#i wont go completely silent because hello?? there are wonderful people who i will continue to interact with

[staretes]

hi ik i already said i would go on a month long hiatus but please keep in mind updates might still be scarce even after exams!

long story short my mental health this time of year is usually more dismal than usual (prolly cuz its exams period) but this year it's especially bleak as my national exams loom closer

like usually when i have nothing to do i cannot get out of bed which is already quite bad but recently my appetite and sleep have gone haywire as well which is not good ahaha if only i had access to mental health services...

also im getting surgery in a month so yeah i'll also have to recover from that

[lovelybrooke]

Hello, Brooke.

I was wondering, what are the headcannons for how the strawhats would react to a reader who obtained a horrid wound in a fight, but wont show and tell them? (I know the strawhats wouldn't allow them to fight, just humor me)

Were talking almight stomach blast level wound and scar, but over their chest, one that barely missing their heart, with the only one knowing being chopper because he was the one who probably healed reader, or not if that's the direction your thinking, I'm cool either way.

I refuse (Yandere Strawhats x reader)

Took a break from 'I have to be dreaming' to write this. Hope you enjoyed this.

---

No one has found you yet.

You take a slow, wavey breath in, a shallow breath out, as you grip your chest in pain. Rain fell upon your face as you listen to the distant sound of swords clanking, people screaming, and of course, your friends arguing even during the middle of battle.

It honestly made you smile, if you had to die at any moment, it would be now, after you did everything you could to protect your crew. You smile, knowing the ship was safe. And you smile even more, knowing your friends were safe.

---

The ship was wrecked, parts of it were missing, but most disturbingly, blood was everywhere.

Chopper scans the main deck with a bated breath as he examined the damage. The others were still fighting, and you stayed on the ship, just like they told you.

You had to be safe, but the trail of blood leading towards the storage room said otherwise. Chopper stumbles, nearly falling over as he carefully examines the blood. It was dry, the liquid already seeped into the floorboards and has darkened. Chopper quickens his pace, fallowing the trail before stopping at a door to the storage room.

There were a few small, red handprints that caused Chopper's stomach to churn. The doorhandle was completely soaked red, dripping onto the floor below. Chopper hesitates opening the door, afraid of what's inside. He takes a deep breath, entering the dark room with a shiver in his body.

He couldn't see anything right way, having to blink a few times for his eyes to adjust. He stumbles around as he tries to find the light switch, hearing wheezing coming from deeper in the room.

As the light flickered on, he could see more blood, and for a second, he thought he could smell you. "(Y/N)..." There was so much blood, it covered the floor and a few boxes. Chopper waited for a response, nearly letting out a sob when the room remained silent. The wheezing though, it remained, it was so miniscule he almost missed it.

Following the sound and the blood, Chopper is frozen by the sight of you, on the floor, your lower stomach and chest covered in blood. It seeped into your shirt, on your hand, and on the floor. You were the source of the wheezing; your mouth opened a bit while your eyes were shot wide. He could tell you were struggling to breath by the terrible sound coming from your mouth and by your chest that was struggling to rise and fall.

Chopper stumbled over to you with a loud sob. He searches your body for the source of the bleeding, realizing it's coming from multiple points. You don't move or react at all when he starts asking you questions in a panicked, rushed manner.

"(Y/N)!! W-what...what happened!?" He cries, growing frustrated when you don't answer, only continue to wheeze. Chopper takes your hand, pulling you to stand up, but you scream in pain, resulting in him dropping your hand immediately.

He panics for a second, looking at you, now groaning in pain, and the door leading back to the main deck, before crouching down next to your ear. "I'll be back...I'm going to get help." Chopper runs back onto the deck, your blood covering his hands.

On the deck, Chopper hops onto the railing closest to the island they were fighting on. He heaves, squinting as he looks for any familiar faces. There were too many people on the battlefield, but he could hear his friends far away. Taking a deep breath, he yells.

"Luffy!! Zoro!! Anybody!! (Y/N)'s hurt!!! Please come help!!"

---

Luffy stops moving, the marine he was fighting confused as Zoro stops as well, slashing a few marines in quick succession. "Was that Chopper?" Zoro turns towards the captain, who was already facing the sound.

Luffy's face was nearly devoid of emotion, only slight rage present on his face. He didn't say a world, and when the Marine behind him tried to pounce on him, he sends a punch flying his way. Teeth and blood shoot out as the Marine collapses. Blood drips down Luffy's fist as he faces Zoro.

"He said (Y/N) was hurt, let's go." Luffy didn't wait for him, bounding off towards the ship, Zoro quickly fallowing.

On the boat, Chopper was pacing tirelessly as he waits for anyone. Every few minutes, he rushes back to the storage room to check your pulse, it still beating faintly.

The moment he heard someone enter the deck, he rushed towards them, being greeted by a very panicked Luffy and Zoro. Chopper stammered a bit, watching with tears as Zoro's jaw tightens at the sight of the blood.

"Where are they." His voice was so cold, and Chopper could help but notice his tight grip on his swords. Chopper points towards the storage room, trying to catch up to the two men as they rush to you.

"I-I...they need to be moved to the medical room...I can't lift them...they're in pain..." Chopper explains as they weave in between the boxes of the storage room.

The wheezing has stopped, and Chopper swears his heart breaks when he Luffy shakily checks for a pulse, and his eyes widens when he doesn't feel it. Chopper starts to sob when Luffy hurriedly checks on the opposite side of your neck, then your wrist, which was cold.

"Chopper...why--there's not pulse--" Luffy mumbles, looking at the crying reindeer.

"I--I checked...they were breathing...I swear..." Chopper sobs, hiccupping as Luffy presses his fingers deeper like he refused to except what's happening.

"Zoro..." Luffy chokes out. Zoro had remained silent, his eyes fixated on you and the blood surrounding you. "Take them to the medical room." His words were stilted, robotic like as he directed Zoro towards you.

Zoro swallowed hard as he inched towards you. As he got closer, he could hear the squelch of your blood on the bottom of his shoes. He had to bite his tongue in order to ignore it, flinching when he touched your cold skin.

He wraps his arms around your shoulders and legs, attempting to lift you up when you groan in pain. The sound is more of a gurgle, but he could tell you were in pain by the blood that was now soaking his arms.

"You're okay...I'm just going to take you to the medical room." He whispers at your cries, trying not to drop you when you weakly cough out some blood. Luffy and Chopper follow him, Luffy attempting to hold your hand only for it to weakly flop to the side.

Zoro kicks open the door to the medical room, placing you down on the table while Chopper hops up onto a chair next to you. Luffy and Zoro stand next to you as Chopper cuts open your shirt. Underneath, stab wounds were littered all over your chest and stomach, a large, deep cut traveling near the side of your heart.

Luffy clenches his fist as Chopper pats alcohol onto the wounds. You remain quiet, your body still as Luffy keeps a hand on your pulse, constantly checking for any signs of light. He leans down near your ear, ranting to you in hushed whispers that you don't respond to.

"(Y/N)...you're okay. Everything is going to be okay. I promise when you wake up, I'll kill whoever did this to you." Zoro stopped listening to anyone or anything a while ago. He couldn't, not when you were so clearly dying right in front of him. No...you weren't dying...he wouldn't allow it. He refuses for you to die.

"Luffy! Zoro! Where did you--" Zoro turned around, being faced with Nami's terrified face. Her shaky hand was covering her mouth, and her eyes were blown wide. "W-w-what...happened..." She could barely get the words out as she attempted to move closer without actually looking at your wounds.

Luffy nor Zoro responds, Chopper having to do the work for them as he prepared the stiches for you. "I-I think they were attacked, I'm not sure."

"Do you think they're dead?" Luffy, who was previously to concerned with whispering in your ear, shoot up, sending Nami a terrifying look.

"NO!" He shouts, scaring Nami. He grips you hand tighter as Chopper begins to stich you up. He leans down back near your ear. "I swear I can feel a pulse. You feel it too, right Chopper?"

Chopper doesn't respond.

More footsteps are heard, all rushing towards the commotion. First was Usopp, who had a similar reaction to Nami, nearly screaming when he saw you on the table, asking questions no one could answer. Then came Sanji and Robin, who both were more muted, but still visibly upset at the state you were in.

"Do you know who did this." Currently everyone, except Luffy, was gathered in the dining room. Sanji was trying to make food for everyone, but no one was really in the mood for food currently.

Zoro shook his head at the cook's question. "No, but it had to be a marine who got onto the ship." Zoro was stating the obvious, but it was better than nothing.

Sanji placed down some soup for everyone onto the table, lighting a cigarette afterwards. "This is all your fault. I knew we should've kept them in an inn. Less obvious and less dangerous." Sanji snarled at Zoro.

"Yeah, an inn is super inconspicuous." Zoro rolled his eyes. "Dumbass."

"Don't call me a dumbass when your stupid decision has them laid out across a medical table!" Sanji howls, standing up in pure anger, nearly spitting on the swordman.

Zoro stands, face to face with Sanji. "Well at least I'm not selfish enough to keep them locked up somewhere they don't want to be."

Sanji laughed. "You're calling me selfish. They begged to be left off the ship for weeks now and you know who kept them from leaving? You!"

"Enough!!" Nami stands up, separating the two. "Blaming each other isn't going to solve anything. We did what we thought, as a crew, was best for them. We collectively me a choice." Nami says.

Sanji and Zoro both sit, rage still radiating off of them. Usopp, who was sitting near Chopper in the corner, looked down at his hands. "Do you...really think they're, y'know..." Usopp couldn't finish, he couldn't say the word, but they understood.

"No." Zoro said matter of factly. "They're going to be fine."

No one had the heart to refute him.

---

Luffy was still sitting right next to you, even when the sun set, and the stars were decorating the sky. He remined, waiting for you.

"And them Sanji kicked some Marines ass, it was so funny, he was crying like a baby." Luffy recounts the battle from earlier today. He smiles at your unconscious body, it was wide, but devoid of any real happiness.

Luffy wants to cry at the sight of you. He's the captain, he's your friend, he has to protect you, and he failed. He can talk to you, sit with you, apologize all he wants, but it doesn't change the fact you're still in this situation.

You were probably so scared, begging for them to help you, and they were off, none the wiser to your own plight. The thought makes him want to cry.

"(Y/N)...please...as your captain I demand you wake up. Right now." He was acting childish, but he didn't care. He wanted you back, that's all he cared about.

You didn't respond, he knew you wouldn't. But he had to try, it was the most he could do.

"When you wake up, Sanji said we're going to have a big feast." No, he didn't, he hasn't talked to Sanji in hours. "So, don't keep me waiting, alright?"

You didn't respond, and it was heartbreaking.

---

A/n: I wanted to try something more angsty, hope you liked it.

[junosmindpalace]

hello! i saw your requests were open and you write for saiki k ! 😁 I was wondering if i can request general dating hcs for saiki?

my first saiki request! exciting! also ive been so active??? hopefully i can keep this up, ive been working to clear out my inbox so i can open it again!

i miss watching saiki k i need to rewatch for the thousandth time 

general kusuo saiki dating headcanons

-for saiki, dating was never something of interest to him, especially considering the nature of his supernatural abilities

-even he’s uncertain how he managed to fall in love with you in his hectic everyday life, but he did, and to his surprise, you liked him back! So boom boom you two are dating!

-dating saiki isn’t a secret thing, but a private thing, you get what i mean? He doesn’t go out of his way to hide the fact you two are seeing each other but he definitely doesn’t initiate pda or outright tell people the two of you are dating just for the sake of telling

-saiki isnt completely reserved as most people may think though. I mean hes in a relationship for a reason. If he didnt want to take on the responsibilities of being a boyfriend then he wouldnt be in a relationship. Simple!

-pda is an absolute no no most of the time, but in private, he doesnt mind being more physical

-by physical i mean bothering the shit out of him

-maybe the two of you will be reading on his couch, opposite end of each other, and out of nowhere you just stretch your legs onto his lap

-he shoots you a glare and you stick your tongue out, and thats pretty much it. He doesnt push you off, just continues reading and letting you relax

-maybe you’ll both be watching tv in the dark late at night and you’ll lean into his side and again, he wont move. Hell, he might rest his arm on the cushion behind you!

-dating saiki means youre probably the more talkative one, but there are plenty of times where saiki just loves to rant to you about his annoyances

-”ah look, nuisances A and B.” “kusuo thats rude” “dont pretend to be all nice”

-he brings you everywhere with him. As he already almost constantly gets dragged into something he doesnt want to do by his friends, he’s dragging you along with him so you can suffer too (cough he can tolerate his friends a bit more)

-youre a bit of a translator for him, usually the one who excuses his rudeness sometimes and he’ll go “don’t speak for me”

-his friends are shocked when he finds out about you to say the least. But they adore you!!

-sooo super nice because of course. eventually as you all continue to get closer and they notice the subtle change in saikis demeanor when hes around you, the soft smiles and attentiveness, theyre genuinely so happy for the two of you

-you have to beg him for homework answers that he typically refuses to give you, saying you need to take responsibility for your work

-you do know about his powers; you have to if youre his partner

-and sometimes you cant help yourself by asking questions or asking him to show off sometimes

-but other than that youre respectful of his boundaries and leave him alone about it

-but maaaaybe sometimes he’ll be nice. like if you accidentally misplaced something of yours, he’ll use clairvoyance to find it and silently leave in somewhere you’ll find later

-cafe dates! Purposely makes sure to steer clear of places his classmates would visit to avoid attention

-surprise him with a sweet he likes (bonus points if its to cheer him up after his friends put him in a foul mood) and he’ll give you a brief kiss on your cheek <3

-his parents love you which he doesnt know if its a good or bad thing, because theyre constantly all over you, his dad teasing him all the time

-you’re always welcome in their house!

-something you wouldve never expected was saiki getting protective, but when it comes down to his brother, he cant help but be a little nervous, so he keeps you a lot closer when hes visiting or his family visits him and invites you to come along

-overall being in a relationship with saiki is surprisingly exciting, and though he isnt very vocal about it, its through his little actions that you can tell he appreciates having you in his life

[airbendertendou]

SWEET LIES! ♡ poly!tokyo revengers

@clovers-garden-co​ requested : what about like, mikey, baji, and Kazutora x reader though.. especially for the drama part too.. because kazu would come later on, and it would just be jiro n kei.. and then boom, valhalla. maybe reader joins valhalla with kei to yk make sure he stays okay?

synopsis : baji keisuke has a staring problem. sano mikey manjiro eats all of your food and just giggles when you mention it. hanemiya kazutora allows bad thoughts into his head and bad people into his life. and you - well, you adore them all too much to let them go.

includes : mikey, baji & kazutora. the boys all have crushes on each other n i wont apologize for it. reader gets called a bitch by unnamed valhalla member ; kazutora ends up hitting him. au where kazu got the help he needed earlier on <3

song inspo ; sweet lies by exo

if you have a blank blog [no bio, no user, no header or profile pic, nothing reblogged, etc] do not interact with my content. you will be blocked.

Knowing Baji Keisuke was strange, to say the least. You knew he was your classmate — a firecracker of a boy hidden behind thick glasses. And that was it. Baji Keisuke was a mystery — but he had a staring problem, you found out.

Tilting your head so that you could see him from your periphrial vision, you could tell he was turned towards you — again. He never spoke to you, he just stared in your direction numbly. Today, it seemed, was your last straw. "Baji, do you have a problem with me?"

The brunette boy tensed, cheeks flushing as you faced him head on. He let out a mumbled, "tryin' to see somethin'", before stiffly turning to hunch over his desk once more. You left it at that, continuing the silent studying your teacher had assigned.

"Y/N." Baji called out to you once the lunch bell rang. Curiously, you stayed put as he shuffled to stand in front of you. Fidgeting with his glasses, the boy set his gaze on you, seemingly more confident than before. "My friend, Mikey... you'd be good for him, I think."

Oh, so that's what his deal was, your shoulders slumped in relief. He just wants to set me up with his friend. Nodding slowly to let the information sink in, your ripped a piece of paper out of your notebook. Scribbling down your phone number, you handed it to Baji almost shyly. "Tell me when and where, and I'll meet him. 'Kay?"

—— ♥︎ ——

Meeting Sano Manjiro — who insisted you call him Mikey — was a rollercoaster, to say the least. The blond had crumbs on his cheek and his mouth was stuffed with what was supposed to be a present for you. He swallowed dryly, eyes widening ever so slightly at the sight of you walking beside Baji. Clearing his throat, Mikey spoke up. "The cookie was really good, if you were wondering."

"I can tell," you spoke through a laugh. You couldn't help but grin at the funny and bizzare situation. Shuffling into the empty booth across from Mikey, you made room as Baji slid in beside you. The sight of the two of you together brought something warm to the blond's chest — he suddenly found it hard to focus on anything other than the knock of Baji's knee against his and the slight brush of your shoe. "Did you order yet?"

His mind was blank, completely empty other than the slight touches you and Baji accidentally gave him. You frowned at Mikey's silence, meeting Baji's gaze across the menu you were looking at. The brunette shrugged, nudging Mikey's foot under the table — the blond only sighed. Baji decided to speak up, "Mikey? Hello?"

"Don't like lemons," the boy murmured out. You snorted at that — facing the menu again when Mikey's face flamed up a little. "I mean— what did you ask again?"

Baji rolled his eyes at his friend — he knew Mikey would be starstruck at your presence, but this was a bit much. Little did Baji know that he was crowding Mikey's mind as well. "I'll just order for everyone. Be right back."

Silence hit the table as Baji left, Mikey refusing to meet your eyes when you tried to look his way. Picking at your cuticles, you could only hope this was going well — that Mikey would like you enough and that would stop Baji's stares. They were unnerving and flattering simultaniously and you weren't sure how that worked.

"How do you know Baji anyways?" Mikey is the one to break the tense atmosphere. You bit your lip, not noticing how his gaze dropped to your lips and stayed there. "He said you went to school with him."

"Yeah, we're classmates." You find yourself looking for Baji, smiling as you watched him squint at the menu as he ordered. He turned abruptly, sending a thumbs up your way. You awkwardly waved back before turning your attention to Mikey again. "He's different in school. The way he acts and looks."

Mikey laughed at that, looking down at the table as he grinned. "He's rowdy is what he is."

"I'm sure he says the same thing about you," you can't help but grin back.

The blond looks at Baji before his grin turns mischievous, curling up further on one side. Leaning in closer so that he was almost laying across the table, Mikey whispers loudly. "Has he told you his nickname yet? It's Edward."

"Like from that vampire movie?" Mikey let out another bark-like laugh, throwing his head back just as Baji joined them at the table again. The brunette raised an eyebrow as he distributed the treats, but you only smiled innocently. "Welcome back, Eddie."

Letting out a groan, Baji plops down into his seat beside you. He has a frown on his face as he narrows his eyes at Mikey. Sliding his drink closer, the brunette grumbles, "shouldn't have left you two alone."

You let out a small giggle, nudging your shoulder against his playfully. Mikey's eyes sparkle again at the interaction and the way Baji smiles down at the table after. Yeah, he lets out a dreamy sigh, could get used to this.

——

Nothing official happened that day. You and Mikey went out a few more times and more often than not, Baji was joining you. It wasn't awkward — he wasn't a third wheel at all — but more like an add on. Dates felt empty without both of the boys and you stopped thinking about why that was.

"Try this one." A spoon full of pink ice cream was in front of your face. Baji was watching you intensely as you ate the ice cream, eyes lighting up and humming in delight at the sweet taste. The brunette grins, "mixed berry paradise or somethin' like that. Good?"

"Really good!" You cheer. A head of blond hair swoops past you as Baji reloads his spoon. You let out a snort as Mikey takes the bite Baji got for himself. You spoon up some of your own frozen treat, "anyone want to try mine?"

Mikey is the first one to steal a bite, eyes closing in satisfaction at the sweetness. After seeing Baji's defeated frown, you gather up more ice cream for him to try, too. They both hum at the flavor and you cant hide your smile as you grab another bite for yourself.

"Indirect kiss..." is muttered from beside you. Mikey is staring at his spoon blankly before he looks at yours, then Baji's. "We just had... an indirect kiss..."

You and Baji exchange glances, wondering why that mattered so much. Friends share drinks and food all the time, right? Before you could think any further, lips are pressed against yours quickly and gone just as quick. With widened eyes, you don't even acknowledge Mikey turning your head so you were facing Baji now. Taking the hint, Baji presses a small kiss to your lips, too.

And it seems that they like that — kissing you one after the other — because they do it again. And again — every time you meet up, kisses are pressed to your cheeks and head and lips. Other forms of pda become a regular thing between the three of you, too.

—— ♥︎ ——

You're sat in the classroom with Baji, intertwined hands dangling between your desks. You're finishing up homework as he struggles to write a letter, asking how to spell something every now and then.

"This sound right?" The hand that's being held is tugged on, diverting your attention to the brunette beside you. Reading over what he wrote, you take your sparkly gel pen and cross out the incorrect words, writing the correct one above it. It's what you'd been doing for weeks now — you thought Baji just re-wrote the letter when he got home. "Oh. Yeah, that does make more sense."

Little did you know, Baji sent those letters as they were. Weekly, his friend had recieved a letter with your handwriting and his. It made him feel warm — made a spark of joy climb up his chest. You were told about this from a nervous Baji — his teeth made home in his bottom lip as he chewed them constantly.

"Keisuke," you nudge him with your shoulder, "everything alright?"

The brunette lets out a groan from beside you, his head falling against the foot of your bed. He was at your house to study and you were both sitting on the floor when you noticed his uncomfortable expression. "I want you to go somewhere with me. But, Mikey— I don't think it'd be okay to tell him. He'd get upset."

You lay a hand on his shoulder reassuringly, "then we don't have to tell him just yet."

—— ♥︎ ——

Seeing Hanemiya Kazutora for the first time was nerve-wracking, to say the least. The dual-haired boy tilts his head as he stares at you from behind the glass shield. Your hands are hidden, but one is wrapped around Baji's while the other is rubbing the bottom of your shirt.

"You don't have to stare," Baji grumbles, eyes narrowed Kazutora's way. "Y/N's pretty n'all, but cut it out."

You feel your face flush at the compliment, a smile automatically falling on your lips. Kazutora's eyes narrow in on your smile, copying the notion stiffly. He glances at Baji before looking to you again, "this is the sparkly pen? Yours and Mikey's—?"

"We're not really anything." You realize how it sounds when both boys frown. "I mean, officially. We go on dates or just hang out or—"

"I kiss Y/N then Y/N kisses Mikey... or the opposite."

Your mouth falls open in shock as your free hand lightly smacks Baji on the shoulder. The boy lets out a loud laugh, head thrown back as he cackles. You glance at Kazutora nervously, gulping at his stare. "You just made it sound so much worse!"

Weekly visits to see Kazutora became part of your schedule after that. Most times, Baji joined with letters or trinkets from his other friends. Mikey had finally been told the big secret and everything that was happening. The blond smiled and told you only one thing — "I hope he gets better."

[Kazutora cried when you told him that, but he'd deny the tears.]

During one of your solo visits, an unfamiliar blond and brunette duo took your place in front of the glass shield. Kazutora looked distressed, his eyes foggy and disconnected from reality. You couldn't hear what they were saying, but you knew it was bad — really bad. You left soon after, telling Baji what you'd seen.

That was how Hanma Shuji and Kisaki Tetta were introduced into your world.

Keisuke told you they were lingering by — stirring up Kazutora's dark thoughts and tearing down everything he learned in therapy. The both of you kept a close eye since then, your intuation telling you something big was going to happen and you'd be trapped in the middle.

—— ♥︎ ——

The birth of Valhalla didn't shock you the way it did everyone else. What you didn't expect, however, was Kisaki Tetta. He was sitting proudly, back turned to Mikey as he was announced to be a new part of Toman. You frowned, looking at Draken for confirmation — he only shrugged. It wasn't like the others could tell their commander no, after all. Baji was supposed to miss this meeting, so why did you see him stomping your way?

"I'll be joining Valhalla!"

This was news to you. Looking at Mikey with wide eyes, you could see the miniscule change in his face. The blond was confused, and heartbroken, but he'd keep it hidden until it was just the two of you. Watching Baji walk away hurt, but seeing Mikey silently break hurt even more. You knew where you were needed — knew Kei would tell you what's going on later.

Draken dismissed the meeting, leaving Mikey frozen in his spot as the rest of Toman left. Kisaki eyed you as he left and you shot a seething glare his way. The blond sat on the steps of the shrine, eyes staring blankly ahead. You stood in front of him, "everything alright, 'Jiro?"

Mikey hums, leaning closer to you. Silently, you comply letting his knees separate your legs so he could rest his head on your stomach. Running your fingers through his blond locks lightly, you think of what to say to reassure him. Mikey beats you to it, though, speaking up before you can. "Is this the end of it, then? The end of this — us?"

"No," you plant a kiss on his head. Grabbing his chin gently, you tilt Mikey's head up so you can kiss his pouting lips. "Trust Keisuke — trust me, okay? Everything will be fine."

——

A week later, you've just finished running errands when you see him. A grin breaks across your face as you speed up, your body colliding into Kazutora's as you both stumble. Clumsily, your arms wrap around his torso — you speak up when he makes a noise of protest. "Knew you were getting out soon, but not today!"

"Y/N," he breathes. You're grinning at him, still holding him tightly — Kazutora can't remember the last time someone was this happy to see him. Trembling  hands found your shoulders, pulling you closer to him stiffly. "I— yeah. Got out yesterday. Kei didn't tell you that?"

You pull away so you can see his face with an exaggerated frown. "I've been grounded from his house. His mom said 'I do love seeing you around, sweetheart, but he's gotta get his grades up. Sending you all my love!' when I called the other day."

Kazutora lets out a breathy laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, sounds like him." He peers at you curiously, his hands sliding from your shoulders to your hips. "And what're you doin' out and about, hm? Scary around here when someone pretty's all by themselves."

"Not alone — I'm with you," you reply without thinking. Kazutora sinks into you, pressing his forehead to the top of your head so that you can't see his blushing face. "Just got something to snack on, though."

"So, you're free now?" He pulls away to ask. You nod with a small mhm, wondering why he was asking. "Wanna go somewhere with me?"

That's how you end up in an abandoned arcade, people in white jackets eyeing you curiously. Whistles and jeers echo around you, burning into your skin with the eyes that follow your form. Kazutora has his hand wrapped in yours as he guides you deeper into Valhalla's hideout. Leaning to your ear, he whispers, "stay put, I'll be right back."

You clear your throat as you shuffle uncomfortably. You were in the enemy's territory now — completely vulnerable in the wolves den. A smirking, cheap looking guy waltzes his way up to you. He makes a show of checking you out before he speaks. "Oh? What's Toman's bitch doing here?"

"I'm—" you take a breath harshly as he comes closer. Backing away and squaring your shoulders, you meet his sultry gaze head on. "I'm not a member of Toman."

His grin widens at that as he inches closer. Need Manjiro, you think. Need Baji or Kazutora — need my boys before I bash this guys head in. Tilting his head, he looks you up and down once more. "So you're ours for the taking? You gonna be Valhalla's new play thing?"

His head is snapped to the left as a fist crunches into his nose. Golden eyes look crazed — murderous — as Kazutora places himself between you and the guy. Kazutora grins, and it's nothing like how he smiles at you — it's harsh ; sharp as he glares at his gang member. "Wanna repeat that?"

"Don't have too much fun without me," you hear Keisuke's voice. Warmth is pressed against your back as he slumps into you, his chest vibrating against you as he laughs. An arm is slung around your waist, a reassuring squeeze meeting your right hip. "Guy's got some nerve callin' our special friend a bitch."

You calm down quickly at the sight of them. Though, one word catches your attention and you swat Baji's arm lightly with a scowl. "Not your 'special friend', Kei. Sounds weird when you say stuff like that."

"Sorry," he says before placing a kiss on your head. He's not, though, if the grin you can feel against your temple says anything. Kazutora swings a few more times, the guy on the ground now choking on the blood that's escaped his busted lip. "Alright, 'tora. Let's show Y/N around, hm? Not spend time on worthless fleas."

Kazutora straightens up, breathing heavily as he stares at the ground. Silently, Baji takes one of Kazutora's hands in his and begins to lead you both away from the quivering, half-conscious body. The three of you find a place of solitude in the arcade, circling around each other for a blanket of safety. You eye the way Baji keeps his hand locked in Kazutora's until the developing bruises catch your gaze.

You reach out before thinking, you grasp the dual-haired boy's free hand in both of yours. A frown settles on your face — one that Baji admires and Kazutora gets the urge to kiss away. Delicately, you run your thumb over his knuckles, letting out a sigh. "Sorry 'bout your hand, 'tora. Didn't mean for you to get hurt."

"S'okay," he whispers. Kazutora is melting, his brain zapping and filling with thoughts of you he can't control. A glance at Baji tells him this might be okay — that he wasn't a terrible, awful friend for his wandering gaze. "Don't mind a bruise or two if it means you're safe."

—— ♥︎ ——

Mikey doesn't know what this means, but he hopes it's something good. You gave him a kiss before the big Toman versus Valhalla fight, squeezing his hand in comfort. Before you took a seat amongst the other viewers, you reminded Mikey — "trust them."

The blond could only hope that meant Baji would come back home soon — that you'd both come back to him safely.

You're sitting in front of the Haitani brothers, chewing on your bottom lip nervously. You don't allow your eyes to drift from the fight for even a second — you have to stare ; have to be certain one of your boys aren't hurt. There's a yell from Mikey as you see Kisaki hop his way to the fallen leader heroically. You roll your eyes at the sight, letting out quiet insults and curses that have the brothers behind you laughing.

The world goes still. Then, suddenly, two Valhalla members are swinging at Kisaki. With matching feral grins, Kazutora and Baji stare down at the injured blond. You let out a sigh of relief — they're safe ; everyone's safe. You straighten up at the sight of Mikey standing on shaky legs, his body bloody and already forming bruises. Baji's yelling is incomprehensive, but you assume he's telling Mikey his plan.

Confusion filters over the blond's face before he glances at Kazutora. That's all you remember before seeing Mikey pounce on Kisaki. The rest of the day is a blur, and nothing feels real until you're in the middle of the junkyard. Baji has an arm around your waist as he stands on your left, Mikey to your right. A dual-haired boy is standing in front of you nervously.

"I owe you an apology, and an explanation." Kazutora gulps down the fear of rejection as Mikey's dark eyes survey him. He takes in a deep breath, confidence building up in him as you and Baji encourage him silently. "About that night — your brother. I—"

"Later," the blond interupts him with a smile. It's a tired, battered smile, but it reassures him still. Wrapping an arm around your shoulders, Mikey leans against you in a sleepy haze. "Wanna go home right now. Sleepy."

A kiss is placed on your left cheek, trailing to the corner of your mouth as Baji loses interest in the conversation before him. Mikey lets out a whine, pecking your neck before he's grasping your chin and turning you to face him. Kazutora shuffles nervously at the sight, wanting nothing more than to copy their actions.

And then you're facing him, Mikey's hand still on your chin as he and Baji wait for the tiger to make a move. A brisk, barely-there peck is left on your mouth. It makes the brunette snort and Mikey grin before he's turning to leave.

Mikey looks back and tilts his head at Kazutora. "You comin' with us or what?"

—— ♥︎ —— this got longer than i intended for it to lmao oops but, thank you for your request, i hope it was everything you wanted <3 this is still going on! until november first ♥︎

airbendertendou © do not copy, plagiarize, repost, or translate my content on any platform. if you see my content under any other name than my own, let me know. i only have this tumblr and an ao3 account under the same name.

[daehee]

Chapter 7

Bitch Is Emotional

The next morning I woke up groggy from staying up so late. I went to the kitchen to get some water and maybe a small something for breakfast since I wasn't that hungry.

"Hey, how you holding up?" Yunjin asks as she makes her way into the kitchen.

"I'm good actually. I didn't drink so I'm good."

"Yeah, how are you and Keita?"

"I'm not really sure. We had a heart to heart last night, but I don't know if he'll remember any of it. He was pretty drunk."

"Oh, well... I wish you the best of lucky. That makeout session looked a little... heated."

"Pfft, yeah maybe it was."

"Welp, I'm gonna go get ready for class. We have a big day in dance today. It's evaluations. We get to see who gets what for performances. Aren't you and Keita doing music too?"

"Yeah, we both started singing when our dance teacher recommended it since we both wanna be idols."

"Nice, I'm sure y'all will get really good parts for performance then."

"Well... I hope."

I went back to my room, slipping on my uniform for the day... until dance class, and put on a little bit of makeup. I brushed my teeth and was ready to go.

"Yunjin-ahh! Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, let's go."

Yunjin followed me out of the dorms and we headed to the classroom part of the school. We headed to class, letting the day drag on. We finally made it to dance class and I felt like I woke up. Keita was talking to Eric, joking and laughing. I could tell Yunjin was watching me, seeing if I'd go up to him, but I didn't know if I should. I had already changed so I started stretching, and going through the motions of my dance to remind myself.

"Hey!" Keita said, poking my back multiple times.

"Hi." I said, continuing what I was doing, not really paying attention.

"No hug?" He asked, eyes wide and puppy like.

"Didn't realize we had to hug every time we saw each other."

"Well yikes... someone slept in the freezer. Why're you so cold?"

"How drunk were you last night?"

"Pretty drunk... shit did I do something?"

"Oh nothing much, just wondering if our relationship is really based on love or lies."

"L-lies?"

"Yeah apparently we've been lying to each other all these years, but it's whatever. We solved it, you called me your everything, but I'm struggling to wrap my head around the fact that it's my fault you didn't confess because I lied, yet you lied too. But whatever Keita, forget I said anything."

Keita's eyes turned sad and his lips formed a small pout. He grabbed my shoulders and turned me around.

"Did I really upset you by not telling you? I didn't think it'd be that big of a deal since you don't like me anymore."

"Right... you were drunk, you don't remember my confession."

"Confession?"

"I'm not over you Keita and I have no fucking clue how you feel because you wont fucking be honest. Yet here you are telling me to be completely honest with you and tell you all my shit. You should try it, maybe we could actually get somewhere."

"Hey whoa... calm down. I don't know where all this is even coming from, you didn't used to be like this. What happened?"

"Like what Keita?"

"Emotional."

"You did not just call me fucking emotional... I'm like this because of you Keita, all fucking you." I turned around and stormed to the other side of the room where Yunjin was silently practicing her part.

"God I fucking hate him."

"Oh well... hello. What'd he do."

"Ugh I don't wanna talk about it."

"Ok... welp, don't let it mess with your head during evaluations."

"I wont... I just... cant believe he called me emotional."

"He called you emotional? In a bad way?"

"Yeah, he said 'You didn't used to be like this, what happened?' I figured he of all people would understand that you don't fucking say that."

"Damn, I thought lover boy was better than that."

"So did I..."

Class went on, evaluations went well. It was the end of the day so I headed back to the dorm with Yunjin. I was exhausted and aggravated. I didn't want to deal with anyone so I went straight to my room and laid down. I was thinking about the fight between me and Keita and before I realized it... tears were flowing from the side of my eyes, down my temples, and onto my pillow. Instead of trying not to cry, I let go. I flipped over, burying my face into my pillow, sobbing loudly. Apparently Yunjin heard me and knocked on my door.

"Hana, I hear you crying, I'm coming in whether you like it or not." Not even a second later, the door opened and shut. I felt my bed dip and the comforting hands of Yunjin running over my back.

"Heyyy, you're gonna be okay. If he makes you cry like this he isn't worth it sweetie."

"I know... but I cant let him go, he's my best friend. He's been with me my whole life."

"I get that sweetie... but you gotta put your mental and emotional state first. Try staying away from him for a little bit and see if it makes you feel better m'kay?"

"O-okay, I will."

"Do you want me to stay here?"

"Yes, if you don't mind."

"Of course." Yunjin laid down next to me, wrapping her arms around my waist and pulling me closer. She pushed my head to rest on her chest and she soothingly ran her hands over my back. I felt her calm breathing and it began to calm me down too.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, I'm better." Yunjin stayed with me for the rest of the night. We cuddled together peacefully, enjoying each others heat and comfort.

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

The intro post for this story has all the chapters listed.

[cotncandyboifics]

1989 [High School AU]: Chapter 6

AO3 Link

Masterpost

Chapter 1 ~ Chapter 2 ~ Chapter 3 ~ Chapter 4 ~ Chapter 5 ~ Chapter 7 ~ Chapter 8 ~ Chapter 9 ~

Pairings: slight Logince, eventual Prinxiety & Logicality

Word count: 1,987

Story summary: Roman Prince is your stereotypical Jock, with everyone swooning after him. Every day a crowd of people follow him around, only to disperse at his personal whim. In reality, he's lucky to have such good acting skills that help him cover up the disdain he has for his life. He only wishes he could use his skills properly.

Patton Whitelock's always there to lend a helping hand, no matter who you are. If you need a favor or just need someone to talk to, go to him. In reality, he's been taught from a young age that kindness should be held above all else. No one suspects that he took it the wrong way.

Logan Montgomery is the smartest boy in the Senior class. He's stern, and most people are too intimidated to speak to him. In reality, he despises most all of his fellow students. He sticks to his studies and doesn't stray, for fear of being stuck in his father's shadow his whole life.

Virgil Black is the most emo kid in school, let alone 12th grade; everyone knows to leave him be. In reality, he's very fortunate. He has two parents who love him dearly. But everything beyond his life, everything within his mind, is utter chaos and turmoil.

what will happen when they're assigned a biology project together?

General CW: food, swearing, implied s-lf h-rm, non-graphic descriptions of s-lf h-rm scars, graphic and non-graphic descriptions of anxiety attacks and panic attacks, drug abuse, minor character intoxicated on heroin, non-graphic drug overdose description, sickness/description of sickness, blood, non-graphic descriptions of needles, (will be added to as I write more)

Chapter CW: food, (let me know if i missed anything please!)

Author notes: I hated writing this chapter because I love Logince and I'm intentionally writing this story so that Logince doesn't work and I just- my heart and my creativity have a conflict of interests here :')

...

Roman was left alone in his room, staring at the door where Virgil had slipped out silently a few minutes ago. He'd turned off his music, and was sitting up, staring, thinking.

What was even the point of asking Logan out? I didn't have any interest in him before, he was just a nerd who i never bothered, and he never bothered me... perhaps for the challenge? when I saw him in class today something just sparked, and i felt the need to pursue him. I didn't think he'd entertain it, especially so quickly. And what of Virgil?

What of Virgil?

Roman shook his head and stood, leaving his room to see what his parents were doing, and if he could help with dinner. He needed a distraction, and he knew homework wasn't going to do it.

...

The next few days at school were strange, to say the least.

Patton was the same, as far as the others could see. He tried figuring out some of the routes Logan took to different classes, just a few so as not to seem suspicious, but Roman was more often than not already there and bombarding Logan with his charms. Patton still caught him alone sometimes though, and did his best to make conversation about little things, just wanting to get to know Logan. They had an engaging conversation about Logan's surprisingly extensive knowledge about drug abuse, and Patton was thankful for the bits of advice he could get. They'd also run through proper methods for caring for various species of turtles.

Logan continued to hound himself about why he had accepted Roman's courting after such a short time knowing him, let alone that they were very... different people, to say the least. He'd told his father that one of his friends had requested an outing to a cafe to study for an upcoming calculus quiz. His father was reluctant but upon Logan's presentation of evidence of such atmospheres increasing the effectiveness of studying and concentration, his father granted him permission to go. Logan knew his father would never permit any,, frivolous activities, when Logan had so much academic potential. And Logan made himself feel the same way, acquiring knowledge and more importantly incredible accolades was all that mattered until he was out of school. And yet, here he was, about to go on a date behind his parents' back with a jock, very stereotypical of a teen and yet very atypical for him. He couldn't explain to himself why he'd allowed himself to get into this situation, but it wasn't causing any immediate problems, so he decided to try and let the topic rest.

Virgil was acting stranger than ever, at least from Roman's perspective. He seemed even more cold and distant, except on occasion he'd strike up a conversation. Sometimes they got rather lively, debating about which were the best Disney movies, even if they had very... differing perspectives on what messages they portrayed. Roman was baffled, Because he didn't think someone who was previously unconcerned with Roman for the most part could become so black-and-white, switching between completely ignoring and/or glaring at him, and coming into a room and immediately proposing a topic of conversation.

Roman had his hands full with courting his new love interest, and trying to figure out what was going on with Virgil. Virgil himself was very conflicted. Any time he saw Roman, his feelings became intense and he never knew how to act.

The group's dynamic had shifted accordingly whenever they were in class together. In Biology, Logan was usually hard at work on their report, Patton doing his best to help. Roman often attempting to fluster Logan in any possible way he could, and Virgil, ever unpredictable.

...

Finally Thursday came, and Roman got into his mustang to pick up his date. He drove quietly up to a large white house, with a very systematic garden laid out in the front. He got out and leaned against the closed passenger door, and messaged Logan, letting him know he was there to pick him up.

Logan had hoped Roman would have the sense to pick him up around the block, but upon exiting his house and seeing him directly in front of the house leaning against his red mustang with a single red rose in his hand, Logan brought his hand to the bridge of his nose and massaged it, trying to keep from getting aggravated before their date even began. He walked over slowly, trying to keep an open mind instead of letting his logical self shut everything about Roman's love language down.

Roman had to keep himself from staring. Logan was dressed... well, typically his own style, but... he had gelled his hair back so it became one big dark tuft instead of it's usual gentle messiness, and he had on a silk navy button up and a black bowtie instead of his trademark necktie. He had on Black corduroy pants that accentuated his slender legs, and white and blue converse that complemented his shirt and pale skin. Roman was impressed at the attention to detail yet the simplicity of his date's outfit, and was indeed that much more attracted to him.

"Well hello there," Roman said as Logan neared, looking him up and down, "don't you look ravishing."

Logan's cheeks glazed a bit. "As do you," was all he could think to reply. Roman had on a dark red v neck and a black and gold baseball jacket, dark grey ripped skinny jeans with a silver chain, and red checkered vans. Logan realized he'd let his eyes linger on Roman's exposed collarbone a moment too long. God, why am i acting like this?

Roman just smirked and stood aside, opening the passenger door he'd been leaning on and making way for Logan. Logan sat, his knees nearly touching the dash. Roman got on one knee and dramatically presented Logan with the flower. Logan smiled gently and took it, examining it. Roman shut the door and made his way around to the driver's side and got in.

"Will you relay the whereabouts of our destination or will it remain a mystery to me?" Logan asked as Roman opened his door, not looking up from the flower.

Roman smiled with a glint in his eyes. "Well it would be no fun if i were to spoil the surprise, now would it?" He put the key in the ignition and started the car, and the engine hummed smoothly to life. "Completely unrelated to said surprise, but have you had dinner?" Roman rolled down his window and rested his forearm on it.

"Yes, unfortunately I follow a strict meal plan." He adjusted his glasses.

"Well, i wont question that, but that works for me." Roman left it at that and pulled out his phone.

"Would you happen to have a music preference?" Roman asked as Logan smelled the rose, and finally set it down in his lap.

After a moment of thought, Logan replied, "Well I suppose not. I don't listen to much music other than classical on occasion, and at this point i find it rather..."

"Boring?" Roman mused.

"Insufferable," Logan smiled.

"Alright, I'll enlighten you to something other than Beethoven and Bach," Roman reached for the aux chord, plugged his phone into it, and picked a particular song he felt was... fitting for the moment. The song intro began, and Roman pulled the e-break down and shifted into first gear, pulling out onto the road.

he said "let's get out of this town,

Drive out of the city, away from the crowds..."

I thought "heaven can't help me now,"

Nothing lasts forever...

Logan watched things pass on the road, absentmindedly tapping his ankle to the beat. He didn't recognize the area of town they were heading to, but he didn't expect Roman to kidnap him or anything, so he just observed.

But this is gonna take me down

He's so tall, and handsome as hell

He's so bad, but he does it so well.

I can see the end as it begins

My one condition is

Logan looked straight ahead at the road now, wondering if Roman had selected this specific song for any reason.

Say youll remember me,

Standing in a nice dress

Staring at the sunset babe

Red lips and rosy cheeks

Say you'll see me again

Even if it's just in your

Wildest dreams, ah, hah...

They were driving up a hill now, and the road was getting steeper. Logan was beginning to wonder if he should have just rejected Roman from the beginning.

Roman sensed his unease, and turned the music down so that it was just background noise. "I promise I'm not about to murder you in the woods," he said with a small laugh, "There's just a nice spot up here to... observe," he assured vaguely, glancing at Logan.

He nodded with a small smile from the passenger seat, returning to looking around as they passed sloping driveways and mossy-trunked trees.

Just moments later, they emerged into something of a clearing, with a cul-de-sac and a large meadow. There were clusters of small flowers and clovers all over, and the trees cleared perfectly to display the sun was crawling toward the horizon.

They parked and Logan got out, and turned to realize Roman was still in the car, seemingly reaching behind his seat awkwardly and rummaging around. He emerged with a plastic bag and a rolled up plaid blanket. Roman locked the car and led them to the meadow, where he dramatically unrolled the blanket and laid it out, after ruffling it in the wind. Logan sat cross-legged facing what would soon become the sunset, the bottom of the sun's visible sphere nearly dipping itself below the horizon.

Roman sat as well, beginning to dig through the mystery bag, Logan now paying him attention. Roman pulled out two large paper cups, with plastic tops and straws in them. He handed Logan one of the cups, and Logan began inspecting it. It appeared to be a milkshake, likely chocolate flavored due to the brown hue... It looked rather delightful. Logan took a sip and was not disappointed; he'd never actually had a milkshake, at least not since he was very young, so he had to attempt to hide his enjoyment.

"That is quite tasteful," He looked back to Roman, who was tasting his own milkshake.

"Yeah, you struck me as a chocolate type," he leaned back on one hand. "Hope you like the view. I thought it would be nice as a first date to watch the sunset and talk."

Logan gazed out at the sky that faded from blue to purple to red to orange and a bit of yellow, clouds peppered around and absorbing the hues. He certainly did appreciate the view.

"Alright, let's talk then."

...

A few hours later, it had gotten dark and stars were spattered across the sky. Logan was laying with his hands behind his head, watching the sky, and Roman was laid next to him, leaning up on his side and watching Logan's eyes. They'd talked about anything, from childhood memories to opinions and briefly about their home lives. Roman felt very... usual. Everything was going perfectly, and he could feel that fact slamming against his chest. Do I actually like him or is this all just a game to me? Am i being fake, or completely real?

Soon Logan checked his wristwatch and informed Roman it was time he be heading home. They stood, and Logan shivered as Roman collected the blanket. He sighed upon seeing Logan's arms loosely held around himself, trying to keep warm.

Roman rustled his baseball jacket off and draped it over Logan's shoulders.

They made their way back to the car, and as Roman drove them, all Logan could do was lean his head on the window and stare up at the hazy white moon.

Roman dropped him off, walking him up to his door. Logan thanked him for the evening, and tried to return Roman's jacket, but Roman insisted he hold onto it. They shared a small kiss on the doorstep, and bid each other goodnight. Roman drove off into the night, pondering heavily.

[stan-joonies]

The Lodge In a Beautiful Relationship

Summary: the pearl wearing new girl seems to have caught a interest in Reggie Mantle. However, little does she care, he has a girlfriend.

Requests Are Open!

I got so carried away!!

[[MORE]]

Veronica Lodge hung from Betty's arm.

"So...you and Archie?" Betty rolled her eyes.

"Nothings going on between us," She stated, pulling Veronica hastily towards their next lesson.

"But you want something to go on." Veronica grinned at the blonde's red face. "It's ok, i wont tell." She promised, smiling softly when she saw Betty let out a big breath.

"Thanks Veronica,"

"No worries," they got to class, Ronnie pushing Betty to the back of the class. "So," she said, sitting down and pulling out a few books. "If Archibald is off limits, who here is free for the taking?"

Betty laughed.

"Already sinking your claws into a boy?" Veronica scrunched her face up.

"You make it sound like I'm going to eat someone alive."

"Oh!" She exclaimed. "Sorry. Didn't mean to sound so...rude."

"It's fine," Veronica assured.

The door to the class flew open, boys in letterman jackets flooded in. Their laughs and shouts filled the room and vibrated through the walls.

Betty rolled her eyes, adjusting her baby pink sweater.

However, Veronica's eyes scouted out all the boys' faces, a little disappointed at their generic features. Her eyes passed a dark-skinned buff male. Her eyes lingered for a minute.

"Nope," Betty shook her head.

"What?"

"Chuck is a no go. Complete womanizer." She stated, scowling "ever heard of a sticky maple?"

"No...?" Veronica's face scrunched up again, silently asking for more details.

"Let's keep it that way..."

The Lodge huffed, surveying the boys again.

Her eyes landed on a tall, olive skinned beauty. His dark hair was swept back, creating an amazing view of his chiseled jawline and plump, Pink lips. His eyes were dark pools of chocolate that Veronica knew she would melt into.

"Who's he?" She directed her head the the jock, who finally sat down nearer to the front.

"That is Reggie Mantle," Betty shrugged, pulling out her equipment. "Why--" she froze, her eyes flying to mantle and then back to Veronica, multiple times. "No."

The girl scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Ok, seriously? Whats this guy's problem them? Secretly a cannibal?"

Betty sighed.

"No, he has a girlfriend." The Lodge perked up.

"Really now..." Her eyes burned into the boy's head. "Who is she?"

"Y/N L/N." The blonde muttered. "I've spoke to her a couple of time. She's really nice, but sometimes she can be sensitive. That's why you shouldn't mess with her!"

Veronica laughed slightly.

"She sounds like a pussy the way you're describing her." Veronica put a palm to her mouth. "Sorry! I shouldn't be calling people names when i haven't even met them. Force of habit i guess."

Betty placed a comforting hand on her back, rubbing slightly.

"It's ok. I get it. But don't say that infront of any of the bulldogs, or Cheryl Blossom." She warned.

"Why Cheryl?"

"Cheryl and Y/N may not be enemies, but Cheryl is a gossip bomb. If she hears anyone say anything, she tells everyone, and she never tells anyone nicely."

Veronica groaned.

"Look," Betty put her hands near her chest, palms facing Veronica. "I can't control what you do. If you wanna try get inbetween the Power Couple then go ahead, but i warned you..."

"Power Couple?"

"They've been together since Freshman Year. They've never broken up or gone on a break. Both are fiercely loyal to each other and they have never been tempted by the many people who have tried to get one of theirs attention."

The school teacher waltz in, a smile on his face.

"All right class, settle down now. Turn to page--"

--

Veronica eyed Reggie on the other side of the cafeteria.

"For being the power couple, they sure don't spend a lot of time together, i haven't even seen this Y/N girl in the hallways."

Kevin's eyes darted to Betty's.

"Well, they often say that they can trust eachother enough not to be around eachother 24/7. Plus, Y/N been busy with the drama club she runs."

"Drama? No wonder She's so sensitive," the insult flies out her mouth without her noticing, chomping on some fries instead.

"Well, she's amazing at it, me and her are close friends because of it," Kevin stated, looking around and avoiding Veronica's eyes.

"Welp, nows better then never," Veronica stood up, sliding off the bench before swaying her hips, making the small journey to the jocks.

When she rested her hand on the table, chatter stopped and the boys looked at her expectantly.

"Hello, My names Veronica Lodge. I'm new here," She introduced, her eyes pinned to chocolate brown ones.

"You're new?" Reggie asked, smiling up at the girl.

"Fresh meat," She winked, Reggie's eyes widening. The table was dead still.

"Hey Reg, boys," A voice came from behind her, causing her body to swerve round and face the body of the voice.

A [tall/short] girl with H/C hair and [shade] E/C eyes stared back at her, eyes shinning in confusion.

"Hello?" The girl called, eyes squinting curiously.

"Oh!" Veronica flinched slightly. "Sorry, my names Veronica Lodge. I'm new here,"

"I'm Y/N,"

Veronica smiled, internally wincing. She was pretty, very pretty.

"Hey Babe," Reggie leaned in, placing a small peck on her lips.

"Hey Reg," She help onto his bicep, the couple looking at Veronica expectantly.

Veronica's eyes observed their figures, her eyes zooming in on the hands on the jock's bicep.

Her eyes widened to saucers, a sparkling pink ring was decorating the girls ring finger. The ring was shaped like vines wrapping around her delicate fingers with a beautiful, small diamond in the middle where the vines connect.

"Wow, that's stunning," She gushed, taking the girl's hand in her own.

"Oh!" The girl blushed, gently taking her hand away. "Thank you, he gave it to me last month," she explained, awkwardly looking around the room.

"You're very lucky," Veronica smiled. "To be with someone so...sculpted and ,dare i say, handsome. You never know who might want to dig their claws in."

Veronica laughed, but Y/N's face darkened and she looked up at Reggie, who was staring at Veronica in disbelief.

Y/N cleared her throat.

"Y-yes. Very lucky..."

-

Veronica huffed, playing with her pearl necklace.

"I told you so." Betty stated, wrapping her lips around her straw.

"Oh, shut up! I'm barely getting started." She snapped "...sorry."

Betty rolled her eyes.

"Honestly, if you even want a chance you're gonna have to sort that attitude," She smiled sarcastically. Ronnie huffed, digging into her chips.

The arrival of new people was announced by the bell.

Veronica looked over, her eyes widening.

"It's Reggie the hunk and his girlfriend." She mumbled to the Cooper girl, who raised a brow.

"And? They're probably out on a date. Leave them be,"

"Hey! Reggie!" She called, causing Betty to widen her eyes and grit her teeth. "Come sit with us,"

Reggie turned to Y/N, whispering something to her. Y/N's eyes creased before shaking her head.

"It looks like Y/N doesn't want to sit with us." Veronica mumbled. Watching as the couple continued to hiss at eachother. "Oh, look at that...Reggie's practically dragging her over here."

"V, dont."

"Hey Reggie," She fluttered her eyelashes, flicking her hair away from her face. "A little eager?"

Y/N's eyes shot between the two.

"I'm just excited to go on a date with Y/N," he confessed, squeezing the girl's hand.

Veronica hummed, shuffling up.

"You can sit next to me Reg," Reggie's eyes shot to her.

"No offense, but i'd prefer if you called me Reggie," He slid into the booth with Ronnie, leaving Betty to sit with Y/N.

"So," Betty smiled. "What were you guys up to?"

Y/N smiled, shoulders relaxing slightly.

"Well, we were just driving around Riverdale." She explained, grinning at Reggie.

"Ooh," Veronica whistled. "Getting frisky in a car are we?"

Y/N scrunched up her face, shaking her head.

"No," Reggie stated, shaking his head. "Just cruising,"

Ronnie rolled her eyes, deflating slightly.

"That's all? Sounds very...tame. i thought you'd be a wild one Reg-gie." She scooted slightly closer, nobody but Betty noticing.

"We enjoy it either way," Y/N interjected, placing a hand on Reggie's " it clears our heads and we can just talk about everything. Or sit in silence if we're not up for talking."

Veronica looked towards the window, hiding her bored expression. In the reflection, she saw the promise ring sparkling. Her eyes lit up.

"I'm seriously so obsessed with your ring," Ronnie gushed, turning towards them. Y/N smiled, fidgeting in her seat. "May i?"

"Hm?" Veronica nodded to the ring.

Y/N's eyes widened.

"Actually-" Veronica grabbed her hand, yanking the ring off, hearing as she clicked Y/N's fingers accidentally.

"Thanks!" She observed the jewel. "Wow, it's actually real,"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Y/N snapped, eyes squinting slightly.

"Well...i-it's just a promise ring," she shrugged. "Why spend so much money on it?"

"Because it ment something to the both of us," Reggie interjected,eyeing his own finger. His one was a simple rose cold band, the same jewel embedded into it. "Plus, she's worth it."

Y/N laughed, a light pink blush blossoming on her cheeks.

Veronica's face twisted into something ugly, her grip tightened on the ring.

"Hey!" Y/N exclaimed. "Careful, you'll break it." She reached for it.

"It's just a promise ring." She stated, her voice dripping with agitation. Moving it out of her reach.

"If it's 'just a promise ring' you can give it back,"

"Hold on." The rich girl hissed. "I'm not done yet!" She caught a glimpse of Betty, who was giving her a disgusted look, her milkshake held tightly in her hands.

She ignored the look, instead she looked at the couple before slowly slipping the ring on.

"W--" Veronica interrupted her.

"Wow. It fits on my hand perfectly."

"Yeah it does," The bulldog stated, "you guys must have simular hands."

"Hmm." She hummed happily. "I've been told my hands are very soft." She purred, sliding closer.

Reggie laughed, looking at Ronnie.

Veronica bathed in this attention, even if it was just a little.

She pulled Y/N's hand off Reggie's, pulling his up against her own.

"See? Matching," She giggled, causing Reggie to smile.

"Yeah..."

Suddenly, Y/N bolted up, snatching Veronica's hand so harshly that it caused Veronica to lurch, making her stomach hit the corner of the table.

Y/N roughly grabbed the ring and snatched it aggressively.

"Look," Y/N started. "I don't know what your problem is Vanessa, but you need to stop. You shouldn't be snatching things that aren't yours. I would say that your parents should of taught you, but then i remember that your Daddy must have not been around often, doing something criminal? Planning to bulldoze a orphanage and turn it into a theme park? He'd make up any excuse to not have to come home to a whiny brat like yourself." Y/N turned, stalking out of Pops.

Reggie trailed after her quickly.

Veronica watched from the window as Reggie grabbed her. From their faces they were arguing.

"What the hell was that?" Betty hissed.

Veronica rolled her eyes.

"She said some shit things too."

"You deserved it!" Betty bellowed, getting up.

"Wait--" Veronica grabbed her. "Where are you going?"

Betty shook her off.

"Away from you."

-

"Hey Reg," Reggie jumped when Veronica appeared suddenly at his locker.

"What you want Victoria?"

Veronica hissed, almost growling.

"Well," Veronica breathed, taking a step closer, smiling up at him innocently. "I thought me and you could go to Pops today? I heard they're doing a 10% off deal."

Reggie sighed.

"Look--"

"Reggie," Cheryl waltzed up to the two, a giant smile on her perfectly painted lips. Her eyes sparkled. "I just wanted to offer my congratulations, you must be very happy."

Reggie rolled his eyes.

"Cheryl--"

"What's going on?" Veronica slid into the conversation, her shoulder rubbing against Reggie.

The ginger observed the two before directing her attention to Reggie.

"Y/N isn't going to like...whatever this is," she pointed to both of them.

"Nothings-"

"-especially now she's pregnant."

Ronnie stiffened, eyes shooting up to Reggie who was staring at Cheryl.

"I don't want everyone to know Cheryl! Y/N's still adamant about people knowing." He hissed.

"Where is she anyway?" The blossom questioned.

"At home," he grumbled "morning sickness."

Cheryl frowned mockingly

"Give her my condolences." She turned to Veronica. "Use protection." She sauntered off.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Veronica asked, turning to face him, arms crossed.

"Why would i need to tell you?"

Veronica bristled.

"B-because...we...i t-thought. Me and--" she stuttered, face burning. "At Pops..."

"Did you think i was making a move on you?" Reggie asked, bewildered.

"Well--"

"Oh god, Lodge. Sorry but no." He shook his head, taking a few steps back. "I never ment for you to think that. You were talking about the ring, so i got comfortable cause I'm used to talking about it."

"But--i,"

"I knew it." Reggie grumbled, shaking his head and running a hand through his dark locks. "I tried to tell Y/N that we should of sat somewhere else, but Y/N said it would be rude. I wish i just dragged her way from you. Stress isn't good for the baby."

Were they actually gonna keep it? At this age??

"Are you actually thinking of keeping it?" She blurted out before covering her mouth.

Reggie's eyes darkened, his body caging Veronica against the lockers.

"I don't know what you're suggesting, Lodge. But you better rein it in. You got no fucking say in what i do with my child. Y/N wants to keep it. So do i. If you have a problem with that then you can fuck off. Cause I'm not hearing any of your excuses." He turned around, storming away...

-

Y/N lay in her bed sipping a hot beverage as she watched her favourite TV show. A soft hand came to rest on her flat stomach. No baby bump yet.

"Y/N?" Reggie entered, topless and in pajama shorts. He climbed into the bed, snuggling up to the georgous girl laid beside him.

"Yeah?"

"Can you turn to channel six?"

Y/N laughed.

"No, get your own TV,"

"Y/N...this is my house.." he whinned, reaching for the remote.

"Nope. I'm pregnant."

"Is that gonna be your excuse for everything?"

"Yup,"

"Ok,"

They laid beside one another, three hearts beating in sinc as they watch the TV that illuminated the room.

"Can i have some hot chocolate?"

"No,"

[chubbyooo]

Old Wounds part 2 - A Blurred Lines Spinoff

My writing brain is going crazy right now so here we go with the second part of the spinoff after this things will be back tied up. This will also be the first time I’ve told a story from an existing characters perspective so hope it’s ok

Lana tries her best to run the alliance exasperated with the advisors who are seemingly absent and hears a voice she hasn’t heard in a long time

5-7 years later…

Lana shut off the holo with a audible sigh, she put her hands on her forehead slumping in her chair

From the corner the protocol droid D3-EZ coked its head “is everything ok miss Beniko?” she looked to the droid grumpily

Lana shook her head “no Ezzy I just need a minute” Ezzy nodded staying still, Lana sighed protocal droids never got the message “that means leave Ez” Ezzy nodded leaving the room without a word.

Lana dragged her fingers down her face this was not what she needed right now, Zakuul were finally leaving the alliance saying they could ‘make it on their own’ they had been threatening to do it for months but she thought they were bluffing. It wasn’t that she was afraid they could ‘make it on their own’ they were bound to come crawling back but the alliance couldn’t afford with this war on the horizon and the alliances place in the galaxy being questioned. She clenched her fists against the desk it certainly didn’t help that the alliances two other advisors had decided to disappear now out of nowhere. She had hoped the commander would be much help but Kyradia was clearly ‘affected’ by whatever falling out she had with Kavaraa and was choosing to just sign whatever Lana put in front of her. Lana had never wanted to be in charge of the alliance but she had to do her best for the galaxy she just wished everyone else would do the same. She held her fingers on the bridge of her nose she couldn’t remember the last time she got a break and Kavaraa and Theron go off on a surprise ‘honeymoon’ sure that’s fair. Just because she was alone she didn’t get a chance to take holidays? She didn’t blame Theron though he was following her for love Lana could understand that but did all this have to happen right now it’s like the universe was cruelly mocking her.

She looked through documents for a couple minutes before she saw a holocall from Theron Shan flashing on her display. Speak of the devil she answered the holocall as Theron flashed in to view looking stressed, that certainly made two of them.

Lana folder her arms “Theron, good to hear from you is this ‘honeymoon’ nearly over I can’t handle everyones paperwork you know” Lana could hear what sounded like distant discussion with a signature excitable tone familiar to her as the Jedi Basen’thor

Theron looked away “uh well not exactly we found a kid” Lana frowned a kid? so what

she was not in the mood for excuses “and is this kid stopping you from coming back?” Theron coughed awkwardly as Lana bore down on him

Theron mumbled “he found some sort of map it leads to knowledge or some force stuff and now Kavaraa wants to find it” Lana let out a long sigh of course knowing Kavaraa they were probably already on their way

Lana frowned at Theron “you know I can’t just run this all by myself” Theron nodded clearly understanding

Theron tugged at his collar “yeah I know Lana but this could give us information to stop powerful people like maybe Malgus” Lana had to admit he had a point but he wasn’t getting out of this so easy

Lana leant forward messing with the console “ok but this is no longer a vacation for you so here’s the deal you help me with running the alliance like normal and I wont rat you out to your wife about calling me with updates sound fair” yes it was technically blackmail but she was running an alliance and Theron would have done the same to her

Theron squirmed “well you’ve got me in quite the box here Beniko fine I guess this i what I get for being friends with a sith” Lana raised her eyebrow well that helped a little with the workload “so what’s been going on with the alliance then so I’m up to date”

Lana held her forehead remembering the situation “bad news Zakuul finally went ‘independent’ today” Theron grimaced messing with a datapad

“why they don’t have the infrastructure the planet’s gonna fall apart” Lana was fully aware those people had never know a hard day in their life before the eternal empire was brought down so now they blamed the alliance how do you break down that kind of ego?

Lana sighed “believe me Theron I know but you know how people can be” Theron nodded

Theron rubbed his forehead “how long till they come crawling back” Lana had done a rough calculation and explained it to them but they were vigilant her scientific data was somehow incorrect

Lana shrugged “the bottom line is too long we could really have used Zakuul even without the fleet” Lana’s mind drifted to Koth and the gravestone she wondered if they would be in a different situation without his interference with it.

Theron sighed “of course they had to do this right now when everything is so fractured” Lana nodded the alliance should be better than squabbling but clearly some people didn’t feel the same way

Lana frowned “well that’s not exactly our fault is it Theron” Theron reluctantly nodded “we have to end this argument between them Theron it’s petty and it seems like most of the ill will is on your wifes end.” Lana knew the fight was coming but she hoped it wouldn’t do this she hoped it’d clear the air so they could move on but clearly she had overestimated the two of them.

Theron grimaced “I’ll try my best Lana but you gotta admit she has good reason to be mad” Lana nodded Jedi were always like this stubborn and set in their ways well except a few.

Lana sighed “I’m not asking for a miracle Theron but just try to point her in the right direction” she ended the call and leant back. Theron would help with paperwork that was something one less thing on the incredibly long list of things she had to do, she wasn’t very confident Theron would change Kavaraa’s mind she was stubborn and Theron was in love with her. He’d probably follow her into anything she kinda got it she had been in love before but that was a long time ago, she’d never admitted it to him either so no point getting into it.

But that was 5 years ago this was now she had work to do, she heard the comm suddenly breaking her out of her daydream as the robotic voice of Ezzy came through “Miss Nadia Grell to see you Miss Beniko” Nadia? Kavaraa’s old apprentice? what did she want?

Lana responded “send her in Ezzy” she sighed an advisors job was never finished. Nadia walked into the room shuffling to the chair awkwardly

she looked away “um hello miss Beniko I uh just came to uh tell you about a distress call from the uh Basen’thors temple” wow she was nervous she shouldn’t be that was a perfectly fair thing to tell her.

Lana nodded “thanks for bringing this to my attention Nadia I’ll have someone investigate right away” she had a great idea for who perfect way to get Kyradia feeling nostalgic

Nadia cleared her throat “I actually wanted to ask for permission to go myself actually” Lana smiled that was sweet but she had a feeling Nadia and Kyradia would not get on well

Lana shook her head “no don’t worry about it I’ll make sure to get some experienced people to deal with it, don’t want to drag you away from your work” Nadia nodded seemingly understanding Lana believed she worked in the archives.

Nadia smiled “well uh thanks for the help and I’ll uh be going” Lana nodded as Nadia left. She took a second staring at the door ok no one else to talk to? good she could take a second. After a few minutes she got up she had to tell Kyradia about the mission to Yavin.

later…

Lana entered her quarters tired after a long day, the commander had taken the mission and was on her way to Yavin IV meaning she was officially the only one left. This was gonna be a grueling couple of weeks, she opened up the fridge she still had some leftovers good she really had no time to cook today. She got herself a cup of tea and sat down on her couch, she sighed another day another problem at least she had a little time to rest. She flicked through the news and was unsurprised to see an article about Zakuul apparently they were having longer and longer power cuts since departing from the alliance and now the support was entirely gone, part of the city was blacked out for a full minute. Lana chuckled big surprise there, she sipped her tea in the silent quarters she certainly had made them her own but it still felt kinda empty it certainly was more homely than her old acolytes chambers. Between then and now she hadn’t really had any other solid homes, could be worse though she didn’t live in a ship once the leftovers were finished she used the force to pull a holobook out of her tiny bookshelf. She liked books a little escapism was always good this one was about a tribe completely unaware of the galaxy around them, she imagined that could be quite nice certainly a lot less stressful the struggles were all quite simple but still felt real and there was a lot less politics. She continued to read until her eyes fluttered closed falling asleep curled up on the couch but then sometime later she was awoken suddenly.

“LANA!” a voice wrung out in her head the voice was deep and basey but she recognised it in a second

She looked around the room “D-Dzûsa??” she could see no sign of him the man she hadn’t seen in over seven years.

The voice, his voice spoke in her head “I d-don’t h-have long come to Zakuul I’m u-und…” the voice trailed off she sat up flustered

Lana tried her best to respond “Dzûsa where are you?” she shouted into the chamber but there was no response. Lana took a deep breath was she crazy? she couldn’t have heard that right? but it was definitely him the man she hadn’t spoken too since Sullust. ‘Come to Zakuul’ was he there? how could he be they had scoured that planet for prisons they would’ve found him she certainly thought she would’ve sensed him. She had only given up hope on him once Valkorion was defeated, in every prison they went to she searched and searched but to no avail, she had tried and tried to sense him but it was like he was somehow gone. What should she do she couldn’t just leave the alliance but he was well he could be alive and he may be what the alliance needs right now hero of Tython and all that. She sighed she had to try even if it lead nowhere she could put the issue to bed for good, she quickly put on her sith robes and headed out the door.

later…

Lana brought her ship down into the Zakuul spaceport as she dialed up Senya Tirall on her holocommunicator, a tired looking Senya appeared within a minute

Senya frowned “yes Lana was this so pressing it couldn’t wait till the morning” Lana wasn’t usually the one to do crazy things it felt very strange to be the one leaving without a word

Lana tried her best to smile “uh well yes I’m not on Odessen I’m uh looking into something on Zakuul so I would very much appreciate it if you could look after the alliance” Senya gave her a curious look

she chuckled “you’ve been spending too much time with Theron and Kavaraa, why me?” Lana chuckled understanding the irony of the situation

Lana grinned “well you raised the Tiralls this’ll be a piece of cake by comparison” Senya laughed

Senya nodded “very well I can look after things” she turned off the holo phew someone she trusted was in charge, at first she thought Hylo could handle it then she realised how terrible it would be to leave the underworld in control of the alliance.

She left her ship in a hurry making her way out the spaceport and towards the spire as she walked she could she the lights flicker on and off this power situation was bad. However at the spire she saw Indo Zal waiting there with a few guards

he proceeded to shuffle up to her awkwardly “um Miss Beniko as I told you before Zakuul is now independent and you wont convince us otherwise” Lana stood still her eyes narrowing at Indo

Lana kept the scowl as Indo squirmed “don’t worry Indo I’m not here for Zakuul don’t think yourself so important to me that I’d come here myself” Indo seemed to stifle his anger aware of Lana’s power good “I just need to get into the spire I think I have missed something” she walked up to Indo standing over him “are you going to stop me?” Indo shook his head

he gestured to the lift “r-right this way miss Beniko” Lana made her way into the lift closing it before Indo could join her, she didn’t hate him but she did hate the ego of the people in charge of this planet acting like they ruled the galaxy.

The lift slowly rose up the spire soon arriving at the seat of the eternal throne, Lana made her way out the whole room was dusty it had been abandoned after everything that happened. Once the most powerful place in the galaxy now just a dusty old relic, she chuckled kinda like Valkorion. She remembered the fight for the throne protecting Kyradia from Skytroopers while Kavaraa battled the old emperors wrath they fought as one back then what had changed. That’s not what she was here for though she got a datapad out hoping to slice into the blueprints of the spires she must have missed something. She had just got them up when the room suddenly went dark, she watched as the lights on Zakuul began to flicker out nearly the whole city went out this time. She couldn’t help but smile maybe her calculations had been wrong they were in dire straights.

She stared at the datapad trying to find some inconstancy “Lana you made it” she heard the voice again she looked around as the power turned back on

Lana tried to see if Dzûsa here but she’d be able to see the huge form on the pureblood “Dzûsa are you there?” she waited but there was no response damn it she nearly had him. He was here though two times was a coincidence three times was evidence, she turned back to her data pad as the power dipped again.

she noted the points she had already checked “I’m here, I’m below” Lana heard his voice again below below where? she frowned he had spoken to her during the power cuts he had to that was no coincidence and he was below. She looked at all the power plants they had cleared she chuckled remembering Koth’s insane idea to save the power station during the rescue of Kyradia. But that wasn’t the only power they had right, she followed the power lines down there were a few transformers relatively near to the core for geothermal power. Lana frowned that would be crazy there was hardly any way to get there, but one was below the spire maybe the lift had some secret function?.

Lana went back over to the lift there had to be something she could do, she began trying her best to slice into the console by the force she wished Theron was here he’d have it open in seconds. After a few minutes the lift had locked her out, she lashed out at the wall in anger creating a small dent, huh maybe she didn’t need to slice it this was dangerous but definitely achievable. She closed her eyes reaching out with the force, she channeled all her anger for Zakuul, for Valkorion for everything that lead her to have to do this and began pulling the lift down with the force. The lift shot down reaching the bottom of the spire within minutes but now what if she went deeper, if there was nothing it’d just break the lift a bit. She pushed down and to her surprise it kept going a burst of anger flowed out making the lift descend even faster slamming down against the bottom of the shaft with a bang. Lana staggered forward feeling the force of what she had just done, so much for subtlety as she forced the doors open she sensed Dzûsa’s presence it was here nearby.

She could hear the sounds of magma close by they must be really far down, Lana crept out making her way through the chamber until she came to a large door that slid open as she got near.

She held herself steady against the wall listening in to two voices “I’m sorry sir I’m trying everything but we don’t have the network to support the power surges anymore” well that at least explained the blackouts

A deep terse voice responded “I don’t care about keeping Zakuul powered Valkorion has stated that this is more important so do as I say” the voice sounded familiar from where she had no idea

the other voice responded “that’s the problem I don’t have the power to do that anymore are you sure we should still be doing this we haven’t got an update from up top in over a year” well she knew why that was did they seriously still think Valkorion was in control

The deep voice sneered back “I said DO IT so DO IT got it” Lana crept into the room her eyes widening as she did, the room was an open walkway magma was flowing behind glass and in the middle of the room shackled to what looked like a four pronged transformer was Dzûsa. His hair was greying with a few white streaks he looked so much older and weaker, Lana saw him turn to him with a very slight smile. She felt a tear well up in her eye she couldn’t believe he was here after she had given up on him used as a god damn power source for Valkorion. She felt her sadness wash away replaced with a white hot rage, she turned to the console where the figures were arguing and her rage only deepened as she saw the face of Dûshto Zâtan shouting at a human male.

Within seconds she pulled in into her grip her hands tight around his neck his eyes widened as he noticed her face “remember me bitch” Dûshto’s face was wracked with shock as he tried to escape the grip. Lana felt every bit of the pain she’d felt over the last 5 years come back as she chocked Dûshto this man had kept Dzûsa prisoner after the Eternal empire was defeated and why for some sick vengeance.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1fl5TvpPkPjx8zo45HY0UQ?si=iXzAJ4IeQomp5RoIi-Pftg

Dûshto’s face crept into an eerie smile as he grabbed a knife stabbing her in the side “yes Blondie it’ll be a shame to have come all this way to fail how disappointing” Lana dropped Dûshto holding her side. She gritted her teeth fighting through the pain as they both ignited their lightsabers, she lunged forward with three slashes that caused Dûshto to stumble back as he parried each strike.

His unnatural grin only increased “you’ve waited all this time why not be with your precious Dzûsa” Lana felt herself thrown towards the transformer as she crashed against one of the prongs she felt the current flow through her causing her to writhe in pain. She felt her rage explode but knew she had to channel it she focussed on the electricity beginning to gain control over it as it flowed through her arms. She dropped to the ground to see Dûshto looking at her wide eyed she clicked her neck letting out a volley of crackling energy that surrounded him. He shrieked out in pain as she threw him against the glass wall, a small crack appeared in the wall as she slammed him against the wall again and again, she could feel the electricity waining as the glass broke with her next hit. Magma flowed in to the room leeching out to that side of the chamber stopping just before the console, Dûshto narrowly managed to avoid it with a roll landing across the room from her. Lana threw her saber at Dûshto as he sprinted towards her, once he was close Lana jumped over him pulling her saber back into her hand she landed behind Dûshto and went to slice at his back.

She made a laceration along his back as he cried out in pain turning around with a snarl “ok then Blondie let’s get serious” she could see him reach out with the force pulling another of the transformer prongs out of the ground then throwing at her. She wasn’t going to dodge though she could do this she reached out with the force her rage taking control of the prong throwing it back around towards him. To her disappointment he dodged as the thing speared into the glass crackling with electricity while the magma melted the metal, Dûshto looked from her to Dzûsa and then smiled he pulled the other two prongs out of the ceiling throwing them to the side.

Dzûsa began to fall towards the magma but Lana quickly reached out with the force trying to pull him away but Dûshto also had his grip on Dzûsa holding him in place, he chuckled “not so tough now Blondie your powers or my brother you choose” Lana did her best to hold Dzûsa steady but she couldn’t do it forever she could see the magma getting closer and closer. Dûshto swiped at her clumsily as she parried equally clumsily this was completely throwing off both their abilities with the force.

Lana’s eyes widened she knew what to do she smiled at Dûshto “who said anything about the force” with that she jumped into the air bringing her leg round for a vicious roundhouse kick against Dûshto’s face, he was caught completely oof guard and staggered back as Lana kicked him again he fell back into the magma with a cry. Lana felt Dûshto’s concentration on holding Dzûsa up falter and she quickly focussed her attention on catching Dzûsa holding him up just before he hit the magma. She lifted him across as she could hear Dûshto’s cries of pain from behind her, Dzûsa landed on the ground breathing heavily Lana immediately rushed to his side to see if he was ok.

She was suddenly pulled into a big hug as Dzûsa pulled her off the ground swinging her around “hahahaha I knew you’d understand” his deep voice boomed well he may look older but he still had the same energy that was good.

Her set her down immediately taking a tired knee Lana held his hand “are you ok?” seemed like a silly question he certainly didn’t look ok but she had to ask

Dzûsa smiled warmly “I’m fine that was just kinda taxing probably shouldn’t have done it” Lana had missed that smile she pulled him into a long hug “absolutely worth it”

She felt her rage melt away as tears entered her eyes “I’ve missed you so much” she felt Dzûsa move his arm in force like motion what was he doing

Dzûsa laughed “why we never even went on a date” Lana glowered at him

Lana lightly punched his arm “we both know it was more than that even if I was too embarrassed to admit it” Dzûsa smiled nodding. Lana noticed the screams had stopped she turned around to see Dûshto not burning in the magma but unconscious on the walkway burnes covered his back and lower half. She turned back to Dzûsa “you’re still letting him live” she was ready to kill him five times over how was Dzûsa ok with this.

Dzûsa nodded “I know but I’ve had a lot of time to think, that man is not my brother not anymore but if I am every to see my brother again he needs to find it himself, there is no part of me that wants vengeance on anyone not anymore” Lana leant in and kissed him, he was just the same just as kinda hearted it had been years of torture and he was still that sweet big oaf.

Lana pulled away “I’ve missed that, come on let’s get out of here” Dzûsa nodded as Lana helped him to the elevator. Lana remembered oh no would the lift still work? she pressed on the console and to her relief it whirred to life and slowly began to rise up.

Lana turned to Dzûsa “sooooo this lift is gonna take a while” Dzûsa turned to Lana colour seemed to be returning to his face as he began to be able to stand by himself

Dzûsa frowned “here right now?” Lana nodded kissing him maybe Theron wasn’t so wrong about that romance thing

later…

Lana made sure her robes were all in order as the lift finally opened, it was much slower without her force power but she hadn’t minded that. She could see Indo still waiting there looking surprised to see two figures exit the lift, she noticed the power begin to dim and go completely out now well that was awfully unfortunate at least the lift had still worked.

Lana raised her eyebrow at Indo “my my Zakuul certainly seems to be prospering without the alliance” she pushed past Indo back towards her ship

Indo stuttered “um Miss Beniko if we could just talk for a sec-” Lana was not gonna deal with this right now

Lana smiled “if you want to discuss alliance matters you know how to contact me Indo but I doubt you would want to after leaving” with that she lead Dzûsa back to her ship where they quickly took off leaving Zakuul to its problems.

After she put the ship into Hyperspace she made sure Dzûsa got some tea and a blanket, she sat down next to him. Lana shuffled awkwardly “so I don’t know how to ask this but uh what happened to you?” Dzûsa sipped his tea quietly

he cleared his throat “when I last saw you I got a lead saying a clue to Vitiates whereabouts was on Nathema and uh the clue was from my sister” Lana nodded ok that at least explained why his crew didn’t know where he was “Naturally I barrelled off into danger without a second thought and once I arrived I found the uh testing facility for Vaylin I think your familiar with her” Lana nodded “and Vaylin to put it simply completely outclassed me I quickly lost and Vaylin would have murdered me if Valkorion hadn’t stepped in” Lana nodded remembering her own encounters with Vaylin she wasn’t too surprised “instead Valkorion decided the ultimate revenge would be to make me power the very city he controlled, some kind of cruel irony” Valkorion, of course killing his enemies would never be enough “he constructed what you and Dûshto destroyed to torture my every moment and sap me of my force energy making sure I’d never be able to escape” Lana nodded she felt bad for acting like her last five years were bad by comparison they were great “and that power was turned into electricity somehow, about a few months in I got a new supervisor Dûshto I think Valkorion thought it was a cruel joke, apparently he had surrendered just to get a chance of finding me. Dûshto then made it his mission to make my life non stop pain. As I’m sure you guessed he kept me there even after the empire fell I think he would have done it forever just to satisfy his need for revenge” Lana could see the hurt in his face Dzûsa clearly still cared for Dûshto she had no idea why though.

Lana gasped “I couldn’t sense you because of the force draining right, I’m so sorry Dzûsa especially about your brotherI wish I could have done more” Dzûsa smiled back at her as he gulped down his tea

he wiped his chin “it’s ok it actually has helped me gain perspective I don’t want forgiveness anymore I’m happy just to live” Lana nodded not totally understanding but happy he wouldn’t go running off on an adventure “and I hope I can still fit into yours you seemed like you wanted that in the elevator I guess we can finally have that date” Lana chuckled of course he’d say that

Lana walked over to him giving him a long passionate kiss “of course you do Dzûsa you are exactly what I need right now it’s a date” Dzûsa smiled she really had missed that smile it seemed like she was wrong about the next few weeks they’d be the best in years…

[lombax-lombardi]

Reflections~

Summary: Being a spirit of some kind was tough. Sure you can manifest a physical form whenever you wish but sometimes you run into a reflection of yourself. And the real feelings come out.

Genre: Angst, Fluff

Characters: Direheart.

Note: Well thanks to @rii--flect I have caught the feels. Now time to write the feels asdfghjkl!

She was in love once.

Once being the keyword.

Now that was she connected with so many others, even her alternate selves, feeling all the feel made her jealous.

She wish she didn’t feel this way but she did! She didn’t deserve what happened to her if she knew it was going to make her this way!

Most of the residents of Radiant Garden, which it was now called thanks to Sora and friends, were upset at her presence. Not her presence entirely but the fact she was so sad was affecting the others.

Even the mopiest person, Cloud Strife, was starting to feel how heavy her emotions were taking a toll on the residents. The ghost had become close with the Restoration Committee during her much allotted time there.

 Yuffie, the young ninja, was laying on the floorboards of Merlin’s house while Aerith, the charming brunette in pink, sat nearby. “Something seems to be troubling you?” her voice alerted Yuffie who looked up at the brunette.

“Kinda. It’s Direheart.” Upon the mention of the spirit’s name, the brunette seemed to nod in understanding. “She looks so miserable....It’s cause...I think I heard Merlin correctly....” she sat up trying hard to remember what the old wizard had told them when another voice spoke up.

“It’s because of what type of creature she is” The girls look up to see another brunette, clad in leather. “According to him because of a lack of a heart, that red ruby on her chest acts a substitute”

“But how can it act like that Leon?” Yuffie queried, the male folded his arms across his chest. “Even Marlin doesn’t know the whole story, Direheart is very quiet about her past. All we have to go on is that she has been around for a very long time”

Aerith takes a moment to speak up. “Not to mention she is probably worried for her friend Rii”

“Yeah. Sora and Riku did NOT look pleased at all that she got taken. But it’s like her whole demeanour affects everyone-” Yuffie was about to continue on when the stuffy old wizard himself decided to poof himself right in the middle of the conversation.

“Well my dear as Leon was saying it has to do with that jewel carved into her chest. It allows her to maintain a stronger connection to others she has become rather close too. Even across worlds” the old wizard stroked his beard.

“Because when she feels miserable, the rest of you do because you are close to her. You believe you are friends yes?”

They nod in response to his question. “Good. Now according to what I have managed to learn, with what she has been able to tell me...” he pulled over a piece of parchment from his robe. “This is what she used to be like before her transformation”

The trio approached to stare at the piece of paper. It seemed to be a drawing, in colour of their ghostly friend. She had long brown hair with eyes to match and she...was smiling.

Yuffie stared wide eyed at the picture, Aerith seemed to stare in wonder and as for Leon well he was shocked to say the least. She used to look like that?

Then what in the hell happened to her to make her look like she does now?

“Now. From what I know about how she was before, she was very much like Sora. Kind, caring and all that and from what we were told by our robot visitor...” Merlin mumbles. They knew who he was referring to. 

Seven.

“She sacrificed herself to save her friends. And with being a spirit now, her connections with others are magnified on such a scale that she feels what they do”

Aerith lifts her head. “Everything? Every emotion? Thought?”

The old wizard gives the young woman a nod. “Why yes. Every single minuet thing she feels on a scale larger then normal my dear. The poor soul.”

The trio fall silent. Poor Direheart. What a miserable life she leads now.

Speaking of, said spirit was floating around the marketplace waiting for news or waiting for her friend to summon her again. Or to be called off to a different place yet again as is her wont in life now.

Well if you could call this a life. 

In her time here she had become close with Scrooge McDuck and his nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie. Mostly because she had a fondness for children in general and the boys were always polite to her and always asked her questions. In fact she had become close with all the people here, even Cloud with all his moping.

As she floated around she saw something, no, someone motioning for her to follow. She did so, taking a moment to land. She was greeted with bright blue eyes and a smile.

“Oh...Sora...hello..” she sounded so indifferent. “Aww come on Direheart, I can’t a smile from you?”

That sounded familiar to her. Ah right...Ven. It was hard to forget that a part of him was hold up inside the Keyblade holders heart. It was hard to not smile at him.

“There she is~”

“Why are you here Sora. You didn’t make a trip this long to come see little old me..” she said, face returning to its stone cold coverage, Sora placed his hands on his hips. “Look Direheart we are still looking for Rii but this has to do with something else....I got a strange message from a friend of yours...”

He began describing the person who delivered the message. Seven. She seemed to be popping up a lot more recently, trying her best to help.

Help huh? More like nuisance...No don’t think like that! The last time something like that happened the evil I’ve buried came out!

“What did she want?” Direheart spoke, glossy blue eyes. 

“Well what she basically said is that you really need to get over your losses and move forward. You are...kind of bringing everyone down.” He felt her eyes narrow, looking right through him. “Oh really? Kind of difficult when everything you loved and cared for vanished when you woke up after so long”

He seemed to have struck a nerve. Which wasn’t his intention he said it as nicely as he could. But several people did warn him that the spirit was a bit of a firecracker.

She turned her head away from. “Just find Rii...and keep the last part of my friend safe. I need to be alone” she flew off with Sora reaching out to stop her, but he was a tad too late. Damn it.

The spirit found herself in a quiet corner of Radiant Garden, sitting on the railing. “Get over it huh? Get over it? How would SHE know ANYTHING about getting over it!!” Her anger grew, loose strands of white hair covered her vision as she gripped her head. “If I didn’t save those fools I’d still be normal! But no here I am with nothing! With no one! The person I loved is now just a derelict suit of armour and I can’t bring myself to love another because I feel I don’t deserve such happiness!!” 

Her ministrations had caused the environment around her to twist and turn, moulding into new terrifying shapes. This wasn’t just anger, this was sadness.

“I see their smiling faces, going about their lives while I’m stuck in a sort of limbo with nothing and not a soul to call my own...all I wanted...all I want...” Tears fell from her eyes, wetting spots of concrete. Seeing the remnants of Terra that day really shook her core. Even she didn’t know it. It was hidden upon layers and layers of bile, hatred, jealousy.

“I don’t want to be alone anymore....can’t I just have that....” she asked to the silence.

No response.

Typical.

She was alone.

Always.

She wasn’t even aware of the ghostly visage standing in front of her. “Oh come on now me. Moping isn’t going to help you...”

She looked up in pure shock. Standing in front of her...was herself!

Well what she looked like before she removed her heart from her body.

“Come to berate me have you?” Her reflection shook her head. 

“No I’m here to tell you to stop moping and get up!”

The one in white scoffed. “As if. You’re me, like you can tell me what to do...”

Her reflection growled in protest, lifted up the spirit by the scuff of her dress, fists clenching ever tighter around the slightly visible fabric. Brown eyes stared in cloudy blue ones, the red markings around her eyes glowed somewhat amidst the darkness.

“Now you listen here, Me. Sure you lost me when you lost your heart. Sure you got forced out of two vessels when you weren’t ready! Sure it sucks that you have this fate thrust upon you and that guy you...no we fell in love with is now so separated it may take a long time to make him whole again...”

She felt her reflection tremble slightly. “But you cannot sit here and think you aren’t worthy of feeling that way again! You may have lost me somewhere beneath all the emotions of our alternates but enough is enough!”

The white haired female stared in shock at her reflection. This what was buried underneath it all? Some shred of her original persona left?

“I can’t come back. It’s far too late for me. You’ve become something completely new....Well...we have I guess...”

“But-”

“No buts Direheart! We both know that if you are gonna stave the darkness from you, you HAVE to get over the things in the past. We need to do this Direheart. So stop sitting there thinking that Terra is your one and only and you have lost the ability to love forever.” she motions a hand to a shining portal in the distance.

“You still have your memories right?”

“Yes I do but...”

“I’m not going to say lose yourself in them. There may be new loves in your life as you hop between worlds and help our alternates. Just stop beating yourself up over it...” She shakes her head. 

“Look you have people who care about you...” Visions of the people she had grown to care for started to fill the empty void, glowing brightly.

“Not to mention our alternates”

Yes. The others who share her name.

“Now look it will be tough but he did say he will come back...not today not tomorrow, not next month but he will” She released her from her grip. She noticed something her other half didn’t.

Not until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Direheart flinched.

She turned on her heel to meet those familiar brown eyes that she fell in love with so long ago. It was him, or what she remembered of him anyway.

“It’s you...a-are you...” It was hard to get the words out. Laughter. That same laugh she heard all the time.

“Let’s just say I’m right here..” he pressed a finger against the ruby. She looked confused. She didn’t have a heart.

“But I do not-”

“Yes you do. Listen..Madilyn...” This had to be an illusion. Unless she was in the darkness. It is said that you can sometimes see your loved ones in such a place.

But this darkness wasn’t malevolent.

It was kind.

“I...may not be here with you like I used too....and even if I am...brought back to normal who knows how you’ll feel then. But perhaps one day we could but...for now I just want you to be happy”

This had to be fake.

But she didn’t care.

The tears started rolling down her cheeks faster now. “You promise?” he asked her.

She nods.

“O-Okay..I-I promise...”

He gave her a smile. “That’s the woman I remember...” It was only for a moment but she swore she felt something press against her head, when she opened her eyes again, the visions were gone.

She ended up on her back, staring up at the clouds when a bob of black hair appeared in her vision. “Direheart?”

“ACK!” It seems Yuffie had found her, as she scrambled to her feet. “You startled me!”

“Well you startled us” The ninja said, earning a raised brow from the ghost. “Merlin could see a strange light all the way from his house. We thought you were in trouble”

“We?”

Yuffie nods as she turned her head at the sound of feet coming toward them. It was Aerith and Leon. The one in the pink dress, her face lit up at the sight of her friend safe, rushing over to grab her hands.

Though still see through they felt warm. “You are alright. When that strange light appeared we all felt something was wrong...”

Oh right. That was the ruby’s power, it allowed Direheart when she met people to become attune to their hearts and their minds, which allowed her easy access to their memories and feelings for information.

“You really were worried? About me...I’m just a spirit I am not worth-” The look the brunette was giving her said it all.

“i wouldn’t say anymore if I were you”  came the voice of Leon, who was leaning against the railing. “Once she gets that face she means business. Come on let’s take you to see Merlin, with magic like he saw he wants to make sure you can properly contain it”

Direheart sighs.

How foolish she was to think about how no one really cared. Her vision showed that.

Yes what she saw was just a vision, caused by the ruby’s power. but it was what she needed the most.

Now the important question was...

What was this fuzzy feeling she felt at the sound of peoples voices?

[simplysdmn]

Make it work -Jide

hoodminter said to simplysdmn: Hello, I love your imagines and if your request are still open could you and imagine where you are a musician and have to kiss someone in your music video but JJ won't let it happen so the director eventually get JJ to play the love interest. Could you include the fans reaction? 

A/N: Hey babe, thank you so much and I hope you like this. 

Masterlist

Ask/Request

Y/N’s POV

My face was being poked and prodded for about 3 hours and I was already falling asleep. I kept waking up when I was told to open my eyes so they could fix something or if they needed to apply something new. All I needed in that moment of time was a cup of some sort of coffee to wake me up and keep me buzzed for the rest of the day. 

I looked over at where my manager was at and wondered if I could take a break because I couldn’t handle being sat in that chair any longer. Instead I saw JJ with a Starbucks cup in his hand. I smiled at the thoughtfulness of him which in result I got scolded at because apparently smiling can ‘crease my makeup’. I rolled my eyes and motioned for Jide to come over when he caught a glimpse of me.

My manager shooed and the artists away to get their own break as I got my own. He handed me my coffee and smiled.

“A very special coffee for a very special lady.” He leaned down and gave me a kiss. “How are you?” 

“Very tired. I’m completely knackered.” I sighed and pouted. 

“I know babe, it’ll be over before you know it. Drink up! You’ll need it.” I offered him a large smile and carefully drank the coffee as quick as I could.

“Thank you Jide.” The team came back and said I had to get dressed. I said my goodbye before I was dragged away.

I slipped into the dress with the help of the kind costume designer.

“Was that your boyfriend?” Lisa said.

“Yeah, I told him not to come because we were going to be in here for so long and he’d get bored.” I laughed, shaking my head. 

“You know how boys are. Have you told him about the kissing scene?” I widened my eyes. It had totally slipped my mind to tell Jide at all.

“Jesus Lisa, you’re only after reminding me. I totally forgot. He’s going to kill everyone, oh God.” 

“I’m sure he’ll understand. You’re under so much stress, sometimes things will slip your mind and there’s nothing you can do about it.” She calmed me down and we walked out of the dressing room. She then nodded and I went pull JJ outside.

“JJ, I need to talk to you for a couple of minutes.” He nodded and took my hand as he walked me outside.

“What’s up? Everything good?” I nodded.

“Yeah except the fact that I may have forgotten to tell you something very important that may or may not get you angry.” He gave me a confused look but motioned for me to continue talking.

“Well in the last scene we have to do, we have to kiss. I have to kiss the model that they have gotten for the music video.” He stayed silent for a couple of seconds making my heart rate increase by a mile.

“Y/N, out of all things you’ve forgotten to tell me this is what you choose.” He laughed, making me calm down slightly.

“So you’re ok with it?” I smiled making him give me a weird look.

“No, they can swap me in for that guy.” I huffed.

“JJ that’s not how it works!” He shrugged walking towards the door.

“I’m going to making it work.” He smiled broadly, knowing I was getting frustrated.

“JJ.” I dragged his name out and he mocked me in return.

“Jide, they’re gonna get so mad. Please don’t do this.” I pleaded.

“Let them get mad, if they’re smart they’ll realize there’s going to be a better chemistry if I play the love interest.”

“If I get in trouble, I swear I’m never talking to you ever again.” I pouted walking around him and back into the venue. Lisa walked towards me immediately and asked what he said.

“He’s not mad but he wants them to swap out the model for him so there will be a better ‘chemistry’ or in other words he’s going to get jealous and will probably knock the poor guy out.” We both laughed at the mess he was getting himself into. We looked over to where he was and he was looking very annoyed. I assumed things weren’t going his way. He looked over at me looking for help. I shrugged and sipped my coffee.

“Olajide, I’m sorry but we cant do that. We already have the model booked we can’t let them go right now and we’ve paid them in advance we can’t let that happen.”

“I don’t care, I’ll pay back what you paid him just to make up for the cost.” My manager pulled the team away and had a very quite discussion. He walked over to me and huffed.

“I told you, you never listen to me.” I poked his chest.

“You’re annoying.” He pouted.

“So are you!” I giggled. They called him over and began talking quietly. From the look on his face, I could tell that his plan was going forward. I looked over at Lisa who was shaking her head, laughing.

“Start on him.” My manager yelled, making a bunch of the makeup and hair team drag him to a chair. I was also pulled from one side of the venue to go over the plan and what we were doing for the last few scenes.

“Alright Y/N, you just have to dance there and JJ you walk in. Dance for a couple of seconds and then the kiss. Good?” We both nodded and walked back to our designated spots. The music started playing and did what we were told. I started swaying to the music and, JJ pushed through the extra’s that were playing as other people in the nightclub. He reached me and put his hands on my waist and danced. 

We danced for a couple of seconds before he pulled me in for a kiss. It was long and passionate but it wasn’t sloppy. For a split second, I felt embarrassed. I remembered that everyone was looking at us but that embarrassment faded away when he pulled me in even more and leaving no space between us.

“And, cut!” The director yelled. “That was perfect guys! We’re all wrapped up! The video will be emailed to you just to see if you like it just before it’s sent to production to see if you like it. Yeah?” I nodded and walked to the dressing room to get changed into my comfortable clothes so I could go home.

JJ and I said goodbye to everyone before going to get dinner.

“Hey guys! So today I am joined with a very special guest. If you haven’t been living under a rock, I have a girlfriend and her name is Y/N Y/L/N.” I waved at the camera.

“She is indeed a singer and she just released a banging music video to her song which will be linked down below. Tell them what we are doing today!” He looked over at me and made me giggle.

“JJ if you keep looking at me like that I’m not going to concentrate.” He laughed and just smothered me with kisses making me laugh harder.

“OK, OK! We’re reacting to you guys reacting us. I was told specifically not to watch these in advance by Jide so these are raw reactions. Is that good enough for you?” I asked him playfully. He nodded in response and clicked onto the first video. 

The first reaction was happy thoughts and that they really liked the video in general and that the kiss was amazing. The second reaction was a couple dancing along to the song and they just reacted to the song not the actual video which was ok for me because I could tell it was an enjoyable song for others. The last video was 2 girls sat in front of their computer and they were already screaming at the intro of the video.

“Oh my God, she looks so fucking good.” They yelled. They sang loudly along with the songs and imitated the dance that I had learned for the video. Then the bit where JJ had to appear came up and they freaked out.

“Fuck! It’s JJ!” One of them screamed letting the other one off. I laughed at their cuteness and couldn't wait to see the reaction when they saw me and JJ kiss.

“No way, they aren’t going to kiss are they?”

“If they do, I’ll actually cry.” The kissing scene appeared and one of them burst into tears.

“This is actually goals.” I looked over at JJ who looked utterly confused with what was happening in front of him. I laughed at him.

“Well guys, I don’t have a clue with what the fuck just happened.” JJ sighed, laughing slightly. We finished off the video and he said he’d start editing tomorrow.

“I think I should be in your music videos if were going to get that kind of response.” He smirked.

“I’m pretty sure the whole team completely hates you now.” He nodded.

“Well, we can make a music video of our own if they wont let me join next time.” He laughed, carrying me to my bed.

[deathchrist2000]

The Eyes of Her Double

A Clara Oswald/Faction Paradox fan fiction.

Inevitably, Clara O’Winn found that looking at the ceiling was not a good way to mute out the muffled screams of her double. It wasn’t so much because she couldn’t come up with many inventive ideas from the ceiling to distract her; she had long since perfected this method of avoidance and had already created several inventive story ideas, as well as a few fan fiction prompts, from the patterns the Styrofoam alone (her favorite involved Captain Picard, the NCC-2260, and Gok’ū, leader of the Tribbles). Nor was it because she wasn’t able to ignore the terrible screams her double made. She was a child of the early 21st century, an era where those who can ignore a terrible situation will and those who can’t die. Or get called a “faggot Ess-Jew snowflake.”

Not even the sounds of the screams were distressing to her, as they reminded Clara of long passionate nights spent under the moonlit fields where she used to play with her girlfriend. These were her favorite nights growing up, as they were away from the stress of the daily grind of both her job and her disapproving stepparents. For the most part, they were unbothered by any of the locals, who assumed them to be a bunch of wild animals and would call them such if they were ever caught. Some nights a group of bikers would come to watch, but given that Clara was a co-founding member of the gang, they tended to only be there to say hello or participate if Clara allowed it. The games Clara and her girlfriend played ranged from horsey to cops and robbers to pegging (though that was only when their mutual frenemy, Jack, was around).

It wasn’t even the fear of the people in the motel room next door paying enough attention to call the cops. Clara had long known this motel to be the go to location for crack, smack, and other such drug dealers to make arrangements with larger entities to practice their trade. These dealings ranged from “which locations are ok for me to make deal in” to “I need you to be my representative in a drug deal that could end my life if I go” to “PLEASE IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, DON’T KILL MY DAUGHTER” among other mundane deals. If the police were to get wind of a kidnapping at that motel, they might find the skeletons hidden in the closets, both figuratively and literally if some local legends are to be believed, and motel management didn’t need that hassle. They already had to worry about whether or not the drug lords would kill them for knowing too much.

Rather, what distressed Clara was the ways in which her double was not like her, despite being nearly identical. She noticed that her double was roughly an inch taller, had green eyes, blonde hair with pink and purple highlights that was typically put into a pony tail but was now unrestrained, and a small, nearly unnoticeable, mole on her left cheek. Her ears, until fairly recently, held little circular earrings that had been passed down, generation to generation, for over a hundred years. The double’s skin was obviously paler than Clara’s, though she did have the soft tan expected of a California resident. She was left handed, though she didn’t realize it, as she had always written with her right. Her hands never worked any harder than a few hours on a keyboard typing a paper for her college professor on the implications of time travel on free will. Her body did not have any scars on it.

In the long run, these differences didn’t matter all that much, as her fate would still be the same. They would come for her and Clara would get what she deserved.

Clara O’Winn was only 10 years old when she realized she couldn’t die.

It was on a long car ride when it happened. With here was her mother, Janet, driving the car while thinking about doing activities such as being in a relationship that actually has love in it, not going to prison, or climbing a mountain that she would never do in her life time; her father, Bob, who was as oblivious to his wife’s feeling towards him much like how when one is driving late at night and a deer suddenly jumps in front of the car, killing everyone involved; her younger brother, Francis, who as at that moment on 8Chan figuring out his sexuality, a move that would lead him to spend years in therapy and inadvertently destroy the career of a prominent presidential nominee; and finally, Flapjack, the family dog who would die long before anyone else in the car.

As for the car itself, it was not moving. Clara didn’t know why it wasn’t moving, nor did the majority of drivers to preoccupied with honking their horns to solve the issue at hand. It appeared to Clara that her side of the road was completely jammed. Curious, as she is wont to be, Clara decided to leave the car. She knew that it was usually unsafe to leave a car on a busy highway, but Clara felt that it was safe to do so as nearly every other car was beginning to send an emissary to discover the source of the calamity that had befallen them. Also, Clara knew that she wouldn’t get lost like the last time she abandoned her family, since the road was just a straight line. That, and her parents were too busy playing at adulthood to notice her leave the car. The only one who did notice Clara leave was Flapjack, who silently followed her to his death.

At first, Clara felt that this was like one of the adventures she would make up in her grandmother’s garden back home, about mysterious travelers who right wrongs, defeat the baddies, and kick some serious ass. She always loved coming up with those stories, but she only felt safe telling them to her grandmother while weeding the garden on hot summer’s days. She never dreamed she would ever be one of those characters. Too self involved for those types, too ordinary, too boring to be a hero. Not even this quest to discover what caused all the cars to stop was an adventure of her liking. It was an adventure, sure, but it was just a mundane curiosity that everyone wants in on. A true adventure, Clara believed, would be a solitary experience. She would hold this belief for the remainder of the day.

While walking towards the source of the problem, Clara encountered another young girl, whose name she would never share, nor would Clara. She had dull blue eyes, red ravenous hair turned into pigtails, and slightly yellow teeth. The girl was roughly 13 years old, but she appeared to be much younger. She was barely three inches shorter than Clara, though she held herself much like a wolf cub trying to initiate themselves into a clan they weren’t born into. There was something familiar about this girl, though Clara couldn’t put her finger on it. She claimed her family sent her to solve the problem, but even at a young age Clara knew that was bullshit. Still, the girl seemed nice enough, for a kid, so Clara allowed the girl to follow her to the center of the commotion. To pass the time, the girls talked about the only thing there was to talk about.

“What do you think it is,” asked Clara.

“Deer,” replied the girl curtly.

“Deer? Surely it must be something more interesting than that.”

“Deer are interesting,” argued the companion. Clara was unsure if she hurt her companion’s feelings but assumed, as always, that she had, so she tried to save face towards this stranger, whom she would never meet again in her lifetime. Though she would still think about her, occasionally, whenever she saw deer eating her garden.

“I mean, ah… surely there must be an explanation that isn’t so… ordinary?”

“Oh yeah, like what?”

“uhh… Aliens?” The girl with blue eyes raised an eyebrow. “I mean, there’s signs everywhere, y’know. Books talking about crop circles and people being abducted and probed and… and… C’mon, you have to wonder, right? What’s out there and all.”

“Not really,” the pigtailed stranger sighed, knowingly, with a smile on her face that always appeared whenever she had good dreams, “there are so many fantastic sights out in the world: tornados that can lift frogs states away; 100 ravens sitting outside, waiting for the homeowner to just… open the door so the can scatter; the depths of the ocean that house creatures we have never seen before. I just don’t have time to think about space.” This would change a month after her 24th birthday, when the Children of Nyarlethotep used her in a failed ritual to summon their dark and terrible god from a self imposed exile. In that moment, she saw that space was nature’s dark mirror. Cold and uncaring like a parent who is never there. And yet, there’s a beauty blocked off by its needlessly cruel nature, born out of necessity lest the War, and those who fight in it, kill it for not choosing a side. A beauty seen only by those who appear to die, as all the others would, but in reality transcend the body’s physical form, since physicality is a mere option to this solitary figure, and be everywhere and every when.

The only retort Clara could offer the teenager at the time was a snort and a “whatever” before continuing their journey in silence.

As the museum of cars went on and on, people began to head back to their homes, accepting this bizarre occurrence to be an unexplainable event. Perhaps some gave up because of the unending forest that surrounded the road like fingers grasping at the palm of a hand, waiting to crush the insect that flew its way in. Or perhaps it was because they realized that the universe is a much bigger and terrifying place, whose answers will consume those who dare to try to discover them and as such it is best to care for those closest to them, rather than walk to the end of this dark forest road. Or maybe they just don’t care for walking. A few, however, persisted.

Eventually, even Clara and her stranger decided to call it quits. Or rather their mothers found them, grabbed them by the ear, and dragged them back to their car. At some point in the future, the roads freed up, but by then the sun had set. One of the drivers could have sworn he heard a crunching noise as he turned off the highway to stay the night at a motel, but thought nothing of it until the last seconds before his death.

Clara and her family, meanwhile, decided not to stop driving. Her parents would alternate between who was driving and who was sleeping for the night. Normally, Janet could drive the whole way there, but the incident with the stopped cars got her in a mood that forced her to take a break. Bob, who was currently driving the car, was slowly showing his fellow drivers that he should not be driving at this hour, nearly killing several of them without noticing. Clara and Francis, meanwhile, slept in the back seat, dreaming.

While Francis’ dreams were of a symbolic and sexual nature, Clara’s were far more straightforward. In some cultures, far in the depths of space, in the halls of power and the streets of the powerless, there are tales of what one sees when they die. Some say that there is a bright light that leads you to where you will be judged, be it by a scale or Santa Claus. Others claim that there is nothing but the black void seen when one closes their eyes, waiting for REM sleep. Few even claim beings “souls” reincarnate into other beings, to keep the karmic balance and save money on developing new character models.

Few stories, however, tell of the Death Dream. The Death Dream is the kind of dream only seen when one dies in their sleep. It tells of the life that one lived as a mash up: events bleeding into each other, creating new narratives. A mother, who died in childbirth, dancing at her daughter’s wedding; a family of old men, born decade’s apart, sharing war stories and the good old days; and other tales that the living can never know. It was in this state that Clara O’Winn died in.

Though it wouldn’t be diagnosed until well after this point, Clara could very well be considered Patient 0 of a disease lovingly called “The True Plague”. So called, as victims of it lose access to the parts of the brain that allow secrets to be kept prior to death. When Clara began exhibiting these symptoms, her mother dismissed it as merely the childish bravado seen when one has their ear pulled by their mother in public. The True Plague is fast acting and the survival rates are so astronomically low that there are better odds of surviving sex on the dark side of the moon for an entire hour. Naturally, Clara O’Winn died from the disease.

And then, she woke up.

She wasn’t anywhere new. She was still in her family car, woken up by her parents bickering about the direction they’re supposed to be heading in. Her brother was drooling on her shoulder, somehow still sleeping through the most foul-mouthed conversation their parents had up to that point. Clara made a note of that for later. The sun beamed down from outside the car, the windows haven been taken down so the cool breeze of the previous midnight hour could engulf the car in its soothing nature.

Surveying the scene, two thoughts popped up in Clara’s mind. The first was that she should be dead. It wasn’t a thought she fully understood at the time. She wasn’t dead, not even in the dream. (Her dream involved watching a low budget 1960’s British science fiction show with her great aunt Harriet and a pair transsexual wereseals while eating French Fry shaped spider legs on a table made out of wood draped in the flesh of still living white nationalists, who the only people in the room not having a good time.) And yet, she should be dead. She felt perfectly healthy, no longer feeling like she had a fever while freezing to death, no need to shout secrets about how Mr. Pick hates her because she caught him kissing one of the janitors without wearing his wedding band. She was completely free of The True Plague.

Clara asked her mother to take her pulse, and, when they were at a rest stop to get some breakfast and bring back the good driver, there was indeed a pulse to be found. Regardless, Clara knew that she was supposed to be dead. She tried to make sense of it all, but could only come to one conclusion: she was God. She quickly realized her mistake when it didn’t rain ice cream and instead realized there could only be one conclusion: she was finally the protagonist in the stories she loved to make up.

It was as if the universe had given her superpowers to… do what, exactly? Solve crime? Topple empires? What? Regardless, she knew she couldn’t tell her family about this, not even her beloved grandmother. They would all tell her that she’s too young to do anything. That she shouldn’t aspire to do anything more than what they did. Be realistic. No, instead Clara decided to bide her time, plan out her escape, and, when the moment’s right, flee from her captors and save the world.

The second thought that came to her mind was the realization that Flapjack had gone missing. Which was a shame, as Clara always believed he was a good boy.

“You haven’t been on a date in how long?” Jane teased with mock horror. They had been roommates for roughly a year, and yet Clara felt as if they were already lifelong friends. And though this would not be the case, as some lives last longer than others, they were still as thick as thieves. And yet, there were secrets kept between the two of them. Jane, for example, recently joined an organization that offered to pay for her entire college tuition, as well as hire her immediately after college for further work in exchange for a small donation of blood. (What Jane was unaware of was that said donation would be used to rewrite her timeline so that she was always a fiercely loyal member of the organization, and would die in their temporal War games. But then, corporations tend to leave out little details like that.)

Clara, meanwhile, had many secrets kept from those around her. She never told anyone of her immortal status, save for when it would be written off as the ravings of someone who really shouldn’t be driving a car at the moment. She didn’t tell Jane that she used to be a blonde or that Jane suddenly didn’t need glasses or that the lifelong vegan was eating a cheeseburger. Clara didn’t mention to Jane that she was aware of the tattoo on her left butt cheek of a snake eating its own tail, nor that it suddenly changed to that of something that looked like a snake skull midway through the semester. But then, Clara had to be aware of Jane’s changes for them to be secrets. For her, she had always been like that.

As for the subject of dating, Clara had long given up on the endeavor. It wasn’t that she shared her roommate’s asexual tendencies. Rather, she felt dating to be a waste of time. Fiction had long taught her that living forever meant other people would die around her. She never liked death, not even before seeing her mother whither away in a prison cell, denied food and medical care for too long. Clara wanted to avoid that as much as possible. Besides, she wasn’t even sure if she would stop aging at some point or if she would become a shriveled husk of 20000, forever aging until the end of time, and perhaps even longer (the latter, as it turns out).

However, on occasion, she felt like having a nice old-fashioned one-night stand that meant absolutely nothing, save for some (hopefully) good sex. Usually, Clara used the Tinder app to find someone also open to such an arrangement. However, she had just recently finished The Telephone Book, and had grown extremely paranoid by its fascist implications and decided to stay away from phones until absolutely necessary like later that night, when she needed to give out a phone number. As such, she decided the next sensible move would be to ask Jane if she knew anyone willing to go out on a date and hope that whoever it was could be let down easily.

Fortunately she didn’t have to, as Jane had an old friend coming up that weekend, but needed the room to herself to perform a blood ritual as part of her initiation into the organization, though she simply told Clara she was studying for a final, a lie she thought was true.

“You’ll like her,” Jane assured, “ she’s got a wicked sense of humor, a quick mind, and a hot body, so I’m told. Hell, she even kinda looks like you.” That last part befuddled Clara, as many of people she had sex with tended to respond with the opposite reaction. Then again, they had been the kind of people who expect to have sex with a person like one has milk in your cereal, so she tended to ignore their remarks. Maybe Jane was exaggerating about their similarities.

Regardless, Jane had set their date for a local restaurant that served overpriced steaks and other fancy food, but made up for it with the large fountain in the center that shines an indoor rainbow throughout the restaurant. Jane had said her friend would be recognizable by her dark red dress, which was one of a kind. Clara opted not to wear her blue dress, solely to spite her alchemist friends and their binary views on gender. Instead, she wore a dark purple suit with a long black tie.

When Clara arrived at the restaurant, she was somewhat surprised to discover that her dining companion did have a resemblance to her. Not by much, Clara mused to herself, I mean, she has longer hair than me, she doesn’t have a scar on the back of her hand from when I failed to trick my brother into getting me a drink from the gas station, and there seems to be a tattoo on her shoulder. But perhaps the largest difference Clara found between the two of them was the eyes. It wasn’t as though they were a different color or shape. That was one of the places where they were nearly alike. Rather, it was the implications of their eyes. Though Clara didn’t fully grasp what this meant for the two of them, deep down she understood. But instead of dwelling upon the similarities between the two of them, Clara instead decided to introduce herself to the woman before her.

“Claire Orlando,” she replied.

“Bit of an odd name,” smiled Clara as she read the menu, “don’t you think?”

“Not really, no. I mean, there are loads of people named Claire.”

“That’s not what I…” but before Clara could finish that thought, the waiter arrived to ask them what they wanted to eat. They both ordered the steak, as it was honestly the only good food served at the restaurant. Clara resumed, saying, “I mean, isn’t it a bit odd that we almost have the same name?”

“Not particularly,” Claire said, hoping it would be enough, “I mean, it’s not like we’ve known each other for our whole lives. We literally just met, and you’re from, what?”

“New York.”

“Right, and I’ve pretty much lived in California for my whole life. The odds of it happening to me twice are astronomical, but they do happen.”

“Twice?”

“Uhm… I, uh, Why do you even care anyways?” Claire asked, hoping that this would lead the discussion away from what she felt was a rather embarrassing teenage phase.

Clara sighed. “Honestly, I’m just trying to make small talk. It’s been a while since I’ve had to do this sort of thing.”

“And what sort of thing is that?” Claire asked, silently thanking the god she was praying to as Clara asked that question (Sadly, and perhaps fittingly, it was Glycon).

“You know, dating. Going to dinner. Talking about things we have in common. Ah geez, I don’t even know.” Clara began rubbing her eyelids with her thumb and index finger; her tone was growing slightly exasperated.

“Well… what do you usually do on a Saturday night?”

“Oh, you know. Stuff.”

“What kind of stuff?” What Clara did not want to tell Claire was that her Saturday nights were predominately spent working on a series of fan fiction projects including various one off stories based off of minor non-speaking characters, brief flash fiction projects about cartoon horses, and multiple long chaptered works about certain science fiction characters practicing BDSM. But her magnum opus would be the series of fix-fics on the Animorphs book series, which took the themes of terrorism, alienation, and other child friendly themes and brought them to the forefront. She only got up to the 49th book in the series before realizing that the spark of creativity that had started her on this path had moved on to bigger and better things (though it would be awhile before it would move on to more profitable things). If she was being honest, she was just doing this series to finish it up. Fortunately, there weren’t that many books left in the series for her to work on, so she would simply take the breaks needed for her not to face complete burnout (as each book rewrite could be as short as 15,000 or as long as 100,000). By the time she reached the final book, Clara was almost glad that a group of Russian hackers deleted most of the work she had done for no other reason than a hatred for a specific ship. It meant that she could claim that she wouldn’t be able to redo all of them again and she could move on to better things. All told, the only fics that survived the Russian hacking job were #48-The Return and #50-The Ultimate, which were, ironically, the primary source for the shipping war that caused the aforementioned purge in the first place.

Instead, Clara said, “Watch TV, read a book, do some homework. Normal stuff. What about you? What do you do on a Saturday night?”

“Masturbate.” To say Claire did not want to say that word would be an understatement. Given such a statement, there was an extremely awkward pause in their conversation, long enough for their steaks to arrive. Claire finally broke the silence. “Sorry, I panicked, so I tried to make a joke. It didn’t work.”

“Clearly,” Clara remarked, more focused on her steak than this person she would only have to interact with for another hour or so. Though she wouldn’t say it aloud, if Clara saw the response in the same context in a movie, she would have most likely laughed at that “joke.” But, as this was not a movie, Clara was not pleased with the situation. A shame given that up to that point in the date, Clara believed that they were getting on rather nicely.

“Look,” Claire pleaded after having her first bite of steak, “I know I screwed up, but we still have to talk about something.”

“Like what, your taste in porn?”

“Sure, if that’s what you want to talk about,” Claire replied, grinning to hide her desperation. When in doubt, she thought, go for humor. Clara nearly spurt out her coke with lemon when she heard this offer.

“No, no. That’s uh… that’s fine… So, what do you do exactly?” At that moment, Claire was enrolled in an internship program with an organization that sent her to various inner cities throughout the country to work as a TA under several High School English teachers who would allow students enrolled with them to learn their second language. She planned to travel the world and write a novel about her experiences teaching to various cultures and what she learned from them. She would never get around to writing it. Claire was taking the week off to visit an old childhood friend, unaware she was setting Claire up with her roommate, Clara.

“Working on my teaching degree, you?” Clara, meanwhile, was concluding her training as an actress with an acting company. The director of the troupe claimed to have plans to groom her into being one of the great actresses of the modern age, but he said that of all the new girls. She played several minor roles in various plays before making her break two years back as Lady Macbeth in a well received production of Macbeth. Afterwards, she moved on to other roles including Ophelia, The Stepdaughter in Six Characters in Search of an Author, and the lead role in an original play about the shooting of Andy Warhol. Currently, she was working on a script for a satirical one-act play about the fairy queen spending a day in outside of her kingdom. Its lead would be a 10 year old girl whose mother was locked away in prison for killing her husband in self defense, so she claims. The play ends with the girl running away to fairyland after trapping the fairy queen in a fallen world.

Rather than respond to her companion, Clara proceeded to feel the urge to puke out her guts as if she was the first kill of a horror movie more interested in cheap thrills and gore than in character drama and gore. Indeed, nearly every one of the patrons at the restaurant was puking their guts out. That was, except for Clara and Claire. For unbeknownst to the patrons, the main chef had long been a member of a cult who worshiped the Greek god Glycon. They had long planned to summon the snake god onto the mortal plane, but lacked a means to do so. That was, until the chef read up on a mystical ritual in a mediocre fantasy novel that required a massive and painful sacrifice to summon the main baddies’ snake god. They didn’t concern themselves with the obvious flaws in their plan (after all, they did believe Glycon was a snake) and went with it anyways. All told, 51 people were murdered that night. It was fortunate that the police were tipped off later that night, as the cult, not seeing their god, decided to try again at a later date. The restaurant, wanting to save face, sued the meat supplier for giving them tainted flesh.

As for Clara and Claire… the sensation of discovering that someone who has a similar name to you, a mild resemblance, and also can’t die is a coincidence too large to ignore. There was a long, awkward silence between the two of them as the police put blankets around them to deal with the shock. They were both smart enough to lie to the police, claiming that they were just about to eat the steak when people started puking their guts out. Eventually, when the night got quiet and they were alone under the dancing sky, they exchanged phone numbers, as this is the kind of thing one would want to know more about. Then Clara made an all too familiar suggestion to Claire.

When Juliet returned to the room, the stench had not gone away. More peculiarly, was the snake puppet in the back pocket of her roommate’s pants, which were lying carelessly on the couch. Juliet could have sworn she heard it talking, but brushed it off as her overactive imagination trying to distract her from the naked bodies in the middle of the room.

Sooner than they expected, Clara and Claire found themselves renting an apartment together. Even more surprisingly, was that it was located in Union Square, New York City in an apartment that, under normal circumstances, would cost $10,000 per month. Neither of them had employment per say, though Claire would be working a teaching position that in no way could afford to pay $10,000 per month, and yet they had an apartment to live in. But in a rather oddly forced tone of voice, the landlord, a lean man of 50 with damage from a third degree burn on his left cheek that made it look like there was no cheek at all, said they could have the room for free for their first year. And while that did seem suspicious, their options at that time were either there or a place in New Jersey. They chose the saner option.

Clara suspected it had something to do with the dealings they had last year with a cult. They were in the midst of spring break in California. Clara wanted to surprise her girlfriend for once by showing up unannounced and to introduce herself to the family. Claire never talked about her family during their Skype chats, though Clara did occasionally hear grumblings in the background when Claire claimed to be at home. Deep down, in the part of the mind where childhood and childish dreams reside, she hoped that they were homophobic. Not so much because she wanted more people who thought of her as an abomination against God, but rather because it would mean that she could save her girlfriend and they could fly off into the sunset, living happily ever after, finally giving her a story to be the protagonist of. But those dreams never arose to the conscious mind, as the part of Clara’s brain that housed empathy remarked about the banality of such dreams.

When she arrived at the Californian airport, she bumped into a janitor by the name of Charlotte Orman. Charlotte had spent the past 20 years working at the airport, barely able to keep her house from losing it, thus making her and her three daughters homeless. What Charlotte would never know is that the only reason she was able to have a house at all was because an influential friend wanted to spite a competitor who wished to use the property to build a high rise for rich people who wanted to act like they were starving artists who didn’t have an offshore bank account they could fall back on. As such, the landlord of the trailer park Charlotte lived in would be bribed double whatever the competitor offered.

Immediately, Clara was apologetic, a ritual she grew up with less for the sake of the person she was apologizing to than for her own. She offered to buy Charlotte something to drink. Charlotte mumbled yes, but she was more transfixed by the woman before her. Clara looked exactly like Charlotte imagined she could have looked like when she was young and wanted to set the world on fire. She had the scruffy long hair Charlotte thought she could pull off if given the chance and the figure of a non-anorexic actress in her prime. Her arm was covered in tattoos Charlotte was always afraid of getting and the eyes of a revolutionary that always stared back at Charlotte asking what went wrong. She always wanted to be this woman, instead the one she grew into.

Sadly, the woman she wanted to be would never be proud of who she became, as while they were sharing drinks Charlotte put a roofie into Clara’s. The things you find in an airport bathroom. Nobody cared at the airport, save for some lewd remarks about Charlotte’s sexuality that were unfounded in the facts her coworkers had. It wasn’t that Charlotte wanted to do this to the young girl, she had no hate or jealousy towards her. She just had three kids to care for, and they always took priority to her dreams.

When Clara awoke, she found herself tied to a table made of stone. It was wet with a substance Clara typically felt on the other side of her skin. Next to her were rows upon rows of women just like her: bound, gagged, and about to die a horrible death. Clara wasn’t worried though. She knew she couldn’t die, no matter what these people did. But then she looked closer at the women around her. Closer than she ever thought she’d need to. In particular, she looked at the woman at the end of the row, who was about to be sacrificed. Clara decided her name was “Cassandra,” which coincidentally it was. She saw something familiar in her, like a childhood friend she never had. Cassandra had frizzy hair that was usually kept in no particular style. She had hands that worked primarily on a farm, but sometime would be used to write about the wonders of nature. Her nose was broken, most likely by whoever was keeping them hostage. But what caught Clara’s eyes were Cassandra’s. At first, Clara thought they looked like none she had ever seen in her life. And then, it dawned on her that she had seen them. They were the only eyes she would have to see in her life, no matter what she did. And with that realization, more realizations came to her, flooding her mind with monstrous implications of what made the tables wet. And as she stared into the eyes of her double, they appeared to turn pale with death.

There were only two women in front of Clara. She couldn’t create names for them (and they would have been wrong anyways) as she was far to busy trying to escape her predicament. She didn’t want to die, as she hadn’t discovered the horrifying and obvious implications of being an immortal that ages, and so she tried to look for a way to free herself from the table. It dawned on her that there were no chains on the table, but she felt like she was being held to it like a mother seeing her child before sitting on an electric chair. It appeared that there was no way out.

They came to her, eventually. Their knives were drenched in the blood of countless other people with lives just as valuable as anyone worth less than a billion dollars. They were smiling, apologetic beings who wanted only what they thought was best for Clara. They said that she was the child of the great god Nyarlethotep. They talked about a cosmic War between corporate fascism and freedom. The cultists proclaimed that humanity was a mere insect in the face of this uncaring War of gods, and all they wished was peace. They claimed their god was the personification of freedom. They said that if they did it right this time, their god would free them from the chain of mortality. They showed Clara a rotting corpse; still alive and shriveled to the proportions of a doll a baby could hold, pleading for the sweet release of death. They asked Clara, with mouths too much like her own, if they could sacrifice her to their god. And Clara said no. They didn’t care of course, they were going to cut her up anyway, but they still had to ask. It was a key part of the tradition. The last thing Clara saw was the blade that murdered countless others pierce her flesh.

And then, Clara woke up. She was in the passenger seat of a rental car, used mostly by people who didn’t care if a car had air conditioning. Driving the car was Claire, drenched in a sweat that covered her tears. Clara was groggy at first, but was slowly able to pick herself up from the slightly opened car window. Claire focused on the road, not even acknowledging her passenger.

“W… what happened?” Clara asked, still a bit dazed.

“You got drunk at the airport, and I picked you up,” Claire replied, hiding all emotion and praying to Glycon that this would work.

“I don’t remember calling you.”

“You were drunk.”

“I don’t feel hung over.” Clara pulled out her phone. “Claire?”

No response.

“It says that it’s Wednesday.”

No response.

“I got into the airport on Sunday.” Clara looked deep into the eyes of her girlfriend and noticed that they couldn’t do what they thought needed to be done.

Claire pulled over the car and nearly everything poured out. She told her love that she was kidnapped by a cult called the Children of Nyarlethotep. She told her that she was a member back when she was a stupid teenager who didn’t think things through. Who thought that the answers lay with people who were just like her in nearly every way. How they were Claire’s only friends growing up, or they told her as such. How she believed them. How she participated. How she felt that if she ever told Clara, that she would hate her and never want to-

Instead, Clara kissed her girlfriend.

In the end, Clara spent the night at Claire’s house. Her parents were rather nice, if a bit too fond of the 60’s for their own good. Claire didn’t want to talk about them because she felt there really wasn’t much to talk about. She was wrong, as all people are when they say that about a family member. Clara and Claire swore to never join the Children of Nyarlethotep, a promise that would never be kept.

Claire, who was more familiar with the Children of Nyarlethotep, dismissed the claim that the cult is funding their apartment, as funds of the cult tend to go towards far more sensible things like human sacrifices, fixing their evil lair, or buying a coffee maker that actually works. Claire thought she noticed their landlord talking to someone shaped like a person. An alien, though he looked too human to be an alien, yet too alien to be a human. She couldn’t make out what they were talking about, just a bit of grunts and growls. They appeared to be in the middle of some kind of interpretive dance that kept them extremely close. Claire didn’t think they saw her. She didn’t say any of this to Clara, as that would require remembering the encounter.

In the meantime, they had to move their stuff into the apartment. To pass the time as men who sweat like a character on Baywatch carried their stuff into the room, they decided to come up with names for people who also held an immortal status. It was Clara’s idea, having felt brazen one afternoon during that fateful spring break. They created three base assumptions as rules for their game. First, the people all had to be women as all the people like them were women (this isn’t remotely true as Clark Oswald can attest). Second, they had to have the initials C.O. as this was also true of all the ones they had met and indeed was generally true of everyone of said status (save on alien worlds where the letters “C” and “O” do not exist). And third, no stupid names like Charity Oregon.

All told, of the people they had come up with up to that point, only three existed. The first, Carrie Oswin, was a director of a museum of art in the upper area of the state of Connecticut. She has four children, all out of the house, and is content with her life, expecting to die within the next couple of years of natural causes. Then there was Carmen O’Winn, a thief primarily working in Europe. She was inspired by a television show she watched as a kid whose title character was also a thief working her own agenda and setting her own rules. She stole many artifacts over the years, primarily from the rich and powerful. At the time, she was being contracted by a group of men who had never gone outside their own mother’s basement, let alone talk to a girl their age, who wanted her to search the house of an archivist of old 60’s television to see if he had any tapes that the BBC Archives could use. No such tapes were found, and she barely made it out of there alive. Finally, Cassandra Owsley did not exist in that exact moment. Nor would she ever, despite existing in later moments as well as earlier ones.

They spent the hours making up names, all of them fake, as well as taking breaks to argue how to position the tables in the living room, which bathroom got which curtains, and other banal conversations. In the end, they were able to make the apartment their own. Innocuously, Clara asked Claire for a cup of milk, only to discover that they forgot to go shopping. They decided that it could wait until the morning and decided to take an early rest. One of them would get it in the morning.

Clara wouldn’t see Claire again for a long time.

After a month of grieving, she was brought into the arms of the Children of Nyarlethotep by despair. It wasn’t that she was unaware of groups that could help her in her time of need, or even ones that were primarily run by people like her. It was that the cult got to her first.

The cult didn’t want her depressed, as that only gets people so far. They wanted her indoctrinated and fiercely loyal. They had had this exact situation happen countless times over the years where vulnerable people of their kind would be found and needed to be taught the right way of existing. They lived for their god and one day they would die for him as well. Until that day, they needed more sacrifices and those willing to sacrifice. The cult felt she had the tenacity to be one of them and not a mere sacrifice. But first, they had to break her down.

The depression did most of the work for them. She already felt like she was falling into the abyss. It was her fault they took Claire. If she had gone to the market, they would’ve taken her instead and Claire would be safe. Then she thought of how Claire would feel without her, and fell deeper into the pit. It didn’t help that the cult never referred to her by name, simply saying “you” or “girl” or something along those lines. Or, for that matter, their inexplicable decision to refer to Claire solely as “the deceased” or “it.”

They had to remove the influence of Claire from her heart. If she had even the slightest inkling love for anyone other than Nyarlethotep, she would desire freedom. They didn’t touch her, not physically. They just talked, as people who offer shoulders often tend to do. At first, they just listened to her about how much she loved Claire. How Claire was the only thing anchoring her to life. Then, the cult twisted the stories, gas lighting her claims of abuse. That Claire never loved her, only wanted someone who she could have power over.

It took time for her to accept the truth her friends were telling her. Years, months, hours, they all bled together in the sanctum the Children of Nyarlethotep reside in. She thought that it was love, real love. She didn’t realize how often they argued, how easily the scars faded, like the one she got last spring break when the deceased stabbed her in the stomach. It hurt to come to terms with this, but her sisters said that healing hurts.

Time passed. Eventually she had to show the cult that she was truly theirs. She had to perform a sacrifice. They provided her a book, telling of the War, of their god, of all the factions and sides and important members. And then, something happened to her. Something the cult wasn’t expecting. They thought of everything, save for one small thing they weren’t even aware could ruin everything. It began when she was reading the final pages of the ritual. She was practicing the various sigils on a dead homeless man, as all trainees do, looking back and forth between her work and the design. Suddenly, a wind from nowhere blew the pages away. It whispered like an old, long dead, imaginary friend.

She looked at the book, frustrated that she’d have to flip through the tome again to find where she was. She’d probably forget where she was and have to perform a new ritual. Homeless corpses, while not limited, are a tedious item to find. The page the wind turned the book to seemed familiar to her, especially the symbol. It was almost like skull of a snake but the fangs were too long. And there were other teeth around it. The eyes weren’t shaped like snake eyes, but almost human ones. And the snout, which was much too large to be a snake’s, had teeth in it as well. She had seen it before, somewhere though she couldn’t remember. When she was young and wanted to set the world on fire perhaps. She thought of where she saw it. It was on a butt. A friend’s butt. And it wasn’t always a mask; it used to be an Ouroboros (she didn’t know how she knew that). And the butt belonged to Jane, best friend of-

She didn’t want to say the name of the deceased.

It hurt when she even thought of the deceased.

She remembered what her sisters reminded her of what the deceased did.

The knife to the abdomen, deep enough to threaten but not kill.

She thought of the knife used by the deceased, how she was so afraid.

It was a familiar knife, like the one in her hand.

Exactly like the one in her hand.

It didn’t come together all at once. Maybe she knew the truth all along, but denied it to let herself do what they call healing. Maybe there were other moments where she almost came to a realization of what they were. Maybe she would have broken free even if the wind hadn’t coincidentally turned the pages, as if destiny wanted her to see it. But other lives would have been lost, tortured for a futile purpose that she saw all too clearly. Would Claire love her if she did those things? Would she ever love herself? Yes, she responded to herself. She read through that section, eager to learn and understand what she was fighting. Eventually, she would know what to do with this book. But in that moment, holding the knife, she knew what she had to do.

“Are you ready?” asked Charity Oregon.

Clara O’Winn smiled.

Clara sat on the cheap motel bed while Charity continued to futilely scream for help through the duck tape. Clara was looking at her watch, which told her they had less than a minute to arrive. She was aware from the stolen book that they were known for their punctuality, but arriving at the exact minute seemed a bit excessive.

But she would soon realize that excessiveness was baked in their nature as a shape began to form. Not of an individual, but of an object. Something that would not be conspicuous in a motel room, but still distinct enough for the owner to not have to spend five hours debating which TV he used to go home and ending up picking the wrong television. The device was championed by a sound akin to a child squeezing a squirrel to death while playing with the blinds. Eventually, the shape revealed itself, and the being stepped out of the toilet.

The being was not human. Sure, if one were looking at the being through the lens of a photograph or moving picture, the being would appear to look like a human, but there was something off about the way he looked. He certainly looked like a he, but there was an air of ambiguity to the significance of that detail. He looked less like a person and more like the culmination of generations of film studios and focus groups to create a character archetype (the archetype in question being the stuffy dean seen in every single college comedy ever made, but with the smile of an authoritarian dictator and the teeth of the infinite). But perhaps what made him look the lease human was in the eyes. They were dilated in such a way as have a star field shine through his infinite darkness.

Clara had heard of the parties involved in the War, and called first the side that would be least likely to simply take both of herself and Charity and do what she expected them to do to her kidnapped victim. Sadly, no such side existed, but the side of order, lordship, and sterility was far more likely to humor her than the other factions would. The only fortune she had was that he didn’t simply rewrite her timeline so that she’d give herself to be experimented, dissected, and used to create relatively good cannon fodder for when the War inevitably got boring. His side wanted time to flow exactly as it always had, never changing, forever.

“Well,” he said in the voice of an ornery deposed king while stroking his beard impatiently, “is this the real deal?” Clara said nothing, for she knew his side, like all the sides in the War, thought of her (and the rest of humanity for that matter) as a Lesser Species not worthy of listening to bluster. Instead, she simply pulled out the knife she had in her left pocket, and stabbed her captive a few inches away from her heart. It was surprisingly easy to cut around the organ (though she had many years of practice) but it still took a bit of time. The knife cut through Charitiy’s breastplate like it would butter or wood or the skull of an Elder God.

There, in front of both of them, was Chartiy’s beating heart. The sight and feeling of this happening to her made the young woman pass out. Clara, who was used to the sight of cruelty in the name of uncaring powers, proceeded to rip out the still beating heart and present it to the orderly gentleman. The blood that belonged to Charity still flowed through the body, only slightly leaving the hole. It didn’t so much create a new organ to replace the removed one as simply acting as if the heart wasn’t removed in the first place.

“Interesting,” said the man with an air of self-congratulation, “tell me, what do you want for this… intriguing specimen?”

Clara felt no need to lie. “I want your time machine so I can travel the universe.” The man shaped being laughed. One doesn’t typically hear members of his side laugh, but it is always unsettling when they do so. It’s not clear why the laugh is unsettling to an average being as, for all intensive purposes, it sounds like a normal laugh, albeit an evil laugh heard in old science fiction movies with lines like “NOTHING IN THE WORLD CAN STOP ME NOW!” But the cadence of the laugh was… off. Emphasis was put on the wrong syllable, focusing on the letter in between the “H” and “A” in “HA.”

When the laughter stopped, he calmly, as if he had never laughed at all, said, “I must say, you are an amusing little thing. The hubris of your species is well documented, and indeed fascinating compared to other Lesser Races, but this really takes the cake, as your species is fond of saying Clara.” Clara was stunned. In her conversation with his side, she never once mentioned her name to them. “You know, it was quite easy to come across your name. We have several agents in your time zone who were eager to tell us information about you and your cult. Once certain pressures were used, of course.”

“It’s not my cult,” Clara demanded.

Ignoring her, the being continued, “Frankly the only reason we didn’t simply take you earlier was because you were able to contact us.” He paused for effect. “At first, we assumed you simply got the information from that book you stole,” pointing directly at the book, which was hidden poorly inside a nightstand draw too small for it to fit into, “but then we noticed that it was years out of date.” This mildly stunned Clara, but she didn’t show it. “I mean, your book only covers, what, the first 100 years of the War. There is no contact information for our side in that edition. So how were you able to call us?”

Clara smirked, “It was written on the wind.” She then fled for the exit, but the man shaped being simply slowed down her perception of time and causally walked in front of her before resuming it to a speed faster that 1^-100,000,000 inches per hour.

“Cute,” he smugly retorted, “I suppose we’ll get the real answers out of you in the-“ But before he could finish that sentence, a familiar sound to the being filled the room. Like the wheeze and groan of an organ being played at a packed church in the instance a roof fell on it. It dawned on the being that if this Lesser Being had the contact information for his side, she might also have the information of other sides. Which is why it came at no surprise that a ship that looked like the skeletal remains of a dragon appeared in the room.

The dragon’s mouth opened revealing another bidder for the captives. Unlike her competitor, she looked distinctly human. Though Clara couldn’t make out any physical features beneath her uniform, she could tell by the feel of her that she was human. She didn’t appear to be much older than a college dropout, but there was an air of scholarship to the way she held herself before the two of them. The woman was dressed in a typical Goth attire featuring pants darker than the depths of space, a black jacket covered in pins advertising causes the woman no longer believed in, and a mask made out of the skull from a long dead alien race that still had the species blood smeared on its teeth. She seemed familiar, but Clara couldn’t put her finger on why.

“Step away from the woman, or else” snarled the woman. The woman was unarmed, though her shadow rather strangely appeared to be holding some sort of explosive device in its hands.

“Come now, Cousin Jane,” said the man shaped being, “surely we can end things civilly.”

Cousin Jane thought about this briefly. “Nah, don’t seem to be any other way. Think I’ll blow you up anyways. Always wondered if your kind bleeds gold.”

“Well, clearly there is another way. There are two of them, we can split them up evenly.” As if to piss all over his sunny day, a beam of light smashed through the celling landing softly and directly in the center of the room. Out from it, stepped an ethereal being akin to an Angel with the width of a song, the height of purple, and the shape of an experienced English actor known for playing loudmouthed kings and Viking gods.

ATTENTION LESSER SPECIES, hir whispered in a song, WE HAVE COME TO TAKE CLAIM OF THESE TWO SPECIMINS FOR OUR OWN PURPOSES.

“Bullshit you are,” shouted Cousin Jane. “’Sides, I was here first.”

“No you weren’t,” said the man shaped being. “Regardless, I’m sure we can work things out in a neat and orderly fashion.”

“Yeah, you’re just all about order, aren’t you? Not the order you want, mmm?”

“Is there any other?”

YES! OUR ORDER!

“Perhaps we can discuss this at another time, right now I have a business transaction to deal with.”

“Well, too bad, ‘cause so do we.”

AS DO WE!

“W̵̨̕e͘͞ ͟͡a͟l̵s͏o̶ ̸h̴́͝a̕͢͝v̡e̵ ̛͡an̨ ͢a̷̕͡rra̷̛̕n͡ge͞m̸̧͠e̸̛ņ̛t w҉͟ith̛͢͢ ̴̛M͏̵̕s͞.̧̕ ̷̛Ơ͢’͞W̴҉i̵n̸͏n,̸̕” A fourth party retorted, who didn’t so much enter the room but rather rewrote the nature of the universe so they were always in the room. Soon more and more parties showed up for a bit of, frankly, out of date technology that most sides only wanted because the other sides wanted it. The arguments got so loud, that Charity Oregon finally awoke. In the confusion, she found that someone had accidentally cut her binds, placed her heart back into her body, and plastered a bit of skin and bone over it. Wanting simply to go home, Charity fled the scene. Luckily the congregation was so distracted by their petty arguments that she was easily able to escape.

At the very least, they were distracted enough for someone to be able to steal a time machine, learn how to use said time machine, go back in time, convincingly fake a death or two, get married, find a time in the future where people have cured aging, woo a formless being who exists in any point in time she desires, steal a few phone numbers and contact information, get married again, write a few stage plays, and live happily ever after as the universe’s longest working actress married to a formless traveler and a wandering teacher. Which, in a bit of coincidence that is typical of the universe, someone in that room actually did, though she didn’t get the record for longest working actress. But then, I was never one to let a little thing like truth get in the way of a good metaphor.

[imsarabum]

Responses to {Part 18} I Won’t Stop You // Jeon Jungkook, Vampire!AU Asks~

Please ‘Keep Reading’ to find my response to your ask ^^ As always, I have copied and pasted all asks into this post in regards to last night’s chapter to avoid clogging up people’s dashboards and to avoid spoilers for those who may still wish to read the chapter. Thank you ^^ 

@im-that-chesire-jax said: “…i-it’s Dracula!”  OH MY GOD IM CRYING RIGHT NOW??? WHY AM I CRYING YOU CANT LEAVE IT AS A CLIFFHANGER LIKE THAT (I mean you can, you just did) BUT I AM AMAZED BY YOUR WRITING I WILL BE ITCHING FOR NEXT WEEK TOU COME.

Thank you babe! I’m happy you liked it and that you’re looking forward to next week c:

@takura-rin said: Ahhh, the new chapter was so awesome ;; I’ll almost forgot that the update was today.. I’m so exited whats happening next ;;

I’m glad you remembered that the update was today! hehe, thank you so much for reading it :)

@mysr3 said: Saraaa OMG WHAT HAVE U DONE! My heart just stopped at the ending(screams) can’t wait for next chapter. Well done love❤️ ahhh plz will there be drama in next chapter. Even Yoongi’s character is evil but he is my bias, hope his character is somehow okay. I love the part when JK introduced Y/N to his family, interesting encounter n well explained details. U portrayed him such cute little boy who needs his mum to help with revealing his secrets. I screamed when he announced Y/N his partner n GF ><

A cute little boy haha yes! I guess even Vampires can be nervous when introducing their gf to their parents. But even more so for Jungkook because his gf is a human and he is a royal Vampire heh~ Thank you so much for reading the chapter my love!

@animeimmortal said: “lovely. Oh thats lovely. Awwww that’s nice. ^^ . Great looking party. what. What. WhAT. FUCK. WHAT. SHIT. WAT. FAK. WHHAAAAAAAT. oh shit.” I Won’t Stop You part 18 - a summary (cont.) also: DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMN BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHH

What a perfect summary! hahaha~ I really hope you enjoyed it and thank you so much for reading it!

Anonymous said: OH MY GOD IT WAS SO GOOD!!! I may or may not have laughed when she said “it’s Dracula,” but I can’t wait until the next part! There’s something about your writing that draws the reader in, and I feel as if I’m really in the story. You describe things in such a way that it’s like it’s happening to me, and I’m feeling the same things that they’re feeling in the story. You’re so talented and I hope that, if you enjoy it, you never stop writing because you’re so amazing at it.

Ahhhh thank you so so much! It’s so good to hear that you can really feel all the emotion as if you are truly there. You’re so sweet and kind and yes, I really do enjoy writing so I won’t be stopping! haha thank you for reading and messaging me too :)

Anonymous said: Oh dear I’m not gonna survive the next chapter am I? Please have mercy and don’t kill me entirely, you’ve already done half the job in this chapter

Hmmm I wonder c: hehe thank you so much for reading and despite being half dead, I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Anonymous said: WHY DO YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO!? DO YOU KNOW HOW AMAZING YOUR STORY IS!? DO YOU KNOW KNOW HOW MUCH STRESS AND PTSD IT GIVES!? THIS IS AMAZING AND THE CLIFFHANGER AND EVERYTHING JUST URGHHHHHHHH

I apologise for any stress and PTSD caused! D: You’re welcome for the cliffhanger :P It seems I’ve caused a little distress with it - whoops :) hehe thank you so much for reading the chapter!

Anonymous said: Omg just read the new chapter and I don’t know how u do it. I literally felt like I was feeling her every emotion, like seriously you should have seen me, I was shaking in my chair from the anxiety! I love your work and will continue to follow you and read everything you write!! LOVE YOU XXX

Awww poor babe but I’m glad I could make you feel the emotions she was feeling in the chapter! Thank you so much my love and I greatly appreciate that ^^ I love you too!!

@omelys-space said: OH MY LORD THINGS WILL GET REAL NOW !!! Holy Shit I am so excited 😍 And Jungkook is such a babe man I wish I could date someone like him such a gentleman  Protect your girl!  So cute and Taehyung and Jimin just yes 😍 Thank you for this update it is amazing and a huge thank you for updating every week ❤❤❤❤

I know right when will I ever had a protective Vampire boyfriend to keep me safe from evil Vamps like Yoongi :c hehe~ Thank you so much my love and I’m so happy that you enjoyed it!

@semisweetsuga said: AAAAAAAAAAA THAT WAS. SUCH A GOOD CHAPTER I’M DECEASED AHHHHHHHH

HELLO KOTO THANK YOU BABU I’M HAPPY THAT YOU WERE THOROUGHLY SHOOK

Anonymous said: OK I’VE JUST FINISHED IT AND OMG CAN YOU NOT WHY DO YOU HAVE TO LEAVE IT ON SUCH A CLIFFHANGER although on a calmer note I’m so so so happy we’re now getting to the actual climax of the story 🎉🎉 - silent anon (cont.) Aside from being more-hyped-than-necessary for next week already, I also can’t wait to see how the rest of Jungkook’s family are going to react to OC calling Yoongi ‘Dracula’ - silent anon (not so silent anymore) (cont.) Also Happy Valentines !!! And I want to second what jiminiespinkie was saying about you being better that many published writers - she is 100% correct, you’re such a good writer you could honestly just get a writing career right now. I hope you were just being modest when you said you’ve got a long way to go before publication, and that you’re well aware of and are completely confident in how good of a writer you are - silent anon (So sorry for the spam, I keep forgetting to add things 😷)

You think this is the climax of the story?….that’s…interesting. c: Thank you so much for reading and I hope you’ll enjoy next weeks as much as this weeks! And yes, Happy Valentines Day to you too (even tho it’s not Valentines Day any more now but I still got a lot of love to give lol) And in regards to the publishing idea, I HAVE looked into different options, but tbh it makes me so anxious haha. Like, it feels really pretentious of me to actually charge money for people to read what I write. Like real talk, I would feel really weird asking people like even for £1 for a book lol but who knows what will happen in the future. Maybe you’ll see a published author called Sara Eren in 10 years time or something haha. Thank you so much for your lovely and encouraging words, they really made me happy and I smiled so much ^^ You’re so wonderful!

@jauntyjin said: I CABT FUCKING WAIT U TIL NEXT TUESDAY TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS

YAY I HOPE YOU’LL ENJOY NEXT WEEK’S UPDATE TOO! :D Thank you so much :D

Anonymous said: Happy Valentines Day Sara! ❤️ Your writing is something I live for, and I’m so blessed you’re blessing us with a new chapter of “I Won’t Stop You” on this day ✨✨

Happy Valentines Day lovely anon! You’re so welcome and thank you so much for reading it in return ❤️

@moonlighthollow said: Ok first of all I’m SO impressed on how well described &matching(if that’s even a word to describe someone idek😂) your characters are,i mean i can totally imagine taehyung being like this even tho he isn’t gay(･ิω･ิ)but his behavior, the way he talks &the way you describe his expressions are SO on point idk if that makes any sense😂besides of that i love this story so much i think it’s my fav. Story of all so far cause it’s so well written &researched😍& OMG I’M DYING YOONGIS PART IS NEXT OMFG

I’m really happy to know that you think everything is well described ^^ Don’t worry, it makes perfect sense! I understand completely what you’re saying hehe ^^ Thank you so much my darling and I hope you’ll like next week’s update too! :D

Anonymous said: Oke-No. I’m not okay. You know, I’d want to hit u, but that’s not nice and u are SUCH AN AMAZING WRITER. So I’ll just go into cardiac arrest until next monday. Bye.  R.I.P

Pls don’t hit me I’m very small and unaggressive and I’d probably cry my eyes out lolol Thank you so much! I’m really glad you liked(?) the chapter haha! Thank you again my love ^^

@wonderful39530 said: If I could have a pic that could express how I’m feeling about chapter 18 on I Wont Stop You lets just say it’ll be all over the place!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!

Awwwww thank you so much babe! Thank you for enjoying it and reading it, that means so much to me ^^ Stay awesome my dear!

@hayley797-blog said: You killed me.You killed my non existent heart.I wish you could update sooner I can’t wait a whole week…but I guess I just have to wait.Omg I loveee your stories

I apologise for killing you *tries to bring you back to life) haha :c I wish I could update more often too but it takes time to write each chapter unfortunately! Thank you so much babe, I’m so happy that you’re enjoying it!

@fashionkilla124 said: THATS IT IM SELLING MY SOUL TO KFC FOR 5 DOLLARS I CANT NOOO YOONGI WHY

NO DON’T SELL YOUR SOUL TO KFC. SELL IT TO ME INSTEAD. ;D

Anonymous said: Ah I love your writing! Do you know how many chapters might be in IWSY so I know the date I will die? Fighting!

Thank you so much darling!! And no, I’m sorry but I have no idea how many chapters there will be!

@audreymv said: IM NOT READY OMG WHO JUST WALKED IN???? Omg i am on edge and like beautiful. Your writing makes me want to cry and i might just like how. You are so amazing Sara. How dare I not read this for 1 week like. This is my favorite series and you are one of my favorite writers, too. Why are you so amazing. Just i am so overwhelmed. Like please let something not go wron

YOU DON’T KNOW WHO JUST WALKED IN??? xD Ahhh don’t worry about not reading for one week, it’s okay! You can always come back to here because it’s not going anywhere! Thank you so much my love, you’re so sweet and lovely to me and I really appreciate it more than I can describe ^^ Thanks for reading and I hope you’ll enjoy next weeks’ chapter too! :D

Anonymous said: And yet again you slayed me with your amazing writing skills, seriously, you never fail to make me happy every single thursday -cat anon

Hello Cat anon! Yay, I’m so happy it slayed you hehe~ ^^ I’m so happy I can make you happy every single week and I hope I can continue to do that for you as the story continues as well! Thank you so much my dear :D

Anonymous said: I’M MAD AT YOU BUT I REALLY LOVE YOU AT THE SAME TIME BUT LIKE SERIOUSLY YOU CANT JUST END THE CHAPTER LIKE THAT BC AAAHHHHHSMJISMID. IDMMXKSM C M J. SKAK,SMIC. IWSY IS GREAT KEEP UP THE AMAZING WORK

PLEASE DON’T BE MAD AT ME ;; It seems I’ve caused a few people some distress with my cliffhangers once again, but…it’s fun :P I’m innocent I swear! heheh thank you so much for reading the chapter my dear it means a lot to me!^^

Anonymous said: hOLY FREAKING SHIT. THAT ENDING WITH THE GUYS (Yoongi, Jhope, Rapmon and Jin right?) LEFT ME DYING I WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT OMGOMGOMG I HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER WEEK??!?!?!? I WONT SURVIVE I HAVE TO KNOWWWWWWWW

DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER! lolol c: You’ll have to survive another week to find out my love, but thank you so much for reading and I hope you’ll enjoy it again next week! :D

Anonymous said: OMG THAT CHAPTER I’M CRYING IT WAS SO GOOD also I’m a Lil confused so like what must one do to become a full vampire?? Like what was it that made jimin so relieved?

Thank you so much my love! And in regards to Jimin, I guess you’ll just have to wait for the story to explain as the chapters continue! Sorry, no spoilers ;D

Anonymous said: FUCK👏 ME👏 UP 👏WITH 👏THIS👏 NEW 👏CHAPTER 👏 Like I swear whenever Jungkook gets all playful I DIE! And that Yoongi reveal at the end literally is so great to the plotline. I swear you are one of the best writers out here and thanks for taking your time with such a masterpiece 😊

Yessssssss I’m so happy to know that! And ikr right? Playful and flirty VampKook got me feeling so hmhmmgkflmgspg lolol c: Thank you so much for your wonderful words, they mean the world and more to me, you have no idea ^^

Anonymous said: Your fanfic is amazing, I really love your writing, pls write some smutty blood sucking thnk u <3

I may or may not have a Jackson Wang oneshot Vampire!AU planned in the future~~ blood sucking smut included heh~ But you didn’t hear that from me! c: Thank you so much my love ^^

Anonymous said: SARA NOOOOOOOO. WHY YOU DO THIS?? I’ve been literally dying for jungkook to tell y/n what he really is omg I wanna know what’s gonna happen to them. AND NOW YOONGI SHOWS UP?? AND SHE RECOGNIZES HIM OMG. CRAP IS ABOUT TO GO DOWN. PLUS I WANNA KNOW WHAT Y/N IS OMGOMGOMG STAAAHHPP. How are you such a good writer omg.  - 7:45 anon

Hello again 7:45 anon! I’m so happy to know that I caused you a great deal of panic with this chapter :D hehe~ Thank you so much for reading and I hope next week’s update can evoke the same feelings, too :3 I hope you’re having a great week!

Anonymous said: SARA!!!!!!! HOW COULD YOU STOP THERE OH MY GOD!!!! I FEEL LIKE MY HEART IS GONNA BEAT OUT OF MY CHEST PLEASE TELL ME WHATS GONNA HAPPEN!!! IT WAS ALL GOING SO WELL AND THEN BAM THE D R A M A ABOUT TO UNFOLD

It’s always most calm before the storm c: Hehe I hope you enjoyed reading the chapter and thank you so much for reading it! ^^

Anonymous said: Tuesday is so far away 😩. How could you end it there oml. This is not a cliffhanger if I’m being thrown over the edge already. Great job great job. Tuesday can’t get here fast enough

Awww I’m so sorry my lil babes :c *pulls you off the cliff* it’s okay~ hehe Thank you so much and I hope that you’ll enjoy the next chapter!

@sehkii said: ooomg i love i won’t stop you sm and the way you right just??? blows my mind??? likE HOW??? i love how you’ve kept us on edge with everything going on and i think i figured what the mc is? at least what she can do? i mean you basically put it out there in the newest chapter but i’m pretty sure the mc speeds up the vampire transition time? aND THE REASON YOONGI WANTS HER IS TO CREATE AN ARMY OF VAMPIRES TO GET BACK AT THE JEONS??? THis is my theory but honestly i’m ready for anything fuck me up

Yes - it certainly appears that it is one of the powers that her ‘condition’ is made up of. But, I wonder if there is a deeper reason or meaning to it? Hm? c: Your deduction is clever and on the right path, so thank you for being so observant and picking up on that aspect, it makes me smile so much as the writer to see that :D Thank you also for reading it and messaging me afterwords with your theory, I enjoyed it quite a lot ;D hehe^^

Anonymous said: IM JUNGSHOOK. CHAPTER 18 GOT ME ALL THE WAY F***ED UP (excuse my language) LIKE EVERYONE IS LIKE 'Aye party lit af’ then it’s like *doors swing open* 'omfg ashdvnglf he’s arrived* and I’m just sad and lonely and upset but still extremely happy and in love with you. But like why you do dis. We have to wait a whole week to see what happens next. I love you 💜 ~LilKookie Anon

Hello LilKookie anon! LOL AYE PARTY LIT AF hahaha I laughed too much at that - why did I imagine Namjoon screaming that when I read it? xD Please don’t be sad and lonely, I’m always here for you ^^ and I love you too! Thank you so much for reading it and enjoying it my love, it means a lot to me! ^^

Anonymous said: Hey, I just wanted to let you know that your fics are still part of my self care routine. It’s Tuesday nights now :) Love your writing!!! - self-care anon

Hello self-care anon! Long time no talk my dear, how are you keeping? Have you been taking care of yourself? I hope so! And YAY I’m so glad I can still be a part of your self-care routine ^^ Thank you so much my love!

Anonymous said: I. AM. SCREAMING. OH MY GOSH. When she started chatting with the family I thought “oh man, what if Suga comes.” AND THEN AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. NO NO NO. Lolol Serrena super confused though. “what’s wrong wth the human???” Wow. You can’t just end it there!!!!! Wow. I am, wow. WOWOWOWOWOWOOWOW. Help. #IWSY

Lol yes! Because Serrena has no idea that the reader even knows who Yoongi is! The only people who know of her past thus far is Jungkook, Taehyung and Jimin bc of the Montgomery’s essentially fucking up and not realising that there was a young girl being left without parents too…:c Thank you so much for reading the chapter my love and I’m so happy you enjoyed it!

Anonymous said: OH SHIT ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE. THEY WERE GONNA TELL HER WHAT THEY WERE BUT FUCK YOONGI WHAT ARE YOU DOING JUNGKOOK WILL KILL YOU ALL THE JEONS REALLY. JUNGKOOK MUST BE SO CONFLICTED LIKE KILL YOONGI OR STAN WITH YN TO PROTECT HER. AND YN OH SHIT SHE IS GONNA PISS HER PANTS, FOR A GOOD REASONS. SARA I’M FUCKED UP SHIT OMG NO THIS CLIFFHANGER WRECKED ME I’VE SAID I NEED TUESDAY TO COME BUT NO NOW I REALLY REALLY NEED TUESDAY TO COME OMG POOR YN. JUNGKOOK FIX IT TTUTT OMG I’M SCREAMING SARA AHH

I APOLOGISE FOR WRECKING YOU WITH THE CLIFFHANGER BUT LETS BE HONEST YOU SHOULD EXPECT THAT FROM ME BY NOW ;D lolol Thank you for reading and again I apologise for any distress I caused with the cliffhanger muhahaha c:

@coppertopging said: AHFBEKDIVHNEKSIFNGNEKWFHRJR!!!! YOU ARE THE QUEEN OF CLIFFHANGERS!!! WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?!??! *proceeds to ugly sob* i don’t like you right now…

*bows* yes, that I am ;D PLEASE LOVE ME I PROMISE I’M NOT THE EVIL CLIFFHANGER QUEEN I CLAIM TO BE :c lolol But…I hope you enjoyed it? xD Thank you for reading my love ^^

Anonymous said: HOW DARE YOU YOONGI OMG

*shakes fist* DAMN THAT RASCAL

Anonymous said: SARA I LOVE  YOUU THANK U SO MUCH FOR TGIS SERIE OMG THIS SO GOOD I NEED A DRINK

I LOVE YOU TOO AND YOU’RE WELCOME THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING - also, I take no responsibility for driving anyone to alcoholism due to my stories :x

@fragmentedxmemory said: OMG I Won’t Stop You is an AMAZING story!!! Holy cow so much emotion in the last chapter!!! I’m in love with this story and I’m in love with your writing talent. Keep up the great work and can’t wait for part 19. 😍😍😍👌🏽👌🏽

Hello lovely! Thank you so much for your wonderful words, and I’m so happy that you’re enjoying the story so far ^^ Thank you for reading and I hope you’ll enjoy the next one too!

Anonymous said: Jungkook: talks about how precious the reader is to him  Me: *is a crying mess*

Fun fact; my mum reads these chapters before I post them and she was a crying mess at that part. She thought it was so endearing of him to say and it made her very emotional aww c: Thank you for reading my dear!

@jynxy24 said: NEWEST CHAPTER MADE ME- URGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I couldn’t wait for school to be over. Hahaha, I’ll have to study for an exam now, thanks so much for this amazong chapter, Sara! ^^

Ahhh Jynxy thank you so much for reading babe! I hope you can study well but don’t overwork yourself either! I hope you do well in your exam my love :D

Anonymous said: I LOVE THIS CHAPTER SO MUCH I’M SCREAMING - wedding anon

HELLO MY LOVE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING I’M SO HAPPY YOU LOVED IT :D

Anonymous said: (IWSY is amazing my every message is by default talking about that haha) ANW thanks to you Sara I actually looked into got7 and Guess who just found a new bias 🌚 Choi youngjae 💙  -eggyook anon

Hello eggyook anon! Thank you so very much for reading the chapter and enjoying it ^^ You’re so awesome! AND OH MY GOD REALLY THAT’S AMAZING YES YOUNGJAE IS SUCH A PERFECT RAY OF SUNSHINE HE WILL FILL YOUR DAYS WITH ENDLESS LAUGHTER AND RADIANT LIGHT you made an excellent choice c: I’m so happy you could look into them because of me, that makes me so so happy c:

Anonymous said: IM SCREECHING YO THAT CLIFF HANGER THO HOW DARE U. THIS SHIT REALLY BUTTERS MY EGG ROLL U KNOW. IM SO HYPE FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OML. I WANNA CRI FML. Also ilysm and I hope you’re happy and healthy ok bye 💕

“That shit really butters my egg roll” I’M FUCKING DYING NO STOP I LITERALLY PEED NO I HSDBGSKJDNGSN oh ym god i can’t breathe that fucked me up I’m using that in my own life now thank you so much for this eloquent expression LOL thank you so much for reading the chapter and I love you too! I hope you’re having an amazing week and I hope you are also happy and healthy my dear ^^

@cynicalspacehoe said: Oh. My. God. Chapter 18 had me extremely shook to say the least. Amazing job as always!

Thank you so much my dear I’m so happy you liked it! ^^

Anonymous said: Omg I.. The newest chapter of IWSY was amazing! It made me feel all kinds of things. I was so happy and nervous and terrified (and aroused) when the protagonist was feeling those things. UGH. YOURE AMAZING.

Yay I’m so glad you could feel all those wonderful things :3 YOU’RE EVEN MORE AMAZING thank you so much for reading it my love ^^

@ineffabl-y said: EVERYTHING CONNECTS AND MAKE SO MUCH MORE SENSE I’M SCREAMING AHHHHHHHHH🤸🏿‍♀️🤸🏿‍♀️🤸🏿‍♀️🤸🏿‍♀️

Yes yes yes everything will connect and things will all start to be revealed c: Thank you for reading honey! :3

[birdoge]

Some more writing! The character Helena isnt actually mine, she was borrowed with affection and permission from my pal Shalex.

Context for these characters - Helena is a young untrained mesmer. Shalex and I talked about Ivy (Ivys tag) being the one to train her, but in a way that Helena doesnt realize Ivy is a real, living sylvari somewhere out in the world. Cue a half-portal limbo.

(Helena doesnt have a tag yet, but from now on she will be in /gw2c helena, ofc.)

for more writing: Writing tag!

‘ ‘

///

She’s lost, and she doesn’t know where, or when. Mama was coughing and coughing and Helena wanted to disappear from the sound of it, and then she was here.

There must be a floor under her, because she’s sitting on something. A cool, hard surface, slick and smooth as mama’s mirror. She can’t see it though, because everything is black, and blacker, and blacker still. So black she can’t see if there are walls, or if she’s inside or out, or even if her eyes are open.

Then, a burst of colour. A dizzying, disorienting smear of reds and yellows and tans bleeding together rushes by her, and fades. Another one, blue and red, further off. Then another, and another. They rush by her. Without sound, without shape or form. They’re so unexpected, so there-and-gone that it makes her feel sick.

Another one, blindingly orange, bursts into being and then back out right in front of her face, and she can’t help it - she falls back, and squeezes her eyes shut. Face down on the ground, with her arms wrapped around her head, she waits. Its only when the spots fade even from inside her eyelids that she risks opening them again.

To her surprise, she can see her hands. Faint little wisps of steely grey surround them, her wrists, her arms. Helena is glowing now, too.

Are all those other colours people, too?

She jerks her head up, and all around her now is a horrible carousel of colour. People, she thinks now, passing by where she is without stopping. Too fast, too fast for her to see, too fast to hear her calling out for them.

She calls, and calls. Her voice is hoarse - from shouting, or maybe from crying. She doesn’t know when she started to cry, but she’s scared and can’t stop that, either. And the grey around her starts to spread. It billows out and away from her like smoke on a breeze, though it’s still here, wherever she is. It grows, and stretches, twisting and turning and reaching out to the other blurs of colour.

It breaks, cuts clean apart when the others rush through it. They are coming so often now that her own colour has no time to reconnect. It tries, curling back in itself, reaching back to become one again, but someone else cuts through it before it can.

Until -

Shimmering white - uncomfortable to look back in this dark place, with its kaleidoscope of mixed colours - buffers around the lost pieces of downy grey. Like cupped hands holding water, it pulls her wisps back together, makes them one, and shines like a barrier between her, and the rest.

She snuffles, reaches out for her own grey, feels bad for it, whatever it is. It looks like soft velvet, feels … feels like nothing she knows how to describe. It is there, and it isn’t. It leaves the comfort of the white, and surrounds her, and she clutches it to her chest.

Soft and gentle, a hand presses to her cheek. She can imagine its her mother for a minute, but only a minute, because there is no coughing. So instead she opens her eyes.

Sitting on the ground-not-ground, just like she is, is a woman, she thinks. Not a norn, but Helena doesn’t know what she is. The woman smiles at her, raises her other hand and uses the back of her fingers to wipe the tear tracks from Helena’s face.

“Hello, darling,” she says, and she doesn’t even flinch when the child flings herself off the ground and into her body. Merely wraps her arms around, and lets Helena cry against the strange not-fabric of her clothing.

When she quiets, the woman wipes her face again with a thumb, and asks kindly, “Have you been here long, pet?”

She explains that where they are - it’s like opening a door, and not going through. The woman says they’re standing in the middle. It doesn’t quite make sense to the child, because, “Magic?” She asks.

“Yes,” the woman says, with a warm fondness. She reaches out and touches the back of her hand to her own glimmering white mist, almost like it’s an animal. It curls around her wrist, over and around, quicker, more thick than her own smoke.

As they sit there, the white - the magic? - has spread out to give them a little clearing. They’re sitting on snow, with little blue flowers surrounding them, and it looks like home. She reaches out to touch one, thinking it wont be real, but the stalk bends with the pressure of her hand. It feels like home.

“Be kind to yourself, to your magic,” she’s told. “And you can make this place into anything you want it to be.”

Helena doesn’t want to be anywhere but home though. Her real home. Then, with a funny little yank in her stomach - she is.

///

Her mother smiles when she tells her about her friend. Asks what her name is, and she startles to realize she doesn’t know. She’ll remember to ask her if she ever sees her again.

Her father sighs, and drags his hands down his face.

He waits until they’ve left her mother’s room, and bends down in the hallway, looks her directly in the face. He looks more tired than Mama does, and she has a moment of wondering if he’s sick, too.

“You have to get your head out of the clouds, Helena. Your mother doesn’t have time for your imaginary friend.”

“Oh,” she says, looking down at her feet. Hurt curls in her chest. Her friend isn’t real, of course. It was a dream. Mama doesn’t have time for her. Of course.

“Just…” Dad sighs again. Puts his hand on her head and runs it down her hair, to cup her face. His hands are rougher than mama’s. “I need you to grow up,” he tells her.

She nods, silent, and he groans a little as he stands up, one hand rubbing at his knee.

She turns, and walks - not runs - to her room. Once there, she buries her head under the blankets, and knows she shouldn’t, but wishes to go back to the place she met her friend. She didn’t like it at first, but it wasn’t so bad when she wasn’t alone.

The blanket disappears, and she sits up, and she’s there. In the darkness, with the colours rushing around. They’re here immediately this time, and so is her own colour. Her magic, she remembers the woman saying. It doesn’t even matter if she made it up, it is what she says it is here, in her own safe place.

Her magic doesn’t wait this time, a small wisp of it immediately breaks off, and tumbles away, swirling around and through the other rushing people. It reaches out, and searches, until a line of light appears below it.

Helena’s friend steps out of it.

She forgets all about asking for a name, and remembers only her father telling her that it’s all fake, and she needs to grow up. She launches herself at her friend again, wraps her arms around her hips and cries into her skirt.

The white magic conjures trees - great big pines, and a hammock stretched between them. They rest in the netting together, little flakes of snow falling gently around them, and Helena confesses what her father said about growing up.

Her friend is quiet for a minute, but she continues to pet at Helena’s hair, calm and rhythmic. “Some people,” she says with her clear, bell voice, “spend so long looking at the ground, they forget the sky is there.”

Much like last time, Helena isn’t completely sure what that means, either. Sensing that, maybe, the woman looks down to meet her gaze. “Don’t pay him any mind, lovely. You are who you need to be. You are who your mother needs you to be. If your father wants you to be someone different, I’m afraid he’s the one who needs to change.”

Helena wonders how she can say that with such certainty, but then she remembers her dad saying this isn’t real, and feels bad for taking comfort from her own thoughts of ignoring her father.

Still. Being told that she’s okay is nice. She buries her head against her friends side, and thinks that, as long as she doesn’t tell anyone about it, it’s probably okay to keep coming here.