#nope i still miss my faun | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

going-there-and-back-again · 4 years

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tagged by @theleavesoflorien

So sorry for the long delay on this, Marianne, and thank you so much for tagging me!! had to do some school stuff and time got away from me :)

1. Do you prefer writing with a black pen or a blue pen?

Black!!

2. Would you prefer to live in the country or in the city?

ahhh i don’t know! i’ve lived in a city for most of my life but went to university in a much quieter area so it’s really hard to decide! I prefer towns, I think (small city center, old buildings, hanging lights, but also nature and greenery and rivers and hills and trees 😍😍)

3. If you could learn a new skill, what would it be?

Asdfhjkl there are so many things I want to learn !!! I can play the piano but I really wish I was better ✨✨. And languages! LANGUAGES. There are so many languages I want to learn it’s an entirely unfeasible dream but I just want to read everything and translations just aren’t the same as originals, you know? (including Elvish, obviously, because Quenya/Sindarin are just so beautiful and they actually just sound like what they mean, you can hear the feeling and I love that so much). I wish I could bake (I tried making pound cake with dried fruit and let’s just say I was disappointed 😂😂😂). And do origami. And art (I can’t draw to save my life, but I’d love to be able to. I keep seeing scenes from movies or just pretty landscapes or imagining things from books and I want to draw them and I can’t). On the flip side of the spectrum, I like read and learn new things about science, too. Biochemistry and plants and physiology and the like. Haven’t read that stuff in ages, and there is no need for me to read them now, but I enjoy it :)

4. do you drink your tea/coffee with sugar?

Nope! Tea only, and no milk or sugar 😊🍵

5. What was your favourite book as a child?

Does 12 years old fall within the boundary of childhood? If it does, then Lord of the Rings 😆😆. Other than that, hmm, it’s hard to choose. Gaiman’s Ocean at the End of the Lane was the last ‘children’s’ book I read (it’s been 7 years; I still love it). In primary I had a huge mystery phase and loved The Boxcar Children and A Series of Unfortunate Events. And Narnia (though I didn’t finish the series) !! Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series was also one of my favorites 🌲👧🏻

6. Do you prefer baths or showers?

I like both :) Baths are a treat though, I usually just shower

7. If you could be a mythical creature, which one would you be?

Not sure...I think I once took a quiz and got ‘faun’? I want to be an Elf in Middle Earth most though! Or a hobbit 🍏🍊

8. Paper or electronic books?

Paper books all the way!! I read with a pencil in hand and if I can’t annotate it just doesn’t feel right

9. What is your favourite item of clothing?

a baby blue cardigan with ‘I need sleep’ written on the back (story of my life??)

10. Do you like your name? Would you like to change it?

Yup, I like it! It means butterfly. My mom picked it because it was invented by Jonathan Swift for his book ‘Cadenus and Vanessa’ (she said ‘it has character’; do i have character??? who knows but it’s easy to come up with nicknames for my name which makes me happy)

11. Who is a mentor to you?

Don’t know if this counts, but I met a few people a couple years older than me through litsoc at uni and they really made me think/unknowingly taught me so much

12. Would you like to be famous? If so, what for?

No - no fame no cameras just nooo :((( I just want to live my life

13. Are you a restless sleeper?

I’m more of a crash-and-sleep-so-deeply-I-can’t-hear-my-alarm person

14. Do you consider yourself to be a romantic person?

...I have absolutely no idea

15. Which element best represents you?

Air, I think. Or bodies of water (the sea, lakes, rivers)

16. Who do you want to be closer to?

I don’t know...I hope to stay close to my friends; everyone says people drift after school/uni’s over and I really hope that doesn’t happen

17. Do you miss someone at the moment?

My friends from uni. And just uni in general :((

18. Tell us about an early childhood memory.

Swingsets!! hahahaha

19. What is the strangest thing you have eaten?

Don’t think I’ve eaten anything *that* strange before...

20. What are you most thankful for?

Family, friends, school, books, home

21. Do you like spicy food?

Can’t eat spicy food at all, oops

22. Have you ever met someone famous?

I’ve met a couple of authors! ohmygod if i was old enough to have talked to tolkien or tennessee williams though i would s-c-r-e-a-m (someone pls invent a time machine)

23. Do you keep a diary or journal?

I tried once, I think? I was in primary though

24. Do you prefer to use pen or pencil?

Pen now, but I annotate in pencil.

25. What is your star sign?

Libra, but I don’t do astrology.

26. Do you like your cereal crunchy or soggy?

Crunchy...why would you like soggy cereal??

27. What would you want your legacy to be?

asdfghjkl i don’t know. To have done some good, I suppose. To have been kind, and to have thought deeply and loved well. (ha you really see the lotr coming out here don’t you)

28. Do you like reading? What was the last book you read?

I like reading more than I like breathing I think . Am reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ (so so good)

29. How do you show someone you love them?

The little things, I guess?? Through actions. I rarely ever tell family/friends I love them outright

30. Do you like ice in your drinks?

Love iced drinks

31. What are you afraid of?

So many things (heights! bugs! rollercoasters!). and sometimes i just feel afraid, and if you asked i wouldn’t be able to tell you why (it’s just a feeling i cannot quite explain).

32. What is your favourite scent?

That smell in the air when autumn has just started but it’s warm, still, and you can smell the air changing and just the sense of something something coming -

33. Do you address older people by their name or surname?

Surname!

34. If money was not a factor, how would you live your life?

No idea...not in a drastically different way I guess. I would still want to study, and I’d want a job too. It’d just feel safer I guess - like I wouldn’t have to worry about buying a house or anything. And I’d definitely travel more

35. Do you prefer swimming in pools or the ocean?

The pool...the sea’s too salty

36. What would you do if you found $50 on the ground?

Take it to the nearest frontdesk type of place if that’s possible?

37. Have you ever seen a shooting star? Did you make a wish?

Yes! I was walking back from the library at 11:45pm or so and I was trying to get it on camera so I forgot to make a wish

38. What is one thing you would want to teach your children?

Understanding, I think - to be true to themselves, and accepting of others; to learn and to think, broadly and deeply; to make decisions for good reasons

39. If you had to have a tattoo, what would it be and where would you get it?

Don’t really want a tattoo tbh

40. What can you hear right now?

Nothing much, it’s quite quiet here at night.

41. Where do you feel the safest?

At home, I think, or at uni.

42. What is one thing you want to overcome/conquer?

sometimes I feel like I can’t speak, like I’m not going to again for a very long time. it’s just a feeling, but still

43. If you could travel back to any era, what would it be?

I want to go to Imladris more than any era of this world 🍃🍃

44. What is your most used emoji?

Laugh-cry 😂😂😂

45. Describe yourself using one word.

Quiet, maybe? idk

46. What do you regret the most?

every embarrassing situation i’ve ever been in i guess? 😆

47. Last movie you saw?

The Tolkien 2019 biopic (the tcbs friendship was great; unfortunately the Tolkien-Edith relationship wasn’t portrayed well at all)

48. Last tv show you watched?

Modern Family haha (it’s my go-to comfort show)

49. Invent a word and its meaning

I think we need more words for smells! the smell of rain, the smell of the grass at night in early summer, the smell of early autumn 🍃

@shiremaiden, @fool--of-a-took if you guys want to do this, but it’s super long so no pressure at all :)

#mine #personal #interactions #about #theleavesoflorien #shiremaiden #fool--of-a-took

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lucky-clover-gazette · 5 years

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forrest

catradora one-shot | fluff & hurt/comfort | 2304 words

Adora and Catra are visiting the rehabilitated Fright Zone a decade after the war when Catra goes into early labor.

in other words, THEY HAVE BABEY!!!!!

read it on ao3 or under the cut:

The Fright Zone looked chillingly similar, ten years past the conclusion of the war.

“Watch your step,” Adora warned Catra, who held onto her wife’s arm as the procession from Bright Moon entered the settlement. After Hordak’s death and the Horde’s surrender, the Fright Zone had been transformed into a civilian living space, available to refugees and ex-soldiers. It was a part of Adora and Catra’s duties, along with Bow, Glimmer, Queen Angella, and few other key figures, to re-visit the area annually.

The two young women had grown into full adults, married at twenty-two, presently twenty-nine. Adora still wore her hair in that strange bumpy ponytail, her trusty red jacket having survived the war, her boots muddied and worn. She had developed slightly deeper lines beneath her eyes, age just beginning to show, although her muscles remained in peak condition from constant training.

Catra’s core attributes remained: multicolored eyes, ears, and a tail, with a wild mane of dark hair and ink-black claws. But something major had changed about her physique—she was pregnant, extremely so, wearing a loose red dress and orthopedic sandals beneath her usually-bare feet.

“Don’t baby me,” Catra muttered as Adora helped her up a step. They entered one of the Fright Zone’s main buildings, once soldiers’ barracks and now home to a lively and diverse community.

Adora smiled and stroked Catra’s bare arm. “Sorry,” she said, quiet enough that the procession couldn’t hear her. “I don’t mean to make you look weak.”

“I know I’m not weak,” Catra grunted. “I’m days away from expelling this thing from my womb, and I’m out here, far from home, working.”

“You should be tucked in bed with a book and some tea,” Adora said. “But for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re here.”

“Yeah, well,” Catra said as the procession reached their desired destination. “I’d never miss an opportunity to see an old friend.”

Glimmer, who stood at the front of the procession, cleared her throat for silence. Adora straightened her back and looked forward, her military training never having quite left her.

The door of the office, formerly Lord Hordak’s throne room, whipped open, and behind it stood a large and excited woman with bright red claws.

“You’re here!” Scorpia exclaimed, immediately wrapping Glimmer up in a hug. “Aw, you guys, come on in!”

Scorpia, the leader, manager, and official hype-woman of the settlement, welcomed the procession into a large room containing public employees processing refugee paperwork (even a decade after the war, people were still without homes from the Horde’s damages). The walls of the cavernous room were lined with colorful lights and drawings by local children, and a few faun-folk Adora recognized as Thaymorians sat at a nearby desk, receiving aid.

“Scorpia,” Bow enthused, “this looks wonderful!”

“Thanks,” Scorpia said. “We’ve put a lot of work into making the Fright Zone a less frightening place.”

“It’s fantastic,” Glimmer said, holding her father’s staff at her side. As the Princess of Bright Moon, she was in charge of many important Etherian political affairs, so this trip was a welcome opportunity to relax. “Looks like we don’t need to help with much here—you’ve got this.”

“Thanks,” the white-haired woman said, smiling and rubbing her neck. “Means a lot, coming from you.”

Glimmer nodded, stepping aside to reveal Catra and Adora behind her. Scorpia’s eyes widened.

“KITTY!” she exclaimed, barreling forward. “I won’t hug you, because pregnant, but… oh, it’s so great to see you! You too, Adora, looking good, hitting the gym as usual?”

Adora grinned and flexed. “You know it.”

“Hi, Scorpia,” Catra said, a hand on her belly. “I think the baby’s kicking, wanna feel?”

Scorpia extended a claw with reverence and felt the sensation of something shifting beneath Catra’s dress and skin. “Whoah…” she said. “Hello there, kitten.”

“That nickname’s gonna stick,” Adora said, grinning at Catra.

Catra rolled her eyes. “Better than what we’ve come up with.”

“You don’t have a name yet?” Scorpia asked as Bow and Glimmer conversed with another settlement official.

Catra shook her head. “We’re stumped.”

“Do you know the gender?”

“Nope,” Adora said. “Catra’s been talking to her Magicat family, they don’t do doctor’s appointments and stuff like humans. Apparently birth is kinda different for them, more hands-off, but just as gross.”

“It’ll be a surprise,” Catra said, taking Adora’s hand. “Either way, we’ll love it to pieces.”

“Aw,” Adora purred, “what a sap.”

“Really!” Scorpia exclaimed. “What happened to mean tortured villain Catra?”

Adora laughed. “You should see her when her feet start to hurt,” she said. “Or when she has morning sickness.”

Catra elbowed Adora. “We’re at a serious political meeting representing Bright Moon, you can’t just bring up my vomit!”

“It’s super gross, and if I don’t hold her hair, it gets everywhere—”

“Adora!”

Scorpia chuckled and crossed her arms. “So when are you due?”

“Next week,” Catra said. “To plan is deliver back at Bright Moon.”

“Oh, I’m so excited for you!” Scorpia exclaimed. “But still… no name planned yet? That’s bold.”

“I think we’ll just know when the moment comes,” Adora said.

Catra smirked. “I’m gonna be busy screaming in agony, probably, but whatever.”

Adora squeezed Catra’s hand. “I’ll be there with you,” she said. “I promise.”

“I know,” Catra said, and it was the damn truth.

The hallways were the same, but everything else was entirely different.

“It’s crazy,” Adora said, leading Catra to their shared quarters. They’d be staying the night, along with the rest of the procession, since travelling to the Fright Zone was a strenuous journey from Bright Moon.

“Do you we could ever find our places in all this?” Catra asked, waving to a happy family of reptile-people.

“Like the barracks and the training room? Not sure,” Adora shrugged.

“And Shadow Weaver’s quarters,” Catra said darkly.

“Gone,” Adora said, “just like her.”

This was a reassurance, Adora squeezing Catra’s arm, but her wife still frowned.

“I still hate this place,” Catra admitted as Adora stopped at a closed door. “Even with all of Scorpia’s work, I just… the memories are too much.”

“Good things happened here, too,” Adora said, opening the door for Catra. “We happened here.”

“You weren’t around for the worst of it,” Catra said.

Adora frowned, hurt. Catra sighed. “I didn’t mean it like that,” she said, leading Adora to the bed. Catra maneuvered her body to sit and Adora plopped down beside her.

“I know,” Adora said. “I’m sorry we had to grow up in a place like this.”

“Hey,” Catra said, a small smile sneaking onto her face. “Clearly we’re meant to be together, if we managed to get through all the bullshit.”

Adora rubbed circles on Catra’s hand with her thumb, looking thoughtfully around their room. It was basic, bare, with the same dull walls and lights they had known in their childhood and adolescence. In this isolated space, they could almost pretend they were back in the Horde, so many years ago…

“Come on, you must be tired,” Adora said, fluffing a pillow for Catra at the top of the bed.

Catra nodded, lying on her side. “The trip from Bright Moon isn’t so easy when you’re carrying a living being inside you,” she said as she settled in.

Adora laid on the other pillow, facing Catra. Their noses almost touched.

“You’re so beautiful,” Adora said, resting a gentle hand on Catra’s bump. “And brave, and smart, and good. I’m so happy we’re doing this together. I love you so much.”

Catra smiled peacefully, shutting her eyes. “Who’s the sap now?” she teased sleepily.

Suddenly, her eyes opened wide. “Shit.”

Adora shot up. “What? What’s wrong?”

Catra sat up slowly, face in disbelief. “Adora… I think my water just broke.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Would I fucking joke about this, Adora?!”

“I don’t know! You’re not due ‘till next week!”

Catra ripped the blanket away and Adora gasped. It was really happening.

“Oh, hell no,” Catra said, trying to get herself out of bed. “I’m not doing this here.”

“Wha—lay back down!” Adora cried. “I… I should go get Bow and Glimmer!”

“I told you, I don’t need an audience!” Catra insisted, standing up despite Adora’s protests. “And I’m not bringing our child into the world in the fucking Fright Zone!”

“What are you suggesting?” Adora said, incredulous. “We steal another skiff and head to the Whispering Woods while you’re having contractions?”

After a moment’s pause, Catra nodded—and Adora knew there was no point in resisting.

It was far from a hospital, but Adora trusted Catra and her Magicat kin—giving birth in nature was safe, and fine, and everything was going to be fine. That was the mantra Adora repeated to herself as she sat beside her wife, who continued to have contractions on the forest floor.

“You seriously prefer this to a bed?�� Adora asked, rubbing Catra’s shaking shoulder.

Grimacing, Catra nodded. “To a Fright Zone bed, yeah,” she said. “Oh, ow ow ow ow.”

“Humans can get medicated for the pain,” Adora said. “Angella told me she had an epidural for Glimmer.”

“Good for her,” Catra said. “Hey, water, please.”

Adora nodded and grabbed the Sword of Protection from her travel pack, transforming it into a bottle. She stepped over to the nearby forest stream, filling the golden container with fresh flowing water.

It was beautiful place, really—a quiet pocket in the otherwise noisy woods, a clearing surrounded with dense and colorful trees. The skiff was parked just a minute away, with a full tank of gas for their return to civilization. The stream babbled pleasantly and the stars shone above Adora and Catra. This was the setting of new life, something holy and beautiful… and, despite her anxiety, Adora had to admit that it worked.

Adora passed Catra the bottle and forced her into a sitting position, helping her take a sip.

“Thanks,” Catra said, wiping her mouth. “Contractions are getting closer and closer, so…”

“Yeah,” Adora said, expression full of panic. She held Catra’s face as though it could disappear any seconds. “Things are never gonna be the same ever again.”

Catra smiled and nuzzled into Adora’s palm. “I knew you’d lose your shit in the moment. Breathe, baby. It’s going to be okay.”

“How are you so calm?”

“Dunno,” Catra said, leaning back down. “I just am. It’s like—aw shit, contraction, they’re getting so close—”

Adora took Catra’s hand and squeezed. “It’s really happening,” she said. “We’re gonna have a kid.”

“Yep,” Catra said, her teeth bared as she withstood the pain. “We’re gonna show this little fucker all the good Etheria has to offer. No Horde, no Fright Zone. No way.”

“Please don’t call our incoming child ‘little fucker,’” Adora said through a smile, tears of emotion running down her cheeks.

“Oh shit, I think it’s happening,” Catra cried out.

Adora squeezed Catra’s hand with the might of She-Ra. “I’m right here.”

Catra nodded, eyes squeezed shut in pain and concentration. “Little fucker…”

“Catra!”

A scream, followed by another. The babbling of the stream, the wind through the trees. And then…

The sound of a baby crying.

“Adora…” Catra muttered, holding the infant in her arms. “Water, gotta wash off…”

Adora, eyes, awed, assisted in the cleaning of the child. An impossibly tiny being, held in Catra’s arms, eyes still shut. The same peach-fuzz fur covering, ears, and tail as its mother, only in the color grey.

“It’s a boy!” Adora squeaked, placing down the sword-bottle. “Catra, we have a son!”

Peaceful, exhausted, Catra nuzzled into the body in her arms. Adora wrapped her strong arms around her wife, completing the family unit.

“I love you so both much,” Adora said. The baby still cried, but not from pain. Catra hushed him anyway.

“We’re gonna take care of you,” she reassured her child. “You’re never going to feel unloved.”

“We promise,” Adora said, like a prayer.

The baby quieted slowly, leaning into Catra’s chest.

“Hey, Adora…” Catra said, her voice dry. “We still need a name.”

“Shit,” Adora muttered. “Uh… we’re in the Whispering Woods. How about Woods?”

“Babe, I love you, but that’s the dumbest fucking thing you’ve ever said.”

“So no Woods,” Adora said. “Tree? Stream? Forest?”

Catra’s eyes widened. “Wait,” she said. “Forrest. I like that. Forrest.”

“Yeah?” Adora asked, leaning into Catra’s shoulder.

“Yeah.”

“Okay,” Adora said, her hold around her wife and son tightening. “His name is Forrest.”

“Our son.”

“Mhm.”

It wasn’t long before Forrest began to cry again. Adora stood up, knowing that she’d need to start taking steps forward.

“Catra,” she said, tapping her wife’s shoulder. “He should get a better wash, and you need rest. Nursing’s gotta happen eventually, too. We can’t stay here much longer.”

Catra looked down at Forrest, whose eyes were half-opened, the same grey-blue as Adora’s.

“But… the Fright Zone…”

“Bad things happened there,” Adora said, “but we filled it with love too. Anywhere we go, we’ll fill it with love.”

Catra stirred slightly, and Forrest looked up at his mama. Adora stared down at both, brimming with pride and adoration.

“At the end of the day, it’s just a place. We’re what matter. Along with our friends and family, who just happen to be there too.”

Catra nodded and passed the infant to Adora, who held him close.

“Fuck, fine, you’re right,” Catra said, a small smiling sneaking onto her face. “I was being ridiculous dragging us out here.”

“I wasn’t going to argue with the hysterical pregnant woman at the time,” Adora said, “but yeah, a little bit.”

“You’re driving the skiff,” Catra muttered as she shakily stood. Her strength continued to blow Adora away.

Adora took Catra’s hand and led her out of the clearing.

They traveled in the night breeze, but they were already home.

#spop #she ra #catradora #catra #adora #catradora moms #my writing

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antiquecompass · 5 years

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Things I Forgot I Wrote But Found In My Files While Looking For Something Else:

This samstevebucky OT3 Urban Fantasy au that @lavenders-bi asked for during, what I’m guessing, was a prompt meme thing:

The 107th Precinct usually got its fair share of odd calls during the first truly hot nights of the year—something about summer in the city making magic go fucking haywire—but this was getting ridiculous.

"All I wanted was a nice night out with my vowed-partners," Bucky Barnes said as he pulled off his jacket and threw it in the back of Jim Morita’s squad car. “There was going to be cake, damn it. It’s supposed to be my night off.” He waved to Sam and Steve from the street and tried not to count just how many date nights had been interrupted by his job.

“Gabe’s grandkid is in a school play so he’s unreachable. Monty had to use the Middle Way to pop back to England for some family curse business. Jacques is upstate translating for a loup-garrou, and you’re the one who forbade me and Dugan from working together. It’s on you, oh illustrious leader,” Morita said.

Bucky knew he shouldn’t have taken that promotion. Pros outweighing the cons bullshit. He was burning the list the next time Sam suggested one. He spared one last look to the restaurant before slipping into the passenger seat.

Be careful, Steve sent down their communication link.

Or I’ll tell Natasha to kick your ass and stand back and laugh, Sam added.

Love you too, Bucky sent before muting the link. He worked better in the field when it was just a background hum.

"Just one goddamned night of peace, quiet, and decent food," he said as he pressed his metal fist into the dashboard. "But do I get that? Biggest fucking nope ever. I’ve now got to politely encourage a friggin’ swamp monster away from a fire hydrant before the sprites descend like a swarm of mosquitoes to devour it and the power lines for half the city."

"You seem a little wound-up there, Barnes," Morita said. “Let me cool you down.” He sent a quick shot of ice-cold flame at Bucky’s exposed arms.

Bucky gave him the finger, ignoring the fact that it just made Morita laugh harder.

"It’s not like Sam or Steve are going to leave you for missing another dinner,” he said. “Steve’s known how you operate for the better part of a century now, and Wilson’s caught on quicker than anyone else I’ve seen. If they wanted someone with decent hours, they should’ve dated a banker. It’s what they get for being stupid enough to vow themselves to you. I was pushing for Gabe to complete their triumvirate."

"You’re getting close to being kicked off the Christmas Card list, buddy, and you know how much Steve’s artwork goes for.” He gave the siren on the dash a quick electric jumpstart. “Drive, Morita. We got to pick up the rookies before Cthulhu comes looking for one of its babies.”

"Didn’t the messenger update you? Swamp monster slid back down the sewer grate towards home," Morita said.

Bucky rolled his eyes. “Fuck. What’s really wrong then?”

Morita howled.

Fucking wolves. Bucky clenched his metal fist. It’s not like he’d already given an actual limb to this job or anything because of the fucking wolves. He hated wolves.

“I’ll promise not to let you lose the other arm this time,” Morita teased.

“Just drive,” Bucky ordered.

"Really?" Kate Bishop asked as she sorted through her quiver of enchanted arrows. "You could’ve told me I needed the Deterrent Spell arrows before we got out here, Barnes."

"I’m sorry, I thought your mentor would’ve told you to be prepared for everything," Bucky said as he ducked behind a dumpster. The only good thing about urban warfare was the hiding places.

"He’s obsessed with Boomerang Spells," Kate said.

"What?" Bucky asked. He laid his flesh hand on the ground and pulled from the electricity running through the streets below. He sent it out towards the crowd as a warning shot. Fucking bystanders were still trying to get too damn close to wolf fight. He knew technically a Conduit such as himself wasn’t supposed to aim for the non-magical human targets, but fuck ‘em all if they weren’t smart enough to run in the other goddamned direction.

"Boomerang," Kate said. She hopped up on the dumpster and prepared to take shot.

“Is that a boomerang one?” he asked.

“Nope,” Kate said.

"Then what are you throwing at ‘em?" he asked.

"I call this one Sleepytime Tea," she said.

“Hold,” a familiar voice yelled at them.

Bucky turned to find his other lost little rookie running up to them.

"I thought we only had winter wolves here," Eli Bradley said as he slid to a stop beside them. He had his grandfather’s shield strapped to his back. It was probably the most powerful weapon among the three of them due to its age and legacy.

Bucky was only a little jealous he still had to make do with borrowed shield spells and he was a fucking sergeant.

"You’re late," Bucky said.

Eli shrugged. “You were the one who told me take those nighttime classes. There was traffic, Sarge. Some pegasus decided the freeway was a good place to take a nap. Agent Carter gave me a note if you want to see it.”

Bucky waved him off. He’d let it go. This time.

"So what’s going on?" Eli asked.

"Turf war," Kate guessed. She took a breath and let loose her arrows. They hit their targets and both wolves went down without any more of a fight.

"Huh, well how about that," Eli said. “Didn’t even need me here.”

Bucky held up his hand. “If either one of you make a comment on how not difficult that was, I will send you both to the Itemization Squad for a month.”

He liked to think their salutes were genuine and not the least bit sarcastic, but he’d trained them both so he knew better.

Six in the morning was the time for waking up, not coming home after a supposed night off, and Bucky Barnes was monumentally pissed off. Not quite as bad as I-Lost-My-Arm-For-Your-Cause-And-All-I-Got-Was-An-Enchanted-Metal-Limb pissed off, but pretty damn frustrated.

He smelled like shit. Actual shit. Northeastern Troll excrement to be exact for the discerning. He just had to help a group of fauns cross the one bridge left in the area that still had a troll under it. That was at midnight. After a small battle requiring Eli’s shield, Kate, her personal mentor Clint, and both of their Boomerang Arrows, and Morita’s ability to make the earth actually move, he was finally home. Still ready to slam an inanimate object down to the lowest depths of hell via an electrical charge, but home at least and at last.

He was supposed to have the more settled life now. That’s why he took the promotion and the leadership position. The most dangerous thing that he was supposed to battle these days was paperwork. He’d taken all those steps for the quiet life: house in the ‘burbs, officially a year-and-a-day’ed signed-sealed-and-delivered to a schoolteacher (who was really a retired Winged Guardian, but Sam liked to keep that knowledge quiet. Never knew when he’d need to fly again and surprise was the most important part to those with hidden wings) and an artist (who was actually a wizard, but Steve liked to keep that quiet because there were only so many times someone could ask him for a love potion before he’d lose his temper and get into the sort of epic ranting that actually turned molehills into mountains. He was so much happier making his weird-ass wizard dreams into artwork). He had a flock of birds (Sam’s), a dog (Steve’s), a mortgage, and a car payment. He should not have to stand outside at six in the morning and hose himself down after stripping and setting his own trash can on fire because there was no saving his clothes.

And those where his nice slacks too. They were the expensive khakis Mrs. Rogers bought him for his birthday. They were as classy as Bucky got outside of uniform, and he loved those fucking things. The last time he wore those were for their anniversary dinner, and he quite liked just what wearing those pants had gotten him.

"Wow. You actually smell like shit," Sam said from the garage. He was dressed for work and Bucky wanted to maybe cry because he’d missed his chance already to mess up that pressed shirt and tie. He loved when his guys were halfway between professional-looking and artfully rumpled courtesy of Bucky’s ministrations.

The day officially sucked and he hadn’t even slept yet.

"Please tell me there’s coffee," he said as he turned the hose off himself and on to the small fire.

"There is, but I don’t know if Steve’s going to let you near his precious coffee pot when you smell like actual shit. Jesus fuck, Bucky, what happened last night?"

"Everything," Bucky said. He was not pouting because he did not pout, even when Sam damn near ran past him.

"Weakling!" Bucky yelled at him.

Sam blew him a kiss from his car before backing out of the driveway.

A century ago Bucky fell in love with little Steve Rogers because he was noble and fearless and selfless. They’d had a lot of asshole instructors at their training school, many who only thought strength meant brawn and not spirit; that somehow innate power could be measured by height and muscles and not be sheer potential. They were the type of teachers who had should have never been allowed to help form the minds or opinions of the young, poor, and vulnerable. The kids who attended the school went there because they had no choice; they either lacked parents, guardians, mentors, sponsors, or their families were too poor to afford anything else.

Bucky and Steve fell in that last group. Steve’s mother refused to charge for her healing spells outside of her official hospital job, refusing to make their family rich off the suffering of people who couldn’t afford traditional medical care. She’d instilled her son with that same set of values and a backbone of steel, even if no one really knew just how gifted Steve was back then.

Bucky went to the institute because he was he eldest and figured his younger siblings deserved better. They all showed signs of telekinesis and manipulating matter. Bucky just knew how to talk himself into and out of everything. Sure, he had started a few accidental fires with his mind, but that was country wizarding stuff. Everyone could basically do that. The institute seemed a good place to hone his less than honorable skills though. He had dirt gathered on all the instructors just in case. He learned to walk in the paths of the shadows, and didn’t realize until years later that sometimes the shadows were following him.

Back then though, he was just a smart kid with a smarter mouth and little patience for authoritative bullshit who fell in love when he saw a scrawny twelve-year-old throw himself in front of an instructor’s punishment spell to protect an even younger kid. The kid’s only crime was not performing in a way the instructor wanted, but fucking seriously that’s what you got when you tried to make someone who’s power existed in creation try to bring down a wall.

The move to protect someone else was enough to earn Bucky’s respect and admiration. The fact that the spell bounced off both of the kids, hit the instructor back by a power of threefold, and brought down the wall? That was pretty much it for James Buchanan Barnes.

Steve was honest-to-god noble. Bucky decided it then and only had it reaffirmed in the subsequent years. Fuck the royal magical and wizarding blood lines; Steve was as good as it got. Sam was probably the second-to-best person Bucky knew, and certainly was the actual voice of reason between the three of them. The fact that they both still stayed with Bucky, and his ability to court trouble in places where no trouble should exist, was kind of a miracle.

The Steve standing before him now though looked constipated by his own guilt.

“You’re going to shit an actual brickhouse if you don’t unclench,” Bucky said.

#long post #fandom: marvel #samstevebucky #buckysamsteve #ot3 #my ridic writing

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inky-imagines · 6 years

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Dragongirl’s OC Special

Hey, @dragongirl98765!

I finally finished your OC special!

I apologise for the delay. I did have it ready(ish) when I came back, but then I read it and decided it needed a rewrite.

And then I got stuck rewriting another OC special so yours got put on the back-burner and it was just a terrible mess. Again, I’m truly sorry!

Honestly, I’m still not 100% happy with it, but I thought you shouldn’t be kept waiting because I’m perfectionist.

Enough about me and my inadequacies, here’s your OC special! I hope you enjoy it!

Length Warning: This is easily the longest piece of writing on my blog at 8 pages (3000+ words), so most of it is under the cut.

In addition, I apologise if there’s an increase in grammatical errors in this.

I always proofread and edit before I post but I’ve never written anything this long before so some may have slipped through the gaps. Please let me know if anything needs changing!

Again, I hope you enjoy!

If he hadn’t been in such a rush, Chrome might’ve noted how different the laboratory looked at night, how the place seemed alive from the magic of the day, lit with the silver moonlight pouring from the windows.

But he was, so the laboratory’s unearthly beauty went ignored in favour kicking down the guard captain’s office door.

“Ezarel!”

The elf leapt in the air with surprise, the once neatly stack paperwork on his desk flying everywhere in disarray.

“What is wrong with you?” Ezarel snarled, hand over his heart. “Can’t you knock?”

Chrome ignored him, slamming his hands on the desk, “I need your help.”

Ezarel’s eyebrows shot up, the looking at Chrome as if he’d grown an extra head. “After that entry? No.”

“It’s important.”

“Enough to break in my door at 11PM?” The elf scoffed and turned away, bending to collect his lost papers.

“Serenity’s birthday tomorrow. I need your help for a party.”

That made him pause.

“What?”

“It’s her birthday tomorrow.” Chrome repeated, a tad impatiently, “I want to throw a party.”

“Wait, wait,” Ezarel dropped the papers, massaging his temples. “She hasn’t said anything about this to me. Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” Chrome crossed his arms, scowling. “She wasn’t gonna say anything about it, I found out completely by accident.”

“She was pretty against a party when I suggested it but,” His look softens and he drops his gaze, “I thought it’d be a nice surprise for her, y’know? She’s helped us a lot over the last year, I figured it’d a bit dicky not to do something.”

There was a brief pause then Ezarel sighed, no doubt deflated his girlfriend wasn’t going to tell him about her birthday.

“I see. Did you have anything specific in mind?”

“So you’ll help?”

Ezarel grumbles, searching through his cabinet drawers for spare paper, “Like I have a choice.”

“Oh wow, you’re actually are a decent boyfriend. I guess I was wrong about you.”

Sniggering at Ezarel’s dirty look, Chrome sat on the edge of his desk, then became serious once more.

“So here’s what I was thinking…”

They managed to plan the party by the end of the night.

Though they didn’t have many supplies thanks to the party’s last-minute nature, Chrome was proud to say the plan they had was manageable.

Then they’d asked around for help.

It didn’t take long for things to spiral out of control; suddenly they needed a bigger room for all the self-invited guests, more food to feed them and entertainment in form of a goddamn orchestra (it was a small one but still).

Fortunately, the number of volunteer helping meant the party wasn’t impossible, but it’s scale meant Chrome couldn’t be fussy about any offers of help.

Even if they came from the birthday girl herself.

“Geez, what’s Karuto’s up to?” Serenity grumbled, shifting the food container in her arms, “Why’d he need this much food all of a sudden? We’re not running low or anything.”

Chrome shrugged as best he could with his own load, pottering behind her, “I dunno.”

“It can’t be a festival.” Serenity continued, “We don’t have any of those until August. Besides, they specifically send the familiars out to do some foraging this morning. That suggests this was kinda last minute, otherwise, they would’ve just used previously allocated rations.”

“Huh.”

Serenity cast him a side-eye. “You’re not being conducive to this conversation, Chrome.”

He flushed, glancing away.

Despite being a shadow member and a teen, Chrome didn’t like lying, least of all to Serenity who could read him like a book. The only way to ensure he didn’t tip her off was to keep quiet, but apparently, even that was suspicious.

“What do you want me to say?” He huffed, head still turned as if he was sulking, “That there’s a massive conspiracy going on? We’re just carrying food, Sere.”

He chanced a look at her. She seemed entirely unconvinced, peering at his face with a discerning eye.

“W-what?”

“You know something.”

“Wha-? D-don’t be stupid, “ He scowled, praying his nervousness wasn’t apparent, “You think they’d tell me if they were planning something?"

“Probably not.” She admitted, “But Floppy told me that you joined the familiars on the food hunt.”

“What? Why? That little-!“ Wait. Floppy hadn’t joined the hunt.

He knew what he was going to see before he looked at her, the victorious smirk on her face just affirming he’d fucked up.

Sweat poured down his neck. He’d fallen for the simplest trick in the book and now he was going to pay for it.

Maybe he could simply brush it off?

Nope. The raw curiosity on Serenity’s face told him that she intended to rip the truth out of him whether he wanted her to or not.

He swallowed, “I-“

“Chrome!” Never had he thought he’d be so happy to hear that voice?

“Karuto!” The faun stood just outside the pantry door, scowling furiously.

“It’s about time you show up-“ He stopped, noticing Serenity, “…What’s she doing here?”

“I offered to help Chrome carry the collected food.” She explained, a protective tone replacing her interrogative one. “Is that a problem?”

“Is that a pro- Of course it is!” The faun bellowed before rounding on Chrome, “You think you can just push your work on other people?”

Taking the box from Serenity’s arms, Karuto dumped it on Chrome’s, making the boy sway precariously.

“Hey, that’s too heavy for him!”

“He’s fine,” He dismissed before glaring at Chrome, “You! In the kitchen! NOW.”

Chrome gave Serenity a weak smile, mouthing his thanks before sprinting unsteadily into the kitchen.

She took a few steps forward to follow him.

“Where’d you think you going?” Karuto demanded, stepping in her path.

“You can’t expect Chrome to unpack that all by himself.”

“I can and I do.” He said, “Now scram! You’ve got work to do, don’t you?”

She shook her head, “Not really.”

Karuto scowled, racking his brain for a way to get rid of her quickly. He couldn’t start on the party until she was gone, and he was already running low on time.

“Your boyfriend was looking for you.” He lied, arms crossed.

“Ez?” She frowned, “He said he didn’t have time for me today though…?”

“I’m just repeating I’ve heard. Now shoo! I don't you need buzzing around my workspace.” He flicked his hands at her as if she were an annoying fly.

“Okay, okay!” She relented, taking another step backwards. “But before I go… You’re cooking a big meal, right? What’s the occasion?”

He scowled, clearly debating between telling her or sending on her way.

“A celebration.” He finally said, deciding honesty would get his peace faster, ”For a very special someone. Now get going.”

She looked like she wanted to ask more questions, probably about this special someone, but kept quiet, nodding her thanks before she jogging away.

For a brief moment, Karuto felt a tad worried. No doubt, Ezarel was still hard at work on the party’s decorations. Everything would be ruined if Serenity were to burst in unexpectedly.

Then he shook his head, returning to his kitchen.

‘I’m sure it’ll be fine.’ He thought, ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’

Normally, Ezarel was happy to see his girlfriend.

Whenever she visited, she provided a pleasant respite from his mind-numbing work and often brought honey cakes, which was always a plus.

However, when he had an office filled with her last-minute gifts and a helper – Yhkar – who’d insisted on hiding in his closet, he wasn’t so pleased to see her.

“Karuto told you what?” He frowned, praying that the old coot hadn’t just dumped a significant amount of trouble on his shoulders.

“That you needed me for something.” She repeated, distracted by the scraps of wrapping paper on the floor. “What are you doing in here?”

“Just packaging some light-sensitive equipment.” He lied, thankful he’d insisted on transmuting plain wrapping into something more appropriate instead of outright using birthday paper. “Listen, I think the old man was messing with you. I haven’t asked for you at all.”

Which was true. If anything, he’d told everyone to keep her away from his office so he could apply all of the literal magic touches on the decorations and presents easily.

“So, I got tricked?”

“Basically.” He shrugged then froze as the closet door opened slightly.

Yhkar stuck her head out, looking between Serenity and Ezarel nervously.

Shaking his head, Ezarel tried to discreetly motion for her to get back in, but she refused, jerking her head pointedly to the side.

Following the motion, Ezarel saw the source of the brownie’s concern.

When Serenity had first knocked, they’d scrambled to shove all party related items out of sight: under his desk, behind a bookcase, in the cabinets. Somehow, somehow, they’d missed a small stuffed animal on a small end table by the door. Easy to miss when walking in, impossible when walking out.

Normally it wouldn’t be a big thing – at worst Serenity would think it was his – but the ‘Happy Birthday Serenity!’ stitched over the plushie’s heart would most certainly tip her off.

It only took him a second to decide what to do.

“Actually, Serenity,” He said, standing up so suddenly she actually started back. “I do need you for something.”

She pulled a face at him, confused. “But you said-.”

“I just remembered,” He said apologetically, guiding her to his side of the desk while Yhkar crept quietly out of the closet.

“What did you need me for then?” He sat her down, purposely turning the chair’s back to Yhkar, before rummaging through the desk’s drawers.

“I need you,” He grinned when he found what he was looking for, “To help me adjust this.”

In his hand was a stunning bracelet, clearly elvish in design and material. It gleamed in a way the flaunted the rules of physics, the silver almost captivating in its hue.

“Oh wow.” She took it from him, turning the bracelet one way than another, “It’s gorgeous, Ez.”

“I’m glad you think so.” ‘It’s for you after all.’

He didn’t want to let her see the gift before it was time, but even he knew the party was bigger than his ego, though that didn’t stop him from scowling as he fixed it on her wrist.

“It fits me perfectly!”

“Of course it does,” He snorted, crossing his arms while glancing at Yhkar still creeping towards the bear, “You’re the same size as the person I’m giving it to.”

Her face fell a little, eyebrows drawing together as she looked at him. “It’s a gift? For who?”

“Someone.” That made her frown even more, and she glanced away from him.

“A special someone?”

“Not in that way.” A pause, then, “You’re not jealous, are you?”

“Of course not,” She said, though her eyes said differently, “I just heard that we’re doing something for a special someone in the guard and thought-“

“It was for them? You’re not wrong, I suppose.”

She glanced away. “Are they special to you?”

Ezarel blinked then grinned, never one to miss a chance to tease someone.

“Of course, “ He purred, “They’re the smartest, kindest, most wonderful person I know.”

With each praise uttered, Serenity’s pout grew fuller and fuller until it was all Ezarel could do refrain from laughing.

“They sound wonderful.” She bit out, still not facing him.

“They are,” He agreed, tilting her face to gently rub his nose against hers, “But you’re still the person I tolerate the most.”

Her face lost its irritated flush, replacing with an embarrassed one.

“…You have a weird way of saying I love you.”

“You’ve been with me for a year now. What else do you expect?”

She giggled, leaning forward, her lips brushing lightly against his in silent invitation. One he would’ve accepted happily had she not pulled away at the last second, a flash of orange catching her eye.

“What the…”

Before he realised it, Serenity had pulled away, leaning around the chair to stare at Yhkar, who was half in the closet, looking like a deer in headlights.

The room was silent.

“H-Hey, Serenity!” The brownie greeted awkwardly, “How long have you been here?”

“…What are you doing?” Yhkar flushed then paled, glancing left and right.

“I-I-I needed to get something on top of the cabinet here!”

“So why are you climbing in? And isn’t this Ezarel’s office?”

The brownie flushed again, “You know I have short legs and-and “ She glanced at Ezarel, begging for help.

“I said she could come in here to grab something earlier,” Ezarel said, gently placing his hands on Serenity’s shoulders. “I’m guessing she thought she could reach the top if she used the inside as a stool.” Yhkar nodded vigorously in agreement, her face regaining some colour.

“But when did she…?”

“Bracelet please.” He interrupted, holding out his hand.

“What? Oh.” She unclipped it, still glancing at Yhkar, and handed it over. “So, Yhkar what did you need?”

“Confidential,” Ezarel spoke for the brownie, gently ushering the shorter girl out. “It’s actually something we need to talk about right now so…”

Letting herself be shepherded to the door, Serenity frowned, “Is related to that special person? Who are they?”

He simply grinned, placing a kiss on her forehead before he shoved her through the door.

The last few rays of the sun warmed Serenity’s face as she lying in the gardens, enjoying the warm breeze blowing through her hair.

Or she would be had it not been for the thoughts racing through her head.

It was an open secret, the guard was preparing something for a ‘special someone’. She didn’t mind being left of the loop (okay, maybe a little bit), but other than Chrome this morning – which she’d gathered he wasn’t supposed to do – nobody would let her help with it.

Denied from even her from usual duties, she’d been forced to spend the day with the numerous familiars recuperating from the early morning forage. Of course, they also knew what was going on, and despite her pleas, they kept quiet, insisting she’d find out eventually.

“It’s ridiculous!” She complained to her companion, “It’s clear they need the help, but they won’t let me? It’s like they don’t trust me enough to do anything…”

She sighed, rolling on her side, “Did I do something? Is this a unique form of punishment? What do you think, Oz?”

Oz – an ostrich-like familiar with a similar temperament to her blue-haired master – squawked, tilting her head at Serenity in what would be a cute fashion if Serenity hadn’t understood exactly what she meant.

“…I realise you’re incapable of empathy, but you could at least try.”

Oz honked in mirth, preening smugly.

“I don’t know how Ez puts up with you,” Serenity sighed, facing the darkening sky again.

Ready to sink into her thoughts, she closed her eyes and-

“Hey, Serenity!”

She jolted up at the unexpected yell, turning to her caller.

“Did I startle you? Sorry!” Alajea laughed, bowing her head apologetically.

“You could do with tempering your voice.” Serenity scolded lightly, “I can hear just fine.”

Pause. “Do you need something?”

“Would you please come with me? I have something to show you.”

“Something?” Already she was getting to her feet, despite every fibre of her wanting to stay in that comfortable spot.

“Yup.” The mermaid grinned at her, grabbing her hand.

Pulled firmly along, Serenity followed the younger girl into the guard, only mildly surprised to see Oz –who’d been surprisingly quiet throughout the entire exchange – trotting behind them.

Even though she could see a number of people milling around, the guard felt empty, as if a large chunk of it were missing.

“Did something happen?” She asked, but the mermaid gave no answer, casting a secretive smile in direction and pulling her passenger along harder.

“Here we are!” Alajea cheered, before letting go of Serenity and knocking the door.

After a moment, she nodded turning to Serenity.

“So what did you want to- Hey!” With one smooth motion, Alajea shoved Serenity through the door and she tumbled forward.

Righting herself, she got ready to cuss out Alajea then she looked up and lost her breath.

The room was awash with floating lights, each emitting an enchanting glow that lit the room with a soft yellow light. Familiar faces filled the space, some of which were already picking a most impressive spread on the two tables that spanned the length of the room.

At the front of the room an invisible orchestra was playing, the instruments played by invisible hands, next to it a pile of presents stood.

Hanging from the walls were banners weaved from the most exotic flora she’d ever seen, all reading: Happy Birthday.

“Wha-“

“Happy birthday!” The crowd cheers, flooding her with well wishes and cheers.

She’s overwhelmed, her voice cracking as she spoke, “I don’t know what to say…”

“Thank you would be nice.” Chrome huffed, stepping out from the crowd. Then, more gently “Happy birthday, Sere.”

Serenity laughed, running to envelope the boy in a hug. “Thank you!” She gushed, placing a kiss, which she knew he’d hate, on his forehead. “Thank you all so much.”

“Ugh, don’t get all mushy on me.” The teen snapped, wriggling away at last, “I didn’t do this so you could bring out the waterworks.”

“I’m not crying!”

“You kind of look like you’re going to though.” Alajea teased.

Serenity sccowled, but couldn’t keep up the façade for long as she was all but dragged to the dancefloor, her friends swarming around her.

It wasn’t long before the party was in full swing, people dancing or conversing amongst themselves.

Serenity sat in a corner, taking a few moments to nibble at some food and take in what had been done for her. She almost didn’t notice when Ezarel came to join her, a tad breathless.

“Sorry, I’m late.” He collapsed next to her, stealing some of her food from the plate as he did.

She snatched the plate away from him, giving him a pout. “Where’ve you been?”

“Had something to finish,” He explained, reaching for her plate again, “Enjoying the party?”

Her face lost it’s playfulness, becoming more sombre, “I still can’t believe you guys did this all for me.”

He snorted, reaching around her for another nab at her food. “Surely you didn’t expect us to tiddle our thumbs and do nothing.”

She frowned at him, before dropping the plate in her lap, her shoulders slumped. “But it’s so last mintue. This can’t have been easy...”

“It wasn’t,” Ezarel agreed, “But I’d say you’re worth the trouble.”

A flush rose to her face, and she ducked her head. “Gosh, Ez. You’re almost romantic when you say stuff like that.”

“That was the intention. Now shut up and give me your hand.”

She blinked at him before raising a hand.

Taking it with surprising gentleness, he clipped a bracelet on her wrist; similar to the one she wore before, but far more intricate in design, her name engraved elegantly on the centrepiece.

“There.” Ezarel nodded, satisfied. “The other one looked too plain on you, so I thought I’d change it a bit, hence why I was late. Like it?”

Serenity stared at the bracelet, mesmerized by the craftsmanship.

“You-You do like it, don’t you?” She looked at him and for a second he feared she might cry.

But no, she laughed, setting aside her food to launch herself at her boyfriend. “I love it!”

He stiffened, then relaxed, wrapping his arms around her in turn, and whispering in her ear, “Happy birthday, Serenity.”

#eldarya #eldarya oc special #sweet oracle this was a pain to get done #and im not 100% happy #but im still proud of it #pls let me know if you like it #or if you dont #all feedback is good

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