#like the shadows there are so strong since he's sitting in front of really light window and it just doesnt look right

[masterofiodine]

i absolutely adore that photo of ben and i just had to draw him (/cap) like that

[frogchiro]

Creepy konig is absolute gold 🫣 he’d be so scary if you accidentally bump into him in the hallways too

I'm assuming this is about my quite recent thoughts about weird creepy König who keeps staring at you and overall ever since you got stationed as KorTac's new hacker something is just...off it seems.

You can't really put your finger on what exactly but you feel constantly on edge, like you should look over your shoulder all the time because something might just come and grab you. Or maybe it's about KorTac's colonel, König? The first time you met the man you were simply astounded by the sheer size of the man; broad, strong shoulders moving underneath his uniform, connecting to powerful arms which were crossed over and equally broad chest, and yet the most interesting feature about the huge man was the hood he wore over his head and his eyes...Maybe it was something about his eyes?

Maybe it was just the tiredness talking, maybe it was the angle or something, but when you looked up into the colonel's eyes they were...uncomfortable to look at. You felt terribly even thinking that but something about them seemed wrong, like they were just off. Two dark pits surrounded by black face paint and the black hood were staring right at you, the pupils almost immediately growing fat and taking over most of his dark blue eyes but they seemed to just be empty, like absolutely no emotion behind those glassy eyes. He kinda reminded you of those old, creepy, glass-eyed porcelain dolls, just sitting and staring into nothingness.

And bumping into him in the halls seemed like a utter nightmare at the point :(( Especially at night, where there was complete darkness outside the windows and the shitty hallway lights were flickering, some even completely giving up and just turning off, taking the comfort of light with them.

I imagine that it would be during a late night run to the kitchen for water and a snack, literally just a quick walk there and back to the safety of your room. It may sound embarrassing for a young woman in her early 20's to be scared to walk out of her room at night while literally being on a military base but you can't really help it! Not with the eerie feeling of someone always watching you and the mysterious shadow of a person standing right in front of your door from time to time.

Imagine going back to your room already when you suddenly lift your head and almost jump out your skin when your gaze meets Colonel König, or rather...whatever this is. He just stood there against the wall, back straight like an arrow, almost unnaturally so and his stare still insistent on looking right at you, not even acknowledging the quiet, polite salute and greeting from you. To be honest all you got was his head turning after you as you were speeding up your walk to get out of this awkward and frankly terrifying encounter.

Later that night when you were finally in the safety of your room you made sure to triple check if the lock is working and on before crawling into your comfy bed to try and fall asleep, after all there is a lot to do!

You could've sworn that you dreamt about the sound of heavy, booming footsteps right outside your door and the door handle rattling slightly.

[captainfern]

Heyyy, I'm literally in love with your work and how you write Graves, so it would be amazing if you'd do him again. Honestly any scenario would be AMAZIIING

Anonymous asked: hope im not to late for requests but the noisy graves thing kinda enlightend me. instead of overstimulating him imagine edging him in kind of a risky place (a closet or shared bed/bathroom idfk lmao) and when he gets to loud after being told not to several times you simply take care of the problem by grabbing him by the hair and pushing him between your legs and caging him in with your thighs or simply just sitting on his face while he desperately tries to fuck the air😎

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Dreams

Commander Phillip Graves x fem!reader

[“Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac]

[18+]

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• summary - your commander can't get enough of the new recruit. you're the new recruit lol. • rating - 18+ • wordcount - 2.5k • warnings - fem!reader, switch!reader and switch!graves, power imbalance? he's your superior so yeah i guess so, handjobs, oral [m!receiving], unprotected piv, praise, degradation kinda, semi-public sex?, oral [f!receiving- from the front and the backkkkkkk lmao], strong language

graves brainrot going wild rn sorry to any grave-antis in my followers

actually i'm not sorry this man is so boyfriend

apart from the fact that yk he's a traitor but i close my eyes and he's so boyfriend

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When your Commander called you into his office late one night, you expected you were going to be disciplined for something you did. You probably missed a target somehow, or you got distracted with a couple of the other shadows and missed a briefing. You couldn't really remember, but you do remember feeling anxiety brewing in the pit of your stomach as you walked towards his office.

But, he wasn't mad at you, or intending to discipline you in the slightest. It was the complete opposite, actually.

You had always had a feeling your Commander favoured you over his other Shadows– lingering looks, gentle touches, whispered affirmations. He tended to guide you a bit more than the other Shadows, and always made sure you were the first in the chopper or plane during evac.

You thought it was because you were new. Maybe. But clearly, it was a lot more than that.

Evident by the way Graves had a hand to the back of your head, pushing your mouth further down onto his cock, throaty moans falling past his lips, blue eyes settled on your face. He watched you take more of him, inching your lips closer to the base, the tight heat of your mouth drawing more moans from him.

He had imagined you like this since the moment you joined the Shadow Company– god, you looked so pretty on your knees, so pretty with your lips wrapped around the girth of his cock, so pretty gagging around him as his tip skimmed the back of your throat.

Graves guided you gently, just like he did on missions, applying a light pressure to the back of your head and moving you closer. He pet your hair with his other hand, muttering between moans about how good you looked and how pretty you were. It made your cunt flutter within your underwear, which were slick against you.

He was so close, cock twitching inside the warmth of your mouth. You could feel him, taste the pre-cum coating your tongue. You hummed around him, and his eyes rolled, hips bucking and forcing the head of his cock against the back of your throat again. You gagged, a string of saliva escaping the corner of your stretched mouth, and Graves moaned your name.

"So close, baby..." He whispered, high off the feeling. His eyes fluttered closed as his climax loomed, and just as he felt it begin to crest, you pulled away from him with a pop of your lips.

Graves let out a guttural groan, bucking his hips. The reddened tip of his cock smeared over your closed lips as you smiled up at him, before you were grabbing his cock and pumping him. You squeezed him around the base, twisted near the tip, and watched as bead after bead of pre-cum dribbled from his slit.

The build-up of his orgasm flared again, and pleasure coursed through his veins as he focussed on the feel of your hand against him. He looked down at you with hooded eyes, watching the movement of your hand, then watching the expression on your face.

"Didn't think you'd be this noisy, Commander." You mused, pumping him faster, wet clicks sounding throughout the office.

Graves responded with a moan, his lips falling apart as he watched you stroke his cock. You placed another chaste kiss to the tip while you worked him with your hand, and his hips chased the contact when you pulled away. He let out a growled fuck.

You tutted. "You have to be quieter than that, sir. You wouldn't want one of your Shadows walking in here, would you?"

Graves choked on a groan. You raised your eyebrows at him, intrigued.

"Oh, you would like that?" You teased, stopping the movement of your hand. Graves gasped out, his cock throbbing heavily in your hand. He could feel his orgasm trickling away again and it made him let out an annoyed whine. You laughed. "You want one of your Shadows to find you like this? Getting jerked off by the new recruit? Acting like a cheap slut desperate for some pussy, aren't you, Commander?

"Oh, fuck–" He moaned quietly. "Don't t-talk to me like tha-ah-at. I'm your Comman– oh, fuck, fuck, fuck, baby, oh my god–"

You slowly started stroking him again, and he was immediately babbling under his breath.

"You wanna come? You have to be quiet." You told him, before wrapping your lips around the tip of his cock while continuing to pump him. He whimpered quietly, holding onto your head, more for support than to guide you. He released muted hisses and deep groans trapped in his throat. You were making him feel so good.

He couldn't help getting louder.

His hisses and groans turned to moans and loud whines as he got closer and closer to orgasm, his head growing dizzy. He could smell your perfume and it was driving him insane.

"Come on, baby, come on–" He moaned loudly, and you couldn't help but sigh as you pulled your mouth and hand away from him and sat up. He let out a loud, desperate plea through a groan, chest heaving as you ran your hand up his abs.

"No, no, baby, m'so– fuck, m'so close–"

"I told you to be quiet, Graves," you said, situating yourself on the edge of his desk. Through glossy eyes, he looked over at you, and his face lit up when you dragged your underwear down your legs and spread them. "So if you're not going to be quiet, I guess I'll have to put your mouth to better use."

You paused, then smiled. "On your knees."

Graves dropped to his knees and shuffled towards you, wrapping his hands around the flesh of your thighs, squeezing and pinching lightly. You grabbed the back of his head, and pushed his face towards your dripping core. He responded with a grateful moan before his mouth was sealing over your clit, and his tongue was moving against it.

You bit your lip to stifle the moans threatening to escape. He worked his tongue against you, warm and rigid, gliding between your folds and circling around and over your clit. You felt him move in a particular pattern, and it took you little over a second to realise what he was doing. He was spelling his name against your clit.

You gripped at his hair, and he groaned into your cunt, muffled.

Between the spelling of Phillip and Graves, he slipped his tongue into your wet hole, licking up the arousal that had pooled while you had sucked him off. He moaned happily, eyes closing as your thighs clamped around him. His cock, hard and leaking painfully against his abdomen, twitched as he swallowed the taste of you. He rutted into the air in time with the thrusts of his tongue. Then, he was dragging the flat of his tongue back up your folds, before spelling Graves across your swollen clit.

Cocky son of a bitch, you thought as your orgasm trembled within you, making your legs clamp heavier around his him. Not that your Commander minded, anyway, considering he moaned desperately each time your leg muscles flexed around his head.

"M'gonna come," you whispered, keeping him trapped between your legs. "Open your mouth and take it all, Commander, go on–"

He did as he was told with a content hum, trailing his tongue back down your folds before circling your dripping hole. Graves licked inside slowly as you came around his tongue, your back arching and eyes rolling. Your orgasm hit you like a train as he fucked you through it, tongue lapping up as much he could, the rest dribbling down his chin. You released your thighs from around him, but he didn't move.

Graves continued to lick into your sopping cunt, moaning quietly to himself as he did so. You let out a breathy moan, your grip tightening in his blond locks. The feeling made him groan, and he finally detached from you with a furrow in his brows, his entire lower face slick with his saliva and your arousal.

"Still desperate for it, are you?" You smiled down at him, before he was getting to his feet and closing the distance.

He slammed his mouth to yours, invading yours with his tongue. You tasted yourself as he licked into your mouth, teeth clashing as he pulled you closer to him with his hands to the small of your back. He ground you down onto his throbbing cock, your slick cunt sliding against him, making him groan into your mouth. The head of his cock, glistening with pre-cum and saliva, dragged between your folds, spreading your arousal against you. You mewled out as, with one last swipe of his tongue against yours, he pulled away.

"S'enough of that," he grumbled, his eyes flickering away from a submissive kind of desperate to a, well, Commander kind of desperate. "Turn around."

You did as you were told with a smile, locking eyes with him the entire time you hopped off the desk and proceeded to bend over it, peering at him over you shoulder. He grunted, slotting his hips to your arse, rubbing his cock lightly against your entrance. He grabbed a handful of your arse with his free hand and kneaded the flesh. He let go, and brought his hand back down with a solid smack.

It was loud, and made your body flare hot.

You went to moan, but you were cut off as Graves thrusted into you in one heavy movement, pulling the air from your chest and making you choke on your pleasured gasp. You could only breath out shakily as he withdrew his cock and then pushed into you again. He grabbed your hips, fucking you back onto him, the sound of skin on skin echoing through his office.

"You had your fun, didn't you, baby?" He asked, bringing one hand down to knead the flesh of your arse. You braced for another smack, but it didn't come. Yet.

You nodded, whimpering. "Yeah–"

Graves brought his hand down onto your arse cheek hard again, and this time, you released a moan of his name. He chuckled behind you, soothing your stinging flesh with his fingers.

"Yeah, you had fun teasing me?" He mused, slamming his fat cock into you, pushing you further and further against the desk. You moaned in response, and he chuckled darkly again. "I could tell, baby. This pussy was fucking soaked for me. Absolutely fucking soaked."

Both of Graves' hands found your hips again and fucked you back onto him. He curled some of his body over you, and you could feel his solid warmth over your back. You soon felt his lips at the curve of your neck, tongue swiping over your bra strap.

"God, such a tight pussy, sucking me in so good, baby," he whispered in your ear, hips rocking against your arse, cock heavy inside you. "Been thinking of this since you arrived, you know that? Been wanting to feel you n' taste you since you first reported to me."

You moaned, cheek pressed against the cold desk, arms scrambling to keep you grounded against the sleek wood.

"Good girl, you like that? You like your Commander thinking about this pretty, wet cunt?" Graves teased, and you moaned again. He placed kisses along your shoulder, and then up your neck, before skimming his lips along the shell of your ear. "Tha's right, baby. I came all over my sheets thinking about this pussy. Made such a mess thinkin' about you."

His accent was growing stronger. You were panting against the desk, whispers of his name and rank falling past your lips as he rutted into you. The tip of his cock hit that spot inside you every time, and you wondered why you didn't let him fuck you sooner.

He groaned in your ear, the sound made you throb around him.

"M'so close, baby. Want you to come 'round me. You can do that, can't you?"

You nodded against the desk because you were so close too– your orgasm building tight in your abdomen, your legs trembling, knees knocking against the front of the desk. You let out a string of whines and whimpers, your clit throbbing.

"Come for me," Graves whispered as his thrusts gradually became more desperate. "Come for me like a good girl. Want to feel this pretty cunt squeeze 'round me, baby."

With one last heavy thrust of his cock to that spongey spot inside you, you came around him.

"Commander." You mewled as you clenched, milking his cock as your orgasm rattled through you. Your cunt leaked around him, arousal squelching loudly, wetness running down the insides of your thighs where he spread you open.

Graves moaned, rutting into you, chasing his high. You were so wet around him, so warm and tight. He screwed his eyes shut, leaning back so he could drive deeper into you, clutching at your hips and squeezing the soft flesh. He let out a moan of your name, followed by deep grunts amongst his laboured breaths.

He groaned again. "You gonna let me come inside, baby? You gonna let me fill this pretty pussy?"

You couldn't respond, brain turning to mush. You whimpered at him, hoping he could see you trying to nod.

"Yeah, tha's it, take it, fucking take what I give you," he whispered. "Take my cock... tha's it, baby, good girl."

He came inside you, filling you with a moan of your name. He thrusted further, stuffing you full, making you whine out at him to slow down. He did, lazily rutting his cock in and out, some of his seed dropping down your thighs, making you shiver. He pulled out, then pushed you further up the desk until your feet were barely touching the ground.

He crouched behind you, and you mewled as you felt him spread your folds with his middle finger and forefinger, revealing your fluttering hole, leaking with the heady mixture of both your cum. You heard him groan, before you felt his tongue swipe against you, pushing into your cunt and curling.

You caught a loud moan in your throat. "Graves, what–"

He licked his spend from you, also pushing more in with each thrust of his tongue. His face against the curve of your arse, he grumbled against your soft skin, and your body was quick to grow hot again. He spent a good minute or so behind you, groping your arse cheeks, rubbing your thighs, before standing back up with a satisfied smirk on his face.

He gently turned you around and wrapped his arms around you, sinking the both of you to the floor in front of his desk.

Graves placed a kiss to your temple. "Y'alright, doll?"

You hummed tiredly. "Mhm."

He chuckled quietly, placing another kiss to the top of your head. "You want to sleep?"

"Mhm."

"Come on, I'll take you back to my room."

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here’s a gif of warren just cause he’s so fine

AHHHH

that is all

[eeunoia]

I really like your works!! Yandere Jungwon ex plsss? ❤️❤️❤️

pairings: yang jungwon x reader

synopsis: ex boyfriend jungwon surprised you after being away from each other for over a year.

warnings: yandere themes, violence, knife being mentioned. (let me know if i missed some)

note: this is just a short fic. enjoy!

your eyes felt heavy while trying to punch in the pincode to your apartment. the hallway was quiet since it was already late. the lock emits a familiar sound and you turned the knob, pushing it open.

a yawn escapes your mouth after putting away your shoes. the whole apartment was oddly dark. your boyfriend sunoo usually leaves at least one lights on whenever he sleeps first. your brows furrowed right away, starting to feel anxious.

it may be just nothing. sunoo may have just forgotten that you'll be home late and was too tired to even leave a light for you. or maybe he's out? nah. he always tells you ahead if he's going out but as far as you remember you receive no text from your boyfriend.

“sun?” you softly calls out. the steps you made were light, trying so hard not to make any sound. the surroundings are too quiet.

surely its just normal for a time like this, but something's not right. it felt heavy. the house feels odd. like somebody else was here.

“sunoo?” you once again tried calling your boyfriend. “baby?”

when you finally made it to the living room, your heart almost dropped at the silhouette of a person sitting at the sofa. the person got his back turn against you since they're facing the television, but you can definitely tell it's sunoo.

the way his body was leaning back indicates that he might fell asleep or something. a small smile creeps over your lips, thinking that he fell asleep while waiting for you.

with gentle steps, you strut closer and dropped a kiss at his cheek from behind.

you got stoned at your position.

cold.

sunoo's skin felt so cold.

your heart starts thumping so hard inside your chest. your throat lumped at fear and worry for all the things that instantly played inside your mind.

“s-sunoo?” and carefully you walked around the sofa so you can be in front of him.

and your knees weakened at the sight of your boyfriend showering with his own blood. his white shirt almost turned red because of too much blood. you wanted to scream, but the shock got you dumbfounded. tears pooled your eyes as you kept your stares fixed.

“did you like my surprise?” you jolted and abruptly turned to face the person just by the hallway towards your bedroom.

half of him are hidden through the shadow of the wall. chills run through your spine and your lips hanged open, body plopping down the floor. your knees gave out fully.

in front of you was your ex boyfriend.

no. this is not happening. you already left him and made sure he won't be able to find you again. you did everything you could. went far away from him, changed name and even profession. how..?

the sinister smirk painted over his handsome face sends you back to your own hell hole. terrible memories and past traumas you experienced with him came flushing down unto you like a strong wave from the ocean.

“you really think you can get away from me?” the emotion from his face drained and he tilts his head.

“you should've seen how he tries to act tough when i showed up here hours ago.” his eyes glanced at your boyfriend and your heart tightens over guilt and regret.

“it was satisfying, honestly.” he started walking closer and you tried moving away. tears streaming down your face.

“the way his hot blood splashes the moment i stabbed him multiple times. his cries and plea for me to have mercy.” jungwon scoffs, his eyes dark. “mercy?”

you shake your head and shut your eyes, trying not to imagine the things he's narrating for you. it was horrible and you cannot take it.

“how can i show him mercy when he stole you from me?”

your back hit the wall, leaving you nowhere else to go. a lot of thoughts came into your mind. all the efforts you did just to get away from him, just to start a new life, new beginning... it all went to the drain.

because no matter what you do, no matter where you go, you will never escape from him. yang jungwon will always manage to find you.

he crouched beside you, making your eyes met. it snapped you back to reality.

he smiled softly, his deep dimples showing. he raised his hands and pointed the edge of his knife touching your cheeks. he tilts his head then roam his eyes all over your face.

jungwon can't put to words how happy and excited he is now that he finally see you again. he's been in the dark for the past year because you are nowhere near him. he almost lose it. thank god, he found you.

“aw, my baby must've been so scared while i'm not beside her.” he says, totally delusional.

you kept your mouth shut, deciding not to talk back because you know exactly well how it will end.

tears kept streaming down your face. jungwon's eyes follows it before his other free hand came to wipe it off gently.

“it's okay now, my love. i'm already here to save you.” without warning, he carried you bridal style walking down the hallway to your bedroom.

you felt disgusted and scared being this close to him, but you have no choice. its either to go along with his craziness for a while and think of another escape plan, or be stabbed to death.

“nobody's going to take you away from me again. ever.” and he dropped a hot kiss at your forehead, placing you gently at the bed before he climbs, joining you. his arms wrapped around you as he rests his head over your chest, enjoying the sound of your rapid heart. it was beating so damn fast that anyone could tell that you are terrified, but for jungwon it was beating fast because of happiness that you see him, your lover.

eeunoia 2024 © all rights reserved.

[familyvideostevie]

october twenty-seventh

day twenty-seven: bradley "rooster" bradshaw you and bradley take a bath together after a long day | 18+, mdni, fem!reader, slight overstimulation, aftercare | 2.7k detailed content warnings: fem!reader, fingering, multiple orgasms (for f), overstimulation, bradley isn't mean per say but he encourages you to go for it, dirty talk, squirting, aftercare

Your favorite things after a shitty day are: a bath, a relaxing evening, and your boyfriend. Right now you only have the first two as you wait for the third to get home.

To compensate for Bradley’s absence, you light some candles and keep the lights in the bathroom low. The hot water smells like lavender and you’ve cracked the window so you can hear the rain, even if it’s a little chilly.

The same rain that soaked you on your way to and from work, since you forgot an umbrella. Just one of a long list of things that went wrong to make today one you’re glad to leave behind.

Your entire body relaxes as you sink into the bath and you moan embarrassingly loud. Bradley is due back anytime and maybe if you ask nicely he’ll sit with you for a bit.

Minutes pass, probably not many, since the water is still hot, when you hear the rattle of keys and your boyfriend’s footsteps.

“Hey, baby,” he calls.

“In the tub!”

He putters around, humming a tune you don’t know. You sink further down into the water and wait for him. When he does it’s like the last tendrils of tension in you fade away. He looks so handsome in the dim light, the strong like of his jaw accented in the shadows. He leans down to kiss you lightly and you rise from the water to meet him.

“Tough day?” he asks. “Missed you.” He sits on the closed toilet lit, eyes casually taking in your nudity under the water.

“How’d you know?”

Bradley smirks. “I know you. Baths after work are for tough days. Want to talk about it?” He leans forward, elbows on his knees. The pull of his biceps against his shirt stirs something in your belly.

“Got me there.” You bend one knee so it pops out of the water. His hand is on it immedietly, just to touch you. Both of you do this often — an anchoring touch, just a reminder that you’re there for each other. Bradley, especially, loves touch. “Nothing much to tell.”

His gaze is soft, full of the love you sometimes feel like you’re still getting used to. You’re literally naked in front of him and still he’s looking at you with adoration and concern. “You want to be alone?”

He always asks even if your answer is the same every time. “No,” you tell him.

His fingers press into your knee. “Want me to join you?” He’s kind of joking.

Actually, not a bad idea. He could do something about the growing ache between your legs. “Would you?” you ask shyly.

Bradley perks up. “Really? Hell yeah.” He stands. “Be right back, okay?”

He rushes to the bedroom and you hear the clink of his belt, a few curses. “Don’t hurt yourself!” you call.

He returns with a few more towels and sets them where he was sitting.

The sight of Bradley without a stitch of clothing never gets old. He really is unbearably handsome, far from shy about walking around naked. Every inch of him is worth looking at — his broad shoulders, tanned back and chest. The lines of his muscles, which are everywhere, and the dark hair on his arms and the base of his cock at odds with the lighter shade of his head.

And, god, his cock.

You’re well acquainted with his body by now but your mouth waters at the sight. He’s not even hard — he perks up a little under your gaze, though — but you think he’s gorgeous. Big, obviously, and you know there’s a vein running along the underside that you love to drag your tongue over. It’s pink where the rest of him is tan and it’ll only get pinker and curve a little to the left when it swells.

“Buy a guy dinner first,” he says. You snap your eyes to his face and he winks at you.

“Whatever. You getting in or what?” Your face feels hot but hey, can you be blamed?

“Where do you want me?”

You scoot forward. “Behind me? I want to lay on you.” Any place you got together had to had a bath big enough for you both, and Bradley is…a lot of man. This tub mostly fits the brief, but it’s snug and some water splashes over the sides as he climbs in.

With some effort you both settle, his legs under yours, his chest warm and firm beneath you. And yes, his cock hot and heavy against your ass. But he makes no moves to do anything about it.

“Comfortable?” he asks.

“Yes,” you sigh. Being near him really does relax you, even if he also makes you horny. “You?”

“Course,” he laughs. “I come home from work and the most beautiful girl in the world asks me to get in the bath with her. I’m as good as I can be.”

You snort and shift a little. He hisses and you apologize.

“No, don’t,” he says. “Can’t help it, though. But we’re relaxing, so as long as you don’t do that again we’ll be fine.”

Well. “We don’t have to just relax,” you suggest.

Bradley’s chest rumbles. You lean your head back on his collarbone to see his face. He’s smirking. Always fucking smirking, this guy. “That’s how it is, is it? It’s your bath, sweetheart, you tell me what you want.”

His eyes slide to yours. You nod. His hands, which were on his own thighs, gently lift your knees so they’re bent, sticking out of the water. He drags his fingers down your thighs under the water and you inhale sharply.

“You had a tough day,” he coos. “So I think it’s only right I take care of you, hm?”

You nod, maybe a little too frantically. Bradley shifts underneath you and more water splashes onto the floor. You can’t find it in yourself to care. The change in position and water level means you’re half out of the water between his legs. The cold air makes you tremble a little, makes you clench around nothing.

“You spreading for me?” Bradley says into your ear. His face is so close it feels like his voice is in your head.

“I — yeah,” you say, prying your knees apart. But he doesn’t touch you where you want him most, not yet. Instead, he caresses your breasts, rolling your nipples between his fingers. He pinches and then soothes, pinches and soothes, and your breath gets heavy.

“Most perfect tits I’ve ever seen,” he says. “Look like a dream, baby, and I’ve barely started.”

“’Cause you’re such a tease,” you mutter.

“What was that?” he rasps.

You clear your throat. “You’re a tease, Bradley.” He laughs and it sounds devious.

“What do you think, sweetheart?” he asks. “Think we can get you coming twice? Three times?”

If you weren’t half in the water you’re pretty sure you’d be dripping by now. His hands finally leave your breasts alone and make for your inner thighs, stroking up and down.

“Three,” you gasp. “Three, please.”

Bradley nibbles on the shell of your ear. “If you say so, gorgeous. Let’s start slow, huh?”

He circles your clit with his middle and ring finger slowly. You sigh at his touch because he’s finally getting at the ache you’ve been feeling ever since he walked in the bathroom.

“Can feel how wet you are even in the water,” he murmurs. “Kinda wish we weren’t in here so I could hear how this sounds, yeah?” He presses one hand to your abdomen when you buck your hips. “Let’s see how you taste.”

Your eyelids are heavy, your mind already struggling to find words to talk back to him. Normally you give as good as you get in bed with Bradley, but today you’re tired and maybe you really should just let him take care of you.

He presses two fingers into you for just a few seconds, holding them there before pulling them up and out of the water so he can suck on them.

“Oh, god,” you moan. He makes a show of it, licking them clean right near your ear.

“Tastes good, baby,” he says. “Your cunt is a wonder, you know that? Looks perfect, feels perfect, tastes perfect.” You writhe on top of him at his words. He doesn’t tease you for long, returning his attention to your clit quickly.

“Bradley —” your voice breaks off.

“Shh,” he coos. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. I’m gonna take care of you. You just feel it, okay?”

His circles get faster then slower, faster then slower. He alternates directions, dragging his fingers through your folds a few times but always returning to his assault on your clit, which by now is swollen and aching.

“How we doing, huh? You close?”

You nod frantically. “Yeah, I — don’t stop, please —”

His chest rumbles. “I won’t, sweetheart, don’t worry. C’mon, come for me —”

Your orgasm builds and builds and builds and he doesn’t let up on your clit and then it crashes into you and you jerk in his hold, hips coming out of the water as your cunt clenches around nothing. A long keen crawls its way from your throat and his fingers slow as you come out of it.

But, wait, you still feel the pull low in your belly. You grab his wrist to keep it between your legs.

“I can do another, I can feel it, Bradley, don’t stop —”

He obeys. “You sure?” Sometimes, if everything is just right for it, you can come again almost right away. Usually it’s when he’s fucking you, cock buried deep and brushing your most sensitive spot, but sometimes it’s like this. When you’re boneless and at his mercy but all he wants is to make you feel good.

“Yes, please, I can do it, faster, just like —”

Your second orgasm slams into you. It’s different from the first, quick and hard where the first was a slow build and a snap. Your knees fall together as Bradley keeps his attention on your clit through it until you tug his hand away, your whole body trembling and your breath coming in pants.

He lets you come down from it, hands on your knees, thumbs stroking your skin. You realize you can feel him rock hard against your back but you don’t spare a thought for it. He said this was about you and you know he meant it.

“Got another in you?” he asks once you regain your breath. You know that if you said no, if you wanted to get out right now, Bradley wouldn’t mind. But he hasn’t even fucked you with his fingers, yet, and the thought tightens the hook in your belly yet again.

“Yes,” you say, as firmly as you can. “Can you…use your fingers this time?” He was already doing that, technically, but he knows that you mean. He always knows what you mean.

He presses a kiss to your temple. The water is lukewarm at best by now but neither of you cares much. “Sure can. Ready?” You nod.

He switches hands. “Gotta give you a fresh one for this,” he says. It makes you laugh, and then gasp when he repeats his previous pattern on your clit. “You want these inside, don’t you?”

“Yes,” you moan. “Yes.”

Bradley drags them through your folds a few times before pushing into you. He doesn’t move for a few breaths, as if he’s considering something. And then you feel his fingers curl inside you, feel his pinky and index press into the curve of your ass and you know what he’s decided.

It’s only happened a few times — you squirting. He’d been so in awe the first time but you thought maybe it was a one and done. But Bradley, ever the determined partner, has gotten it out of you since then. It’s filthy and freeing and you both love it.

“Think you can do it?” he asks. “Think you can soak me?” You clench around his fingers in reply and grab onto his thighs. “Atta girl.”

He doesn’t give you another moment to prepare. It’s not so much fucking you as pressing as hard as he can onto your most sensitive spot over and over, curling his fingers just so to produce a never-ending sensation of pleasure.

It’s so good it almost hurts, the build of your orgasm flirting on pain, a vice-like band around you as he keeps a punishing pace, whispering praise in your ear as you moan, as you groan, as you writhe and dig your nails into his skin. You feel out of control, in free fall in the best way and you know Bradley will catch you.

“You gonna squirt?” he rasps, low and filthy in your ear. “You gonna drench my fingers? Gonna get me all wet, too?” His babble doesn’t really make sense, given that you’re both in the bath, but it’s working. You feel the pressure, feel the contraction of your muscles as he presses and presses and presses into you. “C’mon baby, you can do it, I know you can. Show me what this perfect cunt can do, I’ve got you —”

The squelch of his fingers in you is loud and the slap of the water is louder and you feel it the second before it happens, a damn breaking, and then you’re squirting all over his fingers. He pulls them out of you and rubs your clit as you come, the sound that tears from your throat high and desperate. Your legs go tense and then shake as soon as it’s over, as your vision comes back and you find yourself boneless on top of Bradley once again.

“Good girl,” he murmurs. “Good job, baby.” He doesn’t touch you apart from palming your breasts as you come down. “You okay?”

You nod.

“Tell me, please.”

“I’m okay,” you say. “God, yes, I’m okay, I —” He presses his lips to the side of your head and you quiet. His hands rest heavy on your stomach, a comforting and grounding weight.

“Bath is a little dirty now, huh?” You laugh breathlessly and make an effort to get off of him. He stops you with a gentle hand to your sternum. “Hey, no, take your time. That was…a lot.”

You slump back onto him. “Yeah, it was.”

He nuzzles your neck. “You did good, though. Really good, baby.” You rest your hand over his on your stomach and squeeze, hoping he gets the message. You’re good to me. You always make me feel good. Thank you for taking care of me. Your brain is a little too fuzzy for much else.

“Bradley,” you say, once your breath comes back to you. “I don’t know if I can get up on my own.”

“You’re gonna give me a big head, baby,” he says, teasing. “I’ll get out first then help you, okay? We can take a warm shower. You can sit on the bench, if you want.”

“Okay,” you manage. He gently pushes you off of him and makes it up and out without slipping.

“No funny business in the shower, Bradley,” you say. “I mean it. I don’t think I can handle it.” He helps you out of the bath and wraps a towel around you, brushing your wet hair from your face with gentle fingers and sitting you on the toilet lid. You feel a bit fragile but in a good way.

“Don’t worry, baby. Just showering. I’ll wash your hair.” This is Bradley’s version of aftercare, which you love. He kisses your forehead. “Well, I’m going to jack off after you’re done, but don’t worry about that.” He does look painfully hard.

You take his word for it. “I’ll call for pizza when you’re…doing that.”

“Smart girl.” He releases you to pull the drain on the tub and turns to start the shower.

“Hey,” you say to his back. He turns to you as he has his hand out, checking the water temperature.

“Hm?”

“I love you,” you tell him. He smiles like he always does when you say it.

“I love you back.”

thank you for reading <3 reblog, send feedback, general masterlist here! promptober masterlist, find all fics under #fvspromptober23

[bubuslutty]

Angel on Duty: the first meeting

All Parts

pairing: demon/angel fem!reader x 141

word count: 2.1k

tags: semi-canon compliant, reader is described as having a tail and horns but calls herself 'Angel', do what you will with her real nature but she's simply sent down to fulfil a wish, no use of y/n, reader is referred to as 'Angel', 3rd person pov, minimal description of appearance, proofread by me so sorry for any mistakes

warning: none

summary: the 141 boys have a fantasy to get captain price the fuck of his life, but also share it amongst themselves, a shared cumdump if you will. which basically translates into "we need a woman to break our miserable old man, and break us in the process and rebuild us again just to do it all over again." they're just miserable and pent up and horny and want to be taken care of, that's all :)

a/n: there's no smut in here cuz this is just the intro. bon appétit either way 💞 also let me know if u wanna be added to my cod taglist 😖

What do you know about prayer? About wishing? Blowing birthday candles and wishing upon a star?

Ever since the beginning of time, it is man's nature to wish, hope and pray. To whom? That has always changed and shifted throughout the centuries, with prayers sent to different deities, angels, ancestors and so on.

But what humans don’t know is that all of their prayers, all of their wishing, if it was strong enough, if they really want it, really bad, their wishes just might become reality. And that was all done through a meticulously built system in another realm, where what humans considered angels worked day and night to realise them.

“Hold on, you’re not about to give me this much work when I’m literally getting paid minimum wage.” A woman said, waving a folder around in the air with wide eyes.

“If you have an issue, you can take it up to HR.” A man said unimpressed, not even looking up from his computer.

“Haha, funny. Seriously, why the hell did I get one wish and what? 8 humans??” The woman said, slapping the folder on the desk, making the man hiss in annoyance.

“Why must you be so difficult? It’s one wish and 8 humans who have the same wish? What’s so hard to understand? Get down there and do your thing.” The man said, visibly irritated, trying to shoo her away with one hand.

“You sent this down to my office and did not expect me to have questions?? If all little boys' wishes about becoming the next Ronaldo could be realised, Sandra down the sixth fraction would have 82 thousand humans, alone, to go through!” The woman said, hands on her hips and standing with her knees to the desk’s edge, casting her shadow on the man sitting in front of her.

“Who’s Sandra?” The man asked.

“I don’t know.”

The man finally stopped staring at his computer screen and stood up, rounding up his desk and grabbing the folder in his hand, “Did you even read the reports?”

“No, just the first page.” The woman said, twirling a hair strand in her finger while the man stared at her with an unimpressed look.

“For fuck sake…Okay, see here?” He said, pointing at the wish, which was a paragraph long. The woman nodded and he kept going, “This group of humans share the same wish, or fantasy to be more realistic, and it’s all linked together through one man.” He explained, flipping to another page and tapping a finger on a man’s profile and picture.

“Oh, he’s beautiful.” She said with a gasp, eyes flashing with a red light that made the man gulp and quickly look away from her face.

“They all work together and have this complex dynamic of friends, but also family, but also this relationship,” He said, flipping through the other profiles, and letting her look at every picture.

“What does that mean?” The woman tilted her head to the side in confusion.

“Their whole thing is a tangled mess of different dynamics with each other, but it all comes down to the first man I showed you, he’s like the glue of their team, but he’s what keeps them whole and sane, individually.” He said and glanced back at her and noticed her confusion but also the amazement on her face.

“They are fascinating…”

The man placed the folder back in her hands and turned to get his desk phone, “They are, now I’m going to call Beck to confirm some last details and you should be down in the mortal realm by tomorrow.

“Tomorrow?!”

“They’re moving in tomorrow, and so are you.” He said and watched her leave his office with a shocked but excited expression nonetheless. He walk out of the door without having to touch it for it to wing open, the long black tail swinging back and forth, poking from under her short skirt and the horns that almost grazed the top of the doorframe.

.

.

.

The woman stood in front of a beautiful house in the middle of London, hugging a white cat with black ears and a black tail to her chest as a lorry parked in the street, next to her taxi. “I guess this is where I’ll be living for the next weeks… Not bad.” She said, petting the furball in her arms while the taxi driver removed her bags from the trunk.

“Thank you.” She thanked the man with a smile, and he smiled back, a blush high on his cheekbones and reluctantly left, glancing at her over his shoulder every two steps.

Then another man approached her, dressed in a blue shirt and hat, “The keys ma’am?”

“Oh yes, sorry.” She gasped, placing the cat on the ground and running to her bag, retrieving a set of keys and handing them out to the man with a small smile.

“Thank you.” He nodded and started walking to the house while other men dressed in the same uniform spilt out of a van, surrounded the lorry and started helping each other in carrying furniture inside the house while she stood to the side, watching.

Suddenly another car parked in the driveway of the house right next to hers, and she watched with curiosity as four men exited the car, looking tired but excited at the same time. They looked huge, carrying dark green and black bags on their shoulders and heading straight to the door, but without glancing at the woman.

She fought against a grin and held eye contact, her cat, Kuromi, purring against her leg. Then she moved before she could think.

The four men froze at their doorstep, still staring at her as she walked up to them. That day she was wearing a back suit with black heels and a black bralette instead of a button-up, the trousers hugging her hips so well along with her legs.

“Hey, I just wanted to introduce myself as your new neighbour. I’m Angela Ali, but you can call me Angel.” She introduced her fake name and gave herself a better nickname, internally snickering at the irony.

“Well, hello, we’re also new here.” Soap spoke when nobody said anything, he even smiled back at the beautiful woman.

Her eyes widened in surprise, both at his thick Glaswegian accent and the information he just gave her (which she already knew but she had to act the part), “Really? I had no idea! Maybe we can be friends and look out for each other in this neighbourhood.”

“Yeah, that sounds great. I’m Johnny MacTavish, by the way.” He finally introduced himself and stuck out his hand, and when she shook his hand, he felt tingles at the bottom of his spine, making him let out a breathy laugh.

“I’m John, John Price.” The second man said, sticking out his hand and keeping his eyes respectfully on her face and nowhere else. It was so stupid, he was tired, yes, but not that tired to be easily dumbfounded by a random beautiful woman. And John prided himself in his manners, so when his eyes landed on her body as she walked up to them, he couldn’t help but drink in every dip and swell like he was deprived.

That’s so embarrassing.

Angel smiled and shook his hand, shivering when his warm big rough hands engulfed her smaller one. He was the same man she called beautiful that day she received her wish file. And he was, not in the way humans usually described something as beautiful. But to her, despite his huge body, thick thighs and arms, deep voice and beard, his eyes held something in them that pulled her in. She could sense the man’s thoughts, emotions, wants and needs.

“Nice to meet you, John.” She smiled at the man and turned to greet the other two, who both introduced themselves as Simon Riley and Kyle Garrick.

Simon was wearing a simple black surgical mask, covering the lower half of his face. But she already knew what he looked like, she has his profile. She knows he has a scar that runs through his upper lip on the left side of his face.

His pale blue eyes were intense, looking at her, calculating, careful, as if she was a threat, someone to look out for.

Angel let him be, staring as much as he wanted.

Kyle on the other hand was all smiley, radiating warmth and friendliness. He was handsome and charming, and made Angel want to talk to him for two hours straight. Did I mention his smile? That man's smile is absolutely beautiful. You would never guess he's a soldier, a killer, a beast in the field.

“I’ll let you get settled, now. See you around!” She said and turned around, walking back to her house, noticing that her bags were moved and Kuromi was meowing by the door while men in uniforms were still working as fast as they could, unpacking everything and placing the furniture where it belonged. She reached the door and picked up the cat, gave her a kiss on her little head and looked over her shoulder and saw how the four men were still staring at her, and they all immediately stumbled inside their house, slamming the door shut behind them.

Angel giggled and finally stepped inside her new home, shaking her head.

.

.

.

Angel lay on her stomach, on her new queen-sized bed with a pizza box on her side and a laptop casting its bright light on her face. She took another bite of her pizza and read through the document on the screen, which was a digital version of her wish file, with extra documents going more into detail about each man she was to work on for the next weeks.

“Alright, what do we have here? Childhood trauma…Oh, oh, poor lad…” She frowned at the screen and read along the lines explaining some of the things Simon went through, she had read almost everyone’s files in detail, and it was already dark out, probably around 11PM. Angel checked the time and gasped when she realised it was actually 2AM.

She even had files about their careers, she just quickly skimmed through them just to see if there was anything serious to watch out for, but ignored everything else, just because she wanted to give a chance for the men to surprise her, it wasn’t very fun when she knew everything. Plus she was going to spend a couple of weeks on this job, so she might as well make it fun for herself.

Her horns and her tail were nowhere to be seen because it was a rule to hide one's true identity when in the mortal realm, or at least the form they like to wear in the wish realm. And hers was a pair of horns and a tail because she thinks it's funny to take on the form of a demon when humans think their prayers and wishes go to angels.

She was not an angel, nor a demon for that matter really, her whole existence revolves around realising human's wishes, and her form? She can take on anything she feels comfortable in. But when she's interacting with humans, she must take on a human form to hide her true nature.

Her phone suddenly rang and she flinched, looking down at the vibrating device. On the screen, a clock and a reminder to 'EAT FOOD' could be seen. She turned off the reminder and hummed, "Yeah, yeah, I'm eating.."

You see, Angel, still struggles to get into the habit of eating regularly when in human form. No matter how many jobs she's completed, she somehow still forgets to eat because you don't have to eat in her realm, you don't even need to sleep or go to the toilet. So setting herself a reminder on her phone is necessary if she doesn't want to suddenly drop.

"Oh, I forgot to read my own files." She gasped, sitting up straight and placing her laptop on her lap. After a few clicks, she opened her own files, highlighting her new identity and timetable.

"Okay, I'm an only child… Single, of course, duh, and my job is a sex therapist!" She said, brows raised and quickly reading next lines. "I only have to go to the office two days a week?... Nice. And I'm a PhD student… in psychology?.."

Angel groaned and fell on her back, her laptop still in her hands, it seems like she needs to start doing some research on human education.

tag list (pls ask to be added or removed): currently empty

[2nd2ndalto]

Squeeze

I have written Solangelo smut. I’m sorry. If it makes you feel any better, everyone is eighteen, they keep all their clothes on, and I’ve tried to keep the language as clean as possible. If you’re familiar with my writing style, you’ll know I’ve done my best to keep it sweet, silly and in-character. So there’s that. Also I completely stole this premise from an X-Files fic.

Nico passes the last crate of supplies to Austin, who manages to jam it into the front seat of the camp van, next to Argus. Austin shuts the front passenger door, finally knocking his hip against it to get it to close properly. He scratches his head.

“Yeah, this is definitely more than I thought I ordered,” he says apologetically.

Will shrugs. “It’s fine, Austin. Just means we won’t have to stock up again for a while.”

They’ve made this six-hour trip to Pittsburgh to collect supplies for the infirmary - Kayla, Austin, Will and Nico. And Argus, of course. The drive out had been easy - Austin in the front with Argus, and plenty of room to stretch out in the back rows. The drive home is evidently going to be… less comfortable.

“Well, I think there’s enough room for me and Austin in the first row,” Kayla determines, rising on her toes to peer around a pile of boxes. She elbows Nico. “You and Will will have to make do in the back.”

Nico peers dubiously into the back of the van, pressing his face and hands to the smoked glass window. “There’s barely room for one of us back there.” There are boxes of supplies crammed into nearly every inch of the van's interior, packed up to the ceiling and covering most of the seating space.

Kayla shrugs. “You can sit on his lap, you’ll be fine.”

Nico grimaces. Not that he doesn’t enjoy sitting on his boyfriend’s lap, but it’s something they do occasionally when they’re short on seating at campfire or Will’s feeling particularly silly at mealtimes. Not something Nico really wants to do for six hours straight. Newly eighteen, Nico has managed to grow several inches since he first arrived at camp and he feels he’s mostly outgrown lap-sitting.

“I could just shadow-travel back…” he begins. But Will’s face falls, and Nico immediately backtracks. He agreed to come along on this trip to keep Will company, and he’d feel like a jerk backing out now.

Nico shakes his head. “You know what, it’s fine. Although you might change your mind once your legs fall asleep under my bony butt.”

“Pff. As if. You’re light as a feather,” Will grins, tugging him in by his waist for a warm kiss.

Nico can’t help the stupid smile that spreads over his face, despite the many kisses they’ve shared over the last months. He sees Kayla roll her eyes in his periphery, Austin lightly gagging.

It turns out there isn’t even any easy way into the back of the van, and as Kayla and Austin clamber over boxes into the first row of seats, Argus leads Nico and Will around to the back doors and they climb over the seat backs into the third row.

Nico settles himself on the taller boy’s lap, leaning back to allow Will to pull the seatbelt over both of them.

“Are you sure about this?” Nico asks his boyfriend. Because it can’t be comfortable for Will with those long legs of his. Those long legs and the… strong thighs Nico’s seated on. Gods. Nico swallows.

“Yup,” Will says easily, wrapping his arms around Nico’s middle. He drops his chin to Nico’s shoulder. “I have a chin rest and everything.”

Will nuzzles into his neck, his face scratchy against sensitive skin. Nico gasps and Will giggles.

“I guess I can put us both to sleep if we get too uncomfortable,” Nico muses. The sun is just dipping below the horizon, and Austin and Kayla had mentioned catching a nap on the way back to camp.

“Mmm. It’s fine,” Will says. “I like cuddling with you.”

Nico’s stomach flip-flops pleasantly. He likes it too, of course. It’s what they do with their time alone, mostly. Cuddling, and kissing. Talking. Then more cuddling and more kissing. Neither of them has been in any rush to venture into anything bolder. This, the two of them together has only spanned about six months. And it’s… really good. It’s been enough just to have the comfort of Will’s nearness. His sunny energy and easy touches. Will makes everything warmer, lighter.

They settle into the seat as best they can, chatting for a while before falling into a comfortable silence. Nico turns his head to Will’s, breathing him in, sinking into the heat that always seems to radiate off the boy behind him. He probably could actually sleep like this, he thinks. He shifts a bit, trying to find the most comfortable position for both of them in this tight space.

And that’s when he feels it.

For a moment he thinks it must be Will’s wallet. Maybe a pack of gum? A roll of gauze? He’s reached halfway back to adjust whatever it is that’s poking him in the ass when he freezes. Because that’s definitely not a wallet. That’s -

“I’m so sorry,” Will whispers, tense.

“Oh. That’s - it’s fine.” Nico huffs out a laugh, a little embarrassed as he realizes that’s his boyfriend’s dick. “It’s um. It’s not like you’re doing it on purpose.”

“I’m really, really not,” Will says in a rush. “I’m so sorry, I just -”

“Hey. Will.” Nico reaches back awkwardly to pat the other boy’s cheek. “It’s fine. Really. Don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal.”

Will sighs and Nico feels the tension in his body ease, marginally.

But the thing is… it kind of feels like a big deal, and Nico’s never really felt it before, except for maybe the occasional brush or bump during times their kissing has become particularly heated. But at those times, Will’s always taken things down a notch, pulled back, shifted away. And that’s not really an option at the moment.

Nico tries, though, carefully tilting his hips to the side and trying to shift his weight forward. But Will hisses, his hands shooting to Nico’s waist, fingers gripping painfully.

“Maybe don’t… move,” he grits out.

“Sorry, I was just trying to -”

“I know, but can you just - can you just hold still?”

Will sounds desperate, pained, and Nico nods, freezing so abruptly that his muscles begin to ache with the effort after only a moment. He tries to focus on the landscape flashing by outside the window, but there’s not much distraction there. It’s fully dark now, and the only thing to divert Nico from the bulge pressing insistently into his backside is the occasional flash of light from a passing car.

Nico’s trying, very hard, not to let his own body get too… interested… in their current predicament. It won’t help matters. Will’s already tense, and Nico doesn’t want to make things worse. And besides, he feels kind of awful being turned on when Will is clearly uncomfortable. Nico tries to turn his attention to the boxes stacked around them instead, resolutely reading the labels.

Wrapped tongue depressors. Medium alcohol swabs. Nonwoven sponges.

It’s just… there, though, hot and hard against his backside, and he can feel every inch of it.

No. Stop it.

Non-adherent pads. Conforming gauze.

It feels really hard. And... big. Is it big? Or is it just because he’s sitting on it? Sort of… against it. Whatever. How big is it, exactly?

Nico shakes his head, a twitch. This line of enquiry is not helping matters.

Cotton-tipped applicators.

The thing is, the two of them have done a lot of kissing, for months now. Even more, lately. And, inevitably, there are the thoughts that follow when Nico’s alone in his cabin. Not to mention the dreams that sometimes wake him - so much warmer and softer than the nightmares that have plagued him for years. If he’s being completely honest with himself, he’s more than ready to move things to the next level with Will, whatever that might mean for them.

Have you considered, Nico’s brain offers helpfully, what it would be like if you were both wearing far fewer clothes right now?

No.

Nico’s in jeans, but Will’s penchant for cargo shorts even now, in February… well it’s difficult not to be extraordinarily aware of just how thin that layer of fabric is -

No. No.

Nico swallows, determinedly ignoring the way his jeans are becoming uncomfortably snug. Will is still stiff as a board behind him. In more ways than one.

Nico’s learned, over the last few years, that when Will is relaxed, it’s much easier for him to relax, too. And unfortunately the opposite is also true. He’s never been sure whether this has something to do with Will’s powers or if it’s just the bond the two of them share, this bond that’s grown closer and more certain with each year that passes. The way they know each other instinctively, inside and out.

Nico’s shoulders are in knots and he really wants to lean back again, but he doesn’t want to make things any more difficult for Will. But a moment later the decision is made for him as Argus floors the gas. Luckily the walls of boxes around them are packed in so tightly that they don’t shift much, but Nico is thrown back against his boyfriend’s chest, his ass pressing firmly into… well.

Will whimpers softly.

Nico cringes in sympathy. He turns to press a kiss to Will’s jaw. “You okay?”

“The more I try not to think about it, the more I… can’t stop thinking about it,” Will mumbles. His eyes are squeezed shut, breath shallow.

“Sorry,” Nico murmurs. “I’ll try to stop being so hot.”

Will breathes out a laugh. “Yeah, could you?”

Nico feels a little rush of relief. Because, look. They’ve been in far, far worse predicaments together, right? This, by comparison, is honestly funny. Or maybe it will be later, at least.

Nico turns his head and cranes his neck, letting his breath brush Will’s ear. “Star Trek is far superior to Star Wars. True crime is the worst kind of crime,” he whispers.

Will laughs nervously. “What are you doing?”

“Shh, I’m trying to help you be repulsed by me,” Nico answers, right in his ear. Will giggles. It sounds a little tense, but Nico decides it still counts.

Nico keeps it up as long as he can (Golden Oreos are an abomination, your dad is the god of too many things, sometimes when you ask me if I’ve eaten any vegetables today - I lie.), until Will is shaking with laughter, Nico giggling in whispers against his head.

Finally he runs out of ideas and he settles back against his boyfriend, gently rocked by the last of their laughter, the rise and fall of Will’s breath. Will’s arms are looped loosely around him.

Nico shifts his hips cautiously and Will gasps, sharp.

“Sorry,” Nico grimaces. “That didn’t help?”

“Well. I feel better,” Will says softly, “so thanks for that. But I’m still um… you know.” He sighs. “I’m really -”

“Don’t be sorry,” Nico interrupts.

“I’ll try,” Will murmurs. He presses his nose to the place where Nico’s shoulder meets his neck, and Nico can tell the other boy is trying to settle his breathing. He reaches a hand up to twine in Will’s hair, a gentle tether. From what he can tell, Will’s… issue… hasn’t improved at all. But his body feels more relaxed in most of the places they’re pressed together.

“You know I wanna… do stuff. With you. Right?” Nico murmurs, after a few minutes have passed in silence.

“What stuff?”

“Like, this kind of stuff.” Nico rolls his hips in demonstration and Will’s breath hitches.

Nico pauses. “Do you… do you not want to do that kind of stuff with me?” he asks, as it suddenly occurs to him that maybe he should be worried about it.

“Nico, no.” Will shakes his head immediately, pressing a kiss to the side of Nico’s head. “Of course I want to do that stuff with you. Just - not like this. Not because - not because I can’t control myself. I want us to do it because we both want to. I want it to be special.”

Nico considers. “Will you tease me if I tell you that everything we do together is special?”

Will huffs out a laugh, warm on Nico’s neck. “Maybe a little. But… I feel that way too. Obviously.”

“What do we do, then?” Nico asks.

Because the thing is, Nico’s first impulse, always, is to help Will, in whatever form that might take - just as Will’s done for him a hundred times over. And if they’re forced to be pressed against each other for hours, still, with the evidence of Will’s arousal trapped between their bodies… Nico can’t think of many solutions. Really just the one, honestly.

“What do we… do? What do you mean?”

“Well,” Nico swallows, trying to summon as much courage as he can. “We’ve still got a long drive ahead of us. The way I see it, we can… take care of this,” he presses his hips back gently, “and then get some sleep. Or, we can wait it out for another…” Nico reaches for Will’s wrist, turning it to squint at his watch, “five hours and twelve minutes.” He presses his lips to Will’s palm, an apology.

Will groans weakly, pressing his face into Nico’s hair. After a long moment Nico feels him take in a deep breath. “Even if we did… like, how…”

Nico squeezes his arms around Will’s where they’re wound around his waist. “You said you wanted us both to want to, right? I want to,” he says softly. “If you don’t, that’s totally okay. But I want you to know that I’m ready whenever you are. Okay?”

“Okay,” Will whispers after a long moment.

“Okay?”

“Okay. I - I think I want to.”

“Yeah?” Nico feels a grin blooming across his face, butterflies erupting in his stomach.

Are they actually doing this?

“Yeah,” Will breathes. “But like… how would we - what do we even -”

“Like this?” Nico rolls his hips once, then again. Slow, careful, trying to concentrate pressure on the bulge pressing into his ass.

“Oh,” Will breathes against his neck. His hips jerk up, just the tiniest bit, and Nico’s face floods with warmth.

“Is that okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Would that… work?” Nico asks, hoping very much that Will understands his meaning and he won’t be forced to explain himself more explicitly.

“Um. Yeah,” Will breathes. “Yeah.”

“Want me to keep going?”

“Yes.” Will sounds certain about this, and it makes Nico’s breath catch.

“Tell me if you want to stop?”

Will nods.

They’re actually doing this.

Then - “wait.” Will’s hold tightens, and Nico freezes.

“Kayla and Austin?” Will whispers.

Nico blinks, taking a moment to register what his boyfriend is asking. “Oh - sleeping. Both of them.”

“Okay,” Will breathes. “Argus?”

“Um. Not sleeping. But that’s what you want in a driver, usually.”

Will giggles, nervous. Then he shifts just the slightest bit under Nico, an invitation. Nico takes a sharp inhale, resuming the measured rolling of his hips, a slow grind into his boyfriend’s erection. Will lets out a soft, desperate sound, then presses his face into Nico’s neck, hard, as if he’s trying to pretend he didn’t.

“Okay?” Nico whispers. He wishes he could properly see Will’s face, have a better gauge of how the other boy is feeling. Next time, he hopes. The thought makes his stomach flutter pleasantly.

“Mmm,” Will responds, almost as if the sound is being pushed out of him. Nico feels him swallow, hears his inhale and the parting of Will’s lips, like he wants to say something more.

“Yeah?” he asks, needing to know.

“Yeah,” Will breathes. “You’re really really good at that,” he whispers in a rush.

Nico chokes down a giggle. “I’ve literally never done this before in my life.” His voice comes out incredulous, a bit squeaky, and Will snorts, then dissolves into a fit of giggles, his arms tight around Nico’s middle, laughter huffed out into Nico’s hair. It’s contagious, and they press against each other, giddy, shaking with soft laughter.

Nico turns his head for a kiss and though the angle is awkward, Will responds eagerly. He always does.

They part, and Nico presses his head against Will’s, resuming the motion of his hips, pressing down and back, and Will lets out another soft sound, his hands hesitantly moving to Nico’s thighs. Nico rests his hands on the other boy’s, encouraging.

“I love you,” he whispers, and Will takes a long, shuddering breath.

Sometimes, when Will’s feeling anxious, he’ll tell Nico, “talk to me,” and Nico will murmur any soothing thing he can think of - you’re okay, I’m right here, everything’s fine, breathe. He does something similar now, grinding against his boyfriend in the back of a van - I love you so much, Will, you’re so beautiful, I love the way you kiss me.

The effect on the other boy is intoxicating, Will’s breath coming rougher against Nico’s skin, his body tensing, not with nerves this time, but with pleasure, anticipation. There’s a rush of heat through Nico’s body, too, but he does his best to put that aside. This isn’t about him. Apart from the arousal though, this feels… good. Right. It feels really nice to take care of Will this way.

Will takes a shaky little breath in, pressing a hot kiss to the back of Nico’s neck, then another, and another, nuzzling. Nico’s eyes flutter shut.

“Um,” Will whispers against his skin.

“Okay?” Nico pauses.

“Yeah. Could you um… could you do that… more?” Will asks. Soft, shy, breathless.

“More?”

“H-harder?” Will whispers, almost too soft to hear.

Nico feels a dizzy rush of heat to his lips, tingling down to his fingers.

“Yeah. Yeah, of course.”

Nico shifts forward a bit, bracing a forearm on the seat back in front of them and grinding back, hard. Will lets out a quiet moan, his hips jerking up, involuntary. Electricity sparks through Nico’s body and he digs his heels into the floor of the van. Harder.

“Nico. Fuck,” Will breathes. Nico can feel every ounce of tension in the other boy’s body, coiled like a spring. He’s squirming a little, a bit more with each movement of Nico’s hips, and Nico abruptly registers that Will’s squeezing his thighs in a gentle rhythm, tugging him in with each motion of Nico’s hips, guiding him into the rhythm that Will needs to get off.

Gods.

“Tell me how?” Nico whispers, unsteady, mostly just wanting the reassurance that this is still okay, that Will’s not going to regret this.

“It’s - it’s good. That’s - you’re - it’s really good. It feels - fuck,” Will gasps, sounding as if he’s having difficulty piecing words together. Nico glances back to see Will’s head tilted against the seat, eyes squeezed shut, lips parted. And fuck. Will is always, always gorgeous. Breathtaking, luminous. But this - knowing it’s the two of them together making Will feel this way, that it’s Nico causing this… gods. He’s hooked, lost in it.

“Keep going?” Nico whispers.

“Yes. Please.”

Will’s grip on his thighs is hard enough to bruise now, and Nico’s struck rather violently by the thought that he hopes it will, that he wants to see the evidence of this, later. It sends a rush of heat to his groin. Is that… weird? Now is probably not the time to examine that, he decides.

Nico’s sweaty, dizzy, his back beginning to ache with the motion of his hips. He leans back, turns his head towards Will’s, pressing messy kisses and murmured words wherever he can reach; “you’re so gorgeous, Will, I love you, it’s okay, baby, I’ve got you.”

“Oh,” Will gasps, sharp, and his hands shoot to Nico’s waist, fingers curling around hip bones. He pulls Nico in hard, thrusting up once, twice, and then Will’s body is trembling, hips jerking helplessly, mouth pressed into Nico’s shoulder as he tries to stifle a moan.

He finally goes limp, sweaty and spent, and Nico flops back as Will’s arms wind around his waist, his chest heaving. Will drops his head heavily to Nico’s shoulder.

Nico strokes Will’s arm gently, warmth blooming in his chest, a slow smile spreading across his face.

“Wow,” he whispers, finally. He feels light, warm.

“Wow,” Will giggles. He presses kisses to Nico’s shoulder, then his neck, finally burying his nose in Nico’s hair.

“Um. I really like it when you call me baby,” Will mutters, sounding embarrassed.

Nico blinks. Then, “oh.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll. Um. That’s - good to know.”

Will laughs, breathless.

Nico closes his eyes, still smiling, soothed by the sensation of Will’s breath rocking their bodies together as he floats back down. Just the two of them surrounded by the hum of the van and stacks of boxes and the night sky.

“I love you,” Will whispers, when he’s finally caught his breath.

“Love you too,” Nico murmurs, turning his head towards his boyfriend, pressing a clumsy kiss to his jaw. “That was - that was okay, right? We’re okay?”

“Yeah, of course,” Will says. “Better than okay.” He turns his head towards Nico and they manage a few clumsy kisses, off-centre, messy.

“Um,” Will nuzzles against Nico’s face, sounding shy. “I um… I want it to be your turn. Next time.”

“Oh.” Nico’s stomach flip-flops pleasantly. “Yeah, that sounds… yeah. Okay,” he manages. “Not like - not now, though.”

Will laughs, soft. “Not now. I was thinking somewhere with a bit more privacy.”

Nico can only manage a nod, then a couple of deep breaths, trying valiantly to focus his attention anywhere other than next time and more privacy. Will’s back to nuzzling, which doesn’t especially help.

Will sighs, breath brushing Nico’s skin. “I feel all… dopey and cuddly.”

“So just like usual, then,” Nico teases.

Will giggles.

“Feel like you could nap now?” Nico asks finally, soft. He can feel tiredness pulling at his own body, and Will’s right there behind him like a favourite pillow.

“Yeah, probably.”

“I’ve got you, baby,” Nico murmurs again, squeezing Will’s arms.

Will giggles, the sound drifting into a contented hum. “I’ve got you, too.”

___

Notes:

1. Weirdly, the next thing I plan to post has nudity but no sex.

2. Look, I have no idea why they had to drive to Pittsburgh to pick up medical supplies. They didn't tell me.

[keithsandwich]

Once upon a dream...

Pairing: Keith and Alter!Keith/OC (July)

Word Count: ~3k

Tags: Fairy Tale AU, Princess!July, Masquerade, Memory Loss, Arranged Marriage, Drinking.

Notes: This is my gift for @queengiuliettafirstlady for the Secret Santa Event hosted by the amazing @lemeowade ♡ I took the liberty of writing July, and I hope you like it, Julie!! I really enjoyed creating something for you, my dear!

(Watch out for fairy godmother!Clavis, heehee)

Thank you @nightghoul381 for beta reading!

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a princess who had a dream. In this dream, she found herself alone in a magical forest where colorful and fragrant flowers of all kinds bloomed across the ground and up the tree trunks. The gentle moonlight filtered through the foliage, and a soft mist veiled the beautiful vision, giving it an ethereal touch.

The princess believed herself alone in this forest. She sighed in relief and awe. Life hadn't been easy for her, as she faced pressure to marry a foreign prince she didn't love soon. Being there felt like exactly what she needed to find peace. The princess had always loved nature, and enjoying its beauty in this personal refuge made her smile the most sincere smile she had in months. She searched for a tree under which she could sit, allowing herself to close her eyes and be enveloped by the wonderful scent of the flowers as she hoped for better days.

Without her noticing, shadows began to invade her personal sanctuary, casting their dark cloak over the vibrant leaves and flowers. They ominously approached the resting princess, and when she finally sensed a disturbance in her perfect dream, the shadows' hand was already prepared to close its grip on her.

Terrified, the princess threw her arms in front of her face in a desperate attempt to protect herself when she felt it was too late. What came next, however, was a beautiful light radiating in front of her. Slowly, she lowered her arms and saw the most amazing vision. A mythical stag was standing between her and the shadows, his mighty antlers threatening the darkness and pushing it away from the princess. Her heart was leaping inside her chest before the mesmerizing scene unfolded, not because she was scared, but because the light emanating from the stag was made of love. Love for her. A love she had never felt before.

When he turned to her with a reassuring, yet docile, golden stare, she knew she loved him too.

When Princess July woke up, all she could think of was that stag and how she yearned to find him.

.

Keith scratched his head when he saw the palace glowing in beautiful lights as night fell. By now, he was used to seeing the palace during the day as he delivered crops and grains directly to the kitchen. It had been part of his job for the past few months, after he found himself in strange fields without knowing how he ended up there… Or who he was. Mrs. Yuel had found him wandering confused, and was kind enough to find him a position on her farm. “There’s always work to do for a strong young lad like you!”, she had told him, and he had been helping her ever since, in the fields and making those deliveries throughout the city.

That night it was different, however. His last delivery was at the tavern, and once there he saw the taverner was busy preparing a delivery himself — wine, for the masquerade ball at the palace. Naturally, Keith knew nothing of it. A simple farmer boy with no memory would never get an invitation, after all. But seeing the taverner having a hard time carrying the wine barrels, he offered to help him, and this is how he ended up seeing the palace as he never had seen it before. Busy, the air filled with buzzing and chattering as servants hustled about, preparing meals that smelled so enticing, they made his mouth water. Beautiful, with flowers ornamenting all around. And downright glowing, as if the building was inside a dream that evoked a sense of nostalgia within him, though he couldn't understand why.

“If only you had the right attire, you could go in unnoticed, boy,” the taverner said to him with laughter in his voice when Keith returned to the cart after leaving the last barrel in the kitchen.

“I’m sorry; I wasn’t supposed to be so amazed by all this, was I?” Keith shook his head as he sat beside the taverner in the cart. He didn’t expect the taverner would realize the mysterious longing in his eyes as he looked at the palace. He felt like a force inside was calling out to his heart, but it was clear that the masquerade was not meant for someone like him.

"Nah, I used to be amazed too in my time," the taverner studied Keith in silence with sudden attention. "You know what? Once I stole a noble's suit just so I could crash a palace ball. It wasn't a masquerade, though, and my manners quickly denounced me. I couldn't even finish a dance before I was thrown out!" He laughed, and Keith wondered where he was going with this. He didn’t have to wait much longer, however. "I might still have that suit somewhere; I could lend it to you!"

“You don’t have to! I… Ah…” Keith closed his eyes shut when the world started to spin and grow dark. His fingers grabbed the wooden seat under him, squeezing it as hard as he could to steady himself. That feeling seemed familiar, but he couldn’t recall the last time it happened — the last time he was enveloped by that void until there was… Nothing. “Actually, I would like to take a look at it, if it’s not a problem for you,” the other Keith, the one who took control of that body, said with a smile and a sudden gleam in his golden eyes.

The taverner didn’t wait; he took the reins and set the horses in motion. As it turned out, inside an old chest on the second floor of the tavern, where he lived, lay a complete suit — fancy with golden embroideries on dark green velvet. The only thing lacking was the mask, but as Keith arrived at the front gardens of the palace, an enigmatic figure in purple and wearing a leopard mask stopped him in his tracks.

“My, my! A gentleman cannot possibly attend a masquerade without a mask! It would be a scandal! Lucky for you, I happen to have an extra mask that will look just perfect on you!” The mysterious man said excitedly, handing Keith a golden mask with green gems forming the shape of vines around stag’s antlers.

Then he vanished among the crowd, as mysteriously as he had appeared.

Keith didn’t question it. The mask looked, indeed, perfect for him.

.

The ballroom was a display of wealth and glamor, with the most beautiful flowers hanging from the walls and countless candles shining their light like golden stars all across the room. Both royalty and nobles from all places showed off their fancy clothes and graceful manners as they chatted with each other and danced to the joyful songs played by the orchestra. But no matter how flawlessly elegant everything looked, nothing could impress July or make her feel the same wonder she felt in her dream. Although she was born a princess, July had always cherished the simple things the most, and all those fanciness only made her want to run away from there and seek solace in the woods that surrounded the palace, where everything was quieter and truer. The trees wouldn't pretend to like her just to take advantage of her status. The birds wouldn't lie to her. No leaf believed itself to be better than anyone else.

And most of all, the deer that ran free wouldn't trap her in an arranged marriage just to try to consolidate their power.

When the man wearing a peacock mask and dressed in green, turquoise and black approached her and took her hand in his, her skin crawled. The mask couldn't hide the man underneath it or his bad intentions. July knew it was Prince Fernand, unfortunately her fiancé. She pulled her hand back as fast as she could before he could kiss it, or worse — take her for a dance.

“Princess, don’t be like this… You’re gonna break my heart,” Fernand said, as if he was heartfelt, but July knew better.

“Quit it. I know you only want to marry me to please the King of Jade,” her sweet voice was cold to him, and she crossed her arms against her chest to make it clear she wouldn’t fall for his tricks.

Prince Fernand wasn’t originally the heir to the throne of Jade, a neighboring kingdom by the East. His nephew and true heir, Prince Keith, had conveniently gone missing a few months ago, around the same time Fernand sent the marriage proposal to July’s father. An alliance between the kingdoms would be beneficial to both of them, and taking the initiative to propose one by marriage was a move Fernand wanted to make in order to ascertain his position as heir in case his nephew was found, but by now, the hopes were low and as far as he's concerned, Keith was as good as dead already.

“Prince Fernand! Fancy seeing you here. Can I borrow your attention for a minute? I really wish to discuss some business that might interest you…” One of the princes of Rhodolite interrupted them, much to July’s relief, and Fernand couldn’t avoid the insistent stare of the man in purple with a leopard mask.

“Be glad you’re getting married to me instead of that failure. At least I won’t embarrass you, princess,” Fernand had a smug smile on his face when he politely bowed to July before leaving with the other prince. She huffed; she would run away from that place if she could.

July had met Prince Keith when they were kids, and they used to play together in the palace when he was visiting. She loved his sweet and kind presence, he had always been so caring towards her she would never call him a failure. Learning he went missing broke her heart. They had lost contact over the past few years, but she had kept the memories in a dear place in her heart.

If only he was found in time, July could be free from that engagement.

She sighed and walked aimlessly, lost in thought. She wasn’t aware someone with golden eyes and wearing a stag mask was looking at her from the other side of the ballroom, captivated by her beauty.

.

Keith had taken a glass of the same wine the failure had helped deliver to the palace. It was a decent wine, but he knew the warm feeling in his chest was caused by something else. Or rather, someone else. He felt the same calling the other Keith felt about that place, and the longing to be there the other was about to dismiss, he embraced with his full self because he just felt, deep in his heart, he needed to be there. And when he saw the green eyes behind the mask of foliage and flowers — a mask fit for a fairy — he was certain she was the reason why.

The woman was visibly in distress after talking to a show-off of a man, someone Keith immediately hated. He felt torn between going after the man and confronting him somehow, and trying to approach her. In the end, he left his glass on a servant’s tray and walked over to her. Her beauty appeared only more and more ethereal as he approached, her scent enveloping him in the most comforting and sweet sensations. In a way, he knew he had met her before. Maybe in some part of his forgotten past. Maybe in a dream. Maybe even in another life. And when he bowed in front of her, taking her hand and watching how, instead of flinching like she did previously with the other man, she let him kiss her fingers politely, Keith knew he was meant to find her.

“May I have this dance, my lady?” He asked her in his most alluring tone, hoping she had felt the same. Hoping she wouldn’t say no.

“Yes,” she answered with a hint of uncertainty, as one would in front of something that evoked feelings so strong one would be afraid of giving in to them. Ultimately, she smiled so beautifully it made Keith hold his breath. “Yes, of course!”

As the music swirled around them, they began to dance. The ballroom seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in a world of their own. Keith himself was surprised to find out he was an excellent dancer, able to guide her with grace and charm, and she responded with equal elegance. During the dance, their eyes locked, and Keith felt that connection that was beyond the present moment. It was definitely as if they shared a history that transcended time. The woman’s green eyes held a hint of recognition, and a mysterious familiarity lingered in the air. When the music slowed, they found themselves in a quiet corner of the ballroom.

"There’s something about you, something that feels so familiar. Have we met before, perhaps in another place or time?" Keith whispered in her ear with a soft voice.

The woman looked into his eyes, a mixture of curiosity and longing in her gaze.

“I’ve felt the same,” she confessed, “as if our paths have crossed in some distant memory… Or in a dream…”

The enigmatic connection between them was undeniable, leaving them both yearning for answers in the midst of the enchanting ball. Kissing her pinkish, full lips felt irresistible, and as natural as breathing. It was as if some invisible force guided them together, and nothing else existed. Keith leaned forward at the same time she reached out to him, and time stopped the moment their breaths mingled and their lips touched. Nothing else existed, and Keith, who had never believed in fairy tales, felt it was a true love’s kiss.

And like a true love’s kiss in a fairy tale, magically his memories returned like a violent stream in his mind first, so much so he had to break the kiss and take a step back to steady himself.

“Are you alright?” The woman touched his shoulders, concerned and trying to help him somehow. Unbeknownst to them, however, the whole ball had come to a halt around them and people were looking in shock at the mysterious man who dared kiss the princess. Even the orchestra had stopped playing, and only surprised whispers and murmurs filled the ballroom.

That until Fernand stormed in from across the crowd, outrage visible behind his mask.

“How dare you kiss my fiancée?” He yelled threateningly. “Who are you? July, do you know this man?”

That voice was painfully familiar to Keith now. He knew exactly who that man was, and all about the terrible crimes he had committed, amongst them, his memory loss. He was the one who had always tried to take his place, and this time, for some reason, he had got what he wanted. Until now, for Keith was about to put an end to Fernand's deeds.

“Indeed, I wonder, who might be this young man?” A cheerful voice broke the tension, as the man in leopard mask and purple suit approached Keith, with amusement in his eyes. Keith could recognise him as well now as Prince Clavis, and he wondered how come he was a few steps ahead there. “Perhaps you should take off your mask and reveal yourself to my offended friend, don’t you think?”

Keith looked at July, who had stayed by his side, no matter how nervous she seemed to be with the situation they were in. He knew who she was too. The other Keith had been infatuated with her before, although he couldn’t name that feeling, and when he met her, he felt the same thing. July had always made them feel so comfortable and cherished, but instead of declaring their feelings, they tried to protect her from the abnormality they were, and from Fernand. It wasn’t of no use, however, for fate wanted them together, and Keith would no longer fight it.

He smiled reassuringly at her, and took off his mask to face the one he would fight now.

The gasps and whispers were louder now, and he could hear some nobles clearly stating in surprise, “Isn’t that Prince Keith?”, “I thought he was dead!”. But his golden eyes were dangerously focused on Fernand, who looked back at him with disbelief. If they had their swords on, they would be dueling right now, but in the middle of the elegant ball, their clash should be different.

“Fernand, you thought I was dead, didn’t you?” Keith’s tone held a mixture of accusation and cold certainty. “But here I stand, alive and ready to put an end to your deceit and treachery.”

Fernand, caught off guard, struggled to mask his shock with a facade of arrogance. “You should have stayed hidden, Keith, like you always do when things get complicated!”

“Never again, Fernand!” With a determined gaze, Keith stepped forward, each stride echoing with purpose. His voice, steady and resolute, cut through the murmurs. “This man tried to get rid of me, the true heir of Jade, to take my place. It is because of him that I’ve lost my memories and wandered for months without knowing who I was. But now I remember, and I will take him back to Jade to make him pay for his crimes!”

Instantly, the ball erupted into chaos. In the tumult, every noble and royal turned against Fernand with disapproving glares. Cornered and desperate, Fernand attempted to flee, but with calculated precision, Prince Clavis strategically positioned his leg in Fernand’s path, resulting in a trip and an amused “Oopsie”. That’s when the once-overconfident peacock knew he had no choice but to face the consequences of his actions.

“Are you alright?” Prince Keith turned to July. He wasn’t used to showing his feelings of worry, but he held her in his arms, feeling the tension leave her body little by little and feeling an immense comfort in that. July really was special to him, magically so, and he was sure now more than ever that the connection they shared was otherworldly.

“I am now…” She said, with her characteristic sweetness.

And that’s how they started living their dream.

[everythingblreview]

Regarde moi (Kawase/Tamamori SS) Translation

Hello fellow Kawatama simps. Today I bring you yet another short story translation. In my and editor-san 2′s opinion the most romantic SS of these two so far. This story has a second part, I eventually will end up doing too. Please enjoy~

Regarde moi*

The shadows, spurred on by the setting sun, begin to spread, an orange light emits from the damp gas lamps as they start to burn.

It was a certain day in June. Like last year, this year’s weather conditions were also requesting you to wear a cloak.

I quickly make my way through the city weaving through gaps of people. When I finally arrive at Ikeda mansion, I cautiously stop at the front of the door.

…What should I say before “I’m home”. Tamamori-kun is narrow-minded that’s why, he would never forgive me for arriving home late on such an important day. I probably can’t even enjoy his usual cute-looking angry face to my satisfaction today. That’s how much I messed up. To be honest, it is my fault.

“Kawase-san didn’t do anything wrong…. If you talk with him about the reason, he will surely understand.” The frog, who became emotionally attached to me, consolingly says, while sitting on top of my shoulders out of nowhere. Unfortunately for me, this guy can read my inner feelings, and occasionally would redirect them into Tamamori-kun’s heart. …Is he an illusion? Or a ghost? Anyways, I have no intention explaining the whole situation to this frog.

Without deciding what to tell Tamamori-kun, I open the door. …As I do so, a surprising smell welcomes me. Warmer than any other house, the smell of dinner. A gentle aroma drifts from the kitchen into the living room.

Without being able to turn back, slowly, with soft steps I walk along the corridor.

Then, as I open the living room door, the scene before my eyes astonishes me.

“!” The sofa and the coffee table are put away and instead in their place stands a table as high as my waist. It is never used and is usually sitting in an empty room. The dust was cleanly wiped off and plates are lined up. He was probably cooking until now, the room is still slightly warm.

“…Tamamori-kun, ...” Tamamori-kun, who is most likely responsible for this empty room, is sitting on a chair with his arm crossed. He seems to be mad after all, his back is facing me.

“You’re late!!!”

The volume of his voice is so strong that it could shake the room. “What day is today?!” “Your birthday.” “That’s right. That’s why, isn’t it the most important thing right now?” “…”

“Despite it being my own birthday, I prepared a luxurious feast for this sweetheart here, and you’re so heartless and late, veryyy late. Eh, i-it’s….”

“It’s 10 in the evening.”

“It’s 10 in the evening you asshole!!!”

“…You’re really angry.”

“Angry? This is a misunderstanding. I’m not angry at all!!!” Wanting to be forgiven by him, I sit down in the front chair. Did he eat the last dish earlier? One side of his cheek has a bulge. Then he turns away and swallows his last bite. “I’m sorry Tamamori-kun.” “I told you, I’m not angry!” “But you also won’t look me in the eyes?” “Well, that’s because I’m angry!!!” Now he is contradicting himself.  If I continue to nudge him even further, I will only put fuel into fire. So, I take off my coat and hat for the time being. “Don’t just relax all of a sudden!” “I ran so I’m sweaty.” “Until I say it’s fine, stay as you are! Go on, reflect on your actions!” But still it’s hot, I can’t help myself. Since he doesn’t pay attention to what I just said, he grinds his teeth out of anger and crosses his arms and feet annoyed. “Tamamori-saaan, that’s not really mature. Please listen to what Kawase has to say seriously.” “Are you on Kawase’s side?” “I just don’t want you two to fight! And it’s not Kawase-san’s fault that he’s late.” “…” “He got involved into an incident…” “…Where?” “In Ginza…” “It’s his fault for going to a place like that.” “The shop assistant Kawase-san talked to, suddenly collapsed!” “…” “His face turned blue very fast, and he suddenly started to vomit foam…It was symptoms of poison…” “…”

“It was murder! Kawase-san suspected that it would be bothersome and tried to leave that place! …However he was unlucky and ran into a crime police officer who recognized him, and he forced him to show his detective abilities…” “So who was the culprit!? …No forget it!! …Being late and being late. Even though you said you would come home at 6, it’s your fault for making a stop on the way!” I somehow want to make Tamamori-kun turn his face towards me. But I can’t think of something other than a prank that would make him angry. I created silence unexpectedly by not saying anything.

….Did Tamamori-kun received recipes from the café? The room smells strongly of French dishes. I can’t eat anything made by other people. But it’s a different story with the food he makes. …This is how a dog probably feels after he did something bad and is not being fed anymore.

Even so, I have to show him some honesty. “Hey, Tamamori-kun.” “…” “Hey.” “Shut up.” “Just lend me your left hand only.” “…I-I’ve seen completely through your thinking!” “?” “Last night, you touched my left hand strangely too! There is no mistake, you were measuring something...” He was awake. That’s embarrassing. Then he turns his face to the other side and points his tight gripped hand towards me. “Here! I’m lending it to you. Be grateful.” “…” Even if I touch his hand it doesn’t look like his grip will loosen. Rather than loosen, his arm also shows not even a slight movement, it’s as firm as metal. Well, it’s just right for me if he holds it like this. I put a wristwatch around his arm. “…?” Was he expecting a different kind of sensation? Tamamori-kun looks surprised. …Even if he is mad and troubled, such an honest reaction from him is amusing and makes me almost laugh. However, I’m not allowed to yet, that’s why I keep a serious appearance and look at him.

“Isn’t this, a watch?” “I bought it in Ginza.” “It’s a terriblyyyyy expensive item!”

Even though I fastened the belt of the wristwatch, Tamamori-kun is trembling, is he not familiar with it? He also completely forgot his anger, and then turns his body towards me.

“H-h-how much…?” “You really have no charm… You don’t have to worry about such things.” “Still….Money is not infinite, you know?” “I don’t buy things without meaning.” “Uh huh…” “Honestly, what did you think I would get you?” “!?” “Something to put on your finger?” “…, what…!?” “You were even the one who suggest to celebrate your birthday. Have you been influenced by western countries lately? “~…” “…Are you unhappy with the watch? I’m worried about that.” “I-I’m happy with it. Of course…” “That’s good then.”

Finally, I can laugh from the heart too. I let a natural sign of relieve and sink into the chair. In a moment, Tamamori-kun takes off the wristwatch. “!?” “I could break it…So I’ll take it off for now…” “It’s expensive enough not to break, sturdy and a first-class item!!” “But you see, it’s a waste on me…” “You really are amazing…I have no bad intentions and you are crushing my feelings with your foot like that...” “It’s better if well-made things like that are cherished… Ah, that’s right! I’ll drive a nail into the wall and hang it up.” “Hold on…”

I forgot that Tamamori-kun is a thickheaded guy. Maybe it would have been easier if I just picked some flowers on the roadside and gifted them to him.

Thanks to the expensive watch, he is walking around the room in high-spirit. It’s almost like he can’t decide a position for the household shrine.

“What should we do Kawase-san…! If this continues, he will hang it on the wall!” “Ah-…. What to do…”

This is rather interesting too. A watch is something you should only gift to important people. This wristwatch matches with the one I’m also wearing on my left arm. It’s ticking at the same time as the one Tamamori-kun has. I wanted him to wear it all the time without taking it off, no matter where he goes, so he can always feel my presence…

Well, it’s fine. Tamamori-kun seems happy, that’s enough for me.

I’ll save my congratulations for tonight.

*(Translator note: The title is referencing to one track of Hashihime’s own soundtrack which always plays when Tamamori is meeting Kawase at the café, it’s French for “Look at me”.)

[ellieslittlebitch69]

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Hey besties :)) I'm baked and decided to put out another chapter ;) Let me know what you think so far!! And thank you for the love so far, you're all so sweet!

Prologue: Home Is Where The Heart is

Home Is Where The Heart Is: Chapter One 

------

It’s been weeks since i’ve arrived in Jackson, and not once have I slept through the night. 

David taunts me in my dreams, reminding me of everything he’s stolen. My family, my body, my sanity. My rest, apparently too. Just as I escape one horror, closing my eyes sinks me into the next. My eyes burn and itch throughout the days, a light pink hugh shadowing them.

A few days ago, I was finally able to trade the wheelchair for some sturdy crutches. I’ve already eaten shit a good few times, in public to my dismay. They lie next to me as I sit in front of the fireplace, drying my hair as I wait for Tommy.

We’ve formed somewhat of an understanding. He stops by every morning, watching me take my pills and eat something for breakfast, smiling as he watches me eat. By nightfall he returns, with dinner and always begs me to come into town. Ever since the incident, though, I’ve locked myself away at home.

I still find myself thinking about her, Ellie. I see her and Joel walking home from the square at night, practically glued to one another’s side. Sometimes, it makes me think of father. I wonder how he would like Jackson, or the people around us. Maybe we’d be living here together.

Just as I let my mind begin a dark turn, I hear my door pound, “Door’s open, Tommy.”

The door stays still for a moment, and I wonder what is taking so long until the door opens and… Tommy isn’t standing there, holding a plate of white pasta and a glass of orange juice.

Ellie is.

I take a deep breath, “Oh, did you come to fight? Kind of petty not to wait until I'm able.”

She’s silent for a moment, before willing a smile onto her lips. She’s wearing a pair of dark denim, a maroon long sleeve shirt, with matching tennis shoes. Like always, her hair pulled back to reveal her ocean eyes. It was like torture.

“Tommy and Joel are on late night patrol… so I thought I could bring you dinner.”

Ellie doesn’t move from her spot by the door, holding the tray with both hands. She avoids eye contact like the plague.

My lips twitch into a smile, “and how do I know you didn’t poison it?”

She ignores my comment as she walks forward, setting the steaming plate in front of me. It smells of roast chicken and garlic, instantly making my mouth water. By the time I look up at her again, she’s staring at me intently.

She takes a deep breath, “Joel and Tommy thought it would be best if I… apologize, for the other night.”

“Oh?”

Ellie holds herself together strong, but I can see the quivers in her arms as she stands there. Her eyes shift with uncertainty, never quite meeting a particular target. It was almost funny to watch, seeing this tough girl seemingly fall apart.

“Well,” I start. “Lets hear it, then.”

A nervous laugh escapes her lips, “I did? That was my apology.”

“You fucking suck at apologizing, Ellie.”

We stare at each other for a moment, before bursting into laughter. The second one of us would stop, the other would snort so loud it would trigger another fit. Laughing like this felt good, really good. I can’t remember the last time I felt like this.

Ellie takes a seat next to me on the couch, propping her feet up on the coffee table. As she got comfortable, I took the time to completely devour my plate, barely even chewing. The sauce was savory and filled with herbs, while the chicken was juicy and tender. By the time I was finished, I couldn’t help but let out a burp.

She lets out a deep sigh, “I remember my few weeks. I ate so much I looked pregnant.”

“Yeah, well I miss having boobs,” I laugh, licking my fingers. “I look like a little boy.”

Ellie looks down at her own chest with a frown, “At least you’ve HAD them, i don’t think i’ll ever get any.”

We burst out laughing again, and I take this opportunity to look at her. The freckles splayed out on her cheeks, underpainted with a deep blush. Her nose, curved and tiny, like a little button. The way she’d bat her eyelashes. It was all too much.

She catches her breath, “I really am sorry, for the other day. I’m just not used to being around… nice people.”

“Who said anything about being nice?” I reply, looking over at her soft expression. “No, really it’s okay. I’m sorry for staring.”

“Why were you staring, anyway?”

I look at her for a moment, puzzled. Either I can tell her the truth, that I find her absolutely breathtaking. That the sight of her made me stop in my tracks and smile. Or, I can lie. And based on how creepy the truth sounds, I take the lying approach.

I inhale, “I don’t think I've ever really seen anyone my age before. Every settlement I've ever been to has been overflowing with old people.”

This makes her laugh, “That sounds… awful. I hate old people.”

“Well you sure do seem to love Tommy and Joel.”

I wish I could take it back, the look on her face lowers for a moment. Her mouth gapes like a fish, trying to decide what to say before ultimately closing multiple times. 

She lets out a small smile, “yeah, well. I guess family is different.”

I think back on what Tommy said, my first night. It was hard to think I could have found my place, my people here. I’m still waiting for the punch in the gut, when these people finally show their true colors and I’ll have to flee. But, for some reason I don’t see it coming.

Ellie makes herself comfortable, as she tells me the stories of her previous mission with Joel. Traveling across the country, to be reunited with the Fireflies. She never tells me why, and I don’t ask. Hours flow by, and I notice her mannerisms. The way she bites her pinky when she’s nervous. Licking her chapped lips between sentences. Her voice getting louder when she gets to an exciting part of the story.

As she comes to an end, her eyes glance over to my bow, “Oh my god, that is sexy.”

“Sexiest thing i’ve ever seen,” I laugh, running my finger tips over its arch. “It was my father’s, he carved it before the apocalypse.”

I hand it to her, watching as she runs her fingers over the black-stained bow. The intricacies carved into the sides. It makes me smile, knowing fathers work will be appreciated even after he’s long gone. 

Ellie looks up, “I’m sorry he couldn’t make it with you.”

I shrug her off, “Oh well, that’s life. He’d love it here, though.”

“The food is great.”

I crack a smile, looking at the bow. “Oh yeah, he’d love that too. But, he always dreamed of living in peace again. Just existing instead of surviving. And you guys have beer? Woah.”

We stare at each other for a minute, and I find myself getting sucked into her eyes again. It was a trap, really. Like a magnet, I feel our faces slowly come closer to each other.

Which is then interrupted by Tommy and Joel, crashing open the door. Ellie stumbles back, laying back on the couch while I run my fingers through my hair with a nervous laugh. Fuck.

“Well I’ll be damned,” Tommy chuckles. “Look at that. big brother. They didn’t kill each other.”

Joel lets out a laugh, eyes glancing to my empty plate. The smile stays glued to my face as he approaches the coffee table, looking over me again for a moment. His fingers come to his watch, stroking the leather slowly. 

He lets out a sigh, “Alright, Ellie. You need some sleep, you have school tomorrow.”

Ellie let’s put a huff, “What’s even the point? It’s not like I have to go to college?”

I had never been able to go to a school before, besides bible study. Mama, for the most part, taught me everything I knew. What plants to forage, how to read and write, basic math. 

“School?” I ask, looking over to Tommy. “There’s school here, too?”

“Why yes there is,” he says with a smile. “We didn’t wanna overwhelm you, though. If you don’t-“

“I wanna go to school, please I am so bored. If I can't go hunting yet I might as well thump some books.”

Tommy and Joel glance at one another, contemplating for a moment, while Ellie gives me a nervous smile. I can’t look at her straight on though, without my cheeks bursting with a blush.

Joel nods, “Sounds good. Ellie will pick you up tomorrow at 8.”

“You’re not even gonna ask-“

“No, because I told you to Ellie.” Joel shoots me a wink before helping Ellie off the couch. 

The both of them stare into each other's eyes, challenging silently before Ellie backs down, looking over her shoulder at me with a half smile.

“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at eight.”

——

Ellie walks me to school every morning with a smile. There was never a dull moment between us, and the second there was silence she would slip out a joke book from her back pack. The jokes were stupid, but the way her face would light up everytime she told one made my heart erupt. In a way, she reminded me of Bonnie. There was still a touch of innocence. I want to be jealous of her, somehow traveling across the country with her family intact and a smile on her face. But I couldn't help but be happy for her. It must be nice.

It’s been a few weeks, and I’m officially free from the crutches. Despite a slight limp, I’m almost fully healed. I sit at my desk in the study, writing a two page paper for English. Ellie complained when our teacher assigned the work, but it made me smile. A little distraction never hurt anyone.

Tomorrow is my first day on the hunting crew. I’ve been assigned with Joel and Jesse, a young boy a few years ahead of me. My body shakes and twitches with excitement, to finally return to the woods, to run my fingers across the string of the bow. To prove that I am worthy to live in the community.

Just as I begin to write my final paragraph, I hear a low crash in the living room. I drop the lead pencil, freezing in my place. The crashing continues, footsteps increasing pace towards the door.

Without second thought, I grab and load my bow, staring intently at the door. I can hear glass crunching under someone’s thick boots, causing me to inch forward. The door opens and I pull the string back, and just as I’m about to release the arrow between their collarbones, I see the blue eyes.

“Ellie?” I sigh, dropping the bow to my side. “What the fuck is wrong with you? I almost killed you, dumbass.”

A smile eases on her lips, as her arms raised in surrender in the air. “I’m sorry, sorry. I was gonna knock, but I wanted to see if your windows lock.”

“Oh my god Ellie, did you break my fucking window?”

“No, no!” She sighs, “But I may have knocked over a lamp or two climbing in.”

Rolling my eyes, I set the bow down on my desk with a frown, “If you’re here to copy my essay, I’m not even finished yet.”

She laughs, “you’re funny, I haven’t thought of that essay since last week.”

“It’s due in three days, Ellie.”

“Well, then I’ll start it in two.”

We stare at each other for a moment as I begin to catch my breath. She wears a leather jacket way too big for her, jeans, and thick leather boots. Instead of her usual ponytail, though, her hair waves against her red cheeks, ending just below her shoulders. 

I clear my throat, “what are you doing here? I have a shift in three hours.”

“And you’re worried about a dumb paper?” She laughs, “I couldn’t sleep and um..” Her eyes shift to her fingers, rubbing them together nervously.

“And?”

Her eyes don’t leave the floor, “I was wondering if you’d teach me how to shoot.”

I laugh, a deep guttural laugh from deep in my belly. How is this girl even alive if she can’t shoot?

“You can’t shoot a gun?” Her eyes lift to meet mine slowly as I speak, cheeks red with embarrassment.

“I meant the bow you idiot.”

I blink slowly, looking over at the analog clock sitting on the table. 3:26 a.m. There was a part of me that wanted to say no, to tell her that no one else was allowed to use it. But I couldn’t say no to those fucking eyes. 

A sigh escapes my lips, “Oh, okay. Well… are there any targets out here?”

Ellie leads me to the shooting range, off the edge of the town. It’s nothing special, just a few painted targets sitting on an isle in the grass. They look as if they’ve never been touched. I can’t hold my excitement, running forward the second I see them in the horizon.

“Slow down! You shouldn’t be running on that ankle!” 

I look over my shoulder, “fuck off!”

I begin loading the bow just as Ellie reaches me, catching her breath in hitches. Her whole face is painted red, almost making her freckles disappear.

The arrow pierces the air, cutting through it like a sword to meet with the center of the target. I can’t help the smug look on my face as I turn back to Ellie, who’s jaw practically touches her knees.

“Holy shit, man.”

I chuckle, “Alright, now your turn.” I hand her the bow slowly, taking the sheath of arrows off my back and swinging it over her shoulder.

The shots she takes don’t even make it within five feet of the target. She curses, fiddles with her hands, and stomps the ground a few times in defeat. She’s like a tiny dog, all this anger bottled into such a little person.

I can’t watch it anymore, I decide just as she begins to load another arrow. We’ve been out here for almost two hours, and I can slowly see the sun coming up from the horizon. I find myself tentatively holding Ellie’s elbow, helping her take aim.

“What are you doing?” She asks, her breath hitching as she looks over her shoulder.

“I can’t watch you miss again, El, it’s killing me.”

“Fuck you, too,” she scoffs, but not pushing away from my touch.

My heart skips a beat at the nickname, rolling off the tongue before I could stop myself. Her eyes brighten slightly as she turns back around, slowly pulling the arrow back.

“Now, take a deep breath, in through your belly.”

“Wh-”

“Oh my god, Ellie, please just listen.”

She obliged, releasing a deep breath as she stared intently at the target. A shiver runs through my spine as I realize how close we are, goosebumps popping up onto my arms.

“And…release.”

The arrow shoots through the air, whistling in the breeze. I twitch with anticipation, following the arrow to the target. But it doesn’t sink into the isle.

It sinks into Bonnie’s head.

Just as Ellie screams with joy, looking over at me with a smile, I fall to the ground with grief. A piercing scream shoots through my body and into the air, shooting electricity down my spine. I can’t stop the tears, the whimpers, the shaking. I killed my baby sister.

Just as Ellie shoots down beside me, in the distance I see Joel on his horse, yelling my name as I get consumed by darkness.

[munningham]

Chrissy lives AU - what comes next Part 2 (this ended up just being Christmas Break)

Part 1 here

After the night where Chrissy showed up on his doorstep at midnight, Eddie starts sneaking into Chrissy’s room every night once her parents go to bed. He makes her laugh and lets her cry and paints pictures with his words of the amazing life they’re building in Chicago. There’s a lot of hilarious mornings of Chrissy frantically trying to hide Eddie under the bed, in the closet, behind the door, before her mom comes in.

Eddie hears it all though. How Mrs. Cunningham talks to a Chrissy, the endless stream of backhanded compliments and criticisms and always always always comments about her body. Eddie knew Chrissy had it rough and eating disorders are no joke, but actually hearing the monologue that Chrissy has been listening to every day for 18 years.....it takes everything he has to not lose his shit and start screaming. Conformity really is killing the kids.

After the first morning he promises that he won’t leave until after Mrs. Cunningham has done her morning wake up call. He sits with Chrissy after her mom leaves the room and quietly has her repeat her therapist’s affirmations. You are loved. You are enough. Your body works just the way it is. You are strong and capable. She’s a stupid mean old bitch who never deserved you. (That one is Eddie’s).

They exchange gifts Christmas Eve night. It’s unconventional, but there’s something so beautiful about the two of them sitting on her bed with just a small light on, with the moon lighting the room through the snow falling outside. The first gift Eddie gives her he swears is not her real gift, but it makes her burst out laughing. Carefully wrapped in a box is Eddie’s old Black Sabbath tshirt. “I mean, it’s already yours, I hardly get a chance to wear it anymore, I figured we should just make it official” he forlorns, putting on a dramatic show of huffing and sighing like seeing Chrissy in that tshirt isn’t the hottest sight in the universe. Eddie’s next gift is a new necklace. It’s a crystal wrapped in gold wire, on a gold chain. Eddie made it himself, twisting the wire in spirals and swirls and carefully wrapping the ends so there would be no sharp edges. “This stone, it uh, it reflects light. It’s not a flashlight or anything but I just, I liked that it could give you light. And tell me if it’s too heavy, I don’t want it to be uncomfortable.” Chrissy kisses him soundly and wraps her arms around his neck. “I love it Eddie, it’s perfect. And no, it’s not too heavy.” It is weighted, but it’s a comfortable weight. Like it grounds her, she feels its presence when the world starts spinning out of control, like Eddie is there with her. She tells him it’s the best gift she’s ever gotten, but Eddie shyly hands her a third small wrapped box. She instantly takes back her words when she sees what’s inside: a mix tape of Eddie covering her favorite pop songs. George Michael and Cyndi Lauper sung by Eddie’s earnest, raspy voice with his guitar is the most beautiful music in the world. This gift makes her cry.

Chrissy also gives Eddie three boxes. The first is a new set of guitar accessories (slide, clamp, new strings, and a tuner that actually fucking works). She teases him that it’ll take all the fun out of watching him try to tune his guitar by ear or banging his old piece of shit tuner on the coffee table. “Veronica is gonna be so spoiled” Eddie grins. The second small box is a set of shiny black dice with silver numbering. They’re not the cheap dice Eddie’s been using since middle school, they’re really fucking nice. “Where the hell did you find these?” Eddie asks. Chrissy grins. “I asked the guys from the store in Chicago. They gave me their catalogs and let me put in an order through the store.” Eddie is impressed the store employees were even able to have that conversation with her - as loveable as those guys were, they were completely inept at pulling two words together in front of a pretty girl. The third box has a framed collage. It looks like a shadow box for a sports team, but it says “Hellfire Club”. It has the yearbook photos dating back to 1981, where a sophomore Eddie Munson stands grinning with a bunch of other freaks and rebels. Over the years the other kids in the photos change, but Eddie is always there, grinning with his tongue out making devil horns. The last photo Eddie doesn’t recognize. It’s not a yearbook photo. He looks closer and sees Henderson, little Wheeler, both Sinclairs, along with the new faces of Will Byers, Max and El, posing in the theater, proudly wearing their Hellfire T-shirts. “They actually kept it going?” Eddie softly asks. Chrissy grins and nods. “Every other Friday after school. They weren’t thrilled about taking a photo until I told them it was for you. You built something Eddie, you should be proud of it.” Eddie stares at the shadow box some more, with a wide smile on face, until he finally looks up. “You’re amazing Chrissy. God I love you.” “I love you more Eddie”. “Not even possible, princess”

Eddie has to go back for work after Christmas, but Chrissy’s break lasts until the end of January, so he calls in reinforcements from The Party. Between Christmas and the end of January, the Cunningham residence experiences a never ending stream of calls and visitors. Steve drops by to visit some afternoons and charms the pants off of her parents (“You know Chrissy, he’s going through a rough patch right now, but the Harringtons are such a good family, you should ask him over again”). Steve and Chrissy have definitely had very similar experiences, they have some heart to hearts about not living up to expectations and finding your people.

Steve’s presence is also not the worst thing in the world because Jason is also home for Winter Break. Jason stops by one afternoon, but when Steve opens the door and gives him a look, Jason leaves without ever coming in. Chrissy thanks him and then awkwardly tries to explain that Jason might think there’s something going on between them, and don’t get her wrong Steve is a great guy and would be an amazing boyfriend for someone, but she really loves Eddie. Steve smiles and shakes his head and cuts her off.

“Relax Chrissy, I know. Don’t think for a second I don’t see those eyes you and Munson make at each other, Jesus it’s disgusting. I also really don’t feel like being axed or stabbed or whatever these freaks do to guys who hit on their girls.”

Chrissy opens her mouth to object, then sees the smirk on Steve’s face. She lets him continue. “Jason’s an asshole. He’s one of those assholes who’s only ever going to think of girls as property. So, unfortunately that means he’ll only back down if he thinks another guy has “staked his claim” or some other macho bullshit. So if I have to swing by every so often and eat your mom’s sugar free cookies to keep him from bothering you, that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

Chrissy smiles and gives him a warm hug. “You’re a really good guy Steve Harrington. You really don’t have another girl you’d rather be spending the holidays with?” Steve just hugs her back and doesn’t answer.

Robin and Nancy take Chrissy out during the day as much as possible. Nancy is also struggling with college and the pressure to live up to her own expectations and how do you find a normal when you sleep with shotguns and keep flamethrowers in the closet? Even with going to college with Jonathan, it’s still rough. Robin is living her best lesbian life at Smith. The 3 of them have lots of talks about finding yourself and being yourself and what are we supposed to do in this fucked up world anyway.

The Wheelers is still the place to hang out, so Eddie calls their house as often as he can without being annoying so he talk to Chrissy. Nancy runs interference when she needs to. (“She’s not here right now but she’s okay, Eddie, I promise.” “You don’t know what her mom is like Nance.” “I know, I know. I’ll call her after dinner tonight to check on her.”) Chrissy tells Eddie that Jason came by, but Steve scared him off. “So he’s going to uh, just like, “have a presence” I guess, to keep Jason away.” Eddie is not crazy about pretty boy Steve Harrington half-pretending to date Chrissy, but he also knows how dangerous Jason is, and Chrissy is there alone, and the whole damn town is rigged to back their golden boy, and honestly Steve is probably the one guy in Hawkins that Jason won’t take on. That doesn’t stop Eddie from calling up Steve and having a little chat with him, thanking him for helping with Chrissy and Jason but also, “just keep your fucking shirt on this time Harrington.”

[hypengene]

・❥・when you 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝑜𝓃𝑒

𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨: riki x gn!reader

𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘦: fluffiest fluff of all fluffs; bestie -> lovers au

𝘴𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘴: in which your childhood bestie riki starts ignoring you one morning..

𝘢/𝘯: helloo lovely readers!! first one that i am writing, PLEASE give me suggestions and correct anything wrong. having lots of fun writing this one hope you guys enjoy it!

listen to when you love someone by tone stith ft. her while reading pls

flashback 11/30

"morning niki!" you whispered as you entered class late, sitting softly next to riki.

...silence

you tried again "good morning nishimura riki." still no response. you turned your head, looking at him. admiring how his hair softly fell over his eyes, as his eyelashes curling slighty upwards. his sharp, slender nose lying perfectly in the middle of his fa--

woah you thought to yourself. nononono, stop. you shook the thought off, turning your head looking straight at the professor.

why are you ignoring me riki?

present day 12/24 at home

the nishimura family was over for christmas dinner. you guys sat all across the table, and unfortunately, niki right next to you. every since that day, he started ignoring you like you were nonexistent. you gave up. but as hard as you tried, your feelings for niki just never seemed to fade. plus, having him over for the night really isn't helping.

currently, niki and you were in your room. both laying on the bed scrolling through your phones. except for the faint music he was playing on the speakers, it was silence. no lights, no sound, just...silence.

you were getting bored as you guys have already laid here for 2 hours. you turned over, peeking at the clock. it was already 11:30pm.

"hey niki you wanna go wash up, its 11:30" he stood up with no words, heading to the bathroom. you sat on the bed, looking at his tall figure walking with his phone still in hand.

"y/n where's the towel?" niki asked from the bathroom. you walked over, pointing in the cabinet as he bent down and grabbed one. you looked at him, again. staring, staying still as ever. he turned his head and looked at you,

"i know im hot ok, but this staring thing over here is getting a little too intense miss y/n" he laughed. you stared straight into his eyes, but still keeping some distance.

"why were you ignoring for like, a month?"

he kept quiet, switching his gaze to the floor.

i know i ignored you

"riki answer me." he didn't say a word. instead, he walked out of the bathroom to your bed.

im tryna be patient, but i keep on pacin

you stomped in front of your bed. "riki, being ignored is not a good feeling. in fact, it's so bad. so so bad. when i call your name across the hallway, you see me. i know you see me. but why do you just turn your back and leave? when i text you, you just leave me hanging there. if you want our 15 year friendship to end, just tell me. im done with this. im done with being ignored." you said.

we've been runnin away from communication

things were starting to get blurry in front of you, as your eyes started to fill with water. you couldn't see what niki was doing, but suddenly, you felt a strong pair of arms pulling you towards that shadow.

"im sorry y/n." niki whispered in his low voice. as you heard his heart beats against his chest, feeling his hands caressing your hair.

baby let’s face it

"im so sorry y/n. i just wasnt used to this feeling that was overflowing me when i looked at you baby. it was, it was so weird…but i loved it? sometimes i would lay in bed, and all of a sudden you pop inside my brain. without knowing, i would start smiling." he giggled

its just conversation now

“i realized this was wrong, this was different. everytime i looked at you, i couldn’t stop. everytime i was over and you laid your head on my chest, i would tense up, feeling a sense of euphoria rushing over me.”

you lifted your head from his chest, wiping the tears away. seeing his face, his dark, watery orbs, staring straight into yours.

no more temptation, no more misbehavin'

it was just silence. but this time, it was a comfortable silence. two people, that blinded by their love for each other, staring at one another. feeling emotions that cannot be described.

you're pouring your heart to me

how could i let this be?

his dark orbs now slowly moved to your lips, as yours moved to his too. you guys started to lean in, slowly, fluttering your eyes closed.

just needed time to see where i wanna be

the lips met. his fit yours so well, as if they were made for each other. like two magnets, attracted. his soft, delicate, plump lips against yours were like a match made in heaven. they moved in sync, as his hands slowly travelled to your waist, another holding your neck. as your hands rested on his chest for support.

cause i kept it together

this moment. it felt like you've found that lost piece of yourself. this was it. his soft hair under your fingers, your soft hair under his. the puzzle has been complete.

and we're better together

he pulled away, as you opened your eyes. looking down towards the ground. you felt your cheeks warm up, as they were probably tinted with a shade of pink.

and with you it's immense, love

he then put his fingers on your chin, lifting it up until your eyes met his.

"baby, look at me."

only thinking bout what's next, love

you looked at him as he looked at you.

"i love you y/n"

"i love you riki"

forget the rest, love.

[maggicktouched]

@graunblida

I don't even really know what to call this but I wrote it a while back and thought I'd post it. My feelings on it are kinda eh, but I have Many Feelings about Dvalinn so, here it is.

Sweet pink juice poured from the cut in the meat and seeped out across his plate. It surrounded his potatoes before they readily soaked it up, and slithered into his sprouts. He could smell the spices and the unctuous scent of boar—and he could taste metal on his tongue. Without any of his usual respect for propriety, Dvalinn shoved away the plate and stood. The Boudalankru leader, as well as his mothers, paused their conversation to look at him. He could not form a lie, so he left without uttering a single word.

Hopefully his nomon could smooth things over. He didn’t want this to be hard for her. He didn’t want any of this… but he just couldn’t bear it. Not when every time he closed his eyes he could hear the strangled gasps of the bandit king, and see his blade slicing him apart piece by piece. 

“You wish to be heda.” His nomon had said when he balked at the sight of the knife extended to him. “This is what it means. His crimes demand justice.”

He took the knife, he made the cuts where his nomon said, how she said, and with each one he fell a bit further inside himself. If he hadn’t, he might not have survived the ordeal.

He hadn’t been himself since.

They rode back for Polis the next day, and he watched his mothers riding at the front of the procession, talking to one another quietly. Now and again they’d look back at him, and he would pretend not to notice. When they made camp that evening, he watched his mom venture past the safety of the guards and the fires—alone. His nomon remained with her warriors, and no one else seemed concerned that heda’s wife had just waltzed out of camp without protection. What if she was attacked by rebels or highwaymen? What if she got carried away with her own magic and lost herself out there like his uncle Fen said she would?

Dvalinn shifted his skin and sniffed the air until he locked in on his mother’s scent. He loped up the moonlit path and into the brush of the forest where she left no footprints. It was cold outside, and the leaves were rotting. The smell was so overpowering it nearly made him lose the scent. He might not have found her at all if the forest had not been so barren. 

She was sitting on the side of a cliff, her feet dangling precariously over the edge. Her eyes were closed and her head was tilted upward to soak in the light of the full moon. When he shifted back and sat beside her, she smiled sadly.

“You’ll understand if you have children someday.” She told him, putting a hand on his knee. Cloaked in shadows, in the solitude of the evening, he could accept this gentleness. Especially from his mom, who was always gentle. It didn’t feel like a threat.

“Understand what?”

“I love you. I love you so much it aches down in my bones. Your nomon does too. It was only natural to want to protect you.” She sighed, deep and weary in a way that made him want to protect her. “It made you soft.”

He recoiled at the word, scooting back abruptly where she could not reach him. Heat crept up to his cheeks and his chest puffed out with pride and anger to mask his pain. “Soft?”

“I don’t regret it.” She was still giving him that look of wonder–as if he hung the moon up in the sky–only now it was tinged with sorrow. “But I knew the day would come where no one could protect you anymore. Not even me or Lexa.”

His heart was pounding so hard in his chest it was throbbing in his throat, kicking against his uvula, threatening to gag him. She thought he was weak? How could she possibly say that? After all his hard work. After what he’d done to the bandit king.

“I have proven my strength.” He reminded her through gritted teeth. His fingers clenched into fists in his lap.

His mom nodded. “You’re strong. I always knew you’d be strong… but it isn’t strength you need now. It’s resilience. I learned it too young. Your nomon did too. We didn’t want that for you.”

“Mom… what’s happening? What are you talking about?” His mother never talked like this. Was something wrong with her? With nomon? His palms turned wet with sweat. 

Her voice was shaky, and there were tears in her eyes that she didn’t let fall. “Now I can’t protect you anymore.”

He pulled his hand away and tilted his head. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I’d wager you’ve lost ten pounds in the two weeks since you aided in the execution of Staunt kom Ouskejonkru. You barely eat. You wander the Tower all hours of the night because you cannot sleep. You lie to your nomon–to me–and you won’t speak a word to us about it either.” She wiped away a tear that escaped. “You are miserable. I see it, your nomon sees it, I know you see it, but you can’t bring yourself to admit it. It frightens me.”

His jaw clenched. Caught between the pain of so openly hurting his mother, and his stubborn pride, he wasn’t sure what to say. She was giving him a chance, here and now, away from prying eyes, to be weak, and still he couldn’t allow it. He feared that if he did, if even one chip in his armor showed, then it would all crash down around him.

`“You–you and nomon have to trust me.” He scooted a bit closer, trying to catch her eye. “I can do this. Just like she can.”

“I know you can… but do you want to?” She asked quietly—speaking aloud the question he asked himself every day.

“I’ve never wanted anything else.” Was all he could say. It wasn’t a lie. Even if he didn’t want to be commander anymore, he also didn’t really know what he wanted. 

He didn’t have any exceptional aptitude for spellcraft. He wasn’t interested in the military or in being a scholar. He’d only ever wanted to lead and to help people like his nomon. If he wasn’t going to be heda, he feared he wouldn’t be anything. He’d be purposeless. A waste. Either way he’d be miserable, but at least this way he’d be worth something.

“I see.” Her lips pursed into a thin line. She plucked tufts of grass out of the ground absentmindedly as she looked up at the moon, and he didn’t know what to say. The truth—how he really felt—would wound her too much.

“You know I almost got married before your nomon?”

The news shocked him so much it wrestled a laugh from his throat. “No?”

She smiled thinly. “I did. You remember Harper Byrns?”

“No way! The Fox Clan general?!” He sat up a bit straighter. “The one everyone’s terrified of?”

His mom snorted. “Yes well, not everyone. I loved her very much.”

He frowned. He’d never had much time for crushes or dating. They were fickle and a waste of the future commander’s time. If love was meant to find him, it would. Just like it had found nomon.

“So, why didn’t you? Marry her?”

“I was frightened.” She let out a wistful sigh. “I’d spent my whole life running away. My mother hadn’t wanted me, my people were afraid of me, and even though my brother wanted me, he couldn’t stop hurting me. So my whole life all I did was run away to the wilderness, convinced I could never fit anywhere or with anyone. Even if it was brutal at times, it understood me. And I understood it. Being in the wild, running free, only worried about myself, it wasn’t always easy, but it was simple, and it made me happy. It was where I thought I belonged.”

 She shut her eyes again and shook her head. “Then I had Harper. And Harper, oh she’d have done anything for me. If I asked her for the moon she’d have sent an army out to pull it down from the sky. Harper was never afraid of me, and never once cruel to me. She didn’t want me to be anything or change in any way. She was—impossible. She defied everything I thought I knew about people, and about myself too.”

It was silly, but he felt a little defensive on his nomon’s behalf. His mom had never so much as given anyone else the time of day. Hearing her talk like this—it felt wrong. But he was painfully curious.

“But you didn’t marry her.”

His mom made a noise that sounded a bit like a laugh and a bit like a heavy, weary sigh. “No. No I didn’t. I ran away. Three months before we were meant to get married.”

Dvalinn winced, “...Why?”

“I was terrified. I thought that I knew who I was. I thought I knew how the world worked and what my place in it was. I didn’t belong with other people. I couldn’t be a wife. I was frightened of what I would become if I let myself stay and be changed by her love. I thought a lot of silly things until they all piled up into a mountain between us, and instead of facing it together, I ran.”

Dvalinn stared down at his hands. Now he knew what she meant by it all. 

“But you met nomon.” He said, trying to shift away from her point.

“I did. Years later. After a lot of heartache and a lot of tears and loneliness. Somehow, impossibly, I was given another chance, and I took the risk. I stayed. I let myself be loved—and changed. And what a beautiful life it has been… I never dreamed I could be this happy.”

His mom put her hand overtop of his and squeezed it.

“I understand what it feels like to be where you are. To be standing at a fork in the road and on one side is nothing but an unknowable darkness, and on the other is everything that makes sense, but won’t make you happy anymore.” She turned and reached out to take his face in her hands, and he let her. “I also know that your nomon took my hand and walked with me into the unknown. She stayed by my side and when I didn’t have any strength of my own, she gave me hers.”

She pressed a kiss to the top of his head, and then put her forehead against his. “And I know she’ll do the same for you. We both will. It won’t be easy, and you’ll have to be tough—but we can do this together. You just have to let us.”

Dvalinn squeezed her hands tightly, drawing in a shaking breath. His mother stood up and walked back toward the treeline, giving him one last look before disappearing into the woods. He considered following after her, but then stopped himself. He needed some time to think.

He had a choice to make.

[mirkwoodshewolf]

I am the Celestial of Death Chap. 2; Bilbo Baggins’ 111th birthday

*Author’s note*

Okay so these author notes may be cut short cause I want you all to enjoy the binge reading I’ve got for you all for this sequel. Again this is the opening to FOTR with Bilbo’s 111th birthday so nothing to really give warning about, next couple of chapters there may be some warning beyond the canon violence that’s in here (nothing too graphic just maybe some horror/PTSD elements but I’m getting ahead of myself).

For now enjoy the best birthday chapter in the world!

NEXT CHAPTER

Taglist:

@plethora-of-things

@waddles03

@ixchel-9275

@psychosupernatural

@queensdivas

@queen-paladin

@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels​

@byersboys​

___________________________________________________________

Fireworks exploded in the night sky, music played nice and loud, and everywhere Hobbits of every age were dancing or sitting down having a bit of cake and a mug of ale, or sitting in groups smoking their pipes.

I was maneuvering my way through the crowd by dancing alongside them when I noticed Frodo push Sam into the dancing circle, right into the arms of the hobbit lass by the name of Rosie Cotton.  Dear Sam had always had a fancy for Rosie ever since he was but a young Hobbit lad.  I came over by Frodo and said to him.

“Guess he tried to chicken out again?”

“You know Sam. But Rosie eagerly accepted his dance and doesn’t seem to let him go as a dance partner.”

“One of these days he’ll work up the courage. But he’s lucky to have a matchmaker like you.” I said nudging his shoulder.  He laughed softly as I went to reach for my bracelet only to remember I didn’t have it anymore.  Even after all these years I sometimes forget that I gave it back to Haldir, gods the look of heartbreak and rage in his eyes at the time.

“Hela? Are you alright?” I turned to see Frodo looking at me concerningly, his blue eyes emphasizing his worry for me.

“I’m fine Frodo. Tis nothing you need worry about. Come on, care to dance with a Celestial?”

“It would be my pleasure.” He said with a pop off his seat and graciously bowed before me.  I stood up and curtsied and took Frodo’s hands and we skipped together into the dancing circle.  

After a little while, Frodo and I parted ways so that he could find Bilbo and I could go find the little Hobbits who I knew were going to want to hear my stories of adventures and thrills after Bilbo’s story time.  He always did like telling the story of our encounter with the trolls (even I’ll admit out of that entire quest, it is probably the most entertaining because those trolls truly were idiotic and slow in the head).

A few of the children came over to me demanding to hear some of my stories.

“Hela tell us a story!”

“Tell us about your people and your powers!”

“No, no tell us about how you slayed down dragons and goblins!” I smiled at them before turning to the light of the moon and smiled.

“How about this, ever hear the tale of the Celestial that sees through the moon?” I asked them.  The children all shook their heads no.  “Then sit down my little Hobbits and Lady Hela will tell you the story.”

I sat down on the grass alongside them as they all gathered around me.  A couple of young hobbits sitting on either side of me as they all waited patiently for me to tell the story.

“Long, long, long ago. There was a Celestial of Starlight. He was brave, strong, loyal and a fearsome warrior. But he also had a kind heart and a friendly smile. Those that did wrong in the world faced his mighty Starlight wrath, but to the innocent, he always had a gentle hand.” I poked a young boy hobbit’s nose and he giggled.  While I grew a yellow flower, picked it up from the ground and turned to the little hobbit girl who sat in front of me. “And gave out flowers.” She took the flower and smelled it.  “But he held a great sorrow in his heart. For his family had been taken away from him, taken by a monster of Shadow and Flame.”

I then used Sprite’s illusions to create a constellation of a Balrog.  It’s great wings opened up and it let out a roar.  The children all coward in fear at the beast as I made it disappear.

“The Starlight Celestial vowed to slaughter the great beast that took his family away from him. He had to go through many trials and dangers to find the great beast.” I then made an illusion of Cain (although I didn’t use his full face. I made him appear the way I first met him but in the traditional Starlight Celestial uniform).

I made armies of orcs and goblins, dragons and great beasts appear as Cain battled them all.

“Until finally he came face to face with his greatest foe.” I made the Balrog appear before Cain, with the whip in its clawed grip.  “With a mighty flash from its whip, the Celestial fought against this great beast when suddenly—” as I made the Balrog whip Cain’s face, a sharp and loud screech was heard and I saw a great big firework shoot up into the sky and it morphed itself into a dragon.

The kids all hopped up and were in awe of the mighty dragon that shot up into the night sky, it’s wings starting to open up and fly back. Soon the excitement and awe in the crowd turned to horror as the dragon got a little too close to everyone.  I gathered the children and told them to stay together and not be afraid.

I told them to get down and they did just that while I shielded as many as I could with not only my body but Thena’s shields as well.  The dragon firework flew over the lake before briefly disappearing and then going off with the biggest boom I had seen a firework make.

“Are all of you okay?” I asked the children dropping my shields.  They all nodded and choired out.

“Yes Miss Hela.” I stroked as many little hobbit heads as I could before standing up to investigate just what—or I should say who caused that dragon firework to go off.  And it seemed I wasn’t the only one wanting to know.

“You too huh?” I asked.

“Mmm. And I’ve got an idea of just who the mischief makers are.” He said to me.

“I believe you and I are thinking the same thing Gandalf. But just where are they is the question?”  Gandalf tapped my shoulder and we saw smoke just a few yards away from us as well as a missing tent.  I looked to him and he decided to make the first move while I followed behind him.

“That was good.” Said one of the two mischievous hobbits behind the mayhem.

“Let’s get another one.” Said his younger counterpart. Gandalf snuck up behind them and gripped both their ears tightly which made them groan in pain as they looked up.

“Meriadoc Brandybuck. And Peregrin Took. We might’ve known.” I crouched in front of them and I said.

“What say you Gandalf? What punishment befits these wee devils? For nearly scaring the little ones I say turn them into mice and I can morph into a cat. See how they like it?”

“Oh please Hela don’t do that! We didn’t mean it!” Peregrin aka Pippin pleaded to me.

“Yes, yes it was all just a bit of fun! I told someone to stick it in the ground outside of the tent, but someone lit the fuse too early.” Meriadoc aka Merry said to me.  His eyes gesturing over to Pippin as he kept saying ‘someone’.

“It was in the ground and it was your idea!”

“Enough bickering!” I snapped at them lightly which got them to be quiet.

“No need Hela. I’ve got something else in mind.” Gandalf said.

Washing dishes.  A fairly decent punishment, at least it’ll keep them out of trouble.

“Once you both are finished, you both are to go to the Hobbit families of the children I was entertaining and apologize to them for nearly scaring them with your antics.” I told them as I took a bite of my cake.

“Yes Hela.” They both said in a trance-like response.  It was then the crowd went in an uproar praising Bilbo to make his birthday speech.  Bilbo at first just drank away at his ale before finally giving into the crowd’s demand.  He walked over and climbed up on top of a barrel, the cheering grew louder as Bilbo began to greet every Hobbit family.

“My dear Bagginses and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks.” With each family name he proclaimed, a proud cheer came from those families. “Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles, and Proudfoots.”

“Proudfeet!” exclaimed an elderly, chubby hobbit in a snappy tone correcting Bilbo’s name proclamation which made everyone laugh.

“Today is my 111th birthday!” I clapped along with the hobbits and raised my cup to him giving him an affectionate wink.  “But alas, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable Hobbits.” Some of the crowd clapped while others aww’d at Bilbo’s compliment.  “I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.”

Wow, whether that was a compliment or an insult even I couldn’t tell and neither could any of the Hobbits.  But it still made me slightly grin at the corner of my lips.

“I uhh….” Bilbo trailed off as he pushed the right side of his jacket aside, his fingers going down into his waistcoat pocket like it always does.  “I ha-have things to do.” I noticed a gleam of something gold go into his palm as his hand went behind his back.  I turned to Gandalf to see that he too, was suspicious about Bilbo’s strange behavior. “I’ve put this off for far too long.” I saw his lips say as he whispered it.  “I regret to announce this is the end.” He spoke louder. “I’m going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell. Goodbye.”

And just like that he disappeared and the crowd went in an uproar of shock and bewilderment.

Oh my gods it-it couldn’t be…..I turned to Gandalf worriedly and saw his eyes had grown wide but held a sharpness to them.  He turned to me gesturing with his head for me to come with him and I used Makkari’s speed to get us back to Bilbo’s home before he could.

We stood by Bilbo’s fireplace waiting for him to arrive. I turned to Gandalf and signed to him.

‘You don’t think….’

“I do not know yet Hela. But we mustn’t jump to any conclusions. Not yet at the very least.” He said as he signed back to me.  Bilbo soon came walking by with his walking stick and a couple of candles in hand as Gandalf said to him. “I suppose you think that was terribly clever.” Bilbo slightly jumped before he told us.

“Come on Gandalf. Did you see their faces?” I dropped Makkari’s power and spoke.

“There are many magic rings in this world Bilbo Baggins, and none of them should be used lightly.”

“It was just a bit of fun Hela.” He told me as he began packing. One raise of my brow at him and he dropped the act and said, “Oh, you’re probably right. As usual.” He walked over to his fireplace to grab his pipe. “You both will keep an eye on Frodo, won’t you?”

“Four eyes.” Gandalf answered for the both of us. “As often as we can spare them.”

“I’m leaving everything to him.” Bilbo continued as he gathered up all his belongings for his trip to Rivendell.  

“What about this ring of yours?” Gandalf asked. “Is that staying too?”

“Yes, yes. It’s in an envelope over there on the mantelpiece.” Bilbo told him.  But as Gandalf went to search for it, Bilbo paused and said in a distant tone. “No….wait, it’s…..here in my pocket.” He reached into his pocket and pulled it out.

Already I could sense something dark radiating in the room, and it was all coming from that little golden ring.  A familiar dark power.

“Isn’t that….isn’t that odd now?” Bilbo started off as he kept his eye on the little ring, fiddling with it between his fingers staring down at it in a weirdly, possessive way.  Like a starving man to some fresh meat.  “Yes, after all, why not? Why shouldn’t I keep it?”

“I think you should leave the ring behind, Bilbo.” Gandalf suggested.  “Is that so hard?”  Bilbo snapped out of his lustful trance turning to us.

“Well, no….and yes.” His tone at first sounding innocent before going harsh and possessive.  “Now it comes to it, I don’t feel like parting with it. It’s mine I found it! It came to me!”

“Now there’s no need to get angry.” I reassured him.

“Well if I’m angry, it’s your fault!” he snapped at me. My eyes twitched and my heart skipped a beat in fear.  Never before has Bilbo acted this way before, even when he would lose his temper it was never like this.

And then he said a phrase that has not been uttered but by only one creature.

“It’s mine. My own……my precious.”

“Precious?” Gandalf and I both questioned.

“It’s been called that before, but not by you.” Gandalf said. Bilbo then turned to us with a sharp turn of his head and snapped at us animalistically like a rapid animal.

“What business is it of yours what I do with my own things?!”

“Bilbo I think you’ve had that ring for long enough.” I told him in a firm tone.

“You want it for yourselves. Both of you!”

“BILBO BAGGINS!!” Gandalf and I both proclaimed.  My hands glowed with my Celestial power, my hair standing on end like sails in the wind as I slightly levitated over the ground, my eyes glowing pure white.

While in Gandalf’s case he grew larger and the room grew dark just like it once did in the company of Thorin Oakenshield when he tried to convince the dwarves to allow Bilbo to join in the Quest to reclaim Erebor.

“DO NOT TAKE US FOR SOME CONJURER OF CHEAP TRICKS!!!” Gandalf’s voice going into the deep, intimidating voice while mine echoed like a thousand voices. “We are not trying to rob you.” We eased out magic and I lowered myself back down to the ground as I told him in a softer, more assuring tone.

“We’re trying to help you.” Bilbo’s fear immediately turned to sorrow as he came up to me.  I lowered myself down to his height and embraced him as he softly wept into my chest. I stroked his curly, grey hair.

“All these long years that we’ve been friends. My dear little Hobbit. Trust Gandalf and I as you once did.” I cupped the side of his face wiped the tearstains from his face, as well as the tears that were in the corner of his eye.

“She’s right Bilbo. Let it go.” Gandalf said as he joined us.

“You’re right. Hela and Gandalf. The ring must go to Frodo.” With a sniffle he walked away and placed his backpack on his back. “It’s late. The road is long. Yes, it is time.” He walked towards his door and opened it.  However before he stepped out I told him as I stood up.

“Bilbo….” He stopped. “The ring is still in your pocket.” He turned to me nervously like a child who had been caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar.  A slight nervous smile and he said as he dug into his pocket holding the ring in his hand.

“Yes.” He muttered.  He stared down at the ring, his hand slightly tremoring almost like he was still trying to keep it with him.  Gandalf stood at my side as we watched Bilbo carefully until finally he let it drop to the floor with a clank.  

Immediately after that he walked out of his home and we followed him out.  He paused for a moment before telling us out of the blue.

“I thought up an ending for my book.” He turned to us and he continued, “‘And he lived happily ever after, till the end of his days’.”

“And we’re sure you will, our dear friend.” Gandalf said as he knelt down before Bilbo.

“Goodbye Gandalf.” He said as he held out his hand.  Gandalf took his hand in both of his and bid him goodbye.

“Goodbye, dear Bilbo.” He gave him a wink before Bilbo turned to me.  I knelt down before him and he said to me.

“Goodbye Hela.” I smiled and cupped the side of his face.

“Goodbye my dear little friend. May the Light of the Moon guide you on your path safely.” I then gave him a Celestial kiss on his forehead.

A kiss to protect and guide him safely till he would reach Rivendell where I knew he would spend the rest of his years in quiet and comfort.

I also embraced my favorite Hobbit and he hugged me back before he began his travels singing the same song Gandalf was singing on our way here. I stood up close to Gandalf as we both whispered together,

“Until our next meeting.”

Gandalf opened the door slowly and there right at our feet was Bilbo’s ring.  The golden band bouncing off light from the fireplace yet there was an air of evil and darkness surrounding it.  I slowly walked around it while Gandalf took a couple steps around it, the two of us slowly leaning down towards it.

“You feel it too don’t you?” he asked me in more of a statement than a question.

“I’ve only felt this evil once before. And it was inside me. Gandalf…..please tell me this isn’t what I fear it is.” He didn’t respond to me only just slowly reached his hand over it.  As his fingers nearly grabbed it, I was caught with a flashback of the Great Eye as I let out a gasp and Gandalf’s hand retreated from the ring.

“Hela—”

“I must seek council with him. I’m sorry Gandalf. Tell Frodo I’m sorry for my sudden departure.”

“I know my dear Celestial. Do what you must.” He said comfortingly as he placed a hand on my shoulder.  I smiled before shifting into Makkari’s uniform and quickly speeding out of the Shire.

I ran past all the rolling fields, the forests, past Farmer Maggot’s fields and finally came out of Hobbiton altogether.  The light of the moon gazed it’s white light upon the land and I got into meditation position.

Taking a few deep breaths in and out I used Druig’s magic to reach out to Cain.

‘Cain. Brother Cain do you hear me?’ I waited for a response. All the whole Bilbo’s familiar phrase.

“It’s mine, My own. My precious.” Kept haunting over my thoughts, lingering like a dark presence.

‘Brother, please! I must speak with you!’ I reached out urgently.  The light of the moon seemed to grow brighter as it’s rays shined down upon me and soon Cain’s warm comforting voice spoke back to me.

‘I’m here little sister. I’m here.’ A flash of light and I found myself deep within my mind just like before and there stood Cain.  His shining eyes staring in my general direction. “Whatever is the matter little sister? Surely after attending a birthday party of your dear Hobbit friend Bilbo Baggins you would not call me in this distress manner.”

“Brother Cain…...” I told him.  “We, Gandalf and I….we believe to have found it.” His head tilted slightly.  “The One Ring.” At this his face grew grim and he turned away.  “I could be wrong but—there was an evil about it. An evil I’ve felt but only once before.”

“When Sauron’s spirit tried to possess your body. Yes I remember. Gods never did I wish to have my full power again to save you. Balrogs and Deviants are one thing but to have the Dark Lord’s very spirit inside your head…..” he came up to me cupping my face in his hands.

“I know Cain. I know you would’ve done all you could to send his spirit out of me. That’s why I came to you after the Battle of the Five Armies.” He nodded.  “But now 60 years after it all happened, surely Bilbo couldn’t have found it then.”

“But you must also remember Hela, the creature Gollum took it deep into the Misty Mountains. And for 500 years in his cave the Ring consumed and poisoned his mind before abandoning him.”

“You saw him pick it up then?”

“I cannot sense evil like you can. Part of being the Celestial of Death is that objects of pure evil can be sensed by only you and no other Celestial. It’s power was dormant even when in Bilbo’s possession.”

“Until now. Sauron’s ready to return to full strength.”

“It’s heard it’s Master’s call. And He will summon all of his forces to find it.”

“But-but the Ring it’s……Frodo. Oh gods Frodo I must go back and tell them.”

“I’m afraid you cannot Hela.” He told me.  I backed away from him and demanded.

“Why not!? We’ve confirmed it that Ring is in fact Sauron’s Ring.”

“Mithrandir is doing his own investigation and he will tell Frodo if it is indeed the Ring of Power. You however must not go near that Ring until such time has passed.”

“What are you saying Cain?” he sighed heavily.

“I nearly lost you once to Sauron’s very life force, I cannot allow you to fall again. Especially now with your newly grown power. Remember why I gave you that ring.”

“Yes brother I remember.” I said fiddling with it.

“If he forces you to take that ring off, he will have access to the unlimited power of the Celestials. And that is something Ajax never wanted. Not of Morgoth and certainly not of Sauron.”

“Then what must I do?” I asked him after being silent for a moment or two.

“You must hide. But not in a building or behind a human face. Remember your spiritual training with the Goddess Yavanna?”

“You suggest I roam Middle Earth—as an animal?”

“Animal forms don’t seep out Celestial energy like a person’s body does. It’s the only way to keep you safe until such time has passed.”

“But Cain. The longer I stay as an animal, the more I could lose myself. You must know of what happened to Sister Nymeria. She shifted into a wolf for an entire month on a foolish dare and she couldn’t shift back. Within six months she lost herself and fully became the wolf and we never saw her again.”

“I know. But there is one that I can bless who will keep you sane until it is safe.”

“And who would that be?” I asked.

“I’m sure you remember a certain Ranger that you’ve grown quite close to these past few decades.” I smiled softly.

“Aragorn.” He nodded with a soft smile.

“So long as you stay by his side, you will not fall into a mindless beast. Plus, he’s going to need your protection just as much as you’ll need his. Being Isildur’s heir, Sauron has been hunting him for decades.”

“I know. But how will he know it’s me? He’ll think me no more as a common beast. What if he tries to attack or worse kill me?”

“Leave it all to me dear little sister.”

“I swear you and Gandalf must’ve met before because you both always give me vague answers.” He softly chuckled as he gave me a kiss. “How do we do this? Should I come to you or—”

“No. You must not come to the South. Sauron’s forces are heavily arming themselves for war. If you so much as speed by here, they’ll alert you to Sauron without hesitation. We’ll do it from where you stand.”

“Can a spell even work that far a distance?” I asked him.

“There’s always a first time for everything.”

“Not comforting brother.” I grumbled.

“Alright, alright. Just relax. Send your spirit back to your body but keep the connection between our minds strong.” I nodded and allowed my spirit to return back to my body as I let out a soft gasp.

‘Steady sister, steady. Deep breaths now.’ Cain’s voice said in my head as I saw the moon glow brighter with his response.  ‘Now close your eyes. Remember every detail of the creature you wish to become.’ I thought long and hard and soon the image of Icarus came to mind.  ‘Why doesn’t that surprise me?’ teased Cain.  ‘But if I might suggest, a hawk would better be suited for you.’

‘I accept.’

‘Now as I said. Imagine every detail of a hawk. Every pattern detail, the shape of the beak, the talon’s. Every small detail you can think of.’ Taking a few deep breaths I did exactly as Cain said.

I have seen the great kings of old use messenger hawks, even the old kings of Rohan would send me messenger hawks if they ever needed my help. I pictured every detail until I felt myself being lifted up high into the sky.

In my head I could hear Cain chanting an ancient Elvish spell and I could start to feel my very bones shift and crack.  I tried to hold in my screams as I could feel my body slowly shrinking and my arms shift into wings.  Unlike shifting using Celestial magic, I was forced to endure every inch of my body morphing into the hawk I was going to be.

My face scrunched inward as I felt my nose sharpen before extending out like a beak.  Feathers soon began to grown from my body and my toe nails extended before hardening into talons.  I let out one final human cry of pain before it was replaced with a hawk’s shriek.  My transformation finally complete after what felt like hours of torture and pure agony.

‘Easy Hela, easy. Give your body time to adjust.’ Cain said as I was now being lowered back down to the ground.  I surrendered to the tiredness and the last thing I heard him say was this; ‘Your Ranger is near Mirkwood. Find him before the end of the month. Protect him and he shall protect you.’

My vision soon went black as I surrendered to my exhaustion.

[koboldinatimeloop]

Chapter 0: Prologue (4)

CONTENT WARNING:

Major character death (Don't worry, she'll be fine)

Racism (Dragons be like that)

Graphic depictions of pain and death (I do not have an explanation for this one! Be wary! 'tis related to the first thing, though.)

Probably some other things I need to tag but am not sure how! Please tell me how.

You sit at your desk and tinker with some things you've been working on for a while- Nothing too important, since you need your energy for the ceremony! There's a lot of standing involved. You really hope your plan will work. And suddenly, you hear bells. The ceremony will start soon! You get up, setting down what you'd been working on, and make your way outside.

A crowd of people, you included, gather in The Square. A large platform made of stone has been created at the edge of the square with magic. Behind it, lay the dragon, Syptem. He was... more imposing than you thought. You've seen him before, but his black scales seemed to meld with the stone he lay upon, and the shadows seemed to writhe in excitement around him... But! You would be fine! Probably! M-Maybe! If you ignore the fact he's like! 20 times your size!

"SO. IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN, I SUPPOSE." He took a deep breath, his head dipping slightly to signal... Something? You can't really tell.

"WELL, AH... TODAY IS THE NAMING CEREMONY FOR THREE PEOPLE. YOUR NUMBERS ARE DWINDLING, HMM? WELL, I SUPPOSE SUCH A WORTHLESS RACE WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE THIS MANY WITHOUT MY PROTECTION, SO YOU'RE ALL WELCOME. IN ANY CASE, WE WELCOME... THE CALLIGRAPHER, THE LANCER, AND THE RESEARCHER TO THE STAGE, FOR THEIR NAMING CEREMONY. EVERYBODY CHEER."

And everyone cheered, the cave filling with the echoing cacophony of WAY too many people cheering at once, as you and the other two approached the stage. The calligrapher had soft green scales- You were good friends with him. The lancer, however, you did not know. His bright blue scales blended in with the light of the moss, as if he himself was bioluminescent.

"OKAY. YOU THREE. I'LL START WITH THE GREEN ONE AND END WITH THE PURPLE ONE. AHEM. CALLIGRAPHER. YOUR NAME WILL BE CAIUS." The dragon place a claw on Caius's face, signifying the "gift" he was giving them. You feel sick. You don't know if this will work.

"OKAY, AND NOW THE LANCER. YOUR NAME WILL BE..." He paused. "HMM. YOU'RE SPECIAL, NOW THAT I LOOK AT YOU. YOUR NAME WILL BE XICEM. YES, AN X IN YOUR NAME, BE PROUD OR WHATEVER." Syptem placed a claw on Xicem- Wow that's hard to say- on Xicem's face, and a small glow ensued. Another gift.

"AND FINALLY- GOD I WANT TO GO BACK TO SLEEP- YOU. THE PURPLE ONE. YOU ARE. VERY UREMARKABLE. IN CONTRAST TO THE BLUE ONE. XICEM. ANYWAYS, GOT DISTRACTED. YOUR NAME WILL BE-"

"U-Uhm! Actually!" You say, a small gasp rippling through the crowd. you're not supposed to interrupt him. "I-I uhm! Would like to deny your gift. I want to l-learn things on my own, g-get better on my own." You pull the gold out of you bag, placing it on the ground in front of you. "I-I offer you this gold as compensation."

"OH. I WAS WRONG. YOU ARE, INDEED, QUITE INCREDIBLE." He said, a smirk on his face. Dragon smirks are very creepy, you realize. "INCREDIBLY ANNOYING. HOW DARE YOU DENY MY GIFT. NO ONE DENIES MY GIFT. IT MAKES YOU STRONG. MAKES YOU BETTER. WHY WOULD YOU DENY IT, PURPLE ONE? WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO YOURSELF, KNOWING THAT I WOULD DISSAPROVE? I CANNOT HAVE YOU AS MY UNDERLING. I CANNOT HAVE ANYONE AS DISGUSTING, ANYONE AS RUDE AND UNCARING AS YOU BE MY DISCIPLE. AND THUS. YOU DON'T GET A NAME, ANNOYING ONE. YOU DON'T GET TO KEEP YOUR LIFE HERE, AFTER THAT. AFTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE. GUARDS. EVERYONE, ACTUALLY. CARRY HER TO THE EXIT. MAKE SURE SHE NEVER RETURNS. MAKE SURE SHE DIES. MAKE SURE SHE SUFFERS."

no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no they're carrying you now you can't fight back just fight back talk to them TALK TO THEM MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND PLEASE PLEASE THIS ISN'T WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE FINE WHAT HAPPENED WHAT WAS WRONG WHAT WAS WRONG you were wrong you were wrong

You were wrong. They carry you to the exit. You don't fight back. They take your satchel. You don't deserve it, you realize. You don't remember the last few minutes, nor how long you've sat here for.

You take a deep breath and assess your surroundings. Cold. Calculated. You don't think you can deal with emotions right now. behind you is a den. Your den. No longer your den, thinking about it. In front of you is darkness. And stone. You were very, very deep underground. That's where the den was. You just had to reach the surface, right? There's food there. People might care there.

You take a step forward and hear a snap. And then you don't hear anything.

And it HURTS IT HURTS OH. OH NO. YOUR TRAPS YOUR TRAPS YOU FORGOT ABOUT THEM GOD- You feel a blade slice through your legs, chopping them off. You feel a second blade come down and split your skull open.

And suddenly, you're whole. You're floating in darkness. Yet your wounds still burn. More than they had before. The insides of your legs burned, like something was trapped inside, trying to get out trying to get out trying to get out trying to get out

and your head aches. not a normal headache. like someone hit it with a hammer. that w asn't normal, righ t? you s houldn't feel like that? you can't re membe r. what c a n you rem em ber? you feel numb, now. it hurts, god it hurts. but y ou fee l no th i ng. . ?

emptiness.

a n d the n, s u dd e nl y

You hear someone. A soft voice, speaking directly into your mind. A caring voice. One you feel like you know, but you can't remember hearing.

"...Make sure today goes well."

And you wake up in your bed.

[vwk7121]

ARDN631 Saskia Norman Week 1

For the photos up until DSC_1300 I was listening to and thinking of the song Dance The Night by Dua Lipa, and I feel that the bright lighting helps to brighten the mood and express how pop the song is. I am not usually very expressive on camera so it was challenging for me to show the mood in these photos, but in comparison to the next set they look a lot lighter and clearer.

For the the photos DSC_1329 onwards I was listening to and thinking of the song 80s Mercedes Maren Morris, and while this song doesn't have a dark mood it was definitely not as bright and pop as the other song. This song has a slower and more country sound, so I tried to express that through the more yellow lighting and with a different mirror. These ones were really challenging to shoot because the mirror was old and had a lot of scratches and other marks that kept messing with the camera's focus, so some of them are a bit blurry and even are solely focused on those marks.

I did try using the self timer to take some self portraits but I didn't have a way to set the camera up in front of a mirror so I wasn't able to take any photos hands free, but I figured out how to do it so I could if I needed to.

Fiona Pardington

I chose this photo because I hadn't been seeing many side profile portraits while researching so I found it interesting. The lighting in this one is really striking to me because of the way such specific areas are highlighted so brightly, which add more depth and detail to the head. The dark shadows are very strong which means that they are visible against the dark grey sculpture, and creates a nice contrast with the lighter parts.

The composition of the sculpture shows off the fine detail of the side profile that may not be appreciated from a front view. The close up framing means that the sculpture is directly in the center of the image, and means that it catches attention much more than the plain white background.

Edith Amituanai

This photo has interesting composition and setting, and the lighting really completes the mood overall. The lighting is very dull, seemingly all natural light coming from a window on the right, but it gives off the look of artificial lighting from how much it seems to be coming from behind the camera. This warm-toned lighting creates a homely feeling, which fits with the homely and family life mood and setting of the image.

The composition is very zoomed out, showing the subject's fully body, and he is centered with the fireplace, which draws in a lot of focus to him. He is slightly diagonally-facing which creates some slight shadows along the left side, since the light seems to be hitting from the right to the middle. All of this gives the photo a very nostalgic feeling to it, since the background shows that it really was just taken in a home. Edith Amituanai is described as “a village photographer.” because of this exact mood and feeling she is able to create with her work.

Dunn, M. (2019). Edith Amituanai - essay. Photo Forum Online. https://www.photoforum-nz.org/blog/2019/7/5/edith-amituanai-essay

Laurence Aberhart

Since this image is in black and white and is taken outside with a lot of soft natural lighting, there is hardly any dynamic range with everything very defused and dulled. The darkest parts of the image are the hair and clothing, which isn't affected by the lighting, so the image doesn't have a very intense mood which seems for fitting for a photo of children.

The composition of the image is very centered and zoomed out, capturing their full bodies and even having them truely centered by sitting so their feet aren't touching the bottom edge. The children are positioned with the shortest in the middle so the heights are symmetrical on each side, and the window/door indent area they are sitting in makes for a more interesting background while seeming more silly and child-like. Since he uses a large format camera his photos and compositions are "more considered in a formal sense." (Museum of Contemporary Art Ltd., 2013).

Museum of Contemporary Art Ltd. (2013). South of no North. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54728164e4b081a2addc014d/t/54b5f17be4b05e2e7fb60546/1421209979414/South+of+no+North.pdf