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prettywordsyouleft · 3 years

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The Cowboy - Part 2

Summary: Leaving the city for a rural area called Blayne seemed simple enough. Your task was to convince the people to agree with selling their land for a resort redevelopment. But once there, you soon realise that your city ways are entirely different to theirs. Winning their trust was going to take some effort, and when you start to fall for a local cowboy, you wonder if you really needed Blayne more than the city life after all.

Pairing: Jung Jaehyun x female reader

Genre: cowboy au / drama / romance / if you squint there’s some enemies to lovers up in here.

Warnings: Jung Jaehyun is a cowboy, need I say more? (a bit of angst and drama, and it sometimes might feel like you’re reading a Nicolas Sparks book, so I’m told lol)

Word count: 1708

This series will be updated every Thursday and Friday starting 7th January.

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You barely recovered before he walked off, rounding the outside of the building. Scrambling after him, you soon fell into step with the son of the household.

The incredibly attractive Jung son.

“So you’ll be able to put on the power?”

“Sure, I’ll just wind up the generator and in about three hours-”

“Generator?! Hours?!”

He laughed then, the sound making you halt in your tracks in a daze. Glancing back at you, he smirked. “You’re sure easy to fool, Miss City.”

“Well, I was expecting a teen with the way your mother spoke of you, Mr Cowboy.”

“We’re a loving bunch around here,” he answered, walking over to a box on the side of the house and patting it. “All I have to do is flick a switch, and you’ll have power.”

“Thank god.”

“Not willing to rough it even for a night?”

“Rough it?”

He smirked again. “You sure don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

“So people keep telling me. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“I’m sure you will,” he replied, staring back at you for a moment. You raised an eyebrow, and he chuckled, pulling open the box and turning on the main switch. You saw the lights in the house you had flicked on come to life, and you clapped your hands together with glee.

“Yes!”

“Are you scared of the dark?”

“Are you always this full of yourself?” you shot back, and he grinned.

“Somewhat.”

“Anything else I need to know about so I can survive the night?”

After shutting the fuse box, he returned to your side, stuffing his hands deep into his jean pockets and leaned towards you. “You sound like high maintenance.”

“Perhaps I am.”

“You’re in for a rude awakening here then.”

“I’m adaptable,” you announced and he laughed. “What, I am!”

“This isn’t something you just get used to, Miss City. You’ll be gone before long.”

“And what will you do if I prove otherwise?” you challenged, and his eyes lit up, glinting with enjoyment.

You had to admit this banter was doing things for you too.

“There’s no point making plans for things that won’t come into fruition.”

“You’re infuriating.”

“I know, but it seems that you’re enjoying it.”

“Fine,” you stated simply, throwing your hands up. “Thank you for turning on the power, Mr Cowboy.”

“Enjoy your night, Miss City.”

You both rounded back to the front of the house, where you went to the veranda, and he approached the truck. You eyed it warily. “Is that thing legal?”

“Don’t try and use too many appliances at once. Houses like these can get overloaded, and it’ll trip the fuse and turn the power off. I’ve got cattle to run tomorrow, so you’ll be without power for some time if you do that.”

You blinked, trying to decipher if he was being serious or not. He shrugged and opened the door to the truck. “R-Really?”

“Take it on as some friendly advice.”

“Ah, is that what it is.” You nodded with a laugh as he climbed into the cab of the vehicle. Dashing down to the driver’s side, you leaned on the open window, and he watched you curiously. “Can you give me some more friendly advice?”

“Don’t open the front door. There might be coyotes howling out in the distance that you’ll have to get used to and by the hay barn, there is an old owl that likes to hoot around three in the morning. You’re welcome.”

“Wait! I was meaning more like if there’s regular mobile data service out here. I’ve got some files to-”

“You’re in the wrong place if you want to be on the internet, Miss City. I’ll give you two days out here before you head on back to your four-gee or whatever the thing is called.”

“You’re getting on my nerves.”

He grinned. “And you’re on my door stopping me from getting home to dessert, ma’am.”

Lifting your arms off, he tipped his cowboy hat at you again and started up the truck. You shook your head as he reversed down the drive before turning the vehicle around.

“Wait! I didn’t even get your real name!” you called out into the night, pouting some.

It didn’t matter. Even if he was the most handsome guy you had seen in months, he was also not your type with how easily he assumed so little of you.

Fishing out your phone, you held it up in search for a stronger signal. Groaning when there was only one bar, you stomped into the house and shut the door behind you.

When your alarm went off the following morning, you were already wide awake, staring up at the ceiling in sheer frustration. The advice you had received last night had been helpful, but what you needed was earplugs instead. You never knew the wilderness to be so loud.

“How am I going to get enough sleep here until I can order some earplugs?” you questioned to no one in particular, sitting up in the bed. You had to admit, whilst the sounds of the outdoors had kept you up, the bed had been surprisingly comfy.

There had to be some perks for being this far detached from proper civilisation.

“Might as well get up,” you decided, flinging back the blankets and padding across the hall into the quaint bathroom. You hadn’t paid a lot of attention last night to the house, too exhausted from travelling for two days. As you did your morning skincare routine, you used the mirror to look around your space. It had a cozy cottage-core vibe that you had recently seen come up as a trend on Pinterest.

“Natty loves things like this,” you told the home, smiling softly before heading downstairs to the kitchen.

The house was decorated warmly. Although many modern conveniences were missing, you couldn’t help but feel like you were in a home that was cherished.

Someone must have loved this place like that at one point in time, you thought, jumping when the phone went off again.

“Hello?”

“Miss L/N, is that you?”

“Ah, yes it is, who am I speaking to?”

“Oh! June told me that someone was staying at the old Jung house so I figured I’d give you a bell and offer you some breakfast down at the diner. You won’t miss it. We’re the first building on Main Street.”

“That’s so kind of you to offer, but I have all the ingredients for a power green smoothie here-”

“Smoothie? Darling, a drink isn’t going to give you enough energy to get through your day.”

“Pardon?”

“Aren’t you starting your surveying job of Blayne today? There’s a lot to get through.”

Not really, you thought wickedly and bit your lip in case you said anything out loud. “Ah, right. Well, I’ll come down then.”

“Do come!” And then the line went dead.

“Who was I even speaking to?” you wondered when you placed down the phone, blinking slowly.

You got ready and headed down the bumpy drive and then another fifteen minutes until you reached what the inhabitants of this strange place called Main Street. You had to admit, it was the only area of Blayne were you saw more than two people at once, and it relaxed you to be back around people.

You hadn’t realised just how overcrowded the city was when you found yourself now missing the constant sight of people.

Once you parked your car, you got out and locked it, checking to make sure the door wouldn’t open. You heard a snigger from the sidewalk. “You’re new here.”

“Ah, yes.”

“You don’t need to lock your car here. No one is going to steal it,” the young girl said, eying you curiously. You nodded politely and walked inside the diner, instantly hit with the smell of fried food.

You were hungrier than you expected.

“Miss L/N!” a voice called, and everyone in the establishment turned to look at you.

Smiling politely and rushing over to the front counter, you sat down on a stool. The woman who greeted you smiled graciously. “I’m May.”

“May… June-”

May laughed. “Our parents weren’t all that creative with our names. I’m June’s older sister.”

“Oh! It’s nice to meet you. Please, feel free to call me Y/N.”

“Earl, can you serve up our guest the breakfast special?” May called out without taking her eyes off of you.

You smiled gently before darting your gaze to the menu distractedly. “You have a nice place here. Do you sell soy chai lattes?”

“Soy what?”

“Ah, nothing. Coffee. Coffee will do.”

“Black or white, darling? Any sugar?”

After sorting yourself with caffeine, you then glanced around again. There were about six others in total, and most of them were looking in your direction. Nodding politely at them, you turned back to May.

“I guess you don’t get many visitors.”

“They don’t stay long, no,” she replied, placing a large plate loaded with a fried assortment and pancakes. You eyed the meal. It would be triple the macros for your daily intake. Still, you were hungry.

You picked up your knife and fork. “They don’t?”

“I think the last person stayed a week. That was pretty long.”

“Only a week?” you cut into a hashbrown. “Why did they leave so soon?”

“Unless you’re a farmer or born into farming, you wouldn’t really enjoy being out here. We have only twelve stores. Nothing arrives here quickly, and you have to be pretty self-sufficient to survive. There’s not a lot calling people here.”

“There could be. I mean, you have a lot of land-”

“For farming,” May cut in, and you swallowed down a bit of hashbrown before nodding.

“Yes, but it’s beautiful and picturesque. People who want to escape the daily grind would flock to a place like this if there was an establishment to stay in.”

“Our inn hasn’t had a guest since nineteen-eighty-three. You want to know why?”

“It has a ghost story?” you asked innocently, and May merely smiled haughtily.

“The only people staying in Blayne were born and raised here, Y/N. You’ll soon realise the utopia you and your company are hoping to build out here is a pipe dream.”

_________________

Part 3

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since0202 · 3 years

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Chapter 21: Return

When Grace shut the door behind her, Paul was coming around the front of the truck to her when they heard a voice shout out across the clearing to them. They were still a little early, but some members of the pack were there building the bonfire pit and helping some of the community set up tables for the food spread.

“Hey!” Jared shouted across the field. Paul raised a hand and waved back, stuffing his keys into his pocket before holding his hand out to Grace who gladly took it.

“This feels so official,” Grace said leaning into him as they walked in step with one another.

“Oh it is. The binding ceremony is a real ball buster, but worth it if I get to kiss you in public,” he said nonchalantly. Grace looked up at him confused for a minute and then said,

“You’re so full of shit, Lahote.” He laughed and unfurled his hand from hers to drape it across her shoulder instead and pulled her into him to kiss the top of her head before they reached the group.

They entered the raucous of hoots and hollers from the pack. Grace gave Emily a quick hug before settling next to her quickly as Paul helped prepare the bonfire with the others. Grace always felt at home here. Speaking of home:

“Weird question,” Emily had asked after she confirmed with Grace that her and Paul had made it official. She seemed pleased when Grace had said they were so that was a good sign.

“Shoot,” Grace said.

“After graduation, are you planning on moving back to the rez?” Emily asked casually. Grace felt like she had been smacked with a 2x4.

“Umm, I mean. I don’t know my plans just yet, but….maybe?” Grace said suddenly. Where were these words coming from? Grace had planned on taking some classes at the community college in the fall to get her bearings for the next step, but the Spirit Bird thing had kind of thrown things off course for her. Her grades were good enough to get into local schools according to her advisor but she didn’t know if she was ready to leave just yet.

“Think about it. The tribe has money set aside to help tribe members relocate to the rez and find a home here. I’m sure Paul would love it, and you clearly belong here.” Emily nudged her on that last one.

“Thanks, yeah. I’ll-I’ll think about it.” Grace said. Suddenly there was a flurry of activity around her as the rest of the tribe drew near for the lighting of the bonfire. Paul had come over and handed her a drink before taking her back to their spot.

As the council members gave updates about the tribe, Grace settled into Paul’s side, however she couldn’t help her eyes dancing around the group to see if Jake would show. When she and Emily were talking, Quil and Embry were close by discussing Jake’s whereabouts. Apparently he’d been gone for a couple days now. Grace breathed a sigh of relief that he might not yet know that she and Paul were a thing. She wasn’t ashamed, she just wanted to be in this happy bubble a little while longer.

But her bubble quickly burst when she saw just outside the ring of people, Jacob’s towering frame, arms crossed and looking toward the fire. She made eye contact with him for a half a second trying to keep her thoughts clear before laying her head on Paul’s shoulder to continue listening.

Once the official business was wrapped up, they broke for food—the most fun part of bonfire night.

“Want me to grab you something?” Paul said eagerly, a hand lightly placed around her waist.

“Sure! Whatever you’re getting just grab me some. I’m going to make the rounds,” Grace gestured over her shoulder to a waiting crowd looking in her direction.

“Go on, Spirit Bird,” he kissed her forehead and let her slip away toward the group. She was greeted cheerfully by the throng of people waiting to receive her.

Grace noticed more and more that part of her role as Spirit Bird was not just the connecting link between the wolves that made them work better together, or the fact that she could provide protection with her shield and whatever other abilities waited under the surface, but she was also an emotional and spiritual conduit for her tribe. By even just conversing, sharing details with her, sharing emotions, connecting through touch and eye contact, Grace could relieve some of their anxiety, pain, grief, or worry. The best way that she could describe it was that she felt craved by the tribe.

So she took her time moving from circle to circle, checking in, exchanging hugs and forehead touches, just being with the people who loved her. This also gave Grace immense relief and she felt so needed here that Emily’s suggestion of moving to the rez after graduation didn’t sound so crazy. Paul’s eyes followed her every now and then, keeping track of her in the crowd until she reached the outer edge where Ti’Hal was milling about with some children.

Grace made her way to her and crouched next to her letting her know she was there by placing a hand on her arm and smiling warmly, not needing to communicate verbally. Ti’Hal returned the smile and then stood. She cupped her hands warmly on Grace’s face and said:

“Little bird, you seem happy.”

“I am,” Grace almost choked out.

“That’s good dear.” Suddenly, Ti’Hal’s eyes were distracted over Grace’s shoulder toward the treeline. Grace turned to see Jake just standing off outside of trees. His eyes pulled at Grace and she felt that familiar tug in her middle that had been absent for awhile since she hadn’t seen him. She looked back to Ti’Hal wanting to stay with her and pretend like she hadn’t seen him. Not yet, not yet. The voice in Grace’s head begged. Ti’Hal gave her a knowing look and once again pulled her face down to hers, pressing their foreheads together.

“You are both trying so hard to be different people. Why must you draw out fate like this?”

“What?” Grace said incredulous. Two seconds ago Ti’Hal had acknowledged how happy she was and now she was trying to be someone different?

“Little bird, youth carries you now, but don’t fight it for too long or you both will suffer.” Ti’Hal let go of her face seriously and moved back across the lawn toward the elders. Grace stood up straight, shocked.

“What the hell-”

“Can I talk to you?” Grace nearly shot out of her skin at the request behind her. She whipped around coming face to face with Jake, a pleading but strong look on his face. Her bubble had indeed, spectacularly burst.

Grace looked around her immediate vicinity for any sign of Paul. She knew two things for sure: 1) If he saw her with Jake, he’d come immediately to her rescue and 2) if he found her with Jake there might be hell to pay.

Not seeing Paul anywhere nearby and the throng of the tribe separating them from the immediate sight line of the bonfire, she nodded with a terse ‘fine’ and followed him as he led her to the forest.

They went just inside the treeline, maybe 40 yards in, where they could still hear the bustle of the of bonfire and the see the light of the flames. Jake turned and Grace kept a good bit of distance between them so that nothing could be misconstrued if they were happened upon by a member of the pack.

“Yes?” Grace said a little irritated. Jake shook his head and scowled at that.

“Really?” He shot back. Okay, so this was going to be a fight. Grace thought to herself.

“What, Jake? I haven’t heard from you or seen you in days, what could you possibly want?” Grace was mostly irritated because that tug that she had quieted was roaring back trying to pull them together like a magnet and she felt it’s discomfort by refusing it.

“Oh please. So I’m gone a few days and you immediately shack up with Paul?” He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth and tried quickly to back track when he saw the outraged, open mouthed look on Grace’s face, “I just mean...I just want to know: Are you guys officially dating or what?”

“Jesus, Jake. This is what you wanted to ask me? Yes, Paul is my boyfriend. And you could have asked me that in front of him instead of playing this secret hideout game. This is crap, I’m going back,” Grace turned to leave but Jake took an immediate step forward and shouted after her.

“That’s absolute shit, you know. If you listened to what Ti’Hal said-”

“And what did Ti’Hal say to YOU, EXACTLY?” Grace interjected swinging around and letting anger color her voice clearly. He had no right.

“Exactly what she told you. If you listened to yourself, you’d know that being with Paul is just going to end up a mess. Grace. At some point...he’s going to im-”

“And who am I supposed to be with instead?” Grace said, taking quick steps forward and closing the gap between them. She couldn’t stifle her anger any longer. She wanted to kill him, wanted to hurt him, wanted him to feel bad for saying all of these things to her when she was happy. She came right up to him and shouted, “You?! I’m supposed to be with you?”

Jacob didn’t move, didn’t wince, just stared down at Grace like he wanted to speak.

“Because last I checked, you were still hung up on Bella. And I have a boyfriend.” Jacob grimaced at the mention of Bella and looked away for a second. Hurting him like this didn’t give Grace the satisfaction she was hoping for and she faltered some, anger dissolving into sadness.

“I’m happy Jake. Let me be happy. Please, please, please. Please.” Tears stung at her eyes as she begged without looking at him. He reached for her now and whispered, “Grace.” before touching her arms and trying to pull her into a hug. Grace shoved away from him, not letting herself get caught in this again.

“NO!” she bellowed putting more distance between them again. And it was just at this moment that she heard a booming voice come up behind her.

“Grace!” the voice shouted. She couldn’t tell if it’s intonation was one of recognition, concern, or anger, but she was going to bet it was probably all three. Paul was in front of her in a second, pushing Jacob in the chest, “Back up!”

“Screw you, Paul.” Jacob shot back, the anger returning. “We’re just talking.”

“I’m going to tell you this once and only once: if you touch her again, you’re going to regret it.” Paul returned, seething anger building in his voice. Grace took a step forward to interject.

“She’s not your property, Paul. She’s here for everyone.”

“She’s MINE. She’s MY girlfriend. And the sooner you understand that the more likely you are to remain intact, alpha-reject.” Paul shot back.

“Paul, that’s enough!” Grace said stepping forward and grabbing onto his arm. He yanked it free from her to her surprise and pushed Jake again, who pushed him back. Both of their bodies shook violently.

Jared and Embry crashed into focus and pushed between them, separating them from one another.

“Paul, get a grip,” Jared warned, pushing him back toward Grace. Embry was leaning into Jacob talking quietly to him and Jacob seemed to gain his composure. “Take Grace and get out of here.” Jared tried to command. Paul made eye contact with Jared for a second before shaking himself free and quickly turning to roughly grab Grace around the shoulders and steering her back toward the treeline muttering, “We’re leaving.”

Once out past the treeline and in sight of the car, Grace shook Paul off of her and gave him a scathing look before treading quick ahead to swing around at him, “Paul what the fuck?!”

“Get in the car.” he said solidly, not stopping. “I’m taking you home.”

Grace turned to watch him climb into the car and waited for a half second, the look he gave her made her want to dissolve. “Grace!” he yelled impatiently. She gave in and walked to the car yanking the passenger door open and climbing inside, crossing her arms.

When Paul pulled into his drive, Grace perked up and said half confused, “I thought you were taking me home?”

Paul didn’t say anything and just got out of his car and walked into his house. Grace sat in the car for a moment, readying herself for a fight before taking a deep breath and pushing her door open. Paul had left the front door open and she walked through closing it behind her, trying to calm her nerves. Paul was at the sink drinking a glass of water.

Grace waited for him to speak first.

“Why is it that whenever I don’t know where you are, I find out that you’re somewhere alone with Jacob Black every time?” Paul said, his voice even but hurt and anger still clearly etched in his tone. Grace’s hands shook a little bit from the nerves.

The ache in Grace was growing after seeing Jake and leaving him so quickly again. She hated this part, so she tried hard to quiet it again, but Paul wasn’t playing ball.

“Paul, that’s not what that was and you know it. He was asking if we were together and I said yes we very much were and that he was an idiot and could have asked me that in front of you.”

Paul watched her with a critical eye and dumped the rest of the water down the sink before coming into the living room and leaning against the wall.

“Part of me laying claim was to assure everyone that you’re mine. But for whatever reason, Jake doesn’t seem to respect those boundaries so I need your help there.” Paul was calmer now but not coming near her.

“I did tell him we were together.”

“That’s not enough.” Paul said quickly. Grace closed her mouth quickly not sure what to say next. What else was she supposed to do? Her arms hung limply at their sides. As if on cue, Paul said: “You can’t be alone with him.” Pain shot through Grace on this request.

“How am I supposed to-?” Grace started and Paul let out an annoyed hiss before turning down the hallway toward his bedroom, “Paul! I’m talking to you!”

He swung around, the anger back, “I asked you something very simple. For us to work, I need you to make the boundary clear because CLEARLY the line gets blurred when you two are alone together. I’m not blaming you. I’m asking you to choose me. Like I chose you, Grace. Fuck!” he yelled turning back down the hallway. He disappeared into his bedroom and Grace heard the shower turn on. She put a hand to her head trying to hold back her tears.

How was she supposed to stay away from Jake when everything in her pulled her toward him? But something Paul had said was right: the lines got blurred and that wasn’t fair to him. If she wanted this work, she had to do this. And she desperately wanted this to work.

Grace tread softly down the hallway, removing her sweater and jeans as she went. She was completely naked by the time she reached his bathroom door and hesitated, her hand hovering over the door knob. She’d promise him, she told herself.

She gently opened the door and climbed in the shower behind him, wrapping her arms around his torso, before saying: “Okay. I promise.”

Paul turned around and cupped his hand under her chin so she’d make eye contact with him.

“For real, Grace. I need a solid promise.”

“Paul. I promise. I won’t be alone with him ever.” she said clearly, water streaming in rivulets down her face. He nodded satisfied with her answer before leaning down to lock her in with a kiss. Their shower quickly devolved into Paul carefully carrying Grace to bed, both of them slick with warm water.

He buried his head between her legs and worked in there, pulling gasps and moans from Grace as she held tightly at his short hair. As she pulsed toward climax, one face lingered behind her closed lids as she lost herself in pleasure: Jacob’s scowl, Jacob’s pleading face, Jacob’s hands reaching for her arms and leaving scorching heat just from a soft tentative touch. She shivered with release and then Paul was above her, moving into her and washing away the pictures from her head. She bit her lower lip and focused, guilt flooding her instantly.

#twilight fanfiction #Twilight FanFic #twilight #new moon #eclipse #jacob black #jacobblackxoc #paul lauhote #paul lahote pairing #paul lahotexoc #edward cullen #bella swan #the cullens #the pack #chapter 21 #a monster lives here

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daisy-day-dreams · 3 years

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A/N: Hey everyone I hope you’re having a great day! I know it’s been a while but I’m back! Hopefully for a while now lol I hope you enjoy the newest update for Little Lies! Thank you so much for reading ❤️

Little Lies Masterlist

*gif not mine*

Kozik proudly walked into the venue with Annie on his arm. He wasn’t going to lie, he loved the jealous looks of all the men around them. He relished even more in being able to rub it in Tig’s face. He was a lucky guy and he knew it. Annie was a catch and a hell of a damn good friend. He led her to their seats, taking their place next to Juice. Kozik strategically sat between the two.

Gemma turned around reaching over the chair to squeeze Annie’s knee. “You look, hot baby.”

“So do you ma.” Annie gave her a wink in return.

Gemma grinned, “See this is why I keep you around.”

Juice tuned out the two as they began chatting. Annie was completely ignoring him anyway, he could practically feel the icy cold energy radiating off her towards him. He anxiously looked around watching the crowd, waiting for any glimpse of Delilah. His leg shook nervously. He wasn’t sure what to expect from her, if she was going to be just as cold as Annie towards him or not but he had to talk to her. He didn’t give a shit what Annie wanted.

Once everyone got seated the music began playing as the ceremony officially started. Juice still hadn’t seen Delilah yet. The pit was growing in his stomach as the first part of the wedding party came walking down the aisle leading the way before the bride’s grand entrance. Juice felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him once he finally saw her. There she was looking beautiful as ever in her blue dress as she walked down the aisle on Jax’s arm.

He couldn’t even fully process every emotion he was feeling as the ugly green monster growing inside him outweighed the rest. Seeing Delilah with Jax, seeing the way Jax looked at her, having to watch as she laughed at whatever he had whispered in her ear as they walked past, it was too much and just pissed him off.

She wasn’t his anymore he knew that but he was still a little bit hers. It hurt to think of the possibility of her choosing Jax, of having to stand by and watch as his brother made a life with his girl. The anxious thoughts began spiraling uncontrollably in his mind.

The ceremony was beautiful. The couple finished with the saying of their vows, finishing with the traditional vows of the MC from Opie to Lyla. Every member of the Sons joined in before hooting and hollering, cheering as the bride and groom were pronounced man and wife.

As the reception was now in full swing the dance floor was filled with people dancing along to the live band’s music. As well as the dance floor was full the tables were also packed with the various guests. Most of the groups kept to themselves not completely mingling with the others.

Annie and Delilah sat at the bride and groom’s table at the front. They had finished their meals and were now just talking with Gemma, Lyla, and Unser. Opie, Jax, and Clay had all stepped away from them a while before.

“You never mentioned that you two knew our Juice.” Gemma brought up giving Delilah and Annie a look. She had been waiting to confront the two about it, “Now why is that?”

Delilah glanced behind Gemma to where Juice was sitting with Chibs and Happy. “Because we don’t know him.” She kept her glance quick as not to linger too long before looking back to Gemma. “We know Juan, we don’t know Juice.” And that was true, neither one of them knew the man that sat just a few feet away. They only knew the boy who had left them all those years ago.

“I’m not so sure about that,” Gemma replied looking directly at Delilah. She had never seen any woman’s presence get under Juice’s skin like knowing about hers had done. “He’s a good kid. I’m sure there’s still a lot more left of who you knew in there than you think.”

As the night went on the band started picking up. The girls had all gathered onto the dance floor. They bumped and grind against each other laughing, just having the time of their lives. Delilah twirled Lyla around as Annie set her sights on Gemma beckoning her closer to her. She wiggled her ass towards Gemma earning a hard smack to it causing her to let out a shriek catching the other two’s attention and causing all the women to break out in even more laughter.

They danced through the next few songs Gemma calling it quits just a song before. They were really wearing themselves out but at the same time didn’t care. The song came to end with a short pause before the band began playing again, this time with a slower song starting What A Wonderful World at the bride’s request.

“I need another drink,” Annie told Delilah as they headed off the dance floor. “Do you want a water or anything?”

“Yeah, that would be great. I’m just going to head over to the bathroom and then I’ll be right back.” She told her, “I’ll meet you back at the table.”

Lyla could be heard calling Opie to come dance with her from behind them. The sisters parted ways, Annie passing right past the table where Jax, Clay, Tig, and Kozik were now talking to one of the Russians. Jax couldn’t help himself as he watched her walk by his eyes raking over her body in that tight red dress that left little to the imagination.

“I’ll be right back boys,” he said standing up. “Don’t get started without me.” He made eye contact with Clay getting a nod before he stepped away catching up quickly with Annie.

Jax wasn’t the only one to see the girls split up or the only one wanting to take advantage of a little one on one. Juice had to talk to Delilah, he’d been waiting for a moment where he could get her alone. Finding one where Annie wasn’t by her side proved to be difficult. This was his chance and probably his only one before he had to head off with the others to finish business.

“Hey,” he greeted her once she stepped out and started heading back towards the party.

“Hey,” she gave him a small smile. Her heart sped up in her chest as they were now faced to face. They were completely alone for the first time now and she didn’t know what to say or how to feel. It was so different now that they were here in the moment than she could have ever imagined.

“Can we talk?”

“Of course we can. I have a million questions.” She admitted.

“Yeah, me too.” Juice stuck his hands in his pockets kicking at the dirt. He didn’t think he could get past the awkward small talk first, the how have you beens, he needed to know. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Delilah felt the panic rise in her. “Tell you what?”

“You know what,” he didn’t mean for it to sound snappy. He watched as her face hardened and immediately regretted his tone. “I’m sorry,” he rubbed at the back of his neck. This was not how he wanted this conversation to go. He just was still processing everything himself, it was a huge blow just as Annie intended. “I just have to know D. Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?”

Delilah let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Annie told you?”

“You should have told me.”

“This isn’t the place,” Her eyes softened as they met his. Everything was flooding back to her, every feeling and every memory. It was all just too much to process here. “Can we talk somewhere else? Somewhere more private?”

Juice nodded. She was right this wasn’t the place and there wasn’t enough time. “Yeah, I think that would be best. Can you come over to my place later?” He offered.

“Juice!” Happy’s raspy voice called out coming up behind Delilah. “It’s time to go man.”

Juice new better than to argue with Hap. They had club business afterall and he couldn’t keep them waiting. “I’m coming,” he told him before turning back to Delilah. “I’ll call you later, then we can meet up.”

Jax settled next to Annie at the bar as she ordered herself a drink. She leaned on the bar as she watched as the bartender mixed up her cocktail. “Lovely night isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Jax agreed. “It’ll definitely be a night to remember.”

“They’re really great together.” She motioned to the couple slow dancing with a smile on her face.

“They do make a great pair.” Jax grinned watching his best friend sway to the music as his new bride hung onto him.

“The party seems to be really dying down.” She added. Most of the guests had scattered, the place getting more vacant by the minute it seemed. She scanned the venue for Delilah feeling relieved once she finally spotted her back at the table with Chucky, Gemma, and Unser. She had plenty of company and shouldn’t miss her if she were to head out earlier. She turned to Jax with a smirk. “What do you say we get out of here?”

Straight to the point, Jax thought, he really loved this woman. “There’s nothing I’d love more,” he smirked before licking his lips letting his eyes wander some more before he looked back over her shoulder where Clay was waiting for him reminding him he couldn’t get out of there just yet.

Annie followed his gaze back to Clay and the other man, noticing his expression became more serious, angry almost.“I sense there’s a but coming.”

“But,” he continued, the Teller smirk returned to his face as if it never left. “I have a little business to take care of first, shouldn’t take long. If you’re willing to wait darlin’ then I’m all yours.”

“I might be willing to wait,” the bartender handed her the drink which she thanked him for before taking a generous drink. “But I won’t wait forever, Teller.” She grabbed at his kutte pulling him closer so she could get right next to his ear.“So if you’re wanting a little piece of all this I suggest you better hurry.” She smoothed over his kutte once she pulled away with a smirk, “Tik tok, darlin’” She said before blowing him a kiss as she walked away.

Little Lies Taglist: @carlaangel86 @starrynite7114 @mrsstevenbuchananstark @spnaquakindgdom @witching-hour @brithedemonspawn @drabbles-mc @gemini0410 @mayans-sauce @dark-twisted-and-mechanical-mind @toni9 @vsfavs @queenbeered @multiyfandomgirl40

If you would like to be added or removed from the tag list please just let me know in a comment or ask and I’ll make sure to do so! Thank you again so much for reading!

#Little Lies #sons of anarchy fanfic #sons of anarchy x oc #jax teller x oc #juice ortiz x oc #juice x delilah #jax x annie

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jj-lynn21 · 4 years

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HOLLYWOOD MOBSTERS Starring Bill Skarsgard and his family ch 1

ch 2 ch 3 ch 4 ch 5 ch 6 ch 7

Wedding music

Entrance Music for Wedding Reception

Warnings: fluff, smut, violence, cussing, angst

Tag a few I thought would be interested.

@cheeseandthankyou @crazyjam-pot @madamaholmes @super-pink-a-palouza @dreambigbeawesome @shenevertricks1831

Photoes from esquire Singapore Septemper 2019, Calvin Klein, IMDB and Ejalo’s Instagram

Twinkle lights hang sporadically in the white tent fit for five hundred people. Guests start streaming in to sit at soft pink linen covered tables. Pale pink and white roses with baby’s breath that match the bride’s bouquet are the center pieces on each table. Light music plays. A half an hour after the guests are seated the wedding party arrives in their white limousine.

To make some time for the guests to arrive at the reception before them the wedding party had the driver drive around town as they drank in the back. Laughing and enjoying each other’s company. It was the Skarsgard’s only sister, Eija’s wedding day. The ceremony was beautiful outside at the Cypress Sea Grove in Malibu.

Views of the ocean behind the happy couple and wedding party made the photographer’s job easy to capture moments of love. Now the same wedding party that was perfectly put together at the ceremony falls out of the limousine. Eija, her husband Zeke, Valter and his college girlfriend Angel, Bill and his companion Genna, Sam and his wife Pat, Gustaf and bride’s maid Rose, and Alex with Maid of honor and his partner in crime so to speak and very literally, Princess are laughing for no apparent reason getting themselves together before entering the reception behind the family mansion.

Genna and Valter attempt to try to fix Angel’s dress. When she fell out of the limousine first, obviously intoxicated more than the others, the strap on her champagne pink top fitted flare bottom dress broke. Stellan just shook his head as he watched the young people try to get it together. Him and his wife Megan had driven in a second car with ring bearer eight-year-old brother Ossian and flower girl, a Cousin, Sara. He didn’t think the limousine would be any place for the children. And by the looks of things he was right.

Stellan got the little ones to dance with each other. This melted the hearts of the crowd. They were clapping as Stellan and his wife danced next followed by Bill who spun Genna out on to the floor. They smiled as they looked into each other’s eyes lovingly. Camera flashes going off repeatedly. Angel was still giggling as Valter lead her on the floor with her pinned up strap falling off her shoulder. His right hand in hers as his left rested on the small of her back. She rested her head on his chest and her free hand on his shoulder. She believed herself to be the luckiest girl at the University to be dating him. Sam and Pat took to the floor elegantly. Gustaf followed suit with Rose gliding on to the floor like some kind of dance pro. But Alex made a grand entrance with Princess. They swayed to the music like Johnny and Baby in dirty dancing captivating the crowd. He didn’t mean to over-shadow the others, especially his sister on her wedding day but he just had this natural way of pulling attention to himself and anyone else he was with and Princess loved being in the spotlight with him.

By the time Eija and Zeke made their way into the tent everyone that could stand were standing. Many hooting and whistling their approval for all the couples. She felt blessed and loved with all her family and friends around her on this perfect day. Other couples joined in the dancing. Megan took the children to a table to give them some black and white cookies before the caterers had even put them out. This would appease the little ones until dinner was served, Stellan motioned for Alex to join him at the bar. Princess went to mingle eventually joining Bill, Genna, Valter, Angel and the rest of the wedding party at their table in front of the crowd.

Stellan and Alex get some scotch before discussing business in a way that doesn’t seem completely illegal. They never know who is listening or if a bug is planted to pick up every word they say.

“We have a truck coming with coke cola tomorrow, “Alex informed his Father. Coke cola really being cocaine. “The Malforals would like us to share the shipment. They were unable to get their own for some reason. I thought I would charge them the regular costumer price plus thirty percent.”

“That sounds reasonable,” Stellan tipped back his drink. “You talk to your little brother about what he wants to do for the family after he graduated college next month? He has been making us plenty at his University. Referring his friends to Bunny’s. Maybe he can replace the current bar tender. I don’t fucking trust that guy.”

“I’ll talk to him before he goes back to college,” Alex downed his drink and snapped his fingers for another. “I think he has his hands full tonight. That girl of his can’t handle her liquor.”

“How about Bill,” Stellan asked, “Is he going to play for the family baseball team? We could still use him as clean-up batter.”

“I’m not sure he has a good time playing ball with the family,” Alex said. “But you are right he is the obvious choose for still being the clean up batter. I’m sure there is something I can do to convince him to join the team on a more permanent basis.”

“Good,” Stellan waved and smiled to some friends as they passed. “Let’s go celebrate your sister. This has been enough shop talk for tonight. Update me when necessary. Get Gustaf’s help with the Malforals.”

“Sure thing,” Alex downs another drink.

Stellan starts to walk away, “I think you can do better organizing the whole team together.”

Valter is feeding Angel some canape’s as she giggles. Water in her wine class. She keeps tapping it with her spoon to signal the new married couple to kiss but she also kisses Valter each time insisting the whole wedding party is supposed to follow what the bride and groom do. He just chuckles having no problem kissing his girl in front of everyone. But when his sister gives him a look the tenth time, Angel makes her glass chime, he takes her hands.

“You don’t need to do that for me to kiss you,” He kisses her passionately, “my Angel.” He whispers in her ear as he moves her hand to his lap. “You can keep your hand busy under the table instead.”

Angel blushes and giggle. His lips brush over her earlobe before he moves his head up to look at her. He grins mischievously. He puts her hand with his over his bulging dress pants. Not the roomiest pants he has ever worn. He thinks the tailor could have let the crotch out a little more for him to be comfortable.

“No,” She giggles blushing whispers in his ear, “Ththere isss no ways you could keepp straight fasse if I give you a hand job under the table. Ssso no begging.” She was slurring some of her words.

Valter gives her a pouty puppy face, “we can just go to my room inside the house?”

She puts his hands in her lap. “Traditions sssay we can only leavvve after the bride and groom, ssso you wait. You knows good things come to those who wait.” She giggles more.

Alex makes his way outside. He lights a cigar as he walks towards the family’s private beach. Noticing he is being followed he dodges behind a large fat palm tree. He grabs the person pushing them against the tree wrists pinned up with one of his hands. He puts the cigar out on the tree and puts it in his inside pocket.

“You are getting better, Princess,” he grinned. “I didn’t notice you following me until I was almost on the beach. I bet you were following me from the tent.”

“I was,” She stared him down. “What did you hear first, my breath or my heel hitting the rock at ten paces?”

“The way you suck your breath in to quickly before holding it,” he breaths in Princess’ scent nuzzling his nose into her neck. She takes in that breath he was just telling her about. “I don’t know about others, but I can feel that breath you take in my groin.” He groans. “Do it again and see what happens.”

Princess grins his hands still holding both of her wrist above her head. “Do your fucking worst to destroy my will Alex, I dare you.” She took a deep breath and let it out right in his face. The smell of champagne and the strawberries she had snacked on before stalking him hit him like cupid’s arrow. He smashed his lips to hers as he undid his belt. Princess knows him by now and didn’t even bother wearing panties under the long dress Eija chose for all her ladies. As soon as his pants hit the ground, he has her dress pulled up fucking her relentlessly against the tree.

When they met, she was a cop. She didn’t get paid shit. And didn’t see any way she was going to workup to captain. Because of the way she looked, her commanding officer often hand her playing a hooker on Hollywood Blvd. to catch pimps trying to put underage girls on the street. She knew most of the ladies were just trying to feed their kids. She thought it was her job to beat the shit out pimps that got to rough with girls or turned out underage girls like twelve-year-olds. Alex had picked her up one evening while she was working. He knew she was an undercover cop. Her partner was on the payroll. Alex also knew she would protect the girls at Bunny’s gentlemen’s club. He made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. They had been friends with benefits ever since. He like she didn’t give a shit who else he fucked. She liked the money of course, but also that she was the woman he chose to have on his arm at any event.

When they were done, they casually walked back up to the tent. They were just in time to watch the couple cut the cake. After that there was one more dance before the bride and groom left to go on an exotic vacation to an island the family owned. Valter and Angel slipped out soon after to his room in the main house. They were both to drunk for anything but sloppy awkward laughing at each other sex, but it was enough to put them out cold within a half hour. It wasn’t always like this. They practically lived together in his frat house even though it really wasn’t allowed. No one was going to tell such a prestigious alum not to do something they were going to do anyway. Sometimes he would stay at her sorority. Pretend to be one of the girls using a high voice to get out the door if the house mother saw him. He even put on his girlfriend’s cloths to get past her out the door once. They both thought it was hysterical.

Most of the family and some guests stayed the night at the house. But Bill, being the BAL (Bank America Loan) owner and head manager had to go to work the next morning so he and Genna went home. He tucked her into bed, her eyes heavy with sleep, before stepping into the bathroom a few feet away to brush his teeth. He had been with Genna seven years but didn’t believe they needed marriage to show their love for each other. She was everything he ever wanted. Other than laundering money for the family a handful of times he didn’t go near the family business. He wanted nothing to do with it. He didn’t want to know more than he already did which wasn’t much in his opinion. As soon as he heard the window break, he grabbed the closest gun which was taped under the sink. He went back in the room shooting at the figure in all black and the person fell over the balcony right after he grazed Bill with a bullet.

Bill didn’t bother to look over the balcony. He pulls the bloody white comforter off his companion. Her eyes fluttered as she gasps for breath. Blood is ran down Bill’s arm where the bullet grazed him. He did not feel the pain of that. He only feels the pain of loosing the love of his life.

“Its alright baby girl, I got you,” tears run down his face, “I’ll call my brother. Sam will save you.”

Bill calls Sam to his apartment. But its to late. When Sam gets there, Bill is holding his dead girl’s body in the blood soaked comforter against him sobbing uncontrollably. Sam’s not only worried about the abrasion still seeping blood on his brother’s shoulder but also his mental state.

Alex hobbles in and sat on a chair in the corner. He seems stunned by the site. “Fuck, I think they tried to take us all out. I chased a shooter off the grounds at the main house. They grazed my shoulder and hit me in the thigh. I tied it off like you said Sam. Bill what happened here?”

“They fucking killed her Alex,” he was still rocking her bloody body. “I don’t even have anything to do with the rest of you and they fucking killed her. I will fucking find out who did this and kill them. Who the fuck have you been doing business with?” He glares at Alex.

“We do business with a lot of people that see are family as a threat.” Alex said flatly. “I will help you, we will all help you find who did this to you best girl. I am sorry brother but you have to put her down so Sam can see if you need stitches. I have a bullet hole in my leg but you first brother. I insist.”

Bill slowly puts Genna’s body down in the bed. He closes her eyes and kisses her cheek before pulling the comforter over her completely. Tears still flowing even though anger is rising. He feels no pain. He just feels emotions, grief and hate.

“Bill look at me,” Sam pleads. “He checks bills reaction to light. His pupils are dilated. He washes Bill’s arm off, and he does not even flinch when Sam wipes the wound with stinging alcohol.

Alex and Sam are both concerned. Sam stiches up his arm. Bandages up the stiches and puts a water-proof wrap over the bandage.

“I need to work on Alex.” Sam throws the bloody suture kit in the nearby trash. “You should shower. You will go back to the house tonight. A cleaning crew will deal with the apartment and make sure your love is taken to our family funeral home. We can deal with the rest tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” Bill mumbles, “they are all fucking dead by tomorrow night. Whoever planned this and whoever did this and there whole fucking family are dead.” He gets up slowly. Then goes to shower stripping off the bloody remnants of the night before turning the shower on and stepping inside.

Sam checks out Alex, “Keep an eye on him closely. He is in terrible shock.”

“We will all take care of him.” Alex assures.

#hollywood mobsters #valter skarsgard #bill skarsgard #alexander skarsgard #alex skarsgard #gustaf skarsgard #stellan skarsgard #fiction #fantasy #creative writing #writing #mobsters #crime family #crime #love #lust #angst

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zenithlux · 4 years

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Cadence Update: CH 6

Catch up on the story here!

I don’t wanna look back and wonder If good enough could’ve been better Every day’s a day that’s borrowed So, why am I waiting for tomorrow

Waiting for Tomorrow - Mandisa

Omi Sushi was the type of restaurant that Vergil would never go to. Not because it wasn’t interesting, but because his rambunctious family would likely be kicked out before they had a chance to order.

It was a simple, but elegant place next to a mall that Nico announced as “heaven for all the rich folk”. Vergil, who had never been to a mall before, didn’t get what made it so special. He did, however, have a very small moment of panic when he realized just how many people were there. There were more cars in the restaurant's parking lot than people in the entirety of Haven. Then Nico had pointed to a massive building which she’d called “a parking garage”, and Vergil didn’t want to think about how many people were up there.

He had very briefly considered turning around, but Nico was gone before he got the chance, careening out of the parking lot with a loud cry of “Good luck, V-man!” which was followed by dozens of angry car horns and more than a few curse words.

His grip tightened on Yamato for a short moment, before he shook his head, let it fall against his hip, and went inside.

He stopped in the lobby, quietly impressed at how sophisticated the whole thing was. The building was longer than he expected, with booths along the walls and a long, black marbled bar down the center. The chef at the grill was cooking a massive mix of vegetables, noodles, and at least three different meats with a flare that Vergil would normally expect from his brother. Except this man was composed, and Dante most certainly would not be. The few at the bar stared in silent awe, and Vergil was relieved that Roxy was not among them. The windows were covered in elaborate blinds that depicted Japanese style artwork; a cherry blossom tree to the left, and a blue and red swirl of koi-fish to the right. Paper lanterns hung from the ceiling, providing a nice, white glow that would be just bright enough for humans, and contrasted well with the dark blue paint on the walls.

“Table for one, sir?” The hostess said as she reached for a menu.

“I’m meeting someone.”

“Name?”

“Roxanna.”

The woman skimmed a list, before giving a curt nod and leading him to the back of the restaurant. It was quiet and mostly empty - not surprisingly given the time- and the few people he did pass by were more content with whispering to each other than any kind of loud conversation. Even his over-sensitive hearing could deal with that, and it only got quieter the further back they went. Eventually, all he heard was the gentle sounds of a fountain on the other side of the restaurant. He wondered if Roxy had chosen this spot on purpose, or if the hostess had gone out of her way to separate everyone as much as possible. Maybe that was just the way they did things. This place did seem rather expensive, which then posed the question of how much she was spending. What was the etiquette with something like this? Should he offer to pay even though she already did? Should he order light and...

His steps and thoughts froze when his eyes fell on her. She was sitting in a booth along the back wall, eyes locked on the book in her hands. It was a novel of some kind; a large hardback titled, “Warbreaker” with its sleeve-jacket sitting neatly on the side. She hadn’t gotten very far, but the sheer intensity of her gaze told him she was long lost in the story. That aside, she looked more comfortable today than he’s seen her before. No signs of obvious pain. Her posture was mostly flawless, though she could sit up a bit straighter. Her hair was tied back in a pony-tail, and a bit longer than he remembered. And she looked comfortable; black leggings with shoes he’d heard Kyrie refer to as “flats” once or twice. A light blue shirt with sleeves that were rolled up to just under her elbows and a white and blue plaid scarf that hung like an oversized necklace. The word “normal” came to mind, especially compared to Vergil’s own not-at-all casual vest and full-length jacket combo he wore every day.

Again, he pondered the consequences of leaving before she saw him. She would certainly be disappointed, and likely wouldn’t have come here if he hadn’t agreed to it. But, the more he thought about it, the more he realized he would be walking away from a second and undoubtedly last chance. Dante had mentioned it. Nico had warned him about it. Deep down, Vergil knew they were both right.

You want to be a part of this world, right? Dante had said. Here’s your chance. A friend.

Vergil did not yet know what he was meant to do in this new world of his. He didn’t know how to fix the nonexistent relationship with his son, or how to find meaning in something he’d never truly been a part of. But he did know one thing: the answers to such questions would never fall right at his feet. Not unless he reached for the few that did.

“Sir?”

He nodded to the hostess as Roxy’s eyes shifted away from her book. “Thank you,” He said and slid into the bench across from her before he had another chance to second guess himself. “I hope I did not keep you waiting,” He said, relying on the remnants of confidence that he’d once exuded without hesitation. It was surprisingly easy, given the circumstances, though Vergil knew he was tugging on the pieces of V that were still hovering somewhere in the back of his mind.

Roxy’s eyes widened seconds before her smile. “Not at all,” She said as she gently replaced the book’s dust jacket before tucking it away in the bag by her side. “I had to argue with the new guy at the bookstore for a while, so I just got here myself.” She shook her head with a very brief scowl. “Long story, not really worth it.” Her smile returned as the waitress appeared with two cups of water and an extra menu. “All the books are making their way to the train station as we speak.”

“All the books?”

“Yep,” She said. “My tri-monthly book haul. I suppose this one was more of a bi-yearly trip, but that’s neither here nor there.” She sipped from her water with all the grace one might expect of a dignified woman of her age, but her gaze never wavered.

He’d be lying if he said her confidence wasn’t appealing.

“You have other plans then, I’m assuming?”

She nodded. “Gotta pick up some art supplies while I’m here. Starting to run out of all the important things.” Vergil heard a quiet, affirmative chirp from her bag.

“A hobby of yours?”

When the waitress came back, it was Roxy who waved her away with a gentle smile and a quiet ‘few more minutes please.’ The woman simply nodded and walked away. “A job, actually,” She said. “Though it started as a hobby way back when I was just big enough to hold a paintbrush.” Her eyes glittered, and Vergil found that his pulse had finally settled to a much quieter and expected pace. Of course, he hadn’t realized it was beating so quickly in the first place, but that wasn’t important. “I can’t leave the house as often as I want,” Roxy said as she tapped gently on the menu. “So I like to stay productive.” Her head tilted. “What about you?”

Vergil paused, contemplating. He should have foreseen this. Back and forth questions were normal. Expected. Human. But there was still a small part of him that hesitated. A piece that wasn’t sure how much information to share and what to keep to himself. But, after a quick reminder of his own conviction, he said, “I prefer to read when given the time. Though with all the jobs my brother asks me to work, I rarely get that luxury.” He didn’t mean to sound so bitter and was surprised when Roxy nodded.

“Now that, I understand,” She said. “I spend so much time on commissions nowadays that I can’t recall the last time I’ve painted something for myself.” She shrugged. “Can’t complain, though.”

“You could.”

She laughed. He’d heard it before, but this was the first time he’d realized that it was actually pleasing. A quiet, controlled laugh that didn’t grate at his ears like Nico or threaten to deafen him like Dante’s. Hers was acceptable. He wouldn’t mind hearing it again. “You’re not wrong,” She said. “But I try to stay as positive as life lets me.” Vergil hummed, but even he wasn’t certain if it was in agreement or simple acknowledgment. Roxy’s smile never faltered. “Are you hungry? Feel free to order whatever you’d like.”

“You still have to go to the art store, yes?”

She blinked. “Well, the train won’t be here for like six hours so… No rush.”

“You won’t need it,” He said as he glanced at the menu. “Unless that’s what you’d prefer.”

He could feel her staring at him, but he kept his eyes planted firmly on the words in front of him. Though he seemed to have forgotten how to read, for his eyes only saw strange squiggles while he waited for her response. And, after two quiet chirps that were akin to Nico’s encouragement, Roxy said, “I don’t have everything pre-ordered there, so it’ll take a little while to find it all if you’re up for that.” Vergil’s eyes flickered to hers, waiting as she stared out of the window in thought. “I can still cancel the ticket.” His heart skipped a beat when she looked back with an excited grin. “And I would love the company.”

Vergil nodded as the words on the menu finally made sense. “Eat first,” He said. “Wouldn’t want you falling unconscious. My international escort fee isn’t cheap.”

He swore Aki started laughing at that comment- or however one described an owl hooting an excessive amount of times- and Vergil could almost imagine Griffon snickering in approval. Roxy’s face flushed a bright shade of red as she failed to hide it behind another sip of water. “Not today,” She said. “Thank whomever for small favors, I suppose.”

Vergil smirked, but it was gone the moment the waitress returned. Humoring a single human was more than enough for one day.

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

The rest of their time at the restaurant was more relaxing and informative than Vergil expected. It was nice, he decided, to converse with someone that knew as little about him as he did them. The questions were superficial, but he didn’t mind, and she was quite eager to share her own responses. By the time their meal was over, he knew her favorite color (blue - good choice), how many people were in her family (only child, hadn’t seen her mother in a while), and her favorite food (fruit; bananas and watermelons preferred). She’d talked about her favorite books, many new titles he’d never heard of but was now interested in reading based on her enthusiasm alone. He talked about his favorite poetry and was glad that she didn’t judge his lack of present-day literature knowledge. He’d even gotten her to talk about music and was content to listen to the numerous different genres, artists, and the passion she had for each one of them.

Needless to say, when she asked if he was certain he wanted to accompany her, Vergil agreed. After a quiet moment of consideration, of course. And a quick glance at his phone to confirm that Nico hadn’t run anyone over. I wouldn’t want anyone thinking he was genuinely interested in the opportunity to spend more time with someone outside of his family.

What a foolish notion that would be.

Liviana’s was a hobby store that was close enough to the restaurant that they could enter from the outside of the mall rather than cutting through the crowd. Vergil wasn’t certain who was more relieved when Roxy told him that, as he didn’t miss the way she drifted away from crowds as they walked. Even inside the store, where there were dozens upon dozens of massive aisles on multiple floors. And as she guided them through the emptiest ones. It became very clear that she had been here many, many times before.

Vergil was content to walk behind her. Not because he was worried about anything, but more because it gave him a chance to observe. At first, he’d glanced around the store, checking for every door, every strange alcove in the ceiling, all the stairs; everything a casual devil hunter might need in a crisis.

But then his eyes had drifted back toward her. She walked with pride, exchanging hellos with whoever offered them, but not going out of the way to greet anyone herself. Her back was straight with no signs of spasms, but he’d catch her reaching for it from time to time, before quickly pulling her hand away. A reflexive movement, he assumed, but that was a given. She’d clearly dealt with it many times before, but he would never have guessed that if he hadn’t seen her injury for himself. And that alone brought up many questions that demanded answers, but he held them back, uncertain if that would dampen the relatively peaceful few hours they’d had so far.

“Vergil?”

He stopped short of crashing right into her, oblivious to the fact she had stopped at all. “Yes?”

“Is something on your mind?”

Had his thoughts truly been that obvious? He supposed he had been more relaxed around her than with others. Dante always admonished him for being “so cold all the time”. Vergil had even overheard Nero venting to Kyrie how frustrating it was that Vergil didn’t act like… anything (he still didn’t know what his son had meant by that). But even Vergil knew he was always tense around them. Too many things to hide. Too many things that could go wrong. Words that conveyed the wrong meaning. Reactions that could be taken the wrong way.

It was a mistake to let that part of him go, so he pulled it back together before he spoke again. “Nothing for you to worry about,” He said simply as his gaze rose to the wall behind her. “Canvases?”

“Yep,” She said, though her voice was quieter than before. Vergil felt a twinge of something at the sound but didn’t address it. “Some clients want hand-painted works, and those are always the more lucrative jobs.”

“Hand-painted?” Vergil echoed. “As opposed to?”

If she were anyone else, Vergil was certain he would have gotten a strange look. Something like Dante’s far too common “you really don’t know anything” stare before he’d sarcastically go through whatever it was Vergil had missed over the last two decades. But Roxy said nothing of the sort and moved on as if it was a completely normal question. “Digital artwork is way more popular,” she said. “Arguably easier for me too, but that depends on the request.” She pulled a small notepad from her bag, whispering a quiet, “go back to sleep, Aki, we’re almost done” as she did so.

“Which do you prefer?”

“Honestly?” She said as she stood up on her toes in an attempt to reach the largest canvas on top. Vergil reached over her head and plucked it down with ease. She laughed as she took it and started piling the smaller ones on top. “I like them both, but hand-painted ones are always more unique, and I have a lot more freedom to try new things.” After her seventh canvas, she tapped a button with her elbow. An employee practically materialized out of thin air, and they shared a quick conversation before the woman took the canvases and a page from Roxy’s notebook away. “She’ll take care of all the paints and more expensive things I need,” Roxy said. “But I don’t trust many people with my paintbrushes.”

Then, Vergil’s phone rang. For a long moment, he considered not answering it. But, knowing how few people actually had his number and cared to call, he thought better of it. “Yes?” He said looking away.

“V-man!”

He pulled the phone away slightly as Nico’s voice echoed far too loudly in his ear. “What’s wrong?”

“We’ve got trouble!”

Vergil frowned. “What kind of trouble?”

“Lots of demons, and way too many portals for Nero to handle. Dante’s off dealing with what he can but…” She took a long and somewhat shaky breath. “I’m by the train station, if you can meet me here.”

“I’m on my way.” Vergil hung up without waiting for a response. “I apologize, but my help is needed.”

“Demons?” Roxy said.

“Yes.”

“Let me tag along.”

Vergil stared at her, but she didn’t flinch. Aki’s head popped out of the bag from the corner of Vergil’s eye, tilting to the side with a questioning chirp. “I can fight,” She said.

“Last time you hit three demons and passed out.”

“I went hunting yesterday,” She said. “So I’m good this time. Promise.”

“So you do absorb the demonic essence?”

She closed her eyes for a brief moment. When they opened again, Vergil swore he saw a flash of light blue that faded the second she blinked. “Yes,” She said. “It heals my body, and strengthens the demons that rely on me.”

That caught his interest. “More than one?”

“Two,” She said. “Aki included.” She grinned mischievously. “If you want to see the other one, then you’ll have to take me with you.”

Vergil scowled, but he could feel his lips twitching in an approving smirk. “Fine,” He said. “But you’ll have to keep up, and don’t get in my way.”

“Easy,” She said. “Just be sure to duck once and a while or I won’t get to kill anything.”

#Cadence #DMC #fan fiction #vergil #dante #nico #vergilxoc #vergilxRoxy #next chapter is where things really get fun :D

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markleesthighs · 5 years

Text

Black Mamba

Pairings: Reader x Mark Lee, Reader x Hendery, Reader x Jaehyun, feat. ot21

Genre: nct mafia!au, angst, fluff, light smut (suggestive), comical

Warnings: swearing, mentions of cheating and drugs

Chapter 2 - Judas Kiss (preview)

Valentine’s Day, Seoul, Korea, 2023

You were planning to take Mark out on a date for your anniversary, you were able to book a restaurant and super excited to take Mark. You both have been busy lately, both of you had not left the mansion in a while, and this would be a great opportunity to go out. After you got the call for the confirmation, you walked to Mark’s office to go tell him. But before you could open the door you heard the other boys talking to him about what to do for Valentine’s Day.

“Boss, how long has it been since you’ve gone out?” Jaehyun asked

“I’ve been busy trying to manage you, numskulls.”

“We are all planning on going to hit the club tonight, you should come,” Johnny added.

“Nah, you guys go on your own.”

“C’ mon boss, how long has it been since you’ve had a girl over?” Taeyong asked

“It’s none of your business.”

“Mark, we all know you haven’t had one over in forever,” Donghyuck Responded

The truth was, Mark did everything he can to avoid the boys from finding out about you two. Whether that was you hiding in the closet, or waiting ten minutes to exit the same room, it was what you promised between each other. Mark also made his room soundproof, to ensure no one would hear both of you in the same room. Mark sighed and gave a somewhat forced answer.

“…fine I’ll go”

“YES!!” Cheered Taeil

You heard them walking by the door so you quickly made it look like you were walking to the supplies closet looking for materials for your next weapon. The guys saw you, excited to know what your latest invention was.

“y/n! y/n! What are you working on!” Donghyuck asked

“Well, if I told you I would ruin the surprise.”

“Can’t you give us a little hint?”

“Fine.”

“You guys have to use this on night missions”

“Ohhhhhhh”

“Well, I have to get back to the lab, I’ll see all of you”

“Bye y/n!!”

You obviously made that weapon up, but right now you just wanted to go into the lab and reflect on what just happened. You walked into the lab and just sat in there for an hour fiddling your pen, thinking about what to do. You trusted Mark, but you had hoped he would have remembered to do something or anything for your anniversary. He knows that you didn’t like flowers, but in past anniversaries he at least got you a gift and spent more time with you for the day. Last year, he spent the whole day in the lab saying he was “testing” and “approving” your weapons. When in reality, you both were having a hidden date inside the lab and couldn’t keep your hands off each other.

The thought of being engaged and getting married crossed your mind, since some of your friends had gotten engaged around three or four years of dating someone. You would say yes, but was this the right time? You decided to head to the bathhouses to clear your mind and think of different things to take your mind off your worries.

The bath houses were inspired by Japanese onsens, and since you were the only girl in a high ranking position, you got the bathhouse to yourself. Your juniors and other trainees had other houses where they bathed. You let the hot water and steam relax your body and you watched as there was a light snowfall. Watching the delicate flakes of snow melting softly into the hot water made you feel calm, and forget what you were worried about.

However, when you stepped out and walked back into the mansion it was extremely quiet. You then asked a maid carrying towels where they went.

“They went out tonight miss.”

Right. They were going to the club. On Valentine’s Day. On your anniversary. You would be lying if you said it didn’t hurt as you walked to your bedroom to change into one of Mark’s hoodies, it smelled like whiskey and his old spice. You tried to sleep and you were tossing and turning and looked at the clock, 12:00 AM. You realized that you needed to find out for yourself if Mark indeed was staying loyal

or else you wouldn’t be able to sleep. You got up and changed into your clothes (with weapons secretly equipped in pockets of course) which was all black, and you wore a black mask to cover your face.

You rode your motorbike near the club and had to walk through a big park to get there since everyone came to this club on Valentines Day, and it’s hard to get in. You noticed that this was the park that you and Mark had your first official date in the public. You remembered how he violently chased the pigeons and picked up a bunch of flowers for you. It was good and heartwarming memories that reminded you of Mark. But you quickly snapped out of it and focused at the task at hand. You had debated whether to go or not, determining the probability of him catching you there or how he would react. You even wondered if you were just being paranoid and doubting Mark.

“What am I going to do if he sees me?”

“What happens if he is cheating on me?”

“Am I just going crazy?”

“What if I am worried for nothing, god I feel so stupid”

“So, I am actually doing this, you can do it y/n”

But you decide, fuck it, let’s just do it, if he sees me, then so be it. You walked up to the bodyguards and you showed them your NCT tattoo and they let you in immediately with no question. But of course, everyone else waiting started to yell at them wondering how you magically get to waltz inside. When you got in your eardrums hurt like hell, this was one of the main reasons why you didn’t like clubs. First off, even though you were in a mafia group, you didn’t drink or smoke, you just didn’t like either preferably.

The place clearly reached of alcohol, pot, marijuana, and flavored vape smoke. So many drunk and high people dancing, along with flashing lights, was not your forte. Also, the fact that people were sniffing cocaine and smoking out of rainbow bongs did not help either. You also realized that this particular club as also a strip club so strippers and naked girls are everywhere. You did notice a bunch of men trying to hit on you but once you almost broke the arm of a guy trying to grope your ass, they all seemed to back away from you.

You tried to desperately find Mark or even the group, there were so many people and so many sweaty bodies you couldn’t wait to get out of this shit hole. You eventually saw all of them sitting in a booth laughing and drinking, you can tell Mark was drunk because he was being really touchy with all of the members and his face has a slight pink tint. You were relieved he was just drinking and not doing other things.

But as you are just going to leave out of the corner of your eye, you saw a girl walk over to Mark and sat on his lap. You turned and with no hesitation, he started to make out with her and holding her the way he held you. You saw all the boys hooting and hollering Mark. You saw him smiling, which you haven’t seen in a long time. But there was only one person not following along, which was Donghyuck, who looked uncomfortable in this situation. That led him to notice you with watery eyes and you quickly ran out of there as fast as your legs could carry you. You ran and ran for miles while knowing Donghyuck was following you, hearing his footsteps linger behind you. You ran not looking back feeling your tears stream your cheeks as millions of thoughts fill your head.

“Is he happy?”

“Why did he do this?”

“What is wrong with me?

“What is this feeling?

“Why does my throat have a lump?”

“Why does my chest feel heavy?”

“Why are my eyes filled with water?”

“Why did he do this?”

“Did he forget about me?”

The only time you remembered crying like this was at your parents funeral, you have never cried since. For once, you felt hurt again, and you felt betrayed by someone you loved in a long time. You felt sick and vulnerable.

“Why did you make me feel this way?”

You wondered if you ever made him happy. You questioned if he ever loved you. You thought if you were ever enough for Mark.

“Was this just a game?”

“Was my loyalty for three years worth nothing?”

“Did I just waste my time?”

But the footsteps never stopped.

“y/n!! Wait!”

follow me to get updates on the series!

~n ✧*:･ﾟ

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chasingpj · 3 years

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𝐔𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐳𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬

"I might spread a rumor about you and Percy rendezvousing at midnight. The Aphrodite cabin will have a hoot with that one."

pairing: percy jackson x child of hecate!reader

words: 4,931

warnings: none

timeline: post sea of monsters

if you want to be tagged every time I update this story, click here

a/n: hi hi! this is part one of a self-insert series I'm working on. in this story, y/n is a child of hecate, and this storyline follows the books. the current timeline here is post sea of monsters and will continue through the Heroes of Olympus books. though it follows the original plot, y/n has her own storyline and quests. i tried to make y/n gender-neutral but as I continued to work on the timeline for this project, i had decided that this fic is for a fem reader. guys, this is really just me projecting my fantasy into fanfiction lol. i feel like this is a slow start?? and there is a lot of info dumped in this so bear with me. it'll get better and I'll be working to improve my writing as the series continues. I was on a writing hiatus for a really long time and I'm out of practice so this is my way to get back and hopefully, exceed the skills I had when I was a consistent writer. anyways, if you have any feedback, let me know! I'd love to hear what you think. as i get deeper into the series, i might ask for some suggestions on what to do with the fic. anyways, i'll stop rambling and i hope you like it!

Part One Part Two

You ignore the aching in your neck as your focus is fixed on the herbology book in front of you. You’ve been seated at your desk for Zeus knows how long reading and taking notes in your Book of Shadows, determined to finish reading it as fast as possible. Your half-brother, Alabaster, insisted that you need to memorize all the herbs and their properties before he can properly teach you how to use them in potions. Even though you understand its importance, you hated introductory work. You are itching to get to the real stuff, resulting in you glued to your chair, studying through the night as your cabin mates were fast asleep in their beds. But as determined as you are, Ambrose, your familiar, wasn’t much help. Ambrose whines as he rubs his head against your legs like a needy kitten, making it difficult to ignore him.

“What is it, Ambrose?” You whisper, sitting back in your chair in defeat. You take a second to massage the back of your sore neck before turning to face the translucent hound sitting attentively at your side. His tail sweeps the floor as it wags excitedly, and a short huff leaves his snout as if he was proud to have finally gotten your attention.

Your eyes meet his, racking your mind to figure out what Ambrose needs to tell you. At first, you thought he wanted to play, but you didn’t have time for that, so you decided to ignore him. Usually, after being ignored for a while, Ambrose will give up, finding something else to occupy him. But tonight, he was particularly persistent, and he’s only like this when he needs to tell you something.

Before you can ask what he wanted again, Ambrose gets up from his seated position, running over to the small table that stands beside your bed. You furrow your eyebrows, the first thing you notice when you walk over are your crystals neatly placed in front of your spell books as usual. Seeing them made you suddenly remember what you had planned to do.

You had told Ambrose to remind you to charge your crystals and collect water from the lake since there is a full moon tonight and of course, Ambrose being your loyal companion, did exactly that. Before looking down at the hound, who now is breathing heavily, his tail somehow wagging faster than before, you smile to yourself.

“I told you to remind me earlier, didn’t I?” Ambrose snorts and runs around your feet enthusiastically. You couldn’t help but giggle at his excitement as you reached down to pat his head. “Good boy. What would I do without you?” You continue to praise him, grabbing a black pouch and carefully placing the crystals in it. You put your index finger to your lips, signaling Ambrose to be a little quieter despite his excitement. If he accidentally wakes anyone up, then you definitely weren’t going to be able to fulfill your plans.

You bite your bottom lip as you tiptoe out of the aisle between the bunks. You look around the notoriously cramped Hermes Cabin to make sure your assumption that everyone was asleep by now was correct. It wasn’t hard to make out the faces of your cabin mates since seeing clearly in the dark was one of your many gifts, so you carefully walked along the bunks, being as quiet as you could. You are especially cautious as you approach the front where your cabin leaders, the Stoll brothers, slept. You study them for a second, knowing for sure Travis was asleep since he was snoring and loudly at that. Before you can check if Connor is asleep, you hear him shifting in his bed. You stand frozen in your spot, hesitantly looking over and you were expecting to be met with the usual mischievous grin. Instead, his back was towards you now. You have a feeling in your gut that he wasn't asleep, the timing of his moving was much too convenient. You really didn't want to wait any longer though so you decide that you might as well leave before he could stop you.

You turn on your heels, walking over to the window before you push it open. You cringe softly as the hinges creak, and you look back at the cabin to double-check if anyone has woken up from the sound. You sigh in relief when you see no one has moved, and you turn back to the window, carefully crawling out of it. This wasn’t unusual for you. You’ve done this so many times that using windows as a mode of exiting and entering a room was as natural to you as walking in and out of a door, and soon you were hopping down onto the grass. Your back is pressed against the cabin as you walk the side of it. You look up at the trees and the sky, eyes scoping around for any harpies hanging around. After deeming that you were alone, you begin making your way to the lake, Ambrose walking by your side attentively and cautiously to make sure you are safe.

The night was clear; the stars and especially the moon shone brightly in the sky. You sigh softly, taking in the stillness of the night, admiring the glistening lake reflecting the full moon placed above it. You’ve always enjoyed how quiet and cool the nights were, preferring it more than the daytime.

Unfortunately, you couldn’t avoid it as much as you wish to. Most of your siblings can agree with you that they’d prefer to sleep in most days so that they can study and practice their magic at night. However, that wasn’t the schedule of the Hermes Cabin. It was pretty impossible to sleep in since the mornings were always hectic. In fact, the cabin was just hectic, period. There was always something going on, whether it was an elaborate prank or the guys arguing over who gets to shower first after coming back from training which usually resulted in an intense game of rock, paper, scissors. You can’t say that you didn’t like it; at least you were entertained.

You also always had someone to talk to, and because there were often new campers coming in and out of there, you have easily familiarized yourself with a lot of the kids at camp. However, like your mother, you did enjoy and yearn for the occasional periods of solitude. As fun as living with the Hermes kids was, you and your siblings did find yourselves getting a little irritable at their shenanigans. It was at those times, you did wish that your mother, Hecate, had a designated cabin.

You and your siblings had always said if they ever got a cabin of their own, they would make sure everyone had separate rooms and would have designated spaces to socialize and practice their magic so that it was quiet for the most part. Alabaster, especially, was really passionate about this topic. He complained how it didn’t make sense that your mother wasn't recognized since you and your siblings were a powerful little bunch. You all needed a space to practice your magic and practice preferably at night since you were the most powerful at that time of day; you were also less prone to making mistakes in your spell casting at night. You agreed with him and would get upset about it sometimes, but the Hermes Cabin was a place you considered to be a second home. The communal feel of the space was something you enjoyed, it was one of the few places where you felt fully accepted which was rare to find being a demi-god with abilities like yours. In return to the Hermes Cabin welcoming you with open arms, you accept the inconveniently loud environment as an admirable quirk and went on with your days.

Then to compensate for the lack of silence and solitude, you would often stay up late, taking advantage of the quiet to focus on your studies. Even if you had to sacrifice the amount of sleep you got, you felt like it was worth it.

It doesn’t take you long to arrive at the dock, sitting down close to the end with your legs folded under you. You first collect lake water in a jar before carefully taking out the pouch's crystals. Assuming you had only a few left in the pouch after laying most of them on the dock, you tilt it with your hand under it, only for the crystals to come out all at once. You fumble, hands trying to bring them to your chest, but with your luck, one of your crystals falls right into the water with a plop.

“Dammit!” You peer over the edge and groan, Ambrose whining at your misfortune as he stands beside you. You look down at the water, noticing Ambrose’s and your dim reflection in it. There was no way you could get that crystal now because you didn't know how to swim, and you consider that maybe tomorrow you can convince your twin brother, Atticus, to look for it or Alabaster if Atticus refused, which you were expecting him to.

Your breath hitches at the back of your throat, jumping back as a head of dark hair abruptly pops up from right where you were staring. Ambrose barks loudly next to you, equally as startled, and your eyes widen. You stand up hastily at the realization that Ambrose's loud barks in the dead of night will catch the attention of the harpies, and right now, that was more important to you than the mysterious person that just sprouted up in the water like a zombie coming out of a grave.

“Shush! Ambrose, quiet!” Your frantic command was enough to make him stop with a whine, and you sigh shakily, turning towards the camp to check if there were any harpies.

“I think you dropped something.” Ambrose moves in front of you protectively, a low growl coming from his chest as he cautiously studies the person. You look back where the voice came from and to your surprise and your relief, you find that the mysterious person in the lake was no other than Percy Jackson. You never had a conversation with him before, but you definitely knew about him. It was kind of hard not to know who he is since he’s been the talk of the camp since he’s arrived. Your thoughts about him weren’t any different from most of the camp. You’ve seen him fight and use his powers during capture the flag, and you were just as impressed as everyone else. You did have to admit that you found him to be pretty cute too. His eyes were gorgeous, clear, and bright like a shallow, cyanic sea. You also found it adorable how his hair always looked a little disheveled.

Your (e/c) eyes met Percy’s green ones before looking at your rose quartz in his hand. You smile sheepishly, noticing the amused look on his face.

“Ah, yeah, that’s mine.” You walk over to him, but as you get closer, so does Ambrose, and his growls get louder. "Ambrose, heel. It's okay," you say softly, and he stops in his place, but his stance is still at alert, his eyes watching Percy cautiously. You pat Ambrose's head before walking past him and over to Percy. "Thanks," you smile, taking your rose quartz from his hand.

"No problem… I don't think your ghost dog likes me," Percy jokes, moving to look past your legs at Ambrose, who’s standing tall on your left side.

"Yeah, well, you kinda scared the crap out of us," you point out, amused. You take in Percy's goofy smile as he pulls himself up from the water, and you notice that he’s completely dry as he settles on the edge before turning his body to look at you.

“It’s y/n, right?” He asks, and you nod, figuring he’s probably heard about you in passing from Connor and Travis since he was friends with them too. “What are you doing out here so late?"

"I could ask you the same thing," you retort playfully, making him smile. You move to sit down where you were standing. You spread the crystals neatly on the wood, making a mental note to get them before you go to bed.

"I couldn't sleep, so I came out here to hang out, but then a hippocampus swam up. One of its friends got stuck in a fisher's net not too far from here, so I went to help," he explains, and you nod. "I told you my excuse, so what's yours?"

You hum, "It's a full moon out tonight, so I thought I should take my crystals out. I also needed moon water for a potion, so I collected some for that," you point over at the big mason jar full of lake water. "It’s not as cool as your excuse,” you say playfully.

A short laugh comes from Percy, and when you look up from your crystals, you notice he was looking at Ambrose again, who was still in his tense stance. Ambrose was especially protective of you and Atticus, and it wasn’t unusual for him to be cautious of the new people you come across. You assumed that Ambrose was particularly tense with Percy since he had successfully caught you both by surprise.

"Ambrose, relax.” You pat the top of his head to soothe him. "Lay down." Ambrose whines, licking your hand affectionately for a little, and you can tell he was still uneasy about the other. He was hesitant, but he follows your command anyway, laying down with his head on your lap.

"You can touch him?" Percy asks, his eyes wide and curious as he watches you pet Ambrose.

"Yeah, I can touch ghosts in general. My mother is Hecate, goddess of necromancy, along with magic, the night and the moon," you tell him. "This is Ambrose. My mother gifted him to me to be my familiar, kinda like a guardian." You look down at the hound, smiling softly as you scratch behind his ear softly.

Ambrose is a burly Molossian Hound who lived in the time of Alexander The Great. From what your father told you, his breed was well valued in Ancient Greek and Roman times and was often used in war. It is easy to understand why the breed was used in war. Ambrose is huge and muscular, about 6 feet tall when he stands on his hind legs, and he weighs around 200 pounds. At first, Ambrose can come off as a little intimidating. You remember how your siblings had avoided him when you first arrived at camp before they realized that he was the clearest definition of a gentle giant. Even though he was trained to fight when he was alive, he was still as gentle as a well-trained house dog unless he was given a reason not to be.

"When did you get him?" Percy asks, his eyes focusing on Ambrose’s translucent body that looked like it is made up of this gray swirling vapor. He couldn’t exactly wrap his head around how Ambrose’s head was comfortably propped up on your thigh.

"We met on the night I was on my way to Camp so about 2 years ago. Without him, my brother and I probably would have never made it to the borders.” You look up at Percy, meeting his eyes again; you watch as his face softens as he shifts to lean back on his hand.

"Really?" You hum and nod, ready to drop the conversation there, thinking you shouldn’t bore him with the details. You didn’t really like talking about it much, but the way he was looking at you made you feel like he was inviting you to continue talking.

"We got separated from our father at the gas station a couple of miles away from here. He went inside the convenience store to get us snacks, and while he was in there, a cyclops had found us, tried to grab us out of his car. We jumped out and ran into the woods nearby," you explain as you look out at the dark horizon.

You remember the sound of your father yelling after you and Atticus and how it broke your heart hearing, for the first time, such despair in his voice. You knew your dad didn’t want to bring you guys to camp, but he knew it was in Atticus’s and your best interest to come here and be with other people like you guys.

When you and Atticus started developing your powers, your father had simply told you guys that you were special and to refrain from using your telekinesis anywhere else but home. He didn’t say anything more until one night, you and Atticus had gotten in a screaming match about a reason you don’t even remember. However, in your screaming match, the both of you were so angry that a green aura had formed around you both, and books, magazines, even cutlery were being flown across the room because of the sheer energy you were admitting as a unit. It was then your father had decided to take you and Atticus to the camp to control and learn about your powers before you guys destroyed the house over a dumb argument like who’s turn is it to have the TV remote.

"We were more concerned about the monster hurting our dad, so we decided on a whim to run in the forest. My brother and I have telekinesis powers, and I aimed well enough to send a rock right at the cyclops eye. We lost him a little after that, but we didn't know where we were. We made too many twists and turns; we had no idea what direction we came from. And then, this buddy appeared out of nowhere from a distance. I saw him glowing from far away and couldn’t make out what he was, but I felt that I had to follow him. So we did, and he got us to camp with no detours for any other monsters. He's been with me ever since," you say, and a low whine comes from Ambrose’s mouth as he nuzzles the side of his face on your thigh contentedly.

Percy nods, and he huffs softly, "You guys got lucky. How old were you and your brother when you got to camp?"

"12, we're twins. We actually got here a couple of weeks after you did,” you mention. You watch Percy’s mouth curve into a half-smirk.

“Wow," he says, amused, and shakes his head. “So you have a twin and a dead dog, no fair," he jokes. You giggle, rolling your eyes playfully,

"Oh please, and you have crazy water powers. You’re completely dry after swimming! I think that's pretty envy-worthy."

"Hey-,” he shrugs, taking a second as if to form a protest. “I guess you're right,” he admits and laughs. You laugh with him, opening your mouth to say something else but unfortunately, you were interrupted by a screech echoing in the distance.

Both you and Percy stand up quickly, trying to figure out which direction it came from. “The harpies,” you both mutter in unison. You bend down to grab your things, and you look at Ambrose.

"Go distract them, bud," you tell him, and Ambrose jumps up to his feet, and you watch as he runs away, barking to get their attention. Just then, you see the wings of the Harpies coming up from the trees of the forest. You turn to Percy, grabbing his hand quick,

“Incantare: Transpectus!" You exclaim confidently, closing your eyes to envision you and Percy becoming transparent on the dock. You've never tried doing this spell before, but you've gotten better at visualizing and setting intentions, so you had some hope in yourself. You open your eyes, not feeling any different, and you hoped that you just didn't make a fool of yourself in front of Percy. But when you look down at your hand hesitantly and notice it was hard to make out since you were see-through like glass, you sigh in relief. You smile to yourself, more than satisfied that you were able to pull that off.

"Woah, are we invisible?" You look over at Percy, able to see him just fine since he was under the spell with you. Percy looks down at himself, eyes widened as he processes he can’t see his body anymore. You observe him for a second, finding it cute how he looked surprised and obviously entertained at the fact that he was completely see-through. You feel yourself growing a little flustered, trying not to focus too much on the fact that you were holding hands with him.

"Something like that. C'mon, it won’t last too long," you whisper, and your grip around his hand tightens as you guys begin running to his cabin. You hear the harpies screeching in frustration as they swoop down to try and grab Ambrose, only for their claws to go right through him. While the harpies were growing more annoyed, Ambrose, on the other hand, was having way too much fun, running in circles and barking at them as if he’s teasing.

"Man, I wish I had a ghost dog," you hear Percy mutter behind you as you arrive at the steps of his cabin.

"Yeah, Ambrose is pretty great," you admit, watching him play with the harpies before shifting your gaze over to Percy. "Thanks for getting the crystal for me." As much as you wanted to stay talking to him, you knew you couldn't stay too long. You were still eager to finish studying, and Ambrose can only hold off the harpies for so long.

"It was no problem. It was on my way up anyways," he shrugs, and you smile, trying to ignore the fluttering feeling in your stomach. You look down, the two of you still holding hands even though the spell wore off already. You awkwardly let go of his hand, shifting on your feet.

"Well, I'll see you around," you say sheepishly, fiddling with your fingers.

"Yeah, I'll see you.” His hand comes up in an awkward wave. You nod, returning the wave. Your eyes meet Percy’s green ones one more time before turning on your heels and walking down the steps of his cabin. You notice that Ambrose is now long gone into the forest, taking the harpies with him to give you time to rush to the other side where your cabin is.

As you hurry back to your cabin, you couldn’t help but smile to yourself as you replayed the interaction you just had with Percy, and you couldn't help but wonder when would be the next time you could talk to him.

You carefully hoist yourself up, climb back into the cabin through the window, sighing softly once you get in. You slowly close the window, your face scrunching at the creaking sound, but you successfully get it closed before turning around, only to be faced with Connor Stoll standing a few feet away with his arms crossed over his chest. You gasp loudly, almost dropping the mason jar in your hand, being startled for the second time tonight.

“Oh, look who’s back,” he says, his lips pulled in his usual mischievous smirk, his right eyebrow raised as if he's suspicious of you. You shift, giggling nervously under his graze,

"Hey, Con.” Shit. You knew he wasn’t asleep, and a part of you wasn’t surprised that he had caught you sneaking out again. You weren’t too worried since Connor wasn’t one to be strict or easily angered, neither was Travis, but you can understand if he did get a little upset with you since the cabin could also get in trouble, and he worried about you getting hurt.

"You leave so often, I'm starting to think you're seeing someone," he teases, and you furrow your eyebrows, not really sure what he was trying to get at.

"I'm not seeing anyone. You know what I do when I sneak out," you tell him, putting your hand out to show him the jar full of water. After being caught the first couple of times, you had explained to Connor why you occasionally needed to head out at night. He was understanding of your reasons, telling you to try and not sneak out as often. When he did catch you, he always kept your outings secret. It came with a price, though. You were sometimes stuck doing extra chores, especially anything that had to do with cleaning, since he hated doing anything that had to do with mopping or sweeping.

"So that wasn't you and Percy on the dock?" Your eyes widen, and you feel your face get hot again. You shake your head, stumbling over your words for a second.

"Uh… n- that was a coincidence!" You hear him snort, laughing quietly as if he didn't believe you. Even though he couldn't see your facial expression very well in this lighting, he can still tell how flustered you were at his sudden question.

"Yeah, sure," he says sarcastically, and he hums, "Anyways, what are you going to do for me so that I don't tell on you?" He asks, and your mouth drops open. Usually, he wasn't so forward, and he never threatened to tell on you. "I might spread a rumor about you and Percy rendezvousing at midnight. The Aphrodite cabin will have a hoot with that one."

You gasp, "Connor, are you blackmailing me right now?" You narrow your eyes at him, and he shrugs,

"I guess you can say I am." You shake your head, walking over to your desk to put down your moon water before turning toward him and crossing your arms in front of your chest.

"... what do you want?" You ask, expecting him to make you take up one of his chores. But from the way he was smiling at you, you can tell that there was something more he wanted, and you were beginning to worry.

"Help me turn the Ares Cabin into bunnies," he says, and you shake your head frantically,

"No way! Clarisse will kill me," you whisper. Connor smiles,

"No, she won't. She can't kill you if she's a bunny," he points out, and your face falls flat,

"They're not gonna stay bunnies forever," you say, and you fiddle with your fingers nervously at the idea of the outrage you'd get from the Ares Cabin after shifting back from being bunnies. "I don't know, Con. I don't even know if I can turn all of them into bunnies at once."

Connor waves his hand at you, dismissing your concern. "I don't care for the logistics now. We can work on that later, but you have to agree to at least help me," he says. "Or I'm telling everyone I saw you smooching Percy on the dock."

"What!? We didn't even kiss. We talked for like 5 minutes!" You whisper-yell, your reactions much too entertaining for him, and he was having a hard time holding in his laugh.

"Your decision, y/n."

You sigh, throwing your head back. You look at the ceiling for a second as you consider your two choices. And you decide that getting your head potentially put on a stick by Clarisse was better than the burning embarrassment of Percy thinking you're spreading rumors about kissing him. "Fine, whatever. I'll help you do the bunny thing," you mumble, your shoulders slouched.

Connor nods with a proud smile on his face for trapping you into helping him. "Good choice. I will be going back to sleep now. Good night… again," he announces, turning on his heels and walking over to his bed. You frown a little as you walk back to your desk to study. Plopping down onto your chair, you decide that you’ll worry about Connor’s little plan later so you can focus on your studying. After a while, Ambrose comes trotting in, joining you by the desk as usual. You smile at him, praising the other for distracting the harpies for you before he lays down, his head laying on your foot.

As you study, you find that you couldn’t help your mind drifting back to Percy once and a while. You deem that there was no way that you could have a crush on him since you guys have only spoken once. In the midst of your internal debate to decide what you felt for him, you suddenly remember the crystal that was retrieved for you. You remember how Percy presented it to you, holding it out for you with his fingertips. It was your rose quartz. What a coincidence. You smile, rolling your eyes as you tell yourself that you’re thinking too much into it. You look over, noticing the dim illuminating light of the beginning sunrise shining through the curtains. You sigh, deciding that you should probably get to sleep and take advantage of the maybe, four hours of sleep you’ll get tonight. You close your herbology book before making your way to your bed, and with a soft sigh, you retreat under the covers, and finally, you surrender to your drowsiness.

masterlist

#percy jackson x reader #percy x reader #percy jackon and the olympians #percy jackson #connor stoll #pjo x reader #percy jackson fanfiction #percy jackson fic #slow burn #friends to lovers #connor stoll x reader #percy jackson oneshot #pjo #my writing

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fishdavidson · 5 years

Photo

Dream Journal 20199-06-02: Dealing With Some Weird Convention In A Hotel (And Also An Explanation Regarding My Absence)

Some of you have probably noticed that I have not updated my dream journal for about a month. Part of it I can squarely blame on depression/anxiety, and another significant portion I can conveniently blame on my various medications making my dreams harder to recall. There was also a weird and sudden bout of insomnia that happened, which didn’t make anything better.

But there are two other reasons that I haven’t been updating as regularly:

I’m running my first homebrew Dungeons and Dragons campaign as GM, and it required a LOT of prep work in the beginning. Because I try to keep non-dream stuff off my main blog, that’s why there haven’t been any posts about my massive love of D&D and my ever-so-understanding players.

These posts take a lot of time to write. Maybe I’m just a slow writer, but the average post takes 1-2 hours to write and that doesn’t include all the weird and random searches I have to do to find a suitable header image. Actual work was running later than usual, and on the days when I actually had a dream, I was opting not to write about it so I could allocate that time toward my other creative projects. An unfortunate reality of being a human with limited time means that I can’t give all my projects the love they need.

But don’t let that last point lull you into thinking that I’m permanently abandoning this blog! I fully intend to keep it going to the best of my ability, but I’m trying to not beat myself up if I miss a few days here and there (because that’s how the anxiety monster wins). Anyway, enough groveling! TIME FOR DREAMS!

The Main Dream: The Convention

We begin in an alternate reality where international pop sensation, the Spice Girls, never broke up. Only they pivoted their musical style toward industrial dance and any attempts at subtlety in the innuendo department had been removed from the lyrics.

The manager of the Spice Girls in this reality was a heinous Dolores Umbridge character who wore a lot of purple and was really interested in insurance fraud. Seriously. The manager hired me as a dance instructor and physical trainer, both of which I am horrendously unqualified for in dreams and in reality, in order to sue me for contractual misrepresentation and receive a convenient settlement from the insurance company.

Yes, that is an actual thing that almost happened in this dream. I say “almost” because although I did indeed get hired, I caught on to her scheme pretty quick and informed her with a great assortment of swear words that I was resigning and knew what she was doing. If she did not allow my resignation and/or attempted to proceed with involving me in her plan anyway, I announced my intention to counter-sue her. Hooray for subconscious threats of litigation!

My threats (or maybe it was the attempted headlock?) got me out of my duties with the Spice Girls, but I was stuck at a fancy hotel in New Orleans until the next long-distance charter bus arrived. According to the schedule, I had an entire weekend to kill.

There was a convention going on at the hotel for high-achieving students who came from private religious schools. Naturally, I attempted to assimilate into their group because they had lots of pre-planned activities and free food.

Despite not arriving on the tour bus with the other students, it was trivial to convince them that I was definitely a decade or two younger than my real age and currently enrolled in a private religious school. You just tell the person in charge “I am a student,” and they’re like “This guy’s legit, come on in!”

It was a perfect plan!

The chaperones give me a key to the room I’m staying in with several other people. My luggage has already been brought up to the room, and I take a moment to inventory my worldly possessions because it’s always a hoot to find out what my brain thinks important luggage should be.

For this trip, I brought along:

A cell phone

Several extension cords

A bright red, extra-large gym fan

Dress slacks with a small hole in the crotch

An ornate bird cage

My angry calico cat

Supplies for my angry cat

Five pairs of socks (but zero underpants)

Pills for alleviating flatulence

Looks like I came to party!

And there was a party scheduled later that evening at a bar downtown within walking distance. We were going to be caterers/waitstaff for the event, but we would get free drinks and a small stipend for our efforts. I put on the slacks to get ready for the event, since they were the most formal thing I’d brought to wear.

But then the angry cat escaped our room and I had to chase her down the hallway before she could reach the Forbidden Outside Lands. A nearby door started blaring “When That Helicopter Comes” by The Handsome Family when I apprehended the cat. This is a real song that exists in the waking world, and it happened to be the alarm song for my wife this morning.

“WHAT SONG IS THAT?” the religious students scream as they clutched at their brains. I am unfazed. I start singing along. I am forcibly removed from the hotel california (and also the dream)

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Header image is of the Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles

#dream journal #dreams #fishdavidson #hotel #spice girls #handsome family #helicopter #cat #new orleans #nola #convention #hof

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defyingthestars · 5 years

Text

Liminal - RPF

so yes this is about Dan and Noah and mentions Clare - I love real people’s real partners and I love the many ways people choose to love each other, even when it’s complicated.

implied past relationship

bittersweet fluff, all of the feels, indulgent, and very PG or PG-13 at most; one minor drug mention (a joke)

not canon compliant because it’s literally rpf and not compliant with reality - don’t read if it will upset you, obviously!

set on the second Sunday in June, as you’ll remember, the last day of filming in Goodwood

“That’s a wrap on Rose Apothecary, thank you everyone,” the Production Coordinator calls when the director and DP have viewed the last take and given the thumbs up. There’s a hoot or two and a smattering of applause before a crew edges in to start pulling out light cables and tearing down blackout paper.

Dan looks around to try to take it all in but he immediately feels lightheaded. Luckily his dad is there with an arm around him, and then Noah is at his side pulling him into a hug, clapping him on the back.

Dan clears his throat and gets everyone’s attention. “Thank you everyone, don’t break yet don’t break yet. We still need: unit leads, Kosta, Rob, Connie, Amy, both Mikes, Dad, and Beth. Let’s all meet in the Galley and we’ll try to make it quick. Everyone else check timeline and call sheet updates when they come in because we’re tightening everything way down tomorrow. Sorry in advance but you’ll thank me when the game starts, thank you so much.” People clap again at that and start to trickle out, heading in different directions toward transpo, to see what’s left at crafty, or across the street to the Galley.

The Galley isn’t a real anything, just an empty space adjacent to the false kitchen built out behind the Cafe that has, over the years, served for meetings, storage, freakouts, a daycare, a massage room, an emergency nap room, an emergency crying room, and probably a few other things Dan doesn’t need to know about. The Production Coordinator hands Dan a stack of binders and they start to walk and talk, a few other people following with questions, and a few straggler fans in the street slowing them down on the way for exclamations of love, gifts and photos.

Jenn catches his elbow and pulls him into a tight hug in her kitty cat sweatshirt that he knows she wants to keep, probably so she can burn it on the next full moon. He pulls back and they just look at each other and her face is so soft, and he gets scared for a second that he won’t remember all of these little moments when his heart felt like this. He shakes his head against that deluge and squeezes her hand, saying, “Nope, nope, not going to cry today. Have too much fucking work still.”

“Save the crying for the wrap party,” she says with a wink and he nods emphatically, inhaling deeply.

Noah catches up to them and only gives Dan a tight-lipped half smile, which Dan knows means he’s feeling it too. “Think I’m going to head back with Jenn in the van, yeah?” he asks, gesturing over his shoulder. Dan starts to nod and turn away but catches himself.

“Actually can you stay for this?” Dan says, squinting in the low afternoon sun because he forgot to put on his sunglasses, shifting the armload of binders he’s holding.

“Yeah of course, if you need me.” Noah nods and smiles like it’s not a problem, because nothing is ever a problem for Noah. He gives Jenn a hug goodbye and a kiss on the cheek, and takes half of Dan’s binders off his hands.

Everyone crams into the Galley around a table piled with too much sugar and caffeine, and Dan passes around production timelines and pencils. “Gonna leave most of this to Kosta and Beth, but here’s my rough plan: get every member of this crew home or to a bar before kickoff.”

Everyone laughs, jittery with chocolate and coffee and adrenaline but all-in to make this work, as they always are. Dan wipes his glasses clean and puts them on, just catching his dad looking at him with that kind of inscrutable pride that parents should really never let their children see, because it’s overwhelming. Dan has to put his head down in his binder or he’s definitely not going to make it through this meeting. “Let’s get to work.”

The sky is darkening purple blue black when they finish, another short round of clapping and thank yous and everyone is back out on their little street, heading for vans and making plans for dinner or drinks. Eugene stops to talk to a few people and then turns to look for Dan. “We’re still having dinner, right? Are you coming right now?”

Dan looks between Noah and his dad, touches the mole on his chin as he thinks. “Actually can you go ahead and get a table? We’ll be like twenty minutes behind.” His dad nods and pats him on the shoulder, heads to the car that’s waiting just for him at the corner. He turns back at the last second to ask Noah, “You coming too?” Noah looks to Dan like he’s unsure but Dan answers for him.

“Yes, he is, Clare too.” Eugene waves back at them in confirmation and opens his car door.

The street is clearing out and Dan just watches for a moment, the cars and vans pulling out and the fans long gone. It has that eerie, but still familiar feeling, like being in the high school hallways after hours, or onstage in a dark, empty theater. Dan has always liked spaces like that.

Noah looks too, for a few moments, but finally has to ask. “What are we…”

Dan lifts his chin, a decisive motion, and points them across the street. “Come with me.”

They have a nighttime security guard just for the store when the set is still loaded, the nicest retired Mountie you could ever hope to know, named Ruth. Dan and Noah’s shoes crunch in the gravel as they cross over to the Rose Apothecary entrance, and Ruth greets them warmly.

“One more game, Ruth, ahhhhh!” Noah says excitedly and Ruth bounces on the balls of her feet.

“You really think they can finish it off in 5?” Ruth asks like she’s too nervous and hedging her excitement properly.

Dan has only been watching sports for about a week, but he gets that.

“Hope so, hope so. Let’s win it at home.” Noah grins and Dan just smiles past them, gazes at the door of David and Patrick’s store.

“They break everything down over there?” Ruth gestures toward craft services on the other side of the street.

“Almost, but there’s fresh coffee if that’s what you’re looking for,” Dan offers, stepping up to the door and motioning for Noah to join him.

“Think I’ll go check it out,” Ruth says, stepping off the porch and heading off. “About ten minutes?”

“Ten minutes would be great,” Dan says, putting his hand on the door.

“You got it, boss.” Ruth’s boots thud away in the distance and Dan opens the door. The lock works but he doesn’t actually have the key, so luckily it’s still open from crew coming in and out.

They walk through the threshold and Dan fumbles in the dark for the row of functional light switches he knows is there somewhere, behind a ladder shelf full of fake plants. He feels around and flips the first one, which floods the front of the store with glaring fluorescents. “Nope,” he says, quickly flipping it off and going for the furthest one away instead. A row of recessed lights toward the back wall instead glows warmly, casting shadows around on the shelves and stacks. “Better,” he says, smiling at Noah and taking them a few steps inside.

They’ll strike all this tomorrow. It breaks Dan’s heart, but he’s ready for his heart to break a hundred times in the next few weeks and months. At least he hopes he is.

He can feel Noah watching him curiously as he scans the walls, taking in all the beautiful details that someone else crafted for him, lovingly placed here to make his dream, make David’s dream, come to life in this place.

“I didn’t really need to be at that production meeting,” Noah starts first, dragging his toe in a wide arc around Dan as Dan just stands there looking around. Dan takes a steadying breath and finally looks down at Noah. He pushes his glasses up on his nose and sticks his hands in his pockets.

“No. I’m sorry about that,” Dan shakes his head.

“But I needed to be here,” Noah says slowly, nodding his head because he gets it. He always gets Dan. That’s why he’s here at all.

“I thought so. Just once,” Dan says, carefully.

“We’ve definitely never been in this space alone,” Noah says, laughing softly, and that is very true. The room is always packed with people and equipment just out of the frame, and even the sweetest moment shared here between David and Patrick had a hundred pieces of hot lighting and eyes on them.

“Ok, so,” Dan starts, clearing his throat and turning to Noah. He folds his arms and adjusts his stance, feet wider apart because Beyoncé says standing that way helps you find your voice, but also because it brings him a little closer to Noah height wise.

“There’s gonna be, like a million of these in the next few weeks, but I wanted to have just one, if we could, here. And sober,” Dan adds, thoughtfully, and kind of rolls his eyes knowingly because they’re all a mess and this is going to get messier.

Noah nods slowly and digs his top teeth into his lip, never looks away from Dan. He isn’t the guy who looks away, and Dan has always loved that about him.

Dan plows ahead as bravely as he can. “I need to thank you. For every single piece of this. For taking that call. For reading the sides. For giving this a chance.”

“Oh my god, Dan, me? You...I…” Noah starts to break in, his voice pitching up.

“Nope this one’s mine,” Dan cuts him off, puts his palm on Noah’s chest and takes another breath. “You...you gave this everything, and you gave me everything. You gave Patrick to us and you gave David...literally the whole end of this story, and I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing - “

“That is 100% not true, Dan,” Noah interrupts again, putting his hand on top of Dan’s where it lays on his chest and tucking his fingers underneath. Dan shakes his head against his protest and links their fingers tighter together.

“I didn’t know what this, for sure all looked like, until you brought it all together. And that’s not just me that thinks that, it’s my dad, it’s the writers, it’s all of us. You filled in the blanks.”

“Dan, you wrote that. I didn’t…” Noah’s voice cracks and he grips Dan’s fingers a little tighter. “Fuck you’re not going to make this easy are you.”

“I can’t. It’s not. And Noah I have gotten really used to having you in my life, like all the time, and I don’t want to go back to where...I mean not to before, obviously, but I don’t want to not see you for two years ever again.”

“I don’t want that either,” Noah says softly. “Kind of hoping you’ll keep me around.”

Dan purses his lips and nods, furtively glancing around the room again. “I’m gonna try. But the sophomore slump is real and I’m probably going to spend all my money on shoes and cocaine and wind up living in my parents’ poolhouse in a year, so maybe you’ll be keeping me around.”

“A year? That’s ambitious.” Noah grins up at him and Dan looks down with tears stinging the corners of his eyes and it’s Noah who closes that space, thank fucking god.

He tilts his chin up and he kisses him, on the corner of the mouth, and then properly. Their lips are dry and their hands still clutch together at Dan’s chest, keeping them a respectful distance apart, so Dan softens into him, kisses him back and lets himself be kissed.

Noah pulls away gently, but doesn’t step back, just untwines their tangled up fingers and rubs up and down Dan’s arms, breathing quietly.

“Been a long time since you kissed me,” Dan says airily, leaning into him and letting his arms come up to hug Noah closer. Not too close, just closer.

“I kissed you like two hours ago,” Noah laughs into his chest and Dan leans back, holds him at arm’s length so he can really look at him.

“That’s not what I mean,” Dan says, that twisty smirk at one corner of his mouth that was always him.

Noah’s eyes twinkle in the soft light and he pulls Dan all the way into a hug, pressing his lips against Dan’s neck as he tucks his head over his shoulder, because that was always him, too.

“I love you, man,” Noah whispers at Dan’s shoulder and it’s the sweetest, stupidest, most assuring thing. Dan presses his face into Noah’s neck, fiercely fighting actual tears now.

“I love you so fucking much,” he laughs and cries, and Noah is just holding him and what the fuck is he going to do without this. “And I love Clare,” Dan adds urgently, sniffling into Noah’s shirt and Noah vibrates with a humming sound in Dan’s ear, his face still buried in Dan’s neck.

“She loves you too,” Noah breathes out, and Dan hugs him close, tries to breathe all of this in.

“Does she know?” Dan asks with a sudden hitch in his breath, and he didn’t quite mean to blurt that out, but now he definitely wants to know the answer, even if it hurts like hell.

“About us?” Noah asks.

Dan just nods forcefully, scrunching his eyes shut and crushing his glasses against Noah’s shoulder.

“She knows everything, Dan.” Noah answers easily and evenly, like it should be apparent.

“And she still loves me?” Dan asks incredulously, mostly entirely joking but he’s honestly happy to know this. To be known.

Noah just whispers, “of course,” like that, too, should be apparent, and Dan is grateful for this, and for that time. It wasn’t much, and it was a long time ago, but it’s theirs to keep.

“Good.” Dan says simply, feels the warm brush of Noah’s lips at his throat again.

They just hold each other, in the middle of this beautiful place that was uniquely theirs and carries Dan’s whole heart, his hopes and dreams, through them and through Patrick and David and out into the world. He finally shakes himself free and fiddles with his glasses, Noah still holding his other hand as natural as breathing or crying.

Noah clears his throat, actually turning away and making a soft coughing sound against his fist. He rubs his hand over his head then looks steadily back up at Dan, maybe trying to regain some semblance of composure, some coolness. “You better fucking call me. I mean call me anytime but you call me when you’re ready for the next thing, eh?”

Dan laughs through his nose at that. “As soon as I know what the fuck I’m doing after this, or have something real to show you, yes, you’ll be the first person I want to have read it.”

“Oh, sorry, I’m offer only.” Noah quips, tipping his chin up in a cocky little grin that is all Patrick, and Dan can’t help himself.

“Yeah you are,” Dan says with a little rumble in his voice, and presses his mouth carefully over Noah’s one more time, parting his lips ever so slightly and he feels Noah smile, kiss him back.

There are headlights then through the windows and the door, their car back to the city. Right on time.

“Mmm hmm,” Dan hums against Noah’s mouth, then pulls back, almost reverently. “Ok. Let’s get out of here before we do something that will make your fiancée not love me anymore.”

Noah follows close behind Dan as they back trace the few steps that had brought them here. “Nah, she’d probably like it,” Noah chirps as Dan reaches again to turn off the lights for the last time, his parting shot. For now.

“Don’t fucking tell me that,” Dan shakes his head but he’s smiling as he takes Noah’s hand in his and pulls the door open out into the night.

#schitts creek fic #rpf #the one guy #and that other guy #that's it #that's the story #fluff and feelings #a little angst #real life partners #implied past relationships #love

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sarakuper · 5 years

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Visiting Ruthy & John; Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington

Stop #15, August 23-26

Guess who got her laptop back!? And everything is restored!

We just came off of an amazing weekend with my cousin Ruthy and John in their fabulous mountain home near North Cascades National Park, Washington. Delicious food, strong cocktails, hiking, ice cream, blackberry cobbler, friends, and family. What more could you want? Their house is our mountain home dream with its privacy, large windows, natural lighting, the skagit river, and ample space for fresh produce growing all around.

They were hosting their friends Jim and Laura this weekend, and they were a hoot! We arrived on Friday night and kicked off the weekend with the martinis as we sat and chatted along the Skagit river (which flows directly across the road!!). Jim and Laura were dog sitting their son’s dog Leroy for the weekend and so Jaxon had some company. They got along great, but once Sean discovered that Leroy can and loves to fetch, that was it; Sean was in love with another dog. They played with his launch ball toy for hours that evening and for the rest of the weekend.

Between Ruthy, John, and Jim being very well known professional photographers I was surrounded by people with incredible talent and knowledge of something I am only beginning to learn about. Jim was open to helping me out, so when I asked for his feedback on some of my photos he asked “well do you want me to be your friend or do you want the truth?”. He knew he was going to rip into my pictures before even seeing them. Let me try to paint this picture…. Jim is a big guy with a huge (and loud) personality. He’s about 70 years old and walked into the house looking 7 feet tall with his big belly in his overalls and crocks. You can tell this guy has a huge heart AND personality! He had no filter ripping my pictures to shreds. But I can take it! By the end of the weekend and a handful of lessons (and rambles) from Jim, I am definitely walking away with some new tools and understanding of the photos I want to take. I very much appreciated what he had to say! All of it came from a playful and loving place. (Picture below mid lesson/ramble)

When we finished eating dinner outside Ruthy whipped out John’s home made (and home grown/picked) blackberry cobbler. UGHHH. YUUMMMM. I like to take a photo of these sorts of things just to remember what it looked like, but we sure ate the entire thing and very quickly. AND with vanilla ice cream on top, duh. We’ve only been here for a few hours and we were totally spoiled and beyond satisfied with delicious everything.

The next morning Sean and I walked into the house for a beautiful breakfast spread. So many sides or spreads were home made or grown out of the garden, and with the natural light pouring through the windows I felt like we were eating breakfast at the cutest bed and breakfast you could imagine. Everything was in order and everyone was contributing, whether it be cooking or cleaning. I want to wake up in a home like this with the same energy one day. It was incredibly peaceful and relaxing.

Then we were off for a hike up Sauk Mountain for which Ruthy packed us the best lunch. We each had a salmon salad sandwiches with 1 apple and a serving of peanut m&m’s in our brown baggie. This was like the ultimate lunch special, and she made 6 bags, one for each of us! What a treat! She was also kind enough to make chicken for Sean since he doesn't eat salmon.

The hike was about 2.5 miles total and 1,000 feet elevation gain with a 360 degree view at the top.. if it were clear out. Sean and I took Leroy (their dog) to alleviate Jim and Laura from that responsibility. While he was great off leash we kept him on leash for the hike... and when I tell you he pulled me up the mountain I mean it literally! I basically had to run to keep up, but even if I held back with all my strength he would have gotten me up to the top. I could accomplish hikes with waaaaaay more elevation gain if I was hiking with him!! The moment I stopped hiking with him I actually had to start using the muscles in my legs!

It had been cloudy all morning and got worse the longer we stayed at the top of Sauk Mountain, so we headed down to beat the clouds and haze literally rolling in on us. I saw Ruthy effortlessly snap some beautiful photos on her phone and so I tried to do the same! Only a few came out that I actually enjoyed, but it was fun to practice :)

By the time I got back to the trailhead Jaxon was already there taking a [cute] nap right on top of a bench. After that we got some delicious ice cream at a local spot next to a field of sunflowers that we walked through.

Went spent the evening walking around the property and looking at old growth trees. Another delicious dinner and several drinks later John started a fire and we all sat around and looked at the stars. What a beautiful night it was to end a perfect day. Especially because right after words we ate another cobbler that John made for the second time in two days.

Sunday morning came and Jim and Laura headed home after saying a sweet goodbye, hoping to meet up again. John woke up very sick that morning and so Sean and I did our best to give him and Ruthy some space and also help out. Ruthy and I ended up having some down time just the two of us which I really enjoyed.

Ruthy is Jewish girl from New York and she married John, a kind mid-westerner, and they live together in Washington, far from where she grew up. I feel that she understands so much of the lifestyle I choose to live in comparison to the one I lived in New York City, because she, like me, left a lifestyle behind for one that is more fulfilling to her.

We continued to pick blackberries and apples from their property that Ruthy sent us off with in addition to as many cucumbers and zucchinis that we wanted. Later in the day John showed me some of the filing and editing process he goes through for his photos which was also so kind and helpful.

During our final dinner together Ruthy asked us about something particularly interesting that happened on our trip, and it reminded me that in all my bummed-out-ness about my laptop I forgot to update you about Adrien! If you remember from an old post in Sequoia we found Adrien’s bag with several important (and expensive) belongings. Well when he received his backpack in the mail he asked us for our address, and not actually having one we gave him Alexis and Dou’s thinking we might be there by the time his mail arrived. We just missed it, but Alexis sent me a picture of the note he sent us. Ill never stop believing that doing the right thing is the best thing, and his letter to Sean and me reminded us of that.

It’s Monday morning and time to head out! Sean and I are so appreciative of how much Ruthy and John took care of us this weekend and we really had so much fun.

Next is North Cascades National Park! Thanks for reading, love you all.

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starrynite7114 · 5 years

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distraction: three

A/N: Another update! Yay! I’m really inspired for this story so I’ve been writing nonstop for it. I’m trying to crank out an update for Things You Never Knew before updating this again. Hope you all enjoy this update!

And just for a little visual, this is Emerson and Elijah! :)

=============================

Emerson looked down at her phone for the umpteenth time, swiping to ignore the notification. It was her mother’s birthday soon and her siblings have been requesting for her presence. Different year, same old shit. They watched their father kick her out, but now they decided they should be siblings.

“Is that Elijah?” Letty has met him a few times and she was enamored with Elijah Sommers to say the least. Not only was Elijah a gentleman, but he seemed to be so genuinely interested on talking to her. She’s had her fair share of encounters with men and besides the MC, she didn’t trust anyone. But Elijah just made her feel so at ease. Maybe he was just a good people person, regardless, she was enamored.

“No,” Emerson looked at the young woman before her and laughed. “Do you have a little crush on Elijah?”

“No,” Letty blushed. She didn’t exactly have a crush on Elijah. He was just different from what she was used to. Dressed as prim and proper as Miguel Galindo, but he didn’t have the same aura as Miguel. Elijah exuded a positive energy she couldn’t describe. She didn’t know him well. He could be as sinister as Miguel Galindo, but she doubt that. “I just like him for you, you guys make a great couple. Both good people and good looking as well.”

Emerson smiled at that. “You know, that’s not the only thing that makes people compatible.” On paper, she just seems like the perfect match with Elijah. And as she had told Miguel, she did weigh out her options, she seemed like an idiot to even not consider Elijah. But it just never clicked for her.

“True, but you’re not a bad match up.”

“That’s fair, but you know, Elijah and I just don’t click. Maybe you’re too young, but when you meet a person, there’s just a spark.”

“You don’t have that with Elijah?”

“Unfortunately, she didn’t feel that spark with me.” Elijah joined the conversation, surprising Letty.

“Eli!” She called out happily.

“Hey Letty,” Elijah greeted as he walked up to the back of Emerson’s chair. He placed a kiss on top of Emerson’s head. “How are you doing, mi amor?”

“I’m good Eli, I didn’t expect you till next week. I thought you were in France?”

“Decided to come back early,” he shrugged. He placed a few bags on the table before he pulled up a chair and sat beside Emerson. “I brought you something as well Leticia.”

“Can I guess?” Letty wasn’t used to people, especially men, giving her gifts without wanting something in return. But after she met Elijah, he always brought her gifts from wherever he went. It became their little routine.

“Isn’t that our thing?” Elijah smirked as he draped an around over Emerson’s chair. “3 guesses as always.”

“Is it edible?”

“Not this time.”

“Hmm,” Letty bit her lower lip, slightly tilting her head. “This better not be one of those weird hats you were talking to me about.”

Elijah laughed. “No, though, that’s not a bad idea.” He playfully wiggled his eyebrows at her. “One left, if you don’t guess it right you don’t get to have it.” It was a silly stipulation since Elijah always made sure she got the answer correct. After all, he didn’t get that present for anyone else but her. “Clue, as I always do, it’s something to use for when it’s cold. If you say heater, we’re done.”

Emerson fondly watched the interaction between Elijah and Letty. She always admired how well Elijah controlled a room, more importantly, how he interacted with children. Elijah was the eldest of 3. He had a younger brother and a younger sister, whom he dotted over when they were younger. Letty most likely reminded her of his younger sister, who unfortunately passed away a few years ago. Emerson didn’t remember anything about his sister’s passing, but she shed a few tears when Elijah broke the news to her.

“Okay, cause it’s you and you’re well, predictable, you got me the denim jacket I’ve been wanting.” Letty smirked victoriously.

“Ooh, you’re good,” Elijah took out a bag that he dropped beside Emerson’s chair, handing it over to Letty. “But it’s not one of those low brand stores, a little pricier, but it’ll last longer.” He wasn’t exactly sure how Coco felt about him giving his kid gifts, but he was sure that Coco didn’t mind.

“Stop being such a rich prick,” Emerson smacked him on his chest. “You’re such a name brand dick.”

Elijah shrugged. “It’s what I know,” he smirked. “You used to be the exact same way.”

“Yes, well, I’ve changed,” Emerson was a rich kid, she was spoiled and once upon a time, she valued materialistic items. But now, it wasn’t like that anymore. She still enjoyed the vintage handbags her grandmother had given to her before she passed. But otherwise, that didn’t matter to her anymore. All she cared about was the bakery and well, Leticia.

It was weird for Emerson. Maybe Leticia, along with the MC, became some sort of family for her. When her father kicked her out, it was painful, but at the same time she was relieved. The whole time she was home, she felt as if her family was tiptoeing around her, that they were hiding something from her. If she was honest, it felt as if her family, mostly her father, did not want her to remember whatever memory she lost 5 years ago. Her father paid for the therapy, but whenever she asked her father about her the years she lost, he would just give her the most vague information. It got to the point that she got over it and didn’t want to remember anymore.

The last thing she remembered was graduating from high school and the next thing she knew, she was 24 years old, with no recollection of the last 6 years.

“You definitely have,” Elijah nodded his head. “Alright Letty, try on the jacket and let me see how it looks.”

Letty slightly felt bad accepting the gift, but at the same time, it would be rude to decline his gift. It’s not like she expected for him to give the gifts to her, he just always brought her something since he brought Emerson something. She never actually told her dad that the gifts were from Elijah. She always told him that Emerson bought it for her. For some reason, she didn’t think her father would be okay with Elijah buying her gifts.

She put the jacket on, just loved how it fit her. Turning to face Elijah and Emerson, they clapped and hooted.

“Look at my girl looking good!” Elijah proudly stated.

“Don’t be weird,” Letty blushed, playfully pushed Elijah on his shoulder.

Emerson chuckled. “Yeah don’t be a creep, she’s like 20 years younger than you.”

“Hey!” Elijah pushed Emerson. “I’m 15 years older than her, get your facts straight.”

“Oh, because that’s so much better.” Emerson laughed harder.

“You’re just jealous because I like Letty better than you.”

“Oh, extremely jealous.” Emerson shook her head, a small amount of laughter still coming out of her lips. “Finish your homework, one of the boys are going to be here soon.”

Letty thanked Elijah and hugged him one more time before she went to the back to grab her stuff.

“The Mayans are still around you?” At first, he did not like that thought of any of the Mayans being near Emerson. They were an outlaw biker gang, and as cliche as it sounded, he knew what they did during their past time: drugs, violence, women and liquor. He didn’t judge them, it just wasn’t his way of life. And he definitely did not want that around Emerson.

“Yes, is that a problem?” Emerson didn’t like Elijah’s tone. He had a habit of being controlling, but he never tried to impose it on her. After all, they weren’t together and she didn’t work for him, he didn’t get to order her around.

“No, simply curious,” Elijah knew Emerson was protective of her relationship with the Mayans due to Leticia. But Leticia wasn’t part of the gang, regardless of who her father was. “Your siblings have been bombarding my cell phone, have you not answered them.”

“I don’t see why that’s any of your business. Besides I hardly speak to them as it is, they don’t get to dictate when I talk to them when they’re the ones who turned their backs on me.” Emerson knew how to hold a grudge, Elijah knew that. It was the reason he never pushed for a reconciliation between Emerson and her family. For the most part, she replied to birthday text messages from her siblings or holiday greetings. But when they try to initiate a conversation, she shuts down.

“Emmy, your mother really wants to see you.” Elijah knew he shouldn’t push, but Emerson’s mother pleaded for him to talk to her eldest daughter.

“She had a birthday last year, she wasn’t this persistent about seeing me.” Emerson pointed out.

“Your grandfather is dying and your mother wants you to come to New York and see him.”

It wasn’t Elijah who helped her with her shop, at least not entirely. Her grandfather was the one who helped her. For a second, her heart stopped as Elijah’s words registered in her head, but then she realized that that was a lie. She just spoke to her grandfather and if he was sick, he would have told her.

“You’re lying.”

“Am I? Why would I lie about that?”

“I spoke to my grandfather 2 days ago and he mentioned nothing of this sickness you speak of,” Emerson was slightly irked with Elijah. He was trying to play a card that he knew he should never play with her.

“Emerson, I have no reason to lie to you.”

“You have plenty of reasons to lie to me.” She said to him with through gritted teeth.

As Elijah responded to her, Emerson felt as if Elijah was far away, that his voice was coming from a distance. She blinked a few times and her vision became blurry, Elijah’s worried face appearing in front of her.

She felt a sense of deja vu as her words repeated in her head.

“Emerson,” he called out, as she dropped the plate in her hand.

Letty ran out of the kitchen, her bag on her back. “What’s wrong?” She watched as Emerson fell onto Elijah’s arms.

“Emmy!” Another voice call out.

Angel made his way to the store, already in fight mode seeing Elijah and Emerson talking. But when he saw how Emerson’s face contorted to show her displeasement to whatever Elijah was saying, his fight mode grew stronger. As he opened the door, Emerson began to look pale and looked as if she was going to pass out.

“Move,” Angel took Emerson from Elijah’s arms, surprising him and Emerson, who never passed out.

“Angel,” she softly called out.

“Hey queirda, you okay?” He softly brushed away the hair from her face.

Emerson couldn’t even reply as she became lost in Angel’s eyes. She managed to nod her head as Emerson moved away from him.

Angel noticed how her wall immediately went up and how she moved over towards Elijah. It stung to see that. Elijah wrapped an arm around her, placing a kiss on the top of her head as his eyes locked with Angel’s.

“Leticia, Emmy is fine, she’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” Elijah turned to Letty who was checking on Emerson.

“I’m fine Letty, I just get these spells every once in a while.” Emerson assured her. “Go with Angel.”

“Okay,” Letty frowned but understood. She walked over to Angel whose eyes were still on Elijah and Emerson. She noticed just how angry Angel looked. There were a few times that she saw that look coming from Angel. One time, it was directed to EZ and she never questioned why. But this was of pure hatred. She could tell that Elijah wasn’t too fond of Angel either. “Come on Angel, let’s go.”

“No, we’re not leaving till Emerson comes with us.” Angel wasn’t going to let this dick win.

“Angel,” Letty pulled on his kute. She didn’t understand why Angel was so protective of Emerson at times. He didn’t even know her well enough to be this protective over her.

“Leticia, not right now.”

She knew Angel wasn’t playing games, especially when he used her whole name. Looking over at Emerson, she mirrored the confused look on Letty’s face.

“Who are you to Emerson to even demand such a thing?” Elijah questioned, putting himself in front of Emerson and further pissing off Angel.

Angel took a step forward but the opening of a door caught their attention. They all looked towards the door and found EZ walking in. Letty has never been so relieved to see EZ.

“What’s going on? Bishop wants us at the clubhouse.” EZ could feel the tension. He noticed everything from the car but wasn’t exactly sure what was going on. He decided to come in just in case something went down.

Angel muttered under his breath before looking over at Emerson. “You okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Just go.”

With one last look, Angel just nodded and narrowed his eyes at Elijah. He turned around, calling for Letty to follow him.

“I’ll see you tomorrow Em.” She gave her a quick hug once Elijah moved out of the way and ran after Angel.

The two watched as the Reyes brothers drove off with Letty. Elijah turned back to Emerson, cupping her face in his hands.

“Are you okay? What happened?” Elijah softly stroke one of her cheeks with his thumb. “Have you been eating?”

“Yes, I’m fine. It just felt weird when I told you that you have plenty of reasons to lie to me.”

“Well, seems like your brain doesn’t agree since it almost made you blackout.” Elijah teased trying to lighten the situation.

“Such a prick,” she pushed him away, a small smile spreading across her face.

“So, you’ve remembered a few things.” Elijah was worried at what Emerson remembered. He was confident that everything was fine, but he wasn’t exactly a saint. They had their fair share of arguments, but there were certain things he hoped she wouldn’t remember.

“Yeah, it’s fragments really, but I’ve remembered a few things.”

“What have you remembered?”

“It’s weird, it’s kind of blurry. Like I see someone there but I don’t recognize them.”

“How about the voice?” Elijah wanted her to remember to some extent, but he wasn’t sure just how much he wanted her to remember. Once she remembered everything, he would be pushed to the back burner again.

“I don’t know,” Elijah could tell that Emerson was closing him off. She was beginning to get this look on her place, where it was voice of emotions and you can clearly tell she was upset. He was almost certain that her answer from here on out would be ‘I don’t know’.

“Don’t do that, don’t start closing me off just because I want to help you.”

“I’m not closing you off, I just don’t know.” Emerson always loved having Elijah around but at the same time, she knew it had its cons when he came. She understood that he was trying to help, but she didn’t want any help. For 2 years, her father had her go see a therapist to help her out with her memories and Elijah would be there for her every step of the way. But she grew frustrated and stopped going. She was totally fine with living her life not knowing what she lost. Well, at first, but then the feeling of finding her past became strong when she became engaged to Elijah. It just didn’t feel right.

It was during her wedding dress fitting that she realized how wrong it was. She was sick to her stomach. After that day, Elijah noticed the difference and she was honest with him. He agreed that they shouldn’t get married if she didn’t want to marry him regardless of what arrangement their parents made.

This infuriated her father and she would never forget what he told her.

“You are no longer an Andres, I refused to acknowledge a daughter who has no respect for her parents wishes.”

And just like that, she left her home. The eerie thing was, her father’s words sounded familiar. Like it wasn’t the first time he had disowned her. But that couldn’t be possible.

What broke her was how close she was with her father. She adored her father, much more than her mother. But for some reason, she felt that there was something hanging over her and her father. There was something she wasn’t telling him and she never really pushed for it. She was so confused and didn’t even know what to focus on.

“I went to Stanford.”

“Yes, you went to Stanford and graduated with a business degree.”

“Business,” she scoffed. “Bet father dearest had something to do with that.”

“Perhaps, but we both know that you were always interested in business. Come on Emmy, you have such a great mind for business.” Elijah always thought that if anyone should take over the Andres empire it should be Emerson. Her older brother was good, but was easily side tracked and had far too many ideas for his own good. Her younger sister, well, someone had to be the rich spoiled child. “That’s why our marriage would have been perfect, having you by my side would have elevated my family’s company.”

“Very nice to know what our marriage would have been like.” She knew he didn’t mean anything by it. They were always good business partners whenever she helped Elijah with a plan to present to his father about the newest real estate development they should venture.

“I would have given you the world.”

“I don’t need the world.”

“No, you don’t,” Elijah gave her a small smile. Ever since Emerson had gone to Stanford, she changed. Gone was the young girl who valued materialistic items. Gone was the young girl who enjoyed all the luxuries her parents handed to her. She began to work for her money, wanting to prove that she didn’t need her parents. It wasn’t a statement, Emerson just realized that working hard for something gave such a great sense of accomplishment that she began to do things for herself. Emerson was never the worst out of her siblings, he was almost certain she was the least stuck up. She still had her moments, but she was much more approachable than her sister.

And it was all thanks to Ezekiel Reyes.

#Angel Reyes #angel reyes fanfic #mayans mc fanfic #mayans mc fic

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nomdy-plume · 5 years

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Have you seen ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’?

It’s a good job I don’t post a new blog every week – I’d have nothing to talk about.

Whereas, leaving it a few months between updates, I have LOTS to cover. You ready? Let’s begin:

Since returning from Texas, I have completed a month’s contract onboard another ferry, after my management were kind enough to offer me a way out of short-term pecuniary disenfranchisement. It was the sister-ship of the one that I normally find myself on and I’m pleased to say that it was the better of the two: the indoor smoking room (I no longer smoke) was a [much larger and better equipped] gym and the gym room was a very plush TV room with a full satellite package.

Given the cricket world cup was taking place during my contract, it was wonderful to be the only person on the ship who wasn’t busy working during the day. I had the whole TV room to myself (about 25 yards from the mess, food, drink, etc.) to indulge in what was an amazing tournament.

On my last two contracts I was playing in the main theatre (in the belly of the ship) with a party band but for a month I was providing troubadour, solo, action upstairs in the Sky lounge – my first contract as a soloist. After an initial knee-jerk reaction to accepting the contract of downloading a ton of backing tracks, so I could provide a range of musical options, I realised pretty quickly that this was completely unnecessary.

Performing 4x 30min sets a night: I started out by planning 3 days’ worth of unique sets, which I figured I could adjust and tinker with until I was happy with how they all worked out. Slow, mellow ones to start with before whipping the crowd into a frenzy with sing-a-long classics later on in the night. I think I had about 150 songs in my solo repertoire to choose from and it’s basically about 7 or 8 songs a set (depending on how long I drag them out for).

It was the usual mix of songs that I know I can play and sing – which work in a solo setting – and a desperate grab for as many other suitable songs which I could learn or which I really wanted to try out acoustically.

However, pretty early in the contract, one of the ladies on security in the port was kind enough to pass on her head cold to me. My throat was soon swollen enough for me to ask my Entertainments Manager (EM) if it would be OK if I just played some instrumental stuff until my voice was better. His reaction – reading between the lines, and the indifferent shrug – told me that he couldn’t care less what I did as long as I was up there making some form of noise for my allotted times.

Now, this meant that the bar staff / bar manager in my venue must have been happy with what they had heard of me so far: they are always the ones to complain if something isn’t working or going to plan. This pleased me: the bar staff have to listen to the solo act over and over and over again, every night for weeks on end, so whereas the passengers might only hear one or two performances, the staff will hear every single one.

They become very sensitive to how good/bad people are in both their playing and their selection of material – normally the lack of it. 150 songs might seem a lot, but that’s only 5 days worth before you repeat yourself IF you stick to playing every song.

Anyway, to cut to the chase, I quickly got the 30 min sets down to 3 or 4 songs – only two of which I might sing on. I needed to come up with a few more jazz instrumentals to bluff my way through as the staff were hearing Autumn Leaves and Blue Bossa every night, and I don’t want to drive them too mad…

It was a good exercise in needing to be creative with a looper pedal as well as figuring out which of my repertoire I could drag out for around ten mins with solos before and after each verse/chorus…

It meant that I could reduce the songs on which I did sing down to a select, polished group. It was a great relief to know that I could just throw down a loop and meander whimsically around some melodic lines for the duration of the sets. Audience were happy, bar staff were happy – I was over the moon!

The audiences were a mixed bag. Most were very receptive: in the warm summer evenings, the top lounge where I played was the place to be. Plus it is right next to the open smoking decks – so there have been some good numbers of bodies in, most of the time. They don’t seem to mind me in the corner with a looper pedal just noodling away and I’ve been able to play all the requests thrown my way so far. The German passengers seem extra friendly and receptive – apparently they LOVE a bit of Dire Straits, which suits me right down to the ground because so do I.

As per most contracts, there were times when a small, appreciative crowd were loving everything I was playing – just as there were times when a large, unappreciative crowd couldn’t have cared less what I was doing. In my final week, I was determined to give it everything I had in those final shows – I poured my heart and soul into everything I did. And no-one noticed, cared or gave a hoot.

Such is life!

Some nights I sucked, didn’t want to be there… some nights I was on fire, didn’t want it to end… I had a ton of fun, even if it didn’t feel like it all the time. I also got to head into Amsterdam a couple of times which was wonderful, it’s possibly my favourite European city and I’ve spent so many hours wandering around the canals and streets.

There’s a breakfast café very near the station which always – ALWAYS! – has a queue of about 10-15 people waiting to get in. It’s called Omelegg and I’ve always wanted to know what the food is like in there… all the online reviews say it’s incredible… my lifetime quest to find out for myself continueth…

The party band who were onboard were a nice bunch. They were in the lamentable – but not uncommon – position of joining the ship with a guitarist who was young, naïve and completely unprepared for the contract. However, he was a nice, well-meaning guy and the others didn’t seem to be willing to cuss him out: they were kind of hand-holding him through the contract. Bless.

Bands are responsible for making sure they know what they are doing, are rehearsed, etc. and apparently this kid had known for a year that he was doing it. Sounds like his reasoning was as follows (taken from ad verbatim quotes from the band):

· I’m the best guitarist at my university

· I can play anything and I can sing a bit

· I should be able to figure out / jam along to whatever the band play

I was torn: between admiring the sheer, bare-faced audacity of naïve youth and gobbling popcorn at the eye-widening, car-crash drama of it all. I managed to catch a few of their songs – when our set-times overlapped a little – and it was, indeed, painful to witness.

I wish I could say that I hadn’t been there before, in his shoes (albeit under slightly different circumstances), but I had. All I can say is that if you survive a baptism of fire like that and STILL want to pursue it as a career, you’ve already displayed enough courage and determination/perseverance to almost guarantee some level of success. It is being right at the bottom of a very steep, painful learning curve.

I also loved my Ibanez jazzy hollow-body guitar on this contract, too. I bought it in Hong Kong a few years back (the Tom Lee store there is incredible: an Aladdin’s cave of guitar goodness) and hadn’t really touched it since. I wasn’t sure if the contract would stipulate ‘acoustic-only’ – but that was me being overly cautious. Not only does it sound great – that oaky, woody, jazzy sound you’d expect from that style of guitar – but it plays so much more easily than anything else I own.

And, because you guys are always most interested in the tragic, nerve-wracking, up-and-down drama of my life as a musician, I’ll fill you in on current events.

I’d been lining up a contract for later in the year, back onboard the last cruise ship where we did the acoustic duo gig. This time as the party band, which – although fraught with its own logistical challenges – was at least a contract on the table. Indeed, I had digitally signed and returned it and was relieved to have another 5 months of work booked in to keep my head afloat.

However, the delightful and immensely-talented LT had previously – and both I and the drummer were loosely aware of this – auditioned for a cruise line which paid nearly twice the money for not quite half the work, but certainly a much more agreeable working environment.

So, it was with a sense of dread and doom that we read her message saying that she had been offered a contract with this other cruise line and we weren’t going to be able to tag along. We weren’t going to do the contract without her and we all knew that she was destined for greater things than earning minimum wage with no days off for five months.

So, here I am under fairly intense financial pressures and no work on the horizon. It’s all very Inside Llewyn Davis, which pleases and disgusts me in equal measures. On the plus side, in my attempts to get some sort of a side-gig going, I’ve done some work as an extra on a major Netflix production which was being filmed in Wales. It’ll be out later this year, I’m hoping to get some screen time – it’ll be something to laugh about with my family.

So yeah, there’s the update. I may leave it as long again to allow enough to occur to make it a riveting read… but then I don’t have much on at the moment and may end up publishing frequently as a means to pass the time…

*salutes*

#music #musician #guitar

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mama-m1na · 5 years

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Journey of the Chaos Trio: Chapter 2

~~~II~~~

The following morning a funeral was held for the king despite it being against the traditions of the kingdom.

“Viren, this is ridiculous,” a member of the high council said as they led the procession, “We are to mourn for seven days before holding a funeral for a king.”

“I understand, Opeli; however, these are times of war, the kingdom needs to move on and plan for the future,” the male retorted.

“Viren, even so it’s too soon! He was just taken from us a few hours ago, look!” the female gestured towards the raven haired maid who walked behind them.

She wore a black dress that with full sleeves under a black cloak with the hood flipped up. Despite that it could be seen that her hair was let down by the few locks that escaped the hood.

Feeling eyes on her, the female’s head tilted up to reveal her eyes dull and face bearing no emotion despite the tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

“The people need more time!” the woman spat as they approached the graveyard.

Ignoring her, the mage had the body of the king placed on the pedestal and stepped forward to make a speech.

“Today we woke to a devastating truth, our king has been taken from us. Slain by the forces of Xadia, vile Moonshadow elves,” the male started earning gasps from the crowd and a weak glare from the ravenette from under her cloak, “To me he was more than a king. In his final hours he called me his brother.”

“Wait,” Opeli said with a glare, “Where are the princes? They need to be here.”

“The princes are dead.”

This statement caused pure rage to fill the ravenette.

“We must move forward with strength!”

With every word Viren spoke more of Rhamina’s aura leaked from her body not hiding her emotions at all, unlike her face which remained devoid of expression, not that anyone could see it.

The aura could be felt in the dungeons, in Viren’s study, and in the forests by five females. Four of which knew exactly where it came from.

“Light the pyre,” Viren ordered turning to the other members of the High Council.

“No,” Opeli replied, extinguishing her torch.

The rest followed suite and one by one the flames went out.

“Claudia,” the mage sighed as he turned to his daughter who chanted her spell, eyes glowing purple, as flames lit the large torches before lighting the body of King Harrow.

“When a ruler of Katolis dies, we mourn for seven days,” began Viren as he turned back to the crowd, “but today we are at war. Today, we must mourn sevenfold for tonight there will be a coronation.”

As soon as the funeral was over Rhamina retreated back to her room with the cloak still over her as she sat on her bed with her knees hugged to her chest just thinking.

Just thinking, until she thought, ‘My sisters, the Princes, they need to know.’

Without putting her shoes back on, the cloaked female made her way outside of the castle to a small pond where she kneeled in front of the water and removed the hood from her face.

She closed her eyes and hovered her hands above the water while letting her energy flow from her hands into the water, praying her sisters were near water.

“Srevir taht egdirb su rehtegot, egdirb em dna ym sretsis,” she chanted as a glow came from the water before dying down.

When the light had disappeared the ravenette looked down to not see her reflection but the faces of Sam, Kerstin, Tijarah, and Chloe.

“Mina, what happened?” Kerstin asked, “Where are you?”

“Why are you wearing all black, Mina, it looks like you were at a funer- oh,” Chloe said watching the saddened expression on the ravenette’s face.

“Dad, is dead,” she whispered, “the funeral was held this morning by Lord Viren but where are the boys tell me they’re with you!”

“Callum and Ezran are fine they’re just asleep,” Sam said as the seventeen-year-old sighed in relief, “Why?”

“Lord Viren, lied then. He said the boys were dead as well,” Rhamina explained, “Anyways just continue to keep them safe.”

“When are you going to catch up with us?” Kerstin asked, “We’re already on our way to Xadia.”

“At this point I don’t know if I’ll be going with you guys,” she sighed brushing her hair behind her ear.

“What do you mean, Mina? I know you actually respect, Dad’s orders and-” “His orders were to stay with the boys and keep them safe,” Rhamina explained cutting off Sam, “And I’m following the second half. Lord Viren is planning something that will make this war worse and I plan on somehow messing it up. Plus if I’m here I can keep you all updated on what’s happening.”

“Mina, the Callum told us what happened with you guys and Claudia,” Sam said, “She’s going to get suspicious.”

“I can protect you all better from here, trust me,” the ravenette tried.

“...You’re planning on saving someone aren’t you?” Kerstin deduced remembering how her sister works, “Fine but you better be alive when we get back.”

“Don’t worry I will be,” Rhamina chuckled before looking at the sun, “I better head back before they start to wonder where I am. I’ll be sure to check in with you guys everyday.”

“Mina, wait what do we tell them?”

“Who?”

“The princes.”

“Oh,” Rhamina said looking down at her hands, “I’ll leave that up to you but for now I have to go. I love you guys.”

“I love you too, Mina.” “I love you, Mina-chan.” “I hoot you!” “Love you, Mina.”

Somehow getting back into her room without being noticed, Rhamina just sat on her bed for a few minutes before getting out a pen and a journal before writing some things down.

About twenty minutes passed before she could hear a conversation from outside her room.

“What? I don’t want to get near that monster!”

“None of us do but someone has to give the elf its food. Orders from Lord Viren.”

Rhamina interupted the conversation by opening her door startling the two bickering maids.

“Miss Rhamina-” “I’ll do it.” “Huh?” “I’ll take the food down to the elf,” the ravenette explained the hood still covering her face.

“Are you sure, I mean he is the one who killed King Harrow,” the older woman said, “will you be alright?”

“I’ll be fine, I need closure and what’s a better way than facing his killer,” the teen said looking down at her hands, “Plus it’s not like we’ll talk much, I’m just delivering food.”

Without another word the female still donned in all black made her way to the kitchen to pick up the meal before making her way to the dungeons.

“Can you give us some privacy?” Rhamina asked the guards standing by the cell that held the king’s killer.

They gave her strange looks before nodding Rhamina patting one on the shoulder as he unlocked the cell door before walking down the hall.

Opening the cell door, the female saw the terrible condition of the elf.

‘Poor thing,’ she thought entering and closing the door behind her, setting the tray of food down momentarily so she could light the torch, ‘He was already beat up from the fight, did they have to make it worse?’

With light in the small room she looked back at the male to see his eyes still closed as he ignored her.

“I’m sorry all this happened to you,” the ravenette spoke quietly as she approached the male.

The male snapped his head up at the new voice and glared, stopping the girl in her tracks.

“Tell your master, I will say nothing,” he hissed glaring at her with turquoise orbs.

“I’m not here to interrogate you,” Rhamina spoke once again, “I’m just here to give you your food.”

She then kneeled in front of the elf as she took out a ring of keys from a pocket hidden in the skirt of her dress before unlocking the chains that held the male’s wrists up.

“What are you doing?” he asked with a glare as the female stood back up and moved towards the tray she left by the door.

“I’m sure it would be difficult to eat like that,” she said placing the tray in front of him before removing her hood, “and no I was not supposed to do that, so I suggest you eat quickly before the guards come back.”

“You!” he gasped as the girl sat against the wall with her face revealed, “You’re the girl from last night.”

“Yes?”

“Who are you?” he asked with narrowed eyes.

“I’m Rhamina Miyu, a maid of this castle,” she said not looking at him, “employed by King Harrow.”

“You know that’s not what I asked,” the male hissed still not moving towards the female.

“Then be more specific please and please just eat,” the ravenette said glancing at him as she brought her knees to her chest, “It’s bad enough with your injuries, I don’t want you malnourished as well.”

“That was the language of the ancients,” he explained, “How does a human like you even know of it?”

The ravenette sighed before turning her head to the male, “Eat first and I will answer your questions, otherwise I will stay silent.”

Slowly, the male reached towards the food on the tray and brought it to his mouth, his eyes not leaving the form of the female who had closed her eyes and leaned back on the wall.

“Mezame sa sou uta o, hito wa kokoro de kurikaesu,” the female began to sing softly as her pendant began to glow a soft purple, “Hikari kie ta sora ni, ai tomosu yo ni.”

“Inori sasage te mo, hito wa ayamachi kurikaseu,” she continued as the glow began to radiate and eventually reach the male who felt a comforting aura surround him, “Da kara yurushiaeru, nan do mo umare te yume o mi te.”

“Owari naki tabi no naka de, dare mo mina sagashi teru,” Slowly the wounds on the male’s body began to heal as the female continued her song and the glow of the pendant became more prominent, “kono inochi no imi o.”

The glow died down the elf was free from all his wounds except for his missing horn and only looked up at the female in shock.

“Why did you-” “I’m not answering until you finish your food.”

The male narrowed his eyes once again but did as told and after he finished asked, “Who are you?”

“I already answered that question-!”

Rhamina was cut off as she was tackled to the floor by the male with her wrists pinned to either side of her head.

“Stop playing dumb!” he hissed hovering just above the female who’s heart was starting to beat faster.

‘Shit!’ she thought, ‘Hot guy in my face! No, kill me now please!’

“And that necklace where the hell did you get it?” continued the male, “The one who gave it to me was a black fox.”

“Mhm, yeah very interesting,” the female yelped as her face began to heat up, “can you get off of me please?”

He looked down as his eyes met brown irises speckled with flecks of gold that sparkled as they caught the light of the single torch in the room and realization hit him.

“You’re that fox aren’t you?” he asked calming down and loosening his grip but at this point the female didn’t move.

She was too flustered for the closeness and the fact she had been caught.

Her head flicked up when she heard the distant sound of armor and she said, “They’re coming, please get off and get back. I’m sorry but I don’t know what I can do for you right now.”

The male agreed while keeping his now interested eyes on the female as she locked the chains around his wrists with a pained expression.

“Please forgive me,” she whispered into his ear as she placed the keys back into her pocket, “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Runaan,” he said earning a confused look from the female, “You asked for my name that day.”

As the female collected the tray the cell door was slammed open by Viren.

“Rhamina,” he greeted, “What are you doing here?”

“I just finished giving him his meal.”

“I’m surprised you volunteered to come down here,” the male said with a raised brow before looking to the glare of the elf.

“If I was going to get over it I needed to confront it,” the ravenette answered not turning to face the Lord.

“I see, you are free to go.”

Rhamina sent one more worried gaze towards the elf as she exited the cell and ascended the stairs.

Meanwhile, the four other human girls along with the princes and the female elf named Rayla were on their way to the Banther Lodge to get a cube Callum thought would be useful.

“Don’t worry it’s spring there won’t be any humans there,” the prince confidently stated, “It’s a winter lodge and it’s spring right now.”

“Callum, you’re going to jinx us,” Tijarah stated from her spot with the other four girls.

When the group arrived they looked around and Callum smirked.

“I told you,” he chirped as the others only sighed.

“Where is the cube so I can get it?” Rayla asked causing the boy to draw the room on a page from his art book before handing it to her.

“It’s in the game room.”

“Alright, I’ll be back in a bit,” the elf said pulling her hood over her head before moving towards the lodge.

After about ten minutes Chloe flicked her head to the treeline and Sam asked, “Are your Mina senses tingling?”

“No, but I sense danger for us,” Chloe said as a familiar figure came out from the trees followed by her troops.

“Oh, shit it’s Mom,” Kerstin said recognizing the armored female as she approached closer.

“What?” Callum asked turning to the treeline.

“Auntie Amaya!” both princes exclaimed once they saw the general of Katolis.

“I’m glad you all are safe,” Commander Gren translated as Amaya began signing things, “And you girls, isn’t Rhamina supposed to be with you?”

“Um, Mina got sick and wasn’t well enough to travel with us but she contacted us this morning and said she’ll be coming once she’s well enough,” Kerstin said thinking of a cover in literally two seconds.

“Has she been taking her vitamins?”

“Yeah, she just got caught in the rain,” Sam added as she leaned onto Kerstin, “You know how she is.”

“Poor girl and that immune system of hers, well we better get inside,” Gren translated as the female walked towards the door.

“Um, that door is locked,” Callum said, “So you can wait here for a few minutes, however long it takes to find a key-”

Before the male could finish his rambling the male Kicked down both doors with cheers from the four girls about her being a badass.

“I don’t believe in locks.”

After looking around Gren translated, “Someone’s here.”

At this point the group was pretty much panicking as Callum started acting really suspicious until Ezran stepped forward and said, “I skipped breakfast?”

The general gave a disappointed look as Gren translated, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

As the mother like figure walked to the kitchen three of the four girls glared at him as Tijarah whispered, “Next time let one of us do the talking.”

The next few hours went as bad as one could possibly think.

Rayla was discovered and captured; in order to escape Callum had unknowingly offended Rayla.

As the three were going down the river on a boat the four girls found another boat and followed them.

“What are you doing?!” Gren translated.

“It’s our job to stay with and protect the princes!” Sam yelled up.

“It was Dad’s last task for us and we’re going to keep with it!” Kerstin added as they followed down the river for them.

“You found it?” Callum asked as the elf tossed him a cube with runes for the six primal source of magic.

“It’s a toy,” Rayla sighed, “Probably from a children’s game. I hope it was worth it, risking everyone’s lives.”

“Guys, if Mom is going back to the castle won’t Mina be in a complicated situation?” Kerstin asked suddenly remembering their sister back home.

“Don’t worry about her,” Tijarah said as she laid at the bottom of their boat, “She can play it off being the devil she is.”

“And you’re one to talk,” Sam scoffed in reply flicking water at the female who screeched in response.

“At least I’m not thirsting for a creeps dick!”

“Lord Viren can call on me anytime,” Sam replied starting to act really inappropriate.

“Sam cut that out, Ezran is literally in the other boat!” Rhamina’s voice said as all the girls went to the edge of the boat to see the face of their sister in the water.

“Mina, what’s up?” Kerstin asked.

“Nothing, I just had a feeling Sam was being a reverse pedo, again,” Rhamina said, “I have to go though, so bye.”

Back in the castle Rhamina sighed as she looked back to the basin of water then back to her reflection in the mirror.

She was wearing one of her better looking dresses due to Viren’s unjust coordination.

“I really hope he burns,” she muttered as she put her hair into a low bun with two hair sticks, “But I have to keep up an act for now until I can get Runaan out and myself out safely.”

Rhamina stood in the crowd by the gates looking up at the balcony as the male stepped forward.

‘Oh how I wish to burn you to the ground,’ she thought as she felt a snarl build in her throat.

“People of Katolis, King Harrow’s death has wounded us deeply, but the loss of his sons is a greater injustice,” he spoke once again bringing rage to the female who fought to keep her aura restrained, “By taking the heirs to the throne, our enemies sought to leave us without a leader.”

“It would disgrace Harrow's memory to allow the kingdom he loved to be lost in darkness,” he continued as the female caught feeling of two familiar people, “Though it is a heavy burden, I will humbly take up the battle in Harrow's name. I will become Lord Protector of the realm.”

Rhamina could feel herself smirk as the sound of horses echoed throughout the filled courtyard and Gren exclaimed, “Stop! Stop the coronation! The princes are alive!”

“Mom!” the ravenette exclaimed as she looked up to the female general and her helper.

In a few minutes she, Viren, Rhamina, and Gren were all gathered in the throne room as Amaya began to chew out Viren for being shady.

“Then why don’t you take the throne?” Viren suggested, “I will support you one hundred percent!”

“The throne stays empty until the princes are found,” Gren translated causing Viren to leave with a huff.

Rhamina watched as the door closed before launching herself at the woman who was the only one to not be knocked over so far.

“I missed you, Mom!” she chirped as she looked up into the woman’s dark brown eyes.

“I missed you too but you knew about the princes being alive right? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Mom, my final orders from King Harrow were to keep Callum and Ezran safe,” Rhamina explained, “I can’t do that without a head now can I?”

The woman sighed before wrapping her arms around the seventeen-year-old tightly.

“Thank God you’re smart.”

At around midnight the ravenette made her way back down to the kitchen to grab a few slices of meat and bread before going back to the dungeons to be faced with the guards again.

“Miss Rhamina- what are you-” the male was cut off by his vision going black as his body slumped to the ground.

“I’d say sorry but it’s not like you’d remember this happened anyway,” the ravenette spoke as her pendant stopped glowing.

Quickly finding the ring of keys, Rhamina hastily unlocked the cell door and was met with open turquoise irises.

“Why are you still awake?” she asked as she walked over and unshackled his wrists.

“I should be asking you that question,” he replied as she stretched while the ravenette looked him over.

“No new injuries that’s good, did he ask what happened to your wounds?” Rhamina asked as she sat in front of the male.

“No, that man just seemed adamant on asking me repeated questions,” Runaan replied while watching the girl pull out a small parcel from her pockets.

“Here, it’s better than what you had earlier,” she said unwrapping it to reveal fresh bread and meat.

“Are you actually a human?” the male asked picking up the food.

“Of course I am, why do you ask?” Rhamina questioned as she played with the ends of her long hair.

“That aura from this morning and just a few hours ago,” he started in between bites, “That was yours. Humans cannot generate such strong auras. Along with the fact that when I first met you, you were a fox.”

“Who says it was mine?”

His raised a brow and the ravenette sighed, “Yeah, it was mine.”

“As for the fox thing though, magic does a lot,” the female shrugged who earned a small glare from the male.

“Must you keep lying?”

“If it avoids confrontation then yes,” Rhamina chuckled, “I suck at confrontation. Please forgive me.”

“I will if you answer me this,” Runaan said as he set down a piece of bread he was working on, “Why did you save me then and why do you continue to do so now?”

“There was no reason to, especially now,” he continued, “I am your enemy and I killed your king.”

“Okay, first off you aren’t my enemy,” Rhamina said, “You’re just another living being who is doing as their told. You haven’t done anything to me and I don’t think you will.”

“Second, I saved you because, well…” the ravenette sighed, “I don’t know. Back then I was just focused on surviving because I lived on the streets, well that’s what I kept trying to tell myself but I always found myself doing shit like that even if it could cost my life. It didn’t matter because back then I thought I was worth nothing so I had nothing to lose. Even now that the stakes are higher and I know I should just stay in my own business… I just don’t want this war anymore and the violence between the races. Personally though I think I got attached to you.”

She looked up at him as she continued, “It’s one of my many flaws, I get attached way too easily… I’m just… fuck me… I’m just fucking weak.”

“Even if I know I can’t do anything I still try and I’m disappointed by the results even if I knew it would happen,” she muttered, “Fuck, just kill me.”

“That’s not a flaw,” the male said watching the female start to spiral, “It’s a good trait to care for others the way you do. It’s a trait I wish the rest of your race had. Had it been that way then maybe this could have been different.”

“I like you,” she chuckled looking up to the male with a large smile, “I don’t care if you don’t see me the same way but you’re my friend now and there’s no escape.”

“I don’t think I would mind that,” he smiled back.

“Are you sure?” she asked with a raised brow, “I’m a handful and I’m really annoying.”

“I’m sure I’ve had worse,” the male chuckled as his mind went to a certain female elf in his team if assassins.

“... Bet,” the ravenette smirked, “I am able to drive off the forces of hell with how annoying I am.”

“So, who is this ‘worse’ you speak of?” Rhamina asked after a few moments of silence.

“Rayla, she’s the youngest elf on my team,” Runaan began with a small smile, “She’s like a daughter to me.”

“She was the elf that was with the boys, right?” the teen asked somehow remembering the female’s name amongst the chaos of the previous night.

“Yes, she’s very skilled. Perhaps more than any of us; however she hesitates,” explained Runaan as the ravenette nodded.

“I’m guessing that she’s still pretty innocent then,” she concluded, “Must be nice to actually value life like that. I’m jealous.”

“What do you mean?”

“As of now I could either kill with no meaning or have emotions override and I couldn’t bare the thought of taking a life,” the teen explained looking down at her hands, “I’m the ultimate hypocrite, I want this war and violence to end but at the same time if I was put under certain circumstances I would enjoy taking part in it.”

“Have you ever taken a life, Rhamina?”

The ravenette shook her head before speaking, “No, but I’ve come close and I don’t know how I feel about it.”

“Then you still have that innocence in you as well,” the male spoke earning a chuckle from the teen.

“I wish,” she replied looking longingly into nothing, “I’m only innocent in one aspect. My mind is broken and it will never be repaired. It broke quite a long time ago.”

“What is Xadia like?” she immediately asked again wanting the attention diverted from herself, “I’ve heard stories from the people here but I’m sure they are one hundred percent wrong.”

Still curious as to what the female meant, Runaan begrudgingly went on to describe the lands of Xadia that humans could no longer visit peacefully.

He described the beautiful forests, mountains, and lakes.

He described how magic was almost everywhere one could look and how his home village was.

“That must be so nice,” she sighed as she laid on the floor while looking up at the male, “I mean here isn’t that bad, there are some good people, some bad people that’s how it is. There’s a balance and people will try to disrupt it but it will always equal out.”

“Can I suggest something weird?” Rhamina asked as she sat up and turned to face the male.

“Go ahead.”

“The concept of Good and Evil doesn’t exist.”

“What?”

“I mean if you think about it those who are classified as villains do what they do for a cause they think is just in their moral system and actually see the hero as their villain,” she explained, “And vice versa. The concept of Good and Evil actually depends on all perspective. So if someone were to see both sides as they were there would be no Good and Evil only two people making changes based on their ideals.”

“However, there is no true way to completely understand this concept,” Rhamina sighed, “Because prejudice will always get in the way, even if one thinks they are completely unbiased they will always have an opinion that will sway them one way or another.”

As they continued to converse the sun began to rise and the ravenette sadly had to lock him back up before giving him a quick hug.

“I’ll see you in a few hours then.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

~~~Fin. Chapter 2~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Warnings: None

Songs used: “Song of Healing” - Lost Song

Picture: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/153966880982052569/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#Journey of the Chaos Trio #Rhamina Miyu #Chapter 2 #Kerstin Vera #Samantha Fatimah #Tijarah Charlize #Chloe Rayer #Kitsami Verum Princeps Ibadora #Sora Byvrirth #Rozen Nylraevni #The Dragon Prince #Fanfic #Runaan

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abitterlifethroughcinema · 5 years

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#ABitterLifeThroughCinema’s WOKE! Film Reviews

The Top Ten (+1) Best Movies of 2018 and where to find them!

Lucas Avram Cavazos

+1…11. Overlord Having its premiere at this year’s Sitges Int’l Film Fest, Overlord not only happened to be one of the fave films screened there this past festival, but this cinematic fantasy is an all-too-real and stark portrayal of a horror that actually occurred, and it deserves a nod from the Barcelona film critic family, so here it goes. Duly noted, I’d say. It starts with an insane aerial combat mission on the night of D-Day, one which goes awry and sees only a handful of paratroopers surviving the drop when enemy fire rains hell. They land in provincial France and the plot sets out to detail some of the inner workings of the Third Reich in reference to the insane, gruesome experiments done on captured Europeans and Jews. Those stories you’ve heard about turning these poor people into guinea pigs for super soldier intent using potent, injected serums…yeah, those? They’re true, if you believe the words of JJ Abrams. Are they as utterly brutal and horror/zombie film-like as displayed here? I sure as hell hope not. (now available On Demand and DVD)

10. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs There once was a film called O Brother Where Art Thou? While this is not its sequel, there is a sharp-witted vein to this film that could only be crafted and gifted to us by the Coen Brothers. What a hoot it is, even if it is a rather darkly-tinted hue of that hoot and humour. It is also one of their finest in years. Revolving around the singing cowpoke Buster Scruggs (Tim Blake Nelson) and five other tales brought to us with the commonly-threaded theme of death in often brutally funny ways, this film is a fine return to oddball form from two of the finest sibling directors of all time. Starring Liam Neeson, James Franco, Zoe Kazan, even Tyne Daly and so many in its vignettes, and that acting star power fuses this Western comedy into new territory for the brothers. Their previous works set in the west always seemed to be re-hashing works of years gone by but here, with their usage of almost comic-book-like details and witty banter make this much more enjoyable than their other historical works like O Bother and their remake of True Grit. Best western in absolute years! (available on Netflix or VOD)

9. Eighth Grade This poignant little film, which should have been wide-released everywhere the world over, is given fierce and bittersweet star power by Elsie Fisher, protagonist and student at the heart of this film. Comedian Bo Turnham has brought us the quintessential coming-of-tweenage story and along with Fisher, everyone in this film is so perfectly placed in their roles, especially Josh Hamilton as her dad, who deserves some nominations for this film but is unlikely to get any. Telling the story of 13-year old Kayla, we the audience get a sneak-peek into the minds and lives of today’s young adults. From her simple YouTube videos made to encourage other young kids to her obvious desire to fit in with older kids to her insecurity with boys, this film paints a stark reality that too many have lived through and this little indie film deserves aplomb from anywhere it can get it! (now available On Demand and DVD)

8. A Star is Born I skipped the critics’ screening of this film for the mere fact that I couldn’t bear to see if the acting and plot lines were another torrid take on a much-redone film. Even into the holiday season, I had not yet seen it and then when I did, I certainly took back any reservations. Bradley Cooper’s update of the film starring himself and Lady Gaga is just about as good as everyone said it was, and that was beyond refreshing to note post-viewing. In many ways, I feel that Cooper is likely revealing a few things about himself with the guise of “it’s a movie” being a nice cover; in some ways, he gives us what I believe are hints of his covert life, and it’s with Gaga’s turn as Ally that we really see him shine beyond the shtick of his character, country-rocker Jackson Maine. In a tad corny-tad, gripping way that takes hold the moment you see Gaga, let’s be frank and real, this film goes on to detail a Diet Coke version of the grim realities that often detail too many a tale of celebrity in Hollywood. Without revealing too many details of the film’s plot and denouement, we are looking at a necessary conversation about alcoholism, drug addiction and fame (plus a lack of ’NO’ men/women in many relationships) that needs to addressed for all ages. Well done, Mr. Cooper Goes to the Oscars. (At select screens, On Demand & DVD)

7. El Angel Incidentally, this may be the first time in a rather long time that I say something good about Argentinian men, so do take note. Telling the true story of fresh-faced boy killer Carlos Robledo Puch, played to Oscar-worthy perfection by newcomer Lorenzo Ferro, the masterful detail to which director Luis Ortega has crafted this arthouse meets dramedy-thriller is astounding and easily touches heights set by dePalma and even, dare I say it, Scorcese. We follow young Carlitos Puch, who is just nearing the edge of seventeen, as takes up with a rough and tough family of his devilishly attractive school chum Ramon, played by the spirited Chino Darin, son of Ricardo Darin. But as Carlitos comes to find out, his street crimes can easily be paved to real ones and his sadistic tendencies suddenly yet gradually paint a picture of someone who is in part desperate for attention and tacceptance and in part a fairly smart, well-to-do young adult. He parlays his sociopathy at pubescence into psychopathy with time, and this film will likely be, but should definitely not be, forgotten come awards and Best Of lists time.(available On Demand and DVD)

6. Black Panther As Oscar season comes to a head, it is worth talking about one of the most striking films that you’ll see for a while. Black Panther is that good, not only because of its genre but also because of its message: that seeking freedom through recreating systems of oppression will only extend the ill-treatment and broken nature we find ourselves in nowadays. Set in the fictional African nation of Wakanda, protagonist King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) brings us the first real black superhero from the Marvel universe. With a cast including Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and Michael B Jordan, the acting is beyond impressive. What is even more amazing, however, is how the plot power-plays many elements of our world’s current political climate. (now available On Demand and DVD)

5. Chappaquiddick Another film which is nothing short of striking in its relevance to the current political situation in the USA. Senator Ted Kennedy was the only remaining Kennedy that I was familiar with throughout my adolescence and early adulthood. Jason Clarke as the Massachusetts senator is astounding, as is the cut of his jib and chin, although the accent was a tad weak, to be ever sincere. This is a complete revelation on the many details that were only gingerly touched upon during the course of the week following the death which this movie is detailing . As the facts are laid out in the film, it astounds me that the American people continued to vote and elect Kennedy for decades after. This is a study on arrogance, class and governmental ambiguity. And if that was the case with liberals in the Sixties, how much more so with conservatives in this digital age? My favourite film of last year’s BCN Film Festival. (now available On Demand and DVD)

4. Private Life Good Lawd this is such a heartwarming/breaking story with the finest elements of believable comedy and situational realism that define the art of the classic Gen X film from the 90s to now. May we never forget that it was Gen, and even those a few years before them, who gave us the digiverse-Netflix-instant oatmeal www.orld in which we live today and when I see a very NYC film like this one, it makes it a true reality check. Being the age that one should be married with kids, I watched Kathryn Hahn as Rachel absolutely slay the silver screen and am eager to see if she picks up any more accolades throughout the current awards season. Simple plot…she’s in her early 40s and her hubby Rich (played by Paul Giamatti) is entering his late 40s and they are fully entrenched within the confines of every single way to conceive a baby. Following the couple through their trials and tribulations really get pushed up an ante when sort-of relative Sadie (the lovely Kayli Carter) decides she will be the surrogate mum for them as things get a tad pear-shaped. This could easily be dubbed a dreamed, for in effect, it is; what needs to be known is that this is also a morality tale for a new age. The old-fashioned ethics of yesteryear just do not apply anymore, at least not in big cities, and the less is more factor easily makes this one of the finest films released within the last year. (available on Netflix)

3. BlacKKKlansman Without a doubt, this is the finest work in all too many years by Spike Lee, and he takes no prisoners in letting you know that the spilled essence of blaxploitation all over this celluloid is to egg you into knowing that this story is 100% true…and crazy. The mere fact that David Duke is literally cheerleading for the current President of the United States should scare us all and wake those who are not. Watching actor John David Washington portray Ron Stallworth, the real-life cop who slyly infiltrated the inner workings of the Klu Klux Klan 40 years ago. After signing up for the Colorado Spring PD, he realises the lack of trust in the 98% Anglo-Saxon workforce, as he’s thrown into monitoring the goings-on of any Black Panther student situations. Eventually, he takes up with a guy on the force that he can dig called Flip and played to skilled excellence by the oddest of lookers Adam Driver. Basically, the plot follows the twosome, as they tag team the aforementioned white supremacist movement, Ron being the voice and Flip being the wingman as they start an investigation on grand wizard bastard himself David Duke, played to troubling perfection by Topher Grace, evoking all of the calmness and utter sociopathic tendencies of a man reviled by most yet revered by still too many. And watching this taut film and how it rolls through such a daunting story with comedic aplomb and vicious realness gives you goosebumps. That said, as the film gets toward its ending, is when Lee gives you the goods when he flashes to scenes from the crazy Charlottesville, Virginia, riots, AntiFa protesting and subsequent death of Heather Heyer, may she rest in peace. God Save the World…and Amerikkka.

2. Fahrenheit 11/9 Premiering a few weeks ago here in Spain at very select cinema screens across the country, this is the first documentary in some time by Michael Moore that could play across an international landscape and should be required viewing on any critic’s or person’s list. The titular oddity refers to the day after we all woke up across the world in shock and awe that Donald J Trump had won the Presidency of the USA. Even if this is not Morre’s best film to date, it is undoubtedly the one that holds the viewers’ feet to the fire and calls for them to fight the nasty funk of this administration. But, it’s when he takes it back to his roots, to Flint, Michigan, and ends up involving all local and state politics, that we start to see the more sinister undertakings happening amongst conservative parties, ideals and societies. When you add in the fact of the Parkland High School shooting and the way Moore later fuses footage of Hitler and his minions and followers with a rally speech made by the current occupant of the White House, it becomes all too obvious that things are exactly as we think they are (A HOT MESS!) and we have very little recourse rather than claiming truth. (now available On Demand and DVD)

1. ROMA There are tender moments of realism that are permitted to happen with the rise of instant cinema on VOD and direct-to-home films, and it has been a pleasure to see that sites like Netflix and Amazon and Canal+ have truly added to the foray in which great celluloid can be brought to the masses. Case in point comes the finest piece of dramatic celluloid that graced the silver screen in the last year. Being a Mexican whose father is a naturalised citizen of the US and a mother who is Chicana from the US, like myself and my siblings, the sentimentality ran deep with this film. One of the differences I experienced was the fact that we were the only Mexican-American family in a stately US country club…and we had an entire childhood spent with loving housekeepers, which is what this film inherently is honouring and depicting, using the backdrop of Alfonso Cuarón’s take on growing up in 70s-upper middle class Mexico City in the neighbourhood of Roma. Depicting the life of the house assistant Cleo (first-time performer Yalitza Aparicio in a J.Hud moment, frankly) and the family of Sr. Antonio (Fernando Grediaga), a doctor in the Mexican capital, what Cuarón has called his most personal film to date, is also a B&W modern tale in the vein of Gone with the Wind, and the fact that he centres around a privileged Mexican family is poignant for several reasons: it not only takes a focus away from how Donald bloody Trump has painted Mexicans, in general, to the world, but it also highlights a very human element to how many classes of society function and live there in the frontier regions of North America and, more importantly, EVERYWHERE…easily put, this is a sweet, oft-times simple, oft-times brutal story on humanity. What binds so many critics together on this film’s merits is that fact that Alfonso Cuarón has crafted the past year’s most enigmatic movie, leaving us to make our own answers to what happens to Lady Cleo, her best mate Teresa, and this beautiful family. Absolutely and quietly stunning! (available on Netflix and selects screens across the country)

#abitterlifethroughcinema #BCNinEnglish #englishradiobcn #overlord #theballadofbusterscruggs #eighth grade #elangel #a star is born #blackpanther #chappaquiddick #privatelife #Blackkklansman #fahrenheit119 #roma film #LucasAvramCavazos

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