#now where's the cactus juice

[these-things-illneversay]

Just another tokka thing: being foodies~ Nothing like hanging out with another foodie at a fancy party.

[crybabylulu]

That Night (smut)

(Sugar mama Lin Beifong x sugar baby reader)

Minors go tf away!

Warnings: men being weird, fingering, drinking, degrading, fucking in a closet, fighting, lots of hickeys

Remember that party Asami invited you and Lin to? Yeah it’s party time!

I had a glass of champagne in my hand while I watched people dance around at Asami’s party. The more I drink my champagne the more I realize I should have just gotten a shot. I’m not the biggest champagne person but I try so hard to be it’s stupid. I got this itching feeling that someone was looking at me but before I could look around Mako came up to me. “Hey.” Mako said. “Hey.” I said back and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek. “Have you seen Bolin?” Mako asked. “No I have not.” I said. “Damn, well you wanna take a shot with me?” He offered me a shot glass. “I’d love to.” I said as I took it.

We clinked glasses then tossed our shots back. The liquid burned for a second then the feeling subsided. “I gotta go find Bolin to make sure he’s not doing anything stupid. I’ll come back to check on you in a bit.” Mako said. “You don’t have to check up on me, I'm a big girl.” I told him. “Tell that to chief.” Mako said as he walked away. I shook my head. When I go out by myself Lin sometimes has Mako follow me around which he rather do then paperwork anyways but it’s not like I can’t take care of myself. I started getting that feeling again of someone watching me and it’s bugging me.

I need another shot. I walked off to the mini bar and ordered a shot of cactus juice and then after I took it I said fuck it and ordered another one. Before I could leave the bar some guy blocked my way. “Excuse me.” I said as I tried to get past him. “Why don’t you come dance with me?” The average height man asked. “Actually she’s my dance partner.” Asami said as she grabbed my hand and dragged me away towards the dance floor. “Thank you.” I said. “No problem now, dance with me.” Asami said. I laughed as she held my hand as we danced around each other and on each other.

“I’m surprised you can dance in this dress.” Asami said to me as I danced on her. “What do you mean?” I asked as I moved my hips. “The slits of your dress goes all the way up your thighs at any minute we could have a flash moment.” Asami teased. “Oh shut up I used the tape you invented to make sure this dress don’t move like that.” I laughed. “I’m glad it’s really working, I’m truly a genius.” Asami said. “Indeed you are.” I said. Once the song was over Asami went to go find Korra. I ran into Mako again. “Still no Bolin?” I asked. “He’s in the pool.” Mako told me.

“Oh also you are doing a shitty job at protecting me.” I teased him. “What happened? Are you ok?” Mako asked frantically and started looking over my body for bruises or scratches. I mean he might find a bruise or two because Lin likes to mark me up. “Did someone do this to you?” Mako asked as he poked at my shoulder blade. “That’s a hickey.” I told him. “Oh.” Mako said as he turned me around to face him. “Yeah me and your mom get frisky.” I said. “I don’t need to know about what you and the chief do.” Mako said and shivered in disgust.

I laughed. “Anyways what happened?” Mako asked. “Some dude blocked me from leaving the bar then Asami came to save me.” I said. “I saw you two on the dance floor, you don’t think chief will get mad?” Mako asked. “Why would she?” I asked. “Since she likes to leave marks on you like that and has me follow you around she seems a little possessive don’t you think?” Mako asked. “I suppose so, yes but I don’t think she’ll get upset over me dancing with Asami.” I said. “Anyways stay with me so you don’t get bothered.” Mako said.

Hmmm how about no. “Mako, look , there's a tall buff smart pretty girl over there.” I said and pointed in the opposite direction. “Where?” Mako asked and I took off. I went back to the dance floor. I’m not afraid to dance alone. Is it more fun to have someone to dance with yes but oh well I have to dance alone. As I was dancing I felt someone grab my waist and I wasn’t alarmed at first my brain thought it was Asami or Lin. “Where’s your dance partner?” The male voice asked. Oh hell no! I quickly moved away and turned around.

“Dude what the fuck?” I asked. “Just dance with me.” He said. “No.” I said and tried to walk away from him but he grabbed my wrist. “Hey! Get off.” I snapped and turned back to face him. “It’s just one dance.” He snapped back. Before I could raise my other hand to punch him I was pulled away and then the guy was put on the ground. “You ok?” Mako asked. “Yeah I’m fine.” I told Mako. “You sure?” Lin asked me. “I’m fine baby.” I said. “I’ll get him out of here.” Mako said and dragged him away. “Come with me.” Lin said and we walked off the dance floor. “Where are we going?” I asked.

“Since people wanna dance with my girl I’ll just have to remind them you belong to me.” Lin said. Oh no. Lin dragged me into a closet. She pushed me against the wall and started a passionate make out. Her coming to save me made me horny but now her shoving me into the closet has me even more excited. Anyone could come in and see us but I don’t care. I want them to know, I want them to see, I need them to know I’m her’s. I pulled away. “You gonna keep making out with me or are you gonna remind everyone who I belong to?” I asked. Lin immediately attacked my neck.

I leaned my head back so she could have more access to my neck. “Lin please more.” I begged her. “Don’t be an impatient brat.” Lin growled. “Please.” I begged. Lin turned me around and lifted up my dress. I wasn’t wearing any shorts, it was just a dark red thong with a heart chain under my long dress. Lin smacked my ass and I let out a moan. “Lin.” I whined. She nibbled on my ear and smacked my ass over and over. God this feels so good. Lin pulled down my panties and started to circle my clit. “You’re wet just from me spanking you?” Lin asked.

“Yes, I love when you spank me.” I whined. Lin turned me to face her and pulled down my dress to pull out my breast. She nipped my left nipple and I gasped. She was gonna leave marks all over my tits. “Lin please more.” I begged. Lin slipped two fingers inside of me stretching me out and my back arched. “Yes, more baby more.” I whined. She curled her fingers and did a come here motion. “Fuck keep doing that.” I moan out. “You’re all mine aren’t you?” Lin whispered in my ear. “Yes I’m all yours!” I cried out. Her fingers feel so good inside of me. “You’re sure?” Lin asked.

“Yes baby I’m yours.” I moaned. “I thought you’d be Asami’s the way you were dancing on her.” Lin growled and rubbed my clit with her other hand. “No Lin. I’m yours all fucking yours! I belong to you!” I cried out. I guess Mako was right. “That’s right you belong to me.” Lin said. My legs were shaking and ready to give out. “Oh god please chief I’m close.” I whined as I felt a familiar tightness building in my belly. “When you cum you better scream my name.” Lin commanded. I nodded my head and the closer I got to tipping over the edge I kept saying her name over and over again.

“Do you think you can take another finger?” Lin asked. My eyes widened. “I c-can try.” I said unsurely. “Good girl.” Lin said and I felt her add a third finger. I gripped Lin’s shoulders. “Fuck chief!” I cried out. “Your tight pussy is swallowing my fingers up so well baby girl.” Lin cooed. We’ve never done this before but it feels so fucking good and I can feel my juices leaking down my thighs. “I’m so close.” I told her. “Cum for me baby you can do it.” Lin said, pumping her fingers faster. “I’m all yours Lin, I belong to you, I’m yours. I don’t want anyone but you,” I grabbed Lin’s face so she could look at me as I declared her ownership over me.

I could tell her eyes were full of lust but there’s something else there but I had no time to decipher what it was because Lin smashed her lips against mine. Lin plunged her tongue in my mouth and I didn’t even put up a fight. I let her do whatever she wanted to me. As Lin slowly pulled away I felt light headed. “You’re right you’re mine, you belong to me, there will be no one that touches you the way I do.” Lin groaned. Her words pushed me over the edge. “Lin!” I cried out as I orgasmed.

Lin fingered me through as my whole body shook. “Fuck Beifong.” I sighed out. “You ok?” Lin asked. I nodded my head. “You sure?” Lin asked. “Yes baby I’m fine.” I said. “Good.” Lin said as she pulled out her fingers and I put them in my mouth. I sucked them clean for her. “Let’s get out of here.” Lin said. “No, I wanna keep dancing.” I whined. “One more dance then we go.” Lin said as she helped me put on my panties. “You fucked up the tape.” I sighed. “What do you mean?” Lin asked. “There was tape that I put on the strings of my panties to help keep my dress from moving all over the place.” I told her.

“You’ll be fine.” Lin said. I nodded and we exited the closet together. Before we made it all the way back to the party Lin stopped me. “What’s wrong?” I asked and turned to look at her. Lin opened her mouth but then stopped. “Where the hell have you two been? Are you ok?” Kya asked coming up to us. “I was a little shaken up about what happened earlier.” I said. “Aww Linny, look at you taking care of your girlfriend. How romantic.” Kya teased. “Kya don’t you have single woman to mingle with?” Lin asked. “No need to be hostile Linny, but are you really ok?” Kya asked me.

“Yes I’m fine.” I said. “Oh and by the way Mako got into a fight with that guy.” Kya said. “Is Mako ok?” I asked. “Of course he’s ok.” Lin said. “Lin knows her precious son can handle himself but yes he’s ok.” Kya said. Lin rolled her eyes. Kya’s eyes widened. “What?” I asked. “Y’all are nasty! All those hickeys.” Kya gasped. “Oh hush Kya.” Lin said. Kya and I laughed. I was happy that the hickeys were seen. This is what we wanted. We walked back to the party and I got to dance with Lin for a little bit. Lin ran her hands over my body as we danced.

[petricorah]

i saw this post about probending zuko and got swept up in the euphoria of planning a zukka probending au before remembering sokka doesn't bend.

so anyway. pro bending sokka where he gets high on cactus juice and gets in an argument with katara and registers himself as a jerkbender, saying "i (hic) totally (hic) bet you i can beat all of you in pro bending tournament" and signs up high off his ass

he wakes up in the morning with Regret. But is too stubborn and arrogant to back down. so he goes. after all, he fights benders all the time, right? (he realizes one mistake when he's not allowed to bring weapons into the ring and is plopped into the arena completely defenseless)

he manages to beat the first few in a combination of smarts and dump luck. And yeah he gets bruised a lot but there's no way he's going to let katara say "i told you so" This is now for non benders Everywhere, okay?

and so he gets better about using the arena and the benders' strengths against them and his plans and he gets into further and further along. And maybe he spars and practices with Zuko because they're on opposite ends of the bracket and haven't fought each other yet. And Sokka always beats Zuko in swords but now the tables are turned, and how the hell is he going to beat Zuko at probending when he can't even take his eyes off his crush to spar?

[lu-vin-it]

The Reservoir

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3 | City of Walls and Secrets/Tales of Ba Sing Se

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Masterlist | Ao3 | Prev Chapter | Next Chapter

Summary: Like every year, your father takes you on an expedition to find Wan-Chi Tong’s lost library. This time, however, you actually get results. Results that change your life forever.

Pairing: Sokka x Reader

Gender Neutral (They/Them)

Words: 4,563

Warnings: Sokka and Y/N bond over dead parents so angst!

A/N: Sorry this was so late!!!!!!

Thank you to @sepptember for proofreading !!! ILYSM!!

On the train, you sit in between Toph and Sokka, across from Aang and Katara. You’ve taken this train many times over the years, which makes you miss your Dad. He should be sitting next to you, rambling on about how beautiful the library was. You wish you would’ve asked him about it while you were there. Did it live up to his expectations? Was it better.

“Look. The inner wall!” Katara says, pointing out the window behind her. “I can’t believe we finally made it to Ba Sing Se in one piece!”

“Hey! Don’t jinx it!” Sokka exclaims. “We could still be attacked by some giant, exploding, fire nation spoon. Or find out the city’s been submerged in an ocean full of killer shrimp.”

You raise an eyebrow at the boy beside you. “Way to kill the mood.”

“Just being realistic!” He holds up his hands in surrender. 

You deadpan. “Yes, because, realistically, a giant spoon will attack us.” 

“Okay, but the shrimp thing could totally happen!” 

“Have you been hitting the cactus juice again?” Toph asks, making you giggle.

“I’m just saying.” He shrugs. “Weird stuff happens to us.” As he says that, a man with a whole pineapple in his mouth shoves his way in between you and Toph, shoving you against Sokka.

“Point proven, I guess.” You murmur, butterflies in your stomach at the contact with Sokka. He scoots over and laughs nervously. 

“.. We’ll find Appa.” You turn your attention to Katara and Aang. 

“It’s such a big city.” 

Sokka stands up. “He’s a giant bison. Where could someone possibly hide him?” The train enters the city, and you’re once again hit with a wave of nostalgia. All the times you’ve been through this exact moment with your Father hit you at once. You can feel tears well up in your eyes, so, you turn to look out your window so your friends can’t see. 

—

Once you arrive at the train station, you wipe the tears off of your cheek and step off the train. 

“Back in the city. Great.” Toph complains. 

“What’s the problem? It’s amazing!”

“It’s just a bunch of walls and rules. You wait, you’ll get sick of it in a couple of days.” 

You frown. “What are you talking about? Ba Sing Se is the best! There are thousands of things to do here!” You gesture to the looming city in front of you. Toph scoffs in response, making your frown deepen.

Aang pulls out his bison whistle and blows on it. “I’m coming for you, buddy.” Katara places a hand on his shoulder. “He’s here, I can feel it.”

“Hello! My name is Joo Dee.” A strange, grinning woman says, walking up to you. “You must be Sokka, Katara, Aang, and Toph, welcome to our wonderful city.” She turns to you. “And welcome home, Y/N Zei.” 

“Oh. Thank you.” You scratch your head, wondering how she knows you all. 

“Shall we get started?” 

“Yes! We have information about the fire nation army that we need to deliver to the earth king immediately.” Sokka tells her. 

“Great! Let’s begin our tour, we’ll drop Y/N off on the way, and then I’ll show you to your new home, here. I think you’ll like it!” She turns around and starts walking, gesturing for you all to follow. You glance at each other, confused. 

“Uh! Maybe you missed what I said? We need to talk to the king about the war. It’s important.” 

“You’re in Ba Sing Se now. Everyone is safe here.” 

Your friends look at her like she’s insane, but you just smile. “Come on, guys!”

—

“This is the lower ring.” Joo Dee informs you as you ride through Ba Sing Se in an ostrich-pulled carriage. You sit beside Sokka next to a window. 

“What’s that wall for?” Katara asks. 

“Oh, Ba Sing Se has many walls. There are the ones outside, protecting us, and the ones inside, that help maintain order.” She gestures outside to a group of people. “This is where our newest arrivals live, as well as our craftsmen and artisans, people that work with their hands. It’s so quaint and lovely!” 

You point at a restaurant across the street and nudge Sokka. “That’s the best place to get food in all of Ba Sing Se.” You grin. “My dad and I used to go together all the time before we moved to the middle ring.” 

“Maybe we should stop by! I’m starving.” Toph says, patting her stomach. 

“Oh, later, later. There will be plenty of time for food after you get all settled in!” Joo Dee says, waving the idea away.

“Why do you have all the poor people blocked off in one part of the city?” Katara asks, making you furrow your brows. That’s not what this was… right? 

Aang shakes his head. “This is why I never came here before. I always heard it was so different from the way the monks taught us to live.” You frown and look back out the window. 

—

“This is the middle ring of Ba Sing Se!” You smile softly as you enter your ring. “Home to the financial district, more shops and restaurants, and the university.” 

“This is where I live!” You grin. “In the apartments just up there.” You point at a tall, ornate building that stood ten stories tall. It had ivy blooming with pink flowers going up the side. 

“It’s beautiful!” Katara says, smiling. 

“Just wait until you see my apartment! It’s easily the best decorated place in all of Ba Sing Se if I do say so myself.” You beam, filled with pride. You love your home. It’s always been a place where you found solace like nowhere else. Memories of going to work with your Father and then coming home and crashing on the couch together fill your mind, and you can’t help but feel sad again. 

“Are you okay?” Sokka whispers, placing a hand on your knee. 

You force a smile and nod. “Just thinking about how different it will be without him.” The brunette frowns and grabs your hand, wordlessly.

“Look, here’s one of the oldest buildings in the middle ring, town hall.” Joo Dee interrupts, pointing out her window. 

“Great! Could we talk to someone there?”

“We will stop here to let Y/N go home and see the architecture up close!” The carriage comes to a stop right in front of your home and Joo Dee steps out.

“Is this woman deaf!? She only seems to hear every other word I say.”

“It’s called being handled, get used to it.” Toph scowls.

You all step out and you immediately go over to your mailbox, open it and pull out the contents. You sort through the envelopes. Mostly, it’s just junk, but there’s one letter from your grandma who lives in Omashu, and another from a friend of your father’s. How were you supposed to respond to these? How were you supposed to tell people? 

“Hey guys, I’m– uh– I’m going to head up. I’ll see you around.” You give them a smile that doesn’t reach your eyes. You turn around and walk inside. 

“Y/N! Wait!” You glance back, Sokka runs inside and catches up to you. “Why don’t you come with us to check out our house? You know, so you know where to find us later?”

“No thank you.. I should really go upstairs. I have a lot to do. I really need to write to my Grandma.” 

Sokka deflates. “Oh. Yeah, of course.” 

You give him a thin-lipped smile. “Bye, Sokka.”

“Bye.” You start to turn around, but Sokka surges forward and hugs you, catching you by complete surprise. You wrap your arms around him and close your eyes, enjoying the moment. When you start to pull away, you kiss his cheek before you can second-guess yourself. 

“I’ll see you later.” You turn around and walk away leaving him a blushing mess.

—

That night, you write to your Grandma and read your father’s friend’s letter. It breaks your heart to think about how these people didn’t even get to say goodbye to him. They wrote these letters thinking that they’d get a reply a week later. Though they will be getting a reply, it certainly won’t be one they hope for.

Afterwards, you unload your backpack. In the contents, you find one of your Father’s journals– which is possibly the best thing that’s happened since you’ve been back– because it reminds you that he’s been journaling since before you were alive, and somehow managed to keep them all to your knowledge. 

Your memory proves to be correct when you go into your storage room– which was just an extra bedroom that your father filled with boxes and keepsakes– and find twenty file boxes full of journals all labeled by year. 

You grab his first journal ever and bring the first box to your room. You get comfy in your bed and then start reading it. You can definitely tell it’s his first journal from the writing. He talked about being in university himself, and how he was about to graduate. He also wrote a lot about a girl in his class, Sha Le. Your Mom. You never knew her, but everytime he mentions her, the empty feeling you’ve always had grows. 

—

The next morning, a knock wakes you. You run to your door and open it, shocked when you see Sokka standing there with a grin. 

“Good morning Y/N!” 

You smile softly and move to let him inside. “Good morning, why’d you come all this way this early?” 

He walks in and you shut the door behind him. “We figured out how we can talk to the earth king!”

You walk into your kitchen and start making some tea. “Oh yeah? How?”

“He’s throwing a party in his pet’s honor!”

“Bosco the bear?”

“Yeah.. is it really just a bear?”

You giggle. “Yeah, King Kuei is a little odd. In my opinion, platypus-bears are much cuter as pets.” 

“That’s what I said!” Sokka exclaims. 

“Anyways, did you guys get invited to the party?”

“Well, not exactly no, but Katara and Toph are going to sneak in.. we figured you should go with them! Since you know more about Ba Sing Se.” 

You pour two cups of tea and hand him one. “Toph knows more about high society than I do, it won’t be much different than in Omashu.” You scrunch up your face. “Besides, I’m not high society, I don’t know anything about how to act at those types of parties.”

“Toph is teaching Katara right now! If we hurry you’ll catch the lesson.” 

“I don’t know, Sokka. I have a lot to do. I found some boxes of my Dad’s journals and I want to go through all of them.”

“You can go through them tomorrow! I’ll even help you if you want.”

You smile. “Fine. But I’m holding you to that.” You point at him accusingly. He holds his hands up in mock surrender. 

—

“So, how do we look?” Katara asks as you, Toph, and her walk out of her bedroom. You feel a little ridiculous in the outfit, the fabric is itchy and your collar is a little suffocating. You break into a fit of giggles. 

“Wow, you look beautiful…” Aang says dreamily.

“Yeah. Beautiful.” You catch Sokka’s eyes and butterflies erupt in your stomach when you realize he’s staring right at you. You go to respond, but Toph covers your mouth with her fan.

“Don’t talk to commoners, Y/N. First rule of society.”

“We’ll get in the party and then find a way to let you in through the side gate.” You say as you walk to the front door.

—

You can’t really recall a time when you were this close to the palace. It made you nervous. You felt a little like a poser, especially when you see how easily this act comes to Toph.

When you finally reach the door, the guard asks for an invitation. 

Toph holds up her passport. “I think this will do.”

“No entry without an invitation. Step out of line, please.”

Toph scowls. “Look, the Pangs and the Yumsoon-Hans are waiting in there for us.” She crosses her arms. “I’m gonna have to tell them who didn’t let me in.”

“Step out of line please.” He reiterates. You guys frown and step out of line. Just as your about to think of a plan B, Katara spots someone.

“Sir?” She asks, walking up to a tall man with a mustache. “I’m so sorry to bother you, but my cousin lost all of our invitations.” She leans in. “She’s blind. Do you think you could help us? Our family’s inside, and I’m sure they’re very worried.” 

The man bows. “I am honored. Please, come with me.” He leads you back to the entrance where the guard bows to the man and lets you pass. You walk into the foyer and your jaw almost drops. It’s breathtaking. By far the biggest room you’ve ever been in. The pillars are taller than you thought 

 possible with gold trim on them. There are Earth Kingdom banners on every wall, and tables full of food in the center of the room. “Beautiful, isn’t it? By the way, I’m Long Feng.” The leader of the Dai Li. You tense up immediately. You’ve been caught. “I’m a cultural minister for the king.” You furrow your brow slightly when he doesn’t mention his title.

You glance around the room, faking a cough when you spot a waiter carrying drinks. “Excuse me, I’ll be back, it seems I need water.” You smile slightly and then quickly walk over to the waiter, grabbing a drink and then disappearing into the crowd. You walk over to the side door that Sokka and Aang were supposed to meet you at, and stick your head out. You zone in on them immediately and wave them in. 

“Hi Y/N!” Sokka greets you with a grin. 

“Hi Sokka.” 

“Where are Katara and Toph?” Aang asks with a frown. 

“We asked a man to sneak us in, but he’s the leader of the Dai Li and there’s no way he doesn’t know who we are.” You reply, grimacing. “I snuck away to let you guys in, Katara and Toph don’t know who he is.”

“What are you doing here!?” You turn around, caught. Joo Dee is standing in front of you, shocked. “You have to leave immediately or we’ll all be in terrible trouble.” 

Sokka steps in between you. “Not until we see the king.” He storms past her into the crowd, you and Aang following behind closely. 

“There you are!” You turn around, hearing Katara. She walks up to you with Toph’s hand in hers. 

You furrow your brows, not seeing Long Feng. “Where’d Long Feng go?”

“He’s right the– Oh.” Katara looks around behind her. “I don’t know, he was just here.”

“We must leave now!” Joo Dee whisper-shouts. 

“I already told you! Not until we see the king!” 

“You don’t understand, we must leave now!” Joo Dee takes a step towards Sokka and he takes a step back on instinct. He steps right on Aang’s foot, making the younger boy gasp and grab his foot, which throws him off balance and sends him flying into the table behind him. The table rocks back and forth before it falls, spilling a bowl of liquid all over a woman. She shrieks.

“Sorry! Oh no, don’t shout!” Aang uses his bending to dry her off, causing her hair to come undone and stick straight up.

The woman gasps. “The Avatar! Oh, I didn’t know the Avatar would be here!” She says it loud enough for everyone to turn and ogle at Aang as if he were an exhibit at the zoo. 

Sokka leans into Aang and whispers something into his ear. “Watch this, everybody!” Aang leaps into the air and lands on the huge table in the center of the room. He uses waterbending on the different coloured drinks on the table, he spins them in circles in rings around each other.

Suddenly, the gong is banged on, and Aang drops the drinks as you all turn to look at the man entering the room. You immediately know it’s King Kuei. The people carrying stop in the middle of the room for a moment, and then start taking him away again.

“Your majesty!” Aang calls out, flying over. You all start walking after the king, but once you get close to the doors he was brought through, Dai Li agents grab each of you and drag you into a room. 

“Hey! Let go of us!”

—

The agents finally let you go when you enter a library.

“Are you okay?” Sokka immediately asks you. 

“Yeah. You?” He nods. 

“We’re fine too, thanks for asking.” Toph interrupts. You both send embarrassed glares at her and Katara, who was snickering. 

A moment later, Long Feng and Aang enter the library. Long Feng sits in front of you while Aang stands next to Katara.

“Why won’t you let us talk to the king!? We have information that could help us defeat the fire nation!”

“The Earth King has no time to get involved with political squabbles and the day-to-day minutia of military activities.”

“This could be the most important thing he’s ever heard!” Aang says. 

“What’s most important to his royal majesty is maintaining the cultural heritage of Ba Sing Se. All his duties relate to issuing decrees on such matters. It’s my job to oversee the rest of the city’s resources, including the military.”

“So.. King Kuei is just a figurehead?” You ask, feeling like a bucket of ice water was just dumped on you.

“He’s your puppet!” Toph spits. 

“Oh, no, no. His majesty is an icon, a god to his people. He can’t sully his hands with the hourly changes of an endless war.”

“But we found out about a solar eclipse that will leave the fire nation defenseless. We could lead an invasion!” Sokka steps forward. You smile, admiring his passion. 

Long Feng stands abruptly. “Enough! I don’t want to hear your ridiculous plan!” The man spits. Sokka steps back, shocked. You place a hand on his forearm. “It is the strict policy of Ba Sing Se that the war not be mentioned within the walls.” You scowl. So that’s why you barely know anything about it. “Constant news of an escalating war will throw the citizens of Ba Sing Se into a state of panic. In silencing the talk of conflict, Ba Sing Se remains a peaceful, orderly utopia. The last one on Earth!” He smiles.

“You can’t keep the truth from all these people. They have to know” Katara says.

“They can, they do.” You mumble. 

“I’ll tell them. I’ll make sure everyone knows!” Aang says, raising his fist.”

“Until now, you’ve been treated as our honored guest. But from now on, you will be watched every moment by Dai Li agents. If you mention the war to anyone, you will be expelled from the city.” He turns around and stares at the green flames in the fireplace. “I understand you’ve been looking for your bison. It would be quite a shame if you were not able to complete your quest.” Aang scowls. “Now, Joo Dee will show you home.” The doors open and a woman walks in, your eyes widen when you realize it’s not Joo Dee.

“Come with me, please.”

“What happened to Joo Dee?”

“I’m Joo Dee. I’ll be your host as long as you’re in our wonderful city.” She says robotically. 

You’re starting to wonder just how great Ba Sing Se really is.

—

The next morning, you wake up in Katara’s room. It was so late once the new Joo Dee got you guys back to the higher ring that you decided to stay for the night. Katara was quick to offer you a spot in her room, and you were even quicker to agree, saying it would be a sleepover. The two of you ended up talking until the early morning, which makes the light spilling into the room even more unbearable. 

“Good morning!” A cheery voice says. You roll over and open one eye, seeing Sokka standing in the doorway. 

“It’s too early, Sokka.” Katara groans. 

“Maybe for you, but I promised Y/N we’d go through journals together.” 

You curse. “Does it have to be right now?”

“Yes, it does! Come on!” He grabs your arm and pulls you up. 

“Fine.” You mumble, sitting up and rubbing your eyes. It was way too early for this. 

—

Once you and Sokka got to your apartment, you bring down one of the boxes of journals. 

“Okay, so these are the first ones. But, there are nineteen other boxes upstairs.” You put the box on the coffee table with a thud. 

Sokka gapes at you. “Nineteen?” 

You nod. “Twenty years of journaling, there’s probably at least twelve journals in each box too.” 

“Twelve!?” 

You laugh and sit down beside him. “If you want to back out, you can. No hard feelings.” 

“No, no, I said I would help you so that’s what I’m going to do. Which one should I start with?” 

You grab two journals and hand him one. “Here, this one goes right after the one I’m starting.” You look down at your hands. “Can– Um– would you mind dog-earing any pages that mention a girl named Sha Le?”

“Sure! Why?” 

Your cheeks burn with embarrassment. You have no clue why. There’s nothing embarrassing about wanting to know your mother. “Uh.. She’s my birth mom. I don’t really know much about her.. I never asked my dad anything ‘cause I was afraid of how he’d react.” You scratch the back of your neck. “My biological parents died in the south pole when I was younger. She was my dad’s best friend.” 

“Wait.. Professor Zei isn’t your biological Dad?” 

You finally look at Sokka, who’s staring at you with an expression that’s half confusion and half shocked. “No, we don’t look anything alike!” You giggle slightly. “He was my godfather. My mom moved to the South Pole after she graduated university to study your guys’ ways of healing. She met my biological dad– Paro– while she was there. He was a waterbender–”

“I know of Paro! He was a soldier, right? He’s a legend!” He practically fan-girls, his eyes go wide and a grin stretches from ear to ear.  

You grin. “Really?”

He quickly nods. “My dad told me this story about how he single handedly beat a whole battalion of fire nation soldiers once. What happened to him?”

You sigh. “He got sick, I guess. I don’t know the details,” You frown. “Then two years later there was a raid and with no one to protect my mom, she was.. You know.” Tears well up in your eyes. “And by then I was already showing signs of being able to water bend so I was sent here and my dad took me in.”

“My mom was killed during the raid too.” Sokka replies quietly. 

“I’m so sorry, Sokka.” You bring your legs up onto the couch. “You don’t talk about your parents a lot.”

“Well you know about my mom now. My dad led the soldiers that were left in our tribe to fight in the war two years ago. Katara and I haven’t seen or heard from him since.” You frown. How could he leave two kids behind like that? “We ran into one of the soldiers, Bato, a while back and he told us dad was still alive so there’s that at least.” He frowns too. 

You reach forward and grab his hand. “That must’ve been so hard. I’m so sorry, Sokka.” 

“It’s okay. I just hope I can see him soon.”

“You will.” You smile softly. 

Sokka looks up at you and your eyes lock. You get lost in his irises, when suddenly, his eyes flicker to your lips and before you know it, he’s leaning in and you’re leaning forward to give him better access. Your lips meet and you feel like the world is melting away. His hand flies up to your cheek, cupping it. You grab his forearm as your lips move in sync. You pull away after what seems to be forever. You stare at Sokka with wide eyes, his expression matching yours, as you let the kiss sink in. You clear your throat awkwardly. “We– Uh– We should start reading.” 

His cheeks turn bright red. “Yeah! Reading! We should do that! Yes.” He backs up, putting as much space between the two of you as possible before he starts reading the journal in his lap. 

—

Hours later, you and Sokka sit in the same spots. You’ve each gotten through about two journals, meaning you’ve gone through five in total since you read one when you got back.

“Hey! Your dad has a lot of information about the fire nation in this one!” Sokka exclaims. 

You glance at his journal to see a page with a list on it. Notes from a class, you assume. “You know.. I bet there’s a lot about the fire nation in these. With how many there are, there’s gotta be, right?”

“You’re probably right! I bet you we could find out a lot in these.” He grins. “I’m so glad you had a weird dad!” 

“Hey!” You exclaim with a laugh, trying to act offended, but failing miserably. “He wasn’t that weird.” You laugh again, this time, Sokka joins in. 

—

You keep reading with Sokka until the sun goes down and you finally finish the first box. After Sokka found the first page about the fire nation, you both started finding more and more littered through the entries. At the third mention, you grab an empty notebook and start writing down everything you’ve found so far.

—

“Well, I should probably go back to the house.” Sokka says after he sets the box down in the storage room. 

“Oh, right, of course.” You smile and gesture for him to leave the room, then lead him to the front door. “Thank you for helping me. I really appreciate it.”

He smiles. “Anytime. Um–” He blushes. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable when I kissed you earlier.”

You raise your eyebrows. “You didn’t make me uncomfortable, silly. I liked it.” Your stomach churns nervously.

He looks up at you, hopeful. “Really?” You smile and nod. “Cool– I, um– I liked it too. Maybe.. Maybe we could go to that restaurant that you said you liked. Alone. As a date.” Your eyes widen. He wants to go on a date with you? “Or not, we don’t have to, obviously! It was just a suggest–” 

You cut him off by leaning up and kissing his cheek. “I’d love to go out with you, Sokka.” 

“Oh! Awesome! I mean– cool. Cool.” His cheeks turn bright red making you giggle. 

“We can figure out the details tomorrow?” You ask. He nods frantically. “Okay. I’ll go over to the house tomorrow morning.” 

“Okay! I’ll see you then!” He turns around and grabs the doorknob, waving awkwardly as he steps into the hallway. 

“Goodnight, Sokka.” You close the door behind him and blink. Did that really just happen?

──────────────────────

Taglist: @randomgurl2326 , @staygoldsquatchling02 , @acupnoodle , @ginger-swag-rapunzel , @polish-cereal @graciexmarvel

[contentloadingandstuff]

Nilou, Candace & Dehya x Dom!Male!Reader Headcanons!

CW: Male!Reader, rough play, swearing, pole dancing. Not proof read.

For Candace it’s all about serving you. She does so willingly - she likes to think that caring for you with her mind, actions and body is her wife’s duty. It also turns her on quite a fair bit! Nothing beats being your obedient, slutty cocksucker <3

You lift the cup to your lips. The slightly sweet taste of the ice cold cactus juice reaches your tongue, and you down the drink in one go. You put it away and sigh in satisfaction, not only because of the refreshment. The pair of tits moving up and down your cock and the soft, firm tongue flicking your tip every now and then work wonders for your exhausted mind. You reach out your hand to cup Candace’s tanned cheek. She looks up at you, her heterochromic eyes glowing with unrestrained lust. She smiles and opens her mouth, letting her hot tongue slide out. 

Moving your hand to her head, you press it down slightly. Candace catches the hint and she pulls her body away. Your dick doesn’t remain lonely for long - her mouth envelops your head almost right away, wetting it with a mix of her saliva and your precum. She works away, sending waves of electrifying pleasure through your body. Her hands grip your thighs for support as she worships you sloppily. 

The pleasure peaks when she presses her tongue against your frenulum. You groan and she immediately pushes her head all the way down. You grab her hair for support.

“C-candace… Candace…” You moan as you unload inside her eager throat. 

When your thighs stop trembling, she pulls away with a loud pop. She opens her mouth slightly, showing just how much you came. Candace looks you straight in the eyes and swallows your seed with a loud gulp. Her mouth opens again, not a drop left inside. She smirks.

“Thank you, my dear.”

Being a submissive is so fun! Nilou loves the dynamic a lot. She likes feeling cared for, feeling protected, and being the well behaved sub for you. Being obedient and called a good girl in return gets her all hot and bothered. Nilou likes a good punishment and reward system - it makes her rehearsals much more fun when sexy time is at stake! Especially if those dances are meant only for you…

Nilou takes a deep breath. She looks back at you, and you send her an encouraging smile. Her hands tighten around the pole, her aqua eyes focused on her distorted reflection.

I can do this.

She turns her entire body towards you, her left hand still gripping the metal rod. Nilou walks a few seductive steps to the side before leaning against the pole again. Her right leg raises and she bends it, grasping the pole. She pulls her entire body up and she shifts her balance to the left, making a few spins. Seamlessly, she places both of her feet down on the floor again. Her arms shift to hold the top and bottom parts and she gracefully hops up, pushing the side of her hips to the pole and curling her legs slightly. She spins a few times again, a gentle smile on her lips. Nilou straightens her body and wraps it around the pole and spins in the opposite direction this time. When her back is turned to you she fluently dismounts, making slow steps towards you. She bends down in a bow before smoothly grabbing the pole with her right thigh. She bends her entire body back, left leg in the air and left arm nearly touching the floor. After a moment she straightens up, spins a final time, and ends her performance by blowing a kiss. 

“Beautiful, simply beautiful…” You get up from your seat and approach her. Nilou runs up to you. Her entire face is glowing with excitement. 

“Did I do it? Did I finally do it?” She asks, barely containing her joy.

“Yes! That was absolutely stellar, Nilou!” You hug her tightly, rocking her side to side a little. She squeals with happiness. “Where did you even learn all of this?”

She giggles and blushes. “It’s quite popular here, so I have a few friends who are into this. I asked them to teach me so I could dance for you, and they agreed! It took some time, but I got the hang of it.”

You move your hands to cup her cheeks. You stare into her eyes with pure adoration. All of that for you?

“Oh, Nilou… You’re spoiling me!” You share a gentle, short kiss. Her lips taste of peach juice, sweet just as herself. 

“Am I a good girl then? Do I deserve a reward?” She asks timidly.

“Of course you are. You’re more than good, you’re the best girl.” You kiss her again. “What would you like as your reward?”

“Hm…” She places her finger theatrically to her lips. “Can we make love? Please? I was thinking of your c-cock all day…” 

You smirk. Despite her every effort, ‘naughty’ words are still hard not to stutter at. You grab her wrist.

“You’ve more than deserved it, baby.” 

You both giggle as you hurry to the bedroom.

Don’t think Dehya will come quietly. She enjoys being the sub, but you have to earn it. She’s the strongest girl around for thousands of miles, so you have to show her that you’re even stronger - your reward will be her body and submission. She likes to get you to show off your strength, your amazing body, your deep voice and ,last but not least, your authority over her. Prepare to actively keep her down and force her into submission - she really likes when you do that, and she always gets what she wants. 

 “What was that about?” You ask, arms crossed over your semi exposed chest. 

Dehya narrows her eyes and scoffs. “What was what about?”

“What were you doing out there? That wasn’t the plan.” You’ve just returned from a Fatui caravan raid. Instead of following the tactic you established, she moved first and forced you to improvise. 

“So what? It wasn’t risky and no one got hurt.” 

“You can’t disregard my words so much. You’re introducing chaos into the heists. You have to follow the plan, else it won’t work. That was luck, Dehya.” Your tone is serious, adrenaline still pumping through your veins. 

“Oh? Listen to you or what?” She smiles mockingly and steps forward. “What are you going to do about it, huh?”

You step forward, your chest now pressing on hers. You hold back a smirk, keeping your composure. “You know the consequences, Dehya.”

“Oh, I see. You’re going to punish me, are you? I have been a bad, bad girl. I need someone to discipline me.” She guides her hands, dirty with sand and sweat, up your chest, until finally resting them on your shoulders. She presses her hips against yours. 

“Hm, maybe I will. But you would like that, wouldn’t you? You enjoy being punished, you absolute brat.’ You grab her by her wrists and pull her hands away from your body. Dehya can feel your dick twitch underneath your pants, so awfully tight on your erection.

You push her into the command tent, closing the folds behind you. She backs up, resisting a fair bit, but not enough to pose any serious challenge. Her ass hits the edge of the map table, and you force her to sit on it. With a broad swipe, you send all the props and miscellaneous items to the ground. She opens her legs, making space for your clothed cock to press right against her hidden pussy.

You stare at each other for a second before you dive into her lips, letting your lust flow freely. You let go of her hands for a moment and Dehya immediately moves to take off her pants. With a few moves you remove everything covering your scarred chest and unbuckle your belt. Before Dehya can take off her panties you grab her wrists again. Pinning them to the table over her head, you unceremoniously rip them off and discard them to the side. You reach for your cock and, without warning, you thrust into her. She groans.

“Fuck, really got you all riled up - Hng! - didn’t I?”

You slap her face with your other hand before forcing your thumb into her mouth. She moves her hands to gently hold your forearm for support as she greedily licks your dirty digit. Your other hand soon finds its way to her throat, wrapping tightly around it. She gags, but her tongue never stops worshiping you. You pull your hand out of her mouth, earning a groan of displeasure from her. You make up for it with another slap before roughly pulling back the cloth covering her bust. You grab a handful of her boob, carelessly massaging the nipple. She moans, but due to your hand the only sounds that come out of her restricted windpipe are those of air being forced out of her lungs with every thrust. Her legs lock around your hips, but you push them apart by wiggling your torso. 

Someone clears their throat outside of the tent. Both of you suddenly flinch, your hand on her throat instantly relaxing.

“Sir? Among the documents we stole there is something you would be interested in. A map to be precise.”

Dehya growls. “Put it on the table to the right and scram. We’re busy.”

You look back to see a tanned arm reaching into the tent and placing a scroll where she commanded. It then retracts, and the sounds of quick footsteps on the sound mark the officer’s departure. Dehya grabs your chin and turns it back to her. 

“Where were we? Oh right. Choke this bitch and keep fucking. I still have a lot to learn.” 

Thanks for reading!

[stardust948]

Urzai adopts the Gaang AU - The Headband

@urzaiweekblog

Day 3: Unplanned

Day 6: Dance

Day 7: Tradition

Ozai couldn’t believe he let the children talk him and Ursa into this. Aang attending a Fire Nation school was a bad enough idea. Now this?! Ozai swore he was going to go grey early with as many stressed grey hairs the young Avatar has given him.

“This is such a terrible idea.”

“Agreed. But you know they were going to go behind our back and do it anyway.” Ursa said. “At least this way we can keep an eye on them.”

Ozai grunted. He already caught Azula and Toph trying to spike the punch with cactus juice they got from Agni knows where. But judging from the slightly dazed looks and wobbly swaying, they managed to sneak some in after all.

“Besides,” Ursa continued. “Look at how much fun they’re having.”

Ozai hummed. Aang was showing off some “traditional” Fire Nation dance moves to the students as Toph and Azula laughed from the side while passing back and forth a cup. Katara even managed to cox Zuko onto the dancefloor. Ozai smiled to himself. It has been a while since he’d seen them this happy especially after Ba Sing Se fell.

Ursa grinned. “Careful Ozai. I have you know dancing is illegal in the Fire Nation.”

Ozai stilled. “The music is livelier than I expected.”

“Of course. Wouldn’t want to ruin your pristine reputation.”

Ozai smirked and held out his hand. “Considered it ruined, my dear.”

Ursa accepted with an amused expression. “You know how to dance?”

Ozai led her to the dancefloor. “Can’t be much different from sparing.”

“Well then.” Ursa pulled him close. “I’ll lead.”

They circle each other in slow careful steps like the beginning of a duel before dissolving into sharp twists and turns; the natural synergy was similar to covering each other in battle. Aang led the others into some sort of circle dance around them, whooping and cheering.

The feeling was incredible. Exciting. Fun.

It was actually… fun.

“WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?!”

The music stopped abruptly. At the entrance of the cave was the headmaster and a couple of Fire Nation soldiers.

“Where is the student with the headband? Bring him to me now!”

“Ash.” Ozai and Ursa both swore under their breaths.  

It was fine though. They’ve planned for this. While the students distracted the headmaster and soldiers with their own headbands, the rest of Team Avatar slipped through the escaped tunnels. They had to be quick. The soldiers won’t hesitate to arrest everyone here by force if needed. Ozai glanced around to make sure everyone got out. He suddenly had formed a deep pit in his stomach.

“Wait.” Ursa whispered alarmed, echoing Ozai’s thoughts. “Where’s-“

“What’s all this now?” A stern looking man with a bushy beard demanded.

The soldiers straighten up immediately. “Captain Wang Fire! We-“

“I don’t want to hear it! You two are needed at the Eastern Gate now. There are some unauthorized benders lurking by there.” He looked directly at them. “You all should leave. Now!”

“That’s where he’s been this whole-“

Ursa shushed him as she led him out. Ozai sighed.

They were all so grounded.

[parkerlyn]

Hi all! These were short stories about 500-1000 words (depending on the version and character) based on dialogue prompts collected from patrons.

If you'd like to read these with custom pronouns and MCs, passwords to the Bonus Story Hub and the spicy versions are available on Patreon!

Enjoy 💗

Play The Nameless | Patreon | Discord

The Healer: "I want to ruin you" | "How about we continue this somewhere more private?"

Footsteps padded down the stairs in the distance as you tried to rub the sleep from your eyes. The earthy smell of herbs rose through the Healer's home, and you found yourself hard pressed to leave the warm cocoon of blankets they had left you in. Still, there were only a few moments of free time you could steal from the Healer until the late evening, and you knew you had to seize what you could before the entire city came knocking at their door.

They'd already began setting out their deliveries for the day by the time you made your way downstairs, the mortalis whistling a cheery song before they caught sight of you. They smiled - bright enough to rival the sunrise - and nodded their head to the table. "Some fruit and things I made if you like. Still have a little bit of time before the first person should stop by."

You placed a quick kiss to their lips, tasting the sweet remnants of strawberries - likely from the same batch currently cut and fanned out over the plate laid out for you on the table. The Healer returned the favor, kissing you sweetly on the cheek before almost dropping one of the bottles in their hands. With a laugh, they readjusted their grip on the containers and continued with their to-do list.

Not quite committed to sitting yet, you leaned against the table and watched, plucking some of the berries from the plate and letting the juices sear across your tongue in a rush of sweetness.

"Good?" the Healer asked while their skilled fingers worked open a cactus blade, the plant - safely trimmed - pliant in their strong hands.

You hummed a response through a smile, eyes drifitng up over their tattoos and up their bare arms where their muscles tensed with each movement. They hadn't yet donned their usual clothes for the day - you'd never say you minded - and the loose dark grey cloth drifted forward to reveal more of their chest through the large openings at their sides. Even the look of concentration - eyes narrowed and nose scrunched - endeared the mortalis to you, their hair still messy and swept forward in dark waves with a sliver of their undercut peeking out.

Really, you couldn't be blamed for all that had happened between you, could you?

"How long until the first visit?"

They remained concentrated, some of the moist inner parts of the plant smearing on their fingers. "Mmm..." they pursed their lips in thought. "Probably another half hour?"

Plenty of time. If we're quick.

At your pause, the Healer turned to see the sly grin inching over your face as you straightened. With ease, you weaved your way over to them, placing yourself between their body and the small table in front of them where the cactus leaves were laid out. They lifted their hands, sticky fingers spread wide as they tried to avoid touching you. "Sorry, these things make a mess. Let me get a towel-"

"No need," you assured, grabbing their waist and pulling them flush against you. You heard the hitch in their breath as you pressed into their lower back, grinding them into you. "Got you right where I want you."

Before they could respond, you worked your hands lower. Hands twitched at your side, wanting to hold you, the Healer knitting their brow with frustration at their helpless position. A strangled groan bubbled in their throat as they steadied themself on the table, now unconcerned with the substance spreading across the surface. The motion brought them closer, and you leaned toward their neck to suck gently at the skin.

"I want to ruin you," you breathed against them.

Magic swarmed around their hands in an instant, water from a nearby glass swirling around the sticky residue on their fingers and splashing somewhere on the table, their hands still cool and damp as they urgently brought your face to theirs. The medicines were all but forgotten as you were pushed back against the wall, a soft moan escaping when they trailed their lips up your neck, outlining the glamoured markings haphazardly strewn across your skin that they had traced a thousand times before. Their hand searched desperately for anything exposed, terracotta tattooed fingers gripping at your jaw to frame your mouths together.

The Healer backed away to breathe but kept their chest pinned to you, arms framed around your waist and a dizzy smile on their lips. Staring up through half-lidded eyes, you wondered how, even as disheveled as the two of you were, the Healer still managed to look so beautiful.

To look so...kind.

"Please ruin me-"

Knock knock knock.

"Um...Healer?" came a timid voice from the other side of the front door.

Mortification and heat from another source rose in their face as your eyes widened. The decision took a few more seconds before the Healer sighed with a shaky laugh, removing their hands from your body and coughing with a nod toward the door.

The visitor was dealt with quickly, your sheevra instincts - or maybe just desire - urging you to slam the door in their face. In the time it took them to dispense of them and whatever they had come early for, you thought of a hundred different ways you could meet the Healer's request.

"How about we take this somewhere more private?" they whispered as soon as the door was closed, more plea than question.

You offered your agreement with an outstretched hand, leading them upstairs.

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

The Sage: "Are you holding back?"

Sunlight painted broad strokes through the Sage's office, a glowing prism of scattered beams reaching across the walls as the sun sank lower on the horizon. The glass was warm where your palms pressed against the floor-to-ceiling window, your gaze flickering over the city sprawling out ahead of you even as your hitched breath fogged up your view.

It wasn't anything celestial that sparked heat through your muscles, but the Sage's body pressed to your back, one hand steadying your waist and the other...

Magic ignited from their fingertips, sending waves of warmth through where your thigh met your torso. It flared around their skilled hands as the embers sunk into your knee, and plummeted down your calf, threatening to flutter over to where you could feel pleasure pooling between your legs. Anxious to be answered but hesitant to be revealed.

Your eyes caught sight of the other walls of their office, hazy through a thick layer of illusion magic. Shelves of perfectly aligned books were decorated with other trinkets, blurry through the curtain of energy swept around you. Trying to bite down your voice, you tried to focus, make out the details, fingers curling and desperate against the smooth surface as you tried to keep quiet.

"Are you holding back?" they murmured, breath gentle but overwhelming as it sent shivers from the nape of your neck to the small of your back. Their chest leaned into your shoulder blades, the shivers transforming into a torrent of goosebumps over your arms as their magic turned frigid. "You don't have to worry, no one can hear us or see us." The hand at your waist smoothed upward to slide away the cloth near your neck as they pressed their lips to your skin, each exhale carrying a small inferno of magic that battled with the icey energy floating under your ribs.

"If you'd prefer we not, I'm happy to continue this later." The sentence was annoyingly professional even as their finger trailed a line under your stomach and drifted downward, lingering over the last layer of your clothes and skirting against the hem. "Should we revist this another time? Perhaps-" The magic switched back, a bolt of heat between your legs as their sigh slid a wintry whisper across your collar. "-we can reschedule for sometime more convenient."

The ploy was a familiar one, but they were always, infuriatingly successful. The chuckle vibrating against your spine would've been annoying, if it didn't also ground you to the feeling of their body and everywhere the two of you were connected.

"Sanctin, shut up," you snarled in frustration, hoping in the moment the words came across stronger and steadier than your legs. You bit down a whimper as their hand left your hip, their arm straightening along yours and pressing their palm into the back of your hand.

"Now, now," they chided, squeezing down in the spaces of sunlight streaming through your fingers. "No need for animosity." Their free hand wandered lower and lower, your clothes pliant to their touch. "Just let me hear you."

Distantly through your dazed mind you wondered why you ever bothered to hold back, a desperate cry blooming from your throat.

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

The Magesmith: "You have to work for it"

The days had drawn out longer and longer recently, the Magesmith's evenings consumed by an obsession over their latest commission. Odd hours weren't necessarily out of the ordinary, but you'd admit to a slight preference to smells that did not include burning hair.

Evening had already swept across the city, darkness hiding in the corners of the room where the crystals had chased it into. But even the glow of the magic couldn't keep away the shadows under the Magesmith's eyes as they hunched over their drawing table with papers falling like wilting petals to the floor.

"You're working yourself to death again."

Your voice woke them from their stupor as widened brown eyes looked up at you in shock, before swiveling to the clock with a groan. "Shit."

"Come to bed?"

A pause. "I just have this one last part-"

"Come to bed," you stated more than asked this time, squaring your body into a standoff with the brunette. The Magesmith scrunched their face and sighed before something else washed over their expression. Something...

...like a challenge?

They tapped their pencil against their lips before setting it down on the table, leaning back in their chair with an elbow over the wooden back.

"Make me."

Your brow shot up at the words. Though their expression still remained netural, their eyes bore a hole into you, drifting down across your face, then to your lips, and then back. Maybe it was the late hour, or the sudden confidence in their body, but the statement left you speechless.

"No?" they responded to your silence, and leaned back across the desk. The corner of their mouth twitched. "Suppose I'll get back to work, then."

Oh no you don't.

"And what would you suggest?"

"Sorry, what?" they didn't even deign to look at you, though the smirk was slowly starting to reveal itself on their face. "It's just, I'm already so focused on this design again... but feel free to go to bed without me."

Cheeky little-

Striding over to them, you circled behind and lowered your lips to their neck, breathing against pale skin. You let a kiss linger along their collar, tracing it down their shoulder and reaching a hand around their chest. Angling your arm down, your fingers explored the tensing muscles over their stomach and down further, skating over and gripping carefully at their thigh.

"How's your focus now?" you teased, taking the lobe of their ear between your teeth and grazing gently over the skin.

Victory seemed close as their head tilted to expose more of the soft, sensitive places around their ear - but you should have know it wouldn't be so easy.

A chuckle that you felt through their back. "You're going to have to work a little harder than that."

Well, two can play at that.

The Magesmith yelped as you stepped around and pushed one of their knees to the side, spreading their legs apart and directing their body to the side of their chair so that you could have better access. You leaned over them, gleeful in the shock they tried to hide on their face before they tried to refasten a stoic mask. Supporting yourself on the hands framing their hips, you kneeled before them.

You looked up into their eyes, a dusty rose spreading over their cheeks as their lips parted in shallow breaths, quickening in anticipation. The pencil had been long discarded, the papers forgotten, their focus completely aligned to you.

A smirk graced your mouth as you leaned close, kissing the fabric along their stomach, but not surrendering to their desires - and yours - quite yet.

To their credit, they managed to keep still and not seem too desperate. Though you could read it as easily as if it were written before you with how their magic flickered around your body, heat seeping into your joints and swirling around in your lungs.

Which is why you had to ask, "How's your design going?"

A frustrated exhale through flaring nostrils, followed by a sigh of defeat, the Magesmith's body squirming to be touched again by your hands.

"So. Bed?" they muttered quickly.

You smiled even wider.

"Make me."

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

Oisein: "I want to count every one of your freckles"

The great waterfall of Saor towered above, torrential water crashing into the pool behind you. Fine mist lingered in the air as shockwaves of sound thundered through your bones.

But despite the majesty of the scene, all you could focus on was the leanhaun laying by your side.

Oisein's sheevra features shone through as your thumb smoothed over their cheek. Their skin was soft under your caress, your finger sliding down, riding along the ridge of their collar bone before sinking lower over the middle of their chest. In the wake of your touch, their freckles glowed in a tide of light that rippled around where your skin met theirs.

The two of you were silent, conversation all but halting after what had happened in Renescen. It was understandable, and there was no protest when you said you wanted to rush home for a reprieve. Even Oisein, guilty of always batting away anything serious with his sharp wit, had held his tongue - instead enthusiastically offering to accompany you.

It seemed inevitable that you'd end up here again, on the banks of the pools where you'd been so carefree before. A part of you wondered if you shut your eyes tight enough, if you could return to that time. To glittering laughter and the sounds of Heleen and Mav egging you on to jump, Oisein's drenched hair darkened by the water and plastered to his bright, smiling face.

Things would never be like that again, you knew.

For all you had lost, though, you had gained something else in Oisein. And under the cover of the constant fog at the base of Saor, his actions spoke louder than any words could.

You had lost track of your glamors somewhere, but in the moment, you couldn't find it in you to care. Oisein's eyes searched yours for some answer that neither of you had before they leaned forward, pressing your foreheads together. The music of their magic was cautious and uncertain, even as they tried to find the answer in their lips against yours. Nails scratched lightly at your skin in desperation while they cupped your face to theirs, pressing kiss after kiss as if to seal their secrets inside your lungs.

Oisein broke away first, forehead still against you and eyes squeezed shut - maybe trying to return to a simpler time as well, you wondered - and magic still anxious. Jittery notes beat a quiet, timid rhythm as shining violet stared into your eyes again, his swollen lips pressed into a thin line. Anything he wanted to say was swallowed down roughly, hands still firmly planted at either side of your face.

Your own fingers lifted from his neck, reaching upward to sift through his golden hair. Idly, another memory from your life before Renescen resurfaced, your hands reenacting the motions as you gently rubbed circles near his temples, arcing gently upward toward the base of his antlers. Thankfully, you remembered correctly, given the satisfied hum from the leanhaun as they nudged their head against your hands.

"I want to count every one of your freckles," you murmured against their cheek, watching the markings near where you spoke shudder with light as they murmured your name.

"I want to count every one of your freckles with my lips" you said again, face buried in their hair. "Every morning. Every night. Every day until the end."

Frantic hands wrapped around your body, pressing you closer into them and breathing you in. Markings met markings, magic met magic, and their lips found yours again. Urgent, and terrified, but rooting in the feel of your skin against theirs.

"Gladly," he whispered, pulling your hand toward him to kiss your wrist. "Every morning." A kiss at your sternum. "Every night." A kiss against your stomach. "Every day." Thumbs following the lines of your hips. "Until the end."

Through the clouds of mist surrounding you, you could just see the stars - dull in comparison to the universe alight on Oisein's skin, sparks igniting behind your eyes and burning through your veins.

[fantasies-fairytales-n-fics]

Code Blue Ch. 49-No Escape From Now

Summary: Josie spends a long stormy night with Dave. The boy who cried wolf puts him in the dog house. A sweet smelling apology is made. CHEERS! The thunder rolls and Josie has had enough. The boy cries bloody wolf again. The new sunny side up morning brings many surprises. The early bird catches more than the worm. Someone's anger gets the best of them. You have the right to remain silent. A shocking reveal comes to light as Lee remembers.

*Chapter Warnings* DARK, language, angst, alcohol use, mentions of murder, graphic gif depictions, self pleasure, smut, mild violence, arrest,

Chapter characters: Josie, David, Luke, Lee

Chapter word count: 5,317

Grandview, MA

March 21, 2022

You were stiff as a board on the long and treacherous drive back to Dave's as the relentless rain had mutated into an angry wind storm full of tumultuous thunder and livid lightning along the way. He tried to hold your hand to calm your anxiety but you insisted he keep both of his hands on the wheel. Finally, after 30 torturous minutes of having to pee, Dave pulled into the driveway of his humble little abode in Grandview that was perfect for a bachelor like him and a perfect getaway for you, but deep down you knew that there was no escape from now.

"You ready??" Dave asked with his hand on the door handle. "1...2.......3!"

Bolting out of the truck, you squealed as you ran into the dry safe haven of the foyer with Dave chuckling behind you.

"You don't lock your doors?" you panted as you dripped all over the floor.

"Guess I forgot in my rush to chase a 5 year old ghost." he jested and helped you out of your wet jacket. "I'll go check the house if it will make you feel better."

"Yeah well...duhh!" you riposted and stood in place while you watched Dave run up the creaky wooden stairs, skipping every other step with his long strides.

After hearing his footsteps and door after door close to the 3 bedrooms, bathroom and closets...all went quiet.

"Dave??" you meeped as you leaned without stepping out of place to peek up the L shaped staircase.

There was still no answer and then.....

"AHHH!!!!" Dave bellowed, sending you sprinting backwards against the front door.

Frozen solid and panting heavily, you managed to stutter out his name. "D...David!?"

You gasped and damn near relieved your full bladder as Dave's hand slapped over the doorway's frame and then his face slowly appeared with a wicked grin.

"You....ASSHOLE!!!"

You stomped off through the kitchen and into the bathroom, slamming the door shut as hard as you could.

"Josie." Dave snickered as he tapped on the door. "I'm sorry. I was just playi..."

"If I didn't have to pee so damn bad, I would have gotten a frying pan and knocked you into next week!... Arrrrgh!"

"Jo, really. I'm sorr...."

The toilet flushed and the door instantly swung open with you standing there, you lips pursed and your narrowed eyes fuming.

"Damn you're so cute when you're mad."

"Asshat." you snarled and shoved past him to the kitchen where you angrily pulled out 2 margarita glasses with the cactus stems and stared him down. "Well??? It's midnight, margarita man and they better be extra strong."

"Yes dear." he snarked as he now stood before you, peering down at you with an arched brow.

"What?"

"The blender. It's behind you."

"Oh..."

You stepped aside with a huff and went to sit on a stool at the table bar that extended off of the gas stove island in the center of the small but homey kitchen and watched him collect the items to concoct his merciless margaritas. The same ones he made at Jason's funeral reception that, by the end of the night, had Orlando carrying you up to your bed.

"Damn it." Dave snapped as he rooted through the fridge.

"What now?"

"I don't have any oranges or limes."

"Soooo, use that Rosie's lime juice and surely you must have some OJ??"

Dave gasped. "Sacrilege! Fresh squeezed is the only way to go to create my magicritas."

"Alright Mr. perfectionist. Wine will have to do."

"Nope. I promised midnight margaritas and that is what I will make you. Just give me 15 minutes."

Dave began putting his coat back on with a rain jacket over top and grabbed his keys.

"Wait, what are you doing????"

"Running down to the 24/7 on the corner."

"In this storm?? At midnight???"

"Citrus Jo. Need citrus. It's right around the corner. You know that. I'll be back in a jiffy."

Before you could further protest, Dave was out the door and driving off in his truck.

You locked the door behind him and went back to the kitchen to at least grab a beer and some snacks while you waited. Upon opening the fridge, there in plain sight sat a bag of oranges and limes.

"What the???" you whispered as you yanked them out of the fridge. "What the hell are you up to my bff?"

You popped open the strangely named beer that you were not even going to attempt to pronounce and sat back down, sipping on it with a sour expression, for to simply put it, it tasted like shit and as you waited in your parched boredom, your thoughts began to roam about Dave's gift that Lee also possessed.

Dave had first opened up to you about his ability to see and speak to the dead shortly after a trauma he had suffered which you had helped him through. Although he had seen things as a child, the older he got, the less the occurrences became until they eventually ceased altogether but his mediumship strangely returned after witnessing his biological father, Victor Cassadine, murder the man he had known as his father for most of his life, Duke Lavery. It had all went down at a yearly Metro Court event, the Nurses Ball, that you attended with Dave and Britt. Later that evening, you found Dave on the pier, holding Duke who died in his arms from a bullet wound to the chest and Victor was never implicated because, before you showed up, he coerced Dave to lie by threatening the people he loved.

The rich and powerful Cassadine clan weren't connected to the mob but were highly infamous nonetheless with their Russian royalty bloodlines, pretty much like Gerry's Greek tycoon father, Victor Kiriakis and in your opinion, they both put the mafia to shame with their capabilities and lack of morals, which is why Dave's relationship with his father was a bit rocky, unlike Gerry's with his dad and that always baffled you since he was a law abiding citizen with a badge. None of it made sense with Dave either, for he still adored his troublesome mother who had many ties to that world, one being of Cesar Faison, Britt's terrorist father. Organized crime or not, it was all the same to you and you had become sucked into all of it beginning with one person. Jason.

Now your thoughts went to Lee. He had certainly suffered a great trauma. The accident with Jacob and his death. Could that be a relevant reason as to why Lee could see his son? He had also seen his mother and father at one point. But why was it happening now and not then? Or could this all be related to something that happened long ago and has something to do with what Lee has been harboring? Maybe you should just go and force it out of Luke but, would that further damage things between you and Lee? Or maybe...too much damage had already been done and you should just let it all go. Lee included.

You heard the slamming of Dave's truck door and ran to greet him because now you felt bad for jumping down his throat, although he deserved it.

The front door opened before you could open it and in walked a damp but still dashing Dave who whipped the hood of his raincoat off and quickly handed you a dozen red roses that he was concealing behind his back.

"For you." he softly said with a sweet smile. "I'm really sorry."

"These are some odd looking fruit. You went out in this mess just to buy me an apology?"

"Actions speak louder than words."

"Yeah well now you owe me one for lying about the reason you went." you quipped and you inhaled the heavenly floral aroma, then headed to the kitchen in search for a vase.

Dave followed you as he removed his coat and shoes, then he saw the oranges and limes on the counter.

"Busssted....but if I would have told you why I was going, it just wouldn't have been as meaningful as a surprise."

You approached him and pushed his saturated strands from his baby blues. "Alright. You're forgiven, now get busy. You're late."

Dave glanced at the clock that now said 12:15. "On it! Why don't you go pick out that movie."

"K...but I've had enough horror for the night. How about a fantasy? We still need to watch Snow White, A Tale of Terror."

"And that's not horror??" Dave asked as he kicked the blender on.

"It's more witchy than slasher."

"You've only seen it a thousand times. You just like go on about Gutenberg, swearing that he is me. And let us not forget that his first name is Peter."

"Never mind that. They say everyone has a twin and he is yours."

Dave came in with the drinks, sat them down and got a fire going.

"I do not look like him and I hate his clothes, plus he has red hair Jo. The only one that looks good around here with fiery tresses is you."

"Hmmm I don't know. Gutenberg is pretty hot." you giggled as you took a huge gulp of your liquid gold.

"Right. That must be why Lilli wanted to be with Will instead. Wait, did you just call me hot?"

"Nope. You don't look like him remember??"

"Alright, the movie is going in Princess. Zip your lip unless it's to drink."

You grinned and cuddled up beside him on the couch. After halfway through the movie and 3 drinks in, you couldn't hold your tipsy tongue anymore.

"See!!! LOOK. It's YOU!! Baby blues and all!!"

"Ok. You're cut off." he chuckled. "It's almost 2 am Josie. Let me put the fire out and help you up to the guest room."

"I can walk Davey!"

"Josie, even when sober, you couldn't walk from here to the front door without tripping over nothing."

"Hardy har har. Fine. I have so much shit to do tomorrow anyways but right now, all I want to do is sleep off this twisted tequila."

Dave took care of the fireplace as you sucked out every last drop from your glass, then his and when you stood up, the booze caught up with you. Down you went, laughing like a hyena.

"You see?? Come on. It's piggy back time."

Dave crouched over in front of you and you clumsily climbed on, burying your nose into his rain scented hair, then up the stairs he carried you and let you slide down onto the bed.

"Goodnight Jo Jo."

You took his hand and wouldn't let him go as he turned to leave.

"Thank you for the roses and the midnight madness. You know I love you right?"

Dave's smile held a subtle sadness. "Just not in the way Lilli loves Will."

"Dave I..."

"Shhh. Go to sleep. I'm right next door if you need me. Night Jo."

He kissed your head and left, shutting the door behind him and you laid there for a moment, gazing at the spinning ceiling.

"Not in the way I love you Lee." you whispered and then your eyes closed.

3 hours later, they popped wide open when a bellowing boom of thunder shook your bed. Gasping as you realized where you were, you ran straight into Dave's room in a panting panic, startling him awake from his deep slumber. You never understood how anyone could sleep through such a ruckus.

"Josie? Hey, it's ok. Come here."

"No. No Dave. I...I need to go home."

"What? Jo, it's 5:30 am. Wait till sunrise and I'll make you some breakfast, then I'll take you. Come lay down with me. I won't bite....hard." he joked as he bobbed his brows up and down.

You knew he was just trying to help you relax but you couldn't do it. You had already felt guilty about sleeping in Orlando's bed the night, even if it was solely to keep an eye on his breathing after Luke had almost choked the life out of him. You had been honest with Lee and he understood, but you didn't think he would about it being over a storm.

"Dave, no. I really shouldn't."

He sighed and seemed a bit peeved. "We've been best friends for how long now and I have never tried anything on you now have I? I wouldn't do that. I don't see the problem with trying to comfort you when you're scared."

"Dave I know that. That's not the problem. It's...Lee."

"How did I already know that?" he bemoaned.

"Dave, I..."

"Josie, it's fine. I'll get up and take you."

"Well...could we still eat breakfast first? I'm really hungry."

"Sure. Let me go grab a shower. I'll see you downstairs in a bit." he uttered and headed down the hall to the bathroom.

You ran to the doorway. "Dave, you shouldn't take a shower in a stor..."

"I'll be fine Josie." he interrupted with a sigh full of sarcasm and shut bathroom the door without even looking back at you.

Dave turned the water and undressed, then climbed in when it was cold enough to wake him up and put other parts of him to sleep. he leaned on the wall and doused his head under the cool stream as he stared down at his uncooperative morning wood, so he decided to quickly satisfy it's needs.

After lathering up his hand with some soap, he swiftly brought his throbbing member to a hip shattering release in merely 20 vigorous strokes just to get it over with, for he felt guilty that he thought of you while doing so and he blamed it on the dream he was having just before you woke him up. One where you desired him in ways he could have never imagined.

As he panted through the last pulse, he then raised the temperature to a tolerable warmth and let the water drown his face...until he realized the water had turned to blood.

"AHHHHH! HEY!!!" he shrieked as he backed away in a daze.

You sat on the edge of his bed, checking your phone to see if your mom had called and since she hadn't, you figured no news was good news and surprisingly, you didn't have any texts or calls from Lee either, which you weren't so sure if that was good news.

You brought up Lee's number and as your finger hovered with hesitancy over the call button, you heard Dave's yell and this time, it sounded legit. Dropping your phone, you raced to the bathroom door but it was locked so you you began pounding on it.

"Dave!!! What's wrong???!!!"

He stared up at the showerhead and then in a moment of clarity and humiliation, he realized it was only rust.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. It's just a plumbing job I did the other day. Rusty water."

"O...oh." you sighed in relief and then giggled. "Gross."

"I heard that! Not funny Jo."

You started singing to tease him. "Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon, you come and go, you come and gooooo ohhh!"

"Girl, I'm going to come out there butt ass naked and carry you in here with me! Here I come!!" he playfully threatened.

"Oh hell no!" you squealed and ran downstairs laughing, knowing he wasn't going to chase you naked.

As you stood in the downstairs bathroom brushing your teeth with the toothbrush Dave kept there specifically for you, you had to smile. One of the best things about your relationship with Dave was that it was easy. There were no secrets and you both understood each other without even having to speak and even when you pissed each other off, it only lasted a hot minute. He was a safe place for you. If you hadn't been involved with Gerry when you met Dave, things might have been different between you and Dave.

The storm had passed and as you and Dave finished up your breakfast of French toast and sausage, the early bird was outside waiting for his meal. A meal ticket that was....and just then, the landline rang.

Dave sighed with an eye roll and wiped his mouth, then got up to answer it.

"Probably work wanting me to come in early since I'm due back today from my vacation. Hello? Dr. Conrad speaking."

"Ahh, Dr. Conrad. Just the person I have been trying to reach. Clearly you are home since you answered the phone and also there's your truck in the driveway. I guess you just didn't hear me knocking earlier."

Dave went straight to the living room window and peeled back the curtain.

"I was in the sho...I'm sorry, who is this?" he asked with furrowed brows and then caught sight of the forest green dodge charger parked in front of the neighbor's house with deeply tinted side windows.

"Pardon my manners doctor. I'm detective Luke Evans with the Salem Police Department. I have been trying to reach you for questioning in the matters of the recently deceased Elizabeth Webber and now, an injured, possibly attacked miss Megan March. Both women you know. May I come up?"

"It's 8 am??''

"Well you've been a hard man to locate so I figured I'd have a better shot at catching you bright and early. This won't take long."

"Give me a minute."

"I'll be right here waiting. Alright bye."

Dave hung up and Luke watched the front door like a hawk.

"Dave?? Who was that? Is someone here?" you asked in concern as you stood in the dining room watching him.

"Just as you said last night at the hospital. That the cops would be all over this."

"The police are here???"

"Just one. Your new favorite detective."

"Ohhhh hell no. Luke...is here??"

You whipped the curtain back open, but didn't see his bike. "Where??"

"Green charger."

Once you saw it, your anger towards him resurfaced from his prior visit at Lee's lake house and you bolted right out the door.

"Unnnnbelievable!" you erupted as you marched straight for him which caught Luke off guard , for he was just as stunned to see you as you were him.

He didn't even have a chance to get out of the car when there you were, dispensing your rage at him outside his window.

"You came all the way to Grandview?! What are you doing here??!!"

He rolled the window down with his hazel hues locked in yours. "Can I get out of the car to explain?"

You stepped back with a huff and a sarcastic sway of your arm in a gesture of agreement.

"By all means, please do detective dick."

Luke sighed as he stepped out. "Classy Jo. Do you want to tone it down a little bit?"

No, I do not. Not even a little bit and don't speak to me about class when you know nothing about it."

"Ok, I get it. You're still salty...."

"Salty?" you derisively laughed. "I'm furious! You do know interrogation rooms at the POLICE station are there for a reason?? Yet you insist on randomly showing up at people's homes like a feral fucking cat. All you had to do was call him and ask him to come in and he would have."

"I did call. Multiple times this morning before I came here, but I guess you and the good doctor here were.....sleeping?"

You wanted to wipe his smug smirk right off of his face. "Ohhhh, don't you even. Yes, we WERE sleeping and not that it's any of your business, if you must know, I slept in the guest room."

"Well thank you for the 411 but now I need some from David if you don't mind."

"Actually I DO mind. This is bullshit and..."

Dave appeared next to you. "Josie, it's ok. I have nothing to hide."

"I know you don't but this is not ok Dave!"

"Look Jo. The sooner the doc here answers my questions, the sooner I can get out of your hair unless you want to keep interfering with the investigation, then..."

"Then what Luke? You'll arrest me??"

He took a step forward and now stood towering over you, peering down with a cocky brow.

"Don't tempt me."

You stood your ground and stepped forward as well with your stomach merely inches from his as you glared up at him.

"Go ahead. I dare you."

Luke dropped his head and smiled, shaking his head in disbelief as he rubbed his eyes and heavily sighed.

"You do realize I am just doing my job right? Would you be giving Gerry such a hard time of he were the one here??"

"Yeah well I hate your job and yes, yes I would be the same way with Gerry but I would rather deal with him than you any day."

"Well he's not here. I am, so deal with it or I can begin reading you your rights. Your choice sweetheart."

"Fine." you sneered and then mumbled under your breath as you moved beside Dave. "God I can't stand him."

"Alright. David. First things first." Luke began as he pulled out his pen and little black book that Craig had called it. You chuckled inside when you also remembered what he called Luke. An audacious British fuck, for that he was.

"Where were you 2 nights ago on the 20th of March up to last night when you arrived at the hospital with the injured miss March?"

Dave's eyes flowed down to you with reluctance, for he knew you were going to flip when you heard his answer.

"I...was on Spoon island. I had actually been there for the past 6 days."

Your mouth dropped open. "You were at Wyndemere????!!! And you're just now telling me this??"

"He's actually telling me." Luke griped at you, then aimed his next question at Dave. "What's Wyndemere?"

Of course you answered for Dave as you stared at the nervous doctor and it was quite acerbic.

"Oh it's just Dracula's creepy castle on it's very own remote island on the outskirts of Salem, how fitting, and it has an abundance of secret tunnels probably filled with coffins and let us not forget the multiple parapets that people have either fallen from or been tossed off of over the years."

Dave became annoyed. "Ok, my father is not a vampire and that castle is just a mansion on an island with a cottage and even a horse stable. It was a nice getaway from life."

Now your eyes gaped to match your mouth. "Since when do you call Victor your father???"

"Since that's what he is Jo!"

"By DNA only!!! He's a murderous monster or did you forget what he..."

"That's enough Jo." Dave spat through his teeth with his eyes reminding you to keep your mouth shut.

"Yes, that's enough of your whinging." Luke protested. "David, what is Victor's full name and what is this about murder??"

"Victor Cassadine. You may have heard the surname before as it's quite notorious, just as the rumors are, like Josie was speaking of."

"And this man is your father as you stated? Will he vouge for you?"

"Yes. I am sure he will."

"Is there anyone else that can also attest to your whereabouts? And...at anytime during your stay, did you leave the island?"

"There's a ferry that goes to and from there at specific times, but I did not leave. You can question the ferryman. It's always the same guy except on rare occasions. He saw me and I do have my tickets for both their and back. I'll go get them."

"That was quite the detailed narrative there Josie. Did you get that from watching the vampire diaries? Or maybe from that book you were reading? The Cult of Dolos was it?"

"Oh shut up. Now that we have a minute alone. Why don't you tell me about Sam Colin???"

All of Luke's movements ceased as his eyes seemed hypnotized by that name.

"Wh..who?"

"Don't play dumb with me. Lee told me and now I want to hear it from you."

Luke was now trying to read you like a book as he shifted his weight to one leg and raised a brow.

"Lee told you huh? Told you what...exactly?"

"That you set him up somehow."

"Somehow? So Lee did NOT tell you." Luke stepped forward again, so close that you actually took a step back. "Don't toy with me Jo. I don't like games."

"I'm not toying with you. He told me Luke. All about how that name was one of Peter's aliases, but of course he did not know that at the time and something bad...really bad, happened because of it and I want to know what it was."

Luke's jaw clenched and grinded. "Did it ever occur to you that if he wanted you to know, he would tell you or...just maybe... he can't tell you?? Why can't you just leave well enough alone??"

"Because Lee isn't well!! He's changing because of whatever this fucking secret is. Do you even care about him at all??? Ever since you came back, it's triggered something inside of him. He physically attacked me from a deep sleep because he thought I was someone that was trying to hurt him!! I also know that Peter's brother, some Charles Rane who was a terrorist like their father Faison, was involved and that Lee set off some bomb that killed him. And he also talked about people being shot in front of him!"

"Well it would seem you have the answer to your question then. It makes sense yes? Lee is simply having some PTSD episodes."

"And it was something you caused to happen! It all makes sense as to why he has been so aggressive towards you. So what was it Luke?? What did you do to him? According to him, you and he were really close at one time and now all he wants to do is rip your head off after what you did to Landy. What did you do Luke????"

"Ok. You need to back your ass up and stay in your lane. This has nothing to do with you little girl. You wanna fuck with the bull, you gotta deal with the horns." he snarled in your face with flaring nostrils like that of said bull which was very similar to what he had done to you at Orlando's.

"This ain't my first rodeo with a steer, you know, a castrated male trying to compensate for what he lacks by playing tough guy?"

"You know, I will never understand what Lee ever saw in you. If anyone has changed him, it's you. I thought Liz was the cause of his downfall, but you..."he chuckled. "you clearly have her beat. Tell me Jo, does Lee know you're here? You really seem to like that doctor dick. Which one is bigger? Lee's, Dave's or Landy's?? Inquiring minds want to know."

Like a bull, you saw red and just snapped. A sharp sear of adrenaline mixed with anger rushed through you and you charged Luke, shoving him hard against his car.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM??!!!"

The next thing you knew, Dave's arms wrapped around your waist and pulled you back.

"Josie, what the hell are you doing??!!"

Dazed and confused, Luke held his back against the car for a few seconds and then his lips planted together in a thin line as he became fed up. He abruptly pushed himself up, pulled out his handcuffs and grabbed your wrist,

"That's it. You have the right to remain silent." he began to recite as your eyes widened at the click of the first cuff.

"Whoa whoa. What are you doing??" Dave intervened.

Luke took you other wrist and continued, ignoring the concerned doctor as you and Luke's eyes were fixed upon each other.

Click.

"Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?”

You said nothing as you glowered up at him.

"Come on man. Can't you give her a break?" Dave desperately asked.

"I am. I handcuffed her in the front." Luke gloated and opened the front door of his car. "Which is why you will sit where I can see you."

You refused to move as he placed his hand on your upper arm. " Gerry will take care of this. I'm not worried Dave."

"You assaulted a police officer. Although it's misdemeanor in Massachusetts, it carries anywhere form 90 days to 2 and a half years. Even Gerry can't make that go away for an entitled brat like you."

"We'll see about that...and on the ride back...don't speak to me and I won't speak to you ok?." you barked and got in the car.

"You promise?" Luke cheerfully riposted.

Luke buckled you in, roughly tugging the belt to tighten it and then brought his lips only inches from yours, his hot mouthwash breath tickling your lips as he whispered with a smug smirk.

"Comfy?"

He slammed the door and turned to Dave, taking the ferry tickets from him and then he got in the car and as he drove away, you frowned and looked at Dave as you mouthed 2 words to him.

"I'm sorry."

Lee awoke from his drug and alcohol induced slumber feeling worse than he had the night before and it wasn't from medicating himself. It was the lucid dreams that he couldn't escape from no matter what he put in his body to try and tame them, for there was no escape from now.

As he stood at the bay window in his high rise office, flashes of those dreams haunted him, only they weren't dreams. They were memories.

All he wanted to do was pick up the phone and call you and tell you everything, but he could barely weather the visions, let alone speak of them. How was he supposed to tell you that the cause of his mother's death and his father's illness were all a lie?

Lee reached down into his pocket and pulled out a silver pocket locket that he belonged to his father. As he opened it, he stared down at the photo he had placed inside of his young parents and him as a baby.

With tears of guilt growing in his sapphire eyes, he spoke to it.

"I wasn't the good son you told me I was dad. If you could have remembered, you would have never said it. You've been gone a month today, but I guess you had already been gone years before that. I'm sure you know everything now, wherever you are and I hope you can forgive me."

Lee snapped the locket shut and dried his tired eyes, then headed home to shower and later go to visit his mom and dad's graves. Maybe even go to church that he had been neglecting and ask God for forgiveness as well. Even as upset as you were with him, he prayed you would come still come for the visit, for he needed you now more than ever.

@redeemer46

[stitch1830]

Stitch!!! I hope you're doing well, pal!

50 Random Character Asks: #2, 4, 9 & 10 please

For Aang, Sokka and Zuko

Hi Ronin! Better late than never, I suppose?

Character asks for the Gaang boys, let’s go!

2. A canon or headcanon hill I will die on

For Aang, Idk if it's a hill I'd die on, but I like the idea of him growing out his hair every now and again. Sometimes you just don't wanna shave, so he just lets his hair grow out and it's a fun lil change of pace for him! Also, no beard. LOL

For Sokka, I really like the idea that he finds his space sword. Or he makes another one!

For Zuko, he’s deeply in love with Katara and they’re happily married LOL.

4. Favorite line

Aang: "You're just a teenager!"

Sokka: “Drink Cactus Juice. It’ll quench ya!”

Zuko: “It keeps blowing up in my face! Like everything always does.”

9. Scene that first made me love (or hate) the character

For Aang, probably when he realizes that Toph is the girl in his vision! I really like the realization on his face and then later tries to explain to Toph how they found her. “A crazy earth king told me to…”

Toph: 🤨

Hilarious Lmao

For Sokka, I think the fight between him and Master Piandao made me appreciate him more. He learned/gained fighting skills that I wanted to learn as a kid, so I thought that was cool.

For Zuko, definitely when he cut his hair and the way it grows in during season two LOL. What can I say, I’m a simple blue alien.

10. Best moment on screen (or in the book)

For Aang, I like the scene where he’s breaking into the Earth King’s palace with the Gaang. The earthbending in particular is so cool!

For Sokka, probably the FN air balloon scene where they’re fighting the Fire Nation and he’s leading Toph and does some crazy fighting moves with a broken leg and clutching Toph’s hand. Hard core stuff right there.

For Zuko, I think the scene where he fights Azula sticks out to me. I think the show made a big deal about blue fire because that means it's more powerful or whatnot, and I just loved seeing him fight Azula and the development in his skills you see from season 1 to season 3.

......

And I think that's all of them! Hopefully I got everything, and if I didn't, feel free to send another ask! :) Thanks again for sending this over, Ronin! Appreciate the ask, your patience, and you! Hope you have a great day :D

Ask me questions about ATLA or LOK characters!

[prodogg]

Soooo I was reading again and I recognized Suki is very often very negatively against Azula or has a healthy suspicion of her, which is good but I was asking myself is that really true for Suki. You are probably asking yourself if I have drunk some cactus juice but hear me out. We see Suki be very quickly friendly to Sokka after beating his ass for sexist remarks and seeing her get along with him, then we see Suki be very fast accepting of Zuko after a half assed apology at the boiling rock for attacking her and burning her village.

Then we come to Ty Lee, who was part of the trio that took down the Kyoshi Warriors and it’s for me implied that she took down Suki as well. At the boiling rock Suki was focused on Ty Lee only and don’t even bat an eyelash towards Azula.

You see, after the war Ty Lee was accepted into the Warrior’s, yes Ty Lee got along with them before hand in prison but Suki is the leader and has to nod it off. So, again Suki is being quickly forginving to somebody.

In all cases we can see Suki was forgiving and accepting after the person showed Suki they are better, it could be argued that she was tolerating Zuko at first but this is not important right now. Now we come to Azula who was just like Ty Lee a part of the trio that beat her and the Kyoshi Warrior’s, we know that Ty Lee beat her so the hurt pride and anger for that is directed at Ty Lee so where are we now, Azula was only responsible for putting Suki in prison, which makes it not even a personal problem Suki has with Azula. So because of this I’m just confused when Suki is mostly so negative in fics and holds a grudge towards Azula because I think Suki is a very forgiving person imo based on the above mentioned points, ofc Azula has to do something that would give Suki the nudge to forgive her for putting her in prison but I don’t see her as this always negatively person toward Azula. I didn’t consider any Comics for this post and oriented myself on atla show events. Of course this is my opinion. I would be interested in what you think about my take that Suki is a quickly forgiving person and please excuse any mistakes because it’s 1 am, I’m tired and don’t want to edit.

[flash-exchange]

Well, you'd better tell me how we explain THIS to Ieyasu... Not to mention the fact that we haven't found "his idiots" yet! Oh. Oh well.

Did they send us postcards too? They must have, no? Stay tuned to find out. Only patience can save us now.

Best wishes from the crew of IFE.

Transcriptions below the cut.

Angel,

You never said your time had helpful little mice! Two visited me today, and I named them Aiko and Chiyo-chan. They whispered to me about their underground tunnels… I wonder whether I shouldn’t bring them back in time… They could be my spies… 

The sun feels good. It’s nice and hot. Very hot. I’ve asked Sasuke to come enjoy it with me, but he doesn’t like the idea. He keeps on muttering about some strokes. Should I be worried about receiving any?

The stars here are beautiful too. It’s the perfect sight to behold, and I only wish you were here with me to enjoy it… I think the mice brought me more juice to drink… It’s delicious, you see.

I miss your smile,

Shingen

--

Desert Misadventures Log, Entry #1, Day 1: A freak wormhole appeared and transported me and Lord Shingen to a desert. Location: unknown. Year: unknown.

Desert Misadventures Log, Entry #2, Day 1: Based on the position of the stars, I managed to ascertain that we’re stranded somewhere in South America. 

Desert Misadventures Log, Entry #3, Day2: Lord Shingen has drunk from a cactus. No obvious poisoning symptoms present as of now.

Desert Misadventures Log, Entry #4, Day2: Lord Shingen has begun to talk with mice. There are no mice. 

>Symptoms Log, Entry #1, Day 1 of Exposure to Cactus Juice: Hallucinations 

Desert Misadventures Log, Entry #5, Day3: Lord Shingen insists on sunbathing.

>Symptoms Log, Entry #2, Day 2 of Exposure to Cacts Juice: Hallucinations continue, increased heat tolerance (heat stroke?)

--

I will get straight to the point: have you seen any of our or their idiots?

That ninja friend of yours arrived at Azuchi to ask for my “auto-graph”, whatever that is. Lord Nobunaga has just disbanded the council when the ceiling collapsed, and so the ninja fell down. Needless to say, it resulted in a lot of commotion.

Long story short, we chased after him. Keiji, unfortunately, got lost in the smokescreen. Unfortunately, because I do not have enough socks to gag his loud mouth with, and I am stuck with him and Mitsunari now that everybody else is gone.

In town, we ran into the God of War and the Tiger of Kai. And just then the lightning struck. When I could see again, they were all gone.

I’m just leaving this message where they’ve disappeared. It may not reach you. Not that I care.

Ieyasu

[csoisoi]

my reaction to season 3 episode 1 !

obvious spoilers ahead but itll all be written under the cut 💛

opening:

- allocer's new hairstyle is amazing, didnt expect it to be a different color. did it change because of stress (poor him graying at such a young age</3 /j) or he got messed around with during his time with his tutor and had his hair dyed

- that one scene during the opening where gaap is protecting the house?? amazing, awesome. please show more determined gaap

- also during the opening, i cant find the right timing but like around 1:56 of the episode you can see purson behind goemon

- i didnt expect nafra's cloak to be purple! i always imagined it to be red

- clara's costume too i expected it to be green

- im getting hit with a lot of differences from expectations to the reality

- this one scene of nafra. theyre so cute. now my twt pfp

- i didnt expect general furfur to have a tail! huh, mustve missed it

- during that one scene of the opening when lied, iruma, and nafra were fleeing. lied looked a lot like sokka doing the arm wavy thing on the cactus juice episode. different moves same arms

- HELLO AZZ AZZ WICKED PHASE PREVIEW

episode itself:

- "all the members of the misfit class are finally here!" that hurt me in a pursonal sense, dunno how to explain it but it did

- i keep forgetting the royal one doesnt connect to the rest of babylus and the entrance and exit are to the actual outside

- THERE'S A SMALL SNIPPET OF PURSON THERE its now a a key feature to scope out for purson scenes

- general furfurs waist is as small anymore😭

- "lovelyn-sensei" thats so cute clara😭😭😭

- "emperor doom and gloom" to refer to kalego😭💀

- ROBINS SO WHOLESOME I LOVE HIM SM

- why is bachiko walking like that, its funky. do it again

- poor jazz and allocer

- also general furfur's voice is amazing

- raim-sensei's nailbed is shaped like a heart!

[thesconesyard]

Yeehaw!! McCoy flowed so easy, even if it is from Scotty.

When the Cactus Blooms

6. Wide Open Spaces

Scotty looked out at the night and couldn’t help the small sigh of awe that escaped him. The sky was velvety dark and the stars were shining and twinkling. The moon was just beginning to break the horizon.

“Beautiful night.”

“Aye,” Scotty agreed. He turned around to face the fire and McCoy sitting across from him.

They had left the ranch midafternoon to ride up the creek that flowed through the north pasture and into the river. Its waters had lowered to nearly half its usual depth, though there had been no dry spell yet. Jim was worried something had blocked it and so Scotty and McCoy were riding to see.

Uhura and Christine had sent them plenty of good food, easy to cook in the open. Scotty looked over again as McCoy let out a laugh.

“What?” he asked.

McCoy was pulling something out of the bag. One of the horses snorted over where they had tied them up to graze for the evening. They’d bring them back and hook them to the wagon when they went to sleep.

“Chris,” McCoy said with a shake of his head. “Where on earth did she…? Must’ve got’em from Geoff when I wasn’t looking.”

“What is it Doc?” Scotty couldn’t see it in the firelight. McCoy was stretching over to hand him something.

“Pair of peaches,” McCoy said happily. “That gal is a peach,” he chuckled. “She knows how I miss them.”

“Oh,” Scotty said, his chest tightening for a moment. “Thank you.” He held the fruit gently before finally taking a bite. “Oh!” he said in surprise with his mouth full.

“Yeah, they’re good alright,” McCoy said, holding his own.

“No, no, I just got juice all over me,” Scotty laughed. He wiped a hand down his front. “Ye coulda warned me Doc.”

McCoy grinned at him. “Now I’m gonna have to think of something to get her,” he said, looking thoughtful.

Scotty felt his hand shaking just the tiniest bit as he looked at McCoy again. He swallowed then spoke.

“Ye pair are close.”

“Known each other a long time,” McCoy nodded. “Came out here together you know.”

“What brought ye two?” Scotty looked at him curiously.

McCoy took the last bite of his fruit, then turned and threw the pit away. He gave his mouth a quick wipe with the back of his hand, and got to his feet. Scotty blinked in surprise.

“I-I didn’t—” he stammered.

“Nah,” McCoy waved a hand at him, as he dug into one of his saddlebags. “Need a little of this if we’re gonna get into that.” He came back to the fire and sat down holding a bottle.

“Come on,” he said, leaning forward, “where’s your cup?”

Scotty looked around himself in surprise, but found his cup and held it out. McCoy poured a full measure of an amber liquid, before pouring one for himself. Scotty nodded thanks.

He heard McCoy take a deep breath.

“I was married,” he said. “Before I came out here.”

“Oh.” Scotty was watching now. He hadn’t known that. “Was?” he asked.

“Yep.” McCoy’s tone changed. “Thought everything was good. The way it was supposed to be. Just finished my training to be a doctor; was starting to establish my own practice. Jocelyn Darnell was the prettiest thing around. Thought I had it made.”

McCoy stopped and took a drink from his cup. Scotty remembered he was holding his and took a drink too.

“I thought wrong,” McCoy said in a dark voice. “My father got sick. Real sick. Met Chris then. She was a nurse and came in to help take care of him.” McCoy’s voice got quiet. “Did everything we could but we couldn’t save him.”

He tossed back the rest of his drink and filled his cup again. He held the bottle towards Scotty, but he waved it off.

“Jocelyn got jealous. Thought there was something between Chris and me, no matter how many times I told her there wasn’t. Chris was engaged to a fella named Roger. Good man.”

“What happened?” Scotty asked after McCoy had been silent, looking in his cup.

“She divorced me.” McCoy shrugged. “Took off with a friend of mine. Roger was in a train accident and died. Chris and me, all we had left was each other. So we decided to pack up and find somewhere new together.”

“Why didn’t ye set up a new practice? When ye got here?”

“I tried for a bit, before you came. Worked with Dr. M’Benga in town, but never could get past doubting myself. I couldn’t save my own father, how could I save others?”

“Oh Doc…”

McCoy shook his head. “I like this. Being outside, working hard.” He looked up at the sky and the stars spread above them. “It’s good and we’re happy.”

Scotty sipped his drink. It was a good whisky and he wondered where McCoy had got it. ‘They’d had nothing left but each other; they were happy.’ The phrase repeated itself in his mind, eating at him. His heart began to pound, but he couldn’t stop his mouth.

“So… ye two… are ye- are ye together?” His tongue was thick getting the question out.

McCoy frowned gently.

“Me and Chris?” He laughed. “She’s my best friend and I love her to the ends of the earth. She’s the sister I never got to have. She still misses Roger and no one’ll ever replace him in her heart.”

Scotty breathed a silent sigh of relief.

“Besides,” McCoy continued, “there’s…there’s someone else I’ve got my eye on.”

“Oh.” Scotty’s chest tightened again. Deep down he knew it’d been too much to hope for. “Someone in town?”

“No. Someone a whole lot closer than that.” McCoy winked at him. “Think I’m gonna turn in,” he said quickly, getting to his feet.

“Right,” Scotty said flatly, as his heart began to race and his face warmed. Maybe he did still have that chance…

[kopykunoichi]

Initial thoughts on episode 6 of The Bad Batch

Tech found a side gig - chain code forger

Omega has a bad feeling about the station, Echo goes in to prep the ship. Comes back immediately to find her gone. Echo: I take my eyes off her for two seconds and she takes off! Every. Kriffing. Time.

GUNGI! MY POOR FUZZY SON!

Omega's superpower is befriending everyone in the galaxy in 0.5 seconds.

Echo, you found her...set a new record with that one.

Omega: We have to help him. Echo: *tired dad sigh*

TBB:1 Creepy droids:0

This is like a wildlife catch and release: feed him, water him, release him into his natural environment.

Hunter putting his hand on Echo's shoulder when he tells him Gungi is a Jedi, he'll never be safe...🥺

Oh yay...space spiders again. I hate you people. I feel my xenoarachnophobia acting up.

Peaceful spiders? Plot twist. Bet they won't feature heavily in the story later.

Trandosians. It had to be trandosians.

Nice shootout. No one under cover. Charging tanks. Armorless child. I can't believe Omega hasn't gotten winged at least once yet. Plot armor > plastoid I suppose.

Dig a firebreak. Smart. How does Echo operate a shovel with only one hand?

Big meow meow. Me want to ride too.

Echo helping baby girl down. 🥺

Echo no likey jungle water. 😂

Wrecker just takes the whole communal bowl. OMG! Someone had to drain that from like 12 jungle leaves this morning, dude.

Echo is so loyal and just love him so much for that. Hunter's like, "You had me at saving kids".

Oh good, another reckless shootout with tanks. Good idea, use yourself as human bait. Seriously, how are any of them alive?

Ah, yes, here we go...here's how the space spiders are relevant to the plot. Naturally, they know who to eat and who not to eat. Poor chipped clones.

Gungi, why are you jumping INTO the ring of fire? I ask as Johnny Cash's voice rises unbidden in my head.

Kid, I love you, but you have a lightsaber. That should be a cakewalk. But luckily the nice spiders are coming to the rescue. I almost feel bad for that trandosian. Almost.

Hunter: where are the kids? Kids. Plural. He's already adopted Gungi in his brain. Papers are on the table waiting to sign. Echo snaps his head around. Every episode with Echo and Omega is literally just him repeating the line "Well she's not (here) NOW!"

That trandosian is still screaming as he's being carried off by space spiders. Maybe I do feel bad for him.

Of course Hunter and Echo went to go look for the kids. Between Hunter's tracking skills and Echo's parental instincts, they have the best chance. And you found them, good job. And more digging. One handed digging.

Wait, did Wrecker just SPEAK wookie?

Echo likes the jungle water. I was kind of hoping it was going to make them drunk or weird. Can you imagine Echo drinking jungle water, but it's like Sokka drinking cactus juice? IT'S THE QUENCHIEST! *Cheers, mate*

Hunter goes to talk with the old matriarch (yep, already forgot her name)...Tech immediately jumps up to be relevant and translate. Aww, baby, you're doing so good.

"They're just kids." So are you, Hunter.

The trees cry when they go and sing when they come back? It's me. I'm the trees.

Hunter: Someplace far away from war.

Hunter, sweetie...you don't seem to know what story you're living. But it's Star WARS. Your girl has a fight on her hands and you can't change that. Time to take a page out of Echo's book and just make sure she's ready for whatever comes her way.

[banishmark]

something must have been wrong with the tea he'd served. maybe it was ... expired. (or maybe it was the veggies the avatar had gotten from the market and now forced them all to eat with him.) all zuko knows is that everything seems off and for the past five minutes, he'd been watching as rocks swirled around toph's head. and then the rocks developed wings and began flying highter, then all around. for a long moment, zuko had remained silent, occasionally rubbing the back of his hands against his eyes. but the more the seconds ticked by, the more the scene before him was becoming believable. to the point where zuko murmured, ❝ hey toph ... when did you become an airbender? ❞

@earthfeel : the accidental cactus juice situation.

[theempatheticshrub]

On Struggling

In other news, things have admittedly been…challenging as of late. Heck, for most of my adult years, but for the subject of this post, as of late. I pinky promise this is not a “woe is me” and/or pity parade post. It is, rather, a sort of “juice cleanse” (you know, the ones you get ads about on social media) of all the pent up toxins in my body at present. Or something like that. (Disclaimer: I do not endorse juice cleanses of any kind, but terrible metaphors are always game). Where was I going with this? Right.

I present to you, in grocery list form, what struggling looks like for me right now. Again, I don’t share this info to garner pity, but maybe (just maybe) to connect with others on the big ole interwebs so they might feel less alone when/if they too find themselves fighting the good fight vs. life.

Unwashed hair/too much dirty laundry/guilt, and LOTS of it/piles upon piles of unread self help books/an overwhelming medication regimen/taking multiple naps a day/attempting to get creative, only for it to result in a phallic doodling of a cactus/ lack of motivation/ feelings of inferiority/lack of routine and structure/believed* lack of purpose (*a lot of this list includes things I may “believe”. Working on focussing on beautiful realities)./restlessness/exhaustion/and finally, remaining HOPEFUL.

That’s right, kids. Where there’s struggle, there is always hope. [Insert corny quote about darkness and light here]. In all seriousness, though: may you be able to feel safe enough to be vulnerable. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little afraid to share this post. But on the off chance someone sees this and says “I feel that”, or even just quietly chooses to hang on to the hope knowing they’re not alone inspires, I think, nay, I know, makes it worth it.

Regards,

The Empathetic Shrub