#joint fic

[kuroneko1815]

Boy and the Dragon 4

Judith was only aware of the monsters at first, until she noted the men with weapons. One of the men had arrived he had a long sword and ordered William away from her. He had golden hair and red eyes. He looked at her darkly and like he would kill her. She roared. An arrow landed close to her, spared from an injury only by the fact that she’d moved her head as she roared loudly.

She turned in the direction from where the arrow had come from to see an empty bow held by a pink haired, blue eyed man with a fierce glare. She reared back, ignoring the other armed men as her mind flashed back to the monster that had cursed her and her beloved Mama. These people weren’t to be trusted, no matter what William said. The monster had come back to kill her, and this time it was disguised as a man. She felt scared so she grabbed her friend and took off. Her wings beat hard as she avoided the next arrow and she flew all the way to the cave that had been her home.

-

-

He stood there, staring at the crystal ball that had just moments ago been occupied by the Emperor’s face. It seemed as though time froze as he uttered those words. ‘Traces of Penelope’ kept circling around his mind. When the crystal ball dropped, it was as though time had begun to tick again and he took a badly needed breath.

“Reynold! Derrick!” He screamed out, calling for his sons. Within seconds, they’d sprinted into his tent, eyes searching him worriedly.

“What is it?” Reynold asked, eyes alert as he gripped his sword.

“Father!” Derrick said as he braced him, helping him sit on his chair when he stumbled.

He glanced at them, not even half a year had passed since the memorial and now…

He wanted to beat the hope in his heart. “The Emperor has called, commanding that we gather up men to search the south mountain where a cave’s entrance could be found behind a waterfall. And call for Marquis Verdandi as well.”

“Why?” Derrick asked. Both of his sons frowned. His relationship with his friend’s son had definitely been strained in the last few years ever since Ivonne and Penelope… ever since… no, there was too much that had happened. And even if he had in a way brought Ivonne home, it had brought about a different calamity. Now, all he had was confirmation that Ivonne was dead, her body destroyed after the Laila’s defeat in order to ensure no traces remained. There was no body for him to bury. Not for either or his daughters.

“Is it because of the dragon?” Reynold followed up the question.

That brought him back to what they’d been searching for since the dragon took the Porter boy. And even if the child had been retrieved, the threat of a dragon’s attack was still looming over head. They would need to be cautious.

He shook his head. “The Emperor said that he found traces of Penelope in the cave.”

“Traces of… are you sure he’s not lying?” Derrick asked sharply.

He glared at his son. “The Emperor wouldn’t bring her up if he wasn’t sure of what he had found. You should know that the Emperor would never, ever, lie when it comes to her.”

“That’s true.” Derrick conceded.

Reynold looked at them both, expression dark. “Father, we’re looking for a dragon and suddenly traces of Penelope have been found in a cave within the mountains. Is there any possibility that the dragon did something to her?”

That… he’d been trying not to get his hopes up but had been slowly and steadily failing until Reynold all but crushed them with his words. “Bring me my sword and have all the men arm up and ready to move in half an hour’s time. Divine beast or no, if that dragon did something to Penelope, I’ll end it myself.”

His sons left him alone as they began preparations, outside his tent, he could hear the frenzy as the soldiers hastily began their preparations. He’d waved Pennel away and told him to don his own armour.

Winter arrived in his own armour. He looked put together.

“You called for me, Your Grace?” He asked politely.

He nodded. “How do you kill a dragon?”

“Pardon?”

“Kill a dragon.”

“I would assume either through beheading it or gutting it before you cut out its heart.”

He looked at the Marquis grimly. “Can you subdue a dragon long enough for me to kill one?”

“Are you asking me to…” Winter trailed off.

“His Majesty said traces were found in a cave close to where they’d been tracking the dragon. If it killed her, I’d take its own life as payment.”

“I see.” Winter was quiet for a moment. “I’ll gather the rest of the mages.”

He watched the Marquis walk out of tent.

Right on the dot, half an hour later, at least a hundred men rode off into the night.

-

-

Callisto stared around the cavern they’d found themselves in. The smaller chamber that Judith was in was mostly taken up by her huge bulk. He could see some stones that had looked to have come from the opening. He suspected the entrance would’ve been easy to enter as a woman and small child, even when she’d first transformed into a dragon all those years ago. But as she grew, Judith must have forced herself through the hole, carving through it with sheer will and claws just to get to her mother.

He tried to imagine what Judith had looked like as a human. He wondered how much she would’ve looked like Penelope underneath his colouring and his heart broke further, shattering what little was left of it. He thought about Penelope often, about what their life would have been like by now. How many children they’d have, if they’d have any daughters. In the dark of the night, he’d dream about a daughter of theirs, one that took after Penelope and who was just so utterly precious.

He felt sick to his stomach as he remembered that he had pointed his sword at her in the forest. He hadn’t known but that didn’t matter. He deserved all the hatred she’d give him for not only threatening her but failing to protect her all these years. For leaving her alone.

Judith turned to him, staring at him for a moment before she turned her head away to look at her mother again, ignoring everyone. William Porter continued to talk to her while he craned his neck to look at her, to catch her eye or to see the statue that had been what had remained of Penelope’s…

Suddenly, Judith’s head raised again and she growled low and threatening as the sounds of footsteps approached. Just as he’d been about to head off the men, they burst into the cavern.

There was a commotion as about a dozen armed men entered led by the Duke of Eckhart and his sons. Marquis Verdandi was there as well, his eyes scanned the cavern with a frown. He heard William Porter’s feet land on the ground.

“Wait, everyone! Put down your weapons!” He said frantically as the sounds of something large moving had echoed throughout the cavern. Nobody listened.

Judith curled her lips showing the sharp teeth of a dragon, as she continued to growl. She looked at William Porter and he took a step back.

“I didn’t betray you, Goldie!” He protested.

But it seemed Judith had made up her mind. She flicked her tail on the wall and a gust of wind swept them away. Their weapons landed in a surprisingly neat heap to one side. The pathway shifting in front of their eyes.

The Duke let out a frustrated grunt as he searched for his sword. “Dammit!” He cursed. “We could’ve ended the dragon there.”

“End the…” He repeated the words slowly. “Duke Eckhart! Why are you talking about killing the dragon?” Voice edging towards dark cruelty.

The Duke looked at him in confusion. “Didn’t the dragon do something to Penelope? The traces of her inside a dragon’s lair, what else could it be?”

He flinched.

“As I’ve said, omitting the most important detail wasn’t wise.” Cedric said matter of factly.

“The most important detail?” The duke parroted back.

Callisto bowed his head. “When Penelope ran away, she wasn’t alone, not exactly at least. She was pregnant.”

He let that sink in.

“Then is that dragon…” The duke asked in shock.

“How is that even possible? Did she lay an egg?” Reynold Eckhart asked in bewilderment, running his mouth.

“No!” Callisto growled. “The Laila found them at their home not too far from here. The demon chased them into the cave and forced Penelope to watch as she turned our daughter into a dragon before forcing Judith to watch as her mother died a few moments later.”

The corridor was deathly silent. The Laila had been dead for years.

“What… what did the Laila do to her?” Derrick Eckhart asked in a whisper.

“The demon turned the Lady into a statue.” William Porter said solemnly. “Goldie loves her mother a lot and stays here to protect her, she brings hot coals or magic stones to keep her warm if she doesn’t wrap around her. She’s been all alone for so long, the only one she used to come see is her old nanny. And now me.”

He noticed that the Marquis had yet to look up, shame written all over his body.

When the Marquis finally spoke up, it was quiet and weak. “Can you tell me more about the curse?” He asked.

“Goldie, I mean Princess Judith’s form as a dragon grows bigger as time goes on, and she used to be able to transform back into a human every once in awhile but since the curse keeps getting stronger, those are getting fewer.” Young William explained. “She loses more of herself every time she changes back, and she’s been stuck mentally and physically as a five year old girl.”

Then William turned to the Duke, unleashing those devastating green eyes that Marianne Porter claims had seduced her into having all those children. “Goldie’s been so lonely and scared this whole time. She just wanted to play with me. We need to break the curse so that she won’t be alone anymore and so that she can meet you properly, Your Grace. Don’t you want to meet your granddaughter?”

He floundered for a bit, his mouth opening and closing before the words granddaughter seemed to truly sink in. “I… yes, of course.” Then he straightened his back and turned to his sons. “Issue the orders, we find our way back into that cavern but nobody strikes my granddaughter. Throw away your weapons when you see her.”

“How lovely.” He drawled, already quite irked that he’d been thrown so far away from his daughter and would now have to find his way back. “Now how do you suppose we’re going to find her if we’re all just sitting here?”

-

-

As they walked through the tunnels, they soon met up with the rest of the men and found themselves outside the cave. Sir Porter’s son began to complain. “Why did you have to scare her? Now it’s going to be so hard to find her. Goldie can also have a temper.”

“William! Don’t talk to the Duke like that.” Sir Porter scolded the child.

“I’m sorry your grace.” William said, apologizing to him.

He smiled at the boy. “It’s alright. Perhaps you can tell me about my granddaughter while we walk.”

“Hmm… I don’t really know much about her. I think she likes fish or maybe that’s only because that’s what I’ve been bringing her. She made me eat the raw fish once as a sign of our friendship. I know she used to like drawing when she was with her mother. And I think she would draw every time she returned to being human. There were a lot of drawings near her mother. I… I think she would draw her and her mother doing the things they used to do and show them to her and talk to her.”

His eyes watered as the boy kept talking. His heart crushed at the idea of his poor granddaughter suffering such a lonely and isolated life.

The boy bowed his head. “The one who would know the most is their old maid, Nana. But she wasn’t at the entrance when we got there earlier.”

“The one in a brown dress?” Reynold asked.

“Yes.”

“Maybe she ran away? We can find her later if we need to.”

“Goldie trusts her.”

Ah. Well then, he could see how that would be helpful right now. The Emperor was quiet as he walked ahead of them, but even in the dark tunnels, he could see that the Emperor’s hands were clenched tightly, white knuckled and near enough to drawing blood.

Young Master Porter ran to catch up to his father, the moment he did, the tunnels shifted and they were separated. There were shouts of dismay but it seemed they were committed to this path. And then all of them heard it, what sounded like howls but were truly the cries of a cursed little girl.

-

-

Callisto walked forward, determined to find his daughter. He had listened to William speak and imagined a little girl with his hair and eyes drawing pictures in the dim light and showing it to Penelope, to the unresponsive statue that her mother had become and begging her mother to talk to her, crying her eyes out in despair just as she’d been doing. Just as she was currently doing.

“Marquis, can you break through this magic?” He demanded.

The man stopped walking, visibly pained at the realization of what was causing the sound. “A moment please, your majesty.”

It took nearly three minutes of agonizing wait as they endured the echoes of her cries.

The air around them grew thick before something shattered and a path was opened up. “Hurry.” The Marquis urged as he panted.

They all crossed the gap before it closed once more.

They were now back into a more familiar path and were soon with Judith again. Only this time, the servant was there, stroking the head of the dragon in front of her in comfort.

When Judith saw them, she pushed the nanny behind her before she growled at them but didn’t attack because William Porter ran to her, arm thrown around her, or, well, he tried to hug her. Callisto immediately dropped his sword and so did Cedric. The Marquis dropped both his sword and his staff.

“Can you study the curse from here?” He asked, his eyes still on Judith, staring sadly at his daughter.

The Marquis was quiet. “From what I can see, the curse is held together by the Laila’s malice. There is a key to it, but we may need a third person, someone outside of the curse but still integral to it. At least, that’s what I can guess.”

“A guess?” He asked incredulous. “My daughter’s possible salvation lies in a guess?”

“Your Majesty, I’ve only been able to inspect the curse from a far and only for a handful of minutes. Please forgive me for not having an adequate answer but I truly do not know the types of magic that demon used.” The Marquis said sincerely apologetic yet calm.

From the side, the servant and William were talking to Judith before they turned to him.

“Your Majesty, I apologize but may I request you come closer to us and hold out one hand.”

“Why?” He asked even as he complied.

The servant was calming Judith who looked weary at his approaching form. “He’s not going to hurt you.” William said. “I promise you. Your father just wants to meet you and take care of you. You’re safe now and you don’t have to be alone anymore. This is His Majesty and he’ll make sure you’re always going to be happy from now on.”

The little hand that guided it to her nose was strong and steady. Judith sniffed for a few moments before she stared at him fully. Callisto didn’t dare look away, couldn’t, wouldn’t from his daughter. Ever.

The two who had been with Judith began to retreat, leaving them alone together.

“Judith, I’m sorry.” He apologized. “I’m sorry you’ve been alone. I’m sorry I didn’t know about you. That I didn’t find you sooner. You must have been so scared and lonely, sweetheart. My baby girl.” He moved to stroke her head the way the servant had done. “I’m here now, and I’m never leaving you alone again, even if I have to stay here for the rest of my life. Your father will stay by your side for however long I live, and even beyond that.” He said.

She bent her head before she turned and ushered him on into the room she’d been guarding.

And there she was, his first real look of Penelope in over a decade. What he’d known, what he’d seen through the small shadowed gap that Judy’s body hadn’t covered didn’t prepare him for the feeling of utter grief that came when he saw her.

There, in the middle of the glowing magic stones that their daughter had gathered to keep her mother warm was Penelope. Gone was her beautiful and vibrant colouring. Her body was twisted away, one hand raised and the other seemed to have been in the position one would have when clutching a child to their chest. She’d been trying to shield their daughter from the Laila it seemed. Penelope’s face was frozen in an expression of desperation, fear, and despair. And it would forever be so.

He collapsed. A wail of anguish tearing through his throat unconsciously as he stared at what remained of the woman he loved, encased in stone and forever frozen in a moment of terror and utter desperation.

He could imagine, from what he’d seen at the house, what he’d learned from the healer and the old woman, and what he’d heard of his daughter’s pain, just how much they’ve suffered over the last few years. How much his weakness had cost them.

He wanted to walk over there, wanted to reach out and cup Penelope’s cheek but he was afraid. It wouldn’t feel like her. It wouldn’t smell like her. It would be stone. Judith stood behind him. Cautious still around him. He could see the fear in his young daughter’s draconic eyes as she stared at him.

Penelope had laboured hard to bring her into his world, to try to protect her as she raised their daughter in love; for how else could Judith have been raised if she was so devoted to her mother? And in the end, she had fled here. The protective spells going up fully only when it was too late to save them from the demon’s attack.

Callisto whimpered, his thoughts tormenting him. By all accounts, before the Laila found them, they were happy. He remembered the home filled with toys and clothes. Handmade perhaps by Penelope. Her room had been filled with projects, sewing and weaving, patterns for clothing for their child. Stuck to the walls were childish drawings of Penelope and Judy, and the crude writings underneath that said ‘Mama and me.’

He didn’t even mind that he hadn’t been part of that life. His failure was proof that he didn’t deserve them. What pained him was the destruction of his child’s happy life. Her childhood and innocence, the life cut short by the demon’s malice as Penelope was cursed eternally.

If he had been stronger… if he had fought harder… if he was able to find them before the Laila… If… if… so many what if’s that would never be.

Judith whimpered behind him and she ushered him on, forced him closer and closer to her mother. She curled her body around it, laying her head on the arm that must have once held her before Laila froze Penelope and ripped Judith from her arms.

How could he save their daughter? For surely that was the only thing Penelope would care for. How could he bring them both to the light of day? But he knew… even if he wasn’t able to save Judith, he’d give up the throne and stay in this dark cave to keep her company so she’d never be alone, just as he’d promised her just moments prior. And if he died by her hand when she eventually lost herself… wasn’t that what he deserved for his failure?

He gathered his thoughts and looked at his daughter. “Please let me be a part of your life, let me take care of you.” He begged his daughter as he held out his hand again, close but not touching her face. Judith stared at him before she made her decision and reached her head forward so that he could touch her again. “Thank you sweetheart.” He said as he brought his head to hers.

There was something he felt compelled to say, something he knew needed to be said just in case. “Your mother doesn’t hate you, she never could. And she wouldn’t blame you for this. You were a child, helpless and weak. It shouldn’t have been up to you to try and save yourselves. And such a guilt and burden should never have been in your heart.” He began. Judith’s head swung up and she stared at him again, her full attention was there and it seemed as though she’d stopped breathing. It seems he was right. In a way, he and Judith were the same in taking the blame on to themselves. “It wasn’t your fault, it was the Laila’s and mine. I failed to protect her and you because I was weak and foolish. I was too weak to throw off the demon’s thrall, to foolish and scared of love that I drew up a boundary on your mother and never admitted what I felt for her until it was too late, never told her that I loved her, and that caused an opening by which the demon was able to ensnare me. I hurt her and drove her away, I drove you both away. And it led to all of this.”

Unbeknownst to the two of them, the magic stones changed colour, from the orange of a flame to something golden. The change was subtle at first but as he continued to speak, it became more noticeable, brighter. But the two were lost in their own world as Callisto spoke to his child.

“Until I met your mother, I lived my life with no regrets. But then she entered my life and it seemed that all my regrets began to pile on to one another, all the mistakes and missteps seemed to all be about her, and now you. Because neither of you deserved this. And I’ll tell you this now so that I don’t regret it later. I love you Judith, you’ve only ever been a dream to me, one that I’d long despaired I’d never have. And I’d take you in any form, human or dragon because you’re my precious daughter. The child of the woman I love, even now. And I’m so happy to meet you, and so incredibly proud of how brave and strong you’ve been to endure this on your own, even if you shouldn’t have had to. I’m here now, and here I’ll stay by your side, now matter where we live.”

Then he put his arms around Penelope and Judith both, noticing what must’ve been water leaking in from the cave’s ceiling trailing down Penelope’s face as though they were truly tears. “I love you both, Judith and Penelope.”

And then golden light blinded him.

-

-

She’d been locked in one position for so long, aware of her surroundings, able to see, hear, smell, everything but unable to move or speak. Constantly awake, her magic fighting to free itself, reaching out to Judith. She was forced to hear and see her daughter’s sorrows, unable to comfort her even as she screamed in her mind that she could hear her, even when she wished to hold her daughter and tell her that she wasn’t alone, that she was loved and that she didn’t blame her.

Everyday when Judith went out for food, she worried and she despaired, alone in the dark and the cold. Judith would curl up around her at night or leave the stones to warm her, to give her what little comfort she could. She wept inside, her heart dying a little everyday, especially when Judith returned to human and talked to her, begged her, crying as she showed the latest drawing.

The only comfort she could have was Nana who took care of Judith even in that form, who never shied away or feared her. Who visited and told tales of the outside as though they were still in that little house they all shared.

And then one day they arrived. And suddenly she had hope, because Callisto was here and he knew about Judith and he wanted to take care of her. And yes, yes. Take Judith far away from here. Break her curse and bring her into the light. Please Callisto. Please save our daughter, forget about me, leave me here.

But he was there and he was saying everything she wished to tell Judith, saying everything she’d wanted so desperately to hear once upon a time. Something she’d given up on. His love.

She didn’t know it, but tears had begun to leak from her eyes as the curse began to break.

And soon, the entire chamber was bathed in a golden glow and she felt truly warm. She gasped audibly as a weight fell on her, familiar and comforting, her daughter’s weight. She adjusted her arms quickly even as her knees buckled and arms that had once held her so tenderly caught her and held her with all the care and wonder she felt at being human again.

“Judith, mama is so sorry she took so long. I love you so much.” She said before the world fell dark and she fell into a deep sleep for the first time in years. Her magic and mind exhausted, her spirit battered but willing to fight, her body healthy just as it had been when the curse was placed on her but riddled with dark magic that was being gradually expelled.

-

-

“What’s happening?” Sir Porter demanded as they noticed the change.

“It’s working.” Winter said as he watched breathless.

“What is?” The servant asked.

Winter glanced at her kindly. “The curse is breaking. The Emperor was the third party that was needed to break it. Unrelated to the curse but related to the two who were cursed. After all, what would touch the heart of an orphaned child and the scorned lover than those of the man who’d unwittingly broken three hearts? The Laila had a wicked humour. And an even more wicked heart that had long ago lost the capacity and knowledge of any sort of love, even filial. Releasing her people became nothing more than a mission and a way for her to gain more power and revenge. And even if she knew love, it would twisted and corrupted.”

“Did you know it would happen?” William asked.

“I guessed.”

“How?”

“Love is a truly terrifying and powerful thing, capable of causing so much miracles and destruction by those who wield it.”

They covered their eyes and when the light had died down. The Emperor was holding Lady Penelope who was speaking weakly to her human daughter before the Lady passed out. The Emperor took off his cloak and threw it around the two, particularly his daughter who had returned to her true form without a stitch of clothing.

The Emperor stood, their daughter still clinging to her mother as the Emperor walked with all three of them. The Princess was laying her head on her mother’s chest, over her heart and counting her breaths and heartbeats.

“Nana!” She said happily.

“My little lady!” The servant said just as happily.

Winter frowned. “Ahh, I guess the curse didn’t break fully. She still has wings.”

The servant laughed. “Oh she was born with wings and magic.”

They all paused and looked at the little princess who was happily cuddling her mother. Now that the curse was over, it seemed the magic was fading with the perceived danger over. It was a quick exit where they met up with the men who’d come to search for the dragon princess who was now currently asleep, as was young William Porter who was now being carried by his father.

“What?” The Duke gasped. “Penelope?” He stared at the lady in awe.

The Emperor shook his head. “Marquis, can you take us to the camp? I want to get them checked over as soon as I can.”

“Of course, now that we’re out of the cave we can do it without any interruptions. But I’ll only be able to take the three of you.”

“Do it.”

Nobody protested because they all seemed to understand the Emperor’s urgency.

-

-

Callisto stared at the two sleeping in his bed. He remembered when he felt the shift. Suddenly Penelope wasn’t inflexible stone but was soft and pliant, stumbling into him, hair ticking his nose. And the scales he’d held was gone, only soft hair and small hands remained. He knew even before the light died down that the curse was broken. He’d thought maybe he’d be able to give Penelope a proper burial but it wasn’t necessary. Penelope was alive.

And now here she was, sleeping off the after effects of the curse. There would be no telling just what the curse had done to her because on the outside she looked healthy but it was possible that it would be a long time before she would be up and about. And Judith would need a lot of care as she readjusted to being human again.

But none of that mattered, his love was here, as well as their daughter and he would take care of them no matter what.

That’s it for part 4. If there’s some disconnect or errors between @saneijeijei and I’s chapters, I apologize. We write what we want for fun and we try to coordinate but there’s bound to be some differences or errors. Anyway, Jei, it’s your turn again. I got to write my angst and I’m happy.

Also, side note but remember, Judith doesn’t know about the Eckhart or nobility. And she saw the Laila who was using Ivonne’s body, and Ivonne looks like Reynold so things may get a bit dicey. If you want to read Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3 you can read it here. Stay healthy and safe folks!

[rachi-roo]

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Moriarty the Patriot: To Break a Gargoyle - Act 1

I'm soooo excited to post this!!!! Me and @giggly-squiggily have teamed up on this fic to make a two-part tale!!! Squiggles you're so cool 😭👏 I had so much fun writing and planning this with you!

Summary: After hoating a successful tea party, William is still sour over Morans betrayal in his time of need and seeks revenge! Only things don't quite go to plan. Lee!William, Ler!Moran.

Act 2 here by the brilliant Giggly-Squiggly!!!

Tw: None.

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It had been a couple of days since the Moriarty household had finished up with hosting the dreaded tea party, and everything had settled down once again. Everything, except the troubles that swirled in William's mind.

The family of three brothers sat enjoying each other's company, along with Fred and Moran whilst Jack was busy elsewhere. William turned the page in his newspaper looking up as Moran stood, pulling his coat over his shoulders.

"Right. I'd best be off then. Got a few errands to run before dinner." He announced, tugging gently on Fred's coat sleeve to get him out of his seat. "Thanks for the tea, Louis. William, Albert." He gave a nod to each brother before turning to leave.

As he did, William stared, an image flashing in his mind. Moran left him. That day, at the tea party. He turned his back and left him to flounder at the mercy of those desperately flirtatious women. He left him. How dare he!

On the surface, William was calm. Composed. He even offered a friendly smile as his friend left to continue his duties, but beneath that cool exterior, a storm was brewing. A plot for revenge. No one betrays William James Moriarty. No one.

-------

Later that same evening, before dinner was prepared, William approached Moran in the hallway, a look of seriousness on his face. "Moran. I have something to discuss with you in my private study if you could meet me there in five minutes, I have something important to discuss." He spoke quietly, earning a professional nod of acknowledgement from the other.

"Am I to bring the others?"

"No. Come alone. This only requires you." William gave a reassuring smile, heading off towards his study to prepare.

-------

Exactly five minutes later, Moran arrived outside William's study, knocking on the door. "William. It's Moran... I'm coming in." He opened the door, seeing William sitting at his desk inside.

"Close the door, please. And have a seat." William ordered, smiling softly as he watched Moran do so. So far, it didn't look like his friend suspected a thing. Why would he? William was his trusted boss and friend.

"So, Moran, I trust that you enjoyed your time at the tea party we hosted a couple of days back?" He asked, standing up once Moran was seated, moving to pour the two of them a drop of whisky. Moran watched him, smiling fondly at the memory of all those lovely ladies gathered in one place, not to mention the few who were fawning over him as he stood in the garden.

"Aye, sir. It was an entertaining affair." He chuckled, taking the drink as William handed it to him. The blonde hummed, taking a sip of his own.

"I'm glad you found it so enjoyable. I do hope the job you were given wasn't too taxing."

"Of course not, William. It was a piece of cake."

William set his drink down, standing behind his tall friend as his tone changed. "Piece of cake, you say? Then, do tell me, friend, why is it that you neglected to assist me in my time of need?"

"Sir?" Moran raised a brow, not quite catching on.

"When that woman was viciously flirting with me during my advice hearing. You saw my suffering and turned your back on me. Did you not?"

Moran froze up. How could he forget. "I-I't wasn't meant to be malicious, sir. I just-"

"Just what? You weren't actually fit to help your boss when required and lied to me about your capabilities? Or is it that you left me to undergo such torment on purpose? Mutiny, essentially." William cracked his knuckles as Moran gulped.

"No sir, I wasn't intending to-"

"You really did turn your back on me, Moran. Which was your first and last mistake!" In a flash, William dove upon Moran's sides, squeezing a massaging his fingers into the well-toned muscle, a wicked grin on his cheeks.

"Now you will-... Wh-?" William's smile faded when he got no reaction from his attack. Not even a flinch? How is he not laughing? It's like he just turned off all his nerve endings. Like he's made of stone or something! "How- Uh!" His blood ran cold when he looked up, seeing Moran's playful, smug grin and vengeful side-eye.

"Oooh, you are a scary one. Ain't ya, Lord of Crime?" He grinned, standing from his chair and calmly leaning over William to put his drink on the desk behind him. "Yep, you sure taught me a lesson."

The smaller blonde took a step back, bumping into his desk as his hitman towered over him. "I-I was only having a laugh, Moran. You know I would never truly be hurt by something so trivial." This was true. Of course William was only playing. But Moran didn't look satisfied with this excuse.

His grin softened as he grabbed Williams's wrists, holding them over his head with ease. "My turn~" He jeered, bringing his free hand to William's stretched-out ribs, starting to lightly pinch up and down his slender frame.

Each squeeze earned a hiccup-like squeak from the Lord of Crime as he flinched and jumped at the tickly zaps that sent shivers down his spine.

"Wait! Mor-Aha! I didn't Hah! Let me explAHAin! Stahap!" He blushed, embarrassed by how easily he was reduced to a giggly mess, with the defence of a wet napkin. He was so glad he shut the door, lest some prying eyes fall upon the scene. "Stahap it, Moran!"

His pleading only seemed to egg the hitman on, switching from small squeezes to continuous drilling between and on the sensitive bone. "Oh come on now, William. You should know better than to try something like that on me."

"I-I'm sahaharry! Ahaha! Nohoho!" Will gasped as he managed to slip his wrists free, making a break for the door. Just too slow. He felt the large hand of his attacker grab his shoulder, pulling him back before wrapping his arms around William's stomach, lifting him clear from the ground with ease.

"Pardon my roughness, Sir. But I can't let you go just yet." Moran grinned, shaking his fingers into William's sides, chucking as he listened to his loud, boyish laughter.

"Wahahait! Oho lord- Ahaha! Mohoran! AHA!" He grabbed and pushed on Moran's python-like grip, desperate to wriggle free from the ticklish prison. It was no use, nothing could escape the gargoyles grasp once you became ensnared in it.

"Plehehease! AHAHA!" His laughter turned to bubbly, chirping, giggling as Moran's hands started shaking into his tummy. "Ehehehe! N-Not thehere!"

"Not there?" Moran raised a brow, shifting his hands further up and sinking into the poor man's underarms instead. "How about here? Is this better, sir?" He teased, gasping as he narrowly missed a kick to the bollocks as William flailed.

"GYAHAHAHA! Nooo! AhahaAHA! P-Plehease! Oh lohord!"

"Tickle, tickle, tickle, William~ To think, you would have me suffering the same if you could. How cruel of you." Morans mocking tone only made things worse for William.

"AHAHAHHAHAAA! P-Please forgihihive meee! HAHA!" That was twice Moran almost had his jewels booted, time to change again. He set William down, quickly straddling his hips, pinning him on his back.

"No! Nononono! Wahait!"

William fought off his hands with his killer precision, but the ghost tickles were too much of a distraction and he was soon under attack again. This time Moran pinned one arm up, clawing mercilessly at the sensitive underarm as William tried in vain to defend himself.

"AAAAH! Moran! I-I'll do anythihing! Plehehease!" The boy's cheeks were red as the roses that bloomed in the garden, and wet with mirthful tears as he howled with laughter.

"Oooh, anything? Hmm... Nah." This man was evil. He just wanted to make William regret trying to attack him. His hands switched back to William's sides, shaking in vigorously as he smirked teasingly.

"Morahahan! Th-This is ridihiculous!"

"You started it!"

"A-Ahalright!" William snorted. "I-I give in! Plehehase!"

"Well, since you asked nicely." Moran smiled, patting William's cheek as he stopped his attack, still sitting upon his boss's lap. "Hehe, look at you." He smirked, referring to William's tangled hair and wrinkled shirt collar.

"I-Ihihi... I'll have to tidy... mysehelf before... Dinner."

Moran nodded, starting to poke at the tired assassin's tummy as he spoke. "Look, William, you know I respect you. Hell, I'd give my life for you. But I'm afraid when it comes to tickling, I just can't let you walk away from an attempt on me like that." He chuckled, watching him twitch and bat at his poking hand.

"Ohokay! Stop, stop... Haha... I'll remember that..." William chuckled, taking Moran's hand as he helped him up.

"There is only one man who knows how to beat me in a war of tickles. And I'm afraid he ain't you. Better luck next time though." The large man grinned, patting his friend's hair before leaving the room, winking as he shut the door behind him.

William thought for a moment. One man who knows how to beat him. Who could that be? The cogs were turning in William's mind again. There was definitely going to be a round two.

[zephyrchama]

Water Wrinkles

Seven demon brothers sat solemnly in a circle around you. You did your best to ignore them. It wasn't often that you got to spend time at the human world villa, and you were intent on soaking up as much sun as you could before returning to the Devildom.

You reclined your beach chair back, crossing your arms under your still-wet hair. It was a gorgeous day. Perfect for being at the pool.

Leviathan let out a muffled sob. As the demon with the highest affinity for water, he blamed himself.

"Let us take you to a hospital," Satan insisted for the tenth time.

"They're going to laugh us out of the ER," you nonchalantly repeated.

Satan lowered his eyes and muttered, "I couldn't find any traces of a curse in the water... So how...?"

Asmodeus had his head in his hands, unresponsive. Sometimes his fingers curled around the ends of his hair. You briefly glanced over to make sure he didn't pull his hair out - that would be grounds for a real emergency.

"I can't bear to watch. Lucifer, do somethin'," Mammon whined. He was fidgeting all over the place and winced whenever he looked at your feet.

The oldest glared at you. You knew it was out of concern, but his fears were unfounded. Even Lucifer refused to listen to reason when he thought you were in danger.

"Actually, yeah. Lucifer, can you pass me a towel?" you asked. It was embarrassing having seven shirtless demons intensely staring at you. If they wouldn't let you go back in the water, maybe covering up would make you feel less self-conscious.

Lucifer didn't move. It was Beelzebub who plucked a spare towel off his younger twin and handed it to you with a shaking arm. He looked like a wet puppy, having been the one who first discovered your "condition" and swept you out of the pool.

Belphegor hadn't gone in the water that day. He only hogged the plush towels because of how comfortable they were and, following Beelzebub's lead, dumped them all onto your chair. Now he sat, wide awake. He was anxiously squeezing a loose chunk of concrete but at some point, without realizing, it got crushed to powder in his hand.

You had more than enough towels now.

"In half an hour you're going to forget this all even happened," you said to reassure the worry warts.

"In half an hour, you might be gone!" Mammon snapped back.

"You're going to be a wrinkled mess of skin and bones," Asmodeus weeped quietly.

Leviathan pressed his hands over his ears. Though, with nothing to cover his eyes he was forced to look at your wrinkled hands again. Based on the noises he was making, you'd think someone was torturing him.

"As I've said!" you reiterated. "All humans get wrinkly in water. Look, now that I'm drying off it's going back to normal."

Beelzebub grabbed your ankle, raising it for the brothers to observe at eye level. "I don't see a difference."

You didn't expect the sudden manhandling and slunk several inches down the lounge chair while the demons stared at your foot. Kicking and twisting your leg was futile. You modestly crossed your free leg.

"I think it's getting worse," Satan said.

"We need to take action," Lucifer decided.

Asmodeus was actively quivering now. Belphegor and Leviathan had crept behind you and started picking at your wrinkly fingers. You tried to swat them away to no avail.

"Give me 25 minutes! Literally! Probably even less, this will go away on its own! I just need to dry off."

"We need a solution now," Mammon asserted. The cogs in his brain were turning. "We need fire."

You tried to sit up, to jump up and stop Mammon before he burned the whole villa down in an attempt to dry you off, but Beelzebub had not let go and you stumbled. You grazed your knee on the concrete and winced.

A second round of panic overcame the demon brothers. Beelzebub let go, Lucifer picked you up, and Belphegor wrapped your knee with every available towel he could lay his hands on. Asmodeus and Leviathan were crying on each other's shoulders. Mammon came running back, oblivious to the second disaster that just occurred, with a flaming stick in his hand that Satan tried to keep at bay. If you got burnt on top of everything else, they'd probably go insane and destroy the human world.

In the midst of the chaos you caught a glimpse of your hand. It was practically dry. You couldn't even see the wrinkles anymore. You angrily wiggled in Lucifer's grasp as various hands fussed over you.

"Stay!!" you shouted over the clamor.

The brothers went tumbling to the ground, save for Lucifer who fought to stay rooted in place. You could finally hear yourself think again. There was primarily one thought on your mind.

"I just want to go swimming."

[shushmal]

Robin has a love-hate relationship with Steve-and-Eddie. Love, because those are her best friends and her best friends are in love with each other and they never leave her out of anything. Hate, because sometimes she wishes they would because she keeps accidentally third-wheeling herself.

She doesn't hate it that much though, if she's honest. It's just fun to complain, especially because it riles the both of them up.

But right now, she's being quiet so she can witness one of her secretly-favorite Steve-and-Eddie rituals—of which there are many, but this one is silly and endearing.

It starts like this:

The waitress sets down their drinks, lemonade for Robin, coca-cola for Steve, and a cherry soda for Eddie.

"Don't you dare," Eddie says, even as Steve reaches for Eddie's drink, slipping his straw in next to Eddie's and slurping obnoxiously. Eddie doesn't even pretend to stop him anymore. "Unbelievable."

"I just want to taste it!"

"You could just get a whole glass of it! All for yourself!!"

"It's too sweet, I don't want a whole glass."

"What, so you think you can just help yourself to mine?"

Steve's grin is far too smug, even for Robin, even when Steve slides it to her so she can take a sip. Steve is right, it is really too sweet and she wrinkles her nose, but it's worth it for the offended gasp Eddie makes when she slides it back to him.

The diner is their favorite, because everyone who works there has given up on understanding their weird dynamic: Robin and Steve squished into on side of the booth while Eddie's spread out on the other, Robin making gagging noises whenever Steve brushes against her, even though they never sit in any other configuration. The staff has long since stopped asking which of them was her boyfriend, and that's perfect for her.

Besides, she knows that under the table, Steve and Eddie have their ankles locked together like the disgusting love-sick dorks that they are.

The Steve-and-Eddie show continues when their meals come out. Chicken fingers and fries for Steve because he's an actual child, and breakfast for dinner for Eddie because he likes to be contrary. And then the real performance begins.

They "fight" over the ketchup bottle, which really means that Eddie picks it up and Steve snatches it out of his hands—only for Steve to spread it over Eddie's scrambled eggs (gross) for him before he adds a disgusting amount to his own basket.

Eddie makes a game of stealing Steve's fries when he thinks he isn't looking (Steve is, he's tallying each one up in his head, Robin knows this because she's doing it too), and when he finally "catches" Eddie in the act, he steals Eddie's last piece of bacon—the one that's sat untouched for the last five minutes for this very reason.

Then, Eddie's "forcing" Steve to try his grits, like he does every time, and game eats a spoonful of it, every time, and then complains at length how much he hates it (and he actually does hate it, the texture is just not for him, Robin knows because it's the same for her too).

And then they do the worst, most disgusting thing ever: they split the pancake in half. Without fail. Without argument. Every time.

Robin, slurping on her strawberry milk shake that she will NEVER share with anyone ever, thinks that stupid pancake is like the symbol of their love or something. Sh's sure if they weren't in public, they'd be feeding it to each other.

"What?" They say it in unison, and Robin hates when they do that to her.

(Eddie complains about it right back at her, because she and Steve do the same thing to him all the time. They should blame Steve, since he's the common denominator, but he just looks so pleased about them both that they can't rag on him for it, so Eddie remains Robin's sworn enemy and vice versa.)

"What what?" she sneers at them, voice quiet. "You two are disgusting, it's like you're making out right in front of me right now."

"What are you, homophobic?" Eddie hisses back, just as quiet. "I'm in love with your best friend, Buckley. I'm making out with him in front of you for the rest of your life."

"Ugh! I hate you so much."

"Right back at you."

And then they start kicking at each other beneath the table, no doubt catching Steve's ankles in the crossfire. He doesn't tell them to stop though, and Robin can see that pleased, sappy smile on his stupid face out of the corner of her eye, so she lands an exceptionally harsh blow to Eddie's shin in retaliation for making her best friend so happy. He digs his heel into her toes in return.

[deedala]

Ian and Mickey from Intro to Quantum Dating by @spoonfulstar

[da-birb-writes-sometimes]

How You Turn My World; Chapter 4

You finally find your way into the labyrinth, coming across some new and old faces; both friendly and malicious.

Character; Lilia Vanrouge

Content; Gender-neutral reader, reader is getting tired of being stuck here and smelling like a bog

Content Warnings; Swearing, some talk of death, reader passes out

Word Count; 2.2 K

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 |

As per usual, don't put my work into AI.

You were finally making some decent progress, what, with not being stuck in some bog and knowing somewhat of where you were going. A vast improvement really! Well, it would be, but unfortunately, you still reeked of rotten eggs and skunk — apparently the bog stench only got worse the longer it stayed on.

“Why did it have to dump me into the swamp,” you huffed, rounding yet another corner. “Like, it could have dumped me beside the water, but, no, no, let’s dump the magicless human right into the putrid bog water! A good guffaw, don’t you think? Ha ha ha HA!”

At least your au de Bog of Eternal Stench kept any would-be assailants away since you hadn’t run into anything (besides a rose bush, ouch) since you started making your way through the labyrinth. So maybe it wasn’t all that bad… damn, maybe your sense of smell was just used to it… hey, if stink helps you not die, then you would gladly stay stinky! Well, bitterly stay stinky is more like it.

“Assholes,” you muttered, rounding another corner. 

But it wasn’t a corner; it was a crossroad. Three paths merged off of the one you were on.

… aren’t labyrinths just one long line? THIS IS A FUCKING MAZE?! You groaned, looking at your possible options which all looked exactly the same.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Of course nothing is easy here, no no no! Gotta make things difficult now.

The hedge behind you rustled, and you whipped around, getting into a stance where you could either land a pretty good sucker punch to the hedge-stalker or make a mad dash away. But out of the hedge crawled out a small, fuzzy, caterpillar. And back at home you would have thought it was cute, but you learned your lesson from the doors; don’t trust it, or anyone for that matter.

You looked down at the caterpillar, and the caterpillar looked up at you, blinking slowly. 

What are the chances… 

“Do you know a way out,” you asked the caterpillar, crouching down so that you didn’t tower over it.

The caterpillar blinked at you again (apparently caterpillars in the Underground have eyelids, which isn’t the weirdest thing considering everything). “No,” it chirped and continued crawling on its merry way, wherever that may be. “But you’ll find the way.” And it disappeared into the growth of the maze, humming a little tune to itself.

You sighed, and pushed yourself back up, straightening out your shoulders and looking up to the sky. “I’ll find a way,” you breathed, looking up at the cloudless sky which was starting to turn a brilliant amber with the setting sun. “I might want to find a way is more like it.”

You looked back down to the ground, looking at the three paths in front of you. They all look the same, save for the ground making up paths themselves, with the middle and right paths looking well worn with travel. And while they may be well worn, there was a voice at the back of your head that was whispering caution. The left-most path was not as well travelled, with dead vines covering parts of it.

“Hopefully you’re right, little buddy since I could use all the luck I can get.” And you made your way down the path, hoping that it was the correct one and didn’t lead you to your death or some other unpleasant thing.

…

…

Lilia was at the entrance of the labyrinth, in front of the two doors.

“Have you seen a human, about this tall, a bit of a temper, and smelling foul,” he asked the doors.

The doors looked at each other before looking at Lilia. “And what’s it to you,” they said in unison.

Lilia smiled, but it was one of mild annoyance, not joy or amusement. “Royal orders I fear. You wouldn’t want the mistress finding out about you both tampering with a royal matter, would you?” The smile turned cat-like since Lilia had backed them into a corner.

The doors paled, with the blue door speaking up. “No no, sir! We would never dream of such a thing!!! Yes, there was a human, a wretched one at that, horribly rude!”

Lilia hummed, cocking a brow at the door. “I do think wretched is a bit of an overstatement now,” he whispered to himself. “Well, tell me where about they are then. The sooner I can collect them, the better for you lot.”

The red door sighed, “Near the heart of it, they took the left path.”

Left path? Why the left path leads to… Shit. Lilia mentally groaned, knowing that regardless of the path you took, you would end up having to deal with them eventually. “Your cooperation has been noted,” is what he said though, giving the doors both a nod before turning into a bat and flying over the labyrinth, trying to find you before you ran into whoever them was.

“Please be clever enough not to die,” he whispered to no one, hoping that he didn’t have to deliver your body to the Queen.

…

…

The left path brought you to what looked like a forest; with old-growth trees, ferns and moss covering the ground, and a list mist hanging in the air. It was peaceful and beautiful, with the setting sun illuminating the mist without burning it away.

But that would not last, night was fast approaching and you had nothing to protect you this time; no rowan tree to haul your ass up, and no sort of weapon to protect yourself besides the oh-so-lovely smell of the bog to deter something from eating you. You were pretty sure it would also keep away anything that wanted to otherwise snatch you up.

“AH!” Something jumped out from a tree, and you couldn’t fully register what it was since you were also screeching, much like the creature was at you; you with fright, the creature with amusement and joy.

Two other creatures jumped out from behind the trees and startled cackling, jumping, and clapping. Together, they surrounded you, with no way to really escape them without fighting through.

… you really should have read about fae species, since you didn’t know what they exactly were, or how dangerous they were either. 

One pulled you near a pit and lit a fire, cackling in glee and dancing, trying to get you to join them. “Ah come on, human, have some fun! DANCE BABEY!!!!”

But you stayed still as more creatures came out of the shadows, dancing around the fire, giggling, cackling, and pulling a bit at your clothes to prompt you to join them. You didn’t know, cementing your feet down, your eyes watching their movements with caution.

‘Should you dance with the fae, you shall not stop dancing until you exhaust yourself. And once you wake up, you will continue dancing. This cycle will repeat itself until you dance to death.’ 

At least that was what the book said, and so you stayed still, regardless of how much the creatures pulled at you. While it looked like a grand old time, you remained where you were.

“I don’t have time for dancing,” you answered coldly, flinching from pinching fingers. You were also a bit shocked that Eau de Bog of Eternal Stench wasn’t keeping them away. Either, they couldn’t smell, or, they didn’t care that you smelled downright awful. “So this ‘baby’ won’t dance.”

And should I be offended by you calling me ‘baby’ or am I reading too much into it?

The main creature just shrugged and spun its dancing partner around. “Your loss human! More fun for us then! YIPPEE!!!” And it threw something in the fire to where you could feel the heat on your face.

What now? You were just standing there awkwardly as the creatures danced about, singing something that you couldn’t really make out. All you knew was that the heat, noise, and the dizzying dance of them was making your head pound, and throat scream in thirst. You hadn’t drank anything for over a day(?) — no, bog water did not count — and the heat from the fire made the thirst only worse. Shit.

“Ah, you don’t look too… hot there human,” one of the creatures snickered at its own joke at your expense. “Maybe if you dance with us, loosen up and have a bit of fun, then you can have a drink? Hmm? Dancing won’t kill you!” But its failed attempts at covering up its own malicious giggles were more than enough to stand your ground… which was coming at you quite fast since you practically collapsed.

Was it the thirst? The pounding migraine that wanted nothing more than to crawl into some dark hole and hide? Or your exhaustion from making that tiring trek, crawling yourself out of the bog and making the trek again, or the hours you had spent wandering around the maze with no real idea of where you were going? All you really knew was that you were now on the ground with the creatures poking at you to see if you were still alive.

“Aw, man! Are they already dead? That’s no fun!” One of the creatures pouted, raising up your arm, and you let it plop back to the ground. “Come on human! Get up! You’re not a party pooper are you?”

Scre you buddy! Can’t you read the situation?!

You were trying your best to stay quiet, which wasn’t all that hard, since all of your energy was gone. 

“They best not be,” a familiar voice called out.

From your position, you couldn’t see who it was, but you could make out the creatures jumping away from you like you were the hot fire instead of the fire pit. But someone else was approaching until you could make out a pair of shoes in front of your face.

They crouched down beside you, placing their fingers gently at the base of your throat; taking your pulse. “Hmph, playing dead, are we, Beastie?”

That irritating chuckle. The annoying nickname. Those mischievous magenta eyes that now looked at you with curiosity and amusement.

It was him — Mr. Sparkles.

And he had just blown your act of playing possum (well, not really, since you had actually collapsed).

But you didn’t say anything, instead favouring to give him a dirty look. Yet he just shook his head in jest, and proceeded to pick you up and wrap you around his shoulders and neck like some sort of bizarre ermine pelt; better than being carried like a sack of potatoes or the bridal carry you supposed.

“Her majesty sends her regards for not turning or killing her guest,” Lilia offered the creatures. It would be such a waste and pity to see such an entertaining Beastie leave us too soon now. “But do know she won’t take to their condition lightly.”

My condition? I’m not some Victorian child with some unknown illness wreaking havoc on their body you know?! But all that you did was groan and cough. You couldn’t even cough in Mr. Sparkles’ (Lilia’s) face, since you had a lovely view of the moss-covered ground and the fae’s shoes.

He patted the back of your calves, and you would have kicked him if you had more energy, but you didn’t. “Now, we really should be off, since Beastie has… an hour to get out of this maze before they turn into some sort of worm, or a hedge; never know what this old labyrinth will decide on really.” Lilia chuckled at the thought (was it merriment, or was he happy that you weren’t joining the caterpillar you met earlier?).

“No,” you wheezed. “WoRm!”

“See! They said it themself! No worm! How lovely that we are on a similar wavelength, Beastie! Marvellous even!” Lilia exclaimed, and the both of you started levitating off of the ground. “Now, do enjoy your party, Fireys!”

The creatures (Fireys apparently) groaned but got back to their party, dancing around the fire like they didn’t just try to lure you to your death mere minutes before.

“Tsk tsk, Beastie,” Lilia’s tutting brought your attention back to him and you grumbled. “You owe me two favours now, you know. Lucky that I found you… although that part wasn’t hard. I thought you learned your lesson the first time you decided to take a dip into the Bog of Eternal Stench?”

You lightly kicked him, letting your irritation be known, but Lilia just hummed. “Now now, no need to be like that! Do you want to smell like a bog when you meet the mistress? She wouldn’t take kindly to your… unique aroma.”

You hissed out a breath since he decided to pinch at your ear rather harshly — prompting for you to answer. “No,” you whispered hoarsely.

“Also, do read up on that book, since you will want to know about the government and fae species etiquette!”

From a smelly bog and fumbling around a maze for hours on end, to finding yourself being taken to fae high society… was it too late to become some worm in the maze? I think being a worm actually has a better chance of me living.

But sadly, you were saved from an eternity of being a worm. Hopefully, Mr. Sparkles (Lilia) would cover for your blunders a little for when you found yourself in front of ‘the mistress’.

...

...

...

...

To be continued!

~~~~~~~

Tags; @afunkyfreshblog @cheezy-moon @eynnwwyjth @identity-theft-101 @ithseem @lucid-stories @ryker-writes @twistwonderlanddevotee @xxoomiii

Link to Masterlist

[relic-seeker]

lemmquirrel brainrot doodle dump!

this is the last one for now i promise; i swear i'm focusing on artfight now.

a few of these are based on my fic (mostly future scenes but barely spoilers) -- & last image based on this fic (explicit though!!)

original canvases:

i'm making more hc designs for these two to make them feel unique <3. happy pride month everyone!!!

[iknowicanbutwhy]

wait. did one of the loops actually become a red giant? petition to call that one Loop-king (like looping. get it. hahah. ill see my self out.)

Haha yeah!! Loop-king, King of Loops, figurehead of the universe, constellation formed by the collapsing stars and wishes that bind them, that define them, a responsibility and love born of generations of dying stars and supernovas and stardust and new stars - or something like that!

A Loop, certainly. We're all Loop in these parts.

[johnslittlespoon]

Tough And Sweet (Like You And Me)

Ch. 7/? – 'In Your Heart, In Your Head, In Your Hands'

[WC: 90K | Gale Cleven/John Egan, College AU, The Bikeriders AU, Age Gap, Emotional Slowburn, Hurt/Comfort, Porn With Plot, Set in 2005]

College student John Egan ends up in an old pub on the other side of his small town, where he has a chance encounter with biker and mechanic Gale Cleven. Unconventional circumstances be damned, John is a lovesick fool.

[AO3 LINK]

[thepixelagora]

Dean had walked a little too much last night.

He could tell because now, hours later, after a longer research session for a local case, during which his knee joints had the time to stiffen up and set in place, it hurt to move them. Dean was sure that if he put his hand on that spot right above the knee, he'd be able to feel some swelling there.

He yawned, then stretched with a low groan at how his spine popped, the muscles in his lower back aching after being forced to keep him upright and then hunched over old books for hours.

Sam, who was sitting next to Dean, hands grasping some giant tome that seemed like the most boring reading ever, but which Sammy seemed completely invested in, looked up from the yellowed pages. He raised his eyebrow at his older brother.

"You good?"

If glares could kill, Sam would have long been a goner. Since that wasn't the case, all Dean could do was give it all he had, hoping he'd manage to cook up something looking suitably nasty.

The effort put into his glare seemed to have no reducing effect on Sam's smirk.

"I'm good," Dean scoffed at his brother, but his left hand traveled down to massage his aching knee, and fuck, yeah, it was swollen. Brow furrowing, Dean closed his eyes against the feeling of his fingers working away at the tender tissue, not really taking away the pain, but spreading it around a bigger area. It didn't help much, but it was something.

When Dean opened his eyes again, he was welcomed by Sammy's concerned look.

"Your knees giving you shit again?"

Dean chuckled bitterly.

It wasn't pretty.

His legs have been getting worse, letting him know loud and clear he wasn't young anymore. It wasn't entirely unexpected. Three decades of fighting, stress and, he was willing to admit this - poor dietary choices, had to catch up with him at some point. Still. It's a little different just thinking about it versus when it's actually happening to you.

The pain also served to make him miss Cas more. The angel was rarely around, and when he was, Dean struggled to ask for help. He didn't want to make Cas think he only cared about the angel's healing mojo (and the words to the contrary... wouldn't make their way past Dean's lips somehow) so often times Cas appeared and disappeared to Dean in pain, completely oblivious to it.

There was that small part of Dean, too, that still believed he may have deserved it.

"Yeah..." he nodded in response to Sammy's question. No reason to hide it, someone standing fifty feet away could see how swollen and sore Dean's knee looked now. There was bitterness to his voice when he said: "I'm getting old, Sammy."

Somehow, that didn't earn him the grimace he was expecting, or the bitchface he could see in his mind's eye. Instead, Sam looked thoughtful for a minute, then simply smiled fondly.

"Yeah," he agreed, going back to his book. "Yeah, you are."

---

I'm pretty sure I'll never finish 90% of what I started writing, so I'm gonna subject you to the unfinished bits.

[profoundbondfanfic]

of all the coffee joints in all the towns in all the world

of all the coffee joints in all the towns in all the world by wincechesters Rating: Mature Word Count: 11k

They meet in a coffee shop, though not exactly the way you’d expect. In fact, nothing about Dean Winchester is what Castiel expects, especially when he claims to hunt the supernatural. In spite of Dean’s outrageous claims and Castiel’s firm belief that he is either lying, insane, or in a constant state of intoxication, they wind up in a somewhat unorthodox relationship, and Castiel finds himself being forcefully thrown into a world of demons and vampires and all manner of things that go bump in the night.

This fic poses the question: what would YOU do if you were a down-on-your-luck writer whose only goal is to scrape together enough money working at a coffee shop to make rent, and all you wanted to do was close up the shop so that you could go home, and then you were borderline held hostage by an attractive man who insists on putting salt in front of the doors and windows? If you don't have an answer to that question, well, you're not alone at least. But if your answer was "make conversation with him and offer him some coffee", then you're thinking along the same lines as Castiel.

Dean is a hunter on the run when he meets Cas, and though Dean insists that the supernatural world is real, Cas doesn't believe him. That doesn't keep him from starting an unconventional relationship with Dean through texts and phone calls. Over the next few weeks, Dean and Cas become closer, and when Dean swings back near town again, he and Cas make plans to meet. And that's when things become complicated.

I'm always a sucker for a fic where hunter!Dean maintains a correspondence with civilian!Cas via texts and calls. There's something wonderful about two people falling in love over a distance, and I'm always excited to see it in a fic. 💖

[boatcats]

Gravitational Pull

Heard @ourfag declared it Whump Him Wednesday.

Stede helps Ed treat a dislocated shoulder during the Co-Captains Era.

--

"Ed?" Stede asked, closing the door to the cabin behind him, "Why are you lying on the desk?"

The desk. Not just Stede's desk anymore. Stede relished the fact. He and Ed were co-captains and co-users of the desk. Ed had been teaching him to plot a course earlier in the week. But now the charts were arranged in much the same pattern as before, paperweights holding down their corners and navigational instuments on top, only... on the rug in the middle of the room. They'd been supplanted on the desk by Ed who lay in his shirt-sleeves on his stomach with one arm hanging down straight over the side in a patch of late afternoon sunlight.

Ed made a non-commital noise, began to shrug, then appeared to change his mind about the movement at the last second. "My shoulder got dislocated on the raid. It'll go back in eventually hanging down like this. A bit of weight might help, though, if you could grab my flask from my jacket pocket."

Oh God. Ed sounded much too casual about this. Stede felt himself start to panic, swore he felt the blood begin to drain from his face, but then he stopped himself. He wasn't the one with the dislocated shoulder. And he had a duty to Ed.

"Of course!" Stede knew he was speaking a bit too loudly and moving a bit too quickly as he made a beeline for Ed's jacket where it lay on the couch. He felt the adrenaline making him awkward and clumsy and winced at his own obvious lack of competence - surely Ed deserved a more practiced nurse.

But Ed said nothing about it and his eyes were soft and fond when Stede skidded to a halt with the flask in front of the desk. There was no amusement in his gaze, no teasing. Ed merely looked grateful and for a moment Stede thought he might drown in the warm feeling that flooded his chest and truly become no use to Ed at all.

Ed made a grabby motion with his good hand. "Give us a sip first, would you?"

Stede unscrewed the cap with clumsy fingers and handed it to Ed who half sat up to take it and haphazardly pour a trickle of rum into his own mouth. "Now take the lanyard and loop it over my other hand. The weight will pull my shoulder back in place faster."

The flask had a waxed loop of braided rope at one end that could be wrapped around ones wrist. "I've lost too many of these things overboard," Ed had told Stede once by way of explanation.

Stede walked around the desk and kneeled by Ed's hanging arm. He tried to be as gentle as possible looping the rope around Ed's wrist and letting go of the flask so that it hung towards the floor. Ed still groaned.

On instinct, Stede ran a gentle hand over Ed's good shoulder. He felt warm and slightly damp with sweat through his shirt. Stede could see sweat beading on the back of his neck under the fall of his hair.

"Thanks, mate," Ed said, voice slightly strained. "You're welcome to stay, obviously. Your cabin. But you don't have to. I'll be alright now."

Our cabin, Stede wanted to correct him, feeling unexpectedly stung. But he stopped himself. "Can I get you a cool cloth?" He asked instead. "You're a bit sweaty. Not that it's... not that it's a problem or... but it looked uncomfortable."

Stede could see the tension bleeding off Ed in the moment after he asked. But then Ed just said "Sure. Thanks, mate."

When Stede came back with the cloth and a bowl of cool water, Ed's eyes were closed, his expression both somehow blank and tight with pain. Stede cleared his throat and the dark eyes blinked open (Ed had remarkably long lashes, Stede realized, and freckles he hadn't noticed before).

"Do you want me to...?" Stede mimed a sponging motion with the cloth.

"Sure."

Stede brought the damp cloth to Ed's forehead and felt him shiver slightly as he traced his hairline, wiping away sweat and grime, then moved to the back of his neck where his hair was sticking to his skin. He moved Ed's hair away from his neck and shoulders so that it fanned out over the desk instead, a cloud of starlight, and felt Ed sigh, relaxing marginally.

When Stede was done, he set the bowl aside and settled on the carpet near Ed's face. Ed opened his eyes and gave him a lopsided smile.

"Thanks. The waiting's the worst bit. Your body wants to tense up but of course that's not going to help so you sort of have to just... lie there."

"Mmm," Stede said and nodded. He wouldn't know but he was certainly ready to take Ed's word for it. He cast about for anything he could do to help. "If it would help take your mind off it, I'm... quite well versed in reading aloud to pirates." Stede felt silly as soon as he suggested it but Ed's smile was immediate.

"I'd love that, mate. It's real hard to hold a book like this."

"Excellent! How about The Little Mermaid?"

[emily-prentits]

those early seasons where meredith was "friends" with derek and addison were like what if we were completely poly coded and no one did anything about it.

[kirarifutari]

enhypen as fast food workers (enhypen ot7.)

GENRE .. !? enhypen ot7 headcanons i guess... pureee crack, comedy

WARNINGS .. !? not proof read, swearing, for shits and giggles don't take anything to heart lol

WC ..?! approx 852

NOTES.. ?! okay pls blame @dazed-hee for putting this thought into my head and helping me w this... i cannot believe i sat my ass down and wrote this,, yes i just got off work ... anyway i hope u enjoy this goofy little piece pls like + reblog to support!!

heeseung

actually does his job properly LOLLL

he's so good at it asw he is never ever stressed 😭😭 he never complains either he just gets shit done ?? like you'll be on shift w him and magically you don't have to do anything ever bc somehow he has it under control…?

all the customers love him asw LMAO he's the type to remember regulars 🙏

god sent everyone needs a heeseung to work with, he's even nice to the rude customers but is not afraid to be a little passive aggressive bitch 🤧

he never talks badly about anyone so no one ever shit talks him?? but if you ask him ab drama he'd be like “not naming any names but…” 😭

jay

he is exactly like heeseung except when is jay ever NOT stressed

he is internally crying every five seconds over something and every time a customer complains about something you can see the light in his eyes die little by little 💀💀

he doesn't even care what anyone else is doing he's just so caught up in doing his job he doesn't realise that he's doing everything himself…  more utc!

if you catch him on a good day tho you can hear him make fun of customer orders 😭 “who the fuck orders 3 hamburgers past the age of three years old…”

let's you do whatever you want bc hes too busy dealing w the emerging grey hairs 🙏

jake

the best person to work your shift w for a good time hands downnn

he's so funny he will make you cackle every five seconds,, you'll be taking a drive thru order and you'd be trying so fucking hard not to laugh into the mic 😭 he will fr start SINGING in ur ear goodbye

super friendly w customers and will literally start a conversation ab the most random things ?? “bro did you just order this family box?? you eating that yourself? that's crazy, mad respect” 💀

dawg does everything all at once, making burgers, taking orders, handing out food, changing the bins ??? yet somehow he's the one goofing off the most ? 

sunghoon

doesn't know how he landed the job tbh… everyone expected him to be unemployed the rest of his life 🔥

HE DOESNT KNOW HOW TO COUNT CHANGE W CASH 😭 bro tries his hardest but is always fumbling around fr,, our maths legend

the type to be like “hm? i can't hear you” “what did you say? “yeah just gimme a minute” he is TOO CHILL he's so unserious ab this job he clocks on and does nothing half the time 🙏 he'll say he'll do what you ask him too but... you both know he won't xoxox

somehow he's still one of the managers favourites and gets good shifts every week… 

if a customer yells at him he'd be like “yeah give me a second” and then just gets someone else to deal with it LMFAO 💀

sunoo

THE BIGGEST SHIT TALKER having a shift w him is so good, he somehow knows everything that's going on w everyone ??? fills you in w all the gossip fr.

he's rly bubbly w all the nice customers and is one of the nicer employees to work with but if ur on his bad side … 💀💀💀

like if you annoy him as a customer he will hand you order wordlessly and look you up and down HE DOESNT CAREEE BROOO 😭

if anyone ever blames him for doing something wrong on shift he literally will just be like “that wasn't me tho 😄😄” biggest liar and everyone knows it but no one cares cus we all love him 🫶

sunoo will definitely be the type to buy you food on his break or give you free stuff when you clock off 😭

jungwon

would be the biggest gas lighter LMFAO

“oh you ordered a double big mac and not a regular? yeah on our register it's gone through as regular so i don't know what you want me to do, you can pay for another one tho!” 💀💀💀💀

bro gives so much sass to rude customers he does NOT gaf, he does it all w a smile on his face too like “sorry about that but we can't do anything to fix it 😊” 

he’d be so chill w his co workers asw, he would really care if everyone's messing around but somehow w him on shift everything goes oddly smoothly… 

working w him is so fucking funny cus he will never take no for an answer w a customer he will keep pushing until they LEAVE 😭

niki

LMFAOOO okay this kid fucking hates his job LOL

will spit in a customers drink because he can 🙏 he will not take shit from anyone and he knows no one will fire him bc they're understaffed 😚

plays the best music and always has kitchen speaker aux !!!

if you ask him to remake a burger or help you with something he'll either give you a blank stare or a “no, i won't.” and then do it for you anyway 👊👊 he is such a little menace but he doesn't care 

w annoying ass customers he will literally start arguing w them STOP

would go viral on tiktok cus some customer was filming him being rude but everyone would be siding w him bc niki is always in the right godbless.

[blooming-gwens]

I'm pleased to inform you that the wait is over! Here is CHAPTER TWO of For Everything

Chapters: 2/

Fandom: Spider-Man: Spider-Verse (Sony Animated Movies)

Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death Relationships: Miles Morales/Gwen Stacy | Spider-Gwen Summary:

~Perhaps they were meant for each other. It was written in the stars—stars meant to burn out in their all at once powerful surge. Stars meant to fall. Bright, burning and then gone. And in its sudden demise, no one would even remember it was once there, lost in the infinity of severed constellations.

That was the way of the universe. That was the way it had to be.~

Alternatively: Gwen Stacy is doomed but Miles Morales’ love might save her.

Please feel free to reblog to support and share my work!

[shesmore-shoebill]

cant believe if i had waited another day to post my fic i could have amped up this section even more and still had it be accurate.

With even more examples like "continuously (and completely unnecessarily) using the other person's knee as leverage to get off a couch". and HOWEVER TF ONE WOULD SUCCINCTLY DESCRIBE THE AFFECTION AND CASUALNESS OF THIS

"tenderly brushing wrench paint off of your friends chin without saying a word before making fun of them" i guess!! wow!! man! i wrote that section and was like "haha :)" BUT I GUESS I SHOULD'VE GONE EVEN HARDER.