#just wishing the reapers were a little less human...

[alexxncl]

‼️NIGHTBRINGER LESSON 34 SPOILERS‼️

masterlist | all lessons | season 2 | lesson 33 | lesson 35

i might be getting ahead of myself here, but are we lilith ?? like is that what's happening rn ??? he's not saying mc's name, and raphael doesn't day their name in the next scene...if so then that's actually really fucking sad 💀

it makes sense though, belphie not wanting mc to go into his head bc he's still clinging to the past and doesn't want to lose them forever like he lost his little sister forever, especially since human life is so finite compared to that of a demon or an angel or a reaper

also it's obvious by his choice of words that despite him looking older, belphie is very, very young in his mindscape, just like mammon was. i feel like this also shows how close mams and belphie are even if it's not shown much on screen in the game, or at least how much belphie takes after mammon's, if not all of his older brothers traits, for better or worse

well nvm...i still think my theory is valid though. belphie wants to go back to his old life and end up not losing lilith, but still have mc with him

i wonder how similar mammon and belphie's bond in the celestial realm is to their bond in the devildom. is belphie still as reluctant to ask for help and advice openly? is the banter still the same? are there less insults? how does the age gap here cause them to treat each other differently if at all? or the lack of angelic status?

oh i'm gonna cry

big brother mammon will always have my heart and i need more of him

we know belphie's love of stars and constellations and the night sky in general started when he was in the celestial realm, and seeing it manifest in mammon in his mindscape makes my heart happy, even if mammon isn't the reason he became interested in astronomy (was it michael? lucifer? idk i don't remember)

i also think it's very interesting how belphie's brain is actively working against him "wanting to hide from mc". he literally said "i don't want you to see the inside of my mind" and is hiding away from them. i think, in reality and in his mindscape, he's running from the fact that he has to face his feelings about the idea of mc leaving to go to the "human realm" and the possibility of losing them forever like he lost lilith

this was (obviously) not beel speaking, but his inner thoughts in the shape and voice of beel. circling back to belphie having the best and worst traits of his brothers, his insecurity and need for reassurance rivals levi's, and we don't get to see it as blatantly because he masks it way better than levi does

ok so we're here in the timeline...interesting. how much time passed between luci and dia's first meeting and the celestial war? how much time had passed between the celestial war and mc's initial arrival to the devildom? how much had belphie aged?

angels and demons age different than humans do, and belphie doesn't feel any older than like...10 or 11 at the most, but beel seems older than that. maybe its his mind warping things to make himself seem and feel younger, but maybe he really was that young. was lilith even born at this point? how old was belphie during the time of the war ?????

also i'm mad we didn't get to see michael bc i wanna know what he looks like but oh well 🧍🏾

oh baby :((((

i'm not the biggest belphie fan AT ALL, at least canon belphie, but i think it's necessary to acknowledge how his trauma severely affects the way he acts. he went from blaming himself, to blaming an entire race of people for his sister's death. he feels like he should've been the one to die, even if it meant leaving his twin without him

now, if he got a proper redemption arc after lesson 16, THEN we could talk. i think the devs fumbled his character in that regard, but my hcs about his redemption will have to suffice for now

he didn't want mc to see this dark part of himself because he hates that he still has this mindset, that he's trapped in a cycle of "what ifs" and wishing it were him instead of her, constantly ruminating and letting his anger and grief fester without ever dealing with it properly and letting himself heal. he not only thinks he doesn't deserve to heal, but that he doesn't deserve to live long enough to see himself heal, that he doesnt deserve to live at all

WHY ARE YOU BEING DIFFICULT????

i mean i knew this would happen since its only lesson 34 and there's still 6 more to go...but damn

i love and hate the fact that he's so smart. like, they could easily just ask barbatos to send them back to the human realm if it was that serious. he's clearly taken a liking to them. lucifer knows something's up, and he won't forge a pact with them until he gets to the bottom of whatever's going on

initially, i thought it was a spell to bring them back since he'd been the one facilitating the trips into the brothers' mindscapes this whole time, but this is wayyy more interesting

i feel like the barbatoses communicate across timelines, or that their lives intermingle with each others' somehow, so whatever they feel for one person in a specific timeline is felt for ever version of them in every timeline. we know barbatos, at the very least, knows that kayden is an important person in the grand scheme of things, whether it be because of the way diavolo feels about them or because they play a large part in the obey me version of a canon event

if it's more than base level importance, we can assume that there's a level of trust and love that barbatos feels for mc that stretches across time (callback to the login screen's dialogue)

maybe he gave us the piece of the grimoire for a reason outside of belphie's mindscape escapades. what if this is how we gain lucifer's trust? if a demon as powerful as barbatos can give mc a piece of his grimoire, then he should be able to make a pact with them, seeing as they're trustworthy enough to be in cahoots with THE time demon

anyways barbatos is nightbringer and you can't tell me otherwise. unless you think it's michael. then i might hear you out...i'm stuck between thinking either of them is the titular character simply because of the simultaneous lack and abundabce of emphasis on michael's importance

[sunsetling-12]

I WATCHED THE BALAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES AND I HAVE THINGS TO SAY

i loved the adaptation btw, of course its the hunger games franchise that we're talking about here

anyway, spoilers ahead

we dont see him making the infamous cabbage soup, but we do see the snows apartment falling apart

tigris is still everything to me, they pulled her lines straight from the books — unfortunately we don't see much of her, but hunter schafer slayed every time she was on screen

i was very confused abou the plinth prize being a thing since the beggining, but i think it made sense... idk a lot happened in the movie after coryo rescued sejanus from the arena so i dont know if they had the time

i was also very confused that the thing about the academy students mentoring the tributes was unknown until that moment in the movie, again, i think they did this to expose the most things at once

lucy gray singing after her reaping was everything to me

oh, and the snake on mayfair's back too, very girlboss of her

the scene in the zoo, when he's parading her around is a copy of the book, i liked it very much

unfortunately coryo and lucy gray barely interacted, not like they did in the book, but the scenes they had before she went into the arena were very good

i though they were going to skip arachne's death, but they didn't — they skipped her funeral, though, but thats fine

they did the scene with clemensia and the snakes but she dissappeared right after, we never got to see her skin changing to scales which i think was a miss

the explosion didn't kill as many of the mentors as it did in the book, not that they showed anyway, the only name mentioned was felix ravinstill

i loved that we got to see more of the arena than in the books

the scene where coryo rescues sejanus is the exact same and i wasn't expecting less

lucy gray doesnt kill wovey :D

she does kill dill D:

i kind of hate the fact that coryo gave her the compact with the poison inside already, it just... idk it didnt had the same impact

i missed that they cut lucky interviewing the mentors as their tributes got killed, i would've liked to se lysistrata talking about jessup and humanizing him for the capitol

the snakes scene is awesome, a lot more people die in this — including reaper, which i think was a better ending for him than the one he got in the book, he embraced his death and it was quite beautiful

lucy gray singing to the snakes was AMAZING, everything that i ever wanted

i kinda loved how coryo gave the handkerchief with her scent to the snakes, it was a very deliberate choice and not like the book that he "did without thinking straight"

viola davis as dr. gaul was PERFECT, everytime she stole everyone's moment, she's just as unhinged as she is in the book, we dont see as much, but its implied

i wished they showed her expetiments with the avoxes to get the point across on how she is, but thats fine

casca highbottom was also a little shit, love it

coryo and sejanus meeting on the train to go to twelve caught me off guard, but i like it

rachel sang a lot in the movie and i was there for it, it was perfect everytime

their reunion was sweet, i'll admit it

i wished they've show it where the covey lived in the seam, but we cut straight to where he meets her in the meadow

i loved their scene in the lake and lucy gray singing "lucy gray" (lol) but i wished she'd sing the valley song to maude ivory instead

i also loved that they made movie coryo be the only one — technically, she most likely sang it to the covey, but anyway — who heard her sing the hanging three since you know, in 65 years he'll be shitting his pants with katniss

the hanging of sejanus was so heartbreaking, him crying out for his Ma... i cried, i knew i was going to cry and i did it anyway

seeing lucy gray realize coryo also killed sejanus was pure gold, i loved seeing her visibly tensed up and starting to see him with an entire different lenses

the whole ending in the woods was just like the books, i think it made a little less ambiguous about lucy gray's end, but i liked it

(and also i always believed she lived anyway)

maybe im reading waaaay too much into tigris, but her calling snow by "coriolanus" instead of "coryo" made me think she's starting to see the man he'd become — and this man is nothing like the little cousin she loved

"snow lands on top" is the last line of the movie, perfection, if you asked me

the only thing that i didn't like was that i dont know if they made coryo as unhinged as he is in the books, because we're not in his head and reading his line of thought, in the movie he does seem very genuine and it does seem like he really likes and cares about sejanus and lucy gray — we don't see him comparing her to an object or the excuses he gives himself to like her because she's not "really district" therefore not a second class citizen — until the very end when she finds out about the whole sejanus-being-hanged-because-of-him thing

idk his breakdown kinda feels rushed in the end since we dont have the context of what was going on in his mind beforehand and i think people who dont read the book would think it came out of nowhere

aside from this, i loved the movie and im totally going to see it again as soon as i can lol

EDIT: i just fucking remembered that they dont say anywhere that the 10th Games were erased ????? why ????? is the whole point !!!! oh i would've love to hear him say "goodbye lucy gray, we hardly knew you" i would've gone insane

and also, she doesn't say "the show is not over until the mockingjay sings", and it makes me a little annoyed — like, idk where they couldve put this line, but i whish they did

[mocknerd]

So my idea of a crossover between Death Note and Durarara!! would be to have Mikado find the Death Note.

A lot of people think Izaya would be the Light Yagami figure, but Izaya isn't the master manipulator genius type that a lot of people think he is. Yes, he can and will manipulate and he is certainly bright, but not in some grandiose, "I have everything set up and planned" sort of way. He likes to have the image of that, but it's not who he is. He prefers the randomness of it all. He loves humans, and therefore treats them like the Sims left on free will, with the occasional little tweak on his part. On that same note, Izaya wouldn't kill random people. He could care less if some people get hurt by his actions, or if they decide to kill each other, but killing is not his forte. The only exceptions to his style are those he dislikes (eg. Shizuo, Saika, maybe Celty) and the odd jobs that require him to take such actions in order for him to get paid (eg. the Amphisbaena arc). In these cases, his actions are more direct and involved, with him at the centre of the danger, which may involve the death of a person.

So instead I see him playing as a Ryuk figure to a much more naive and increasingly unpredictable Mikado. Watching to alleviate boredom, and occasionally poking in to get the ball rolling more.

Mikado with a Death Note is a much more interesting concept, because I can see him actually using it, granted with some hesitation from the start. While Izaya may get rid of any non human characters he considers in the way of his love for humanity (would it work on a demon sword?), Mikado would start using it in his reach for an extraordinary life. And we've seen how far he can push for that in the last arc.

I can see him finding it in the park, in the Mika Harima arc. While I considered giving it to him later, I think right from the start could help him settle into the idea of murder for the right reasons. Of course he wouldn't use it right away. Either he considers it a prank, or sees it as wrong to just test it out and kill a random person, or even just wish death upon them. He would feel tempted when he thinks Seiji and Namie killed Mika, but until he has all the evidence, he would resist.

In the Saika arc, the urge would grow stronger, but of course nobody knows who the actual Slasher is, so he has no way of confirming the books abilities by killing them. Takashit would be a good contender, but there is no final push moment there that could lead him to it.

I think the best contender for the first victims would be Horada and his group, right at the end of the Yellow Scarves arc. After chasing Anri (I know its anime only, but lets include it) and getting Masaomi severely injured, I can see Mikado asking who did this to them, and writing his name down in a sort of silent fury. It's not until the news confirms that Horada and his group were found after dying of heart attacks, when the horror of what he had done sinks in for Mikado. He would quickly hide the Death Note, vowing to not use it again, and won't touch it for a while, at least until the Akane arc.

During this time, I can see Izaya being curious as to the cause of these men dying in such a way at the exact same time. So he might investigate it.

On top of that, I can see the Death Note once belonging to Celty in this universe. She is a sort of grim reaper after all, so if she's lost her head, it's not far fetched to believe, that other aspects of her roll were lost too. Maybe Nebula and Yagiri pharmaceuticals had it, but saw no use for it, and threw it away. Maybe after seeing Horada's death on the news, Celty realises what's happened, remembers her Death Note, and rushes to try and find it before anything else happens.

Perhaps Izaya notices this and decides to try and find it himself. And this is what leads to him finding out it's Mikado who has it, at about the same time Aoba offers to help purge the Dollars. Izaya doesn't really do anything about it, and instead decides to watch how things go. And to prolong it a little, he decides to keep Mikado's secret identity as this universes "Kira" safe.

And of course, after being given the idea to "purge" the Dollars by Aoba, Mikado then begins to consider using the Death Note to do so. His next group of victims are the ones who kidnapped Chikage's girlfriend. And from there, he starts killing anyone in the Dollars who misbehaves. This goes hand in hand with his hope for the Dollars to become like an urban legend. Whether or not he sticks to the murder as a last resort, or he just ignores Aoba as an option I have left undecided. I say this as if I'm gonna write the full thing.

1. Mikado kills the guy who attacks Shinra. Izaya, for once, takes a disliking to his actions, because he wanted to make the guy suffer more for what he did. He doesn't specify why though. Mikado, maybe getting a little more unhinged and tactical at this point, warns Izaya that he himself has hinted at causing problems in the Dollars, and that it would be a lot easier if he wasn't around to do that anymore. Izaya has a rare moment "oh fuck, what have I done, oh fuck, this kid might kill me."

From there I don't know fully how things would go. But I do have some vague ideas for big dramatic moments and how other characters might fit into this. Some of them may be illogical and not add up, but I just think they would be cool ideas:

Can't decide if Aoba: knows about the death note, and is in a similar position; doesn't know, but is part of a growing follower base for this universes "Kira" because it's shown to benefit him in some way; or just straight up dies quickly because of endangering Anri.

Assume that Mikado has a way to ensure nobody else gets ahold of the Death Note, because if either of these guys decide they have had enough and steal it for themselves, that would just be boring.

3. Shizuo gets killed because of acting up one too many times and negatively impacting the Dollars image. Yes there is irony in that.

2. Mikado is definitely posting as "Kira" on the Dollars site, confirming why he killed certain people and ensuring the rest of the Dollars stay in line.

It also emphasises how it might be giving Mikado too much of an ego with how much power it is giving him over some of the most notorious people of Ikebukuro, further cementing the Dollars into the history of the city.

It also gives further fuel to Celty finding her Death Note.

5. The van gang could give some funny references, but they are also there to find the killer. Because they are ruining what was once a decent community.

4. Vorona wants to find and kill "Kira", because if they can kill anyone, including Shizuo, then surely they are a worthy opponent. She also has the added benefit of having a fake name.

Other "Kira" hunters might include: Simon, Akane, Masaomi and the Awakusu.

But those are all my ideas for it. They sort of came to me a while back when someone in the fandom was talking about Death Note. Can't remember who, or what about, but I finally got to have my chance to talk about it.

[crmsnmth]

The Things We Leave Behind

Death is silent. No. Death is cruel. is sadistic. is merciless. is callous. is harsh. is atrocious. is ruthless. is evil. is bitter. is brutal. is uncaring. is wicked. is unkind. No, that's wrong too. Death is the fairest force of nature we got.

Death doesn't discriminate. We all face those boney fingers eventually. Not one human being has proven immortality yet And it'll be a cold day in Hell when we figure that out. With the world on it's collapse, who would want to be immortal? Death knows this, and when it comes, it's best just to take it's hand, and hold tight. The reaper is just the delivery man, your Amazon package has arrived And you can't even remember what it was that you ordered but it's a nice way to liven up a Thursday afternoon.

Death is violent. Violent like a child throwing a tantrum in a Wal-Mart candy aisle Like a bar fight ending in cuffs and broken noses. Like a drunk coming home to beat his dog senseless, secretly wishing the dog would just snap. Suicide is too scary. Let the dog do the dirty work. In comfortable hospital rooms, high on morphine and fentanyl, the violence lingers in the air The same hospital smell of shit, vomit, and cleaning chemicals. Everything has to be sterile for the dying. Make sure his hands are restrained so he can't pull the tube out. He can't speak. He can't speak but he tries, and I never learned how to read lips.

The room is quiet, except for the machine that breathes for him. A constant lung substitutes. A constant beeping pulse. A TV plays an unwatched and forgotten show. What's the point of caring when your never even awake for more than ten minutes at a time. Sweet sleep is the transition into death, and we practice for the big show every single time we close our eyes.

Death is violent. It's violent to the dead, but it's even worse of an abuser to the living. Curled fists, thrown dishes, stab wounds and bullet holes. Death is worse for those still breathing. Grief. Grief is an often-forgotten emotion, only being a little less of a surprise than a prepared for death still happening. The living watch the living transition to empty vessels surrounded by loved ones, at least for a few moments. An hour or two, to say goodbyes. Death hooks your lungs as you try to speak those last words, the last words you'll ever say to your father. I love you, pop. Were they good enough. Death is anxiety. Death is uncertain. Death is questioning. Death is violence.

Death is instant. One minute a word, the next airless lungs. Eyes for second see everything in the room, to fading residuals of light tracers. And we watch. We watch everything deflate one last time.

Death is silent. There is a stillness to the air of the dying. It seems to freeze the very essence of the room. A hospital room. Nobody wants to die in a hospital room. In the never ending beeps that disappear, both in the dying ears, and in the living who now hear nothing in the room but a very high pitched sound. Needles straight to the brain.

Death is violence. Tears break in salt water streams. Sobs stab at the lungs. And a curious pressure squeezes your heart, and the very vessels that your blood is flowing in. Your blood stops. Everything stops. What are you supposed to do after death? What are you supposed to do with the things we leave behind?

The things that get left behind. How do you go through those possessions and divvy them up between loved ones? The things we leave behind seem to hit the hardest. That's death's final shot on the living. The memories that appear out of seemingly no where A song on the radio, now bittersweet instead of sugar A film laughing, and suddenly tears as you hear the laugh of the past A book once read, but now sits unfinished with dog ear pages I still dog ear my books like crazy. A habit I never broke from you. A certain meal, a certain smell, a familiar taste, a familiar room It's amazing the places that ghosts like to appear in And they say hello, in death's final shots just to remind you for one second that death is violent

A life-time gone in a matter of seconds and I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to do with this information. Just store it away and let it build into yet another repressed mental illness because I don't know what to do. I don't know what to think. I don't even know how I'm really supposed to feel at this point.

Death is violent. So fucking violent.

[annkous]

Alright demon attendant pals buckle the fuck up: lesson 11 just dropped and I was losing my mind the entire goddamn time because of s o l o m o n.

Previousy on me, losing my shit over this game: (lessons 1 to 10)

ALRIGHT LET'S GO

I can't believe Belphie came straight for our throat AGAIN (Diavolo seemed to want to stop him THANK GOD) and Lucifer was reeeally pissed off, but understandably so if we get in his shoes. Solomon rescues our ass from this bunch of demons and whisks us away. I wished we could've talked it out, but you know, bit of extra angst doesn't hurt. Especially if we get to see Thirteen BECAUSE YES SOLOMON TAKES US TO THE REAPER'S CAVE AND I WAS DYING TO SEE HER AGAIN. AND WE DO. MY GIRL.

I also thought they'd give her Reaper clothes since, well RAD soesn't exist (yet) but. Lol. My dreams were dashed. They did address the issue of why she was wearing it to excuse the lack of a new design, which made me lose my shit laughing. Okay fine, I'll drop it for now, Solmare, BUT MY GIRL DESERVES MORE CLOTHES. I WILL BE WAITING.

Also the casual drop that she has a sister named Candy. Now I wanna meet her.

Anyways I digress, I love Solomon and I said I trusted him with my life. Until now, because this fucker dropped this shit on me and I legit had to put my phone down for a couple of seconds.

Son of a bitch. You kitchen-destroyer menace. You death-chef bastard. You can't ask THIS of me. Out of ANYTHING you could've asked mc, this fucker pulled the worst one. I'm so mad because I refuse to lose trust in Solomon in Nightbringer despite this story bombs being dropped on me, but this combined with something else later in ch11 makes me want to be wary. But I also don't want to, because despite all story hints, I don't believe for a second they'd hurt mc, so I'm grabbing every bull thrown at me by the HORNS and every single one of you WILL BE SAFE by the end of this story OR SO HELP ME.

Speaking of horns. The demon bros follow us, obviously, except for Beel (who we knocked out in lesson 10), Belphie (who stayed behind with Beel obvs and also he wouldn't come to help us because he's hurt and angry and the Lilith wound is still fresh I get it Belphie I DO—but DAMN it STINGS) and Satan who already had stayed back at the House and my boy is missing this whole party. I legit yelled when I heard Mammon's scream in the Reaper's Cave.

I loved how Asmo, Levi and Mammon came to warn us that Lucifer was coming, because they're worried and I love them so much I COULD KISS THEM. I kinda wish the Mammon turned into Little. D gag didn't last for the rest of the lesson though. Asmo himself ways it makes this thing less serious. Oh well. I hope he gets turned back soon bc shit went down later and we need EXTRA HANDS ON DECK.

and finally I got the option that I wanted: that we wanted to talk to him. Or we can defer to Solomon. If my eyes keep narrowing at him I might as well close them and fall asleep. Anyways hell no, Sol dear, sorry.

So when he appears down we go. Everyone's worried sick. Solomon reminds us about siding with humanity if things go down bad and while I adore my fav sorcerer, I refuse to fight the demon brothers, so my choice was made in case they made me pick a side (and I was scared they'd make me choose lol). Anyways Solomon and Lucifer looked about ready to rip each other apart, but Lucifer held him in place and I was. Not expecting that. I thought Solomon would be able to fend him off at least a little bit, but I was wrong.

Obviously his target is us. Not Solomon. Oh boy.

I love this man so much. He's obviously wary of us because we have power over them and he sees it as a threat to his family, so I can't hold his anger against him even as he froze Solomon on the spot (not literally but, well, I bet he would have) and kinda. Tried to attack us. Oops. However, he doesn't know us, and he's doing what he thinks it's best to protect his family. I kinda get his point even if I don't agree with it, and it kinds reminds me of the Belphie situation in the og one: he's doing what he thinks is best, but he Fucks Up because we've been nothing but helpful and well, he's probably seen we've been helping his brothers. They defend you, too, but Lucifer is Not Having it for the moment.

Here has a choice that I love, if you pardon my Luci brainrot for a bit:

If we choose that one it doesn't clarify what we mean, but we gain points with him, because we know. He's hurt. Plus we have the ring, and again there's the fact that we have power over them, that they gave us, yeah, but they don't know about it. He's probably freaked out, at least a little bit.

Anyways I love Thirteen for busting our asses free and throwing us a Grimoire, which can be used to control demons, apparently, and if it was mentioned in the og I forgot about it. Oops. Well, I love that our only option is to give Luci the grimoire as a gesture of good faith because they're our demon family and just like Luci, we're doing our damn hardest to protect all of them.

If you say "I love all of you", you get points with Mammon, Asmo and Levi. If you choose that you want to protect them, you gain points with Luci instead. I need a second-

And this is when shit goes down for me because SOLOMON LOOKED SO DISAPPOINTED WHEN YOU HAND OUT THE GRIMOIRE????? And Thirteen did say he wanted it... because the Grimoire allows control over the demons. Sol is not making it easy for me here in this damn game.

(edit: also apparently it's. it's the goddamn Grimoire that's over Lilith's tomb in the og game, the one Luke finds when they go down to the Catacombs. Holy shit.)

And with the previous "siding with humanity" dialogue it's just. Alarm bells all over, non-stop. I don't know if we get different choices if we lean on Solomon too much, or if MC is following their own path in this mess so it doesn't matter what we choose before. Do we have a choice? Or MC has their own path that they will follow, which is protecting their family? Mind you, my mc's family is all of them: Demons and Purgatory Hall, so before choosing a side they'd stop this "war" from happening. I think this is what mc will choose, if it comes down to it. Perhaps this is what Nightbringer wants? But no demons/angels/humans war happened in the future where we come from, so it wouldn't make sense unless it will happen after our future time, where we can't stop it for some reason, and the only way is to send us to the past so we fix this mess before it happens.

Can you imagine? Barbatos sent us to the past because we can save everyone. I'd say Solomon followed without Barbatos knowing, but... I'm not so sure. My trust compass is going nuts, and I don't want to. I want to trust Solomon. I hope after the Grimoire thing he lets it go, because he has to know mc better than that: he has to know mc would choose their family over everything else in a heartbeat, and if there's a choice to stop this war-mess from happening, they will do it, even at their own peril. Maybe Solomon is trying to stop us from fucking dying because we'll end up choosing that option, who knows? It's an scenario that could fit. If the demon family was the cause of mc's death I think Solomon would burn down the House of Lamentation without a second thought to spare if it mean saving mc. Which is a problem.

There is an extra tidbit before the demons show up in the Reaper's Cave, where Thirteen tells us a bit more of Solomon lore, with a sprinkle of Barbatos.

I'd think Barb and Sol were working together, honestly. Even if Barbatos hates his guts now for some reason lol. If Solomon had done something grave, I think Barnatos would be way less lenient with him. As far as I can tell, he's just annoyed at the moment, so... no world-threatening betrayals, hopefully?

Back to the present with Luci and the present brothers. We give them the Grimoire, and then we fuck up.

Solomon tried to make us promise to aid humanity before, but both Thirteen and MC stopped in their tracks. Thirteen said "it's against the rules". If it's in the og, I forgot about it o(-< but by their reaction, it doesn't sound good. While doing this draft, I saw someone (edit: it was "still a morosexual help", bless them I love their om comments because I tend to ramble and miss points and reading their stuff help me keep in track of little things I missed!) say it might be because it's a bind. So, well, shit.

And we get a cliffhanger with that line as the end, because screw us, that's why. Who's responsible for these two cliffhangers in a goddamn row. I just want to fucking TALK. I started this lesson at 2:30am when I saw the notification and it's almost 6am now and the energy I gained doing this has died down.

The writing sure feels like it's gone up a notch. I'm living for it, honestly. Can't wait for Lesson 12 and see how we screwed up. If it's a bind, well, we'll roll with it lol.

aaand TO LESSON 12 WE GO

[malka-lisitsa]

❝ maybe in another life we could have done this right, but I guess we’ll never know for sure. ❞

You know what's worse than being gutted? Being gutted with an attempt of a local anesthetic. Was that supposed to make her feel better? That he'd try in a different life time? 'Do it right' What does that even mean?

Teeth gritted, eyes watered, chest burning with the white hot rage that boiled in her blood.

"Another life, Stefan?"

"Do you know how many times i've spent all night lying awake wishing for a different life? Do you think this has been FUN for me? Do you think I've had a good time losing everything I've ever wanted? If not to Klaus than to Elena and your bullshit story you fabricated to make yourself feel better about losing me?

Do you know, how badly YOUR loss affected ME?"

Katherine hissed through gritted teeth as she took a step closer to him.

"Do you think it was EASY to leave you and all the plans I had for us behind? Stefan I LOVED YOU, more than anything. I did what I had to do so I could live the happily ever after with you. I didn't count on my plan going awry and I certainly didn't count on you falling for a wet blanket while projecting the love you had for ME onto her. That was for ME."

"You say do this right like I had any choice in the matter. I was already a vampire when we met. Precious little human was taken from me three hundred years prior and I had been on the run and MISERABLE the entire time.... till I found you."

Katherine didn't bother to wipe the tears that were now streaming down her face. She was angry and hurt and she WANTED him to see the pain she was in. Maybe he'd finally care. Probably not...

"I have spent every second of every day since I left in 1864 trying to get you back. I spent every second planning how to win my freedom back so I could be with you and not live in visceral FEAR that because I LOVED YOU Klaus would kill you just to hurt me."

She gritted her teeth, so angry with him, so hurt, maybe she hated him. No she could never hate Stefan. But she hated this way that he made her feel. The way he judged her for how she'd been forced to live her life. She's killed less people than he has.

"I tried to do it right, Stefan. I used all the cards I was dealt and I played them the only way I knew how. I'm sorry I'll never be Elena. I'm sorry that I wasn't your perfect little fragile human. I'm sorry that by the time you met me I was already three hundred years deep into trauma. I'm sorry, that I had to leave the way that I did. But I have loved you every second of every day, and you have loved me too. So don't pretend like here at the end of my road, when I can see the grim reaper on the horizon? Don't act like we never had the opportunity.

Don't pin this on my choices.

We could have known, but you chose to wait till I was flirting with death to finally see me as a person with feelings.

So honestly? Fuck you Stefan."

"You don't get to make yourself feel better with throw away placations in hopes I'll feel just a little bit less like the shit you've treated me this past three years."

[portray-yourself]

death's dilemma.

> description: and you can't help but wonder, why me? why is it that you feel so drawn to the human with a smile that you'd trade the world for?

> word count: 2.3k

> THOMA x REAPER!GN!READER. death mentions, references some plot details from inazuma's archon quest, i think this falls under angst

— The Grim Reaper's job is simple.

Collect souls from dying humans. Shove them in your magical drawstring bag. Move on to the next client. A monotone routine for a lukewarm individual to follow. How could someone possibly mess this up?

For thousands of years, you followed the same old routine. The souls of humans and gods alike rested in your bag as you came and went, leaving no footprints but instead an unsettling feeling behind.

In this world, it's really one tragedy after the next, isn't it?

A beloved grandmother passes on in her sleep. A child gets fatally wounded by a geovishap. A farmer gets struck by lightning. But to you, these deaths are nothing more than business. Another body in a coffin, another soul for you to guide to the other side.

Perhaps viewing others as business is unhealthy, and maybe living a life of complete solitude is emotionally damaging (to human standards), but you don't mind - you would even go as far to say that you were content with your current predicament.

Key word: were.

Inazuma. The nation of eternity, a land policed under the watchful eye of the Electro Archon's body double. A nation striving for eternity, to stay in a stagnant state under the Sakoku Decree.

...How laughable.

Really, how absolutely hilarious. You were never one to meddle in affairs that didn't concern you, preferring to observe from afar, but this little decree? Oh, how it interested you. How long could the Electro Archon keep her walls up, you wondered. How long will it be until the decree is abolished?

Perhaps lingering around Liyue Harbor's outskirts was your first mistake. Maybe if your "client" hadn't decided to keel over and die at that exact moment, you would have never caught wind of this decree.

"Ugh... how annoying. The Sakoku Decree means that— WAAHH?!"

And bam, dead from falling from a high place. Another soul for your seemingly endless drawstring bag, huh... The words "Sakoku Decree" rang in your ears, an unfamiliar combination of words even to you. It sounded Inazuman, and although you wanted to know more, the Grim Reaper's job does not allow for idle chatter with the newly-departed.

It took you a mere three days to hear of it again, and... well, you can probably infer what happened next, no? That's right, you did nothing. Wandering around Inazuma when you have such pressing matters to attend to was unrealistic and foolish.

Yet on days where less people require their souls to be guided, you found yourself wandering around Inazuma. The merchant's paradise of Ritou was always lively, despite the standstill of a condition that Inazuma found itself in.

It was there that you met him. The human that set your "heart" ablaze.

You wished you could resent him in the way that you resented every other human, god, and thing that walked Teyvat, but something about him drew you in, like a fly to a venus flytrap. Perhaps it was the ongoing Sakoku Decree that convinced the always-moving Reaper to stay in Inazuma for a little, or perhaps that Fixer really has a way with words, but your presence seemed to linger around the decree-bound nation for just a little while longer.

Nowadays, the influence of the Sakoku Decree has considerably waned and the Inazumans can come and go as they please. Truly a miracle. That blond-haired traveller from afar really is the real deal.

Yet the memories of your time there still remain fresh in your mind. It's funny, it really is. Your career as a Reaper has lasted longer than Teyvat itself, yet this is what you remember most clearly? No, not even your first soul collected rings clearer than the Sakoku Decree.

That damned human is to blame for this, you're sure of it.

You used to be content— well, more like the closest thing to it, with your occupation. The Grim Reaper was programmed to reap souls from humans and gods alike, to guide the newly-departed to the other side. Nothing else.

So why is it that the typically silent Reaper feels so... peculiar? Your "heart" seems to turn into mush whenever that stupidly radiant human is around.

Even when he's not in the picture, he still finds his way into your mind. Whenever you pass by a dandelion, he comes to mind almost immediately.

"That human... he's from Mondstadt," you unconsciously mumble as a dandelion cluster catches your eye, yet you restrain yourself. "...No, I shouldn't. What the hell am I even thinking?"

The Grim Reaper has no time to daydream about some human boy, regardless of the reasons. Why fantasize about your future client? The nerve of that human, breaking down those walls that you put up ever-so-skillfully...! Reapers cannot feel in the way that humans and even gods do, but God did you feel irritated. Irritated at yourself.

Isn't it just so foolish? The Reaper has witnessed many relationships crash and burn for millennia. What makes the fleeting sentiments that you feel for this mortal boy so different from those tragic stories of star-crossed lovers, woven by poets and bards alike? What made those breathless, ardent oaths between long-gone lovers of Teyvat's past so different to the words unspoken between you and that human?

He's so frustrating, isn't he?

Thoma. The Kamisato clan's retainer. Ritou's fixer. The one who took your hand that day, noticed you in a sea of foreigners and merchants. Someone who broke through your walls and showed you the world.

You hate these feelings he makes you feel, all of them. Love, hatred, loneliness, jealousy, freedom... To think that the Reaper could feel a thing. The "you" from 80 millennia ago would be jumping for joy.

Funnily enough, it's you that holds on to every single word he throws at you.

You wonder if he truly means every single word he says. Every single "I really like your company." and "I'll be waiting at our usual spot!" drips with fondness for you, yet you can't help but wonder. Do humans love as fleetingly as they live?

What can you say to him? Will you always be waiting for him, just like those star-crossed lovers in the poems that humans read late at night? He, just like all humans, will be gone in the blink of an eye. What ever is the point of getting attached to him when he'll be gone forever one day?

It's only after he finds you in Chinju Forest that you find your answer to this question.

"[Name]?"

Covered in dark ink, you look away from him, glassy-eyed gaze meeting the moon instead of his emerald-hued eyes. You fear his expression reeks of disappointment, of mortal curiosity. It's a shame, isn't it? Since when did someone as omnipotent as the Grim Reaper begin to fear a human's gaze?

The Grim Reaper's true form is filth at its finest, the darkening hues of blue and purple intertwining to become an even darker shade. Where did you go wrong...?, you question the Higher Principles internally. Your human-like appearance is lost to the forest's grass, pieces of flaked-off skin surrounding you.

Something is very, very wrong, but even so, he chooses not to comment on it, approaching you without fear. God, did he even value his life? Willingly contaminating himself with a Reaper's filth was a surefire way to get himself seriously injured, yet—

...Humans truly are strange creatures, aren't they? Sometimes, they make a big deal over a minor injury, such as a scabbed ankle, but other times, they merely sit in silence with you as you fall apart.

For the first time in 50 or so millennia, the Grim Reaper feels an emotion that they can't control: agony. The agony rushing through your veins rivals that of those lost to the cataclysm, pain that would drive an average human or lower levelled god mad. But since you are a Reaper, you are told to grit your teeth and bear it. Give me your worst, you say to the pain. And it does, it truly does give it its all to make you suffer.

Yet this time it is much worse. Agony beyond belief, seeping into the grass and ruining the grass. Even when he sits next to you, bearing a worried expression, you cannot. Cannot reciprocate his gaze with a reassuring one, cannot bear to face the consequences of your own actions. Maybe if you had never heard of that stupid decree, maybe if you were never even born, you would feel happier.

This should be a cakewalk for you, who has suffered this punishment in solitude time and time again, but something about his presence sets you off like a ticking time bomb. Never has the Grim Reaper felt so apologetic towards a human. You wish the apologies could spill out easily, like they do for humans.

"I'm sorry for burdening you. I'm sorry for ruining you. I'm sorry that you choose to be around me."

Apologies left unsaid. You want to, yet nothing seems to come out as easily as pathetically human sobs do.

Sorry sorry sorry. What difference do they make when they are just words? Do they truly hold any meaning coming from you, a Reaper? Is this normal to feel? Is it really normal to feel such... loathing and guilt all at once? Why is it that he's so...

"Foolish...!" you exclaim out of nowhere, startling the boy next to you. The frustrations, passionate daydreams, and unfortunate love you feel for him spills out all at once, manifesting itself as anger. "God, you really are a fool! Really, chasing after someone that hurts you, why are you even..."

You want to scream at him, tell him that he's the stupidest fucking human that you've ever encountered for even trying to get close to a Reaper like you. Humans and reapers clearly don't mix, right? Why does he always find you, regardless of where you end up?

"You haven't hurt me."

A simple reassurance, but it breaks your doors down, the floodgates opening at last. The Reaper hasn't cried in 35 millennia, yet here you are, shedding tears for a human that will be gone within less than a century.

Your teardrops, ugly and red, burn the grass, but you can't bring yourself to care. You can feel his gaze burn into your current form and a bitter laugh escapes amidst the tears. "'m so pathetic... breaking down in front of a human like this..."

"Pathetic?" Thoma parrots, an undertone of disbelief in his words, as if you were the one lying here, as if you were merely talking nonsense. "...That's not true. I think you're quite strong, actually."

You shake your head at his words. "I shouldn't even be crying. You should be living your life elsewhere instead of having to suffer alongside me."

"What do you mean 'shouldn't be crying'? No one's perfect. We all have to cry sometimes, no?" he inquires, concern lacing his tone. His response elicits a pained shrug from you. You don't know. Should a reaper like you, taking souls of the departed, a harbinger of death, even be allowed to indulge in such priveleges?

"Besides, even if I were be 'living my life,' as you put it, I feel like I'd be unhappier than I am now."

"...What do you mean?" you question.

"Well..." He takes your hand, as if it weren't brimming with filth, as if he wasn't contaminating himself by being near you. "I guess what I really mean to say is that I'm more than willing to wait for you."

"Wait for me?" you echo in disbelief, feeling your 'punishment' begin to recede and enter its final stages. "But why? You have responsibilities and duties to fulfill. Don't you think wasting your time on me is worthless?"

"It's not wasted time if it's on you," he replies earnestly, catching your [eye color]-tinted gaze. "I genuinely want to be by your side, I want to be yours, but..."

The moon reflects off of him and he looks so damn pretty that it hurts. You want to take him in your arms so badly that your chest aches and your lips tremble. How strange is it that a human elicits such emotions from you?

Yet you never end up kissing him, nor do you end up saying "I wanna be yours" back. You wanted to, you yearn for an alternative timeline in which you could be his and his alone. A timeline where you are not pure filth and not a soul-stealer. One where you are equals, human and human.

But alas, you are bound to your role as a Reaper, forever and always. How ironic would it be for you, the personification of death itself, to die?

Wishing upon a star never works, a pastime reserved only for children with dreams, those who truly believed in the divine catering to their every whim. You've seen the ugliest of truths and the worst of humans. Why would you ever resort to such a thing?

...Sometimes, you ponder over your time in Inazuma. You stare at the moon as you shove a soul into your pouch at night and wonder what Thoma is doing. Is he hard at work? Of course he is. Maybe he's having fun. Maybe he's thinking of you too. You bitterly chuckle; as if he ever would.

(You still hope so. Secretly, buried under layers and layers of fortified walls that you have rebuilt, you hope for those days back, in which you two are strolling through Inazuma on an errand run, or playing hot-pot with the Kamisato girl. But those are all bygone memories by now, lost to time. A Reaper should never reminicise.)

…After all, this relationship of yours was never meant to work out. What fight can a Reaper and human's relationship put up against time?

> i am the ceo of shitty rushed endings i swear... i wanted to end this so badly but i didn't know how. so lo and behold, this happened!! i am now struck by the want to play thoma's hangout quest again...

[mournus]

Tagged by @anedendarkly

tagging everyone who wants to!! <3<3

Character: Nachim (Mai & Sean under read more)

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.  

Name: Kaho named him 'Nachimban' after the Korean word for compass.  

Eye colour: Grey

Hair style / colour: Constantly changing, he loves dyeing his hair and trying new things.

Height:  6'5"

Clothing style: DRAMATIC

Best physical feature: His body, his smile, his eyes, take ur pick

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.  

Your fears: "Me? Ha. I have no fears." (Commitment. He's afraid of commitment.)

Your guilty pleasure: "Guilt is foreign to me. Just ask Leila."

Your ambitions for the future: "It's simple. I will be a pirate king, and the world will bow to the most powerful pirate crew of all time."

𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺.  

Your first thoughts waking up: "I think of my plan for the day." 

What you think about most: "Where to go next, what to do next." 

What you think about before bed: "Tomorrow."

What you think your best quality is: "Ah... can you pick your favourite petal of a rose? Isn't it the way all petals come together that make it so beautiful?"

𝑾𝑯𝑨𝑻’𝑺 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑻𝑬𝑹?  

Single or group dates: "Well... that depends on how adventurous everyone is."

To be loved or respected: "Isn't respect less fickle?"

Beauty or brains: "Surely it depends on the situation.

Dogs or cats: "I prefer cats."

𝑫𝑶 𝒀𝑶𝑼…  

Lie: "There is no reason to."

Believe in yourself: "Of course. What kind of fool doesn't?"

Believe in love: "I believe... in the choice to devote yourself."

Want someone: "The ocean is my first love. How will I find someone who can compete?"

𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑹 𝑩𝑬𝑬𝑵…  

Been on stage: "We have a stage on the ship, but other than that, no."

Done drugs: "I tried them when I was human. Not quite as exciting as they were made out to be."

Changed who you were to fit in: "That would be a fate worse than death."

𝑭𝑨𝑽𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑬𝑺.  

Favourite colour: "Maybe black? Or red."

Favourite animal: "I like sharks. Even if one left a mark on my leg."

Favourite movie: "I like Disney movies. Any Disney movie. They are all my favourites."

Favourite book: "I can't say I have much time to read."

Favourite game: "Any that involve drinking."

𝑨𝑮𝑬.  

Day your next birthday will be: "January the 10th, as it is every year."

How old will you be: "240. Don't ask me my skincare routine, it's a trade secret. Ha."

Age you lost your virginity: "Hmm... I can't remember. I was a teenager."  

𝑰𝑵 𝑨 𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑶𝑵.  

Best personality: "Vibrant. Enthusiastic."

Best eye colour: "I like Rak's pink eyes."

Best hair colour: "Something crazy."

Best thing to do with a partner: "World domination."

𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑺𝑯 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬.  

I love: "My crew."

I feel: "Excited."

I hide: "Very little."

I miss: "Hm... my first crew. When I was human."

I wish: "For my adventure to never end."

Character: Mai

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.  

Name:  Mai

Eye colour: Black

Hair style / colour: Black, cut short, either just above her shoulders or just below her ears

Height:  5'6"

Clothing style: A little plain but pretty, likes bright colours.

Best physical feature: Eyes or lips

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.  

Your fears: "You're tryna open up a whole can of worms, huh?" Being imperfect. 

Your guilty pleasure: "Eating whole tubs of ice cream! ... I guess that's not really something to feel guilty about once you're dead, though?"

Your ambitions for the future: "I want to find out what makes reapers able to heal. I want to find a way to replicate it and make it accessible to humans."

𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺.  

Your first thoughts waking up: "Five more minutes."

What you think about most: "Practicing my powers, or learning more about us."

What you think about before bed: "All the mistakes I made that day..."

What you think your best quality is: "I mean... I guess I'm smart?"

𝑾𝑯𝑨𝑻’𝑺 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑻𝑬𝑹?  

Single or group dates: "Any date is a win in my book."

To be loved or respected: "Loved."

Beauty or brains: "Beauty comes with less responsibility than brains. So beauty."

Dogs or cats: "Dogs!"

𝑫𝑶 𝒀𝑶𝑼…  

Lie: "Not really. Not anymore."

Believe in yourself: "Probably not..."

Believe in love: "I really want to."

Want someone: "Yeah. A lot."

𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑹 𝑩𝑬𝑬𝑵…  

Been on stage: "I've performed on stage, yeah."

Done drugs: "No way. Don't do drugs!"

Changed who you were to fit in: "Yeah..."

𝑭𝑨𝑽𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑬𝑺.  

Favourite colour: "Purple."

Favourite animal: "Rabbits."

Favourite movie: "Twilight never gets old. Don't hate on me that."

Favourite book: "... Literally anything romantic is my favourite."

Favourite game: "Otome games for sure."

𝑨𝑮𝑬.  

Day your next birthday will be: "July 2nd."

How old will you be: "30... gross."

Age you lost your virginity: "18." 

𝑰𝑵 𝑨 𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑶𝑵.  

Best personality: "Warm and happy and inviting. Safe."

Best eye colour: "I don't really care."

Best hair colour: "Uhh. I'm not bothered."

Best thing to do with a partner: "Dance?"

𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑺𝑯 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬.  

I love: "Making memories."

I feel: "... Nervous."

I hide: "My feelings?"

I miss: "The childhood I never got to have."

I wish: "I could start over." 

Character: Sean

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.  

Name: Sean

Eye colour: Brown

Hair style / colour: Buzzcut brown

Height:  5'11"

Clothing style: T-shirt and jeans

Best physical feature: Jaw line fr

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.  

Your fears: "Getting kidnapped again is pretty up there."

Your guilty pleasure: "Maybe I like... sucking dick a bit... too much."

Your ambitions for the future: "Jus' bein' happy is ambition enough for me."

𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺.  

Your first thoughts waking up: "What should I eat?"

What you think about most: "What events are going on."

What you think about before bed: "The next day."

What you think your best quality is: "Oh - maybe... I'm pretty good at instruments an' DJing an' stuff?"

𝑾𝑯𝑨𝑻’𝑺 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑻𝑬𝑹?  

Single or group dates: "Single for sure!"

To be loved or respected: "Loved, man, respect is so... parent and evil boss."

Beauty or brains: "Brains!"

Dogs or cats: "I like both. Maybe dogs?"

𝑫𝑶 𝒀𝑶𝑼…  

Lie: "Nah."

Believe in yourself: "Maybe a normal amount."

Believe in love: "Definitely." 

Want someone: "Of course. Love is nice."

𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑹 𝑩𝑬𝑬𝑵…  

Been on stage: "Plenty."

Done drugs: "Nope."

Changed who you were to fit in: "Back when I wasn't out, yeah."

𝑭𝑨𝑽𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑬𝑺.  

Favourite colour: "Grey?"

Favourite animal: "Snakes." For reasons.

Favourite movie: "Brokeback Mountain was pretty cool to me when it first came out."

Favourite book: "I don't read much."

Favourite game: "Charades? Pretty old school."

𝑨𝑮𝑬.  

Day your next birthday will be: "November 3rd."

How old will you be:  "A hundred and... fourteen. Yikes."

Age you lost your virginity: "Next question." Eight. 

𝑰𝑵 𝑨 𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑶𝑵.  

Best personality: "Someone always up for a good time who is kind."

Best eye colour: "Any."

Best hair colour: "Any."

Best thing to do with a partner: "Laugh and play." 

𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑺𝑯 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬.  

I love: "Music."

I feel: "Chill."

I hide: "Regret."

I miss: "My family."

I wish: "I could see my ma' again."

[skekilla]

https://www.deviantart.com/skekilla/art/Runaway-Train-Act-III-Scene-10-952155541

So the plan did work; it did get them to the locomotive. It just only got five of twelve up there.

The moment the door slammed shut behind them all, they were in a different world from the rest of the train. Black, black as nothing, black as the voids of the reapers’ eyeholes, and quiet—it would’ve been silent if everyone who’d gotten through wasn’t breathing so heavily. Everyone…

Johnny sobbed. He almost fell to the floor under its weight. Less than half of everyone had made it here. He had seen them all be left behind, ripped away. He had seen them all be lost. They were lost. They all were.

It really is a shame, a voice said in his mind, but you know, there was never a way you all could come together anyway. Really, I’m just glad some of you made it through all that trouble at all! Of course Johnny knew who it was that was talking. He knew it the moment those chills went down his spine and that pit formed in the very core of his body. Even though it was still just in his head, their voice felt closer and stronger than ever now. Now that was worthy of terror.

Slowly, Johnny turned to see the rest of the locomotive. Two things broke the pitch black of the place, only two: a pair of glaring, amber lenses, which outlined nearby shapes in pale yellow light. They were the windows. The windows at the front of the train that Johnny had seen from the outside so long ago, with the beacon’s light oozing through them. A form was revealed in the glow. The light dripped down shoulders, near the edge of some vague face, across a brow and massive arms. It was awful. It was evil. It was terrible. It was the Conductor at last.

All was quiet for just a moment, but Johnny couldn’t keep it that way. “Why did you bring us here?” the words bled out from deep within his chest, his soul. “Why did you bring us onto this damned train?”

The yellow light glinted off a sharp smile as the being laughed. Why not? they spoke through the passengers’ minds, their teeth remaining clenched in a grin. Life for you humans is cruel! You all would’ve died some time or other.

“WE COULD HAVE LIVED ANYWAY!” Tears spattered from Johnny as he screamed the words.

Another bit of silence went by; the Conductor’s smile diminished as they thought something over. Their head cocked to one side, then the other. A humming filled the passengers’ brains. You could have, they said, and you did. Your lives before built you into the folks I brought onboard here, and then you all lived out the rest of your little not-lives as well as you could. Boy, did you! Your pain and struggle, that was all I wanted. I watched it all. A pause. More droplets fell from Johnny’s face, but the rest of the world was still—waiting on the Conductor’s cue. You know, I envy you, my passengers. Oh, to have been a mortal! To have tasted that bitter water and gotten sweet through it. Oh, to have lived once. To have had a chance at it. I wish I… Their admission trailed off into the nothingness that surrounded them.

Johnny couldn’t help but sob again, but he didn’t really know why. Maybe it was because everything really was lost—he would never see Polly again, never breathe the fresh air, never live. But maybe, instead, it was the things they’d said; maybe it was that chance at life. Maybe if he couldn’t fight to live, he could fight for what he had lived already. He swallowed his crying and rose just a little. He could feel the others—the other three mortal passengers—around him now too. “F-fine,” Johnny said. “Fine, you’ve trapped us in death forever. But this wasn’t for nothing. This whole thing—it wasn’t for nothing. We’ll all make sure of that, just you wait!”

The smile returned to the Conductor’s face and their laughter boomed anew. Now you’re getting it, boy! Give it your best shot, you four!

Suddenly, out from the darkness, from everywhere, a million tiny shining eyes—yellow, red, purple—materialized. Demons, more than had been in the theater, more than Lillian had ever commanded, more even than those that had swarmed the last three cars, came in an apocalyptic barrage from every possible angle. Sally began to sing, and that lessened at least some of the numbers of things trying to rip and tear them all apart.

“If you want your soul set free,

Lift your voice and sing with me!”

The flow of her song was suddenly broken by a massive swoop above all their heads. Why, it sounded as if Johnny was only missed by a hair! As that colossal thing flew away, he glanced just in time to catch sight of  what it was: outlined by the light and yet invisible to the eye was the terrible clawed hand of the Conductor. Its fingers were as long as Johnny was tall, if not longer. Its hand could crush all of them at once, if they willed it. Johnny realized with a sickness in his stomach that, again, they were just taunting them. Playing with them. Testing their mortal will once more.

“If the Devil grabs your hand,

Here's one thing that he can't stand!”

A whistling of air made Johnny realize another hand was coming right at him from the side, and this one wasn’t high enough to miss him. With a scream he stumbled out of range and fell to the floor. Before he knew it, one of the free demons had latched on to him, its claws digging into Johnny’s arms as it kept him still. No, no, no! He shook and shook and still it wouldn’t let up. It seemed he would never escape—until suddenly it was flung off of him by someone, screeching as it went.

Rough hands hoisted Johnny up to his feet again. Warm breath blew over his face, and even without seeing the eyes he felt the grimly soft gaze on him. “Curtis—!” Johnny was swiftly cut off by another giant hand whizzing past them, which Curtis immediately pulled him out of the way of.

“T-Thank you,” Johnny stuttered.

“I’ve got you,” the sailor said gravely. “I’ve got you as long as we can make it. I know you all do too. I’ll back you up.”

Johnny let out a breath. “Thank you, Curtis.” He squeezed his hands as he repeated it.

“Johnny,” he said, but trailed off. A few sounds came from his throat. “That means more than anything to me, Johnny,” he finally mumbled. His hands slipped away from Johnny’s and he was left alone again. Well, not really alone. Curtis was out in the masses now, and as long as he was able to, he would fight for them. Johnny almost smiled, despite everything.

He didn’t have time to, though. Again, a hand came for him, only this time it was unnoticed. Force, force like being hit by the tanks back in the war except a thousand times faster, erupted throughout his whole body. Once again, he hit the floor. His breath was knocked from him and he struggled to get it back. Johnny’s hand instinctively clutched his ribs, which seared with the new worst pain he had ever felt. His ears rang awfully and a dizziness clouded his vision, but when it all let up, he realized the singing had stopped. Then, suddenly, he heard it right next to him where he lay.

“Keep your spirit… way up high…

Look up to the sky.

Stand up and shout:

‘Hallelujah! Oh-oh!’

‘Hallelujah! Oh-oh!’”

Sally, with her silk-gloved hands, lifted Johnny with all the grace in the world. Though she was as gentle as could be, he couldn’t help but whimper in pain as he stood. “Oh Johnny… oh, please don’t cry,” the singer said. Her begging was hypocritical; for the first time Johnny had ever heard, she sounded on the verge of tears herself.

“I’m alright, Sally, I-I promise.”

“Good. Good…” She drew in a shaking breath to steady herself, but it only ended in a sob. “I just couldn’t leave you all. I could never,” she gushed. “All I’ve ever wanted is love. Its all I’ve ever wanted. I thought I could stay here and keep it, but… but these demons don’t really love me, no, and I don’t love them.”

Johnny had to keep himself from doing something—whether it was coughing or sobbing in kind, he didn’t know. “You have love,” he said. “O-our love. Mine, of course Orla’s, even Curtis’. You have it.”

Sally laughed a crying laugh. “Now it’s the end of that, hm?”

“M-maybe,” Johnny said. “But at least we’ll all go out with love.”

“That’s all I wanted,” she said. She collected herself with a sniffle. “I’m singing for you all now, not these monsters. I’ll sing to the end.” Her hands held Johnny’s cheeks for just a moment, brushing away his tears, until she stepped away. Her refrain began anew, stronger than ever before. A peel of notes, sparkling like the amber above and shattering the chaos of the whole world, streamed from her.

“Oh! Da-da-da-da!

Oh! Da-da-da!

Oh, shout! Oh shout! Oh!

Come on down, just a little bit joy!

Oh! Da-da-da-da!

Oh! Da-da-da!

Oh shout! Oh shout, sister!”

All the demons stopped and stared then. It entranced even Johnny, at this point. It was beautiful. It was amazing.

Then it was over. All at once, Johnny heard the wind rushing from a hand again. He ducked down, but Sally kept singing—she hadn’t ducked. Silence followed as the limb swooped through its path; the singing was gone, but there were no groans or screeches at the moment either. Then, after some time, the sound came back: a scream. It was Sally’s, but Johnny could tell it wasn’t because she had been hit. No; it was a scream of terror, a scream of grief. Sally hadn’t been hit. The damage had been taken for her by—

“ORLA!” Sally cried. “Orla, honeybee, y-you- your back, it’s—”

A shivering gasp blew out of Orla. “I’m alright, love.” It was clear by the faintness of her voice that she wasn’t.

“You’re a fool,” Sally said through her tears. “You’re such a fool!”

Orla coughed terribly. “Fine, fine… maybe I am.”

“Don’t leave. P-please, just stay a minute longer anyway.”

“I would’ve gone anywhere with you, Sally,” Orla murmured. “For a better life or a worse one, t-to stay or to go, I would’ve gone. Just for you.” She coughed again. “God, I’m sorry.”

Silence followed for a moment. Johnny thought everything had already ended until he heard a release. The two had kissed in the last moments they had left together.

Orla took a breath, laughed a little, and then she was gone. Sally wailed for what felt like forever.

Then, just like that, everything—all the eyes, the windows—everything went black. Flickering like a film played too slow, the world returned, then left again, then came back. The wailing was killed between it all, and the demons all froze eventually. Johnny could feel his body being strangled then let go with each period of nothingness—soul magic was being thrown upon him in the most cruel and disorienting fashion possible. Between it all he felt himself leave the ground. He felt himself be raised up, higher, higher, and higher still. Pressure was all around him now, the giant hand grasped around him tightly. The yellow outline of the Conductor grew closer and closer as they brought him face to face with themself. Everything stopped. The flickering stopped. All sound faded away. Everything but the being in front of him was nothing.

The light glinted off the Conductor’s smile. And now there’s only one. What a pity. 

The hands released him and he plummeted—utterly plummeted—down. Everything broke; his legs, his arms, every part of him. Blood filled his mouth. He gasped for breath desperately.

I do really, truly wish I myself had had what you all have done here, the Conductor spoke. When you’re something like me, its all you can wish for. After all, what have you got to lose when you’re like that? Not like you all. There’s no reason for it. But you… well, you’ve got it. You’ve got life, don’t you? 

Though his eyes were closing he managed to look up at the Conductor. The grin was gone completely. Was that a frown spelled out by the glow of the windows?

Johnny was still afraid. He was still terrified, in fact, more so than ever before. This life he’d been given had battered him nonstop, and for the longest time he thought that was because he was just a useless coward. After all this, though, he knew that wasn’t true. He wasn’t useless. He could do something. Do something for life. In this wonderful chance just to exist he had proven that again and again. That made life worth it. It was worth it to live. It would be worth it forever—through joy, through pain, and even through death.

Johnny collapsed, but pushed himself up. He collapsed again, then rose. With the very last of his strength, he stood. He did have something to lose. He had always had it.

The world spun. A fluttering of pink, black, and white flickered across his vision.

Gosh, was life beautiful.

[snow-hart]

Flora Mea

A warning before we begin: This series of drabbles will have some very concerning content that I will do my best to tag. If anything is not tagged properly,please let me know.

I will never know if my wife knew all along that she wouldn't make it, or if she was just as taken by surprise as I was. All I knew was that there shouldn't have been that much blood...she barely got to hold our daughter before she passed. Passed...what a shoddy way to describe a human soul's final journey....I could only hope that she was happy where she was now. I couldn't visit her, not with her soul having been brought into Elysium. And now all that remained of her was swaddled up in my arms, accompanied by condolences from the deity that helped deliver them... my little flower. My pride and joy. My whole world.

My daughter. Lili in the Greek language...but Lily or Lillian in the modern tongue, so named by her mother before she died. She slept in my arms, enclosed in my wings as I listened to the waves upon the shore, trying to process my grief. It was different than when I lost Lucifer...more raw, more...empty. Like a chasm had opened in my chest, swallowing all hope...all joy. Save for one

How tragic it is to love that which death can touch...how more tragic still for her to love the reaper....I could not help but fear that it was I who doomed her. But...she would not want me to think that way, so I tried to focus on the now. On the baby in my arms, on the sea breeze in my hair. The only one of my siblings that was allowed to be near me during this time was Gabriel....he was the only one right now I could trust...and Raphael was out of the question as I didn't wish to get him in trouble.

I had already broken three major laws of Heaven and our Father by being here right now. I had fallen in love with a human, was fraternizing with another pantheon, and I had a child with a human.... All three of these counted as treason, with the second being high treason, no less...

Four more infractions would spell disaster, my knowledge of our laws told me as much...but right now, I cared nothing for our law. My sole concern was in this little life that I held in my hands. Gabriel told me that the Nephilim not the ones like Cain or Lily were becoming too...aggressive...they were killing and eating humans at a terribly high rate. And that was making Father and the other angels very nervous...because these Nephil weren't picky, and had developed a taste for our kind too. I feared what this might mean for my child...for Cain...for all the Nephilim that were innocent in the sins of the others. Surely they wouldn't all be made to suffer for this right?

[chancecity]

Fiona

“Joan Jett, save my soul.”

THE BASICS:

Gender: Cis Female

Orientation: Bisexual (but just So Closeted)

Pronouns: She/Her

Age Aprox.: Early-Thirties (Older than Rocky)

Skills: Work-Ethic, Acrobatics, Sword-Fighting/Fencing, Dance, Bass Guitar, Acting

Reviews from People in Their Life:

“Fi is an absolute killer on the dance floor; of course she’s my best friend! She’s strong, calculated… if only she weren’t so socially-inept! And I told her that, too! …She wasn’t very appreciative of that.” -Rocky, best friend/former nemesis

“I think The Fighting Cat works the hardest of any of us at the precinct. Not for no reason; she’s been working on getting promoted to Rank 1 since we joined the Hero Corps after school. She’s.. a little touchy, maybe a bit of a, uh… b-but I still wouldn’t choose anyone else to have on the field with me.” -Vince, Rank 3 coworker/on-call babysitter

“Nothing gets by her! She’ll follow an evidence trail right to the truth, and she’ll always find it! That’s why I never leave evidence.” -Stevie, aspiring detective/12 year old Daughter

“Fiona… I mean, what is there to really say? Why are you asking me, anyways? I wouldn’t say I knew her best… she’s not really the type to let you know much.” -Peter Fitz, Investigative Journalist and ex-husband

Known Locations: HCHQ (Hero Corps Headquarters, work), 2-bedroom apartment downtown, Patrolling the Streets

Basic About:

A family curse. A beast of hunger, fury, and want passed through generations. A devoured grandmother, a lost mother. A step-up that always seems just barely out of reach. Bills, a stressful divorce, and single-motherhood; and on top of it all, a job that will probably Literally be the death of her.

As a child, Fiona wanted nothing more than to make her hometown of Chance City a safer place. The Hero Corps were her way, harnessing the beast that consumed her grandmother and corrupted her mother into a form she could tame and control.

These days, Fiona is a woman who has learned to survive with a being that only wishes to devour her or the people around her, all while juggling her identity as The Fighting Cat (yes it’s a Cats reference), Rank 2 Hero and protector of Chance City, and her responsibilities as a single mother with legal debt left over from her recent divorce.

But after stringing together a few crimes labeled as being committed by several different villains, she came to the realization that each was too similar; one villain, or group of villains, had done all of them. Discovering who would certainly earn her that promotion to Rank 1, the most elite group of the Hero Corps. She wouldn’t be able to do it on her own, so she came up with the idea to recruit Rocky; a villain, yes, but one seen as less dangerous and one with the intel she would need to catch her target.

THE PHYSICAL:

Eyes: Brown, Cat-like and Tense

Hair: Black, Short and Choppy (Cuts it herself)

Height: 5’5” (7’2” during Curse Possession)

Style Favorites: 80’s Mom/Old School Butch, masc-leaning

THE VIBES:

Top Song: “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”, Blue Öyster Cult

Voice Headcanon: Aisha Tyler (Lana, “Archer”)

Themes and Inspiration: Classic Hard Rock/Metal, Feminine Rage, living with Genetic/Terminal illness, Void, the Maternal/Filial, Misplaced Devotion, Humanity vs Inhumanity, Futility under Capitalism

PERSONALITY: Cold (seemingly), Collected, Anti-Authority, Determined, Loyal, Work-Horse mentality, Aloof, Obsessive, Heart-Over-Mind, Macabre, Exhausted, Reckless

The Curse

The Savage Beast lives within Fiona as it did her mother and grandmother, and as it still does within her own daughter. It began with her great-great-grandmother, who never shared the story of how she attached their bloodline to this monster, but through her efforts to tame and control it Fiona has learned a few things:

Containing it within a weapon seems to keep it sated, as long as that weapon finds regular use. She chose a fencing foil to try and minimize the damage.

It responds to music and physical exertion. She can use this to poke the bear, becoming more powerful through rage-music and fighting or calming the beast back to her control through her favorite songs and dance.

It comes from nothing, a void, a place where all one can do is scream into a vast emptiness before joining it.

It will be her death.

Powers: She calls it Beast Possession. Her tails are prehensile and sharp, her claws able to slice through metal, and her form one of shadow and night that can slip between the pitch black shadows of alleys and corners to transport herself somewhere else. On top of that, she becomes incredibly dexterous and light, able to duck and dodge before sending her foil into her foes chest’s, injecting them with her paralyzing venom.

[missgrelle]

wishing grelle could have been more of a scary character and less of a comedic relief 💔 look at this potential

[titlemewickedwonderland]

To the Ends of the Earth

Pairing: Dean Winchester x reader

Warnings: Blood, mention of near sexual assault, angst, near death.

It hurts! It hurts so much! I can't take this anymore! Somebody make it stop! I can't. I can't move, it's too heavy. My arms are too heavy. Somebody, please make it stop. My body screams at me to move, to try and fight, Do something. But I can feel the warmth of the blood draining from my body; tickling my ever-growing cold skin as the crimson fluid runs down my arms to the cold concrete below. The ropes were scratchy and scraggly digging so painfully into my wrists keeping me tied to this godforsaken fucking chair! I wish I could just move my body, even if just a little. If I'm going to die I at least want to die comfortably. Ah, it's pointless anyway. Soon I'll be dead. I can just feel it. What's there in the darkness? Did I see a shadow move? A soul reaper maybe? Coming to take me to my own personal hell? Or is it Death himself coming to unbind my restraints to gather me in his embrace and take me away. I'd met Death before. He wasn't as bad as half the people talk about him. But then there is the fact that half those people are liars. They don't know Death can walk among us, humans. And hey, the man likes pizza. Found that out when he ate half my large freshly delivered pizza I'd ordered for my hotel room. The bugger didn't even pay me.

Would I die here alone? Would I be missed? Did I do enough for this world to be in God's good graces? Am I going to die alone in this cold place after hours or was it days of mindless torture? I was so fucking stupid thinking I could take this one by myself. I was a hunter, I was trained by the best. But I let my big ego take control and oops here I am dying, bleeding out, and growing colder and colder by the minute in this underground bunker. They'd tricked me. It tricked me. I thought it was Dean. I thought that thing was MY Dean. So tired from the investigation the last few days chasing that son of a bitch that was taking the faces of innocent people to kill their spouses that I was so blind to not see that the Dean that I was sitting in my hotel room with was NOT my Dean Winchester. I noticed it too late. That glint in his eyes and no I don't mean that reflection shit on a camera that Shapeshifters possess. No, it was darker than that. The gleam, that look in his eye when I refused his advances. My Dean wouldn't have reacted like that; he'd just brush it off. If I wasn't in the mood he wouldn't press. But this Dean did and I fell right into his fucking trap too late to even attempt to grab my gun. So here I was. Being tortured by the face of the man that I loved. The man that I swore I'd marry someday. I didn't want to die. No, I cannot die, not today. Not ever. I must survive, surely there must be a way. How did this happen to me, what have I done wrong? I can't… Somebody, please help me. There must be somebody nearby, please help whoever you are, wherever you are. Dean, Cas…Sam, just fucking anyone for crying out loud! I don't want to die!

~

That annoying drip drop of the water falling from open pips above my head was annoying. But it kept me awake. Grudgingly kept me awake no matter how cold I was no matter how much blood I lost. If I came to think about it, it's actually quite peaceful here, I could stay here for hours. Not that I have a choice right now. No, I do have a choice. Give up or fight and I choose to fight. I will get away from here, as far away as possible until I've found help. Help, I need help to get out of here. I can't do it on my own, it's no use. No amount of prayer has allowed help to find me. My faith is weak at best. But I can still manage to reach Cas. Dean could do it and he has less faith than me. But Castiel always did have a softer spot for the hunter so perhaps it was some sort of angel thing that had him honed for Dean. Or it could be the fact there is a freaking graph of a symbol drawn in my blood beneath where I sat tied to my chair that blocked the angel's attempts to communicate or find me. Fucking shapeshifter had to tap into Dean's knowledge. Funny thing about Shapeshifters. They can tap into the thoughts and memories of those they imposter as long as that victim still lives. Maybe if I wait long enough the pool of blood will wash away and distort the image of the graph on the concrete below me. Just one drop will do…just one.

I'm cold. I wish there was somebody to hold me or something to warm me. I feel no pain, not any longer, but my body keeps shivering to warm itself up. But I'm still cold. I'm surprised I managed to last this long. I thought I'd bleed out by now and just waste away into a husk; into unconsciousness enough for my soul to leave my body. Freezing to death isn't half bad all things considering; I've seen a lot more gruesome ways to die so at least I should be lucky right? Right… The creak of the metal hinged of the bunker's doors grind on my brain like nails on a chalkboard but I don't have the energy to lift my head to check out the imposter wearing my boyfriend's face. Wait, were we actually considered in a relationship? I mean, Dean and I never actually talked about it. We sort of had this connection and boom next thing we fucking each other and spending a lot more time together than normal just friends would but no one ever complained about how it happened even if those words were not said to confirm. What are we like 13? We don't need to be asked out peh!

A rough hand grasped my face and jerked my head up just for me to stare into the shadowed face of a very pissed-off-looking Dean. But this isn't my Dean. I've already gotten good at noticing the differences. That curl of his lip and that glare in his eye was definitely not my cocky Dean. Because I knew this wasn't the hot supernatural hunter I was wishing for, I didn't mind gathering the combination of blood and saliva on my tongue and spitting it at his face within the next second. But that quickly backfired when my face exploded in pain as the fucker backhanded me hard enough for me to spit out a glob of blood. He'd knocked me over in the process too; my head had hit the pavement below with a loud crack that made my vision sparkle behind my eyelids. I groaned but what could I do? I couldn't move. Opening my eyes I realized I was lying near the edge of the graph on the ground and I chose one of two things. Fight or Die. I chose to fight. Given the opportunity that I had, I rubbed my head against the ground quickly; my hair was a mass but worked well like a mop to wipe and smudge the imprint of the blood on the ground. All this was done while the shapeshifter had his back turned; too busy studying his trays of torture tools off to the side of the room. Closing my eyes I pretended to be passed out and inside I was pleading; screaming, crying, anything that would get Castiel's attention to find me. I need his help and I didn't have much time or energy left.

I felt it then. That mind thing that telepathic creatures and beings had abilities of. Like a gentle caress on my mind. It wasn't intrusive but I could definitely feel the worry that the feeling projected. But I knew, I fucking knew he heard me and that very notion made a sob escape my chest. He'd heard me and he and my boys were coming to find me. I just needed to hold on a little bit longer; that's all I needed to do. But that relief washed away quickly as I was yanked back upright and I saw the glint in the corner of my eye. Fuck, what's one more slash to the arm to bleed out some more huh? I was going to make it. I knew I was, I just had to hold onto the little ray of hope. But my body rejected that idea. My mind was stronger than my body; I was only human after all so I wasn't surprised. Disappointed if anything when my vision began to get blurry and dark as unconsciousness crept from the corner of my vision. The sounds became muffled and far away like underwater. But I had enough feeling left in my limbs when the ropes were cut free and my body was flung to the ground only to be covered by a warmer body. My eyes fluttered open in time to see that silvery glint in the shapeshifter's gaze as his hands began tugging at my blood-stained clothes. I panicked, I could feel my heart threatening to burst from my chest. Was he seriously going to use my body?! I didn't have the energy to fight back; pins and needles in my cold limbs made it painful and hard for me to move my appendages. But that didn't stop the tears. I sobbed. I sobbed so hard I couldn't breathe. But you know what? My nightmare was over. Over in a bang; literally.

Blood splashed onto my face as the body on top of mine was blasted to the side and fell limply on the concrete beside me. A pair of strong hands grasped me and I screamed trying to fight but when I opened my eyes Sam was cradling me against his chest and stroking the blood from my face. The look of utter relief and horror on his face was evident as he held me tightly to him while looking over my head towards where Dean stood; his face was so terrifying that I almost thought it was the shapeshifter all over again. He stood there with a face like thunder like he was going to murder someone; which well technically he had. But he looked so fucking pissed as he stood over the shapeshifter's body. His hand rose and the gun held tightly in his grasp went bang. He fired the gun straight into the monster's body. Once, twice, three times before he turned looking serious as all hell. Seeing my terrified expression as I lay limply in Sam's grasp made him turn back around and unload the rest of his clip into the dead thing's body before he could even attempt to look at me again.

Was I that ugly? Was I that broken? My lip trembled and I buried my face against Sam's shoulder. Holding onto his arm for support as I didn't want to be alone right now. Dean crouched in front of me just then and I felt his hand brush my hair from my face and I couldn't help the flinch I gave at his touch. When I look at him I saw that conflicted look on his face. He was going to withdraw from me. I knew that look. But I didn't want to be afraid of him. My Dean never hurt me, I needed him to realize that. So as he began pulling away to rise I launched myself from Sam's arms and straight into Dean's. Burying my face into the familiar scented shirt and holding for dear life. No words needed to be said as his arms wrapped around me and held me tightly to him. He was never good with words anyway. The presence of his strong frame against my own was enough for me to soak his T-shirt in tears. So relieved. So happy. Just so…thankful that I had men that would go to the ends of the world for me. I pulled away far enough to peer up into his green eyes before I yanked him down by the collar of his jacket to press his lips to mine. Kissing him for all he and I were worth because frankly. I never thought I'd ever have the chance to feel him against me like this. Drawing away when we needed air I rested my forehead against his and smiled shakily.

"I knew you'd come for me." my eyes trailed off to the figure standing behind us in his signature tan-colored trench coat.

"Thank you."

[fightxxmexxshiggy]

Don't fear the reaper

You love to go urban exploring and you make contact with a sexy supernatural being. I wrote this during KINKtober

Kirishima x female reader

TW:CHOKING, ROUGH SEX, BREEDING KINK, TALK OF DEATH.

Word count: 3420

Walking through abandoned buildings wasn't the safest hobby but it was definitely the most interesting one. You loved seeing all the graffiti, art and equipment from a bygone era. Sometimes you went with groups when the buildings seemed more dangerous but today you went alone. As you made your way through the abandoned factory for today's exploration you noticed all the dusty work stations, they were so eerie the way they were still set up like a worker had walked away for a break and just never returned. You were honestly tempted to film the place but seeing as you were doing this on a saturday and Halloween no less you decided not to push your luck. Walking carefully you avoided the broken glass and some more crumbling areas in the concrete floors. This space was so wide open it made you curious as to what had been made here in the factories prime.

 

As you headed towards the stairs that would take you to the second floor you heard a thump and a voice shout "fucking rats." From above you. Slowly you took the stairs one at a time and called out asking if anyone was there. After a bit of shuffling the voice spoke again." If you're a cop no one is here if you're an urban explorer I'm totally here and would love some company." Laughing you stepped onto the second floor landing coming face to face with a redheaded man with surprisingly sharp teeth. Smiling at you he came forward with a hand out for a handshake. Shaking his hand you noticed how large his hands were and how strong his grip was. Letting go you introduced yourself feeling a bit awkward now that you could see the face that went along with the voice. With a wide smile he crossed his arms over his toned chest, pulling his shirt taunt over the muscles. You really needed to get layed if a rando you just met on an exploring trip was getting you hot and bothered. You were so caught up in your own thoughts you almost didn't hear him introduce himself.

 

"The names Eijiro Kirishima and it's nice to meet a fellow explorer." You smiled at him before looking away to take in your new surroundings. The second floor was a bit dark and seemed even more dusty than the first if that was possible. Walking further into the area you saw a wooden plank laying in the middle of the mostly clear walkway. As you looked at it Kirishima chuckled and rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. "That plank was my fault. I was walking further in to explore some more and a rat jumped out at me." Laughing you told him you had heard his comments on the rat earlier from downstairs. It was quite interesting to see such a large man blush like a child at being caught cursing. Quickly Kirishima bent down and picked up the plank to place it back against the wall.

 

Damn the man had an amazing ass and those arms were so cut you were definitely sure your pussy had just clenched a little. This was bad, this poor man was just being friendly and here you were imagining what it would be like to have his forearm around your throat while he did dirty things to your body. Clearing your throat you asked if he'd like to join for the rest of the second floor exploration. "I'd love that pebble. I usually wander around alone but I'd never say no to having company as cute as you." Blushing you looked away as you started to walk with him going deeper into the dusty space. To your left there were tons of planks and glass panes leaning against the wall and to the right were mostly boxes stacked against the railings. You assumed this must have been office space for the owners and admins of the factory. As you walked a little ahead trying to see what was by the farthest walls you heard the floorboards groaning under your weight before they completely went out from under you.

 

You were lucky and grabbed a part of the floor that hadn't caved in as you fell. You yelled for help and saw Kirishima walk closer to where you were hanging. His face looked conflicted as he made no move to help or even to give you any reassurance. You realized he wasn't scared to fall in but you couldn't tell why he wouldn't help. Sighing defeatedly Kirishima walked over without an ounce of fear and crouched down to make eye contact with you. "I don't know what to do with you pebble, my job is to guide your soul to the afterlife but I really like you. You're so sweet and shy, much too good to be restarted just because the plan says so." What was he talking about? His job was to guide your soul? Why was he talking like he knew you? You just met him 30 minutes ago. Had you just become friends with a nut job who planned to watch you die?

 

"Ah I can see that you're confused, I mean I would be too." standing up to his full high he towered over you as you continued to stare up at him with a mix of confusion and fear. He placed back and forth for a moment before turning to you and smiling that big sharp toothed grin that moments before would have made your tummy do a little flip. If hanging half out of a hole in an abandoned building wasn't enough what happened next shocked you so much you almost lost your grip. Kirishima slowly began to lift off from the floor just floating in mid air. With wide eyes you stared in shock, wondering if maybe you had gone a little crazy while hoping he might help you so that you didn't fall to your death. "Well I know what I'm about to tell you is a bit unbelievable so I decided to show you that I'm not joking before I explain. I happen to be a reaper and today was supposed to be the day you die. But like I said I really don't know what to do with you seeing as I don't want someone as manly and fearless as you to just be gone and reincarnated as someone else."

 

As if to further prove his status as a reaper the man before you started to change. His hoodie and shorts, which were pretty standard for building walks, melted away into a pair of black military style pants and boots along with a fitted black tank top that hugged his chest and back muscles in a way that should definitely be illegal. His arms were covered in a few black band tattoos that circled his wrists and biceps. What was the most astonishing was that his spiky red hair grew long, long to the point that the ends floated around his hips. His still smiling face was covered with a half skull mask leaving his mouth still exposed. "Hey pebble do you want to live as who you are now even if that meant some things about you would change or do you want to die and have me guide you to the next realm? I'll do whatever makes you happier even if it's not what I'd like to see." His eyes shone with sincerity through his mask and his smile seemed a bit forced. You could tell that even though he wasn't human like you he still felt the same emotions that you did. From everything he had said and shown you you could tell he held affection towards you. Enough so that he was willing to go against what was probably as natural as breathing for a reaper. Looking up at him still floating above you a smile broke over your face. You told him you wanted to stay as yourself whatever the changes might be.

 

Kirishima grinned at you somehow managing to look sweet and scary all at once. Wasting no time he floated over you and grabbed you by the back of your shirt with one hand. Instead of pulling you back to the second level he drifted the two of you through the hole and down to the concrete floors below. Letting go of the back of your shirt he held out his hand to you still trying to give you some control over the situation. As you took his hand he gave it a grateful squeeze before moving to sit with you on a dust covered bench. "Listen pebble I want to be honest with you. The only way for you to stay yourself is if you became my anchor. An anchor is kind of like a reaper's chosen soulmate and we only get a chance to have one every 1000 years of service." This day was getting stranger and stranger by the fucking minute. You could live but you would need to become this man's soulmate, basically his wife. Looking at him again you could say you wouldn't enjoy the physical parts of such a relationship. Honestly Kirishima had no business being this sexy. Well if this kind of thing was gonna happen to you Halloween was no better day for it to happen on. Squeezing his hand you agreed even though you knew he had more to explain.

 

"If you're sure then I'll take us to my home so that we can link our souls without turning into dust bunnies." The world around you faded out and changed into a huge bedroom that was painted black and red with posters of an old superhero movie lining them. There was workout equipment everywhere you looked, well that at least told you that his muscles were all from hard work and not just random spooky reaper magic. With no small bit of embarrassment you sat on his bed and rubbed your fingers across the covers looking anywhere but him. Taking you straight into his bedroom instead of a living room or something told you exactly what you had been guessing at. Linking souls was definitely going to require sexual contact. "Pebble look at me." Looking up you took him in once again almost drooling over his now shirtless chest as he loosened his belt giving you a tantalizing look at his black happy trail. He walked up to you and held your cheeks in his hands. He searched your eyes for a few moments and when he saw no fear or rejection lowered his head to give you a kiss. This kiss was slow and gentle but full of so much heat you were sure every nerve in your body was on fire. Kirishima's tongue licked across yours as he savored the taste of his soon to be anchor. Not wanting to just sit there and take it you put your all into the kiss licking his teeth, nibbling on his lips, and even sucking on his tongue the same way you wished to suck on another part of his body. Kirishima broke the kiss panting heavily as he let his hands caress down your neck until they reached the collar of the t-shirt you wore. With barely a flick of his fingers your shirt was torn down the middle, your bra sharing its fate. He pushed the shredded material down your shoulders letting it fall to the bed.

 

"I'm going to be as gentle as I can for you pebble but I have very limited control over myself at the moment. Your so fucking beautiful I swear my supervisor gave me your case cause he knew I'd fall for you." Crawling over you he straddled your waist and began to kiss and bite down your neck stopping only when he reached your breast. Pushing both your breasts together he kissed every inch of them worshiping the heavy mounds. With no warning he sucked both of your nipples into his mouth, bathing them with his tongue before biting them. After every bite he flicked his tongue against the hardened peaks earned himself little whines and moans of appreciation. Once he felt that he could no longer hold himself in check with just adoring your nipples, Kirishima slid down off the bed to crouch in front of you for the second time that day. Slipping his fingers under the waistband of your panties and shorts he tugged them down and over your boots leaving you in only your favorite necklace and your socks and boots. His blood was fire in his veins as he took in the sight of you. Your pussy was so beautifully slick with your juices that it would have been blasphemous for him not to take a taste. Grabbing your thighs he used them to pull your ass to the edge of the bed where he drove in with no hesitation. Licking and sucking the lips of your pussy before using his tongue to separate them. Each swipe of his tongue drove you higher and closer to orgasm. He suckled your clit grazing it with those sharp teeth. The hint of danger from having such vicious looking teeth on something so sensitive threw you over the edge. The pleasure made you so mindlessly happy that you screamed out "eijiro." Like it was a prayer.

 

At the sound of his first name on your lips all rational thought was lost to kiri. He stood shoving his pants down just enough to free his throbbing cock before he pulled you so only your shoulders and head remained on the bed. With you folded over the way he wanted Kiri slammed his cock into your tight little hole. He was only able to fit about half of his massive girth inside before he had to pull back out leaving only the head inside. This move was the best he could do to get the right momentum to start his powerful digging thrusts. Each thrust was hard and determined, meant to help him reach his goal. And reach his goal is what he did, Kiri bottomed out inside of you after 5 thrusts. His cock head kissed your cervix on the last thrust pulling a choked sob from your throat. Being folded into such a position only made the stretching of your pussy feel that much more overwhelming. Kiri set up a hard measured pace,his only focus on getting his seed into your womb to link the two of you together. Grunting and growling he told you everything he planned. "Fuck pebble your so damn tight and wet. I need to get my cum inside your womb otherwise I might go insane. No one told me linking to your anchor would make me feel like this. I wanna destroy anyone who would ever think to take you from me." You whined desperately every time his cock head battered against the entrance to your womb. It was too much and not enough at the same time. Reaching up you tried to rub your clit only for kiri to grab your wrist and hold it in a firm grip. He was almost passed the point of words but managed a beastly sounding "not without me." Before he increased his pace and shifted his hips making sure every thrust hammered your gspot. Kiri leaning over you to rail your little hole was already a sight to see but the way his hair hung down and tickled against your skin made every nerve ending you had buzz with electricity. A few strands had started to cling to his face due to the sweat pouring off of him and you had to swallow to keep from drooling. This man was made for it seemed, he was everything you had ever fantasized about on those lonely treks through the newest abandoned explore. The sounds of your sex echoed through the room, wet sucking noises, the slap of skin on skin and the sounds only two people in a haze pleasure could make. As he got closer kiri started to slap three fingers on his free hand against your clit. The rhythm of the slaps matched his cocks thrusts so perfectly it caused your pussy to let out a constant stream of squirt. At his final thrust he locked his knees prepared for what was to come. Kiri's cum shot from his slit hosing against your cervix as the base of his cock swelled locking inside you. His cum was so hot and he hadn't stopped tapping your clit. All this combined with the swelling of his cock threw you over the edge, an orgasm ripping through your body so hard your eyes rolled back in your head. Once you had gone limp kiri pulled you up into his arms before turning and sitting on the bed, still locked inside you.

 

"You are my anchor now the other part of me that will light my way even in the darkest hour." Laying down kiri relaxed, one large hand stroking your back as your breathing began to even out. Just as you were about to drift off you felt shocks and tingling race up and down your arms. Leaning up you looked down at your arms and found you had developed the same tattoos that kiri had on his arms. When you questioned him on it he smiled happily before caressing each mark. "These are proof that our link is true and blessed by the fate in charge of reaper unions." Your heart did a little flip as you took in his love filled expression. By now Kiri's knot had gone down so you pulled yourself up and off of his semi hard cock. He protested wishing to sleep buried inside you but quieted down when you spun around and put your pussy over his face. Leaning down you took his cock in hand and began to lick all the cum and pussy juice from it. Following your lead kiri pulled your hips down and swiped his tongue through the combination of your fluids and his. Once you had his cock cleaned you started to tease him, digging your tongue into his slit. His hips bucked and his leisurely pace on your pussy became wild as he slurped and sucked away. Feeling mischievous you continued you playing with his slit but began to rub that sensitive spot just under the head of his cock.

 

That is where you went wrong or in this case very right. Kiri's switch was flipped as he lifted you clear in the air by your hips. He threw you into the middle of the room but instead of hitting the floor you stayed suspended in the air. He was using his powers on you! With his magic kiri floated you to sit on his cock no other part of him touching you but the cock pressed at your entrance. "Pretty pebble do your bolder a favor and count for me. I want to see just how much of me is claiming this pussy." You couldn't deny him since keeping silent only made him tease you gently with his tip. Frustrated and wet you began to count each inch. At six you really started to feel the stretching of your inner muscles on this heavy cock. At nine inches you had a little drool running down the corner of your mouth. At twelve inches your pussy was continuously dribbling squirt down Kiri's cock and balls. At fourteen you came whining his name, begging him to fuck you properly and end this delicious torture. All he did was laugh and slowly thrust inside of you keeping you well pleasured but unsatisfied. "It's ok pebble we have all the time in the world now. We're going to take this slow all night long." His last words were said on a beastly growl as he placed one hand on your throat and squeezed enough to make your pussy squeeze his cock in return. This whole Halloween had been nuts so an all night fuck fest with your new supernatural soulmate was just the cherry on top. Sobbing you reached back and grabbed hold of a lock of his hair looking for any part of him to touch that could ground you. His thrusts got harder as you pulled. Well you knew how to get him to fuck you harder. You couldn't wait to learn more tonight and for the rest of your eternity together.

[allegra-writes]

“The Devil all the time”

Hunter!Tom x Demon!Reader

Supernatural AU

NSFW

Warnings: Smut

"Break the silence, damn the dark

Damn the light..."

The Chain - Fleetwood Mac

Forget everything you thought you knew, you had every reason to be afraid of the dark when you were a kid. In this world where monsters are real, the Holland brothers hunt them so normal people can continue to live in the bliss of ignorance.

But when something goes terribly wrong, Tom will do anything to save his brother's life, including selling his soul to the devil. Well... Not exactly the devil, but close enough.

You don't need to watch Supernatural to read this AU

MY MASTERLIST

He knew it was you, even before turning. He knew it as soon as he heard your deceptively delicate footsteps break the supernatural silence that had fallen over the forest the moment he had buried the little metal box in the old crossroad. Tom didn't want to think about what it meant, having such an intimate knowledge of you to be able to recognize you by the cadence of your steps, being so in sync with you that he could tell whenever you were in the vicinity. 

So he used his favorite deflection technique whenever it came to you.

"Y/n? What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this? Sorry, did I say nice girl? I meant evil skank"

The insult didn't phase you. None ever did. It was hard to take them seriously when you knew how many nights he fell asleep with your name on his lips, after pathetically releasing himself into his own hand, or fucking his boring girl-next-door girlfriend, chasing orgasm over unsatisfactory orgasm that would never completely satiate him. Because it wasn't your face the one contorted in pleasure looking up at him from the mattress.

"You called. I came" You batted your lashes, sweetly. "I always come when you call…" 

He gulped, the innuendo not lost to his ears. It threw him off guard, like it always did. 

"I would have thought this would be… beneath you" Tom cleared his throat, looking away, trying to regain his footing, "collecting a deal, like a vulgar crossroad demon"

There was nothing vulgar about the soul of a Holland. But he didn't need to know that, so you just shrugged,

"Queen Rowena has an interest in you boys. She finds you entertaining. I'm just being a good subdit" 

He scoffed,

"Funny. I would have never peg you for a sub"

You took a step closer to him.

"You don't have what it takes to make me submit, Holland" Your hot breath fanned over his skin, setting his skin on fire. Making his blood boil. You had a way of doing that, of bringing out the worst in him. Of making him lose control. And you thoroughly enjoyed it, poking at the bear until the claws came out, laughing at the carnage.

Another step, and you could physically feel it: The hate, radiating from his every pore, his mind screaming with it. He hated you. He hated your kind. He hated your beauty. He hated the pretty white dress you were wearing, so pure and innocent, glowing like a beacon in the dark. A lure, guiding uncountable men before him into perdition. 

But above all else, he hated that, even then, he couldn't help but to want you. Fervently. Desperately. Irreversibly. 

"I came here to make a deal" He croaked, cursing himself internally for showing weakness. 

"Let's negotiate, then," you replied, stepping away, mercifully letting him breath. 

"My brother-"

"I know" You interrupted, sounding bored already, "Reapers everywhere are going berserk. Who, oh who, will get to reap the soul of a Holland?" 

The wind picked up, making your long dress billow around your legs. You twirled a little, admiring the way it moved. Tom's eyes were glued to you, almost hypnotized. Partly because you were too dangerous to be left unsupervised even for a second, partly because you looked beautiful like that. It had never been more obvious to him that you were an unearthly creature, you didn't belong to this world. There, surrounded by greenery, barefoot, swaying softly under the twilight light, he wondered how could anybody ever mistake you for a human.

"Of course" your apathetic voice took him out of his revery, "being reapers, watching them go wild is rather boring. I swear they are the most uninteresting beings of all creation" 

That made him see red.

"Boring? Boring?!" He knew his voice was rising with every word but he just couldn't help it, "They're waiting for my little brother to die!!"

"Which could happen any minute now," You reminded him, all playfulness gone from your demeanor, "so if you wanna strike a deal, I suggest you start making me an offer worth my time"  

He was taken aback by that.

"I- My soul in exchange of a wish, and you collect it in ten years" He tried and failed not to think about what that implied: vicious, invisible hounds of hell tearing apart his body and dragging his soul to hell, "Isn't that the usual deal?"

You scoffed,

"After all the things you did in your life, what makes you think your soul doesn't belong in hell already? And if your brother dies, that is one less Holland on earth to worry about. You and your brothers have managed to become a big pain in the ass for us…"

He pulled out a knife, a strange one, with runes in the blade. You arched a brow in recognition

"The Winchesters' knife. Are you threatening me, little hunter?" 

Your lack of reaction was another blow. He had hoped you'd be more impressed than that. Nonetheless he turned it in his hands, offering you the handle.

"I'm throwing it into the deal" 

To his surprise, you didn't immediately take it from his hands, choosing instead to pace the clearing, deep in thought. 

The truth was you couldn't care less about the knife, it wasn't more dangerous to you than a toothpick. And while it was true it could certainly damage your queen, she had a far better weapon to protect herself: You.

But it did confirm your suspicions about the Hollands having access to the old Winchester arsenal, which meant they had access to something way more dangerous than that rustic weapon made of steel and bone. A book, made of ancient dark magic and human skin, written in blood. A book that was precious to queen Rowena and by extension to you: the Book of the Damned. 

The Hollands were a family of extremely talented, yes, but old fashioned hunters. The stab first, ask questions later kind. They probably had no idea what they had in their hands… but you did. 

"Very well then," you finally declared, "this is my offer: Your soul and that knife in exchange for sweet Harry's life and one year for you to get all your businesses in order" 

Tom felt all the blood drain from his face. One year. Just 365 more days to live, before an eternity of torture in hell. 

"O-one year?" He breathed.

"One year" You confirmed, "More than enough time to go see the Grand Canyon, eat the world's spiciest burger or whatever you have on your bucket list" 

The disdain in your words only made him hate you harder.

"Not nearly enough to live" He replied through clenched teeth. You rolled your eyes, 

"You're a hunter. You lead short, violent existences, charging head first towards what most humans run away from. Things faster, stronger, more powerful than you, surviving each encounter out of sheer luck. Killing one monster after another, until that luck runs out. Because the monsters? Unlike you who rely on it everyday, they just need. One. Single. Lucky. Strike." You punctuated every word with one step in his direction, until you were face to face again. Until, for the first time ever, you could see the fear, the desperating hopelessness he kept hidden inside, reflected on the warm coffee of his eyes. You knew a lesser man would be already crying and begging for Mercy.

Tom wasn't like other men though, that was the whole point. 

"Or…" You soften your tone and your stance, letting your fingers ghost over the back of his hand, his whole skin erupting in goosebumps. That was the very first time you touched him. Ever. 

And it was as if nobody had ever touched him before, the light caress enough to set every nerve ending, every single one of his cells, alight.

He was so distracted by the sensation and his body's response to it, he almost didn't hear your next words over the sound of his own pounding heart. 

"Or you could keep your little pocket knife, and even have your ten years if…"

"If?" He struggled to focus.

"You let me borrow a book"

His brows furrowed in confusion,

"A book? What book?"

"Any book of my liking, for as long as I want" You shrugged it off, "Do we have a deal?"

There was a catch there, it was obvious. He knew he was going to regret it but, what choice did he have? 

"Deal"

Your smile was blinding, luminous. If he didn't know any better, he would have called it angelical. Now, that was one ridiculous thought.

"What now? We seal it with a kiss?" His eyes fell to your lips, so soft looking and inviting. He wasn't eager to put his mouth on a filthy demon and doom himself. He wasn't. 

You chuckled, but there was no humor behind it.

"Oh no, darling. This is big. This is special" You're special, "A simple kiss just won't cut it…"

No. You couldn't mean… could you? Was there no limits to your hatred for him? Did you really want him so defeated, so humiliated? 

"What do you want?" He spat through gritted teeth.

"The same thing you want" You put your hands on his chest, rising to your tiptoes to whisper in his ear, "The same thing you have wanted ever since we first met . The thing that's obsessing you..."

"I don't know what you're talking about"

You smirked,

"You can lie to your family, you can even lie to yourself, little hunter... But you can't lie to me." 

He couldn't hide, you could see every fantasy, hear every single one of his thoughts of you on repeat, like a prayer in your direction. Just like he couldn't hide the way his skin was burning now for you, the way his blood rushed south, the way all logical thought left his brain, his iron grip on his emotions finally breaking as he snapped. 

Lightning fast, in just a blink, he twirled you around, your back hitting the rough bark of a tree, as he towered over you, demon blade to your throat, every inch of his body pressed against yours. His eyes were ablazed with rage, and passion, as he surged forward, striking you with his best hit.

He kissed you. 

Lips vicious against yours, teeth biting and scraping only to soothe the offense seconds later with his tongue, until he was dizzy, light headed with the lack of oxygen and the taste of you. The hand not holding the knife to your neck fell to your breast, squeezing the pliant flesh with enough force to cause pain on a human woman, merely making you moan. He swallowed the sound, letting his fingers trace your waist, your hips, clawing at your dress until he finally, finally, felt skin under his fingertips. 

It was better than anything his mind had conjured in his feverish fantasies in the dead of the night. The skin of your inner thighs velvety soft, as they parted under his touch, the sweetest sounds leaving your lips as his fingers found your naked core. You weren't wearing any underwear, probably never had. The realization that, in all your past encounters and fights you had been standing there, just feet away from him with nothing under that damn dress hit him like a truck, making his head swim. 

He searched between your folds, and suddenly his fingers were inside you. He was inside you, a part of him was buried deep within you, within your silky heat, claiming you as his, if only for the night. 

And you were so wet for him, and only getting wetter as he pumped his fingers in and out of you, scissoring them, opening you up until he was able to slip a third one in, fucking you with his hand in earnest. You were sobbing, clutching at his biceps, head thrown back in pleasure. He took advantage of that to suck bruises on your neck, only to see them fade before his eyes. Your skin tasted clean, smelled like wild flowers and rain. Ozone. Lightning. Like those coursing through his veins with every cry, every delicious gasp you made. 

He found the perfect spot inside you, the one that sent sparks through your nerves with every stroke of his calloused fingers. 

"This what you wanted?" To make him lose it? Lose his mind, himself, in you? "For me to make you come on just my fingers, like the little slut you are?"

The floor disappeared from under his feet as you sent him flying away from you, a searing pain exploding at the back of his head as he landed, sprawled at the feet of an old, dying oak. With blurry eyes, he saw you stalk towards him, all power and cold, controlled fury. 

"Let's get one thing straight, Holland. I'm not one of your sluts" You sneered, "and I'm definitely not your basic bitch of a girlfriend. So you better start showing me a little respect, are we clear?"

He gulped, sitting up. He had to be seriously fucked up in the head, for his cock to be twitching inside his pants at your threatening tone.

"Crystal" 

"Good" You declared, coming to a stop right in front of him, standing between his parted legs, "Now, let's put that mouth of yours to a better use"

He knew that image was going to be forever tattooed on his brain: You standing in front of him, holding the skirt of your dress up, waiting for him to put his mouth on you. Tom took a moment to admire you, before delving in, flattening his tongue over your slit, before drawing tight, precise circles on your clit with the tip. God, you tasted so divine it was messing with his head; something as dark and corrupted and twisted as you, feeling so exquisite, so perfect, so heavenly to his every sense. 

He helped you hook your knee over his shoulder, his other arm snaking around your leg, pulling you even closer. You could feel his smirk against your cunt the moment he realized your legs were shaking, but you couldn't find it in yourself to care, not with his wicked talented mouth devouring you like a last meal, rocking your whole world, making you see stars behind your closed eyelids.

You always knew that man would make the stars fall. 

Tom kept on, penetrating you with his tongue as far as it would go, his whole face moving against you. The slight burn of his scruff felt delicious against your delicate labia, as he used his fingers to open you up like a flower, separating your petals to get to the delectable nectar inside. You were close, he could feel it, the obscene sounds you were making, the waves of sweetness falling on his lips feeding his ego, filling him up with pride. By the time the night was over, you'd be unable to forget him. He would make sure of that. He would make you come, over and over, until the only thoughts left in your brain were of him, the only word your lips knew how to speak was his name. He would mark you, like a bloodstain, like you had done to him. 

Almost there, he almost had you. Your muscles were locking, your walls starting to tremble, when a loud crack resonated over his head, and you stepped away on unstable legs, breathing hard. You didn't even need to breathe, it was just his effect on you. He made you feel human. And it was both exhilarating, and terrifying. 

You took another step back, but he took hold of your ankle, tugging hard enough to make you fall on his lap, white skirt covering the place where his hands were fumbling with his zip, with his boxers, aligning himself with your entrance.

"Fuck!" He cursed, as you sank on his rock hard cock, not giving him any time to get used to the feeling of you around him, before starting to move. 

"How does it feel" You taunted, "fucking a monster? Is it as good as you dreamed of?"

Better. You felt even better. Tom hadn't thought it was possible, but he loathed you even more for it. 

"Shut up" He growled. 

You leaned forwards, breath hot against his ear,

"Cause you feel amazing, Tom. Your cock feels like heaven" 

His hand tangled in your hair, keeping you in place as he crashed his mouth to yours again, the other fumbling for the buttons at the back of your dress, tugging and pulling, tearing at the fabric, in his haste to feel more. More of your skin against his, more of the body that had been his hyper fixation for far too long. 

You sat up, still grinding on his cock, letting the tattered dress fall to your waist, watching in satisfaction as his eyes went wide, zeroing on the way your breasts bounced in sync with your hips. 

Reaching up, for a glorious second Tom could feel one perfect pebbled nipple against his palm, the roundness, the weight of your soft flesh on his fingers; before an invisible force pinned his hands to his sides. 

You tsked.

"Still don't get it, do you little hunter? This?" You let yourself fall all the way down his thick cock, hard, tearing twin moans from his mouth and yours, "This isn't about you. This is about me." 

Leaning back, you braced yourself on his strong thighs, changing the angle, changing your movements to a slower rocking against his pelvis. The friction against your clit was perfect, the feeling of his big, throbbing dick so deep inside you, stretching you like no one before, sending electrical pulses through your spine. It was decadent. It was ecstasy.

It was torture. Underneath you, Tom was sobbing, eyes bright with unshed tears, fighting in vain against his bonds. He needed it faster, harder, anything to help tilt him over the edge you were keeping him on, your sweet cunt too tight, too good around him to allow his cock to soften, your rhythm too leisured to let the tensed, strained coil inside him to snap. You were uncaring, using him remorselessly to get yourself off, your little moans getting higher in pitch the closer you came to your climax. Tom felt himself getting higher just by looking at your beautiful pleasure ridden face. You cried out, and suddenly it was happening, you were coming, pulsating around his cock, falling apart on top of him.

And the ground beneath him quaked. The sky above his head bled, the blue twilight torn open by lightning, and thunder, despite the fact that there wasn't a single cloud marring its diaphaneity. You fell forwards, hand braced on the tree, next to his face, ridding the aftershocks of your orgasm until the end. 

"No!" Tom cried when, after a few seconds of catching your breath, you dismounted him, letting his dick slip out of you. 

You arched a brow,

"Something you want, Tommy?" 

He locked his mouth shut, gritting his teeth. You smiled, amused, knuckles stroking his still iron hard cock.

"Do you need more, little hunter?" You enveloped him in your hand, moving it up and down his member, watching the head disappear under his foreskin, "Do you need to come?"

He banged the back of his head against the bark.

"Yes!" He finally admitted, "So badly…"

"Then beg" You commanded, stilling your hand. He snapped open the eyes he hadn't realized he had closed. Oh, if looks could kill…

"Never" He hissed, livid.

"Very well, then" You picked up your pace, pumping him fast, your grip almost too rough. He gasped for air, feeling the telltale tightening of his balls, the coil inside just about to break under the tension. But you must have felt it too, cause your hand let go of him altogether. Too late, he understood what you were doing.

One beat. And then another, and he was coming all over his t-shirt, orgasm completely ruined. 

He cursed, tears escaping through the corner of his eyes, fingers digging into the moist ground under his hands. You chuckled, cruelly, standing up and stepping out of your shredded dress. He could have ganked you with the demon blade in that moment, he really could have, except his hands were still pinned by an invisible force at his sides. 

"Let me go, you bitch," Tom growled, tossing, fighting against his restraints to no avail, "aren't you done?!"

"Not quite." You smiled, mockingly sweet, "Just one more thing before I leave. Don't worry, it will only hurt for a minute…"

He renewed his efforts to escape, as you bended over, reaching for his chest, white hot pain burning through his ribs. He almost cried out, but what he saw stole the voice from his throat, turned his blood into ice inside his veins, leaving him shaking, jaw slack and mouth open in a soundless scream: 

You, naked and gorgeous and terrible. Transfixed, eyes glowing with a supernatural indigo light, the shadow of two massive, bended, broken wings projected on the trees behind you.

Not a demon, he thought. You're not a demon.

You smiled, and it was terrifying.

"No. I'm the thing demons have nightmares about" You replied out loud to the words he had only said in his mind, "And now, little hunter, you belong to me. Mind, body and soul"

[royallyjoon]

nephilim (un)

you know where the cred goes 💙

cult au, supernatural au

yandere! ot7 x f! reader

warnings: yandere themes, violent behavior

the mysterious, age old town of ichabod. within it rests a history hidden from its inhabitants, who are forced to remain there out of fear. you simply wish to live in this town with the people you love without facing its wrath for as long as you can. unfortunately for you, there are great powers on your side who are willing to do whatever it takes to get you. whether you come willingly or not. after all, it only takes a little hellfire

——————————————————————————

“Come along now, (Y/N).” Your mother’s grip on your wrist tightened as she all but threw you in front of her. You nearly twisted your ankle on the twigs and tree roots that outlined the forest floor. “We are late enough as it is.” 

You huffed and tore your wrist from your mother’s hand to hike up the long, white dress you wore. “Good. I wish we didn’t have to trek out here in the middle of the night every month. Maybe we’ll miss the gathering entirely.”

She smacked your arm harshly. “Not another word from you, smart mouth.” Your mother dressed similarly, the only difference being that her ivory dress paled considerably compared to yours in the moonlight. “We’ve been attending for years. I highly doubt that such a change would be allowed, much less appreciated.”

You shivered at the thought. No matter how much you resented these meetings, you wouldn’t dare miss a summoning.

You stayed quiet for ten more minutes, taking in the rustling of the forest and focusing your efforts on avoiding sharp rocks underfoot. 

Trees rested on either side of you, lining your path and blocking out any natural light with their twisting, sneaking branches. It took all of your effort to ignore the oppressive silence, broken every so often by the snapping of a trig or the movement of some animal, cloaked by shadows in the dark.

Soon enough, you and your mother reached the clearing.

She pulled you back just as you were about to step into the moonlight, throwing a dark cloak in your face. “Are you mad? Put it on!”

You smiled abashedly and threw the material on. The hood was so long it cast a shadow over the lower half of your face but was wide enough for you to see.

Your mother finished arranging her hood and the two of you stepped into the clearing, joining with the last of the circle of cloaked shadows.

The moon shone brightly without the cover of the forest giving your surroundings an ethereal facade. A wooden stage lay at the very middle of the clearing, upon which stood your small town’s resident royalty.

The Kims. 

They were the ruling force of the town, the husband being the mayor, the wife a successful actress. They both settled down in Ichabod twenty-five years ago with their children. What had once been a town amuck with violence and chaos was transformed into a prosperous, well-functioning borough.

How the Kims managed to transform the area nearly overnight, few knew. They have run your city for nearly three decades. And everyone in it is terrified to cross their path.

Directly behind them stood their seven adopted sons, faces shrouded by hoods and masks. You didn’t know too much about them besides their names and faces; five of them currently attended your school and you made sure to give them a wide berth, being as polite as possible.

Kim Moonsik raised his left arm, twisting his wrist in a full circle. He then pointed his hand at the sky, gently lowering his pinky and middle fingers. “Greetings to the moon from her earthly servants.”

You lifted your forearm with everyone else, copied the gesture, and repeated the phrase quietly with disinterest.

“I thank you all for coming on such short notice.” He continued. “As another month commences, we have the pleasure of standing before you all. The moon has graced us with her everlasting beauty and prosperity rains down upon our small town, just as it has for decades before.”

This is usually the part where you would start drifting off. Kim Moonsik could drove on with his speech about the moon for far too long.

About what felt like an hour but was approximately fifteen minutes later, Mr. Kim trailed off and the forest became so silent, you hushed your thoughts in fear of thinking too loud.

The oppressive feeling in the air returned full force and you shivered underneath the warmth of your cloak as Mr. Kim eyed each and every person attending. He was not able to directly see your face, but you felt like the man was staring into your soul.

“Regrettably,” He said, clasping his hands together, “we are not able to part tonight without the moon’s divine punishment.”

Ah, you thought. There it is.

The reason your heart pounds at every one of these meetings. 

All you wanted to do was be that half-asleep little girl again, clutched in your mother’s arms as she trudged her way here every month. 

“Wylynne has decreed that there are sinners in our midst.” Mr. Kim says it quietly, but the gravity in his words travel.

And with a mighty roar, the pyre behind the wooden stage was lit with orange flames. 

The crowd stood in silence, waiting for the dreadful sound. You quaked in the dirt. Would it be you this time? 

But by the grace of the moon, no. 

The telltale, piercing shriek came from the right side of the crowd. Citizens rushed to get away from the teenager cradled in her parents’ arms. The mother could not let go of her daughter, heavily sobbing as the child clutched her head and continued to scream. Her hood had fallen off and your eyes widened as you recognized her.

Natalia Pierre. The two of you had had some awful confrontation a few months ago. Nevertheless, the resident embers of anger could not stop the overwhelming pity you felt as the Kims’ men ripped her away from her parents.

“Please!” She cried as they forced her to her knees before the mayor. Not that she wasn’t already bent over, riddled with pain. “Knives-the knives won’t stop, please get them out!”

Kim Moonsik lay his hand on her shoulder. “Do not worry, my child. You will soon join Wylynne’s heavenly army. May your failures be a lesson, victories a reward, and may your soul live on with the moon forever.”

“May your soul live on with the moon forever.” You whispered the last phrase with everyone else, ignoring the tear that made its way down your cheek. 

Before Natalia could say another word, her screams were cut short as her body was engulfed in purple fire.

It only took a second. Within minutes, her cloak, dress, bones, and ashes were gone. She hadn’t even scorched the grass. You could almost believe you’d dreamed it if her father wasn’t kneeling next to her writhing mother in the dirt.

Mr. Kim smiled gracefully, a sight that reminded you of the grim reaper with the shadow on his face. “To her heavenly grace, the moon, may she travel. To my fellow citizens of Ichabod, I bid goodnight.”

The orange flame behind the stage was doused. You, your mother, and the crowd bowed your heads as you wished goodnight to the Kims. It was only when the last son had left the clearing did anyone else begin moving.

You clutched your mother’s hand all the way home.

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

Since before you could remember, your mother had been dragging you to Ichabod monthly town meetings. It was the Kims’ way of ensuring the people that the moon continued to bless and favor them and would send prosperity their way in return for a sacrifice. 

In short, they were trapped here and if they wished to keep their lives, they would know better than to cross the Kims.

The people that had tried to run away all failed. They would either, depending on the “grace of the moon,” show up alive right back where they started, or their bodies were placed on the front doors of relatives or neighbors.

Now, you weren’t stupid. You did not believe that it was the actions of Wylynne or whomever Mr. Kim spends his nights singing praises to. The fatal injuries were always exterior, therefore it must have been nothing other than the work of man.

Nevertheless, you were too afraid to risk leaving Ichabod. You preferred to live your life quietly, holding on to your closest friends and family. And it has been successful for the past years.

The next morning as your mom drove you to school, you used your phone’s camera to check your appearance. There were bags under your eyes, so heavy that makeup would not be enough to cover it.

As she drove, you sighed heavily and thought back to last night, wondering how Natalia could have possibly angered the Kims. She never tried to escape--at least, to your knowledge--and she never talked to them at school either...

Your mother pulled up to the curb and you stuffed your phone into your uniform pocket, kissed her on the cheek in goodbye, and closed the car door.

Ichabod Academy, the resident school for all children born and raised inside of this town. It ran from first to twelfth grade, in several different buildings, and made for quite the large campus for the size of your town. The buildings looked quite dreary from the outside with its gray walls and glass doors, most of the lights inside still off.

 It was comparable to the size of a small, inner-city university. Everyone knew everyone, for the better or worse. 

You walked to the upperclassmen building, entered your first class, and lay your head on the desk. 

Usually, you would be able to get at least four hours of sleep the night after a summoning, but last night you barely managed to achieve two. 

Natalia...she wasn’t a bad person. She made mistakes, yes, but she was human above all. 

“(Y/N)?” You heard someone gently ask. You pried your eyes open to see your best friend.

“Hey, Mana.” You yawned. “How did you sleep?”

“Better than you, clearly.” They snorted and dropped themselves into the seat in front of you. “I couldn’t believe...”

You watched them tiredly as they failed to speak their words. “I know.” You finally whispered back.

The teacher walked into the room with a student trailing behind her and you immediately sat up, warily eyeing them both. “Good morning, class. Today we have a new student, transferring from another section. Please introduce yourself.” She motioned.

As if he needed an introduction.

“Good morning, everyone. My name is Kim Jimin. I hope that we can get along and have a great year. Please take care of me.” He bowed slightly.

Your class chorused greetings and you balked slightly as you realized that the only empty seat was...

“You can take the seat next to Ms. (L/N). (Y/N), please raise your hand.”

You put your hand up and Jimin waltzed over to you with the biggest smile. He placed his bag on the floor next to the metal leg of the table. “Hello, seat mate. I hope we can get along.”

You sent a small smile his way--though it may have looked more like a grimace. “Yeah, me too.”

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

The bell rang for the break and you immediately slammed your notebook shut and dropped your head onto the desk.

Jimin giggled at your side. “Did you not sleep well last night, (Y/N)?”

You groaned out a “no”.

Mana turned around slowly and gently poked at you. “It was emotionally taxing for both of us, I think.” They said and smiled at Jimin. “I’m Mana, (Y/N)’s close friend.” 

“It’s nice to meet you.” He stated. “Emotionally taxing you say...may I ask why?” 

You lifted your head. “Mana, and I used to be good friends with the tribu--girl who was chosen last night.” You quickly corrected yourself. “Then she got involved with this guy...”

“We told Natalia he was no good news, from the very beginning.” Mana interrupted. “But she insisted that he was different with her and kind to her. Then a couple of months into their relationship he has her smoking, drinking, sneaking out to have sex-”

“And it’s not that these things are bad,” you continued. “Like it was her life and she could do what she wanted as long as she was safe, you know? But she wasn’t like that at all before. To see such a drastic change...”

“Next thing you know, he’s spreading her private pictures across the entire campus.” Mana’s fist clenched and you put your hand on theirs to relieve the anger. “We tried to talk to him about her and he was always rude to us, dismissing us off-hand and insulting Natalia behind her back. (Y/N) tried to confront her about his behavior and Natalia fought her, saying she was just jealous of them.”

“After that, we lost touch with her.” You said. “But I would give anything to go back and speak to her, or just apologize.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Mana fumed. 

“The power of Wylynne is divine and just.” Jimin commented as he stared at you and your friend, unblinking. “She must have taken Ms. Pierre into her celestial army to spare her from facing the punishment of her earthly crimes for the rest of her life. She always has a reason, after all.” 

Mana looked at the table awkwardly. “Yes,” they said, “praise Wylynne.”

You nodded.

“(Y/N)?” Jimin looked at you expectedly. You weren’t familiar with the weight of his gaze, but you quickly learned it wasn’t something you were trying to get accustomed to.

“Praise Wylynne.” You said, flashing another grimace-smile.

Jimin’s eyes disappeared as he smiled and the bell rang, signaling the end of break. 

——————————————————————————

As the bell rang for lunch, Mana practically yanked your joint out of the socket with how quickly they wanted to leave the classroom. “Come on, we should try and get some food in is before next period.” On the way out, however, you couldn’t help but notice Jimin pulling out a plastic bag that contained a series of containers. There was one large plastic container that had what looked like a main meal, accompanied by four smaller containers that held side dishes.

Jimin sighed forlornly at the pile and you felt a touch of pity for him. Before Mana could drag you out the room completely, you tapped them, gesturing with your head at Jimin and making puppy dog eyes.

They sent you a look that clearly questioning your sanity, but you rolled your eyes in return, gesturing once more to Jimin. A couple of seconds of staring later, Mana allowed you to drag them back over to his desk. 

“Hey Jimin,” you gently approached him, “why are you eating lunch in the classroom?”

“Oh...” his face drooped even more. “...My little brothers and I would always stay behind while everyone else left to go to the cafeteria. We found it uncomfortable to enter that place when everyone would just go quiet and speak around us in whispers....I guess it was just a force of habit.”

You nodded in sad understanding on the outside but sighed in the back of your head. Of course people would avoid them. The Kim children were abandoned out of fear and respect rather than any overt effort to ostracize them.

Before, Jimin was probably accustomed to eating with his brothers Taehyung and Jungkook, but this morning’s schedule and class adjustment ripped the three apart.

You put a hand on his desk, wanting to show comfort without crossing borders. “Well, Mana and I would love to get to know you better as a classmate, or friend... you’re welcome to sit with us if you want?”

Jimin’s eyes widened, glistening with moisture. He snapped his head up, cheeks rosy with a hopeful blush. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to intrude...”

“You’re not intruding! Come on, I’ll grab your bag for you.” Jimin rushed to pack up the containers. He took his bag from you with a smile. “Thank you both,” he whispered.

Walking through the relatively empty school halls with a Kim gave you a sense of confidence you didn’t need. You walked in a line, with you betwixt Mana and Jimin. All the students that saw you widened their eyes and bolted to the side to make way. It wasn’t because of you or Mana--you knew this--but the feeling made you uncomfortable.

It was powerful.

When you all arrived at the cafeteria, you tried to enter inconspicuously by piggybacking behind some tall classmates but it failed miserably. The moment Jimin was spotted, people indeed stopped talking and the room was engulfed in whispers. 

You gently took Jimin by the elbow, smiling at him assuredly, and directed him towards your and Mana’s usual table. It was thankfully empty, so you put your bags down and took your wallets out. 

“We’ll be right back, we’re just gonna go buy some food,” you stated, hearing chatter pick back up. Your best friend must have shot everyone their “mind your business” glare. Jimin nodded, neatly unpacking his lunch. Mana all but dragged you off.

“‘We’d love to get to know you better’? Seriously, (Y/N)! There’s a reason why people avoid the Kims! And you just openly invite one to our lunch table? Are you trying to become the next sacrifice?!” They harshly stage whispered.

“Come on, Mana,” you scoffed as you arrived at the lunch bar. “He’s been separated from his only brother in his class and trapped with a bunch of strangers. The least we could do is eat lunch with him. Don’t transfer the sins, or fear, of the parent to the child.”

Mana glared at you for a long while but eventually huffed out their agreement. “Fine.”

You payed for your food and walked back to the table where your new classmate was politely waiting. “Aw, you didn’t have to wait for us, but thanks!”

“Of course I had to! I should be the ones thanking you for being willing to sit and eat with me...” Jimin spoke ever so softly, looking down at the lunch table.

In this moment, it was easy to forget the fear that lingered from yesterday’s cold, dark night. It was easy to take the hand of the cherubic boy that sat before you and give it a reassuring squeeze. “Think nothing of it. We’re going to be doing this a lot more often, so please look forward to it!”

It was easy to forget the curve of his lip as he quickly hid an arrogant smirk, morphing it into his trademark angelic smile. “Yes, please take care of me!”

--------------------------------————————————

Lunch was quite awkward, as it was the first time the three of you had spent a meal together. You and Mana were used to speaking about anything and everything during lunch. You both especially tackled controversial opinions concerning the Kims and their vice-like grip on the minds of those in this town.

Clearly, in this case, that would not have made for clever conversation.

Jimin saved the discussion by turning it towards school, questioning you both on your favorite classes and teachers. If he was able to tell how religiously liberal you were, he was excellent at hiding it. 

He shared funny anecdotes of shenanigans he accomplished with his brothers, stories that had the three of you holding your stomachs in laughter. 

For the most part, you and your friend were relieved. Jimin was not nearly as terrifying as some of his siblings.

Time passed swiftly and before you knew it, the warning bell sounded, prompting people to throw out the rest of their lunch and swarm through the doors. 

You grabbed your and Mana’s tray, throwing the waste away as necessary and placing the trays on the counter, thanking the lunch lady that took them. Then you headed back towards the table, where the two awaited you.

Unlike the passageway that was fairly empty on your way towards the cafeteria, the halls were now teeming with students. They whispered non discreetly, taking glances at the three of you as you walked.

Mana grabbed your arm, letting Jimin go slightly in front as they pulled you back to whisper in your ear. “I could get used to the attention.”

They started snickered but yelped when you slapped their arm. “You wouldn’t be saying that for long. Think of how annoying the constant whispers would get. The Kims have to suffocate underneath all that attention.” You muttered back. Mana considered your words, eventually nodding their head in agreement.

Your best friend did not often have a gentle temperament. They would blow up at students fairly quickly--especially if they were whispering in their face.

The two of you reached the classroom, thanking Jimin as he held the door. Your classmates’ voices hushed and you internally sighed. If you hadn’t noticed their explicit cautiousness before, you definitely did now.

The teacher for the next lesson, Mrs. Hargrove, came in quickly after you, placing stacks of papers on their desk and shutting down conversation.  

“Good afternoon, students. I hope everyone had a great lunch.” Mrs. Hargrove’s appearance looked a little more frazzled than usual as she pushed her frizzy hair behind her ears and smoothed down her skirt, but no one made a comment on it. “Today, we’re going to be making an adjustment to our syllabus. Rather than have you all complete individual projects and two tests for semester, I will be placing you in pairs where you will complete a much larger research project with only one test.”

Some of your classmates sighed in relief while others groaned, and you all erupted into conversations. You didn’t mind completing an individual project, but the stress of research and choosing the topic would weigh on you for a while.

Mana turned to you, dread written all over their face. “We’re going to have to research? Kill me now. What topic do you think we should choose?”

You giggle at their dramatic antics but are swiftly interrupted by the teacher. “Actually, Ms. Waye, Ms. (L/N) will be working with Mr. Kim here...as they are seat mates after all.” Mrs. Hargrove glanced over to Jimin, almost as if she were looking for something in his expression. 

His face gave away nothing and he disregarded her with a stare. 

Mana sneered at the teacher’s blatant disregard for their pronouns, but Mrs. Hargrove paid them no mind, eyes blown wide open as if she’d seen the devil himself. She turned away, stuttering.

“You w-will all be working with your seat mates. I don’t want you taking up any class time to fight over who will be your partner. Now that we have an even amount of students in our class, it settles everything quite nicely. As for the chosen topic, I want each pair to research and present on a certain mythological creature.”

You smiled apologetically at Mana, who pouted and turned around to talk to their partner.

Mrs. Hargrove walked back up to the front of the class, handing out the stacks of papers with the required information for the assignment.

“So, (Y/N),” Jimin calling your name broke your attention from the teacher and you looked over at him. “What creature do you think we should research?”

“I’m not sure...but I kind of wanted to talk about a more obscure creature. We could choose one that isn’t as highly discussed.” You said excitedly.

“That’s a good idea! I’m pretty sure my parents have some old books of lore in our library at home...we’d easily be able to find a creature that people don’t know about there. Would you want to come over and check them out?” Jimin offered.

You stared at him, grin slightly slipping. Going to the Kim household? Without your mother’s hand to hold, or reprimanding to keep you from doing something foolish? This would be completely different from meeting them in the woods and escaping to the safety of your home afterwards.

You’d be walking into the lions’ den of your own volition.

Jimin saw your hesitation and his face crumpled. “It’s fine if you don’t want to...I’d understand,” he muttered.

But seeing his crestfallen expression, you shook all the bad thoughts from your head. “No! It’s fine. I would love to come over...I just have to let my mom know.”

What is she going to do--say no? You thought to yourself, grimacing.

Jimin’s face broke out into the biggest smile you’d seen today. “Really? That’s great!” His cheeks were full in happiness and you felt immensely better. 

You raised your hand, bringing Mrs. Hargrove over. “May I go make a quick phone call to my mother?”

She nods, glancing again at your partner. You wanted to extricate yourself from the strange atmosphere as soon as possible, so you shoved your phone in your pocket and trekked out into the hall.

You fully weren’t expecting your mother to answer, but she picked up after only a few rings. “Hello?”

“Hey Mom,” you said. “How’s everything at work?”

“Fine,” she said. “I can’t be on the phone for long--what’s up?”

“Would it be okay for me to go over to a classmate’s house for a school project? We were just assigned it and we need to do research. It’s a really big part of our grade this semester.”

She was silent for a moment. “Who is this classmate?”

“...Kim Jimin.”

You pulled the phone away from your ear and scanned your eyes up and down the hallway as your mother’s volume increased by multiple decibals.

“Yes, I know...He invited me to his house, he said his parents have books we can look into...yes, it’s necessary, unless you want my grades to drop!”

In your determination to placate your mother, you didn’t notice the classroom door opening, nor did you notice the shadow that lurked around the corner.

“Mom, we can’t exactly refuse...it’s just a school project, I’ll be fine!” 

You sighed in exasperation as your mother launched off a series of directions, ordering you to text her every hour and watch your behavior around the Kims in her absence. After a string of “yes”, “I know”, and “I will”s, you hung up the phone, shaking your head.

You shoved the device in your pocket and hightailed it to the nearest bathroom, wanting to splash some water on your face before returning to class.

Jimin smirked at your retreating figure, taking his own phone out and tapping out a message. Once he received the response he was looking for, he tucked his phone away, brightened his facial expression, and opened the door to the classroom.

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

The moment had finally arrived: the end of the school day.

Mana watched on pitifully as you packed your books away, Jimin standing patiently above you.

Perhaps it was a bit dramatic to feel so scared, but as far as you or Mana knew, this was the first time someone was (willingly) going over to the Kim’s house. And for something as simple as a school project, no less.

“Alright then...we’re off!” you told your best friend, swinging your bag over your shoulder and tugging them into a hug. 

“Good luck on your project! Hope you guys find what you’re looking for,” Mana said, squeezing your midsection painfully tight. “See you tomorrow morning.” They smiled at Jimin, who acknowledged them with a small grin.

You nodded, stepping out from behind the desk and followed Jimin out the classroom. 

As soon as he had one toe out the door, however, he was tackled by a blurry figure with neck length, curly, dark hair. Jimin, whose surprise quickly turned into glee, wrapped his arms around the figure. “Taehyungie!”

The sudden motion made you pause in the doorway, one breath away from knocking your head into Jimin’s back. 

“I missed you today! I hate the fact that Mr. Burham made you switch classes--we always stick together!” Kim Taehyung pressed his face into Jimin’s neck, but you managed to hear the words he spoke. Jimin chuckled.

“We live together, Taehyung ah, we’d see each other regardless!” 

Taehyung lifted his face from his brother’s neck, brittle brown eyes glancing up to meet yours. You felt intimidated by the loss of the sparkle they’d held, but raised a hand to smile and wave at him regardless. “Hi...”

“Oh, Tae! Let me introduce you two.” Jimin hauled his little brother off of him and pulled the two of you by the hand out the doorway so that other students could leave. “(Y/N), this is Taehyung, one of my younger brothers. Tae, this is (Y/N). Mrs. Hargrove assigned us a project on a mythological creature and she’s my partner, so she’ll be coming home with us today to start research.”

You stood against the wall, a polite smile on your face. Taehyung was staring at you with a deadpan expression on his face, assessing you. You didn’t know much about the qualifications of this test, but you assumed it was crucial that you passed it.

All too quickly, his face broke out into a large grin and he swept you into his arms. You grunted at the force with which he pressed you into his chest. “Nice to meet you, (Y/N)!” 

“Um, nice to meet you too...”

“Tae, you can’t just touch her without her permission!” Jimin pulled Taehyung off of you, smiling apologetically. You waved it off, gaping at both of them as they rehashed their day for the other.

The two brothers chatted happily, arms around each other’s shoulders as they ambled through the halls and out the front door of the school. Students sent you scandalized glances as you trailed behind them, but you were too busy updating your mother to pay attention. When you finally looked up, you saw Jimin and Taehyung leading you to a large, sleek, black van. 

Is this what getting abducted in broad daylight feels like?

 But you recognized this car. This was the Kim’s family car, driven by a hired professional to take their five children to school and back. You’d seen it many a times in the morning with your mother.

Students whispered as the three juniors approached the vehicle while you cautiously eyed the three figures that stood in front of it.

Kim Jungkook, the school’s most talented freshman. He’d already made high marks in all of the clubs he’d joined, with special attention to the music and sports club. He was so talented in boxing that the Kims, already large beneficiaries of the school, had given the director the money to start and finance the new boxing club. 

Kim Hoseok, the captain of the dance team with an academic prowess that was second to only one person in the whole school. He’d taken your school dance team to nationals and, although very kind to the general student body, it was not lost on everyone how exhausted the members of his team would be in competition season. No one in after school activities could forget the sound of him sounding out beats or barking orders through the halls during rehearsals.

And finally, Kim Namjoon. The president of the Association for the Student Body and resident academic genius. He’d held the top scores for every class he’d been in since freshman year. The school trophy case was jokingly nicknamed “Namjoon’s Bureau” after the amount of awards that had his name on them. 

Never would you have guessed that you would be meeting not one, but all five of the Kim siblings--on the same day, no less.

“Oh ho, Jiminie,” Hoseok teased as you approached, ruffling his little brother’s hair. “Who’s this?”

Be still, my beating heart--

“Hello! I’m (Y/N), a classmate of Jimin’s. It’s nice to meet you all.” You greeted them with a sharp, but quick bow.

“We were assigned a project to research a mythological creature.”Jimin clung to Namjoon by the arm while he and Jungkook were busy staring at you. “Namjoon hyung, would you help us find the books Dad once showed us in the library? The ones with all the lore and stories?” 

On the outside, this felt like a normal day of being introduced to an acquaintance’s family members. 

On the inside, however, you were reminded of the purple flames that stole Natalia’s existence from this mortal plane in mere seconds every time you looked one of the older Kim siblings in the eyes.

Jungkook merely looked curious, doe eyes wide in surprise. But Namjoon...

Even though they were adopted, Namjoon held the same crazed, righteous look in his eyes that Kim Moonsik would have whenever he announced the next tribute for Wylynne’s army.

“I’d be happy to find them for you guys,” Namjoon grinned at you.

You “smiled” back.

That was a grimace...that was a definitely a grimace. You seriously needed to work on your facial expressions around them.

Hoseok opened the car door, sliding into the very back with Jungkook and Taehyung while Jimin leapt for the window seat. This left you between him and his older brother, and you fought the urge to groan aloud.

Once inside the car, Namjoon alerted the driver that everyone was present and the man took off without another word. While he was distracted, you lowered your phone brightness and updated your mother again on your location.

“So, (Y/N), how was your day?” You jerk your head up and turn towards the voice, Hoseok questioning you while still wearing that ear-splitting grin. 

“It was alright! I met Jimin this morning and then we attended classes and lunch...” you said, fiddling with the power button on your phone. 

Hoseok and Taehyung continued to ask you a few more questions, like your favorite color and artists, about your classes and any future career plans. Jimin would cut in every so often with a statement or question of his own, and Jungkook and Namjoon simply watched on quietly as the conversation took place.

You leaned your head on the space between the headrests of the seats, tilting it to the right. You thought this morning’s fatigue had been chased away by the excitement of the day, but it was actually resting, lying in wait for the moment where you would put your guard down.

As much as you wanted to avoid it, the rumbling of the AC and comfort provided by the plush, leather seats caused the background noise in the car to fade before disappearing completely.

Jungkook seemed to be the only one to notice your breathing slow. “She’s asleep.”

Any and all conversation that had been taking place shut down immediately as they all gazed at your figure. 

At some point in your sleep, you started to shiver from the temperature of the AC. Jungkook quickly peeled off his school sweater and handed it to Jimin, who pouted slightly as he draped it over your form. 

They watched the slow rise and fall of your chest and listened to the soft breathing noises you let out in your sleep. The world outside was forgotten, and for a few, precious moments it was only you and them.

And if all went according to plan, soon it would be much, much longer than a few precious moments. Their world would only consist of you and them, all of them, for the rest of time.