#i just got ghosted. no telling me where the next job was. no returning my calls. nothing.

[corvidaedream]

in my quest to maybe move back to providence after 20 years, im looking at jobs down there and damn i think i might be better off financially pivoting to carpentry/construction work for a while

[kib-ble]

medical leave

(simon ‘ghost’ riley x gn! reader)

summary: simon comes home from a long mission on medical leave and he doesn’t tell you because it will worry you

*i tried to write simon where he’s kinda clueless on how to comfort the reader, but kinda made it not like that, idk, enjoy!*

when simon arrived home the lights were off, a few notable changes were made, and you were fast asleep on the couch. a quiet movie lit up the room, showing how comfy your make-shift bed was. he smiled at this. you didn’t know he was coming home this early but you also didn’t know he was gonna be gone this long.

‘it’s only three months,’ simon promised the night before he left. his hands on your waist. your hands on his face, holding his jaw. your thumb brushed against the spikes of stubble on his jaw, he never had the chance to shave. the two of you held each other close, allowing your scents to waft to each other. it was relaxing.

it was five months later when he returned. he knew it would’ve been more if price didn’t put him on medical leave, you didn’t have to know that.

“oh love..” simon dropped his bag full of equipment and slowly walked over to your sleep form. his hand softly pushed the hair out of your face before lifting his mask and giving you a kiss on your cheek. he pulled the covers up on you more and moved to walk to the bathroom.

once he successfully got his gear off, with not much sound, he carefully took of his shirt to show the bloody bandage on his lower abdomen. he had just got it changed before he left but the stab was deep to continue to bleed even after it was stitched up.

he gently peeled off the tape and replaced the padded bandage. the wound stung as the bandage was pressed against it, but atleast is wasn’t infected.

when he had finished washing his body with a loofa, as to not get water in the bandage, he got changed and went to go get you from the couch.

he carefully kneeled down next to the couch and rubbed your shoulder to gently wake you up. when your eyes slowly opened and your mind was cleared of all delusions, you finally realized that it was simon infront of you, not a total stranger.

the shocked face you apparently made got a soft chuckle out him before you jumped into his arms. an ‘oof’ like noise came out of him as he fell back to the ground. your legs wrapped around his waist and pressed against his bandage earning a quiet hiss out of him as well. concerned moved through your body as you looked at him.

“what happened?” you hands cupped his face as you looked into his eyes. his hands held your waist as he gently squeezed it.

“i’m fine, just sore” he promised. you nodded and continued to hug him. your arms tighten around his neck as his arms tighten around your waist. he carefully, and somehow successfully, picked you off the ground and took you to your bedroom. simon gently set you down on the bed, then he got into the other side, cuddling up with you.

“i’m sorry i was gone so long, baby.” his hand came up to play with your hair as you laid on his chest. you looked up at him and smiled. you were always understandable about how much simon worked. it was his job and you were used to it. you did hate the thought of him getting hurt though, which is why he didn’t tell you about his injury.

your arm that laid across his abdomen, your hand softly rubbed his side. of course, it was the side with the obvious, bulky bandage on it. your hand slid across the tape before fully extending to land on the bandage itself, resulting in simon wincing once again.

you sat up abruptly, looking down at simon, who was still slightly recovering from the pain. “whats wrong?”

“nothing, love.. it’s nothing.” simon followed suit, sitting up as well. just a lot slower than you. “i promise.”

“simon,” you spoke firmly, “are you injured?”

he looked into your eyes, deciding it was best not to lie. he sighed and nodded, “yes, i got injured on my last mission, but i’m fine.”

“simon, are you kidding me?” you leaned your head back, eyes screwed shut. “what happened?”

“i got stabbed..” your eyes widened, which simon noticed very quickly, “love, i promise i’m fine.” he quickly spoke.

“simon, you got stabbed! how are you fine with that!?”

“obviously i’m not fine with it, but i handled it. i always do. you’re so worried over nothing..” he knew why you were worried. there would be a time when he didn’t come home from his job. a time where the 141 would show up at your home, carrying the rest of your boyfriends stuff, giving it to you and telling you the news. ‘we regret to inform you that simon ‘ghost’ riley has been killed in action. without his heroic selflessness, we could say that we would not be here to deliver you the flag of our country that ghost had fought so hard for.’

the thought of them showing up at your door had you in tears. you got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to wipe your eyes. you’re sniffling could be heard were simon sat, watching you. he felt terrible but he never meant to get injured and he never wanted to tell you.

“lovie, im sorry. i didn’t want to tell you cause i knew you’d feel terrible..” his soft words could barely be heard in the bathroom, but you understood. you looked over at him, wiping your remaining tears with your hand. “come here, lovie..”

his hand patted the spot next to him, where you were just laying with him. to no avail, you sat back down, not looking at him. “how bad is it?”

“it’s stitched up, but it bled a lot. not enough to make me loose consciousness though.” you nodded, moving your eyes to where his hand sat, which you could assume was right over the wound. simon noticed your staring, “it’s not a big wound, i got the son of a bitch before he could drag the knife.” he once again assured you.

another nod and you silently laid down, looking up at the ceiling. “i’m scared simon.” you whimpered.

“about what love?” simon looked down at you. your eyes closed once again and he noticed the few tears fall down your cheeks again. “oh, baby.”

he laid down next to you as your hugged him tight, you face mushed into his neck, arms carefully wrapping around his abdomen. “baby, it takes a lot to kill me.”

“i know, but-“

“no ‘buts’, im okay. i’ll be okay. i promise you. i’m not reckless and i would never try to get purposely get myself killed.” he held your face, focusing you on his words. “i promise..”

a small smile grew on your face, indicating you understood. a smile also grew on simons, which was just pure happiness and love for you. he hugged you close and you managed to fall asleep in his arms. it was late and he had woken you up from your nap before so you were still undoubtedly tired. your soft breathes managed to lull simon to sleep, too. which, again, wasn’t too hard since he was tired.

[scribbledghost]

Respite

Pairing: Simon "Ghost" Riley x F!Reader (no y/n)

Rating: G

Word Count: 1,010

Warnings/Tags: third person POV, Really corny jokes, possibly OOC Ghost??? idek, Ghost's love language is acts of service and telling shitty jokes. This is a hill I will die on

Notes: yeah, yeah, I hear you, I've got requests sitting in my inbox (that I promise I'll get to) and here I am writing for a completely different blorbo that also shares my own damn name. Let me have this. Depending on this fic's reception I may write another. Lemme know what y'all think.

He could tell she was angry the moment she walked through the front door. Could feel it before he even saw her face.

A barely-contained, match-lit fuse, dangerously close to an exploding payload filled with shrapnel and black powder. If he’d been anywhere except their shared home, Simon would have wondered why he wasn’t smelling smoke as she walked.

He followed her silently into the kitchen where she deposited her bag and jacket, offering only one quiet word as she mumbled something about a shower and retreated into their shared bedroom. 

“Alone?”

She paused. It was a question she had asked him on many occasions. And just like all those times for him, it wasn’t meant as an invitation for something explicit - wasn’t meant as a double entendre or flirtatious means to an end. It was a simple question: did the other party want the asker’s presence, a wall at their back as they stood beneath a rain of hot water. It was an offer of calm, silent company.

“Alone.”

Yeah, she was pissed. 

Simon busied himself making dinner while she showered. Something quick, easy, and simple for her to at least get something in her stomach after the day she’d had. If he knew her like he thought he did, he doubted she’d eaten much (if at all) that day anyway. Part of him hoped that between a meal and a shower, her fuse would extinguish at least enough to clue him in on what was going on.

She took her time. Much like him, she showered to separate herself from work. “Washing the day off”, she called it. He knew the longer she was under the water, the more she felt the need to wash away. And today, she was there for a good, long while. Long enough for her to grumble about the water getting cold when she emerged again. 

“Dinner, love.”

“Not hungry,” she said as she walked past him towards the living room.

He followed her, gently placing his hands on her arms as he brought her back to his chest.

“When’s the last time you ate?”

She sighed, and he knew he had her pinned. 

“Yesterday.”

“Gotta eat, love,” he said softly. “You’ll feel better. Already made it, all y’gotta do is eat.”

Another sigh.

“Go. Sit. I’ll bring you a plate,” he said as he released her with a light pat to her hip.

She did as he asked without complaint, and as he brought her food to her and sat next to her on the couch, he carefully logged her body language. Leg bouncing, hand pinching the bridge of her nose, head leaned back, a deep breath in through her nose and out through her mouth.

Dinner was a quiet affair, only the low sound of the television in the background breaking up the silence. Once they were finished, Simon took her plate and his back into the kitchen, then returned to his spot on the couch with an arm stretched across the back behind her head.

“Long day, pet?”

At first, he only received an affirmative grunt in response. He gave her time, gave her space to fill if she wanted to elaborate.

“Boss is driving me up a fucking wall,” she finally started. “Got too much on her plate and can’t keep up. I want to help, but I’m stuck doing two jobs as it is. Don’t have the time to take on any extra. So I sit and struggle to get through my own shit while she’s in her office bitching and moaning about ‘I can’t find this’ or ‘I don’t understand that’ and I have to listen to it. And all that’s on top of everything else going on that’s not work related. Feel like I’m getting pulled in a thousand different directions. Got a fucking headache, Simon.”

At some point during her rant, Simon’s hand had drifted down and he had begun to rub a thumb along the back of her neck. 

“I’m not even getting decent sleep,” she mumbled.

“I know.”

By now, the tension had left her. Seeped from her lungs and drifted down through the carpet. All that was left was exhaustion.

“I feel bad for complaining,” she finally admitted. “It’s not like I’m getting shot at on the daily like… other jobs.”

“No,” Simon agreed, “but that doesn’t mean you can’t complain.”

She didn’t believe him. He knew she didn’t. In her mind, she was whining about office politics and a busy schedule to a man who was on leave from a job where being on the business end of a pack of explosives was a near daily risk. He knew from vast experience that there was little he could do to dissuade her on that front. So trying to cheer her up by affirming her need to vent was out of the question.

Simon was a man of many means, however.

“What do you call a pile of cats?” 

She gave him a weary stare.

“...What.”

“A meowntain.”

Then, he caught it. Before she could hide it, a quirk of her lips, a grin that spread before her sour mood could dampen it.

“That was awful, Simon.”

“Another?”

She paused. Then she let a soft smile grace her features.

“...Yeah.”

“How do you count cows?”

“Uh… one, two, three, four?”

“No, with a cow-culator.”

This time, he received an approximation of a laugh from her. A puff of air through her nose, accompanied by a good-natured shake of her head.

“That one was even worse.”

“Made you smile though.”

She shifted closer to him, brought a hand up to his face, and pulled his face to her as she pressed her lips to his cheek in a gentle kiss.

“Yeah,” she murmured against his skin, “you did.”

Simon turned his head to nudge his forehead against hers as he closed his eyes. A quiet moment after a hurricane, a giving of permission to let go after holding on against the waves all day.

Tomorrow would be better. He’d make sure of it.

[fanficsformyfaves]

I Found Love Where It Wasn't Supposed To Be

Stu Macher x Fem Ex!Reader

WARNING: ANGST, Commitment Issues

PREFACE: Reader and Stu dated during freshman year, when he seemingly dumped her out of nowhere. She moved out of Woodsboro shortly after, but returned for her Senior Year

A/N: Flashback in Italics!

Different POVs are in Colored and in Bold!

Tatum and Stu aren't together and Stu is not a killer in this A/U!

YOUR P.O.V.

It's been two years since I'd left Woodsboro. I couldn't just stay there after what happened with Stu, so when my parents divorced and my mom decided to move to the City, it was the perfect escape route.

The night we broke up, he invited me over to his house and sat me down in his living room.

"Stu, I can't be out past six on a school night. My dad's gonna freak"

"Alright then, I'll make this quick" he says,

As I nod.

"We're done"

His words making my heart sink in my chest.

"What?"

"Look, you're a sweet girl and all, but, we're just too...different", he explained,

"But Stu, we've been going out for months"

I could feel the tears in my eyes begin to gather and threaten to spill.

"Yeah, but, things change and so did I", he replied apathetically,

I scoff and get off the couch.

"You are unbelievable", I snap,

Making my way back to the front door.

"No, wait!", he calls out,

Leaping from the couch and following after me.

"(Y/N), I don't want you to hate me-"

"Too fucking late, dipshit", I spit,

Opening the door and letting myself out, before slamming it behind me.

That was the last time I ever saw him. That was the last time I saw anyone from that school actually. When I moved, I lost contact with all my friends. Sidney, Tatum, Billy and Randy would reach out every now and then, but that was about it.

Eventually, during my senior year, I was forced to go back, when my mom got a job offer in London.

"Mom, can I just go with you?"

"Honey, you can't just keep running away from your problems"

I sigh, flopping down on the couch.

"And you know what? I think it'll be good for you to see your old friends", she says,

Rounding the couch and sitting beside me.

"Plus, you father misses you", she adds,

"I know", I replied reluctantly,

"Good, I'll get everything sorted out"

It was the morning of my first day back and I'd barely gotten any sleep.

I mean, how could I? Even just the thought of seeing him again sent me into a spiral of dread and worry. What was I supposed to do if I ran into him? Pretend not to remember who he was? Walk past him like I didn't notice? Yell and scream? Too many questions and not enough time to even begin processing possible answers.

Once I finished my breakfast, I bid my father goodbye and made my way to the car. Within the next ten minutes of driving through town, I reach the parking lot and got out. Even just the sight of the school building knocked the air out of my lungs.

I hesitantly picked up my backpack, locked the doors and started walking towards the main entrance.

"No fucking way", I hear a girl's voice coming from the water fountain.

I turn to see who it was and there they were. My old group of friends.

"Tatum"

"(Y/N)!", she greets,

Running up and pulling me into a tight squeeze.

"Oh my god! When the hell did you get back?", she asks,

Pulling away.

"A week ago. I moved back since my mom got a job offer in London"

"And you didn't tell me?!"

"Surprise?"

She laughs and pulls me back into another hug. Just then, I see the rest of the group approaching us. Their eyes wide like they'd just seen a ghost.

"Woah!", Randy exclaimned,

Catching my attention.

"I guess the city really does do a person good", he joked,

Looking me up and down.

"Hi, Randy", I chuckle,

Giving him a hug.

"Sid, Billy", I greet,

Pulling them into a joint embrace. All that was left was-

"(Y/N)...it's been a while"

"Yeah", I nervously exhale,

Seeing him felt like someone plunging a knife into my chest and twisting it in to make it hurt. How could he be so okay, when I was still trying to recover from what happened?

"You look great", he compliments,

As I nod. What was I supposed to say to that?

Thankfully, by the grace of some god watching over me, we heard the first bell ring.

"I should get to English Lit"

"I have the class too, come on", Sidney let me know,

"Yeah sure, see you guys at lunch", I bid goodbye,

Before giving Stu one last look.

~

I didn't what to do. I obviously wasn't over what happened, but it's far too late to do anything about it now. I should be over it.

"(Y/N)?"

And it's not like he was thinking about it either. I was more than certain of that with how he ended things. So casual and cold, but...I couldn't help but think about how he looked at me today. Maybe I was just imagining things-

"(Y/N)", Sidney pulls me out of my thoughts,

"Sorry, what?"

"I was asking you about the assignment. Are you okay? You were totally spaced out", she questions,

"I'm just a little tired. I didn't get that much sleep"

"Something on you mind?"

Well, I was still not over my ex, who so happens to be apart of our very close-knit friend group and I don't think I ever will be, which’ll probably over-complicate things later down the road...but obviously I couldn't just spew all of that on her.

"I guess I just miss my mom, you know? She's might as well be on the god-damn moon", I tried to play off,

"Yeah, I get that feeling", she says,

Causing my eyebrows to quirk in confusion.

"Oh, you didn't hear"

"Hear what?"

"My mom passed. Cancer", she says,

As her eyes begin to weld with tears.

"Sid, I'm so sorry"

"You didn't know, it's fine", she reassured,

"Wow, I really did miss a lot", I say to myself,

"Yeah, but!", she takes my hands into hers.

"You're here now! We'll make new memories"

Yeah...we.

STU'S P.O.V.

It was really weird seeing her again. Not like a bad weird, just...kinda caught me off guard.

She was just as, if not more, beautiful than I remembered. Everything from the top of her head to the soles of her feet were nothing short of perfect.

God, I really screwed that up. I knew I brought this upon myself, so I had no right to blame anyone else, but of course it still sucked. There was so much I could've said and even more I should've said, but I didn't have the guts. I mean, how could I? After what I did?

Just as I was about to start spiraling, I was hit in the face with a crumpled up piece of paper.

"Dude"

"Don't dude me, you were thinking about (Y/N)"

"I wasn't"

"Don't give me that shit, you totally were", Billy calls out my bluff,

Making me sigh to myself.

"Thought you said you ended things with her?", he emphasized,

"I did"

"So? Why the emotional blue balls, then?"

Thankfully, the lunch bell saved me from any more of Billy's harassment.

"Look, just drop it, alright? I'm fine", I played off,

Grabbing my bag and heading out, with Billy trailing close behind me.

"No, you're not fine"

"Well, if you're such an expert on how I really feel, then why don't you just spell it out for me?"

"My theory? You lied about why you ended things"

The moment he said that, I felt my heart drop to my stomach.

"Yeah, sure"

"Come on, Stu. Things were going so great and you just pulled a whole one eighty. If you ain't gonna tell me, then who will you tell?", he questions,

Just as we were about to reach the table where the gang was.

"Shhh, shut the fuck up", I warned,

Taking a seat.

YOUR P.O.V.

"So, remember the guy I was spilling about?", Tatum asked,

Taking a bite of her pizza slice.

"You mean Dave?", Sid questioned,

"I thought you were talking about Ethan", I say,

With confusion laced in my words. As we saw one of Tate's eyebrows raise, it triggered the realization to sink in.

"Nice!", I encouraged,

Causing Tate to chuckle at me. Before we could delve any deeper into Tatum's rollercoaster love life, the guys take a seat right across from us.

"Hey girls"

"Hi, Randy", we all greet in unison,

"Billy, Stu", Tate addresses on our behalf.

To call this whole interaction awkward would've been the understatement of the millennium.

I go to grab a napkin and as I did, I felt a familiar hand brush against mine. It brought me right back to freshman year, when Stu first asked me out.

I was eating lunch, while doing my assignments, when a particularly tall shadow blocks the cafeteria's light, causing me to look up.

"Hi"

"Hey, Macher, what's up?", I ask,

"Nothin much, this seat taken?"

"Um, no. Go ahead", I gesture to the empty bench across from me.

"So, we've never really spoken outside of Chem"

"We have not"

"Why is that?', he questions,

"Uh...", I wondered,

Looking around.

"I don't actually know", I chuckle nervously,

"Well, I just wanted to let you know that they're showing Return Of The Living Dead 3 on Friday and word around the hallways says you're kind of a horror movies connoisseur, so-"

"Are you asking me out on a date?", I squinted suspiciously,

"I mean, yeah", he confirmed,

"Why?"

Making him laugh to himself.

"Why not?", he questioned after calming down,

"I mean, you're cute and sweet and...you gave me the answers to the math quiz last week", he added,

As I scoffed.

"So, this is a pity ask?", I challenged.

His eyes go wide in shock.

"No no no no no, this isn't...I didn't mean to make it seem that way, I was kidding-", he rambled nervously,

Before I cut him off with a laugh.

"I'm messing with you, Macher. I know what you meant", I reassured,

Watching him sigh in relief.

"You have a twisted sense of humor"

"Oh, you don't know the half of it"

He laughs and takes my hand.

"So...whatta ya say?"

I rip my hand away, standing up.

"I need to go", I rushed,

Taking my backpack and practically sprinting out of the cafeteria.

"(Y/N)!", Tatum called out,

Going to follow me, when Stu stops her.

"I'll go"

"Stu-"

"I have to do this", he tells Billy,

Before chasing after me. I made it down the hallway, about to reach the front doors, when I hear him.

"(Y/N)!", he yells,

Causing me to stop in my tracks. It was getting harder and harder to fight against the tears that were threatening to spill.

"Can we please talk?", he pleaded,

Whilst I turned to face him.

"What do you want?"

"I came to make sure you were ok-"

"No, Stu, what do you want? From me?", I emphasized.

His eyebrows knitting in confusion as a result.

"Look, I never got to say what I wanted to back then, but I'm saying it now. You fucking hurt me", I spit bitterly,

As the tears began to stream down my face.

"Okay? You break up with me like it was nothing and what? Expected me to just be fine?"

"(Y/N)-"

"No! You don't get to talk!", I yell.

He takes a step back and keeps his eyes on the ground.

"I thought you cared about me"

"I did"

"No, you didn't"

"I did-"

"You didn't! Someone who cares about me would never fucking do that!", I sobbed,

"I'm so sorry", he whispered,

As I shake my head, angrily wiping my tears away.

"I was a coward"

"Yeah, no shit"

"Please...just...hear me out", he begged,

"And if you still want nothing to do with me after what I have to say...I'll leave you alone"

Just wanting to get this over with, I give in and cross my arms.

"I know I hurt you and for that, I'm sorry", he mumbles,

"But there's something I never told you. The reason why I did what I did"

What could he possibly say to change my mind?

"I loved you", he admitted.

It felt like my heart stopped. He'd never said those words to me before, so to hear them in past tense only added insult to injury.

"I never thought I'd feel that way about someone, so when I did, it scared the hell outta me. I didn't know what to do, so I did the only thing I knew how to. I ran", he added,

Had I known, I wouldn't have felt so blindsided.

"Why didn't you say anything?", I sniffled,

"What was I supposed to say? That I was afraid to love you?"

"Yes! God, it would've been better than just leaving me out to dry! Stu, I loved you too! We could've talked about it, we could've done something!"

My voice echoed through the hallways.

"You loved me?", his words coming out as a surprised mutter,

"So fucking much", I answered.

Just then, Tatum, Sidney, Billy and Randy came around the corner. I could see Tatum trying to make her way to me and Billy blocking her from doing so.

"And seeing you again just...reopened all those old wounds"

"(Y/N)", he says,

Cupping my face.

As hard as it was for me to admit, him holding me like this made my heart skip a beat.

"I can't change what happened...but what I can do is this"

He leans in and presses his lips against mine.

The world disappeared around us and time came to a screeching halt. Was this all just a dream? Was I gonna wake up in my bed, disappointed that none of this ever happened? Or had the weight of carrying this pain around finally crush me? I couldn't even begin to wrap my head around what was happening, much less answer all the questions I had.

He eventually pulls away and those baby blues eyes poured into mine with a new found need.

"I let you go once...I can't do that again", he whispers.

[buglord-isaac]

Part 2 of GhostSoap Softness

This one takes place after Ghost saves Soap from being thrown off the building.

Ghost immediately noticed how distant Johnny had become after returning to base after their mission. He knew the distant feeling all too well. It was the kind one gets after experiencing near death. Looking it straight in the eyes.

Ghost could still feel the adrenaline in his body watching Soap struggling as he was edged closer and closer to the edge of the building. When Ghost’s sniper had made contact and killed the enemy, Soap had been out of breath.

“Perfect shot, L.T…”

“You called it, Sergeant.”

When they had gotten back to base, Ghost had ultimately wanted to talk to Soap. To chat with him, to gossip about the mission and reflect on techniques. But when he saw the unfocused eyes, tight jaw, and frown on his friend, he knew Soap was in no mood for talking. These missions had taken everything out of Johnny…

He watched as Johnny walked off towards his room, looked around quickly, then jogged after him. He had decided he wanted to talk to him anyways. “Johnny!”

Johnny stopped in front of his door and looked at Ghost. “Oh-“

Before he could stop himself, Ghost pulled Johnny into a tight hug. Not even he knew what he was doing at this point.

“You did well, Johnny… you survived.”

“Yeah…”

Johnny’s voice sounded dejected. Defeated. Why? They had just won.

“Talk to me, Johnny. Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”

“I…” he looked up at Ghost. “Can I wash my face first?”

Ghost nodded and let go of him, a warm sensation lingering on his skin wherever he had been touching Johnny. Johnny went into his room and opened the door a bit wider, looking to Ghost as an invitation. Ghost obeyed, closed the door behind him, and sat at the Sergeant’s desk.

From the next room, he could hear water running and deep breaths as Johnny washed off the paint on his eyes. He heard a little hiss of what he could only assume was pain.

“Shit..”

“Johnny?”

“It’s nothing..”

That sure didn’t sound like nothing. He stood up and knocked gently on the bathroom door.

“Mind if I come in?”

There was no answer, only the sound of the door opening and Johnny standing there with blood dripping down his face. A wound seemed to have opened on his eyebrow.

“Its from when I got hit by the back of a gun… the mask and paint must’ve hidden it..”

Ghost wasted no time in pushing his way into the bathroom. He pointed to the closed toilet and handed Johnny a hand towel.

“Sit. Keep pressure on it. It’ll hurt.”

Johnny obeyed and sat there while his own blood seeped into the hand towel. Ghost searched his cupboard for strips of wound tape that he could use to temporarily seal it until they got to a doctor. He then turned to Johnny and took the towel from him. With gentle hands, he cleaned, squeezed the skin together, taped, rinsed and repeated until the wound was sealed.

When he was finished, he took off his glove and touched Johnny’s cheek. He looked so sad… it was unbearable to see. He didn’t even have to ask Johnny what was wrong.

“Why do I have to keep being saved by you recently…? The church… the skyscraper… this wound… Am I losing touch?”

“No, Johnny. You’re not. They were hard missions. They threw their nastiest men and their nastiest tricks at us. It’s our job to help others in our team. That’s why we’re a team. You did the same. You guided me through the prison to save Alejandro, you told me where to shoot. You did what I told you. You survived.”

“Heh… never knew you as the monologuing type of guy…”

Johnny’s head rested into Ghost’s hand. It was a nice feeling. The stubble on his cheek scratched his skin in a satisfying manner. Ghost was really starting to appreciate the closeness they had.

“God… Simon… I have such a bad headache…”

“Come here.” Ghost pulled him into the fabric covering his midsection. Johnny slowly wrapped his arms around his waist and nestled into the comforting hug.

“You’re nice and warm, Simon. I could stay like this forever.”

“No one’s stopping you, Johnny.”

[kiwiaok]

aftg is eating up my brain so badly, I have a constant stream of ideas and I’m shit at actually writing them but I need to get them out of my system bc it’s suffocating, so:

• an au where king and sir turn out to be shapeshifters so andreil magically acquire two spoiled kids

• andreil saying to each other ‘IU’ instead of ‘I hate you’ or ‘I love you’ or anything else. they use it in every kind of situation bc it’s the testament of how much they feel about each other and that’s more important to them than anything else. they’re fighting? IU (I hate you, I’m scared for you, I’m scared of how much power you have over me, I still want you to stay) they’re having sex? IU (I trust you, I love you, I’m going to take care of you, I’ll make you feel good) they’re breaking down? IU (I’ve got you, I’m here, I’m going to stay, I’m going to help best I can)

• a fic where neil dies in baltimore and we see the aftermath told from his perspective as a ghost: introspection, character study, cannibalism, polaroids, inspired by strangers by ethel cain:

• neil taking great pleasure in buying andrew expensive things and seeing him use them, not out of possessiveness but bc he truly just wants andrew to be happy and taken care of. and andrew learning to accept those gifts bc neil never wants anything in return, not even gratitude

• neil getting drugged at eden’s by some stranger and proceeding to glue himself to andrew’s side. the next day andrew is frustrated by that show of trust and he asks how neil could know that it wasn’t him doing the drugging. to which neil replies that he didn’t know that, but he knew that andrew wouldn’t drug him or let anyone touch him without a good reason. so it was okay, he just needed to trust andrew’s judgement and stick by him. and then andrew realising just how much faith neil has in him and having a breakdown about it

• after neil’s bad days, andrew spoons neil and keeps his hand wrapped around neil’s throat while they’re sleeping. it makes neil feel safe and grounded and makes andrew drunk on trust and control (bonus scene: foxes witnessing this one day and completely failing at understanding their dynamic)

• neil getting into a habit of spitting after his time at the nest bc riko used to spit into his mouth and make him swallow it as a power play. whenever neil remembers it the thought of any spit in his mouth, even his own, makes him sick. so he spits

• whenever aaron is on the edge of relapsing instead of telling anyone he just trails after andrew 24/7 bc he knows his brother won’t let him destroy his life

• tlou au where andrew is traveling the world in search of his twin brother and he’s hired to transport neil somewhere. meanwhile, they fall in love with each other and they find out andrew was supposed to deliver neil into his father’s hands (andrew promised neil safety and he refuses to break his promise so this becomes the first job andrew ever failed)

• andreil breaking up and neil desperately trying to prove to himself that he can move on so he takes the page from andrew’s books and starts sleeping around, but he only succeeds in hurting himself and feeling miserable (they get back in the end bc I need them to be happy)

• OH MY GOD HORNY KANDREIL CLASSICAL MUSIC AU!! kevin (and neil?) playing violin and drew being freakishly good at playing every instrument he ever touches but especially the piano. kev giving a performance and andreil sitting in the first row, neil getting a hard on bc kevin looks so good in his suit, with slightly greying hair combed back and passion burning in his eyes. andrew discretely edging him on, palming neil’s dick through the fancy suit’s material and keeping eye contact with kevin the whole time

AND SO MUCH MORE AAAAAA. this is insufferable, I’m writing fics in my head to fall asleep and then I’m waking up literally quoting aftg (genuinely happened last week, I felt like a lunatic) and then I’m going to uni and I spend every lecture thinking about how I can use my degree to better write about those stupid murderous college athletes. what kind of crack did you put in this series, nora?????

[yuusishi]

As much as I love Malleus and Lilia, I still hate what they did at the Halloween event. And then when Ace says at them for showing absolutely no remorse (they admitted they had overdone it, but Lilia still said "next time we'll be more careful") My requests: Reader gives those back at school a nasty snap for it at Diasomnia. Why couldn't the two normally ask for a party instead of doing something like that. Reader also tells Lilia that he should have stopped Malleus first instead of helping. That they just completely exaggerated. At the end, Reader says that they are very disappointed in the two of them. How do the two react?

Halloween’s Consequences

pairings: Malleus Draconia , Lilia Vanrouge x gn!Reader

genre: angst ? not really

cws/tws: ooc Lilia? (first time writing him)

a/n: This took me an unholy amount of time to do because I did NOT know how to write for Lilia, especially for something like this 😭

You watched everyone go back to their own dorms after finally getting to return to NRC, the only ones you stopped are the two fae responsible for all of this

"Don't even think about getting away after all that" your voice was stern and was evidently angry.

The two looked at you and was slightly shocked to see you genuinely angry for the first time, your eyebrows furrowed even more at the sight of both of their faces

"I'll start with you Malleus..."

Malleus Draconia !!

You gave him a big sigh as you held your forehead on your hand

You were just so disappointed in both of them

"Malleus, I understand that you sympathize with the ghosts for missing the big party we had here in NRC, but kidnapping students and putting the rest of them in danger is not the right thing to do!" you yelled.

Lilia attempted to calm you down but Malleus stopped him, Malleus's face had an expression of understanding and even shame in himself

"You could've brought the ghosts over to Diasomnia or even my dorm to have your own party for them for Seven's sake! It won't be comparable to the Halloween parade we had but it's better than what both of you did".

Malleus stayed silent the entire time you were giving him an earful, taking in everything you said for future reference while Lilia stared at both of you, helpless that he was letting his Young Master be scolded like this, especially because of him egging Malleus on.

"Child of Man, I was not aware that everyone would react that way towards the ghosts, I...I give my most sincere apologies towards you and the students of Night Raven College"

You sighed once again, unsure whether to accept the apology or not

"You don't need to apologize to me, Malleus, especially since I was safe the entire time. You need to apologize to everyone else for putting them in danger, that goes for you too, Lilia" your head snapped to face Lilia once you mentioned his name

"Now it's your turn..."

Lilia Vanrouge !!

Lilia readied himself for what's to come, your face still visibly angry despite taking 10 minutes to talk to Malleus

"Lilia, your job is to take care of Malleus and help him, and usually I respect you for that, but not in this situation!" you yelled, arms crossed in front of your chest.

Another one that keeps silent, maybe this is where Malleus got it from, he kept his head up and back straight but never really looking at you in the eye, it almost makes him look like he's spacing out

"Did you really think kidnapping students would be better than just sending them a simple invitation? You could've just told them that they were going to have an escape room as a party game in the Spectral Realm"

You didn't have the energy to be angry anymore, you were sounding more exhausted than anything

"As the vice dorm leader of Diasomnia, I admit that this was a large oversight of mine, Malleus and I shall take full responsibility for this.

But as Lilia Vanrouge, I'm sorry that the ghosts attacked your friends, like what Malleus said, we didn't expect your friends' reactions towards them. If there's anything we can do to compensate for it, we're up to it"

You sighed "Look, I'm not looking to punish you guys or anything, I'm just...incredibly disappointed and even a little shocked that you both thought this was a good idea".

——

Looking at the two with tired eyes, you continued "Tomorrow morning, I expect both of you to have apologized to all the students you dragged to the Spectral Realm".

After finishing you turned and left, too exhausted from the events of the last few hours (or days) to listen to what the two have to say.

Lilia and Malleus stood there unmoving, none attempting to catch up to you and defend themselves fully knowing that this was just the consequences of their actions catching up to them.

[reds-skull]

BLOOD||HUNGER

[PREV PART] [AO3]

The finale! Post script will be uploaded right after this, fair warning it's a damn long one lol

Thank you for reading this far, this chapter is called "Where All Permanence Rests". Enjoy!

Edit: I forgot to add the final poem before, it's fixed now!

Page 67 of the “Blooede Starvatfōre-dēde”, parable 18:

The village people, hearing of the hunter’s fall, Find before them, the Blind man and the Beast, Yet they do not look with malice, they do not fear, As the veil has been taken away, their eyes see truth, That this is no Beast, but a man. The Beast, the Cursed Man, He does not rejoice, for the Blind Man has seen him justly, When all saw a monster.

Isla,

I don’t think I’ve ever written an actual letter, like this. Certainly not in circumstances like these. But this is the most secure way to contact you. I shouldn’t talk to you at all, if we’re being honest, but… I couldn’t just leave without a word.

In the following weeks, or days (depending on when this letter will reach you), you will receive news that John MacTavish is dead. And for all intents and purposes, in all ways but physical, I am dead.

I’m writing this to apologize, and to thank you. 

Simon never thought he would return to Mexico by his own volition. Even before Soap, he refused to take jobs anywhere near Central America.

Only Johnny could give him enough strength to be here.

It also doesn’t hurt that they’re not here to fight the cartel.

“déjennos en paz!” a man screams further down the cobbled street. ‘Leave us alone.’ 

From the American-accented shouts that follow, the man’s pleas are ignored, “donte esta el Irani?!”

A woman joins the man, screaming that they don’t know. Simon continues sneaking past dark roofs. They can’t afford to attack just yet - their target has far too many soldiers in their disposal at the moment.

A couple of shots ring out, making his steps falter. The woman screams in anguish. He closes his eyes, attempting to not sink into the familiar embrace of cold indifference, like his instincts tell him to.

Being more than a weapon has its downsides.

“Ghost?”

“Johnny. Solid?” Simon answers on their private comm line, his partner’s voice relieving some of the uncomfortable ache cinching at his guts.

“Aye. Think I can see ye.”

He looks around for a moment, finding the red skull mask across several rooftops, crimson barely visible in the low light, “did you find any sign of the Vaqueros?”

Simon can almost feel Soap’s frustration from here, “negative. Only thing Ah’m seeing are American bastards and fucking corpses.” he grunts, “feels like the Hunter all over again…”

“Focus, Sergeant.”

“I am, LT.” he watches Soap’s form disappear between buildings, “gonna get on the ground, search for anyone we could rescue.”

“Copy, I’ll keep an eye on Graves.” Simon clicks off, knowing they both need the silence. 

I’m sorry I couldn’t be a better brother to you. That I couldn’t take my head out of my arse and simply live a normal life, be normal. I think I never learned how to. But you deserved better. Could you tell maw I’m sorry as well? I don’t think I’ll make it to Christmas in the next… However long I have left to live.

Don’t worry about me (I know you always do, and always will), this is why I wanted to thank you.

After you called, on the day I got the notice of the eviction… I realized I couldn’t do this anymore. Couldn’t pretend I was fine, couldn’t keep this same, soul-crushing monotony, day in, day out.

Laswell contacted them two days ago, asking them to land in Las Almas and keep an eye on an American PMC called “Shadow Company”. They came to Mexico to collaborate with Mexican Special Forces to capture an Iranian and his stolen missiles. On paper, the citizens of Las Almas shouldn’t have been involved at all.

Graves and his Shadows move to another building, where several men have been rounded and lined up against a wall.

Reality never seems to match what’s on paper, when it comes to wars.

The Shadows lift their rifles, and shoot the civilians.

They don’t know what made Graves turn. But that’s not Simon and Soap’s job to figure out. Their only interest is to minimize civilian life loss and rescue the Vaqueros, the Mexican soldiers the Americans betrayed.

A weak voice on the other side of the block catches his attention. Simon makes the split second decision to take his eyes off Graves and investigate.

“No- let her go!” a woman, a mother, screams at a Shadow ripping a child away from her.

The kid in his arms cries, “Mommy! Mommy!”

“What do you think you’re doing, I’m with the police-!”

Simon catches another soldier moving to shoot, and in a flash, he takes hold of two throwing knives, and buries them deep within the Shadows’ throats.

The policeman and his family look at the soldiers fall with horror and confusion. Simon jumps down, revealing himself.

“Find a vehicle, and get out of the city. The Americans are not going to stop until they find what they want.” he grounds, staring at the cop’s eyes.

The mother asks shakily, “what- why are they doing this-?!” but the cop pushes her and the child, nodding grimly to Simon.

He climbs back up not a moment later. A voice in his mind tells him this maneuver might’ve costed him his cover, but alongside it, Simon doesn’t feel regret. He has learned to appreciate any win, no matter how small. And for those people, it is not small.

So I ran. I can’t tell you to where. I can’t tell you what I found there.

But I can tell you who I met. He’s… fuck, how could I describe him?

He was such a cunt at first, you would’ve ripped him a new one. But I learned he was also running away, in his own way. That he’s been running for a long, long time. And when I met him, when we actually started working with each other…

I felt like I was alive for the first time in a year.

“Ghost” Johnny startles him from thought, “found a Vaquero. Yer…?”

“Sergeant Major Rodolfo Parra. Who are you?” a farther voice barely comes through the radio.

“Soap. Laswell sent us.”

“Kate Laswell? Are you with Shepherd?!”

Simon grinds his teeth, “we’re not under anyone’s command, Parra. Not military.”

“You’re… you’re mercenaries?” he can hear Parra curse under his breath, “is it just you two?”

“Aye” Soap answers, “Laswell hasn’t burned ye yet - she asked us to help ye.”

The Sergeant Major seems to sigh in relief, hopelessness coloring his next words, “I’m glad. Though… no.”

He sounds more assured when he speaks again, “my soldiers and Colonel have been captured by Graves. I’ll need any help I can get to rescue them.”

“You got it.” Simon rumbles, “any intel on their location?”

“Negative. Alejandro has a safe house outside the city, I might be able to find out if we get there.”

“Alejandro?” Soap asks.

“My Colonel.” Parra says, noticeably sadder than before.

“We’ll get him back, mate.” Soap attempts to comfort, “Ghost, still got eyes on Graves?”

Simon internally grimaces, “...negative. Had to help some civvies.”

He didn’t expect the pride in Johnny’s voice, but in hindsight he should’ve, “understood. Ye see the church tower from here?”

Simon looks at the far distance, a tall building lit by an orange glow towers over the city, “affirm. Lets RV there.”

“Aye. Keep yerself safe.”

“You too Johnny.”

I don’t know how, but I have the feeling me and him were meant to meet. Not in a soulmate kind of way… I’ve been feeling things like that a lot, since I ran. Like this is where I would’ve always ended up being.

You will not meet me again, most likely. Me and him… Just our presence will put you in danger. There’s a reason they had to kill us both on paper. Can’t tell you what we’re doing that required that, but you know I was never one to stick to things like “rules” and “laws”.

We’re not alone in this, we have allies, people that want to do good, but are stuck in a system that refuses to change to do that good. I wish you never experience the amount of evil truly festering this world, and we are fighting so you never will.

He begins combing the streets for Graves’s trail, mostly tuning out the conversation between Soap and the Sergeant Major. From what he does listen to, Graves’ betrayal seemed to come out of nowhere - they had successfully disarmed a missile not a day prior, having interrogated a cartel lord who aided the Iranian.

They were so close to finishing the mission. Which is why, when the Shadow commander turned around and stabbed them in the back, only Parra managed to shake off the shock and escape.

Graves is still on the hunt for the Iranian, convinced he’s hiding in Las Almas, while also searching for Rodolfo. It won’t look good for business if he can’t wrap up things cleanly, Simon muses darkly. He had enough encounters with PMCs in the past to know how they operate.

He eyes a group of Shadows standing around a couple of fresh bodies, all seemingly focused on their comms. 

After a few moments, one of them answers to whoever is ordering them, “I’m here with a few others, sir, we can go search the area for the Mexican.” the soldier pauses to hear the response, “yessir! Let’s go, they spotted him at the northern plaza!”.

The group instantly starts sprinting, Simon following while radioing to Soap, “Johnny, Shadows heading to the northern plaza, said someone saw Parra!”

He hears the Sergeant Major through Soap’s comms, “mierda!”

Simon has to jump over an alley when the roof he’s been running on ended, “I’m on my way to you, can you hold them?!”

Soap huffs in a way that tells him he has something up his sleeve, “we’ll smoke up the plaza, they don’t know Ah’m here.”

He can just imagine Johnny’s sharp grin under his mask, “going undercover, hm? A man after my own heart.”

“Always, Simon.” Johnny whispers, just for his ears. Simon ignores the way it makes a shiver go down his spine.

Up ahead, a plume of smoke rises between buildings. Soap leaves his comms on, letting Simon hear how Johnny takes hostiles down one by one, going quiet until his cover is blown.

In the streets below, more and more soldiers funnel towards the plaza. Simon grits his teeth, pushing his legs to run faster. He will not let Johnny enter a losing fight, not if he can help it.

The shooting abruptly stops, making his heart still. A few moments pass before he can hear Soap’s voice growling, “let him go.”

He can hear the Shadows laughing, a churning noise grating on his ears. Simon slows, keeping to the swaths of darkness.

A half circle of Shadows formed in the plaza, Parra and Soap facing them. In the center, a shadow holds a pistol to a young boy’s head.

Simon doesn’t even attempt to swallow down the disgust that rises in his throat.

“No can do, pal. Drop your weapon and give us the cowboy, or the kid gets hit.”

He drops behind the Shadows, knife slipping down his sleeve silently. With careful steps, he closes in on the center soldier, while Parra curses at them.

Over the soldier’s shoulder, he meets Johnny’s eyes. With no words, they communicate. He waits for Soap’s signal, watching his Sergeant lower himself. To the Shadows, it seems like he’s bending down to place his SMG on the ground, but Simon can almost feel the tension coiling within Soap’s muscles, readying himself to fight.

“Alright, Alright!” Soap shouts, “I’m dropping my gun, just let the boy go.”

Johnny nods minutely. Simon strikes.

In a motion he’s done a million times before, the knife swings in an arc before burrowing into the Shadow’s neck. Simon doesn’t waste any time pushing the body aside, grabbing the young boy and pulling him back.

Soap snarls, righting his gun and spraying bullets to his left, clearing a path for him to take the kid and shove him into cover.

He swings around, ducking under a hostile’s incoming knife, unsheathing one of his own and easily stabbing it into the underside of his jaw. He throws it at another attacking soldier, noticing Soap and Parra being pushed back into a corner.

One of them gets the jump on Soap, the two falling to the ground in a struggle. His heart leaps to his throat, where it shouts, ‘Johnny!’

Simon takes a rifle off of a body, inhales to steady his breath.

Focuses his rage on the targets and shoots.

He drops the gun, rushing to Soap. The bodies on the ground don’t move.

A fast-paced chant screams in his mind ‘where is Soap is he broken is he dead have you failed him-’ 

“Ngh… Steamin’ Jesus, this fucker’s heavy.” Johnny grumbles, shoving the body covering his off.

Simon stares at him for a moment, before dropping to his knees and pulling him up. He searches for injuries on Soap’s body before two gentle hands stop him.

“Ah’m good, mo chridhe. Solid.” Johnny’s hands don’t let go, instead caressing his bloody palms.

An unexpected wave of emotion crashes into him, filling his lungs with warmth. He doesn’t know if it was the split second moment where he thought Johnny might be dead, or the gentle way he’s now comforting him, somehow always knowing when he’s panicked.

Maybe it’s all of it, that makes Simon blurt out, “I love you.”

And Johnny, despite having the majority of his face covered, looks up at him with so much care, blue eyes almost glowing behind the red mask.

Those eyes crescent with joy, Johnny pushing his forehead to bump against Simon’s in affection.

“I love ye too, Simon.”

And Simon finds himself thinking, that this is what he was meant to be.

Fighter.

Human.

Loved.

I’ll be trying to write as much as possible, but if this is the only letter you’ll ever get…

Just know that if I died, I went down fighting, and I went down with him. And I couldn’t have been happier with the way I lived.

I love you so, so much.

-J.M.

Page 100 of the “Blooede Starvatfōre-dēde”, parable 20:

Where is your destination, now that the curse has been lifted, The Blind Man asks, with nothing but kindness on his tongue. I have no place to belong to, the once-Beast answers, Nowhere, but the path I walk with you, my fallen knight. Then we shall travel together, until we return to the earth, And perhaps, if God is to be so merciful, The paths we take will always, and forevermore, Be only by the side of the other.

[sleepyghostcats]

Engraved in the Sea (Neteyam x reader) part 4

Ghosted for a week, now I’m back, enjoy :) 

---

"Ow," Neteyam whined again, and you closed your eyes.

"I am never calling you a mighty warrior again if this is how you act to salve," You replied, though you did loosen your grip on his jaw.

Neteyam glared but let you continue your work, easing the ointment onto his cut and bruises.

You let the silence wash over you two, not saying anything when he twitched against your touch.

"This stuff works well," Neteyam said, breaking the silence with a sigh, "the ache is already gone."

You smiled, "It's the strong stuff."

"Did you nick it from the healers?" he asked, and you tilted his head slightly to the side.

"It's my stash," You stated, digging your finger in the bowl once more, "Had some nasty wounds in the past, from jobs and stuff."

Neteyam's eyes flicked over your face, and you stared at him for a moment before saying, "You're allowed to ask, you know."

"I won't be crossing a line if I do?" He asked

You shrugged, "it's the first thing people see when they look at me. I get asked a lot."

His eyes narrowed, "But does it bother you when they do?"

You thought about it for a moment, the scar feeling tight across your skin, "I don't mind if it's you asking."

He gave you a small smile before bringing up his hand and gently running a finger across the scar. You let him, much to your surprise, let your eyes close as you mentally followed the trail of his finger.

"If you are comfortable telling me, how'd it happen?" Neteyam asked, letting his hand drop.

"Ao'nung and Tsierya," You said, and his eye's winded in surprise, "I was protecting them from what we call an akula."

"An Akula?"

"The largest predator in this area, has a ridiculous amount of teeth," You said, grimacing, "One crossed our reef barrier, and my siblings and I were in the area. It spotted them first."

"You interfered to save them," Neteyam frowned when you nodded, "Were you scared?"

You huffed out a laugh, "Oh, I was terrified. I thought I was going to die. Instead, I got this jagged thing," You guested to your face.

"But that's what we do as older siblings, right?" You gave him a small smile," I'd do anything for them in a heartbeat, even if I'm only saving them and there is no one to do the same for me."

Your last words stuck in Neteyam's head, oh how familiar they sounded, doing anything for your family. How often has he taken the blame for his siblings or gone out of his way to keep them safe? Heck, he's sitting here with you because of the bruises he got defending his siblings. Hearing someone else going through the same thing was both sad and comforting.

"Always protecting our families," was all Neteyam could say in return.

You looked him in the eyes for a moment, trying to read his thoughts, and as you watched his flicker over your face, you could tell he was doing the same.

Neteyam let out a slight flinch when your hand slid over his shoulder and tapped his shoulder blade.

"Is that where you got this from?" You said it took him a moment to realize you meant the fresh scars that stretched across his skin.

"Explosion," Your eyes winded at the blunt statement before Neteyam clarified, "Lo'ak doesn't know when to listen, went into the field, and an explosion set off next to us."

"It must be scary, being in a war," You commented.

Neteyam shrugged, "They brought the war to us. We're just defending our home."

"What's it like? The forest?" Neteyam smiled at the curious glint in your eye.

Neteyam tried to ignore the ache in his chest when he thought about his home, "It's beautiful. Everything felt so connected. It didn't matter where in the forest I was. I still felt at home, happy."

You didn't need to ask if he missed it. The longing look on his face was enough.

You sighed and brought yourself closer. Crossing your legs, Neteyam followed suit. His breath hitched when you gently grabbed his hands and got them into your lap, running your thumb over his knuckles.

"I hope one day it does not hurt you so much to think about the forest," You said, squeezing his hands, "And that in time, you'll feel at home here."

You looked away for a moment, for the air started to feel heavy. His hands felt so warm. They have callouses like yours, small scars littering across them. One hand was bruised from the punches earlier. You wanted to hold his hands for as long as you could, and your heartbeat picked up when he squeezed them back. Taking a deep breath, you looked at him again, putting on a brave face and ignoring the tingling sensation in your fingertips.

"Neteyam," You started before closing your eyes and taking another breath," So much has changed for you and your family. I'm here for you if you ever need someone to talk to about anything."

"You're so busy keeping everyone else safe," You thought about what you said earlier, "So I'll try to be there to save you when you need someone."

Neteyam generally wondered if his mind would always blank after you did something like this. So many times, you've left him speechless, and this wasn't an exception. In fact, no, this was worse because he felt heat rushing to his face and his heart beating heavily in his chest. He's never had this feeling before, such comfort from someone other than his family.

"I could say the same to you," His voice felt caught in his throat, but he pushed to speak, "We'll look after each other?"

You grinned and gripped his hands tighter, "Mighty warriors."

Neteyam laughed, and a braid fell across his face. Without thinking, you brushed it behind his ear, and both of you froze. Now the air was tense and you needed to do something quickly.

Clearing your throat, you sprung up, stretching your legs before offering a hand to Neteyam, pulling him to his feet, "Right, we should go find the others." The sully boy nodded, "Yeah, we should see if they've made up."

You hummed and started grabbing at your ointments when an idea hit you. You didn't want this moment with Neteyam to end just yet, "Wait,"

Neteyam paused and turned to you, "There is something I wanted to show you unless you want to wait for another day?"

Neteyam looked at you and then in the direction where he was about to leave. He didn't want this moment to end either, and if you were willing to put your days' jobs on hold for him, he could do the same, even just for a little.

He nodded, braids swinging as he did so, "Alright, let's do it."

You smirked and walked past him, nudging his shoulder as you did, "You're hair is very dramatic, you know, has a mind of its own." Neteyam scoffed, shoving your shoulder back, "No, it doesn't"

"You hit Lo'ak in the face with it the other day."

"Shit, did I?"

He grinned as you let out a boisterous laugh. ---

Neteyam looked around the reef as you slipped off your ilu and glided into the water. He waited until your head popped back up to the surface before asking. "Why are we out here?"

Near the edge of the reef, the area around them appeared vacant.

"Don't worry, we are still within the barrier, so we are safe," You shrugged, "safe-ish."

Neteyam looked skeptical before you swam closer and held your hand to him.

"Don't trust me?" You said teasingly, a smirk forming when he finally gave in and took your hand, letting you pull him into the water.

"You know I do," Your eyes widen in surprise, but you say nothing as he continues, "Just don't want to drown out here."

"Then get ready to take a deep breath," You stated, already calming down your movements, "the ilus are too restless down there. It will just be us."

You thought for a moment before shifting to move right next to him, "Stay right next to me and if you want to back out at any point, give me the sign, and we'll leave."

Neteyam nodded and copied you as you took one final deep breath before diving into the water.

You glanced to your side and smiled as he swam next to you. Your arms glided through the water in powerful strokes as you both descended closer to the bottom of the sea. Neteyam followed you, copying some of your movements as you led him through a gap in the rocks.

Already the sight in front of him was stunning. The deeper they went, the brighter everything seemed—the flora flowing with the currents. Neteyam watched as you paused and signaled him to wait too. You swam around a bend for a few moments, leaving him to take in his surroundings.

Moments later, he jolted when he felt something brush against his shoulders and turned to see you grinning at his reaction. He was about to send you a sign complaining he could have choked until he saw a gill mantel in your hands. Allowing the creature to connect with neteyam, he nodded thanks, feeling better about not having to hold his breath.

He was surprised when instead of swimming ahead, you instead grabbed his hand, which was surprisingly not tricky to do when swimming, for you glided through the space. After a while, you finally stopped swimming, peering around the corner of the rocky beds before turning to him.

You signed to him, 'Close your eyes for a moment.'

While the request was odd, his curiosity got the better of him, so he did as you asked.

He let you guide him around the corner and bring him to where he needed to be. After feeling your hand squeeze his arm as an okay, he opened his eyes.

Paintings. So many pictures and drawings of all colors and sizes were embedded across the rocks, seeming to glow on their own, shining brightly. Neteyam stared in awe at sight, and you couldn't stop the feeling of pride that rushed through you for being the one to show him.

Neteyam couldn't help but swim closer, taking in bits of the art at once. Pictures of the Metkayina doing all sorts of celebrations, hunting, dancing, and ceremonies. Your village's history is laid out on the rocks, with views of the Tulkun alongside the Na'vi. Neteyam smiled when he looked closer at the figures and saw how they depicted you and your family.

He turned to you and pointed to this particular picture.

You signed to him, 'it was from our last reunion.'

He pointed to another, and you smiled, 'the day I was chosen to lead the hunting party out of the reef,' You thought back to how happy you were at that moment, the proud look in your sibling's eyes and the assurance from your parents.

'The moment the village saw me as more than a child, as a leader.' You continued.

Neteyam nodded and turned back to the wall, unable to look away. It was all so clear, all their lives engraved into the walls forever.

'Who did this?' He signed.

'My soul sister and I wanted these stories to be a part of the sea.' You signed, 'forever here, to cherish and learn from.'

Neteyam couldn't describe what he felt at that moment, but as he stared at the stories in front of him, he felt as if he was there for all of these moments. ' What do you think?' You couldn't help but ask.

Neteyam glanced at you and then at the paintings, looking back to one of you with the Tulkun. 'It's breathtaking.' ---

The first thing you did after emerging back to the surface was take a mouthful of water, as Neteyam tackled your shoulders.

"Ugh, Neteyam, what the heck!" You sputtered and shoved him, "I show you my spot, and you try to drown me!"

He laughed and shook your shoulders, "That was incredible. I can't believe you made that."

"It wasn't just me," You replied, still hacking up water, "My soul sister creates stories and art. It's her gift."

You signaled for the ilus, ensuring Neteyam was secured in his before getting on yours.

"Can we go back there sometime?" Neteyam asked eagerly.

"I'm glad you liked it," You couldn't help but chuckle, "Of course, anytime you want to get away, we can come here. It's meant to be seen, after all."

"There were so many," Neteyam commented, still sounding in awe, "Can you tell me about some more?"

You hummed, thrilled that he was happy, "Alright, where would you like me to start?" ---

The two of you had arrived back at the village not long after the eclipse, having spent the last few hours just talking and enjoying the company of one another.

"Spider knocked two teeth out when he did that stunt," Neteyam continued with his story, and you jumped on the deck and took off the saddle of your ilu.

"Two teeth!" You winced, "At least his mask didn't break. Do they really need to wear them everywhere?"

Neteyam hummed in agreement, and you whistled, "Damn, they must smell terrible."

Your laughter died down when you turned to face the deck fully and came face to face with your brother.

He was with his friends, but they all were looking anywhere but at the two of you. You could tell something was wrong from here as Ao'nung's eyes flickered to Neteyam and you. You nudged Neteyam's shoulder, getting him to turn away from his ilu.

"All of you besides Ao'nung, leave now, "You stated, "He will talk with us alone."

They meekly nodded and walked off, allowing you to step closer to your brother, "What has happened?"

Ao'nung hesitated for a moment, eyes flicking between the two of you. You frowned.

"What happened?" This time it was Neteyam who asked.

Your eyes cast over his bruise from earlier, and the realization hit you, "Lo'ak went to apologize to you. Where is he?"

Neteyam's eyes widened as the dread settled in, "Where is my brother?" ---

"I can send out another search party," You stated to Jake and Neytiri, "We don't have any looking north side, so I'll get one there now."

After Ao'nung told you and Neteyam what happened to Lo'ak, Neteyam dragged your brother to Jake while you cooled off. Beyond furious with your brother for such a stupid idea, especially after what happened to you and your siblings not even a year prior.

You informed your parents, and soon the entire village was looking for the young Sully boy, getting more agitated as time passed. Feeling helpless, you had gone to talk to the Sullys.

Jake nodded, "I'll go with them; Neytiri can search from the sky."

"In the dark?" You commented, crossing your arms, "If that's the case, we won't see him till morning."

Before either could reply, Hollars sounded out shouts of Lo'ak's name. You sighed in relief, "They found him."

The two, however, had already raced past you to their son.

Everyone started to surround them, and they watched the Sullys scan the boy for injuries. You watched as Neteyam hugged him before your father stepped forward, your brother in toll.

As you headed over you caught the last of Lo'ak words coming in defense of your brother. Ao'nung raised his head in surprise, and so did you.

You were relieved that Lo'ak was unscathed, but you were still upset with them. You pulled your brother to stand up and whispered in his ear, "I don't care that he took the blame, give him a proper apology later."

Ao'nung meekly nodded and went to follow Lo'ak. Glancing back to the other sully's you listened as Neytiri and Jake confronted Neteyam.

"Where were you?" Neytiri asked her son, who remained quiet.

"Yeah," Jake said, voice stern, "What happened to looking out for your brother, huh?"

"I'm sorry, sir," Neteyam replied, looking his dad in the eyes, but he couldn't help as his head dipped in defeat. He spent the day doing something for himself, and look what happened.

His ears perked up when he heard your voice, "That was my fault. I needed some help with jobs this afternoon."

Jake and Neytiri turned to you, and you stood tall and firm, "I lost track of time. It's not his fault."

The two looked at each other before Jake sighed, "Alright, Lo'ak is safe. That's all that matters."

You nodded, "I'm glad he's safe. Goodnight."

Neteyam looked like he went to say something, but you subtly shook your head. Right now, you both had to be the ones to take accountability. With that in mind, you walked off. ---

Neteyam couldn't sleep, as if his eyelids had been glued open. He can't say the same about the rest of his family, who were fast asleep. Jake and Neytiri had moved in the night to be closer to Lo'ak, the night's events still fresh in their minds.

Neteyam sighed. He wanted to talk to you, to thank you for everything you did for him today. Taking the blame, showing him your spot, breaking up the fight, and giving him salve as you let him talk about anything and everything.

He's never had one person take over his mind so quickly and so much at once. It was starting to feel ridiculous. With a groan in frustration, he sat up and quietly stalked out of the tent, heading straight to the healers.

In the short time he's been here, he's noticed you have several places you like to work in before residing for the night, staying up late in the dark while everyone else had already fallen asleep. He silently prayed that tonight would be one of those.

He stood straighter when seeing a small light gleaming from the healers' section. Peering in to find you crouched on the floor, you weren't doing anything else this time. Simply watching the flames flicker, upon hearing his arrival, you glanced at him and patted the seat next to you.

It took Neteyam a moment before realizing, "You knew I'd come to find you."

"It's been a long day," Was all you said in reply.

He nodded and planted himself down beside you. Both are watching the fire now.

He brought his knees up to rest his arms, "Thank you for everything today."

You hummed, "You're welcome. I enjoyed spending it with you, before the lost brother crisis."

You thought about what you showed Neteyam with the paintings, and you couldn't help but ask, "Can you tell me more about the forest? About your time there?"

"Of course, what do you want to know? ," Neteyam asked as you leaned back and closed your eyes. "All of it."

[kai-anderson-whore]

Sweet serial killer (James patrick march x fem reader)

Summary: you are a ghost of the hotel cortez since 2019 and you only just heard of devil's night

Warnings: mentions of murder, serial killers

A/n: this was rubbish I had it in my drafts for a month or so

You walked into the elevator of the hotel cortez these same walls you walked through since 2019 where you were killed by your boyfriend.

You had both gotten into a huge fight about him cheating on you and he killed you not knowing that you would still be roaming the hotel he planned to stay for a day to clean up the mess but he also never got to leave because of what you did to him.

During your time in the cortez you became friends with Sally a heroine addict who died in the 90s when iris pushed her out the window.

The countess was also fond of you, you both would have late night drinks at the bar till all hours in the morning since you were both well dead you never felt it the next morning.

You would often have a girls night with liz and the countess with glasses of bubbly and having a laugh, but one night you had an invite to something devil's night making you frown your brows.

"Hey liz" you said by the bar gaining her attention "yes dear?" She asked cleaning a glass in her hand "What's devil's night here james invited me" you asked you had met James patrick march before numerous of times.

"Well well well you my dear must be doing a very impressive job here if u got an invite" she chuckled if you were alive she probably would have been frightened but since you were dead she wasn't.

"A good job of what I haven't done anything" you laughed confusingly liz only shrugged "go ask him maybe he'll tell you" she said you finished the last of your drink before going to James's room to asked him.

Walking through the abandoned floor of the cortez made you feel nervous you only been to this floor once when you first died but hadn't returned.

Finally you made it to his room it was empty "James?" You called looking around the room it was still relatively clean for an abandoned room you walked into it spotting the old record player it reminded you of the one that was handed down in your family for years.

"Ah y/n for what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you today" the bright voice of James march beamed behind you  giving you a bit of a fright "James can I ask you something" you asked making him raise an eyebrow at you.

"Of course" he replied.

"What's devil's night?".

"Ah devil's night you have been in my hotel for what three years almost four and you still hadn't heard of devil's night" he chuckled you felt a bit embarrassed not knowing what it was at all "well my dear devil's night is the one night a year I get the best serial killers and have well a get together" he shrugged.

Now you were even more confused you weren't a serial killer at all yes you killed one or two people but not enough to make you one.

"But why did I get an invitation I'm not a serial killer" you asked handing him the invite he took it in his hands

"Well you see y/n I'd like you to accompany me to my event plus Elaine would love to have another female there" he said.

"So like a date?" You hesitantly asked making him chuckle "well if that's the way you want to put it yes like a date" he said.

A few days later it was finally devil's night you and James grew a bit more closer those past few days and even accompanied him on his kills.

"I'm nervous liv how is this" you asked straightening you dress "you look incredible" she smiled touching up your red lipstick soon enough it was time for you to go to the room where the event will be in.

You walked into the room to find people already there eyes on you "well well well who do we have here" a woman said smirking walking up to you "I'm Elaine wuornos" she introduced "I'm y/n y/l/n" you smiled.

"I'm John Wayne gacey and thanks Jeffrey dahmer" the other man introduced 'shit is this really happening' you thought.

"Come sit next to me dollface" Elaine said she was Flirting with you "no Elaine we sit at our assigned sets and y/n is next to me" James said appearing out of no where "Hey suck my left tit Clarke gable" she laughed you couldn't help but laugh aswell.

"Now everyone is here let's begin" James said Elaine put on a record 'fade into you by mazzy star' playing it was one of your favourite songs she and Richard were dancing.

"You alright dear your not scared are you?" James asked you shook your head "No not at all they're nice" you shrugged despite what they had done, but to you they were welcoming.

"John old chap how are we" James beamed getting up to greet the last guest to arrive

"Great" John replied.

James handed you a glass of absinth you took a sip almost gagging at the taste 'how the fuck can they drink this?' You thought.

The night went smoothly you chatted with the notorious serial killers dahmer was shy, Elaine teased him that he had a thing for John.

Soon enough it was time for dessert which you didn't know meant that you had to kill someone, sure now with the help from James you were a serial killer a dead one.

Miss evers brought someone into the room "thank you Miss evers" James said pulling his knife out wiping it with a napkin "y/n since it's your first devil's night shall you do the honours?" James asked handing you his knife "Okay" was all you said.

Elaine put on a new record for the third time tonight all eyes were on you now waiting to see what you would do.

You took the knife plunging it into the person's neck almost killing them instantly everyone else joined in taking turns with their usual methods of killing

James called miss evers to clean up as the guys bet their goodbyes soon after leaving you and James "I'm impressed you got on so well with everyone dear" he said A cigarette in hand

He offered you one which you accepted "well I guess I'm one of you now" You chuckled

"A sweet serial killer" James smiled

_________________________________________

[captain-mj]

It’s been a while, may I kindly ask for more monster handler? 🥺🥺

Sure! The rest of it is on ao3! Here is the link

This is the start of the end! Finally wanting to wrap this bad boy up. Super short because I am still raw dogging writers block rn

Ghost sat on his roof at night like usual. He heard the flap of wings and quickly glanced back. That wasn't Alex.

Graves stood there, wings pinned against his back. "Hey. Saw you up here."

Ghost stared at him, mouth immediately twisting. "Ah. Hi."

Graves perched nearby. "I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"I was introduced the way I was. Price explained some stuff to me. Nothing personal, just that he was your handler. I know how... important that can be. And how isolating being like this can be at the best of times." Graves sighed and stayed standing, wings fluttering softly.

Ghost tilted his head. "Have you had... issues?"

"I was told I was getting a vaccine and woke up tied up and with fucking wings. Yeah, I've had fucking issues. Left the military immediately."

"How?"

"How what?"

"How did you get out?" Ghost looked up at him.

Graves shrugged. "One day, I just... left. I got ready and during a mission, I simply never went to exfil. Only way to really escape this ya know?"

Ghost frowned. "You deserted?"

"There is no end. If they didn't want me to desert, they would've given me a choice. A way out. I would've stayed a lot longer if I knew one day I could retire."

Ghost shook his head. "I would never."

Graves nodded. "Then you'll die in service. No shame either way. Least not from me." He nodded. "I hope you find peace from what ever you're dealing with." He simply walked off the roof and went straight down.

Ghost would never. He'd die for the military. In battle. Soap by his side. Soap made everything better. Easier.

Then six years later, Ghost was tired again. And unlike last time, it was not the type of tired where he hoped the next bullet wouldn't miss or he'd tear apart. It was the type of tired where he simply wanted to lay in the bed he had at Soap's place and sleep. Then get up and make himself tea and Soap coffee.

Regularly, he found himself imagining life where he was just... him. Not a civilian, but not a soldier either. The idea weighted on him, but it was addicting. He found himself returning to it again and again

Soap noticed, of course he did. He smiled at him, a crisp 30 now. He looked a little more aged, but still so full of energy. His hands went through Ghost's hair and gently stroked his tufts. "What's wrong, Simon?"

Simon didn't have an answer. Soap was his handler and his lover and his best friend and he just... wasn't sure how to explain to him that being his house husband was sometimes all he wanted. To keep the house clean and just... rest after years of being the best soldier he could be. It didn't help that he knew it was impossible.

Soap sighed. "When you're ready to talk about it, tell me, yeah?"

"I will. I promise. Just.... need to get my head straight first."

"That's my job. Taking care of you." Soap kissed his forehead, featherlight. He knew exactly what to do each time. How to keep Ghost feeling secured.

During their next mission, the thought consumed him. He could just walk away. Be assumed dead.

Should he tell Soap first? Or surprise him when he comes on leave?

What about Price? They had since mended their friendship, but Price was still a Captain. Would he tell?

Would Soap?

Would he be dragged back? Forced to keep doing this? Missions and fighting and watching his body mend less and less human.

Alex would one day.

Alejandro might not, but he didn't have to. He hadn't been marked down as a monster in years.

Sorry.

"ESU"

Ghost sighed and took down the target.

Soap smiled at him.

Not today.

Not... Not this mission.

[aziraphales-library]

hello lovely mods!! this blog is amazing, i really appreciate how hard you work. do you know any fics where crowley is just really possessive/protective over aziraphale?

Hi! We have looooads of fics already recommended on our #protective crowley tag so make sure to check those out. Here are some where Crowley is more possessive...

Oh, not again by HolyCatsAndRabbits (G)

"Now, why ever would you insinuate that I might possibly do something about the fact that there is a man hitting on my husband?"

Know Your Worth by MyFirstAndLastVow09 (NR)

Crowley spends his days with his angel, helping him (or mostly lounging) Aziraphale in the bookstore, having lunches, dinners, etc., with him. In general, life after the Notpocalypse was going, in Aziraphale’s words, tickety-boo.

Until, a certain archangel decided to make a appearance.

In Crowley’s opinion, fuck that guy.

Long Live the King by StarlightPhoenix (M)

During the stand-off against Satan, Adam had done something. Satan never returned, and Hell had no King.

Beelzebub had no choice but to go to Crowley, Serpent of Eden, and offer him the Throne.

Crowley had no choice but to accept, knowing it would keep him and Aziraphale safe.

All hail the Serpent of Eden.

Surpassing All the Stars by KannaOphelia (M)

There was a faint tracing of scales along the woman's cheekbones, tracing down her thin arms and lean thighs. The nipples on her pale, almost flat breasts were dark as night. Fiery red curls fell over dagger-sharp shoulders sprayed gently with more black scales, and the golden eyes were wide and snake-like. The woman was beautiful, but hardly human.

"Crawly," the woman said with disgust. "Was that the best you could do, angel?"

"I said I didn't have much imagination." Aziraphale's lips were heavy, and she was almost sure she wasn't forming the words properly. There was some kind of spell over her, holding her almost immobile. The venom must have been paralytic. If she had been human, she supposed she would have been dead. Her corporation didn't like it much either. "What name would you prefer I use for you?"

The stranger tipped her head on one side, considering. "Crowley?"

Aziraphale almost laughed. The whole situation was simply too irritating. If she was to die now, at the hands of some local deity, the paperwork hardly bore thinking about. And her precious work on Sappho's poetry, gone.

"Crowley, then. You're a nymph of some kind, I take it?"

Dark Water I: Dark Story by UnproblematicMe (M)

Anthony J. Crowley lives the careless life of a rich man’s son. A jack of all trades, he has tried his hand in many jobs, but nothing could hold his interest for a long time. So it’s not unusual for him to take a new job because of a cute blonde guy who needs his help.

Aziraphale Fell runs a Youtube Channel with his friends Anathema and Newt. When they need a new camera man, he accepts the offer of a handsome skeptic he meets at a party. Specialised in ghost hunting, Aziraphale has seen his fair share of strangeness. But things are about to get much stranger.

Waking Up Married by Caedmon (E)

"So you’re telling me that my options are either to convince this man I just met and drunkenly married to stay married to me for six months or lose two thirds of a billion pounds?”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you,” Fergus said.

“Fucking shit,” Crowley spat.

He hung up the phone and stared at it for a moment before rubbing his eyes with his fists. Now his job would be twice as hard. He needed to talk Aziraphale into staying married for six months. Should he try begging or bribing? This was a huge ask, and Aziraphale would be well within his rights to tell Crowley to fuck off. But Crowley was prepared to offer him pretty much anything, up to half of the trust, if that’s what it took. He didn’t care.

But that was only part of his concern. Even if he got insanely lucky and Aziraphale agreed to stay legally married to him for the next six months, how the hell was he going to talk Aziraphale into dating him during that time? And was it foolish to even try?

One thing at a time, he decided. First, he needed to convince Aziraphale to stay legally married to him. Then he could set about wooing his husband. He hoped.

- Mod D

[tobiasdrake]

Finally, we're off to sea. If that's what you call this.

You know, this just occurred to me. If Patches has to keep his eyes shut to use his magic, how do we navigate? Like. Is it someone's job to rotate him? Take him by the shoulders and turn him left or right?

In any case, at least we're on our-- Hey, where the hell is Teaks? Did she miss the boat or fall overboard? Or was she the only one of us with enough good sense to go, "Hahaha nope, I'll wait for the next one."

I'd heard that no one ever returns but I'd just assumed the Dweller of Woe was eating them or something. Are they. Like. Community building instead? That'd be weird.

Kind of, then. It's like a psychic ranch. She keeps people as livestock and occasionally takes them out to slaughter.

Oh shit yes. Can we board it now? Trade in this dinghy for the spoils of our conquest? TELL ME we can do this side quest!

Aww, I wanted it to be ours now. But okay. Fine. We can do my thing first. Pout.

Hold up, how can the night be everlasting if we're expecting an eclipse? Night isn't what happens when the moon is present; It's what happens when the sun is absent. The moon has no authority over the night and day cycle, and is in fact frequently in the sky during day.

You cannot have an eclipse without a sun in the sky. The sky doesn't work that way.

Is the eclipse going to, like, magically pierce it somehow? Because, again, you can't have an eclipse during perpetual night.

Well, I guess if it's a lunar eclipse, you can. Those are pretty common.

You know, I kinda expected you guys to pull up close and make us swim the rest of the way while you hightailed it away from Psychic Cattle Farm Island. Surprised you were willing to stick your necks out like this.

Means a lot to me. I will try not to let you get eaten by the Dweller.

T_T I'm sorry I made fun of your stupid raft. This is really touching and now I want to be besties forever.

Guess we should set up camp and figure out--

TEAKS!

She did wait for the next boat. Or she swam. One or the other.

It's great to have you with us, Teaks. I'm sorry if you end up doomed forever because of it.

There are illusionary treasure chests hiding ghost ambushes. I hate this--

Oh. Pardon me. These are woodland spirits. Illusionary treasure chests hiding gaea's vengeance. The metaphysical consciousnesses that guide the natural order of our world want me dead for some reason. Can't imagine wh--

...okay, so perhaps I have not always been the most reverent of Solstice Warriors. We may have gotten off on the wrong foot. But. It doesn't have to be that way. I believe that, with maturity and grace, we can learn to understand each other and-- RANDOM BULLSHIT GO.

HAHAHA GOT 'EM. Test me, fuck-os.

You know, this is a nice little town the cattlefolk have made for themselves. We've got electric lighting. Nice homes. You almost don't even notice the gloom.

There's even transparent ghost people wandering near their graves! That's great. It means when the Dweller eats once of your loved ones, they come right back to you lickity-split.

You know, I was wondering. I figured there was some sort of low-level psychic barrier that just convinces everyone to stay, but no. It's threat of force. Everyone lives here in uncertainty wondering when the Dweller will summon them to be devoured, but if you try to leave then you're summoned immediately.

Denial? Your bar is denial? That's pretty clever, honestly. Points for that.

GARL NO

Do not give these people hope. They have no ability to influence what's about to happen in any way. If we win then they'll be free to go whether they knew it was coming or not, but if we lose then they'll be crushed by false promises. Hype is an insidious monster that strangles reality in its bed.

Let's just kill what we came to kill, and then we can start talking about it. It isn't news until it actually happens.

There's something about this place. Like. A commentary on the way we use escapism to distract from the hopelessness of living in a world that seems to be getting worse by the day. People meeting at The First Stage of Grief to share fictions of what they want their lives to be like, it resonates with our moment in time.

This place is really interesting.

Hold up, the squiddy on the end of Patches's staff is alive? I honestly thought that was a woodcarving.

Yeah, I have nothing to add to that. This place is a sobering reminder that action and glory are meant for something. In all seriousness, the end-goal shouldn't be the enrichment of the self, but of society.

An organization that claims ownership of violence for "the greater good" must always be cognizant that what they are doing is for the betterment of people's lives. Not of "society" as a whole even, but specifically, "Is the service I'm providing making people happier?"

[freementallyillkid]

Jinx x Caitlyn’s younger sister

(not my gif)

( This is in an AU where no one dies because I said so) +TW: Mylo makes one inappropriate joke ig

Word count:1,858

You remember the day Vander took you in. You got into a bad fight with your parents and ran out the front door, Caitlyn tried to stop you, but you were young and upset. Soon you got lost and found yourself at the bridge between Piltover and The Lanes though it was covered in blood and the dead people were fighting everywhere.

Tears streamed down your face as you looked at the horrifying sight before you instantly regretting leaving your house. Hudling against one of the pillars trying to hide from everything when a tall strong looking man with two other kids attached to him all three of them looked ruffed up and dirty. He looked you over taking note of your fancy clothes, “What are you doing here little one?”

Sniffling, you explain, “I got into a fight with my parents and ran away…”

He looks down at you with sad eyes, “So ya want me to take ya back?”

Shaking you head vigorously, “No, please”

He sighs and appears to be thinking about something glancing at the two other kids. A girl that looked about your age with blue hair resting on his hip and an older girl that looked about Caitlyn’s age with pink hair holding the man's hand both of them looking at you. “How would you like to come home with me and these two?” Think about it for a moment if you didn’t go with this man then you would have nowhere to go and you didn’t want to go home, so you nod and stand up.

He smiled, “Alright I’m Vander this is Vi,” He points to the pink hair girl, “and this is Powder.” The blue haired girl gives you a little wave which you return.

“I’m Y/n”

“Nice to meet ya Y/n can you take Vi’s hand then we can go home?” He asks. Nodding again you take Vi’s hand and the four of you start walking into the Lanes.

Time skip (3 months)

You were sitting on the couch next to Powder your head resting on her shoulder while she drew and Mylo who you met shortly after arriving along with Claggor was telling you about the latest ‘job’ they went on. Claggor was cleaning his goggles and Vi was sitting in a chair watching Powder with a slight smile.

In the few months that you’ve been living in the lanes you’ve grown close to everyone, but especially Powder most likely because you were so close in age, but also because she was so nice and she liked showing you her inventions and drawings.

Powder nugged your arm pointing at her drawing. It was a picture of everyone, but you took notice that you and Powder were the only ones holding hands, “Hey N/n the storys not over yet.” Mylo said, making you lookup.

“Sorry Mylo.” You said nodding for him to continue smiling for a different reason, your face feeling a bit hot as well. From the corner of your eye you could see Vi and Claggor chuckle silently sharing a look.

Time skip 6 years (you and Powder are like 18-19)

You ran next to Powder on top of buildings hand in hand on your way to some rich person's house Ekko tailed for you the Kiramman you think. You knew you used to live in this area, but you blocked it out of your of your mind or that’s what Vander thinks the only thing you can remember is a vague idea of your parents and a clear image if your older sister Caitlyn sometimes you think you trying to find them, but you always decided against it if they still wanted you they would have looked for you.

Shaking your head to clear your mind now was not the time to dwell on the past. You looked up when you felt a hand ghost over your arm, “You okay toots?” Powder asked with a worried look on her face.

“Yeah I’m fine Pow just thinking.” She nodded very unconvinced, caressing your face lightly before swinging down onto one of the bedroom’s balconies, you had a job to get done, you reminded yourself and followed her in.

After some (tottaly amazing) lock picking you were in and started looking for things. Powder went over to the closet and curiosity getting the better of you and went to look at a dresser covered in pictures and items almost like a shrine. Picking up one of the pictures you almost imeditlhy drop in a small crashing sound follows and your hands start to shake as you look at the picture now on the ground.

Powder quickly appeared at your side, “Hey are you okay?” a hand on both arms. Picking up the picture you hand it to Powder. She takes it looking from it to you a few times. The picture showed a younger you standing next to your sister dressed up like you were going somewhere. Powder set it down looking at all the other pictures were of you and your old family.

Powder and you were brought out of your shock when you heard footsteps outside the door. “Caitlyn dear, are you sure you heard something?” An older worm asked with a posh accent.

“Yes I’m sure. There was a crash then footsteps.” An agitated younger woman responded with an equally posh accent. Normally you would be out the door and runnig away by now, but you were both frozen in place Powder still holding the picture you dropped.

The large fancy doors swung open revelinge a tall well built woman with a gun in hand followed by a stricked older woman and a kindred eyed older man bith with streaks in their hair. The five of you started at eachother in shock the tall lady moved first dropping the gun and rushing to you pullig you into a tight hug.

“Y/n is it really you? please tell me it is.” She pleaded, pulling back, so she could get a better look at my face cradling it in her hands.

Almost in a trance I nodded and quietly whispered, “Caitlyn?”

“Mhm yeah it's me.” She said rubbing her thumb over your cheek, her eyes brimming with tears. You didn’t even relize you were crying till the older man that you now recognize as your father whipped a tear away pulling you into another hug with your mother.

Who mumbled into your hair, “I’m so sorry for yelling at you darling I never should have. We looked for you for so long, but the enfourcers said you were dead when they traced you back to the bridge, so we hired a private investigator, but they said the same thing and your sister became an enfoucer-” She was cut off by your Dad.

“We’re so sorry.” He kissed your forehead and pulled away, “where were you the whole time?”

You made an O shape with your mouth, your eyes darting over to Powder who stood stifly to the side. “That’s a long conversation.” You said sniffling, reaching for her hand which she quickly took.

Now you were sitting in a parlar area with teas and pain cookies explaining what happened sense that night. Powder standing behind you fidling with the collar of your shirt. When you were done your mom leaned forward from her chair and put a hand on your knee, “It’s okay now you’re home.” At those words Powder perked up.

“What you’re not leavin are you?” She asked gripping your shirt looking down at you biting her lip worriedly.

“No, of course not Pow.” You reausered her, putting a hand over her’s.

“What?” Your mom asked confused, “why would you want to stay ther-”

She was cut off with harsh, “Mother!” From Caitlyn who looked at her with a stern face clearly this was a common argument. Looking to Powder she gave her an apologetic smile, Powder just looked at her with suspicion.

“You’re not taking Y/n,” She said sternly, glaring at all of them.

For the first time in a while your dad spoke up, “We don’t want to take her from you or your family, but we also want to be part of her life. Tomorrow you and your family can come over and we can talk about it?” He suggested.

Slowly she nodded in agreement.

Thirty minutes and several hugs later Powder and you were walkig home when she stopped on the last building we walked on before going to The Lanes. “Hey you're not gonna leave us are you?” She asked face flush nervously looking away tuggign on her hair.

Quickly taking her hands you say, “Of course not, why would you ask?”

“Well ya know they’re super rich and your real family.” She said, still looking away.

I laugh quietly, putting a hand on her cheek forcing her to look at me.”It doesn’t matter that they’re rich though it is nice,” that comment makes her chuckle, “ you, Vander, Vi, Claggor and Mylo are just as much my family.” I tried to reassure her again, but she huffs and looks away again. “Hey what is it?” I ask.

She bites her lip again before saying “I don’t want you to see me as your family…” I raised a brow in confusion and she huffs again. “I don’t want you to see me as family cause I-” she struggled to find her words before muttering something under her breath and grabbing both sides of your face and crashing her lips against hers.

For a second you were frozen in place before kissing her back, placing both hands in her hips to pull her closer. Powder moves one of her hands to cradle the back of your head and the other one to the base of your neck after a minute we had to break away for air.

Breathing semi heavily presing your foreheads together. “Cause I like you.” She said, smirking.

“Oh really?” You asked, smirking back at her.

“Yeah really.” She answered.

“Never would’ve guessed.” You tease tucking some hair behind her ear.

Hitting your arm lightly, “shut up asshole. Let's go home.” She grumbled taking your hand and started walking again.

Time skip (1 month)

You were laying in bed cuddling with Powder, her hair resting head on your chest fiddling with her hair as she traced random shapes all over your body when there was a loud knock on the door and Vander shouted through the door, “Come on love birds we have to go or we’ll be late to meet Y/n’s parents.” We both shot out of bed getting ready forgetting today was our bi weekly ‘family’ night.

“Yeah hurry up and make sure to have all your clothes on!” Mylo calls shortly after followed by an, “Ow! okay I'm sorry Vi.” and Claggor laughing at him.

Powder smirked and grabbed your hand pulling you out the door.

[neufer]

Things that stuck out to me on my who-knows-what-number-it-is reread of TSS (warning: loooong post)

I’ve decided to do my yearly reread of Lockwood and Co. so here are some parts that stuck out to me during The Screaming Staircase!

1. As mentioned in my last post, the second mention/description of George is “Yes, but George has a nasty, gruesome little mind.” (said by Lockwood)

2. The first of many arguments between Lucy and George: “‘Ooh,’ George said. ‘Feisty.’ ‘That’s right. Step over here, and I’ll show you exactly how feisty I am.’ ‘I might just do that.’ ‘I don’t see you moving.’ ‘Well, it’s a deep sofa. It’s taking me a while to get out of it.’”

3. For some reason this reread really made me love me George even more. A good example is this piece of dialogue between Lockwood and Lucy. “George dislikes hypocrites -you know, people who say nice things to your face and criticize you behind your back. He takes pride in being the reverse. Besides, he’s an excellent agent. He had a job at Fittes once. They value courtesy, secrecy, and discretion there. Know how long he lasted?” “I should think about twenty minutes.” “Six months. That’s how good he is.”

4. When Stroud backtracks and tells us Lucy’s backstory, he ends with a conversation between Lucy and Lockwood a few days after Lucy joined the company. The very last sentence, which is said by Lockwood, is, “There’s no ‘hope’ about it. With our combined talents, what can possibly go wrong?” The next chapter picks up with Lucy and Lockwood after jumping out of a window, having burned down the Hopes’s house. The first sentence of this chapter? “It’s amazing how quickly a fire can spread through an average suburban house,” showing precisely what can go wrong for Lockwood and Co. 

5. Lucy’s descriptions are straight up brutal. Example: her first meeting with Inspector Barnes. “His age was uncertain; perhaps he was a lived-in fifty. To me he seemed inexpressibly old, one short step from becoming a Visitor himself. He had a melancholy, drawn expression, as if all light and joy had been surgically removed from his person under local anesthesia, leaving his skin loose and saggy beneath the eyes. These eyes, however, were shrewd and keen.”

6. Another iconic George Moment™: When Annie Ward’s ghost gets free in Lucy’s room and George is just absolutely decked out with spare equipment from his room. “A few moments later, George returned, wearing a gaucho-style shoulder belt bristling with magnesium flares, salt-bombs, and canisters of iron. An empty silver-glass box hung beneath it on a string. He carried a coil of chain, and a long, ornate-handled rapier, and had a flashlight poking nonchalantly from the waistband of his pajamas. His feet were encased in enormous boots.”

7. I forgot how good the scene where Lucy meets Kipps for the first time is. It’s much too long to type out, so I’ll summarize: They’re in the Archives, Kipps makes a cryptic remark about Lockwood’s dead family (he really is just a big asshole in the beginning, isn’t he?), George steps in and roasts Kipps, and Lockwood causes Kipps’s rapier to shoot from his hand and stick in the ceiling. Amazing. 

8. It’s often mentioned in reviews, but Stroud’s ability to balance teenage humor and the horrors of the Lockwood and Co. universe is superb. In this specific instance, Lucy just saw Hugo Blake and is convinced he’ll come after them. Lockwood’s reply: “. . .so what that he’s got strange eyes? George’s are pretty odd too, and we don’t hold it against him.” “Thanks for that, I thought they were my best feature.” “They are -that’s the tragedy of it.”

9. Lucy’s so fucking cool. I could just leave it at that, but I won’t. Her Talent and the level of her sensitivity is just so unique, and she’s completely nonchalant about it. It’s really cool to go back and reread this first book and see how she sort of knows she’s special, but won’t fully realize it until later in the series. Also, when she just pulls the necklace out of her shirt, revealing that it wasn’t in fact stolen by Fairfax’s henchman? Iconic. When she releases the ghost of Annie Ward, allowing justice to finally be served? Again, iconic.

10. Stroud is such an incredible author. Evidence: Lockwood regaining consciousness after they destroyed the well in Combe Carey Hall. “Awareness returned. I saw bafflement first, then gradual recognition. ‘Oh. . . Lucy. Lucy. For a moment I thought you were. . . It doesn’t matter.’” This. This. A full freaking book before we get the Jessica reveal and Stroud does this? It hurt me to read this.

11. I’ve talked about George and Lucy, now it’s time for some Anthony Lockwood appreciation. However, I do need to acknowledge that there’s no pedestal we as a fandom could put him on, that’s high enough to ignore what a dumb, 15(ish) year-old boy his is. I love Lockwood, but, forgetting the chains for the Hopes’s house and then agreeing to Fairfax’s job without consulting Lucy and George? So not cool. But sneaking flares into Combe Carey Hall? I was impressed years ago when I first read it and still am now. Knowing that Fairfax was up to something and convincing Barnes to essentially come to their rescue? Genius. Also, I would like to point out this quote, which is said when they’re trying to get out of the secret room with the well. “What do I think? I think that’s twice now we’ve nearly died. I think that we’re very lucky to be alive. I think that I’ve been far too slow on the uptake and have severely underestimated our enemy. It’s been an unforgivable lapse in a leader, and I’m sorry for it. However”-his voice grew harsh; he spoke between clenched teeth-“all that ends now.” I know that as the series goes on, it’s generally accepted that Lockwood is reckless and throws himself into danger for others because of his weak connection to life. However, this passage made me think that his disregard for his own safety might stem from this instance as well

12. Barnes has two really good quotes at the end, let me share them with you now. First he refers to Lucy and George as “these two idiots who follow you around” when talking to Lockwood. Second, “[Lockwood] switched on his fullest, most radiant smile. Barnes winced. ‘Put those teeth away. It’s too early in the morning and I haven’t had my breakfast.’”

13. And finally, I know there’s minimum Locklyle in this book, it’s too early. But, I’ll be damed if this part didn’t make me smile. It’s right at the end, when Lucy goes down to the basement to get more donuts. “Halfway up, I heard Lockwood roaring with laughter in the kitchen. . . Lockwood laughed again. Really laughed, I mean. He’d thrown his head back. I could tell.” Not even a year into her employment and she can tell when he is laughing so hard he throws his head back. *sobs because we got the perfect slow-burn romance*

Anyway, those are my thoughts. Perhaps I’ll do this for each book? I hope I can, it’s nice to have this documented. 

[the1simp]

ᴘʟᴀʏing ʀᴏᴜɢʜ

(p3)

arriving at the place where your friend mc works, you open the glass door , entering and greeting him

-hello mc, so how are you today?

-umh... i'm fine

a little worried  you come closer to him, but you noticed that behind him was a tall boy with blue hair and a colorful style

-Won't you introduce me to your new friend mc?

-huh?! you can see him?

-sugar your friend is 6 foot tall  only a blind man wouldn't  see him

they both exchanged looks like they were having a telepathic conversation ,the boy in blue approaches and with a smile introduces himself

-hello my name is jack

-so nice to meet you jack, my name is (y/n)

holding out your hand so he could shake it, you notice mc's nervous reaction, but you don't think any of that because mc became a more anxious person after breaking up with ian. just thinking about it again made your blood pressure rise, bo who was happily hanging from the necklace, vibrates a bit to calm you down, which works right away, finally squeezing your hand jack smiles once more and immediately goes back to mc.

-So when were you thinking of telling me that you got new friends mc, if I didn't know you I'd say we're ashamed of me .

He grins but it was forced , once again worried about him, you reach over and offer him a hug, which he accepts right away and starts trying to control his crying, looking at Jack to encourage him to join the hug.you then say :

-mc ... I know that everything is not well, and for a while it won't be, and although I don't know Jack ,I can see that he brings you happiness, and as your friend I encourage you to pursue that happiness, I only ask you both to not forget me.

mc finally manages to calm down if and after a few more minutes of conversation, now lighter the three have said goodbye, (y/n) goes on his way to his next message, bo comes back vibrates again, and putting on some headphones and holding his phone turned off to look like he was on a phone call with someone she asks him

-yes bo , are you ok?

-you just talked to a ghost...

-huh?!

-I thought you knew

a few minutes in silence you answer him .

-I didn't happen to know but I don't take back what I said, he seems to bring happiness to mc's life and I know very well how much he needs someone besides me in his corner.

Bo didn't say anything, luckily he didn't feel any insecurity in the presence of the two strangers, but just imagining other people in the same situation created discomfort in his being.

arriving at the grocery store, entering and taking a basket, you start talking to him again.

-you know, I'm really happy that I met you, I never thought I'd find someone like you

- someone Like me ?

- yes, that likes me unconditionally

He smiled, not quite sure how to react, just letting his face redden and his eyes unfocus .

putting bread in the basket you ask

-any suggestions for today's dinner

-hmm... ramen maybe or soba

-huh...I think it's a good idea

looking for the ingredients and heading to the cash register, you put the items on the counter

The guy who was working the register was looking at you, but he was doing it in a creepy way and your anxiety was increasing, trying to quickly ignore him. You waited for him to finish registering your items to pay to go on your way .

-hello doll

-...

-oh you're the silent type huh, i love it when a woman know their place.

ok this was starting to get ridiculous, and if he doesn't shut up and do his job you're going to take drastic measures

-I've never liked girls who talk a lot, you know, and you're even pretty pretty, maybe we can go out one of these days...

-ya... no

-oh com on don't play hard to get , I was just being nice

-And I told you no, can I pay now or do I have to ask the manager to do it?

-man , you didn't need to be a bitch about it

mutters the boy, but he was lucky , because your social battery was already exhausted and the only thing on your mind at the moment was to be at home in the company of bo .

paying for the groceries and returning home you put everything in the right places and sit on the couch for a while, taking Bo out of your necklace and looking at him, sighing to see his cute face but he was a little upset, caressing him a little his face relaxes a little.

...

                                         🐶ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ🐶