#maybe i should do a fic for her and miranda

[daydream-cement]

Hi, first time really asking anyone a request. But thought I’d see.

I’m not sure if you do song fics, but I was listening to maroon by Taylor Swift and I though it would be good for a Larissa or Miranda fic. It’s up to you how angsty or fluffy to go if you would like to do it. Thank you 😁

Maroon

Larissa Weems x Reader

The rise and fall of your love.

Author’s Note: This was so cute! Definitely a tiny angsty oneshot. Thank you so much for the request anon!!

The burgundy on my T-shirt when you splashed your wine into me

You should have been looking where you were going, but then again, if you would have never spilled your wine, then you never would have met her.

Bright blues eyes staring down at you, filled with shock at the burgundy that stained her dress.

Her pretty smile turned down into a frown.

You apologized profusely and wiped at her chest with the napkin in your hand. Embarrassment filled your form as you felt your cheeks flushing red. It took you a few seconds to realize the precariousness of your hand placement.

“Oh, dear.” The platinum blonde muttered, watching your hands work fervently at the stain. She reached out, taking your hands by the wrists and holding them still. “It’s really okay, I promise.”

“Gosh, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I can pay to get it cleaned.” You felt so guilty as you observed the bright stain across the beautiful woman’s front.

She released your hands and pulled a kerchief from her clutch, beginning to dab at the stain. Without thinking, you pull the piece of fabric from her hand, dabbing at the mark frantically to stain the once white kerchief maroon.

The platinum blonde crouched a bit, catching your gaze with a smirk playing on her lips, “It’s really okay. My dry cleaners will take care of it, but maybe you would be kind enough for me to hold onto your jacket to keep it covered.”

“S-sure…” You muttered, tripping over yourself to pull the jacket from your body to hand it over to the blonde.

And how the blood rushed into my cheeks, so scarlet, it was

Larissa looked away from you, her cheeks flushing so deep the red traveled to her ears.

Her reaction only pushed you to compliment her further. You took her hand in yours, kissing its back before moving down to kiss her fingers, “You are so, so beautiful… I’m so happy I nearly ruined your dress, or else I wouldn’t be here right now.”

“And to think it only took a single glass of wasted wine.” Larissa cooed and pulled herself together. She took advantage of her hand in yours, pulling herself a step closer to loom over you.

Her beauty was suffocating. The confidence that once filled your chest evaporated and you were left staring up at her weakly. You were desperate for her affection.

Her lips dipped by your ear as her hands found your hips, guiding you backwards until your back hit her front door. Larissa’s pressed two kisses on your cheek, near your ear before speaking, “Would you like to come inside?”

Now it was you who was blushing.

It took you a moment to respond. Her hands squeezed your sides and her teeth found your earlobe, “Please…”

In a flash, her body was flush against yours, one of her hands sliding up to hold you by the back of your neck. Larissa’s lips shifted from your cheek to your jaw, all the way down to your neck. Her lipstick was smeared and your skin was stained by the bright red tint.

You don’t remember when you got inside, but once you were, the flames of your desire burned brighter than ever. And for a moment, you could have sworn it was true love.

The mark you saw on my collarbone, the rust that grew between telephones

You traced the bruise on your collarbone lazily as you tapped your phone screen. She had left it behind the last time you saw her. It had been days since you last spoke. You looked to see if Larissa had messaged you for what felt like the millionth time that day.

She said she would call, or at least… that’s what you thought she said.

You tried to give her some time, assuming she was just busy. For weeks you texted or talked on the phone for hours, but now you could barely get a text back. Three texts over three days sat in your messages, the ‘delivered’ icon mocking you as it sat underneath the bottommost message.

Was she ghosting you? Trying to figure out a way to let you down easily?

Two more days passed of radio silence and you began to grow bitter.

You had opened yourself up to her.

Hours spent impassioned in her bedroom. Late nights spent with one another sipping wine and enjoying boxes of take out. Her long legs draped over your lap as you watched a television show together. All the lunches you spent in her office while you sandwiches got cold after Larissa pulled you into her lap.

You became so familiar with her life and routine. From all the love you shared, you thought it was all preambling this life changing romance. Your passion burned so bright, and you assumed it would all last forever. You really thought you and Larissa were meant to be.

The lips I used to call home, so scarlet, it was maroon

Sometimes you would see her in passing, eyes glued to her scarlet lips. From the corner of your eye, you would observe her as you sipped your coffee. Watching as she purposefully turned her head away, not wanting to see your scorned gaze.

She had eventually explained herself. Calling to tell you that she wasn’t ready for what you had to offer. You hadn’t cried on the phone - all of your tears had been wasted long before she offered you the explanation. By the time you talked it through, the pain was numbed enough that you hadn’t pleaded with Larissa to work it all out. It wasn’t worth the effort, you told yourself. You suspected it would have just opened you up to more heartache.

Now as you watched her pass through the Weathervane, it all made sense. Larissa Weems was scared of being loved, and that’s why she made it a point to pull away when you got so close. The shapeshifter believed she was better off alone - that her future success depended on it.

In a way you would always cherish all the sweet kisses from those scarlet lips. You would never admit it, but you still had that wine-stained handkerchief in your bag. You kept it as a token of what was. It wasn’t often you had the privilege of loving someone so beautiful.

Your love with Larissa Weems burned as bright as that lipstick.

The flames were fanned until they burned you both.

Now the pieces left behind were all maroon.

Taglist: @charymobile, @bri-sonat, @weemswife , @smutuniversesblog , @opheliauniverse, @teashock , @enchantressb , @alex-nyx , @renravens , @whenyouhaveanobsession , @scream-queenlover , @shyladyfan, @lilfartbox1, @rubberduckiesbathing , @mcufanisme , @peanutbutterprincess, @larissaoftarthweems , @sicklygrlsicklygrl , @lvinhs , @myzzjolanda , @principal-weems09 , @xuukoo , @brienneswife , @dumbasslesbi , @oculusalien , @sweetderacine , @giogwensversion , @milciak , @gela123 , @thevillagegay , @katiemcgrathsbitch1 , @naomi-m3ndez , @mysaviorfalsegod , @h-doodles , @salems-spaghettios , @imgayforwoman69 , @bychrissi, @alexusonfire, @weemssapphic, @kimiinou, @hiiamkatana, @mountain-bikingwitch, @willowshadenox, @aemilia19, @mommyslittlebaby, @agathaandgwenslesbian, @gay-frogs08

[captainsophiestark]

Anniversary Allergies

Piper McLean x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for my personal fic writing challenge for 2024, Sophie's Year of Fic! Featuring a new fic being posted every Friday, all year long :)

Fandom: Percy Jackson

Summary: Y/N tries to do something nice for their 6 month anniversary with Piper, but slightly underestimates just how much their allergies will hate being anywhere near the Demeter cabin

Word Count: 1,183

Category: Fluff, Humor

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

Relationship anniversaries are no joke when you're dating a daughter of Aphrodite.

I knew that, and I'd been trying to figure out how to prepare for one for the better part of the past week. I'd been dating Piper McLean, the love of my life, for almost six months, and I wanted to make our anniversary extra special.

With a little help from Annabeth and her strategic planning, I put together a whole day of things for Piper and I to do around Camp Half-Blood. I debated getting permission from Chiron for us to go into New York, but eventually decided against it. A lot of the best memories so far of us being together had come from being at camp, so it only felt right to celebrate at camp too.

I spent the day before our anniversary making sure everything was perfect, then woke up extra early on the morning of. I knew Piper would probably have something of her own planned, but I also knew that waking up early enough would make sure I beat her to it with my own plans, at least to start.

I strolled through camp with a smile on my face, the sun just peeking up over the trees, and headed for the Demeter cabin. The most classic, romantic thing I could think of to start the day was a bouquet of roses for Piper, so that's what I was going to get her, my own allergies be damned. If I could exist around all these plants at camp for months at a time, a couple of flowers couldn't be that bad, right?

I pushed open the door to the Demeter cabin, a big smile on my face. Most of these kids were insanely early risers, and I found Katie and Miranda sitting at a table in the back, catching up with each other while working on a planter box between them.

"Good morning!" I called, striding over to them with a smile on my face. They turned to me with smiles of their own, but before they could get a word out, I doubled over with the force of a deafening sneeze.

Miranda raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Just- ACHOO!"

Another fit of sneezes seized me, and I doubled over again, tucking my face into my elbow. It went on for the better part of 30 seconds, and when it finally stopped, I let out a long groan before straightening.

"Okay, I should maybe go outside. But I came in here because- because- DAMMIT!"

I swore loudly before doubling over again in another fit. Katie and Miranda appeared on either side of me, looking concerned, but I didn't have a handle on myself enough to so much as acknowledge them.

"What's going on in here?"

I whirled around at the sound of my girlfriend's voice, managing to meet her eyes for just a second where she stood in the doorway before doubling over in another sneezing fit.

"Di immortales, why would you come in here?" I heard her cry between my earsplitting sneezes. A moment later, her hand gripped my upper arm and started dragging me towards the door. I stumbled after her, another fit of sneezes hitting me when I got a little too close to a patch of lavender on the way out.

I stumbled after Piper a few more steps, until we were well away from the doorway of the Demeter cabin. I stayed doubled over for a few minutes after the last sneeze ended, then when I felt confident it was finally over, I groaned and straightened up. My eyes were still a little puffy, but I could clearly see Piper staring at me with one eyebrow raised, a hand on her hip.

"What were you doing?" she asked. I gave her a sheepish smile.

"I... wanted to get you a bouquet of roses for our anniversary. To start the day off right."

Piper pinched the bridge of her nose.

"So to begin our anniversary... you thought the best choice would be to expose yourself to a bunch of things you're allergic to, to the point that I had to drag you out of the Demeter cabin and almost decided to drag you up to Will in the infirmary?"

"Well, when you put it like that..."

Piper shook her head and laughed, the sound bright and perfect, then moved forward to pull me into a soft, lingering kiss. She had a beaming smile on her face when she finally pulled away.

"That's incredibly dumb and incredibly sweet. Happy anniversary."

"Happy anniversary, Pipes."

I gave her a smile of my own, then pulled her back in to continue our kiss. We probably would've stayed like that for a while, except for the fact that the rest of camp was slowly waking up and getting moving, and a few different cabins were making faces and fake-gagging as they passed us.

Piper and I pulled apart again, still sharing grins. She looked me up and down, then spoke.

"So, how are you feeling? Do I need to rush you to Will for some antihistamines, or are you alright?"

"I think I'm fine, as long as I stay away from the Demeter cabin. Although, I should probably let Katie and Miranda know I'm alright..."

"Or..."

I turned back to Piper after briefly glancing back towards the Demeter cabin, and found her with a mischeivous look on her face.

"Or?" I asked.

"Or you could let your girlfriend, who's entire superpower magical heritage revolves around love and romance, take the lead on our second anniversary activity of the day."

I sighed dramatically, throwing my head back, but when I met Piper's eyes again it was with a big smile.

"Alright, I guess you can take over for the first anniversary activity. But I planned some other great stuff for the rest of our day that's gonna be way better than the whole flowers thing."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know, I think dragging you out of the Demeter cabin to save you from a fatal sneeze attack is pretty unbeatable."

"Alright, whatever. Why don't you take me to your ideal first anniversary activity then, O wise and knowing daughter of Aphrodite?"

"I will. Tell me what you think about this: you and me, a beautiful clearing in the woods all to ourselves, and a breakfast buffet-picnic with all your favorite foods to start the day?"

"...That literally sounds perfect. You are really, really good at this."

"I try." She smiled and leaned in to kiss my cheek, taking my hand as she did so. "Now come on, we have a whole day of celebrating waiting for us."

"Yeah, we do. I've got lunch all planned, and you're gonna absolutely love it."

"I can't wait."

We shared another smile as we headed off through camp together, hand in hand and lost in our own little world. The sun shone down on us for the most perfect weather I could've asked for, and despite a somewhat rocky start, I knew today was going to be perfect.

As long as I was with Piper, every single day would be.

****************

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989

Riordanverse Taglist: @valkyriepirate

[samseabxrn]

7 snippets, 7 mutuals

thank you @rowanisawriter for the tag!! i'll tag @theluckywizard and anyone else who wants to share :) lots of dialogue this time around lol:

bodyguard au (cullen/f!trevelyan)

“You’re jealous,” she laughs again, because she’s feeling this insane urge to wind him up. Like maybe it’ll lead to something. Around them, a dozen Cullens purse their lips in disapproval. “They don’t know what you can really do,” he murmurs. “And does that frighten you?” He blinks, something heavy swirling in his eyes and in the air between them. When it becomes obvious he won’t say anything, the dozen versions of her stride away from the dozen versions of him.  “We have an early morning, Enchanter,” he calls out behind her. She wonders what he’s trying to remind himself of with that.

2. a heart that laughter has made sweet (cullen/f!trevelyan)

It’s strange to see Cullen out of uniform. He wears light traveling armor, his wife similarly clad. It’s strange to see Cullen at all, really. He had not realized it had been that long.  “You just missed Hawke,” he says. “Oh,” Cullen replies after a moment, slightly breathless. Rylen snorts at his visible relief. He nods at the woman next to him, offering a little salute.  “Hello,” she says. She exhales and raises a hand to her brow. In a moment, Cullen moves to take the coat from her shoulders. Again, he notes with a hint of amusement, he had not realized it had been that long. 

3. cut down at the garden's gate (hawke/sebastian)

“I wish I could have known you then,” There’s a sharp edge to it, a dangerous current.  “It couldn’t have gone anywhere good. You’re better off knowing me now." “And you would have taken a bride.” She shifts the topic so suddenly, Hawke. True to her skills on the battlefield, her words aim to disorient and to dazzle.  “I am a younger son. It would not have mattered who I took to wed, as long as they were of standing.” And the truth is, he could never have had someone like Hawke, never would have deserved them.  “I don’t know much about being noble,” she says, slightly more subdued.  “You are noble in the truest sense of the word.” And he leaves before he can act on anything he thought he left behind. 

4. ordinary world (miranda & shepard, background shenko)

That’s not exactly accurate.  She’s never stopped thinking of Kaidan, or of her crew. He hovers at the edges of her mind like a ghost. Like a specter, true to his name. But it’s the first time she lets herself dream beyond the snatches that kept her alive through the rubble, through all of the surgeries. The first rational thought: what would he think? Ashley should have lived. She immediately feels guilty for the thought. That Ashley should have lived instead of strong, sweet Kaidan, whom she’s killed a hundred times in her mind. Vaporized by a reaper beam slicing through the Normandy, skull crushed in the impact of a crash landing, shredded by the claws of a husk. She’s almost jealous. If there’s one thing she can’t seem to do right, it’s die.

5. negative space (pacific rim, mako/raleigh, i really want to finish this soon!)

It was the abruptness of it, really. The violence of his mind ripped from hers, an indescribable sense of loss. Like losing half of herself. No—the truth of it, as the doctor insists. She had been more than herself, and she suddenly had to return to normalcy. To singularity. To loneliness. She was shaking on that raft, shaking Raleigh, trying to work her way back into his mind, and past the relief of him opening his eyes, all that was left was bitter disappointment.

6. dead winter in the forgotten land (i call this my amell/alistair messy divorce fic)

The paper is the softest thing she’s felt in years. She wants to cry a little when she touches it, unused to comfort. The Inquisitor writes hesitantly, like perhaps she is awed. It makes Amell a little prideful and a little endeared towards her. She means to let it be, but there is something about this letter: how the envelope is covered in dirt from all corners of Thedas while the paper is untouched by any hands but the Inquisitor’s, how the handwriting slants to the right like any good Circle mage’s does, how the ink pools at the end of every stroke like the words were thought over and over. She begins to write back. I wish to see my king again, she writes, the truest thing on the page.

7. long distance (jab tak hai jaan, akira/samar)

He says he loves his country, but that’s not really why he’s here, taking apart bombs in the dead of night while their fingers go numb. The other day it was snowing, and something detonated, and he couldn’t tell between the insulation fluff and the flakes pouring down, and he was sliced through with something sharp, the sensation of having erred grievously.  There’s a woman in London who loves him. Why the hell is he here? He ignores it. He tries his best to ignore it. He goes home, and his boss calls. More people are enlisting. He’s had an impact, and it begins to eat at him. It has been eating at him. He was supposed to be a singer. He was supposed to be too soft for this life. “You would be a horrible soldier,” he says to Akira on the phone the next morning. “When have I ever wanted that?” There’s a rustling that feels like it’s inside him. She must be adjusting her coat. That bright one with the fur. “You don’t listen. You’re very reckless. And your decision-making—“ “I didn’t ask for that, either,” she snaps, and the muffled rush that undercuts her words of traffic makes him frown. “Be careful,” he can’t help but say. A pause—and then she scoffs, but there’s a softness to it, something he would like to think of as fond.

[randomfoggytiger]

X-Files Collector's Edition: S9, The Season of Secret Dad (Long Fics)

There will never be enough content to make up for the robbery of canon post S8-- parenthood and readjustment and healing for Mulder and Scully with their son, whether that has a Conspiracy attached to it or not. These fics try to bridge that gap (and shoutout to @welsharcher's coining of the phrase "Season of Secret Dad".)

These might be repeats from other lists; but I wanted to be thorough~.

**Note**: Will ghost edit later~.

Loose chronological order below~

Fics Where Mulder Stays

MissAnnThropic's Not the Same

""Awww..." Lela made the tight sound of womanly adoration, "you have a baby? Do you have a picture of him?"

Mulder flashed her a bright smile a moment, his expression saying as clear as anything 'of course I do, I'm a new father, aren't I?' and he reached into his back pocket and withdrew his wallet....

Tom leaned over to look and Miranda leaned over him to see the picture too.

It was a picture of a very small baby on his back, a stuffed green alien toy in his hand's limp grip as it rested against his belly. Tom smiled at that, despite his earlier attitude toward Fox Mulder and the whole little green men business.""

Colton is floored by how much Fox Mulder has matured.

Tess's (Ao3) The New Truth, A Project 09x00

""Startled, Scully's eyes popped open. She had been enjoying the quiet coziness of the day; tucked into the apartment with the two people she loved most in the world while rain tapped in a steady beat against the windows. She felt Mulder's steady gaze, even as she steadfastly refused to meet it and she knew that the time of living in a world of 'let's pretend' had just come to a crashing end.

"These last few weeks of being a normal little family have been wonderful," Mulder said softly. "But, Scully..." he scooted across the cushions and leaned into her side. "We're not normal people.""

Mulder and Scully have a tough conversation weighing all their options. He's not leaving; but Scully will have to return to the FBI parttime to keep its resources at their fingertips.

Lapsed_Scholar's Season 9 Rewrites and Musings

MASTERFUL fill-in series: Mulder is a stay-at-home dad during the entire events of S9. Love this to death. Below are the reworked episodes:

A Devil's Office

""Monica nodded, and they sat in contemplative silence for a few moments, before Mulder broke it.

“You know, he looks like my sister.”

She looked up—he was looking down at William again. She couldn’t see his expression, but his voice was soft and tender, full of wonder and tinged with nostalgia. Fox Mulder the man was turning out to be a very different entity from Spooky Mulder the legend.

“His eyes are hers—Dana’s, I mean—but... Maybe my mother would have told you that he looks like me, I don’t know; I never saw myself as a baby. But I remember how my sister looked. It was thirty-five years ago, but I still remember looking down at her in amazement when my parents brought her home....”

Mulder looked back down at William, ran his finger along his son’s cheek.""

Mulder is settling into stay-at-home parenthood, overcoming his feelings of uselessness with a very contented baby... and finally giving in to a consultation request from John Doggett.

Dispatches

""Hey, Scully. You’re interrupting a monumental construction project. It’s the tallest tower of blocks yet built by man.”

“Mmhm. And what is William doing while you’re assembling this feat of modern engineering?”

“I’ll have you know this is a joint project. William is...in charge of grabbing the construction material and sticking it in his mouth.""

A dialogue only piece (but it's one of my absolute favorites) featuring a VERY ticked off Scully fuming over a pain-in-her-side bug doctor and a VERY amused Mulder having a blast sympathizing and egging her on.

Semper Fi

""Speaking of... A familiar form flops itself into the chair next to his. He honestly should have expected this.

“Fancy meeting you here, sir.” Fox Mulder has a peculiar way of delivering inane pleasantries. His expression and tone are bland enough to pass scrutiny, but something in his bearing always implies that a lively mind is humming away under the surface.""

Scully rants to Mulder about Kersh purposefully interfering in Reyes and Skinner's attempts to bring Doggett home. He's on the case.

Denial

""She calls home because she needs a break from the existential, or maybe because she needs another opinion on it. She sits in the hospital cafeteria and leans her head against a window.

She asks Mulder for stories of William, and because they are who they are, he innately understands why she’s asking and indulges her thoroughly."" 

Mulder understands that Scully is denying her gut; and convinces her to look deeper into Doggett's claims that Reyes isn't dead.

Extreme Probabilities

""The two of them might have made an impressive pair of dashing FBI agents for that Bureau recruiting pamphlet, except they both looked bedraggled. John clearly hadn’t slept in awhile. He had dark circles under red eyes and the look of exhausted intensity that comes from staring at evidence for too long. His suit was wrinkled and rumpled, and there was a coffee stain on his shirt. Mulder had clearly been asleep not too long ago. His hair was sleep-mussed, and he was wearing what he usually wore to bed (an undershirt and lounge pants) coupled with running shoes and a holster. His serious and tense expression made for a marked contrast with the ridiculous outfit.

Reality usually is quite different from the pamphlet.""

Mulder doesn't believe in numerology; but he does gets pulled into this crack case about God and Burt Reynolds anyway.

A Quiet Friday Evening

""The phone rings. Scully frowns.

“That must be the sheriff. Here, Mulder, hold this open and keep the abdominal wall spread.” She hands him the salad tongs before he can ask if maybe he can answer the phone instead. He stares after her in speechless misery.

He is going to buy new kitchen utensils. They are throwing all of these away, and absolutely nothing Scully can say about boiling water or exceedingly high temperatures or using the autoclave at work will convince him otherwise.""

Mulder gets roped into a cat autopsy. Yes, it's gold.

Valor (Discretion)

""You’ve had a lot going on lately, Mulder,” Frohike gestured toward the baby. He also meant to include, of course, the whole abduction-death-and-resurrection ordeal. Most of the people who loved Mulder didn’t want to reference it directly, so, despite how centrally traumatic it was, it predominately remained in alluded subtext. “We didn’t think our problems should add to yours.”

Mulder stared for a moment. He had the audacity to look hurt. “I thought we were friends. If you have problems this serious—especially ones I can help you solve—I want to know about them. After all you’ve done for me—all you’ve done for Scully—how could you not tell me when you needed help?""

A biohazard, TLG running around like chickens, Morris Fletcher... and Mulder insisting his friends call the authorities and act rationally.

Catastrophe

""He didn’t have to wait for long. About five minutes after he had arrived, the doors to the elevator slid open, and Mulder emerged, maneuvering a stroller carefully over the gap between elevator and floor. His eyebrows raised fractionally with surprise when he saw John, but he otherwise kept his composure. John studied him. He was looking better these days, although he still had a slightly uneasy air about him, a man who wasn’t fully confident of his place in the world, not entirely grounded. But he was clearly trying, and he looked more at home in his own skin than John had ever seen him. At this moment, in fact, he appeared steadier than John felt.

“Agent Doggett,” greeted Mulder, quietly, once he had reached the apartment door. John glanced down into the stroller; William was peacefully asleep, his head turned to the side and his mouth moving occasionally in the phantom nursing of sleeping infants."" 

Doggett asks Mulder to write a profile on his son's killer, while Scully is there to support her partner after he gets sucked into the brutal randomness of the crime. The rest of the fic winds up to her disappearance while on a case Mulder asked her not work on: postpartum depression, Mulder's feelings of displacement in her life, and unfinished conversations between them. (Unfinished fic.)

Jenna Tooms/misslucyjane’s (Ao3, mulderscreek)

An Acceptable Level of Happiness (Site)

""Sunday afternoon I spread an old sheet on the kitchen floor and tie a dishtowel around Mulder's neck. He sits stiffly in the kitchen chair, his eyes on Malcolm. "Warn me," he says, his hands clenching.

"I know." I run my fingers through his hair, combing it out. I never start cutting right away. First I rub his temples and massage his scalp with my fingertips, trying to soothe him until his eyes close. I rub the base of his neck and his shoulders too, trying to reassure him that nothing's going to hurt him here. He often says he'd know my hands anywhere.

"I'm picking up the scissors now," I say when he's relaxed. He acknowledges this with a grunt, his head tilted forward....

I keep one hand in his hair as I trim it, scraping my nails lightly against his scalp. There is one scar on his head and every time my fingertips pass over it my hands tremble. They cut him open everywhere.""

Mulder and Scully are struggling with their separate PTSDs but willing to stick it out, thick or thin. She processes most of her emotions and draws closer to her partner at the Scully family Christmas; and he gets to meet Charlie and feel like a human again.

ML/ML_is_me’s (Ao3, Gossamer, DW, Invidiosa)  

Project:TruthSeekers Alt Season Nine: Home Fires, Part One (Goss)

Project:TruthSeekers Alt Season Nine: Home Fires, Part Two (Goss)

""Mulder had the door open before she got there, holding a squalling William in his arms. He raised his eyebrows at her slightly.

"Sorry," Scully said. "You got my message, didn't you?" She set the groceries down on the kitchen table, pushing aside an array of toys and teething rings to do so. She could see what kind of day her men had.

"Yeah," Mulder said. "I was here, I just couldn't get Limpet Boy to let go so I could answer the phone.""

Mulder is a stay-at-home dad battling the Conspiracy. Scully and their new partner get a call and drop-in from Phoebe, who is relatives with a higher-up in the Syndicate.

155 Words - Thankful

""Not long ago, he discovered that all he cared about had been pared down to a few essentials, and it wasn't hard to leave the rest behind.

Perhaps dying and returning is responsible for such clarity; but he hasn't analyzed it.""

Mulder marvels that Scully tracked him down with a baby in tow.

maybeamandaxffics/maybe_amanda/MaybeAmanda's (LJ)

Chataqalan - 1

Chataqalan - 2 (Goss)

Chataqalan - 3

""Who was that?" Mulder asked.

"Monica."

"Reyes? What's she doing there?"

"No one is quite sure," Scully said, settling herself on the bunk. "Least of all her."

There was a brief pause. "Excuse me?

"She asked if you could call John about her boots."

Another pause, this one a little longer. "I'm supposed to make a booty-call to John Doggett?""

Scully and Reyes team up on an investigation in Mexico: while Scully catches Mulder up on suspicious connections to Russians and Tunguska, Monica meets a possible love interest and starts to notice weird, suspicious activities from some of the other workers.

Under Construction (Goss)

""Then I got the arms. The *pick-me-up* arms. The *you're-my-dad- and-the-toes-of-my-tiny-little-Reeboks-belong-in-your-abs-pick-me-up* arms. I shouldn't hesitate - I shouldn't have to hesitate - but I always do. Anytime Scully noticed, she tried hard to look like she was trying hard not to look pained, but I saw it, anyway. It wasn't that I didn't want to hold William - hold my son. It was just that, every time I reached for him, for an instant I was sure my arms were going to pass right through him and I'd find myself passed out on the cold cement floor of my cell again, clutching my chest and aching for all I'd lost. If the price I had to pay to keep this dream up and running was never really holding it, I was prepared to accept that.

But William wasn't. "Up!" he insisted, so I accommodated.

He was solid. Real. I'm his dad. His toes do belong in my abs.

I kissed his forehead. Why isn't everything this simple?""

Mulder is returned with muddled memories of S8/S9 events, a truckload of PTSD, and a boatload of feeling that he's in everyone's way. Will already loves him; but Maggie hates his guts, and Scully isn't ready yet to smooth over that problem. And, Mulder finds out, everyone had been matchmaking her with Ellen's brother-in-law.

jeri's (MC) Ahonis (MC)

""Oh sure, Mulder could come by the office anytime and visit. Doggett often asked Scully to bring Mulder and William along on lunch breaks, or just have them drop in for a change of pace. But both Scully and Mulder felt it was best if he and the baby stayed clear of the FBI; Kersh may have left the Bureau, but he was still out there, reporting to someone. There was no guarantee that the new Deputy Director wasn't just as dirty as Kersh was.""

Doggett and Reyes work on bustin' a case that has connections to Marita Covarrubias. Mulder is only mentioned by Scully as a stay-at-home dad here and there.

@aloysiavirgata's (Ao3, WBM, Gossamer, LJ, Alt. LJ)

By Falling In and In

LiveJournal 2

LiveJournal 3

LiveJournal 4

LiveJournal 5

""Mulder sprawls across the black leather sofa in what is shortly to be his new home office. "It's so good to see you," he tells it. "We'll never be parted again."

"A boy and his couch. It's like a Norman Rockwell painting," Scully says, setting down a cardboard box on the desk. She picks up a container of fish food and taps a few flakes into the aquarium which is, for now, resting on the desk.

"She's just jealous," Mulder murmurs to the armrest. "She doesn't understand our love.""

These fics focus on Mulder and Scully parenting their magically-abled child in the leadup to an, unfortunately, successful Colonization (though the latter isn't the series' focus.) For my personal reading I skip part one and enjoy the rest of it (because Mulder running off to Mexico still makes me mad); but that's how I read everything, so it's nothing against this series.

A Heart of Star

""Mulder secures the baby into his bouncer seat on the dining room table, passing him a rubber duck to gnaw on. He then spreads his files out across the table, an assortment of highlighters next to him in a cup. He taps his chin with a pencil.

“Your mother says this is the result of clever editing, but I think we have pretty clear evidence of a ghostly apparition. There’s no sign of the film being altered. I mean, look at this. Mama is out of her mind.” Mulder holds a series of stills up for William to peruse.

“Ma,” yells William, reaching for the paper. “Mamamamamama!”

Mulder scowls. “I can’t believe you’re taking her side.""

Mulder's bonding moments with his growin' boy.

Elysium

""This is so cool,” William breathes, gripping the steering wheel.

Scully smiles, promising herself she will be calm even as she half-wishes he were still in a car seat.

“You wanna say the rosary first?” Mulder pipes up from the back seat. “To Our Blessed Lady of Brake Pads?”

“Daaaaaad,” William says. “I am a licensed driver now. I am a master of my craft.""

Scully's bonding moments with her miracle (and Mulder.)

mimicsmusings/mimic117's (Lost and Found)

Chip Off The Old Block 03 - Veracity

Chip Off The Old Block 04

""Hey, Charlie. Taste this."

Charles Scully cast a dubious eye on the bubbling mass of ham, beans and spices in the pot on the stove. He reared his head back, away from the spoon being poked toward his face.

"It smells fine, Mulder. Why don't you taste it yourself?"

The spoon followed his retreat at mouth level.

"I never taste while I'm cooking. How do you think I keep my girlish figure?""

Turns out, Will's magic baby powers are all in the family-- and not Mulder's. Charlie is telekinetic, too; and Maggie knew about it the whole time. (Bill is also here, and annoyed.)

Malibusunset's Terra Firma

""William plopped down onto the kitchen tiles in a seated position and stared after Mulder with a frown on his face.  Then he picked up his bottle in one hand, crawled a few feet awkwardly, then sat back down, tilted his head back, and plugged the bottle back in. He sucked voraciously and stared up at Mulder as if to say, "I can't do both, so I'm just gonna hang out here and eat instead."

"Right," said Mulder, bending down to a kneeling position. "How about you concentrate on transporting yourself and the bottle can catch a ride on the tray." William trustingly relinquished the bottle and Mulder placed it on the tray next to the orange juice and continued on. William followed eagerly on all fours. When he got to the stairs that led to the second floor, Mulder stopped and extended his arm down to his son.

"Will, UP," he said, offering his left arm while balancing the tray with his right. William pulled himself up on Mulder's leg, clutching handfuls of his pajama pants. Mulder lifted him like a sack of potatoes and hauled the baby and the tray up the stairs. Cooking breakfast with a baby wasn't for wimps.""

Mulder and Scully patch their lives together as new parents, buying a home, getting engaged, and expecting a second baby. The nuances of parenthood for a driven workaholic Scully and a stay-at-home writer-and-once-out-of-town consultant Mulder weave up and down; and is an entertaining read. (The way I read: Parts 1, 2, the first third of 3-- skipping the plotline-- then Parts 4... onward?) Notable moment: I particularly remember Mulder unable to speak after Scully's pregnancy announcement-- in Part 3-- because I was struck with how strikingly Mulder that is.

dlynn's Scully, NORAD called

""Mulder grabbed one of the pillows beneath his head and swatted Scully. When he reached to get his pillow back, Scully plopped the feathered cushion underneath her arms and glanced between her two men: Mulder, all rumpled and lanky, lying across the faded quilt -- his shirt untucked and sloppy, his jeans stained where Will's hands had wiped worm guts on his father's pants. Mulder's bare feet slid against each other as he rubbed the mosquito bites he'd accumulated last night fishing off the pier with their son. Will, the spitting image of his father, from the way he said, 'Oh, Mom' in the same plaintive voice that Mulder whined 'Sculleee' to the way he spit sunflower seeds with all the finesse of a pro, lay curled on his side, butted up against Mulder's chest. His wet hair stuck up like he'd been hacked with a wild weedwacker. Definitely, a Scully- Mulder.""

A Mulder family moment of bee stings and bedtime stories is interrupted by a call for him to hit the road for necessary Colonization-prevention work. Will knows he'll always be back.

thextruth's Our Next Path

""If someone had told Fox William Mulder that he would marry Dana Katherine Scully and that he would have two children with her. He wouldn’t have believed it, he never saw himself as a normal man, much less as a family man, but that's something that he wouldn’t change for anything in the world, his family is all his happiness, and see Scully give a kiss to that little one who is half her and half him, is always surreal, after all, he is a simple man who loves those little daily moments that fill his whole life."" 

This long fic is a series of family fluff-- the type with nothing but cozy family drama, a couple kids, and a twinkling happily-ever-after.

Mulder Left but Scully Joined Him

 touchstonea’s

Amor Fati: Destinata (The Fated Love), Act One: Desiderium (The Longing)

Amor Fati: Destinata (The Fated Love), Act Two: Et Perierat et Inventus Est (The Lost and the Found)

Amor Fati: The Fated Love, Act Three: Tres Discendens (The Leaving of the Three)

""From the other side of the connecting door, a complicated sequence of long and short knocks.  T…R…U…S…T…N…O…1…pause.  Mulder.  Or…

Taking a deep breath, Scully raised her fist again, and her knuckles tapped out her own sequence.   O…B…F…U…S…C…A…T…E…pause.  She turned the lock on the door and stepped back.

Holding her gun at the ready, she listened to the muffled sounds as the door on the far side opening slightly… then a little more.  It creaked.  She held her position, not sparing a glance at Will behind her on the bed.

Another breathless moment, and she was watching her knob turn, ever so slowly."" 

This epic diverges from canon after William was rescued from his kidnapping. Part 1 focuses on Scully's long, conflicted back-and-forth plans with TLG, Skinner, Doggett, and Reyes before she hits the road to reunite with Mulder. Part 2 is her journey and reunion: Mulder's fierce love and devotion, Will's uncanny abilities saving their hides, and reconnection while constantly being tagged and tailed by the Conspiracy. Part 3 kicks it up a notch: Scully insists they address Mulder's abduction PTSD and rescue other Super Soldier victims, barely escaping the Alien Bounty Hunter, and stumbling into Gibson's coalition in the woods with an alien faction. (This author writes spectacular and well-thought out logical connections that weave the misshapen mytharc back together.)

Revely's Unfinished Universe (Goss)

""They have a private evening ritual - nose to nose on the bed they practice telepathic communication.

Scully disappears into the motel bathroom for their soft-shelled display of male bonding, shutting the door behind her with aggravating finality - boys' side, girl's side. Mulder immediately stops casting out brain waves and begins to wonder what she's doing in there. She's awfully quiet. The baby just dozes and tries to nurse Mulder's nose until he manages to work one of his fists into his mouth.""

Does this count? Mulder is returned after Will is born; and Scully drives her son out to him. The three reconnect in gentle fits-and-starts on the long journey back. (LOVE this-- one of the first fics I'd ever read; and still a favorite.)

Gillian Leigh's (MC) Visitor in the Desert (MC)

""You have no other proof?" he asked, seemingly disappointed.

"No," she said, quietly.

"I'm supposed to take the word of a total stranger as the Gospel Truth?" he asked, almost mockingly. "I'm sorry, Rhiannon. But in my line of work, I've learned not to trust people." Rhiannon's eyes filled with tears again, and she looked down at her hands before speaking again.

"If you don't stop Scully from giving William up from adoption, I am an example of what will become of every human being on this planet," she said, calmly. "I may look like a human being on the exterior, but I am thirty- three and one-third percent alien.""

Mulder gets a vision while hiding out in the desert-- a girl from the future warns him against Scully adopting out William. He rushes back, reclaims his family, and drags them all (and friends) to an underground bunker civilization preparing for Colonization-- where he finds not only Scully's brothers, but also Samantha. The girl in his vision keeps appearing to him, and is eventually revealed to his daughter.

Honorable Mentions

@we-mad-guys’s forgetting the future

Skinner, TLG, and the Scullys take turns caring for Will when his parents are forced to work out of town secretly on anti-Colonization measures. (Love this fic; but I already included it in my Dad!Mulder sports fics.)

WordsSpillFromMyOpenVeins_89’s Weekend At Martha’s Vineyard

A vacation at the Vineyard for Mulder, Scully, their son, and his dog (which leads up to a proposal.)

Beduini/beduini's Hurricane Season

Not a favorite, but it fits the bill. Featuring unresolved tensions and PTSD crackling between new parents Mulder and Scully and among the Scully family at large, this fic explodes with mess and tensions every chapter or so, forcing everyone to get along in the midst of a sudden hurricane.

AND~ my previous Dad!Mulder fic lists here--

S9 Mulder Stays or Returns While the Mytharc Barrels On  

Fics That Fit My Niche “Dad!Mulder” Likes 

MORE Fics That Fit My Niche “Dad!Mulder” Likes

Dad!Mulder, His “Mini Me"s, and Sports 

Thanks for reading~

Enjoy!

[ficbrish]

Tiny Scene Tuesday

[29Sep2023]

Today's three little words: Invisible, Gear, Mislead

[Create a short piece (art or fic) that encompasses those 3 words]

Thank you @mallaidhsomo for the prompt!

Any stray Shenkos out there, come join the Big Place Shenko Discord for weekly art/fic prompts! ✨

"The Perfect Moment"

[[TW/CW: Hospitals, medicine, food, illness]]

Kaidan had faced things before that should have made him more nervous than this. He’d survived Eden Prime and fought the Geth. He came through battles with Collectors and Reapers, even getting through that grueling final push in the war for Earth. The only thing he was facing right now was the future. Shepard and that little box in his pocket.

He cleared his throat, gearing himself up to say the most romantic thing he’s ever said in his life, “Uh—Um…”

“You choking?”

“No, I’m not choke—I’m not choking, Shepard.”

“Mmmm. Good.”

But was now really the best time to do it? In a hospital room after the end of the world? Without any stunning views, memorable meals, or notable outfits?

“Are you all right, Kaidan?”

“I’m fine,” he said to her suspicious brow, “Uh, I’m good.”

Her expression leapt from query to concern, “Oh… You didn’t have any of that ‘lamb’ stew, did you? They say the food here is made fresh, but Wrex told me he saw them use canned ground meat from before the attack on Vancouver. So… Hold on, I think Miranda gave me some pills for that.”

“Don’t get up,” he urged as Shepard turned to search the crowded table at her side. She knocked into one bottle of medicine, and four more fell over in a chorus of rattles.

“Whoops.”

“I got it.”

He knelt down to grab the two plastic bottles that dropped to the floor.

He was kneeling. He could stand up and…

Well, at least she’d be surprised. It’s not like she’d be expecting him to pop up with a ring and a question that could change their lives forever. If he wanted to mislead her before the big moment, now was the time to do it.

“Kaidan?”

“Yeah?”

“You okay down there?”

He was still under the table.

Kaidan sighed, “Yeah, just dropped a contact.”

“…You don’t wear contacts?”

“You’re right. I don’t.”

“So… You taking a vacation?”

“No!” He stood up with vexation, more at himself than anything, and placed the bottles back on her table. Three more fell to the floor. He knelt back down with a little more vexation.

This time he just grabbed them and stood up.

“Ah, fuck!”

“Kaidan!”

… And bumped his head on the bottom of the table, knocking over some of the other plastic medicine containers.

“I’m all right.”

Maybe it was a good thing he was still picking bottles off the floor. The more bottles, the more time to think, to decide. But by the time he gathered them all, both of his hands were full.

He stood up with a sigh, “You could open a small pharmacy.”

“Blame Miranda.”

His hands shook as he re-organized her side table.

“You sure you didn’t have any of the stew?”

Kaidan let out a light chuckle, “I’m sure. No offense, but it was grey.”

“Right!”

“I didn’t want to say anything earlier when you and Wrex…”

“You should have!” she insisted, “I must have some residual brain damage on top of everything else, because my taste and smell have been off lately. Or maybe it’s one of the medications… Remind me to ask Miri.”

He sat down on her bed. His hand found hers and he squeezed it.

“Oh, hey there!” Shepard smiled, “That’s better.”

Kaidan moved her hair out of her face and leaned in close to it, “And what about me, Shepard? Can you still smell me?”

She laughed, something between a chortle and a giggle. Shepard made a show of giving his neck a deep sniff, and then fell back into her pillow snorting with hilarity.

“I’m glad you find yourself funny,” he smirked.

When she settled down again, Kaidan was still very close to her face.

“And what about how I taste?” he asked, bringing his hand up to cradle her chin; bringing his mouth closer.

He brushed his bottom lip against the space between hers and waited for Shepard to interlock them.

There was that light moan at the end of her tongue, just like there always was. No matter what they’d lost, they didn’t lose this.

Breaking their kiss shattered his thoughts. The only thing left in the universe was Shepard’s face in front of him.

Kaidan spent his whole life feeling invisible. It was like he was born into the world without being born into the world. Shepard’s murky blue eyes were the first pair that really seemed to pluck him out of his lone dimension and force him into the life that everyone else lived. With Shepard came love, and friendships, and a home.

So really… Every time was the perfect time to offer Shepard his forever.

Nuzzling his forehead against hers, then his nose against hers, Kaidan reached for his pocket.

“Shepard…”

She planted a small kiss on the tip of his nose before asking, “Yeah?”

SLAM!

Jack stormed into the hospital room, bristling with everything short of biotics.

Kaidan stood straight up, guiltily smoothing out his pockets.

Jack sat down aggressively in one of the chairs and hid her head under crossed arms.

“Uh…” Kaidan asked.

“Shepard!”

She blinked with the patience of a commander and the alarm of a friend, “Yes?”

“Kill me now!” Jack whined, with the dramatics of a teenager at the mall.

Kaidan and Shepard looked between each other.

“Jack?” she asked.

“I did the worst thing. It’s the worst thing.”

“What?!”

Jack bit her lip and shouted, “I kissed the cheerleader!”

Yeah, no, the proposal was definitely gonna have to wait.

[Read more snippets on AO3 🥰]

[the-broken-truth]

I know you did this so very long ago but would you consider a pt3 for you Resident Evil Village Knight!Reader fics.

Alcina and Donna don’t give up but leave her alone for a while. Donna gets the broken helmet from Mother Miranda and repairs it maybe with the parts that were too broken she adds something to it, to make sure it’s whole like it used to be (like a different colour metal) and maybe makes a stuffed animal of a wolf dressed as a knight (so mf cute and fluffy) and fresh apples for R’a horse and she delivers it to R as an apology along with some cookies or something.

Alcina on the other hand sees R out when she joins her daughters on a hunt, She sees R (Maybe in a wolf form?!-but she can tell it’s R bc of her smell or something-) eating a deer so violently and when she’s done she eats another and mumbled something to herself under her breath about it being her favourite. So Alcina does what a normal tall big booby vamp lady would do and makes a wine for R infused with deer blood and names it something related to wolves or knights or something, she also gets a saddle made out of the finest leather or maybe a new sword for R. once again as an apology.

They both hope that the R will enjoy them and maybe reach out to accept the apology face to face?

R is confused but enjoys both gifts maybe one more than the other? Maybe she decided to give one of them a chance.

You don’t have to this was just an idea I had after stumbling upon your Knight!Reader story I enjoyed very much🫶🏽🫶🏽

[If [Reader] Gives Donna A Chance]

[Mother Miranda's Chapel - Underground Lab]

"Come again, Child. What did you just ask me for?" The winged woman asked as she turned to face the veiled woman behind her who stood there with the living doll on her shoulder and her hands folded in front of her - her hands being the only part of her body that remained bare. The Mother of the Four Lords had been working on some alterations with the Cadou Parasite when her door opened and the Second Lord - Donna Beneviento - walked in with her living companion - Angie The Doll - and asked her for a rather unusual request.

"Mother, I would like the Knight's Helmet Fragments. I know that you collected them on the day she crashed into the chapel to defeat one of Karl's Creations and I would like to request that you give me the fragments." Donna said in her rather quiet voice - she wanted to be the one to make this request, that's why Angie sat quietly on her porch on Donna's Shoulder. Miranda's blue eyes looked at Donna for a while before turning back to the bubbling flasks on her lab table and picked up a corked test tube but opened her mouth to speak to Donna.

"That Knight is rather interesting if I do say so, My Daughter; I know that you and your sister have an interest in her. Why is it that you seek the Helmet Fragments? Do you wish to repair them and return the helmet to the knight? Do you really think that would give access to her good graces, Daughter? Is that your plan?" Mother Miranda asked as she slowly opened the cork from the test tube and slowly poured the liquid into the large container holding the Cadou Parasite Larva, it pulsed and twitched around as the clear liquid came in contact with its' 'flesh'.

"We wronged the Knight, Mother when you sent the Lycans after her. She felt as if we were trying to harm her and I don't want to be on bad terms with her, Mother. If I repair her helmet and return it to her, maybe she will know that we have no ill will towards her as a resident in our village." Donna explained but Miranda just smirked and chuckled at Donna's explanation as she placed the empty test tube back on the rack before she walked over to another desk - where a small wooden chest lay dormant - Miranda looked at the chest and picked it up before walking over to Donna with it and held the chest out.

"You may think that My Child, but I know in your heart that you desire the knight to be yours and yours alone. Should you manage this task, I shall make the Knight a Lord, without the Cadou of course. I don't want to mess up anything in my latest child's DNA." Miranda smirked as Donna took the box and turned on her heel to walk away, through the doors, up the stairs, and out of the Chapel with the wooden box in her hands.

[About A Week Later - Beneviento Manor]

Donna's delicate hands reached for another piece of the cold black metal - the zig-zag edges felt like locked teeth. Donna looked at the construction before her and placed the piece in the proper place before she looked at what she had - the Knight's Helmet was now before her but it wasn't as perfect as it once was. Due to the fact that some of the pieces were missing - lost in Mother Miranda's Chapel - Donna had to replace the missing pieces with another black metal after shaping it to fit the helmet from memory.

"Hey, Donna!" Angie's voice made Donna jump and clench the helmet close to her chest before she turned to face the little doll that stood beside her chair.

"Yes, Angie? Is there something I can help you with?" Donna asked her companion.

"What are you doing? Isn't that the Knight's Helmet? The one that broke in Mother Miranda's Chapel?" Angie asked as Donna placed the helmet back on the table.

"Yes, it is. I asked Mother for the pieces so that I could repair them and return them to the knight." Donna looked at the helmet, placing her hand on it between the ears, her mind thinking about the knight and the way she saved her from falling into the gorge. Donna's heart picked up in pace when she stood up and walked into the kitchen with a smile on her face and a blush creeping along the bridge of her nose. "I think I shall make the Knight some cookies and pick up some apples from the market."

"Why Cookies and Apples?" Angie asked as she followed Donna into the kitchen as well as a few dolls.

"I remember seeing a basket of green apples at the Knight's Cabin, she must like them and everyone likes cookies; I'm certain she will like them as well." Donna said as she took off her veil and put on her apron. It was time to get baking.

[About 3 Hours Later]

The Head of House Beneviento stood on the edge of the forest with a nervous look on her face before she walked into the forest down the path with the basket in her hands and Angie on her shoulder. The two of them walked the area around them until they reached the clearing and the cabin in the woods. The Knight was standing outside with her armor on and without her helmet. Donna opened her mouth to speak but the sight of the knight made her throat get dry - the knight was gorgeous with her long silky hair and her muscular build - Donna didn't know what to do.

"Lady Beneviento?" She heard her name called at the knight walked over to her with a raised eyebrow, "What are you doing here?"

"I...Um...Well..." Donna stuttered but Angie decided to make herself known.

"Hey, Tall One." Angie greeted, causing the Knight to look in her direction with a smile.

"Hello, Small One. What are you guys doing here?" The Knight asked.

"Donna fixed your helmet and brought you a basket of cookies and apples." Angie explained causing Donn's face to get brighter and brighter with each word her companion said. Donna reached into the basket and pulled out the repaired helmet and handed it to the open hands of the knight, who smiled at Donna and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you, Lady Beneviento." The Knight thanked her before offering a hand, "Come with me, we have some tea and cookies while we talk."

[valleynix]

idk if you do these but im feeling sad today and need something soft. i love the way you write, but you always make miranda so sad (and i assume shell get the same treatment in your new fic). do you think you could write a miri/reader with like a happy ending or something? i just want her to know she's loved :(

of course!! i do love Miranda deep down, and it’s made me want to write an entire fic with her as a love interest. maybe soon... 

[AN: i lowkey went a little overboard and this turned into a character study with a hint of angst and a happy ending. i guess here is my take on what Miri would go through and her thought process of realizing she’s in love with someone.]

Words: ~5.2k

She knows it’s not right of her.

A mere human shouldn’t make her feel this way, shouldn’t make her question herself and her devotion to bringing back her daughter. It’s all she’s wanted for the last century, and it’s everything she’s ever dreamed of. She’s so close to bringing her Eva back into this world to give her the love and care she deserves. 

But Miranda cannot help hurting her own locked away heart when she thinks of what it will mean for you if she succeeds. 

All in all, you were no one to her; just another devoted follower, someone for her to call upon when she needed something from the village or when she needed a letter delivered to one of the Four Lords. You always did so without question, something she had begun to admire since you stumbled into her life. She tries to tell herself you mean nothing to her, that your sacrifice for the sake of her daughter wouldn’t affect her, but even she cannot lie to herself for long.

She knows she should not feel this way.

But you care, don’t you? Miranda often doubts herself and her thoughts when you’re around, and she knows you only do this for her because of who she is, because of the power she holds over you. Were she anyone else, you would not have been so devoted to her. You wouldn’t have cared.

Sometimes she wonders. Her mind drifts as she works in her lab, as she mindlessly writes down her work and fixes vials. She wonders if she would have met you, had things been different. If, through some strange happenstance, you would have been a part of her life, even if she’d never lost her daughter.

She shouldn’t think like this. Her main goal in life was to bring Eva back, even if it meant taking down the rest of the world to do so. She would see her little girl again, she would hold her in her arms and tell her everything she’s been wanting to say. 

She would not risk everything she’s worked for, this entire century of difficult work, for you. 

Why does it hurt her to think that way?

~~

For the most part, she’s really not sure why you even occupy her mind.

Oftentimes, you’ll spend your days with her in her lab unless she requires you elsewhere. You’ll remain near her, offering your assistance and listening as she talks to you about her plans in an attempt to search for loopholes. 

If she’s feeling particularly generous, which happens more often than she cares to admit, she’ll ask you about yourself. You’ll hesitate before telling her some story she knows you’re just making up, though she doesn’t pry beyond that. 

If you weren’t comfortable talking to her about the true nature of your family or why you choose to remain by her side, she wouldn’t press you about it. She told herself that she just didn’t care, but she does feel something when she hears your hesitation and your reluctance to talk about them.

She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t thought of finding this family and making them pay for what they’d done to you. After all, you were her longest-serving follower, and that alone gave you some privileges not offered to many. 

She supposes that is why she thinks of you often, even when you’re not around, when you’re instead running some errand for her while she works. You’re the closest thing she has to a friend.

It’s... nice to be able to talk to someone without judgement. She feels a little more human when you’re around, when you nod at her words and offer your input where she requests it. 

She’s never been good at understanding her feelings. She likely never will.

She just hopes her inability to recognize what she’s feeling won’t interfere with your near-daily interactions. 

She’d never admit it, of course, not even on her darkest nights, but she’s not sure what she would do if you weren’t there to listen to her or offer her something you’d made to eat. Your very existence confuses her, but she admits she doesn’t mind it.

What does that mean for her?

~~

Meetings after meetings and tests failing over and over had made Miranda quite irritable today. She grunts in frustration as yet another theory of hers fizzles out at the same time as the flame on the counter. She’s tired and she’s angry but she’s convinced herself to keep working until something goes right today.

To make matters worse... She can’t seem to get you off her mind. You were out helping the Dimitrescus in their luxurious castle, probably just tending to their every wish and want, and it had been some time since she’s seen you. 

You’re better off with them, anyway. It was clear they cared about you to some extent; she saw your bright smile when Daniela picked you up and spun you around in her arms, the smile that would never be directed at her. She saw the way you melted into Bela’s touch, so unlike the way you stiffened at hers. She’s seen the way you laugh at Cassandra’s snarky comments and the way you become shy when Alcina is around.

Knowing all of this, knowing your reactions... It makes her bitter, though she can’t quite fathom why. She’s thought of simply handing you over to them, to let you serve a family you enjoyed being around.

Miranda supposes she’s selfish. Despite her standing and the way she acts toward you, you’ve always come back to her. It doesn’t mean anything, but having someone like you in her life has made her better, she thinks, and for as long as you’ll stay, she’ll keep you nearby.

She feels her wings twitch behind her. It’s not often they make an appearance in her lab, but she can’t quite seem to get them under control today. Every time she tries, they push back against her wishes and spread out further. They’re not getting in her way, at least, and she’s thankful for small mercies.

Miranda doesn’t realize she’s been gripping shattered pieces of a vial in her hand until she feels you next to her, pulling her fingers apart and quickly but gently taking the glass out of her hand. 

She blinks, a little stunned by your boldness. She sees the panic in your movements, your wide eyes and shaking limbs. Her wounds heal quickly, as they always do, and she’s not even fazed by them. 

You glance up at her, eyes meeting for just a second, but you seem to realize once again who she is, and you avert your gaze. As if you had been the one injured, your hands snap away from hers, coming to wring in front of you anxiously. 

Her eyes find your satchel on the ground by the entrance of the room. A bottle of wine peeks out from it, along with a few fruits she can’t be bothered to name right now. There’s... a letter, too, so you must have brought something back for her from the Alcina. 

“Forgive me,” you mumble. She looks to you again, brows furrowing slightly as you keep your head bowed. “I... thought you were injured.”

Don’t you know she can’t be injured? Not like you can, anyway.

“You’ve returned,” is all she can manage to say. 

Her voice is cold, even to her own ears, devoid of any emotion. You flinch at her tone, something she doesn’t want to see from you, strangely.

She doesn’t mind when the villagers are afraid of her. They know her power, they know what she can do to them in a blink of an eye. So do you, but you’ve never really shown that you’re afraid of her. Why should you start now?

Breath shuddering, you nod. “Lady Dimitrescu wanted me to arrive back here safely, before the lycans began their hunt tonight.”

Miranda can protect you from them, if you’d let her. She’s not sure why she hasn’t offered to yet.

She hums and turns back to her counter, scribbling something on a piece of paper. “Did you enjoy your time there?”

“Yes, Mother Miranda. Thank you for allowing me such visits.” She doesn’t like how cold your voice has become. You’re so formal, so... unlike yourself. This is just a script you’ve memorized to keep her happy. You must have realized she’s in a sour mood today, and that’s why you’re copying her tone. “The... wine is for you.”

“I assumed as much.” Why is she acting like this? “If there’s nothing else...”

It’s a clear dismissal, and one she knows you recognize from all your years spent as her loyal follower. She glances at you only once, cold heart aching at the sight of the disappointment on your face. It quickly fades into something like acceptance as you nod again and turn away. 

She turns her own body so that she can watch you leave out of the corner of her eye. You pause at the door, frowning and glancing back at her. Your mouth opens, as if you want to say something, and part of her hopes you will. She doesn’t understand why she pushes you away if some human remnant inside her enjoys your company, but she can’t help it.

You don’t say anything. She turns her head to watch you disappear around a corner, something painful settling deep in her chest at the sight. 

~~

It’s a month later that Miranda makes a horrible discovery.

She’s not like you; she’s been shut away for so long, cut off her emotions for so long, that she simply doesn’t understand anything but the anger and the need to see her daughter again.

She doesn’t understand why she wants to see you smile at her. She doesn’t understand why she wants to hold you and comfort you after you tiredly walk into her lab with a satchel full of her favorite things to eat and dark bags beneath your eyes. She wants to ask if you’re all right, if you need a break, if you need anything because she can provide it for you-

She never does. 

Miranda continues ignoring all these strange feelings within her, and she sees you grow more distant. You still take care of her in what little ways she’s seen you do. Leaving an encouraging note before you leave for the day, setting a fruit nearby with a small letter, asking her politely to eat something before she works herself to death. 

On the days she requires your assistance in the lab, you do still listen to her and talk to her as if nothing is amiss. It makes her wonder if she’s just imagining you pulling yourself away from her, if she’s misinterpreting your distracted looks as she speaks.

She remembers, a few weeks ago, absentmindedly mentioning to you that she had been craving something sweet. She’d completely forgotten about the brief interaction with you until she saw the small box outside her door with flowers resting atop it. Inside the box were miniature chocolates, clearly imported by the Duke. 

She’d wanted to thank you, to, perhaps, try them with you, but she hasn’t seen you for a long time, and she’s not sure if she just never heard you tell her where you’d be going or if you’d deliberately kept it from her.

You still remain, of course. Your ghost does, at any rate. Your scent haunts her lab where you’ve recently been to leave little notes and other small things to remind her to eat and take care of herself. She thinks she hears you laugh with her other servants sometimes, but she knows you’d never willingly let her hear something so lovely.

You’re merely a call away and she could see you again, but she refrains from ever seeking you out. She barely misses your presence in the mornings, as you’re gone mere moments before she enters her lab. You’re the only person she allows full access of her lab to, and that should have been her first hint that she cared more than she wanted to admit.

You were no one. You were nothing to her, merely another human servant fulfilling their duty to her, as most did in the village.

Yet, late one night, while Miranda lies awake and hurting from your missing physical existence in her life... 

For the first time in a very long time, she has found herself afraid.

~~

What would it mean if she were to truly lose you?

She knows, likely better than most, what loss can drive someone to. She’s watched herself over this past century, she’s seen the person she’s become. 

Miranda believes it to all be worth it to see Eva again.

Part of her wants you to meet her daughter, to be proud of all the hard work she’s put in to bring someone she loves so dearly back into her life. 

You must realize the person she’s become. You must see how corrupted she is, how she simply hurts everything she touches. 

Why do you keep doing this for her?

~~

She catches you one morning before you can slip away from her lab unnoticed. 

She’d been awake all night, tossing and turning in her small bed, mind and heart racing. She hadn’t even realized you would still be nearby until she literally ran into you.

Miranda had nearly knocked you off your feet and sent you to the floor. Through some strange instinct in you as you both turned a corner at the same time, you gripped onto her, your hands digging into her biceps and pulling her toward you in an effort to keep yourself standing. She’d steadied herself and wrapped her arms around you after realizing it was you and not some other mortal she would punish for sneaking into her lab.

She thought of doing so anyway because she was tired and she didn’t like being caught by surprise. Any thought of punishing you fled her mind the moment you snapped away from her as though simply touching her would send you to eternal damnation.

It all happened too fast for her exhausted mind to really notice anything, at first. You stood in front of her in shocked silence, head bowed, knees trembling, hands shaking as you nervously tugged at your light coat. 

Right. The winter months were coming. How had she not noticed before now?

“I-I wasn’t expecting you here this early,” you tell her, voice trembling as you speak. Do you think she’s going to hurt you? She knows you’ve been doing this every morning, for as long as she can remember. “I was just... tidying things before I left for the day.”

Oh. You don’t want her to know it’s you. 

That makes her heart ache again, but it’s not entirely an unpleasant feeling. 

Still... Why do you keep doing this for someone who has never even thanked you for the extra work you put in? She doesn’t understand why you even do it; she’d still want you to serve under her, even if you only did the bare minimum. Why do you care so much to go through all of this for her?

Miranda merely nods and brushes passed you, wings threatening to come out again. She manages to keep them at bay long enough to close her lab door behind her, effectively shutting you out once again from whatever the hell she’s feeling right now.

She’s just tired. That’s why none of this is making sense. She’d work until she no longer could, and she’d think about all of this later.

Or, more preferably, never. She didn’t have time to wonder why you hung around her and did these things for her. She didn’t want to think about it or what it could mean, mostly because she knows it means nothing.

She is your goddess, your leader. It’s the only reason you’re doing any of this. Without her, you were lost, you weren’t saved, and she convinces herself that it’s the only reason you do small things to ensure she’s still alive.

She can’t get you out of her head.

Even as she works herself to death again that day, you’re the last thing on her mind when she drifts to sleep at her desk. 

Miranda briefly wakes when she hears someone enter. Her wings flick out behind her as she lifts her head, eyes straining to open, vision bleary and hazy when you enter it. She’s more confused than anything else, especially when she feels something gently lay over her wings and her shoulders.

You murmur something to her, smiling softly at her as you speak. She blinks slowly at you, willing herself to wake up, to hear what you’re telling her. One of your hands gently brushes along her forehead and over her hair, and she sighs and leans into the touch. 

You make her feel human, and she’s not sure how to feel about it.

She must have fallen back asleep soon after, because when she wakes again, the room is dim and you’re gone. Only your scent lingers, and even that is fading. 

She wonders if she imagined you being there with her, if she only wanted you to touch her like you weren’t afraid of her.

She realizes it happened when the blanket falls off her shoulders.

~~

That was the last time Miranda saw you. She truly learns what it means to lose you.

It’s not that this was even uncommon; she just hadn’t been paying attention to what time of the year it was until she could no longer smell you in her lab. When she entered one morning to only smell her sterile room, her heart froze in her chest.

She’d thought, maybe, that you had given up trying to take care of her. She was a little hurt by it, but she couldn’t blame you. She missed the small notes you would leave her, but she assumed you had had enough of her not even saying a simple thank you. 

She looks outside to see the first frost had come.

You were in Castle Dimitrescu for the winter, as you always were when snow began to litter the ground. The three sisters were more susceptible to their sadistic tendencies in winter, though with you around - probably the only human they didn’t want to outright murder - they were more manageable. You kept them distracted, and Alcina was able to keep a majority of her staff. 

She’s not sure why that ignites something in her chest. 

It’s not fair of her, she knows. After all, she’d been the one to suggest you stay there during winter so that no more assets were lost. If you kept the girls distracted and happy just by existing near them... 

Miranda convinces herself that she doesn’t care if you return or if you find your place in that damned castle. She purges you from her mind, throws herself into her work until she can no longer stand. 

She tries to forget you, but you haunt her dreams. She feels something in her chest when images of you happy with the Dimitrescus flitter through her mind’s eye. You’re safe with them, she knows, but you’re safe with her, too. She can make you happy.

She has no one to blame but herself. Late one night, while she stares into her unlit fireplace, cold biting into her bones... She realizes what you mean to her- what you’ve always meant to her.

And she realizes what a fool she’s been.

~~

Despite her efforts to completely block you out of her mind and her memory, she still hears about you when Alcina calls. 

She doesn’t ask about you, doesn’t even mention that she knows you’re there. But Alcina talks about you as if you’re the light of her life, as if you’ve solved all of her problems.

They’ve recently discovered a way to keep Daniela and Cassandra from, erm... accidentally maiming one of the servants over something miniscule. My girls respect them, and I can’t thank you enough for allowing them to stay here during winter, Mother Miranda. They’ll be returned to you as soon as the flowers begin to bloom once more.

She’s not sure what makes her say it, why her fingers clench around the handle of the phone while Alcina speaks. She grits her teeth and closes her eyes, a headache forming at her temples. Four words seal her fate and yours. You can keep them.

~~

For a while, Miranda doesn’t let you invade her thoughts. 

You’re still in her dreams. She can’t really control those, but they become... softer. Most are filled with you being happy and content, and she’s there with you while you grin and tug her along, toward some unspoken destination. More often than not, she finds herself waking to fresh tears on her cheeks, something she deliberately ignores as she starts her day.

Anytime she starts to think of you or miss the small things you would leave around her lab, she throws herself harder and harder into her work. She’s making steady progress, and she can’t allow some mortal to distract her from what she deems truly important. 

She actually thinks she’s almost completely gotten you out of her mind when it arrives.

It’s a small package, something she’d not bother to look at twice if it didn’t have your scent on it. 

Miranda opens it frantically, eyes wide when she sees her favorite snack, a small bouquet of flowers, and a handwritten letter from you.

She greedily reads every little word you wrote, eyes flicking over the dark words again and again.

She only registers some of it. Hope you’re doing well. Taking care of yourself? Be back soon. 

Miss you.

The last sentence before you scratchily sign your name makes her pause. She rereads it until her eyes are blurry, until she thinks she’s just seeing things. Forgive my boldness, and I apologize if this is too far, but I miss you.

She doesn’t understand.

This doesn’t make sense.

She slumps back in her chair, gently setting your letter on her desk. Her hands shake as she brings them up to her face, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples. 

You’ve never said anything like that before, not during any of the winters you’ve spent in the castle. You sent her letters to keep her updated and some little things you’d found to show her you were still alive and well. She kept them all in her home, locked away in a chest beneath her bed.

As she ponders your words, as they race through her mind and burn themselves there… She finds that she misses you.

What an idiot she’s been.

~~

Miranda does not expect you to return. Part of her doesn’t want you to; you’re happy with the Dimitrescus in a way you never would be with her. She’ll only bring you down, only ruin you if she allows herself this small, brief happiness. 

She hasn’t seen you in months, hasn’t heard from you since that letter. When Alcina calls to check up, to ensure her you’re still alive and well, she sometimes would hear your voice or your laugh in the background. That hurts her, knowing that she’ll never be the one to draw such a sound out of you.

On the first official day of spring, she’s startled when she hears a knock at her door. It was open, after all, as she had a window pulled up somewhere to let more warm air in. She has no reason to be afraid of anyone or anything that could wander in.

She’d skipped going to her lab today, as she knew you would always come back on the first day of spring, like you have all these years before.

She doesn’t want to see you.

Well, that’s a lie. She does, she’s missed you and all your silly little gifts you leave out for her. 

What would it mean if she were to admit to that? Can she look at you the same after coming to the discovery that she cares for you?

To no one’s surprise, it’s you she finds standing at her door, satchel at your waist, hiding something behind your back. You stand nervously, eyes downcast, morning sun creating an angelic glow about your form.

Her heart skips a beat. Instead of haunting her dreams and her every waking moment, you’re here, standing just outside her reach. She wonders if you’ll disappear the moment she touches you, if you’ll allow her to touch you.

“I’d hoped you would tell me to my face,” you start, your voice quiet, “if you didn’t want me here.”

She freezes. Alcina must have told you what she’d said, about letting them keep you in the castle. She doesn’t think she really meant it, and upon seeing your hurt expression, she knows she didn’t. She was just angry and she doesn’t understand these things she’s feeling, why fire burns in her chest at the thought of someone else making you happy. 

She hasn’t felt this way in a long time. She doesn’t want to lose you, and that terrifies her.

Miranda doesn’t say anything. She stands a little straighter, spine stiffening, and you must take her silence as answer enough.

You pull your satchel over your shoulder and gently set it on the ground, along with a single flower you’d hidden behind your back. You stare at it, frowning. “Lady Dimitrescu has offered me a place in her castle, if you were to find no further use of me.”

This is your farewell because she’s not saying anything. She’s not telling you to stay, she’s not asking you to remain here, with her. She supposes that she can’t blame you for thinking she doesn’t want you to serve beneath her anymore, not when she’s never given you a reason to even think she appreciated your small, caring gestures over the years.

Why do you look so hurt at her silent rejection? Shouldn’t you be happy? You’re free to go be with the ones you want, to find a peaceful and content life with people who can truly take care of you.

She doesn’t understand, but she wants to.

“Why aren’t you happy?”

You’ve only ever looked her in the eyes a handful of times over the years. You’re not afraid of her, and she knows that, but she also knows you respect her enough to keep your gaze averted when you can. She’s never quite realized how stunning you are when you’re looking at her, when she can focus on every part of your face at once. 

Confusion flashes across your face. “Happy?” you repeat. You shift on your feet, your brows furrowing deeply. “Why would I be happy? You don’t want me.”

Well, if she didn’t understand before, she definitely doesn’t now. She feels her wings flick out again, displeased with your answer. “You can be with them. Isn’t that what you want?”

You stare at her like she has three heads. Your mouth is agape as her words register, as they sink in. You stand there in silence for a moment before huffing a humorless laugh. “I guess I owe Cassandra some lei.”

Miranda shakes her head. “Why would you owe her money?”

You bend to pick up your satchel, rummaging through it a moment. “I didn’t think she was serious when she joked that you were just oblivious. I thought you hated me.”

Now it’s her turn to be even more confused. “Hate you?” she quietly asks. She watches as you pull out a letter, opening it to skim its contents. “Why would you...”

She trails off as she remembers. Right. All these little things you’ve been doing for her, and she’s never once uttered a thank you or even acknowledged what you’ve done for her. 

“I can’t really blame you. I’m just some human, and you’re... Well. A literal goddess, I suppose.” She wants to slap both you and her for being so damn stupid. You sigh and step toward her, offering her the letter. “I apologize for my boldness, but I suppose it doesn’t matter if you’re getting rid of me.”

Miranda takes the letter from you, careful not to brush her bare fingers along your own. She doesn’t open it. “Tell me what you mean.”

You look away from her again, toward some spot on the floor. “I-”

“Look at me.”

Aside from when you had first begun working for her, she’s never spoken to you like this. Her voice is harsh and demanding, and she almost apologizes. 

Almost.

She wants to hear what you have to say for yourself, why you’re acting this way, why you think she wouldn’t care about you.

You do as she says almost immediately. Your eyes find hers, so beautiful in the morning light. She resists the urge to go to you, to hold you against her and tell you it’ll be all right, I’m here, just talk to me.

What’s gotten into her? What have you done to her?

You take a deep breath before you speak. “I... I love you.” Those three little words make her entire world freeze. You say them so confidently, and she hasn’t heard them uttered since before the mold and Cadou and everything else. How could someone like you fall for someone like her? “I know it’s not right of me, and I’m sorry. It’s probably for the better if I stay in the castle, but I told myself I wouldn’t let this linger in me any longer.”

You’re the only person to ever stun Mother Miranda.

You should be proud of this accomplishment. 

She feels her mouth work, feels the words that want to come out. 

Is this what she’s felt toward you? Is she... She can’t be.

And yet, she is. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Why she isn’t so hard on you, why she enjoys your company above any others. Why she was so angry that someone else could have been giving you the happiness she could give you.

“Why didn’t you say anything before?”

Her voice is so quiet. She’s vulnerable right now, and she will kill you if you ever speak a word about this to anyone. She knows she won’t really go through with it, but thinking that way makes her feel better, makes her feel like she still has some power. 

You don’t mock her. You take a step toward her, hands wringing again like they always do when you’re nervous. She didn’t even realize she’s noticed all the small things you do when you’re around her; shifting your weight, wringing your hands, your limbs shaking whenever you move...

The signs were all right there, and she’s been so blind.

“I didn’t want to distract you from your work.”

Even now, you’re thinking of her. You’re putting your needs below her own, like you always do, and that’s going to stop today.

Miranda moves toward the door, careful not to hit you with her wings. She gently grabs your wrist and tugs your further inside as she shuts the door behind you. The letter is set on a table nearby, something she doesn’t glance twice at.

“You love me,” she plainly states. You look away as you nod, but she’s not having that. She gently grips your chin between her thumb and forefinger, forcing you to look back up at her. “You love me.”

She realizes she’s just repeating herself, but your words haven’t quite fully sunk in yet. How can you love her, after she’s been so unkind to you? 

She’s so bewildered. 

“I’ve thought of all the different ways I could kiss you.” You’re being so bold today, but she can’t find it in herself to scold you for it. If you thought she was going to kill you for speaking of any of this, it was certainly a unique way to go out. “It’s all I could think about in that castle.”

Miranda leans a little closer to you, something sparking in her chest when she hears your breath hitch. “I could punish you for thinking such sinful things of your goddess.”

She’s mostly joking, but saying it gets you to smile at her. That smile turns into a grin as you breathlessly laugh, eyes flicking down to her lips. “Maybe that’s what I want.”

Oh, she’s in love with you. How could she not be? You’re so kind, so thoughtful. She’s done nothing but hurt and destroy but maybe you can change that.

Whatever god is watching over her truly must have sent you to her. Who else could you be for, to fit so perfectly with her?

Before she can stop herself, Miranda releases your chin to cup your cheek. She leans down quickly, capturing your lips with hers. It’s messy and awkward but she just doesn’t care. 

You pull back just as quickly, before she has time to savor the taste of you. She almost thinks she did something wrong, that maybe she really didn’t read the situation right, but then you’re lifting your hand and cupping her cheek and moving her head-

Your lips are back on hers almost immediately after, and this time, it feels right. 

Miranda realizes that this is what she’s been wanting for such a long time. Someone to love her and cherish her despite her flaws, to want to be a part of her life no matter what becomes of her. Who better to share her life with than the very person who has been by her side all this time?

She lets herself melt into you, allowing you to take the lead. You hold her against you, your touches comforting but never straying too far. Your hands stay on her arms and face, never daring touch anywhere else.

The wings on her back move happily, flicking and twitching, and she doesn’t try to shove this feeling down. She lets them wrap the both of you up, protecting you from the world like she feels she always should have done.

For the first time in a long time, Miranda is no longer afraid.

[kiatheinsomniac]

So after you mentioned that you were willing write for Heisenberg and I noticed your requests are open (I'm really slow to catch up with these things ^^"), I would like to request a fic for him with these prompts if it's okay:

❝  i don’t have perfect words.  i’m not the kind of person who knows how to sound poetic and shit.  so all i know what to tell you is that i belong to you.  i don’t know if you want me.  but i’m yours.  and at this point however it is you need me,  i’m here.  ❞

❝  i know i fucked up.  i know i did but don’t shut me out anymore.  let me in.  please let in.  ❞

I thought that maybe the reader was already in a relationship with him, and was upset with him being a part of kidnapping Rose. I'll leave the length completely up to you, and if you feel up to making it nsfw that would be great. But it's completely up to you, and thank you in advance <3

notes: I hope this was alright! Sorry for the wait, things in my life have been super hectic these last few weeks.

pairing: Karl Heisenberg x Reader

word count: 1.2k

☾ ⋆ﾟ  MASTERLIST / RULES / TAGLIST FORM

A change of plans

You were still trembling from rage at what had just happened, at the yellow-coloured flash in your partner’s hand. A child. She was a child and you had only wished that you hadn’t been powerless to stop what just happened to her: being turned to crystal and distributed to the four Lords of the village in separate flasks. But it would do you no good to speak out against Mother Miranda, the local god, and die with the child where you will become useless to try and rescue her. You knew that she could be rescued due to the plan that Heisenberg had explained to you as you reached the factory. It was bad enough that he had helped to kidnap her, that he had stood by and allowed Miranda to do her weird science with her but now he was planning on using this child, this baby as a weapon too? She should be returned to her poor, poor father who was probably somewhere suffering from the cold at the crash site where he had been left. 

You didn’t know where to go. You refused to go to your friends, the Ladies Beneviento after their complicity in the plan, you knew the Dimitrescu sisters but had never been particularly close to them but they were out of the question due to their mother’s complicity. Perhaps you could go to Luisa? She was a caring woman for all in the village and would likely be able to spare a room for you and, even if she couldn’t, she would likely make room simply due to your association to Heisenberg – or maybe she would deny you for that very reason without his explicit permission for you to stay. 

He seemed to notice your silence at one point because he stopped rambling on about his plans for Rose and defeating that bitch Miranda, “-buttercup, hey, are you still listening?” 

“How can I listen to such madness, Heisenberg?!” You exclaimed. “That is a child! A baby!” Your finger pointed accusingly at the flask in his hand, “You helped Miranda to kidnap her! She has a poor father out there looking for her, her mother is being held by Miranda God knows where if she’s alive at all, that is. I’ve stood by while a lot of questionable and fucked up things have gone on in this village, I’ve turned a blind eye to things that have made me an unforgivable person, even as a bystander but this? This? I can’t take this, I can’t stand by for something like this, even if I can’t do anything at all, I can’t just watch it happen as I always have.” You took a sharp breath, “I’m leaving. I don’t know where I’m going yet but I’m leaving.” And you marched off into the factory, leaving Heisenberg behind to take in what you had just said. He had thought that you would be in on this plan of his, he knew how much you hated Miranda and the way you ran this place, that you wanted to see the people of this village liberated from her tyranny but he didn’t expect that you wouldn’t like his method of doing so. When he made his way into your shared bedroom, he found you throwing clothes into a duffel bag. 

“Y/n, wait a minute, please listen to me.” He said, setting his hands on your shoulder to try and stop you from packin up any more of your belongings. 

“What could you possibly have to say?” You sighed, knowing that Heisenberg wasn’t the type to drop a big plan like this. He could see the simmering fury in his eyes, the horror, the pain, fear even. You were a storm of emotion and he knew that he had to weather it before you actually stormed off to who knows where. He let go of one of your shoulders to remove his hat, throwing it onto the bed and setting his shades upon his head so that you could see the sincerity in his pale hazel eyes. 

“I’ll change the plan. We’ll find another way.” He said, “I don’t know how yet but we’ll figure it out and we’ll do it together.” 

“You’re seriously changing up just like that?” You raised a brow sceptically. 

“You’re about to leave.” He highlighted. “I don't have perfect words. I'm not the kind of person who knows how to sound poetic and shit. So all I know to tell you is that I belong to you.  I don't know if you want me. But I'm yours and at this point however it is you need me, I'm here. You mean more to me than all these plans, than this village, than all these plans to overthrow Miranda. I won’t lose you and if I have to change the plan, I will. Hell, if I have to throw it out of the window entirely, I will.” His hands came up to cup your jaw and his forehead rested against yours, eyes piercing into you. “I know i fucked up. I know I did but don’t shut me out anymore. Let me in. Please let me in. “ He implored you and you could tell that he was being genuine.  

“And we have to save that poor girl, Karl.” You said, that being the highest on your list of priorities at that moment. He nodded his head. 

“Yes, we’ll save her… We just need to think of how.” You turned around and set the bag on the floor, a sign that you would hear him out, that you would give him this chance to redeem himself, that he wasn’t about to do all the terrible things he had just been telling you all about. 

“The father?” You suggested, “I know Miranda kept the mother for the purpose of taking her place but I’ve been talking to Moreau and they’ve been experimenting on her too, something to do with being affected by a strand of the megamycete that Miranda didn’t have access to in some freak accident, don’t ask me the details because I don’t know. What are the chances that the father was involved too? That maybe he has this strain that the mother has? Can we find him and use that? Surely he’ll help us if we’re working with him to save his daughter.” 

“Or he’ll hate us for my involvement in the first place.” 

“Our involvement.” You corrected him. You might not have had an active role in all of this but being a passive bystander made you feel just as guilty for what you hadn’t done instead of what you had done. “So we’ll need to do something to show he can trust us.” 

“Give him a weapon that’s just as dangerous against us?” He suggested. 

“It’s risky but it could work if we can show him that we’re on his side. Hopefully he will be able to defeat Miranda but we’re placing our bets on him being involved in the same accident as the mother here.” 

“In which case we have the metal army and we can hope that that will be enough.” You began to tremble all over again but this time it was from fear, not rage. You always knew this day would come, that you would have to stand up with Heisenberg against Miranda, who absolutely terrified you but you also knew that you would never quite be ready and would have to face her even so. Either you stand up now or she crushes you all tomorrow. 

“Let’s go help out that little girl’s father.” You said with a nod, trying to show confidence that you didn’t feel. 

“Let’s.” 

☾ ⋆ﾟ Buy me a coffee? ✧⋆.・゜Want to be tagged?

[trippin-over-my-fandoms]

The Prince of Shadows - Chapter Five

(Reminder that the image of Karl belongs to this neat artist!)

AO3 version and previous chapters can be found here. Previous tumblr chapters can be found by hitting the fanfic title in the tags.

Rating- T

Words- 885

Soft Mama Miranda makes me melt I may have to do a whole fanfic for her

There is an attempt to use Romanian in this fic but it’s relying on google translate so if anyone sees need for correction please let me know!

“Karl?”

Nothing.

Maybe a little louder, “Karl?!”

Again, no answer.

She tries to ignore the way her heartbeat picks up. He’s around somewhere, surely. Behind a tree, around a corner-

“Karl, where are you?!” She tries to manage the panic in her voice, determined that he couldn’t have gone far but the fear is there nevertheless.

“Over here Mama!” Comes his little voice from just behind her. Miranda turns around, backtracks the way they had come by a few feet. Sure enough, he’s there by the little creek they had passed. How had she missed him? She swore he had darted ahead of her moments ago. She took her eyes off him for one second, one second is all it takes- she should have learned that with Eva.

Miranda sighs, calming her nerves now that she knows for certain there’s nothing to fear, “What in the world are you doing child?” She asks, mildly exasperated as she returns to his side.

“Was watching a baby frog,” Karl says innocently, poking at the mud by the water, she has to reach down and pull him back before he manages to get even more dirty or, even worse, falls into the shallow murk, “I lost him though,” he adds sadly, but then triumphantly, “but I almost had him!“

“What would you do with a frog?” Miranda grabs his hand as he stands up, falling back in line at her side and brushing off his dirty knees with his free hand.

Karl grins up at her, a big wide smile that shows off the gap of his recently missing tooth, “I could keep him! Like a pet! I could take care of one Mama, I promise!”

“And your little kitten isn’t enough for you?” Miranda smiles fondly at her boy, just barely nine years old and he’s already trying to bring every animal possible into their home. First he wanted one of the large dogs the farmers in the village kept, then he was determined to convince her to let him have a chicken, then the cat, he even wanted to keep a catfish. At first she had thought it was just his natural curiosity as Eva’s had been. Her daughter had wanted every animal under the sun so she could observe them. But Karl wanted them as companions. His heart is already so big, so much love for someone so small. There are days when Miranda feels honored that he’s her’s.

“Well maybe Ramură needs a friend,” he tries to convince her, just as he had sworn the little injured bird he found would be a good friend for the cat. Miranda didn’t even have the heart to tell him that the bird was hurt because the cat had gotten to it.

“Ramură is just fine with the two of us, I promise you. He won’t be lonely anytime soon,” that feisty little cat could find a lap anywhere. He’s got as much energy as Karl does and enough mischief to keep Miranda on her toes. His saving graces being how much her son adores him and keeping unwanted mice and rats out of her lab.

Karl simply shrugs, kicking rocks on the trail as they walk.

Miranda checks the path ahead then back down at her child, “I need you to not run off like that micuta draga. You almost scared me for a moment,” her smile is gone, replaced with a look more serious but not too harsh. He isn’t in trouble, she simply needs him to understand her worries.

It’s difficult not to have so many, especially after losing Eva. And Karl is almost as old as she was when she passed. Miranda wonders often if that causes her even more worry. She doesn’t want to lose him, he’s become her entire world, he saved her from giving up on life again, inspired her to continue her research, and even now he reminds her of how precious life is.

“I’d always come back Mama,” he says, leaning onto her side and Miranda wraps her arm around him, “I’d miss you too much,” Karl wraps his small arms around hers, she’s always loved how cuddly he is.

“You better,” she grins again, “Or else I’ll have to send a lycan to bring you home to me! And he’ll use you as a chew toy for sure,” she reaches up to ruffle his dark hair. It’ll need to be cut soon, it’s getting long.

“No you wouldn’t Mama!“ Karl giggles, a small squeal in his laugh that sends a squirrel in the trees running.

“Run away and find out,” Miranda teases him, knowing he wouldn’t. At least not now, not this young. He’d have nowhere to go anyways.

“Never,” Karl stops in front of her, reaching up in a silent ask to be carried. He’s getting big but he’s still small enough that Miranda can still lift him with some ease. She doesn’t hesitate to pick him up and hold him close as he wraps his arms and legs around her, nuzzling into her shoulder. She gently rubs his back as she carries him, silently hoping he’ll be ready for a nap once they reach the village. If he’s asleep then she’ll be able to get back to her work.

She’s so close to a breakthrough.

-

* the nickname means “little darling” and the cat’s name is Branch :3

[daydream-cement]

Sparring Practice

Brienne of Tarth x Miranda Hilmarson

Miranda wants Brienne to teach her to sword fight- angst, fluff, and some suggestive theming ensues.

Author's Note: Written in collaboration with @bri-sonat. This may be one of my favorite Bri and Mir fics thus far :))

The constable stared down at Oathkeeper and quickly glanced up towards the kitchen where Brienne was out of sight cooking dinner. With a smile, Miranda assumed the knight was busy enough with her culinary pursuits that she could touch the sword without an earful of safety tips. Squatting down next to Oathkeeper, her fingers drifted over the flat side of the blade, mesmerized by how the metal gleamed. Maybe I should have Brienne teach me how to sword fight… That could be fun, Miranda thought to herself.

Stirring the sauce in the kitchen, Brienne turned her head to look for her girlfriend, the giddy Aussie seemingly disappearing into thin air. “Mir?” The knight glanced around the kitchen and out the doorway that showed the living room, not seeing the familiar head of the constable anywhere. “Hey, Mir, can you come and taste this?”

Upon hearing her girlfriend’s voice, Miranda broke eye contact with the shining sword, shouting back before bustling back to the kitchen where she was needed, “Sure thing!” Ducking from Brienne’s room back through the living room and into the kitchen, Miranda’s head bobbed happily at the sight of Brienne, “Whatcha need?”

Brienne scooped some of the sauce up on a teaspoon and turned around to face her girlfriend, spoon in one hand, the other underneath the metal to make sure nothing dripped on the floor. “Taste this, please. Where did you run off to?”

“Just meandering...” Miranda answered quickly before tentatively taking the spoon into her mouth, unsure of the sauce's temperature. As always, the flavor was perfect and the constable gave Brienne a thumbs up as she swallowed, “Fantastic as always.” The Aussie knew she had been caught in her wandering off, so she then stayed at her knight’s side, leaning against the countertop, eyes glancing about the room.

“Mmm, okay…” Brienne tossed the used teaspoon in the sink before turning back to the stove, turning off the heat as she observed Miranda in her peripheral. The knight found her girlfriend’s behavior to be a little suspicious - small things the Westerosi had learned to identify that told her when the constable was withholding details. And based on the Aussie’s latest interest, she could only draw one conclusion as to why she was acting stand-offish. “Did you visit Oathkeeper again?”

The constable bit her lip and smiled when Brienne knew exactly what she had been up to. There was nothing Miranda loved more than her love being able to see straight through her as if she was looking through a pane of glass. With a smirk and a teasing tone, Miranda gave a shrug as she glanced at her girlfriend, “We like sharing secrets.”

“I’m sure you do.” Brienne poured the pasta into a strainer in the sink, motioning with her head towards the cupboards as she did. “Can you set the table, please?”

“He said and I quote, ‘Tell Bri to teach you how to swordfight.’” The constable spoke casually as she moved about the kitchen, pulling the plates from the cabinet with one hand and finding forks from the drawer with the other. She distributed the dishware and cutlery and moved to find the napkins from their drawer, “And, I think you should.”

“Did he now? I feel like Oathkeeper and I need to have a little chat about putting such ideas into your head…” Brienne mumbled, her hands busying themselves with getting the food ready for serving. “What a surprise that you agree… I won’t teach you. It is far too dangerous.”

Miranda sat back at the kitchen table, her brow furrowing in anger, she couldn’t believe her ears at how ridiculous she found Brienne’s words to be. She wasn’t going to let this issue go anytime soon, “Dangerous? Oh, come on, Bri! I can handle a gun perfectly fine. We can even do fake swords or something! Pretty please? I promise to be careful and I know you won't let me get hurt anyway!” Her tone remained light, hoping Brienne could sense her seriousness through her good-natured arguing. 

“A gun is not a sharp sword, Miranda.” Brienne took two trips from the kitchen and dining table, one to fetch the pasta, and one to fetch the sauce, before she sat down across from her girlfriend. “End of discussion.”

“No. No end of discussion.” Folding her arms across her chest, Miranda glared across the table at her girlfriend, her tone growing more disappointed by the second with her bottom lip sticking out as she began to pout, “Please, Bri. Teach me how. It will be fun. We will get to spend time together and- and- and- I promise to be careful. I’ll do anything, Bri! I’ll do your paperwork for a whole month at work!”

The knight had started putting food on her plate, stopping mid-sauce-pour after Miranda didn’t stop, mildly frustrated at her girlfriend for not letting it go. “I like doing paperwork. You can’t bribe me. My answer is no. Leave it be, please.”

The constable was incredibly frustrated, working herself up to the point that she had no appetite for the meal Brienne had made her. Miranda then went completely silent, not moving to fix herself a plate, remaining content with her folded arms and downcast gaze. Deep down she knew her behavior was akin to that of a child throwing a tantrum, but it wasn’t often Brienne was able to continuously say no to her which made Miranda unable to shake the issue.

“Don’t give me the silent treatment just because I’m trying to look out for you and your safety. Eat… please.” Brienne ran a hand through her hair before resting it on the table, her eyes fixed on her upset girlfriend, her tone gentle to avoid worsening the situation. She knew Miranda to be stubborn, but never like this and it had never caused an argument. 

“I am not a child and I’m not hungry.” Miranda’s response was short with a twinge of venom so Brienne knew just how upset she was, only cementing herself further into her adamant opinion that Brienne should teach her to swordfight. 

The knight released a sigh, she didn’t know what to do. The obvious option was to give in to her girlfriend’s wishes, but in this particular subject, Brienne couldn’t let herself be so easily compliant. “Okay…” The Westerosi woman entwined her fingers and laid her hands on the table, leaning slightly forward in her chair, her tone soft and voice quiet. “Okay. Do you want to talk about this? Let’s talk.”

“You just told me to leave it be, but certainly, we can talk about it. I don’t need to be protected all the time. I don’t understand why you won’t teach me how to fight. Do you believe I will just impale myself if I touch a sword or what?” Miranda’s argumentative tone hadn't left her quite yet. She was hurting her own feelings through the assumptions she was making about Brienne and her motivations for being so protective. 

“I would like for you to leave it be, but, we can’t stay like this. You know it. I know it.” Brienne kept her tone sturdy and soft as she spoke to her girlfriend. This was the first fight they had ever had, and the knight was unsure of how to approach it, so she settled with being gentle and cautious, not wanting to upset Miranda even more. She knew she had to assure the constable that her worries were unfounded, so she voiced her concerns. “No. I worry that I’ll hurt you… I underestimate my own strength a lot. It isn’t you that I don’t trust… it’s me.”

“Well even if you did hurt me, and this may come as a shock to you, I’m not some damsel in distress, so I’ll be okay.” The Aussie woman was relentless in her argument, not truly processing her girlfriend’s reasoning, her eyes narrowing at her girlfriend in complete defiance. Later she would feel incredibly guilty for treating Brienne like this, but for now, she allowed her emotions to get the best of her. “Also, you told me before that you taught Podrick to fight, so why won’t you teach me? I- You know what… It's fine. It’s perfectly fine.” Miranda gestured her hands about angrily and pushed her chair back to stand, deciding to ‘drop’ the issue by walking away for a bit to calm down. As she marched from the front door of the apartment, Miranda made sure to grab her jacket and slam the door behind herself.

“Podrick was my squire, it was my-” The closing of the apartment door stopped Brienne’s explanation, knowing Miranda wasn’t there to hear it anyways. The knight was frozen in place in her seat by the dinner table, completely confused about what just had happened. This had never happened before and the Lord Commander didn’t know what to do. She wanted to give her girlfriend the space she deserved to calm down, but at the same time, she didn’t know if that was what the constable would want her to do. She instead sat still in her seat, her hands clasped on the table, and waited for her partner to return, as if she could do something else in the foreign situation she had found herself in.

Miranda plopped herself down on the stairs leading up to Brienne’s apartment, allowing herself a deep breath, filling her lungs with the night air. Her anger still bubbled at the surface, leading the Constable to mutter unintelligibly to herself. It was incomprehensible for her that Brienne could be so stubborn about not wanting to teach her to sword fight. Seeking to ease the rising stress that surged through Miranda’s body, she pulled her carton of cigarettes and a lighter from her jacket pocket. She had a cigarette between her fore and middle fingers in a flash, lighting it quickly before taking a long drag. Staring off into the street, Miranda was hit with a sudden wave of clarity, she had overreacted in more ways than one, “Shit.”

Brienne glanced down at her wristwatch, it had been about ten minutes since Miranda had left the apartment and the knight knew that her girlfriend would probably be hungry when she returned, so the Lord Commander stood to get the lids for the sauce and something to cover the pasta, so they would both be moderately warm when the constable returned - in the worst case, she’d just have to reheat it. When everything was covered she sat back down in her chair and cast an eye down on her watch again, slightly concerned and worried as it approached fifteen minutes since her partner’s storming off.

Miranda knew she had been incredibly irrational, but now she continued to sit outside out of pure stubbornness. Glancing upwards, she could see a shadow moving about in Brienne’s apartment for a moment before disappearing. Cigarette long gone, the constable leaned back against the concrete staircase, elbows propping herself up as her legs stretched out before herself. She was still stuck ruminating on how Brienne wouldn’t trust herself in training her. If there was one person Miranda trusted in all ways, it was her knight.

After twenty minutes of radio silence, Brienne pondered going out in search of Miranda. If she knew her girlfriend correctly, she was probably sitting somewhere, smoking, like she always did in stressful situations; meaning she wouldn’t have gone far, meaning, the knight would be able to find her quite easily.

The Lord Commander released a sigh before standing up from her seat by the dinner table and moving to the entry hall. She grabbed her jacket from the coat hanger before opening the apartment door, fully prepared to go look for her constable. Yet the second she stepped outside her apartment, she retracted back inside, realizing the Aussie might find her smothering or overprotective if she went out to find her.

The Westerosi woman thought back to her partner’s earlier words, the comments she made on not having to be protected all the time and not being a ‘damsel in distress’ almost pushing Brienne back into her apartment and back to the chair by the table, her jacket back on its coat hanger by the closed door.

The constable wasn’t sure how long she had been loitering out front of Brienne’s apartment, but she was sure that she was now ready to revisit the argument from earlier. Picking herself off the ground, Miranda draped the jacket over her arm and started back up the stairs, giving the front door a soft knock rather than just inviting herself inside.

When the knock finally sounded on the door after thirty-five minutes, Brienne lifted her head from its previous place in her hands. She sat still for a few seconds, unsure if she had imagined it or not, even if she had, checking the door couldn’t hurt. She rose out of her chair in a flash, walked over to her apartment door, and looked out the peephole, relief coursing through her entire body when she saw Miranda on the other side.

In the fragment of a second, the knight opened the door and stepped aside so her girlfriend could enter. She had no idea what to say but regardless of their previous discussion, the Lord Commander knew her partner still needed to eat. “Are you hungry? I’m sure the food is cold by now but I could reheat it if your appetite is back…”

“No… I’m- Brienne, I apologize for what I said… I was out of line and my behavior was unacceptable. I completely understand if you now question your relationship with me and our future due to my behavior…” Miranda kept her gaze over either of Brienne’s shoulders, occasionally glancing at her girlfriend’s face to demonstrate the genuine nature of her words. She was able to keep her tone level for all but the last sentences when her voice cracked and her eyes began to water, “I understand if you don’t want to see me a-again… I can- can go now…”

The knight was quick in closing the apartment door so Miranda couldn’t leave before she had responded. Brienne pulled her girlfriend into a hug, knowing she needed physical assurance if she were to believe the Lord Commander’s words. “Oh. Don’t be silly. I fully accept your apology… and from what I’ve read and understood, healthy couples fight sometimes. Now, are you sure you’re not hungry?”

“Y-yes…” Miranda lied, nodding her head as she wiped her tears on the shoulder of Brienne’s shirt. Her chest heaved under the weight of her strong emotions, each breath shaky as she squeezed the Lord Commander that much tighter, not interested in letting go anytime soon. When she approached the door moments earlier, she had truly prepared herself to hear the worst from Brienne. Her next words were completely inaudible, muffled by her face pressed into Brienne, “I-I love you...”

“Mmm,” Brienne hummed. She had a hard time believing her girlfriend in her words considering she had learned if not one thing during their relationship: Miranda had to eat. “See, I know you’re lying to me. You couldn’t stop snacking so I know you’re hungry. Let’s get something in that stomach of yours.”

“M’kay…” Miranda agreed quickly, finally lifting her head from her girlfriend's chest. She made eye contact with Brienne, her eyes red and much like that of a kicked puppy. 

The knight moved her hands up to rest on Miranda’s face, her thumbs gently swiping at the apples of her girlfriend’s cheeks as she smiled at the constable. “Okay…” Brienne nearly whispered the word, keeping her voice silent to offer comfort to her upset partner. “Would you like for me to reheat the food or would you like something else?”

The constable leaned her head forward, much like she always did when requesting a kiss on the forehead. She was beginning to feel much lighter, the weight of her guilt lightening with Brienne’s gentle and calm behavior. Miranda elevated her tone, wanting to come across as the happy-go-lucky constable Brienne knew her to be, “I’d like what you made, please.” 

The knight complied, leaning in to give her girlfriend a lingering kiss on her forehead. When she retracted her lips from Miranda’s skin, Brienne gave her partner a quick kiss on the lips before speaking. “Then that is what you shall get. Go have a seat, please. Your meal will be served momentarily.”

After giving her knight another quick squeeze, Miranda made her way back to the kitchen table, waiting patiently for Brienne. Once she was served, the Aussie thanked the Lord Commander, offering up a grateful smile before starting in on her meal. 

It wasn’t until both of them were almost finished with dinner that Miranda decided to bring up the fight earlier, hoping to share some of her more rational thoughts with Brienne, “I hope you know… I trust you more than anyone and I know you would never hurt me. You are always my greatest protector. I just- I brought it up because I know it’s something you love… and it’s a skill you take pride in. I guess… I just wanted to be able to share that with you.”

“I would never hurt you on purpose… I just-” Brienne sighed before placing her cutlery on her plate, her eyes closing momentarily before looking across the table at her girlfriend. “I worry about how much I am able to control my strength. It becomes muscle memory after a while… sword fighting that is, or just fighting in general, and using all your strength when doing so, and I am concerned if I would be able to be aware of that to a point where I would be able to avoid injuring you. It is a skill I take great pride in, but just like any skill, you need to hone it and stay consistent for it to remain at the same level or improve, and it has been many months since I used it. Taking that into consideration, I am unsure if I would trust myself to even hold a sword, less swing it at someone who doesn’t know how to use it.”

“Then…” Miranda held onto the ‘n’ sound, dragging it out as she stood from her seat and rounded the table to kneel at Brienne’s side. She rested her hands on the knight’s leg to keep steady, her voice cheerful, just as it had been before the argument ever began, “Seeing as I can’t even lift Oathkeeper the way you can, I can go to the corner store after work. We can start with fake swords and work our way up, hmm?” As Miranda spoke, her hands wandered to find Brienne’s. She lifted both of the Westerosi woman’s hands to her face, kissing the back of the right and then the left, “And I will even compensate you for your time… I’ll- I’ll do your laundry for a whole month.”

“Hmm,” Brienne hummed as she considered Miranda’s suggestion. The knight had to admit that it was an acceptable plan, except for the working their way up part - that she would bring up some other time. “Does this laundry service come with folding as well?”

“Folding and I’ll put it away.” Miranda rubbed her thumbs over the backs of Brienne’s hands, flashing the knight one of her signature wide grins. 

“Very well.” Brienne raised one of her hands and held it out for Miranda to shake. “You have got yourself a deal, Constable Hilmarson. Training starts in two days at six pm sharp. Don’t be late. It won’t give your instructor a very good first impression.”

——-

Miranda lowered the children’s sword once again, giggles erupting from her as Brienne continued to repeat the same phrase. It was incredibly adorable, yet Brienne had no clue why her words were so endearing.

“Parry me, Constable!” Brienne didn’t know how many times she had said it by now. Only that it had gone on long enough for her to change from ‘Mir’ to ‘Constable’ to drive her point across in a more serious way to get the Aussie to, hopefully, listen. They were still going over the basics and Miranda was stubbornly choosing not to obey the knight’s orders. Instead of parrying, the constable decided to continue the previous lesson, the lesson on dodging attacks.

The phrase caused Miranda to bite back a smile, looking away from Brienne to hide the humor she found in the knight’s statement. It was obvious to the Aussie that her girlfriend didn’t quite understand how her words came across, so she retorted quickly, holding up the fake sword with a glint in her eye, “No... you parry me!!” The phrase itself causing the constable to erupt into giggles. 

“You parry me, Constable!” Brienne held the sword firm in her hands, much lighter than she was used to but she made do with it. The knight shifted her foot placement, preparing to attack once again.

Once Miranda was able to catch her breath, she held up her sword once more. The constable couldn’t remember the last time she had smiled or laughed this much, “Oh, BriBri. You are so cute.” 

Brienne shook her head. She was dumbfounded, completely unable to see how she could be perceived as cute in their current activity, or at all, but even more now. “I’ll be approaching now. Mir, if you see me coming in with an attack you have to parry, don’t just dodge, sometimes there’s not enough space for it. Learn to parry!”

“But- but what if I don’t want to...” The constable knew it was wrong to say Brienne’s frustration with her was quite attractive and the little joke she had going was quite fun as well. She did attempt to parry this time, but her movements were representative of her infantile stages as a swordsman: clumsy and imperfect. The Aussie still held a wide grin, asking Brienne the same question once more, “What if... you parry me?” 

“Mir.” Brienne lowered her sword and sighed, the smallest of laughs hiding in it. She returned to her previous position before speaking gently. “I already know how to parry, you have to learn.” After this, she raised her sword again, her feet firmly in place on the ground.

“I’m learning!” Miranda argued back with a wide smile, raising her sword in response. She was now done with her teasing, ready to try her hand at parrying. While it may not have been the best choice, Miranda made the first move, hoping Brienne wouldn’t make her regret it by making this more challenging than it needed to be. The constable was far more distracted than she should have been for sword fighting practice, but it was hard not to admire the focused determination on Brienne’s face as she attempted to teach Miranda.

Miranda’s move came unannounced and suddenly, but with all of Brienne’s years of fighting, her reflexes were quick in countering her girlfriend’s attack. “Learning would include you parrying my attacks and… if I didn’t know any better, I would say that was me parrying you.” 

“Come on, Bri. Gimme a break. I’m trying here.” The constable was quick to defend herself verbally and then followed with her own parry. She jumped at Brienne, trying her best to do just as the knight had done to her. If she wasn’t mistaken, she was doing a halfway decent job at keeping up with Brienne, but she certainly wasn’t skilled enough to go on the offense in any capacity.

“That was a lunge… but it was also a half-parry. You’re getting there.” Brienne lowered her sword, observing her girlfriend with a slight head tilt. “Do you wish to take a break? We can. This is not a real fight.”

“We could make it a real fight.” The Aussie was partially teasing, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. With Brienne not expecting it, Miranda swiftly brought her sword to the knight’s side, tapping her girlfriend with the flat side of the fake sword. She was only trying to get the Lord Commander’s attention, a little smirk tugging at the corner of the constable’s lips, “Care to spar?”

The knight only stared down at the sword when it hit her side, her eyes moving to plainly look at Miranda. “A real fight would entail real swords and a fight to the death, or near death. Just so you know.” Brienne lifted her head so she could face and look at her girlfriend properly. “What type of sparring?”

“Hand to hand, my darling.” The constable was hoping to prod at Brienne’s competitive side, her tone just as puckish as her smile. She tossed the fake sword onto her couch, and then gave the knight a motion with her hands, indicating Brienne should come to fight her, “I promise to go easy on you.” This final sentence was a complete joke, the Aussie knowing full well it would be Brienne going easy on her.

“If you so wish.” Brienne placed the sword down on the couch next to Miranda’s before she moved to stand in front of her girlfriend. She raised her hands and shifted her foot placement, settling into a stance she felt would help her defend against her partner’s attacks, and not so much help her attack the constable, at least not with her full strength. “Okay then, come at me.”

Not a bit of Miranda’s smile had faded, she was far too entertained with the thought of physically fighting with Brienne, an idea she knew she might soon regret. The constable knew her success in sparring at the academy was due to the stature she held over her opponents, but this was a luxury she did not have with the knight. Miranda had never been one to make the first move while training hand-to-hand, so she paused momentarily before moving at Brienne. There was the lightest amount of hesitation in Miranda to use her full strength against the knight, but that hesitation was quickly gone when Brienne defended herself. 

Brienne knew that the hand-to-hand combat that Miranda learned at the academy was inferior compared to the things she knew - putting her at an advantage. The knight was all too aware of this fact, so even when she dodged her girlfriend’s attack and saw an opening to get a hit in, she didn’t take it. She was sure that if she kept moving out of the way or dodging, the constable would tire herself out and would therefore be satisfied - so that was her plan for the remainder of the session, however long it ended up being.

After numerous tries, Miranda was only growing more frustrated with Brienne’s evasiveness, her eyes narrowing and smile disappearing. If anything, she was only more determined in proving herself to the knight. With a bit more tact, the constable thought out her next move thoroughly, successful in making contact with Brienne. Any grappling Miranda did to bring Brienne to the ground was only met with a greater strength, vexing the constable even further.

With the new development, Brienne realized she needed to adapt her strategy. Instead of only dodging, she would also use her hands to parry Miranda’s attacks. Cycling between them would ensure that she would stay unpredictable. Whenever the constable tried to drag the knight down to the ground, she stood firm and strong in her place, almost like a cliff or a mountain. The Lord Commander was surprised when she felt her partner make contact with her shoulder, but she was also incredibly impressed at how quickly the Aussie had modified her offense.

Miranda pulled away from Brienne, chest heaving as her eyes scanned her knight’s face. She was far from done with this sparring practice, but she knew she needed to change her tactics once more. The Lord Commander was far too experienced and strong for Miranda to win this by fighting fair.

Biting at her lower lip, the Aussie mulled over her options, knowing the most devious of them all would be using the progression of their physical intimacy against the knight. Lunging forward, Miranda was able to catch Brienne in her dodge from the side, winding an arm around the Lord Commander’s waist. She gripped Brienne’s bicep with her other hand and shifted her leg around the back of the knight’s hoping that she could knock her girlfriend off balance.

In any other case, Brienne was sure she would’ve been distracted enough to not notice Miranda’s leg behind her own. However, considering the mindset she was in of extreme awareness of her surroundings and her own physique, she realized her girlfriend was up to something the second she had gotten so close; and she was right in assuming so.

The knight launched a counterattack, her passivity over after the constable played dirty. Maneuvering herself out of the Aussie’s grip, the Westerosi moved in behind her partner, and with one fluid movement, she had the cop’s arms pinned behind her back. “Do you yield?” The Lord Commander breathed into her girlfriend’s ear, a slight pant to her voice.

Brienne’s breathing near her ear made Miranda’s knees weak. The constable softened immediately, unable to help herself when she slightly leaned back into the knight, the only noise coming from the Aussie was the softest whimper. 

When Brienne didn’t receive a verbal answer, she could only resume her attack. She brought her knee to the hollow of Miranda’s, giving it a firm but gentle hit, making her girlfriend fall to her knees. The knight followed her descent, the constable’s wrists still in a firm grip behind the Aussie’s back. “I need an answer.” The Lord Commander used the position she had to give her partner a gentle push, pinning the cop’s front to the floor. The Westerosi woman followed her down, her mouth landing right by her partner’s ear. “Do you yield, Constable? Yes, or no?”

The constable brought her lips between her teeth as she sucked in a breath, a whine escaping her when her knees hit the floor. This was by far the most intense position the two had ever been in and Miranda knew her girlfriend well enough to know that Brienne did not recognize the feelings a position like this could stir in the Aussie. It was when the Lord Commander’s mouth was by her ear once more with her front pressed to Miranda’s back that the cop’s filter faltered. “Oh Gods, Brienne...” Miranda moaned, her eyes squeezing shut as she tried to block out all the sinful imagery her brain was procuring as this was not the time nor the place. 

The knight froze momentarily at the sound. Her entire being and mind stalled for a second before she regained control of them both. Brienne had no idea what the noise meant, and considering their current situation, she could only assume it was a moan of pain. “Am I harming you? If I am, you need to tell me.”

Attempting to pull herself from her impure thoughts, Miranda hummed and mumbled under her breath, trying to break free of Brienne’s grasp as she did so, “Mhmm... I’m okay.” She was more determined than ever to break free of the knight’s grasp, the determination being one part pride and the satisfaction of knowing her girlfriend would probably end up pinning her to the floor once more if she were to lose. Shifting her shoulders, the constable tried to pull her hands free of the knight’s grip while simultaneously pushing her hips back against Brienne’s to create some type of space between the two of them. 

Brienne felt how her girlfriend was trying to wiggle her way out of her grip, and performed actions to deny Miranda the opportunity to do so. The knight placed her knees on either side of the constable’s legs and brought them together, effectively trapping the cop’s legs between her own. Whilst she did this, she reinforced the hold she had on the Aussie’s wrists, ensuring that they stayed restrained. “I’ll let you go. All you have to do is say that you yield and freedom is yours.”

Being completely helpless whilst restrained by Brienne was an enlightening experience, reminding Miranda of the intimacy milestone the two women had yet to reach. The tightened grip on her wrists made the constable let out the most pathetic whimper as she knew the only way out was yielding. She knew it was perverse, but Miranda wasn’t ready for this to end quite yet, the feeling of Brienne being so close was not something the Aussie was able to enjoy often. Miranda shifted her legs about, which was the absolute wrong move, as it displayed the last amount of wiggle room to Brienne. 

“You can keep trying.” Brienne pressed her legs together even more, deleting all the space left for Miranda to use in her attempts to get loose. “Will you be good and yield? Or will we be here all evening? I don’t think that would be very comfortable for you… I can’t imagine that position being very comfortable.” There wasn’t a single teasing note in the knight’s tone, she had no idea that her movements could be taken in any other way than her securing her victory. She was, as she always was, entirely serious in her voice and actions, but at the same time, she was also incredibly gentle to avoid hurting her girlfriend, physically or mentally.

Miranda was absolutely losing it. Brienne clearly had no knowledge of the impact of her actions and the constable found that it made everything that much more intense. The Aussie was extremely uncomfortable, more so from her own spiraling thoughts. Miranda wanted Brienne in the worst way possible, but she knew it wasn’t a possibility so she settled for moaning under the knight once more, “Oh, Bri...” Her chest sunk towards the floor, providing Brienne with extra space and leverage that she wasn’t in need of. 

At the noise and the uttering of her name, Brienne’s legs tensed imperceptibly, clenching around Miranda’s legs subconsciously. She was almost certain her girlfriend wanted to say something judging by the fact that she kept saying her name all the time, so she assumed she needed to prompt the constable to keep going. Speaking next to her head and into her ear, the knight answered what she was sure was the cop getting her attention. “Yes, Mir? How may I be of assistance?”

Miranda was unable to help herself when she pushed her hips back into Brienne’s, grinding herself against her girlfriend for a fraction of a second before she caught herself. She began to weigh her options, not wishing to submit. Perhaps fighting dirty could work in her favor now. The possibility of stirring similar feelings in Brienne didn’t seem that far out of reach. Finally responding to her girlfriend’s question, the cop mustered a sound between a whimper and a moan, “Mm, you can be of assistance by putting one of your legs between mine and... pushing up. Please.” 

Each of her words was more whiny and desperate than the last, memories of previous make-outs running through Miranda’s mind. While the two had yet to consummate their relationship by having sex, they were progressing slowly toward the milestone. The past few weeks had been filled with many movies forgotten about in exchange for searing kisses and grinding against thighs to relieve the ache between both of their legs. 

The knight had to physically hold back a moan when Miranda spoke. Her words mixed with the tone of her voice reminded her of many of their make-out sessions. Her strong grip faltered for a fragment of a second before returning. Even if she was well aware of her girlfriend’s tactics of trying to distract her, this one caught her off-guard. Brienne was unsure if the constable was being serious in her words or if it was just a strategy, so she hesitated in doing what she was told. Considering she had no idea her movements could stir such feelings, she assumed the latter but she still had to check. “Do you… Are you serious?”

The constable had to debate if she was for a moment. Of course she wanted to be released from the position without yielding, so it would be the perfect way to take advantage of Brienne’s vulnerability with her. If Brienne were to shift her leg between Miranda’s, the constable would have the perfect opportunity to gain leverage and escape without yielding. Two things held Miranda back from using the sexual situation against Brienne: the first of which was the guilt of using a sexual situation against Brienne when she was already inexperienced in that area to begin with and the second was the constable’s insatiable desire to feel the knight’s leg between her own. 

After walking herself through the thought process, the cop hummed her reply, overwhelmed by her desire for Brienne, “Mhm... Please, baby...”

“If that is what you desire…” Brienne loosened her clamping around Miranda’s legs and lifted one of her knees, and wedged it between her girlfriend’s thighs. The grip she had on the constable’s wrists slackened before she removed her hands completely, wanting to offer the cop some reprieve. When she was in position, she whispered into her partner’s ear. “Then that is what you shall get.”

[laufire]

top 5 'fucked up' dynamics!!

I'm going with the ones that are currently living rent-free in my mind. I've loved too much messy shit in my life to order them so easily xD

I doubt I'm surprising ANYBODY who's paid little more than cursory attention to my blog in the past... three months or so, if I lead with Bruce Wayne & Jason Todd lmfao. It's heartwrenching and deliciously meta on both the parent-child front AND the mentor-mentee one. I'm (re)reading a bunch of old Jason-related comics rn and it's all hitting me again. And the latest development... oof. OOF. Do you ever feel that you and a particular writer are suddenly in-sync to a frankly scary degree? That's how I feel with dc writers right now lmao. This is DC comics so I'm prepared to be disappointed in the aftermath xD, but I am SO IN right now. I'm writing at least two more fics based on the current arc as we speak xD

Next in line HAS to be Dr. Jennifer Melfi & Tony Soprano in The Sopranos. The intimacy, the thrill, the genuine danger of it all... I keep wanting to scream at her to escape and leave him to the wolves but loving that she's sticking around because otherwise where would the show be!!! And there are plenty of great dynamics all around, mainly (IMO), those between Tony and the women in his life, but Melfi & Tony's therapist-patient relationship and the way it twists and morphs is particularly fascinating.

I honestly think the relationship between Zatanna & her mentees in Young Justice could AND arguably should have been more fucked up (for my enjoyment alone, maybe!) but given some of the reactions I've seen to it, fuck it, I'm adding it xD

I SHOULDN'T have high hopes for the dynamic between Tuya and that little clone of herself in "Monstress", since I still think the weakest part of the comic is the other child character lmfao... but man, it REALLY has the potential to hit all the sweet spots for me, in terms of my go-to favourite dynamics (clones, doppelgangers, mirror-selves, possessions, sci-fi related split personalities... I'm into that shit xD).

I rewatched "The Devil Wears Prada" recently and I simply must give a shoutout to Andy/Miranda as the ship that launched my fixation on older woman/younger woman + twisted mentor/mentee femslash + mirror selves behaviour. Every rewatch since has been spent finding little moments in time in which they could TOTALLY have fucked off-screen btw.

[heytheredeann]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love❤

Hiii, thank you for sending this! It took me a minute to get to it because it was ridiculously hard to pick honestly loool. I have written a lot of fics in a lot of fandoms, as it turns out, so I tried to pick five fics from five different fandoms.

These are not absolutely favourites, if you asked me in a couple of weeks I might pick other fics loool, but here we go, in no particular order:

Break (Yenralt, The Witcher)

“Before you start asking questions that I have no patience to answer for the hundredth time, we are currently stuck in a time loop, I have lived this day I have lost count of how many times, and believe me when I say that any question you will think to ask will not be original.”

This one is a time loop AU where Yennefer is the one who is experiencing the time loop, written from Geralt's POV. A bit of an open ending, but I enjoyed writing this and I quite like how it came out. The characterization is a little book-ish I'd say, but it could fit the show too, the setting is vague enough.

Temptations (Gapollya, The Man From UNCLE)

The thrilling saga of Napoleon (not) dealing with his feelings. How it should have gone, how it could have gone, and how it actually went.

What can I say, I love writing Napoleon having a crisis and being bad at dealing with his feelings LOL. This one is about Napoleon faking his death because he's a very well-adjusted individual, and I just really like the experiment with the structure here, it was fun.

Left behind (Flinthamiltons, Black Sails)

“The only thing I’m ashamed of is that I didn’t do something to save him when we had the chance. That instead I listened to you.”

Fic dealing with James and Miranda after Thomas' supposed death, theirs is one of my favourite dynamics in the show, and this one just really digs into the angst and the grief so like. yeah, I like it LOL.

Looking forward (Neal-centric, Once Upon A Time)

Five homes that Neal lost and one that he gets to keep.

Just a little Neal-centric one-shot with snippets of his relationship with the people that were "home" to him at some point or another (his father, the Darlings, Hook, Emma, Tamara, and finally a bit with Henry and Regina), I really enjoyed exploring multiple relationships, and I especially had fun writing the Tamara segment: I do think his feelings for her were genuine, and it was just an interesting and not often explored relationship to write about. Plus, I like that the fic itself is actually kinda fluffy, but the summary gives it angsty context LOL.

Where we make our home (Allison/Patty, Kevin Can F*** Himself)

Something has shifted, after Neil. Or maybe a lot of somethings.

This is for a very tiny fandom, but I'm just really fond of this show so I wanted to throw some love for it. It was written between s1 and s2, just Allison and Patty finding comfort in each other, because THEY

[thatepilepticfriend]

I just finished writing my first ever fic! thought I’d post it here (even if no one cares lol)  

The Trade Network

Summary : We all know that during Nico's travels he has met and even befriended the most random creatures and even some gods and titans. And he was the one who discovered the Romans first.

Taking advantage of the fact that he somehow knows EVERYONE, Nico has started up a trade network between the cultures. A sort of Mythology Black market being run by a 15-year-old.

“Chapter 1” - an introduction

 Nico leans against the shelves of boxes filled with extra camp shirts and tote bags in the dim back room of the Camp Store flicking through a pack of Mythomagic cards he had grabbed off of a nearby shelving unit. On the floor nearby Connor Stoll has opened and is looking through a cardboard box filled with a variety of trinkets and books. He looks up over towards Nico “send thanks next time you pass by the Sumerian Pagans over in Toronto, this is some good stuff. It’ll sell for sure, especially with Cabin 6.”  Conner gets a thumbs up in reply followed by “I’ve got one more delivery to deal with that should be dealt with by the end of the day, but after that this is everything for the month.”

As Nico leaves the Camp Store he gives a wave to Miranda who gives him a curt nod from behind the store counter. Stepping outside he see’s Will waiting for him, “you guys really shouldn’t be doing this” Will says once Nico is standing beside him. “We’re just providing the campers with merchandising that would be otherwise unavailable to them, really Solace what is wrong with that?” Nico replies as the two make their way to the infirmary. Just as Will is going to make a retort to his boyfriend's statement 3 campers he recognizes from Cabins 11 and 17 jog up to where they are at the entrance of the infirmary. “You have next month's store request form then?” Nico asks, “yup” the girl in middle replies as she pulls out a folded piece of paper from her back pocket and hands it over before the 3 run off towards the volleyball court.

“Ok, seriously” Will says exasperated “how many people do you and Miranda have involved in this trade?!”

 “Chapter 2” 

Will stands in the doorway of the Hades Cabin while inside Nico is tossing a variety of currencies, an energy drink and other nik-naks into a side bag with a large rectangular  box on the floor next to him. “I’m not coming with you Nico, ok.” “Ok, so our first stop is Puebla to get some old astrological mapping systems …. How's your spanish?” “I just said I’m not going!” Nico sighs and tosses the bag he was packing onto his bunk, he swings his arm over Will’s shoulder and walks him into the cabin. “Look William, I’ve already arranged with Connor to have Harley cover your general lack of presence for the day.” “You guys are completely insane. And who is ‘covering’ your temporary disappearance then?”  “Who, me?” questions Nico, “The second word people use to describe me after ‘creepy’ is ‘runaway’, I don’t need to worry about people wondering where I am if they haven’t seen me for a couple hours.” Nico then goes and grabs the bag off of his bunk, swings it over his shoulders, with a grunt, picks up the box on the ground and grabs Will's arm as he walks into a shadow in the corner of the room saying “now come on we have a schedule to keep with”.

‘“Chapter 3”

As the two stepped out of the shadow, they entered an alleyway beside a series of looming buildings. The sound of a big city all around them, Nico temporarily put down the box he had brought with them and grabbed one of the energy drinks from his bag. He had already chugged about half of the can before Will spoke up “well it’s clearly too late to not be involved, so mind telling me where we are? Or maybe why are we here?”  Nico raised his eyebrow as he looked in Will’s direction. “Were you even listening? I’ve got a whole 3 way trade underway and this is the first stop.” Nico picks the large box up off the ground again and continues, “but…. We’re in Puebla”,  “wait Mexico!” Will says in a panicked voice. “Well yeah, I did ask how your Spanish was? We could have also been going to Spain I suppose…” Will just stares at him for a minute as a car horn blares in the background “I had thought your guys’ little out of pocket store was just between Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood?” 

Nico gives a little laugh and starts walking from the back of the alley towards the sidewalk, motioning with his head for will to follow behind him. “Oh William, that’s hilarious, no this is much much bigger than that.” “Ok then” Will following slowly behind begins, “so we’re in Puebla. Now, who is it that we are going to see?” After a few more paces they turn a corner to face a large apartment building. “The Mayans, not actually sure what we’re picking up today. But Sadie Kane from the Brooklyn House has been in contact with Bonaventura Escarcega, one of the main kids that run the show in town. And all I know is what l need to bring in order to get the final package from Brooklyn.” With that Nico pushed open the door into the lobby and walked into the apartment complex swinging the door behind him. Only just barely not hitting Will in the face as he made his way quickly in behind Nico. 

“Chapter 4 - Xamaiqinqu patron god of merchants and travelers

The lobby of the apartment building was surprisingly large, white tiled floor, white and gold walls, fluorescent lights shining down, black leather couches scatered around the room and 3 sleek silver elevators side by side on the back wall. But what really stuck out was the grand wrap around hotel style desk in the middle of the lobby with a short man in a rather elaborately bejeweled jacket standing behind said desk. 

Nico dropped the box he was holding with a thud beside Will and walked up leaning on the desk casually saying, “we have a meeting in office 12 at 2:30.” The man blinks at him and slowly drawls out “I’m afraid you must have the wrong address. This is an apartment complex not an office building”. That got him a are you serious look from Nico “an apartment building that no lives in longer than 2 weeks at a time? I know it’s you xamaiqinqu, I’ve got a trade deal with ‘tura. You really gonna stop a trade from happening? That’s like your whole thing.” The man sighed and rummaged through a drawer in the desk. “I suppose, you have built up a reputable reputation. But who's that other guy?” Nico turns around to see Will standing awkwardly beside the large box that had been placed on the floor. “Oh that’s just my boyfriend Will, you don’t need to worry about him”

Xamaniqinqu tosses Nico what looks like a security pass that he had pulled out from under the desk and tells them to “take the far right elevator to floor 5.”  Nico picks up the crate once again and the two make their way to elevator. Once inside with only Taylor Swifts shake it off playing quietly in the background Will looks over and finally asks, “ok who was that guy, and why does he remind me of Mr. D?” Nico shifts how he’s standing. “To answer the second question, I think it is just a result of being forced into a job that causes you to be grumpy. And for the first, that was Xamaniqinqu the Mayan patron god of merchants and travelers.”

A ding and temporary stop to the T Swift tells them they have reached the 5th floor. As they exit the elevator into the hallway they can clearly see office room 12 in front of them. A large golden double door at the end of the hallway with the number 12 engraved into the door in a shiny red. Walking up to the door Nico takes out the pass he had been given at the front desk and inserts it into a small key slot to the right of the entrance. A loud click can be heard and the door swings open. 

“Chapter 5 - the first trade off”

Office room 12 was not as glorious on the inside as it seemed on the outside. A typical board room, it consisted of a large table that had an array of papers and scrolls scattered all over it. with 15~ faded black office chairs scattered around. 3 large windows on the side wall faced out onto the bustling of the big city below.  But what or who they came for where the 2 young pre-teens standing on stools in front of a giant white board that spread over an entire wall, playing what seemed to be their 17th game of hangman. 

Taking a step inside Nico leans towards the table and nocks on it with his fist, causing the tweens by the board to turn around suddenly. The slightly younger looking boy being smacked in the face by the girl as they look towards the door.  “Afternoon Bonaventura, Nora” Nico said, giving a little wave and elongating his words before walking over to the table before dropping the box they had brought with them onto the table one last time. “Heyyyyyy!!! You made it, good to see you again long time no see ya know?” Said Bonaventura, the 12 year old’s words coming out at the speed of light as he bounced up and down on his toes.

 Having walked towards the table the older girl, presumably Nora, started picking at the cardboard box. “You brought everything than?” she questioned not turning around, still looking throughout the box sitting on the table. “Have I ever disappointed during a trade, yeah it’s all in there. 23 slates of celestial bronze and 14 of imperial gold.” Stepping away from the table Nora calls to her bouncing companion “Alright then ‘tura, you want to gather up the those maps for Chicago.” As the smaller kid started packing up all the papers and scrolls that had been scattered on the table, Will cautiously walked up besides Nico looking around him before asking “where did you get all that metal, surly the Hephestus wouldn’t let you take that much celestial bronze from the forge?” Getting only raised eyebrows and a look that can only be described as saying oh but wouldn’t they in response Will sighs “Leo let you take it didn’t he, he’s involved as well?” “Good to see you’re catching on.”

With that Bonaventura came up to them holding a cloth bag full of scrolls and file folders. “Now make sure they take extreme care of these things over at the Brooklyn house” he urges, “some of these planetary maps are over 3 thousand years old.” “Yeah yeah” Nico mumbles as he hands off the bag to Will. 

Saying their goodbyes to the young teens the boys make their way back down to the building lobby. Xamaniqinqu sat a stool that definitely wasn’t there when they entered the building, working on what seemed to be a crossword puzzle. When Nico went to toss the security pass he had been given back onto the front desk, Xamaniqinqu looked up briefly. Picking the pass up he held back out to Nico “keep it why don’t ya, I suppose you’ve proven your trustworthy by now.” Looking a little surprised Nico gives him a little smile and nod while taking the badge from the patron god. With that Will and Nico leave the skyrise to be greeted with the sounds of city traffic and streets lined with a mixture of tall buildings and storefronts. 

“Chapter 6 - A different side of New York”

Walking down the sidewalk for a few minutes they turned down a different sidestreet than where they had originally come from before taking a turn into a shadowy alleyway. Nico turned to Will who was carrying the bag filled with papers, threw his arm around Will’s shoulder and took a step into the shadows of the brick alley saying “next stop, a different side of New York.”

They came out of the shadows on the steps of what could only be described as a mansion. “Wow” was all Will could manage as he looked up at the large house that loomed in font of them. “Welcome to the Brooklyn house” Nico said as he rapped on the front door rather loudly. “So if Puebla housed the Mayan gods, than who’s in Brooklyn?” Questioned Will as they waited for someone to answer the door. “A few Magicians this is the 21st Nome, though they are scattered all around the main hub is the House of Life underground the Cairo airport.” “Well I guess that’s not any weirder than Camp funding itself by fronting as a Strawberry Farm” commented Will in reply just as the door swung open to reveal a teenage girl who definitely was not dressed as though she lived in a giant mansion. “I was starting to think you weren’t going to show, well come on in. Though I suppose a vampire like yourself needs to be specifically invited don’t you. Come welcome into my home”  Her voice dripping with sarcasm by the end of the sentence. The pair entered, Nico shaking his head the whole time “ seriously, how many times do we have this conversation Sadie. I am not a vampire!” Laughing she went over and lightly punched Will in the shoulder saying “than why do you dress and act like one huh?” 

As they continued to walk through the house Will spotted another few kids and teens scurrying around, one particularly young kid even seemed to be chasing after a penguin. When they finally made their way back to the houses Library. Again if it even really could be called a ‘house’, Nico took the bag Will had been carrying from him and handed it over to Sadie. “Here this is all of them, now I given instructions to inform you to make sure to take extra care of these ones due to there age.” As she carefully looked through the contents of the bag Sadie gave him a glance in response that one could tell even without words meant do you think I’m stupid. 

After looking through the bag and finding the contents adequate Sadie placed it gently on a woden table to the side. Turning over to the boys she motioned them to follow her “Walt brought these down earlier” they approach a back wall with a desk and office like set up. Sitting in the middle of the seemingly hand carved elaborate redwood desk, on top of a mountain of papers all written in Egyptian hieroglyphics was a small gold box with jewel detailing all around it. As Nico went to pick up the box and put it into his backpack Sadie grabbed his hand. “Now wait, if anything you need to be careful with these. You sure you and your people know what to do with them?” she asked. This got her the same do you think I’m stupid look that Nico had been given earlier. As Nico was putting the container into his bag however Will slowly raised his hand “umm actually I have no idea what is in that box or what I would do with it”. Nico looked at him like are you serious, “don’t worry about him Sadie he’s not going to be using them, and I’ll make sure everyone who does gets a full run down.” The blonde gave a sigh before saying “ok, but I’m not taking any legal responsibilities for anything that might happen. If you use them wrong. Now get out of my house before I either change my mind or my brother finds out I’ve got use involved in a cross mythos Trading scheme. We’re already on thin ice with the House of Life.” 

“Chapter 7 - the drop off” 

After Sadie sends the two back on their way to camp in fear that her older brother Carter might return from his outing with two of the students Shelby and Julien at any moment. With the golden box safely tucked away inside Nico’s backpack the boys arrive at the edge of the North Woods of camp just before 4:30. Done with the fiasco of the day Will and Nico split ways, with Will giving Nico the very legitimate reasoning for running off of “I need to go make sure everyone finished their chores today. You know Austin, would rather spend his day playing the guitar than make his bed….” and dashing off in the direction of the Cabins. 

Shaking his head and giving a little sigh, Nico started his way across the camp and up towards The Big House. 

Finally arriving up at the house, he began making his way through the Big House and quickly Nico made his way to the the Camp Store. When getting to the store Miranda could be found working behind the counter. Barely looking up from the papers she was dealing with, which from the looks of it they were another report of an attempted break in from Conner, and gave him a slight nod before going back to her work. 

Shrugging his backpack off and lifting it up onto the counter, Nico tried to Casually look around to see if anyone who might call them out was in the store. Seeing only Harley in the back corner, who was too distracted by the comic stand that had recently been brought in from New Rome to even notice that Nico had entered the store. He slowly pulled out the shiny chest from his bag, sliding it across the surface of the counter towards Miranda. As she quietly grabbed the chest and discreetly put it away under the counter neither making eye contact. Nico than swung the backpack back over his shoulder, grabbed an energy drink from the cooler beside the counter, paid 2 drachmas and then quickly made his way out of the store. 

And started strolling down to the cabins, getting ready for Ancient Greek at 5 before Chiron noticed was anything off. 

Chapter 8 - the finale 

The next morning as per usual Nico spent breakfast sitting alongside Will and the rest of his siblings at the cabin 7 table ‘per doctors orders’ of course. Nico having finally managed to convince Will that everything was completely fine after having an argument that was more sarcastic remarks than anything, but Nico ended up ‘winning’ Will over with the argument of,

“I mean we get sent on these life threatening quests, and fight in wars. Whats wrong with a little bartering between acquaintances?”   

As campers slowly started to filter out of the Dining Pavilion of the course of the next half hour as they finished breakfast and made their way to various morning activities, Nico noticed Harley Davidson one of the younger campers from the Hephestus cabin weaving through the various tables towards where the Apollo cabin was eating. Clearly nervous, which was strange for the in Nico’s opinion slightly deranged child who had come up with genius idea of sending them into the labyrinth for fun and games. Shuffling right up to Nico Harley looked around nervously before informing him that 

“Chiron wants to talk with you up at the Big House during your Foraging for Survival 101 session.”  Given fact that he confused Baneberries for Cranberries just last week mixed with the look in the kid’s eyes told Nico, that Chiron didn’t want to meet up at the Big House to inform him that his identification of edible plants was so good that he didn’t need to take the sessions anymore.

Will gives him a look of I told you so, and before leading his siblings off to their morning activities gives Nico a little hug and leaves him with “I’m not going to say it…. But I mean…. What did I say??”  Nico just glares at his boyfriend before starting the trek towards the House with Harley trailing behind him. 

As they approach the front porch of the Big House, Nico isn’t quite sure why the son of Hephestus is following him. At least why this one is, Leo he might understand a little more. He can see Chiron and Mr. D sitting waiting for him to arrive. It isn’t until he steps up onto the deck that he sees the aren’t alone, standing with her head down off to the side of the porch is Miranda Gardiner. 

“Glad you could join us Mr. di Angelo, I’ve noticed some interesting changes in stock at the store recently. I was wondering if perhaps you knew anything about it.” Before Chiron could continue Mr. D interrupted, “you know I don’t really see what the problem is. Mindy and Nico here were just exploring the world of business and showing their skills as budding entrepreneurs. Now what’s the harm in that? In fact I’m a tad proud of the annoying little beasts.” 

Giving only a disapproving sigh Chiron turned his attention back to the two teens that stood before him. Just as the teacher went to open his mouth to try and get to the bottom of the entirety of the scheme they, and perhaps whoever else was involved, had been conducting. And figure out how to move forwards. I mean could he really just let them continue? But at the same time in a way Mr. D was right they really hadn’t been doing anything wrong other than leaving camp without permission. And di Angelo did that all the time anyway. 

But just then, not aware of the fate he was running towards. Connor Stoll came dashing up to the Big House basically yelling, “Nico wait!! I think Chiron might have found one of our order sheets! He knows about the business, don’t say anything!!!” 

It’s right than that Connor sees everyone standing around the porch and he stops in place so fast Nico is convinced there will be skid marks under where he’s standing. 

“Uhhh, good morning Chiron how are you doing on this lovely day” Connor stammers out.  With a slight grin he answers simply “So thoughtful of you to join us Mr.Stoll.”

[song-of-amethyst]

Fandom: Pandora Hearts

Send me a fandom and I’ll tell you my:

blorbo (favorite character, character I think about the most): I'm happy to say I have never stopped blorbo-ing Jack Vessalius in 4 years, have bestowed on him the highest honor (the aroace headcanon) and by this point i'm downright projecting. Of course I can't not mention Oswald/Glen because when you ship something so hard you don't know who was the original blorbo and who's just so integral to the way you view them that they might as well have been the original blorbo. Oh and for the record, these two are *also* my poor little meow meows and my horse plinkos. idk I do have something extreme going on haha, which is to say that I have the unbearable urge to make everything better in the fanfiction world, but I also have the unbearable urge to make it even worse. Mostly for sympathy though, thus the plmm part. 😂 with that out of the way for the sake of this meme i'll go with the second best answer for the other two questions <3

scrunkly (my “baby”, character that gives me cuteness aggression, character that is So Shaped): just.... Elliot Nightray. I mean look at him! Petting stray cats and starting fights with strangers over blorbos! There's just, there's just so much of me in there!

scrimblo bimblo (underrated/underappreciated fave) : ADA. god i love her so much and want to protect her forever but i also think she's incredibly human and playful and wise, like she's actually the only sane adult in spite of the toxicity she puts up with! 🥺 It reminds me that I got the opportunity to write a fic from her pov once for a zine and that makes me v happy <3 (and then i forgot to publish it on ao3 i should edit it and do that someday) Also her uncle Oscar tbh. I really love their vibes.

glup shitto (obscure fave, character that can appear in the background for 0.2 seconds and I won’t shut up about it for a week) oof i'm not sure i have much in terms of obscure faves in PH, part of that because Mochizuki takes the time to decently develop even supporting characters (often better than main characters *cough* black alice *cough*) Miranda Barma maybe? I mean we share a blorbo and all

poor little meow meow (“problematic”/unpopular/controversial/otherwise pathetic fave) White Alice (aka Alyss) I think it's so fascinating how much in common she has with Lacie in her looks and personality and behaviour except that she literally has god-like powers and for some reason she still comes off as more pathetic and vulnerable and poor little meow meowy and idk I just love that.

horse plinko (character I would torment for fun, for whatever reason) Levi Baskerville. I find him hilarious, he has the rotten luck of a Baskerville and I have so little sympathy for him as a person that I think he's perfect for that specific genre of crack/comedy where nothing ever goes his way.

eeby deeby (character I would send to superhell) Xai Vessalius, Ada's dad, for being an insane abusive pos and yet still being so very human and hurt that I care enough to eeby deeby him.

[ficbrish]

Tiny Scene Tuesday

[02Jan2024]

Today's three little words: Valid, Flavor, Tongue

[Create a short piece (art or fic) that encompasses those 3 words]

Thank you @mallaidhsomo for the prompt!

Any stray Shenkos out there, come join the Big Place Shenko Discord for weekly art/fic prompts! ✨

"Our Get-Along Icecream"

[[TW/CW: Food, death mention, alcohol mention, oral sex mention]]

“What the fuck, Shepard?”

“Relax, Jack. You don’t have to marry her, just sit together and have a nice treat in the same room without killing each other.”

Miranda, hands on hips, raised a scathing brow, “You think she can manage, Commander?”

“Keep talking shit, I might not.”

“Ladies!”

Maybe this wasn’t the best idea, but who could be angry while having a bit of icecream? Shepard frowned. Judging by their scowls, Jack and Miranda were exactly the kind of people to rage-devour a cone. She sighed.

“If you can fight together, you can eat together. Now grab a cone. That’s an order!”

She really should have anticipated Jack “accidentally” dropping a bit on Miranda’s floor.

“This is why I didn’t want this in my cabin!”

“You wanted to do this?” Jack teased, “Because I didn’t want to do this in any cabin.”

“Ladies!”

Shepard let out a deeper sigh as she sat between them on the couch.

Jack leaned over to address Miranda, “What flavor did you get?”

Huffing, Miranda rolled her eyes, “It’s all vanilla, you ass!”

“Hey!” Shepard snapped, “Enough!”

“You’re a mean drunk,” Jack murmured, slinking back into her space.

Shepard glared, “Stress makes me drink.”

“You shouldn’t be drinking so much anyway.”

“Miranda!”

“Just saying,” she commented innocently before attacking the swirl with her tongue.

“It’s not a dick, Miranda. Calm down.”

“Jack!” she protested, as her offender and commander broke into a shared laugh.

“You do kinda chomp it like a dick,” Shepard said, chuckling.

“Et tu, Brute?”

“What? You’re so valid for that.”

“I’d like to see you eat a peach,” Jack winked.

Miranda stopped eating, “You’re both thoroughly disgusting.”

Their giggles died into a mini silence, broken by Jack, “How long’s it been since your last, uh, icecream cone?”

Miranda looked scandalized and Shepard looked sad.

“I’ll start! Since before I was sold to that prison.”

“Bet it was plenty before though,” Miranda muttered.

“Sooooo many!” Jack teased, “Enough to lodge the odor in my mouth. Come give it a smell, cheerleader.”

“Gross! I’m eating!”

“Not since I died…” Shepard said, eyes far away.

Miranda patted her knee knowingly. Jack smirked.

“Plenty of opportunity to change that, Shep.”

She scoffed, “Yeah… right.”

Jack didn’t know yet, and Miranda was feeling protective. So she answered boldly to take the attention off Shepard.

“Last week.”

It worked.

“Last week?!” Jack exploded, “WHO?!”

Miranda snickered, “An engineer on Ilium.”

The other two howled.

“Naughty, naughty,” Jack teased, “Someone you knew?”

Miranda shook her head and buried her face.

“AAAAHHHHH!!!!!” Shepard shouted, and Jack slapped her knees.

“Look at yoouuu, gettin’ Cer-busy!”

Jack actually made Miranda laugh from that. Shepard smiled a secret victory to herself. Looks like icecream was a good idea after all.

[anghraine]

My best friend and I have played a bunch of ME3! I don't usually do this much media all at once, so I'm a little drained from all the Effecting Mass, but it's pretty cool so far.

The opening scene was incredible! RIP, Vancouver :(

I definitely was on team "Anderson should be on the Council, fuck Udina" way back when, but it makes sense that Anderson would hate it and he seems way happier in the resistance despite everything. And Udina isn't as obnoxious any more. I'm glad Anderson (and Hackett!) is getting his chance to shine, though.

But now we have James as the successor to Ashley and Zaeed in the Most Obnoxious Squad Member sweepstakes, and he's really bad. My bff hates Kaidan "I'm getting mixed signals from you, Shepard" Alenko more, especially because the game tries to prop him up (a Spectre? him?) where James seems at least meant to be an OTT dudebro. But James is such a mixture of grossly inappropriate (the remark about how Shepard fills out her uniform???), and inexpressibly cringe Latino stereotypes (you know the fics where Cassian Andor drops random Spanish 101 words into his sentences and largely becomes a walking stereotype to remind us that his actor is Mexican? it's like that but 10x worse) that I can't stand him.

Ashley was still The Worst, though. It's a high bar to clear. Or maybe a low bar. Anyway.

I am genuinely thrilled we get to hang out so much with Wrex, who I really like, and generally deal with the krogan in general, whom I love. We're about to try [redacted]ing the [redacted] and I really hope it goes well. And Grunt came back in a particularly spectacular way (his fight with the indoctrinated??rachni was very cool and the piano backing was perfect if deceptive. *waves krogan fan club flag*

Also, I've been deeply invested in the Protheans since ME1 and was thrilled to get more Prothean Lore (poor Liara though). At one point, I'd been like ... hmm, interesting that they were called the Prothean empire if they were that benign, so the empire being a, well, empire was fascinating. Despite everything, I like Javik(sp?) a lot.

Liara is still our one true love, and it's nice to see her becoming more herself after her rough patch in ME2 despite the Javik-shaped disappointment. Also, her design looks way better here than in the other two IMO. Her freckles!!!

My problematic fave Miranda has only briefly crossed our paths, and I hope she and her sister will be okay.

All the interactions with Thane are bittersweet in a really good way, and I'm glad his son is visiting him as he dies.

Oh, and I almost forgot one of my favorite things: we periodically drop by the Citadel for missions, but mainly to get updates on the Blasto saga. The elcor are one of my favorite species, so it's a delight.

...right, there are also Reapers, I guess. I don't really care about them except as the vehicle for the story to exist, though hopefully a vehicle that doesn't, idk, destroy all life. There are some cool mechanics, like when we're desperately searching for fuel and trying to evade the Reapers, but mostly I'm into the effects of the Reapers' existence on more interesting species and individuals. We'll see how that turns out. I know some people were really mad about the ending, but I don't know what it was/is. Mostly I'm just enjoying the ride, though.