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gale-gentlepenguin · 4 years ago

Text

ML Fic: Soulmate Survey Part 35

(Master post)

(Insert excuse on why it took so long) (Insert comedic joke on why I didn't update sooner) (plea of trying better) (Heartfelt compliment on why all of you are awesome and patient)

Okay so now that we got that out of the way. But in all seriousness. Thanks for your patience and I hope you enjoy.

If you do enjoy the fic, please Comment and reblog. Reblogs are like Gold on Tumblr and being a writer and posting to Tumblr is difficult. So every little bit helps.

Alright so now lets get to it.

_____________________________________________________________

The nurse heard the commotion going on in the halls. She knew that shortly after Chloé left, things outside the office became… restless. She turned off all the lights and locked the door to the nurse’s office. She did her best to stay quiet and not draw attention to the room. She knew those akuma were out there and she needed to focus on stabilizing her patient.

“I hope that Chloé managed to get that message out.” The nurse whispered to herself.

The woman felt weird pinning her hopes of escaping this place on a spoiled teenager, but at this point, beggars can’t be choosers.

She heard someone approach the door. The nurse felt her blood turn to ice. She refused to move a single inch. She hoped and prayed that the person would go away. She could hear the screams of students outside. She knew the akuma, whoever they were, were out there, and they were taking anyone they could find. Right now, all she could do was pray they don’t check.

“Please… for all that is good… let them leave.” She prayed under her breath.

After what felt like an eternity, she heard the sound of footsteps away from the door and everything returned to eerie silence.

She felt her essence sigh in relief.

She got up from the ground and went to go attend to the unconscious woman in the cot.

“Its strange for someone so young to be so exhausted… but then again, when I get into the line of work I am hoping for, it is likely I will be seeing a lot of cases like this.” Angela joked, trying to keep herself in good spirits. “Society is such a mess.”

Angela checked Nathalie’s pulse. It was present, but it felt off. It was weaker than she was expecting from someone of her age. Perhaps she has a much more serious medical condition. Angela would probably recommend that this woman see a professional when this is all said and done. Though for now, she was stable and calm, which was a very good sign.

The nurse considered that maybe she wasn’t getting an accurate reading, was something off with the assistant’s breathing? She would need to check. The nurse grabbed a stethoscope and moved closer, getting ready to check again.

“Ow!” She yelped as she felt something grab her arm. Nathalie had awaken and she had a firm grip on the woman's wrist.

“What are you doing!?” The surprised assistant exclaimed

“You're awake!? Oh, thank goodness.”

“Awake?”

“Yes, you passed out at a most stressful time. Right now, I recommend we keep our voices down.” The nurse hushed.

‘S***’

Nathalie mentally cursed to herself. She knew it had to be Masquerade. Her little episode resulted in her being far too late to get in and out without issue. She was planning on getting Adrien out of here before things went south.

She got up from the cot she had been laying in.

“Hold on a second.” Angela called out. “You need to stay and rest. I am glad you are conscious. But that sudden fainting spell could be indicative of…”

Nathalie did not have time for this. She gave an ice-cold glare at the nurse.

“If you intend on making me stay here, you will need to do so by force!”

The nurse felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. This woman’s eyes clearly showed intent on fighting. Angela was not a fighter, she helped people, not hurt them.

“You are my patient, and there is a lot of danger outside. You are in no condition to go out there.”

Nathalie had to respect the woman’s guts for standing up to her, despite the nurse’s knees shaking as she maintained eye contact.

“Okay, so how will we deal with the akuma breaking in then.”

“What!”

Angela turned her back to Nathalie, who took full advantage, giving the school nurse a fierce chop to the neck. Causing the nurse to drop like a sack of potatoes.

“Rest up.”

Nathalie put the nurse in the cot that she had previously been resting in.

“Seems I don’t have time to be subtle. Duusu.”

The blue Kwami popped out.

“Nathalie! Do you want to play?”

“Yes Duusu, the game is find Adrien and get out of here.”

“Horray!”

“Duusu! Spread my feathers!”

_____________________________________________________________

“Get down!” Ladybug dived into Chat noir, helping them both avoid the pause symbols and deadly bubbles headed their way. The akuma on both sides of them managed to avoid the incoming attacks they had sent towards the heroes.

“Thanks LB.” Chat noir thanked. “While you are the second person I want to be dancing with. We can't keep dodging forever. Even if their moves are predictable. Maybe those masks are the key to stopping them."

“Hardly a dance, its ettiquette for the boy to lead if it is. And I don't think so. Those masks appear to be unbreakable and impossible to remove” Ladybug said as she pulled her partner quickly back up, both noticing the akuma were ready for more.

“We still haven’t tried cataclysm.” Chat noir comments as he runs and jumps over a trashcan to avoid getting nailed by Bubbler’s attack bubbles.

“Right, but that would leave you exposed. Call it a hunch, but we will need to save it for later.” Ladybug responds as she jumps away and opens a door to block several pause symbols. "Besides, do you want to be mask-less at this Akuma calamity?"

“I was going to say it was more like a Masquerade ball. And no I would not."

Ladybug rolled her eyes at the lame joke, but still had a bit of a smile. Lightening the mood.

"Silly kitty"

"But seriously, we need a plan. If we can’t free them, what can we do?”

Ladybug focused for a moment. She noticed the way they were attacking, it was predictable and slow. Normally the akuma change up their attacks, or at least seem more aware of what the heroes are doing. The akuma were acting a lot more like controlled puppets. Much like when she had to deal with Puppeteer. Seems this akuma had some drawbacks that could be exploited. This was where Ladybug realized there was a way to deal with them.

“We disarm them. Break Bubbler’s wand and I will terminate Lady Wifi’s phone plan. Their reflexes are way more sluggish than usual. My bet is that having so many servants is starting to have a drain on the effectiveness of her forces. We just need to act quick.”

“Alright, sounds good to me.”

“On my mark we charge.”

Ladybug kept an eye on both akuma, after they sent a flurry of attack, they would usually have to take a moment to recharge. Bubbler would need to dip his wand back into his bubble pack and Lady wifi would have her hand cramp after sending 10 swipe symbols and would need to pull her hand back.

“Now!”

Chat noir and Ladybug both pounced at the two akuma, moving fast enough that their foes couldn’t retaliate as the heroes swiped the weapons from their respective wielders.

“Sorry to burst your bubble.” Chat noir joked as he snapped the bubble wand.

“And you’ve reached your data limit for the month.” Ladybug chimed in as she crushed Lady Wifi’s phone.

Both akuma began swinging their fists at the heroes, trying to turn the fight into a bare-knuckle brawl. But Ladybug’s assessment was correct, their attacks were too predictable. Ladybug caught Lady Wifi’s fist and flipped her over her shoulder to the ground.

Chat noir ducked under bubbler’s punch and slipped behind him. The cat used his staff to swipe at the feet of the forward moving akuma and knocked him mask first onto the floor.

“Alright, their disarmed. Now what?”

“Move him over here.”

Chat noir picks up the akuma by his bubble pack and throws him over to ladybug like a curling stone.Ladybug uses her yo-yo to tie the two dazed akuma back to back.

“Let’s put them somewhere where they won’t cause any trouble.”

_____________________________________________________________

“Next!” Masquerade called out in annoyance.

She had gotten her akuma servants to capture as many teachers and students as possible. She had the element of surprise and with the amount of akuma she had at her disposal, it was easy to capture several. Though she figured none would escape and cause panic, Timebreaker was guarding the parameter and kept her informed of any people she ‘Tagged’. Horrificator finished sealing all of the exits so no one would be able to come in or out.

She figured there was a good chance for adding more akuma to her rank. The problem was, most of the akuma sucked. She ended up developing a system for them. If they turned out to have no useful ability, she would humiliate them, have reflekta turn her into replicas of herself and then have Princess Frangrance spray the rejects to turn into obedient servants, this way she had something useful out of them. Make them get snacks or whatever. There were multiple uses for mind-controlled students and teachers. So far, she didn’t find a single one worthy of her time.

“I SAID NEXT!” Masquerade shouted louder.

Masquerade sized up the black-haired girl that one of the Reflekta duplicates had pushed forward. She recognized the shy smile from television. She was one of the weather girls on the KIDZ+ network. That was a contest Lila would have KILLED to have been a part of. She mentally told herself she would have won if she had entered.

“Your Mirelle aren’t you?”

“Y-Yes, please don’t hurt me.” She pleaded.

Masquerade rolled her eyes.

“Let’s, see what the deepest parts of your mind hold.”

“Stop!’

Masquerade stopped to turn to the person that shouted.

“Well, well, well, seems we have both weather girls that go to this school.” Masquerade commented. “What a coincidence.”

Masquerade’s eyes went to the honey blonde weather girl. The akuma had to respect the fierce glare the girl was giving her.

“Aurore don’t.” Mirelle tried to plea.

“Fragrance, shut her up.”

The perfume akuma moved from the wall and sprayed the shy weather girl.”

“No!”

Masquerade felt her bracelet glow, indicating that there was an akuma victim present.”

“So, stormy weather, does this rain on your parade?”

“Don’t call me that!” Aurore spat with disgust.

“That loss still bothers you. How the city voted and you were blown out of the water.”

“I know your trying to get under my skin, it won’t work.” Aurore said. “I’ve dealt with Chloé, and she is way meaner.”

Masquerade kept her smile.

“You’re right, that wouldn’t bother me. The comments by everyone else questioning why you are there would. All of those people wondering what the point of that vote was. So now you have to constantly push harder and harder to prove you deserve to be there with Mirelle. It has become your obsession; the way people perceive you. You need to be the perfect weather girl, with the good looks and the good grades. You can’t let anyone begin to doubt your ability.”

Aurore felt her heart shatter at the comment. It was like this akuma had reached into her chest and pulled her heart out. She could see her biggest fear.

“Shut up! I am good enough! You can’t tell me otherwise.”

Masquerade felt a twinge of annoyance, but a sinister idea came into her head. She touched the perfume bottle charm, her colors shifted to match the color scheme of the Perfume akuma.

“Mirelle, tell her what she needs to here.”

The controlled weather girl felt something intrude in her mind, for a brief second, she winced, before turning into a creepy smile.

“Mirelle?”

Aurore felt her skin crawl as she turned to see her coworker and friend staring at her, a creepy smile on her face.

“You aren’t good enough. You were never good enough. You tried so hard to be charming and cute, but the network thinks your redundant. They were going to get rid of you as soon as they could. I hear they are aiming for the end of the month.” She sing-songed.

Aurore dropped to her knees. Her confidence shattered. She broke down, tears streamed down her face. She covered her hands to cry. To hear her say those awful things, was it true? Was she gone? Was all her work for nothing?

Mirelle’s creepy forced smile stayed, but from the corner of her eye, a single tear began streaming down her cheek. Unbeknown to Aurore, Masquerade was using the controlled teen like a ventriloquist dummy.

“Excellent work.”

Masquerade shifted back to her original colors and grabbed a mask from her dress before she flung it right at the depressed weather girl. She took joy in watching it clamp onto her face like an alien face-hugger. There was a brief moment of struggle, but Aurore was no more. Stormy weather had taken her place. Masquerade laughed as a new charm appeared on her bracelet.

“Finally, some better servants. And these powers are no joke.”

Stormy weather raised her umbrella at Masquerade.

“Oh? Are you trying to resist?”

The akuma’s arm was shaking, but then dropped. Her body becoming inactive, like a toy robot with its batteries removed.

“And there goes the last of your resistance. Now go out and find Ladybug and Chat noir. Lady Wifi and Bubbler haven’t returned.”

Stormy weather nodded and headed out of the classroom.

Masquerade noticed the cowering captured students and took a moment to appreciate the power she wielded. Sure, she would have preferred to have been loved by the school, but being feared is a close second.

Her joy was cut short when something pinged into her mind.

Requirements met for new akuma. Confirm merge?

‘Merge?’

Masquerade tried to figure out what that meant. What was merging.

‘The components for the akuma Oblivio are now available, would you like to merge the two akuma to make new akuma?’

“Oblivio? I don’t remember an akuma by that name?” Masquerade said to herself. “Well, if two people are needed to make it and it is making something new, it must be good. Confirm!”

A new charm appears on her bracelet, one in the shape of a question mark.

"Creating Lady Wifi, Bubbler, Oblivio fusion.'

“I wonder what this will bring.”

_____________________________________________________________

Hawkmoth got felt a sudden shift in the mood of his akuma.

"So Lila found a way to merge akuma with multiple different forms into one. And now she is able to create a completely new akuma. Perhaps Ladybug and Chat noir have finally met there match."

The butterfly villain rubbed his hands smugly as he continued observing. Though part of him wondered if Nathalie was able to secure Adrien safely.

_____________________________________________________________

“Okay, these should work.” Chat noir exclaimed as he opened two empty lockers.

Ladybug removed her yo-yo that had tied the two akuma together and shoved the two of them inside each locker before slamming it shut.

“We need something to lock them in for a while.” Ladybug exclaimed as she held the doors closed. The akuma started trying to break free. Moving in any way they could to bust out.

Chat noir looked around, looking for something to shove in front of the lockers.

“Ugh, there is nothing to barricade them with!” Chat noir exclaims.

“Just seal the doors.”

“Right!”

Chat noir put his hand on the lockers where the doors would open, he focused all his strength into his hands and crunched doors by the lock, making it impossible to open in the conventional way.

“That should hold it.” Chat noir exclaimed with relief.

Ladybug slid down the door as resistance finally ceased.

“I think they realized they can’t escape.” Chat noir eased.

Ladybug got up from the floor. They give each other a fist bump on their success.

“Well thankfully that deals with two troublesome akuma. Now we need to get to Lila before we get overrun with them.”

The two heroes quickly leave the locker room.

"By the way, you mentioned earlier I was the second person you wanted to be dancing with. Who is the first?"

Chat noir felt a faint blush on his cheeks.

"How about we talk dances later." Chat noir dodged the question.

Both heroes hurrying down the hall to try and get to Masquerade.

But after they left, the lockers they had left the akumas in started to shake wildly…

_____________________________________________________________

“Heads up!” Viperion exclaimed as he pulled Ryuuko out of the Akuma’s range. The vanishing miracular was a far more difficult opponent then both reptilian heroes were expecting. The akuma vanishes just before Ryuuko could retaliate.

“Every time we lose sight of her, she vanishes and I can’t get a clean hit!” Ryuuko grumbles.

Viperion looks around frantically.

“Yes, but I do believe we have some interesting intel. The akuma seems unable to use both her powers at the same time. She needs to turn visible in order to try and attack us with those Tonfa of hers” The snake hero explains

Ryuuko backs up, looking around to see if she can notice anything that could help her locate the sneaky servant.

“And whatever its other power is seems to involve using those Tonfa. Call it a hunch but we can’t let her use it on us.” Ryuuko discussed her instinctual feeling.

“Guard my back, she can’t sneak up on us if our backs are covered.” Viperion instructs. “Her strategy is very straight forward. We just need to wait for an opening”

“Got it.” Ryuuko says just as she notices something from the corner of her eye. “There you are.”

Ryuuko makes a charge at what appeared to be a wall, but her sword contacted Miracular’s tonfa. Forcing her visible again.

Viperion took noticed of the poor stance that Miracular had while blocking Ryuuko. He wasn’t an expert but even he could see that an unexpected hit would knock her off her feet.

He threw his lyre right at the akuma’s knees and made contact, the force causing her to buckle and Ryuuko disarmed the akuma by parrying her tonfa.

Viperion caught the weapons and broke them over his knee.

“Well that takes care of her weapons.”

Ryuuko noticed the akuma tried to get away but she dove tackled her before she could turn visable.

“Nice work. But what are we going to do to stop her from getting in the way?” Viperion inquired.

Ryuuko band the akuma's face repeatedly against the floor in order to break the mask. Sadly there was not even a scratch on it.

"Well this mask is durable. Might need to lock her somewhere."

The snake hero thought for a moment. he remembered back to a previous akuma attack. Chat noir had put him in a locker to be safe. He still remembered the playful wink the cat gave.

"Any ideas Viper piper?" Ryuuko inquired as she maintained her hold on the akuma.

"Huh? Oh right. Why not take to the locker room and throw her into a locker. She isn't super strong so we could easily just toss her in and lock it. Also, what is with the nickname?"

"I heard that giving people nicknames helps endear people to you."

"Okay, well you can keep trying, but I don't play pipes. What other ones do you have."

"... That was the only one I had... Ill try and come up with more as we go."

"Looking forward to it ... Dra-girl"

Ryuuko paused to look at him as she stood up with the akuma.

"Yea... It felt wrong as soon as I said it. Lets just go."

_____________________________________________________________

Chloé had given most of the akuma she encountered the slip. Not from expert hiding of fighting skill, she simply walked passed them. A normal individual would realize how amazing it was that as long as you don’t freak out, the akuma basically don’t notice. But to Chloé, it felt insulting. Did the akuma seriously believe she was not worth chasing?

“Un-be-lievable.” Chloé huffed. “Most of these akuma would have been chasing me like crazy by now.”

She grumbled to herself as she made it to the front entrance, which she realized had been slimed on.

“EWW, they got that nasty slime monster on their side.”

The mayor’s daughter felt a mix of disgust and annoyance. With this door sealed, she would need to get to one of the other exits, on the other side of the school.

“This would be a really good time for Ladybug to show up and let me be Queen bee.” Chloé stated aloud.

But the area she was in was practically empty.

“Figures.” Chloé sighed. “Why do these gross rejects always have to make things so annoying!”

Unfortunately for her, her complaints did attract some attention from a group of Reflekta copies roaming the halls.

“We order you to come with us!” The three reflektas sang in unison. Chloé didn’t know or care if the original was among them.

“How about no.” Chloé scoffed. She pushed one of them down and walked past them. The other two rushed to her to capture her. But Chloé easily knocked both of the reflektas down easy. The servants were not use to walking in heels. They may be controlled, but Chloé can tell when an amateur walking in gaudy heels from a mile away.

“You 3 need to learn how to walk and a lesson on fashion before you can even THINK of taking me hostage.” Chloé flipped her hair and smugly continued walking, as the three reflektas tried to get up.

Hidden from view, hiding in what appeared to be an abandoned janitor’s cleaning cart, an old man popped his head out slightly.

“Ladybug does need all the help she could get right now…But would she be the right choice?”

_____________________________________________________________ (End of Part 36.)

What other akuma will be joining Masquerade's ranks?

Will Ladybug and Chat noir be able to face the old and new threats?

Will Mayura cause more problems or solve em?

Also, what do you think this new akuma fusion will look like?

I would love to see your takes.

#ml #miraculous ladybug #ml soulmate survey #soulmate survey #ml fic #ml fanfic #miraculous fanfic #ss fic #ml au #slight lukagami #chloé bourgeois #masquerade akuma #fan akuma #drama #action #new akuma #ladynoig #ladybug #chat noir

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waybrights · 4 years ago

Note

Possible Prompt

"You didn't need to come."

"You needed me, what was I supposed to do?"

so, i read this and immediately thought of my runaways au so heres a little smth for that!!! its also unedited so sorry for any spelling issues/plot holes sbsbsbbd

running away was never supposed to be simple, marcy knew that. going missing wasn't something she could just decide to do one day, it all had to be planned out to perfection. and it was. she had several routes planned, multiple fake identities at the ready, and (with a little help from photoshop) had new IDs and licenses, should they need them. it wasn't going to be easy, but with all the hard parts sorted, all she needed was sasha and anne to come along too.

sasha had agreed to come almost right away, because of course she would, it wasn't like her home life was any better than marcy's. but anne... well anne hadn’t. marcy couldn't say she was shocked, but it still stung, knowing that anne didn't want to go with them, that she didn't choose them.

but sasha did and that's what marcy decided to focus on.

"you didn't need to come, you know that right," marcy whispered as they stood outside the bus station. it was late, and the only bus coming soon would take them all the way to phoenix, not exactly where marcy planned to go, but it was better than waiting around for the right bus and getting caught.

the two of them probably looked slightly out of place. two teenagers waiting for a greyhound in the middle of the night was always bound to attract a few stares. marcy knew that by the time the news of their disappearance broke, everyone around them would be clamouring for a spot in the local paper, ready to talk all about the two weird kids at the bus station. but marcy didn't really care, at that point, adrenaline thrummed through her veins as they waited. she was really doing it, they were really doing it!

"well, you needed me, what was i supposed to do? leave you to run away by yourself?" sasha scoffed, though her mask of indifference was quickly starting to slip. "besides, i wanted to come, you didn't make me do anything."

it was true, in a technical sense sash had decided to come along on her own accord, but marcy couldn't help but feel like sasha had taken one look at her plan and felt bad about letting it all go to waste and decided to tag along.

"i know," marcy said, pulling her eyes away from the station to look at sasha. her face was bathed in the light from the lamppost, the warm yellow light shining off her braid, illuminating her sharp features even though the rest of the street was dark.

"see, so stop stressing," sasha smiled, meeting marcy's worried expression. "we can go back at any time, it's not like we have anywhere to be anymore," she said gently, her face becoming serious when marcy looked away and started to fiddle with the sleeve of her jacket. it wasn't winter yet, but there was a chill in the air that marcy's hoodie and thin rain coat weren't exactly prepared for.

"what about anne? we can't just leave her-"

"she didn't want to come, marmar. she's not going to come running up to us now, it's like one in the morning," sasha sighed, but there was the slightest glimmer of hope in her eyes as she looked up and down the road.

they both waited with baited breath, but the night air remained still, only punctured by the sounds of the few people still waiting for their busses.

"she's not coming," sasha said again after five minutes, sighing loudly as she sat down on the raised planter, rolling one of her bag straps between her fingers.

"do you think she'll miss us?" marcy asked quietly, perching next to sasha. she knew that it was a weird question, one that could very easily be answered of they were to give anne a call (not that they could, their phones were still at home) and tell her what was going on, but it had been playing on her mind for the best part of three hours.

sasha took marcy's cold hand in hers and linked their fingers. "yeah," she replied, her voice a mere whisper in the night, "yeah, of course she will. but we can't stay here any longer marce, as bad as that sounds, you can't stay here any longer."

"i know, it just feels different with out her," marcy hummed, scooting closer and dropping her head onto sasha's shoulder.

"yeah, it does," sasha agreed, her thumb rubbing small circled on the back of marcy's hand. "but then again, every thing's gonna be different now."

#so... sasharcy runaways au huh...#THANK U FOR THR PROMPT ANON!!!! HOPE YOU ENJOY!!!!#anon #you ask i answer #prompt game #amphibia #amphibia fanfic #sasharcy #sasha waybright #marcy wu #runaways au #marie.txt #marie writes

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lovers-in-japan-reign-of-love · 4 years ago

Text

A Tale of English and Math: Chapter 6

Notes: Message me or leave an ask if you want to be tagged!!

I’m sorry if this chapter seems short and/or messy, but I’ll come back to it every now and again to do some changes/fix any mistakes I see. Other than that, let me know what you guys think!

Y/N is ‘your name’; Y/M/N is ‘your middle name’; Y/L/N is ‘your last name’; and N/N is ‘nickname’

->This story was inspired by a post involving @aescapisms, @spiderrpcrker, @deaan-main, @og-maarrvveell, @maladaptive-ninja-returns, @midnightsunfae, @propertyofpoeandbucky, @simmisblog, @marvel-ous-hobbit, and @lozzypoz321<-

Chapter Description: You and Wanda briefly discuss your feelings toward Bucky. Bucky and Steve briefly discuss their own past.

Warnings: Grammatical and/or spelling errors, a sprinkle of bad words here and there, a bad chapter maybe???, unedited, whatever else I probably missed

Word Count: 934 (give or take)

Masterlist: Click Here

Previous Chapter: Click Here

You let out a pleased hum, your mouth stuffed with food. “This is really good,” you mumble. “What’s it called again?”

“Paprikash,” Wanda smiles. She sits across from you at her dining room table, a cup of tea in her hands. “My mother used to make it for us when I was little. Only on special occasions, she’d say. I’d help her every chance I had.” The longing’s back in Wanda’s voice, and it tugs at your heartstrings. Damn it.

You nod, swallowing your mouthful in the process. “Well... um, it’s delicious,” you state. “I appreciate you sharing it with me.”

Waving your comment off, Wanda takes a sip from her cup before responding. “It’s no big deal. Really.”

“Still...”

“If you hadn’t skipped lunch today, then we wouldn’t be having this issue, would we?” Wanda quirks an eyebrow at you, a pointed look on her face.

Your mouth hangs open in shock.

Wanda smirks. “Regardless, I would’ve shared this with you,” she continues. “I always tend to cook too much – a bad habit, I suppose.”

“Why don’t you bring some to Vision? I’m sure he’d appreciate it.”

A hint of a blush comes across Wanda’s face. She’s had a thing for Vision for a while now, but neither had the nerve to ask the other out. It was only because of Nat they even had their first date. You’ve talked to him a handful of times, and while he’s a bit odd he’s very pleasant. Really insightful, too.

“I don’t know,” she mumbles. “I get so busy sometimes, so I rarely ever see him...”

“Find the time to see him,” you exclaim. “Quit spending so much time with me and talk to the poor guy.”

“Like it’s that easy.”

“Do you want me to talk to him?” You lean forward a bit, a mischievous smirk on your face. “I can put a good word in for you.”

“You’re unbelievable,” Wanda snorts. “I don’t need you to do anything. And I don’t mind hanging out with you, so you won’t get rid of me that easily.”

“Whatever you say.” You take another bite of the paprikash, enjoying the flavorful experience.

A moment of silence passes. The two of you are silently enjoying each other’s company, something you’ve always appreciated with Wanda. Words aren’t always necessary.

“You know,” Wanda starts, “I’ve always wondered...”

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

“...why don’t you like Sam?” Steve asks, quickly glancing at his friend.

Bucky groans. “He’s annoying,” he mutters, a hint of a scowl on his face. Steve had waited until Bucky cleared your whiteboard before the two men headed to their own classes. Steve wanted to grade some papers before going out, and Bucky was going to do some prep before he finished for the day. “He’s always bothering me,” Bucky continues. “I can’t get a second of peace with him around. It’s bad enough I’ve had to deal with you my whole life, now I have to deal with him.”

“I wasn’t that bad,” Steve chuckles. “I think I was a joy to be around.”

“Having to pull your skinny ass out of all the fights you started as kids?” Bucky throws a dry look his friend’s way. “Not a very joyous occasion.”

“Those guys were punks.”

“Yeah, but having to explain to your ma why you’re all bloodied and bruised was a nightmare.” Bucky shuddered. Steve’s mother was a force to be reckoned with. The woman who instilled her values into her son, who pretty much raised Steve, Barnes and his little sister on her own – it was devastating when she died.

“I remember,” Steve sighs, a pained look on his face. “I got plenty of earfuls from her.”

Bucky nodded. He remembered hearing her stern voice in the tiny apartment. She worked her ass off, day in and day out, to provide for her family. And the fact that Steve’s health wasn’t the best growing up, couple that with his constant fighting, and it added to Mrs. Rogers’ stress.

“I’m sure she’d be proud of you now,” Bucky murmurs. “With everything you’ve accomplished.”

“She’d be proud of you too, Buck.” The response was immediate, and it made Bucky’s heart clench. “She saw you and Becca as part of the family. I know she’d be proud of you.”

He only hums in response.

Steve let out a heavy sigh. “Look, let’s not focus too much on all that,” he states. “I don’t want to put anyone in a bad mood.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“I’ll come by your class when I’m done. How does that sound?”

Bucky nods, attempting to throw a smile his friend’s way.

“Okay,” Steve murmurs. He gives a pat on Bucky’s back. “I’ll see you later.”

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

“...what do you have against Bucky?” Wanda tilts her head, curiosity twinkling in her eyes.

You snort. “You’re seriously asking?”

“Yes.” Wanda leans back in her chair. “This whole... tension between the two of you, I want to understand why the two of you can’t get along.”

“I just...” You pause, trying to find the words. “He’s so arrogant. And frustrating. I can’t even be in the same room as him; I can’t.”

“Y/N, Bucky is a nice man,” Wanda said. “All you have to do is give him a chance.”

“Why?” you press. “He’s proven how much he dislikes me. He’s talked shit about me behind my back, he’s made no effort to be civil with me. I will not respect someone who won’t respect me.”

A silence fell between the two of you, Wanda trying to process your words. God, this is going to be difficult.

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gondowan · 4 years ago

Text

Over Your Shoulder

Pairing: Paz Viszla x f!Reader

You're used to working for others. As a freelance armstech, you flit from contract to contract, never staying too long in one place. Although the freelancer life is fun, you kind of wish you could trade it all for a little bit of stability. As the maker would have it, that stability shows up in the form of one (1) Paz Viszla.

Tags/Warnings: nothing right now, but future loving degradation, Good Communication Is My Kink, daddy kink, and other sexy consensual shenangians. Reader has slight self esteem issues.

Notes: I haven’t written for fun in forever, but new year new me! If you know me in real life never bring this up because I will combust lol. I was going to fire off a brief smutty one-shot pwp thing but of course I couldn’t resist adding ~ b a c k s t o r y ~ so here you go. Subsequent updates will probably just be pwp.

Chapter 1: All The Grass is Greener Everywhere You Look

Nervousness, you assumed, was a regular feeling for anyone who was newly married. Doubly so for the new spouse of a Mandalorian. Unlike the rest of the galaxy where marriage vows were somewhat loose, Mandalorians took their vows very seriously. Forever, generally meant, forever.

Your relationship with Paz Viszla was strange in and of itself. As a freelance armstech, you hopped from planet to planet offering your repair services, never staying in any one place for too long. While on Bothawui, you had let slip to a client that you were headed to Nevarro next. Greef Karga, the head of the Guild, had put you on a retainer for services to guild members for a few cycles. The pay was good, and he had promised you a steady supply of commissions from the local bounty hunters who frequented Nevarro in need of new weapons and repairs on top of the already nice stipend.

The Bothan, a short humanoid by the name of Eesk, perked up when you mentioned Nevarro, and the next day he came over as you were on your way to the spaceport.

“Can I ask a favor? Do you mind making a delivery for me while on Nevarro?” he asked, pulling a datapad out from his robes.

You looked up, eyes narrowing. Bothans were famous for their information network, and were instrumental to the destruction of the first Death Star, but still, you were understandably nervous. “ Eesk, I’m not interested in looking for trouble. I don’t need the New Republic or any Imp remnant breathing down my neck for delivering that for you,” you said.

Eesk laughed, “Relax, I promise you this isn’t serious. Just deliver this to a Mandalorian on Nevarro. It’s nothing classified, I’m just returning a favor for a friend,”. He slid over a stack of credits. “I’d take it to him myself, but unfortunately I’m held up on New Republic business”.

You reached over and tucked the datapad into your bag along with the credits, “Fine, but you owe me”.

“Next time you’re here, drinks on me.” he said as he walked away.

It was only until you had boarded the transport ship that you realized Eesk had never actually told you were to meet this Mandalorian. ‘Oh well,’ you thought, ‘he’s not getting these credits back’. You leaned your head against the wall of the ship, tired from hauling all of your luggage to the spaceport, and fell asleep.

You were three standard weeks into your contract with Greef Karga and the Guild, and still no Mandalorian had shown up to collect the datapad. It was nice to be somewhat settled in one place for longer than a week, and you had enjoyed the steady stream of work. You had also learned from Karga that the Mandalorian covert scattered from Nevarro, and he hadn’t seen one in a while. For all of their information trafficking and spy network, perhaps Eesk had gotten it wrong for once, and you didn’t really care to ask. After all, it would be nigh impossible to miss a person wearing head to toe armor, especially on Nevarro.

One morning, as you had returned from your walk to the lava plains, you discovered the door to your apartment was unlocked. Strange. Not a good sign. None of your alarms were triggered either. Carefully, you pulled your blaster out its holster before quietly pushing the door open.

“There you are. Been looking all over for you.”

A large man, clad in blue armor and covered in more weapons per square inch that any other being you had ever seen, sat next to your workstation. Despite the blaster pointed at him, he seemed unperturbed, posture open and relaxed.

“What do you want?” you asked, blaster raised, "You picked the wrong house to rob,". You had fended off your fair share of robberies, the expensive equipment you lugged around as an armstech was attractive to petty thieves, and not cheap.

“The datapad.” he said.

“I take it you’re the Mandalorian that Eesk spoke about.”

“Correct,”.

You rummage through your toolkit and dust off the datapad. “Here you go Mr. Mandalorian, although I suggest next time you knock during business hours. Breaking and entering is reserved for long term partners, and you haven’t even bought me a drink yet”. You wince a little inwardly, maybe this dry spell was affecting you more than you thought.

You tap the edge of the datapad on the Mandalorian’s chest plate. “Oh and you might want to get the blaster strapped to your thigh checked, those scorch marks are usually a bad sign,”.

The blue hunk of armor stood up and took the datapad from you. “Thank you for this,” he rumbled before heading out the door.

“Ah, so you do have manners,” you teased before moving to shut the door.

You can’t see the expression on his face, but you hear the huff of a laugh through his modulator accompanied with a shake of his shoulders.

You were pretty sure you’d never see him again.

Wrong.

The next day right as you returned from dropping off a box of repaired pistols, there he was again, blue armor and blank expressionless helmet, sitting in the same spot next to your workstation.

“Can you fix it?” he asked.

You gaped at him for a second, before remembering the comment you made yesterday. “I can take a look,”. You cross over to your workstation, turning on the light and the magnifying glass and grabbing your toolkit. It was an easy but time-consuming fix, and you quickly busied yourself with disassembling the rifle.

“You’re not from Nevarro,”. A question, posed as a statement.

You didn’t look up, “Nope, I’m just passing through.” Hmm, that power cell did not look too good.

“Where is home for you?”

“Nowhere,” you said matter-of-factly as you tinkered away, “Like most people, the Clone Wars and the Empire destroyed what little of a childhood I had. Got taken in by a kind armstech who taught me the trade, and now I hop from planet to planet making a living. What about you? I heard about what happened to the Mandalorians on this planet,”.

“Also nowhere,” the man grunted, and he remained quiet. You finished your work, and handed him the blaster, butt end first.

“You owe me two drinks now, breaking into my place like that.”

He took the blaster from you, two gloved finger tips drawing a line from the middle of your forearm down your wrist. An unnecessary movement, he could’ve just taken the blaster. You gulped. He put the gun back in its holster and leaned forward.

“I might, if you ask nicely. I saw the way you sized me up the first time,”.

You swallowed, mouth going dry. “It’s uh, part of my line of work. Gotta make sure everyone’s packing-- I mean, everyone’s weapons are in tip top shape.” Your stupid lizard brain, at it again.

He cocked his head to the side, “I’m sure it is,” the mirth evident in his tone.

Every evening thereafter, the blue Mandalorian showed up at your doorstep, a new weapon in hand for you to look at. It was nice, you had to admit to yourself. A consistency in your otherwise inconsistent life, and you grew to enjoy his company. What you couldn’t handle however, was the escalating tension between the two of you. He would occasionally stand behind you, his big, all-encompassing frame brushing up against your back, and lean over you to ask about this or that. The first time you thought it was an accident, but then he followed up with an oh-so-casual touch of your wrist, and you were pretty sure it was on purpose, but you also couldn’t tell if that was wishful thinking on your part. Occasionally the two of you would strike up a conversation, but for the most part he sat in a comfortable silence while you worked. When he came over the fourth night, large gattling gun in tow, you decided it was high time to try to get to know him better.

“Uh...would you like to stay for dinner?”, eyes looking down on the (ancient) gattling gun, trying to keep your voice light.

He paused and shook his head “I can’t,”.

Oh, an immediate shut down. Great. Well it was worth a shot.

“Not for the reason you think. I can’t remove my helmet in the presence of others, that’s part of the creed,”.

That made a lot of sense. You hadn’t come across many Mandalorians in your travels, but all of them were rather cagey about their armor and helmet. You had assumed it was due to the value of beskar, but this was the first time you had heard about this creed.

You looked up at him. “Don’t you ever get lonely?” you blurted out, the words forming on your tongue before your brain could shut you down. “Nevermind-- I’m sorry I-”

He interjected, “Sometimes. There are some exceptions though,”.

You leaned forward. “Such as?”.

A pause. He stepped forward, tipping your chin up with a finger.

“ Would you care to find out?”

Ch 2 here

#paz viszla #paz vizla x reader #paz viszla x reader #2021 new year new me #and by new year new me i mean i will write the kinky caretaking fic i want #the mandalorian #mono writes #THE LAST TIME I WROTE IT WAS FOR MASS EFFECT LMAO #this is way too much buildup #but whatever!!!!!#over your shoulder fic

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k-s-morgan · 4 years ago

Note

I have a question.

Is there a difference for you in terms of properly representing a selective group of people, whether that be race, ethnicity, identity and sexuality V.S. Survivors are of trauma, assault, psychological damage, mental illness and otherwise?

I know that you don’t mind people who romanticize dark events like rape, Stockholm syndrome or like incest (I’m not sure about that last one)Like do you not mind when people romanize rape or racism?

For me personally. I don’t mind people writing about dark elements of society. That is because it brings awareness to these serious issues in our society. I’m not so sure though about painting them in rose colored lenses or portraying it as something that is good. (Unless it usually from the victim’s warped perception)

I think a lot of things are interesting. Like your own stories. To me they don’t give out a message. Like yes this is an amazing relationship go do the same thing or this is something you should look for in a relationship/person! But some of the stories that are darker and portray like pedophilia and rape make it seem like ‘oh they really wanted it’ or ‘it’s okay, it’s not that bad’

I think those are dangerous messages to give out. Whether to children or adults. Because there is a thing like when you start off by put off by it, but the more you read things like that the more accustom to it and it becomes not as bad as a thing. Ya know.

That’s how like a lot of serial killers, rapists and other people start on the path to do those horrible things. It’s because they become accustomed to the message that it’s alright to do what they want.

Sorry for the long ask. But just wanted to ask your opinion on the matter because I see both sides of the argument and I want to find a middle ground. Ya know.

Hello! This will get a bit long, but I’d like to start with asking everyone: please don’t send me asks about the morality of fiction. While I can write essays on it, it’s not the topic that interests me and I don’t want to spend my time on it, no matter how genuine and respectful you are. I’m going to say everything I think about this subject in this reply, and that’s it.

Anon: I indeed don't mind romanization of such things as rape, age difference, incest, violence, and so on in fiction. These kinds of stories exist for adults only, and it's expected that adults can tell the right from wrong without having everything spelled out for them. In an ideal world, children shouldn't have access to fiction like this, but they are curious and easily bypass restrictions. In this case, the responsibility is on them and/or their parents. When I was about 11, I discovered the world of fanfiction. There were no tags then, and I readily clicked on "I'm 18" warnings to read the content I wanted. Some of it affected me badly - I still vividly remember the story where my favorite character was graphically raped, and it left me terrified and upset. With time, I learned how to recognize and filter such content, and it's especially easy now, when tagging has become commonplace.

There are indeed stories that portray very problematic things in a fluffy and positive way, though I'd say they are a minority. I read *a lot* of stuff and I probably saw just a few of them over my whole life. Even then, though, it is expected that adults read such content. And adults, along with most teenagers, won't decide that if one or even ten stories showed a fucked up relationship very positively, then it must be a good thing in real life. People are surrounded by parents, relatives, friends and their families, classmates, folks on the streets: this influence is far more profound than a story they might have read.

Fiction can reflect the society, but it doesn't direct it. Every day, we see the normalization of smoking, drinking, toxic masculinity, heteronormativity, and racism in movies, TV shows, cartoons, etc. But they are there because the society is like this. These things existed long before fiction as we know it started developing. At the same time, murders aren't normalized in the society at all no matter how many action, thriller, and horror movies we all see. And murders are shown much more often than incest, minor/adults, and abuse portrayed in positive light. So if nothing happened with the former, nothing will definitely happen with the latter.

Fiction can indeed have a small positive impact by normalizing things like equality. For example, it's natural for random female characters to kiss a male character. It's present even in 'Hannibal', where Chiyoh kisses Will and Bedelia kisses Hannibal out of blue, with nothing to really justify it. But it's almost unheard of male characters to do the same: if they do kiss other male characters randomly, it's usually within the "ewww, gross!" joking context. If things were to change, as they are slowly doing, if characters were allowed to interact equally regardless of their gender, then it could make an impact on the society. But fiction alone could never be responsible for it: same-sex marriages are being legalized. Punishments for homophobia start being enhanced. There are changes happening in the real world, and fiction is just a nice addition that helps solidify them.

There should be more diversity and more representation in fiction because it could aid in the positive practices that are already happening. But no matter how many stories feature romantization of violence, it's not and won't be accepted in the society because people have a general understanding of what is right and what is wrong.

There is also a big difference between fandom content and mainstream content. Someone's fanfic about romantic rape won't re-write the morals of a person. It's a work published for free and you can never guess what motivated the writer to create it. Mainstream fiction, on the other hand, is expected to show a little more care because millions are being poured into it and it has a far wider reach. POC and LGBTQ people already suffer from discrimination. If fiction further contributes to it, it's bad. If it chooses to contribute to the positive changes that take place, it's great. But everything still and always goes back to the real world.

Finally, serial killers don't become killers because they saw a message about it being okay in fiction. They were already fucked up and considering it, and they just wanted to find a justification. What you see in real life has a far bigger influence than anything you experience in fiction, and the numbers don't change. It's been decades from the moment violence started being glamourized, and the majority of population don't think it's okay to beat someone up. 80% of women have rape fantasies, but most people don't think they actually want to be raped. The same principle applies to every type of fiction out there. People with unstable minds, people who cannot differentiate between the real and the made-up, people who are easily triggered by dark material should not be consuming fiction of this type. If they do, the fault for that doesn’t fall on the shoulders of the creator, just like it cannot fall on producer of peanut cookies if a person with peanut allergy decided to eat them.

#personal #shipping #fiction #antis

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vs-redemption · 4 years ago

Text

Crime is Common. Logic is Rare (Ch.27)

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Tension (HawksxGN!Reader)

Plot summary: As a quirk geneticist, you never really imagined yourself getting involved in hero work. Of course, you never imagined catching the eye of a pro hero either. What starts as a great career opportunity turns into a relationship built upon mutual secrets and trust.

Warnings:

⚠️This story contains spoilers from the manga.

⚠️Some events and plot points have been altered from the original manga

Tag List: @gayforkeigo @marshmallow-witch @redflannel @toyo-shiro @elsasshole @astronomyturtle @iambashfulperson @omiwashere

Next Chapter : Chapter Guide

Considering everything you and Hawks had to cope with as a new couple, the relationship itself had gone quite smoothly as far as you were concerned. There was a lot of pressure due to the secretive and dangerous nature of your jobs at present, but disagreements were few and far between, and you were both flexible enough to resolve issues quickly without much heartache. However, the time had finally come for you to butt heads in earnest, and as far as first fights went, you had to believe you both deserved awards for the amount of self-control exercised from both parties.

Neither one of you were allowed to raise your voice, not even on accident in the heat of the moment. Actually, neither of you were allowed to speak at all. You could only scribble back and forth aggressively to convey your feelings because the subject you were arguing over was something neither one of you should have a reason to be discussing in the first place.

That unfortunate topic was Dabi.

You had refused to accept the fire villain’s request for you to spy on your boyfriend, and Hawks was quite adamant that doing so had been the wrong decision. Obviously you understood his concerns about crossing someone as dangerous as Dabi, but as long as Shigaraki’s wellbeing was in your hands, you were fairly certain the villains would leave you basically unharmed. Besides, Hawks was the one who had been against you getting involved any deeper with the League in the first place.

‘He threatened you,’ Hawks scratches down on the paper you were using to have the conversation. This method of communication was becoming frustrating for the both of you, especially since finding time to be together was hard enough as it was without having to waste precious moments of it writing everything you needed to tell each other by hand.

Your eyes slide across the words and the tension that you’d being fighting back ever since the encounter with Dabi began nagging you more persistently in the back of your mind. You do your best to lock the feelings back down and then meet Hawks’ eyes while shrugging off his concern. Certainly, Dabi had threatened you, but your life had already been in danger from the moment Dr. Garaki showed you that he could synthesize Nomu DNA. It wasn’t easy living with that fear, but as long as you had the knowledge inside your brain of what the villains were doing, there would be the chance of them deciding to silence you by taking your life. Adding Dabi into the equation didn’t make that any more or less true.

‘Tell the doctor you’ve reconsidered the offer,’ Hawks aggressively adds a period at the end as if it would turn his words into more of a demand than a suggestion.

It didn’t matter whether he wanted you to do this for your own safety or because he really thought it was the best course of action. You still shake your head even though you hated to see the look of disappointment in his eyes over your answer. You just couldn’t bring yourself to risk it. The villains were already suspicious of your relationship with Hawks. Both Shigaraki and Dabi had brought up the strangeness of dating a hero while helping out the villains. They’d be stupid not to even consider the possibility that you knew about Hawks’ involvement with the league or that one, if not both, of you were playing the role of double agent.

‘Changing my mind now will only make things more complicated.’ You write down the words despite knowing Hawks was smart enough to have already thought of them himself. It was just like the times when you’d mysteriously passed out in Garaki’s lab and encountered Shigaraki for the very first time. Backing out or changing your mind at the wrong moment would send a message to the doctor and the villains. They would wonder who you’d been talking to, or what had transpired after the fact that had made you think twice and go back on things you’d said in the past. It was better to stick to your guns and continue playing the role of morally ambiguous scientist.

‘Not if the information you give them is valuable,’ Hawks counters with a serious look on his handsome face. He looks over at the news reporter rambling from your TV, probably jealous that they were able to talk so freely while he was reduced to passing notes with someone he cared about. He looks back down at the paper and adds, ‘You can give them my real name.’

Upon reading the words, something inside you suddenly snapped, and you fight off the urge to ball up the paper and chuck it at your boyfriend’s head. When you’d first asked him about his name, he’d insisted that ‘Hawks’ was his real name. He’d never explicitly told you that he’d lied back then, but he’d dropped plenty of not-so-subtle hints for you to figure it out on your own. So, it wasn’t so much the reveal that rubbed you the wrong way as it was the timing of it. You pull the paper towards you and pick up the pen.

‘Absolutely not!’ You write and then underline it twice before throwing the pen back down. Hawks looked shocked at your little outburst and slides the paper closer to himself to simply draw a question mark.

A sigh escapes your lips as you study the confusion in his golden eyes. Perhaps it had been a bit of an overreaction. Both you and Hawks had been so careful and logical about everything for so long that there was a certain intimacy missing in the relationship. You had been trying to cope with that fact as best you can, but something about learning his name this way hit you a little differently.

‘Sorry.’ You write the words slowly. ‘I don’t like the idea of finally learning your name just so that I can hand it over to Dabi.’ It made you feel vulnerable to make such a confession because it wasn’t like you to let your personal feelings affect your behavior so strongly. You wanted to be honest with him though, so that the lines of communication between you could be as open as possible.

Hawks reads over your words, features morphing from surprise into sadness as comprehension dawns on him. He meets your gaze before reaching out and pulling you firmly against him. You weren’t sure what to make of the reaction but you wrap your arms around him and bury your face into his chest.

“I never thought of it that way,” Hawks mumbles awkwardly and refuses to let you go for a moment. “You’re right though. It’s not fair.”

You push away from him to look at his face, feeling surprised that he’d even risk saying that out loud. It could probably be passed off as a comment about whatever the news reporter was still ranting about, but you put a finger to his lips to silence him anyway.

“Sorry,” he whispers against your skin.

“Shh!” You reprimand him before taking your finger away and replacing it with your lips, pressing a kiss to his mouth to show him everything was all right and that you weren’t upset with him. He relaxes right away and warps his arms more tightly around you to hold you closer. You had to pull away after a moment though because your time together was limited, and you’d yet to agree on a solution to your problem.

“I love you,” he tells you with a longing in his eyes that told you he hated the current situation just as much as you did.

“I love you too, bird-kun.” You smile while taking his hand and giving it a squeeze. He glances back down at the paper on the table and picks up the pen begrudgingly.

‘I’ll think of something else for you to tell him.’ He meets your eyes to see how you’d respond and is once again disappointed when you shake your head.

‘I won’t be the one to give him anything he can use against you.’ You write your reply.

“I appreciate the sentiment,” he smiles sadly before jotting down his response.

‘If you don’t cooperate, your life will be in danger once Shigaraki wakes up.’

Seeing the truth once again so plainly spelled out gave you pause, but you were determined to stick to the original plan the two of you had agreed to along with the Hero Commission.

‘That’s why we’re going to make sure to end this before that even happens.’ You scribble down the reply before clicking the pen closed. Hawks understood then that you weren’t going to be changing your mind. He sighs quietly and puts his hands up in surrender.

“Ok,” he tells you while glancing at the TV again to check the time. “I have to get back to my patrol soon.”

“I know,” you lean in and kiss him again on the cheek. “I wish we had more time.”

“Can I stop by after you get back from the lab?” he asks although he already knew your schedule.

“Sorry,” you frown. “I’ll be there late tonight. It would be better if you stop by in the morning.”

Hawks grimaced at the thought of you spending so many hours watching over Shigaraki’s unconscious body, but it was at least a little better than being involved with a fully awake Dabi. It was going to be so important for the Heroes to find a way to stop the villains before Shigaraki woke up. More lives than just your own would be in danger if they failed. You trusted Hawks though, and knew he and the commission would do everything they could to prevent the worst case scenario.

“You bet,” Hawks stands up from the couch and stretches his arms and wings as much as he could to prepare himself for his patrol. “Send me a text when you’re awake and I’ll bring coffee.”

“That would be much appreciated,” you smile as you watch him go to the door and pull on his boots and flight jacket. He gives you another quick peck on the lips, says his goodbyes, and before you know it he’s taking off into the sky.

#Hawks x Reader #Keigo Takami x Reader #Bnha x reader #mha x reader #hawks #keigo takami #bnha #mha #Cindy's Writing

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socially-awkward-lvl-over9000 · 5 years ago

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Sommonings and Beginnings

Notes: Continuation of my Obey Me OC. Part 1 is here. I did change the cannon slightly because my OC is not MC. The role of MC and the third angel will be taken by two of my friends self inserts. I’ll tag them in later posts.

It was about a month and a half and Allie had yet to summon Satan. He knew she was alive cause he could feel the connection of their pact every time she touched the mark. He knew she knew how to summon him, but he couldn’t understand why she hadn’t done so. He was supposed to be teaching her, but how was he going to do that if she didn’t summon him. Several times he’d feel her anxiety, her curiosity, her sadness. This was the first time a pact had sent so clear emotions even from so far away. He figured he’d at least research why this pact was so different. He knew that all pacts varied in multiple ways, based on the demon's strength, the human’s magical ability, the type of relationship the demon and the human have, and even how compatible the two are. While he was researching he kept up his routine of going anywhere that interests him. In the middle of a concert he’d been invited to when he felt the call of her summons. She wasn’t strong enough to actually force him there, like he thought, so he was able to tell the man who invited him that he had to go and answer her second summons. There was a bit of light, and he was greeted with the same floral wallpaper lined and overfilled room of the young witch he made his pact with. “And here I was starting to wonder if you had forgotten how to summon me.”

The girl looked down again, still refusing to make eye contact with him. “Sorry…. I didn’t… I didn’t know if you were busy, or if I would annoy you…” That would explain the anxiety he would feel from her.

The blond scolded himself a little for not thinking about that sooner, or not solving it in the first place. “Do you have a phone?” The brunette nodded and pulled out her smartphone. He held out his hand and she unlocked and handed him her phone easily. He noted how easily trusting she was by this action. The background was of some anime character on a white lion that Satan didn’t recognize. Finding her contacts was easy enough, he added his number and sent himself a text.

He handed the phone back to the slightly confused human as he took out his own phone. “Demons have cell phones?” Which also begged the question ‘there’s cell phones in Hell?’, but she didn’t ask that one because she still didn’t know if he was even from Hell or someplace else.

The blonde demon never looked up from his cell phone as he put her contact info into his. “It’s kind of like our own version of the human realm smartphone. How do you spell your name?” She spelled out her name and the contact exchange was complete. “There, now you can text or call me when you want to summon me.” The human looked through her small number of contacts and sure enough found Satan listed there. He took her silence as a que to continue. “So, we should probably start with the basics of magic.”

Once the magic lesson was over the young witch handed him a copy of one of her books, as per their agreement, and sent him home. After exchanging numbers Allie started texting him more often to ask if he was free. It went from once a month to once every other week the longer she was in contact with him. Satan started to notice a bit of a pattern when it came to her summons. She would only summon him late at night, never on a weekend, and after she learned he had school himself only on Fridays. He had also noticed she had begun to grow more relaxed around him, even just casually texting him to ask how school was or to tell him about a book she’s reading or even pictures and videos of her cat Kira. He learned about her anxiety and depression and about the things she liked.

The Avatar of Wrath started to feel a strange calming sensation from his conversations with the human. She would listen to him vent about his brothers or other things that pissed him off and it surprised him how she seemed to be able to calm him down. She would agree with him most of the time and then distract him with things she learned he liked until he wasn’t as angry. Even when he was summoned he would sometimes stay after his lesson to read or talk or play with Kira, who had warmed up to him. The human was sweet, more so that Satan was used to. She would buy him things that she thought he would like, go out of her way to find books that were more his preferred type, and was cheerful to see him. Sure there were a few things he had to get over, like her being too nervous to look him in the eyes or her odd questions like “If a lobster asked you to dance, would you?”, but no one was perfect.

Then came the proposal of who to choose for the exchange program Lord Diavolo has in mind. No one was surprised when Solomon’s name came up, the young sorcerer had made quite the name for himself, but the topic of the second exchange student from the human realm was a bit of a surprise. “Now Satan, you have a pact with a human correct?” The Demon Prince’s questio caught him a bit off guard.

“Yes.” He didn’t like where this was headed. He remembered Allie’s panic attack when she first summoned him and how even random loud noises could startle her.

“Then she’ll be our second exchange student.” Even though Diavolo has his usual cheerful tone Satan knew the subject would not be up for debate. The blond made a mental note to talk to Lucifer after the meeting. “Now, when it comes to the third exchange student I will have Lucifer-“

“Wait, third?! I thought we were only haven’ two!” Mammon was the one to interrupt, truthfully most of the brothers were confused at the mention of a third human.

The white haired demon sat down and cowered under the eldest brother's glare. “We had planned on only two, but it would seem that Michael is as good at listening now as he was back then. He’s sending three angels for the exchange program, so to balance things out we now need three humans as well.”

“Thank you Lucifer. As I was saying, I will have Lucifer pick the third exchange student. I’ll have Barbatos drop off the files after the meeting today.” The rest of the meeting was pretty dull with Levi ignoring the whole thing to play on his phone and Beel constantly complaining that he was hungry.

After the meeting Satan was able to catch Lucifer before he left. “Lucifer, there’s something I need to talk to you about. It’s about having my pact holder as one of the exchange students.”

“Lord Diavolo felt it would be a good idea to choose humans that already had pacts with one of us, that way they would not be defenseless during their stay.”

Satan couldn’t exactly argue on that part, it wasn’t a bad idea, but he at least needed to make sure some precautions were made. “I understand that, but I would like to request a few things be taken into consideration.”

Before Lucifer could speak up someone else chimed in. “Is there an issue?”

Lord Diavolo had walked over to see what the two demons were discussing. “Nothing major, Lord Diavolo, It seems Satan has a few concerns about his pact holder being an exchange student.

The Avatar of Wrath smiled, trying to keep his anger from boiling over. He didn’t care for Lucifer as it was, he especially didn’t care for when he would treat the other demon like he was a child or something akin to one. “With all do respect, my pact holder, Allie, isn’t entirely mentally stable. Her depression and anxiety can cripple her under pressure and stress, she had a full panic attack when she first summoned me.”

The two more powerful demons exchanged a glance, they understood why that would be an issue. In order for the exchange program to go off without a hitch the humans and angels staying in the Devildom would have to be taken care of, and one of them having a panic attack would not look good. Diavolo was the first to speak up. “Lucifer and I will talk about how we can make her stay as least stressful as possible, you focus on letting her know what’s to come and inform us on things that would help with her predicament.”

There wasn’t much else Satan could do. As he left he took out his D.D.D and sent a text to Allie.

Satan: Hey, are you free tonight?

Allie: Uhhhh, it’s Wednesday so ya. What’s up?

Satan: I need you to summon me tonight, there is something I need to discuss with you.

Allie: Am I in trouble?

Satan: No, not exactly.

Allie: Okay, I’ll text you before I summon you.

Now all he could do was wait.

#obey me #oc talk #Little Witch Allie #i wish i knew how to add Read More on my phone

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not-poignant · 5 years ago

Note

Hope you’re having a great evening and so looking forward to reading the new chapter! I really liked your discussion about characters (and writing advice generally) so thought I’d ask one. I want to write. I keep notes of ideas and read writing advice, but every time I try, it never lasts because I convince myself my writing is bad or ideas are bad and I stop. I know I’m the problem! And I know the solution is to Just Do It! but I find it so hard, was wondering if you had any advice on this?

Hi anon!

Apologies for this being late, I wanted to really think about my response and say something decent. SO HERE’S MY ESSAY.

Sometimes knowing the thing and knowing the solution isn’t actually having any of the steps in between, which is what makes it seem impossible.

Firstly! And this one is the hardest one! And the one that’s probably going to make you groan. But if your thought patterns are harmful enough that they stop you trying new things (like writing) they’re probably serious enough to need some professional support or serious self-attention.

Obviously not everyone can afford therapy, but it might be worth looking at options out there to improve and strengthen your self-esteem. You can try free mindfulness meditation apps like Smiling Mind, or look up techniques for building self-esteem, or affirmations, or therapy (if possible), or whatever it is.

But that’s a foundational building block with a lot of this stuff, and skipping it often means getting stalled out when wanting to have the right headspace for trying new things.

It’s pretty standard to get stuck on your work or to not like it sometimes, just about every writer I’ve met (including myself) has hated their work and wanted to put it all in a fire at some point while downward spiralling / sobbing and/or comfort eating gelato at two in the morning wondering why they bothered to start writing at all. BUT if you’re not liking it every time that’s an issue that just can’t be fixed with a writing exercise or writing technique on its own. Because you both have to write badly to get good (or the ‘the garden needs shit/manure to grow well, and guess what, that’s some of your early writing’ metaphor which is genuinely one of my faves, because it means all your writing is helping no matter what it’s like), and you also need to be able to recognise what’s good about your writing in order to actually...become a writer.

If you hate everything you do, your eye isn’t trained to actually select out the skills that are good - and every writer has strengths, even in the beginning. So yeah, convincing yourself that your writing is bad and ideas are bad every time is sadly not something a writing technique can fix for you. That’s probably a bit deeper, and needs some compassion and patience. You can’t ‘just do’ something if you’re harming yourself with your own mind every time you start. And if that’s the default, that’s the part you need to understand and sort out before you can even access ‘just do it.’

Now, I’m not going to give writing exercises specifically on like say, characterisation or building plot etc., there’s a billion out there, and I’ve written a lot on my blog under the ‘pia on writing’ tag. So my secondly is just a suggestion for an exercise you can try in order to strengthen your self-esteem when it comes to your writing.

HOPEFULLY you haven’t deleted what you’ve written. If you haven’t, pull up some of the things you’ve started, and then get a piece of paper (or the notes section of your phone) and start actually looking at the writing like someone else has written it. Pretend a good friend has written it, or someone you care about, and they’re asking you for advice. You can’t just tell them that you hate it or that it’s terrible, you actually have to look at it and see the strengths and weaknesses in what’s there.

Start basic: Are there complete sentences and paragraphs? Then good, you know your ‘friend’ can structure a story! Is the punctuation and the spelling correct? FANTASTIC. If not, that’s actually easy to fix, and then FANTASTIC. If you’re writing fanfiction, look at how the characters are behaving. Do they feel like the characters to you? Then that’s great! If not, why don’t they? If you don’t know, try and look at the source material again. Keep progressing through different aspects of the writing all the while trying to keep in mind that you’re doing this on behalf of a friend, and they’re not the kind of person you’d blindly hate on for no reason. Sometimes this lateral step is all it takes to start looking at your work through a different lens, and honestly, I think it’s good for many writers to try, like folks that can complete a work but then hate it afterwards. Basically anyone who is like ‘my writing is always bad no matter what.’

After that you may have a longer list of weaknesses rather than strengths, that’s okay! But the fact is, there are strengths. And they can be built upon always. Sometimes that may inspire you to write more, or it may inspire you to write something else, or it may not inspire you at all. That’s all totally fine, the idea is to train your mind to look at your writing more complexly, not in a negative way, but in a balanced way. You’re already being negative towards it, so you’re basically training your brain to look for the strengths. Incidentally, this will make you a better reader and a better writer, because you’ll quickly realise the strengths of other writers, and realise what you want to be including in your own writing. As an editor and a beta, I always point out strengths alongside weaknesses, because you know, strengths are the things you want more of!

In the meantime, I would also suggest exploring poetry, drabble writing and super short-form writing (500 words or less) so you can practice completing things and then putting them away, even if it’s not the format that you ideally want to be writing. (Think of it as a stepping stone to where you want to get, if that’s not the goal). The idea is to just build up the sense that you can complete projects, so that when you’re like ‘I always stop and I never complete anything’ there is actually a folder or collection of short stories or poems and little scenes that exist to show you that you know, you do write. (I mean you do now, but having completed things does help a little).

And the fact is, that you’ve started at all is a big deal! A lot of people just think about writing and never put down a single word (and even that’s okay, that’s just earlier in the process of learning how to become a writer). It sounds like you do start, and even if you talk yourself out of it, imho, I still think it matters that you’ve started things and come up with ideas! Knowing you’re the problem means you can own that you’re also the solution as well. And I believe you can do it, maybe not right this instant, because it sounds like you’re dealing with a brain that doesn’t often want you to feel very good! But you have a good attitude, and it sounds like you still push yourself forwards anyway, so maybe it’s just time to take some of that energy and learn how to push forwards in areas of self-esteem, to support your writing and like...your brain and your self.

I wish you luck, anon. It’s really hard, writing and art and all the creative pursuits are really good at exposing our self-esteem and self-hatred issues. Like, too good. Like catch me a couple of weeks ago wondering if I should delete everything I’ve ever written while eating Choc Chip Cookie Dough gelato from Gelare while calling everything ‘OH GOD IT’S THE WORST’ etc. You’re not alone. And many of us have started where you are, and had to learn how to deal with our own brain weasels.

You’re in good company, I promise. Plus, there’s always enough gelato to share when it gets hard. <3

HAHA WOW THIS GOT LONG I AM SO SORRY

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welllpthisishappening · 6 years ago

Text

All was Golden in the Sky (3/27)

Magic is dying.

Emma knows it. She can feel it, the emptiness rattling around in her, like it’s trying to make sure she disappears as well. What she doesn’t know is what to do about it, because, suddenly, there is a man in Storybrooke claiming she’s the Savior and a seeress certain a prophecy promises the same and the last thing she expects is for her minimal amount of lingering power to pull her away.

To New York City.

And another oddly familiar man with blue eyes and a smile that sinks under her skin and makes magic bloom in the air around her. Things are about to get interesting.

—-

Rating: Mature Tag List: @kmomof4 @shireness-says @profdanglaisstuff @captainsjedi @thejollyroger-writer @winterbaby89 @melsbels @tiganasummertree @jennjenn615 @idristardis @cssns AN: The minions are coming! And they’re snarky! And have good taste in music! Honestly, bonus points if anyone can tell me what they think the second song played in the bar is. Also Will Scarlet is in this chapter, so, you know I’ve got thoughts and feelings about that. I also have thoughts and feelings about you all clicking and reading this mess of words which I continue to be real excited about. Stuff’s starting to get action-packed and vaguely magical. A constant and loud thank you to @resident-of-storybrooke @distant-rose and @bmbbcs4evr for being lovely.

|| Also on Ao3 if that’s your jam ||

—-

“Holy fuck.” Emma rolls her eyes, but she can’t entirely blame Killian because her own knees are shaking perilously underneath her and it feels as if her heart is doing a very good job of beating its way directly out of her chest.

“C’mon, it wasn’t really that bad.” “Are you kidding me?” “You’re being dramatic,” Emma says evenly, and the lie makes her tongue feel like it’s weighed down by, well, several thousand weights. She’s obviously lost any creativity she had in the last few seconds of instinct-induced magic and it had never been that easy.

She refuses to consider why that is, exactly. It’s an obvious answer anyway.

“Fuck, shit, goddamn,” Killian continues, each curse more desperate than the last. His hand tightens around Emma’s, gripping her fingers tightly enough that more than a few of her knuckles crack and she hisses in a breath, trying to mask her own pain and fear and it doesn’t take him more than a moment to realize what he’s done. He drops her hand like he’s been sparked.

Or teleported downtown. By magic. Her magic.

His head snaps towards her, all wide eyes and parted lips and Emma can hear the pattern of his breathing. Irregular. It makes her lungs ache.

“I’m sorry, love,” he breathes, not sounding quite like him. At least not the him that he’s been since Emma opened her door that morning. His voice drops low, every letter tinged with an emotion that does not make sense at all. And yet...Emma’s brain latches onto it, holding on tight enough to crack a few other things.

Possibly her skull.

Maybe this is all just the lingering effects of the concussion she inevitably sustained last night.

“That’s ok,” Emma mumbles with a decidedly out-of-place shrug. “I probably should have warned you, I just--wait.” She nearly bites her tongue in half when her jaw snaps shut and it’s either a testament to her magic or a sign that she’s the world’s shittiest friend that Emma didn’t realize that she and Killian are entirely alone.

In the apartment.

Where she and Ruby are...living may not be the right word, exactly. God, that’s depressing.

“Ruby said here,” Emma says, and she has to keep licking her lips. She’s panting. It can’t possibly be attractive.

She is not worried about that.

Probably.

“She said here and now and minions.” Killian arches an eyebrow. “Like the cartoon?” “Oh my God, tell her that later, she’ll definitely appreciate it.” Emma exhales, likely doing more irreparable damage to her lungs and she wonders if it would freak Killian out even more if she tried to scratch her way out of her skin.

It feels like there’s a spark underneath, an urge and a power and no amount of fluttering fingers or bobbing on her feet seems to help it. Emma shakes her arms at her side, letting her head rock back and forth as she tries to count inhales again without making it obvious.

It doesn’t work.

That’s disappointing. It seems to be a trend.

“Why would Ruby say here if that wasn’t true?” Killian’s eyebrow doesn’t move. The other one joins the first instead, jumping into his hairline, and his eyes widen as soon as the first notes of music drift up the stairs towards the door Emma has only now just realized isn’t locked.

Or closed all the way.

“They were here,” Killian says, taking a step forward and letting the lock chain fall through his fingers. “And I don’t think they left willingly.” “What?” “Look.” He nods towards the door frame, marks that weren’t there a few hours before. “Are those…” Emma nods dumbly, and maybe there’s a spell to reinforce her lungs or something. Like with steel. Or maybe she’ll just give herself gills. Cut out the lung issue completely. She’ll have to ask Regina. “Those are claw marks,” she whispers, tracing over the ridges with the pads of her fingers. “That’s--Rubes wouldn’t do that. Not here. Not in the middle of the goddamn city.” “You said that amulet helped her control things, right? Made it so she could decide how her transformation worked?” Another nod. Emma can’t actually think of anything else to do. She feels a little frozen.

“What would happen if the amulet wasn’t there?” Killian asks. “If someone took it off?” It’s a shake that time – of disbelief, Emma’s hair hitting her in the cheek when she moves and, really, that almost makes sense, some kind of lame self-inflicted punishment because every thing they’ve done has only seemed to get them further away from finding any sort of solution.

She feels like she’s been tossed in a ditch. And it’s muddy. Her socks are very wet in this metaphor.

“Who would know?” Emma challenges, and now the whiplash of emotions is her own doing. Her frustration turns to anger almost immediately, a blazing burst of heat that scorches its way down her neck and rattles down each of her vertebrae, lingering at the base of her spine like a dull flame. She can feel her eyes widen, an unspoken challenge to a man who’s done nothing but offer to help and can feel her magic.

Probably.

He hasn’t actually admitted to that yet.

She hasn’t let him.

That’s neither here nor there.

“About Ruby?”

Emma nods, a sarcastic noise lingering in the back of her throat. “Everyone who knows that magic is a thing is in Storybrooke. Waiting for us to save all of them. No one here would know, let alone believe it, even if they are minions, I mean that’s--” She tastes blood when her teeth find her tongue again, wincing at the look on Killian’s face. “I’m really freaking out,” Emma mutters, like that’s an excuse. “Sorry for being a dick.” “You’re not, Swan. Blunt, but understandably given the circumstance. And as much as I hate to punch holes in your theory, there are plenty of people out there who would be more than willing to believe that a werewolf is living in a slightly ramshackle apartment on the Lower East Side.” Emma opens her mouth to object – something about no one knowing her and Ruby, but that argument evaporates as well because Killian knew her and that kiss in the library did not feel like a first kiss. It felt like a memory or a want, practiced ease and confident movements. There was no caution, no awkward fumbling or worries about what to do with their hands. It felt like them. As if there could be a them.

Or had been.

Past tense.

“I--” Emma starts and, she’s certain, eventually, she’ll finish her sentences. As it is, the music is getting even louder and--”Is that Freddie Mercury?”

Killian blinks, the pinch between his eyebrows returning. It happens, Emma has realized, when he’s a slightly surprised, like it exists simply to process information, and his hand falls to her waist almost immediately.

He hooks his foot around the bottom of the door, swinging it open and leaning towards the hall with Emma flush against his chest. She squirms, a mumbled I have as much right to see as you do, but that only makes his arm wrap around her, tight enough that she’s briefly worried about the state of her spleen. “God, relax with your feats of strength,” she hisses, pointedly ignoring his sigh of indignation.

“Swan, I’m trying to listen.” “To Freddie Mercury?” “To the music that is masking whatever is happening downstairs.”

She kicks him. Hard. Or, as hard as she can, which, admittedly is not that hard when her range of movement is limited, but Emma does her best and the heat at her spine hasn’t disappeared. It’s like she’s been put on simmer, waiting for someone to flick the burner back on and honestly she really needs to work on her metaphors.

These are just awful. They don’t even make sense.

“Emma,” Killian mutters, and she hears it for the reprimand it is.

“Ok, first of all, you don’t not get to go all alpha-male on me. That is absurd. Out of the two of us, who has magic here?” She waits for an answer she knows she’s not going to get because in the few hours she’s spent with Killian Jones she’s also come to realize that he’s almost as stubborn as she is. Emma grins triumphantly. “And two, what do you mean whatever is happening downstairs? What’s downstairs?” Killian doesn’t respond. Emma kicks him again.

“Swan, I swear to God if you don’t stop assaulting me--” “--What? What are you going to do? Because again, out of the two of us, who is actual law enforcement?”

He scowls at her. “You’ve stolen enough money from that ATM to warrant several felonies at this point, love. And--”

The music grows, blasting like it’s coming from a dozen professional-grade speakers and Emma has no idea what sound she makes, but it doesn’t feel particularly pleasant. It feels like a sigh and a groan and absolute and complete desperation. Her head falls onto Killian’s chest. She’s fairly certain he kisses the top of her hair.

That may be wishful thinking.

“Magic,” Emma says, face pressed into Killian’s jacket. She’s counting inhales again. “That’s magic. God...what the fuck Freddie Mercury.” “I don’t think it’s him personally, love.” “You really love arguing with me, huh?” He definitely kisses her hair that time, a quick brush of lips and squeeze of the hand that never moved away from her. “You never noticed the bar, huh? I suppose you’ve had your mind on a few other things, though.” “What?” “You think you can do that light thing in your hand again? That was pretty impressive, might scare off whatever werewolf freaks are downstairs.” “Are you speaking in Greek?”

Killian rolls his shoulder, trying to get Emma to lift her head, but she’s definitely the more stubborn of the two. She groans while she moves, twisting her wrist and the ball of light in her palm is warm, a pulse to it that matches up with her own and every inch of her feels as if it’s half a moment away from combusting.

“See,” Killian grins, lacing his fingers through hers and neither one of them bothers to close the apartment door behind them. “Impressive.”

They don’t move the way she expects, which Emma should really be more prepared for at this point, walking towards a staircase she wasn’t aware existed until that very moment. The music gets louder with every step they take, a never-ending loop of Somebody to Love, and voices talking intently.

Emma doesn’t mean to clutch Killian’s hand as tightly as she knows she is, but she’s got an awful feeling in the pit of her stomach. Her chest feels tight, ribs pinching internal organs they should never come in contact with and--

“What is this?” Emma asks, doing her best to keep her voice quiet. They’ve found their way into some kind of back room, stone walls and damp air and Killian’s answering smile should not be that effective. She rolls her eyes again. To combat it, or whatever.

“It’s a bootleggers basement.” “Are you fucking kidding me?” He flashes her another smile – lazy and lopsided and far too confident to be fair. “Would I do that?”

“I’ve got absolutely no idea,” Emma admits. Killian’s shoulders sag. “But, uh...I really don’t think so. I...well, I wasn’t lying to Rubes yesterday, I trust you and I know--” “--I’m not sure we have enough time for you to get sentimental on me, Swan.”

She groans. “I’m trying to be nice. I--well, I did yank you around via magic. And how did you know this was here?” “Not content to assume that I just know everything, huh?” “Killian.” He grins, tongue pressed into the corner of his mouth. “There are dozens of places like this smattered across the city, but especially further downtown where it was easier to get the alcohol off barges near the docks. People willing to do anything for a drink at that point, you know? Plus, places like this are always rife with information. Chatty folk when they’re drunk.”

“What are you saying?”

“You really didn’t realize there was a bar under the apartment you were living in? Scarlet will be very disappointed.” “Like you said, I’ve been kind of busy.” Killian hums, lower lip jutted out slightly. Emma kind of wants to bite it. That feels a little violent. And she should probably be saving any of those particular tendencies for whatever is happening on the other side of the basement wall.

As it is, what’s happening on the other side of the basement wall does not sound pleasant. That’s an understatement. Emma strains to put a name to the noise just barely finding its way to her ears, not entirely sure she wants to because the noise sounds painful and something akin to a whimper and--

“That’s not Ruby,” Emma says, jerking her head around to find all the color has rushed out of Killian’s face. He doesn’t let go of her hand when he dashes forward, pulling Emma with him to press against the wall.

“What the fuck is happening? Are you people insane?” Emma’s laugh is as out of place as it is possible for one thing to be, but the voice sounds less fearful and more furious. She can appreciate that. “I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that’s Scarlet, right?”

Killian nods, and Emma doesn’t object when he pulls her back against his side – as if that makes any of this easier. “It’s his bar,” he explains. “He’s probably pissed they’re fucking with his juke box.” “Ah, so it’s really not Freddie Mercury, then?” “Unless you’re suddenly capable of reviving the dead with your very impressive magic, I’m afraid it’s just Queen's Greatest Hits.”

Emma sticks her tongue out.

And it’s almost flirting again, almost normal, almost ok, but then Scarlet’s voice turns into Scarlet yelling and pleading and–”No, no, no, just...leave her alone! She doesn’t have anything to do with this. You can...you can take whatever you want. Take the money. There’s not--well, there’s not a ton there, but--” “--You think we want your money?”

“Oh my God,” Emma mumbles, at the new voice joining the fray. It’s a woman, that much she can tell, but she can’t place the tone or the timbre and she’s starting to lose feeling in her left hand. “Killian,” Emma continues softly. He’s staring straight ahead, a tension in his jaw that can’t possibly be good for his teeth. “Hey, what’s going on?” He shakes his head – he must, because that one piece of hair designed solely to ruin Emma’s entire life, moves slightly, brushing over his forehead and drifting towards his eyebrows, and he flinches when her hand lands on his cheek again.

“Do you know who that is?” “No,” he answers, sounding unsure of the word.

“No? I hate to punch holes in your theory, but it kind of sounds like you do. And, uh...you know, if you’ve got some clues as to how to defeat whatever is happening over there, then that’d be--” “--I don’t know, Emma.” She blinks at the sound of his voice, an absolute that makes her magic spark. In defense. Of him. “Huh,” she muses. “Wow, you’re a shit liar, you know that?” “You don’t know me well enough to say that.” “And yet here we are. With my werewolf best friend missing and your roommate being robbed and--”

Emma makes a noise when she’s cut off, a cry of frustration that doesn’t do them any favors in their continued hiding spot, but the howl that comes from the other side of the door is loud and a little feral and there’s more than one.

Her eyes flicker back up towards Killian, his lips pressed together tightly enough that they almost disappear entirely. He presses a finger to his mouth, a silent command she doesn't appreciate very much, until he’s leaning forward, another kiss pressed to her temple and she can barely hear the words he whispers in her ear.

That song is still playing.

“Can you do something about this wall?”

“What?” Emma balks.

“The wall, love. I think we may be able to maintain the element of surprise if we don’t come waltzing through the door.” “God, who is waltzing anywhere?” Killian glares at her. Emma sticks her tongue out. “The wall, Swan. If you can do something about it, get rid of it for a moment--” “--What kind of witch do you think I am that I can’t get rid of a wall?” “I swear, if you don’t stop interrupting me,” he warns, but that’s as much as he gets out before he ducks his head and the kissing is even more out of place than the laughing was. It’s different than the first kiss that might not have been that, not nearly as long because the whimpering is back and Will is shouting again and Emma’s got a growing suspicion that there are several dogs in the bar she didn’t realize was there, but it’s searing in a way that sends a rush of heat and want through every one of her muscles, lingering in her veins and settling into her bloodstream like it’s supposed to be there.

He nips at her lip again, tongue brushing over the seam of her mouth, and Emma squeezes her eyes shut as soon as they pull apart, desperate to brand the feeling into her memory.

She’s got a growing suspicion about that too. It doesn’t feel like she actually has to.

“That was ridiculous,” Emma mutters, drawing a cynical laugh out of Killian. He kisses her again.

“A complex, love, honestly.” She rolls her eyes, but it’s getting difficult to ignore whatever her heart is doing and she winks when she presses her palm flat against the wall behind her.

And everything goes to complete and absolute shit.

Quickly.

It’s efficient, at least.

The scene in front of them is nothing short of chaotic, chairs toppled and claw marks in more than one table and half of those tables are laying on their side. Belle is far too pale to be healthy, a gash in her leg that does not look like it was created by any sort of human. She’s breathing heavily, as if each inhale is a challenge, hair plastered to her head where its laying against the bar floor.

Will – Emma assumes it’s Will, there’s no other man in the bar – doesn’t look much better, shoulders heaving and eyes manic as he tries to move towards her. The woman sitting on the edge of bar lets out a low tsk, tsk at that, holding what appears to be a soda gun in her hand. She slams her thumb onto one of the buttons, a stream of water flying farther than it has any right to and Emma’s going to pass out from a lack of oxygen.

“Breathe, love,” Killian whispers. She doesn’t.

Will sputters as the water continues to slam into his face, trying to pull away, but the water follows his every move and it only takes a moment for the woman on the bar to realize her audience has grown. She perks up as soon as her eyes land on Killian and Emma, a knowing smile that does not look human slinking across her face. She’s a little older than Emma, feet swinging in the air, and arms crossed lightly over the green blazer she’s wearing. The fabric doesn’t look normal though, a shine to it that makes Emma’s hackles rise in self-defense.

She’s got absolutely no idea where her hackles are.

That’s probably more a Ruby thing at this point anyway. Because Ruby, is in fact, not Ruby anymore – crouched in the corner of the bar with another woman staring intently at her. She’s practically salivating, the look of longing on her face wholly abnormal in a string of absolutely impossible things, and the coat she’s got on must weigh at least ten pounds.

It’s fur.

And oddly similar to the fur of the dogs yanking on the leash in her hand.

“What the--” Emma starts, another cut-off sentence as soon as the dog lady spins on the spot. She chuckles lightly, presumably at the stunned look on Emma and Killian’s face, and lets up a bit on the leash. The dogs lunge, jaws snapping and teeth bared and Emma doesn’t think, she throws both her hands up and lets Killian’s arm wrap around her middle and the dogs don’t get any closer.

“Interesting,” the dog lady murmurs, and there’s got to be a better name for her than that. “He’ll be very intrigued to know how well your magic is fostering still, Savior.”

Ruby snarls. As a werewolf.

“Savior,” Emma repeats. “How do you know that?” The woman on the bar takes her thumb off the soda gun, hopping down lightly and Emma’s eyes bug when she realizes she’s not wearing shoes. She steps in every single puddle, a wandering path across the bar until she’s only a few inches away and her gaze doesn’t land on Emma. That’s surprising.

“Captain,” she says instead, eyes flitting across Killian with interest, “I’d say it’s nice to see you again, but that would be a lie, wouldn’t it?”

Killian’s entire body tenses, chin lifting in something that almost looks like defiance. The fingers wrapped around Emma’s flutter at his side, shifting with an energy that makes her wonder what he’s reaching for.

“I have no idea who you are,” he sneers. “What are you doing here?” The woman’s smile widens. “Oh, it took some time, I’ll admit, but that’s mostly your fault now, isn’t it? Ahahaha,” she says with a quick shake of her head and flick of her wrist. The water at her feet flies up, smacking Killian in the face and making him cough. “And please hold all your questions until the end.” “We don’t have time for this,” the dog lady growls, but that may actually be the dogs and Ruby is chained up as well. “We need to make the deal.” “No, no, no, I’ve waited a lifetime for this. I’m going to get what I want.” “You’re delusional,” Killian challenges, and Emma wishes he’d stop antagonizing the clearly magical villain.

She tries to move her hand without drawing attention to herself – an attempt to stop the blood pooling underneath Belle’s knee, but one of the dogs barks again and the dog lady’s laugh is the worst of all of them. It’s far too soft. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to help quite yet, Savior. It’ll take a bit longer for her to bleed out anyway. My darling didn’t bite her too deep, did he?”

The dog in question whines in response, another chomp of his jaws. Belle gets paler.

“What the hell is happening?” Will demands, drawing out every letter. Emma hopes his entire alcohol stock wasn’t destroyed. He deserves more than one drink. “Who the fuck are you people?” “All in good time,” the woman with the sparkly jacket says. That’s still not the right description, Emma’s eyes narrowing as she tries to figure out what, exactly, the fabric is made of. It shimmers and shines, flickering in the light every time she moves, as if it’s retaining water and Emma’s quiet breath of understanding isn’t all that quiet.

“Scales,” she says. “Those are scales.” The woman’s smile flickers.

“She thinks she’s Ursula,” Belle mutters, not lifting her head off the floor. “She’s...the water thing, the scales. Even the music.” “Music?” Will repeats dumbly. “What about the music?” Emma’s brain is firing on neurons she didn’t realize she possessed until that very moment, bits of something that she’s fairly certain are memories but are entirely unfamiliar, slamming into every corner of her skull, desperate to be remembered and acknowledged. She chews on her lip, drawing more blood and that’s probably a bad move with possibly blood-thirsty dogs a few feet away, but she needs something to settle her nerves and her emotion.

And her magic.

The glow in the palm of her hand turns blinding, as if someone deposited a star on her skin. Will curses at the flash of light, the dogs not taking too kindly to it either, but Ursula just laughs under her breath and the music gets louder.

It’s the same goddamn song. “A siren,” Killian whispers, staring at Emma like that should be an answer. It is. She lets go of her lip. “Ursula is a siren. A sea witch, that could control music and send sailors to their demise. She had the power of the seas at her disposal, could warp anything with water if the price was right. It was an old legend that--” “--Well, that’s rude isn’t it, Captain?” He’s going to have to go to the dentist after this. It can’t possibly be good to be putting so much pressure on his molars.

Killian looks up – gaze set and steady, but his fingers are still moving and Emma’s starting to lose feeling in her limbs. “You’re acting like you know me,” he accuses. “That’s not--”

“--Oh, don’t say impossible,” Ursula laughs. “That’s insulting to both of us. And you’re lovely...well, what would we call her?” She nods in Emma’s direction, eyes bright. “Girlfriend is far too dull after everything you did, don’t you think?”

Killian doesn’t respond. Emma’s not sure he can. That’s fair. She’s got no idea what the fuck is going on.

“What do you think, Cruella?” Ursula continues, seemingly content to linger in the villain soliloquy portion of the evening. Emma’s eyes flit around the bar, looking for an escape route or another bootleggers basement and there isn't anything. They're going to have to fight their way out of this – with her magic.

And maybe Ruby. As a werewolf.

The amulet is in Cruella’s hand.

“Fucking hell,” Emma mutters, drawing a curious glance out of Killian. She jerks her head slightly, the villains distracted by impossible relationship monikers.

“Oh damn,” he sighs.

“Yeah, exactly. So, um...thoughts?” “Far too many, honestly.” Emma hums in understanding, but that appears to be one sound too many and the water that collides with her half-opened mouth is sudden and jarring and she can’t breathe. She shakes her head, trying to refill her lungs, but every inhale is just water and her head starts to spin before she can even begin to muster the magic lingering in her.

“I’ve had just about enough of that, haven’t you, Cruella?” Ursula asks lightly, and Emma’s never drowned before, never even come close, but she seems to be on that track now and it is fairly awful.

Honestly.

Cruella nods. “Agreed. Can’t have the lovers conspiring against us again. He won’t appreciate that at all.” “Lovers, that’s a good descriptor for it. What are your thoughts on paramour?” “For the princess?” Ursula hums, a vague sound of interest that sends warning signs shooting up Emma’s spine, a roar of something in her brain that makes her feel like she’s being split apart. That’s probably a byproduct of the drowning.

She can hear yelling and howling in equal measure – Will screaming and Ruby trying to get out of the chain shackled around her hind leg – but Emma can barely process any of that when her vision turns spotty and she doesn’t object to whatever her legs are doing. She assumes they’re just collapsing, not able to support her own weight, and it’s getting annoying to be so consistently wrong.

They’re not collapsing. They’re being dragged.

Killian’s hand brushes the hair away from her face, shaking Emma’s shoulders slightly and she can’t stop coughing. The water is everywhere. “Hey, hey,” he says, rushing over the words as if getting them out quicker will help regulate her breathing. “Look at me. Swan, please. Open your eyes, darling.”

She does. They fly open, in fact, a word she’s never heard before lingering in the minimal space around them. Emma can’t catch her breath – and it’s not the fault of the almost-drowning, it’s that word and the look on Killian’s face, a complete terror that a stranger shouldn’t have and a neighbor shouldn’t feel and lovers makes a hell of a lot of sense.

In a way that is, actually, the complete opposite of that.

He exhales, nosing at her cheek like he’s making sure she’s there still. “Are you ok?” “If I ask you what the hell is happening again, is that weird?” “Probably not.” “Ok, good, that’s good.” “You’ve got to keep breathing love.” “Yeah, I think I’ve heard that somewhere.”

Killian chuckles, the twist of his lips obvious where his mouth is still pressed against Emma’s skin. And, rationally, she knows that there’s no spark that should come along with that, but rational thinking has flown out every metaphorical window she could come up with, so she refuses to try and figure out a reason for the pinprick of magic blooming just under her eye.

It is.

And for, right now, that’s enough.

“So quick to throw yourself in harms way, aren’t you, Captain?” Ursula asks, taking another step forward and kicking at the puddle under her feet. “It’s interesting that that hasn’t changed. Although I suppose it’s just a defining part of your character now, isn’t it?” Killian grits his teeth, tugging Emma flush against his chest. Ursula’s eyebrows lift slightly.

“Interesting,” she muses. “It’s almost as if it’s embedded in your subconscious. Was it immediate? As soon as you saw her? That’s how the stories always go.” Ruby growls, low and aggressive and Emma gets the distinct feeling she knows something. Or, at least, has made several sweeping assumptions.

“You said Captain,” Emma says, finding a bit of courage that may be another piss-poor metaphor. “Why do you think that?” “Why don’t you? Don’t you have your wits about you, your highness?” “Stop saying that!” “Ah, that’s an answer, my dear,” Cruella observes. She’s sitting on one of of the bar stools now, both dogs lying at her feet, a look on her face that reminds Emma of some sort of apex predator. “It’s interesting that you didn’t retain that when you came here.” “What?” "What the hell,” Will mumbles again, and Emma shouldn’t laugh, but her mind doesn’t care. The sound falls out of her unbidden, shaking her shoulders and making her tongue ache and that is disgusting. The water dripping from her hair is freezing cold.

“I’m going to buy you a really big drink later,” she promises. Will salutes. He’s still lying on the ground.

Ursula's gaze hasn’t moved from Killian – eyes drifting up and down his torso and flickering more than once to the hand at his side. “Looking for your sword?”

His hand stills.

“Excuse me?” “Your sword,” she echoes, another twist of her wrist and the water swirls around her ankles. “Always prone to action weren’t you, Captain? You know, I think it got worse once she,” her chin jerks towards Emma again, “wasn’t there. It was as if you’d lost your impulse control entirely. Although, well...when one loses someone like that, I suppose it makes them desperate.” “Make your goddamn point! I don’t know her!” “Aw, come now, that wasn’t even close to convincing. You certainly acted like you did, pulling her to safety and simple nothings whispered in her ear. It’s almost sickening.” Emma can see the muscles in Killian’s throat move when he swallows, tongue darting between his lips because he’s breathing through his mouth now too. Belle hasn’t made a single noise in far too long.

“What do you think you know?” Emma asks suddenly, stepping away from Killian quick enough that she manages to surprise him. Ursula looks impressed. She’s smiling, at least.

That might not be a good thing.

“Swan,” Killian warns, but she shakes her head deftly, not entirely surprised by the brush of fingers on the back of her wrist.

The smile definitely isn’t a good thing.

“Would you like to hear my evil plan, Savior?” Ursula asks, low and menacing and the word siren bounces around Emma’s brain. She nods anyway. “Of course you would. It’s very easy to listen to me, isn’t it?” Another nod. “I haven’t known the Captain nearly as long as you have, but I feel as if I almost know him better than you--I’ve seen what he’s willing to do, just about anything, to get what he wants, and he’s not all that worried about the destruction he leaves behind.”

“Pirate,” Cruella says, and it sounds like a curse. There’s blood in Emma’s mouth.

Ursula makes a noise of agreement. “Exactly. Willing to embrace any darkness, any challenge, all to get what he wants. I admired him for it at one point. That was my mistake.” “What do you mean?” Emma whispers, and it’s disappointing when she can’t make her voice stop shaking. “What did he do?” Ursula’s expression turns triumphant, the music from the jukebox blaring loud enough that Emma doesn’t hear whatever Killian says behind her.

She wraps her fingers around his anyway.

“It all came down to you, Savior,” Ursula explains. “He needed to get back to you and he was willing to do whatever it took. He needed my help, though. Not easy to get here, you see” “How?” “There was a rumor, long ago, of a water that could revive once-dead things. That it could spark life back into anything. Even something as seemingly unimportant as a bean.” Emma blinks. Once, twice, three times. The scene in front of her doesn’t change. She doesn’t really expect it to.

“Swan,” Killian whispers, her own name turning into a plea. “I don’t know what she’s talking about. I’ve never--I’ve never met that woman before. I don’t…” The music grows louder, a thumping rhythm that echoes between Emma’s ears and makes the beams above her head rattle. “No, no, no, Captain,” Ursula objects. “We can’t have that. I won’t have you lying to your princess’ face. It’s unseemly. Listen to the music. I did pick this song out just for the two of you.”

Emma closes her eyes, not entirely in control of herself anymore, listening to the lyrics and the words and-- “That makes no sense,” she growls, more misplaced confidence. The magic in her veins is helpful though, growing, Emma knows, the longer Killian’s thumb keeps doing that thing.

Ursula’s lips twitch. “No? Ah, usually I’m better than that. I suppose it’s because you’ve allowed magic to wither away in this godforsaken realm. Well, no matter.” She snaps her fingers, the jukebox groaning under the force of the magic controlling it and Will curses at the destruction of even more of his property.

Emma’s got to stop laughing.

She does as soon as she realizes what song is playing.

“Is that...Céline Dion?”

“Oh, yes,” Ursula nods. “You see, I need you to remember, your highness. I need you to understand who, exactly, you’re dealing with and I need your pirate to lose you all over again. If only for my own pleasure.” Emma’s eyes are going to fall out of her head. It will be, inevitably, disgusting.

“Jones isn’t a pirate,” Will argues, Ruby’s growl turning into a yelp when Cruella turns her dogs back towards her. “That’s--you’re a crazy person.”

One of the dogs turns on him, jumping forward and sinking his teeth into an arm that’s stretched out across linoleum floor and whatever sound Will makes at that will probably reverberate in Emma’s consciousness for the rest of her life.

“Will,” Killian cries, moving half a step away from Emma. He freezes almost as quickly, though, more goddamn Céline Dion and Ursula’s quiet laughter.

She waggles a finger at him. “I’m afraid we can’t go much further until your princess makes a choice, Captain. I didn’t expect her to have forgotten as well. It’s interesting, but I’m sure he has a contingency plan in place.” Emma wishes this conversation were more streamlined.

“He? You mean the Dark One? What do you know about the Dark One?” she demands, only to be met with an almost amused expression. The music gets louder, nudging at the back of her brain and visions that don’t feel like that – a grand hall and a red dress and a flash of a smile that she’s certain she’d be able to describe in minute detail if asked. There’s green grass and a feeling that comes from, not just being wanted, but being loved, adored and needed and the sun that glints off the sword hilt in front of her eyes is almost as bright as the flash of light that reappears in the palm of Emma’s hand.

Ursula blinks.

“What do you know?” she asks again. Belle answers. Emma’s very glad Belle isn’t dead.

“She said it before, when she was...when they got us down here. She said the Dark One was willing to make a deal with you. Us for you. That’s why the dog lady took Ruby’s...whatever was around her neck.”

Emma needs to control the sounds she makes. This latest one isn’t quite a scoff, more just generic disbelief and something drifting dangerously close to fury. As if she’d just give herself up to the Dark One.

That was not the point of her quest.

God, she hates that she even thought the word quest.

“It’s all different when you don’t know what you are, Savior,” Cruella adds. “But tell me,” she dangles the amulet in the air, the chain pinched between her fingers, “what would you do if I just...slipped this on your friend? And off? And on? I’ve got nowhere to go, you see and I’ve always been fascinated by transformative magic like this. There’s no end to the kind of information I could glean tonight. Although I imagine it would be rather painful.” “You’re at a crossroads, Savior, again,” Ursula says. “The Dark One remembers what you did. He knows you ran, tried to hide yourself in this realm, but he was always going to find you. I made sure of that.” Emma’s mouth goes dry. “How?” “Your pirate. I wasn’t exaggerating. He was desperate for you, a path to the Land Without Magic. A place where, I’m sure, he’d be able to thrive. Magicless sot.” She scoffs callously, eyes turning hard and Emma knows she doesn’t imagine whatever is happening to her jacket. Glistening. Glowing. Magic. “Anyway, you were gone. Most of the kingdom was gone and this one had been left behind. With the Dark One trailing him. Oh, he hates your pirate almost as much as I do.” “Almost?” Emma repeats, the word heavy as she says it.

Ursula winks. “Almost. Anyway, the pirate found me, begged me to lead him to Lake Nostos, so he could find his way back to you. I agreed, on the condition that he’d bring me with him.” “Why? You have magic.” “You’re quite a little genius, aren’t you? I’m sure your kingdom will feel so much safer knowing that they’re in such perceptive hands.” “An answer,” Emma shouts, flexing her hand at her side and the burst of magic that flies out of her is jarring at best. It’s goddamn, absolutely terrifying at worst. It’s the strongest thing she’s ever done and she wasn’t even trying to do it.

The force of it collides with Cruella, sending her sailing off her barstool perch, slamming into the wall with a thud that makes Emma’s heart drop into her stomach. Ruby growls, just restrained enough that she can’t get her teeth on the woman’s throat, and for half a second Emma regrets that. She wants her dead.

She wants them all dead.

For doing something...she can’t remember.

“I wanted away from my father,” Ursula explains quickly. “He’d been controlling me for years, forcing me to do things with my power...this is not my fault, Savior.” “Whose is it, then?” “His.” She nods in Killian’s direction, and Emma can’t remember the last time he blinked. “I didn’t know that he’d made a deal with my father as well. Wanted squid ink. Helps with the memories sometimes, you see. So I offered to steal it for him. He was very quick to agree, let me take the danger. We were supposed to meet at Lake Nostos.” “And?” “And. My father caught me. He presented me to Jones and demanded a reason for it. The pirate wasn’t shy. He was more than willing to let me go back to my father, used as a pawn in his games. After all, he was already at Nostos. He didn’t need me anymore. Never did get that squid ink, though.”

“You’re making that up,” Emma accuses, part of her rebelling at the sentiment. She knows it’s true. She’s got no idea how she knows it’s true.

Will’s throwing broken bits of chair to try and distract the dogs away from Ruby.

“Am I?” Ursula asks. “Or am I simply telling you what you don’t want to hear, your highness? It always did fascinate me that you left him behind. In fact, I think I might have done him a favor when I took him to Nostos. He forgot what you’d done to him.” Emma stumbles back, not from the words themselves, but the certainty behind them, another push of confidence and nudge at the back of her brain, a magical attempt to drudge up feelings and memories that she isn’t sure she wants to exist.

“I didn’t--” Emma starts, but Ursula’s already shaking her head. “Where’s the sword, then? You said he was trying to get his sword, where is it?” “I’m afraid I don’t have an answer for that, your highness, but if memory serves, it was the most prized possession of our Captain Jones. As the reputation grew, so did that of the weapon. Some people used to suggest it was simply part of him. Or that it had been enchanted to obey his thoughts, as if it could act before he did. You know what I think, though?” “I can’t imagine.” “I think you gave it to him, your highness. And I think he remembered that every day. Even after you left him behind.” “I wouldn’t do that.”

Emma has no idea what possesses her to say that. It’s not entirely true – can’tbe, because he’s a stranger and some man who just happened to live next to the apartment her magic had been drawn to – but it’s not entirely untrue either and the certainty that she’d do...something, anything for the man whose thumb is still tracing out idle patterns on her wrist is only a little overwhelming.

In a powerful, magic-altering kind of way.

Her eyes screw shut as the feeling moves through her, trying to stay upright and grounded and Killian’s muttering something against her, quiet promises that seem familiar and--

“You need to actually hold your blade up higher, you know.”

“Oh, shut up.” “Your highness!” “I said shut up, you’re not even supposed to be here.” “And who’s doing is that, love?” “Are you going to actually instruct or just pass sweeping judgements?”

He nods, twisting the blade in his hand with a smile and the tip of his tongue pressed against the corner of his lips, laughing loudly as soon as Emma’s head snaps to the side. He doesn’t try to stop her, just catches her with an arm around the waist and greedy mouths and --

“Swan,” Killian says sharply, one hand wrapped around her shoulder and his prosthetic resting on her hip and he’s got his back to Ursula. That’s idiotic. “Love, we’ve got to get out of here.”

“Now, we were just starting to have some fun, Captain,” Ursula admonishes. “And I’m afraid I really can’t let the princess go. He won’t be pleased with that. He wants her. Wants the spark of her magic. To restore the rest of his. She can’t leave.” “That’s not going to work.” “Hmm, you really are rather devoted aren’t you? A dutiful knight in shining armor.”

Emma’s lungs are never going to be the same. She’s not sure why, but she glances at Belle, curled against Will’s side with what, at first glance, appears to be a bit of his shirt wrapped tightly around her leg.

They’re both incredibly bloody.

“What did you just say?” Emma snaps, Ursula’s lips curling up at the returning shake to her voice. “Why would you...you know what? Fuck off.”

She waves her hand before she can doubt herself again, a muddled mess of magic and memories and the desperate desire to know what the fuck is going on. Ursula’s body slumps under the blast, knees slamming into puddles. Emma’s not actually casting any spells, a move that would inevitably drive Regina insane, just acting on instinct and desire and the light streaming from the tips of her fingers.

“I need that amulet,” Emma says, nodding in the direction of Cruella and it does not surprise her that Belle moves first. She waves her hand again, freezing the dogs to their spot and Ruby gives a yelp of approval.

“Fucking hell,” Will grumbles, but he follows Belle anyway. Emma watches the scene for a moment – tugging the amulet out of Cruella’s grip and tossing it towards Ruby. She makes a less-than-impressed noise.

“Put it on her,” Killian shouts. He’s stepped away from Emma – a move she’d barely noticed when everything else was happening, a bottle clutched in his hand. It's broken, sharp shards that are probably as threatening as the great, disappearing, maybe didn’t ever exist, sword. “God, Scarlet, that is obvious!” “Ok, ok, not all of us have some kind of backlog of magic knowledge, Jones! Also, some of us are suffering from pretty severe blood loss.” “Oh, I can probably fix that in a second,” Emma says, another promise she likely shouldn’t be making. She may need a drink of her own before she tries.

Killian beams at her. “See.” “Are you guys seriously flirting now?” Belle asks, moving towards Ruby slowly. “Honestly? I mean I knew you were into her, Killian, but--” “--What?” Emma asks. They don’t have time for this. They still have to deal with Ursula. Emma is fairly certain the water on the ground is moving.

“Was that not obvious?” Killian asks. He’s, apparently, taking care of Ursula, crowding in her space with the bottle pointed at her neck and a certain glint in his eyes that makes Emma’s blood run cold.

Like a fish.

Or something.

“It’s not going to work,” Ursula says. “It didn’t the last time. He knows you’ll give in eventually, your highness. You already have.”

“I’ve never actually met the Dark One,” Emma argues. “He invaded Storybrooke--” “--Because you ran. What kind of Savior does that? You ran and you took magic with you. But it doesn’t belong here either. It belongs in our realm, where it can thrive and grow and where it can be controlled. It’s inevitable, princess. He was always going to take over.” “None of that is true,” Killian hisses. He presses the tip of the bottle to Ursula’s skin, a gasp of pain and dot of blood and Ruby is Ruby again. Emma can hear her breath hitch. “Why are you lying?” “I’m not. I just remember what I took from you. And you’re doing it again, Captain.” Her eyes dart down towards his hand, pressure against her neck and a few more dots of far-too-red blood. He doesn’t move. Instead, his shoulders go straight as a board, a determination there that feels like a fire flaring back to life and Emma is seriously the least creative person on the planet.

“Killian.”

Her feet move without much thought to what she’s doing, but it feels like crossing a line she can’t come back from and Emma’s hand doesn’t shake when she wraps it around Killian’s wrist. “Let go,” she whispers, pulling his fingers apart. “It’s ok. I’m--we’re ok, we’re going to get out of here now.” “Are you though?” Ursula counters.

“That’s not much of a move when there’s still all that blood on your throat,” Ruby points out, both Will and Belle humming in agreement. They each have an arm wrapped around her shoulders. Emma isn’t sure who’s holding who up at this point.

“And, incidentally, what bottle did you break to make your very threatening threat?” Will asks. “Because that’s like...you know, you’re going to have to pay for that.” “He won’t stop,” Ursula continues, unperturbed by their return to wholly out of place banter. “He’s coming for you, Savior and he’s coming for the pirate. The great thorn in his side, determined to waylay him. There’s no running from it anymore. It’s a fool’s errand.” “Then I’ve got to be the biggest idiot around,” Emma quips. She yanks the bottle out of Killian’s hand, tossing it on the ground and ignoring Will’s cries of protest about profit margin, grabbing Ruby’s jacket. “Do not freak out when I do this.” Ruby groans.

And their landing is a little off, but Emma will argue it’s because she didn’t know where they were going.

“Are we in my apartment?” Belle asks, a note of impressed in her voice.

Emma nods, panting slightly when she falls back against the carpeted floor. Killian hasn’t said a word. “I certainly hope so,” she mumbles. “Otherwise this is going to suck.” “And after you teased the villain so well.” “How’s the blood loss coming?” “Uh, not great, honestly, but there were ancient sea witches to deal with and whatever Killian was doing and--” She snaps around so quickly, Emma briefly wonders if she’s passed out, but she’s staring at Killian instead, all concern and curiosity. “How did you know what to do with the bottle? That was…” “Barbaric?” Will suggests, Ruby already rifling through cabinets because nothing makes her hungrier than transforming.

Belle shakes her head. “No, that was...habit. And threatening. Like you’d gotten used to that.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Killian says shortly, no room for objection. “You should let Swan fix your leg before you do actually, you know, die.” Will snorts. “Tactful as always.” “And just offering up Emma’s magic now, it seems,” Ruby adds.

Killian must have been holding his breath because the exhale that rushes out of him is far too large for one, normal human to contain. His tongue moves again, eyes falling closed and head dropping forward and Emma’s moving before she thinks. Again. Or still. The tenses are starting to get confusing. “Give me five minutes, ok?” she asks, gaze darting down to the charms around Killian’s neck. He’s started toying with them. Another nervous habit.

“Yeah, ok.” And she’s as good as her questionably-strong-magic word – waving her hands and removing any evidence that either Will or Belle had been bitten by large, possibly demonic dogs earlier that afternoon. There’s far too much to talk about, but Emma’s muscles feel heavy and her whole being feels drained, so it only takes Ruby a few moments of staring to announce--”We’re going to make food, eat food, watch shitty TV and then figure out how to save the world tomorrow, ok?” They agree.

But sleep is a curious thing and Emma’s brain is still racing, even after food and hot chocolate and nearly a full season of a show Belle claims is called Drag Race. She’s frustratingly awake, the soft tick of the clock in the kitchen a metronome designed to drive her insane, when she feels Killian’s stir next to her.

“I’m sorry.” Emma’s lips quirk up. They’re laying on Belle’s kitchen floor. “None of that was your fault.” “That’s not what she said.” “She claimed to be an ancient sea witch with the power to control music and water, I’m not sure we can take her at face value.” “You saw her control the water though,” Killian points out.

“Is this a backwards way of getting me to thank you for saving me from that?” “What? No, of course not, that’s not--” “--Hey,” Emma interrupts, flipping onto her side and her hand just...moves to his cheek. On instinct. Of the unmagical variety. “That was an exceptionally shitty joke, huh?” Killian’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes, but it’s a start. “Kind of...and she said the music was meant to get us to remember, right?”

“Where are you going with this?” “I’ve got no fucking idea, but...as soon as your magic...when it grew like that, I thought I saw...I remembered…” She swallows, fear and longing and the echo of that feeling, like frost on a windowpane, disappearing before Emma can try and contain it. “What?” she asks, barely able to get the word out. “Did you--did you see something?” “Did you?” “Killian!”

He huffs, mouth crashing against hers like it will help him settle or remember even more. She’s dizzy with the rush of it, more than willing to linger in that moment for several moments longer, but the world is a dick and the Dark One is sending minions after them for reasons she can’t remember.

“It was a...there were people and they were going somewhere, sneaking out, maybe,” Killian whispers, Emma’s eyes widening at the same time her jaw drops. “But it wasn’t...it felt like getting ready for something and, I...it was us, Swan.”

#cs ff #captain swan #cs fic #cs #captain swan ff #all was golden in the sky #that stupid witch fic #BATTLE COUPLE #BATTLE #COUPLE #(and some more kissing)#(there may genuinely only be one other chapter in this story where they don't kiss)

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shy-magpie · 5 years ago

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RQG 141

The wait is over! Skraak's gonna sober up soon and all signs point to upcoming boss fight. Will they end up with an army of captured Kobolds fulfilling the promise to make Skraak a general or are they going to spend the last episode on the island trying to remember who was tied up where? Patreon thanks have gotten more fun since I started recognizing names.

Alex sounds contrite about possible errors. Ben is honest about the social contract. Honestly these guys hold themselves to too high a standard sometimes. Oh everyone is doing Ben impressions, I love it when you can see they are really are friends Back to the elevator shaft Hamid and Zolf can fly without warning but are Cel and Azu going to be OK? Oh ladder is bad bad bad. Right not their first rodeo: Hamid and Zolf are talking out the plan. Zolf will scout? *scouts* *elevator ain’t moving* *reports* Regarding the text level of the ensuing conversation: Everyone is going to be tied together. No falling allowed. Hamid makes a case for Lightest First, Zolf was thinking Heaviest First. They go with lightest first. Eh I'm no hiker so not going to spend to much brain space on working out which order makes sense. Especially since none of them are allowed to fall, Alex. Subtext: Hamid sounds a little nervous about it but is in leader mode, not presenting an idea to his boss mode. Zolf sounds unsure how to take that level of the conversation but always did take Hamid's ideas seriously; even if only seriously enough to argue about rather than dismiss out of hand. As they discuss it Hamid sounds a bit more confident as Zolf takes it well. Zolf sounds frustrated but I think it's only on the level he explicitly said: this is going to suck and he would rather do it quickly, than have time for worry to really set in. I swear if they have Azu fall on someone like Bertie fell on Sasha; the way the last season of scripted shows do call backs to fan favorite episodes I'll never trust the dice are unweighted again. Eep, fatigue mechanics are starting now Yes having typing as an excuse to pause as they hit the bit we've been worrying about is nice. I don't want anyone to slip but I kinda need Zolf as Iron Man saving someone fan art. Ha Bryn just figured out they can work out how much time has passed by how often Zolf has to reactivate his boots. He clearly knows how much Ben will appreciate being used to add to the admin when he points this out. Oh this is going to be Planes Walking all over again, rolls every few seconds. I refuse to track the numbers, we had too many naturals in both directions. Tired climbing in the dark. Or not: Zolf lights a torch because Hamid can't cast and climb. Fatigued officially kicked in for Cel. Yeah we worried about this in the discord it is a Bad condition. Alex was going to soften it but Zolf has it covered? Well at least cover 7 times a day but there are only 5 of them unless sickened* or one of the other conditions comes up too. Zolf & Cel scene is fun. Rolls, trying to tune it out and just wait for the effects. Mood lightened by Ben rolling for fun. Skraak needs to be rolled for too. Of course Ben is the only one not sounding stressed at this. To be fair its a bit heavy handed by Alex standards to give us an NPC whose two main traits are endearing and vulnerable. Yes, yes, yes! Zolf is carrying Skraak in a little rope backpack! What is up with this design? I'm getting an overpowered kid vibe. Where is Alex going with this? Water reflections? Leaking hydraulics? Break right after pointing out that Hamid's armor is probably gone. Please tell me he can recast if there is something nasty down here. Ouch falling would have hurt even worse than expected. No Cel/Lydia, things that could have easily turned you into pâté are not cool. Alex has trained them too well to just open the door without a plan. Little Kobold Jeffrey's Tube hatch Skraak time. Yes, I know I said Alex was manipulating us, I never said it didn't work. Poor little guy is too cute. Ben admits Zolf would have cured his fatigue. Aquarium tunnel? For just the boss? Doesn't fit the military past and is a stretch for a school, did Yoshida have it added? how rich is this guy? Quick Hamid and Azu moment My respect for Shoin as an alchemist is going down. Maintain your equipment: you're a mad scientist for heaven's sake. Going back to my “something is using Yoshida as a boogeyman” theory Sorry if this isn't up to my usual. Listening at home instead of waiting for work and I don't think I got 10 minutes in a row undisturbed. Anyway: set design/world building is wonderful. Light turns out to be natural phosphorus(?) from a thermal vent, because Alex world builds from the geothermal layer up. Never let it be said Alex doesn't give the people what they ask for. Thank you Alex and Helen for 15 octopuses and the rest of the table for making the Jurassic Park reference/background music. A pulpy fun scene that was indulgent even before a geeky reference right from my childhood? RQG is good to me Ship wrecks? Gotta be the Mechanical Squid from Dover! Zolf knowledge time Boats were sunk over the last decade? Hamid agrees with me! I am going to be smug even if debunked, at proof I'm thinking the same way as the players. I'm thinking dragging the boats here was just an easy way to be sure they got all the stuff they wanted before dumping the looted wrecks? Telling a machine to grab a boat and bring it back has to be easier than defining what loot it should take and what to dump. Genre savvy Zolf points out we will probably get an evil monologue explaining. Good bye nice safe tunnel. Utility is king in the new complex but no maintenance again? Been damaged without repair too? And has it's own power? Cel is also wondering about the maintenance. Azu points out the danger Cel is accidentally but actively making her more frightened. On a Watsonian level anyways. Lydia knows what she is doing. Literal fun-house is it, Ben/Zolf. The place was set up for the kind of nerdy party RQG fans would love then it was abandoned? But the food was fresh and the costumes were designed for the team? Locker, trap, and Helen gasp. Vial broken, was that what the potion puzzle with the costumes was for? Alex is merciful and reinforcing the "set up for a party years ago and abandoned in place" by the contents being too old to hurt the team. 3 years expired, is that when the party was? Zolf breaks the box because he does not like puzzle games. It was the prize: 4 vials but also too old to use. The customization is discussed. Lydia has Cel accidentally point out the time skip accounts for a lot of the time element. Well half of it, but if we take 3 years as a solid date, that leaves 18 months before the times skip and I don't think The Rangers were formed over a year before that. Maybe minions who kept updating based on old orders? "Actually"? Alex?!? OK, Broken traps can be tagged on like that. Holy Hades, I was right: Corpse with a bolt through his head? Gotta be Yoshida. Poor Bryn glitched on his own character name because of all the Salad jokes; honest to god we tease because we love. Ben lightens things back up. Wait hey Zolf's cure fatigue also covers poisons*, is Skraak no longer drugged? Also is he still tied to Zolf? I don't remember them taking him out of the rope back pack. Did a lunch time re-listen/edit of these notes, because the universe punishes me with interruptions if I try to break my ritual. Hope it helped more than made the tone even more confusing. *I could have sworn poisoned was one of the conditions cured by Calming touch (Zolf's spell). I listened while doing my edit pass on this post and I couldn't find it. Maybe that damned processing issue again: you know I can wrap my head around hearing a tone but not make out words; hearing a completely different word so clearly I don't know my ears/brain glitched? Pisses me off more than it presents an actual problem.

#Rusty Quill Gaming #RQG spoilers #long post #live blog thingy #RQG season 4 #RQG 141

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saiilorstars · 5 years ago

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The Girl in the Forest

Chapter 6: The Time of the Broken

// Story Masterlist //

Pairings: Klaus Mikaelson x Original Female Character

Summary: One month after Rebekah has left the Quarter, Maleny struggles to find the solution to her curse. Klaus’ help has dwindled since their fallout and so Maleny has had to turn to other people for help. Except Klaus heavily dislikes such ‘people’ she’s found.

Pronunciation of OC’s name: Ma-leh-nee

No real warnings for now!

Requested tag: @queenmj10

~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~

One Month Later

Elijah was more than displeased to find the culprit of his family's separation lounging around in his brother's room, "I trust you can find your clothing and more importantly the door," he held Genevieve's red heels to her.

Genevieve rolled her eyes and stood up, about to take her heels when she noticed something on them, "Those weren't chipped when I got here," she frowned as she noticed one of the heels harmed.

"Maleny may have come across them first - they fell," was all Elijah had to say on that matter. Genevieve glared and snatched her shoes, walking out the room muttering words under her breath, "You do recall that woman tortured our sister?" Elijah turned to Klaus with an irritated look.

"She also revealed the truth about our sister's treachery," Klaus shrugged casually.

"And as a consequence, Rebekah is gone forever. Also, she's the reason you haven't lived up to your word to Maleny. Should I remind you she has some kind of curse placed on her that's somehow interrelated with you?"

"Nowadays, I seem to be the source of several womens' problem, don't you think?" Klaus raised an eyebrow and turned to a painting he'd been working on.

"Let me point out that this precise woman is not just any woman for you," Elijah grew more agitated with his brother's indifference over something that clearly intrigued him, "She's been living here for a month and you have not directed even a word to her. Now I don't know what has happened between you two but you told her you'd help her and that is a promise I intend to see through."

"Perhaps Maleny has lost interest in the issue," Klaus nearly yelled as he walked up to curtains of the balcony. He opened the doors and looked back at Elijah, "You see, anyone who's cursed would be going out of their mind trying to figure out what's happening but do you know what Maleny's been up to?" Elijah, confused, followed the motion to the balcony. Klaus stepped out and set his hands on the rails as he looked down to the streets, "You see, at this precise time, everyday, a certain someone gets a little visit..."

Elijah followed Klaus's gaze to the end of the street where Maleny had just turned up in, noticing her grim face. She had just come from Cami's in another vain attempt to get her to talk to her again. Needless to say, she was not in a good mood anymore. Cami wanted nothing to do Maleny and was keeping true to her word in that she wanted Maleny out of her life. Maleny wouldn't give up though, especially when Kieran was slowly deteriorating from the hex on him. Adoptive Uncle or not, he was still family and Maleny wouldn't rest until she saw positive results of his condition. To say, she was even beginning to practice a bit of magic on her own in an attempt to come up with a reversal spell. She'd have more results if Davina would help her, but the girl was having trouble practicing herself.

"Rose for a pretty lady?" Maleny was stopped midway the street by a young man with dark brown hair and brown eyes.

Maleny wasn't surprised by the man, instead she just smiled as he pulled out a dead rose from his back, watching him bring it back to life with his powers. He was part of the witch coven of the city and for every day in the past month he'd been stopping her just to give her a flower. Maleny thought it was thoughtful of him, despite it never leading to anything else except for a couple words here and there.

"Thank you, Riley," Maleny took the rose with a soft smile.

"And once again I change that sad face into a wonderful smile," Riley put a finger under Maleny's chin and lifted her head to him.

"Just like always," Maleny chuckled and blushed.

Up above in the compound, Klaus glared at the pair and headed back into the room. Elijah shook his head and went inside as well, "Right, so you're doing this out of spite and jealousy. Mature, brother."

"I do not act out of spite and jealousy!" Klaus snapped, "If she doesn't care for a curse that affects her then why should I?"

Elijah rubbed a circle on his temple as he became more frustrated, "She is down there because of you. You are the one to fix that as well as the city's problems. You do recall that this city is used to having a king. You wanted this throne. Now, you must accept the responsibility that accompanies that."

Klaus had taken a paintbrush and started painting on the unfinished canvas, "Apologies, but I'm rather ensconced in other pursuits."

Elijah had enough and snatched the paintbrush, "If you can so easily neglect your home, I wonder what will become of your daughter. Have you forgotten what it was like to live beneath the threat of violence? We must work together, Niklaus. Let's make this city whole again."

Klaus tool back his paintbrush, "Perhaps it is too broken to mend."

"So that's it. You renounce anything to do with this city, and more importantly Maleny?"

The simple mention of her name made the anger (and pain he wished to forget) flourish inside him. Of course he wanted to help her, that hadn't changed. But his mind could not forget her words from last month. The Maleny he used to know, back in the forest, would have never said anything like that. She saw him for he was and never displayed an ounce of terror of him. Why should he swallow down his feelings for someone who apparently had plenty of time to chat with strange men on the streets?

Elijah was tired of the silence and the ongoing argument that had repeated itself over the month. He gave up for the day, "If you do not do anything then I will," he warned, "For the city and Maleny."

~ 0 ~

Maleny swayed her way inside the compound's courtyard with her rose in hand, nearly bumping into Elijah if he hadn't put his hands on her shoulders to stop her from walking, "Sorry," she sheepishly smiled.

"Secret admirer?" he eyed the rose with a small smile.

"Not so secret," Maleny walked around him while gently twisting the rose in her hands, "I'm sure you and Klaus have seen him...seeing as Klaus watches it happen every day," she turned to Elijah with a frown.

"So you notice him? And yet you continue to let it happen?"

"Oh," Maleny scoffed, "so because he has a tantrum I'm supposed to succumb to his jealous needs?"

"Mal, you do realize that in letting this happen you are showcasing your intentions to irritate my brother?"

Maleny, of course, knew that, and Elijah could see he'd been right, "I don't know what you mean," she crossed her arms and avoided his gaze.

"You cannot allow this petty argument between you two get in the way of solving your curse," Elijah warned, "Every day you waste ignoring each other is another day the culprit runs free."

"I know that," Maleny sighed, slowly returning her gaze to him, "But it's not easy, okay? The one person who promised to help me now hates me."

"He does not hate you, Maleny," Elijah quickly corrected her, able to see how that thought hurt her, "Far from it, actually."

"I would've left weeks ago if it wasn't for this curse," Maleny admitted as she took a seat at a table nearby, "Ever since Davina told me about this thing, I've wanted nothing more than to run away from here...but that would get me no where."

While Davina didn't know what the curse on Maleny was exactly, she was able to inform Maleny of certain information she'd gathered on the other side. The curse was an old type of spell placed on Maleny, could be broken of course...it's just they didn't know how. She'd officially learned that, yes, she had been body jumping all throughout the centuries, always finding Klaus someway. Each time she body jumped, the memories of the previous body were terminated. There was still no clue as to who or what placed the curse on Maleny.

"And what about Davina," Elijah brought Maleny out of her thoughts as he neared the table, "Has she...?"

Maleny knew he meant to ask if the girl had mastered her powers again and sighed heavily with a shake of her head, "No. I went to visit her this morning and she's still the same. She's afraid of what the ancestors told her," Maleny leaned back on her chair, "Without a witch, I can't do much and she's the only one I trust with this."

"Listen, my brother is being ridiculous with all this solidarity-"

Maleny scoffed again, "I'm sorry but having that psycho witch lounging around this place in her undergarments all day doesn't sound like solidarity to me," she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, "Maybe instead of scolding me about my intentions, you should go have a chat with your brother. He does this on purpose to get back at me for what I said the day I took care of him."

"What exactly did happen, Mal?" Elijah curiously asked. He went ahead and took a seat beside her, wishing there was something he could do to at least reunite her and his brother. That would be one less problem he had to deal with in the midst of a near war between factions in the city - not to mention find a way to bring back Hayley.

Maleny shamefully looked at the man, "I said something I shouldn't have...and I hurt his feelings. Though he probably won't accept that I hurt his feelings."

"What...did you say?"

Maleny sighed, "Well, among other things, I said he was almost like his father and what really drove things home was the fact that I told him he scared me down to the bone."

"Oh, Maleny," and now Elijah understood perfectly the indifference he showed towards Maleny. Klaus was hurt, but he would never admit that to anyone..so he acted as if it didn't bother him. He ignored Maleny because it was easier to deal with her words in that way. Even acquiring Genevieve was part of a way to keep Maleny away from him.

"I know," Maleny hung her head in full shame, accepting the problem had been nearly all her fault, "I did a bad thing and even if I wanted to go apologize to him now he wouldn't listen to me. He's too angry, hurt."

"And so you believe taunting him with that man on the street is a better option?" on that, Elijah had to scold her. Maleny was doing no better than Klaus.

"Well...I wasn't going to do anything with Riley just to get back at Klaus. In the beginning, yeah, I used Riley but now he's kind of a friend. I like him and I like his little gifts. For a moment, it makes me forget that I'm cursed and that my only family doesn't want to speak to me."

"Maleny you are part of this family too," Elijah tried to say but Maleny refused to believe it.

"No, I'm not. Klaus is your family. Rebekah is your family. Finn and Kol are your family. I'm sure Hayley's on that list too. Even Marcel is more family than I am."

"Absolutely not," it was Elijah's turn to refuse a statement, "You are most certainly above that man. We've known each other since we were kids. Are you really going to sit there and tell me you are not part of this family? I dare you to."

Maleny set loose a smile and flushed, "I would like to believe that. It would be kind of nice to have a family again. I remember my mother now, Abigail, and with her I can remember those small happy moments of family I once had."

She'd managed to remember her mother, Abigail, who'd been a powerful witch back in her day along with Esther Mikaelson. Maleny remembered all the love and care she received from her mother, all the lessons she'd managed to get as a child. She loved her mother so much and she'd had the misfortune of losing her. She'd been left with the violent father, Ivan, to 'look after her'. The man was so cruel and violent to the child of merely seven years old. Her struck of luck was Esther and her family, the only ones who Ivan actually saw as 'friends', specifically Mikael. While the two men went out hunting with the others, Esther would look after Maleny and take advantage to teach the girl the lessons her mother could no longer do. And Maleny knew that as the years had gone by, her life wasn't as bad with her 'sister', Rebekah, her 'brother' Elijah as well as the younger Kol and Henrik and the older Fin, and the one Mikaelson she couldn't fathom as a 'sibling'. She recalled the fact she'd harbored feelings for Klaus and had to suppress them for fear of what her father, and even Esther herself, would think of it. She was treated like part of the family and loving one of them beyond that was taking advantage of the hospitality. But that was all before she'd actually came across Klaus in a simple event that led to something beyond the relation of 'family'. After that, Maleny didn't call her life a horrible one, not when she had the love of her life beside her and was actually loved back. Their moments had been incredible and now...now it was the opposite.

Time really could break things apart.

~ 0 ~

Later that day would find Maleny attempting to talk to Cami all over again, this time in the church where Kieran had gone up to the attic for some reason. For the priest, his 'nieces' were all happy and good, no argument whatsoever occurring...but as soon as he would leave...

"Cami, you need help! Kieran needs help!" Maleny followed the blonde for the staircase leading up to the attic.

"You know what I need," Cami stopped and turned around, making Maleny bump into her in the process, "I need you to get the hell out of here and stop shouting before Uncle Kieran hears us."

"Tough, because every time you tell me to leave I will come right back until you allow me to help!"

"Help with what? You've got no powers yourself," Cami snapped, "You're as human as I am right now, we don't have anything!"

"I refuse to believe that," Maleny went around the blonde and headed up the remaining stairs, "Uncle Kieran?" she called and stopped at the doorway of the attic when she saw Kieran shackling his ankles to the floor, "What are you doing?" she ran inside the room.

"Stop!" Kieran held his hands out to stop Maleny.

"Is that really necessary?" Cami was horrified to see him with the shackles.

"It's the sickness, it's- it's overtaking my inclination to forgive," Kieran shook his head, "Replacing it with one thought that I could barely contain at the summit: "Kill every last one of them."

"Hey, we'll figure this out," Maleny assured, remaining by him, "Cami and I...we'll work it out."

"I tried to figure it out with Sean, but I was focused too much on that instead of trying to stop him, and I'm not- I'm not gonna let that happen to me," Kieran sighed and looked at Cami, "You're the immediate replacement, they're going to ask you to take my place at the table. Don't. Just leave. Just start over. Maleny," he pleaded her, "please go back to England, take Cami with you. Both of you, just get out of this city."

Maleny looked back at Cami, and for the first time in a month, they both nodded in agreement, "We're not going anywhere as long as there's still a chance."

"How many times do I have to tell you I can't be fixed?" Kieran had to control himself not to shout at them.

"And how many times do I have to tell you we will not stop trying?" Cami snapped.

"That is just stubbornness, like- like when you were a little girl. You always had to be right. You- you- you never listened. Just that thick head of yours," Kieran started blinking rapidly, Maleny knowing it was the hex taking over again, "I prayed for you. And I got no answer. There is only blackness. There is only death. There's mine, and yours," as he moved to reach for Cami and possibly hurt her, Maleny jumped in the way and pushed Cami away from them.

"No!" Maleny stumbled back and fell as well, "Uncle Kieran, snap out of it!" she pleaded but the man grabbed her ankle and pulled her towards him. She screeched when her arm rubbed against the floor, "Cami!" the blonde managed to stand with a lamp nearby and thrashed it over her uncle's head and knocked him out for the moment. Maleny breathed heavily and crawled away from him and shut her eyes as she felt the stinging pain on her arm, "Thank you."

Cami slowly bent down beside Maleny, making sure she was alright (in what could fit anyways) then helped her stand, "I'm sorry," was all she could say for this awful moment, "He's never...this is the first time he does something like this."

"The hex is getting worse," Maleny sighed and turned to her, "I am not asking you to forgive me, but just let me try and help with this alright? Our moments as cousins and family may have been a lie but my love for this family was not," she assured, "It's been a month, Cami, and I don't know about you but this has been the crappiest of months for me..."

"Yeah, it's been no picnic for me either," Cami had to agree on that. Her entire month had been focused solely on Kieran and a way to stop the hex and help him in the meantime. It was a pretty rough thing to do on your own and even she could admit that having Maleny help, despite her being nearly human herself, could really be some kind of help.

"I will get someone to help us, it's just...Davina, she's the one I trust and she's having trouble with her powers right now," Maleny ran a hand through her hair, "Maybe I could find someone else..." she started to think of Riley, apart from Davina he could maybe be willing to help in this.

~ 0~

Cami had, reluctantly, brought Maleny back to her home where she could possibly tend to the wound on Maleny's arm. However, Maleny wouldn't let her do anything as she was busy trying to relay possible options for Kieran involving the use of witches.

"Do you really think that guy could help us?" Cami asked while she returned the first-aid kit to its place.

"I've sort of talked to him throughout this entire month, I suppose he could at least try..." Maleny trailed off as she saw an intriguing dream catcher propped in one of the shelves by Cami's bed. She glared and stalked up to it, snatching it off the shelf, knowing exactly who was behind it.

"What were you saying?" Cami returned, clueless about the dream-catcher.

"Riley," Maleny turned to her immediately, keeping the dream-catcher behind her back, "I think he could help us. I'll talk to him later if you want."

Cami nodded, "Yeah, that...that would be good."

Maleny nodded and fakely smiled. She knew if she told Cami about the dream-catcher it could spark another argument and that was the last thing Maleny needed right now. For the first time in a month, her best friend was talking to her again! She wouldn't let some psychotic witch get in the way of that. Oh, but that wouldn't stop her from...

~ 0 ~

"How'd the whole treaty thing go?" Maleny found Elijah heading towards Klaus's room, wearing a grim expression on his face. She'd remembered something about a treaty being made between the representatives of the factions in the city. She sincerely wished everything would work out fine, but apparently she had been wrong.

"Not as well as I'd hoped," Elijah sighed, "Any luck with your uncle? And Cami?"

"Em...sort of," Maleny considered it how to put 'my uncle attacked me and tried killing me' into words that wouldn't make it sound as bad as it really had been, "Well, uncle Kieran is getting a bit worse. But I did manage to get some words out of Cami. We're going to work together and help Kieran, that's a start..."

However, Elijah was not as easy to trick, "Are you sure everything is okay? You seem a bit..."

"Irritated? Upset? Annoyed? Yeah, I am," Maleny crossed her arms, "I was hoping to bump into a certain person and I figured what way than by looking into the room of the man who keeps calling her in," she wanted to confront Genevieve on her little gimmick with the dream catcher.

"Well..." Elijah strolled into the room where Klaus was busy painting in, "...it seems we both have some words for you today, brother."

"I don't," Maleny clarified, "I only came to check if there was a redhead around, but I guess not," she shrugged and headed for the doors.

"Come back," Elijah called in his authoritative tone, actually making Maleny halt by the doorway. She glanced back and saw him motioning her to return. He seemed to have adopted her as a little sister as well because he treated her exactly how he would with the rest of her siblings.

"Oh let her go, she probably has to go and meet up with the rose-giver," Klaus turned around, motioning for her to keep going, apparently trying to seem indifferent to the matter, "Isn't that right?" he asked Maleny.

"Spot on," Maleny gave a thumbs-up, sourly smiling, "We even have a date. But don't worry, I'll be back way after your psycho witch makes her appearance as usual. Perfect arrangement, don't you think?"

"Enough," Elijah raised his voice and looked between the two, "There are enough problems in the city as it is, the last thing I need is for some children to bicker and banter."

"Well it's not our fault that this community has a history of mutual loathing," Klaus countered, still eyeing Maleny with narrowed eyes. She was a bit sinister and that quality he knew the original Maleny did not have.

"Well you know what, at least Elijah is trying to do something with this city," Maleny finally walked back to them, her hands frantically moving to show her irritation, "Meanwhile the supposed king lounges around with a heavily annoying 'indifference'. Last time I heard you wanted this city like nothing else, so why not do something to keep it going, hm?"

"I believe no one asked for your opinion, love. Go on," Klaus motioned once more for her to leave the room, "I'm sure your rose-giver is waiting for you somewhere."

"Screw you," Maleny declared in a low mutter before turning and leaving the room.

"One more wedge," Elijah observed with disappointment, "Would you like to keep that up?" he turned to Klaus.

"Why not instead of battering me about something irrelevant you go after her?"

"Incredible," Elijah stepped back with genuine awe, "Where is the man that would die for Maleny Rowan? The one who would do anything just to keep that woman smiling?"

"That died the moment she disappeared," Klaus turned back to the painting he was working on, "That is not Maleny, not the one I knew."

"Why? Because she is not exactly the same as the girl in the forest you once knew?" Elijah shook his head, "You do realize that after centuries of being alive, jumping body to body, she will never be the same?"

Klaus continued working on the canvas in front of him, trying to push any and all thoughts about Maleny. He'd been trying for a month now and while it wasn't quite working, he didn't quit. Distractions were one of his specialty, "Elijah I know you didn't come to question me about some past love, did you?" he glanced back, "I heard about your treaty efforts. A suggestion, if I may?" Elijah nodded, " If you want peace, you must begin with the werewolves. A hundred years ago, they had a run at ruling this city. As of late, all they've had is time to watch their enemies tear down that legacy."

"All the more reason why their enemies are reluctant to bring them to the table," Elijah sighed.

"Take a page from Bienville, brother. If the table's the obstacle, remove it," Klaus shrugged, thinking of the matter as something casual, "Do you recall in 1720, the Governor's desperation to secure our help to build the cities first levees? We sat with him, and refused his offer, and so, he plied us with wine, with corseted women, and with raucous camaraderie until he had his yes."

Elijah began to consider the idea his brother was pitching, knowing where it would lead, and frankly...he liked it, "Are you suggesting that I throw a party?"

The two brothers smirked.

~ 0 ~

Music blared over the compound as guests from every faction of the city attended the party the Elijah was holding in hopes of getting all the factions to agree with the treaty. And while the party was to serve as a spark for peace and equality...Maleny had unfinished business to do. If anything bad happened, she would apologize to Elijah later on - until he was irritated enough to accept to it.

Genevieve had found Klaus by the balcony overlooking the entire party, "Looking for the cursed one?" she rolled her eyes.

"Actually, she is looking for you," Maleny came up towards them, her hands behind her back, "Klaus, I'd be careful the next time you have this woman in your room. She has a nasty habit of spying on people," she pulled out the dream-catcher from her back, Genevieve shifting uncomfortably upon being caught.

"She put this in your room?" Klaus became instantaneously crossed, giving the redhead a menacing look for her actions. Just because he was upset with Maleny did not mean anyone could go and try and harm her. They had to go through him first.

"No, it was in Cami's house," Maleny stepped up to Genevieve, remaining in an eerie calm attitude,"I don't care if you don't like me but you stay away from my cousin. Heed my warning, Gen," she smirked at the irritation the redhead had etched on her face, "I may be like a human right now but I've lived for a very long time, seen all kinds of deaths and how they were committed, don't think I wouldn't do something to protect the only family I have left," Maleny snapped the dream-catcher in two, Genevieve flinching as some of the pieces hit her. As angry as she was, she managed to contain her calmness and moved for the staircase.

"Maleny!" Klaus called without even knowing what he'd say if she actually stopped.

Maleny turned around, never letting him speak again, "It's alright, I gave my warning, I'm done now. This is a good night, a good party, and I don't intend of wasting this dress," she picked up the sides of her bright, red dress, "on scum, not when I have a date," she smirked and continued on. That had to sting a little, and honestly after an entire month of enduring Genevieve's presence, she hoped it did sting.

~ 0 ~

Later on in the night would find Klaus and Elijah overlooking the party from the balcony as more guests continued to come in. Everything so far had been going fine, and surprisingly peaceful. Hopefully, it would stay like that.

"I'm impressed, brother," Elijah had to acknowledge the easy-flowing night so far.

"Yes," Klaus agreed, though he wasn't that focused on the conversation.

"Now if I can just keep them from tearing one another to shreds."

"Well, then for your sake, here's to a spectacularly boring evening," Klaus said distractedly as he looked through the crowds of people.

Elijah studied his younger brother for a minute before looking out into the crowd, "Over there," he pointed to entrance, slightly to their right side.

Klaus rolled his eyes yet still looked to where Elijah's finger pointed, his fists clenching tightly on the rail, "You invited him?" Klaus glared down to where Maleny stood - Riley was right beside her.

"Maleny asked if it was alright, of course I agreed," Elijah said calmly, eyeing the very obvious jealousy that flourished inside his brother.

"We don't even know him, she doesn't know him-"

"He's part of your little redhead's coven now," Elijah turned to him, "Why not ask her for some information?"

"Why didn't you ask that from Maleny?"

"Because she needs help for Kieran, do you remember? The hexed priest?" Elijah sighed at the silence Klaus gave, "You might be indifferent to everything that's going on, but the reality is Maleny needs help and she has no one anymore. Unlike you, I don't intend to change the relation I had with her, I will help her."

Klaus turned for the sight of the party, watching (and listening) Maleny and her 'friend' converse with drinks in hand.

"You know, I'm glad you came," Maleny set down her glass on the table and smiled, "I don't know any of these people around here," she looked out to the other guests.

Riley chuckled as he set down his own drink, "Really?" he sounded doubtful, "Not one guest?"

"Well, let's see," Maleny started to count on her fingers, "I hate nearly every witch who's not Davina," Riley coughed and Maleny laughed, "and a certain brunette in front of me," she winked, "And then there's a werewolf pack where I only know one of them, then there's the humans where I'm sort of up patching things up with my cousin, Cami, and helping my hexed uncle, and as for vampires...well..." she thought about that one for a moment more, "I lost my vampire 'sister'," she put air-quotations with her fingers, "Nearly all don't like me nor trust me, there's only really one who does like me at the current moment," she picked up her drink again with a sigh, "Time breaks everything apart, you know..."

Riley knew there was more to her words than she was letting on, and with the death look he was receiving from a certain hybrid up on the second level, he could only guess what exactly Maleny was talking about, "No, no," he snapped his fingers in front of Maleny's face and got her attention back, "This is a party, meaning..." he eyed her until she decided to speak.

"...meaning," she continued and picked up her glass, "It's dancing, drinking, and fun time."

"There we go!" Riley laughed and clinked glasses with her, both drinking down the entire contents inside.

"I am so gonna have a hangover for this," Maleny shook her head, "But before I do, I have something to ask you...it's about my uncle."

"How's he doing?" Riley was informed of the current hex that was overtaking the priest slowly.

"Honestly, not that good," Maleny sighed, "He's losing it, to cut straight to the point, his mind is deteriorating and I...I don't know what to do," she stepped closer to him, "He tried to kill my cousin today, and I was able to stop him...but what if I'm not there when he has another fit? Cami can get hurt and I can't lose her. I know you said there's nothing to do but do you think, for the moment, you can do some type of boundary spell for me?" she looked at her hands with a frown, "I still can't conjure up a decent amount of power within me...I'm totally useless right now so I thought maybe you could-"

Riley had placed a finger on her red-stained lips, "We can go tonight if you'd like," he took his finger off and took her hands into his.

"Really? You'll help?" Maleny seemed genuinely surprised he agreed so quickly.

"Of course, I care about you, Maleny," he smiled softly, "Why's that such a shock to you?"

"Well, not a lot of people love me nowadays..." Maleny thought that to be an understatement. Her mother was gone, her vampire sister was gone, her mentor, her...own love, they were all gone.

"I would beg to differ," Elijah came by with a glass in hand, giving Maleny a sharp look for her statement.

Maleny mellowed under his gaze and sheepishly smiled, "Alright, so maybe I do have someone out there still," she acknowledged him, "Riley, this is, um-"

"I'm her brother," Elijah cut in and held a hand to Riley, instantly garnering a stunned look from Maleny for his chosen introduction, "Elijah Mikaelson."

"Riley Dawson," Riley shook Elijah's hand.

"Riley's agreed to help me with my uncle at the moment," Maleny explained to Elijah, all the meantime looking at Riley, "You know, since I can't use magic right now."

"I keep telling her it's just practice she needs," Riley smiled at her, "In fact, I can teach you if you'd like."

"I think that would be a good idea," Maleny nodded, glancing at her young friend Davina who was with her witch 'friends' across the room, "Davina's still in need of some more practice herself. Perhaps with less pressure from me she'll get it quicker."

"Great, you can come over first thing tomorrow if you'd like," Riley offered.

"Um, Maleny, can I have a word?" Elijah suddenly questioned, startling the two with a shift in his tone.

"Go ahead," Riley motioned as he picked up a new drink from a passing servant, "I gotta go find a friend," he waved and walked off.

"What was that?" Maleny dreaded to ask Elijah once Riley was gone. She had begun recognizing the faces he made when he disapproved of something.

"Maleny, I would appreciate if you didn't cross to the witch's territory at the moment," Elijah knew he would get a good bickering out of this one but he had to tell her. He preferred her angry than dead.

"Why not?" Maleny frowned, "I do it all the time to visit Davina."

"And we both know it's not easy, right?" Elijah took the drink Maleny held and set it on the table, "The witches have mixed feelings about you and I'd rather you didn't test them...at least not until the treaty is set."

Maleny shook her head, refusing to such an agreement, "No, no, I have to help my uncle. Time is running out-"

"But it's dangerous for you," Elijah reminded, "and just because you survived one death attempt does not mean you are invincible."

"I am well aware of that fact," Maleny assured, "but I cannot just sit around and watch my uncle deteriorate simply because some ancestors don't like me."

"A compromise, then?" Elijah offered, "You don't cross to the witch's territory and Riley and Davina can come to the compound as they wish."

Maleny considered the deal with a sway of her head, "I don't know...what about Klaus? He already doesn't like Riley and I could really do without bloodshed. He tends to kill people and I don't want his next rage victim to be my friend."

"I promise you I will take care of Niklaus but I need to make sure you are safe," Elijah promised her urgently, "Now, I have already seen to it that Hayley is alright but I also would like to take care of you. Promise you won't go into the witches' territory and they can come here to help you."

Maleny saw the urgency in his eyes and tone and seeing as he had been very good to her over the month she saw the need to repay him by agreeing to his one request, "Alright, fine. But you have to make sure that Klaus doesn't interfere with my business concerning Riley...and even Davina."

"If it's to help you he won't do anything," Elijah said without any doubt. As angry as Klaus displayed to be Elijah knew he wouldn't ever get in the way of Maleny's safety.

"I wouldn't be so sure, I know his temper, and I know when he severely dislikes people," Maleny sighed.

"If you know all that that, I'm sure you also know how much he cared for you and all the things he used to do for you, therefore rest assure he won't jeopardize anything that will help you."

"You seem to have missed a key term, 'cared', as in past tense. A lot of time has passed, now. It's not the same anymore."

Elijah tilted his head and stared at her for a minute, "Do you honestly believe that? Has time changed what you feel for my brother?"

Maleny shifted on her feet and glanced around the room to avoid the sharp stare she received from him, by chance happening to find Klaus 'mingling' with...Genevieve. After a moment, she shook her head and looked back to Elijah, "Look, can you just take me out for a dance, please?" she said instead of a proper answer. She knew distractions well - she'd learned from one of the best.

"Maleny," she heard the scolding tinge in his tone.

"I want a dance with Riley but I don't know how and I don't want to embarrass myself, please?" Maleny clapped her hands together.

"And your fine if you embarrass yourself in front of me?" Elijah resigned to not get the answer he wanted from her. Patience was key and he was pretty good at it. Besides, he'd already gotten what he wanted from her: she would be safe.

"Well you're family," Maleny shrugged, "like you said. It doesn't matter. Plus, if you laugh, I'll kill you," Elijah laughed, "And then when you come back...I'll kill you again."

"And there's my brother's many-centuries of influence," Elijah took her hand and led her for the dance floor.

However, on their way, a tall woman with medium, dark hair and dark eyes cut in front of them, "I must say this is a marvelous party," she remarked as her eyes scanned the area.

"And you are...?" Maleny raised an eyebrow, glancing up at Elijah since the woman had been specifically speaking to him.

"Francesca Correa," the woman held her hand for Maleny, a clear, fake smile on her face.

"Maleny Woods," Maleny shook the hand proposed to her, "Aren't you the owner of that one casino?"

"That's it," Francesca nodded, "And soon to be representative of the human faction," she eyed Elijah afterwards.

"Excuse me?" Maleny also lo led at Elijah at that, though she seemed more irritated than Francesca was.

"Well, I'm sure you've heard of Father Kieran's condition..."

"Yeah, yeah, I get that," Maleny shushed the woman, "My thing is, why are you going to take over?" she raised an eyebrow, "I mean, by all logic, it should be Cami that takes over, or even myself for that matter. Elijah?" she looked up at him again, showing her clear displeasure.

"Well..." Elijah would rather prefer to avoid any arguments but that seemed very unlikely at the moment.

"I don't seem to find a problem," Francesca shrugged 'nonchalantly'.

"How about starting with the fact you're not an O'Connell?" Maleny stepped up.

"Well if we're on that page, I could say the same thing about you Miss Woods," Francesca spat surly the last name.

"Clearly my mother married," Maleny snapped, "My name is Maleny Woods O'Connell, anything else you got for me?"

"A moment please," Elijah excused and pulled Maleny to the side, making sure Francesca wouldn't hear them, "Maleny..."

"No, Elijah, simply no," Maleny cut him off before he began one of his speeches, "I don't like her and I'm not just saying that because she took a place that didn't belong to her. Something isn't right with her, can't you see it? The way she smiles, I don't know..."

"Maleny, take a breath," Elijah placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to be quiet for a moment or two while he spoke, "I spoke to Father Kieran and he was very adamant that neither of his nieces take his place at the meetings. He doesn't want you nor Cami to get hurt like he did. In fact, he said I should force you and Cami to leave the city."

"Yeah, he mentioned that last part to Cami and I," Maleny mumbled, "But that doesn't mean I agreed to it, nor Cami. I'm telling you Elijah, something's not right with that woman."

"Look, this is only temporal," he assured, "Believe me, I'd rather have you at the chair but the reality is you need to figure out how to break the curse before you think about anything else. Break the curse and then we'll talk about deposing Francesca, alright?"

Maleny knew that was a fair deal but it didn't mean she liked it. In fact, she hated it, "Fine," she muttered with arms crossed, "but keep an eye on her," she glanced at Francesca who'd found conversation with another guest, "Something's not right," she mumbled and walked off, snatching a glass from a table on her way.

~ 0 ~

"Hayley!" Maleny went to greet the incoming brunette, having missed her for the entire month she'd been in the bayou.

"Careful," Hayley laughed as Maleny tried to hug her without squishing her round, pregnant stomach.

"Okay, I can hug you later," Maleny pulled away and instead shook hands with her, "Hi."

"Hi," Hayley laughed as they shook hands. She noticed the glass of wine Maleny held and studied the face the brunette had, "Let me guess, that's not the first."

"Ah, you would be correct," Maleny set the glass on a table nearby, "But I'm not drunk, I've got a good tolerance."

"Well you've lived through the 20's and you can't survive without one there," Hayley shrugged with a short laugh, "But let me guess the reason for your drinking..."

"Let's not go there," Maleny shushed her before she hit the nerve, "And besides, he's not the only reason. I've got problems with witches, humans, vampires, you name it," she pointed, "That is why currently I love good ole werewolves," she held out her arms for Hayley, "I love you!"

"And now I think you're drunk," Hayley laughed.

"No, you'll know when I'm drunk," Maleny assured as she swiped her glass off the table and drank down its remaining contents.

"Enough, Mal," Riley suddenly came around and took Maleny's glass, startling Hayley, "These," he waved the glass, "are off limits to you for the rest of the night, alright?"

"Yeah, all I heard was that glass is off limits," Maleny smirked, "In which case, I'll happily oblige."

"Isn't she just charming?" Riley sarcastically said to Hayley, "A drunk charming woman?"

"Hey!" Maleny frowned, "Can't anyone understand I'm not drunk? Does anyone know me?"

"I do," Hayley raised a hand, "Slightly, but I don't know him," she pointed at Riley.

"Oh, I'm sorry, this is my...friend," Maleny gestured to Riley, "Riley."

Hayley picked up on the hesitance in the introduction but decided to leave it alone and not cause any trouble between the two, "Hayley," she shook hands with Riley.

"Oh, I know you," Riley realized as he recalled Maleny's stories, "Miracle baby," he chuckled.

"Yup, that's me," Hayley sighed with resignation as she rubbed her stomach.

"Have you thought of any names for the baby?" Maleny wondered curiously.

"You know, I sense this is going to become a baby name conversation, I'm gonna get going," Riley turned to Maleny, "I'll set the boundary spell right now, if you'd like. You can stay in the party."

"Yeah, please," Maleny whispered, hating herself for what she'd asked Riley to do. She didn't like the idea of keeping her uncle locked inside the attic but it would really be safer for everyone, including himself, if he remained up there until they had a concrete plan on how to break the hex.

"Good, I'll be off then," Riley nodded and looked at Hayley, "Nice meeting you," Hayley nodded, "See you," he leaned down to give Maleny a kiss on the lips but the brunette discreetly turned her head and made the kiss land on her cheek instead. Awkwardly, Riley waved goodbye to Hayley and hurried on out.

Hayley knew better than to dig into this issue but frankly she was itching to catch up on the latest with the cursed brunette, "Okay, so holding off on the baby names conversation, who the hell was that?" she threw a thumb over her shoulder to motion Riley.

Maleny was smart enough to know where the conversation was heading and so turned around, "A...friend," she gave the weak answer and started walking further into the party.

"Right," Hayley followed her, watching her take another glass of wine, "Except, see, when I introduce my friends I say 'oh, this is my friend,' with no hesitation which is not what I just saw."

Maleny glanced back with a roll of her eyes, "And your point is?"

Hayley put her hands on her hips, "I may have been gone for a month but I'm no idiot, Maleny Woods - Rowan."

"And tell me, knocked-up-pregnant-wolf, what is the point you are trying to make?"

Hayley playfully rolled her eyes, "Well freak-that-can-be-an-asset, Riley just tried to kiss you and you awkwardly turned away from him."

Maleny sighed and resigned to spill. And after an entire month, she realized she really had no one to talk to about these things. Cami was more or less upset with her and wasn't even informed of her curse, much less of some guy she'd been seeing. Elijah was always there but it wasn't like she was going to talk about Riley with him. After everything, Klaus was his brother. Davina was a teenager and apart from that, she was already struggling with her powers. She didn't need to hear about some cursed woman's love-life problems. That really only left Hayley and she was gone for an entire month.

"Riley is sweet, funny, thoughtful," Maleny swayed her way back to Hayley, the wolf girl nodding with a smile as she listened, "Every day for the entire month, at the same time, at the same spot, he's given me a red rose with a some type of sweet talk. He's handsome, he's strong, he's caring and I'm sure he kisses amazingly but I just..." she made a face and looked to the side.

"It's just not happening, is it?" Hayley finished what Maleny couldn't.

"It's not that I wouldn't like it," Maleny tried to make it sound less...well, awful, "I mean, have you seen the guy?" she smiled softly, "Any girl would just die to have him...so why don't I?" she honestly wondered, her gaze slipping down the more she thought of it.

"A thousand years of life and you can't figure that out?" Hayley raised an eyebrow, laughing when Maleny remained silent with confusion. When Hayley recomposed her self, she took Maleny's glass, "I'll take that," she walked around the brunette and dumped the contents of the glass out before chucking the glass itself seconds later.

"Hey!"

"C'mon," and Hayley dragged her away.

~ 0 ~

Maleny tapped her fingers along the glass of her new drink as she made her way towards the stairs of the compound, ignoring the music and the guests by that point. Of course, there was one guest she couldn't exactly ignore so well.

"Leaving so soon?" Klaus appeared by the rails of the stairs, making her stop.

"Do you honestly care?" she countered, her facial expressions pretty much saying the same thing. She didn't like it when people were fake to her, no matter who it was, "Shouldn't you be with your spying redhead or something?"

"She's not gonna do it again," he promised, growing serious at the subject.

"She better not," Maleny came down the stairs she'd gone up and stood in front of him, "Because if she does...I'll kill her," she drowned the rest of her drink.

"Not that I wouldn't be fascinated by that, I do feel compelled to remind you that Genevieve is a very powerful witch."

"She may be from the dead but I have lived far longer than she has," Maleny smirked, "I know my ways around a kill - you taught me that- so feel free to let her know that. Are there more drinks?" she pushed the glass to him and looked around.

"Planning on getting drunk tonight?" Klaus took the glass from her and tossed it behind.

"Am I drunk yet?"

"Not one bit," he shook his head.

"Thank you, someone gets it," Maleny shook her head. If anything, he still knew her like the back of his hand, whether he wanted to or not.

"You know, there is a full set of bourbon upstairs..."

"I shouldn't keep drinking," she eyed him as if waiting for some time of scolding.

"You shouldn't," Klaus agreed but did nothing to stop her.

Maleny straightened up and studied him for a moment, "What are you doing?" she had to ask, "You don't speak to me for an entire month and then all of a sudden you're telling me to go up to your stock of bourbon like we're best friends? What's going on?"

"I should be asking you the same thing. What do you think you're doing telling a complete stranger about Kieran's hex?"

"Oh, I get it," Maleny couldn't help but feel disappointed that the only reason Klaus had stopped by for a talk was because, "...you eavesdropped on me and found something you didn't like, Riley. Should've known that's the only way you'd talk to me again, control, right?"

Klaus stopped her before she moved up the stairs again, "I am trying to protect you-"

"From what?" Maleny challenged him, "Some guy who's actually going to help me? I mean, if we're on that page, then are you going to protect me from Elijah too? He's helping me too, why not go after him?"

"Because I know Elijah and he'd never hurt you, but this...this guy, he turned up out of the no where and he blatantly accepted to help you?"

"Yeah, it's hard to believe people can actually mean it when they say they'd help, isn't it?" Maleny crossed her arms, "Because the one person I needed help from turned his back on me, so now I have to look elsewhere."

"I didn't turn my back on you, you forgot about it all," Klaus snapped, growing irritated she was pinning it all on him when she'd spent a full month fawning over a stranger.

"Because you forgot it all!" Maleny exclaimed, "I came to this city for help but look where am I now!?"

"Well this is your fault-"

"I've lost my family, Klaus," Maleny frowned, "And you've not shown any sign that you care. I was kicked out of my cousin's house by my cousin because she discovered I was a lie. I needed someone and no one was there," she sighed, "And yes, I know that it's my fault too. I said hurtful words that I know you'll never admit hurt you, and for that...I'm sorry. I'm not scared of you, I can't be," she admitted with a small blush, "and I won't. Now I don't expect some grand apology from you because that's not you, but at least say you accept mine."

It seemed like Klaus was considering her words. He took a step closer to her, leaving them face to face, "Do you mean that?" he asked, his hand carefully reaching to touch her face as if it were a test of her words.

Luckily, Maleny knew his discreet ways and smiled, "I mean it," she took his hand off her face and gave it a light grip, chuckling, "If I were scared of you do you think I would be living under the same roof as you? For a centuries old vampire, you're not very smart."

For that, Klaus sharply looked at her and used her grip on his hand to turn her around, pulling her to him, "And for a women who's known me for centuries you don't seem to have learned I dislike sarcasm."

Maleny scoffed, "Yeah, okay. Let me go," she pushed on his arm that wrapped its way around her stomach, "It's a nice dress and I'd like to keep it that way."

Klaus listened and gently turned her back around, careful she didn't fall from the step she was on. Afterwards he couldn't help give her a look over, seeing as he hadn't had a chance before. Her red dress shined under the lights of the room, making her more radiant than she already was. It was a simple dress, really - it was sleeveless but with a high neckline. Its shiny gems around the bodice matched the spread out ones around the laced hemline.

After a moment silence, Klaus held a hand for her, "Care for a dance?" with a hint of a smirk at the corner of his lips.

Surprised, Maleny was inclined to hesitate, "Um...didn't you come here with a redhead witch? I'm a brunette," she pointed to her short, curled brown hair, "and nowhere near talented with magic as she is - unfortunately."

"I've lost track on her and frankly I'm not interested in her at the moment. Dance?" he wiggled his fingers of the hand still waiting to be taken.

"Fine, but afterwards I want the bourbon you mentioned before."

"It's a deal."

Now satisfied, Maleny took his hand and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor. As they danced, Maleny still felt incomplete in the whole apologizing process. She had to tell him, "I remember now...what happened after my father died," she spoke hushed but Klaus still heard her perfectly, "It came to me in a dream a couple weeks ago...and I could see why you did it," she looked up with a small smile, "And I saw what happened afterwards...how you came back for me, by the lake. You told me it would be alright then, that no one would ever hurt me again, not as long as Klaus Mikaelson was around."

"And I failed," Klaus mumbled. He had tried so hard to do his best by her, always make sure he didn't lose control of his own vampiristic needs like his siblings often did. But there were times when he couldn't help it, and she happened to be around. Miraculously, he had done it - until the final day where they argued and she ran off into the forest, disappearing.

"Well, you couldn't babysit me forever," Maleny offered, meaning her words completely, "I was a grown woman and you were...my..." she forced herself to say the last word without sounding like she was having a hard time, "...my boyfriend. You were that and not my babysitter. I did it, I don't know why or how, but this curse is on me. It's my fault."

"But-"

"No, it doesn't matter right now. What I need is your help and for this past month I haven't received anything from you."

"Well, it doesn't seem like it's bothered you very much," Klaus nearly sneered, "You seem quite at home flirting with the little warlock you see everyday."

"I don't think you're in any position to be jealous," Maleny pointed out, "I'm not the one sleeping with witches."

"I am not jealous, I'm merely irritated you're allowing some stranger to know about a curse that concerns only you and I!"

"Then do something about it! Help me!" Maleny exclaimed in pure frustration, "I will not sit around and mope that you've chosen to ignore me for the past month. I need help and I'm gonna get it one way or another," she then sighed, realizing with her rising voice she was garnering the attention of others, "We used to be a good team," she whispered, "Nearly every body of mine worked perfectly with you. Can't we do that again?"

"Nothing is like it used to be," Klaus quietly remarked as he studied her. She may claim (and probably was) to be the Maleny he knew but he didn't know this woman. For the past month he'd purposely avoided her because of what she'd said. None of the women he'd been with in the past had ever said something like that. Could he actually believe and let himself feel like he used to with her?

"I know that," Maleny agreed with a small nod, "But think about it. Why not make this time around different? We can break the curse and then...I don't know, end who ever created it in the first place."

"Are you proposing we kill together?" Klaus asked in a bit of amusement.

"I just said end," Maleny innocently said,"What you take out from that is your business, mister. But we can do that if you want..."

"You'd do it?"

"Yeah...ish..."

Klaus chuckled, "Big difference between those two words, I'm afraid."

"I made you laugh, and not an angry or sarcastic laugh, which means you like me again," Maleny teased and leaned forwards with a proper teasing grin on her face.

"I never hated you, Maleny," Klaus informed her, a bit annoyed she would think that, "You're irritating-"

"Hey," Maleny pointed at him, "I got some words for you too you egotistical hybrid."

"How about I say I'll help you and we don't insult each other for tonight?"

"Deal," Maleny quickly settled on it and even stepped back to hold a hand out. Klaus took her hand and shook it, both smiling at each other with no tension between them for the first time in weeks.

~ 0 ~

Maleny was coming down the stairs holding a glass of bourbon (the one promised to her by Klaus) when she met Hayley halfway.

"Well, someone's had a sudden attitude change," Hayley remarked as the two met halfway up the stairs, "Of course the drinks haven't stopped," she took notice of the glass Maleny held.

Maleny rolled her eyes, "Look mum, I get it, no more drinks...right after this one. It's a celebration drink," she shrugged and took a big gulp.

"And in honor of what, exactly?" Hayley crossed her arms.

"That I may be close to breaking my curse with some new help," Maleny grinned.

"Really?"

"Mhm, I can't wait!"

Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by the fact that a man had been thrown across the courtyard. The two brunettes looked over to see Oliver, one of Hayley's werewolf friends, land on a table full of champagne colors. Diego, the vampire, sped over but was pinned against the wall by Oliver. Out of the no where, Elijah appeared and pulled Oliver off the vampire before placing the werewolf against the table, "This ends NOW," he declared,"I won't ask again."

"Oh, we'll end it all right," another of Hayley's werewolf friends, Jackson, spoke up and made everyone look over to see him pinning Diego to the wall with a stake on his heart.

Hayley had had enough of all the nonsense, "What's stopping you?" she called to them, "Kill him. Go ahead, Elijah. Do it. I mean, it's not like he doesn't deserve to die. I mean, it was Oliver who handed Rebekah over to the witches so they could torture her. But, then again, wasn't it Diego who led a werewolf massacre last month? And the witches cursed the wolves, while the humans stood back and let it all happen. So, when you think about it, everyone here deserves to die."

"Uh...Hayley," Maleny mumbled and put a hand on Hayley's arm.

"Maleny, this is serious," Hayley shushed the woman and continued, missing the odd expression the other brunette had on her face.

"Are you approaching a point, Hayley?" Elijah demanded from her, quite upset she was defending all this.

"My point, Elijah, is this- if we can't all learn to get along, if our families can't create some sort of community, then what's the point?" Hayley raised an eyebrow.

"Hayley..." Maleny said again, her voice sounding slightly more hoarse all of a sudden.

But Hayley was on a roll and so she continued on, "Kill each other and get it all over with. What's it gonna be?"

Maleny deeply, and loudly, gasped, attracting everyone's eyes, "I can't...breath!" she put a hand over her chest and lurched forwards.

"Oh my God, Maleny!" Hayley finally realized how pale her friend was, and clearly hadn't been a minute ago. She tried helping Maleny stand straight but the fact she was fighting for air didn't benefit her at all.

In a flash, both Elijah and Klaus were up at the stairs to help Maleny. Elijah took the glass Maleny still held and sniffed it, making a face immediately, "Sparkling cyanide," he looked out to the guests, "Poison..."

"Who would've poisoned her?" Hayley asked in horror and did the same and looked out to the guests, "Her? What the hell is the matter with you people? She's done nothing to you!"

Klaus hadn't wasted time in demanding who was the culprit and instead picked Maleny up and brought her into her room. As soon as he'd laid her down on her bed he bit into his wrist and made her drink her blood, "It's okay, it's okay," he assured her as she took his blood, "The poison will eliminated from your body, I swear."

After a moment, Maleny took a deep breath and tried her best to process what had just happened. One moment she was talking to Hayley and the next...someone had poisoned her?

"Is she alright?" Hayley came into the room, more like waddled with her very pregnant belly, "Elijah's clearing out the party, except for the representatives...what happened?" she asked, still heavily confused.

"Someone poisoned me," Maleny made a face as she felt remnants of blood in her mouth, "Can I please get a drink of water?"

"I-I'll do it," Hayley volunteered and hurried out again.

"You know this could've been your little redhead," Maleny got straight to making a list of possible culprits in her mind.

"Genevieve?" Klaus took a moment to consider the idea.

"We argued earlier," Maleny pointed out, "Had hell of motivation to end me."

"But if some of the ancestors actually like you she wouldn't go against that. She does that she dies," Klaus reminded, "Whoever did this had to have overheard us earlier. Last time I remembered my bourbon wasn't poisonous."

But then that brought the question of whether or not Maleny would have really died. Last time she was 'killed' it had been at the hands of Papa Tunde and she turned out just fine afterwards. Rebekah then snapped her neck and she was also fine. However this time, Maleny seemed like she would actually die if she wasn't given vampire blood. What had changed? Or, what was different this time from the other two previous attempts?

"You know how earlier I said I didn't exactly say we should kill whoever did the curse?" Maleny asked after a moment.

"Yes..." Klaus slowly answered, not sure how this was relevant for the moment.

"Well I'm sure that whoever did this had to do something with the curse and wants to make sure the cycle repeats itself...screw 'end' them, I want a culprit and I want to kill him or her," Maleny gritted her teeth, "Will you help me or not?"

Without a second thought, Klaus nodded, "Yes."

Maleny couldn't help the big smile that broke out on her face, apart from the wave of relief that washed over her. Cautiously, she leaned over and hugged him, assuming he wouldn't openly respond to the gesture. She didn't care though, finally something good had happened in the awful month of loneliness. She just hoped it would be the turning point that would lead her to breaking the curse. However, in the end, she was startled to feel Klaus gripping her for a tight hug. In the past month he had never directed a word to her but he had never left her unattended. Eyes were out in the streets taking care of her while he remained inside. But someone made an attempt to kill her, right in his home, and he would make them pay.

~ 0 ~

Later that night, Elijah walked into Maleny's room holding an inkwell and the peace treaty he'd gotten the leaders of the factions to sign. He stopped at the doorway and looked at Klaus who remained by Maleny's bed, the brunette woman fast asleep. She still had her dress on but was covered up with a blanket. She'd fallen asleep after the incident earlier and was letting the poison fully leave her system.

"Seems to me like the man who would die for Maleny Rowan is still near," Elijah quietly spoke so as to not wake up Maleny.

"Have you seen this?" Klaus ignored the comment and gently raised one of Maleny's arms for Elijah to see.

Elijah came over and saw harsh, deep scratches running down Maleny's arm, "Well, she certainly managed to keep that hidden."

"This was not part of the poisoning attempt meaning somewhere along today's course of events...someone did this to her," Klaus paused, mentally coming up with possible culprits.

"If she hid it, it means she did not wish to talk about it," Elijah pointed out and went to put down his things on a table against the wall, "and it clearly means she is in a lot more trouble than we suspected."

Klaus laid down Maleny's arm, his eyes trailing the injuries one last time before gazing up to Maleny's face. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully, and whether or not Klaus would admit that to anyone else, it did relieve him to see her at peace.

"Did you get a confession from any of them?" he eventually asked Elijah after making sure Maleny did not need anything else.

After clearing up the party, Elijah had taken the matter of Maleny's poisoning to the leaders of the faction, knowing one of them had to have known something about it.

"None of them were ever near her," Elijah sighed.

"Doesn't mean they couldn't have done it," Klaus turned to him, "Vampires' compulsion, witches' spells, humans' tricks, werewolves-"

"I don't think it was werewolves," Elijah cut in, "None of them knew Maleny, only Hayley. But I think you should start with Genevieve. Maleny pointed out a disagreement the two had at the beginning of the party. You brought that woman into this place and she nearly killed Maleny."

"We don't know if it was her," Klaus pointed, "But believe me, I will get to the bottom of it," he gritted his teeth.

"I would expect nothing less. But right now I would like for you to sign this," Elijah waved the peace treaty as he walked over to a small table where he set the inkwell down along with the treaty.

"Why? You've already done so on our behalf," Klaus shrugged and spared a glance at the treaty as he joined his brother

"Brother, I am not a fool. It's clear to me you're not as disinterested as you'd like me to believe," Elijah nodded over to Maleny, "If there is to be safety for Hayley, and now Maleny, you need this city to be a peaceful environment. Sign, please. If there is no peace between us, then how can you expect others to follow suit?"

Klaus rolled his eyes and nodded, "Fine, if it will make you happy. But, I assure you, this city's inhabitants will not adhere to this agreement."

"Well, you are welcome to wager against me. You will lose," Elijah gave a small smile and headed for the doors, "I trust you will look after Maleny for tonight?"

Klaus waved him off and missed the smirk of Elijah as he finally left the room. Quietly, Klaus walked over to the window and stared out to the sky where the big moon was coming out from behind clouds. When he made a pact with Jackson to provide moon rings to protect werewolves from their curse, he intended it to be a measure of safety for his unborn child...now he intended to use it to discover who was the culprit who dared to poison Maleny. He would not rest until he had that person in his hands, and when he did...there was to be blood spilled.

Elijah may have been right, he was not as disinterested as he wanted people to believe.

#noblecrescentedit #klaus mikaelson x oc #oc: Maleny Rowan #the originals #klaus mikaelson x original female character #elijah mikaelson #hayley marshall #davina claire #marcel #the originals fanfic

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