#random crane fly event

[avis-writeshq]

omg omg please for track four of your event 🙈 we know that sparks fly!reader calls spencer ‘Walter’ but can we get the first time he calls her ‘angel’ please???? 💕💕

l.d.s.k – spencer reid [bonus 'sparks fly' chapter]

summary: in other words, the first time spencer calls you an angel pairing: spencer reid x fem!reader genre: best friends to lovers, mutual pining, fluff warnings: rated 15+ for general criminal minds violence, canon compliant with s1 e6 ‘L.D.S.K’, a hint of Derek slander oops, not beta read wc: 2.2k a/n: many many apologies for the delay anon! i hope this can live up to your expectations! sparks fly masterlist | event page

“Reid failed his qualification,” Elle tells you as she makes her way into the bullpen looking flawless as ever. 

Her words bring you out of your daily crossword puzzle, your brows furrowing. “He failed?”

“Well, he can re-test in two weeks,” Gideon says dismissively, making his way over to the water dispenser.

Elle shrugs, craning her head to look at him. “They took his gun this morning,” she replies. She looks back over. “Be gentle.”

“I’m always gentle,” you tell her, harshly erasing a wrong answer in your puzzle. “Was that not already obvious?”

“I’m not talking to you,” Elle responds swiftly, her gaze set on Derek’s forehead. 

Derek is quick to raise his hands in surrender, but the glimmer of amusement sparks in his eyes. You narrow your own just as Spencer comes walking through the glass doors with Gideon following behind him. The young doctor looks dejected as ever, the grip he has on the strap of his bag so tight that his knuckles blanche. 

He slumps down onto his desk beside you, turning the computer on with a scowl. You open your mouth to say something, an attempt of making him feel better, but Derek beats you to it.

“We’re all here for you,” Derek says, noticing the way Spencer avoids his gaze. “I’m serious.”

It starts off well. Spencer finally begrudgingly looks Derek in the eye, an unimpressed look on his face.

“If you ever need anything,” Derek continues, fishing something out of his pocket. You lean over the desk divider to get a better look, but apparently you don’t need to. A shrill whistle sound fills the air, and Morgan snickers in jest. “Just blow on that.”

Spencer’s face falls into a stern frown as he hurries to rip the whistle off his neck, throwing it onto his desk. 

You try once more to offer any form of condolences but your efforts are once again cut off by JJ carrying a stack of manila folders and passing them off to the team. You don’t pay much attention to what she’s saying (something about a shooting and three victims?), your gaze fixed on Spencer’s troubled face. The others rattle off about long distance serial killers and profiling, and you can’t help but feel a little bad for your lack of contribution, but your thoughts are filled with more pressing matters. 

After the briefing and Hotch saying a simple, “Wheels up in twenty”, you turn in Derek’s direction as you stuff your bag with files and random pieces of stationary. Elle sits within earshot, packing her own things. 

“Why are you so mean to him?” Your voice carries no malice and you don’t look in his direction at all, head down as you furrow through your go-bag.

Derek’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“To Spencer,” you clarify, “like, just now. He was already in a bad mood. You didn’t really have to say much else.”

“I’m just… toughening him up,” Derek says with a shrug. 

“This job would do that by itself. Spencer doesn’t need to ‘toughen up’, and this job doesn’t need your help to do that, either.” You lift your shoulder noncommittally. “I think you’re just insecure.” 

Elle cackles at that, stifling her laughter behind her fist while Derek snaps his head in your direction. “Alright then, I’ll bite. How am I insecure?”

“You’re a classic alpha male, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you’re an alpha male who is in a work environment where almost every other man is also an alpha male. Spencer is the opposite; he’s more timid which, again, not a bad thing, and he’s also more intellectually gifted.” A wry smile spreads across your face as you hoist your bag off your desk and sling it over your shoulder. “You’re insecure that he’s smarter than you and because he’s the quote-un-quote ‘weakest’ of the pack, you just can’t help but pick on him.”

“Reid and I are friends,” Derek says defensively. “And come on, you can’t tell me that you don’t his ramblings a little bit annoying.”

You hum. “I don’t find them annoying. Even if I did, I wouldn’t cut my friends off when they’re talking about something they find interesting.”

Spencer doesn’t mean to eavesdrop. He swears that it was never his intention– he just forgot his wallet on his desk after everything that happened that morning. Regardless, hearing you defend him in such a way is enough to make his stomach flip.

He’s barely known you for two years. He joined the team a little after you did, granted, he was a permanent addition to the team while you at the time was just interning as a part of the course you were taking. It was only after a very long discussion with Hotch that you became a solid member of the BAU (you told Spencer all of this while you shook out your hands and by extension the nerves you experienced when you were seated in front of your boss’s desk with your resume. It took everything in him to not grab onto your hands and hold them firmly in his). 

Even when you were an intern and only at work two out of the five workdays, Spencer was able to find solace in you. He didn’t really understand the logistics of it, much to his chagrin, but he has chalked it up to you being a little younger than him and feeling that slight twinge of ‘protectiveness’ over you. It doesn’t make sense, he gathers upon second thought, you don’t need protecting. Despite that, he finds himself gravitating to you as if you were the earth and he was the moon. You, full of life and all things wonderful, and him, a dim light that he hopes could brighten up your darkest nights. 

He doesn’t think that that comparison is accurate enough, is the conclusion he comes to when he hears you chastise Derek for his lack of compassion. It isn’t so much ‘chastising’ as it is stating a fact. Spencer thinks you’re an angel and that everyone should kiss the floor you walk on. His head spins with facts about angels and their origins. He mumbles the facts under his breath, considering all the different backgrounds of angels and the connotations of viewing you as such. Spencer scrunches his nose in annoyance. He’ll be thinking about this the entire flight. 

*** 

You sit next to him during the flight. Your hands are in your lap as you fiddle with your fingertips, almost as if you’re contemplating something. Spencer glances at you expectantly from the corner of his eye, ignoring the book he is supposed to be reading.

“I know I shouldn’t really have to say this, but don’t worry about Derek,” you tell him through a hushed whisper. “He’s just being an idiot.”

“Yeah,” Spencer says, trying to not look fazed about the situation. “I know.”

You shift again in your seat before playfully flipping his collar upwards. “I like this shirt on you. Red is totally your colour.”

He thinks it’s pathetic, the way his eyes light up and the way he physically preens at your compliments. “There have been studies on the colour red and how it may impact one’s perceptions of others. Actually, it has been found that seeing the colour red can cause an elevation in blood pressure, enhanced metabolism, and a spike in heart rate which are all physiological changes associated in increased energy levels. Another study showed that those who wear red are perceived to be more sexually appealing than those who wear other colours.”

His cheeks flare in embarrassment upon realising the insinuation of his words and he hurriedly backtracks. “Not that I was expecting anything! It was just interesting and–”

“Walter, it’s fine.” You laugh, rolling your eyes. “It’s okay! You’re right, it is interesting.”

Spencer doesn’t think you’re an angel anymore. He knows it. He manages to crack a smile. “You think so?”

You nod enthusiastically, looking over at him. “Tell me more.”

He thinks that he might faint.

*** 

The hospital is under lockdown. Your head spins when you see SWAT making their way through the lobby, armed in heavy bulletproof uniform and guns that are at least half your height. You’ve never had to work a situation where they had to be called and the severity of the situation sinks in. 

“Hotch and Spencer will be okay, right?” You ask worriedly, glancing over to where Gideon is trying to negotiate with the captain.

“They’re good at what they do,” JJ reassures gently, squeezing your arm. “I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

Gideon returns with a disgruntled frown, gesturing with annoyance towards the SWAT team. “They’re taking the ER in three minutes.”

“That’s it?” Your words are quiet as you try not to attract the attention of the people in said team. “So, what, Hotch and Spencer need to talk down a crazy armed sociopath in three minutes?”

“It’s like they don’t even want our help,” Elle says through a grumble. “What’s the point of asking us here if they’re not even going to listen to us?”

Somehow, those three minutes are both the longest and shortest three minutes of your life. There’s nothing you can do except wait and even then, the hospital is borderline silent. You’re not necessarily sure if that’s a good thing. You watch with the others as SWAT trek up the stairs in formation, and you wring your hands out nervously. Time continues to tick by and just when you’re sure that you’ll be stuck here for the next however many hours, a loud bang rings through the hospital. It’s so sudden that you jolt on the spot, your head snapping towards the door. 

A few civilians, all accompanied by SWAT agents, make their way through the doors and towards the ambulances stationed outside. You follow them out, taking in a breath of fresh night air while a shiver runs down your spine from the cool breeze. Everything seems to be in order and everyone seems to be calm and collected. That must be a good sign, right?

Spence grimaces from his spot on the back of an ambulance, rubbing at his lower torso. The pain isn’t that bad anymore, but it does feel a little raw from where Hotch repeatedly kicked him. His face is bruised from where Phillip Dowd hit him with the back of his rifle. The gun he used feels heavy in his pocket and he genuinely isn’t used to it being there. 

“You alright?” Hotch asks. He’s using a softer tone, one that Spencer isn’t particularly accustomed to.

Spencer nods, his arms crossed over his stomach. “Yeah.”

“Nice shot.”

He lets out a soft chuckle. “I was aiming for his leg.”

Hotch looks a little amused before he continues, “I wouldn’t have kept kicking but I was afraid you didn’t get my plan.”

“I got your plan the minute you moved the hostages out of my line of fire,” Spencer says genuinely, nodding.

“Well, I hope I didn’t hurt you too badly,” Hotch says guiltily.

Spencer can’t help but laugh quietly. “Hotch, I was a twelve year old child prodigy in a Las Vegas public high school. You kick like a nine year old girl.” He pauses, offering the gun back to him.

“No, keep it,” Hotch says, patting Spencer squarely on the shoulder. “As far as I’m concerned you passed your qualification.”

Spencer offers a smile as his boss walks away, his gaze meeting yours as you hurry over to him. “Hey–”

“Walter, your face,” you lament with a frown, reaching a hand out to brush against the bruising.

Spencer flinches, hissing softly and you pull back. “It’s still a little sore.”

“Sorry,” you murmur, glancing again at his injuries, worry laced in your tone and etched upon your features. 

“You’re an angel,” Spencer says softly in a daze, watching the way the flashing lights from the ambulance.

Heat travels up towards your cheeks at his words and you press the backs of your hands against your face in an attempt to calm yourself down. “I’m not an angel.”

He’s in too deep to try and backtrack so he nods. “You are,” he says honestly, looking up at you from where he sits on the ambulance. “And if you can call me by my middle name, doesn’t that mean I can give you a nickname too?”

“Well, I guess,” you relent, your heart still aching at the sight of the bruise on the side of his face. 

He beams at you as he pockets the gun. “Alright, then, angel.”

Your cheeks grow hot again and this time you feel the blood rush to your ears. “It’ll take a while to get used to it.”

He laughs. “But you’ll get used to it.”

“I heard what you did in there,” you say swiftly, effectively changing the subject. “You don’t need that whistle anymore.”

Spencer nods and smiles. “Yeah. Thanks, angel.”

“Anytime, Walter.”

reblogs are always appreciated!

sparks fly masterlist | event page

[makkir0ll]

hey hey hey! I was really inspired with the prompts for your event but no pressure, just take the ones that inspire you!

4 + futakuchi

7 + shirabu

15 + daichi

14 + tsukishima

22 + akaashi

24 + oikawa

33 + suna

46 + kuroo

48 + kita

51 + atsumu!

again congrats for the 200 followers!!

love all these prompts and it was hard to pick just one, hope you like it!

200 milestone event!

atsumu + 51 ("i could lift you up off the floor while kissing you"/ "excu- what are you doing?! put me down!")

warnings: slightly suggestive towards the end.

away games were the hardest for atsumu. the flights were long and tiring, the food wasn't the best, the hotel room mattress weren't as good as the one at his house. but most of all, he had to be away from you.

call it cheesy or whatever but atsumu hated being away from you, especially now that the two of you had just got married it was even worse. he hated that the food he ate wasn't cooked by you, the mattress didn't have your body laying next to his. but, it did make coming home so much sweeter.

when he walked through the door, yelling "honey! i'm home" a joke the two of you started to do after seeing it on a movie. he kicks off his shoes when he see's you run to him, jumping up and wrapping your arms around his waist in a hug as you pepper kisses down his neck and he takes in a deep breath, smelling the floral shampoo on your hair.

while he began to unwind form the long trip by taking a shower and using the same floral shampoo that you used on yourself, you started to make him a good dinner because after every away game he always complained how the food never tasted as good as yours.

as you're chopping up some vegetables you feel his arms wrap around your waist, water droplets from his damp hair falling down to your neck as he whispers how much he misses you in your ear.

" 'tsumu, i'm cooking right now please get off." you joke, trying to kick your husband away but he seems to hold onto you tighter, pulling you closer to his chest and with an exasperated sigh you drop the knife and turn off the stove so you can turn around to him, wrapping your arms around his neck and all attempts to act annoyed fly out the door when you see his lovesick amber eyes looking down at you.

"i missed you," he whispers, leaning down to press a small peck to your lips, "so much." he presses another. this time you hold him there, kissing him slowly taking your time to explore each other as if it's your first time. the position is uncomfortable though, you standing on your tippy toes, the only balance you have being holding onto his neck which is craned down somewhat awkwardly but he doesn't mind as long as his lips are on yours.

in the middle of the kiss you begin to lose your balance, toes aching from holding their position for so long and you stumble into him, leading to him breaking the kiss with a soft chuckle.

"don't laugh." you say smacking his chest.

"what, i ain't laughing love." he's biting his lip to contain himself. "can't help if yer falling for me, hm?" he teases.

"you're cheesy." you retort, cheeks turning bright red at your husband's stupid comment. even after years of the two of you being together he still manages to get reactions out of you.

"ya love it though," he whispers, leaning in for another kiss but you lose your balance, yet again. but he holds onto you, stabilizing you. but a light bulb goes off in his head.

pulling away from the kiss, a whine leaving your throat as you try and chase his lips he says with pride, "i could lift ya up off the floor while kissin' ya."

your eyebrowns quirk up, the random fact that he stated confusing you. "excu- hey!" your thoughts get cut off when you feel his arms wrap around under your butt to lift you up and it takes you by surprise. "what are you doing?! 'tsumu put me down!" you yell through fits of laughter as he picked you up with ease. it wasn't like atsumu never picked you up but normally you would atleast jump for him, so him picking you up with pure strength was something that (quite frankly) kind of made your husband ten times hotter to you.

with your legs dangling above the floor, swinging back and forth as he spun you around, causing more fits of laughter that erupted from your throat, making his heart swell. he slowly comes to a stop as your faces are mere centimeters away from each other, and being at eye level you take note of how his brown irises were almost barely visible with how dilated his pupils were as he looked at your flushed cheeks, messy hair, and bitten lips that were turning a bit redder. he leans in to kiss you yet again, this time it's deeper. the hands that were on your ass gave it a tight squeeze which elicits a moan from your mouth, allowing his tongue to go in to explore your mouth as he had done countless times before. without stopping his actions he begins to move, to what you assume is the direction of your bedroom, not for a second even thinking about putting you down. once he enters the space he kicks the door shut behind him with ease.

dinner could wait a bit, he wanted to get a head start on dessert first.

[another-corpo-rat]

In your opinion (and/or hers), what is the worst thing Victoria Crane has done?

this was such a fun thing to think about, so thank you anon!! putting this under a read more as once again, i have rambled quite a bit

In my opinion: it's likely what she did to her father's mistress / half-brother's mother. While Victoria treated that whole trio awfully with varying levels of severity, what she did to Angelo's mother was monstrous.

She, unnamed and so will be marked by [s] from now onwards, was a spitfire of a woman from Rancho Coronado. Confident despite her shaky foundations in life, not afraid to speak her mind and bare her teeth - that would all change when Victoria came on the scene.

Victoria was methodical in tearing this woman's confidence apart, at making little digs that could be waved away as meaning something else, something harmless but said in a way that made their meaning clear. The barbs dug in deep, and things [s] used to take pride in were questioned in a condescending way, coated in honeyed tone that was distinctly corpo. And Joseph had kept [s] largely away from the corpo lifestyle, so when Victoria arrived she was sorely ill prepared for being caught in its jaws.

When [s] did manage to get her own dig in once, Victoria regarded her with little more than a hum and looked at her like she was a fly in her drink; struggling in the boiling water of it.

Retaliation came in the form of a sensory assault; a military grade bite of a sonic shock that made [s]'s ears bleed and her skull ring for far longer than the quickhack was active for. It fucked up her hearing to the point she needed new audio implants, and still she could hear echoes of it almost at random. She was certain it was Victoria's fault, but couldn't find any way to prove it.

Life continued, with a soft ringing in her ears but there seemed to be a long period of peace after this event; Victoria was busy in Arasaka and [s] was able to relax in her home again, without paranoia nipping at the back of her neck. That would change on a night meant for celebration, a dinner at Embers to mark Angelo's recent promotion.

She had a very public meltdown and hasn't been seen since.

Meanwhile, Victoria's project OIZYS moved forward after a successful test-run.

tbh i consider this the worst simply due to how targeted it was, but Victoria has done a lot of terrible shit through the years that i reallly need to sit and think about / write out sometime

in hers: Look I love her but this bitch has a moral backbone made of stringcheese so it made really thinking about what she'd consider the worst thing she's ever done interesting.

It'd be a time she acted on impulse; someone brings in a potential new subject and she overhears the head of the project call them 'the New Smasher' and she just. sees red in a way she'd never admit to, a rush of protectiveness and fury she finds unbecoming in others. And of everyone she considers hers, Smasher is the last to need her guarding him in any way.

But, she does. And maybe its not as impulsive as she'd hide behind, because she has the sense to wait until the opportune time, knows to use an access key not her own to get into the empty lab, knows to repeat the camera's footage from the previous uneventful night rather than killing them completely. She lifts the nearest thing she could find and drives it into the subject's temple, twisting to scramble it enough that nothing feasible remained, that it couldn't be placed into a conversion frame.

No one knows, the act of sabotage is expected to have been from Militech - and the project head is investigated when its found he was talking quite publicly about this project when he shouldn't have been. It's easy to pile onto that avalanche so it falls on him, including a few spoofed emails to a Militech contact and he was gone.

She considers this one of the worst things she's ever done because she acted against Arasaka's interests, for entirely selfish reasons. And really, the more she thought of it after calming down, entirely unnecessary, Smasher isn't so easily replaceable and the fact the mere thought of it got her reacting like that isn't something she's proud of, or will ever admit to.

[paperconsumption]

plane thoughts no.2:

ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! (never plays songs on repeat and has scared herself)

find it hilarious that they remind ppl to take off face masks before putting on safety masks in the event of an emergency. who the hell forgot to do that

angels before man is killing me ever so slightly bc i thought lucifer’s fall would happen sooner but we’re spending a lot more time as an angel than i expected. i do enjoy the dinosaurs though

oh and also i want to fight michael i woukd defeat that gay angel with ease

also also there r whole pages devoted to lucifer leading worship sessions i am so so sorry but every single one of them is a skip almost as much of a skip as the dream sex scene was

not saying i dislike the book bc i quite like it. but. you know

oh my god i forgot i had a note dedicated to moby dick quotes i like i need to fling myself out of this plane right now

this is why i don’t go on my notes app

might read moby dick some more and add more quotes to the list. it has good quotes

oooh ooooooh also in here is my people who should voice audiobooks list. it’s very good

some examples:

- hatsune miku

- invader zim

- corpsehusband

- lin manuel miranda

- my sister doing her marge simpson impression

- ash ketchum

i just opened tumblr and got confused why nothing would load. airplane mode idiot

there’s a. a list of graduation cords that are possible to earn from around when i graduated hs. because my mom thinks they’re cool and told me to get lots for college graduation

i have an old friends phone password saved in here from 2017 do we think it still works

gonna take a lil nappy right now

ohhh my seat is right by the wing and i got some cool plane shots. omgg omg

my water bottle wouldn’t twist open and for one terrifying moment i thought it was open and all my stuff in my bag had gotten soaked. but nope ! it was just stuck

en. enstars…enstars locked tomb a-(i get shot and killed)

cabinet man is so good!

the crane wives are so good!

i wish i could go home instead of school. alas

sooooo so sleepy right now

i wanna write something but writing in my notes app is not fun i don’t enjoy it

FUCKKKK why did they turn on the lights were not even landing yet

there r some rlly random songs on this playlist what was i thinking nine days ago

through the window reflection i can see someone in front of me pull up spotify. they play ed sheeran

yknow i was really banking on this flight having outlets bc i could charge my phone in the way over but now we don’t and my phones totally gonna die on the 2 hour bus drive after landing. maybe the bus will have outlets actually

left my hotel room at 10am it’s been almost 12 hours curse these layovers

flying makes my head hurt

[theofficersacademy]

                                Sirius   Randal   Kurthnaga   Lyon                                    Leo   Forsyth   Cecilia   Deirdre                               Valter   Maria   Chrom   Ares   Micaiah

TEAM TAG: #KEruins2023 BASE CAMP PROGRESS: 0%

There is no sky, there is only an ugly smog of red and ashen gray. Where once a city might have loomed, it stands now in shambles, a site laid to waste in a manner never before seen. Some buildings yet stand, though the fallen number far greater. Torn infrastructure decorates your sightline in any which direction, sharp edges angry and despondent.

Some of you have dreamt recently of metal beasts-

and some of those feature on the paved streets here, albeit on a smaller scale. Most of them are broken and look to have long since stopped working.

Some of them aimlessly amble on, seeking to fulfill their purpose: to protect, and to kill.

Places of Interest

the apartments - you don’t have the keys to these rooms, but that’s never stopped anyone! upon investigation, one (mostly upright) building may prove fortuitous. Sure there’s a thick layer of dust (?) to clean off of everything, and oh, the odd wall looks like it’s been clean vapourized, but otherwise this looks kind of cozy and you only have to dorm with a couple of your buddies. Just ignore the view outside, is all.

the crater - something happened here. No matter your vantage point, it’s hard to miss the gaping crater - very nearly a valley - in the dead center of the city. One imagines there may have been building here before, but if so, they are no longer. There is nothing here save a yawning emptiness... and perhaps a chance to snipe down some mechanical monsters.

the crane -  if you like to climb, you’ll love this. The metal tower stretches so very high into the sky, offering the perfect vantage point of all the desolation below. Well, it would, if the smog weren’t obscuring much of the view. A long pole reaches out from the tower, and a sturdy (?) rope dangles from its end. Oh: and the tower can be made to swivel around. Whee!

NPCs of Note

the Aukes - a large family of rival scavengers who don’t look kindly on your group infringing on their territory. Oddly enough, their garb is familiar to a lot of you: some may pass as Valentian, Magvellian, or even Jugdrali. If approached on the matter, however, they don’t seem to know what you’re talking about. Anyroad, they aren’t outright hostile, but they aren’t warm, either.

the Mechanic - a friendly lad who wanders around with a pouch full of metal bits and bobs and seems to delight in taking apart the machinery on the road. Never know whatchur gonna get, he says! He’ll gladly pass along the art of taking things apart, pointing out what to look for and what to avoid. Doesn’t remember his name.

Tasks

Setting up base camp - every 1 post = 1% of progress, capping at 20% - requires 1 plank of wood, plate of metal, or dormant/live core per post

Scavenging - receive 1 random resource (plank of wood, metal can, or 1d10 tokens) per post -- 1d10 chance of finding odd gadget from same post, where 1&2 = success (ping Key)

Dismantling  - receive 1 random resource (plate of metal, strange core [roll 1d2: 1=dormant core, 2=dead core], or 1L fuel) per post -- Warning: 40% chance of injury (-1HP)

Hunting/foraging - receive 1 questionable small game or 1 questionable bundle of herbs per post - alternatively: if you are instead hunting small flying machines, roll 1d20 each post -- if 1-5: target explodes, -1HP -- if 6-16: receive 1 bucket of assorted metal -- if 17-20: receive 1 live core

PLEASE READ BELOW FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

What to Expect

Unlike recent lore events, Keras Kai Elephas will be mostly in the hands of the players. There will be a series of tasks in need of completing each week, but the players will determine HOW those tasks are completed. Resources will be granted based on post count, word count, number of muses in a single thread, and/or other mechanics, so the focus will be on generating your own content and developing relationships between your muses. However, we do encourage short, meaningful posts. Direct interaction > internal monologue.

A dedicated notetaker (or notetakers) will need to keep notes on what happens in each thread in your team, as well as track whatever counter a specific task requires. New events will happen each week depending on what your team did the previous week, and some tasks may not have immediate pay-offs. Follow your inspiration, but if you have questions about what is or isn’t allowed, feel free to ping a mod.

Lastly, every weekend until the finale, there will be a condensed, two-day mini game that will allow your team to gather a larger number of materials. This is an efficient way to stockpile resources or achieve certain goals, but in order for your muse to enter, they must have written at least two posts that week assisting another muse with a task.

Task threads do not have to be completed by the following week, but will no longer grant resources for posts unless otherwise specified. All members have permission to nudge their teammates to post if they feel like someone is taking more time than they should.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I only thread with my teammates?

Any threads taking place within the dream featuring the Ruins can only be written with your teammates.

These aren’t the only threads I can do, right?

Of course not! These are just prompts to help give some ideas of possibilities. You’re always free and encouraged to make up your own threads, and feel free to ping Mod Key to propose a task idea for resources.

How do I claim the resources?

In order to qualify for your earnings, the thread must clearly allude to the listed task and feature the task being completed. Your team’s appointed tracker will be keeping tabs on your totals.

Can I only do one task?

Nope, you can do as many as you’d like with as many different partners as you’d like! You can do the same task with more than one person and still contribute toward the resource goal. Bear in mind, however, that this is a month-long event.

What if my partner leaves or drops a resource gathering thread?

If the dropped thread has at least 2 notes (not counting likes, only reblogs with replies in them) and you have hit at least 400 words on your end, you may still claim the resources. This only applies in the event your partner drops out completely.

[lividria]

just beat the switch remake of link's awakening and that was such a bizarre experience, i had so little direction that it took me an hour to figure out how to progress on multiple occasions, the random events that'd occur were absolutely insane, i was robbed of my undead flying chicken friend, and in the ending link is just left in the ocean to die by the wind fish lol

and they added these collectible figurines in the remake that you can place around the village hub area place whatever... they do nothing, your reward for collecting them (not for placing them) is a goddamn room in the dungeon maker and a halved price for playing the crane game WHEN YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN ALL OF THE COLLECTIBLES FROM IT

and i can't even 100% the game because of the horrible fishing minigame. i hate fishing minigames. this is also one of the worst fishing minigames i've ever played.

so uh this was an interesting birthday present

[thefallennightmare]

One Mind-Four

Pairings: Druig x Eternal!Reader

Warnings: angst, fluff, swears, and maybe some smut here and there.

Summary: For so long, the Eternals were on their own. That was until a Celestial event brought them all back together. Reader is reluctant to help because in order to do what her fellow Eternals are saying, she would have to connect with a century old love; one that she promised herself that she would never work with again.

A/N: I cannot even begin to explain how hard it is to find Druig gifs that work for each chapter. Tags are open!

TAGS: @niiight-dreamerrrr @moonlightreader649

Nasty teeth snarled down at me, the Deviants saliva covered my face as I tried my best to break free from its grasp, legs violently shaking. I did my best to try and locate a weapon or any kind of object that I could use against the Deviant.

“Y/N!”

I craned my head to the left and saw Druig making his way towards me, shot gun in hand. My vision was blocked from the sharp teeth smacking at me, desperately trying to get a taste, so that I wasn’t able to see Druig jump over the Deviant before running and jumping off of it, shooting it in the head.

I did feel, however, the blood splatter all over me, painting me in its dark amber color.

“Mother fucker,” I spat while heaving the large monster off of me.

Druig was quick to help me to my feet and began wiping the blood away from my face.

“Are you alright?”

I shrugged with a grimace and began to pull up my shirt to expose the fresh teeth wounds on my stomach; three of them.

He was on his knees to expect them, and I hissed with his fingers brushed against my hot skin.

“Fuck,” I cursed.

My eyes peered down at him and when I saw his mouth so close to the skin above the top of my pants, a place he had kissed many times before, I bit back a moan. His large blue eyes gazed at me, filled with worry.

“I’ll be alright,” I reassured him, fingers brushing the hairs from his face.

For a moment, everything around us fell underground, him and I being the only things in the middle of the Amazon. Our gazes were locked, breathing steady and in sync, and the fingers that were in his hair were now cupping his cheek. Druig leaned into my familiar touch, lips ghosting over my palm.

Any doubt I had, wondering if Druig and I could work things out, was pushed out of my body. We did have a lot to talk about and hopefully after this upcoming fight, we could get that chance.

Before we could say another word, Kingo’s yells brought us back to the current fight, and Druig was up on his feet in one swift turn. Gunfire rang around us and I took in the sight, a gasp falling through my lips.

A handful of the villagers had their own guns drawn, shooting at another Deviant that had found its way into the camp. But what shocked me most about the whole scene was their gold eyes.

The Deviant began fighting back against the stray bullets, slamming its tail into whoever, it could, bodies flying into random houses.

“Damn it, Druig,” I pushed at his back.

He stumbled a bit before turning his attention towards me, closing the new gap between us. He was so close now I could feel his warm breath fan over my lips and knew that if I lifted my chin even the slightest, our lips would touch for the first time in almost a century.

As much as I would have loved to taste them again, I stood my ground and nodded towards the villagers.

“Let them go.”

“Now is not the time, love,” he warned.

I pushed his chest this time. “Can you stop being a smug bastard for one minute and realize what you’re doing?!”

Bullets whipped past us while Druig shrugged. “It’s working, isn’t it?”

I shook my head as slight tears welled in my eyes. This Druig was different than the one I had left. This one had no remorse for controlling humans; the longer he controlled them, the less he cared.

My hands linked with his. “Please, Dru. You’re better than this.”

His eyes bounced from our hands to my face and my lips mouthed another please.

Druig let out a deep sigh and dropped one of our entangled hands, raising it to the air. Golden specks shone in his eyes and I watched as the villagers slowly dropped their weapons. They were confused as to what they had done, seeing the Deviant trapped under a large tree, thanks to Sersi.

“Druig,” one of them said. “What’s happening?”

“Go! Get to the river!” He demanded.

The river.

It was the plan, our plan, for centuries. If something bad happened that would cause us to leave everything behind, we would regroup at the river down the bend and figure out a plan for our new home.

I couldn’t tell Druig thanks because the Deviant broke free from it’s makeshift cage and began charging towards us.

“Move fast. Go!”

Druig directed me towards one of the small houses where we hid on the side of it. I looked for something to use as a weapon when Kingo asked for someone to buy him sometime.

A smirk curled at my lips when I saw a shovel a few feet away.

“I can only give you a few seconds!” I yelled.

Kingo nodded, powering him the flames at his fingertips. “All I need, sweetheart!”

“He’d always been a flirt,” Druig grumbled.

I simply gave him a wink before using my gaze to throw the shovel right into the Deviant’s head, knocking it back a few spaces; which gave Kingo enough time to slip underneath, shooting its head off with a blast.

“Karun, did you get that?!” Kingo yelled.

“I did, sir!”

Druig and I both looked towards the valet and groaned in annoyance.

“How the hell did he get another camera?” I asked, astonished.

Druig ignored my wonder and moved some hair from my face that began sticking to my skin, thanks to the other Deviant’s blood now drying.

“You need a shower,” he noted.

I scoffed. “You don’t smell all that pleasant, either.”

Suddenly we were both knocked onto our asses, Druig falling on top of me, as another Deviant slammed into us. We rolled in the leaves until coming to a stop against a tree.

“Oh, fuck me,” I groaned in pain.

My old wound began pooling blood into my hands and I squeezed my eyes shut.

Druig looked over his shoulder to see that the Deviant was now making a direct line towards us. His arms encased around me in a protective shield and I stared up into his eyes, a quick thought if this was going to be our last memory we shared together.

Ikaris fell from the sky, blocking the Deviant’s path with his laser eyes, and ripped its jaw apart.

“Show off,” Druig spat towards Ikaris.

I smacked the skin of his bare arm. “Forget your hatred for the man and help a lady to her feet, would ya.”

Druig slowly helped me to my feet, careful not to hurt me anymore that I already was, and forced one of my arms to wrap around his neck for support.

“I’ll take care of ya, don’t worry love.”

His sweet words fell on deaf ears because the scene in front of us had my full attention.

“What is it?” Druig asked.

I merely turned his face with a finger and a gasp fell from his mouth.

Sersi somehow managed to turn the Deviant into a tree.

All of our thoughts ceased when we heard Thena’s screams through the trees.

I pushed myself free from Druig’s grasp and sprinted towards Thena’s wails, ignoring his yells of protest.

“No,” I cried, feet coming to a sudden halt.

Gilgamesh lay dead in Thena’s grasp, her cheek pressed into his chest and muttering the same words over and over again.

“I’ll remember.”

Another one of the Eternals had fallen to the hands of the Deviants and I couldn’t help but question if Sersi’s plan was even worth it anymore.

[monochromekoi]

Cat got your tongue?

Sometimes I wonder why-

Alright, gender neutral is a must bc I don’t know and your breed is Norwegian Forest bc I like those ones - 99% floof and 1% cat

The sightings started about a week ago, when a cat started to pop up and watch a certain detective

Heizou would always suspect that a person would be watching him, when in reality it was just a cat. This cat was a strange one..

It didn’t like hanging around the other strays nor did it hang around many people. So why did it have such attraction to this green eyed boy?

This question bothered him for a while since this feline didnt show up until now, like it’s breed is nowhere to be found in Inazuma

He thinks that you’re just a stowaway from a cargo ship and now you probably can’t get home now. Or maybe you have some strange genetics causing you to look different from other cats

Eventually, he decided to just put his question on hold and focus on other boring cases. It didn’t help that you would always be around when an investigation was taking place but the company was appreciated

People around and even animal lovers that take care of some of the strays *cough* Thoma-*cough* couldn’t even get close to you without you ignoring or running away

But for Heizou, it seemed different whenever you would rub against his leg whenever he solved a case, before disappearing without a trace

Sure, other people around just deemed Heizou to be the cat’s favorite when even Heizou himself has never even touched the cat

~~

You were lounging around, laying on a rooftop and sunbathing, when a loud noise startled you. Craning your head up, you see an everyday event of a rather tall male with red markings and his friends running away from a group of soldiers

Ignoring the cacophony, you hopped down and went someplace else more quieter..

~~

The forest that resides next to the shrine with a beautiful Sakura seemed quiet enough; laying down in a patch of grass

The air was cool and the sounds were quiet enough. Yes, there were silent disturbances as a single crystal fly landed on your body and a few kitsune rested beside you

But all was calm and all was peace…

~~

About an hour later, a metallic sound was heard, then the sound of barking

Waking up as the surrounding kitsune ran away at the sound, you look around and see a small group of a samurai dogs running towards you

They seemed feral enough to make you sprint away at full speed. Running through the marsh and then to the nearby village

It was hard to think with the sound of barking interrupting your thoughts every 5 seconds

Running through the outskirts of the village, you see a group of swordsmen with a tall one dressed in red looking like the leader of all of them

It seemed safe enough to run to them for help right? WRONG!

As soon as you ran near them, a net was tossed and you were captured. The dogs that were pursuing you stopped and sat near one of the nobushi, looking quite proud of themselves

You were thrown in a small cage and hear something along the lines of “Sold at a high price; rare breed”

Offended; you were. Rather pissed at the thought of being sold to random people just because you were different from every other animal that lives in the land of Electro

You attempted to squeeze out since the railings were nicely spaced out.. You managed to fit your head through while the other people were chatting about plans or whatever

Squeezing the rest of your body through was a slice of cake since you were 99% fluff and 1% cat :3

Anyway, sneaking away seemed easy enough until a dog barked and attention was turned towards you once again

Another chase broke out and this time, you ran all the way to Inazuma city

Running through the village once again,

Running past the two blonde haired folks that were playing with the strays near a Sakura tree,

And running past the selling booths until,

You found the detective once again. He was speaking with a random person when he felt a weight on his shoulder and fur tickling his ears

He was surprised, surprised that you came out of nowhere and decided to use him as a structure of some sort,

But also surprised at the group of samurai dogs that came running up to him and barking at you

You cling to him with your tail wrapping around his neck and paws placed on his head. The action was adorable to him but he pushed it aside to shoo away the canine group

The person he was talking to had went away at the sight of dogs wielding swords with their tails

~~

Finally, when the dogs had given up and went away, Heizou then went to a secluded area with you still clinging to him

He sat down underneath a tree with a sigh with a beach being right in front of the two of you

“You’re not a normal cat, are you? You don’t behave like a normal nor do you look like one. But you seem to favor me for some reason.. only showing slight interest in me but not even a look is spared from you when people offer you food or toys. You are a strange one to look at as well”

At this point, his accusations were a little too much as you retracted your tail and hop off his shoulders

His gaze never left yours as you sat across from him

“You don’t seem to have an owner since you seem to spend a lot of time outside, and you don’t look like you have a name nor do you seem to have a voice”

You mew in response, sparking a reaction from the wine-colored haired male. He smiled when you came closer towards him, your tail brushing ever so slightly against his hand

Suddenly, a yell was heard behind you. You turned around and saw the familiar red colored swordsman

“Hey, what are you doing with my cat?!”

His voice of anger was considered funny to the detective since he was laughing for some reason

“Okay, I’m sorry I just find it funny for someone to get mad over a cat. Also, I don’t even know if this really is your cat considering that it ran to me instead of you when being chased by ninja dogs. And do you even know this cat’s name?”

“U-uh, of course I know it’s name, it’s my cat after all. [Insert weird cat name] is it’s name”

Heizou looked at you for some kind of reaction. The smell of catnip was present on the samurai, it was tempting but you fought the urge and hid behind Heizou with a quiet meow

“I smell lies~ cat’s not impressed nor did it show any interest, so I’m afraid that you’re not the owner my good sir”

The nobushi growled in protest but paused when he saw one of his men approach from behind

You soon felt a harsh grasp around your body and hissed in response, but soon you were flying in the air and now bubbles were around you

Heizou jumped up in surprise and rushed over to try and save you but noticed a strange substance in the water

Then a figure emerged from below, it was a person with the same coloration in their hair as the cat did before

You were spluttering and coughing out water as Heizou kneeled down before you, his hand ghosting over your head

That was immediately retracted when the samurai came rushing towards you with a blazing red sword in hand

But he didn’t reach the two of you when before jumping up and intending to strike but powerful winds lifted him up higher than he intended

Heizou seemed satisfied enough with how the samurai landed in the water, then he looked back towards the person who had supposedly thrown you into the water

The subordinate staggered away, leaving his boss behind..

Picking you up with little struggle, he walked away from the scene

~~

Entering the forest where you’d had napped earlier, the location seemed to be near a cliff watching over the Kamisato Estate

Heizou had placed you down and sat a small distance away from you as you revealed your familiar, but drenched cat ears and tail

Your clothing seemed to be a black and white colored haori with a torn inked white kimono that revealed a small part of your stomach

Heizou noticed bandages around your stomach

“Cat got your tongue? Quit staring, makes you a pervert~”

You looked up at him with sharp eyes. When you were done drying and fluffing up your tail, you turned to Heizou while drying your ears

“I’m a member of the kätzlein bloodline, though I got lucky with the ability to change my form unlike my little sister”

“Kätzlein?”

“We have traces of non-human blood and that’s why I have ears and a tail. Something that I don’t recommend touching.”

You end your comment off with a slight warning, but of course Heizou being Heizou decided to test the waters

He stood up and moved closer towards you with a smirk placed on his lips. He leaned down very close to your face, and afterwards blowing on your ears

“But what happens if I do? What will you do, dear kitten?”

He froze up as he felt your tail quickly wrapping around his neck and squeezing

“Death from lack of air circulation is possible with how close you are, dear detective”

Matching his tone of voice as you looked up towards him with a matching smirk

He tapped your tail in defeat. You laughed in triumph

The day went by as you answer many random questions Heizou has to offer

Until it was nightfall, then Heizou asked a seemingly important question:

“Hey Y/n, where exactly do you go at night?”

You responded with “The wild is my home” as you swayed your legs over the cliff

“Oh, well would you like to stay at my place for the night?”

You turned towards Heizou with smirk

“Shikanoin Heizou, is this your way of catnapping the cat?”

“Maybe, maybe not, you’ll never know~”

~~

Godddd the amount of crippling pain and cringe I had while writing parts of this

Anyway, I know my friend will read this probably ask more prompts so imma just 🏃‍♀️💨

[inthehytes]

‘accidentally blurting out ''i love you'' during a random conversation’ would you write this for bratpack? love your prompts 💖

hi!!! I'm sorry this has taken so long for me to finish, but I really hope you like it!! This random college au has started to become my favorite thing ever. <3

“Synthia! What happened to you?” Gia gasped as the door to their dorm room opened revealing a soggy, muddy, and slightly bloody Synthia in the doorway. She bit her lip as she stared at her roommates, feeling a bit embarrassed about it all but knowing that there was no way she could get out of explaining the events of the afternoon.

“Jeff never showed up to our date and then it started to rain and I slipped in a puddle on the way back and scraped my hands and knees,” she sniffs, her pride smarting more than her injuries did. She was too cold to feel much of anything in them anyway. She felt humiliated at having been stood up by the guy that she’d been seeing for a few months, she thought that they were having a good time and that it would lead somewhere.

“That bastard!” Gia cursed flying off their bed to Synthia’s side. They helped her out of her shoes and soggy sweater before herding her closer to the radiator, Kendall already moving to grab a few spare towels and dry clothes. “What was his excuse this time?”

“I don’t know,” Synthia whispered, eyes downcast as she stared at the little hole that had been ripped into the skirt of her dress when she fell. It was her favorite dress and now it was ruined. “He never even called.”

“Oh honey,” Kendall sympathized, wrapping her arms around the smaller blonde’s waist, rubbing at her shivering back in an attempt to warm her up. “Are you okay?”

“Why do you let him treat you like that?” Gia frowns from her other side, ignoring the daggers Kendall glares at them when Synthia flinches from their harsh tone.

“He doesn’t even treat me that badly, he might have gotten stuck in class or something tonight. It’s storming pretty badly.” She fell into the routine of imagining excuses for why he stood her up, a habit she’d began after the first time it happened.

“Yeah it is storming badly Synthia, and that asshole made you walk home in it because he couldn’t even be decent enough to call you and cancel!” Gia struggled to keep their voice from raising, their temper rising with every excuse Synthia came up with.

“Why do you even care Gia? I know you think he’s an idiot but yelling at me about it isn’t going to change-”

“Because I love you Synthia! I’m in love with you and I can’t stand to see him treat you like garbage okay? Can’t you see how in love with you we are?” Gia cuts her off, their hands balling up in an attempt to not shake the stunned blonde. Kendall looks just as surprised as Synthia does, though less at the actual confession and more at the way they finally confessed.

“You, you love me?” Synthia’s finally making eye contact with Gia, her big brown eyes wide and stunned as she cranes her neck to look at them both. “Both of you love me?”

“We were waiting for a better time to tell you, but yes, Synthia, we have been for a while now.” Kendall hugs her tighter to her side, fighting a fond smile at the way Synthia’s jaw is practically on the floor.

“Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” Stunned is the only word she has to describe how she felt. She’d been seeing Jeff in a loose attempt to ignore her growing feelings for Gia and Kendall, not willing to ruin their friendship for something as silly as how she felt.

“Because you wanted to date that jerk and we don’t want to keep you from being happy.” Gia frowns down at her, reaching out to brush back a soggy curl from Synthia’s face.

“You love me.” She repeats again in a little whisper, her teeth catching her bottom lip to stop the wide grin that threatens to claim her face.

“Is that all you can focus on? Yes, I love you dork.” Gia huffs a laugh, their arms wrapping around Synthia’s waist above Kendall’s arms.

“And you love each other? And me? Do we all love each other?” Synthia questions, her head tilting up to stare at them both from the angle she’s at.

“Yeah baby, we all love each other.” Kendall nods, her lips pressing a kiss to Synthia’s temple. The squeal Synthia lets out is almost ear piercing, a drastic change to her mood when she first stumbled through the door. She makes the mistake of clasping her hands together in glee before yelping when her scraped palms smart.

“Come on angel, let’s finish getting you cleaned up and warm and then we can continue this yeah?” Synthia’s swept off her feet and over Gia’s shoulder before she can argue.

“Gia? Kendall?”

“Yeah baby?”

“I love you both too.”

[genshinconfessions]

hi guys! it's new baby back again. i've been reading through the posts on this blog adn all this talk about the cRAnE being the funniest one in this land? i dont think i've gotten far enough into it to be staking my life on this but i honeslty jsut cannot believe the crane, cloud retainer, is the best character on there like not even childe?? not even that little grandmother that gave us the teapot???

HAHAHAHA so i'm not sure how far are you but cloud retainer shows up in ganyu's story quest, a random world quest, and the interlude quest, as well as most liyue events and let me just say she is THE funniest character i've ever met hands down

ofc maybe that's because of my ~very niche~ sense of humor and i don't want to spoil anything for you but she's just like, so OLD but acts like a 10 year old kid LMAO

and remember that ppl on the internet have the tendency to exaggerate ;)) obviously for playable characters, everyone has a different favorite, but i believe that for a lot of ppl, cloud retainer is their favorite npc LOL

just iconic birb

edit: it’s also because of her way of speaking LMAO in the english she calls herself ‘oneself’ and in the chinese it’s pretty much the same and it’s hilarious when combined with the stuff she says sometimes

like i said, she acts like a 10 year old sometimes, so imagine a very old, very wise 10 year old being like ‘hmph, then oneself will be flying back to one’s abode!’

- katheryne from liyue

[beeapolitan]

A Different Rhythm

Happy holidays, @onetruethree​! I was your @mlsecretsanta​ for the year!

I’m sorry it took so long to finally finish, it ended up being a lot longer than I initially planned. But I hope you still enjoy this Marigami fic!

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

Kagami felt the tense vibrations of her wooden sword slamming against marble travel down her wrists and up to her forearms. Another strike off target from the wool dummy facing her. The fourth miss in ten swings. The nagging numbness in her hands was all the proof she needed to confirm her recent observations.

It was obvious – she was off her rhythm. Not just in her swordsmanship, but in every other manner of her being. It wasn’t hard to pinpoint the cause of the shift. Life had turned upside down for her in the past few months. Instead of being isolated and given a mountain of work to do, she had found out what it was like to be social for a change. Getting to fence with the famous Adrien Agreste had opened a lot of doors for her. She gained a friend, an avenue of escape from everyday life, and a collection of experiences she’d never even considered possible for herself.

And on top of all that, there was Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Her first real friend outside of Adrien. They hadn’t started off on a great note, but things had been steadily improving since then. She had come to consider Marinette someone very dear to her. Lately, Kagami had become fairly skilled at coming up with excuses to see her friend whenever her mother’s iron grip eased up a bit. Solitary fencing practices turned to café meetups, simple runs for food became quick shopping trips, and morning jogs often lead her past the Dupain-Cheng Bakery where she could at least catch of glimpse of Marinette, if nothing else. In her younger age, she would have been caught by her mother already, but the restrictions weren’t as tight as they once were. She clearly had a ways to go before her mother would let her off the leash completely, but there was still a clear improvement.

Despite the improvements, there were still plenty of reminders that Kagami was basically chained to her mother’s hip. The most recent of which sat on her bed just within eyeshot. A slim bright white kimono with black outlines of lilies lining the sides. It was specifically given to Kagami by her mother to be worn at a meeting with some important people. Kagami only partly listened to her mother’s instructions once she laid the kimono out for her. It was common for her to be dragged along to meetings and events with little warning or explanation beforehand. It was a bother, but a necessary one. The more she complied with that side of her mother’s requests, the easier it was to live life in her own way when she was alone.

In any other context, it would have been a beautiful piece of clothing to wear, but looking at it only reminded Kagami of how she felt lately. About how her mother toted her around like a pet instead of a daughter. If the progress she had made felt like climbing a steep staircase, the reminder of her status in the family was like those same stairs flipping around to put her back at the bottom. It was so frustrating. All this training, the studying, and for what? How much of it would it take to be seen as the person she’d become instead of the sole Tsurugi daughter?

Kagami raised her sword overhead and brought it down hard on the training dummy’s head. If she split this thing in two with raw strength, would that do the trick? Her mother had always preached strength as a part of her training. How much did she need to be free of her influence? She brought down the sword again even harder, rattling the dummy on its stand. She hit it again, her arms pushed forward by her anger. She hit again and again, her strikes growing in power yet lacking her usual accuracy as they flailed around. With a loud shout, she swung for the dummy again but missed, causing her sword to go flying out of her hands and straight into a set of ornamental blades on the wall. They rattled around for a minute before remaining in place.

Just before Kagami could breathe easy, the lower hanging blade of the two fell from its sheathe, landing right on the edge of her bed. Right where the kimono from her mother lay. If Kagami’s breath hadn’t been held, she might not have heard the sound of tearing fabric so vividly. She didn’t move from her spot after the sound finally stopped. Standing still in the middle of the room granted her a defense from the truth, albeit a weak one. In reality however, there was no escaping the fact that her burst of anger had gotten her into unbelievable trouble.

Slowly, she inched her way over to her bed to inspect the damage. When she finally got there, her eyes bulged at the sight. It was a big tear, a jagged line running diagonally across the back of the kimono. It was shaped like a crooked smile, mocking her as her blood ran cold. Kagami could practically hear her mother’s shrill yelling coming through it, holding her in place.

She couldn’t stay here. She had to move.

Kagami carefully folded the kimono and placed it inside her duffel bag after removing her fencing equipment. She slung the bag around her shoulders and bolted out of the house, the thumping of her quick footsteps down the stairs matching the sound and pace of her heartbeat. The bright midday sun hit her eyes hard once she made it out onto the busy Paris streets. It didn’t take long for her feet to propel her in a random direction.

There was nowhere in the city she knew of that could undo her mistake very easily, but leaving it be was not an option. If her mother found out about the tear, it would make their home hell on Earth for the next few days. Kagami would practically be put on lockdown, forced to study and train with no contact to the outside world. That couldn’t happen. She wouldn’t let it. And yet, she knew determination would only get her so far. She still needed actual help.

When it came to fashion and clothing design, the first person to come to mind was Gabriel Agreste, but she obviously couldn’t go to him. Whatever pact he shared with her mother would expose her the second she told him about her accident. No, she would have to try harder than that to find help. But where was she supposed to start? After leaving her home, she had simply been walking without a destination in mind, hoping that some luck might be thrown her way for once. That wasn’t looking all that likely, however.

Kagami finally stopped her train of thought long enough to look at where she was walking. She had autopiloted to a part of town that seemed familiar to her for some reason. That reason became strikingly apparent once the smell of baked goods drifted past her nose. Her head jerked to the left, where a large window with gold trim on the edges sat just a few feet away. She had seen those very windows plenty of times, as well as the pair of bluebell eyes fixed right on her. Behind the large glass window stood Marinette, pinches of flour dotting her face and the tan apron hanging from her neck. Marinette put on a wide smile that pushed her cheeks up and waved.

Despite having absolutely nothing to be happy about, Kagami couldn’t stop the thin smile forming on her face at the sight of the blue-eyed girl.

“Kagami, hey!” Marinette’s voice bounded with her steps out of the bakery door. “What are you doing here?”

“I, um, happened to be passing by.”

“Oh, in that case, do you want to come inside? I just finished making some sweet buns.”

Once the initial butterflies had died down, Kagami realized what she had stumbled upon. Maybe her luck had come through after all.

“Actually, Marinette…do you think you could do me a favor?”

“Hm?”

It wasn’t often Kagami was able to be in a house that wasn’t her own, especially not one that radiated so much pleasantness. Marinette’s home was the very definition of comfort, with smells of warm bread coming from the bakery below and an atmosphere that made you feel like you were being swaddled in a thick blanket. Walking into Marinette’s room in particular gave her the same feeling as being met with the midday sun coming out of her own house. It was so bright and lived in, with pictures lining the walls and odd little trinkets in every corner, the type of room you’d see in teenage movies. Kagami sat on Marinette’s bed, watching as she held the kimono aloft for inspection.

“Thank you again for this, Marinette. I’m truly in your debt.”

“It’s no problem at all, Kagami. I’m just surprised you trust me enough to help with this.”

It would have been easy for Kagami to say that Marinette was her only remaining option. That the visit was simply because she had nowhere else to go, no one left to turn to. But she couldn’t ignore the fact that her feet had led her to the bakery before any other options came to mind.

“Of course I trust you. We’re friends, are we not?”

Marinette let out a little giggle. “We sure are. Just give me a little bit and I’ll have this fixed up for you.”

There was a simplistic kind of joy in watching Marinette work on something fashion related, Kagami thought. She was used to seeing her friend tripping over herself and her words, unable to perform normally when in a crowd. Here, there weren’t any signs of that trademark clumsiness. Marinette pulled thread with one hand and measured with the other, rolling herself to different spots at her desk like an electrical impulse firing through a neuron. It was a bit mesmerizing to watch. After a few minutes of this, Marinette stopped moving and mumbled something to herself. Kagami craned her head to the side to see Marinette hunched over her desk, searching through a bunch of baskets.

“Is something the matter?”

“It’s not a big deal, I just need a bit more thread to finish out your dress. We’ll have to go to the store to get some more.”

“Oh, I see. I apologize for inconveniencing you like this.”

“Don’t be silly, it’s just a short walk into town. Come on, let’s go!”

There wasn’t any time to get another word out before Marinette grabbed Kagami by the wrist, leading her down the stairs and onto the city streets. True to Marinette’s word, they were in and out of the fabric store in no time. With that being done so fast, Marinette suggested spending a little longer having fun in the city. Kagami wasn’t sure at first. She probably shouldn’t push her luck anymore than necessary. Then again, there were still a few hours until she actually had to meet her mother at the Métro. A few hours which she could happily spend in the company of Marinette. After all, her mother had given her no instructions for how to spend her time before the event, and even if she had, she was too far away to do anything about it. Kagami accepted, her steps becoming a bit lighter beside Marinette’s as they headed deeper into the city.

The more time the two spent together, the more Kagami found herself enamored by Marinette’s presence. It was the way she rambled on about the process of making baked goods, diving into every little process with striking detail. The way her eyelashes fluttered looking at the sights in the city as if she were seeing them for the first time. The little squeak of effort she made when trying to lick a stray speck of ice cream off her face. It was all too much to handle.

The girls eventually found themselves in the park, walking down a shaded path amongst the other many Parisians enjoying the atmosphere.

“We were lucky it’s such a nice day out,” Marinette said. “I love coming to the park in this kind of weather.”

“I agree. This is exactly the kind of climate I prefer when I’m training. My mother won’t show it, but I suspect she’s a fan of days like this as well.”

“Yeah, I can’t say I see her showing any excitement over a sunny day either. Do the two of you come out here a lot?”

“Yes. So much so that it honestly feels a bit weird not having a sword in my hand right now.”

“Well if you miss it that much…” Marinette broke off from Kagami’s side and wandered into a row of trees. She crouched down and began picking through a bunch of sticks on the ground, holding each up before picking two that were a decent size. She walked back over to Kagami and offered her one of the selections.

Kagami took it and raised an eyebrow. “What exactly are we doing with these?”

“Putting that training of yours to the test.” Marinette bent her knees and spread her feet apart, pointing her stick straight out. She twirled it a bit with a cheesy grin. “En garde, Kagami!”

Kagami couldn’t help but laugh at the sight. “You honestly think you can best me in fencing? That’s cute.”

“You’re cute!”

Kagami’s grip on her makeshift sword weakened. Had she heard that right?

“I–I mean, your thinking is cute! You thinking that you’ll beat me, is what I’m saying.”

Ah, that made more sense. It wasn’t the most effective trash talk she had heard, but it had gotten her fired up, so it did the job. She leapt in, slashing at Marinette with the same ferocity she’d show in a real match. There was no need to hold back, not when she knew Marinette was more capable with a weapon than she seemed. Most people might try to prioritize fun over victory in such a situation, but for Kagami, the fun would come from showing off the full extent of her skills.

This was all second nature to her. Fencing came as easily as walking in a straight line. There were steps to it, strategies to follow; everything happened for a reason, so there was no point in being unsure of herself. If there was one part of her mother’s strictness she could have faith in, it was the skill she had gained from so much practice.

She could deal with Marinette’s style of fencing easily enough. For every unorthodox thrust, she had a counter. For every hasty burst of aggression, she could dodge and parry. When it came to exchanging swords, she could manage, so the idea that the same couldn’t be said about casually hanging out was painfully annoying. After all, combat training couldn’t stop Marinette’s eyes from being so piercing. What was she supposed to do when Marinette whiffed a strike and put on a cute pout? How was she supposed to defend herself against a voice that sounded sugary sweet and always left her wanting to hear more?

Even with Adrien things hadn’t been this complicated for her. Back then, she had a clear target and knew exactly how to go about getting to it. Picturing being with him was as simple as picturing her fencing saber piercing an opponent’s shoulder. At least it had been at first. Once she actually became friends with Marinette, she had noticed her drive wavering just a bit. That was only natural wasn’t it? She knew Marinette had feelings for Adrien, it was obvious. The stuttering when she talked to him, her avoidance of eye contact, the toothy smile that usually came with a weird hand motion that barely resembled a wave; the list of evidence went on. Kagami could see it so easily because that’s what she knew a crush to be. Part of her had always wondered if being upfront and composed in similar situations made her seem less passionate by comparison. Even if it didn’t, she couldn’t dispute the fact that her behavior had put her where she was now.

The way she had been feeling the past few hours was how she wanted to feel around Adrien. That’s what she had been telling herself for months. But anything involving Marinette had a tendency to get complicated very quickly, and Kagami’s own feelings were no different. Nothing made sense when it came to the baker’s daughter. As much as she tried to ignore it at the start, she had been drawn in by Marinette’s aura. It had the same presence that her house did, an energy of pleasantness you couldn’t help but get wrapped up in. She hadn’t spoken to Marinette’s other friends very much, but from the little she had, it was obvious that same energy affected them as well. Marinette had the ability to turn on a light in others no matter who they were, a fact Kagami was becoming increasingly aware of with each passing day.

For better or worse, Marinette had fanned the fire inside her. She wasn’t sure exactly what she felt, but it was strong. Much too strong to ignore.

Kagami shook her head midbattle to regain her focus. Even with it being a small contest between friends, she wasn’t about to lose in her area of expertise. Marinette was doing well to keep up with her for the most part, but that was about to change. Kagami switched up her footing just before going for a horizontal slash, causing Marinette to jump backwards. She had good reflexes, but her lack of technical experience took away too much of that benefit. As soon as she jumped back, Kagami was already making a beeline for her landing spot. Marinette’s eyes went wide at the sudden burst of speed. She raised her stick in defense, but by that point it was already too late. Kagami thrust forward her own stick, softly jabbing Marinette’s shoulder right when her feet touched the ground. Marinette let out a yelp as she fell backwards, landing in the grass next to a row of bushes.

Kagami tossed her stick aside and rushed over to help. “Marinette, are you okay?”

“Oh yeah, definitely.” Marinette stood with Kagami’s help and brushed the dirt off her clothes with a chuckle. “Looks like you win.”

The girls collapsed on a bench nearby, fits of laughter poking out between frantic attempts to catch their breath. For something that started as a simple game, they looked as though they had run a marathon. If Kagami’s mother could see her now, she would no doubt give out one of her signature scolding sessions. She’d chastise her for treating combat like a game, and immediately schedule additional training days for her to boot. But her mother wasn’t there. No one would rip this feeling away from her. This feeling of chills racing down her arms that were more of a thrill than a disturbance. That pesky fire was acting up again, filling her body so much that she could feel the heat in the tips of her fingers. She placed her hands together on top of her lap to try and cool down.

It was a few minutes before the breath returned to either of them. Kagami’s ever running train of thought got brought to a halt with the sound of Marinette’s voice breaking the silence.

“So…how are you and Adrien doing?”

The question smacked her atop the head like she was a training dummy, unable to predict or defend. Even after thinking about that very subject for the past few minutes, being asked that still caught her off guard. How should she answer?

There was a time she wished Adrien would get his head on straight and focus for once. Focus on her. But that nagging mentality was slipping more every day. There was contentment in her relationship with him. A sense that she had exactly what she needed from it. They enjoyed each other’s company, they confided in one another, and there was mutual understanding that they would be there for each other if needed. It had taken a while for things to become what they were, but ultimately, she was satisfied. That same feeling was nowhere to be found with Marinette. There was only a hunger for more time, more moments like these where she felt lighter than ever. Like she wasn’t tied to her home or responsibilities anymore. Their days together always seemed to end so soon, leaving her desperate for the moon and sun to exchange places again so she could start the whole process over. But Marinette hadn’t asked about all that; she wanted to know about Adrien.

Kagami brushed her hair aside with a thumb, hiding her expression from Marinette. “He’s a good friend. I’m grateful to have him around.”

“Just a friend? Did…something happen between you guys?”

“No, we’re fine. But you may have the wrong idea of what we are to each other.”

“Oh, um, I see. That’s good. I’m happy you two are friends then.”

Kagami could have similarly asked Marinette how she and Adrien were doing. She’d like her two closest friends to also have a good friendship with one another, after all. But what would such a question open up? Would she start to gush about him? Would she have the same sort of answer about them just being friends? As much as she liked to call her feelings mixed up at the moment, she couldn’t deny that the idea of Marinette still being head over heels for Adrien made her feel like a heavy weight was being dropped on her chest.

No, she wouldn’t ask about their relationship. Good or bad, she didn’t want to face whatever answer was given to her. Staying silent was the easier option.

“Well, guess we should head back now,” Marinette said, shooting to her feet. “I’ll finish your dress and get out of your hair.”

The walk back to the bakery was a silent one with both girls drowning in the awkwardness of the previous conversation. Kagami felt the frustration bubbling up inside her like magma. She had never been one to hesitate when it came to going after what she wanted, so why was this any different? It probably had something to do why she was having trouble looking Marinette in the eyes lately. While they had been sitting on the bench, all she could do was stare straight ahead at the sights in the park. The cluster of pigeons bouncing along the ground, the repetitive flowing of water out of the central fountain, things she saw every time she came there. It was maddening knowing that those things were all she could focus on even when the sight she wanted to gaze at the most sat just inches to her left.

That was one of the parts she liked best about sitting in Marinette’s room. Watching her work from behind removed all the unease of being face to face. It was an odd feeling, having regressed from where she started to being so flustered nowadays. But that was all a part of evolution, she supposed. Just as her skill got better over years of practice, these feelings she was starting to acknowledge were blooming faster with each interaction. She figured Marinette didn’t know it, but her presence was cultivating them like a flower bed.

“Are you sure I can’t help you?” As someone who was constantly training and always in motion, Kagami hated sitting on her hands and leaving everything to her friend.

Marinette spun around in her chair with a smile on her face. “Oh, don’t even worry about it. It’s just a simple little repair, that’s all. Hopefully I can handle this for you and make up for being such a poor friend.”

Kagami stiffened at those words. Where had that come from? How could Marinette even entertain the idea that she was a bad friend?

“What would you have to make up for?”

“I guess…I haven’t been able to shake this feeling that you don’t like me very much.”

“Why would you think that?”

“It just seems like all I do is mess things up for you when I’m around. I called your first match with Adrien incorrectly, I was a nuisance at the Ladybug movie premiere, and I still feel bad about how I acted on Friendship Day. I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t like my company.”

“Well you’re wrong!” Kagami found herself standing and shouting, her face flushed. “I like you very much, Marinette.” Kagami realized her sudden outburst and cleared her throat, her posture shrinking a bit. “I just mean that I consider us very close. So you don’t need to have any worry.”

Marinette rubbed the back of her neck with a nervous smile. “That, um, makes me feel a lot better actually. Thank you, Kagami.”

Kagami nodded as Marinette rotated back to her desk. She quickly sat back down on the bed, grateful that Marinette’s back was turned to her. It gave her a chance to fan her face despite the fact that the burning she was feeling was definitely internal. If her legs weren’t wrapped around themselves right now, she’d have started kicking herself for blurting out her feelings like that. All that careful planning just for her to throw a fit anyway. How annoying.

“And there we go! All done now.” Marinette rolled away from her desk with the finished product in hand.

Kagami let out a thin breath of relief holding the mended kimono. She ran her thumb down the formerly torn side, the new stitching giving her the comfort she needed. It looked as good as new, and not even her mother would be able to tell the difference. She had gotten exactly what she wanted.

And yet – looking at the door out of Marinette’s room made her heart sink.

Walking out meant ending another fun day just to sit in a stuffy room with people she barely knew. She’d bow, show a smile, then move onto the next person for who knows how many hours. She hated the idea of having to make such a good impression with these strangers. For all she knew, they would forget her name and face the second the meeting ended. But her mother had demanded her attendance, so her frustrations didn’t amount to much. She simply returned the smile her friend gave her.

“I can’t thank you enough for this, Marinette.”

“Oh! Well, it was nothing, really. Anyone could’ve done it, no big deal.”

“That’s not true. You’re very skilled, you know. And I…wouldn’t have left it up to just anyone either.”

There may very well have been other ways for Kagami to save herself today, but having Marinette come to her aid was certainly a preferred turn of events. Even so, she felt a familiar worry biting at her heels just thinking of all she’d done in the past hours. It wasn’t like she regretted her choices for the day, but that didn’t stop her from fearing the repercussions of not meeting her mother’s demands. How long would it take to make up for the impromptu adventure? Was there enough time to get home and do everything she still had to do? Or would she have to go unprepared to meet her mother? No, that would be just as bad as not showing up at all. If she showed even a hint of not taking her mother’s orders seriously, she would regret it for a long while. But if she kept thinking like this, all that worry would devour her.

It was Marinette’s soft voice in her ear that snapped her out of the spiral.

“Is something the matter, Kagami?”

“I don’t have much time before mother’s meeting starts. I’m not sure I can get home and make myself presentable before I have to meet her at the Métro.”

“Oh, is that all? You’ll just have to get ready here then! I’ll even help you.”

Before Kagami could protest, Marinette was already pushing her behind the large changing screen in her room. The dynamic between them was growing more confusing by the hour. Kagami hadn’t had a friend like this before, which made gauging the exact nature of their relationship that much harder. Was this just the normal amount of kindness you showed to a friend? Or was Marinette going above and beyond specifically for her? And if she was, what was making her do that?

There was nothing really suggesting that Marinette felt all that strongly about her, especially after the talk they just had. If she thought Kagami didn’t like her, then she surely wasn’t harboring any deep feelings within, right? But there was always the possibility that she was, and Kagami just didn’t know. Kagami hated not knowing for sure.

Luckily her overthinking had let her get ready without too much conscious effort. The very idea of having to prepare herself with Marinette so close was not something she wanted to entertain. Her opinion would be the only one tonight with any real effect on her, so it was best to avoid that altogether. Kagami did her best to shoo away the tinges of red dotting her cheeks before stepping out.

Marinette’s eyes seemed brighter than before as she stood up to take in all of her friend’s new look. “Wow, Kagami, you look beautiful in that kimono.”

And just like that, the red was back in full force. A soft “thank you” was all she could get out past pinched lips.

“Oh, it looks like your makeup smudged a little. Hold still, I’ll fix it.”

Marinette reached up and cupped the sides of Kagami’s face, moving in to touch up her eyeliner. Kagami could feel the warmth of slow breaths brushing across her nose with Marinette so close. She thought that if Marinette held her any longer, she would melt under all the heat.

Then again, even if that happened, Marinette’s arms would be waiting for her. Suddenly melting didn’t seem like such a bad idea. Unfortunately for her, Marinette’s quick handiwork extended to her makeup skills, her fingernails grazing Kagami’s cheeks as she pulled away.

“Perfect! You’re all set, Kagami.”

“T–Thank you. I apologize for being such a handful.”

“Not even. You turned a slow day into a great time! I’m only sad it couldn’t last a little longer. Come on, I’ll walk you to the station.”

Kagami’s eyes were restless as she walked to the Métro, seeking out an excuse to spend more time with Marinette as if one would magically appear in front of her. She walked with her bag pulled close, desperate to feel the buzzing of a call that would tell her of canceled plans. No such luck.

Why was Paris never chaotic when she needed it to be? She didn’t necessarily want an akuma attack to happen, that was too extreme. Although getting to see Ladybug was always a treat. No, she just needed the city’s usual brand of irregularity to pop in like it always did. But today there were no random traffic jams, no city-wide celebrations to slow things down. There was nothing to stop them from walking down the station stairs and coming face to face with the metal train doors she had been dreading. The doors opened with a hiss, adding on to the already growing discomfort inside of her.

Kagami started to speak but held her tongue. Nothing she said would change things anyway. She started towards the train, but a shout from behind stopped her mid-step.

“Kagami, wait!”

There they were. The two words Kagami had been mentally begging to hear the entire way to the station. She spun around on her heels, staring right at Marinette. She held her breath unsure of what would be said next.

“Yes?”

“Um, I just wanted you to know that I had fun today. And that you shouldn’t feel bad about having to leave because I’ll be here when you get back. So, hang in there, okay? I already can’t wait to see you again!”

It wasn’t exactly what she’d wanted to hear, but anything coming from a face that beamed so brightly was enough to make her happy. At least for a little while.

“I feel the same. See you soon, Marinette.”

Kagami put a hand up as she backed onto the train. Marinette returned the gesture with the motion of an actual wave. She soon disappeared in the swarm of people rushing their way onto the train. There was nothing Kagami wanted more than to push past everyone else and latch onto her friend again, but knowing the consequences of that decision kept her motionless. The harsh truth she had been fighting against for so long swallowed her whole as the train doors closed.

At the end of the day, it wasn’t about what she wanted.

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

Marinette walked home with less of a spring in her step than usual. She’d had a good day all things considered, but her feet felt a bit heavier after saying goodbye to her friend and beginning the walk back. She looked down at her purse as she felt it open from the inside, revealing Tikki, her mouth in a pout.

“Kagami didn’t look very happy when she left, did she?” Tikki asked.

Marinette sighed and lightly tapped her kwami on the head with a finger. “No, she didn’t. I hope it wasn’t because I did a bad job fixing her dress.”

“I’m sure that wasn’t it. It looked really pretty when you were done.”

“Yeah, she did. Er, it did, I mean. The dress. A–Anyway, it might have something to do about being around her mom and all those strangers.”

“Will it really be that bad for her?”

“I can’t say for sure. I know things are tense between her and her mom, but even today she seemed a little off. I hope things aren’t actually getting worse between them.” Marinette suddenly stopped in her tracks with a gasp. “Oh no, Tikki…you don’t think she could be akumatized again, do you?”

“I don’t think so. From what I heard and saw today, she didn’t seem quite that upset. I’m sure she’ll be okay.”

“Still, I can’t help but worry. Even if she doesn’t lose her cool, what about her mom? If she notices my work on the dress, she could flip out on Kagami and then be the perfect target for an akuma! Oh, maybe I should transform and follow the train just in case.”

“Relax, Marinette. It sounded like Kagami and her mother are going somewhere pretty far away, so I doubt Hawkmoth would even notice their emotions all the way out there.”

“I…guess you’re right.”

Marinette let out a long breath and started walking once more. She was grateful to have someone like Tikki by her side to keep her in check. Still, her worry wouldn’t just disappear anytime soon. Hopefully the event went quickly so she could call and check on Kagami. Then she’d be able to sleep easy at least.

“You sure were in a hurry to be by Kagami’s side again,” Tikki said. “Maybe someone wants to take advantage of the fact that Ladybug doesn’t get all tongue tied around her.”

“Hey, I did just fine today as myself, didn’t I?”

Tikki giggled. “Sure, if you don’t count calling her cute to her face.”

“Oh, why did you have to remind me of that, Tikki?”

That had been the one part of the day where she felt strange around Kagami. Usually their time together resulted in bubbly, bouncy feelings that had her grinning from ear to ear. Today was no different, except for that one brief moment in the park. Stating that Kagami was cute wasn’t anything new to Marinette, but it was the reaction the comment caused that had thrown her off balance. Kagami’s normally pale face gained a stripe of red right through the middle, rising along her nose and ending on the curves of her cheeks. It hadn’t just been cute; it was adorable.

Marinette was used to verbally jumping ship on most things she said, especially when she was nervous. But today’s slip-up felt a little different. She had barely been able to clarify her comment over the sound of her heart thumping in her ears. It was the same kind of feeling she used to get when talking to Adrien.

Marinette smacked her cheeks lightly. What was happening to her? Things had gone from weird to manageable to good and now back to weird. Well, not as weird as when she and Kagami first met, but still odd enough to notice. In the past few weeks, she had focused on building a more platonic relationship with Adrien, and that was going surprisingly well. She had also tried the same strategy with Luka, which was proving to be just as effective considering his easygoing attitude towards most things. It was definitely a difficult switch to make mentally, considering how strongly she cared for them both, but something inside had made her stop short in her pursuit. That same instinct was clueless when it came to how she saw Kagami.

And on the topic of Kagami, if she wasn’t interested in Adrien anymore, what had changed? Was it the same thing that she felt changing in herself? It was beginning to feel like the more she pulled back from Adrien and Luka, the more she found herself drawn to Kagami. Not just in a way that craved quality girl time, but in a way that made the rest of the world fuzzy when they were together. She didn’t feel this way around Alya, her best friend, or even any of the other girls like Rose or Juleka or Alix or Mylène.

It was all that confusion which really begged the question; what exactly was it that she wanted?

“Marinette!”

Marinette whipped around at the sound of her name being shouted into the night. Standing under a streetlight several yards away was Kagami, wide-eyed and out of breath. Her white kimono caught the light from overhead, making it look like she was glowing.

Marinette closed Tikki back in her purse and ran over to where her friend stood. “Kagami? What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at that gathering?”

“I couldn’t go.”

“What? Why not?”

Kagami hung her head low, inching towards Marinette with steps so small her feet might as well have been sliding across the pavement. “Because…I want to be here with you.”

“To be here with me? But why – ”

“I couldn’t leave because I don’t want anyone else but you.”

Marinette bit her lower lip, stopping herself from making some awkward noise in response to Kagami’s confession, but also to prove she wasn’t dreaming the scene in front of her. The words between the two of them were ones she had dreamt of hearing for a long time, but not from the person standing in front of her. She had expected these words to come gently and sweep her off her feet, but instead they threated to knock her over where she stood. Kagami wanted her. She didn’t want anyone else but her. Just the echo of the words in Marinette’s mind were enough to make her legs shake.

“Thinking of you…spending time with you…it makes me so crazy I can’t stand it!” Kagami’s fingers gripped her chest so tightly it looked like she might tear her own heart out with brute strength. “I’m tired of pushing all of that down, but…I don’t know where to go from here.”

Marinette’s hand seemed to move on its own, wrapping her fingers around Kagami’s trembling ones. The surge of warmth that followed helped prove this was real. Kagami finally looked up, meeting a gaze as watery as her own.

“Well…we can figure it out together.”

Marinette lowered Kagami’s hand and held her palm, sliding closer to touch shoulders with her. Her head didn’t feel so cluttered with Kagami beside her now. It was all starting to make sense. She almost had to stop herself from giggling just thinking about how earnestly Kagami had said all of those things to her. At the very least, she knew that she would get an earful about this from Tikki later on. But this new development was worth a little embarrassment.

“So, what are you going to tell your mom?” Marinette asked.

“Well, unfortunately there was an akuma attack just before I could leave the city,” Kagami said with a shrug. “I had no choice but to stay here where it was safe.”

“Oh, of course,” Marinette said, her hand covering her mouth dramatically. “And where would a safer place be than my family’s bakery? Staying with us was the only option really.”

The giggles came fast to both girls as they walked with linked arms down the street. There was a lot to figure out, and their joint decision tonight would surely lead to some consequences down the road, but for tonight they could forget about all that. The telltale fuzziness was coming back to Marinette with Kagami so close, blocking everything else out except for the stunning girl in front of her. Taking her in all dressed up was almost enough to knock her off her feet. Fortunately, Kagami was hanging onto her so tightly that she didn’t have to worry about that. Walking beside her now brought a very different rhythm than Marinette was used to, but it was one that she was wanted to embrace more than anything.

[kpopfanfictrash]

Zephyr

Author: kpopfanfictrash

Pairing: Jungkook / Reader

Word Count: 2,696

Rating: PG-13

Summary: An accompanying drabble to Exes and Supher-o’s. This drabble takes place before the events of Exes and Superher-o’s and follows Jungkook as he’s rescued by a superhero love interest.

A/N: The reader in this drabble is not the reader in Exes and Superher-o’s.  

[ PART OF MY JUNGKOOK BIRTHDAY DRABBLE GAME ]

While standing in line at the check-out counter, Jungkook examined the oranges he’d picked out in his basket. Idly, he recalled Minutia saying the color orange came after the fruit, not before. She loved to spout factoids like that; Jungkook did a pretty good job of tuning her out, but her random facts always seemed to stick in his head.

Minutia was the superhero Jungkook was assigned to as handler. She was fairly loud, fairly opinionated and fairly dedicated to kicking people’s ass on the regular.

She’d mentioned the orange fact when ISA – International Superhero Agency – had recommended Minutia change her superhero suit color to orange. She’d felt very strongly about this and in the end, Minutia had won. 

Usually, she did.

Realizing the line before him had moved, Jungkook took a step forward. No longer distracted by thoughts of the color orange, he took the opportunity to scan the grocery store around him.

It was a habit of his – an unfortunate side effect of both his job and the knowledge which came from it. After high school, Jungkook attended an elite military academy on the east coast, but it only took six months before ISA found him.

He’d been out for a morning run when two men in suits cornered him for what they called an opportunity. They’d explained about a different path than the military; an alternative from merely serving his country. Both agent and handlers at ISA held no national loyalty – they merely protected civilians from absolute evil.

Barely had the offer left their mouths before Jungkook accepted.

Of course, Jungkook learned soon after superhero handlers were little more than baby-sitters, but that was beside the point. He genuinely cared about Minutia and knew the work they did together was important – even if his position kind of sucked, since Jungkook was more than capable of defending himself.

Handlers were required to be proficient in various martial arts; they often trained the newbie superheroes who arrived at the Agency. Jungkook was a ninth-degree black belt in Taekwondo, a red belt in Jiu Jitsu and a tenth-degree black belt in Judo. He also had a blue belt in Krav Maga, but this had more to do with lack of time than capability. Jungkook could assemble and disassemble most weapons in the time it took most people to fire them, but all that meant nothing in the face of superpowers.

Minutia could simply freeze Jungkook and kill him if she wanted to; he’d never see it coming.

Not that Minutia would kill him, of course. Stifling the image, Jungkook moved up in line. His super was relentlessly moral, even if she had some rough edges and enjoyed pushing boundaries.

It was the rest who worried Jungkook, like the supervillains they fought. Aided by supernatural powers, supervillains were capable of great destruction. It was the main reason Jungkook stayed at his job – if anyone stood a chance against supervillains, it was superheroes.

“Bag?”

Surprised, Jungkook looked up. “Huh?”

“Bag,” the cashier girl repeated, rolling her eyes. “Do you want a bag?”

“Oh – no.” Jungkook shook his head. “I have my own. I –”

An explosion rocked the street outside, shattering the windows in a hailstorm of glass.

On instinct, Jungkook dove to protect the rude cashier with his body. There was bulletproof lining beneath his clothes, for which he was grateful. He’d just come from shooting practice at Headquarters and hadn’t had a chance to change out of his gear.

Glass harmlessly bounced off his torso, although a few shards sliced his face, leaving blood as he winced. Reaching up to grip counter, Jungkook surveyed the damage.

All the windows of the supermarket had been blown in. The blast seemed to have originated from the street – at least, Jungkook assumed this based on the direction of people running.

“Stay down!” he yelled, and launched himself over the counter.

People obeyed, crawling towards the store’s interior aisles. Jungkook hoped there was a door in the back, otherwise they’d trap themselves like fish in a barrel. He wasn’t surprised when people followed his command. People tended to respond positively to authority in times of chaos.

Yanking a Glock from his jacket, Jungkook dashed from the store. Cocking his head to one side, he surveyed the street for danger.

There – at the end of the block, he saw a cloud of dust settling.

Keeping his gun steady, Jungkook rushed towards the scene. Halfway there, he realized he’d left his groceries behind and nearly groaned. Oh, well, it couldn’t be helped. Such was the life of superheroes and handlers.

As though in response to his thought, someone emerged from the chaos.

Only one person; tall, with hulking muscles and what looked to be three arms. Nope, wait – that was machine gun. Fuck.

Jungkook lunged to the side as the man opened fire. Luckily, much of the street was deserted from the blast and few people were hurt. Propping himself up on one knee, Jungkook squinted from behind an overturned car and fired.

Five shots, each in quick succession aimed at the man’s torso. Three of them hit, sending the man to his knees, only for him to snarl, his gaze snapping upwards.

Jungkook watched in horror as the bullet wounds began to heal, pushing metal from flesh with alarming speed.

Of fucking course, he was a supervillain.

Flipping around, Jungkook pressed his back to the car and considered his options. He should call for Minutia, or another super – teeth gritted, Jungkook pushed this option aside. He could do this on his own; this was a fight he could win.

Winning against rejuvenation wasn’t unheard of for someone like him. It meant his opponent healed abnormally fast from their injuries, but they could be overwhelmed if Jungkook kept up momentum.

Before he could finish this thought, the car Jungkook sat against flipped overhead.

Eyes wide, Jungkook watched it crash and roll down the street. A small crowd darted away as they screamed and Jungkook stifled an eye roll. Civilians were so predictable. They never got out of the way like they should; instead, they pressed closer and tried to video it all on their cell phones.

Twisting around, Jungkook found the supervillain grinning at him while he flexed a muscle.

The machine gun lay discarded in a pile of rubble. Jungkook’s heart sank, since it meant the villain was out of ammo, which likely meant he’d been using it in other locations.

When the villain wrenched a storm grate from the ground, Jungkook came to his senses. Survival was priority number one. Fighting someone with only rejuvenation would’ve been hard enough; it would be near impossible to fight someone with rejuvenation and strength.

Rolling away, Jungkook managed to escape said trajectory of the grate.

Metal smashed into the space he’d just occupied, leaving a human-sized dent in the pavement. Flipping himself upwards, Jungkook shot as he moved. This was a move best left to the movies, unless you happened to be an obsessed-with-video-games-superhero-handler trained in four different kinds of martial arts.

Jungkook was just that. 

“Catch me if you can!” he yelled, taking off down the street.

He zig-zagged as he moved, craning his neck to peer overhead. The new plan was: keep the villain’s attention on Jungkook until help arrived, which wouldn’t be long. Given the immediacy of the destruction, ISA would likely dispatch someone with the ability to fly.

All he had to do was stay alive until then. Smirking a little, Jungkook dug in his heel and spun around.

Luckily, he had a few tricks up his sleeve.

Pushing up the sleeve of his jacket, Jungkook waited until the villain was within fifteen feet, then pressed a button. 70 mA of electrical current shot out from his wrist, arcing with blue-white light to hit the villain in the chest. A product created by Namjoon, otherwise known as the superhero, Brainblast.

The volt was enough to stun or kill any other man, but the villain simply gasped and sunk to his knees.

He writhed for a moment, clawing at skin which simultaneously burned and healed. The distraction was all Jungkook needed to run, aiming his gun and – someone swooped down to blast the villain back with air.

A smirk on your face, you lowered both hands to your sides.

Jungkook skidded to a stop. Your superhero alias, Zephyr, was one of the most popular superheroes on the face of the planet. Intelligent, formidable, and rated a seven on the ISA power scale, despite only having one superpower: control over the air and winds.

You were also ridiculously hot; Jungkook had harbored a crush on you for years.

He still remembered the day you arrived at the Agency. Higher-ups said Zephyr (the Greek god of the west wind) was traditionally a male name and wouldn’t make sense to serve as your moniker. You’d said to fuck off and written it down anyways.

This memory made Jungkook smile, even as you sent another wave of wind down the street. Shaking his head, he pulled himself back to reality.

Hovering a few feet off the ground, wind whipped at your hair. You’d explained to him once you didn’t really fly – it was more the wind currents obeyed your commands and took you where you needed to go. Jungkook didn’t really get the difference, but he couldn’t deny you looked badass doing it.

While the villain struggled to stand, you glanced down at Jungkook.

“You alright?” you asked, concern evident in your voice.

Jungkook tried not to frown. “I’m fine,” he said, despite the disheveled state of his hair and clothes. “I had him, you know.”

“Right.” Your expression turned dubious. “It’s just that –”

You were cut off by said villain throwing a car at your head, which you managed to stop with a thrust of your hand. The winds obeyed your command, wrapping around the car to set off to one side. 

Gaze narrowed, you rose even higher. “It’s not that you’re not capable!” You yelled to be heard over the wind. “But –”

A sewer grate flew through the air and, without turning, Jungkook shot it down from the sky. Pieces rained around them like confetti.

You stared at him, wide-eyed. “Right.” Sheepish, you smiled. “Just keep doing that. Distract him and I’ll try to knock him out. Keep him alive, though!”

Jungkook nodded, giving a grim smile before moving forward.

He broke into a run, alarmed by how fast the villain seemed to heal. Even if two supers had the same power, they tended to vary in intensity. This villain must be rated high even without his super strength.

The device on Jungkook’s arm wouldn’t recharge for another five minutes, so he relied on his gun to keep the villain occupied. A shot to the kneecap; another to his shoulder. Keeping your words in mind, Jungkook tried not to hit anything vital. Even rejuvenation might not be enough to heal the man if he shot him in the heart.

High above, you flew gracefully upwards. Jungkook nearly stopped to stare; you arced through the sky like a dancer, claiming the winds as though you owned them. Caressing the breeze with one hand, you turned around and – fuck.

Jungkook had let himself get distracted. Swearing aloud, he dove behind the nearest car and heard something shatter.

Rolling to the other side, he propped himself up on one knee and shot. The villain yelped, stumbling forward as the bullet hit his elbow.

This time, it took greater concentration for metal to be squeezed from his skin. The villain panted as he stood, clearly winded and Jungkook’s heart leapt, realizing they’d tired him out.

This turned out to be the opening you needed.

Swooping down, you reached out a hand, and – wind whipping about like a force field – slowly closed your palm.

The villain gasped, his eyes going wide as he clutched his throat.

Shakily, Jungkook pushed himself upwards to stand.

One of the most dangerous powers associated with air manipulation was creating a vacuum. You achieved this by removing the air entirely; a feat which required great skill and concentration.

It only took a few minutes for the man to be so deprived of oxygen, his eyes rolled backwards. His legs wavered a second, then he slumped to the ground.

“Saoirse!” you yelled, floating down. “Cuffs!”

A woman with red hair – your handler, Jungkook presumed – ran from the nearest subway station to quickly cuff the man’s hands behind his back. Jungkook could see the moment the villain’s power drained from his limbs.

Standing before them, you watched, although it seemed to pain you.

Picking his way through the wreckage, Jungkook came to a stop by your side. Glancing your way, he noticed the breeze continue to play with your hair, as though it couldn’t bear to be parted for long.

“Do you ever wonder what this does to us?” 

Confused by your question, Jungkook blinked. “What do you mean?”

“This,” you said, waving a hand at the wreckage. In the distance, Jungkook could hear sirens screaming. “All the death, the destruction… even the people on the other side. Does it ever hurt you sometimes?”

Jungkook stared at you for a moment, unsure how to respond.

Truthfully, it did bother him when he saw himself in the villains they faced. Sometimes he was fighting genuine evil, but occasionally the villains had reasonable grievances – worse, sometimes they’d merely been raised to see the ISA as evil.

Jungkook couldn’t bring himself to hate those kinds of villains and yes, it did hurt when he took them out.

Sensing his hesitance, your shoulders slumped. Jungkook’s stomach twisted, wanting to fix whatever it was you were feeling. He hesitated, wanting to say you weren’t alone.

“Never mind,” you said, managing to smile. “Another bad guy defeated, right?”

“Right.” Jungkook’s gaze remained upon yours. “I guess.”

Before you could say anything more, Saoirse called your name.

“Guess I should go,” you said, rising into the air. When you glanced his way, Jungkook found himself wondering what you were thinking. “I… thanks for helping today, Jungkook.”

“Anytime.”

This time when he smiled at you, it was genuine.

You rose another few feet, then hesitated. “It’s been awhile since I came by the training arena, huh?” 

Jungkook shrugged, as though he hadn’t noticed, but he had. Of course, he had.

“You’re still the one they’ve got training the new recruits?”

“Yep,”

“Hm.” A small smile crossed your lips. “Maybe I should stop by. Show the newbies how it’s done. We could work up a sweat.”

Jungkook’s heart nearly stopped when you dropped him a wink. Before he could speak, you rose further into the air.

“Bye, Jungkook!” you called, and zipped off down the street.

The sound of your voice faded into the sounds of the city and Jungkook stood there another moment before coming to his senses. His phone began to ring in his pocket.

Fumbling for the device, he sighed when he saw the name on the ID.

“Hello?” he said, lifting the phone to his ear.

“YOU’RE ALIVE.”

Wincing, he held the phone further away. “Minutia?”

“Who else would it be? Of course, it’s me, you idiot! I had just gotten my morning coffee and was passing that pizza place when I happen to catch a glimpse of the TV – and what do I see? You, fighting a fucking supervillain alone!”

“I wasn’t alone,” Jungkook shot back.

“Yeah, those cowering civilians looked real intimidating.”

“Zephyr showed up at the end, it was fine.”

“Oh,” she said, somewhat mollified. “Alright, then. She’s cool. But seriously, JK – be more careful, would you? I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Pulling his hand away, Jungkook squinted at the receiver. “Huh?” he said, returning the device to his ear.

“Yeah, who’d pick up my dry cleaning?”

“Bye,” Jungkook grunted, and hung up the phone.

Still, he smiled as he turned to walk down the street. People stared as he passed, pointing and whispering about the state of his clothes. Jungkook heard the word super being muttered, although he didn’t bother to correct them.

He was too busy turning your words over again in his mind. Does it ever hurt you sometimes?

The truth was it did. All the time.

He just didn’t know if there existed a better path than the one he was on.

© kpopfanfictrash, 2020. Do not copy or repost without permission.

[something-fanfiction-ie]

Rough Drafts

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Reader

Warnings: Explicit descriptions of a murder scene, argument, angst, and cursing.

A/N: Okay, so I know I said I was gonna publish this yesterday but I got Cassandra Clare’s newest book and I couldn’t put it down. I seriously love that lady. Omg. Anyways, it’s here now! And it’s angsty! And there’s gonna be a fourth part soon I promise! For real. Don’t forget to reblog, comment, send me an ask or a message and overall just adore me so that I may continue to feel good about myself. As always thank you for supporting me and I hope you enjoy!!!

[ Part One | Part Two ]

___

An incredulous laugh bursts from your lips, your nails cutting crescent moons into the palms of your hands as you try and convince yourself that this isn’t actually happening.

“Do you have alibis for your whereabouts on Monday, June eighth, Saturday, June thirteenth, and Thursday, June eighteenth?” Spencer can see your leg bouncing rapidly under the table, your eyes flying over the pictures and the expression of Emily Prentiss. You seem genuine, but he can’t trust himself to get an accurate read of you anymore.

“I, uhm, I- I wouldn’t know off the top of my head. I keep a planner, I’ll forget things otherwise.” The burst of iron in your mouth is not something you’re unused to, having chewed your cheek so badly that the skin there has broken under your teeth.

“We’ll need to see that.” Emily isn’t sure whether or not she believes that you’re guilty, watching the way you seem to unravel before her. When you look at the crime scene photos, it isn't with any pleasure, but with disgust. Your nose wrinkles a little at the bridge and you keep looking away as the blood from your face starts to drain. 

Either you’re a really good actress or you aren’t the unsub.

Emily says as much as she flips through the small teal planner that you’d willingly given them. Due dates for chapters, publishing events, book signings and days for book tours fill most of the pages in your most neat handwriting. Dates you plan to go visit your mother, grocery shop, doctor’s appointments, even plans to go somewhere and write.

Everything is explicitly stated, that way you’re never unsure of what you meant to tell yourself. That is, until around three weeks ago when a handful of days are notated with an ‘S,’ followed by a random doodle. Sometimes it’s a tiny heart drawn absentmindedly while you discuss the plans over the phone, other times it’s a cartoon bunny or a top hat.

Garcia is the first to take notice of it, her fingers faltering in their constant thrum against the keyboard in front of her. She glances out of the side of her glasses, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

“Looks like lonely girl found herself a boo.” 

“That makes sense,” JJ says from the chair she’s pulled into Penelope’s office from the bullpen. A pen is stretched between her hands, her posture relaxed into the curve of the stiff, government-issued rolly chair.

All the girls have gathered into the tech analyst’s room while the men take turns interrogating you. Well, all except Spencer. He just stands behind that window watching your every move with eyes like a hawk. “What doesn’t make sense is why she keeps it secret even in her personal planner.”

“Maybe she has a stalker? That could be who is doing all this?” 

“Then she wouldn’t keep careful notation of everything else going on in her life. A stalker would follow her every move, not just her romantic interests. Even if he is in love with her.”

“A partner, maybe? Like the days they planned the murders or days they were acted out?”

“None of the days line up with the crimes, save for this one,” Emily leans the book toward the two women with her finger just underneath June fifth, the day Alison Crane was abducted from outside her campus dorm room. It’s the third ‘S’ scribbled into the corner of a day in the entire book.

“And there is nothing else written in relation to this ‘S’ character?” JJ shakes her head, looking for any clues that could be nestled among the loops and curls of your writing. Reid would be better at this, he was the graphology expert among them. So why wasn’t he back here helping?

“Then I guess we better try and get her to talk about it. Meanwhile Garcia, we’ll get Rossi and Reid to head over to her apartment and you can hack into her computer?” Penelope spins the chair, a flash of bright colors and blond hair. She clicks her tongue in response, throwing up a fingers gun and winking.

“Whatever you need me to do, I’m on it like sexy on Derek Morgan stepping out of the shower in a towel.”

After some arguing, and maybe just a little bit of pleading, they manage to convince Reid to join Rossi on a trip to your apartment. He can’t help but feel a little uncomfortable, standing in your living room. Not because he’d been here before, but because he’d never been here before.

The empty mugs that litter every surface, smelling of old coffee and your favorite coffee creamer (he only knows it’s your favorite because you explicitly ask for that creamer at every coffee shop the two of you have ever gone to), is unfamiliar to him. He’s invited you to his apartment at least three times. How come he had never been to yours?

Small pages and notebooks of scribbled ideas and dialogues cover just as many areas as the coffee cups do, your handwriting messy and cramped in every note. It’s almost like you couldn’t get the idea out of your head fast enough.

The bed in your room is meticulously made without a wrinkle in sight, but that could be because of the obvious bed you’ve made yourself along the salmon pink couch that stretches out in front of your TV. A multicolored crochet blanket is thrown haphazardly over the back, a pillow still slightly squished against the arm.

On the coffee table is a half opened laptop, a notebook with red and black ink scribbled in the lines, and a still full cup of coffee. Rossi makes quick work of calling Garcia and helping her get patched into your computer. It’s strange, watching her move the mouse on your screen from miles away.

Reid never stops moving, walking the length of your studio apartment with his eyes peeled for any kind of information he could find. It’s obvious that you spend most of your time in the main room, which houses the kitchen, a small dining area, and the living room. A door leading into your room branches off to a small bathroom which is just as disorganized as everything else in your house.

Hair products, skin washes, and all kinds of makeup are scattered across the sink and back of your toilet. It’s funny because every time he’s ever met up with you, you’re bare faced and your hair is still drying from the shower you took before leaving your house. The tube of lipstick he picks up makes him think he doesn’t really know you at all.

On the nightstand in your room is a bottle of water with the label ripped off and the two Rossi books you’d bought that fateful day in the bookstore. The label from the water bottle is stuck between the middle pages of one of the books. The passages in question don’t lend anything to connecting you as a homicidal maniac, let alone a serial killer.

Back in the living room, Garcia is snooping through every aspect of your computer.

“I don’t know whether or not the be freaked out by her web history. There’s a lot of murder-y questions here. ‘Signs of a post mortem amputation,’ ‘How much blood can you lose and still live?,’ ‘Most brutal ways to be killed.’ It’s creepy.” Rossi is flicking through the notebook from the table, his eyes squinted as he tried to make sense of the abbreviations and scribblings of another writer.

“She writes crime novels so it isn’t entirely strange for her to be looking at those types of things.” Thankfully, the defense of your web search history comes from the older man who looks up as Garcia delves deeper and deeper. Spencer had thought it first, but hadn’t said anything to avoid suspicion. He’s smart enough to know that the truth has to come out eventually, but he wants to be sure of your innocence (or guilt, he reminds himself a bit glumly) before he reveals your link to him.

“I’m not seeing anything she could be using to contact a partner unless her partner is one of the publishing people she’s constantly messaging via email.” At this Spencer stops, leaning against the back of the couch with his weight resting on the heels of his hands. The stance appears relaxed. He is anything but.

“Why do we assume she has a partner?” Reid asks, impatiently pushing a stray curl away from his face. Rossi glances at him curiously, otherwise undistracted from the shake the movement gives the couch.

“Oh, Prentiss, JJ, and I were looking through her little teal book earlier and the only thing not explicitly stated was just the letter ‘S.’ It’s why they came back to interrogate and they sent you guys to her house. I thought they told you.”

Spencer wants to beat his head against the wall.

“That isn’t a lead, Garcia. You have to tell them that ‘S’ isn’t her partner.” The mouse on the computer screen falters, several saved documents for different rough drafts of books or drabbles are pulled up the way you might have papers scattered about in front of you.

“What is it? Do you know who ‘S’ is?” Rossi is turned sideways on the couch, looking over the back and up at the distressed man in front of him. It doesn’t take him long to connect the dots when they make eye contact. Penelope impatiently whines over the phone.

“I’m ‘S,’ I’ve been seeing her for the last three weeks. I’m sure if you tell me the dates then every single one of them will be days that we’ve had plans together.”

“I’m sorry, what?!” Before anyone has the chance to say anything else, the door to Garcia’s office opens and a second voice filters through Rossi’s phone speaker. It’s JJ.

“Let Reid and Rossi know there’s just been another murder.”

This time it’s a fifteen year old girl. Her hair is black and wet, her lips are as blue as the sky, and she’s naked. Water droplets from her skin have soaked into the sheet of paper that was layed over her chest. The bathtub she’s in is completely empty, but it doesn’t take a genius to know that she was drowned there. The bruises on her shoulders from the force the unsub used to pin her down are dark against the contrast of her already pale skin.

...The man leaned over the tub, his eyes squinted in thought and his lips skewed a little to the side. Ryder stayed focused on the crime scene, for the most part. But even detectives of her caliber, and higher, could easily get lost in the eyes that look up at her from beneath long golden-brown lashes.

“Detective?” She blinks the distraction away, looking back at the girl, her black hair wet and spiraling like the snakes on Medusa’s head against the ivory siding of the drained tub. Ryder can’t help but wish the girl had been lucky enough to turn her killer to stone. Maybe it would have saved her.

“Agent.” She crosses her arms, looking anywhere but at the man across from her, pretending to look for any useful clues. Ryder had gotten to the crime scene fourty-five minutes before the pair of FBI Agents had walked in. The man, who had introduced himself as Supervisory Special Agent Matthew Gray, had decided to join her in the second floor bathroom. His partner, a woman named Katherine Swift, had taken to looking for clues through the rest of the house.

Agent Gray is beautiful. It’s the only adjective that seems to stick to him with certainty, every other aspect of his personality just as elusive as the exact color of those eyes. Even as short as his hair is, the golden brown tendrils are unkempt and curl every which way. Ryder has to force her hand to stay at her side and not reach up to smooth an alfalfa that does nothing for the serious expression on his face.

She keeps imagining what it would feel like if he reached out to kiss her, curling his fingers into her hair and bringing her unworthy lips up to meet his. He’s tall so she would probably have to stretch a little, but she wouldn’t mind. Not when his hands are tangled in her hair and he’s giving her the kiss she’s been silently begging for since the moment he flashed that crooked grin at her.

The imagination is so vivid that she jumps when her own partner, Detective Russo, comes around the corner of the hallway and straight into the bathroom...

The paper crinkles in the evidence bag as Morgan places it on the table, trying to ignore the daggers being glared into him on the other side of the mirror.

Nobody on the team had been very happy with Spencer when they heard the news about your relationship, Hotch had nearly snatched him by the scruff of his neck when he made to go into the interrogation room. But after several minutes of thoroughly explaining himself, Hotch had sent Morgan in. To say Spencer was infuriated was an understatement.

“Do you know what this is, (Y/N)?” You look down at it, twisting the evidence bag so that you could read the Times New Roman font you always wrote in when writing in Microsoft Word. The words cover the front and back of the copy paper, but you don’t have to read it through all the way before you know what it is.

“It’s a page from my newest book.” The bag scratches against the tabletop as you push it away from you, crossing your arms over your chest. Your face is stoplight red with embarrassment at the thought of Spencer reading this page, mostly because you had pulled so heavily from your own thoughts when first meeting Spencer to write Ryder and Gray’s first meeting. You created Matthew Gray to write about Spencer Reid in a way that felt less ‘high school diary entry.’

“More specifically, it’s from the book you just started working on about a month ago. The one that only you and your agent have access to.” Finally, Morgan sits. Before, he’d just been pacing around you the way a lioness might stalk around her prey before she launches an attack. It made you uneasy, but that was the whole point, wasn’t it?

“Do you know where we found it, (Y/N)?” His muscles bulge against his shirtsleeves when he leans them up on the table. Derek Morgan is a very attractive man, you’ll give him that, but if making you uneasy and putting you in the room with a attractive man to fluster you was their strategy then they should have sent in Spencer.

“My computer.”

“We found it on the body of a dead girl.” Another picture joins the ones already shuffled around the table. You can barely look at it, nausea and tears building in your throat at the sight of another person dying the same way you’d written in a story. When you don’t respond, Morgan continues.

“‘She was found at the bottom of an empty bathtub, a pale leg hooked over the edge of the porcelain siding, and her arms pinned to her sides in death. Bruises discolored the skin at her shoulders, and Ryder knew at first glance that her cause of death would be asphyxiation by drowning.’” He drops the paper back to the table, having picked it up to read the passage from the end of the page.

“That’s wrong,” You say, leaning back over the table to look at the paper again. Derek looks down, like the words might have changed in the moment he looked away, but the text stays exactly the same as before.

“That’s exactly what is written here.” You shake your head, pulling the bag back to you and wrinkling your forehead in thought.

“I don’t doubt that is what you read, Agent Morgan,” Your eyes fly over the page, reading the end of the excerpt with overwhelming relief. The bag sticks a little to the pad of your index finger as you tap over the paragraph in question. “But I rewrote this scene only two nights ago. It’s on my computer, I’m sure your tech analyst can confirm my claim. This girl, Bella, she doesn’t die from drowning anymore. Her hands are tied above her head to the faucet and she’s strangled. I couldn’t decide if I wanted it to be by her sister or her girlfriend.”

JJ rushes back to Penelope’s office, on a mission to confirm your statement just as you had suggested. Meanwhile, Morgan’s mind is rushing to figure out the mess he is currently sat in. You lean back in your chair now, unsure if the dizziness you feel is from lack of food or the sudden realization that they couldn’t pin this to you anymore.

“I’m not your bad guy. If I was doing this to prove to my mother that my writing is good, that I chose the right career, as your profile says, I wouldn’t change the scene in my book and not change the murder.” In Morgan’s earpiece, Hotch tells him that you were telling the truth about editing the scene two nights ago.

“Unless you planned it to throw us off track. We know about your relationship with Spencer, you’ve probably found out all kinds of things to do to keep us from catching you.”

You clench your teeth, straightening into your chair and pinning Derek down with a look you’d learned from your mother. It makes him think of his mom, your eyes narrowed and your gaze so cold that it could cause frostbite. He watches curiosily as you tilt your chin up a little, trying to hide the pricks behind your eyes and the wobble of your lip. Derek notices them, the entire team notices. They’re trained to notice.

“I want a lawyer.” You say simply, you voice is sharp and quiet but it does the job of slicing through the tension already building in the room.

“Come on, you don’t need a lawyer.”

“That’s where you’re wrong again, Agent Morgan. I do need a lawyer. Because even though I have full-heartedly trusted the justice system since I was in diapers, and even though I came to these offices willing to help your team in any way that I could, you are still trying to use me as a scapegoat instead of actually doing your fucking job and finding the bastard who is killing people in my name.

“A study from criminal law bulletin says that 10,000 people are wrongfully convicted of serious crimes every year. One in every twenty-five people sentenced to death are innocent, Agent Morgan. Just since 1973, more than 160 people were exonerated from the death penalty. That’s not even counting the people who were killed. But you sure as hell aren’t about to make me apart of that statistic because you want to waste your time trying to piece an investigation around me. That’s not how you’re supposed to do your job. So until you can remember how to do it correctly, I do need a lawyer. Thank you.”

By the time you finish you’ve leaned over the table, your index finger jammed into the wood to make your point. It feels like your chest is on fire as you slam back into your seat and cross your arms, determined to keep your silence for the rest of the time you were forced to sit here.

Everyone on the opposite side of the mirror is stunned into silence, their eyes focused on you even as Derek gathers all the things from the desk and walks out looking a little flustered himself. If Spencer was totally honest, your outburst was actually kind of hot. He has to remind himself that you may have killed eight people in cold blood.

Your lawyer makes it to the BAU in record time, his red hair expertly gelled back from his face. His icy blue eyes only cracking when he sees you sitting by yourself in the interrogation room. Spencer can tell by the way that he lowers himself on the balls of his feet to talk to you, reaching out to touch the hand that sits on your thigh, that he knows you personally. He likes you, actually. Spencer tried to tell himself that it doesn’t make him glad when you pull your hand out of his and awkwardly pat his arm.

He’s been lying to himself a lot today.

Hotch is the one to go back in the room, he was the best at dealing with lawyers. Unfortunately his best wasn’t enough to keep you in custody and soon your lawyer, who Spencer learned was named Jeremy, was walking you out of the room for the first time in six hours.

Your back cracks when you stand, your shoulders rolling back to try and ease some of the stress you’d been holding there since this morning. The sound of the door swinging open for you is almost heavenly, the feel of the air outside of the room is damn near enough to make you cry.

When you look to the side, ready to leave out the second door that leads into the hallway and away from this mess, you meet eyes with the only profiler of the BAU that you hadn’t seen that day. Spencer looks back at you with an expression that you find hard to put into words.

He almost looks sorry, the regret evident in the slight widening of his eyes, but at the same time his chin is tilted up like he is facing an enemy he has vowed to take down no matter the cost. His shoulders are squared, but his arms are uncrossed and his palms are open.

And even though you knew you wouldn’t be there without him knowing, the reassurance that Spencer knew and even suspected you is like a blow to the chest and stomach. It robs you of air, causing you to stumble.

Jeremy reaches to steady you. You shake him off, pulling your eyes from the young doctor and focusing all of your attention on the door knob.

“I’m fine, Jeremy.” Your tone of voice is more harsh than you intended but you’re still struggling to collect oxygen, even when you slide into your car by yourself, it feels like you can’t get enough air. The walk from the BAU offices to the parking lot had passed in a blur. Jeremy’s talk about staying at home and keeping your head low had gone by even faster, and now that you have time to truly be by yourself, everything hits like a ton of bricks thrown at you from a speeding train.

In the midst of your panic attack, gasping for air into the palms of your shaking hands, questioning everything about yourself and your career, you don’t register the shuffle of movement in your backseat. You’re so deep in your mind that you almost don’t notice the cool press of a gun barrel against the back of your neck until a familiar voice lifts your head from your hands.

“Drive.”

[alphi-writes]

the autumn interactions seems fascinating.. may i request one? ^~¬ || a female reader here~ id like to request a scary stories for malleus, haunted house for azul & trick of treat for floyd, thanks!!! 🥺💖

Yes of course!! I'm glad you seem to like it:)🧡

Characters: Malleus, Azul, Floyd

Items: Scary Stories, Haunted Houses, Trick or Treat

Malleus Draconia

"Yea, just sit there, it's a bean bag it won't- Malleus, you're practically a deity, you do not need to worry about a bean bag eating you."'

You giggled quietly as Malleus tried to make himself comfortable. He wasn't used to such comfortable, plush seatings like a bean bag.

"Are you sure these won't cause any damage? The curve it makes seems... unhealthy."

"Oh, don't be a scaredy cat-! You'll want to save that fear for-" you clicked your torch on, illuminating your face, "-Scaaaary stooories~!"

He stared, dumbfounded for a moment before chuckling quietly.

"Well, you can try, I suppose."

"Oh I will try, and I'll succeed!"

Earlier in the evening, you'd invited Malleus to your dorm, in which the two of you would hang out because Malleus was, yet again, left out of another school event. It was sad to see him so dejected, so you jumped at the chance to invite him over.

Currently, while Malleus was slowly being swallowed by the bean bag, you were setting up a small blanket fort. You stabilized the blankets and sheets before shoving pillows and a few other softy seats inside.

After that, you grabbed your laptop and a candy bag, propping them up at the head of the fort. When you finally crawled out, Malleus was all but unseen, completely covered in the bean bag.

You laughed loudly, promptly grabbing his hands and pulling him out of the seat.

"Come on, I have to fort finished."

He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly, thanking you quietly.

You slid into the fort next to Malleus, opening your laptop.

"I found this cool forum last week where people submit scary stories! It's always being updated with new stories, and theres even an audio section. That way I don't have to read out loud, I don't read well out loud..."' You typed the forum into the search bar, opening up the tab and scrolling through the audios.

"Do you want to listen to a certain genre? Or are we going to randomize?"

You looked at Malleus, who now had his head propped on his hands. He had a lime green and fuschia blanket strewn over his legs, keeping him warm.

"Erm.. random."

Nodding, you clicked randomise and clicked the first audio that appeared.

"Ooh~ this one's a true story!" You pulled your arms into your chest, burrowing into your blanket like an animal.

The audio faded in, menial sounds of rain and wind fading in first. Then, after the sounds, a deep voice came in.

"This, is a true story. A story of young children, all murdered in cold blood."

You chortled quietly at the mediocre voice acting, hoping Malleus hadn't heard you.

"One-hundred years ago, in multiple neighbouring towns, murders of small children were reported back to back for about two months. The murders were strewn out by the days. Almost sixty children were murdered, meaning the murderer struck every night."

Although it sounded like the man was trying too hard to sound spooky, and he spoke a bit slow, you still found yourself enjoying the story.

"The murders were all the same, children's skulls bashed in, all a bloody, gorey mess. It wasn't until one teenager by the name of Saria that the murderer was caught."

You laid your head nonchalantly on Malleus' arm.

"Saria was the oldest victim, which proved useful in her predicament. Although she was bed-ridden in the hospital for a time with major cranial damage, she suffered no memory loss."

"I wish I didn't suffer memory loss when Trein smacks me upside the head..."

Although you'd whispered to yourself, Malleus must've heard you because he let out a quiet chuckle.

"Although Saria gave a solid description of the murderer, he was never caught."

"Wow, shocker."

"The murders stopped in 1912. Recently, a line of murders identical to the 1909 murders were brought to the surface."

The speaker's voice faded out, mediocre scary music playing until the end of the audio.

"Well, that sucked, but everything sucks if you aren't the one being murdered." When you looked to Malleus for feedback, you were suprised to see he'd fallen asleep.

Shutting your laptop, you smiled and laid down next to him, brushing his bangs away from his forehead.

Gently, you pressed a kiss to his forehead and closed your eyes, falling asleep with him.

Azul Ashengrotto

"You sure you can handle this, Azul?" You teased, smirking at him.

You were currently standing with him in line outside a haunted house maze. From the looks of it, the 'house' was an old château from at least two centuries ago.

It was huge, probably four or five stories tall.

"Of course I can handle this, Y/N. I deal with scarier guests at the Lounge." A confident smile spread across his face as he adjusted his coat.

You hummed, grabbing his hand, intertwining.

"Damn, I don't think it's the haunted house you need to worry about. Your hands are freezing!"

He only scoffed, looking up at the château.

"This is a slow line. We could accept more customers in the lounge than this place."

"Well, we can't just expect the other people here to fly through the whole maze. That would be no fun at all. Besides, I like waiting with you." You grinned at him, squeezing his hand promptly.

A small blush spread across his face before he turned his head away.

After another fifteen minutes or so, you finally made it to the front of the maze.

"Two together please." You held up two fingers, handing your money to the operator before they ushered you and Azul inside.

The beginning of the maze was stuffy room that smelled faintly of smoke.

"Someone has smoker's breath." You quipped to yourself, looking around the room.

You didn't tell Azul, but you'd visited this haunted house a week prior, just to see what it had in store. It was also so you could see how Azul reacted to the maze.

Of course, you will still get scared, but you would roughly know your way around the maze.

"Here, this way I think. The air feels different." You lightly grabbed his sweater sleeve and pulled him towards the wall, feeling around the wallpaper.

"Ooh, we have to look for exits?"

"Yea, I think this is more of a puzzle maze than a jump scare maze."

You found a loose corner in the wallpaper and pulled until a doorway was exposed.

You turned to Azul, grinning and motioning for him to follow.

Throughout the haunted house you would stumble across rooms that required puzzles, some that had jumpscares, and some that had both.

In one particular room, Azul was trailing behind, looking at his surrounding when a scare actor jumped out, shrieking loudly and grabbing Azul.

Although you should've come to Azul's aid, you couldn't help but double over laughing.

The sound Azul made, you'd never heard anything like it. It was almost like a strained baby cry.

"Azul, oh, jeez-" you couldn't even talk, you were laughing so hard, "are you-are you okay Azul?" You finally straightened, wiping a stray tear from your eye and gliding over to him.

"Y-you laughed!" He pointed an accusing finger at you.

You wrapped your fingers around his, smiling.

"Yes. I. Did."

You were the leader throughout the whole maze, pulling him through rooms and away from potential scare factors.

"Its almost as if you already know this house, Y/N."

Chuckling, you turned to him, "I've been to a lot of haunted houses. I just have a better sense of the place than you."

He nodded, albeit still suspicious, but left the matter alone.

Towards the end, the hallways began to narrow, and you felt yourself sweating more than usual.

This wasn't a part of the house when you went last week.

Pressing your back against the back wall, you shuffled down the hallway, breathing in laboured breaths.

"Are you alright, Y/N?" Azul's concerned voice rang out behind you.

Craning your neck back, you saw the expression on his face. His eyebrows were creased, and his eyes showed sympathy.

"Y-yea! I uh, I hate small places, especially, ah, hallways. No where to turn, you know?"

You felt Azul's hand grab yours, and soon you found yourself escaping the cramped hallway.

"Hell yea! We made it!" You threw your hands up, cheering and grinning at Azul.

He smiled at you, plopping a hand on your head and ruffling your hair.

"Uh-huh. Now let's go home, I'm tired."

You nodded, winding your elbow with his.

"Yea, and we should grab some food beforehand too. I'm starving."

You marched together, arms intwined, eyes drooping, and worries cleared.

Floyd Leech

"Floyd, you can't, hey no, your foot goes through here!" Currently, you were having troubles helping Floyd into his costume.

"Jeez, I'm not in the mood for this.."

"Don't be a baby.. lord almighty, could Azul have chose any other costume genre? This looks like quarantine shopping all over again-"

You weren't absolutely sure what the Octavinelle costumes were supposed to be, but you did know that your costume was worlds better.

When Floyd finally had the costume on correctly, he grumbled, staring down at you.

"I don't want to trick and treat."

"'Neither do I, so let's hurry up. There will be candy."

Floyd's eyes brightened slightly at the mention of candy.

"Fine."

"Yea, there's your spirit." You said in a monotone voice, no less.

Instead of trick and treating around town, NRC set up a school system where students could visit dorms and staff rooms for treats. Something about giving the students some holiday cheer.

"I hope someone has calissons. I haven't had any of those for a while." You spoke, mostly to yourself, but Floyd retorted to your quip.

"Calissons are gross."

"You know nothing, feeble mortal."

The walk from your dorm to the first dorm, Heartslaybul, was quiet but not uncomfortable.

You honestly just wanted to get this over with so you could take a nap. Preferably after watching some horror movies or something of the sort.

You walked through the mirror to Heartslaybul, making it to the front gate and knocking on the door.

Both you and Floyd held out your trest baggies, letting out a bored "Trick or Treat" in unison.

You watched as Trey dropped candies into your baggies. There was some candy corn, carambars, chocolate, and a small plastic bag of chamallows.

You waved to Trey and made your way to the next stop.

"This is a kid's holiday, yea?"

"Not necessarily. People used to dress up before All Saint's Day because they didn't want the ghosts to eat their asses."

Floyd nodded, a michevious grin spreading across his face.

"It doesn't have to be Halloween to get your ass-"

You punched his arm, "oh shut up, you."

He snickered loudly, poking fun at you until you made it to the next dorm.

That's how the rest of the night continued. Go from dorm to dorm, collect your candies, then make jokes and quips between getting candy.

At the end of the night, you and Floyd headed back to your own dorm to exchange candies.

"I think we have most of our candy is the same-" You mentioned, dumping your candy on the ground.

"I don't have any carambars." Floyd spoke, reaching over and grabbing a handful of carambars from your pile.

"Hey! We're exchanging, not stealing!"

He shoved a piece of candy in his mouth, rolling his eyes and trifling through his candy baggie.

"Here, you can have these then."

He threw a plastic wrapping at you, going back to his own candies.

Picking up the wrapping, you smelled it briefly and smiled.

"Oh, so you had calissons? And you don't even like them."

He nodded, laughing to himself.

"Yea, I specifically asked Trein for those."

You chuckled quietly, turning the calissons over in your hand.

"Well, thank you. This has been my best trick or treat event ever."

Floyd nodded, giving you a toothy grin before shifting his focus back to the candies.

[confettipizza]

Lunar Recap

How it started. How it’s going. How it ended for the last lunar cycle of 2020.

This lunar cycle began with the New Moon on Jan. 12, 2021 @ 11:01 PM CT (Jan. 13 @ 05:01 UTC). It was the 13th Moon of 2020 according to the lunar calendar. And it ended Feb. 11, 2021, just before the 1st Moon of 2021! Happy Lunar New Year 2021, Year of the Ox!

South Korean Court Orders Japan to Compensate Women Forced into Sex Slavery

Colorado AG Opens Grand Jury Probe of Police Killing of Elijah McClain

Guantánamo Bay Prison Starts 20th Year of Indefinite Detentions

Pfizer to Boost COVID-19 Vaccine Output as WHO Warns of Vaccination Inequality

Lawmakers Catch COVID-19 After Sheltering in Room Where GOP Reps Refused Masks

FBI Warns of “Armed Protests” in All 50 States and at Biden’s Inauguration

Tomorrow is Sun conjunct Pluto. Something that’s been lurking in the shadows bout to jump out. Might be pretty big, but there’s also the individual personal experience of this event and might feel more like an early Full Moon for you.

House to Impeach Trump as GOP Shows Signs of Backing Removal

Well this is dumb. Sun conjunct Pluto?

The $3,000-a-month toilet for the Ivanka Trump/Jared Kushner Secret Service detail

I also remembered/realized how much I really love Anna Sui designs since I was a kid which is pretty random to pop up on my radar, but this woman gets that all I want is sparkly heart shaped objects in lacquered black and flowy hippie dresses

Trump Tells Aides Not to Pay Giuliani’s Legal Fees as Bid to Overturn Election Fails

All I know is talking about dreams and discussing them with others makes you feel better. The tarot angle is there to shed some light on what the dream is actually telling you.

Joe Biden Unveils $1.9 Trillion Coronavirus and Economic Relief Package

ICE’s Acting Director Resigns After Two Weeks on Job

Found out today the woman at the car mechanic I've been faithfully taking my car to for the past two years can speak to the dead and had some messages for me from my dad who passed in October-

Intuitive guided tarot card pull.

Waxing crescent into Aries Monday, January 18, 2021 at 1:06 AM CT Today’s Astro x Tarot forecast valid for the next 24 hours: Feelings are flaring up for you to make a statement, a very zippy move or a quick decision about someone or something.

So long as you remain flexible and agile, whatever you choose to do with them will work to your advantage. If you decide not to impose hyper-agility into your decision making rn, then kudos to you! You’ve gained practice points in self-control experience.

More Than 760,000 Pounds of Hot Pockets Recalled

‘I Answered the Call of My President’: Rioters Say Trump Urged Them On

Raphael Warnock and the Legacy of Racial Tyranny

The Extraordinary Courage of Aleksei Navalny

Whoa, I was like a cycle early on celebrating the lunar new year! I’ve been a month into the future for a week now. My bad! I apologize for any confusion.

I was thinking that the soul's law of attraction is probably pretty unstoppable even concerning partners, so like, if someone didn't love you back then it's not some mistake or human misunderstanding that you or they need to fix.

To find one's soulmate looks something like 2 souls flying towards each other from opposite ends of the galaxy to join their physical selves together in a collision force so brutal you're stuck like that and if that's not what yours looks like then maybe that ain't your soulmate?

All the men going to jail for their poop smearing Capitol rioting have online dating profiles and that’s reason no. 2 I do not date online! Reason no. 1 is ain’t nobody cute on there.

The Witch’s Myth: The true story of the crane husband

Where are your witch stars, Circe and Hekate, located? Their location can explain your relationship to witchcraft. Circe is in my 1st house influencing my outer appearances and Hekate is conjunct Jupiter influencing my domestic style and home to be distinctively witchy.

Sun into Aquarius Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 2:33 PM CT Here is your Sun into Aquarius forecast effective for the next several weeks of Aquarius season. 

Down to earth and grounded is our most qualified position to receive everything we need and use everything we receive. This is the reality of ourselves, the human condition.

We love reality based reality.

Get ready for reality-grounded White House press briefings

Why do people believe the lies they’re fed? Because those lies are designed to be more palatable than reality. Lies offer a quick easy patch, but what you’ve gotta ask yourself is are those lies actually designed to support the flow of all things into your life?

~* First Quarter Jan. 20 3:02 PM CT (21:02 UTC) *~

Biden and Harris Attend Memorial to Honor 400,000+ COVID-19 Victims in U.S. on Eve of Inauguration

Steve Bannon Among Final Trump Pardons and Commutations

Trump Admin Declares Multiculturalism Is “Not Who America Is” as WH Releases Racist, Revisionist Report

4,000+ Columbia Students Back Largest-Ever Tuition Strike

Today, whatever you’re doing or are wishing to become will be to the benefit of this unifying, love-aligned uprising.

Joe Biden Sworn In as 46th President of the United States, Ending Trump Era

Good inauguration Astro climate this morning feels like. #BidenHarrisInauguration

“What has shaken the U.S. population so badly, this assault on the Capitol yesterday, is really nothing by comparison to what U.S. operations have done in Latin America, in Asia, in Africa, in the Middle East, to other democratic movements and elected governments over the years.”

Progress towards wholeness can’t be made until we own up to the roles we’ve played in the past.

Read the full text of Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem ‘The Hill We Climb’

When did politics get so vibrant and fashionably uplifting? Please and thank you! #Inauguration2021

The two of wands says to review your options, do your research, crunch the numbers, imagine the outcomes, but there’s no need to force making a choice if you don’t have to. Buy yourself some time and let the plans for a resolution find you, not the other way around.

Donald Trump Leaves Office and Washington, D.C., Threatens “We Will Be Back”

Watchdogs Demand Transparency as Corporations Pour Millions into Biden-Harris Inauguration

Senate Dems File Ethics Complaint Against Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley over Jan. 6 Insurrection

Federal Forces Arrest Ex-Marine for Beating Officer with a Hockey Stick During Capitol Riots

It’s Friday and it just feels good to be alive, a socialist and calling Bernie Sanders cute on Inauguration Day week! What a difference a pandemic makes.

Instacart Lays Off 2,000 Workers, Including Group Who Started Company’s First Union

Mars square Jupiter January 23, 2021 @ 1:49 AM CT (7:49 GMT) Someone wants you to know that you are ready to conquer your perceived limits to arrive at expansion in your thoughts, feelings, emotions and understanding today.

Waxing gibbous into Cancer January 25, 2021 @ 12:51 PM CT (18:51 GMT) It’s a supportive Moon for dreaming for mental health and well being. Begin a dream journal or review your latest dreams, reflecting on them for a few minutes today.

You are opening yourself up to an emotional practice that includes care for yourself in ways no one else (besides you and your connection to the Moon) can provide.

And too my Tarot Dream Readings are open if you would like guidance or support on a particular dream. See my pinned tweet for how it works.

When one’s soul is allowed to lead one’s life, working in the dark shadows, the invisible silence, the soul’s manifesting results are way more lasting and way more powerful than egocentric anything.

Good morning, self! A reminder my ego has never done a thing for me my soul can’t do better.

National Guard Deployment at U.S. Capitol Becomes COVID-19 Superspreader Event

Russia Violently Cracks Down on Protesters Calling for Release of Alexei Navalny

Trump Plotted to Oust Acting AG, Use DOJ to Force Georgia to Overturn Election Results

Hunts Point Market Workers in the Bronx Win Wage Increase After Week-Long Strike

This mourning brooch is a mindful way to mark the death of a loved one while paying tribute to the impact it has had on you. Bring back this Victorian trend!

Veteran Talk Show Host Larry King Dies After Hospitalization for COVID-19

Hank Aaron, Who Overcame Racist Barriers to Become Home Run Record-Holder, Dies at 86

We don’t give our bodies or our intuition enough attention and nourishment a lot of the time, so today’s the day we practice finding and sitting quietly with our inner voice.

~* Full Moon Jan. 28 1:17 PM CT (19:17 UTC) *~

House Delivers Article of Impeachment to Senate, Triggering Trump’s Second Trial

Dominion Voting Systems Sues Rudy Giuliani for Lying About 2020 Election

President Biden Increases U.S. Vaccination Goal to 150 Million Shots in 100 Days

President Biden Reverses Trump’s Transgender Military Service Ban

Biden Restores Plan to Feature Abolitionist Harriet Tubman on $20 Bill

Value is further added the more you mint your words with a most whole and complete love. Love is the greatest asset we can let appreciate in our lifetimes.

This Full Moon tomorrow sends a flash point that reminds you to circulate this wealth because it’s the greatest emotional gift we can bestow upon our loved ones, family, friends, neighbors, elders, members of our community, etc.

Venus conjunct Pluto in Capricorn January 28, 2021 @ 10:18 AM CT (16:18 GMT) Going through your day today uncovers a forgotten desire or creative goal. You find yourself asking something like: Remember when I wanted to become a pastry chef?

Although you decided to pursue a different course, take a moment to focus on and honor this memory when it arrives and then release it. What did you become instead and why?

45 Senate Republicans Back Dismissal of Trump Impeachment Trial

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Supported Violence Against Pelosi and Others in 2018 Facebook Posts

Taking the time to recognize and honor your past desires gives the respect these memories deserve and it integrates them into the whole wider scene of the individual, both shadow and light on your path builds confidence in your steps, confidence in yourself.

You are who you are for a reason.

Had no idea how literal this grassroots King of Pentacles card was gonna materialize today, but here it is folks! When a subreddit takes down a hedge fund!

Leader of Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, Was a Government Informer

U.S. Freezes Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia, Reviews Deal with UAE Made Under Trump Admin

Poland Enacts Near-Total Ban on Abortions, Triggering More Protests

Honduras Locks In Total Ban on Abortions, Attacks Marriage Equality

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Confronts Parkland Survivor David Hogg in Newly Resurfaced Video

The stock market this morning: Sh*t! Normal working class people read the market and figured out the game! Time to change the rules again. Let’s write it in ancient Babylonian hieroglyphs this time. They’ll never figure that sh*t out.

A message crucial to promote the awareness of your personal role in the collective will become evident over the next three weeks. You will come to ask yourself, What am I doing with my life?

If you aren’t familiar or comfortable with seeking your inner journey, then the greatest clue I can offer you at the start is to become open to the invisible world within you. How you learn to relate to it is completely personal and uniquely your own

Speaking in more concrete terms the next few weeks may manifest a life event for you where you must apply both logic and feeling in order to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion concerning an interpersonal relationship or the question what am I doing with my life?

This Mercury retrograde should be a cinch, but during it don’t buy tech if you don’t have to. And remember to triple check communication before hitting send. If you arrive at conflict be quick to apologize and say no more until tomorrow 

President Biden Expands Affordable Care Act Enrollment Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

House Speaker Blasts GOP for Assigning Racist Conspiracy Theorist to House Education Committee

Lawmakers Demand Probe into Trading App Robinhood After It Blocked Stock Sales That Hurt Hedge Funds

Pioneering African American Actor Cicely Tyson, Winner of Two Emmys, Dies at 96

Sun in Aquarius square Mars in Taurus February 1, 2021 @ 4:33 AM CT (10:33 GMT) The warrior’s edge has melted away and now you can take the scenic route through a field of wildflowers and mushrooms instead of blasting your way through a hillside of obstacles.

This energy catalyzes a scene that supports growth through varied experiences and it encourages everyone to seek their own way to resolutions, conclusions and understandings that are uniquely their own. Searching out your own way illuminates a strategic aspect of your purpose.

Happy Venus in Aquarius! The idea to refresh your wardrobe, hairstyle or redecorating by public opinion can be too hard to ignore under this influence. Your personal style will be influenced by the collective for the duration.

Burmese Military Stage Coup, Detain Aung San Suu Kyi

FBI Uncovers Evidence Jan. 6 Attack Was Premeditated as More Far-Right Rioters Face Charges

Trump Faces More Businesses-Related Woes as His Legal Team Departs a Week Before Impeachment Trial

It’s only the 21st day of the lunar cycle and already we’ve gone from the end of a rotten presidential era to the people’s revolution of the stock market, ok? And this moon ain’t even finished yet!

~* Last Quarter Feb. 4 11:38 AM CT (17:38 UTC) *~

U.S. Tops 26 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Shots, Surpassing Confirmed Coronavirus Cases

Moon Last Quarter in Scorpio February 4, 2021 @ 11:38 AM CT (17:38 UTC) A time for Descending, settling, closure, receiving compliments for doing a good job. Prime time for tying of loose ends and wrapping up unfinished business.

Democrats Say Trump “Singularly Responsible” for Jan. 6 Insurrection in Impeachment Brief

With consciousness humans are able to transcend the unconscious and reconfigure our relationship to it.

Though we can transcend the unconscious through viewing ourselves objectively, we are still apart of the the unconscious. Those rules still apply to us even as we contemplate their logic.

Jeff Bezos Steps Down as Amazon CEO After Amassing Huge Personal Fortune

Amazon to Pay Contract Drivers $61.7 Million After FTC Probe Finds It Stole Tips to Pay Wages

Republican Leader Won’t Punish Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene over Racist and Violent Rhetoric

Prosecutors Seek Rearrest of Kyle Rittenhouse, Wisconsin Teen Charged with Killing 2 Protesters

Sometimes the right thing to do is protect your one actual valuable thing not by defending it, but closing up all the channels the valuable thing is being attacked from the outside. Sometimes you just gotta block, delete or remove your account and move on with/to what's good.

What if we wake up one day and COVID has disappeared, like poof! It vanished into thin air? Maybe it’s the moon opposed to Uranus that’s got me wishing wild problem solvers would pop up overnight.

Poll Reveals 25% of U.S. Adults Plan to Gather at Super Bowl Watch Parties

VP Harris Casts Tie-Breaking Vote to Move Ahead with Democratic COVID Relief Bill

House Removes Marjorie Taylor Greene from Committees over Violent, Bigoted Rhetoric

Smartmatic Sues Fox News, Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell for Election-Related Lies

I unfollowed some lawmakers this morning after feeling second hand anxiety over the handling of their interpersonal conflicts. Realized they were me on IG two years ago and I’ve moved on since. Can relate, but don’t wanna relive, thanks!

I just want to let y’all know that I’m coping w insufficient candle syndrome & will be studying the art & science of candle making to save myself potentially hundreds of thousands of $$ by making my own delicious smelling coconut wax babies in diy terra cotta flower pots.

Wyoming GOP Censures Rep. Liz Cheney for Backing Trump’s Impeachment

Mass Protests Continue in Burma Opposing Military Coup, Removal of Aung San Suu Kyi

You may tell others like it is today, but hopefully this inspires you to check in with yourself and be honest/come clean about something you've been overlooking.

Indian Farmworkers Blockade Roads as Mass Protests Show No Sign of Slowing Down

Black Sheriff’s Deputy in Louisiana Dies by Suicide After Condemning Police Violence and Racism

Amazon Workers in Alabama Begin Historic Vote on Unionization

Second Impeachment Trial of Donald J. Trump Opens in the Senate

Georgia’s Secretary of State to Probe Trump’s Efforts to Overturn 2020 Election

Mercury square Mars February 10, 2021 @ 6:14 AM CT (12:14 UTC) Still talking about talking, it’s also Dark Moon time to shape or let a habit form. This practice can come from breaking free of outdated relationships with yourself or with others in order to spur growth.

Dreamed Jungkook was correcting my pronunciation of Korean last night. I’m sorry! I’ll try harder to take this lesson seriously

Senate Votes to Proceed with Impeachment as Managers Present Harrowing Video of Jan. 6 Insurrection

Gov’t to Send Vaccines to Community Health Centers as U.S. Continues Ramping Up Vaccinations

WHO Team Confirms COVID-19 of Animal Origin; Ghana Shuts Parliament After Outbreak Infects Lawmakers

Journalists Decry Raid on Progressive Indian News Site NewsClick

U.S. to Pursue Extradition of Julian Assange as Press Freedom Groups Warn of Dangerous Precede

Fossil Fuel Pollution Causes One in Five Global Deaths

Four Louisiana Officers Arrested over Police Brutality Cases and Other Misconduct

Two NYT Journalists Exit Paper Following Revelations of Improper Conduct

Venus conjunct Jupiter February 11, 2021 @ 8:59 AM CT (14:59 UTC) Receive the overflow of creativity into your life. Welcome it even if you aren’t sure what to do with it. Write down project ideas if you don’t have the energy to start on them now. You can work on them later.

I'm cool with double masking, but a lot of folks still aren't even doing the one :|

“The Inciter-in-Chief”: Democrats Accuse Trump of Being “Singularly Responsible” for Insurrection

U.S. COVID Death Toll Tops 471,000; Half of All Deaths Occurred Since Nov. 1

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Sen. Bernie Sanders: “According to The Washington Post, since 2014, the Center for American Progress has received roughly $5.5 million from Walmart, a company that pays its workers starvation wages; $900,000 from the Bank of America; $550,000 from JPMorgan Chase; $550,000 from Amazon; $200,000 from Wells Fargo; $800,000 from Facebook; and up to $1.4 million from Google. In other words, CAP has received money from some of the most powerful special interests in our country. How will your relationship with those very powerful special interests impact your decision-making if you are appointed to be the head of OMB?”

Neera Tanden: “Senator, I thank you for that question. It will have zero impact on my — on my decision-making.”

[danetobelieve]

In Sweetness There Is Strength || Ricky, Rio and Winston

When: 30/06/2020 Who: @ricky-corderbro​, @3starsquinn​ & @danetobelieve Where: Room Mate Squad HQ Summary: After Rio’s fight with the trolls. Warnings: medical blood tw - they clean Rio up quite a lot and there is indepth discussion of Rio’s scars / bruises / injuries, also there is abuse mentions too. 

The events of the night swam through Orion’s head in a thick, convoluted fog. After Kaden dropped him off, Rio stood outside for a while. White noise filled his head. He was trying to process what had happened, but his brain seemed to refuse the request. Probably some kind of coping mechanism. It had still been too fresh on his mind. The attack, the pain, the murder. Everything clung to Rio’s throat, threatening to spill out at any moment. But instead, Rio felt lifeless. Like he had cried every lost ounce of liquid that he could to Kaden. Kaden. Who had gotten hurt trying to protect Rio from doing something stupid. Who had no choice but to listen to Rio scream about the pain. Who had listened when he had refused to go to the hospital. And he had done all of it knowing that the two didn’t actually get along or agree on anything. But would Rio have changed anything? Would he have attacked the trolls first, knowing what was coming? Or would he have simply put the two in danger again to try to avoid the violence. It felt like a lose-lose. That no matter what Rio tried to do, he was doomed to fail. Wow, poetic. Really hit that nail on the head. Isn’t that all Rio had been doing his life anyways? Failing?

But he couldn’t stand out here forever. Winston or Ricky would find him eventually. Or worse, some random passerby on the street would see Rio covered in blood and he would end up arrested. He couldn’t avoid them forever. It seemed like now was the best time to get the freak out over with. He stepped slowly towards the door, each step another stabbing pain in Rio’s side. He hadn’t exactly figured out what to do about the broken ribs yet. But he knew that the hospital wasn’t an option. Everything else would heal fine. The ribs were a bit more concerning. Tonight, he just wanted to crawl in bed. He moved to reach towards the door knob but stopped himself. Blood on carpet? Not a great idea. Ricky was having someone over on Friday. The place needed to stay clean. So he knocked with his elbow, careful to avoid getting blood anywhere. Rio was too embarrassed to look at whoever answered the door. His eyes were trained on the ground and locked onto a single space of the porch. “I’m sorry.” Rio breathed in, a small groan escaping his lips from the pain of breathing, “Can you uh- can someone go into my room? And grab me something to change into? And maybe a wet towel.” 

Things were going good. It was blissful. Things with Rio were going slow, but even something as little as holding hands was enough to send a cacophony of electric butterflies whirlwinding in the pit of Winston’s stomach. Rio was out and Winston and Ricky were fucking around on Borderlands Three. Literally fucking around. Winston was literally lying on the sofa so that their head hung off of the cushions and everything was flipped. “Ricky, I fucking told you that if you invert everything on your controller and flip yourself over it’s basically the same as just playing normal way up. Just more s-” they were interrupted by a knock at the door. Dashing to the door, they slid to a stop on just their socks (this was a strict no shoes in the home household) and pulled the door open spotting Rio. “Hey R-” they didn’t finish their sentence. “Is that blood?!” Winston’s hands flew to their face, pushing it up so that Rio had no choice to make eye contact with them. A veritable Jackson Pollock of injuries had been forced upon Rio and a fury that Winston rarely felt filled them. “Sorry, don’t be sorry, come in….” they spoke quietly, mainly because if they didn’t whisper they would scream, “Ricky, I’m going to get Rio a change of clothes for Rio, can you get the first aid kit and help clean him up and then we can take him to the hospital…” Winston headed straight up the stairs, not waiting for a response, their fury causing them to shake slightly with each step. 

“That’s just Borderlands with extra steps.” Ricky was draped half in/half on/half off an armchair as he and Winston ran around a swamp planet, shooting absolutely everything in sight, “Can we just fucking finish this and hop to the next planet? Everything here is green which means I can’t fucking see shit. Promethea was better. Urban landscapes don’t fuck with my color blindness like swamps do; and while I”m loving the gay romance subplot here, I’m ready to be able to land headshots successfully again” There was a knock on the door, which in and of itself wasn’t weird they were pretty popular and enough people just swung by to say hi, but the knock sounded strange like it hadn’t been made with a hand. Winston managed to extricate themselves from their strange position before Ricky could and went to swing the door open. Craning his neck to try to see who was in their entryway Ricky managed to fall fully out of the chair and onto the floor when he saw it was a bloody Rio, “WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU KNOCKING AND NOT JUST COMING IN JESUS FUCKING CHRIST.” He hopped to his feet, tossing his controller onto the chair and bolted for the very robust first aid kit he kept in one of the kitchen cabinets, digging out some alcohol wipes as he came back, “Sit on the stairs” he pointed to one of the lower steps as he tore the wipes open, “What happened and who do Winston and I have to kill. I’ll do it. I’ll rip a motherfucker’s throat out. That’s why I’ve got fangs.” He used said fangs to tear at a length of gauze, holding it out to Rio, “Is it okay if I touch you? To wipe your face?” 

Winston and Ricky reacted pretty much exactly how Orion expected them to. They were concerned. Shocked. He hadn’t expected them to be so… angry. Far angrier than Rio could manage to be right now. But the two wanted the trolls to pay for what they had done. Rio wished he could explain how they had already paid. Rio and Kaden limped away from that encounter alive. Could they say the same thing about some of the trolls? Winston pushed Rio’s face up, but Rio could hardly focus on their face. His sight felt glossed over, a mix of exhaustion, pain and shock. But he was being led inside, “But the floors…” Rio heard himself mumble as he was dragged inside. Rio gasped and held his side as he stepped. He hoped they didn’t notice the injury. They would want to look at his side. And they couldn’t see him like that. “I don’t want to get blood anywhere” He tried defending himself to the two. The carpets were important right? What about those antique floors Ricky always bragged about? Still, he mindlessly followed Winston into the home, only focusing when he heard the mention of the word hospital. “No!” Rio yelled, the volume surprising him. Up until now, he had barely been able to speak more than a whisper to Kaden or them. “Please. No hospital. My dad will be there. I can’t-” He didn’t finish his sentence. Ricky and Winston may not know everything yet, but it wasn’t hard to connect some of the dots. They knew he couldn’t risk seeing his dad. Especially not like this. Winston rocketed up the steps and Ricky settled Rio down on the steps, asking him questions that he didn’t think he could answer. “You can touch my face.” Rio sighed, wishing that they had been out when he had gotten home. The desire only worked to make him feel worse about himself. As Ricky asked more questions, he dotted cloth across Rio’s skin to clean the blood. He jumped as the cloth touched his cheek, the bruising and cuts stinging his face. “You- I do-” He tried to figure out his wording multiple times, stumbling through sentences and cutting himself off each time. Because he didn’t know what to say. Or how to say it. “It’s dead.” Rio finally settled on. Not all of them. Rio remembered their threat. But the two that had done this to Rio were both dead.

Winston came down the stairs with fresh clothes for Rio and a pile of towels, not to mention more first aid supplies just in case they had run out. “Fuck, I forgot-sorry,” Winston moved slowly to Rio’s side, “Rio’s right the hospital is a no go…. I would offer to help clean you up but I don’t think my hands are gonna be steady enough, I can try some healing magic once we’ve got you all cleaned up if you want…” Winston should’ve been there. Watching Rio like that made them angry. Seeing them in pain made Winston furious. They would’ve gone out and killed whatever had done this to them if it hadn’t been already dead. Swallowing. Winston pulled out a chair for Rio and motioned for them to sit in it. “Ricky is going to need to work on you for a bit if going to the hospital isn’t an option then the very least we can afford to do is get you all cleaned up.” Winston paused for a moment, glancing nervously at their shoes and then at the kitchen wall. “What do you want to do first? You can get cleaned up and get changed and get right and talk to us, or you can tell us as you go. But eitherway, I think-” Winston didn’t want to press him, “Rio,” they slipped their hands into Rio’s and gripped them firmly, “can you tell us what happened so we can try and help?” 

“THE FLOORS?!” Ricky scoffed a little and shook his head, “If I have to pick between you and the floors it’s going to be you every single time, Rio. I don’t give a single flying fuck about blood on the floors. I care about you being okay.” he knelt down next to Rio, carefully wiping his hands clean with one swab before ever so gently holding Rio’s chin and carefully cleaning off the wounds on his face, “I know this stings like a motherfucker. Did I ever tell you about the time I had to stitch up a mermaid bite on my side? You think you’re bleeding on the floors now you should have seen that. I’m pretty sure there’s still a stain on the landing.” He attempted to keep the conversation light, distracting Rio and Winston as best he could as he cast a moderately-trained gaze over his friend, “If we can’t go to the hospital I need you to tell me exactly where it hurts and how it hurts. I can do a decent amount; I’m used to having to care for myself, but if there’s something outside my field of knowledge I’ll have to make some calls and try to get somebody discreetly out here to take a look at you.” Shoving the bloody wipe into a bag near his feet Ricky opened another one, looking over Rio and sighing heavily, “I’m sorry we weren’t there to help. With whatever this was.” 

When Orion thought that Winston was moving to touch his side, Rio jerked, flailing his arm out to try to stop Winston before they had a chance to press it. “Don’t!” Rio hissed. He immediately squeezed his eyes shut, embarrassed that he had just done that. To Winston of all people. “Sorry- sorry. Just- please don’t touch it. I’m fine. I heal quickly.” He just hoped that they healed correctly. But there wasn’t another option. Could Winston’s healing magic even work with Rio fully clothed? He didn’t have it in him tonight to have that conversation. Rio grabbed at one of the towels and began mindlessly wiping at this arms. It didn’t fix the red stains across his body, but it at least took off the excess blood. And it served as something for Rio to focus on other than the looks Winston and Ricky were giving him. They were asking so many questions. But that wasn’t the scariest part. They were… caring? He wasn’t told to brush it off or get back up. They were protecting him. Just as they always did. “I got attacked. I- You don’t have to be sorry. Neither of you do. You can’t always be there to protect me. It was so pathetic that he even needed protection. He was supposed to be the strong one. Blessed with some divine gift for protecting others. It was all just meaningless words to him. “I- It’s dead.” Rio breathed deeply, ignoring the pain and trying desperately to stop himself from crying again. Hadn’t he done that enough tonight? “I- I killed it. I tried to stop it. To get away or beg them to leave us alone. But I couldn’t think of anything else to do. And I didn’t want to die and I- I killed it. It was a troll. And it’s dead now because of me.” His breath was catching in his throat, threatening to cut off his breathing all together. Ricky was trying to distract him with other stories, which Rio was happy to latch onto in an attempt to get his mind off of things. Ricky’s story and Winston’s hand wrapping around Rio’s were the only two things keeping him grounded right now. “I- I don’t know. I think I’m okay. Just… sore. He threw me into a tree.”

This was a lot to deal with. Winston wasn’t sure what was more overwhelming. The level of endearing that Rio was managing to achieve by being concerned about the fixings and furniture of the house over their own well being, over something that meant absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things compared to Rio’s life. Maybe it was how upset Rio was that he had physically recoiled from Winston trying to touch him. “Hey, hey,” Winston could see the fact that Orion was upset and they could completely understand why, they remembered when they had killed the vampire that had gone after Ricky. They remembered when they had killed themself. They still remembered the look in August’s eyes as the energy was sucked whole from his body and used to bring Bea back from being a ghost. “I don’t know what happened, you tried everything you could by the sounds of it and you had nothing more that you could do.” Winston slowly stepped forward and held Rio close to them, pulling Rio’s head into the crook of their shoulder and running a calming hand through his hair. Leaning closer, Winston whispered quietly to Orion as they held them. “Listen, I- I saw Athena’s scars and I know that you probably got it worse then her if what you’ve said is true, but we can’t look after you if you’re gonna keep your hoodie and everything on. I know this is hard, but I can get Ricky to not bring anything up. We don’t have to talk about it right now. We just need to look after you okay.” 

Orion almost broke down when Winston hugged him. The hug was gentle and cautious. And Rio didn’t care how much it hurt because all he wanted was for Winston to keep hugging him the rest of the night like this. To run their fingers through his hair and promise Rio that he wasn’t a monster. Rio felt like a monster. Worse, he felt like a hunter. He needed to stay strong. If he cried now, he wouldn’t stop. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Rio wasn’t expecting Winston to know about the scars. But a moment later and it clicked into place. God, what an awful time to remember that Winston was probably super familiar with his sister’s scars. “It’s not- They’re not like hers.” Rio warned Winston. Athena’s scars were battle scars, won from killing creature’s and training. Rio’s were different. Unevenly healed wounds, burn marks. His scars were a punishment. But what choice did Rio have? It was Winston and Ricky after all. They knew him. Rio trusted them with his life, so why not trust them with this? “O-okay” Rio finally whispered back, making an attempt to grab at the hoodie so he could start to slowly peel it off. But the pain was way too severe to do it himself. “I- I can’t get it off myself.” Rio groaned. This was so embarrassing. This wasn’t something he should be asking from either of them, but especially Winston. They were nowhere near getting undressed near each other stage. “Can you help me please?” Rio finally asked, holding his arms into the air and trying to laugh, though it sounded more pained than humored, “This is so awkward, I’m sorry.”

Honestly, Winston wasn’t sure what they had been expecting. They had been ready to back right off and to find another way for them to fix this without having to get Rio to take off the hoodie. But Rio agreed and gently peeled away from Winston. Winston had to admit that they were reluctant to let him go, but they did so anyway. “It doesn’t matter, they’re just scars, they’re not you.” Winston had their own scar. It wasn’t going to be comparable to Rio’s but they thought maybe they could at least try and sympathise. Winston gave Rio a weak smile before nodding. “Yeah, don’t worry Rio I got you,” stepping forward, Winston carefully held Rio’s t-shirt down whilst slipping their hand under the hoodie and pulling it up. Once they were sure that the hoodie wasn’t going to pull away at the t-shirt, Winston grasped it with both hands and slowly and carefully helped Rio peel it off of their body. It was wet. With blood and sweat and god knows what. Winston dropped it into the empty kitchen sink. Thank fuck that Ricky kept this place spotless. Glancing over at Rio, they squeezed his hand and nodded at them, doing their best not to look at the exposed skin on Rio’s. It was clear why Rio had been afraid, had been embarrassed even. Winston could tell that there had been a lot of pain and a tidal wave of sympathy and anger over took them. Tears threatened to rush to their eyes and Winston insisted on remaining calm. “We’re good okay, I’m gonna get you a soda or something, you should get your blood sugar up and Ricky is going to start looking you over.” 

Ricky remembered the first time he’d met Rio, when they’d been caught on the beach in a sudden storm and taken refuge in the workshop. How he’d had to go wait outside in the rain for Rio to finish changing because the man was so secretive about his bare skin. So, in an attempt to alleviate the pressure of being looked at and give Winston and Rio a little bit of privacy in this moment, Ricky busied himself tying his hair back and making sure his glasses were absolutely spotless. When out of the corner of his eye he could see that the sweatshirt had been removed he nodded to Winston, “Grab me one too please.” It was immediately concerning to him that Rio couldn’t manage the range of motion to remove his own sweatshirt and Ricky pushed his glasses up on his nose, leaning forward to look over Rio, “It should go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway, inside these walls any secret we learn is safe. Nothing is going to reach anyone else. Where on your chest is it hurting? Since it clearly is.” He was very very careful not to touch Rio, who was clearly in a fragile state at the moment, “Though I think we both know that the answer is probably ‘broken ribs’ especially if you got thrown into a tree.”

Orion never knew how people were going to react when they saw the scars. For the most part, he had kept them secret. Only a few in town had ever seen them. Rio had only ever actually told one person where they truly came from. But Winston and Ricky knew enough about Rio by now. He knew they were smart enough to connect the dots. Winston went to grab drinks, something Rio realized that he desperately needed. He hadn’t even realized how dry his mouth had been until they mentioned it. Ricky paid no attention to the scars aside from ensuring that the secret was safe with him. Of course it was, because Ricky was an incredible friend. And Rio shouldn’t have been so scared about telling either of them about it for this long. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you both I- I just can’t tell anybody about it right now. Except for Blanche. She’s the only one that knows.” Rio’s heart was going haywire, never having anybody quite those close to him when he wasn’t wearing a hoodie. He felt exposed, like he was on full display to his roommates. “I’m pretty sure it’s broken ribs.” Rio nodded his head in agreement, lifting his right arm to attempt at pointing to his side, “This side has the most pain, but I hit it face forward so it could have gotten both sides, I don’t know.” He still couldn’t believe that this was actually happening right now. When Winston returned with drinks, Rio took a long drink from it, almost coughing the thing back up from pain. But he forced it down and felt the instant relief in his throat. “If- if you need to get a better look at it you can…” Rio paused, too embarrassed to speak the words. He had to force himself into a pained deep breath before rambling out, “takeofftheshirtifyouneed.” He groaned, wishing he hadn’t just offered but trying to lighten the mood as best as he could. “I trust your intentions.” He hoped that his attempt at a smile came through to the both of them. But he didn’t want to do so without warning them ahead of time, “But it’s uh- it’s worse. Under the shirt. Just so you know. The arms aren’t as bad.” He just didn’t want Winston to get too freaked out. Some of the wounds were recent. Some of the bruises were from the tree and would eventually go away. But most wouldn’t. “Someone will have to help me again if that’s the case…”

“Listen, you don’t need to apologise for not telling us anything, you don’t ever need to tell us anything.” Winston slipped Ricky’s drink down beside him and crouched besides Rio, a hand gently placed on his knee doing everything that they possibly could to be reassuring for him right now. “Whatever happened, we don’t need to talk about it right now, if you need Blanche here I can get her now, right now we don’t need to be thinking about what could or should be one way or another, what we’re thinking and focussing on is getting you patched up so everything heals right.” Winston tried not to think about the scale of the injuries. They’d started reading up on healing magic but they could do about as much as an aspirin right now, healing major wounds or setting bones wasn’t really something they were going to risk yet. “Don’t worry about your shirt, I got it.” Winston quickly and carefully slipped Rio’s less damaged arm through the hole, before tugging the shirt over Rio’s head and finally pulling the rest of the shirt off of him. Grabbing a towel, Winston carefully folded it over before placing it around Rio’s shoulders. That way Ricky could still see and at least Rio would have some privacy. Winston tried not to look at the bruises and cuts too carefully. There were clearly a patchwork of fresh wounds, but then again there was also older scars. Burns for some reason. Winston’s very soul was a blaze in that moment. No wonder Athena was the way she was. No wonder Rio never wanted to take his hoodie off even in the middle of a roasting hot club. Anger bubbled inside of Winston. White hot. Fuelled by the pain of someone who truly didn’t deserve this. Someone who had literally been thrown through a tree and needed love and tender affection and not to be burned by the people who were meant to protect and care for him. 

In the heat of the moment there was a lot that ran through Ricky’s mind, but if he had any skills it was the ability to compartmentalize so he could deal with emotions later, “I second that. You owe us no explanation for anything. You owe nobody that. The only thing we need from you right now is to let us help you however we can.” Ricky’s own chest was a fairly well covered network of scars from aquatic monsters, a tree vampire, and just being fucking stupid, but it had absolutely nothing on the novel’s worth of scar tissue that ran across Rio. He could feel the very animalistic part of him, that only ever lurked just behind the bright smile and easy laugh, raging at the story the scars told, coupled with what he knew of Rio’s family. But his anger was his own burden, not something he would ever ask Rio to help carry. “Yeah that troll fucked you up pretty good my dude.” he didn’t even have to raise his fingers to feel for broken bones, he could tell from the bruising and the swelling that some ribs had been broken. “It sounds like you’re breathing okay. It probably hurts like a motherfucker but I don’t think you punctured anything.” rocking back on his heels Ricky took his glasses off and massaged the bridge of his nose, “I can’t fix that. I could have set an arm or a leg, and I can do stitches, but ribs…. I just have field medic training. If you look me in the eye and tell me Ricky my hunter healing will take care of this just fine, I’ll believe you, and carry you up to your room to rest and heal up. But, if that’s not the case, I know someone I could call to come over and discreetly patch you up.” sliding his glasses back onto his face he gave Rio a smile, “It’s up to you, my dude. We’ll follow your lead here.” 

“It’s fine I don’t need someone else here freaking out too. You both are enough.” Orion wanted them to not worry as much. Maybe if he could convince them that he was okay, they would be too? They had both already worked magic for him. Rio had come home feeling like everything in the world was ending. Now, Rio was in pain and his heart still hurt for those trolls. But he felt loved. Accepted. Safe. There wasn’t anything more that he could ask for. “I’ll tell her tomorrow. Let her get a good night’s sleep before she freaks out.” Winston, as per usual, was Rio’s savior. They wrapped the towel around Rio’s neck to give some sort of security. Nobody had seen Rio shirtless in… years. Probably since childhood. Rio had always found excuses to get away. To hide and avoid any prying eyes. Somehow, in what was probably one of the most revealing moments of Rio’s life, he still felt incredibly safe. These two were something else. “I’ve had broken ribs before.” Rio admitted. He didn’t give any further details. He didn’t need to . “They healed.” He wasn’t sure that they had ever healed correctly, but they had stopped hurting eventually. “This will all heal. I promise.” Rio couldn’t risk Ricky’s contact being anyone that knew his parents or sister. It was a small town and the Quinn’s weren’t invisible. They would heal. They had to heal. “I- I don’t know how to thank the both of you for this.”

“You don’t need to say thank you to anyone for cleaning you up after you were put through a tree,” Winston took a step forwards in front of Rio and took both of his hands. “Here, let me try something, I hope it’ll help a little.” Grasping Rio’s hands gently in their own, Winston gave them a gentle squeeze before muttering a string of Latin that they had memorised a few weeks ago. A cascade of power began to gently trickle out of Winston’s fingers, little tendrils of light braiding themselves up and through the air before they tracked back into Rio’s hands. The light slipping through the skin. Winston could feel a brief moment of exhaustion and their eyes felt heavy. Their breath became laboured and a moment later they pulled away from the power. “I can’t really do healing magic, but that should at least help with some of the pain for a bit. It’s the only spell I can really do and… I hope it helps.” They really needed to keep a doctor on retainer, between the three of them. “Well, Ricky it seems like you still get to take the next trip to the hospital,” Winston moved over to their fridge and tapped the colour wheel that Ricky had drawn up months ago, as a joke of course, next to their house chore chart. “Yeah, says Ricky’s up next.” 

Ricky watched quietly as Winston wove their magic, seeing them grow more tired as the energy left them and flowed into Rio, quiet latin filling the room “Careful there Merlin.” RIcky gave a wry smile, “I don’t want to have to carry you both upstairs if you knock yourself out doing too much magic.” He squeezed Rio’s knee gently, leaning back against the wall at the foot of the stairs, “Rio. There’s nothing to thank us for. I dunno how to make it more clear, but I love you with every single ounce of my rotten heart. Fervently. Deeply. Truly love you. Both of you. You guys are my family. This is your home. Not just your house. You deserve to feel safe and comfortable here and I’ll do absolutely everything in my power to make this a refuge for you. But Winston’s right. You gotta obey the hospital wheel. It’s my turn next. This is why we have the rota.” Ricky pushed himself back to his feet, wiping his now-slightly-bloody hands on his jeans, “I’ll make some dinner. Y’all get upstairs and comfortable. I’ll bring a few trays up. We can watch something stupid while we eat. You’re home now, Rio. Any troll who wants a piece is gonna have to get through me and Winston. I will go full goddamn seal beast mode to stop that from happening.”