#i should really do more with aspen sometime she's a fun one

[prismatic-dreaming]

👪 for perse i wanna hear abt her sister >:) vult au if its spoilery for innmys -🐺 kao

👪 what is their family like? what is your ocs relationship to them? does your oc have any siblings?

🔥 "Horrible. They're horrible, relationship's horrible, I don't really consider myself related to them at all. That bastard of a 'biological father' if you want to call him that only wanted to use and exploit me for his own gain. I'm glad he's dead and I helped him get taken down. And his daughter was a spoiled brat, a bitch, and a blackmailer. I despise them with all of my being." "I never really got to know my biological mother but I do feel bad for her, it seemed like she had it pretty rough. And then Aspen had her killed. I had adoptive parents, they were alright I guess, we weren't ever really close. We all had work to do. The only people I'd really consider my family were in Revelasia. They've done a lot for me and meant the world to me. Especially Thea. I... I miss her."

☙ Relationship is pretty similar for bio father and Aspen in DV, but she never met biomom and instead of adoptive parents she has a mentor from the adventurer's guild who scooped him up like a little street rat that he was.

The real juicy drama under the cut so it's not too long. Gets kinda dark. She's definitely my character with the most traumatic backstory.

Now for the actual drama, VQ edition.

🔥 As far as VQ universe goes, she grew up in communal raising for the early years, then was brought into the household of the current ruling family of one of Holo's city-states as the personal servant of their heir, Aspen.

🔥 The Chadwick family is well! very evil and corrupt! We love people in power in dystopias! She was chosen to be Aspen's handmaid because her own powers could be used to get rid of any evidence Aspen's ice powers. On Holo, it's quite rare for demons to have any sort of psychic powers called pathics, and more common for nephilim, half-human half-demons, like Perse. Those who have pathics are supposed to be given over to the Regime to be under its control, but of course the Chadwicks weren't letting their heir be taken away, plus she serves as protection for them if necessary with her powers honed.

🔥He didn't exactly enjoy his work for Aspen, as she's very much a spoiled brat who would force Perse to do things for her sometimes as she was more devout to Holoan religion than her parents, or for other things, but wouldn't hesitate to throw him under the bus if she was going to get in trouble for it. But, well, he didn't really have a lot of choice in the matter.

🔥However, everything she didn't know came crashing down on her one day when through happenstance, a human fellow servant comes in for something Aspen needed, recognized Perse and well. that's actually her bio mom. Who is very shaken up over all this. Aspen was there and both were in denial of it, especially for the fact that they shared a father, and Aspen despised both father and Perse over it. Both keep it secret with Aspen holding it over Perse and being crueler than usual over it until she just can't take it anymore and snaps. During her outburst the room is set on fire, burning Aspen in the process, and she narrowly manages to escape with her life. She has a rough time braving the elements, nearly dying in the process, but a new friend and a team from Revelasia heading back to base brings her survival.

🔥And even there the drama doesn't fully end. She's met with suspicion by one of the leaders (who, while she doesn't know it yet, is Neve) for using a different name when joining and her... interesting situation. But she does not only verify her claims but also Revelasia takes part in an ironic joint operation with the Regime to take down the Chadwick couple, and Aspen is taken into Regime custody. Neve is also. very blunt and bad at softness so she's handed some. pretty rough information about Mr. Chadwick's monitoring of her, and that she was initially conceived to be a personal soldier for him. Covering up Aspen's powers just ended up taking priority and plans changed.

So yeah! uh! pretty fucking rough! She despises him and is glad he's dead, and has a lot of resentment towards Aspen as well.

☙ As far as Dlennverse goes, her family is much less influential, but still unpleasant. I wanna have a little secrets since some of it may or may not be coming up during innmys ehe (also not gonna lie i still have stuff to figure out there i can't purely be coy and say it's a secret)

I also offer some character tokens by the lovely @vihala for them! I think you can tell who's who, but Perse is on the top and Aspen is on the bottom. I love cinematic parallels and designing them to be very opposite to each other. I had a lot of fun with their designs and I'm very grateful to Kat for putting together Aspen for me based on all the ideas and references I put together since I was having a rough wrist day at the time.

[strangemagicked]

Anon said: what are your favorite fun facts about each of your ocs?

I don’t think you understand how LONG of an answer this is gonna be but ,,,, 

o k a y 

Note: I have 53 Ocs attached to this blog SO this is going under a readmore lmao (yes this took me three days to answer, shhhhh)

Also, these aren’t all my ‘favorite’ fun facts; they’re just ....normal fun facts because wow i  dont have favorites lmao

Alice ( Alice in Wonderland )

She drinks at least two cups of tea day.

Akemi ( Big Hero 6 )

No matter how good she is at computers, she still messes up long division  

Alyssa ( Seuss )

She cuts her own hair, but never more than a trim.

Amber ( Trolls )

She has a scar on her feet from a bee sting.

Annella ( J&tcch )

She’s made her own glasses for her to wear in her cat form.

April ( Mia & Me )

Her main pet snake is named Sup

Ares ( Harry Potter )

She has a pencil on her no matter what her outfit or anything 

Arlo ( Dt17 )

Has a scar on his left hand on his thumb’s knuckle. Doesn’t know how he got it.

Ash ( Dt17 )

Ash stole one of donald’s shirts and made it into a pillow case

Aspen ( Otgw )

Her outfit in the unknown does not match her outfit outside of it. No I will not explain further.

Aura ( Atla )

Always wears her hair up; but it goes almost to her knees when it is down.

Aurore ( Dt17 )

She normally wears chunky heels.

Ava ( Supernatural )

She has a card that says she is legally allowed to have her crossbow on her at all times. She keeps it in her shoe that way she always has it.

Bai ( Raya )

He has a necklace with Sisu on it; they’re more common than I think raya realized

Beck (Phineas and Ferb)

Has a butterfly clip she keeps in her pocket

Bianca ( Frozen )

She has a higher tolerance for the cold due to being frozen for so long

Bo ( Jwcc )

His spirit guide is a Compy; hence why Arrow took such a liking to him

Crevan ( Hunger Games )

Has a southern accent in modern verses, but lacks an accent in her default verse

Caelan ( Ever After High )

Has a small birthmark that sorta looks like an arrow if you squint.

Candy Hearts ( Mlp )

Is part deer and part pony. She tried to find her birth parents to no avail 

Caramel Cosmos ( Mlp )

Instead of snapping to use her chaos powers, she taps her hoof

Caroline ( Strange Magic )

Her wings let off a gentle pink glitter. It’s similar to love potion in looks.

Cheshire ( Fandomless )

They have many tattoos; including all four suits somewhere on their body

Clarke Navada ( Arthur Christmas )

She replaces the mistletoe on her shirt every three days to keep it fresh

Constance ( Poto )

If ya can’t tell, her and Christine look a lot alike. However, they do not act the same at all, except for their passion and drive

Cyra ( Animaniacs )

Is she just a recolor of yakko? Maybe. But she was never meant to be. Her animator was just really tired of designing and under a lot of pressure by that point

Derek ( Fandomless )

His fiancé died and he blames himself :) Also he has a flask with their name on it

Elliot ( Animaniacs )

Really wants to fly. Has a slight fear of heights. 

Eros ( Descendents)

They do have some wonderland magic to them, but their charm and ability to get people to do stuff for them is just their natural ability. It’s not magic.

Felix ( Camp Camp )

Carries a pocket knife on him at all times. Yes, even in his PJs

Gabby ( Treasure Planet )

Has an older brother & a younger sister. Neither of which realize that she is such a major criminal. 

Gisel (  Ladybug  )

Has a habit of omitting the truth in order to not lie. She will allow people to draw what should be obvious conclusions from what she says, although the obvious conclusion is never the right conclusion

Hatter ( Fandomless )

Tends to speak in riddles, but honestly, no one knows why. Not even he knows why he does.

Jacklyn ( Tim Burton/horror )

You can see her lungs through her ribs! Because while her skin and muscle has begun to dissipate, her organs have not! 

Jordan ( Supernatural )

Always has a cloth tucked into her jeans pocket to use incase she needs it

Katie ( Penn Zero )

Does not have a tail like her father, but does have red eyes like him! 

Killian Jr ( Tangled )

The streak of teal in his hair is natural, and he has his father’s freckles too

Kit ( Animaniacs )

Subtitles appear when they speak in a different language than English. ( Even then, sometimes subtitles will appear for that too)

Lore ( Seuss )

She sewed all of her own clothes ! 

Mica ( Steven Universe )

Has no scars or birthmarks! 

Morty ( Rick and Morty Inspired )

Carries a full eyeshadow palette in his backpack

Nobody ( Seuss )

Anything relating to JoJo is my favorite. but also since i doubt anyone is reading this far; Nobody’s birthname was Mollie Noel Joy. Nobody doesn't know this.

Nia ( Supernatural )

She still has her wings, and her grace. Although, she never uses her angelic powers.

Petal ( Httyd )

Her full name is Petronilla ! 

Rita ( Gravity Falls )

like her father, she keeps a journal. However, hers is less scientific and more personal.

Sahar ( Fandomless )

The first ghost she communicated with was when she was three! 

Seine ( Animal Crossing/nitw, Horror )

Keeps the door to their basement locked with two padlocks

Skyler ( Horror )

Keeps three backup chargers on them

Sunny ( Rotg )

She has a faint glow to her that will change tint from red to yellow to orange depending on her feelings

Tj ( Camp Camp )

It’s real candy in their hair that they glued in with a hot glue gun

Valerie ( Dt17 )

Doesn’t know that donald has that thing with his voice until season 2

Walker ( Horror )

His eyes are yellow, and they reflect like cat’s

Wild Princess ( Adventure Time )

If she were to ever be completely rid of the crown, she’d die from radiation poisoning 

Willow (trolls)

Lost her sight in her one eye during the escape from the troll tree

Xia (White Snake)

She smokes human essence not actual smoke 

[theroyalcoldwells]

Transcript Under the Cut

PAGE 1

"I've always liked music, since I was a kid. My dad used to get his old guitar and he'd sing some of his favourite songs with me and my older sister, Nicole. I didn't think of it as a carreer, though. None of us did. Nicole always wanted to work in the news, and, believe it or not, I wanted to be a teacher [laughs]. No, really. Went to university for it and everything. A history teacher. 

I have four siblings, an older sister, Nicole, and three younger. Ashley, Aspen and Colton. If they like me? Yeah, I mean, we fight sometimes. We're siblings after all, but we love each other. The twins always ask for my help for their school projects and stuff. It's fun, I like having my family around. But I don't know if I'd like to have a big family myself [laughs] It can be quite exhausting if I'm being honest.

My relationship with the royal family...I don't think I should be talking about these sort of things, I mean, it might be a lawsuit waiting to happen [laughs]. But well, I can say that they're all nice. And...I've made some friends there. That's all I'm willing to say.

My love life? Hm...It's pretty D.O.A at the moment [laughs]. There was this girl a while ago. But it didn't work. Why? Oh. You know, when you grow up believing everything is a sign of the times or whatever, you tend to rush things. and completely miss others. All that stuff. It wasn't meant to be, I guess...Anyways, can we talk about something else now? [awkward laugh]

Marcus is my producer. He's also my best friend. We've known each other ever since...kindergarten? It's been a long time. In fact, Marcus and Jessica [Buckley] are staying with me for a few days. Ziggy, my new puppy, might have more to do with their sudden urge to stay than, you know, me [laughs] I don't blame them, though. Ziggy's adorable. I'd stay too.[laughs] 

I think fame is pretty much a game of luck. Somedays you're winning, and everyone loves you, the other you can't go to a pub with your friends without 30 paparazzi waiting outside the door. You truly just have to roll the dice."

PAGE 2

J: So, now I'm gonna ask you some questions.

S: Oh, please do. Or else I'd just go on and on and on...

[both laugh]

J: This isn't the point of the interview, but I feel like it's important to talk about. A lot of speculation was made about the night you left that nightclub in Champs Les Sims with a mysterious blonde. Can you tell us a bit more about that night?

S: [Sigh] I suppose I have to. I don't want to make anything complicated for her, so I'm not saying her name. She used to be...Very special to me. Things didn't work out the way I planned them to. So, yes, I was with her. I am not anymore.

J: I see...I am very very sorry for bringing that up.

S: It's okay. I'd have to talk about it eventually.

J: Moving on...Would you say your family has some influence in the lyrics you write?

S: Probably. My dad likes music almost as much as I do. We had a fight a few years back. and that's basically where most of my first album came from, that, and moving out. I lived with my sister for a while. We went to the same university, so she would also help me when I got stuck by getting my head away from songwriting for a bit. We'd play games, study together...All that.

J: The way they found you was quite a hollywood success story, right? Would you be willing to share it again?

S: Of course! I was working in a pub to help my sister with rent, just you know, cleaning tables, washing dishes, all that fun stuff [laughs]. One day the manager accidentally heard my singing and asked me to be one of their "Friday Tunesters"[laughs]. He also offered me a raise. I was getting used to performing there, and I suppose word travelled fast, and next thing I know, Jillian was giving me her card. It's truly wild to think how far I've come.

J: It's almost as if it's something out of a movie! And we're very glad that manager heard you.

J: You're very active in social media, even regarding political and controversial matters. Has that ever gotten you in trouble?

S: Not yet, but there's still time [laughs]. My management team keeps telling me to keep my opinions to myself, joking, of course, but also kind of serious. But yeah, I'm not stopping anytime soon. Fight me, Jillian [laughs] Just kidding, love you.

[artificialqueens]

Galactica, Chapter 46 (Group Fic) - TheDane/Veronica

A/N: Click here if you’re looking for previous chapters (or here if you’d rather read on AO3). 💫

Last Chapter: Pearl invited Adore to a party

This Chapter: Adore has a very bad week, the design team gets more cronuts, and Raven has a lunch date with her bestie.

***

“I don’t understand…”

It had been a great night. Pearl had picked her up, both of them dressed to kill, Adore’s hair freshly dyed an icy turquoise. They’d had dinner, laughing their asses off while they swapped stories about concert debauchery and their favorite bands, and then went onto the party. It was just hours of dancing and flashing lights and pounding bass, their bodies pressed together, chemistry electric like it’d been when they first got together.

Things were so heated at one point that Pearl dragged Adore off to fuck her against a brick wall, making her shiver and moan, fingers gripping the lapels of Pearl’s motorcycle jacket.

After the party, they’d gone to an all-night diner in DUMBO for pancakes, sharing sticky kisses, leaving most of the food untouched as they giggled happily, party drugs slowly leaving their systems.

And then lastly, they’d wandered over to the bridge, the best spot in the whole city to watch the sunrise.

It was then, snuggled in Pearl’s arms as they watched the sky slowly begin to brighten, the first faint rays of light turning a few clouds pink, when Adore carefully brought up the idea of being monogamous. If not now, she figured, clinging together under a cotton-candy sky, then when.

“This open thing, I just...I feel like it’s making me paranoid, you know?”

What she wasn’t expecting, not after a night like that, was that Pearl would immediately let go of her, shaking her head, saying, “I’m just not ready for that.”

Which brought them to the present moment.

“I don’t understand…” Adore began, eyes welling up with tears. “Didn’t you have fun tonight?”

“Yeah, of course. I always have fun with you,” Pearl said.

“So then why-” Adore gulped as a single tear spilled down her cheek. “Why am I not enough for you?”

“It’s not that! You’re great. You are. There are just things I miss when we’re together. And I don’t want to make you a promise that I can’t keep.”

“Like what? What do you miss?”

“Like…” Pearl faltered. “Like, little lacy panties and kissing with lipgloss. Having a manicured hand in my hair while I eat a girl out. Watching an ass in high heels and smelling floral perfumes. Carrying her tiny purse-”

“So...I’m not femme enough?” Adore asked, head still shaking in confusion.

“You’re the one who asked.” Pearl sighed, pushing away from the bridge. “I like you, and it makes me sound like a douche, but, I dunno Adore. I’m a lesbian. I like girls. Sometimes-” Pearl looked over at her. “Sometimes you seem more like a boy.”

Adore swore she could feel her heart shatter, a wrecked sob leaving her. Growing up, one of her biggest sources of shame was not being enough of a “girl.” She never liked frilly things, she never liked the things her older sisters did, like ballet classes and fashion and shopping. She remembered being a kid, bored silly with the endless conversations about nail polish and push-up bras that she was subjected to.

When she came out, one of the best things was that a lot of those expectations were suddenly removed, lifted from her shoulders. She could make her own rules, and so she did. But sometimes, secretly, she still worried. She still glanced at her reflection when in a group of other girls, still wondered sometimes how she measured up.

Most of the time, she got plenty of validation--her friends praising her constantly, and even her sister’s lighthearted shade was affectionate, never failing to slip in a compliment. So she was able to curb her inner demons, really believe that she was beautiful and cute and lovable, even if she wasn’t the most feminine.

But today, hearing Pearl’s honest opinion...it was like someone confirming her worst fear. Like a boy. As she continued crying, her chest aching, she felt like even more of a monster than she ever had.

“C’mon, don’t cry.” Pearl didn’t touch her, and Adore was so thankful for that, as it would have made everything worse. “You’re a really cool boy, and it’s fun to spend time with you.”

“Just stop talking.”

“Let’s get a cab and head back-”

“You think I wanna ride in a cab with you right now?!” Adore asked angrily, swiping at her eyes, surely smearing her makeup even more. “Fuck you!”

“Adore-”

“Just go!” she exclaimed hoarsely, glaring right into Pearl’s tired eyes, daring her.

After a resigned sigh, Pearl muttered, “Whatever you say,” and turned, walking back towards Brooklyn.

***

Courtney had almost finished getting ready for work, putting the last touches on her makeup and looking for a pair of earrings both plain enough to be acceptable, but that she was certain she hadn’t worn in the last two weeks. She’d just pulled out a pair of small, inoffensive black hoops when her phone started buzzing, sending a wave of fear and nausea through her all at once.

It was barely 6:30, and getting a phone call at this time could only mean that there was some pending disaster for her at work--or worse, something she’d already screwed up. She reached for the phone with her heart in throat, stomach churning, only to see to her surprise that it wasn’t her work phone ringing. Brow furrowed, she picked up her old personal iPhone, wondering what could be wrong.

“Adore? Are you okay?”

“Pearl and I broke up,” came Adore’s shaky voice, hitching on the last word.

“Oh god, I’m so sorry!”

“We had the best night, I thought things were turning around, and then she-”

What came next was almost totally incomprehensible as Adore tried to speak through her sobs.

“Where are you, honey? Do you need me to come and-”

“I’m on the Brooklyn Bridge.”

“You’re what!?” Courtney’s heart nearly stopped, panic rushing through her like a bolt of lightning.

“No, I’m…It’s just cause we were at a party here. Don’t-” Adore managed to chuckle drily through her tears. “Don’t worry.”

“Oh. Okay. Good.”

“I’m just gonna walk across and then like...I dunno. Probably go home and sleep all day. But I thought...maybe we could hang out this week?”

“Of course! Whenever you want, just say the word. Okay?”

“Okay. Thanks. I’m sorry to...I know you’re probably heading to work, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. You know you can call me anytime. And Dore?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

***

Pearl was leaning back in her chair, her eyes closed, a constant throb behind her right eye.

Normally, she had nothing against the big glass doors and windows that let her entire team see her at all times, the installment of them her own choice, but right now, Pearl desperately wished she had a private office.

She was feeling absolutely wretched from last night, and if she was being honest, it wasn’t just leftover alcohol and party drugs that had her feeling like shit.

Adore had completely misunderstood, had refused to listen to her when she explained herself, the whole thing a terrible terrible mess.

It wasn’t Pearl’s fault that Adore had agreed to something she apparently wasn’t cool with, this whole situation only happening because Adore didn’t actually know herself.

Pearl crossed her arms, groaning, the lie comforting for a moment, but it was just that, a lie.

Adore had asked for honesty, but it seemed like Pearl had made a mistake indulging it. She didn’t know what to do, the guilty feeling new and unfamiliar.

“Pearl?” Pearl opened her eyes to see Laganja standing at her door, a curious expression on her face. “I need you to-”

“I don’t need to do shit until after you get me a coffee.”

“Okay boss?” Laganja raised an eyebrow. “Way to be a bitch.”

Laganja turned around and walked away, Pearl groaning as she slid even further down her chair, today going from bad to worse to terrible.

***

“Hello! Earth to Chachki.”

“Huh?” Violet looked up, Bob’s voice cutting through her thoughts. It was midmorning, Trixie coming into work with boxes of cronuts, a smile on his face as the designers had flocked around him.

Everyone had gathered at the couches, Violet’s stack of magazines she had already read in the corner, Maxwell asking if he could read them when she was done.

“Are you going to eat that?” Bob pointed at Violet’s plate.

“Oh.” Violet looked down, the pastry untouched. “Umh-” April had been kind enough to bring Violet a plate without being asked, her and Alexis sitting side by side. “What’s Trixie’s deal with these anyway?”

“With the cronuts?” Jovan looked over at her, Maxwell next to him.

“It means there’s a tough week ahead-” Maxwell waved his cronut around. “It’s kind of an apology in advance.”

“Ha,” Violet smiled, that statement so fitting with everything she knew of Trixie, the man downstairs in a meeting with Bendela.

“And the question still stands on whether or not you're eating that,” Bob nodded, his eyes still firmly on Violet’s cronut.

“Ah.” She hadn’t even tasted it, but Violet was not in the mood, Sutan’s question about Aspen still playing around in her head. “No.”

“Dibs then!” Blu grinned, reaching over the coffee table and snatching it from Violet’s plate.

“Hey!” Bob yelled, outrage on his face. “That was mine.”

“We can share it.” Blu smiled, breaking it in two.

“You guys,” Alexis rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her coffee as she flicked to the next page. “Awww, look!” Alexis lit up, turning the magazine around. “Remember when Lupita Nyong’o wore my dress to the Grammys?”

“Gimme!” Maxwell reached out, snatching it from Alexis' hand and Violet leaned over so she could see too, Jovan inches away from her.

Lupita looked stunning in her dark blue gown, the flowy skirt making her look like a goddess, Alexis’ signature draping all over it.

“She looks great,” Violet said, “You should be very proud.”

“Thanks, girl!”

Violet looked closer at the page, grimacing when she saw Katy Perry’s weirdly unflattering, asymmetrical suit.

“Katy Perry, though, what an absolute mess. It looks as if Maxwell and Jovan collabed while on acid.”

The second the words left her mouth, Violet regretted them.

This was the first time she had spoken her mind around her new coworkers, the first time she had let out her most sarcastic and dry thoughts, her heart speeding up.

Jovan and Maxwell looked at each other, and Violet tensed, prepared for the angry response she was sure would be coming. But instead of snapping at her or putting her in her place, both men burst out laughing, the rest of the group quickly joining in.

This was unlike anything Violet had ever experienced in school, her peers not laughing at her, but apparently with her instead, the feeling completely new. No one giving her death stares or looking at her like she was a stain on a carpet.

“Omigod, draaag them!” Bob exclaimed, wiping his eyes.

“I-” Violet didn’t know what to say. As a child, she had kept her mouth shut, never saying anything, even when it got her in trouble. It had gotten better at the academy, her body speaking for her, but her classmates and coworkers had taken her silence as a judgement, her corrections of their work like attacks instead of the advice she had meant it as.

In college, she had just stopped giving her opinion all together, another girl leaving a critique in tears when Violet had shared her honest thoughts.

“I didn’t mean-”

“Just to be clear,” Maxwell smiled, “I refuse to have this color story pinned on me.”

“Oh girl shut up,” Jovan grabbed the magazine. “It’s not the colors that makes this terrible, it’s the fucking cut. Are you blind?”

“Anything but the neckline is fine.”

“Okay, so you are blind?”

“I think all of it looks like shit too.”

“BLU!”

Violet smiled, watching her coworkers argue, for once, feeling like she completely and absolutely belonged with them.

***

Bianca stepped off the elevator into her foyer, nearly tripping over a pair of studded black combat boots telling her that she wasn’t coming home to her usual empty apartment.

“Adore? Hello? Where are you?”

Bianca walked through the living room and dining room to the kitchen, assuming that’s where she’d find her sister, but there was no Adore to be found.

“Adore!”

She started to get concerned when yipping from the dogs guided her into the den, where Adore was curled up on the giant L-shaped sofa, buried under 3 blankets, a half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels sitting on the coffee table.

“Hey.”

“Hi.” Adore looked up, blue eyes red and watery, lip quivering, and Bianca immediately softened at the sight.

“What’s wrong?” Bianca asked, although she had a pretty good idea already.

Adore rubbed her eyes and sniffled before saying, “Please just don’t say ‘I told you so,’ okay?”

“Aww, baby girl…” Bianca rushed to her side, wrapping her up into a hug and rocking her, rubbing her back, letting her cry it out. “I’m so sorry, pussycat.”

“I’m so stupid,” Adore cried into her neck, and Bianca shook her head vigorously.

“You’re not. Not at all. She’s the stupid one. Okay?” Bianca murmured against her temple.

“Do you have any ice cream?”

Bianca smiled slightly, brushing away a few of Adore’s tears with her thumbs. “I’ll have some delivered. Cookie dough or fudge brownie?”

“Both.”

“Coming right up.” Bianca pressed a kiss to Adore’s forehead and reached for her phone. The fact that things between Adore and Pearl had ended like this was no surprise, not to anyone with half a brain, but she still felt badly for her sister, would still do anything possible to help her feel better.

***

“Juju!” Raven stood up, smiling brightly as she watched her best friend make her way through the restaurant. “It’s so good to see you!” Raven pulled her in for a hug, breathing in the scent of the coconut oil Juju always used.

“Hi gorgeous!” Juju said, hugging her back, and Raven grinned, pulling back to take her in.

Juju looked amazing, her brown hair styled in her signature curls, her blouse of the day a satin lilac with a bow. And of course that bump, growing every day.

“Mama, how did you grow this much in two weeks?” Raven put a hand on Juju’s belly, a tight pencil skirt holding it in. She couldn’t feel the baby yet, but that didn’t matter.

“My best guess is curly fries.” Juju laughed. “I’ve been hitting up Arby’s on my way home from the salon every day, because I…” Juju framed her face with triumphant jazz hands, “am garbage!”

“That’s why we love you,” Raven giggled, pressing a kiss to her friend’s cheek before getting back into their seats.

Raven and Juju had been friends for years. Raven had liked Juju from the moment they met,  Sutan putting her in Juju’s salon chair the second he had signed her for Elite, but they hadn’t officially clicked until she had started dating Raja.

Raven had never really had a best friend growing up, and she was so happy that she had Juju, even though they didn’t see each other as much as they both wanted to. Raven often visited the Sanderson household, spending her evenings there sometimes when Raja worked late--but with the twins, Detox and Kelly around, they rarely had time just the two of them. So as soon as the waiter came by and took their orders, she got down to business.

“Tell me all about your trip!” Raven said. “How’s the new location doing?”

“Oh man. I mean it’s going well so far, but could I have chosen a worse time to open up a new salon? I’m so busy already, and now this new kid. I’m a little worried.”

Juju’s New York salon was such a success that over the years she’d opened up several more locations: Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago. And now, her latest one in Atlanta, opened just a month before she’d found out that she was pregnant again.

“If anyone can do it, you can!” Raven told her with an encouraging squeeze, remembering how hectic things had been after the twins were born. “Look at it this way...at least it’s only one baby this time.”

“Ha! That’s true. Anyway, so far so good. Plus it’s around the corner from the best restaurant I have ever been, in my life”

“In Atlanta?” Raven asked, stirring her iced tea, one eyebrow raised.

“Yes, don’t be such a snob!” Juju laughed.

“Whatever you say,” Raven replied.

“Rave, seriously. I mean the food was good, but the desserts?”

Raven perked up, eyes getting bigger and bigger as Juju proceeded to describe a decadent chocolate mousse cheesecake and coconut bread pudding soufflé.

“Stop, omigod!” she finally interrupted, picking up her napkin to fan herself with it. “This is too public. It’s like watching porn on the subway.”

Jujubee laughed, clapping her hands. “Sounds fun! I’m gonna try that. Also...” Juju gestured to the dessert tray rolling by, piled high with confections.

“Ugh, I would push my grandmother in front of a bus for one of those!” Raven groaned, and Juju laughed again.

“So have one! You can’t still be on your runway diet, right?”

“No, I am. “ Raven sighed. “Galactica is doing that showroom thing for the holiday collection next week, and in December I have two swimwear shoots.”

Just thinking about it, Raven groaned. She was excited about the Galactica booking, showroom shows technically way below her level of modeling, but Raven took any excuse she could to work with Raja, spending time with her finacée more than enough reason to put up with the tedious task of playing mannequin for the day.

What was starting not to feel worth it, was the swimwear shoots.

Raven wanted the money, and she was happy she had work, but she couldn’t wait for Thanksgiving, Sutan giving her a mere 6 hours of carte blanche to eat whatever she wanted.

“I’ve been in the gym two hours every day, eating like, grass and leaves.”

Raja had been sweet about it, encouraging her and helping her, but her fiancée just didn’t understand, getting in shape and most importantly keeping the same shape never an issue for Raja, Raja’s measurements largely the same in her 40s as they had been in her 20s. Raven was just happy that Raja seemed to love her body no matter what, the grind of being perfect getting harder and harder every year.

“It’s been horrendous.”

“Aww, I’m sorry boo.” Juju reached over the table, squeezing Raven’s forearm. “If it helps, Kelly’s getting into cooking and yesterday she made us the most god-awful pancakes I’ve ever had. I didn’t want to discourage her so I had five.”

“How is you eating five pancakes supposed to make me feel better?!” Raven shrieked.

“They were terrible!”

“They were pancakes! Do you know how long it’s been since I had a pancake, you fuckin’ bitch?!”

Juju opened her mouth to reply, but instead, caught sight of the absolutely enraged expression on her friend’s face and burst out laughing. Soon both of them were laughing, clutching their sides, completely unconcerned with the number of Upper East Side ladies giving them the stink-eye.

***

COURTNEY: Hey honey, how’s it going?

ADORE: Well. Bianca is keeping the liquor cabinet well-stocked, so...counting my blessings.

COURTNEY: I really want to see you.

ADORE: Me too. Ditch work tomorrow and come hang out with me.

COURTNEY: Ha! I wish.

ADORE: Maybe Friday? Sleepover at my place?

COURTNEY: It’s a date. <3

***

“If you’d please direct your attention to the beading samples in front of you, I’ve made horizontal and vertical variations, the horizontal the pattern I’ve integrated on the bodice-”

As an assistant, Violet had been used to Fame’s steely blue eyes every single day, a squint, a lifted brow, the twist of a mouth more than enough to tell Violet everything she needed to know.

Now, it felt like Fame was a complete stranger, her boss sitting with Raja at her side, both of them completely impassive, Fame’s face not giving anything away.

“And it’s my clear conviction that that will be the best choice, the lines creating a more pleasant visual.”

Violet knew it wasn’t her outfit, her hair styled with a golden clip exactly like Fame liked it, her nails the almond shape and pale pink that was never a problem, her shoes the regulated height so Violet wouldn’t tower over Fame if they had to walk anywhere together.

“For the sleeves, I hope you’ll considered the flared options,” Violet twisted her mannequin, showing off the right sleeve that she had carefully attached with loose stitches to her dress, “But I’ve also done a more traditional slender-”

“Violet.”

Violet froze, looking over at Fame, her boss wearing a white sweater and white high waisted pants, the row of pearls on her Jimmy Choo’s matching her bracelet and earrings.

“That’s all.”

“Oh,” Violet felt her stomach clench, a flash of disappointment washing over her. “Yes Miss.”

Violet grabbed her mannequin, knowing defeat when it was staring her in the face. She had no idea what she had done wrong, Fame cutting her off mid sentence, all the other designers getting feedback or questions.

Violet watched as Alexis rolled up, the other woman instantly filling out the room with her personality, even making Raja laugh as she showed off the several garments she was working on.

Violet swallowed her disappointment, breathing through her nose as she left the meeting room, her nails digging into her palm.

Years of ballet had taught her that sometimes, even your best wasn’t enough, but without feedback, Violet had no idea what to change or how to fix the situation.

She sat at her desk, tailoring thankfully sending up a package with options for details on her prêt-à-porter so she could distract herself.

Violet was going over the button options for the clothes that would end up mass produced for the stores, when she felt Trixie’s hand on her shoulder.

“Good work today Violet.” Trixie smiled, sitting down on the edge of her desk. He was wearing a blue fuzzy sweater with a teddy bear on it, the creation so clearly made by Katya, a clipboard in his hand.

“Thanks.” Violet bit her cheek, doing her best not to let the disappointment show on her face.

“I know it’s tough right now, not knowing where you stand, but remember. You’re most likely already in the collection somewhere.” Trixie’s voice was soft, which actually only made Violet feel worse, his compassion not at all what she needed. “While we’re waiting for placements and final feedback, I need you to focus on Holiday.”

“Yes.” Violet nodded. She only had one piece in the holiday collection, but she still had to do her best.

“Everything is happening Monday, and I hope you’re ready for it. I expect you to be there bright and early, getting to know how these things work will be crucial for your further career here.”

“Yes sir-” Violet cut herself off, the sir feeling all wrong. “You got it coach.”

[thran-duils]

Watch Me Burn (P.7)

Title: Watch Me Burn (Part Seven) Summary: Fem!Reader x AU!Cas. Fem!Reader x AU!Sam. This fic was inspired by both parts of “Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem & Rihanna. Castiel and the reader are toxic for each other and keep falling back together until the reader moved away. It’s been years and now she is back home, waltzing back into Castiel’s life. She is determined to do better this time, to make them work, but outside forces as well as the scars the two have left on each other weave their way into their reconciliation. Will they be able to overcome the past and new threats to their sustainability? Words: 3,076 Warnings (for the fic in entirety): Extreme angst, domestic violence, smut, unprotected sex, dom/sub dynamics, BDSM trust breaking, fluff, language, alcohol abuse, !!! eventual !!! happiness

Chap 6 || Chap 8 || Fanfic masterpost || Masterpost (mobile)

Sam walked in with Dean and you locked eyes only briefly before turning your gaze back to Castiel.

“He’s here. Longer hair,” you said quietly, barely audible above the music. Castiel threw a glance in his general direction and cocked an eyebrow. “I know, I know.”

“He’s coming,” Castiel warned you quietly, before saying at a normal volume to not arise suspicion, “This should be a fun night though for you guys.”

Suddenly, Sam was at your side. He had switched his jacket out for a button up cardigan over his dress shirt, his tie gone. It made him stick out in this bar, but you knew that was his attempt at dressing down.

“What are you ordering?” he asked you, leaning in close. You guessed he was purposely ignoring Castiel; he was good at making people feel invisible.

Castiel was staring at Sam, a piqued expression that only you would be able to recognize. It was not exactly a tight-lipped smile but close to it.

“Uh, I haven’t yet. I was just talking to Cas,” you said, gesturing at him standing opposite the bar.

Turning his attention to Castiel, Sam gave a nod of acknowledgment. “Sam,” he said, holding out his hand. “Worked with Y/N back in Austin.”

Castiel, thankfully, knew to play it cool. He reached out, taking Sam’s hand in turn, giving it a shake. The two of them held on a couple seconds longer than necessary, eyes piercing the other.

“I’ve heard,” was all Castiel said calmly in return.

You did not miss the slight raised brow Sam displayed at Castiel’s comment, no doubt wondering how much Castiel knew. He brushed the comment off quickly though.

“What are you going to order then, Y/N?”

“Probably a double whiskey with diet,” Castiel answered for you, throwing you a small smirk. He picked up the glass and went to work without waiting for you to confirm. It was your go to, that was correct. But you knew he was trying to prove a point to Sam by not even asking you. He knew you better, he wanted Sam to know that.

“Hmm. Whiskey,” Sam said surprised, rising his brows in surprise. “Far different than all the Paloma’s I’ve seen you down. Too many too count.”

Castiel snorted, drawing Sam’s attention. “What? Was she trying to get wasted? Y/N can’t handle her tequila very well.” He placed your whiskey in front of you.

Giving a small nervous laugh at their surreptitious shots at the other, you said, “Yeah, that’s true. But I paced myself.”

“Sometimes,” Sam quipped. You narrowed your eyes slightly at him and he chuckled. “Sorry. Right, you never got drunk. Ever.” He winked at Castiel across the bar. “I’ll take a Tom Collins.” You made a disgusted face and Sam chided you, “Yeah, yeah. I know. You hate gin.”

“Thanks,” Sam told Castiel. “I’ll see you at the table then, Y/N.”

Sam turned and left your side. When you met Castiel’s eyes again, he cocked a brow.

“I have a lot of questions,” he told you before walking off to take someone else’s order. You waited for him to return after a few minutes and cut in quickly.

“I know, I know. He’s pretentious.”

“You could say that again. What is he even wearing?”

You laughed a little and said, “That is him – and Dean, to be honest – trying to be casual. I can assure you.”

“So… not what I would expect from you.”

“There’s probably a reason why it didn’t work out.”

“I can think of a couple reasons, actually,” Castiel responded, throwing a glance over at where your coworkers were sitting.

Snorting, you nodded in agreement, “I know.” You took a drink of your whiskey and raised your glass half heartedly to him. “Here goes nothing. I can’t promise he will behave himself, but I’ll do my damndest to stay away.”

“Don’t think that’s possible with the seating arrangement at the table now. Looks like the only empty seat is next to him,” Castiel said sounding sour.

“Of course,” you muttered, turning around, and seeing what he said was true. You forced yourself to walk towards the table.

Playing it cool, you thanked Sam when he pulled the chair out from beside him to allow you to sit down.

“I ordered a couple of baskets of fries for the table and some deep-fried pickles,” Charlie informed you. “I told everyone that the burger is solid but if they are looking to be adventurous, that tater tot pizza is also good.”

“How much did you eat last time you were here?” Dean asked jokingly.

“Oh, shove it. I’ve been here a couple times with Y/N. It wasn’t all in one shot,” Charlie returned. “Thankfully, they live upstairs and I was able to crash on the couch one time! Don’t judge me, Tara, it was on a Friday!”

Tara held up her hands, “I wasn’t going to. I know you’re responsible.”

“Upstairs?” Sam questioned you.

You nodded, “Yeah. The floor above. It’s convenient.”

“Very,” Tara agreed and then asked, “But, do you not get sleep sometimes?”

“It’s fine most of the week. Fridays and Saturdays are a little wild, but I’m used to it. It’s nothing new. I’ll finally fall asleep in the early morning and can sleep in.”

“I would indulge so much in bar food, I would probably gain fifty pounds,” Charlie joked.

“Same,” your coworker Sahir agreed, raising his glass to which him and Charlie took a quick drink.

“I make sure that doesn’t happen. I meal plan,” you assured her. “It’s one thing I had to set right when I moved in. He was eating like absolute shit. I told him no one really likes quinoa, but his body will thank him.”

“Ew, gross,” Charlie said, her nose scrunching. “I hate quinoa.”

“It’s a power food, Charlie,” Sam told her.

“Don’t care.”

“I gotta agree with Sam and Y/N. Although, still with you, Charlie. I don’t like it but sometimes you gotta suck it up and play chess, not checkers, with your health,” Tara chimed in.

“Exactly!” Sam agreed. He turned his attention to you and asked, “You still on that 5 on, 2 off?”

He was referring to the exercise program you had been on while in Austin. One that he had strongly encouraged to get yourself in shape, something that was extremely personally important to him. You knew you could never be as fit or healthy as him and had tried to please him for a while.

Shrugging, you said, “More like… 3 to 4 on… maybe one of those days being yoga only. To keep flexibility.” Charlie snorted into her drink and you cocked your head. Sahir and Jennifer laughed as well and you demanded, “What?”

“Just… I make everything sexual,” Charlie laughed.

“Jesus, Charlie,” Tara said, but smirking despite herself.

Charlie apologized whilst laughing.

The food was delivered, more drinks, and even more jokes shared. Sam was leaning in close the whole time, his eyes roaming freely and Castiel was most certainly keeping an eye on you across the bar. You tried to stay straight up, not leaning yourself towards Sam while still maintaining a calm demeanor. Sam, outwardly, was not seeming to notice.

Your attention was drawn to the door as you saw Aspen walk in and you suppressed the urge to roll your eyes. All you needed tonight was her flaunting herself around Castiel when you were already high strung. You knew it was normal for her to go to the bar for a drink, but you knew it was Castiel she was aiming for.

Sam’s arm slipped around your shoulders, drawing your attention back.

<> <> <>

“Hey, Cas,” Aspen chirped, leaning on the bar.

Castiel greeted her and asked how she had been since he had not seen her since the first night Y/N had come back. He was not surprised considering the air in which she had left in.

Holding out her credit card, Aspen said, “My regular, I think, to start out.”

When she looked back was the moment Sam’s arm slipped around Y/N’s shoulders. He pulled her towards him, close in proximity. Aspen rose her brows in surprise and looked back at Castiel who was placing her drink down in front of her.

“Wow, uh, who’s with Y/N?”

Castiel’s gaze moved over to the table and his jaw tightened when he saw Sam’s arm around her. Y/N was forcing a smile as she spoke to him.

“Coworker,” Castiel answered tightly.

“Oh…” Aspen trailed off, throwing another look over her shoulder. “All of them coworkers?”

“Yes.”

“They close…?”

Castiel pierced her with a stare and said, “I’m assuming you want your tab open?”

Aspen switched gears, nodding. “Yep. I’ll be here awhile. Maureen agreed to drive me home… if need be.”

“How kind of her,” Castiel chuckled lightly, purposely ignoring her insinuation.

<> <> <>

“Remember when Larson fell down those stairs outside The Outlook?” Sam asked you, his fingers pressing into your shoulder.

“Unfortunately,” you answered, smiling, trying to keep yourself from jerking away from his embrace.

“You tried so hard to get him to stop drinking. I mean, we all did. But it did fuck all to stop it.”

“Was he injured?” Dean asked, raising his brows.

Sam laughed, “Surprisingly, no! I don’t know how he just tucked and rolled, like his body was reacting defensively even in his state. The man could barely order a new drink. And that’s when the bartender was like, ‘nope, no more’. And cut the whole group off because they were afraid someone else would order him a drink and give it to him. Ruined our whole night. Well, momentarily.”

You stiffened then. That night was the first night the two of you had hooked up. That was the sole reason he had brought it up.

“The night continued after that for the rest of us after we got his drunk ass to bed.”

You noticed Castiel approaching the table. Thinking he was going to table touch, you asked Charlie quickly, “You want a refill?”

“Duh,” she said and then noticed Castiel. “Oh, hey! Perfect! Can I get a refill?”

Castiel gave a curt laugh and said, “When I get back. I’m on break. Y/N? Wanna come outside with me?”

“Oh, yeah,” you said quickly. You saw Sam watching you out of the corner of your eye as you pushed your chair back, his arm leaving you, and grabbed your jacket. “Don’t you need your coat? It’s chilly.”

“I’ll grab it on the way out,” Castiel responded as you came up to him. His arm slipped around you, guiding you away from the table. His hand was tight on your waist, protective.

Castiel did not take you outside. Instead, he led you to the back room and you followed his lead, a weight pulling down inside. You knew he was not pleased with how he was acting. As soon as he closed the door behind the two of you and locked it, he turned to face you. Getting in your face, he did not miss a beat.

“He’s been laying his hands on you all night.”

Throwing your hands out in defeat, you said, “I’ve tried skirting away, Cas. I can’t do that too much without making a scene though.”

“You’re not trying hard enough.”

Your mouth fell open.

<> <> <>

“Charlie,” Maureen greeted approaching the table, two shots in hand as Tara, Sahir, and Jennifer went out for a smoke.

Charlie straightened up, a smile on her face. “Oh, hello! Maureen, right?”

Maureen nodded and said, “Just spotted you across the bar and thought I would pop by to say hi. We did have a good few rounds last time!”

Smirking, Charlie said, “I kind of remember.” This caused Maureen to laugh, as well as the other people at the table.

“I just thought I would bring this over for you. Rum, right?”

“Oh, yeah. You got that for me?” Charlie asked surprised.

Maureen nodded, “You bought me one last time and I did not reciprocate. I hold pretty strong convictions about that. Speaking of which, I saw Y/N and Cas leaving out the back. He’s not off work yet, is he? He still owes me a shot since someone spilled mine at last call last time I was here, and I won’t be able to cash in without him.”

Charlie shook her head, “No, he went on his break and asked Y/N to go with him.”

Maureen snorted, “I wouldn’t be surprised to see them come back flush.”

Sam’s jaw clenched ever so slightly.

“They always had their ways in the past.”

Charlie let out a laugh, “Oh, do tell.”

“Just leaving to go… relieve themselves.”

“Maybe we should not pry into our coworker’s business,” Sam advised Charlie sharply.

Charlie stumbled a little at his change in demeanor, “Oh… right.”

Maureen smirked at Sam and said, “It’s not quiet business in this bar. Castiel has owned this bar for years… him and Y/N are old news. Them being back together scared a lot of people. It was a nightmare half the time to be honest. But… they seem to have grown up. Sigh of relief there.”

Sam straightened up at this comment. “How do you mean?”

“Just drunken fights, a couple cop calls. Break up, break off. They were young and stupid. Can’t say I wasn’t the same myself.”

Charlie was the one now becoming uncomfortable for her friend. “Oh, well… I mean, the past is the past.”

“The past does inform the future,” Sam quipped, and Dean nodded in agreement.

<> <> <>

You snapped, “I told you what happened between us and where he stands in my company. He’s not just some… schmuck! He’s a junior partner!”

Shaking his head, Castiel said, “Junior partner or not…” He trailed off, beginning to walk forward, forcing you to go backwards. “He needs to know where you stand with me! You apparently need to be reminded too.”

Castiel turned you around in a swift movement and pushed you chest first into the wall, pinning an arm behind your back. You gasped his name, trying to look back at him but he kept you firmly in place.

“I am just reminding you who you belong to,” he growled into your ear.

Your breath shuddered, feeling his hands grasp the hem of your dress, yanking it up to your hips. Slipping his fingers into your underwear, he stroked your lips.

“I pay attention to you, Y/N. I treat you right,” Castiel breathed as he played with your sex. “I dote on you, angel. Don’t I?”

“Yes, sir,” you answered.

You keened as he worked you up, fingers slipping inside to caress you. You pressed back against him, begging for more. His grip tightened on your wrist, holding you more firmly in place and you stilled your movement, following his direction. You stood there, letting him rile you up, biting your lip.

“Look at you… so needy,” he said breathlessly. You could hear the want in his voice, feel his fingers move more freely, coated in your arousal. He leaned forward to be closer to your face. “Are you needy, angel?”

“Yes, sir. Only for you,” you told him obediently, giving him pleading eyes.

Castiel kissed your temple and praised, “I know, baby.”

Pulling away, his fingers left you to pull your underwear down and you kicked them off in tandem. His cock slid in easily in your wet folds. He sighed in content, his hands gripping your waist as he fully seated inside you.

“That’s my girl,” he purred.

His fingers dug in as he drove into you, taking you against the wall. You stayed sturdy, holding on. He drove up sharply into you again and you bit down on your cheeks.

Kissing up your neck, Castiel demanded, “You gonna do better for me? Let them know who you belong to?”

“Yes,” you said.

“Angel, don’t make me have to work harder for this,” he warned, his breath hot on your neck.

“Yes, sir.”

“Mhm, you’re not saying that with too much conviction. You’re too quiet,” He squeezed your nipple hard, causing you to keen loudly before burying your face into the wall, fingers digging in beside you. “We can do better than that, can’t we?”

His fingers closed in around your jawline, pulling your head to the side, you following his movement obediently. He wanted your mouth exposed, your noises to be heard.

You nodded quickly, saying louder, “Yes, sir!”

Castiel drove deep and quick, bouncing you against the wall. “I know you can do better. You’re so beautiful. I love hearing you scream for me.”

“I belong to you!” you declared, knowing damn well anyone walking outside the room could hear the two of you. He was jeopardizing his place of work for this. What rumors would fly of people being railed in rooms in the bar. “Fuck me, please! Let me cum!”

Castiel laughed, nipping at your ear. “Angel, you can’t help yourself, can you?”

His speed increased, his hand falling from your face to come to your nub, circling fervently. He praised you, laying sloppy kisses along the side of your head. You whimpered as you came undone beneath his hand, your legs shaking with your orgasm. Castiel held you upright, allowing him access to finish himself.

Panting, you settled against the wall, basking in the coolness of it against your hot skin. Castiel pulled away eventually, leaving you exposed behind. The cool air was welcome, and you continued resting to regain your grounding.

When you had the strength, you reached for a roll of paper towels to clean yourself up. And then pulled your underwear back up, straightening out your clothes.

Turning to face him, you found him looking well put together again, beside his hair. He was trying to tame it, running his hands through it.

He eyed you and informed you, “I’m not losing my temper with him because I know how much you love your job and how important it is to you.”

You took this in, nodding. He was telling you this for a reason. In the past, he would not have hesitated to make a scene without care for consequence.

Coming closer, he cupped your face, pulling you in for a long, deep kiss. “Now that we’ve got that out of our system… we ready to go back out there?”

~~~

CASTIEL FOREVER TAGS: @willowing-love @perseusandmedusa @greenappleeyes @afanofmanystuffs @earthtokace @shikaros-blog @marisayouass @splendidcas @stixnstripesworld 

[flannelpunkcalum]

Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat - Chapter 3

last chapter

cw: death but also there’s like a lil hot stuff in the middle to even it out? I realized when writing this chapter and the next one this is gonna be p dark but i guess Aspen got kidnapped and tortured last time so you guys will be fine. i saw a moose today. 

tdwk masterlist

ttlb masterlist

* * *

“I gotta come over for dinner more often.” Aspen said, spooning more spinach on her plate. Spinach. What the fuck was Alfred’s cooking doing to her? She never ate her vegetables. “Actually, I should have you guys over for dinner one of these days so you can truly appreciate what Mr. Pennyworth does for you. A terrible little palate cleanser.” 

“You flatter me, Ms. McMichael.” 

If Aspen didn’t know better, she’d say Alfred was blushing. They were all eating around the kitchen table, feasting on homemade turkey meatballs, spinach, brown rice, and sweet potato, all topped with some kind of sauce that she just wanted to bathe in. It was healthy, sure, but it was good. “I’m telling the truth. I feel like I’ve been trapped in a culinary version of Plato’s allegory of the cave, and I’ve finally left the shadows on the wall behind.” 

“High praise indeed.” 

“Indeed.” She grinned. 

“I think it’s good, too.” Dick piped up. If Aspen looked down, she could see his legs swinging under his chair. When she had come into the manor, he had immediately pulled her over to the kitchen, competing with her to scoop meatballs out of the pan while Alfred wasn’t looking. He’d used any time when he didn’t have his mouth full to tell her about his day at school. Calum hadn’t tried to pull her away; they both knew they could talk about the meeting in depth after dinner and before patrol. The looks he kept giving her out of the corner of his eye made her think he had noticed something was wrong, but for now, especially in front of Dick, they were leaving it be. Aspen was starting to really get attached to her new dysfunctional nuclear family. 

“Thank you, Master Grayson.” Alfred nodded. 

It was moments like this that Aspen regretted letting Calum into her heart. What if things went sour between them and she lost this? The good food, the company, Alfred’s buttoned-up love, Dick’s easy devotion. It was supposed to be better to have love and lost, she knew, but this was the first time she had felt like this in years. If Calum tried to ice her out, she’d lose a family on top of everything. She wanted to believe they were both too mature to let that happen, but sometimes she had trouble having faith in that. 

“Aspen?”

“Hmm?” She looked up to find all three of the boys staring at her. “Sorry, I zoned out.” 

“Dick was asking about how the meeting with the DA went today.” Calum said helpfully. Aspen could see mischief in his eyes - evidently, that bastard was proud of how long he had managed to weasel into her meeting. 

Aspen took a deep breath, collecting herself. “Well,” she said, “after a diplomatic compromise had been reached where your guardian would accompany me to the meeting to say hi, but not - not - insert himself into it, he of course went and did that anyways.”

Calum’s eyebrows furrowed like he was hurt. He wasn’t. She wasn’t going to fall for it - butter wouldn’t melt in his perfect mouth. “Finch invited me in. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

“I dunno how you’ve kept your identity a secret so long, you’re a terrible liar.” Aspen turned to Dick and Alfred, gesturing with her fork as she spoke. “He deliberately used language that would make Finch, who is already eager to please him based on status, feel socially required to invite him in. And then he was smug about it.” 

Cal ducked his head, smiling sheepishly. He liked being caught by her. “I wasn’t that smug.” He said to the rest of the table. 

The implicit confirmation of Aspen’s accusation didn’t go unnoticed by anyone, as far as she could tell. Good. 

“You were smug enough.” Aspen said to him before turning back to Dick. “But the rest of it went fine. We talked about the two trials. They’re probably gonna offer Liam a plea bargain to testify against Falcone, which I’m fine with. It’s whatever. I mean -” she said, realizing that that flippant language showed how much she was bothered, “- I don’t think he’d, like, try to kidnap me again, so it’s something I’m comfortable with.” 

“You look nervous.” Dick said. 

Fuck kids and their openness. Aspen was starting to think that Dick knew he was a cute young man, and was using his innocent look against her. “...I am a little nervous.” She said after a minute. Under the table, Calum’s hand found her knee and squeezed in support. She took a deep breath before continuing. “It’s still kinda fresh, and I found out that some stuff happened while I was knocked out today that I didn’t know about, which is fun to deal with. But from a logical point of view, I know that Liam’s unlikely to do anything criminal with Falcone out of the way, and our best chance to get Falcone out of the way is to use his testimony. So.” She sliced a meatball in half and stuck it in her mouth so she didn’t have to talk about it anymore. 

Calum’s hand left her knee as he leaned in towards her. Aspen mourned the loss of its warmth, but she knew with Dick around the gesture was really risky anyways. “What was it you found out? You didn’t mention anything.” 

Aspen took her time chewing and swallowing. “Um. It’s just - you know what, I’d rather not talk about it at the table. It’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, it’s just new, you know?” 

To her surprise, Dick nodded sagely. “I know.” 

“...I guess you all would, huh.” Aspen commented, surveying the table for a moment. There was probably no other group that would understand better than the one she found herself in. She was lucky. Group therapy with catering. “Thanks.” She said, and she meant it. 

“We’re all here for you, Ms. McMichael.” Alfred said, and affection in his voice made Aspen feel close to tears. 

“Alright, alright, don’t make me cry at the table.” Aspen finished the spinach on her plate and laid her cutlery on her plate with the handles together. “Gangin’ up on me, the whole Batfamily, not a merciful bone in your bodies. I don’t know why I bother to come by.” 

Alfred started to gather the plates, but as Aspen stood up to help Calum laid a hand on her arm, stopping her from reaching her water glass. “Come up to my office? I want to know what happened at the meeting after I left.” 

Aspen tried not to get evasive. She knew what that meant. “Sure.” She chirped, drawing her hand back. “Call me for dessert, alright?” She said to Dick as she followed Calum out of the kitchen. He saluted, which she paused in the doorway to return. 

“Aspen?”

“I’m coming.” She said, hurrying to catch up to Calum. Every so often he’d do his fast busy-CEO-with-places-to-be walk again, and she’d have to rush after him like it was her first day all over again. It was rarely a good sign. 

She didn’t try to talk to him on the way to his office. She just followed in his slipstream until the heavy oak door was closed behind them. Before she could sit down in one of the cushy leather armchairs, he grabbed her hand, spinning her around so she was facing him. He held one hand at her jaw and the other at her waist, so she couldn’t move, couldn’t even turn her face away from him. He was going to press her for details, now. Interrogate her. 

“You should have said something sooner.”

Wait, what?

Aspen met Calum’s eyes, startled out of her apprehension. He brushed his thumb over her cheekbone, looking at her...  tenderly. Was this a ruse? Good cop sans bad cop? “I didn’t realize you were that shaken back there.” He continued.

She flexed her shoulder in the tinitest shrug possible. “It didn’t need to get in the way.”

Calum tilted her face in his grip, and she let him. She didn’t struggle as he looked her over, like he was trying to see through her. She wanted to, but she didn’t. “It’s important to me that you feel safe. I could have ended the meeting, I could have gotten you out of there. That’s why I went in the first place, right? Not to bother you. To look after you.” 

Aspen blinked. She hadn’t really thought about it that way. “I didn’t need to end the meeting. I did fine. I mean, sure, I had my moments, but - that’s not important.” She smiled a little. “But thank you.” 

She tried to crane up for a kiss, but Calum’s grip was unyielding. What? “No. Don’t try to distract me. This is important.” He said sternly. 

She sighed, and with his tight grip on her she knew he could feel it. “No, come on, I’m vulnerable. Give me some creature comforts here.” 

“Soon.” Calum said, sliding his arm around her shoulders and tucking her into his side. 

He lead her towards the couch, and once she sat down he adjusted her so her head was resting on his shoulder. “Bossy.” Aspen squirmed, but he only kissed her forehead in response. 

“Tell me about it.” 

Aspen took a deep breath. Exactly what was she gonna say? She could stall by willfully misinterpreting him, that was a start. “Well, I’m gonna be very generous and not wax poetic on you being a control freak, and a-”

“Quit stalling.”

“Fine.” She sighed. Might as well rip off the band-aid. “I didn’t know that Liam had put me in his trunk. I didn’t really think about the logistics of him driving me at all, but I just - learning that he just shoved me in the trunk kind of shook me for a second. So that wasn’t great.” Wait. Maybe she should have resisted his interrogation further. He was the one who had brought that up, not Finch, and realizing that - he’d probably feel like shit. “Like I said, it wasn’t a big deal.” 

This time, it was Aspen who could feel Calum sigh. “I forget you never watched the footage.” He said, by way of apology. 

“It’s fine. I’m especially glad I didn’t, now, but…” Aspen tried to laugh, but Calum didn’t budge. “I got through it fine, I really did. It was just hard to think about for a minute.” 

Calum turned his head to kiss her forehead again. She politely did not take this opportunity to jump his bones and distract him. “I have something else you’ll probably want to know, but you’re not gonna like it.” He didn’t even shift nervously under her, but she could feel tension in him grow. “It’s not that bad.” She said to soothe him. 

Calum laughed at that. “Whenever you say that, I get really nervous.” 

“Fuck off.” She said,but she was smiling bravely. At least they weren’t so distressed now. “You can’t, like, go on the warpath about this, okay?”

“Tell me.” 

Aspen braced herself. “After you left, Finch asked me to go to Blackgate and try to convince Liam to take the plea.” 

Calum didn’t move. 

That was worse than him sighing. Aspen twisted in his grip until he let go of her enough to let her turn sideways and pull herself into his lap, like a heroine on the cover of a romance novel. “I said no, of course, and I told him I wouldn’t tattle so you can’t go ballistic on him the next time you see him, alright?” 

He shook his head. He wasn’t looking at her, now, eyes focused sharp like he was going to set a lampshade on fire with his glare. “I should have stayed.” 

“No, you shouldn’t have. It’s his job to ask, Cal, and this way we know something about him we wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Calum was shifting now, like he was gonna get up and head after Finch right this second. “That he’s a rat bastard who doesn’t deserve to -”

“No, that he’ll do anything to get Falcone charged.” Aspen said. It was her turn to grab his face and make him look at her. His jaw felt like it was throbbing in her hands. “He goes after the big dogs. Maybe he’s a bit, um, obtuse about it, but we can use that.” 

She was right. Calum had to admit that. But now he was avoiding her gaze. She hadn’t seen him mad like that since… one of her stupid escapades, maybe. Somehow it was worse, seeing him all worked up over someone else. 

“I know it’s frustrating to not be able to do anything about it.” She said after a long moment of his silence. “But hey, on the plus side, I’m not lying to you about it.”

Calum snorted despite himself. “I would have found it out.” 

Aspen smiled, and pressed a kiss to his still lips. “No, you wouldn’t have.” 

He didn’t smile back against her lips, but he did bring a hand up to cradle her face. “I wanted to be there so you’d feel comfortable, so this would’t -” He cut himself off, looking at her as softly as he could manage. “Now would be a good time for you to try that distracting thing you do.” 

She could work with that. 

Aspen pushed on his shoulders, and for once Calum fell back easily, twisting so he was lying flat on the couch. She straddled his lap, taking a moment to look at him. On a whim, she tried reaching out and smoothing the wrinkle in his forehead. “You worry about me too much.” She said. 

“I worry about you just enough. Now come on,” he almost whined, reaching up for the back of her head, “get down here.” 

Her lips were on his before his hand could tangle in her hair, and for the third time that day, Aspen kissed him like she wasn’t his secret and they had all the time in the world. He brought his other hand down to her waist, dangerously low, and for a second she wondered if they had time. If they could fall apart together on this leather couch before dessert. They didn’t have the time, she knew that, but with the feeling of his lips on hers and the soft glide of their tongues she almost didn’t care. 

Calum sighed and shifted underneath her, and she lifted one hand from where it was supporting her to cup his face and direct the kiss a little more. Yeah, he was gonna break it off eventually, but she was going to make it as hard for him as possible. In fact… Aspen rocked gently on her knees, drawing herself over Calum’s groin, whimpering into his mouth just a little so he’d know how much she wanted him. Calum moved fast, grabbing her hips with both hands tight enough that she couldn’t do it again. “Don’t,” he warned. “We don’t have time.” 

Aspen made another little sound and rested her forehead against his, relaxing in his grip. Calum didn’t budge. Damn, he saw right through her ruse. “Jus’ wanna feel you,” she whined. 

“So feel me here.” He craned up to kiss her. 

“It’s not enough.” 

Calum sighed so big she could feel his chest rise against hers, then moved his hands to pull her in. One travelled back to the back of her neck, pushing her to nestle her face in the crook of his neck. “We’ll figure something out eventually,” He said. He was so close he only needed to flex his lips to kiss her neck. “But just this for now, okay?” 

“You know you’re only building the anticipation.” Aspen grumbled, squirming a little in his grip until she slipped down on one side of him. Her leg was thrown over his, and if she had been desperate she could have bucked her hips to taste a little friction that way. She wasn’t desperate, though. Not so much, not yet. “It’d be better to let it out in a controlled setting.” She grazed her fingers along his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin under his shirt. “I know you like to be in control.”

Calum caught her hand in one of his, holding it tight enough Aspen barely tried to tug it free before she gave up. “Why don’t you ever behave, then?” 

Aspen kissed his cheek. “You gotta earn it.” 

With that, she rolled away and stood up, leaving Calum on the couch. It was getting dark out now, and she used her reflection in the window to brush her hair back into place. In the slight warping of the glass, she could see Calum stand up behind her and make his way over, wrapping his arms around her waist to hug him into her. 

“Oh, you really are distracted.” 

Calum laughed a little, meeting her eyes in their reflection. “Can you blame me?” He cuddled her closer, and for once Aspen didn’t try to rub herself up against him. She could feel him pressing into her ass, hard enough to feel through their clothes. “You have no idea how much I want to bend you over my desk right now.” He continued, voice dropping low. “You’d be quiet for me, wouldn’t you, baby?” 

Aspen pulled herself out of his grip, face warm, and wheeled around to face him. He was smug, again, smirking back at her as she tried to regain her composure. This wasn’t fair. “Who’s teasing now?”

“I guess you’re rubbing off on me.” Calum grinned. 

“You - fuck off.” She tried to tuck her shirt in, although it hadn’t been before - she needed something to do with her hands. “I would be rubbing off on you right now if you weren’t such a fucking spoilsport.” She grumbled. 

Calum grabbed her hand and squeezed it once before letting it fall back to her side. “Let’s go downstairs, Penny. Dessert’s probably waiting.” 

“Coulda had dessert up here, but no, Calum wants his fuckin’ souffle.” 

He was still pleased with himself behind her, she could hear it in his voice when he said “Call it payback.” 

“For what?” 

As she opened the door, he pulled the knob from her hand so he could hold it for her, and maybe fix himself behind it. “Everything.” 

Aspen laughed, and she was still laughing when she caught sight of Dick coming down the hall. Fuck. She didn’t try to rein her laughter in, that would have just looked suspicious, so she just asked “Is dessert ready?” to signal to Calum that they had an audience. 

“Just about.” Dick said. He waited for them to reach him before they all started down the hall together. Even though she was a little miffed that she couldn’t keep flirting brazenly with Calum, it was nice to have all three of them walking down the hallway, almost like they were in slow motion. Almost like they were a family. Not that she was ready to be a mom to Dick, or anything - fuck, he’d been through enough, she didn’t need to inflict herself on him. 

But she’d stay as long as they asked her to. 

* * *

“I can’t believe you’re allowed to be up this late on a school night.” Aspen grumbled from her place at the control panel. 

“I’ve got all As.” Dick said evenly into his hot chocolate. 

“Yeah, well, when I was your age I had A bedtime.” Dick didn’t reply to that, and it took Aspen all of fifteen seconds of him giving her that serene yet challenging look he did for her to cave. He had almost definitely learned it from Calum. “I’m just fussing because I would have loved to do this when I was your age. I’m, like, retroactively jealous.” 

“Sure.”

Aspen pretended to glare at Dick, which finally got him to crack a smile and break his own facade. “You have whipped cream on your nose.” She lied, just to make him check. 

“Are you two playing nice in there?” 

Calum’s voice came through the comms they both wore, making them both sit up a little more in their chairs. When he was out on patrols, he had the option to tune into their channel or not, as he saw fit. They had the same option back at the cave, but they never really turned his feed down unless he was, like, eating a granola bar on a safe rooftop somewhere. Aspen knew she was powerless if things went sideways, of course, but it made her feel a little bit better. 

“Always.” Aspen said, at the same time that Dick said “No.”

Calum huffed a little under his breath. That was as close as he got to a laugh on these nights. “Alright.” They heard wind brushing past the mouthpiece, a tiny grunt as he settled on some surface. “‘S quiet tonight.”

“Too quiet?” Aspen asked, looking at the little red dot showing where he was in the city. 

“No. Like the last few nights.”

“Do you think it’s because Falcone’s in jail?” Dick pipped up. 

Calum took his sweet time answering. “That, or something’s coming.” 

Aspen rolled her chair over to the police scanner and turned it up a little. She didn’t want to think about that. She was sure she’d be able to handle whatever came her way, and Calum was too, or else she wouldn’t be allowed down here. She poked her tongue into the inside of her cheek, a nervous tick she’d developed when she was getting used to her scar healing on that side. 

She could handle a lot. She just had to remember that. 

“You could go break up a brawl at Amsterdarn.” She suggested after a moment of listening through the static. 

Calum snorted. 

Aspen didn’t blame him. Amsterdarn was one of those flashy mixology bars, which she could only assume was full of designer party drugs and weird things to smoke. Right now, Venom was more of a cheap, dangerous fix for those with nowhere else to turn, so there was nothing there to interest him. Just trust fund kids getting scrappy and giving each other bloody noses. 

As opposed to her trust fund kid, who did almost the same thing but in body armour. 

Whatever. If the GCPD couldn’t handle some rowdy financial analysts, they didn’t deserve to have the Batman risking his neck against the supercriminals out there. 

“I’m going to use this time to monitor a few active targets I’ve had my eye on.” Calum said finally. 

“Man, I’m sorry I’m stuck back here.” Aspen deadpanned. 

Dick laughed, but tried not to. “I’m glad to be here. I’m learning.” 

“Yeah, yeah, boy wonder.” She rolled her eyes. 

“It’s late.” Calum interrupted. “You should go home.”

Aspen had been thinking about it, but now that he had said that she was staying. “I’ll be fine. I only really need to be awake for an hour or two tomorrow, anyways, the only important thing I have planned is that meeting with the hospital.” 

“Oh, no big deal, then.”

“It’s a school night, you can’t talk to me.” Aspen fired back to Dick, and pretended to listen to the police scanner again. Maybe she should make gels tonight. Keep herself busy. She hadn’t had much need to run any DNA analysis gels, other than doing a few test runs and cute science experiments with Dick, but it would be good to be prepared. Shouldn’t make Gotham’s Caped Crusader wait on agar to harden. 

That was pretty much how the night went. Aspen made agar gels to keep herself awake, and Dick drank hot chocolate and monitored the console just in case. After an hour or two of listening to Calum breathe in her ear she looked up and realized the kid had fallen asleep, so she took a moment to go off coms and shepherd him into bed. She wasn’t sure if Alfred was awake or not, but she did feel confident that he’d appear if anything did go sideways so she didn’t mind looking after the cave herself. Just her and the bats, and she liked the bats. 

It was late - one? Two? When the call came through. Well, not call. Calum just said, very suddenly, after an hour of comfortable silence - “Did you hear that?” 

“Hear what?” Aspen’s stomach twisted. 

“Police scanner,” was all Calum said, and Aspen set her erlenmeyer down to hurry over to the little radio box. 

“...car 62-4, could we get a 10-9? Over.”

“10-100 near pier 72 at Port Adams, over.”

“Car 57-2, we’re about eight minutes away, over.”

“10-4 57-2, forensics is on its way. Over and out.” 

Aspen hadn’t memorized the police codes yet. She had a cheat sheet nearby - somewhere - fuck, she couldn’t find it. “What does that mean?” It wasn’t a shooting, it wasn’t a psych patient, a riot was a 10-34… 

“It’s a dead body.” 

Aspen bit her bottom lip. “Oh.” 

“I’m going to check it out. Might be able to get some good information before the CSI team tramples all over it.” 

Now was not the time for Aspen to argue with Calum over his disrespect of her (unknowing) colleagues, so she just nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. She knew a lot of trade went in and out of Port Adams every day, and a lot of it was underground. Cal was probably hoping this body would help him crack into a smuggling ring somehow, and she knew he loved racing the cops on almost every occasion. Aspen was still just getting used to responding to that kind of thing. 

Calum got there first, she could tell from the blip on the screen and his little pant of triumph as it got closer to the docks. “I see it. I’m setting the cowl to photography mode.” He said. 

“Sounds good.” Aspen said, like she was excited to look at pictures of a corpse.

“I’ll upload them to you as I - oh, no. Is he there?” 

Aspen’s stomach twisted. They didn’t use names on the comm, but she knew who he meant. If he didn’t want Dick to see the body, it must have been bad. “No, he went to bed.”

She heard Calum let out a long slow breath. “Good.” Another pause. “Shit.”

Aspen could hear sirens now through Calum’s mic. He had to get out of there before the Bat became a suspect, but before she could remind him the first of the photos uploaded to the console in the Batcave. It was dark, but her eyes didn’t even need a minute to adjust before it hit her like ice cold water - “Oh my god.”

She was a child. 

[charlottewilde]

Lunch Time | Mike & Charlotte

who: mike chang jr. & charlotte wilde @ofrestlessheartsx

when: february 9th, 2021

where: devereux academy campus green

what: mike and charlotte enjoy lunch and talk about le future

warnings: n/a

The weather was perfect to show off the place she ate basically every day, sometimes even when it was raining. She was glad she was getting a chance to see Mike at least once this week, besides their runs. Her ass was still sore from her other night's orders with Aspen and she had worn a pair of sweatpants for the second day in a row, which was uncharacteristic of her. Holding on to both lunchboxes, she had been learning skills in her domestic class that made her excited to make Mike lunch. She wanted to show off her cooking skills with the nice salmon risotto and of course some fruits and vegetables for him as well as a few cookies. She had started baking for Valentine's Day and was determined to give all her friends treats, including Mike.

Mike had let Charlie tell him when to meet her for lunch, not really caring where they ate, just looking forward to spending the lunch time with her. It was important to him that she recognize that he still wanted to spend time with her. He hoped that those words had sunk in when they were last together, but continuing to hang out with her, he supposed, would be the best way to convince her that he was telling her the truth. When he saw the blonde, he offered her a smile. "Hey." She sat herself down in the grass, biting back a whimper as she leaned up against the tree, hearing Mike her eyes turned to look in his direction, "Hi Sir!" She waved, excited to see him as if she hadn't seen him on their run this morning. She extended the lunchbox towards him, "How's your day been so far?" He dropped down onto the ground next to the blonde and he smiled. "It's been going pretty well, Charlie. I can't complain too much. Not looking forward to the punishment I have to give tonight but at the very least it shouldn't end up being too much." Mike mused. "How about you? How have you been enjoying your day?" Frowning a bit at the mention of the punishment, she shook her head a bit, "I'm sorry again  that you have to do that Sir, but I'm glad that it sounds like it won't be too bad." Charlie gave a small smile and nodded, "Today's been good," she shared as she looked over towards him for a few moments before unzipping the lunch bag and pulling out the tupperware that matched the ones she had packed for him. "It's alright. As a Dominant it's something that I need to do when things go wrong. We'll do the punishment this afternoon and then we'll let it go and hopefully move forward on a better note." Mike explained, smiling when Charlie said that her day had been pretty great. "I'm glad it's been a good day. Classes going alright?" He watched as she opened the lunch box, quirking an eyebrow. "What did you make for me?" She gave a soft hum of understanding, criss-crossing her legs trying her best not to wince as she does so. "Yeah, I've never like had a punishment punishment before, I think that would be the hardest part for me. The moving forward part." Charlotte shares, hoping she wasn't talking too much about the subject for him. Her expression changed to excitement with his question, "Well Sir, we've got some salmon risotto, some cucumbers and grapes in the shapes of little hearts because I just got food cutters. Aaaand an inside look on my cookie baking for Valentine's Day!" "Well, the important thing when it comes to a punishment is knowing that it's done so that you can move forward on a fresh note. Being punished is meant to wipe the slate clean. So while I get that punishments can be difficult, it's good to remember what they're used for." Mike expressed, not wanting her to be afraid of punishment. "That sounds delicious, Charlie. Thank you for putting all of this together." Listening to the experienced Dom, she gave a nod, "I guess I never really thought of it that way, Sir. I always just felt like I would be disappointing and then that maybe the person wouldn't look at me the same way." Charlotte was glad that he thought it sounded it good, she smiled, "Well I hope you think it tastes good too, Sir!" She exclaimed as she hands him utensils and napkins. She places the container in her lap and starts to eat. Mike chuckled and leaned back against the tree. "Well, then I guess I should find out." Once everything was set up, he dug into the risotto and took a bite. He groaned softly at the taste and nodded his head in approval. "That is so good, Charlie. And I'm definitely going to need you to cook for me more often." Mike teased, winking at the submissive before taking another bite. She looked at him expectantly, as she chewed, smiling as the small noise left his lips, this time not from sex but from her cooking. Charlotte finished her bite and looked at him proudly, "Thank you Sir! My dad's submissive Rebecca sent me the recipe to try out!" She let out a soft laugh at his suggestion and gave a small shrug, "I don't mind at all Sir!" He grinned when Charlotte said that she wouldn't mind cooking for him more, going back to the meal that she had made for him. He was super hungry and everything in front of him just looked so good. This lunch period would definitely be called a success. Not only because of the meal but also because of the company. "Any plans for tonight?" The small clinking and clanking of their utensils and then the silence while they chewed was fine with her, she enjoyed just sitting here with her friend just as much talking with him. Charlotte looked towards him, perking up a bit as he spoke. "Mhm," she said, finishing the bite she was on for sharing, "Yeah, I'm under Booker's orders tonight." She had had a serious discussion with Booker the day before, and she was wondering how that might affect the orders he held on her tonight. Mike hummed softly when Charlie said that she had orders that night, nodding his head in response. "Well I hope that the orders go well, Charlie, and that you have fun." He offered, reaching out to squeeze her leg softly before he focused back on the food. If Charlie wanted to talk more about her orders or anything of the like, he expected that she would broach it with him. And if not, he was happy to leave it at that. She smiled over at him as she heard his hopes for her, "Thanks, Sir," she said cheerfully, feeling his touch for a moment, she smiled. Charlotte looked at him for a moment, wondering if he was comfortable with her talking about it. She didn't see why he wouldn't be, since Mike was her friend, but he was also a Dominant and she also didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable. "What's up on your schedule for the week? Any scenes you're excited about, Sir?"

Mike shrugged his shoulders slightly at the question. "I have a scene with Marisol that I'm sure will be fun. And I also have a scene planned with Bobbi as well which should be a good time." Mike mused, offering her a slight smile. "Do you have more scenes than just tonight?" He asked, wondering how busy Charlie was with the next few days.

Listening to Mike, she gave a nod letting out a soft hum, "Yeah, I had a class with Marisol last semester. I'm sure! It's her third year, so I'm sure that y'know she must be advanced and everything." Charlotte wasn't sure what she was even saying, the words sounding awkward as found herself blushing, deciding to focus on Bobbi. "Ah yes, my hero, Booby." She laughed in her drunk nickname for the girl. Shaking her head a bit, the blonde shares, "I have orders with Queen Max on Thursday, but that's not a scene. I kinda just thought it best to take it slow this week since I've kinda like done five scenes already this month."

"Marisol is stubborn, but she's fun, and I would say she's one of the best friends that I've made at this school. Even if I think her entire existence is contingent around driving me a little bit insane." He said with a soft laugh and a shake of his head. "Bobbi has proven to be quite fun herself so I'm looking forward to some more time with her." He informed the blonde."You have been fairly busy with scenes so I'm glad that you're taking it easy and finding time to relax. That's always really important." Mike explained, nodding his head.

She laughed a bit at his comments about his friend, giving a nod, "That's good, it's important to have people you can trust. Tell them the things you may not want to tell everyone." Charlotte said, thinking about who she thought her closest friends were here. But was brought back to the topic and gave a nod, "Yeah? She's really cool, I have class with her, and she kinda stood up for me awhile ago which I really appreciated it." The submissive gave a small shrug at his comment. "I would say that's pretty accurate, Sir. I just...didn't do scenes for well...a little too long and I guess I just forgot about the reasoning I'm here for a bit," she admits, a bit embarrassed by that fact.

"I agree. That is really important. And I'm glad she stood up for you. That's really good of her." Mike mused. "You don't have to be embarrassed, Charlie. Everyone learns and grows at their own pace. I'm a third year Dominant with no claim in sight. And you best believe that my father is extremely disappointed in me. But this isn't his life. It's mine. And things will happen when they're meant to happen." He assured her, shrugging his shoulders. "I have put a lot of pressure on myself throughout my life. And being here helped me realize that too much pressure, it doesn't always have a positive influence on you."

Nodding she added, "Yeah, and like she didn't even really know me so much when she did that." Charlotte heard what he had to say, feeling validated by his affirmations and also surprised by his vulnerability with her. Sure, she had cried in front of him, eaten far too much junk food in front of him, said some honest things, but Mike seemed so perfect to hear that anyone could be disappointed in him hurt to hear. "Sir, if I need to talk to Sir Mike Chang Sr. and affirm what a upstanding good Dominant his son is, then I will absolutely do that." She said placing a hand up before repeating, "Scout's honor." But then she looked at him seriously, "I think any person who would get to be your submissive would be very lucky. And you deserve the best of the best. But I'm glad you don't feel the pressure from others anymore, Sir. You exceed all expectations."

"You don't need to do that. I wouldn't want you to do that. My father has expectations that I don't meet. He has expectations that I've never met. And I don't think that anything is going to change his mind. But that's not anyone's fault but his own. And at this point in my life I'm focusing on what I need and what I want. And what the needs and wants of my future submissive will be." Mike said firmly, these being things that he had had to work through but that he had come to terms with. "You're sweet for saying those things though, Charlie. Thank you. And I assure you that any Dominant you end up with will be extremely lucky."

Charlotte frowned in response to his words, "I'm glad you're able to see it that way, Sir. Because it certainly is not your fault. And those are important focuses. Sometimes parents forget that just because they owned our bodies for 18 years, does not mean as a grown adult they no longer own us. We are our own people now." She said as she watched him for a moment, "Do you want only one submissive, Sir?" She asked, hoping that wasn't too intrusive. Feeling a blush form on her cheeks, feeling herself need to look away to gain her composure again. "I'm being honest, Sir. Not just trying to be sweet. And thank you as well." She says, trying to tell herself that the person she would be with would be lucky.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. Right now I think that I'm mostly just leaving things up to whatever's going to happen. I'm open to finding one submissive and settling down with them. But I'm also open to finding two submissives. Or finding a Dominant who also has a submissive and combining families. I'm not sure what will happen. Or when it will happen." Mike mused, finishing up the risotto. "I think in any of those options I could be happy." He glanced over at Charlie. "Have you thought about what sort of situation you would be most happy in?"

She smiled, liking his response, something she certainly agreed with wholeheartedly. Charlotte gave a small shrug, "I guess I grew up in a different type of household than what a lot of people are used to. My mom and dad are both Dominants with their own submissives. I think at the end of the day I would want to be with someone or people who want to be with me not just because of me being a good submissive in scenes, but that they would love me for me in whatever capacity that might mean." Charlie felt naive in a lot of ways in her hopefulness, but she felt comfortable sharing that with Mike. Never having been loved by anyone other than her family, she wasn't sure whether or not she would ever find that.

Mike listened to the words that she spoke, nodding his head in understanding. "I think it's just important to find the right person or people that will be able to help influence your life in a positive manner." He wasn't sure about his thoughts on soulmates and he certainly didn't think that there was one perfect person out there for him that was meant for him. In his opinion, whatever relationship he ended up in would require work. And it was that willingness to work and compromise together that would ensure a happy ever after.

"I think you also just...when you know, you know. And maybe sometimes in other times you thought you knew and realized afterwards that maybe you didn't, but then you grow from that. I don't think it's fair to be scared of letting your experience how you're feeling in that moment. I think if you live being scared then you never fully enjoy things." Charlotte realized she probably sounded vague, but she was also getting back into a headspace of being someone's submissive some day, not someone's significant other. "It's like cliche to say, but when one door closes, you gotta be ready to like let another one open." She always leaned on the side of optimism, and she wasn't sure that would ever change in her.

[fortheloveoffanfic]

At Twelve

John Wick x Reader (A/n- Felt like I’ve been neglecting our favorite assassin, so here’s this! And happy New Year! Here’s to hoping the 2020 brings everyone health, prosperity and great opportunities)

New York and the holiday season always seemed to have an unspoken connection. Between the parades, several tree-lighting events, the snow and the all round atmosphere, it was the perfect place to spend Christmas. Similarly, it was also a great place to spend New Year’s Eve; some would dare to take boats out for parties, clubs and restaurants came to life with savvy events and of course, there was the most anticipated one of all; the dropping of the ball in Times Square. Needless to say, if one wanted to spend the last month of the year having a wintery good time, New York was the place to be.

Coincidently, New York also happened to be home to two people who often wanted nothing to do with all the holiday cheer. None other than John Wick and Y/n. While it may have been John’s hardened demeanor that had long ago made it him disinterested in the holidays, for Y/n it was something a little closer to home; she had spent much of her short adult life alone, bitter with a family that had turned her into something that she wasn’t sure she wanted to be and thus, seeing everyone else excited about spending the season with their own families always struck a nerve.

“Where’s your bourbon?” John asked, from the kitchen, breaking Y/n out of her thoughts.

“Liquor cabinet, top shelf, bring the tequila while you’re at it,” she yelled back from her spot of the large white sofa, her hands gently stroking the head of John’s dog. It was so rare for them to both to have time off, far less to have it simultaneously, which was why spending the night together seemed fitting. That in addition to the fact that they were both otherwise alone, Y/n had not spoken to her parents; two of the most lethal criminals in the world since she was sixteen, nor did she ever have time date around and John hadn’t found someone since his wife had passed years before. So, when John asked Y/n if she’d be willing to ditch the Continental’s New Years Eve party for the third year in a row to hang out, just two close friends getting drunk and probably watching old movies together, pretending that it was just a regular night, Y/n readily obliged. 

Y/n’s desolate abode sat near a lake in a quite, posh community just outside the city. The view from her backyard was spectacular, and normally, when it was her turn to host their dinners for two, they’d keep each other company out there, but considering the chill of the season, that night they were confined to her elegantly dressed living room. “We should do something,” John declared, resigning to the spot next to Y/n, slouching down into the cushions as he handed over a glass along with the tequila. Y/n would never admit it out loud, preferring that most of her feelings were kept under warps, but she liked seeing John like that. Relaxed, and at ease, when he wasn’t dressed in an intimidating suit but worn jeans and a casual sweater, when he’d offer her a rare, subtle smile and let his guard down. They were two things he only did around her and the same could easily be said about Y/n.

“How much of that did you drink in the kitchen?” Y/n cocked an eyebrow, pouring herself a drink, barely wincing when she did a shot without chaser or lime. 

“None,” John reared back, scoffing and when Y/n gave him a knowing stare, he corrected, “One, finding the tequila took a while,” he explained and Y/n rolled her eyes. “Come on, I’m serious.”

“About?” She feigned confusion. 

“Doing something, tonight. For the past three years, all we do is sit inside, watch T.V and get drunk,” John sipped his drink coolly, observing Y/n’s disinterest in the whole idea of leaving the comfort of her home. “We should change things up this year,” John continued.

“Why would we do that?” Y/n shook her head, “We can do the same things they do out there,” she gestured to the window in making her point, “In here; drink, listen to music and whatever else.” 

“It might be nice,” John defended. Growing up an orphan at the Ruska Roma had never really offered much on holidays conventionally spent with family, no cozy dinners shared around a family table or vacations taken with loved ones, nothing. John had heard snippets of Y/n’s childhood though, growing up in a family of criminals might not have been ideal, but he had heard one or two stories about how she used to be close to her father and the things her mother had taught her before they had sent her to the Ruska Roma at the tender age of fifteen. “Didn’t you celebrate with your family?”

Y/n sighed loudly, leaning her head on the back of the couch. John was right, before everything changed, when she was a kid, they did celebrate. It was the one month of the year where they’d be a normal family; her mother taught her things in the kitchen and on New Years Eve, they’d travel to their vacation home in Aspen, spending the week together before getting back to business. Even if it was long gone, and the memories usually only served to be more bitter than sweet, looking at John, knowing that he had been deprived of so much was paining. His one shot at the life he craved had been buried six feet under and now he, as he’d often remind her, Y/n and Dog was all he had left. Finishing of her third or fourth drink, Y/n stood abruptly, stalking off without a word, “ Where are you going?” 

“To get ready. There’s gonna be traffic everywhere, and people are usually disgusting, but there’s a nice restaurant near the edge of Manhattan. Its hard to get a reservation,” Y/n sighed heavily, pretending that the act of doing something nice for John wasn’t something she wanted, “But I know the owner so I’ll give him a call and see what I can do.”

In return, just before she left the room, Y/n was privy to one of his rare smiles as a silent thanks, and walking up the stairs, she had to pretend that it didn’t do much to warm her icy heart.

About two hours later, John and Y/n had finally broken from the thick traffic, parking on the curb. Arm in arm, looking more like a couple than close friends, they walked to rest of the way to the restaurant. Over her simple back mini dress, which had been paired with a velvety pair of heeled boots, Y/n used a stylish leather jacket with a woolen inside to break the chill while John had only been given the opportunity to throw his own thick leather jacket over his sweater, though Y/n still thought he looked better than most of the men she had ever met.

“The place is just up here,” Y/n pointed to the end of the block as they weaved through the mass of pedestrians.

“What did you friend say?” John inquired for the sake of making more conversation. The times he spent with Y/n was usually the only time he actually wanted to trade brooding for talking.

Y/n shook her head as they neared a set of glass double doors, “He’s not my friend. I said that I know him. He owes me a favor, or a few, unless he wants to go to jail.” John pushed the door open, letting her in first and then they joined the line to the hostess.

“Blackmail?” He probed, intrigued, it was dirty play for something as frivolous as a reservation, but John didn’t think that Y/n was above it.

“I prefer bartering,” she emphasized with a proud smirk, “His freedom for whatever the hell I want.”

John chuckled quietly, shaking his head, she really was something. As they moved up in the line, neither of them noticed that their hands had remained joined at the elbows, but the closeness was comforting, they always felt safest together. When they finally reached the hostess, a young girl dressed in black, Y/n gave her name and the woman scanned her tablet, her eyes lighting up when she found their last minute reservation, “Miss Y/l/n, right this way,” quickly, another young girl stepped into her place as the hostess started leading them through the restaurant, “I think you and your husband will love what they managed to string together.”

Y/n chortled in disbelief, ignoring the disappointment that settled in her chest as she debunked her assumption, “Oh he’s not my husband. We’re just friends.”

“Yupp,” John sighed awkwardly, combating his own despondence with their plutonic status, “Just friends.”

Anyone form a mile away could see what buzzed between the two, the stares that were a little to long to not mean something and the touches that sometimes crossed the line of intimacy. They way John looked at her when her face was turned away or the way Y/n would cling to his arm when they were in a crowd as her way of making sure they stayed together. 

“Oh,” the hostess faltered, “Sorry I just assumed that.....” she shook her head trailing off, leading them up a set of stairs hidden in a room tucked away at the corner of the establishment, just behind a plain wooden door. The staircase ran up a wide corridor and led to another door, that one cool grey metal, which subsequently led to the rooftop. Half of it had been enclosed to facilitate an indoor longue while the other half was left open, presumably a fun spot during warmer months. “Here is it,” she led them through a set of French doors that had fogged up a result of the internal heat and coldness outside.

The lights of the small lounge had been turned down to the lowest setting with twinkling fairy lights hanging over curtained windows adding to the mood. Save for the one central to the red carpeted room, all the other tables were free of settings and patrons. The small bar at the furthest corner of the room looked open but there was no one manning it and the same went for the mini buffet, equipped with options for a main course along with several others for appetizers and deserts, “We’re packed tonight,” the woman explained shortly, “I mean, you’re lucky you managed to swing this place. But we don’t have enough to staff up here, so it’s gonna have to be self-service.”

“That’s fine,” John and Y/n agreed. Arguably, it was better that having waiters buzzing in and out; just John and Y/n alone in each others company. When she left, Y/n turned to John, “I know you said you wanted to do something, and I know this isn’t exactly a concert in Times Square, but-”

“It’s perfect,” John smiled, a little wider than he usually did and Y/n felt her insides warm up a bit. 

“Are you sure, cause I’m not sure it counts as ‘going out’ if its just the two of us,” slowly the strolled to the bar, collecting a chilled bottle of wine. With a resounding pop, John had the bottle open and poured them a couple glasses.

“You know,” he began as they surveyed the food, Y/n trying one of the bite-sized appetizers, “Since we’re getting technical, I said that we should ‘do something’ not ‘go out’. This is doing something,” he shook his head absently, “And I know you didn’t have to, or want to, so thank you.”

“It’s whatever,” Y/n waved John off as they prepared their plates, going over to a candle lit table. 

It wasn’t ‘whatever’, but John chose not to argue with her, opting to join Y/n at their table, sitting across from her. Over quiet conversation, they ate their dinner, not counting the minutes as it grew closer to midnight.

After dinner, John and Y/n had lingered inside, drinking and talking, enjoying the fact that they had the place to themselves, though, when he checked his watch and noticed that there was just twenty minutes left in the year, he suggested that they go outside. Bundling up once again, they made their way to the outdoor area, going to stand at fenced edge off of the roof. For a while, they stood there, looking down at the busy streets below, sometimes glancing at the festivities going on no too far off, in comfortable silence. But eventually Y/n spoke up, not turning to John, “You were right, you know. Before I left home, we’d do all kinds of things during the holidays. On New Year’s Eve, we’d go to Aspen; I’d help my mom cook dinner and afterwards we’d watch the fireworks show put on by the resort nearby. It was fun,” she smiled softly.

John swallowed tightly; it was so rare for Y/n to open up about her family, so much so that when she did, he’d always feel like he’d been privy to a part of her that no one else was. Though even when she spoke of them, it was usually hard to tell how the whole thing made her feel, except for that night, John thought, she looked wistful, as if the memory were too far gone, “That sounds like a nice tradition. Do you miss it?”

It took a minute before she could offer any sort of reply, but when she did, Y/n shook her head, staring out into the excitable distance, the near darkness shrouding her confusion, “I’m not sure, I haven’t thought about it in a long time,” she sighed, and found that, by some miracle, she actually wanted to open up about it. Figures it’d be to John, he was the only person who she trusted with her memories, with her life, “But I do know that I’ve spent a long time running away from making new ones, from anything like this really,” she took his hand, her leather glove resting coolly over John’s ungloved hand.

John looked at their hands together, thinking that it would be easy to hold onto her forever. When he glanced up at her, John found that Y/n eyes were trained on him, “And what about now?” He probed tentatively.

“Now?” She smiled, so faintly that it was hard to notice, “Now, I don’t have lot, but I’m glad I have you. Maybe we can make new traditions.”

“I’m glad I have you too,” John locked eyes with Y/n, squeezing the tips of her fingers. Not too far off in the distances, and even the floor below, a loud countdown began.

Five.

“You know, I never thought I’d meet someone like you.”

Four.

“Someone like me?”

Three.

“Yeah,” Y/n’s smile was shy and John’s lips were just a breath away. She was ready to do something she’d only thought of for so long.

Two

“I don’t understand,” John smiled softly.

Y/n smiled too, leaning in a little, “Then let me show you.”

One.

As the clock struck twelve, people cheered loudly and fireworks went off, lighting up the sky, making the city seem even more alive than it did before. And right as it all happened, Y/n pressed her lips to John’s, her free hand cupping his neck as his moved to the small of her back, deepening their kiss. Neither of them register how long it went on for, but when they broke for air, their foreheads were pressed together and Y/n explained, “I never thought I’d meet someone I wanted to kiss at twelve.”

At her confession, John smiled, going in for another kiss, holding her close and what flowed between them told them both at twelve, everything had changed. 

[sides-of-demigods]

Emile and Remy

EMILE PICANI (20)

Oracle of Delphi

The Oracle of Delphi is a mortal with the sight that Apollo blessed with the gift of prophecy, specifically making them the vessel of the spirit of Delphi.

I know, I know, plenty of problems with that, but we'll get to those later I swear, just wanna get through the basic stuff.

Emile is influenced by the spirit of Delphi, giving him visions and occasionally possessing him to provide prophecies.

The visions can happen in dreams or when awake and are not always helpful. Sometimes they're full-on visions, but often they're symbolic or just short flashes or don't make sense with no context.

So, you know how in the PJO books, Rachel Dare painted her visions? Emile writes them.

And not in an "Oh this is what happened" like he's taking notes, he writes them like a story to get down every detail possible.

As for prophecies, well there's a risk that every time he's asked a question the spirit of Delphi will take control and give an entire freaking prophecy, but usually she only does that when the person actually needs a prophecy.

Sometimes it will come completely unprompted though, he'll just go into Prophecy Mode for like no reason and confuse everyone.

He doesn't do a lot of fighting and prefers to talk his way through things, but he does have a dagger that Roman and Logan helped teach him to use just in case.

Emile has dirty blonde hair, so dark that sometimes it can pass as a really light brown.

His eyes are bright blue, but when he's having a vision or giving a prophecy they'll glow an eerie sickly green color.

As for height, he's just taller than Patton, but comfortable at 5'9" (175 cm).

Besides, his boyfriend is way taller, and he actually quite enjoys the height difference.

Since he doesn't actually train with everyone, he isn't as well built, but he can hold his own.

Sort of.

Now for the question I'm sure you're asking: "Hey, Sara, why the fuck is Emile the Oracle of Delphi. She's supposed to be a woman. Is your head broken?"

Well here's the thing...he was.

That's right y'all, Emile Picani is transgender.

He became the Oracle of Delphi and arrived at camp around 4 years ago when he was sixteen.

It wasn't until a year later that he realized shit...he was a boy.

Cue internal freakout for a MULTITUDE of reasons.

He knew that only a woman was supposed to be the Oracle of Delphi, and without the spirit of Delphi he was just a random mortal who for some reason could see through the mist.

He wouldn't be able to stay at Camp.

He didn't want to do that!

He had friends, and he just loved Camp.

He and Remy had just said "I love you" a few months ago, and he'd already made arrangements with Chiron to take up permanent residence once he graduated high school.

Should he just deal with it? Should he really just risk all that just because he felt a little dysphoric everytime someone called him Amelia?

Thankfully Remy noticed something was up and the two talked all through the night about what to do, names, and things like that.

Technically Remy was supposed to go back to his cabin, but Chiron let him stay.

The next day, during announcements at dinner, Emile went up and announced that he was a boy and that he'd be going by Emile now.

Almost the entire camp cheered.

Remy announced that anyone who had a problem with it would have to deal with him.

Suddenly everyone was clapping.

Apollo showed up a few days later to sort everything out.

Apparently, you were the Oracle of Delphi until death, so Emile got to stay at Camp and everything was perfect.

Back to his powers for a second.

His powers have an effect on his body.

When having a vision, Emile will stop whatever he's doing or saying and just stand there, his eyes glowing.

Afterward, he'd feel lightheaded, dizzy, and dazed, which was where Remy came in.

Usually Emile would stumble a bit and Remy would be there to catch him every single time without fail. He'd take the shorter boy somewhere to sit down for a minute while he recovered and Emile would write down what he saw.

As for prophecies, those were worse.

Emile wouldn't be able to stand so Remy would grab one of the stools they keep at key places around camp just for this purpose and situate him on it.

Emile would seize up and speak in a voice that wasn't his. Green smoke would seem to appear from nowhere and his eyes would glow.

Immediately afterward he'd completely pass out sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes for hours.

Remy would immediately scoop him up and carry him to his room in the Big House and stay with him until he woke up.

Fun Fact: Emile is a permanent resident of Camp with a room in the Big House ever since he graduated high school. He is taking online classes for a Degree in Psychology in his free time

REMY DORMIR (19)

Son of Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty

Remy has very very basic charmspeak. He can do very basic commands and can really only give people a push.

But however, he is really good with illusions. Not magic in general like the Hecate kids, just illusions and especially glamors.

In his words, the Mist is his bitch.

Remy actually has two signature weapons, because why not? He never adhered to tradition before so why start now?

The first is a stave/staff that the now Head Counselor of Hecate Camden Foote made for him. Not only does it help him focus his spells and control it more but it gives him an extra reserve to draw from other than himself.

His second is a spear but with the way he uses it it's basically a pointy bo staff.

Literally the only reason it has a spearhead is because you can’t kill monsters with a stick.

The staff is made of aspen wood with a black and silver grip, and the top resembles branches with a bright white light in the middle when Remy is using it.

The spear however is ebony with the usual celestial bronze spearhead and a simple black leather grip. Other than that, it’s not really anything special or extravagant.

Remy is a tall boi, he’s the same height as Logan, which means he’s six feet (182 cm)

His hair is jet black, like “holy crap how is it possible for hair to be that dark” black.

His eyes are gray but somehow they aren’t dull and instead intriguing

Emile is so lucky because his boyfriend is hot as hell

Okay moving on before I forget that I’m a lesbian today

Remy is one of those kids who literally had no idea he was a demigod but once he found out everything in his life suddenly made so much sense.

Like, for instance, the fact that girls were always all over him and people always seemed to want to hang out with him even though they had never met before.

He came to camp for his first summer at 11 years old, so about 8 years ago and the same year Thomas came to camp.

Since then he’s been coming every summer and switched to year-round literally like the second he graduated High School at 17.

No literally, like he changed out of his cap and gown and then drove to camp.

Then all of a sudden he was living there.

As for his family…

His family was stupid rich, and he still had full access to the money as long as he didn't do anything stupid.

He and his dad weren’t estranged and they definitely cared about each other but they just weren’t that close, and Remy was even more distant from his stepdad.

No mortal siblings or friends, but Remy didn’t really need them either.

He and Emile met for the first time when Remy was on a quest. It wasn’t anything major, in fact, it was just him and Thomas hunting down a rogue monster.

The two cornered the thing in an alley and managed to kill it but not before Emile witnessed the whole thing.

And it wasn’t the boys beating up a homeless dude or something, like the Mist should have made Emile see, but he saw everything, from the monster to Remy’s staff.

Remy managed to calm the freaked out mortal and explained the situation as best he could.

The two kept in touch and when it was announced that a search would begin for a new host for the Oracle Remy knew exactly who to call.

The rest was history.

The weird thing for Remy was that he found himself with a crush on Emile, or Amelia at the time, which was beyond confusing because he could have sworn he was gay. But who knew, maybe he was homoflexible.

What he did know was that he REALLY liked Emile. He confessed this soon after Emile took on the spirit of the Oracle and the two started dating

Remy is scary.

When you meet him or talk to him he seems so laid-back and cool and friendly.

But anyone who’s ever seen him fight can tell you that he is NOT someone you should mess with.

The way he moves and fights and even does magic is so fluid and quick it seems effortless.

It’s not just physical though.

Maybe it’s because he’s a child of Aphrodite or maybe it’s just the way he is, but if he wanted to he could easily verbally eviscerate someone.

He has this uncanny ability to be able to tell what your flaws and insecurities and exactly how to exploit them.

And not to mention that he os like the DEFINITION of protective.

Basically everyone is low-key scared of him and they should be.

Fun fact: Thanks to Remy literally always having Starbucks with him, there’s a rumor around camp hat Children of Aphrodite have the ability to summon Starbucks at any time. This obviously isn’t true but none of the Aphrodite kids are denying it. Honestly, half the time the Starbucks isn’t even real, it’s an illusion.

[thesportssoundoff]

“A little solid regional afternoon card” UFC Fight Night in Denmark Preview

Joey

September 23rd

What to call this fight card. Hmm. Does weirdly good apply? It feels like a weirdly good card. UFC events in the middle of the day tend to have this extra level of good or bad on them. If it's good then it feels even better because it'll be done before 11 PM and you can go about your day happily. If it's bad then it feels extra bad because mid day MMA almost feels like having to be in school on a Saturday. This card is headlined by a pretty damn good fight at 185 lbs which feels weird given that its a dude who flamed out at 205 lbs vs a guy who got swamped by Cezar Mutante. Jack Hermansson vs Jared Cannonier being a) a headliner and b) a genuinely compelling fight tells the story of how quickly shit turns around at the higher weight classes but also how good fighters can find their way to adapt and evolve with time. The whole main card is pretty damn spiffy; you got two solid fights at 205 lbs with under the radar Polish LHW Michał Oleksiejczuk getting the big step up vs OSP, Ion Cutelaba vs Khalil Rountree figuring to be violent if nothing else, Gilbert Burns vs Gunnar Nelson the sort of short notice wacky fight at 170 lbs that people might be surprised by and an interesting fight pitting Brazil's Alex "Cowboy" Oliveira vs Denmark's Nicholas Dalby. There seems to be some confusion on what the fifth fight on this main card is as I've seen Alan Omedovsky/John Phillips, Mark Madsen/Danillo Belluardo and Macy Chiasson vs Lina Lansberg all listed but here's hoping it's the WBW fight since it's a fine challenge for Chiasson and a "prove it again" for Lina. Prelims are pretty good too with Lando Vannata vs Marc Diakiese and the return of Siyar Bahadurzada as stand out stuff. It's not a great card but something tells me this fight night will be more than alright.

Fights: 13

Debuts: Nicholas Dalby, Mark Madsen, Makhmud Muradov, Jack Shore, Giga Chikadze

Fight Changes/Injury Cancellations: 3 (Peter Sobotta OUT, Makhmud Muradov IN vs Alessio Di Chirico/Danny Henry vs Mike Davis CANCELLED/Thiago Alves OUT, Gilbert Burns IN vs Gunnar Nelson)

Headliners (fighters who have either main evented or co-main evented shows in the UFC): 8 (Jared Cannonier, Jack Hermansson, Gunnar Nelson, Cowboy Oliveira, Lina Lansberg, Ovince St. Preux, Lando Vannata, Khalil Rountree)

Fighters On Losing Streaks in the UFC: 2 (Ovince St. Preux, John Phillips)

Fighters On Winning Streaks in the UFC: 5 (Jack Hermansson, Jared Cannonier, Michał Oleksiejczuk, Gilbert Burns, Macy Chiasson)

Main Card Record Since Jan 1st 2017 (in the UFC): 32-19

Jared Cannonier- 3-3 Jack Hermansson- 6-1 Gunnar Nelson- 2-2 Gilbert Burns- 5-1 Ovince St. Preux- 4-4 Michal Oleksiejczuk- 2-0 Khalil Rountree- 4-1 Ion Cutelaba- 2-1 Mark Madsen- 0-0 Danilo Belluardo- 0-1 Nicholas Dalby- 0-1 Alex Oliveira- 4-4

Fights By Weight Class (yearly number here):

Middleweight-  3 (35) Welterweight-  3 (55) Lightweight- 2 (62) Light Heavyweight- 2 (37) Women’s Bantamweight-  1 (18) Bantamweight- 1 (50) Featherweight- 1 (48)

Women’s Strawweight- (24) Flyweight-   (14) Heavyweight- (27) Women’s Flyweight- (29) Women’s Featherweight- (7)

2019 Number Tracker

Debuting Fighters (27-52-1)-  Nicholas Dalby, Mark Madsen, Makhmud Muradov, Jack Shore, Giga Chikadze

Short Notice Fighters (25-35)- Makhmud Muradov, Gilbert Burns

Second Fight (49-29)- Allen Amedovski, Nohelin Hernandez, Danilo Belluardo

Cage Corrosion (Fighters who have not fought within a year of the date of the fight) (20-33-1)-

Undefeated Fighters (31-34-2)- Jack Shore, Macy Chiasson, Mark Madsen

Fighters with at least four fights in the UFC with 0 wins over competition still in the organization (11-8)-

Weight Class Jumpers (Fighters competing outside of the weight class of their last fight even if they’re returning BACK to their “normal weight class”) (26-18)- 

Twelve Precarious Ponderings

1- Is Hermansson about to become the latest victim of MMA chaos?

2- The story of Jack Hermansson is a fun one and another example of why activity will never burn you as a fighter. Hermansson was one of the guys who was winning impressively against not so impressive competition until the UFC put him against David Branch in March. He subbed Branch without much issue and his reward for that was a short notice replacement opportunity after Yoel Romero pulled out a fight with Jacare Souza. The UFC thought so little of Hermansson as an opponent that they not only promised Jacare a title shot if he won (for taking the fight) but ALSO moved it off of ESPN and to ESPN+. Despite the short notice call up and the quality of competition, Hermansson proved himself over five rounds as he pretty much effortlessly kept Jacare's crazy ground game at bay while taking the Brazilian down and boxing him up on the feet en route to a decision. Hermansson, like the ultimate "Just keep fighting" dude Michael Bisping, never had lingering losses because he always seemed to be fighting the next week. In so many words, Hermansson outfought his losses and kept a steady stream of wins coming so he was always in the radius. Now he's potentially one fight away from a title fight. Crazy sport sometimes.

3- So Hermansson should look in the mirror for every reason why he needs to take Jared Cannonier with 100% seriousness. Hermansson was looking to fight Kelvin Gastelum or Paulo Costa and both fights fell through, opening the door for him to basically HAVE to fight Jared Cannonier in order to fight at home. Cannonier has "earned" this fight by way of smelting David Branch and beating up on an aging Anderson Silva so there's really not much to his resume at 185 lbs that would give him a main event opportunity. That's basically what folks said about Hermansson when it came to the Jacare fight.

4- Are we officially out of the "Gunnar Nelson is a future title contender" phase? What say y'all?

5- Speaking of potential bandwagons, how about this Khalil Rountree one? We on it or off?

6- Gilbert Burns had a pretty impressive return to 170 lbs when he edged by Alexei Kunchenko on short notice in a pretty contentious fight. He gassed out late but he looked as fast as he normally does and his strength was impressive. I have no idea if he will stand much with Gunnar but this could be a pretty fun grappling contest if it comes down to it.

7- Nicolas Dalby was once compared to Martin Kampmann by folks prior to his UFC debut. After making said debut, Dalby just never found a way to make good on that upside. He looked like his so-so athleticism was exploited at the UFC level and he became more and more hittable as his tendencies were found and broken down. Unfortunately for Dalby, a 1-2-1 run against the likes of Elizeu Zaleski and Darren Till led to him being released---where he immediately lost to Carlo Pedersoli. Since that fight, Dalby's gone 3-0-1 and wound up getting signed on what seems like it's more about where Dalby's from than anything. HE draws Alex Oliveira on the main card open.

8- Speaking of which, do we have ANY update on Cowboy Oliveira's legal issues?

9- How is John Phillips still in the UFC? That just seems weird. He's 0-3 and been finished twice.

10- We all might've gotten a bit ahead of ourselves on Ismail Naurdiev but I'm not hopping off the bandwagon just yet. He shocked the world as a short notice fill in vs Michel Prezares but then came up short against wrestle happy 170 lber Chance Recountre. The holes in his game got exposed and his lack of substance to balance out the sizzle stood out down the stretch of that fight. He's back vs a similar-ish guy in Siyar Bahadurzada although Siyar hits way harder than Chance Recountre.

11- The UFC signed Giga Chikadze to fight Mike Davis but then Mike Davis got yanked off the card so the solution to that was to just keep Giga and have him fight Brandon Davis. MMA is weird. Chikadze is sort of not good at MMA but he vs Davis should be violent while it lasts.

12- How many wins away is Macy Chiasson from getting the Aspen Ladd treatment where she's put in a #1 contender fight that may be way above her preparedness level?

[androidsfighting]

The Adventure Zone fic rec masterlist!

surprising no one, I read WAY TOO MUCH FIC so here’s an incomplete list of some of my fav fics in this fandom! mostly Taakitz and Taagnus, of course. Not in any particular order - adding most recent additions to the top. i made an effort to provide commentary but as you can see i gave up quickly

UPDATE (7/24/19) - added a bunch more fics i’ve read recently, and a couple amnesty fics at the bottom :)

Taakitz

The Winter Prince by tactfulGnostalgic

Taako is nobody’s saboteur. He’s just an ordinary assassin just trying to make ends meet, staying out of trouble (mostly) and keeping his nose clean (sometimes). But when a mysterious buyer makes him an offer he can’t refuse in exchange for the head of the neighboring prince, he ends up falling headfirst into the tangle of a foreign court — and the arms of its ruler, Prince Kravitz.

Blood and Bones and Photos by Evitcani

Kravitz has always dreamed of cities: wrapped in vines, streets peaceful and empty. He never knew the world before the end. Still, life goes on and on and on. The homes he's known are in compounds of chain-link fences patrolled by armed guards, feral zombies creeping around the edges who sing to him in the unsettled night.

There is no cure. There is no hope. There is only what little the survivors scraped together.

Then there's Taako.

And the new world that Kravitz was born into ends too.

Wrong Number by argentoswan

Taako texts a wrong number. Kravitz responds. Everyone else is confused, but they're going with it.

(6:32) so we have moved from strangling to murder (6:39) This is… still the wrong number. (6:41) i know i’m crowdsourcing ideas. quick, best way to hide an extremely tiny body?

A Bit Alarming by argentoswan

Taako gives up his freedom in exchange for the safety of his friends, and ends up locked in an enchanted castle with a surprisingly polite skeleton. Beauty and the Beast AU.

"'I’m afraid your friends were trespassing on my property. It was exceedingly impolite.' 'Yeah, and it’s super polite to lock them in the fucking dungeons.'"

study in light by weatheredlaw

He tells you things, things you don’t know what to do with. They fall out of his mouth and into your open hands, and you fumble them.

Deflection Toward The Relative Major by AuthorGod

He means to say all of this, but all that comes out is, “Why? Why choose me?” Instead of someone better suited he means; a warrior, a wizard, a priest.

I come back to this fic constantly. I love Kravitz-centric fic (surprise surprise) and this is one of the best there is I think

of aspen crowns and catskin down by mildlydiscouraging

The streets of London are slick and dark, and not just literally, although they are so often that too. Here there is not only murder, mystery, and mayhem, but magick as well. Here people go through their everyday tragedies and refuse to see the depths behind their troubles. Here two (and a half) detectives search for the truth.

In the dusk of autumn, with wind slicing down alleys, the good people of London are disappearing. It's up to Kravitz and Taako and, honestly, mostly Angus to solve the case, and maybe a couple other mysteries along the way.

SPOOKY VICTORIAN AU aka MY ENTIRE SHIT

those afternoons and evenings and does he project, does he have ideas? by mildlydiscouraging

The moments and years in between, in which feelings take root despite the constantly changing landscape. Alternatively: The world has been ending for forty years and Taako and Kravitz can't stop falling in love.

tazswap with Kravitz on the Starblaster, absolutely gorgeous prose

Reverie by Itdominic

There was a time Taako really could have taken or left it - life, and the world and whatever. Things aren't like that anymore, he tells himself, luckily, because this whole situation might get to be a real fucking drag otherwise.

heartbreaking but absolutely gorgeous

finale by teacuptaako

After everything, the distinction between alive and dead fades to a confusing grey.

In the wake of ‘The Day of Story and Song,’ Taako and Kravitz start to build their futures together: a labour of love, compromise, trust, and a slowly unravelling web of secrecy.

While the two of them grow closer and closer together, they and the rest of the world get further and further apart.

kravitz centric again, this is such a WEIRD fic and i literally haven’t stopped thinking about it since I read it

Drag Your Cities to the Sea (No Light, No Light) by  Desiree_Harding

"The months in Her retinue are long, and the work is hard. Her standards are high, and to satisfy them, Kravitz must be ruthless. But his conviction never falters. She is omnipotent. She is the avenging force of Justice, and Kravitz Her hand. She will keep the kingdom free, and for Kravitz to do her bidding is the greatest honor on this earth."

"Taako’s fingers curl tightly around the ropes of the Starblaster’s rigging as the ship cuts smoothly through the waves of the Sea of Souls below, his heart pounding in his chest and his eyes on the horizon...In these moments, it’s freedom that hangs sweet on his tongue and settles in his lungs, and Taako loves nothing better."

It's a pirate AU! You know the rest!

i live for AUs

All the Things You Prayed For by @anonymousalchemist​ and @marywhal​

Taako's been dead for two years. Taako's been dead for seven decades. Depends how you count it.

Her brother is dead and Lup’s a whole lifetime into the future. It’s a brave new world out there and she’s trying not to think about it too hard. She gets the feeling that if she starts thinking, she won’t ever stop, and she can’t afford to be out of commission. She's the only Captain America the new century’s got.

Lup is Cap, Taako fell from a train, and eventually all ghosts come in from the cold. You guessed it—it's a TAZ/Marvel shakeup baby. We're bringing the party to you.

THIS FIC OWNS MY ENTIRE ASS

The Shape of Our Days Neverending by anonymousalchemist and marywhal

After the epilogue, Taako and Kravitz have a really good day. 

just some heckin good fluff amidst all this angst

Other Lives by marywhal

When Kravitz signed up for the job in Phandalin, he didn’t expect adventuring to become his life. He was bored playing for the well-to-do of Neverwinter, sure, but not this bored. He was supposed to make some quick cash, pay off his gambling debts, and go back to his comfortable existence as a bard. He wasn't supposed to join a secret organization trying to save the world.

But here he is, paralyzed on the floor of a crystallized laboratory, and he has yet to keep a suit intact through a single adventure

more tazswap! this is unfinished rn but it’s real good so read it anyway

Bury the Lead by marywhal

Taako’s senior year at Neverwinter High could be going better. Faced with a choice between joining the school’s floundering newspaper or being expelled, he opts for a career in journalism.

Lucretia, the paper’s editor, kind of wishes he'd gone the other way.

if you haven’t read this yet what are you doing with your life

These Unfinished Creatures by marywhal

Someone in Neverwinter is stealing souls from the astral plane. The Raven Queen’s favourite reaper is undercover and on the case.

Relearning how to be human is entirely incidental.

MORE spooky Victorian AU what did i do to deserve this fandom honestly

(you should read everything by marywhal but these are my favs)

our get-along suit by anonymousalchemist

"So, let me get this straight," the reaper says, scythe held flush against Kravitz's neck. A trickle of blood drips down toward his collar. Kravitz swallows shallowly. "You picked up a suit, and the suit happened to be a lich, and the lich wouldn’t let you go, so you just rolled with it?"

"His name is Keats," Kravitz says. "And. Er. Sort of?"

Our own, soft hearts by Wildgoosery (series)

Stories involving a Moon Wedding, its attendees, and its aftermath, written in wildly different formats.

you should read everything Goose has posted but this is one of the first Taakitz fics I read so I have a real soft spot for it

The Body Eclectic by SpaceJackalope

In which Kravitz has many feelings about being dead, having a body, and liking people and things.

A Quiet Refrain by @inkedinserendipity​

It starts with some of the most mediocre eggs Taako's ever clapped eyes on. Seven out of ten for taste. Zero out of ten for plating. Somehow, they're still the best damn eggs he's ever eaten.

(Or: Taako realizes he loves Kravitz back.)

it was your heart on the line by @inkedinserendipity​ and it’s sequels (links here)

one of many fics that inadvertently inspired synecdoche

Istus must be laughing. by writersstareoutwindows

"Whenever people talk about tattoos, Taako rolls down his sleeve. They’re sitting in a circle, usually drinking, laughing and elbowing and sometimes kissing. Whenever they realize Taako hasn’t said anything, he sips his drink, arranges his hair artfully over his shoulder, and says, 'Nah, nah, nah, my dudes, I don’t hold to that,' wiggling his fingers, 'mumbo jumbo tattoo fate-or-whatever bullshit. Chaboi Taako’s a free agent.'"

The present going forward. Memories in a jumble. Not a very neat story, but it's theirs.

another fic that inadvertently inspired synecdoche which i forgot until now!!

things left in the stars by mechanicalclock

You don’t collect things from places that you will never visit again, that’s foolish. It's about learning to let go in all the new ways, adapting quicker and quicker, having fun and forgetting.

Taako and Lup learn to remember.

a moment to bathe in our victory by AnonymousPuzzler

The apocalypse comes and goes. In the aftermath, Taako takes a bath, Kravitz worries too much, and some new feelings are reflected upon.

Taagnus

The end of the word does come and go, Page of Cups, Reversed, and Taking the dogs home by anonymous

About how the world is still here, and how going on can be done.

yellow by weatheredlaw

Washing the dishes, their fingers brushed in the soapy water of the sink and Taako felt a jolt.

Magnus turned and gave him a smile.

Strange Bedfellows by treshornybros (IamJohnLocked4life)

It quickly becomes a habit, and then routine. Magnus is oddly good natured about it. But then Magnus is good natured about everything, so maybe it's not that odd. No one else seems to notice.

They always sleep back to back.

Taako should find that comforting, and he does, at first. It's just like sleeping with Lup.

Sort of.

unremembering by  bluebatwings (series)

Their lives divided up into three parts: before, unremembering, and after. Love stories.

At the Interval by AuthorGod

Time grows stagnant. Taako watches as world become fractured and consumed, cultures and civilizations wiped out. All the potential a single person is capable of in a lifetime, just ripped away in a moment.

It doesn't get to him, and it doesn't get to him, and it doesn't until it does.

breaking the same old heart by tardigradeschool

Taako and Magnus in triptych: before, during, and after the Bureau.

The Blue Hours of Morning by daisybrien

Refuge takes its toll. Magnus and Taako talk it out, drunk on the living room floor.

Taagnitz

the only life you could save by @epersonae​ and hops (series)

this could also go in the Other category bc it’s All The Ships (including magcretia which isn’t even my thing but they write is so so so well that now it is my thing!) but I’m digging through my ao3 history and not finding much taagnitz that’s not  pwp/mine (a travesty) so it’s going in here. it’s also about taako and lucretia working their whole Thing out and it’s VERY VERY GOOD

no blinding light by provocation

Elves live much, much longer than humans. By the time most humans die, elves are just reaching adulthood.

Kravitz, on the other hand, is going to live forever.

the fic that made me ship taagnitz

in the focus by weatheredlaw

The sky was clear and the arms of the galaxy that surrounded them arched overhead as they lay in their sleeping bags, staring at the stars.

or: Kravitz knows there's room in all this for something between him and Magnus — he's just not sure what that looks like.

Dust by levelone

It was supposed to be simple: Taako was on TV, and Kravitz is a writer here for some pull quotes. Instead, when they meet in an empty diner in the middle of a desert, Taako says something impossible—and Kravitz believes him.

Oak and Mahogany by hideki16seiyuu

“Don’t try to pull one over on me, handsome. He’s going gray already.”

“He’s in his fifties now, Taako.”

“How much longer is left?”

“Longer than you’d think.”

---

Human lives can never match that of elves in length.

Take Up a Place Beside Me by goodnicepeople

"It's gonna be hard," Taako says, when they're alone again. "You can't... do that. Every time."

Or: Taako and Kravitz move in. Others move on. Some get dogs.

you are the life i needed all along by iwillbeyourgoal

along with the other memories he's gained from the stolen century, taako starts remembering his relationship with magnus on the starblaster.

these small hours by  ShowMeAHero

Taako and Magnus get their memories back, and now they need to negotiate some emotions, because they're having a hell of a lot of them all at once.

Other ships/Gen

I Have Seen the Fields Aflame by Desiree_Harding

She hadn’t meant to disappear. Had she known what was going to happen, that one weekend was going to lead to seven entire years without her brother, she never would have gone. But that was all it took.

A modern au in which Lup goes missing, and discovers that the coming home is maybe the hardest part of all of it.

i cried for like an hour after reading this

a thousand points of no return by anonymousAlchemist

Since wizard's daemons often settle as birds and urban legend says that elves are separated from their daemons, no one looks too closely at the fact that Taako and Lup are both single entities, missing the other halves of their hearts. They walk like people, they talk like people, and if they're hard to read because their daemons aren't fluffing up their feathers or swatting playfully with their paws, well, elves are notoriously enigmatic anyway.

This lasts until their first death.

All deaths on the Starblaster are strange. When Magnus first died on the animal planet, I'morko followed right after, both of their bodies dissipating into golden sparks, a strange inversion of the natural order. The pattern holds. Year after year, person and daemon alike dissipate into a fine mist of dust, knit together by the bond engine in the new plane.

During their fifteenth year, Taako is shot through the heart with a well-aimed magic missile. Lup screams and casts one last firebolt, spell-sculpting around their bodies, before unspooling into a fine golden sand.

snake eyed, with a sly smile by faehunting

The circus is a mystery that sets itself up for people who track its movements, for people who are desperate to find it, to find anything. The circus is a mystery that sets itself up for people to stumble upon.

In the morning, the circus is nothing but negative space and the revellers it left behind. They sit up. They try to wet the dust in their mouths. They start the journey anew.

creepy fae weirdness!!!! yes!!!!!

I’m With The Band by redqueentheory, Wildgoosery, and Woven_Gulch (series)

A series of connected stories, equal parts sentimental and horny, about how Brad and Taako and Kravitz fall in love.

wacky BDSM crack ship becomes Greatest Romance Novel I’ve Ever Read, has made me cry multiple times

these strange creatures by anonymousalchemist

Taako sweeps himself into the common area of the Starblaster with all the drama and panache that he reserves for alternate Tuesday afternoons. Barry ignores him with all the practice he has from a decade of alternate Tuesday afternoons.

“I’m exhausted,” Taako whines, draping himself across Barry’s shoulders, the sharp point of his chin poking into Barry’s collarbone. “I’ve been up since for-ev-er, working on this dumb transmutation thing for Lulu.”

“Go meditate, then,” Barry says, absently reaching up to pat Taako’s head.

“Meditate?”

“You know, meditation? Isn’t that, uh, one of your elf things??” Barry finally looks up from his book, barest hint of a wrinkle in his forehead. Taako shakes his head.

“Never heard of it, homeslice. Musta skipped that day at elf practice.”

Barry laughs.

“Elf practice, sure.”

you know... elf practice

all your saints and saviors by anonymousalchemist

It’s not so much that she wants to die per se, as much as it is that she’s done living. The female human life expectancy is seventy-two years on this plane (it was seventy-four years on her home plane) and she’s lost count of her birthdays. But the math is easy. She was twenty when she boarded the Starblaster. A hundred-twenty when they landed in Faerun. A hundred-thirty when the Hunger was defeated. She’s fifty six years overdue.

She’s done her job, is the thing. She saved the world, in exchange for youth, friendship, family. She gave up everything but determination. She considers it fair trade. But now Lucretia is a single-use tool whose purpose no longer exists.

In Her Bones by epersonae

She lives through the destruction of her home, but still they're separated, until Julia sees the green light, and the blue light, and has to figure out what to do next.

better give that heart a listen by tardigradeschool

Barry needs a fake husband if he wants to stay undercover. Magnus is more than willing to help him out. Davenport needs a vacation.

herald of a new dawn by inkedinserendipity

When Lucretia is five years old, she meets her familiar. At seven, she remakes it; at eight, she remakes it again.

Seventy years later it saves her from an unkind world. And a Century after that, it fixes a family that had started to break.

from me to you, with love by inkedinserendipity

Magnus shuts the drawer and says, almost absently, “Tell her I love her, okay?”

Kravitz pauses, debating. He takes a deep breath. “Magnus,” he says, and Magnus, detecting the shift in his tone, looks up immediately. “You know that she already knows, right? She knows that you love her,” Kravitz says gently. “You do tell her every time.”

Magnus chuckles, rubbing a sheepish hand along the back of his neck. “I know,” he says, turning a bit pink. “I just - I love her, you know? I really do. And I guess, when you love someone, you want to tell them that every chance you get.”

your stitches are all out (but your scars are healing wrong) by tardigradeschool

When it’s over, and she can barely feel what makes her herself anymore, the umbrella is tattered beyond repair. With her last traces of energy, Lup grasps for shelter, reaching out for somewhere to store her torn soul until she can be helpful again. At the edge of her awareness, she feels a familiar shape, a familiar warmth -- in her exhaustion she could almost mistake it for her own body. She reaches for it and pulls herself clumsily inside.

Safe and contained, she lets consciousness go.

Voidfish (Reprise) by inkedinserendipity

Angus McDonald is many things — the boy detective, for one. The youngest member of the Bureau of Balance. The unofficial little brother of the THB, however Taako insists he's actually their mascot. He’s a researcher, and a scholar. He's not a fighter. He’s not a hero.

But he can save the world all the same.

Patterns of Migration by goodnicepeople

Magnus builds a house. Angus finds a home. Migration brings things back, in turn.

Hard to Starboard  by BlueColoredDreams (series)

In the best world, it ends like this:

By starting over.

and the warmth will never die by Junkyard_Rose

Taako's been gone for maybe two years when Lup thinks she sees him shoplifting from a Hot Topic.

you ever read something that makes you astral project and you can't think about anything else for the rest of the day? me too

(in this category because it's mainly about the twins but it's also taakitz and blupcretia aka the ideal fic)

and at a certain age the child is grown by bimaukery

There are people in his grandpa's house.

AU where the IPRE family all moves in together and find the place less empty than they've been led to believe.

Amnesty

i left a light beside the bed for you by SyllableFromSound

"If she stares at the ceiling without blinking long enough, it starts to look fuzzy. Like there's a grainy film of static over the surface of the plaster. It makes her think of mist outside a window, of the big old tube TV that had sat in the living room of her house for her first few years of life and that had tingled warmly when she pressed her hand to the screen. Everything feels a bit fuzzy now, maybe because it's 3AM. Everything feels warm and a bit familiar.

Finally, Dani says, quietly, 'This is what I imagined it would be like if...if things had gone differently.'"

In which a couple of outcasts have some late-night chats and Aubrey ingests a foreign object to prove a point.

older than the trees by lamphouse

Summer is returning to Kepler, bringing with it humid late nights, not as many tourists as there used to be, and a certain moth man. Unfortunately, they're not the only ones.

Duck talks some shit out. Aubrey chills. Ned gets grifted. Indrid learns to see.

[sabinamarqx]

𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭  𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚.

( ESTER EXPOSITO, CISFEMALE, SHE/HER ) Oh hello, you must be SABINA MARQUEZ it’s so nice to meet you. Is it true that you’re a SEVENTEEN year old LEGACY student and in your SEVENTH? I should warn you, rumour has it you’re pretty VEXING & CONNIVING but I think you’re really ASTUTE & SELF-ASSURED - people like to gossip around here, but you’ll find out for yourself. Let me show you to CHAMBERLAIN. ( JOCEY, 23, EST, SHE/HER )

/goes on a semi-hiatus, but also adds a third muse. i’m a mess, what can i say? y’all can blame elite s2 coming out for this ig. anyways, like this post if ya wanna plot with my little demon child and i’ll hit ya up.

name : sabina isabella maria marquez nickname : it’s sabina/sabine or nothing age : seventeen gender : cisfemale sexuality : bisexual hometown : madrid, spain

━  the marquez family is known to have a bit of a controversial reputation, mostly surrounding how they made their fortune. officially, marquez enterprises is an imports/exports company that controls the major ports in spain, and owns several businesses throughout europe and latin america.

━  but off the books? well, let’s just say there may be rumours that they’re involved in some shady business and have quite a few interesting contacts from all around the world. regardless, it’s common knowledge that the marquezes are filthy dirty rich, enjoy living extravagantly and lavishly, and are practically seen as spanish royalty.

━  as the eldest born in her family, sabina was always groomed to take over marquez enterprises one day. she has a younger brother, though baz shows no interest (or any capabilities, for that matter) in running the family business, or even being a part of it. while most kids dreamt of flying to the moon or being a cowboy, sabine always knew she was going to rule the world marquez dynasty.

━  sabine is her parents’ daughter in every way possible. they taught her everything legal and illegal that she needed to know to become successful in life. but even some things they couldn’t quite explain themselves. like when she stole all the crayons in daycare to force other kids to buy them back with snacks. she may be named after a saint, but she is anything but.

━  she quickly learned that tricking people into giving her what she wanted out of their own dumb free will was so much more satisfying than stealing it from under their noses. a hustler with an alpha bitch mentality, she’s always outsmarting people and outsmarting the system to get things to work in her favour. and when that didn’t work, no one could ever say no to a big fat wad of cash.

━  sabine strongly believes that playing by the rules was for suckers and if you weren’t the best, then you were nothing at all. and sometimes being the best required playing dirty. if she has to ruin someone else’s life to get her way, then she will gladly dump a jug of gasoline, light a match and enjoy watching it go up in flames. hell, sometimes she’ll do that just for the fun of it anyways. and if that’s what she does for fun, you do not wanna know what she does when she’s pissed off.

━  with that mentality, it’s no surprise that sabine easily became the top student of her year. though she may have lied and cheated her way to the top on several occasions, there’s no denying that she’s fucking brilliant. yes, she could have done it the right way, but where’s the fun in that? she does it because she can and she knows she can get away with it.

WANTED CONNECTIONS.

BEST FRIEND(S)  ━  someone who can put up with sabine’s awfulness, or maybe they’re just as awful as she is. this is probably one of the few people she’s actually relatively nice to (at least, by her standards) and will always have their back. likely one of the few people she’ll ever let her guard down for. preferably m/nb tbh cuz she tends to be a bigger bitch to girls cuz they’re obvs more threatening than dumb boys lol.  taken by cassian wilder, rydel hood one day, aspen spencer & alex morgan

MORAL CONSCIENCE  ━  does sabine even have a moral compass? your guess is as good as mine. this is someone she is more likely to listen to and could try to sway her from doing, y’know, ~*just sabine things*~. basically the angel on her shoulder, y’know?  taken by maggie stevenson

PARTNER-IN-CRIME/BAD INFLUENCE  ━  i’m sure even satan has a little devil on his shoulder, so sabine needs one too. they like to stir up all kinds of trouble and wrecking havoc is their favourite hobby.  taken by lourdes dimucci

FWBs/HOOK-UPS/FLINGS  ━  self-explanatory?? it can be chill, or angsty, but y’all know imma hoe for angst so lol. sabine does not like to share, so make of that what you will.  taken by hunter figueroa

EXES  ━  either she dumped him/her, or she was dumped (in which case, rip my friend). maybe there are lingering feelings. maybe some late-night booty calls. maybe it’s an on/off thing. who knows?? could be interesting if they’re very different from sabine and that’s why it didn’t work out despite the chemistry or whatever. also exes who remained super close after the breakup and she’s still hella soft for?? pllllzzz.  taken by prince fitzgerald

MUTUAL ANNOYANCE  ━  you annoy each other to no end and live for pushing each other’s buttons. maybe there’s some sexual tension involved cuz that’s always the good shiet.

RIVALS/ENEMIES  ━  ho’boy. homegirl pisses A LOT of people off just for shits and giggles so i’m sure she’s got a hella long list of enemies lol.  taken by lia da costa, poppy beaumont, charlie williams

i might think of more later idk?? literally just all stuff off the top of my head as i’m scrambling to get this done. also feel free to check out sabine’s wc tag for ideas/inspo. and ofc, i’m always open to whatever ideas you might have too! EDIT: unless a plot is crossed out, i’m always down for multiple people for the same plot js!!

[aced0g]

Be Your Worst Self

I was tagged by @loveydoveypiperwright​ , so thank you! I’m sorry I haven’t done a tagging game in a while but I’m getting there :DD

Rules: Take this quiz for your character(s) and post the results!

I’m gonna tag @fallout-and-dragon-age​ & @ace-amatus​ but thats only if y'all want too. Have fun if you do!

So for my ocs its going to just be easier to go by the personality type rather than list each oc out individually cause there would be a lot of overlap, that being said, here we go~

You Are an Emotionally Volatile Nightmare:

Your heart guides you and sometimes that’s not as dreamy or romantic as it might sound. It’s true that your feelings often inspire you to heal and create, and as long as those feelings don’t steer you wrong, you’re capable of truly visionary accomplishments in the name of empathy and love. Feelings, though, aren’t always gentle and sweet. You know that better than anyone because your own emotions -the same overwhelming forces that inspire you to make the world a better place - can take you to very dark places, especially if you believe that the subject of your ire has shown unwarranted cruelty toward you or something you hold dear. You know that your feelings aren’t necessarily rational, but that doesn’t stop you from dramatically blaming other people for causing you pain. Of course, you might not even stop at crying; that notoriously brilliant creativity might even spur you to express your wrath artistically - nothing says “emotional stability” like a morose, vengeful poem.

-Evander Virani: Does it match up? Yeah I’d say so. He’s experienced a lot of trauma and while most of the time he pushes his emotions down or tries to act like a positive “everything’s going to be okay!” person he’s about one bad thing away from having a breakdown. When he’s truly happy its one of the few times he can just forget about his problems and enjoy the moment. Most of the time he’s in this in between stage of pure terror and extreme sadness. It makes him appear like he has a level head. When he’s angry though it tends to lash out as a literal burning rage. He loses control of his magic and sort of engulfs his arms in flame and takes his ire out on whoever pissed him off (he hates being angry because it scares him. He doesn’t like losing control). His creative outlet is forging knives and swords. He does want to heal though, he’s tired of being the cause of destruction. He wants to help and heal, not only others but also himself.

-Aspen Lavellan: Does it match up? Kinda? I wouldn’t call him volatile. Aspen’s got a pretty level head on his shoulders. He has learned how to act diplomatic. When he is presenting himself as Inquisitor to the public imagine a Raymond Holt type of personality. When he’s with friends though he likes to pull pranks and just have a good time. He doesn’t want to be serious all the time because it makes the situation feel bleak. He wants there to be positivity in his life. Though, I would say that when he is truly angry it’s a type of silent wrath that’s terrifying. You can see the burning hatred in his eyes and he has the skill to hit his target with three arrows before they even know whats going on. When he’s truly angry he will keep fighting until he’s completed his goal or he dies trying. He does carve dalish patterns into his bow so that could be considered creative? Aspen is a protector. He wants to help others, keep them safe and that could translate into healing. He does what needs to be done to keep people safe, and sometimes that means making the hard decisions that others can’t.

-Arthur Cousland: Does it match up? Yeah. Arthur’s usually able to stay in a good mood. He’s an optimist and doesn’t like to bring people down. He’s gentle and wants to help heal and create. It’s why he enjoys playing his lute and singing. Songs can inspire people, or at the very least cheer them up. He may be a noble but what he does with that sort of money and power is give it away to others. He gives his coin to those on the street who need food, or he’s been known to give his blanket away as well saying he’ll just buy another when they reach the next town. He’s got a big heart and he wears it on his sleeve. The only way he can hide when he’s sad is if it’s raining so that the rain can hide his tears, or if he goes off on his own for a little while (he hates burdening others with his problems and often leaves for an hour or two to just climb a tree and have a good cry, though Alistair catches on and works with Arthur to realize its okay to let others help him when he is sad). When he’s angry it’s hard to think logically. He listens to his heart and when he feels betrayed or that someone is going to bring harm to his friends or the people he’s protecting he will fight tooth and nail to protect them and kill whoever is provoking them.

You are a Narcissistic Monster: 

You’re the best - right? Wherever you go, the spotlight finds you, and you’re hardly complaining. you can’t imagine your friends care, since, after all, you’re so generous. Well, that’s what you like to think about yourself. You’re generous, enthusiastic, and fun, so if you compulsively steal the spotlight, it doesn’t really matter. If you fuel drama just to feed your thirst for a dramatic life, is it really that bad? Is it really so wrong for you to be the center of attention? Does it really matter how other people feel about it in the long run? Of course, you’d never say no. You’re the generous friend, and you’d never hurt anyone on purpose just to keep all eyes on you... right? Every now and then, you imagine your funeral and how all of your friends will go on and on about how wonderful, magnetic, charming, and generous you were. 

-Sorian Surana: Does it match up? No, not really. He’s cocky, headstrong, and a bit of an asshole sometimes but I wouldn’t call him narcissistic. He’s proud of himself, and yeah he’s proud of himself and takes pride in his looks but not because that’s all he cares about. Sorian is a trans-man elf mage who was mistreated in the circle and then joined up with the wardens and transitioned. He went from thinking he would have no future to being one of the legendary Grey Wardens, and then he actually looks the way he’s always wanted to! So of course he’s going to seem a little vain or narcissistic sometimes, but it’s only because he never thought he’d make it this far. And, if he’s being honest, he fucking hates the spotlight. He’d much rather be just one of the Wardens instead of The Hero of Ferelden, Arl of Amaranthine, and all those other titles. He’ll be in the spotlight, but it doesn’t mean he enjoys it. Besides, he should be allowed a little bit of cockiness (mages in The Awakening DLC are so OP by the end of it, literally Sorian knows so many spells and can conjure the dead turn into a bear, wield a great ax while shooting fire storms at people, and at the same time have a constant aura of changing elemental magic that deals damage to his enemies.)

You are Shockingly Violent:

There’s no getting around this: you desperately need to attend anger management. You’re just as headstrong and opinionated, and your energy and enthusiasm can turn into explosive violence at the drop of a hat. You’re a walking time bomb of seething rage, and the more you try to hide it, the more it escapes in unpredictable, volatile mood swings. Do yourself a favor and invest in a stress ball or gym membership before you do something you really regret

-Kyra Lavellan: Does it fit? Yeah. She chose the Reaver specialization for a reason. Kyra is a very energetic and enthusiastic person. She does what she feels is right and gets upset when people don’t see that she’s doing the right thing even if it might not morally line up with their beliefs. As a kid she’d often get into fights with the other kids of her clan and was always sporting some sort of bandage because of it. She has a better control on her outbursts as an adult, but she still lashes out especially when she’s in pain or very annoyed. Her anger is great in battle though. She fights with the ferocity of a dragon and won’t admit it out loud but she does enjoy having the power to physically shred her enemies with her hands. Before she knew how to control the reaver power she would keep attacking, sacrificing her own health to get the job done and make sure the others were safe. Once she learned how to keep conscious and keep fighting things went a lot smoother. 

-Alrik Hawke: Does it fit? Kinda? Hawke’s in denial really. He wants to protect people and make them happy, it’s why he chose to be a spirit healer, why he’s always cracking jokes and trying to get others to smile. He does have a lot of anger though. It’s just under the surface, though its quite hard to really bring out. See Alrik is a werewolf and his anger is tied very closely to the wolf, so for him getting angry isn’t just an outburst of words it means he could lose control and shift. He doesn’t want that. He keeps a tight lid on his anger and it only really comes out in moments of extreme stress, like the deep roads or when slaver’s are trying to recapture his best friend, or when people keep calling Merril a monster, or when Templars get too close to Anders. Okay so maybe he does have a lot of anger. Like I said he’s in denial. 

You are a Two-Faced Liar:

Your friends know you talk behind their backs. Not that you’re a bad person - you just can’t help letting other people know how you really feel about some of the crazy stuff your loved ones have told you. Unfortunately, you’ve talked and talked and talked, and now, they all know you’ll talk if they confide in you. You know it, too, and you still can’t help it. No matter how hard you try, you simply can’t force yourself to be as loyal or honest as you want to be. At least you’re charming enough to keep making new friends and replacing the ones who felt too hurt or betrayed to trust you again.

-Zachariah Hawke: Does it fit? Yes and no. Zach has a big heart, but as a rogue he knows sometimes it’s better to lie and be dishonest. I think this would have been more of a problem back in Lothering, unable to keep friends because he keeps telling his parents about them and over sharing, not out of malice but because he gets so excited that he just needed to tell them. I think over time he would become the one with no friends and as an adult he knows how to keep his mouth shut. The only person he really overshares with now is Varric, and later Fenris when they’re in their relationship together. Zach isn’t trying to hurt anyone by talking about them he just... can’t keep all of their problems locked up with his because it’s too much. Zach’s the type of guy that smiles to hide what he’s going through and he wants to help his friends so much, but to keep it all inside would cause him to fall apart. 

[tom-hanks-is-bae]

If you’re thinking about getting a pet rabbit or have one, then read this.

Ok, this post is to inform people about pet rabbits. Now some bunny moms and dads may know this information but when I first got my rabbit I didn’t know all these things and I needed to.

1. Picking up your rabbit- rabbits don’t usually like to be picked up, it can stress them out, so try and not pick them up unless you’re putting them somewhere, don’t pick them up just because. Also, when you’re picking your rabbit up from anywhere (especially their cage) MAKE SURE to support their back legs. I can’t stress this enough, if your rabbit gets frightened or upset due to you picking them up they may try to thump, and if they thump while there is nothing supporting their back legs IT CAN BREAK THEIR BACK.

2. Food- this is SOOOO important. When I first got my rabbit I just wanted to buy her all these fun treats you see marketed to rabbits... DON’T DO IT. Those yogurt bites or those bright cookies are NOT good for them, their marketing is completely wrong. They say you can give up to 3 a day???? No, they will hurt your rabbits digestive system because they are not built for that. They will eat the heck out of them but it can cause bad times later. Also, all those “fun blends” of food with dried carrots and corn and dried whatever are NOT good. You’re bunny may love it and it may look good for them but it’s NOT. Especially the corn, CORN CAN KILL RABBITS. You can feed your rabbits things like strawberries and apples (NO SEEDS) and carrots etc, but sparingly!!!! They enjoy them but they’re high in sugar. Leafy greens are ok to have a little more often but don’t overdo it! If consumed too often they can have diarrhea. For their food just use pellets, nothing fancy, I promise they will still eat them. AND LOTS OF TIMOTHY HAY!! This is an essential part of their diet, not only do they love Timothy hay, but it helps them digest their food. So Timothy hay should not be skimped it on, it should be the main part of their diet. If you’re wanting to know what treats to give them, my top brand is rosewood, it’s organic (a little pricy) and my bun loves it! I also would look at SOME products from Kaytee, they have some good ones (like Timothy buiscuts) and some bad ones (like the fiesta rabbit food)

Good:

And bad:

And of course also be sparing with these treats as well.

3. Socialization- when people get a rabbit a lot of times they’re infatuated with it for a little bit and then it just becomes another thing in the house. DO NOT DO THIS. Rabbits are very social animals who require attention, if they are neglected then they can get depressed and just bad in general. You need to socialize with you’re rabbit and bond with it! Get it some toys! (But toys won’t replace human interaction!) if you’re getting one for your kids, don’t let them not pay attention to them. They are not a game that you can get rid of once you’re tired of it.

4. Cage&litter box- get a spacious cage! I’m actually going to make mine even larger and just build one coming up soon, but rabbits need space to lay out and be able to hop. And example of a bad cage is the one in that video where the rabbit is jumping out of it:

That cage is wayyy to small. Also don’t get a wire bottom cage, would that be comfy to you? I line my cage with aspen shavings, they’re natural and they love them. Now to the litter box. A lot of the time pet stores sell litter boxes that look like this

This is NOT big enough. Rabbits love their litter box and if you’re cage does not accommodate one AT LEAST have a large one for when you’re rabbit is out and roaming. I got a large plastic one (that was probably meant for cats) at the dollar store for $1! My rabbit can flop all the way out in it and still have room! A litter box should have litter and Timothy hay.

5. When you’re rabbit is roaming- if you are home, let your rabbit roam! They are very curious and love to explore. Set their big litter box out and I also suggest getting them safe things, for example I have a cat house and a big pillow for my bun and she loves them! Also rabbits WILL chew on things, base boards, furniture, wires etc. So I suggest you get some protective coverings for the wires if nothing else, it can be dangerous if they chew on them especially if plugged in or ingested. If you want to limit where you’re rabbit can go, just get a play pen you can set out, big enough for them to run and play in! Fold it up when you’re done!

6. Behavior- There are many ways your rabbit can tell you how it’s feeling, some of those things are: thumping- this means you’re rabbit is scared/senses a potential threat or is upset

Binky- a binky is something rabbits do when they’re reallllyyyy happy don’t get scared if you’re rabbit does this, it will run and jump suddenly often twisting its body and head.

Flopping- if you’re rabbit flops it means that they are very happy and feel safe, flopping is a position that makes them vulnerable.

Chin rubbing- you may see your rabbit rub its chin on certain items, this is their way of saying “I like this, this is mine now”

Bunny butt- this is when you’re rabbit puts its bottom towards you and looks at you over its bottom, it’s basically just saying “I’m not feeling it”

Screaming- THIS IS BIG, if you’re rabbit screams it means that it is in terrible pain and needs to be assessed IMMEDIATELY.

Nipping/ biting- this is a little complex because nipping and biting can both be signs of aggression and agitation and need to be monitored however nipping can also be a grooming technique, for example my rabbit licks me if whatever she’s licking is bare (also, rabbits lick for affection, not salt!) but if she gets to a clothed part of me she nips because it’s like hair. If biting/nipping persists DO NOT EVER hit or “spank” you’re rabbit, they are fragile. If it is something that really needs to be fixed (I only recommend this in desperate situations because it can scare the rabbit) then each time you’re rabbit bites you, scream. Scream a loud, high pitched scream, not a long one either. This is what rabbits do when they get hurt so eventually your rabbit will realize it is hurting you.

Spraying- I don’t have as much knowledge on this particular behavior because my rabbit has never done it, all it is is marking territory but can be messy sometimes.

Well, that’s all I have for now, I hope this post is helpful and helps keep pet rabbits safer! Just remember rabbits are A LOT of work, more than a dog or cat, so you need to be committed.

[artificialqueens]

They Don't Love You Like I Love You 4/? (katlaska) - kamylove

“There is absolutely no factual or metaphorical fucking going on.” Not yet, anyway. Or, Katya and Alaska take the slow train.

It helps Alaska to know she’ll be seeing Katya soon, to know she’ll be able to look into Katya’s eyes with no camera in between, to make sure sure Katya’s as okay as she claims in the days after their phone call. Not that she’s ever known Katya to lie about her mental health; Katya’s more open about it than almost anyone. It’s just that Alaska knows what it’s like to lie to herself.

And Katya hasn’t been dumping her entire psyche on the internet as often lately, so there’s less information to go on.

Alaska turns down the offer of a ride from the airport. Instead, she waits 83 minutes for Katya’s plane to arrive, and buys an iced coffee the way Katya likes it, to take to the gate.

She doesn’t get a chance to hand it over. Katya walks right up to Alaska, pulls her close, and buries her face in Alaska’s neck.

Alaska hugs back, careful not to spill the coffee. “Hey,” she says, and Katya sighs like she’s put down a heavy load.

Are you okay is such an empty question. Alaska says, “Missed you,” instead.

Katya squeezes her tighter and just breathes. Alaska rests her cheek on Katya’s head and they stay that way for a long time, just two gay boys in the sea of travelers that, for these few moments, is passing them by.

<><><>

“I really am okay,” Katya says, as they head to baggage claim. “It’s just nice to have someone who won’t judge me.”

“I judge you for all sorts of things,” Alaska says. “Like that fucking raccoon.”

Katya, waving her drink around in a way that often leads to a big mess, fakes an insulted gasp. Alaska laughs and takes the cup away from her, just in case.

“That fucking raccoon is my best friend!” Katya says. “Don’t insult her, she’ll hear!”

“Is she in your backpack? Is she listening right now?”

“No, but we share a deep, devoted, psychic link.”

“That makes it even more-”

“I lied,” Katya says. She stops without warning in the middle of the concourse, annoying the family behind them.

“What?” Alaska says. Usually she can follow Katya just fine, these days.

Katya looks her in the eye. “I’m a shitty liar. I don’t care who judges me. I just wanted it to be you.”

Alaska feels something warm and unexpected bloom in her chest. Honestly, it hadn’t crossed her mind to question why Katya had called. “I’m glad,” she says. “I’m glad you called and I’m glad I could help.”

Katya smiles at her, and they keep walking.

<><><>

They are, thankfully, not performing that night, so it’s almost the reverse of that first night in Aspen: room service, a couple movies, and Katya falling asleep sooner than either of them expects. Alaska watches her sleep longer than she thinks she should.

In the middle of the night Alaska hears a text notification on her phone, and decides to ignore it. But a few minutes later the phone actually rings and she reaches for it blindly, moving nothing but her arm.

It’s Roxxxy, who must have just arrived, and who sounds wide awake. “Where are you? I went to your room. Are you in there and being rude?”

“I’m in Katya’s,” Alaska says without thinking.

“Really?” Roxxxy says. “You and Katya? You might be skinny bitches, but that’s just hot.”

Katya stirs and throws an arm over Alaska, but Alaska, not wanting to wake her, slips out of bed and into the bathroom.

“It’s not like that,” Alaska says. “She needed a friend. I fell asleep.” It isn’t true; she’d never intended to leave. But she’s not ready to open it up to questioning.

“Okay,” Roxxxy drawls. “So, how many times have you fallen asleep in Katya’s room?”

“Oh, my God,” Alaska groans. “Leave me alone.”

Roxxxy’s still laughing when Alaska hangs up.

<><><>

It’s a short series of shows on the East Coast, just a couple weeks, with most of the All Stars 2 girls. They know each other so well by now that they can just relax and have fun and make people laugh.

Katya can’t even explain to herself what a relief it is to have Alaska there. She loves all the girls, and she’s happy to have them around, too. They keep her busy and entertained. They’re family.

But it’s so nice, and so easy, to have somebody who can keep up with her no matter what, somebody who won’t ask her to slow down or repeat. Their brains spark off each other, like fireworks. If left to their own devices, which happens more and more lately, they’ll take off down a rabbit hole and look up to find hours have passed.

All the Ru girls are smart. Many of them are brilliant. But there aren’t many who are as quick as Alaska.

They rewatch Katya’s episode of Hey Qween together, and Alaska laughs and laughs at how shell-shocked Jonny looks. “You broke him!” she says.

Katya preens. “ADD is my superpower.”

“You can leap 20 topics in a single bound,” Alaska says.

Katya preens some more, but she can’t keep it up. She laughs instead, flailing a bit for effect.

“It’s disturbing how easy it is for me to follow you now,” Alaska says.

“Agreed,” Katya says. “I worry about you.”

“When did I start liking you so much?” Alaska asks.

“I have no idea,” Katya says, “because I am a heartless, hateful bitch. And I’ve never even eaten you out, which is usually what makes me so popular.”

<><><>

Katya: dinosaur

Alaska: bat

Alaska: You are sitting three feet away from me.

Katya: spoilsport

Alaska: harmony

Katya: turnip

Alaska: cowboy

Katya: Czechoslovakian

Katya: eclair

Alaska: jerky

<><><>

Alaska colors in pages from Katya’s coloring book, making them as garish as her imagination can come up with. She likes to practice keeping a straight face when she hands them to Katya, who always pretends to be offended.

“I really question your taste level,” Katya says.

Alaska just gives her another.

<><><>

“So, Miss Alaska,” Alyssa asks her while they’re in line at Starbucks. “Tell me the truth. What is going on with you and Katya?”

“I hate her guts,” Alaska says. “Everyone knows that.”

“All right, all right, if that’s the way you want to play it. But there’s something there.” She points at Alaska’s eyes, and then her own, with two fingers. “I can see it.”

“Well, then, you need to explain to me what that is,” Alaska says, “because I don’t see it.”

Alyssa makes an Alyssa face, but it quickly shifts to something more more mischievous as she says, “She likes you, too, you know.”

Alaska groans. “Will you stop?”

“Okay, I’ll drop it,” Alyssa says. “I can take a hint.”

“Since when?” Alaska asks.

“You shady bitch,” Alyssa says cheerfully.

“If you want drama, you’re going to have to stir it up yourself,” Alaska says. “Try Phi Phi.”

“Ooh,” Alyssa says. “Seriously shady bitch.”

<><><>

“Tell me the truth,” Ginger says quietly, as she and Katya touch up their faces in the same mirror during a show. “I already know you’re sharing rooms.”

“Friends with room sharing benefits?” Katya says.

“Is that the only benefit?”

“Is having access to her wig wardrobe a benefit?”

“You tell me,” Ginger says.

“Honey,” Katya says. “Look at this tragic thing I am wearing.” It’s intentionally ugly, to go with the rest of her look, and she twirls to show it off. “What do you think?”

“Tell me you don’t have a fetish for those long, blond locks?” Ginger asks suspiciously.

“Is not fetish,” Katya says in her Russian accent. “Is obsession. Why you cannot keep straight?”

“Ain’t nothing straight about that,” Ginger says.

<><><>

Alaska: pogo stick

Katya: You’re sitting three feet away from me.

Katya: cactus

Katya: fossil

Alaska: artichoke

Alaska: talent

Katya: Alaska

Alaska: That’s cheating.

“What the fuck are they doing now?” Detox asks.

Tatianna says, “I don’t even want to know.”

<><><>

After the tour, half of the girls, including Katya, are off to Europe for a month, and the rest, including Alaska, go their separate ways.

Alaska has a week in LA and too many things to squeeze in: meetings, interviews, a recording session, dry cleaning. But Willam talks her into going out by saying, “Support your local queens,” which Alaska can never resist.

Standing there, cranberry juice in hand, sighing the occasional autograph as Willam flirts with everyone in a twenty-foot radius, Alaska has trouble keeping her mind on the show. The drag is good, and she claps and cheers and tips, but she reluctantly admits to herself that it’s not where she wants to be.

She’s home so rarely now that she feels out of touch. But she doesn’t think that’s the real problem.

“What’s with you?” Willam asks eventually. “You’re a real downer tonight.”

Alaska just shrugs.

“It’s not right, working as much as you do. You need to say fuck it sometimes.”

“Fuck it,” Alaska says.

“Weren’t you seeing a guy?” Willam says. “The one with the glasses? He was hot. I would have done him.”

“That was months ago,” Alaska says. “I don’t know. He was nice, but he couldn’t hold my attention, you know?”

“Been there, done that,” Willam says.

(A long time later, Katya will say, “You’ve held my attention for at least .09 seconds, which is impressive considering my average is .03,” and Alaska will say, “I’m three times more interesting than average!” and Katya will look at her like she’s an idiot and say, “Duh. Everybody knows that.”)

<><><>

Alaska stays just long enough after the show to say nice things to all the performers, and to demand that Willam give her phone back. (“Be in the moment,” Willam had said. Alaska had rolled her eyes.) She’s performed here many times; she knows where all the exits are, so she sneaks out while Willam’s not looking.

When she turns the phone back on, on the way to her car, she finds just two texts from Katya, which is a surprise.

“Bored. Lonely. Bored,” says the first, and “Need constant entertainment,” says the second.

Alaska facetimes her, and finds Katya just waking up, her hair sticking out in all directions.

“You need a constant audience,” Alaska says.

“That too!” Katya says, pointing her finger at the screen like Alaska’s said something earth shattering.

“Trade?” Alaska asks.

Katya makes a face. “Not that kind of audience,” she says. “Or that kind of lonely.”

Alaska knows exactly what she means.

[coldphoenix]

Skinny Dipping

Author’s Note:-

So I said I would do a request for my friend @littlepuku… she gave me a prompt list, and I picked one for Aspen and Nodin. But uh… I got a little carried away with the idea, so I included two followup sketches with Viola and Bassoon as well XD I hope that’s okay lol. Enjoy! Aspen, Nodin and Bassoon belong to @littlepuku.

xxxxx

Giggle. Squeal! “Ssh! You’ll wake the kids…” “Sorry…” Nodin but her lip, trying to contain her excitement as she followed her husband into the water. They were on a family camping trip. Everybody had gone to bed, Aspen and Nodin included. But Nodin couldn’t sleep, so she’d gone outside to look at the stars… and she must have woken Aspen, because not long after he joined her. Then Nodin had noticed how pretty the lake looked under the moonlight… and Aspen had suggested they go for a swim. So now, with a burning blush upon her cheeks, Nodin watched Aspen step into the water, using his tail as a guide. “Oh! It’s cold.” Aspen commented. He didn’t mind much, though. He liked this idea. He submerged himself in the water, and spiralled away from land, towards the centre of the moonlit lake. “Hey!” Nodin whispered harshly from the lakeside; he could just about hear her. “Wait for me!”

She didn’t want to yell too loud, in case she woke their children. But he was so far away! Couldn’t he sense it? It seemed like he didn’t care. Nodin dipped the tip of her tail into the water, and flinched at its coldness. It was a warm summer’s evening, but still the water wasn’t so warm… Nodin didn’t really like cold water. But… Aspen was waiting for her. That was more important! She bit her lip in excitement, and let out another small giggle. “I’m coming…” She squealed, and carefully lowered herself into the lake.

Aaaa… “Aspen…!” Nodin whispered, as loudly and as discreetly as she could. “It’s cold…” She made her way over to him; she could just about see his outline in the distance. He was floating on the water; he seemed so relaxed… it was nice. A small smile formed on Nodin’s face, and she felt a warmth in her heart. He seemed very peaceful…

She got closer to him; close enough to see his face. “Aspen…” Nodin’s smile brightened when he turned towards the sound of her voice, and offered a friendly grin. “It’s not too cold?” He questioned, moving into an upright position. “It’s okay…” Nodin swam closer to him, and caught his tail with her foot. She giggled as he wrapped his tail around her, and pulled her against him. “I can warm you up.” Aspen purred. “Giggle. Okay then!” Nodin felt her cheeks burning as he placed his arms around her, entangling his tail in hers. He planted a kiss on her cheek; he could feel her smile. It was… beautiful. “Nodin…” Aspen spoke softly against her, nuzzling his face against hers. He felt… so in love with her. It was so nice, being able to hold her… “I love you.” “I love you too…” Nodin whispered. She placed her lips on his, and they kissed for a long moment. She could feel his tail stroking hers, and his hands caressing her back… then they moved down. “Aspen!” Nodin broke away from the kiss, her cheeks turning bright purple. “Right here?” “Why not?” Aspen grinned. “Isn’t that why people do this sort of thing?” “I… I don’t know…” Nodin answered shyly. “Maybe…” “Well… so long as we’re quiet, and don’t wake the kids…” Aspen beamed. “What do you think?”

Nodin looked at him, and couldn’t help but giggle. The expression on his face… it was so bright and child-like; he looked so excited! It was cute. “Okay.” Nodin bit her lip, and nodded. “But… we have to be quiet.” “Mm.” Aspen moved his hand across his lips to zip them shut, causing Nodin to laugh.

xxxxx

“Viola…?” Bassoon whispered as loudly as he could, whilst trying to stay quiet. “Come on… stop messing around!” He looked around the lake. He was nervous, and terrified of getting caught. He and Viola had snuck out after everyone had gone to bed… Viola thought it would be fun to go for a swim. It had kind of seemed like a fun idea to Bassoon as well, so he’d agreed to go… but Viola always had to take things too far, and she’s gone underwater and gone off swimming on her own. Bassoon didn’t see where she went, and now he was stuck out on the lake. He didn’t want to go back to the tent, because he didn’t want to leave her on her own out here… but he couldn’t call out for her either, in case he woke his parents and siblings. This was so annoying! “Viola…!” Bassoon whispered harshly, becoming more frustrated by the second. This wasn’t funny! “Come on, stop – aaa!” He clasped his hands over his mouth, to silence his own scream before he could wake anyone. He felt something… he really hoped it was her. There was something… touching his privates. His exposed privates… he knew he should have worn his swim shorts! Viola had said it would be fun to go naked, but this wasn’t fun for him! This was creepy! Was it a fish…? Ewwwww, if it was a fish he would cry! “V…” Bassoon spoke through his hands, his body trembling. This was horrible… “Vi… aaa…” It felt warm, and tight… uhhhhh, this was her, right…? It wasn’t a fish, or a frog… or a crocodile? Oh, no! What if it was a crocodile? What if it bit his thing off? “Aaaa!” Bassoon cried out in fright, desperately splashing away from the creature. He flailed at it, and felt the harsh thud of his foot diving into its skull. Then sudden a jolt of panic shot through Bassoon’s heart. That hadn’t felt like a crocodile… it hadn’t feel like a fish either… oops…

Splash! Just as he’d feared, Viola’s head popped out from under the water, and she set her eyes upon him. She looked annoyed… Aww… he felt bad now… “Bassoon, what the hell!” She barked. “Sorry!” Bassoon whimpered. “I thought you were a crocodile!” “What kind of crocodile gives a blowjob?” Viola argued. “If I was a crocodile I would have just bitten it off!” “I thought maybe it was tasting it first…” Bassoon felt his cheeks burning, as an overwhelming sense of embarrassment and guilt overcame him. He didn’t mean to hurt her… He hadn’t been thinking – it was instinct! “Sorry… I’ve never done this before. And – you were the one that left me!” He pouted. “I didn’t know what you were doing!” “Hmm…” Viola sighed, calming down. She looked at him, studying the guilty, ashamed, defensive expression upon his face… He had all sorts of emotions going on, and they were all bad ones. He was obviously upset… … Poor thing. She smirked slightly. “I was just trying to have fun.” She grinned. “Don’t be so uptight. And don’t freak out. If you’re in the lake with your girlfriend and you feel something sucking your dick, it’s probably your girlfriend.” “Uh… okay…” Bassoon mumbled sheepishly. Well yeah… that made more sense… When he thought about it… What else would do that…? “Unless it’s a leach fish.” “A – a what?” Bassoon yelped, his eyes widening. What the heck was that? “Yeah. They crawl up inside your dick to suck the blood.” Viola said. “And they dig their teeth right in. It’s impossible to remove them without just cutting the dick off.” “What!” Bassoon shrieked, and immediately clasped his hand over his mouth when he realised how loud he was. Crap! Did anybody hear that? But – aaaaaaaaa, was she being serious? This was a joke, right? She was joking, right? “Ssh! You’ll get us caught.” Viola whispered. She smirked again, and giggled. “But it doesn’t matter, does it? If we have to cut it off, you can regenerate.” “I still don’t want to go through it!” Bassoon cried, from behind his hands. “I’m getting out!”

He turned to swim back to the tent, when he heard Viola giggling, and felt something soft against his back. It was probably her boobs… Bassoon would blush, if he wasn’t so terrified. He just wanted to get out of here! This lake was dangerous! “Settle down…” Viola whispered, her breath tickling his ear as she spoke. Bassoon’s cheeks darkened slightly… it felt nice. She knew his ears were his weak spot…

He felt her arms wrap around him, and her hands slide down his chest, over his belly, towards his lower region. “They can’t get you if I’m in the way, right…?” “Uh…” Bassoon’s blush deepened, as he became increasingly aware of her hands on him. She was stroking him… “V-Viola… you were kidding, right…?” He whimpered. “There aren’t really fish like that in here…?” “I dunno, maybe.” Viola shrugged. She’d thought nothing of answering honestly, until she felt his entire body tense. “Vi…” Bassoon sobbed. “Really…?” “Don’t worry.” Viola giggled. “I’m sure there aren’t.” she planted a kiss behind his ear, and smirked when he shivered in response. He was a little excited; she could feel it in her hand. “But… just to be sure, how about I hide it…?” “Uh…” Bassoon swallowed, his antennae twitching. He didn’t know how to answer, because he honestly felt so conflicted. There were pros, and cons… but she took his silence as a yes, and Bassoon felt the soft squishiness of her boobs leave his back, and he heard the sound of her lowering herself underwater… then he felt a tight, wet warmth around him, and he bit his lip. Well… so long as she made a good seal… maybe for a little while… “Ah…” He closed his eyes, and soon forgot about the scary fish.

xxxxx

Kiss. Giggle. Nodin tried to keep her squeals quiet as she and Aspen made their way back to the shore, hand in hand. They’d done it in the water… it was so naughty! She felt like a newly wed, or like she was meeting up with her secret boyfriend! It was so exciting! “We should do this again sometime…” Aspen whispered. “What do you think?” He tapped her butt with his tail, causing her to giggle again. “Okay!” She whispered back. “But be quiet, the kids might hear –”

Suddenly, Nodin stopped dead in her tracks. They… weren’t alone. There were… witnesses. In the water, by the shore, naked from the waist up at least… there were Viola and Bassoon. Bassoon looked… mortified. “U-Uh…” he choked, his cheeks darkening and his body shaking. Oh, no! They’d been caught! “H-Hi…” Quick! He had to think of an excuse! His mind was racing. Had Nodin seen Viola’s boobs yet? Had Viola put them away? Oh, he hoped Viola had put them away… please don’t let her be naked… Bassoon glanced at Viola, and noticed that she was still unclothed, and making no attempt to cover herself. Dammit! Why? What was wrong with her? He looked back at his mother, and desperately threw out the first thing he could think of. “I… I was too warm – we – we were too warm in the tent.” Bassoon stammered. “S-So we… we just decided to swim naked. To… to cool off.” “Mm?” Aspen hummed, turning his head towards the sound of Bassoon’s voice. “Is that Bassoon?” “Y-Yeah…” Nodin nodded, a deep blush forming on her face. “And Viola… um…” She let go of Aspen’s hand and looked at Bassoon sheepishly, not seeming to realise what they’d been up to. She was too concerned with hiding her own activities… “We – we wanted to cool off as well.” Nodin said. “And… I wanted to see if there were water lilies, and I wanted to view the forest from the lake…” She hurriedly thought up a couple of excuses, hoping at least one of them sounded plausible. This was so embarrassing… “Oh…” Bassoon nodded. “Y-Yeah. Us too. We – we didn’t find any lilies though…” “No, us neither.” Nodin replied. “It was disappointing.” Bassoon said. “Yes.” Nodin nodded in agreement. “It was the main reason we came out here.” “Yeah…”

The four of them remained silent for a moment, with Nodin and Bassoon struggling to make eye contact, each of them wondering if the other believed them… until Viola finally spoke up. “Were you two doing it?” She asked bluntly. “Because… we were. That was pretty much the only thing we came out to do. I wasn’t looking for water lilies.” “Wha!” Bassoon started to cry out, before his breath was stifled by his own shock. How… how could she say that? “Oh! Ho ho.” Aspen started chuckling, a wide grin forming on his face. “Yes! Actually, us too!” He put his arm around Nodin, and blushed slightly. “Well… when you become parents, you don’t often get the chance. You two don’t know how lucky you are.” “I think my parents have the same problem.” Viola grinned, and laughed along with Aspen, while Nodin and Bassoon looked absolutely mortified.