   - Goddesses doesn’t cease to exist, specially a goddess responsible for a whole season. They are ... chosen if they cease to exist. The titans seem to have chosen ... well ... I guess you. 

   - That is not funny. - she got up from her sitting position, once again smoothing over the petals that had stuck to the fabric of her gown. Hecate surely was not her biggest fan but she knew what she was and she definitely was not a goddess. At least she didn’t felt like one. How did goddesses even feel? Did they fell any different from mortals? She was about to question Hecate about that fact when two nymphs entered the grooves pulling a very unwilling God of the Underworld with them.

Y/N turned to face him, the first thing calling her attention was the stubble turned beard and the dark bags under his now very wide awake blue eyes almost as if he wasn’t expecting her to be there. Y/N rushed over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her nose in the space between his neck and neck. Bucky stood still wondering if he was dreaming again or if he had finally managed to overdose himself with ambrosia but no, she was there, she was there with her arms wrapped around him and flowers blooming from the top of her head and dropping onto him. His eyes settled on Hecate who had the same surprised eyes yet slightly less than him. 

Y/N pushed back, noticing something wrong in Bucky’s aura but he was still staring at her. He caressed her jaw with his knuckles, thumb caressing the soft part of her cheek. Noticing its warmth and her soft smile he didn’t know if he wanted to raise her up or kiss her. He settled on kissing her, noticing the newly added honey like taste to her lips and more flowers falling onto their hands.

   - I’m not sure if I adore this. - she caressed his beard, making him chuckle as he kissed her again. - Stop, when was the last time you slept?

   - Long enough, this might be some hallucination of you.

   - No, I’m here. 

>>>>>

The Underworld was a mess and that was something that came rather lightly from Y/N’s point of view as it normally used to be constantly messy full of dead souls and unruly nymphs. However, today, it seemed like everything had broke loose and every single god, goddess, demigods, oracles and every single thing that could be considered mythical and gone down to the underworld for her coronation. Was she happy about it? No. Was James happy about it? Also no. They’d rather be in their secluded little spot of the underworld without anyone around. However, protocol demanded the new goddess of Spring to have a public coronation if she became Queen of the Underworld. Besides, Y/N was a bit way too cheerful to see those who had wanted that spot see her gain the crown to the Underworld. 

      - I’m going to catch you, sunflower. - Bucky chuckled lowly as he briefly saw the grass she had stepped on bloom with white roses. He heard her giggling in the distance and then it stopped, rendering him alone and somewhat lost and because he wasn’t used to the newly found sunlight, the fresh air and fauna that surrounded him in the Groves, he asked for help from one of the nymphs who were taking care of the flora.

An annoyed nymph turned to be face to face with her King, pointed towards a direction. He was aware that this was supposed to be a fair game, something fun that his beloved had come up with in the moment bored of coronation preparations, but he would rather be done with it quickly so that they could enjoy each other’s companies and bring her back to a very pissed and very stressed Hecate.

He walked and walked, listening always for the river that the undead and nymphs had spoken up and asking ever so often for directions for other servants. They would whisper a “Over there” and point or a “Go North”, and Bucky would believe their words because they had been nothing but loyal to him. In fact, much more loyal to them than others had ever been to him - he found that, in the afterlife, people - or what was left of them - were much calmer and kinder than those who were still alive. 

Soon enough, he found his beautiful Y/N humming by the river. Her delicate feet were dangling and lightly touching the water that ran on the stream and her eyes were shut, head moving to the rhythm of the chirping birds and a small smile played on her lips. Quietly, he inched closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him and burying his face in her hair; it smelled of everything good about spring, from freshness to wild flowers and ripe fruit. 

She giggled and kicked her legs up in the air, clearly enjoying the attention she was receiving but also no liking that her little game had come to an end which meant she had to return to the very much annoying job of preparing for the ceremony.

     - Seems like I found you. - the God of the Underworld grinned against her hair, setting her on the ground but holding onto her hips, admiring her figure; her newly found position led to her being constantly adorned with luxurious fabrics, veils with beautiful patterns and so many jewels, mostly gifts from Demeter from all people, but somehow it was when she wore something as simple as a white dress enveloping her form and golden sandals that he found her the most mesmerising. The simplicity and purity that he had fallen so hard for that he moved heaven and earth to have, regardless of what everyone else said, regardless of how lowly they found Gaia to have named a mortal Goddess of Spring. She was always a goddess in his eyes but the actual title did suit her better than anyone else. - Did you have fun escaping your responsibilities?

    - Would have been funner if you didn’t cheat, Bucky. - she raised her eyebrows at the man and crossed her arms, knowing fully well he had. How else would he know his way through the newly found Groves if he barely entered them. Sighing, she kissed his lips lightly and then grabbed his hand to take him to the nearest shade. - I’m sure Hecate sent you after me. 

     - Yes, she says you’re being quite impossible but personally, I was hoping we could have some personal fun. - he smirked, pressing a kiss to the shell of her ear, then to her neck and collarbone, making her shiver and push him to the side lightly. - Such a harsh no. 

     - I don’t need my nymphs to see that. - she blushed and fidgeted with her hands and wedding ring, sitting down and resting her back against the bark of a tree. The God of the Underworld chuckled and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist. - But I can be swayed if you cancel the whole ordeal.

     - You know I can’t. - he kissed her shoulder. - They’re already very upset over your decision of giving the souls of the Elysium their memories. 

     - They are much more happy and you can’t deny it. - she pointed out. Y/N had technically been a ruling consort ever since she got wedded to Bucky in a very small ceremony where no one but them were included. As such, Y/N had put forward a motion to give the Elysium’s residents their mortal memories back, something that of course had been passed as she was fiercely backed by Demeter who could put the fear in any god by just looking at them. It had made the residents much happier and Bucky much happier considering he could now speak to his friends, family, and most importantly Steve. She on the other hand had managed to reunite with her parents and introduce them to Bucky which managed to be their version of normality. This had however created a stir with Zeus who was still very much upset a mortal was now a goddess he could no longer order around. - This is ridiculous, why do they need to see it?

     - It’ll just be for a few hours. Besides, I wanna see you become my Queen. 

     - Okay. - she shrugged. - Only because I love you.

     - I know. - he smiled, lovingly. - I just hope you don’t change your mind, we’re sort of in this forever. 

     - What does Steve say? Til the end of the line?

    - Til the end of the line, sunflower. 

THE END

tag list: @philogrobizedvee​​​​​​  @keithseabrook27​​​​​ @inlovewith3​​​​19 @nwbstan​ @romanoffs-heart

[krispydefendorpolice]

The Demon’s Bride (1)

So this is my first time using tumblr and my first attempt at fanfic. Any formatting or tagging advice would be appreciated.

So I fell in the sea of fanfic three years ago and the #Daminette ship was the one to pull me out and press me into labor. Good job all you wonderfully evil authors out there.

So, here’s to @ozmav and @bluerosette23 as creator and archiver of this ship. And @mindfulmagics for putting the seed of someone actually has this bug in their brain too that got me writing. I’m going to try to get as many people tagged for this story as I can, especially if I called upon your own stories for inspiration. This first chapter has a call back to @multifandomscribette because I could not imagine this story starting any other way after reading their story “Gotham for Two”. (GO read it it’s awesome).

Other sources of inspiration are @mochinek0 , @snowhirl , and @inevitableenquere . I can’t remember how but your stories have inspired me. Thank you.

Next Masterpost

_______________________

Chapter 1

The whole situation was, in the words of her old schoolyard bully, “ridiculous, utterly ridiculous”. After Lila’s return and eventual take over of the Lycée class Marinette was more of an after thought to most of her classmates. The last minute call when a banner for some competition was happening, when treats and desserts were needed for a class picnic or costumes to film the classes newest movie.

The first and last were better as her closest friends had realized what Lila was doing to Marinette a few months in. After they apologized, Marinette accepted Nino, Kim, Alix, and Max back into her circle of confidence. Juleka was the only one of her circle in the classroom that was still in the sphere of Lie-la but that was planned with Marinette. She needed to know what the liar was saying and Juleka was able to use her sweetheart, Rose, as a cover for staying close.

Two years down the line and the classroom battle field hadn’t changed. Lila had most of the class in her thrall and only Nino, Kim, Alix, and Max were on Marinette’s side with Juleka working as their deep cover spy.

Adrien had insisted Marinette take a pacifist route to the Lila problem in the beginning and “be the bigger person” in order to keep Lila from being akumatized. At least they both knew she was a liar and he was on her side, right?

And he was on her side. In secret. For a week. Then he fell to Lila’s claws and joined in with the class’s ‘attack Marinette’ mob mentality. They would send her horrible texts about how no one liked her and that she should disappear. They destroyed one of the sketchbooks that she left in her locker. Then it got physical, suddenly she was tripping over feet and books were knocked out of her hands. And she deserved it for bullying Lila.

That lasted almost two months before Nino realized what the class was doing looked a lot like bullying Marinette. And then Kim, Alix and Max remembered that it was Marinette in their last year at Ecole who knocked out that bully who was targeting the younger kids. Marinette did not like bullies.

Nino and Alya broke up over his betrayal of Lila. He and the others were ostracized from the class as well but it was Marinette who still took the brunt of their attacks.

Adrien’s bigger person approach didn’t work anyways. As it seemed Lila was either getting akumatized or the reason for someone else getting akumatized every other week. Unfortunately, even battling Akuma’s wasn’t a relief from harassment for Marinette.

Chat Noir, her supposed partner, was getting worse in his pursuit of her. He refused to take no for an answer and planned dates she would decline to go to and get angry at her when she didn’t show anyways. In retaliation he would show up later and later to battles until eventually he stopped showing up at all. Once that happened, Marinette started searching for some permanent replacement heroes with the Guardians blessing.

Master Fu had begun training her to take on the responsibility of Guardian of the Miraculous. And as a test for her suitability as guardian she was given free reign to choose the new miraculous team. The first thing she had done was to retire Alya after the Lila disaster. Nino only maintained his place as one of the temporary heroes once he had apologized and the others were also on reserve for world ending Akuma’s.

But frankly, she had no trust in her classmates to have her back in the field.

So she had looked to her family for possibilities. The first she had tapped was Kagami. When paired with Longg and the dragon miraculous, Kagami became the offensive fighter that Chat had failed to be. Luka was next, paired with Sass and the snake miraculous he became their defensive player and strategizer. He watched the possibilities unroll and guided them when they were heading for danger. Juleka was last and she took to Trixx like a fox to her den. With the regular team decided upon and the temporary heroes settled battles with Akuma started to flow much easier and faster.

Which was great when they were in Paris. But she wasn’t in Paris right now. No, right now she was in America, in a strange city. After dark. Alone. Yay.

If that wasn’t bad enough that unfamiliar city just happened to be Gotham. The crime capital of the world. And it wasn’t a nice part of the city she was in, like the financial or fashion districts. No, she was in the district better know as Crime Alley. What even, was her life?

The class had traveled there as part of their extra curricular studies. They had gotten lucky (ha, lucky charm) to be chosen as one of the classes to participate in a training seminar at Wayne Enterprises with other schools from around the world. The flight had been uneventful, just Lila boasting about her connections in Gotham. They mostly centered around the celebrities like the Wayne family or the vigilante/heroes, Batman and his clan.

Marinette and her group had rolled their eyes but mostly ignored her and her slaves. They landed safely and made it to the hotel safely. And while not in the best neighborhood it hadn’t been in Crime Alley. So why did Ms. Bustier choose to take the class to a restaurant inside Crime Alley for dinner? Who knows? Marinette certainly didn’t.

It probably wouldn’t have mattered except that while Marinette was in the restroom the rest of the class disappeared. Now here she was, walking alone in Crime Alley, with nothing but a Kwami with her for protection. A Kwami she needed to keep a secret.

She sighed as the footsteps behind her picked up speed. At this point she was simply easy prey to the predators that stalked these streets. She opened her purse and glanced down at Tikki who was looking up at her. At Tikki’s small smile she looked around to decide on a plan of action.

Seeing her chance, Marinette started running. Instead of veering to the street she aimed towards an alley ahead of her. As soon as she turned she saw a brick wall ahead of her that was the rear of a building, and with buildings on either side of her she was boxed in. Perfect, she smiled.

She dropped the smile and turned as her stalkers steps fell silent behind her. One hand was holding a gun aimed at her and the other hand was held open and gesturing to her.

“Looks like you’re boxed in pretty thing. Just give me your money and I won’t hurt you,” he said in English.

Thinking quickly Marinette ducked her head as if she were cowed into obedience by the sight of the gun. “Do you promise?” she asked in the same language.

“I’m a man of my word, pretty. Your money gets you your life.”

But doesn’t guarantee my safety, Marinette thought as she fumbled with pulling her wallet from her purse. She held it out before her and waited.

The mugger walked towards her and reached for the wallet she held. As he touched it Marinette’s free hand wrapped around the wrist and pulled. Unprepared for her move the man stumbled forward and his nose connected with the elbow she raised. Pulling back with a yelp he dropped the gun when Marinette’s second grab and subsequent nerve strike numbed the hand holding it.

He looked up at the barrel of his own weapon held in Marinette’s hand.

“What was that about my life?” She asked calmly.

Before he could answer a thud behind her had Marinette turning again.

_________________

Hopefully people actually got tagged on this. Let me know if you didn’t. Again I’m new and don’t know the tagging system yet.

Let me know what you think. As they say comments are a writers wages and if I get enough (and I finish editing chapter 2) I’ll post it tonight. Questions are appreciated though I may not answer unless it won’t pop up in story but we’ll see where I go with this.

[dc41896]

Not It

Pairing: Chris EvansxBlack Reader

⚠️: None, all fluff as usual🥰!

“FOR EVERY TIME YOU MESS UP, A CIGAR GOES IN THE JAR!!,” a fed up Jon Taffer shouts at the staff of the latest bar he’s chosen to help.

You and Chris only planned on watching one episode of Bar Rescue out of curiosity and boredom, but here you both were glued to the couch at least five episodes in wondering how, or if, the small business’ issues would get fixed. Lying under you with one leg hanging off the sectional and his fingertips lazily grazing up and down your back, your head pressed against his chest listening to his steady heartbeat and slowly rising with every breath he took.

Remembering how things were the first few weeks you were here, you mentally laugh at yourself and your slightly unorthodox actions. It’s not that you weren’t comfortable living with Chris, you had about eight months under your belt before the quarantine started.

However in those eight months, the most either of you had done in terms of staying together was spend a weekend at the other’s place. Quarantining, and for God knows how long, would mean spending every waking moment with each other and while you were excited, you were also extremely anxious.

When you first arrived at his Boston home, you were mesmerized by how beautiful it was. Chris loved the simple things in life, but don’t be mistaken, he did have taste which could definitely be seen from his house. It was also so warm and inviting that you wanted to instantly curl on the couch with your blanket and watch your favorite movie. Seeing how nice everything was though, you were honestly afraid to mess up something.

Looking back, it was a bit of an irrational fear, but you didn’t want to do anything that would make Chris have second thoughts about asking you to stay with him. Or about being with you.

So your days after consisted of cleaning up after every little thing you did and being careful of every move you made. Even when talking to him you began speaking and laughing quieter than usual, mostly replying with a smile and simple nod.

Of course he noticed this too, along with your constant cleaning, and began to feel that maybe you were uncomfortable because he was slacking around the house.

This idea resulted in him cleaning more behind himself and everywhere he’d go in the house, which made you feel worse and thus how the cycle of you both inadvertently trying to out clean the other began.

It continued like that for about a week until a very much needed revelation by an unwelcome guest.

Making his way back to the living room from his office, Chris hears your panicked screams prompting him to run in the kitchen and see you perched on the countertop.

“What?! What’s wrong?!”

“There’s a spider right there!”

“Babe seriously?! I thought something bad happened,” he chuckles letting out a sigh of relief with his hand on his chest.

“Something almost did happen! It could’ve bit me! And you would be equally as scared if you saw it.”

“I’m sure it’s not that-,” he starts before seeing the brown spider, roughly the size of his hand, crawling towards his foot. Shrieking, he hops on the counter next to you holding onto your arm.

“You were saying?”

“Okay okay you were right, now how are we gonna get it out of the house?”

“We?! Why we?”

“You’re gonna make me deal with that all by myself?! And here I am thinking you loved me,” he tisks shaking his head.

“Ugh alright! Um..okay so I’m gonna throw this bowl over it and cover the spider so then we just slide it outside and it can be free.”

“God you’re so smart,” he smiles kissing your cheek as you pick up the medium, plastic bowl near you.

Lightly tossing the bowl in the spider’s direction, it misses the target landing an inch away from the bug and causing him to jump, which made you and your boyfriend jump as well clinging onto each other.

“Welp that’s all I got. You gotta kill it Chris.”

“Why me? You saw it first.”

“Yea but I’m terrified of them and have been since I was little so I can’t do it.”

“I’m terrified too!”

“I guess we’re staying here all night then because neither one of us is gonna touch it.”

Sauntering into the kitchen with his tail wagging, Dodger pauses seeing the eight legged creature crawl along the hardwood floor; bending down to almost touch it with his nose.

“Dodger leave it alone bud, I don’t need you getting hurt,” Chris orders. However, Dodger chose to ignore him and instead lifted both his front paws to land on the spider a couple times before picking it up in his mouth and walking towards the patio doors.

Looking at the both of you with his head tilted, Chris climbs down the counter to let him outside where he placed the spider on the ground and returned back inside with a light shake of his fur.

“Yay, you killed it Dodge!,” you smile climbing off the counter to hug him. “As you could see your dad wasn’t gonna do it so thank you bubba.”

“Don’t even, you know you weren’t gonna do it either! Like you said we both would’ve been on the counter all night,” he replies as you both laugh.

“You know, that’s the first laugh I’ve heard from you in a while.”

“What are you talking about? I laughed at that joke you told this morning.”

“Yea but I mean a genuine laugh. The ones where the corners of your eyes and nose crinkle and you cover your face because you think you look funny when actually it’s the most adorable thing.”

Smile falling, you look down avoiding his gaze as you continue gently petting Dodger.

“Y/N talk to me, what’s going on?,” he asks kneeling down beside you. “If I’m doing something to make you uncomfortable or it’s the house-,”

“No! It’s not you or the house Chris it’s just...I don’t want to mess up anything.”

“What could you possibly mess up?”

“I don’t know, anything! I could get a stain on the couch or one of your pillows, or I could accidentally knock over a family heirloom and then you’ll hate me.”

“First off I could never hate you, so please get that out of your mind. Next if something did happen I can easily fix or replace it, it’s just stuff it’s not important. And if it is, it’s somewhere safe” he answers. “Is that why you’ve been cleaning so much? And acting different?”

Nodding your head, a small sigh escapes your lips as your eyes concentrate on the pup’s brown and white fur. “I was worried and scared that overtime with us being under the same roof there’d be something I did that you couldn’t deal with and you’d feel like this was a mistake. Or that we were a mistake.”

“Y/N look at me,” he says guiding your chin so you would meet his eyes. “You could smack me in the face and I’d still want you.”

“...I’m concerned but also flattered..?,” you softly laugh along with Chris who slowly nods in agreement.

“Okay that probably wasn’t the best way to say it. What I mean is it’d take something monumental for me to think something like that, which I know would never happen. You have nothing to worry about because I love you the way you are, flaws and all even though to me you don’t have any. ”

Holding your face in his hands, his thumbs gently rub against your cheeks making you giggle.

“So please don’t change yourself trying to be perfect for me or anyone,” he smiles leaning in to softly kiss your lips. “Also want to hear something funny?”

“Hmm?”

“You were cleaning to not seem messy, and I was cleaning because I thought you thought I was messy. So we’ve basically been re-cleaning behind each other this whole time,” he chuckles.

“And I thought you cleaning meant I wasn’t doing it to your liking,” you reply shaking your head.

“Well, at least the house is spotless,” Chris laughs along with you as Dodger moves to try to lick his face.

Jon screaming at yet another owner brings you out of your memories as you lift your head to prop on your hands folded on his chest. Gazing up at his beard and brunette hair grown out a little past his ears, you contently sigh making him look at you at smirk.

“Liking the view?”

“Of the giant dork? Yea he’s alright,” you giggle making him chuckle. “Hey I have a question for you.”

“Lay it on me.”

“Let’s say we bought a house and I got stuck in the basement. You come down to get me, the whole place is covered in spiders, including me. Would you leave me on my own or fight through them?”

“Of course I’d help you,” he smiles sitting up to kiss your forehead. “I’d probably need therapy after and would burn down the house though, but no I wouldn’t leave you by yourself.”

“Aww you’re so sweet.” Sliding closer to his face, you peck his lips multiple times before lying in the crook of his neck and breathing in his scent.

“I might want to send Dodger in first though since apparently he’s the exterminator of the house,” he laughs reaching down to lightly pat the sleeping dog’s head.

Taglist: @literaturefeen @crushed-pink-petals-writes @honeychicanawrites @honeychicana @lady-olive-oil @themyscxiras @fumbling-fanfics @melinda-january @lovelymari4 @curlyhairclub @renfrewscorner @secretmysteriousperson @plokyu23 @fullofmelaninsarcasmandepression @nunubug99 @felicity-x0 @ellixthea @jojolu @jnk-812 @brwn-sgr @captainsamwlsn @wildfirecracker @nina-sj @iammyownlover @chaneajoyyy

If anybody wants to be tagged, has asked to be tagged already but don’t see your name, only want to be tagged for certain people I write for, or no longer wish to be tagged just let me know🤓!

[strangetownsayit]

ok so um.......... .. . . ..

 i had a really bad time, went crazy and deleted all my maurice fics. Yes I have them in my notes and if someone wants them, I can send them to them, but still. i no longer feel confident about You Don’t Own Me and To a Happier Year.

but i feel bad and guilty bc then i remembered someone who left a very nice comment in my fic. maybe ill rewrite everything and publish it again, but not today and certainly not tomorrow. so ill explain my outline for the two fanfics cus i already had a ending in mind

before anything-- do i plan to write more maurice fanfic? the answer is yes. i hyperfixate very hard on maurice so ill never stop, but ill try not to make it public till i trust my bilingual capacities

 so, You Don’t Own Me

Percival Darsey is a young man who spend time in Penderleigh’s after having an encounter with Anne in the village next to Penge. He becomes Clive’s pupil bc of Anne’s desire, and so Percival bounces between them (wanting clive’s attention, then wanting anne’s)

Clive doesn’t really care about Percy’s attraction to Anne, bc he was sure it was silly love-at-first sight stuff. It was supposed to be explained later that Percy was really naive when it came to love. I actually had some dialogue written in my phone’s notes app to show how percy views were when it came to love and how easy it was for him to fall in love:

“I can’t do nothing but leave it to take me, Mr. Durham”, said Percy gently, with his back resting against the black slate of the roof; the light rays of sun --whose bright, blinding face was hiding behind clouds-- were worth coming the next day. “When someone smiles back at me, when someone touches my shoulder to get me out of the way, when they wish me a good day; I fall in love too easily, with many people. Approximately five times a day.”

“Many people?”, Clive laughed. “You mean, many women.”

Percival contemplated the sky a while.

“No,” he finally said, “many people.”

 Percival was supposed to be Clive’s opposite: excited about loving and be loved in return, excited to be discovered and being so happy with himself, he can barely hide it.

But when Percival got infatuated with a man, an acquaintance of Clive, Clive started to snap, to wander, to ask questions he could’ve never asked before. But Percival had nothing to hide anyways, and this would make Clive distant

Resume: with time Percival would’ve become closer and closer to anne’s circle, and thus he would’ve grown tired and exhausted. Bc Percival is autistic, and he has very little spoons (a metaphor about being autistic), meeting new people every day, being dragged to social compromises and being treated as some sort of servant that these rich ppl needed for entertainment, he would’ve suffered a meltdown and avoid Pendersleigh for a while

But bc Percy is not dumb, he would’ve returned bc he needs to eat, and bc of his neurodivergence he couldn’t keep jobs that were mostly aimed to neurotypicals. So when he came back, he decided to stay in Clive’s side. He found comfort in his cases cus all he needed to do was ignore Clive and sleep and little lol. And so this was supposed to be the first step to develop their relationship: Clive being interested in percy now that he has discover Percy likes men as well, Percival feeling drawn to Clive. They get to know each other and eventually, they fall in love.

But ofc everytime Clive perceives a hint of flirt, he panics and back off, bc hes an I—HSHFS- NOO- WAIT—LMAO DLFAOF—IM SO SHY--- gay, and Percy is a ;)) bisexual, so they keep flirting a good part of my outline.

But then BOOm I planned Mrs Hall to visit clive. And so clive wouldve remembered everything with Maurice, feel bad, and reject percival once for all. Percival cries a lot and anne thinks he is sick bc he has an uncontrollable sobbing, but then he escapes again

Clive has some awful months and Anne notices. She knows, but at the same time, she doesn’t: she knows Percy and Clive had a cute dynamic and relationship, she knows they loved each other, but she cant notice the homoerotism they had, and so she goes on looking for percival

I shpuld add that even tho I didn’t outlined this, there was a subplot exploring Anne’s bisexuality. I was working on how to do it when I deleted the fanfic

She finds Percival and discovers that he lied this whole time: his real name is Daniel Darcy, son of Mrs. Darcy, a middle-class woman who fell in disgrace after her husband escaped with his lover. It is revealed that Percival has many brothers and is the youngest of all, being 22. It is also revealed that he have been running away from home and coming back since he was twelve. His mother openly talks shit about Percy and it is hinted that Percy is a  Bastard, a product of a love affair.

There was a silly joke I had in my notes app:

“Many years ago, Mr. Darcy ran away from us, in the gay nineties”, he spat, struggling with laughing and bitterness. “Gay, my mother hates the word, just like she hates me and everything that is stunning.”

Then Anne wouldve told Percival about Clive but he wouldve stop her and ask her to go. But he wouldve return to penge a few weeks later cus he a dumbass who doesn’t value himself. Then he and clive wouldve kissed in the rain while he sees percy in the darkness of the night at penge’s garden, but then percy wouldve been like “lol bye” bc he just wanted to let clive know that he loved him too and that he would be back in the morning.

Fluffy ffluffy fluffy flufly

Then BOOM Maurice makes an appearance, telling clive everything about what happened with kitty, then asking for money lmao so he and alec can look for another place, and he tells clive that didn’t anywhere else to go. At fisrt Clive says no but then percy manages to persuade him into helping Maurice, who is surprised to see Clive with a man. Clive and Maurice have a nice chat, clive apologizes and cries and then the next day Clives calls Risley and cries too and say something like sorry I wasn’t there for you yoy didn’t deserved to go through that and it was so unfair, and then he -in  a very subtle way- apologizes to anne. And thus Clive is clean of guilt

But then Clive and Percival have a fight bc he wants to participate in Clive’s life but Clive refuses. Angsty angsty angsty. Percival reveals he was promised by his mother his part of the heritage if he married and became a proper gentleman. He tells clive he will accept his mother offer if clive keeps being ashamed of him

Clive wants to be with percival but he sees himself in another drama, so he does what is easier: letting Percival go.

But percival didn’t expected that shit to happen ?? as extra as he is, he thought clive wouldve comfort him and kiss him. .. .. . . .

Bc he doenst know anywhere else to go, and doesn’t want to get married and hates his mom and he would hate it if he became clive, he goes with Maurice and Alec CUS HE WANTS THEM TO BE HIS DADS ¿’¿’’93 me too bitch get in the line

So advices advices advices. Percival has a clearer mind and he runs his way up to penge

So kisses kisses kisses, he and Clive are in love nd stuff. JUMP TIME, Maurice and alec live in France and they are Percy’s and Clive’s neighbors. Anne is looking for adventures and kisses many women and many men. Everyone is happy YAY I can cope

TO A HAPPIER YEAR

Ok I am a little tired I want to sleep jdswiow io

So Clive’s durham first love. Fluffly fluffly fflufy

It cover events during the movie (clive being tired of bullshit after Christmas vacs).

Bc clive is an asshole, he ignores Quinn (his first love and stuff]) and quinn wants to know why he is being pushed aside and why is clive so distant. But then he discovers it and wish clive luck

JUMP TIME they are both in their 36 and clive is miserable during a trip in Italy. They both meet during said trip, reconnect romantically,  and HAPPY YEAR YES EVERYTHING IS HAPPIER THE YEARS HAPPY ENDING WHATEVer. I swear it is cuter Im just very sleepy now lol