#oh Chepe what are you doing

[miracles-and-butterflies]

In actor au, how's relationships between the cold sisters/their actors?

(Did I just ask something about the au that was forgotten the day it was created? Go call an ambulance)

AN ASK FOR THE ACTOR AU? WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?!?!?!?

This has been a long while. Let me spend the next few hours scrolling all the way back to early 2023 to find my notes on this AU.

Before I get into the answer, just a reminder that the actors have different names:

Mariana Borrero - Mirabel

Alejandra Carmen Monagas - Alma

Bruno Juan Lozano - Bruno

Lucía Diallo - Luisa

Ines Gamarra - Isabela

Javiera A. Crespo - Julieta

Alvaro Valdés - Agustín

Paulina Cavero-Gallegos - Pepa

Felípe Cavero-Gallegos - Félix

Dafne Yanez - Dolores

Chepe Frontera - Camilo

Arlo Cantù - Antonio

Some of these names have changed since the first post of this AU. Also some of those names I have now used for other characters and such.

(The first name’s initial is the same as the first name of the character. While the initial of the surname matches the voice actor - with the exception of Dolores, because sources don’t have an agreed surname for Adassa; Pepa and Félix are married so they have both).

To answer the question, the cold sisters’ actresses are all on very positive terms.

None of them had met prior the table read. Well… Ines and Lucía met literally ten minutes before, having both gone into the local coffee shop and chatted whilst in the queue. They had an awkward moment when they both walked into the same building, like “oh, you’re in this too?” The two got on right away, bonding over coffee. Now whenever they do anything for Encanto, they meet up at a coffee shop beforehand.

Mariana had never been in film or TV before and was understandably a nervous wreck, not knowing what to do, outside of when she was acting or singing. Lucía reflects in many interviews how she instantly decided that she was going to take Mariana “under her wing” after seeing the girl for the first time. Ines has fully admitted to thinking Mariana wasn’t going to be great and then being blown away at the first vocal warmup because “holy shit, kid has pipes”. Listening to anyone nail Red Leather, Yellow Leather or hold a note for a stupid amount of time is a stunning moment.

Mariana herself had been overwhelmed with everyone else and didn’t feel worthy enough to talk to them, so… she didn’t for the first few table reads, unless they spoke to her first. But she recalls both Lucía and Ines being very chatty, welcoming and helpful. (Not that the rest of the cast weren’t, she just spent a lot of time with these two).

Ines and Lucía were among some of the ones who usually goofed off on set. Lucía frequently interacted with fans and social media, so subsequently you’d see a lot of Ines and Mariana if you followed her. They later started weekly live karaoke sessions where (taking advantage of the piano on set) Mariana would play a song and the cast would sing.

The three are usually seen together for interviews. I imagine they’ve done a lot of those “best friend test” and “Disney trivia competition” type press too.

[drabbles-mc]

Flying In (1)

Mayans MC & Narcos Crossover

For @narcosfandomdiscord's Day of Cross-Fandom Pollination: create a fanwork that includes at least one Narcos character and at least one character from another fandom

Warnings: 18+, language, canon-typical shenanigans of both shows

Word Count: 2.8k

A/N: The way that this started out as just a silly little idea that me and Anj had. And now I wanna write a whole novel about them all sksksk. I already plan to write another installment of this universe for another day in the challenge, because @garbinge was kind enough to loan me her OC Lara Losa, but here is the first little look behind the curtain! I can't wait to write more with all of them.

Part 2

Flying In Taglist: @ashlingnarcos @hausofmamadas @narcolini @cositapreciosa @justreblogginfics @proceduralpassion @artemiseamoon (If you want to be added to any of my taglists, please let me know!)

When Lara walked into the clubhouse, she found Bishop sitting at one of the tables, phone pressed to his ear. The heel of his other hand was pressed into the space between his eyebrows, and even though most of his face was blocked, Lara could still see the annoyed frown on his face. Even if she hadn’t been looking at him, she could’ve guessed that that was the expression on his face, and nine times out of ten she would’ve been right.

“Yeah,” he said into the phone, “sounds good. See you then.” He ended the call and immediately tossed his phone onto the table with a groan. “Fuck me.”

She would’ve felt bad for laughing at his response if he wasn’t like that so often. “Sounded like a fun call,” she said as she pulled out the chair across from him and plopped down.

He tried to give her an annoyed look but it only lasted for a couple seconds before he caved and chuckled. “Not fun for me. Might end up being fun for you, though.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Oh, really?” She drummed her fingertips against the tabletop. “Color me curious.”

Bishop sighed. “That was your Tío Gilberto. Updating me on his fuckin’ travel plans.”

“No shit?”

“Yeah.”

Lara laughed. “Thought you’d be a little more excited to see your brother.”

He shot her a look. “It’s not like he’s here for a fuckin’ vacation, Lalo.”

She rolled her eyes at him with a smile as she leaned back in her chair. “What, you don’t think that he’s coming to nice, scenic Santo Padre just to unwind?”

“No,” he said flatly, not feeding into the game she was trying to play, “I don’t.”

“Why are you acting like this is the first time he’s come here for business? Just upset that he’s not flying all the way up here just to see you?”

“You know the answer to that.”

“So?” Lara pressed. “What’s the problem this time? Old shit or new shit?”

Bishop gave a reply that fell outside both the choices she’d given him. “He’s not traveling alone.”

“Nicolás?”

He huffed. “No.”

Another second of looking at the expression on his face caused all of the pieces to come together for Lara. His annoyance, his hesitation, his assumption that she was going to be excited about the news. It’d been a handful of years since the last time she’d seen him, but she had a good feeling that it was the right guess. “Chepe?” she asked, far more excited and hopeful than she knew she should’ve been given her father’s prevalent annoyance.

“The one and fuckin’ only,” he grumbled.

Lara burst out laughing, excitedly treating the table they were sitting at like a drum as she rapped against it. “Let’s go!”

Bishop shook his head at her. “You’re ridiculous. Two peas in a fuckin’ pod, both of you.”

“That why you only let him visit once every five years?” she asked through her laughter. When Bishop didn’t come back with an answer, she moved onto her next question. “When do they get here?”

“Day after tomorrow.”

If she had been standing, she would’ve been nearly doubled over with laughter. “Finally learned not to give you too much of a heads-up. No excuses this way.” Taking a deep breath to get herself calm again, she said, “I can pick them up from the airport if you—”

“Absolutely not.”

“You think they’re gonna get in the van with the fucking prospect?” she asked with a scoff as she gestured over to the bar where EZ stood. She continued before Bishop could argue. “And I know you don’t wanna make that drive.”

He knew that she was right on both counts. There was no way that either of those men were going to get into a vehicle with some guy they’ve never met before, even if he was wearing the same kutte as Bishop’s. They knew Taza and Hank, but Bishop also didn’t really want to send them on the errand either.

“Fine,” he finally gave in with a grumble. Before Lara could get too excited, he pointed his finger at her accusingly. “But you’re not fuckin’ going alone.”

That was a compromise that Lara could live with. She was going through the roster in her head, people that Bishop would feel somewhat comfortable sending with her versus people she wanted to be trapped in a car with for the drive. There was also the extra layer of who she thought would be able to survive being trapped in the van with her two uncles.

Before she could even ask the question, the answer came striding through the door. A satisfied smile crossed her face as she pointed to who had just walked through the door. “Fine. I’ll take Angel.”

At the sound of his name, his head whipped to look at the table. “Take Angel where?”

“Airport,” she replied. “Finally getting rid of you for good. One way ticket to—”

“You’re helping her with a pick-up,” Bishop cut his daughter’s comedic routine short.

Angel strolled over to the table and rested his hand on the back of Lara’s chair. He looked back and forth between the two of them and tried to figure out what was going on without having to ask. “Pick-up?”

“My brother’s flying in,” Bishop answered.

Angel nodded in understanding, although he couldn’t hide the look of mild surprise on his face. “Shit. Alright.”

“Day after tomorrow you’re going with Lara to pick them up.”

“Them?” Angel asked.

Lara was practically giddy. “Tío Chepe is coming too.”

Angel’s brows knit in confusion. “Do I know him?”

Bishop shook his head. “You’d know if you knew him.” He paused to sigh before looking back at Angel again. “Keep both of them out of trouble.”

“Your brothers?”

Bishop gestured to Lara. “Her and Chepe. And he’s not my fuckin’ brother.”

The comment got a laugh out of both Lara and Angel, who held his hands up in surrender. “Only one brother. Got it.”

The day of their arrival came far too soon for Bishop’s liking. Before he knew it, he was meeting up with Lara and Angel at the clubhouse early in the morning to give her the van and send them on their way. It was the only time Bishop could remember Angel being early for anything.

“Keep me updated,” Bishop said as Lara swiped the keys away from him.

“Yeah, yeah,” she replied flippantly as she unlocked the doors.

“Wasn’t talking to you,” Bishop said as he turned and looked at Angel. It was a sad state of affairs when he had to trust Angel to be one of the most responsible ones in a group of people, but that’s where they were at. “Got it?”

Angel nodded, knowing that there was only one right answer. “Got it.”

The two of them were a few minutes into their trek when Angel finally ventured to ask, “So what’s the deal with your uncles, then? Them and Bish, I mean.”

Lara glanced over at him for a moment before putting her eyes back on the road. “You’ve met Gilberto before, haven’t you?”

“Not really. Seen him, but Bish usually handles whatever they’ve got going on with him and Galindo. I don’t ask.”

She chuckled. “Smart.”

“What’s Bish’s deal with this Chepe dude?”

Lara laughed. “My dad hates anyone who finds a way to have a good time at all costs.” She paused. “I can’t believe you’ve never met him. Can’t believe it’s been that long.”

“What’s he like?” Angel’s curiosity had been piqued since they previously brought him up, but he didn’t want to ask about him in front of Bishop.

She spared him another brief glance, a mischievous look on her face. “You just have to meet him.”

The response didn’t bring Angel any comfort in the slightest, but he knew better than to try and press her for answers that she had no intention of giving. That was one thing that she and her father had in common. Instead he just settled back into his seat and watched the road, doing his best to not be a backseat driver.

If Chepe and Gilberto hadn’t walked out the door right beside each other and holding a conversation, no one would’ve known that they were traveling together. Gilberto had stepped off the plane in a suit—Lara was fairly certain that the closest she’d ever seen her uncle get to lounge wear was business causal. And even then, that was a rare sight. Chepe on the other hand showed up looking like he was actually on vacation. He had his aviators on as they strolled down the walkway, suitcases in tow, with a casual striped button-down on with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows. The gold necklace he was wearing standing out against the white t-shirt he had on underneath—he’d even traded in his khakis for jeans.

Both of them broke out into grins when they saw Lara waiting beside the van in the pick-up area. She held her arms out for a hug as she approached them both. She stepped in to give Gilberto a hug first, kissing him on the cheek as she did so.

“Mija,” he said with a laugh. “More grown up every time I see you.”

She stepped back, smiling and shaking her head as his hands remained on the outsides of her arms for a moment longer, like he was updating the image of her that was in his head. “Gotta visit more than once or twice a year, Tío.”

Chepe chimed in before Gilberto even got the chance to. “Take that up with your father,” his tone was serious when he said the statement, but it was immediately followed by a wide grin and a laugh.

Lara immediately beamed and stepped over to him, throwing her arms around his neck. “Chepe!” She laughed as he swept her up off her feet in a hug.

“Lalita,” he set her down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, “mi muñeca. It’s been too long.”

She let out a dramatic sigh as she fixed her hair. “I know—I’ll work on getting my dad to lift the embargo.”

Angel stood back, watching the two of them as they laughed together. It was a lot to take in, seeing her like that. It wasn’t as though she turned into a completely different person around her uncles, but he certainly felt like a different side to her—a side that he had never had the opportunity to see before. This certainly wasn’t how she acted with the only other family he knew of hers, Bishop.

Chepe playfully nudged Lara’s shoulder as he looked Angel up and down. “Quién es este mari—”

Lara elbowed him with a chuckle and a shake of her head. Some things weren’t ever going to change. “This is Angel—he’s in the club with my dad.” Turning, she looked at Angel. “Angel, this is my Tío Gilberto,” she nodded towards the man in question before resting her hand on Chepe’s shoulder, “and my Tío Chepe.”

Lara couldn’t have been more casual about the introduction if she had tried, and yet Angel still found himself standing there feeling like sweat was about to start pooling in his palms. Clearing his throat, he quickly and discreetly wiped his hand against his jeans before holding it out for Giberto to shake. “Nice to meet you.” He repeated the process with Chepe, neither man emoting one way or the other how they felt about him. Angel, based off years of experience, took it to be a bad sign even though he had no real evidence of that.

There wasn’t much more to be said as they started putting Chepe and Gilberto’s luggage into the back of the van. None of them started an actual discussion about who was going to be sitting where, but when Chepe went to reach for the front passenger-side door, Angel didn’t speak up to try and stop him. If he was going to be sitting next to someone besides Lara for the whole drive back, he supposed he was fine with it being Gilberto. Angel felt like sitting next to Gilberto meant there was less likelihood of him being pushed out of the van while it was still moving.

The ride back was uneventful despite Angel’s spiraling internal monologue. He listened to Lara chat with both her uncles. Some of it he could only catch bits and pieces of when they were speaking primarily in Spanish. It was evident that she didn’t speak it as much as her uncles, because why would she have to? But she spoke a lot more than Angel probably ever would. It was enough for him to try to have to use context clues for some of the things that were brought up. Whatever it was, it didn’t seem like they were discussing anything too serious.

When they pulled into the lot at the clubhouse, it felt like everything else came to a bit of a standstill. While Gilberto had made a habit over the years of visiting far more frequently than Chepe, it wasn’t as though he spent an awful lot of time at the clubhouse when he did. Most of the members who’d been around for more than a couple years had seen him and knew who he was, but most hadn’t ever really gotten a formal introduction. As far as Bishop was concerned, they didn’t need one. Since Chepe tagged along for the first time in a long time, however, Bishop had the feeling that this stint in the states was going to be just as much social as it was business.

Chepe and Lara were chatting as they got out of the van, not in any great rush to get into the throes of things. Unsure of what else to do, Angel tagged along a couple steps behind Gilberto as he went to greet his brother. Chepe lingered by the back of the van with Lara while she discouraged him from taking their luggage out of the van because she was going to drop them off at whatever hotel they were staying at once they checked in with Bishop.

“I’m sure Tío Gilberto already has the Benz he rented parked in the valet lot there anyway.” She glanced over at him. “Looks like if you wanna go out and have fun you’ll have to either call me or an Uber.”

Chepe laughed and shook his head but didn’t speak up to disagree with her. Regaining his composure just slightly, he gave a small nod in Angel’s direction as he said, “You should be making him drive you around.”

Lara scoffed even though her face warmed at the comment. “Angel? Please. There’s a reason I was behind the wheel going to pick you guys up today.”

“Lalo,” he chided with a shake of his head. “Don’t start treating me like I’m old and senile. Save that for Gilberto.”

She laughed as she tried to divert the conversation for her own sake. ��I don’t know—it has been a while since I’ve seen you.”

He was still smiling as he pulled her in, pretending to go for a headlock. “Not that long.” He paused, and when Lara didn’t say anything, he asked, “So he doesn’t know, then?”

Lara followed Chepe’s eyeline and saw that he was looking at her father now. Picking a story and sticking to it, she did her best to sound confident as she said, “There’s nothing for him to know, Tío.”

Chepe hummed, clearly not convinced but deciding that he’d bring it up again at a later date. Maybe he’d bring it up to Angel and see if they both had the same story. He kissed Lara on the side of the head to conclude their conversation before moving on to finally greeting Bishop. He smiled wide, holding his arms out for a hug as he approached him. He called out, “Obispo!” in such a friendly tone that anyone who didn’t know better would’ve thought that they were old friends.

The less than amused look on Bishop’s face was the only thing that gave away the reality of the situation. He didn’t deny Chepe the hug, but he certainly wasn’t as enthusiastic about it. “Chepe,” he said with not nearly as much cheer. “Was starting to think you were gone for good.”

Chepe clapped him on the back once more with another laugh before pulling away. “Life isn’t that easy for you, Obispo. Besides,” he gestured towards Lara, “I know you miss me just as much as my niece does.”

Bishop scoffed. “Just about.”

“Good thing Gilberto and I haven’t bought our return tickets then, hm?” He beamed. “Make up for some lost time.”

Bishop sucked in a deep breath, one that gave a noticeable rise to his chest and shoulders. He managed to fight every impulsive comment that crossed his mind, finally watering them down and settling on, “Can’t fuckin’ wait.”

[lethal-amigos]

Summer Heat- Conversation

Story by @my-gunpowder Art by me

On this day, the sun was especially cruel, attacking people with its burning rays and burning their bodies. By lunchtime, all the villagers were hiding in their homes: eating, playing with children, doing household chores or just sleeping. Only two men were sitting on the farm and quietly discussing something. "This seed should be buried like this and to a depth of 5 centimeters" "Okay, I get it!" "It's not necessary to do this now, you can start in the evening or tomorrow" "It's okay, I can start right now" "Jose, it's dangerous to be under the sun now" "I'm not scared, I have a hat!", the guy smiled and patted the hat behind his back. Senor Velasco grinned, looking at the guy with great tenderness. He loved the hard work in this boy, he got it from his late father. When Julio invited Jose to work at their farm, he did not expect that the boy would come here so often. He and Chepe became friends again, it could not but rejoice. But the farmer was surprised by their friendship and warm relations. Two completely different people, with a different outlook on life, different interests. And, nevertheless, they are friends and constantly go somewhere together. Even too often, which is why Jose often postpones his work for later. The senor hoped that Jose would have a good influence on his son, and not submit to his devilish nature. "Yes, you and Chepe are completely different," the man laughed, looking down at the ground. "If only I had a son like you, Jose.." "Don't say that" Guzman's serious tone was too unexpected, and the farmer looked up in surprise. The guy looked at him sternly, slightly furrowing his eyebrows."Chepe is no worse than me"

"Oh, no, there's not even anything to talk about. It is impossible to compare you," the senor continued to smile. He ran his hand over the ground and buried the seed. "Chepe is a slacker, and always has been. He treats work irresponsibly, often throws it or does it crookedly. Just to get away for another walk as soon as possible"

"Again, you're wrong," Jose continued. "He's a very smart guy. Every day I learn something new from him. It's true! He helps me in many ways and knows much more about the farming than I do. And the fact that he often runs away..." Jose felt his head light up. It is not clear whether it was because he was angry at the Senor, or because the sun mercilessly beat his rays. Anyway, he decided to pull his straw hat over his head to avoid unnecessary headache problems. The guy felt like he was starting to boil. There was no toothpick in his mouth to squeeze it and calm down, so he had to distract himself in other ways. He did not want to quarrel with his friend's father, such a respected man. But he knew how senor was unjustifiably cruel to Chepe and he was hurt for him. Yes, his friend is not the kindest and nicest guy, but he has many other good traits for which Jose fell in love with him. "Yes, we are really different. He knows what he wants from life. He wants to feel all sides of it, wants to explore the world. You can't even imagine how much his soul is asking for freedom. And the fact that I work all day is just an inability to live. I'm just trying to distract myself, forget some things, that's why I'm working. It's not good or bad, it's just... different. You can't scold a person just because he wants to live differently." Digging a small hole with his finger, the guy threw a seed there and began to bury it with both hands.

"Be more lenient to Chepe. He doesn't need Senor Velasco, he needs his father." On the last sentence, the guy squeezed some earth in his fists. He felt his voice tremble and he began to lose control. He was afraid to look up and meet Julio's eyes. So he could only hope that the man understood what he was talking about. Suddenly, the guy felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. "You are a good friend, Jose," the senor replied. "Chepe is very lucky with you"

[hausofmamadas]

ALL ABOARD THE POBRECITO EXPRESSWAY | The Man, the myth, the OG Pobrecito, Javier Peña

♫ To the tune of One for the Road by Arctic Monkeys ♫

✧

Wow, okay Jesus H Christ. I made another thing? A thing I never thought I’d make. Bc frankly, I’m an insufferable contrarian to my grave, despite the fact that I hate hipsters. I do see the irony. I don’t really— Okay, look. Listen. Doing a massively popular fanfav character has always seemed like a lot of hoopla? There’s already so much content out there, and I’m always like my favs have to be randos that only had like 3 lines in the whole show “Meeeh, what do I have to say that hasn’t already been said. What do I have to add that hasn’t been done yet?” tbh I’m not at all confident that another One for the Road Javier Peña edit isn’t already out there bc the combo is like PB&J

But there is good news porque por lo visto, parece que tengo un bien chinga de cosas que decir about our Javier Peña. He is, as everyone knows, a multi-faceted man: he’s a lover, hes a fighter, but most importantly he is the OG sad!boi, sad sack, bury my feelings in any woman within a 5mi radius bc I prefer that to processing trauma bc who needs sanity or true human connection and King Pobrecito, for which we members of the Narcos/Nmx Fanfic Writer’s Discord have dubbed him, Conductor of the Pobrecito Expressway.

Oh praytell, what is the Pobrecito Expressway? So veryfuckingglad you asked you didn’t, shhhh. It is a train driven by Javi head engineer is naturally, Walt Breslin that dutifully shepherds passenger cars of similarly precious, forlorn pobrecitos from the Narcos/Nmx franchise.

Now, to be a pobrecito, one must have:

a) sad puppy eyes b) a personal life in shambles c) a will to succeed at all costs including their sanity and at the expense of those around them d) Many Problems, not entirely of their own making but that are undoubtedly exacerbated by the their inability to reconcile their emotional natures with the toxically masculine environments they are immersed in namely The Law and/or a Life of Crime.

And let me do tell you, there are many. Actually it might be easier to list those not on this crazy train. Hmm, so btwn the 2 shows, it'd be: Steve, Kiki, Benjamin, Miguel who did try to board the train but everyone hated him so much, they threw him off the back, Pacho, Chepe, Gilberto altho Navegante does, from time to time, end up rail hopping and everyone’s always yelling at him bc he is neither Big Sad, nor does he have a ticket. Oh, and I feel like it goes without saying, none of the incredible women are on this train. No, they’re enjoying champagne on a private jet pa’ todas las pendejadas they’ve had to deal with.

But yeah, basically everyone else is there. All food groups equally represented. Just moping from passenger car to the restaurant car, chain smoking, trying to untangle themselves from the red string they’ve been pinning to their walls, or trying and failing to remember how many drinks they’ve had and if there’s enough blow on the train to make them feel sober enough to continue drinking (you know who you are…. Rafa, Ramón.) And at the head of this train of absurdity is a one Javi Peña! A light(?) in the dark, to show them the way thru Pobre-dom. Which is to say he has no guidance, no idea where he’s going, doesn’t have a license even to conduct a train, pero se fue alaverga and we out here and no one’s crashed yet so! yay?

Anyway, I’ll shut up now. Here’s the thing I made.

✧

✧

taglist: @narcolini @ashlingnarcos @cositapreciosa @purplesong1028 @mandaloria314 @artemiseamoon @thesolotomyhan @narcos-narcosmx @tinylittleobsessions @salt-is-a-terrible-currency @anunhealthydoseofangst @criatividad-e @dashavau @cherixrosa @complete-nonsequitur

[purplesong1028]

A Forest Tale

Chapter 2: Wine and Dine

Rating: General Audience

Paring: Chepe/Pacho

Words: 3,872

Fantasy, AU, !Fox Pacho, !Shapeshifter Pacho

The next day, Chepe wakes up in the morning when sunlight shines through the thin slit between his curtains. He takes a shower, brushes his teeth, and gets dressed as usual. As he walks out of his bedroom, he almost believes yesterday was nothing but a crazy dream. There’s no monster, no magic, life still makes sense, and he’ll see the fox lounging by the couch under the sunshine as usual.

But it wasn’t a dream.

He sees the fox, no, Pacho apparently, sitting by the dining table, slowly sipping a cup of coffee as the maid stands next to him with a confused expression.

Fuck, he better didn’t do anything too weird.

“Buenos Días Carmen!” Chepe greets her cheerfully, playing it casual. “I see you’ve met our guest?”

“Sí señor.” Carmen smiles apologetically, shaking her head a little. “I must have been tired recently. I don’t even remember when Mr. Herrera came.”

“Really? Shit, are you getting old or what, darling?” He laughs it off, giving her a hug from the side. Carmen is a very nice woman and she really doesn’t deserve this. “Well, how about you take today off and have some rest? We’re going out later anyway.”

“No señor, that’s not necessary…”

“Hey, I insist, hm?” Chepe gives her a friendly wink. On the back of his mind, he realizes he’ll also have to make up some cover story for the fox’s disappearance. He’ll just pretend it’s missing and tell the guys to look for it later. He pays them enough for an occasional useless task.

Carmen nods and walks away, obeying his order, but not before bringing plates of breakfast from the kitchen for both of them. Once they’re completely alone, Chepe finally addresses the huge problem in front of him.

“So, still human, huh?”

“As long as I want to be.” Pacho shrugs a little, looking down at the cup of coffee in his hands. “This tastes terrible. Do humans really like it?”

“Well, many of us don’t drink it for the taste. It helps us to stay awake.” Chepe smiles a little, amused by the innocence. “What do you like to eat then? Or do you eat at all?”

“I don’t need to. I get my energy in other ways, but I’d like to try what you eat.”

Honestly, Chepe is quite curious about how exactly they get their energy, but right now, he has an idea for something far more interesting. “So you’ve never eaten any human food before at all, yeah?”

“No.”

“Wait wait…” He moves the plate away as Pacho is about to cut the sunny side up eggs with a fork. “No, you’re not going to have your first human meal like that.”

“Why not? It’s what you’re having.”

“It’s good, but you can have it any day, alright?” He gets up and walks into the kitchen, grabbing an apron.

“Look, Gilberto and I have been trying to settle this shit for decades. His grandma had a recipe for huevos pericos, and my grandma had hers. Since you haven’t tried any food at all, you’ve got no preference, no bias! You’re telling me today, whose recipe is better, got it?”

“I guess?” Pacho follows him into the kitchen, curiously touching the wares. “Is that important?”

“Oh trust me, it’s very important.”

“I see. I do hear people are very particular with their food.”

*

It’s by no means a complicated dish, probably one of the first things Chepe learnt to cook, but as Pacho leans on the counter, watching him intensely as he takes out a few eggs and tomatoes from the fridge, he’s suddenly overtaken by a great urge to show off. Damn, now he wishes he had picked something more difficult to make.

He cracks the eggs, and dices the tomatoes more quickly than needed. But what really catches Pacho’s attention seems to be the stove.

“Humans invented fire, right? After that, they could eat cooked meat, which made them get sick less often.”

Chepe pours the tomato chunks into the frying pan, mixing them with the scrambled eggs. “Yeah! But where the hell did you learn all that?”

“As I said, I’ve been listening to humans talking for over 500 years. You people talk all the time about random stuff.” Pacho shrugs, moving closer. “Smells really good, whose recipe is this?”

“Well, this part is actually the same, seasoning is what makes all the difference.”

“Seasoning?”

“Yeah, like the stuff we put in our food, to make it more flavorful?” Chepe picks up the salt. “Ever heard of this? Salt? or sugar?”

“I know sugar is the sweet one.”

“That’s right! And salt is the…salty one, guess that doesn’t really help.” Chepe snorts, sliding the salt across the counter to Pacho’s direction. “Feel free to taste it, just a little though. It doesn’t taste that good on its own”

From his side vision, he watches Pacho lightly touch the salt with his fingertips, and then licks them. Chepe can’t help but notice how pink his tongue is.

“You’re right, this doesn’t taste good at all. You put it in your food?”

“Yup! That’s one of our magics, you know?” He grabs a plate from the cabinet. “Alright, this is Gilberto’s, but don’t try it yet. You need to wait for both to be ready.”

Pacho takes the finished plate of food from him. “Is there anything I can do?”

“No! You don’t even know what salt is!” Chepe laughs out. He hasn’t felt such pure joy in a long time. It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy his life, but there is something special about a completely naive person, not in a bad way, like a clean sheet of white paper, ready to be written however he wants.

Maybe that’s one of the reasons people want to have children? But then he remembers this motherfucker has lived for over 500 years, and that knowledge suddenly becomes more disturbing than ever. He quickly shakes it out of his mind, and goes back to his own recipe.

*

By the time Chepe pours the second huevos pericos onto the plate, Pacho’s already sitting by the dining table again, twirling a fork between his long fingers. The movements are visibly faster and more complicated than any regular human's. Maybe only a magician can compare.

“Are you always that fast with your hands?”

“I’m just faster than humans.” Pacho brings the fork to a prompt stop with his thumb and index finger. “Stronger too, I think.”

“Yeah yeah, we get it, Superman. What else? You can’t get hurt?”

“I can, just not easily. What’s Superman?”

“…Never mind,” Chepe places the second plate in front of him, really doesn’t want to get into American comics, which he doesn’t even know that much about, “just try the food.”

Pacho looks down at the two almost identical plates, and sticks his fork into one. He takes a sweet long time chewing the food before he swallows, and then does the same with the other one.

“So?” Chepe asks, actually getting a little bit nervous with all the expectation and suspense. Well, he’s not ashamed. This is about his abuela’s honor.

Pacho glaces at the plates again, and then looks back up at him with a smile. “I think yours is better.”

“I knew it!” Chepe laughs out wholeheartedly. “Fuck, I wish I could tell Gilberto right to his face, but then I’d have to tell him about you!”

“I’d prefer if you don’t? At least not for now.”

“I’m not.” Chepe waves him off. “No one’s going to believe it anyway. They’d think I’ve gone mad.”

“I saw Gilberto and Miguel, from your memories. I know you’re very close.” Pacho quickly eats up the food, clearly enjoying this new found activity, yet somehow his manners are still quite elegant. “Remember that time when you had a very nice dream on a couch?”

“Huh, so that was you.” The words came out a little harsher than he intended. But really, who can blame him? Hearing someone admitting literally going into your dreams is not a pleasant feeling at all.

“Yes, but I didn’t cause any harm, I just wanted to…”

“No, you need to get this.” Chepe interrupts him. “You didn’t cause any physical harm, but going into my brain without my permission? That’s a big no.”

“I won’t do it again if it bothers you.” Pacho shrugs, finishing up a plate. “I just wanted to know you.”

“Ok?” Chepe leans back into his chair, now feeling a little curious. “Then tell me, what did you find out? What do you think you know about me?”

“I only looked for good memories. They just seem like…” Pacho makes a vague gesture like he’s trying to find the right words, an incredibly vivid human behavior. “You are the happiest when you’re around a few people you really like.”

Chepe doesn’t know what changed on his face, but something must have betrayed him, because Pacho immediately adds more explanations.

“Or love, maybe. Whatever that means for humans.”

“Love?” Chepe snorts, “for God’s sake, your second day of being a human, and you’re talking about love.”

“I know it’s one of the most powerful human emotions.” Pacho stares into his eyes. It doesn’t have the overbearing power like yesterday, but the unmasked inquisiveness and enthusiasm almost carry magic on their own. “I wonder what it’s like.”

“Well, no one can help you with that.” Chepe takes a sip of coffee to hide the uneasiness in his chest. He feels dangerously exposed, and rightfully so, who wouldn’t in front of this brain-reading monster? But there’s also something else, something more unnerving that he can’t even identify.

“You can only find out about love on your own.”

*

To Chepe’s favor, that brief talk of love seems to get the new human into some deep thoughts, so they finish the rest of their breakfast more or less in silence.

“Yesterday you said you would use your magic to help me, when I need it, right?” He speaks again as Pacho finishes both huevos pericos.

“Yeah, what do you want me to do?” Pacho says that in such a casual manner, as if he would happily do anything he’s asked.

“Let’s take a little trip. You’ll see when you get there.” Chepe gets up, walking across the large dining room into the long corridor leading to the main living room, which is connected to the front entrance.

“Buenos días, patrón.” The two guards standing by the door greet him politely.

“Buenos días. I couldn’t find that fox earlier. We need to go take care of some business, can you guys look for it?”

“Sí, patrón. Claro.”

Pacho shoots him a confused glance at first, but it soon turns into a knowing smirk.

“That was clever.”

“Didn’t have a choice, did I?” Chepe unlocks one of his humble cars, a Chevrolet Blazer.

“I’ve seen those on the streets, but never been in one.” Pacho carefully runs his fingertips along the car, like appreciating an artwork. “They changed a lot over the years, right? At first you people used horses to drag it, and then it turned into a machine, and the machine became faster and faster.”

“Sure, that’s a nice way to sum it up.” Chepe chuckles, and gestures at the passenger seat. “Come, get in! I’ll show you how fast it can go.”

Pacho picks up a jacket from the seat before getting in. “Is this supposed to be here?”

“Oh, you can just throw that on the backseat.” Chepe turns the key, and then seeing his denim jacket, he suddenly realizes something that never crossed his mind before.

“Look, don’t take this the wrong way, but why do you have clothes on? You didn’t have any when you were a fox, so where the fuck did the clothes come from?”

“I don’t.” Pacho settles in comfortably, now studying the dashboard. “It’s an illusion.”

“It’s a…” Chepe’s stunned speechless, which at this point isn’t rare anymore, but still, this one fucking hits differently. “Let me get this straight. You’re sitting in my car naked?!”

“Yeah, technically.”

“And if someone touches you…” Chepe slightly leans backwards, physically distancing himself from the possibility. “What would they feel?”

“They’ll feel the clothes, not my skin. Illusion isn’t just about sight.” Pacho finally turns away from the dashboard and shifts his attention back to Chepe. “Is this a problem? I created the illusion because I thought being naked was rude for humans.”

“Yeah, keep it! Please!” Chepe puts a hand up, genuinely worried that this asshole will just drop the illusion. Then he lets out a long sigh, and runs the hand down his face. “Alright, change of plan. Let’s go get you some real fucking clothes first.”

At first, Chepe wanted to go straight to his regular store, just for some casual shirts and jeans, any clothes at all would do. But as they come to a red light, he looks at his new houseguest— really takes a serious look, and he can’t deny that Pacho’s human form is incredibly good-looking. Sunlight shines through the side window, emphasizing the nice angles of his well-defined facial bone structure. Even in a fake plain red shirt and black pants, this guy could easily be a model on the cover of a magazine.

The light turns green, and Chepe takes a U turn.

“Were we going the wrong way?”

“No, just changed my mind.”

*

This high-end designer tailor shop is really more of Gilberto’s thing. Chepe only comes here when he needs really nice clothes for special occasions. Well, what occasion could possibly be more special than buying clothes for a 500 year old shape-shifting, mind-reading monster?

“Don Chepe!” The owner comes out with the biggest smile, welcoming them into the office. What’s his name again? Ronaldo? No, Roberto. “Come on in, please! I didn’t know you were coming. I would have cleared the store.”

“No, that’s ok.” His first intention is to dismiss it, but then he looks over at Pacho, who’s obviously never been to a clothing store, or any store before. “Actually, yes, some privacy would be nice.”

“Of course, just give me a few minutes. I’ll be right back. Melissa will be happy to serve you a drink.” Roberto gestures to his pretty secretary.

“That’s alright, thank you. We can pour our own drinks.”

“Oh, ok um…we’ll be right back then.” Roberto taps Melissa on the shoulder and leads her out of the office.

“Don’t do anything too weird, alright?” Once they’re alone, he turns to Pacho, who’s feeling the leather on the armchair. “Gilberto would not be happy if I had to kill the owner of his favorite store.”

“Kill him? Why?”

Chepe simply stares at him with a blank expression.

“Oh, you meant if he finds out? You don’t need to kill him for that. He’s just one person. I can make him forget, or make him think he’s dreaming.”

“Yeah I get it, you can fucking do anything, but let’s try to avoid that, ok? Just…” Chepe takes a deep breath out of frustration. “Just don’t do or say anything that a human can’t.”

“Sure, no problem.” Pacho answers with ease, and Chepe can just tell that he’s distracted with the decanter on the table.

“Hey, I’m talking to you!” He snaps his fingers. “Seriously, don’t be weird, understand? Oh! And don’t get naked outside of fitting rooms!”

“Fitting rooms?”

Chepe covers his face with both hands. Fuck, he’s gonna have to kill Roberto later…

“Did I upset you?”

“Upset? No.” That’s not a lie. Upset really isn’t the right word, but he doesn’t know what the right word is, if there is even a right word to describe whatever he got himself into.

“When people say drink, they mean that, right?” Pacho points at the decanter. “Alcohol?”

“Not always.” Chepe answers with a flat tone, practically given up at this point. “But yeah, we meant alcohol earlier.”

“Can I try some?”

He’s not sure why Pacho’s asking him for permission, since the drink isn’t his. “I don’t know if this one’s good. If you want to try alcohol, I’ll let you have some of mine later.”

“Great! Looking forward to it.” With that, Pacho goes back to being curious about everything else in the room, and Chepe just hopes he won’t have to answer any precise questions about tailoring or fashion.

“Gentlemen, sorry for the wait.” Thank God Roberto comes back in time.

“Are we ready?”

“Yes!” Chepe gets up from the leather armchair, and walks out of the office faster than he once left the police station. “My friend here is just looking to grab a few things. We don’t need tailoring today.”

The quicker they get done, the less room for error.

“Oh, I can certainly find quite a few options for this handsome gentleman.” Roberto briefly eyes Pacho up and down, then leads him to an area of shirts. “We can start here if that’s alright with you? What are you looking for today? Formal? Casual?”

Chepe is about to cut in, but Pacho actually doesn’t seem to need any help. “I’m still deciding. Why don’t you show me what you have first?”

“Of course. So over here, these are our best dress shirts. Whichever ones you pick, we can tailor them for you, but you might not even need any adjustment.” Roberto gives Pacho’s upper body another long glance, professional yet appreciative. “Your measurements should fit right into the samples.”

“How about this one?” Pacho stops in front of a golden shirt with colorful patterns. “This feels very nice.”

“Ah yes! This is 100% silk imported straight from China, and made by our Italian designers.”

“Silk?”

“Si señor. I guarantee it’s pure, high-quality silk. It’s so smooth that it will barely feel like another layer on your skin.” Roberto gestures at the fitting room. “Here, would you like to try it on?”

“Fitting room, I see…” Pacho looks at Chepe with a subtle knowing look, and he returns it with a small nod. Great, as long as no one gets naked in public.

“Yeah, I can try it on. Do you have anything else similar?”

“Certainly! Please follow me this way.”

They walk together to another area, just like a regular business owner and a customer, not suspicious or weird at all to any random bystander. Chepe smiles and shakes his head. Well, maybe he worried a bit too much, and that’s funny, cause it’s not like him at all.

“Sir, would you like to come along?” Melissa’s gentle voice pulls him away from his thoughts.

From here, he can still vaguely hear Roberto passionately unloading all his fashion knowledge onto Pacho— probably the only client who cares enough to listen to all that.

“No, I’m good. Maybe you can bring me that drink now, hm?” He smiles at Melissa with a little wink, and enjoys her little blush as she nods and walks away.

*

Talking to a pretty girl over a drink is always nice, but it gets less nice when it lasts over 30 minutes. Usually something else would have happened within 30 minutes, for better or worse, but right now he can neither take her home or walk away. He’s stuck here while a magical creature is enjoying the first ever shopping spree.

Chepe is just about to go check on things when he sees Pacho walking over to him. The store has an expensive marble floor, and at this moment it looks like a runway, not that he’s ever been to a fashion show, but it can’t be better than this, at least not with male models.

Pacho’s shirt is a blatant neon pink, or hot pink, either way it’s a color that Chepe would never consider on clothes, but it goes inexplicably well with Pacho’s tanned skin, and the subtle patterns made with thin golden threads bring out his brown eyes. The blazer and pants are a lot simpler, both plain light beige, fitting perfectly on his shoulders and hip. All three pieces are silk, which would probably look silly or pretentious on anyone else, but right now, it shows nothing but elegance and charm.

“Wow, that is…” Melissa ends up speaking before he does. “Sir, you look absolutely incredible.”

Chepe looks at her, the woman who’s been flirting with him for half an hour, now staring at Pacho like a starstruck schoolgirl that just met her favorite rockstar. Normally, he would have felt somewhat frustrated, but in this case he honestly can’t even blame her.

“So? What do you think?” Pacho asks him, but not really asking, more like a way to fish for his compliments.

Chepe throws an arm into the air. “I think the lady just spoke for all of us.”

“Great! I’ll get these ones then.”

“Wait, just these?” Chepe says incredulously, almost feeling a little offended. “Man you’ve been in there forever, and this is all you’re getting?”

“What’s the problem? This is the best one.”

“If you’re planning to stay here for a long time, you’ll need more than one shirt, jacket and pants, right?”

Pacho gives him a confused look, and at this point, he knows this is when a question is coming, so he waves Roberto over, promptly ending the conversation before Pacho could say something like why would I need more than one shirt.

“We’ll just take everything he tried. Thanks.”

“Of course! We’ll get them ready for you right away.”

*

The employees offer to put the dozen bags in his car, but Chepe declines. Letting random people get inside his car is never a good idea, however harmless they might seem. Pacho also doesn’t want any help; in fact he seems to really enjoy carrying each bag himself.

“We’ve known each other for a long time, yeah? So you know how it is.” Chepe leaves a final comment to Roberto as he’s paying the multi thousand dollar bill. “No one else needs to know anything.”

Thinking back, that really wasn’t a smart move. But at the moment, he was too concerned about anyone finding out about what Pacho is, that he completely didn’t realize there was a whole other way to interpret the situation.

“Sí, claro.” Roberto slowly, carefully looks between him and Pacho. “tus secretos están seguros conmigo, Don Chepe.”

*

Pacho doesn’t stop touching his new clothes on their way back.

“This texture, silk? How is it so smooth?”

“Funny that you asked. It actually comes from an animal. We just call them silkworms.”

“Really? Humans just know all the ways to use us, right?”

He turns to look at Pacho, expecting to see some bitterness or anger, but there’s nothing besides simple curiosity.

“Just look at those.” Pacho stares at the skyscrapers in fascination, as they slowly fade into distance. “No magic would have built them. Only humans could.”

“We can come back another time if you want.” The words come out of his mouth on their own, as a strange rush of soft emotion fills his chest. “Check out the view from the top.”

Pacho looks at him like he’s worth more than all the skyscrapers combined. “Yeah, I’d really like that.”

@ashlingiswriting @yourlocalspacewitxch @kesskirata @mandaloria314 @cheesybadgers @cositapreciosa @criatividad-e @cherixrosa @alreadywritten @marrianena @amane-otaku @sikkui @narcolini @tinylittleobsessions @drabbles-mc

[narcos-narcosmx]

Watching, well rewatching Narcos Mx is too much at this point. I’m pulled in too many directions.

Today’s goal is my Amado x ofc oneshot (it’s been in my drafts for a year, fixing it up and competing it) it features Acosta

Me watching:

👀Ohhh that’s some good Miguel inspo (Sin fic)

👀 Pacho I cannot be distracted by you right now dammit! I have too much to do! Stop.

👀Oh my, I hate you but love you Calderoni (my Calderoni fic which heavily features the smash & grab crew ) also why was he going so hard in S1:E4 😂 damn *

👀Ohhh look my sweet Benjamin, one day I gotta expand that drabble

👀Oh sad boi Walt Breslin, one day I’ll pull one of your drafts out and finish it too PLUS I’m sorry what I’ll put you through next chapter of After this is over (Calderoni fic) *

👀Ohhhh my queen my wife Maria, I love you, I didn’t forget about my idea for you and hope to do it one day

👀 poison when he appears in 1.5 🤤🤤🤤🤤 AND the classic scene in 1.6 😍

👀Ohhhh Rafa you chaotic romantic, one day I’ll pull that drabble out of my drafts and finish it (him and Chapo at the pool in 1.5 😂, he’s so sappy, the third time, that’s so specific 😂)

Plus one day I’d still love to do something focused on the Cali Cartel AND can we talk about how goooood Pacho and Chepe look in 1.5???? Plus the way Chepe looks at Isabella 😍 AND the smirk she gave him??? I also wish we saw more of Chepe and Pacho’s friendship. AND her that outfit she was wearing when they were taken??? 🔥🔥🔥

I’m only revisiting season one and two this weekend, but I still do wish Walt narrated S3.

Also, I just want to hug Mika and check up on her. Has anyone written any Mika Fics? I haven’t seen any. I just want her to be happy and supported.

Okay, almost done, toward the middle of 1.5, that Miguel and Pablo encounter 👀 still gives me chills. His whole vibe there brings me back to Loud Silence, my first ever narcos based fic.

[rinnysega]

Hair - A Gustavo and Bruno Drabble

“Your hair’s longer.”

Those were Bruno’s first words to his old friend when he stopped by his home one Friday afternoon. Gustavo had been out of the Encanto for about four weeks to the city, and even before that, it had been some time since Bruno had a chance to see him. The last he remembered of his friend was he’d been in a crippling depression and someone new to Encanto had him smiling again after so many years of loneliness. It was a shock to Bruno when Mirabel told him Gustavo Pinheiro was going away for a month, but when he heard it was for therapy, it made sense, and he wished him well. He was happy to see him back - smiling again as bright and colorful as his paintings.

“Do you like it?” Gustavo wore his hair down to show off how long it had gotten - just below his shoulders. “It’s long enough I could braid it now.”

“Do they not have hairdressers in the city?” Bruno joked.

“They do, and they have a lot of new fashions to go with their styles. I brought back a whole trunk of clothes and art supplies. Come in, come in, I’ll make you tea before Oz comes over.”

“So his name is Oz?” Bruno followed him inside, patient and careful as always as Gustavo took his time with his bad leg and cane.

“Oswaldo - I’m sure you’ve seen him with his macaw in town.”

“Oh Ms. Colombia! Antonio says she’s very nice although a bit mischievous.”

“Like her owner.” Gustavo took his seat on a cushioned chair while Bruno sat across from him and offered to pour the tea for the two of them. “I’m excited - it’s our first date tonight in a month. Oz and I, not Ms. Colombia.”

Bruno was curious to ask about Chepe, but considering it was his first day back from a month of intense therapy, he put it aside. Chepe kept to himself these days, staying low and spending time on his farm and less time in town. He wondered if he even knew if Gustavo was gone for so long, but the less Bruno knew probably the better. What he did know was enough to upset him even on the best of occasions.

As Bruno handed him his tea, he decided to ask about his time in the city whenever not in therapy, and judging by how Gustavos fingers kept brushing the loose ends of his hair, he guessed he would hear all about how freeing he felt with such long hair to style.

[dos-mariposas]

Lethal Amigos Narco AU:

“Better Not Bite The Hand That Feeds You”

By @senshirei / @dos-mariposas

Part 2/?

Chepe and Estevan - Original Characters by @papermachette ( @lethalamigos )

“Here.” Estevan handed Chepe the heavy brown bag. “That’s $300 mil pesos worth of cocaine. You sell it for double that or don’t even think about working for anyone in this town.”

Chepe raised an eyebrow at the man and placed the bag on the table beside him. Estevan was a cocky hijueputa who acted as if he were more important than he was, as if he were a leader in the Santos del Norte gang; but Chepe was running out of money fast and his lifelong skills as a farmer were not in high demand in the city. Estevan had found Chepe, half drunk, in his new local bar, and after some aggressive back and forth, they soon both realised that it could be a beneficial relationship for both of them.

“And hey, since you’re the new guy, and I got a good feeling about you, this is on the house,” Estevan reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small clear baggie stuffed with white powder. “It’s my own special blend - this sells for top price on the streets, but I’m feeling generous. Enjoy.”

He tossed the drugs at Chepe, who raised his fist and caught the bag in midair, not even pausing a beat before tossing it straight back.

“I don’t need your drugs. I’m here to make money and stay out of fucking trouble. I’ll make you triple back on these,” he gestured at the bag on the table, “so I don’t need your charity.”

Estevan frowned and caught the bag, and began passing it from hand to hand as a slow smile crept onto his face. He sat the small baggie down beside the cocaine Chepe was to sell to whoever was willing to buy - the lowlifes living on the streets dying for a fix, the businessman needing a hit to get through his lunchtime meeting, the society woman who did lines in the bathroom as she powdered her nose. “Heh. You really are a little chihuahua, aren’t you? You better not bite the hand that feeds you, perro.”

Chepe growled at the man before him. “Don’t fucking call me that. Only one person ever called me that, and he’s… not in my fucking life anymore.” He took a step toward Estevan, who held his hands up in front of him in mock surrender.

“Ay, ay, Chihuahua. How about Chi? You might want to take something to help you relax, parcero. You don’t want to mess with the wrong people out here. You’re not in your little village any more… what was it again, Enchinto?”

Chepe gritted his teeth and balled his hands into fists to stop himself punching the smug look off of the man in front of him. He breathed deeply in and out through his teeth, clenching his jaw to stop himself retaliating or saying a word.

“Fine. No doubt I’ll find out all about you soon enough, Chi Chi.” Chepe’s eyes blazed with the ridiculous nickname. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other if you want to make it in this town. You might want to stay on my good side, amigo.” He cocked his head to the side with a short, sarcastic snigger; enjoying the rage he was causing in Chepe, but careful not to push the man too far. He’d heard the rumours - Chepe was from the town people had spoken of for years, but no one was quite sure they believed in. The town where magic could get you anything you wanted. And Estevan wanted everything.

“Remember - I want at least double those prices back. You have until the end of the week.” The Santos del Norte gangster reached out and snagged an almost-full bottle of whisky sitting on the counter beside Chepe. “Perfect, I could do with a drink. And hey, I gave you a little something-” he nodded toward the packet of white powder, “and you give me a little something. Looks like we both win, Chi Chi.”

“What the fuck-” Chepe began, but Estevan was already out the door. Chepe let himself drop down to sit on the tatty couch - the only piece of comfortable furniture in the shack he now called home. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He could kill for a whisky now, that fucking pendajo. He opened his eyes and looked at the small bag on the table. No. He’d never done drugs before and he didn’t need to now. But fuck, his head was pounding and he was all too aware of the silence filling the room. Chepe never did well on his own. His own head was a dangerous place without the distraction of alcohol swimming in his veins, or a soft, eager girl under his body or strong hands holding his hips from behind, bending him over and-

Fuck.

He gave it five more minutes, and then he snorted his first line.

[doumaistrash]

Cute

A one shot fic for @my-gunpowder and @papermachette  

A/n: soooo i wanted to do a first kiss scenario bc i'm a sucker for these as well. Chepe/jose is my life now. I'm fucking crazy for it and i'll write as much as i can for them. I was also inspired by the comic of chepe/jose where chepe leans into Josés hand. I hope these two aren't too ooc again. And ofc they are in their youth. Hope you enjoy. P.s. i wrote it in like 1 hour again bc i can.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

"Have you kissed someone before?" The familiar voice of Chepe ripped José from his thoughts as he looked over to his new boyfriend. He looked quite flustered and got even more red as José kept staring at him.

"Why are you looking at me like that you stupid idiot?! I asked you a question!" It was amusing. The big bad Chepe, who was known for his glares and bad words, was blushing like a school girl. José chuckled.

"Don't laugh at me!"

"I'm not laughing."

Chepe huffed as he looked away, face red like a tomato. "And to answer your question: No. I haven't kissed anyone yet.... Unless you count my family. Have you?"

Chepe glanced at him and then back to the lake. "Once. But that's it. The other times I ended it before it could come to that."  José hummed and looked at Chepe. "Why are you asking?"

The other boy huffed and glared at him, but his cheeks were still a little pink. "I just wanted to know. Because then I could say I'm a better kisser than you." Chepe smirked.

"Oh really?"

"Really."

"Then why don't you prove it so we know it's really true? Kiss me."

Suddenly Chepes smug attitude disappears in a heartbeat. "A-are you fucking serious?!" His face began to get red again. José found it cute. "You can't be serious! Stop fucking messing with me asshole!" "What? You said you're a good kisser. So come over here and prove it. Unless..."

"Alright! Damn! I'll kiss you!" Chepe stomps over to where José is sitting and sits beside him. José grins. "And stop looking at me like that!" José raises his hands in mock surrender. "Alright. Alright I stop."

After a few minutes the two still haven't moved. "Uhm... Chepe...? You don't have to-" "I'M WORKING ON IT!" José flinched at the sudden outburst. Chepe looked nervous and was looking everywhere except at José. "Look. Here." José gave him a kiss on the cheek. Chepes eyes snapped up to him in suprise. His cheeks red. José had a light blush too. "This works too right-mmph?!"

Josés eyes were wide as Chepe kissed him. The boys arms were around his neck holding him tightly. Chepes own eyes were squeezed shut and he was blushing from ear to ear. José leaned into it and closed his own eyes, snaked an arm around Chepes back and laid one hand on Chepes cheek. It feelt hot to the touch but José liked it that way.

As they parted they looked into eachothers eyes. They were breathing deeply. José smiled softly at Chepe. "See that wasn't so hard." The other red faced boy closed his eyes and leaned into Josés hand. Cheeks hot and flushed. Looking disheveled. "Fuck off..."

José found it cute.

[thesolotomyhan]

Can you give us a list of requests or your writing plans please?

:))) of course!  so sorry i took a while to answer i had to get some thoughts out and see where you guys stood with them and i proceeded to add them onto this to try and keep track but im almost certain i forgot to add some ,,,

heh just know this is like a general writing plan for me ,, it lets me know who you guys want to see more of so feel free to “request” ask other characters/prompts ?? if you want so i can see where we want to head more into ? i just want to lay out a general plan and pick some out :)

- first time with mayo

- :))) wedding hc :))) for ramon :))

- maybe :))) an amado angst :)) one of you sent me :))) (a misunderstanding one with him) :)))))

- barron hcs  nsfw hc

- arturo hcs  nsfw hc

- jealousy hc (requested for: mayo, carrillo, chepe)

- ramons :))) fur coat :))) blurb ;)

- nsfw alphabets (requested for: amado, ramon, benjamin, mayo, carrillo)

- oh someone asked for a alex hodoyan hc :))

- finish proposal hc (im planning to anyway)

- mmm kink lists (requested for ramon, carrillo, poison, javi, arturo)

- boat and plane sex for amado and mayo -damn we’re thirsty huh? 💀

- some inbox thoughts im planning to write into small little blurbs hehe

some possible tropes i want to get around to:

- love triangles (1 has been posted)

- enemies to lovers (many of you suggested ramon and mayo)

-fighting/making up with them :)))

- angst plans??? idk some of you guys have suggested you guys want some angst haha (very specifically you guys have said for ramon, mayo and amado lol) 

- and something with dina because ive had a couple people ask for her but im scared i won’t be able to capture her right which is why im on the middle ground with her haha but im thinking about it :)))

- :))) maybe :))) arturo and mayo :)))) its that one scenario you all have indulged me into thinking about :)))))))

ugh let me know if i missed something because i feel like i totally fucking did and im sorry or just like i said feel free to ask me about something and ill see what i can do >:) 

new ideas/requests:

- dad hc’s (requested for: mayo, poison, chepe)

-being their mistress

-dating benjamin but ramon being into you (very much thinking about it lol)

-some more kitty ideas

[shadow-assassin-blix]

A Picture is a Poem Without Words

CHAPTER 11

A/N: Alright. Um. Let’s see. This is build up to a certain event that happens in season 2. The next chapter going to be angsty. Let’s see warnings: in the beginning there is allusions to smut, but then later on there is more detailed smut, blowjob, fingering, sex in general. 

Everything taglist: @mikeisthricedeceased​

Pacho taglist: @yungkvte​

The party lasted several more hours, the partygoers in a state of drunken oblivion that allowed Pacho and Blix to slip away quietly. The two of them drove off to his home and made their way upstairs to his room.

The two of them stripped slowly, crawling onto the bed once they were both naked.

Pacho hovered over her, brushing her hair from her face staring at her with a smirk.

“What?” She asked him, her hand running over his chest softly.

“I just… can’t believe you threatened to cartel members… over me. What did I do to deserve you?” He questioned kissing her firmly.

She kissed him back, her hand cupping his face.

She pulled away briefly to state, “Just lucky I guess.”

She returned her lips to his and they kissed for several minutes. Pacho slowly working his way down her neck and chest. He pressed several kisses to her skin, nipping here and there. Her moans were breathy as he worked.

“Luck? Hm. Not usually a believer in luck,” He muttered against her skin.

She laughed softly at him, “Hm. Don’t know what else to tell you then.”

“Fate. We were destined to find one another,” He countered looking up at her.

“Not a believer in fate or destiny. Then again… never had a reason to believe in those things,” Blix whispered.

“Maybe I’ll make a believer out of you,” Pacho said with a grin. “But first… I’m going to make sure you see stars.”

Her giggles soon turned to moans as he did just that.

The next morning, when they woke up their limbs tangled up around each other, Blix looked at him fondly. She had missed him more than she would ever say. They both quietly stretched and took a shower together. When they got dressed, and made their way downstairs, they discovered quite the crowd sitting in the living room.

Pacho’s arm was draped around her shoulders as they stepped off the stairs.

“What are y’all doing here?” Blix asked the group of men before them.

“We are here to talk business and have lunch. The two of you are late. Then again… I am sure the both of you needed to catch up,” Gilberto answered, his voice teasing.

“Mmhmm. Imma need y’all to not act like schoolgirls just cause we had sex. Most of you are married. You in particular have 3 wives. Maybe focus on your sex lives, or…. As I hear… lack thereof,” She tossed back with a smirk.

“Knife to the heart. No mercy this one,” Gilberto said putting a hand on his heart in mock pain.

Pacho took a seat on the lone chair, pulling Blix into his lap as he does so. She adjusted herself as she sat and listened to them talk about their next phases. As they talked, Navegante walked in, holding the home phone.

“It’s for you,” He said handing it to her.

She stared at him confused, wondering who the hell would call her at Pacho’s house.

“Hello?” She answered taking it from him.

“Hello Miss Lage, this is Judy Moncada. Was wondering if I could steal a few minutes of your time?” Came a feminine voice.

“Go on,” Blix urged curiously.

“I was hoping to have a meeting with the Cali, wanting to form an alliance with them. I was told that you were the one to go to make this meet happen?” Judy explained.

“Hm. Wonder who told you that? Listen, Mrs. Moncada, I’m going to need more info than just wanting an alliance. The brothers are busy, and Pacho will only meet if it is worthwhile. Cocaine is all about the sales, no? Then sale this proposition to me,” Blix prompted ignoring the looks she was receiving from everyone around her.

“Escobar has killed my husband and brother. I want him dead just as much as they do. I am willing to do whatever it takes to get that done. How’s that?” Judy replied firmly.

Blix reached over to grab the calendar and looked it over.

“How does Wednesday, at 11am sound? You get one chance Mrs. Moncada, you better come with a damn good offer,” Blix offered. “Oh. And Mrs. Moncada… I am sorry for your loss.”

“Wednesday at 11 is fine,” Judy answered. “And…. Thank you. You are one of the few people to say such.”

They hung up, and Blix wrote the meeting into the calendar before setting it back on the table.

“Judy Moncada wishes to meet with you and is willing to do whatever it takes to get revenge on Escobar,” Blix informed them, handing the phone back to Navegante.

Diego popped up suddenly with her cell before anyone could say anything.

“Your phone has been going off,” Diego tells her.

She takes it from him and answered it as it began to ring again. She hears an automated voice tell her this was a collect call from a prison in Mexico.

She followed the prompts, standing up and walking away.

She moved outside as the phone picked up.

“Miss Lage. I hear you made quite the arrest. Wanted to give my congratulations,” Came Felix Gallardo’s voice.

“Mr. Gallardo. What a pleasant surprise? Thank you, I suppose. But… I get the feeling that you have more to talk about than my work,” She was suspicious.

“Hmm. No. No hidden motives, other than wanting to see if you’d take my call. Surprised I don’t hear Pacho huffing in the background,” He teased somewhat darkly.

“Mr. Gallardo, I thank you again for the congrats, but unless there is something of actual importance you wish to say to me, I’m hanging up,” She warned her thumb hovering over the end call button.

“Do let Amado and them know… their victory will be brief. Just because I’m in jail doesn’t mean I don’t have any power. Do tell them that, to watch their backs,” He said darkly.

“As for you Miss Lage, that dress you wore? Looked beautiful on you, shame that it had to get dirty chasing down König. Oh. Before I forget… a package should be arriving for you. I do hope you like it,” Felix told her hanging up.

She stared at her phone, walking back into the living room as Diego handed her a package. There was no return address on it. She quietly opened it to find a painting of a pomegranate in a somewhat gothic style.

She stared at it noticing a quote in Latin. It said, “If I cannot move Heaven, I shall raise Hell,” and was written above the fruit, near what appeared to be a gateway painted behind it.

She pulled out the note that was at the bottom of the box.

“The descent into Hell is easy, little shark. Don’t trip, for the monsters will descend upon you. You are becoming quite the Queen of Darkness; I am sad I will not get to witness your descent. – Felix”

She stared at the note, noticing her hand was shaking as she held it. It slipped from her fingers, and she stared blankly at the floor.

Pacho stepped over to her, looking concerned. He picked up the note, and took the artwork with firm hands, looking at them briefly. He tossed them onto the coffee table and stood in front of Blix, lifting her chin up.

“He was the one who called?” he waited for her nod, “Do not accept his calls anymore, okay?”

She simply nodded again, clearing her throat.

“What does this mean? Why is Gallardo sending you this?” Amado questioned looking at the items.

“That day… in the hotel, the art auction? I quoted Horace. He was a Roman poet. Satirist. He became friends with Virgil, another famous poet. The quotes… those are his. The Pomegranate is a symbol of Persephone, a goddess of spring who became the Queen of the Underworld when she married Hades,” She explained motioning to each piece of the message.

“It’s a warning. That even someone as pure Persephone could fall,” Pacho surmised.

Blix nodded at his guess.

“He wanted me tell you to watch your backs. That he still has power despite being in jail,” She informed Amado sitting back down.

Amado scoffed muttering under his breath. Blix stood up again and walked down to her library. She needed some space and a moment to breathe.

She took a seat at her window nook and sighed softly. She was left alone for a good hour, when Pacho stepped into check on her.

“Lunch is ready, would you like to eat in here, or would you be okay with eating with us? Amado and the others have already left. It’s just Gilberto, Miguel, and Chepe,” He quietly informed her.

She looked at him, slowly making her way to him.

“Would love it… if we could just have one day free of drama. Just one,” She pleaded as she wrapped her arms around him.

“I know. I’m sorry, my love,” Pacho whispered to her, returning her embrace.

The two of them walked out, toward the dining room, joining the others for lunch.

The rest of the day went by in a blur and soon enough it was the next day.

She woke up, simply throwing a robe on not wanting to get dressed yet. She wandered downstairs, vaguely aware that it was oddly quiet.

She made her way into the kitchen where Pacho was cooking.

“Well. This is quite the sight,” She commented as she stared at him.

He smirked up at her, motioning for her to sit, as he focused on the meal.

“Where is everyone? It’s oddly quiet,” She looked around noticing she couldn’t even see guards patrolling.

He simply presented breakfast to her, pancakes and bacon, simply telling her to eat.

She does as requested staring at him with suspicion. Once she had finished, he took the plate away, washing it off, and putting it in the dish-machine.

“Today, it is just going to be me and you. The guards are still here, just further away. I thought you and I could go for a drive around town. Spend time together,” Pacho finally spoke.

Blix smiled at that, nodding her head. She got up from her seat and went upstairs to get dressed. She got dressed in some jeans and a cute halter top, throwing on some flats. She wandered back downstairs once she was ready, meeting Pacho in the garage. He held open the door to his green Porsche, bowing dramatically.

Blix laughed at his bow, thanking him in an overly posh voice as she stepped in.

The two of them drove into town, just enjoying each other’s company. They stopped occasionally to go shop or explore an area. It was nice to just relax and talk about random things. He drove her to his old neighborhood, showed her where he and Alvaro grew up.

“Remind me one day, to take you to New York and meet my family there. I am sure you would enjoy it,” Blix said as she held his hand.

“Hm. May have to take you up on that. So, what would you like to do now?” He asked her as they continued driving around.

She bit her lip as a thought came to mind.

“… How long do we have the house to ourselves?” She asked with a flirty smile.

“All day,” He replied simply with a smirk.

She leaned over resting her chin on his shoulder, kissing him randomly. Her hand slid over onto his thigh, squeezing it briefly. He sucked in a breath as her hand moved over to the growing bulge in his pants, rubbing it firmly.

“Darling…” He breathed, his hands clenching on the steering wheel.

“Yes, dear? Something the matter?” She said coyly as her hand continued their ministrations.

He pulled her hand away, holding it tightly in his, “You’re going to make me crash.”

Blix gave him a Cheshire-like grin and simply held his hand.

They drove home and made their way upstairs to his room. She made him sit down and straddled his hips. The both of them had long kicked off their shoes. She undid his pants, and he helped her by shoving them and his boxers off. She slid to her knees, positioning herself in between his legs.

She ran her hands her up and down his length, enjoying the soft breathy moans that were escaping him. She leaned forward, running her tongue over the tip, before slowly taking him into her mouth. She took as much as she could tolerate into her mouth, her hands taking care of the rest.

She bobbed her head up and down, moving slowly and purposefully at first, before picking up speed which caused several groans and grunts to escape Pacho lips. Sounds that she absolutely loved to hear.

Pacho at some point stopped her, gently motioning for her to pull away. He kissed her deeply, leaning down to her as he unbuttoned his shirt. She slipped out of her jeans, breaking the kiss for a second to also toss her shirt off, as he dragged her back onto the bed.

Her bra flew off at some point, and Pacho ripped her underwear off without care. Blix was lying on her back, as Pacho moved down to between her legs, and return the favor. His fingers dipped in and out, teasingly. He began to firmly thrust them inside her, while his thumb brushed over her clit firmly.

His mouth moved to replace his thumb, his tongue lavishing it sweetly. She could feel the pleasure building up swiftly and just before she could come, he pulled away. She whined at that, glaring down at him. He kissed his way back up to her lips, wrapping her legs around his waist as he lined himself up and slid in.

She moaned at the fullness she felt as he seated himself deeply. She rocked her hips, wanting him to move.

“Impatient, are we? Perhaps I should teach you some better manners? Only good girls get what they want,” Pacho teased, still not moving.

“Pacho. Move, please,” She pleaded softly with an exaggerated pout.

He chuckled at that, “Well. Since you asked so nicely.”

He began thrusting, long and powerful movements that led to short fast paced ones. It didn’t quite matter the speed at that point, the both of them were so turned on, that neither of them were going to last very long.

They reached their peaks in no time flat and collapsed in each other’s arms. Pacho began to pull out, when Blix stopped him.

She quietly told him to just stay, and he does so, resting his weight against her body softly.

He gently brushed her hair out of her face, pressing kisses randomly to her cheeks.

“How are you feeling my love?” He gently asked kissing her chin.

“Quite well. Today was very nice, thank you,” She tells him sweetly.

“Hm. It’s not over just yet, I have a lovely dinner planned for us this evening. The chefs are working on it as we speak. I plan to woo you,” Pacho said with a smile. “In fact, I think we should go take a bath.”

Pacho pulled away from her slowly, pulling her along with him, to his large jacuzzi-like bathtub. He turned the water on and threw some bath salts and threw in some bubble bath mix. When the water was a decent level, the both of them stepped in; Blix settled with her back against his chest, resting between his legs.

They turned the water off eventually, just relaxing. Pacho peppered her neck in kisses and bites as they sat.

“So… what’s on the agenda for tomorrow?” She eventually asked, turning her head to look at him.

“Mh. Not much, I have to go check on some locations. Make sure security is running properly. Would you like to join me?” He offered her.

“If you are comfortable with it, sure. Apparently, I am the go between,” Blix said with a snicker.

Pacho chuckled as well, kissing her cheek.

“Wouldn’t have offered it if I wasn’t comfortable with it. Diego will be with us,” Pacho informed her.

Blix nodded, yawning as she was hit with a wave of exhaustion.

“Hm. Should get out soon, dinner may be ready by now. Don’t want you falling asleep at the table,” Pacho teased.

The two of them stepped out, rinsing off before they threw on some underwear and robes. They didn’t feel the need to get too dressed up, since it was going to just be the two of them. They ate and quietly talked about nothing.

Once they had finished, they stepped out on to the covered patio, sitting outside to listen to the soft sounds of the rain.

“Did you ever figure out how your father was able to get pass security?” She asked wanting to know.

“Paid off one of the security guards to create a distraction somewhere on the grounds. That guard has since… been disposed of. No more troubles on that end,” Pacho assured her, holding her hand in his.

She nodded her head, leaning against him.

She tiredly tells him, “Haven’t gotten to tell you but uh… I got promoted.”

He turned and looked at her with surprise, a proud smile growing on his face.

“Well. Actually, I was offered any office in the world… but… I decided to stay here. So, I was promoted to be the new lead supervisor here in Colombia,” She explained further.

“Any office in the world? And you chose to stay here? Why’s that?” He questioned curiously.

“Hmm. Don’t know… Could be there’s this really hot guy I’m seeing?” She said teasingly.

“Oh? Really? Do I know this guy?” He asked joining her little joke.

“Think so. Brown hair and eyes, a face so pretty I want to punch it every now and again because of it, a lovely smile that he doesn’t show very often. He tends to be a bit overprotective, but I still love him. Sound familiar?” She listed with a smile.

“Mmhmm. Indeed. Sounds like a pretty good reason to stay,” Pacho replied kissing her cheek.

“That and I quite like Cali. Didn’t think I would when I came here but it’s grown on me,” Blix revealed thinking back to when she first came here.

Pacho raised an eyebrow curiously, motioning for her to elaborate.

“I was previously located in Greece and I loved it there. Thought about actually taking a permanent position there but there was greater need here in Colombia. So, I followed orders as a dutiful agent would. I hated everything. The heat, the humidity, the bugs. Working with men who thought I was a damsel in distress 24/7. It was awful,” She recalled scrunching her nose a bit.

“What wound up changing your mind?” Pacho inquired staring at her incredulously.

“Honestly? Horacio. Granted, he too was a bit reserved about me coming onboard here. He eventually realized that I could hold my own and became a bit like an older brother to me,” She explained softly. “I had a really bad habit in working so much that I would forget to eat, and he noticed that. Would check in on me and if I couldn’t recall when I ate last, he made me stop working immediately and go get food.”

Pacho nodded in understanding, “So, he was the first one to sort of welcome you to the country and made it more bearable?”

Blix nodded in response, “Yeah. He would invite me over to his home and have dinner with his family. He treated me like family and made my first year here more tolerable.”

“Which is why you got so upset when I suggested you two were together when we had that first lunch together that day. I see my mistake,” He said with a nod as he thought back to the second time they met.

She chuckled at that with a firm nod.

As the rain began to pick up, they made their way back inside and upstairs, back to bed. Blix felt a dull pain in her shoulder that was slowly building. She moved her arm back and forth, trying to work out the stiffness that was forming. Pacho motioned for her to lay down on the bed, on her stomach.

She shrugged off the robe, doing as requested, tucking her arms under the pillow. She felt him sidle up next to her on the bed, and felt his hands slowly run over her back. His hands began to massage her back, working out the knots he found. She groaned every time he worked on a spot that was particularly tight.

The impromptu massage was so relaxing that she wound up falling asleep. Pacho finished, smiling at the soft snores he could hear coming from her. He made a few phone calls to make sure everything was good to go for tomorrow’s meeting before lying back down next to Blix.

He laid on his side, admiring her, his fingertips running over the many scars he could see. He fell asleep, smiling briefly when he felt her move closer to him, seeking his warmth.

The next morning, the clouds had cleared away, showing a bright sunny day. She woke up to the sun on her face, and Pacho still asleep behind her. She sat up with ease, sighing quietly as she realized the massage had made sure she didn’t wake up tense.

She grabbed one of his shirts, throwing it on haphazardly as she got up and made her way to her bedroom to change. She threw on some dark wash jeans and a tank top. She stepped into some cowboy boots knowing they were going to meet at the ranch, and she had planned to ride Phobos while they spoke.

Despite having not talked to Pacho for a month, she still made trips out to the ranch to see Phobos. She always felt better after spending some time with him, whether it was going for rides or simply grooming him.

She walked downstairs, hearing movement and found Diego with a few of the guards talking quietly.

“Hello Diego. What’s happening?” Blix asked him, wondering why everyone was acting strangely.

“Escobar escaped prison last night and is apparently on a bit of rampage,” Diego informed her.

“Shit,” Blix said as she walked over to her bag with her phone.

She had a few missed calls, and as she answered them, she was given more details. DEA found out that Escobar had created a palace and had proof of it, but the ambassador wouldn’t do anything with it. So, they went to a local news station and gave them the info which led to public outrage. Which then led to an investigation at the prison that went awry, and Escobar escaped.

“Javi… You have the worst luck,” Blix said to him when he recounted everything to her on the phone.

“Yeah. I know. But the President is embarrassed and wants this fixed. There’s been talk that he may be bringing Carrillo back,” He said with a sigh.

“Good. He didn’t deserve to be shipped off to Spain anyway. It would be nice to see him again,” She said mostly to herself.

“Heh. I’ll keep ya update if they decide to bring him back,” He promised before hanging up.

She had wandered into the kitchen when she was making the calls, taking a few bites of an arepas filled with eggs. She munched on it as she returned the living room, smiling when she saw Pacho up and dressed for the day.

As she stood next to him, he stole a bite from her arepas causing her to gasp dramatically.

“How rude? Is mine,” She pouted as he tried to take another bite. “Diegoooo! Make him stoopp!”

Diego laughed at her plea, shaking his head.

She begrudgingly shared her food with him as they made their way to the cars. The trip to the ranch didn’t take long, and as Pacho got security set up for when the brothers arrived, Blix and Diego went over to the stalls.

Diego saddled up a horse as a stable hand brought Phobos out to her, ready to go. She gave him a couple of pets, cooing to him, before mounting him. Once Diego was ready to go, the two of them took a stroll around the property.

“So, what’s been happening since you decided to disappear on us?” Diego asked curiously.

Blix told him about her promotion and her decision to stay here. Diego raised an eyebrow at that.

“Hm. Staying here eh? You going to stick around with us then? Or you going to continue pretending you are a good girl?” He asked in a joking manner.

She snorted at that, “Yeah. My role has basically become a desk job. My second, Theo, he is taking over the active missions. I have no true need for my place now. Would it bother you if I wound up taking a more permanent residence here?”

“No, actually I wouldn’t mind it at all. Pacho tends to act more rationally when you are around. When I say we all tried for well over an hour to get him to have his hand properly looked at the party, I mean it. He wouldn’t listen to any of us,” Diego remarked.

“What exactly happened that led up to that point? He has yet to tell me,” Blix wanted to know.

Diego slowed his horse down to a stop, pausing as he took a deep breath.

“The older Salvador? The one whose hands you pinned down with a knife? Made several… comments about his sexuality…about me… and you… Usually he is able to ignore them but when the comments turned to you, he was not okay. He gripped his glass so hard that he shattered it trying to not cause a fight,” Diego told her with a wince.

“Hm. Note to self, maim him next time I see that worthless piece of shit,” Blix noted with a scowl.

Diego snickered at that, “So violent. I love it though. We should probably start heading back. I doubt their meeting will last too much longer.”

Blix nodded, they had been riding for about an hour at that point and it didn’t take them very long to return to the ranch. The two of them dismounted their horses and handed them off to a stable hand who was planning to give them a thorough grooming.

They rejoined Pacho, who was standing with the brothers and an older woman who she presumed was Judy Moncada.

“Hello, Mrs. Moncada. It is a pleasure to meet you,” She greeted her, holding her hand out to shake.

“Miss Lage, a pleasure to meet you as well. Thank you for this very beneficial introduction. I hope to see you at our next meeting. Word has it you can be quite ruthless,” Judy noted looking at her with a bit of scrutiny.

“Hm. Yes. But only when it comes to protecting what’s mine. Not sure I’d be much help in your one-woman war against Escobar,” Blix admitted looping her arms arounds both Pacho’s and Diego’s, proudly.

Judy nodded, “An honest woman. I like that. I simply hope Escobar doesn’t take anything from you like he has done me.”

Judy walked away at that, getting in her car driving off. Blix didn’t want to admit it…but that last statement left her with a feeling of dread. She knew it was just Judy speaking from her pain, but it came off as a warning in Blix’s mind. She mentally shook it off for now, trying to dismiss the anxious thoughts that swirled in her mind.

Pacho, Diego and Blix returned home where Blix received word that Carrillo was returning to Colombia, and that he’d be back by tomorrow afternoon.

While initially, she was thrilled at that, Judy’s words still circled in the back of her mind. Something was telling her… that something terrible was going to happen. She just wasn’t sure what.

Diego and Pacho both could tell something was bothering her and tried their best to distract her. It worked for a time but even later on as she laid in bed, the feeling of dread still loomed, and sleep was hard to come by. She hoped it was just her mind playing tricks on her, but only time would tell whether her worry was warranted or not.

[narcosmx]

pacho herrera being a dad would include...

a/n: here’s some pacho stuff because the idea of him being a dad has me heart eyes!! i’ll leave the how pacho got the child up to your own imaginaiton; could be adoption, surrogacy, idK anyways here we go

calls his kids rey o reina honestly especially if he has a girl he calls her reina de mi corazon because princess doesn’t describe how important she is but i honestly fucking adore the idea of him having a son 

i cannot with the idea of him being wrappes around his kid’s fingers because he so would be, fuck i think he’d even be aware of it... doesn’t give a shit is so happy to be a dad he’d give his kid the entire world 

god i am crying at the idea of him caring for a baby or infant because he would be as much of a  hands on dad as physically fucking possible 

hed be the dad laying on his stomach on the floor as their baby has tummy time, being at their level, playing with them

hed get so excited, whenever the baby did anything he’d be gasping and cooing about how they’re doing a good job, clapping for them 

like his baby literally melts him, he would literally anything for that baby 

would be the proudest dad ever, he knows what it’s like to have a father that didn’t stand by their kid so pacho is dedication to making it clear how happy and proud he is to have this child 

like when they say their first words he’s fucking losing it, he’s cheering for the baby, clapping his hand, making the baby giggle and like squeal scream

soccer would def be part of this kid’s life and i am here for it 

like he has little jerseys for them THAT MATCH HIS OWN WOW I AM SOBBING 

as soon as they baby can walk he’s putting a soccer ball in front of them 

becomes team mascot for when pancho goes to play has likle 30 times more security so he can play without having to panic about the baby every ten seconds 

and i just the kid cheering for pacho, whenever he makes a goal he’s going over to hold the baby up in the air, giving them their besitos before going back to the game 

straight up has a whole soccer field out in his backyard so he can play with the kid, and as they get older pacho is always playing against them, having them practicing skills, running drills, lowkey coach dad

i feel like he’d be a really sporty dad, one that is in the backyard running the drills with the kid and i just

lowkey feel like the kids nino would be gilberto because they mean a lot to pacho because they took him in and accepted him as part of their little fam 

oH SHIT OR CHEPE IM CRYING YES in conclusion they would have a big part in that child’s life and 

pacho asking gilberto for dad advise why am i crying about this 

they would all be the kid’s tios i 🥺

gilberto would be the extra as fuck tio/nino that would always have new toys or treats for the kid whenever the kid comes to vist like the little kid coming in and jumping straight into gilberto’s lap

chepe would be such a playful and silly uncle like i can see him throwing the kid up in the air, giving pacho a lowkey heart attack, also he makes silly voices to the kid 

miguel would just be fucking awkward as he is but like ruffling the kids hair playfully, buys then ice cream or some shit like small stuff 

why do i get the vibes that pacho would sing to his babies like when the baby can’t fall asleep and pacho is walking around the house with them in his arms, he’s holding the baby to his shoulder and rubbing their back 

and pacho patting the baby while he’s singing to them but just barely audible whisper singing :(((((((

and when the kids get older he’ll sing to them when the kids sick :(((( like sitting at the edge of their bed while he rubs the kid’s back and signs to them gently 

him having the kid help him cook with they’re old enough like pacho with the kiddo sitting on the counter top and getting to help throw things into bowls, help them mix and most importantly taste to make sure it’s ready to go 

i am sad because he would be the dad that would tell his kids he needs to eat his veggies before ice cream... and they pout up at him and pacho sighs softly and is like okay but you have to eat some of them !

this goes without fucking saying but he’d be such a protective dad but pacho would so readily die for his fucking kid it makes me soft 

like if he was out here ready to burn norte del valle down for his brother, good fucking lord he would absolutely murder anyone that thought about thinking about his kid 

but keeps the life as far away from his kid as possible, would even be conflicted about the kid seeing the guards with guns 

whenever they’re passing the guys out front doing security, pacho is cooing at the kids like ‘mira a papi, mi reina/rey’ or distracting them somehow i just

i just he always has his kid on his hip or like beside him holding his hand ... he’d be the child’s best friend and pacho couldn’t be happier... the best thing that ever happened to him was being able to have a child that he could surround with the love, security and acceptance he wasn’t given

[hopelikethemoon]

Adjusting (Javier x Reader) {MTMF}

Title: Adjusting  Rating: PG-13 Length: 2900 Warnings: Angst (brief mention of abortions), Period Typical Sexism (Chris is at it again), and Poor Communication.  Notes: You can find the Maybe Today, Maybe Forever Timeline here. Set October 1992. Shoutout to @absurdthirst​ for her idea about Chris’ bullshit.  Summary: Reader and Javier start to figure out their relationship. 

Taglist:  @grapemama  @seawhisperer @huliabitch @pedropascalito@rogrsnbarnes@thewallpapergoesorido @twomoonstwosuns @gooddaykate @livasaurasrex @ham4arrow @hiscyarika @plexflexico @readsalot73 @hdlynn @lokiaddicted @randomness501@fioccodineveautunnale  @roxypeanut @just-add-butter @snivellusim @amarvelousmandalorian @lukesrighthand @historynerd04 @mrsparknuts @synystersilenceinblacknwhite @behindmyeyes-insidemyhead @exrebelshocktrooper @awesomefandomsunited @ah-callie @swhiskeys @lady-tano @beskar-droids @space-floozy @cable-kenobi @longitud-de-onda @cool-ultra-nerd @himbopoes @findhimfives @pedrosdoll @seeking-a-great--perhaps @frietiemeloen @arrowswithwifi @random066​

“You’re going to break your teeth out if you keep clenching your jaw like that.” You warned Javier as you stood beside his desk with a stack of folders. “Stop. It’s fine.”

“He’s a son of a bitch.” Javier gritted out, taking the folders from you and shoving them forcefully into the file sorter on his desk. His eyes were fixed at the corner that led around to the breakroom, where Chris had headed for to get coffee. 

“You’re going to give yourself a headache.” You reached out and squeezed his shoulder. It was a fleeting touch, but he still reached up and curled his fingers around your hand. 

Things were weird. Navigating this situation was more difficult than you had anticipated. Were you actually with Javier? You weren’t entirely certain. You certainly weren’t just partners and friends anymore. The little human growing within you had guaranteed that, but… Javi had fallen asleep in your bed last night. 

Just slept. 

Which might’ve been a first for Javier Peña.

You just felt guilty, because two days ago you had sat in front of the director and a panel of your superiors and lied through your teeth.

“Is the father Javier Peña?” 

“No.” 

There was no doubt in your mind that if you had answered ‘yes’ to that question you would’ve been sent back to the states right then and there. Good agents don’t sleep with their partners. It would have just reinforced all of the shit you had heard about why women shouldn’t be put in the field. It’s a boys club. Let the boys fuck the locals and keep your own legs crossed. 

“Here’s my report on Chepe,” You said crisply, keeping a very professional voice as you caught Chris returning from the breakroom out of the corner of your eye. “A week ago, one of my informants let drop that he’s starting to hire hitmen again. He’s making moves with the remaining assholes from Medellín—”

“Is that who you fucked?” Chris questioned as he took a sip of his coffee, sweeping a lecherous look over you. 

“Excuse me?” You folded your arms across your chest as you turned to face him. 

“Your informant.” He smirked at you, sitting down on the edge of his desk as he stared at you. “There’s no shame in that, sweetheart.” 

“Oh, fuck off Chris.” You huffed and turned back to Javier. “As I was saying, you’re going to need to keep an eye on the usual suspects. There’s movement between the two cartels which is alarming.” 

“I heard you don’t know who the father is.” Chris chuckled. “I mean, I figured you were a little slutty, but I didn’t realize you were that fucked up.” 

Javier’s hands curled into fists and his jaw clenched even tighter. Somehow, he was more pissed off than you were. 

“Hey Peña,” He taunted. “Have you ever knocked up any of your lovely ladies?” 

“No.” Javier bit out, leaning forward and looking at the file that was spread out on his desk. Choosing to ignore Chris. “Think your informant will be willing to work with me?” He questioned. “Kinda vital information there.” 

You shrugged, “He might. I’ll have to get it cleared, but I’ll try to make the introduction.” 

“Thanks.” He nodded slowly, shooting a scathing look in Chris’ direction. 

“If you have any questions, I’ll be at that desk for the next six months.” You knocked your fingers against the top of his desk before you headed back for your own. The idea of being stuck on desk duty for the rest of your pregnancy made you want to cry. And that wasn’t just the fault of your hormones. 

You glanced across the office at Javier, your heart doing stupid little somersaults as you caught him staring at you. It had been a week since you had told him. One week since everything changed — technically it had been three months since everything changed. But it was nice to have him back. 

After five years as his partner, three months of ignoring his existence had practically killed you. Especially when you had to be out in the field with him, sitting in awkward silence pretending that you didn’t want to spill your guts. 

You were just glad you had him back in your life. 

“You know,” Chris started, kicking back in his seat and squeezing his stress ball in an obnoxious fashion. “I’m realizing there’s an upside to you getting knocked up.”

“And what’s that?” You questioned dryly, pulling files out of your file sorter. 

“I can fuck you and not have to worry about becoming a baby daddy.”

You pretended to gag. “Would you look at that. I just lost my appetite.” Your eyes flickered towards Javier briefly. You had learned to brush off Chris’ moronic comments, but Javier looked primed to kill. 

“Come on sweetheart,” Chris drawled out with a cruel grin. “I’ve never done it with a pregnant lady.”

“I’m surprised you’ve done it with any women.” You shot back. 

“Real cute.” He snapped, sitting up straighter then. “You should watch yourself. I’ve got friends in high places and you… well, you don’t even know who your kid’s father is.” 

“Was there supposed to be a correlation there?” You questioned, narrowing your eyes at him.

Javier cleared his throat. “Feistl, do you have the report done?” 

“It’ll get done.” 

“Quit running your mouth and it’ll get done sooner.” 

Chris glared at Javier. “I’ll let you take a turn.” 

“Wow. You know what? I am going to take my fifteen now.” You rose to your feet and headed straight for the elevators without looking back. If you looked back, you might lose it. Chris had always been a misogynistic pig ever since he and Daniel got brought in after Steve’s departure, but this was next level bullshit. 

“I’m coming with you.” 

You whipped around to face Javier. “What are you doing?”

“You shouldn’t—”

“Get back to your desk.”

“No.” 

“Do you have any idea how suspicious this looks?” Your hands went to your hips. 

“I’m your friend.” 

“Okay. Then as a friend I’m telling you to go back to your desk.” 

“If I go back to my desk right now, I’m gonna fucking murder him.” Javier gritted out and you believed him. You could see the veins in his neck bulging with ire. 

“Sounds like a good reason to go back to your desk.” You said with a short laugh, looking back at the elevator as the doors swept open. You stepped inside and Javier followed. You wanted to yell at him for being stupid, but there was a part of you that appreciated the fact that he wanted to help. 

“Are you okay, baby?” He questioned, reaching out to lightly curl his fingers around your elbow, before sliding his hand down your arm until his fingers curled around your fingers. 

“Yeah.” You leaned into him, sighing heavily. “He’s a fucking pig.”

Javier pressed a kiss to the top of your head. “Where are you going?”

“To sit in my car.” You shrugged, pulling away from him abruptly when the elevator dinged and the doors swept open. “You should go back upstairs.” 

“Smoke break.” 

You rolled your eyes. “Smoke in the breakroom.” 

“Fresh air.”

“Javier.” You turned around and stared at him. It was hard to say no to the compassion in his eyes. You had missed that warmth and adoration. You hadn’t realized how long he’d been looking at you like that, until you were met with icy glares for three months. “Fine. But only this one time.” You warned him, starting for the front door. 

Javier followed you down the ramp and around the corner to the bleak concrete patio that was set up for smokers. It seemed like a lifetime ago since you used to take breaks with Steve and Javier there. Now it felt wrong. Being around Javier at work felt like you’d put up a neon sign announcing that he was the father of your baby. Which was ridiculous. 

Despite how close to the two of you were — are — you doubted anyone would actually think he was the father of your baby. Despite what your superiors might think. You still couldn’t believe they asked you. Point blank. It didn’t help that apparently, per Chris’s vomit-of-the-mouth, people at the Embassy thought you were a slut. Which was to be expected, considering the situation. But it still stung. 

You perched on one of the picnic tables, hands resting in your lap as you stared at Javier. You had underestimated how awkward things would be now. For three months you had gotten used to the idea that the two of you would never be back to ‘normal’, that you’d never have the conversations and the laughter you used to have with him. It still wasn’t normal, though. Because four months ago you wouldn’t have known exactly what it felt like to have him between your legs or what it was like to wake up in his arms. Which was nice. 

Strange, but nice. 

Javier pulled the pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, lighting up and taking a drag before he spoke. “You don’t deserve that shit.” 

You chewed on your bottom lip and shrugged. “It’s bound to happen.” 

“But it shouldn’t happen.” 

Your eyes met his briefly before you looked away, rubbing your hands together. “My best advice is don’t get knocked up in a male-dominated field.” 

Javier huffed out a humorlessly laugh, shaking his head. “It’s bullshit.” 

“Yeah.” 

“Can I... “ He trailed off, waiting for you to look at him again. “Tonight?”

“Again?” You smiled a little, before you shook your head. “Javi, I’m not…” 

Javier held up a hand, “I know.” He took another drag of the cigarette before he moved to sit down beside you on the picnic table. “I’m not trying to rush into something you don’t want, baby.” 

“I do want it.” You told him, turning to look at him. “But I really do feel like shit and I’m not really in the mood for—” 

“That’s not…” Javier exhaled another puff of smoke before he put it out in the ashtray behind the two of you. “I’m letting you set the pace, baby. But last night was nice, wasn’t it?”

You nodded, wringing your hands together. “Yeah.” 

“That’s all I want.”

“Who knew Javier Peña was a cuddler.” You teased playfully. “Is that what you’ve been doing with hookers for all these years?”

He looked away, his jaw clenched tightly. “You can just say ‘no’.”

You swallowed thickly. “I mean… it was nice not to be alone last night.” You wanted to reach out and comfort him, but the risk of being caught was far too high. “But just to sleep.”

Javier nodded slowly, “Yeah.”

“Hey, look at me.” You said quietly, your eyes meeting his as he turned to look at you. “I really wish I could kiss you right now.”

The way his eyes light up made your heart ache. “Yeah, me too, baby. Still allowed to kiss you tonight, right?”

“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”

 ——

 “Is it weird?”

“Is what weird?” Javier questioned, sitting his beer aside as he angled his body in such a way that you knew he was giving you his full attention. 

“Us.” You gestured between two of you, before dipping your finger into the jar of Peter Pan peanut butter and licking it off your finger. 

“What do you mean?”

He was going to make you do all the work, wasn’t he?

You sighed heavily, contemplating how to explain it as you dipped your finger into the jar again. “I don’t know.” 

“You don’t know what you mean by a question you just fucking asked?” He cocked a brow at you, before he rubbed at the back of his neck. “Then I don’t know either.” 

“Don’t be a dick.” You stretched your leg out on the sofa and kicked his thigh. “Maybe it’s just me then. Everything is weird right now.” You sank back against the sofa, staring up at the ceiling. “I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that there’s this… child growing inside of me.” 

Javier was quiet, but his eyes were focused on you. 

“They asked me if I had considered having an abortion.” You sat up a little, brows furrowed as you looked at him. “During my hearing or whatever you want to call it. I felt like I was standing trial.” You swallowed thickly. “I hadn’t even considered it. You know? Aside from the fact that I knew the kid was going to be cute—” You gestured to him. “I mean, look at you.” He didn’t seem nearly as amused as you were trying to be. “It never crossed my mind.” 

He rocked his jaw as he nodded slowly. “Yeah.” 

“That wasn’t even what I wanted to say.” You laughed nervously, rubbing at your cheeks as you fixed your gaze back on the ceiling. “It’s just a lot to stomach right now.” Because you didn’t know if he’d actually stick around. You wanted to get used to this — watching shitty telenovelas and cuddling on the sofa after work — but you didn’t know if you could do it. You had never been very good at letting your guard down, except with him, and look where that ended for you. 

“What did you want to say?”

You sat up on your elbows and stared at him. “I spent three months trying to figure out how to forget what you looked like when you came.” You said bluntly, shrugging your shoulders. “Now I get to pretend that I’m not inviting you into my apartment every night. Needless to say, work is weird now.” 

Javier rolled his eyes. “It doesn’t have to be weird.” 

“What does that even mean?”

“We could tell them.” 

You laughed sharply. You couldn’t fucking do that. Not after you sat and lied to their faces. You’d get sent back to the states before you had time enough to say your name. And then where would you be? Because Javier sure as hell wasn’t leaving Colombia, not with the Cali Cartel still at large. You’d be all alone then. 

“We can not tell them, Javier.” You swung your legs over the side of the sofa, sitting upright then. “That’s just exactly what I need on my record. Everyone loves an agent with a reputation for fucking her partners.” 

You snatched up the container of peanut butter, getting off the sofa to return it to your kitchen cabinet. 

“But we did sleep together.” 

“Yeah. We did.” You shut the cabinet door with a little more force than necessary. 

“Do you want me to go?” Javier questioned and regret flooded your senses. He was already off the sofa with a hand on his leather jacket that was draped over the back of the sofa. 

“No!” You started towards him. “Last night was nice. I want that to keep happening.” There was also a part of you, a part you didn’t want to acknowledge that didn’t want him finding his way back to his usual source of nightly comfort. 

The thought made your already sensitive stomach roil. 

“What do you want from me, baby?” Javier questioned, his shoulders sagging as he stared at you. You were certain you’d ever seen him looking quite so… lost before. Maybe that Monday — when he came out of the meeting and stared at you and your untouched coffee cup. 

How did you meet someone halfway, when you were afraid to? You were terrified to give your heart to him, despite knowing that he already held a sizable chunk just from being his partner for five years. 

“Something?” You offered quietly. “Do I have to give you an answer right now?”

He shook his head slowly as his hands went to his hips. “No. I don’t need an answer right now.”

“Good.” A tremulous smile spread over your lips. “I do know that right now I could use a kiss. Is that enough?”

Javier took another step towards you, his hand curling around your hip as he caged you against the kitchen counter. He tilted his head as he leaned down to bridge the distance between the two of you. 

Your fingers slid around the back of his neck, smiling against his lips as he kissed you. It really was nice to have this sort of intimacy with him. How many times had you thought about kissing him over the years? He had the most kissable lips and now they were yours to kiss.

But not yours alone. 

You pulled back, cautioning yourself from feeling anything more than you already felt.

“You taste like peanut butter.” Javier whispered, his hand moving around to the small of your back. 

“It’s this new thing I’m trying.” You quipped with a grin. “I was thinking… peanut butter perfume next. It’ll be all the rage.” You kissed him again before you slipped out from between him and the counter, giving his arm a squeeze. 

“I’m going to go get ready for bed. Did you still want to…?”

“Yeah. I’ll strip down in the bathroom.”

Last night he’d worn just his boxers. Which admittedly had been a nice sight. But you couldn’t stop thinking about it at work. Which was a problem. 

Eat your heart out DEA. They could take away the things you loved at work, but you still got to take Javier Peña home with you. 

[pachitoherrera]

here’s a list of lana del rey & halsey songs that remind me of the narcos guys for reasons

nobody asked for this but i wanted to share with you what helps me to find a spark when i’m writing 💫

Chepe

↳ Gods and Monsters by Lana del Rey

In the land of gods and monsters / I was an angel / Living in the garden of evil / Screwed up, scared, doing anything that I needed / Shining like a fiery beacon / You got that medicine I need / Fame, liquor, love, give it to me slowly / Put your hands on my waist, do it softly

Fuck yeah give it to me, this is heaven, what I truly want / It's innocence lost

In the land of gods and monsters / I was an angel, lookin' to get fucked hard

When you talk it's like a movie and you're making me crazy / ‘Cause life imitates art / If I get a little prettier, can I be your baby? / You tell me life isn't that hard

Pacho

↳ Coming Down by Halsey

I found God / I found him in a lover / When his hair falls in his face / And his hands so cold they shake

I found the Devil / I found him in a lover / And his lips like tangerine / In his color coded speak

Amado

↳ Off to the Races by Lana del Rey

My old man is a bad man / But I can't deny the way he holds my hand / And he grabs me, he has me by my heart

My old man is, a tough man / But he got a soul as sweet as blood red jam / And he shows me, he knows me, every inch of my tar black soul

My old man is a thief, and / I'm gonna stay and pray with him till the end

You're lying with your gold chain on / Cigar hanging from your lips / I said, "Hon' you never looked so beautiful / As you do now my man"

Miguel Ángel

↳ Young God by Halsey

He says, "Ooh, baby girl, you know we're gonna be legends / I'm a king and you're a queen and we will stumble through heaven / If there's a light at the end, it's just the sun in your eyes / I know you wanna go to heaven, but you're human tonight"

He says, "Oh, baby girl, don't get cut on my edges / I'm the king of everything and oh, my tongue is a weapon

Poison

↳ Salvatore by Lana del Rey

Everything looks better from above my king / Like aqua marine, ocean's blue

The summer's hot / And I've been waiting for you all this time / I adore you, can't you see, you're meant for me? / Summer's hot but I've been cold without you

Catch me if you can / Working on my tan / Salvatore / Dying by the hand / Of a foreign man / Happily

+ she sings “Cacciatore” which means “Hunter”, I like to see it in the context of killer / sicario just because :)

Javi

↳ Lust for Life by Lana del Rey

Take off all of your clothes / They say only the good die young / That just ain't right / 'Cause we're having too much fun / Too much fun tonight, yeah

And a lust for life, and a lust for life / Keeps us alive, keeps us alive

[purplesong1028]

A Forest Tale

Chapter 3: Body and Soul

Fantasy, AU, !Fox Pacho, !Shapeshifter Pacho

Rating: General Audience

Paring: Chepe/Pacho

Words: 2,919

They drive out of downtown Cali and back into the mountains, with a dozen bags of new human clothes on the backseat. Pacho peeks at them from the rear mirror. Do humans need so many clothes because they can get dirty, or because they want to look good? If someone already looks great, do they need fewer pieces of clothing, or will they want more?

Chepe takes another turn deep into an area of thick forest. It’s unbelievable how fast the car can go. If he were to come to this area as a fox, it’d take him days, but it takes less than 30 minutes with a car.

“Remember the thing I told you earlier?”

“Sure, which one? I remember everything.” He knows humans can forget a lot of things, but he doesn’t. In fact, his powers make him unable to forget.

“We were supposed to go somewhere else, before the whole clothes issue came up.”

“Right, you need me to do something with my magic?”

“Yeah, and here we are!”

They pull over next to a dirty, old building, and the guards give him a slightly suspicious glance as they open the heavy metal door for Chepe. This building feels very different from Chepe’s house: dark, chilly, with an unpleasant smell of blood and mold. Pacho carefully keeps his distance from the wall, so his new human clothes don’t get tainted.

“Come, this way!” Chepe leads him downstairs. “So this mind thing that you do, how does it work exactly? Can you just read someone’s brain?”

“Not exactly.” Pacho tries to find the correct terms. Sometimes there’s simply no human words to explain what he can or cannot do. “I can’t tell what you’re thinking right now, every second, as it happens. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah that’s fine, I don’t need you to do that. What about someone’s past? Can you tell?” They make a few more turns, stopping in front of a rusted door by the end of a narrow corridor.

“The entire past? I can, but it would take days for me to tell you someone’s life.”

“No, not the entire past!” Chepe laughs frustratedly. “You see, I need to ask this guy some questions, yeah? I just need to know if he’s telling the truth.”

“Oh! Then yes, that’s very easy to do.”

“Excelente!” Chepe opens the large lock and pushes the door open.

Inside the dark cell is a man tied up to a chair. His clothes are ripped, stained with dirt and dry blood. His face is all bruised up and swollen; the right eye barely opens as he looks at them.

“Come on then! Show me your magic.”

“Did you do this to him because he didn’t tell you the truth?” Pacho turns to look at Chepe in genuine surprise— the same person who made him breakfast and took him shopping just a few hours ago.

Chepe holds his stare in a candid yet slightly amused expression. “Is that a problem?”

“I mean, is this usually what humans do to other humans when they aren’t honest? That’s…a bit strange.”

“Oh, no! We lie all the time, but this situation is a bit more complicated.” Chepe locks the rusty door again behind them. “Look, you said you wanted to try alcohol later, right? We have all the time for questions then. How about we just finish up here, so we can skip to the good part, hm?”

Pacho doesn’t really like that tone. He can’t say exactly why, but he’s seen how humans speak to their young children, and weirdly, Chepe reminds him of that right now.

“Ok, you just want him to answer your questions truthfully. That’s it?”

“Yup.”

“Do you need him alive after that?”

That seems to take Chepe by surprise for a brief moment. “Why? Whatever you do, does it kill him?”

“No, but if you don’t need him alive, can I eat his soul afterwards?”

“What?! Wait you…what?” The way Chepe shouts his words is almost identical to yesterday, when Pacho first turned into a human.

“Right. You know I don’t need to eat food, and I get my energy in other ways, sí?” Pacho can’t help but smile as he explains. It’s very interesting, because every single person they have interacted with today seems to hold some respect, and even fear for Chepe, but he doesn’t see why. He doesn’t find him that scary at all.

“Basically, human’s soul is a great source of energy, if I can have it.”

“Um…sure, help yourself, I guess.” Chepe shrugs, still looking a bit shocked at the new discovery. “Only after he speaks.”

“Of course.”

Pacho walks over to the man, who’s silently staring up at him, more confused than terrified. Right, he and Chepe just had the soul eating conversation right in front of him.

Well, it doesn’t matter now. He locks their eyes. “Relax, this doesn’t hurt.”

He loves eyes. Doesn’t matter what they look like: blue or dark, tiny or large. They’re beautiful little round doors leading directly to the minds behind them, and minds… Minds are the most fascinating thing about humans.

Pacho doesn’t know how exactly he does it, and he can’t explain or teach it even if he wanted to. It’s like he’s simultaneously at two places: standing right in front of the man in this room, but also inside of his brain, surrounded by all his memories, thoughts and emotions.

“I’m in. Ask whatever you want.”

*

“The fire at our warehouse three days ago, you started it, right?”

“Yes.”

There’s silence. The man isn’t saying anything more because that was a yes or no question, and he already answered. Pacho looks over at Chepe, who’s staring right back at him, and that’s when he realizes Chepe’s actually waiting for him to confirm before asking more questions.

“It’s the truth.” He says. He knows it’s the truth, but he’s not really digging into this person’s past memories to find the answer himself. All he does is to put the mind to a state of complete relaxation and vulnerability, so the person is incapable of lying.

“Who gave you the order?”

“La Quica.” Out of curiosity, Pacho takes a look at La Quica as the thought passes him. Nothing interesting, just a young man with curly hair.

“Did La Quica tell you why?”

“You fucking know why.” The man sneers, also unable to hide any true emotions. “We had a deal! LA is Medellín’s territory, and you assholes didn’t keep your hands out of it. That’s fucking disrespect.”

”Disrespect, hmm?” Chepe also snorts. “So what was that fire, a warning?”

“A lesson.”

“A lesson, I see.” Chepe slowly walks towards the prisoner, and Pacho spares a glance just to make sure he’s still securely tied to the chair —— pure hatred and rage are consuming this man, and sometimes a human’s body has incredible potential when their mind is overtaken by emotions. Pacho’s capable of physically overpowering any human, but only when he’s also grounded in reality. When he’s inside people’s minds, there’s very little his body can do.

“Are there any more lessons planned?”

“That depends on you guys. Patrón said Gilberto should know the right thing to do.”

Who’s this patrón? Pacho searches through his mind, and it seems like this person hasn’t really met the patrón face to face that many times, but it sure came up a lot in conversations he had with other people. From what he could gather, it looks like a middle aged overweight man. He’s about to search for the name, when Chepe calls out to him.

“That’s all I need to know. He’s all yours.”

“Thank you!” Pacho says, both with his physical body and inside the person’s mind, which freaks the prisoner out, but it doesn’t matter, once he takes the soul, it will be all over.

He takes a deep breath, can’t help but feel a bit overexcited. This is going to be his first human soul. He’s heard so much about it, how it’s supposed to be the most wonderful feeling in the world when the pure energy is extracted and consumed, melting into their own magic… He considered just trying it on some random human, when he first gained full power a few months ago, but there was never a good opportunity. It’d be super weird if he just possessed someone on the street, and let that person drop dead a minute later.

But this, a prisoner already weakened and injured, likely not going to live anyway, is the perfect opportunity.

Pacho reaches out with his own energy, wide into the realm of consciousness, and starts consuming. Wow…it feels like everything he’s imagined, but better, more powerful. He can perceive everything about this man’s life at the same time, yet each detail is crystal clear. He is absorbing someone, and every essence of this person’s existence now belongs to him, until the mind is left with nothing but absolute blankness.

He stays inside the empty mind for a while to calm himself down, and then slowly exits the dead place, opening his eyes again inside his own body.

*

“That was fucking unbelievable!” He turns to Chepe, unable to hide his immense exhilaration. “I wish I could show you how it feels!”

But Chepe’s reaction doesn’t match his excitement at all, and he’s just silently staring with a complicated expression. It looks like a mix of many emotions, but mainly just shock and some caution. He could have gone into Chepe’s mind as well to figure out the other emotions, but Chepe did tell him not to do that earlier.

“What? What is it?” He looks down and sees his own hands and arms, now covered in a layer of soft golden glow, like sunlight is attached to his skin. “Oh, interesting! How long has it been like that?”

“Not long, a few seconds.” Chepe glances at the lifeless body. “What exactly did you do in there?”

“It’s hard to explain.” He answers honestly. “I took his soul. I can just do that, like you can’t really explain how humans swallow food, right?”

“Right, and does that make you stronger or?”

“It does, but one soul won’t really make a difference.” He feels his own power inside, just to confirm the conclusion. “But say if I take 50, I’ll definitely become a lot stronger.”

“50,” Chepe repeats, like he’s convincing himself of this reality, “and you can do that to anyone.”

“Anyone.”

“Yeah, I need some fucking fresh air.”

“But quality also matters.” Pacho catches up, “A soul is a soul, but this one wasn’t that good.”

“No surprise there!” Chepe says sarcastically. “God would certainly agree with you on that.”

Pacho has heard humans talking about a God, and from the contexts, it seems like they are referring to some sort of higher power, but that doesn’t exist, right? He hasn’t met one creature that’s more powerful than his kind.

“It’s not because he wasn’t a good person, if that’s what you mean.” They make the same turns as they came in earlier, until the heavy metal door appears at the end of a narrow corridor, and he stops talking when he sees the guards. He can get into the details later.

The guards open the door for them, and sunlight shines through, blindingly bright, inviting them to step outside, back into the warm, lively world.

“Well, if you haven’t figured it out, none of us are good people here.” Chepe continues, once they’re far enough from the guards.

“I think that’s quite clear.” Pacho thinks about the man they just killed as they walk back to the car. “But it’s alright! Your good and bad are human standards, and they don’t matter to me.”

Chepe closes the car door, harder than necessary. “They should, if you’re pretending to be one!”

“I’ll try to pretend better?”

“No, that’s not…” Chepe runs a hand down his face. “Look, I know you think you can do anything because of your powers and whatever, but it’s really more complicated than that, alright?”

“I know that. That’s why we’re fascinated by humans in the first place, remember?”

Chepe rolls his eyes in pure frustration, but doesn’t say anything more. Pacho watches him turning the key, and the car starts moving again.

“I don’t get it.” He turns to the human, who’s now focused on the road. “I only did what you asked.”

The road is empty and they’re the only car here, but Chepe only spares him a brief glance, and it gives him a strange new human feeling, like sourness spreading in his chest.

“It’s not your fault, ok? You didn’t do anything wrong, as long as you don’t start eating the souls of random people.”

“No! Of course not.” He’s not sure if that’s a joke, but it puts a smile back on his face. “But if you are killing anyone else, I’ll take them.”

Chepe laughs at that, loud and genuine.

“So? Are we good?” He asks, just to make sure, because he’s still having trouble understanding the whole thing. Do human emotions always change this fast, for no apparent reason? He wishes he could just get into Chepe’s brain, and it’d be so much easier.

“Let me ask you this.” Chepe doesn’t answer his question, and instead gives him a new one. “What if I tell you to do something without letting you get anything in return? Say if I ask you to burn someone to death, so you won’t be able to get their soul.”

“I don’t see why you can’t do that yourself, but yeah, I don’t mind doing it.”

“Without getting anything for yourself?”

“You’re still introducing the human world to me, right?” He turns to Chepe. The afternoon sunlight is on their left side at the moment, directly shining through the window on the driver's side, making him squint a little. “The food, the clothes, and many other things I hope. That’s what I’m getting in return, for myself.”

Chepe looks genuinely amused, but it’s mixed with disbelief. “For that, you will do whatever I tell you?”

Pacho’s first instinct is to say yes. It was his own offer, and whatever Chepe might want him to do, it should be effortless for him, so what’s the problem? But still, he stops himself from answering immediately, and takes a bit more time to consider possibilities. Maybe he’s missing something crucial, because Chepe’s tone makes the question sound more like a challenge or bait, like he’s expecting Pacho to say no.

“I will do what I’m able to, as long as it doesn’t hurt me.” He ends up saying. “But I don’t think you can, or want to hurt me.”

“What makes you think I don’t want to? Didn’t I just tell you none of us are good people here?”

“I think…you’re not good to some other humans.” Pacho tries to put his thoughts into words. The language isn’t the challenge, but explaining what’s happening in his own mind can be such a sticky thing, so much more difficult than reading someone else’s. “But you’ve been good to me. That’s what matters.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake…” Chepe shakes his head, laughing in an almost defeated manner. “Alright, guess we can leave it at that.”

*

They are quiet for the rest of the drive. It’s clear that Chepe doesn’t want to continue the conversation, at least not on the same topic, so Pacho turns his attention to outside, observing the fast moving scenery.

They get back to the house, and a guard greets Chepe with a wary expression. “I’m very sorry, patrón. We couldn’t find your fox.”

“What?” It takes Chepe a brief moment to remember his own order this morning. “Oh right, that’s fine. It probably ran back to the woods, just leave it be.”

The guard nods, eyes widening in surprise, and hurries to leave the room.

“Can I ask you something?” Pacho calls out before the human can walk away.

Chepe turns back around, leaning on a large wooden shell full of human artworks and crafts. “Usually you just ask.”

That’s right, but this question feels different, more personal. “You don’t torture animals when you hunt, so how comes that you torture your own kind?”

“That’s a fucking good question.” Chepe chuckles, looking truly impressed. “I’m not sure you’ll understand the answer though, even if I tell you.”

“I’ll try.”

“You will, but not today.” Chepe reaches up and claps a hand on his shoulder. “I need to go prepare for a meeting later. Why don’t you go look around the house, try on your new clothes or something, I’ll be back before dinner.”

He only registers half of the words. All his attention immediately goes to the left shoulder where Chepe’s palm is. The contact makes him instinctively tense up.

“What’s wrong now?” Chepe quickly drops his hand. “You can’t be touched?”

“No, I can.” He shakes himself out of it. “That was just the first time I physically touched a human.”

“Wait, really?! Didn’t you live 500 years?”

“When I’m also in my human form, I mean. It feels different for some reason.” He covers his shoulder, still feeling the residual sensation from the brief contact. “Don’t worry, I’ll get used to the human body.”

Many different emotions flash across Chepe’s face: awkwardness, confusion, and something new, something he really can’t decipher.

“Right, ok. I’ll see you later then.”

Guess they’ll leave it at that.

@ashlingiswriting @yourlocalspacewitxch @mandaloria314 @drabbles-mc @cherixrosa @cheesybadgers @cositapreciosa @criatividad-e @alreadywritten @narcolini @mon-capuccino @amane-otaku @sikkui

[mythopoeticreality]

For the reader asks: What do you wish more authors in your fandom would write about?, - What reader or write do you think most deserves a high five?, and Tell me a headcanon (and who you wish would write it)?

Ohh! Awesome! Just the questions I wanted to answer too! xD Thank you, you wonderful nonnie for sending me these!^^ I umm…I might get a bit long-winded here so bear with me….>.>

What do you wish more authors in your fandom would write about?

Oh dear…you just gave me free reign here to give you my fannish wish-list anon. Do you realize what you’ve done?!

Okay, no but, these are some of the ideas and characters I’ve most wanted to see more explored for such a long time now, so this might get a bit long as I’ve been thinking about some of these things for so long, so…let’s split this up by fandom:

Silmarillon/Tolkien:

More Tinfang please, definately! Probably my most obscure fav here,but he has so much potential? I mean, he’s this haf-fey pied-piper type figure and I just need like…all of the fic of him outwitting orcs and robin-hooding it up across Beleriand just basically ruining Morgoth’s day in his own small ways xD I love the idea of Tinfang being this folklorish figure amongst the elves, and I’d love to see more of that.

On that note: More Middle Earth Fairy Lore in general. Yeah I know most of this stuff is only half-canonical at best and pretty obscure, coming from the Book of Lost Tales, but still, it’s just fun? Again, I love the idea of elvish folklore, especially pre-Valarin folklore and I’d love to see more of it, and incorporating some of these older Lost Tales era ideas is such a great way to do it? Besides, the addition of fairies answers an age old question in Tolkien Fandom:

“…they were born before the world and are older than its oldest, and are not of it, but laugh at it much, for had they not somewhat to do with its making, so that it is for the most part a play for them…”

TELL ME THAT DOESN’T SOUND LIKE TOM BOMBADIL TO YOU!?! Case closed. Tom Bombadil is a Fairy.

Asside from Tinfang and Fairy lore, however, There are a couple of things I’d love to see more of in this fandom as well.

More Amlach would always be a blessing.I don’t really see why he is so often overlooked as a character either. Here’s this guy, he’s like, ‘Okay, I’m maybe not so cool with these Elves dragging us into this war of theirs that I certainly didn’t  sign on for’  but then Morgoth comes along, and sends one of his servants to impersonate him while he’s away. Amlach finds out is all ‘What?! You stole my face?! Oh it’s personal, now…” and then goes to find Maedhros and becomes one of his vassals to fight against Morgoth. He has to be one of my favorite Men in the Legendarium, and I can’t help but picture his relationship with Maedhros to be just…so full of snark. He’s not awed by these elves after all, he’s just here because Morgoth’s an asshole. Honestly, I can’t help but feel that if Amlach feels like Maedhros is wrong about something he will speak up about it. And..Maedhros actually appreciates that? Amlach’s honesty, I mean, maybe not the snark all the time xD I just want to see more of that relationship, and it’s development, blossoming into some kind of respect and friendship between the two. Basically Amlach is awesome and I want more of him.

Finally, I’d love to see more Eönwë/Mairon stuff? This is my ship! The whole tragic lovers-to-enemies dynamic that they could have going? Those moments where Sauron came begging to Eönwë at the end of the War of Wrath and things almost, almost looked like things could have been reconciled, where everything stood on a knife-blade and a held breath? YES, I am here for that. And yeah, I’m a sucker for redemption fics, so I’m here for AU’s where Sauron actually did turn around and seek the Valar’s forgiveness as well.

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell:

*slams fist on table* More JSMN Crossovers! I mean, the King’s Roads literally go everywhere, and I can’t be the only one who sees the potential there! You’ve got all of fiction and reality open to you! For instance: 

Send Childermass off on the King’s Roads exploring Faerie and Looking for a way to read Vinculus, and have him stumble on into the DC Universe to run into John Constantine! They can be Snarky Northern Bastards together and deal with Fairies and Demons and Magic! 

Have John Uskglass wander into Wizarding New York in 1926 and meet Credence Barebone! Can you imagine what that would be like? The Raven King meeting this orphan kid who grew up in pretty much the exact opposite situation to himself, In a world where magic is kept a secret, and who had to spend his life suppressing this magic he had? What would be going through John’s head in that moment? What would be going through Credence’s? Can the Raven King take Credence under his wing, get himself a new apprentice? He should. That would be really cool. 

Oh, or what about Strange and Norrell while they’re trapped in the Pillar of Darkness? Send them to Valinor! Imagine the reactions of the Elves and the Valar at the approach of this huge Tower of Midnight. What New Sorcery of Morgoth’s is this? Is this the arrival of some new evil into their realm, like Ungoliant? Imagine this army of Elven warriors – the very same ones that Durring the War of Wrath fought to take down the source of all evil in Middle Earth – all lining up and preparing for battle…only to discover a pair of fondly squabbling academics

Or you know what? We don’t even need the King’s roads for crossovers! One of the things I’ve been most wanting to see in this fandom is a Sandman/JSMN crossover just…focusing on the relationship between Uskers and Morpheus? Like, I could totally see Oberon’s Favorite Foster Son as having encountered the Lord Shaper over here during his time in Faerie? And just, as a being of Faerie, as a Magician, as a Legend in and of himself, he totally has this connection to Dream? And honestly….why wouldn’t I want to see these two being Melodramatic and Goth and Awesome together? I’d really love to see how they’d interact. (Crossovers involving Daniel would *also* be amazing too of course and I’d really love to see John dealing with the feelings of knowing but not knowing Daniel, of interacting with someone who is at the same time so much older and so much younger than himself. How weird does it have to get to begin to stretch at even the Raven King’s own standards for what is “normal?”) 

Other crossovers I’d like to see: John Segundus and Arthur Weasley hanging out because that would be just…the most adorable thing. And Also Henry Lascelles and Lucius Malfoy, because they just kind of deserve one another really xD

Asside from Crossovers I’d really love to read more things focusing on just the general history and world building in JSMN? I want to see like, the effects of magic on things like the Interregnum and the Restoration! I want to see what sort of History Play Shakespere wrote about John Uskglass and How opening night went! (You Know the Raven King showed up,watching from the shadows. You just know it.) I want to see Isaac Newton as a Magician, dammit! (speaking of that last one I got this lovely fic around Christmas Time about that very thing and I am eternally greatful for it, and y’all should go read it)

And honestly, more fics about the Aurate Magicians and John Uskglass would be amazing? I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I want an entire series of novels dedicated to the Aurate era of Magic. I want *all* of the medieval politics and drama. How does John Uskglass interact with say…Emperess Matilda or Henry V? How does magic change things and introduce new issues that have to be delt with? Also…the characters of this time period just *fascinate* me. Yeah, John Uskglass, but also Thomas of Dundale? William of Lanchester? Catherine of Winchester? Donata Torrel and Margaret Ford and their troop of women magicians? Thomas Godbless? Walter De Chepe? Lookit. I just need *all* of the stories about the Aurates.

Oh, and one more thing: No 80′s AU JSMN fandom? I am Dissapoint. I need John Uskglass hanging out in Le Phonographique as is only his natural habitat ;P 

What reader or writer do you think most deserves a high five? 

But there are so many awesome people in both my fandoms? I mean Just going off of the top of my head…

@jordenspuls and @somepallings just seem like all around really cool people and it’s always a delight to see their back-and-forth crossing my dash (even if most of the time I’m too much an awkward nerd to say anything myself) Not only that but they’re also really awesome writers and if you like Johnsquared you should definitely check out both of their work!^^

@ohveda is also super-cool and is also an awesome writer, especially– again – if you like Johnsquared. Also, it always makes me smile when I see a comment on one of my metas, because we’ve always had nice discussion in the past. 

Of course I’ve gotta mention @regshoe here, for loving the Raven King as much I do, for always being an awesome person to talk to and for writing such amazing fic as well as comments in my own stories.

And on that same note, theseatheseatheopensea is another amazing writer in JSMN fandom (seriously, the writing is just georgous. Go read that Isaac Newton story.) and always leaves such lovely comments in my fic as well!^^

Finally, @thearrogantemu and @prackspoor have both written some of my favorite Silm fics.

Tell me a headcanon (and who you wish would write it)? 

Okay, so for most of my headcanons and ideas I don’t actually have an ideal writer in mind for any of them. I’d just really love to see what would happen if anyone took them up and ran with them.

That said, because I cannot provide any actual writers for these headcanons, I will give three each from each fandom to make up for it 8D

The Silmarillion/Tolkien:

  More Fairy Lore from Arda: Before encountering the Valar the elves would often leave out small offerings to appease the fairies and spirits of Middle-Earth. A few berries, a piece of meat from a good hunt, a dish of milk left out on the doorstep. After meeting Oromë and going to Valinor, the offerings became more craft-oriented and were said to be for the Valar, rather than the Fairies. Many – especially amongst the Vanyar – stopped leaving out offerings all together, seeing them as relics of the misunderstandings of the past, too pagan a tradition to continue with. MírielÞerindë, however did continue to leave out small scraps of brightly embroidered fabric as a tribute to Vairë whenever she began a new project. Fëanor continues on in this tradition, leaving a small wire spiral out on his workbench whenever he starts something new – not for the Valar or to keep the Fairies from interfering – but as a tribute to his mother.

Curufin is actually the best rider and horsemen amongst his brothers and taught Celebrimbor to ride 

Arien and Sauron were actually really close before Sauron’s eventual betrayal. Being some of the few Fire-spirits who remained on the side of the valar gave them a particular bond, and  Mairon was someone for Arien to turn to when the feelings of grief and betrayal that her brothers – The Balrogs – left her with grew to heavy. Well that was untill…

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell:

Catherine of Winchester actually didn’t start out as a particularly impressive Magician. Actually, if anything, magic was fairly difficult for her at first. Where she was impressive was in her dedication to her craft, and her shear stubbornness in it’s pursuit was what actually impressed the Raven King enough to take her on as a student (this one is actually a fairly new headcanon for me, but there is something about the idea that I find so appealing…)

Thomas of Dundale is actually a huge nerd when it comes to Arthuriana and tales of Chivalry. He was actually kind of having a bit of a fanboy freakout when he first learned Chrétien de Troyes wrote a song about him. xD More seriously though, tales of Knights and Brave Deeds were what he grew up on before being stolen away to Faerie, and during late nights in the Brugh, when neither of them could sleep, Thomas would keep both himself and John entertained with the old stories his nurse used to tell him. Sometimes he even thinks of himself and John as a kind of reversed Arthur and Merlin. 

William of Lanchester was actually one of the Raven King’s apprentices in his youth. That first week within John Uskglass’s company was one of the most frustrating experiences in William’s life, and by the end of it he well and truely hated John Uskglass and his particular manner of doing things. It was just so much the opposite to William’s own approach? He swallowed it down and pushed on anyway, because he did want to learn, but he ranted to Thomas (who he got on with brilliantly from the start) a lot about John during those early years of their relationship. Thomas helped him stick it out, Thomas gave him space to vent and honestly? Thomas helped smooth things over between William and John when they clashed the most. “He takes growing used to. But he’ll grow on you, if given a chance.” Thomas would say to him. William would just scoff. “Yes. Like a fungus.” Yet by the end of his apprenticeship, William found himself as one of the Raven King’s most trusted advisers and closest friends – and the thing that surprised William the most? When he realized it, he wasn’t surprised at all.