#so if you're like me and have way too many games from all their giveaways

[madegeeky]

Epic Free Game (til 23 May 2024, 10am)

You are the Inquisitor, tasked with saving the world from itself. But the road ahead is paved with difficult decisions. Thedas is a land of strife. Factions constantly war with each other even as a larger demonic invasion has begun. And you? You and your band of champions are the only ones who can hold it together. It’s your job to lead them...or fall.

[clatoera]

Picket Fence is Sharp as Knives Chapter 7: They Got No Idea About Me And You

Heyyyy Besties. Long time no see. March was rough. It's been rough. But tell a friend to tell a friend she's baaack.

Title from t swift Dress. I almost used a chappell roan lyric but I have committed so hard to the t swift bit I couldnt do it.

ao3

masterpost

It is the long awaited cashbaria chapter, featuring a scene of them during the 74th games and then a post war follow up of them! I specifically need to mention and notice my friends @bodyelectric77my go to cashbaria queen and @kentwells who has had MANY many conversations about these things with me. They write the Cashbaria that I read so please check them both out!!! I don't think @ohhowwehavefallen even uses tumblr anymore but at this point she gets tagged in any post I make ever so..hello bestie.

I am not a cashbaria writer and I hope I did them justice in this fic. It was a LOT of fun. I had wanted to get it up earlier this week for Sapphic Visibility day along with @bodyelectric77 because it's funny they have similar vibes of sapphics being blatantly visible but the people closest to them being absolutely oblivious. Thank you my friend, you're incredible, your writing inspires me.

Alright. Lets rock this bitch.

“Mmm…think they’ve noticed yet?”  

As the voice comes from behind her, Enobaria can’t help the coy smile that etches it’s way on to her face. She doesn’t even need to turn to face the source, as she is hit with the combined smell of vanilla and honey and something floral that is just uniquely Cashmere. If the scent alone weren’t enough, the flurry of blonde curls that leak over her upper arm as a familiar face rests on her shoulder, with lithe hands wrapping around her waist would be the dead giveaway that it is her girlfriend. 

Well, her girlfriend, or someone with a very creative death wish.

“Noticed what? That they’re trying to fit four people on a couch made to fit two?” Enobaria muses, bringing her hand up to rest her fingertips along Cashmere’s cheek bone. “I know Cato thinks he needs to live inside of Clove, but it’s a little nauseating to watch.”

It isn’t even Enobaria’s style, this blatant display of hands-on skin and kisses on cheeks, but it wasn’t like she was ashamed of such. It was dangerous, to give the president any further leverage to dangle above either of them. It wasn’t public and it wasn’t secret, but a third undefinable thing. The kind of thing that was open to their safest friends—Brutus, Gloss, Finnick, Johanna and such—and on a need-to-know basis with all the others.  That group of safest friends would of course include Cato and Clove, if they ever figured it out that is.

Still. They are mostly alone, doing what District Two called “mentor mentoring” but what Enobaria and Brutus so affectionately call babysitting. It was just the right time of day, when the action died down, and victors were either slipping off to self soothe (medicate) or prepare for whatever the evening presented in terms of sponsors and clientele. 

And honestly, if anyone needed babysitting to ensure they actually learned how to mentor, it was Cato and Clove.

“They’re just excited to be together!” Cashmere assured, settling into the space between Enobaria and the bar, wrapping her other arm around her to pull her fully into a hug from behind her. “They’re kids, they’re just having fun. You knowwhat I’m talking about them noticing, ‘Baria. Have they noticed this.” To emphasize, she kisses along her jawline, but keeps her eyeline trained on the four young victors loudly taunting each other on the couch. If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought they were just normal teenagers, up too late and laughing loud enough that their parents would be down to yell at them at any minute. 

Unfortunately, they were not normal kids, and they were barely raised by their parents at all. They were raised by combinations of victors, trainers, and violence in various combinations. 

The four of them, practically on top of each other, mocking other teenagers as they screamed on television, was somehow as close to normal as they were ever going to be. 

Enobaria lets out a little sigh as she leans into Cashmere’s affection, before she gives a little shake of her head. “I mean it. It’s like they don’t notice anyone but each other. They probably don’t even realize they aren’t alone on the couch.”

“And they were going to go into the games together? That would have been a real PR disaster for District Two, you know.” Cashmere teases, before she slips around from behind Enobaria to the side of her, before slipping one of her legs on top of the other woman’s knees and nearly sitting right in her lap. 

“You’re telling me. It would have been an absolute nightmare. We used to think they were this perfect pair, they just understood each other so well. Yeah, it could have been hard when it came down to the final two but nothing they couldn’t handle. But then…you know, they thought they were so good at sneaking around, but they’re fucking idiots. They didn’t talk to anyone else. One was always missing from their bed. They were great together, apparently a little too great. It was a liability to send them in together. I know I was afraid of what we would pull out of that arena in whichever won.” Enobaria took the opportunity to be the one holding Cashmere now, resting her head against the blonde’s. “Sometimes I wish we had done it, though. He’s fucking infuriating. It’s gross to watch them.”

“Oh, you don’t mean that, Enobaria. They’re cute together. They’re happy, and they get to be openly happy. Unlike the rest of us. I’d kill for that. So would Finnick…and Glimmer too.”

“They don’t even know how lucky they are.” It does not need to be said what luck Enobaria was referring to. By some miracle there was never any demand for the two of them, no clients to be at the beck and call of. It was probably becauseof each other, and for that, Enobaria really was thankful for their mutual survival. 

That was not something she was prepared to explain to Clove quite yet. 

“You busy tonight?” Enobaria slides in, intentionally sliding in vague phrasing due to the risk of ever listening walls.

She feels Cashmere physically sag in her arms, practically collapsing the lines of her body to press flush against her. “The usual. The gamemakers get bored at this point in the games until things spice up.”

Enobaria tenses at the phrasing. It was clear what (and more importantly, who) was going to be spicing things up for the gamemakers tonight. She gently scratches her nails over the pale forearms she holds in her hands, drawing little swirling patterns with the very tip of her index finger. “Gloss and Glimmer too?”

“Gloss is with Finnick. Glimmer’s got the fullest schedule of all of us tonight.” Cashmere feels the coolness in her voice at the statement, and if someone didn’t know her, they may even mistake it for jealousy over her little sister’s popularity. Little did they know the layer of self-loathing that overtook Cashmere and Gloss both, anytime the schedule of Glimmer’s nightly roster of abusers was sent over.

“What’s going on with your sister and Marbles up there?” Enobaria took the opportunity to ask, cocking her head just slightly as she watches the two victors opposite Cato and Clove, and from where she’s standing, Glimmer may as well be curled up in the lap of her own fellow District One victor. “It’s like career victor inbreeding these days.  Cato and Clove…Shimmer and Sparkles up there…Finnick and crazy Cresta…”

“I’m not sure. She never told us something was happening with them. They’ve been friends for a long time. He’s sweet to her. She hasn’t told me anything specific, though, and I’m sure she would if they were together.” Cash sticks her hand out blindly to the side, grabbing the glass off the bar that Enobaria had been drinking before Cashmere slid into her arms. It’s always easier, to deal with those bored clients, with a little bit of a sedative in her system. She doesn’t even get more than a sip before she shutters, harshly reminded that District Two does not believe in mixers. Instead, she taunts Enobaria gently, “Would we be part of Victor inbreeding then, Baria?” 

“Absolutely not. We can’t actually accidentally breed. Besides. We’re not from the same district, we’re adding diversity to the Victor gene pool.” Enobaria teases in response but raises a playful eyebrow. “You think Glimmer would just...tell you? Remind me again how she found out about us?”

“Oh, Enobaria that’s not important- “

“No, I like to hear it.”

Cashmere’s eyeroll was nearly audible as she let out an annoyed sigh. “She noticed I changed my nail shape for the first time in ten years.”

“And why did you change your nails?”

Enobaria grins, watching the flush actually flood Cashmere’s neck and trail up to her face. “You know why, you aren’t being funny!”

“I know. I just like how you get all flustered about it.” Enobaria squeezes her arm playfully, before she leans up to kiss right under her ear. “And I appreciate the consideration.”

“Enobaria!” Cashmere huffs, twisting in her arms before crossing her own over her chest. “So, they didn’t notice youdon’t have your little razor nails?”

“Baby, I don’t think Clove knows you can even paint nails, let alone notices the shape.”

“You practically raised her. I remember you coming to the Capitol that one weekend when we were young and asking me how to teach her how to throw, oh it was so cute, Baria. She knows you so well, she has to notice something!” At the mention of them, nearly ten years ago, she wriggles back into Enobaria’s embrace warmly. “That’s how I knew there was some love in that scary District Two Victor shell, the notorious Enobaria asking how to teach a little girl the proper technique. Not just a little girl at training, but one you actually cared about!”

“Exactly. I spent the most time with her. You’ve been part of my life almost as long as she’d be able to remember. I’ve always been just like this.” Enobaria sighs, before she brings her hand up to run through the very end of Cash’s curls. “I actually don’t think she’s ever once considered I may actually like…yeah. I don’t think that’s crossed her mind.” 

“Mmhmm, were you kissing pretty blonde girls in your lap back in District Two?” Cash teases, wrapping an arm around her girlfriend’s shoulders, beyond testing the limits of how far she could go before any of those damn kids noticed. “Cato seems like he knew his way around the girls his age, you mean he never even made a comment about it?”

“Cash, you are literally on top of me, and he hasn’t noticed. He isn’t the most observant career boy you’ll ever meet. He actually was so obsessed with Clove, he wasn’t that hard to keep off other girls. I just wanted to keep him off of— and out of—Clove. Besides. I don’t think he knows that girls...can be with girls. That might break his fragile little brain.”

Cashmere throws her head back in a genuine laugh that should have pulled the attention of the whole room. Somehow, the four of them are so in their own little word they don’t even bat an eye. 

Thank God all four of them weren’t in the games together. They’d never pay enough attention to their surroundings for any single one of them to come out a winner.

“What do you mean? He doesn’t know girls can like girls?” 

“His only two modes are kill and Clove. We’re lucky he remembers to breathe. Or unlucky, depending on the day.”

“Are you going to tell them then?” Cash teases. It’s evident that Enobaria isn’t hiding anything from Clove. They are truly just not observant enough to notice anything but themselves.

As if to emphasize they are truly paying no attention to the girls in the back of the room, Clove can be heard making some snide remark as she gets off of Cato’s lap, reaching down into the fruit bowl on the glass coffee table in front of them. At the same time, they watch as Glimmer shifts to the side so Marvel climbs out from under her. He walks to one end of the room before Clove takes her hand full of something they cannot yet identify to the other. 

Enobaria and Cashmere watching in a shared sense of amusement and confusion as Clove quite literally starts throwing, with unyielding precision, something small directly into Marvel’s mouth. 

“Are those...?” Cashmere muses, tilting her head in bemusement, an inquisitive expression on her face. 

“I think they’re grapes?” Enobaria confirms.

Enobaria laughs, actually openly laughs, when Marvel lets out a sharp yelp as he gets absolutely drilled in the eye by a little green fruit. 

“Clove! What the hell, I thought you don’t miss!” Marvel whines, bringing his hand to cover his stinging left eye. 

“I don’t.” Clove reminds with a smug smirk on her face.  

Cashmere audibly sighs, burying her face in the lengths of Enobaria’s hair at her neck. “…you know what, on second thought, maybe they should figure it out themselves.” 

______________________________________________________________________

There are approximately fifty steps between Clove’s front door and Enobaria’s. Forty-four if you walked fast, sixty if you took your time. It’s not a hard path to cross, even in a District Two blizzard.

It is a miserable trek, however, when someone else’s child is screaming at you the entire walk.

“I know, I know, you miss your mother that we just saw fifteen seconds ago.” Enobaria mumbles, practically slamming her front door shut behind her the second she is fully inside. The heartbroken mumbles of ‘mama’ coming from the one-year-old, with his teary blue eyes staring at the door like his mother would walk in and rescue him at any moment, give Enobaria a sense of Déjà vu she wishes all too well she didn’t know how to place.  For all he looked like his father—and by god Cato may as well have cloned himself— there evidently was some of his mother in him, too. “I’m not going to steal you forever kid, trust me. I know you’d live inside her if you could, but unfortunately for you so would your dad.”

She kicks her shoes off, fully intending to lay on the couch for the next few hours, hoping to lull the boy to sleep until Clove would be back to collect him after…wherever the hell they were going. 

She had tried to pay attention to Clove’s plans for the night. It isn’t her fault that Clove made such a clingy little thing that cried any time he was out of her arms.

“Alright, buddy, lets just stop with the sad eyes, if you go to sleep, she’ll be back when you wake up—” When she makes that promise of a returning mother, she is at least sure a liar will not be made of her this time.

As soon as Enobaria goes to sit with him, she hears some sort of chatter elsewhere in the house. The sound of a hairdryer pairs with the voices, and immediately she knows Cash must be singing to herself or something as she does her hair.

“Oh, Aunt Cash will be so excited to see you.” She is drawn to the sound she shifts him from her shoulder to lower on her hip, his endless babbles of mama nearly blending into the background now. 

As soon as she reaches the top of her stairs, she hooks the right to the bedroom, as the sound of the dryer gets louder and louder. Smiling to herself, she nudges the door open with her foot. “Hey baby, I didn’t know you were coming home yet, I brought—”

Enobaria is stunned to silence as she is greeted by not one, not two, but three blonde girls sitting on the bathroom floor looking up at her. The baby, too, even stops his incessant babbling to stare at Cashmere and the girls.

Cash sits, with her back to the bathtub, hair dryer in her hand, and a little blonde toddler sitting cross legged on each of her knees. She flicks the dryer off with a wide smile on her face, looking up at Enobaria. 

One of the twins steals the first greeting, big green eyes blinking up at her and the sweetest little smile on her face when she sees her. She pushes off of Cashmere’s knee, to close the distance between herself and her other aunt. “Hiiiiii Aun-ie Baria! We’re visit-in your house!!” 

Enobaria softens, leaning down to scoop up the little girl with her free arm. It had become surprisingly easy to tell the twins apart once they got a little bigger, and from personality alone she knew who she was talking to at any time.

 “Hello Miss Stella,” It was always a little shocking, claiming Cashmere’s nieces as her own, and it was almost unsettling at times how much they looked like they could be Cashmere’s girls. Still, they’re sweet kids and they’re cute as hell. It is shockingly easy to love them. “How did you end up here in our other house! It’s a long way from your house…”

“Uh you told me that we were babysitting today, Enobaria.” Cashmere reminds her as if it is obvious. She shifts Aurelia to sit between her legs as she reaches over and grabs a curling iron off the tile floor beside her. 

“Yeah, Cash, I was watching him.” Enobaria nods her head towards the little blond boy, who’s resolved to resting his head on her shoulder. At least he had finally stopped crying—

and hey, she gets it, she likes to look at Cash too. “You just... brought the girls on the train and didn’t think to like... mention that?” 

“Oh, it’s not a big deal! They were excited to come see our other house, huh sunshine?” Cash waves off, before she brushes through her niece’s long baby soft hair with her fingers one time before she takes the curling iron to a small section. Aurelia sits so uncharacteristically still for a two and a half year old, clearly well trained on how to have her hair done. 

“How did you even end up with them today?” Enobaria decides her best course of action is to just join Cashmere on the floor, and kicks the door shut behind her. She presses against the wood with her back, sliding down while still holding both the toddlers in her arms without missing a beat. “aren’t they kind of little for your to be heating up their hair like that?”

“It’s the second Wednesday of the month!” She explains as if that means anything, carefully placing the hot iron out of reach before reaching for a handful of pink ribbon which she ties around the little half ponytail she makes on her niece’s head. “Don’t be silly honey, I used heat protectant on it! They like to feel pretty!”

“Does that mean something to me that it’s second Wednesday?” 

“It’s nail day, Enobaria. Second and Fourth Wednesdays are nail days. Stella, show Auntie Baria your nails!��� Cashmere instructs, and Stella does stick out her little hand towards Enobaria’s face. Enobaria, to her credit, does give an appreciative glance at the incredibly tiny pink nails. “I think they’re all doing something together, Glim said she’ll be in Two anyway to pick them up tonight. Like I said, I thought we were already babysitting them, and Glimmer didn’t correct me so...”

Aurelia is the one who pushes off of Cash next, little blonde curls bouncing as she half runs across the room. She settles herself between the two children Enobaria already holds, reaching out her own little pink nails to grab the baby’s hand. “Hiiii baby.”

“Look at you, covered in career babies.” Cash teases, her hand over her heart playfully. “Come here Stells, it’s your turn.” She cocks her head as Stella does as she’s asked, and Aurelia shifts to take her place with Enobaria. “How old is he? Is he one yet?”

“Yeah, well, remember when I called it Career Victor inbreeding? This is what I meant.” Enobaria teases playfully, glancing down at the baby who was finally, somehow, done with his crying. Now, he just stared at the twins with wide blue eyes, fascinated by the shimmering gold ribbons on the middle of their dresses. “Mmm… he’ll be one I think next month. It’s soon.”

“He’s just so freaking big. He’s like... twin sized and they’re nearly three.” She mumbles, taking a few moments just to hold Stella in her lap rather than go straight for her hair.  “Oh, come on, Enobaria, at least they’re cute! They’re so worth it. And we get to give them back at the end of the day, that’s the best part.”

“Of course he’s huge, his dad is a mammoth.” Enobaria reminds, gently prying his hands off of Aurelia’s tulle skirt that he had managed to lean forward to grab. “They are pretty cute kids; I’ll give them that. Even if this one looks like his dad.”

“Poor Clove, he’s practically bigger than her. That had to hurt...” Cashmere mumbles, going back to her task of brushing through Stella’s soft hair. 

“….Cash?”

“Yeah, baby?” She replies absently, spritzing Stella’s hair before going in with the curling iron. 

“…we are watching all the kids. All their parents are alone right now.”

“Yeah, and? I think they were doing something tonight?”

“Yeah, probably each other!” Enobaria nearly hisses.

“Oh, relax Enobaria! They aren’t doing that! Aren’t they all together?”

Enobaria half whispers, glancing between the two little blond kids she held and the one in Cashmere’s lap. “They won’t be together all night. We are not watching a fourth one, Cash. I draw the line at a fourth. How did we end up watching three children who do not belong to us?” 

Cashmere tries to stifle her giggle, failing miserably as she reminds her, “we didn’t pay enough attention when babysitting their parents.”

[random-introverted-blog]

Read your answer the second you posted it basically! I meant to answer but mulled over nicknames. Used a thing to make your account name  Anagrams. It’s in the end.  This has been living in my head rent free. 

Shadowheart def deserved more cute assist lines. Yeah, they all deserve causal flirting. Wyll and Karlach are the cutest! 

Post game definitely works for them. Slowwwwburrrrrrrrn. A lot of stuff goes ‘lemme go back to a previous save real quick, bae.’ XD

Bending things for canon is really so entertaining. 

AA would really be an ass bout it but would take you back. He does say he misses Tav in epilogue. He is still pretty obsessed. Also there was another thing that says he thinks about Tav a lot but is too prideful to seek them out: 

Asty and SH having Tav as a shared ex would be so crazy. Them being like ‘We’re so happy without Tav’ (at first. Pettiness) . Then them being ‘surprise pikachu face’ when they actually do get over Tav and fall for each other.

I have so many work in progress fics. SH deserves more fics l! 

I just adore chatting with you! You’re so fun and sweet. Might actually just dm you one day but let’s see!

Get you a couple that can do all three! I love the random funny bits that can ensue. They think they’re all that but would do cringey and funny stuff too.

The ‘I mentally plotted and planned a lot but didn’t see this coming at all’ is so funny to think about. 

Asty would be like why did this happen again (his track record of accidentally falling for Tav before). He’d be extremely possessive and extra. Definitely would be like ‘You won’t be getting rid of me ever, Jen.’.

Both are will try and avoid making the same mistakes.

Batstarion shenanigans and him just being even more chaotic and silly and just trying to accompany her ‘undercover’ though it’s like it’s a dead giveaway and everyone’s ‘that’s your vampire boo isn’t it?’. 

Also the trying to be suave and being silly and caught off. 

Astarion would have a rivalry with Shar in a way ngl. He’s like that’s my girl just so we’re clear. Vampire Bride! Dark Justiciar! SH would be soooo extra. SH would find a way to keep power over him too somehow. A and SH would have a super back and forth, push and pull dynamic. They’d really have a long game. Super powerful both of them. Accidental equals and evil power couple.

The possibilities are truly endless. It’s great to speculate and indulge in what ifs! You’re very inspiring.

A song that suits both of em is ‘Can’t fight the moonlight’ by LeAnn Rimes. 

‘Can’t remember to forget you’ by Shakira suits em too (plus the players who can’t get over em. It’s like let’s do a new route! Gravitates towards Asty and SH still. Shame you can’t poly with them together. But I get it would be a lot of work and that’s why). 

That’s so nice of you. To be like ‘the stories I want aren’t out there’s gotta make them and cater to other fans too’. Your ideas are so fun and smart. Your writing style is so engaging. The angst and  potential and exploring stuff is everything.

Congrats on the followers and you deserve even more! It’s so cool to think bout! 30 people is a lot! 

For the nickname, I settled on Wenona!

I hope you don’t mind it? Hawthorne, Arya, Honey, Heather, Wendy, Dorothy, Howard, Shanon, Anthony, Reyna, Thea, Ashton, Rosanna, Rowena, Sandra, Sherwood were the other options. All of them are so posh! 

- bloodmoon anon

Always a pleasure to hear from you, bloodmoon!

I'm flattered you put so much effort into coming up with a name! I'm used to the only flattery coming from my partner, but they're biased. I could write the equivalent of Mirkons story when you save him and they'd still say "that's beautiful, my love" yes I'm calling you out, babe, I know you're reading this.

THAT SAID.

The lack of cute/sassy assist lines is part of why I wrote Deny Me Not Your Heart. The other part is I see all this hurt/comfort/injury stuff and no one is writing these for Shadowheart SHES THE HEALER GUYS, THINK ABOUT IT.

I think a post-game slow burn is the only solid way for an Ast and SH fic, at least for me. I'm sure you or others are more creative in that regard than me.

You don't want to know how many saves I have stacked up on my PS5 only to do it all over again to my Xbox now lmao.

Bending canon is what makes us fanfiction writers, and never let anyone tell you otherwise. It's an art of balancing canon and the characters to what your vision is. A well done fanfiction is one that is almost indistinguishable from the actual story. That blurs the lines between canon and fan content. I wrote a whole speech that I had to cut to keep this from getting too long but short version, yes it is very fun bending canon!

I heard about the too prideful thing but I believe that was a cut epilogue card so whether it's canon is up for debate. But yes, he is pretty obsessed and I'm here for it.

A story with Tav as a shared ex would be very interesting! That's sort of the concept behind my longfic but instead of falling in love with each other, Ascended and Dark Justiciar end up having a Yandere 1v1 over their ex. But for the sake of discussion, let's say Astarion and Shadowheart end up fake dating to spite Tav but end up falling in love together instead. Sounds like an interesting prompt!

I'm more of a Tav shipper myself, if my content is anything to go by. But I agree, Shadowheart deserves more content!

Aw, I enjoy chatting with you too! My DM's are open if you or anyone feels like hitting me up and discussing fanfic, if you'd rather not send it as an ask that gets posted to over 30 followers. I'm getting busier lately, so my responses may be slower but I'm always trying to respond to things asap! So if you or anyone else wants a more private conversation to discuss bg3 ideas or some such, don't hesitate! I'll bounce ideas back as best I can. I will say my ideas/concepts are primarily Astarion and Shadowheart though.

Ascended and Dark Justiciar accidentally falling in love due to not planning for the outcome is hilarious and, for Astarion, very much in character! It's established several times that intelligent as he is, he's not the greatest at planning ahead so him catching feelings for Sharran Shadowheart after manipulating her into a tactical alliance (spongebob fish anchor voice: when will he learn?) rings of...

And after losing Tav, he definitely would be way worse in the possessive department of Shadowheart.

"Is that your vampire fiancee, Mother Superior? He's quite adorable!"

Angry chirping translation: ADORABLE? NO, I AM VENGENCE! I AM DOMINATION INCARNATE! I COMMAND THE NIGHT!

Shadowheart: he is, isn't he? And he's all mine.

More angry chirping: YOURE MINE! MINE, I SAID! MINE!

So with Shadowheart having access to memory magic, she would need to subdue him, tie him up and laser guide amnesia his ass. You can even manipulate or modify his existing memories, if you go by Shadowheart initially believing the Sharrans saved her from that wolf and didn't abduct her from her loving parents.

Aww, I'm so glad I'm inspiring you guys! This is the reason I started this little blog and to see it helping people in any way is what keeps me going! Thank you so much for your support, I really am beyond words for how grateful I am for you and the others!

I discovered many years ago that if there's a story you want to see, sometimes you have to create it yourself! And if you want it, other people do too! So you sort of bring together your own little club of likeminded people! Case and point, us and this blog! It's always reassuring to hear my writing is engaging, I'm one of countless writers who always feels inadequate and insufficient, especially after I read other people's work.

You can call me whatever you want within reason, of course. So long as it's nothing malicious, harassing or bullying. My partner may have some choice words about people calling me honey though 🤔 Wenona and Hawthorne are nice too! But really, it's whatever you want. My blog is to serve. Not the other way around.

And if I take a little while replying to your asks please don't think I'm ignoring you. I try to set aside enough time to fully read and respond whatever I see posted/replied somewhere when it feels appropriate!

Think I replied to everything in your ask... Sorry if I missed something!

-newly named Wenona/Hawthorne/Whatever else you wanna call me! ❤️

[queentheweeb]

Alpha Eijiro Kirishima X Omega Hitoshi Shinso

He had Bakugo to thank for him being able to interact with the redhead. Kirishima stuck to the beta like white on rice and Shinsou would not admit he was jealous. He had no reason to really, he recently joined the class a few months ago and he was fresh in the pack. Very fresh. Only like a month and being scented and having so many different pheromones attack his senses was overwhelming since it was something he wasn't used to. His quirk was a deterrent in his general studies classes and the class Alpha threatened the other Omegas to not bond or interact with him so there was that. Everything changed once he was in the hero's course and he loved it. He loved every single moment here, especially any time he got with Kirishima. Not that he will admit that out loud.

"Oi, eye bags come with us." Shinsou had once again spaced out giving Bakugo a look but following him nevertheless. He didn't feel like being snarky at the moment and besides his Omegan side was always pleased when with the Bakusquad because Kirishima was always around. He followed them to the common room and low and behold everyone was there. There was a puppy pile in the center while everyone else was doing their own thing. He hesitated for a second before slowly making his way to the pile where he caught Ochako's eyes. 

"Toshi is here!" In three seconds he was pulled into the mess of limbs and was purring up a storm because the calming pheromones and scenting relaxes him and put him in a daze where he was purring up a storm and cuddling into the closest person to him. He, Ochako, Jirou, Iida, Tsu, and Koda were Omegas and always cuddles daily or sometimes multiple times. This was the third time today so that means someone is either in pre-heat or has been stressed. 

"Who's going into pre-heat or stressed?" He always voiced his concerns to see if maybe he needed to give one of them a little extra attention. 

"It's me, kero." Ah, so it was Tsu. He maneuvered around a bit to drape himself around her with Koda on his back and Iida in his leg area somewhere. Everyone got comfy again and he was ready to fade out again. Not quite sleeping but, he would just be in a state of bliss. They stood like that until Tsu fell asleep and they all quietly moved to beckon Shoji to grab her. He did as instructed and placed her on one of the couches wrapped in blankets. It was adorable. 

"Anyone wants to play games." The bakusquad and dekusquad -minus Tsu and him- jumped on the game playing. Everyone just about watched from various spots as they exchanged controllers going rounds. Kirishima lost for the third round in a row to Mina and threw his controller leaving the circle. To sit right next to Shinsou. Oh no. 

"I suck so bad at that game." Shinsou nodded his head in agreement. "Damn you couldn't even pretend just a little?" He shook his head with a smirk. 

"That's not very manly to lie like that." Kirishima snorted before throwing an arm around him startling him. 

"I think this is why I like you, you don't lie that's so manly!" Anyone else said manly as much as Kirishima did he would avoid them at all costs. Kirishima is an exception to that though and no it has nothing to do with the crush he has on the redhead. Not at all. No influence whatsoever. 

"You're a cool person too." If he even says he likes him too his scent will not be able to hide his feelings. It'll be a dead giveaway. He had to look away at the way he just beamed at his teeth and all. Oh God, his heart.

"Wow! That means a lot coming from you because you don't say things you don't mean! Alright, I'm doing something right." Hitoshi didn't know how to respond to this form of enthusiasm so he just nodded along. He expected the redhead to move but was surprised when he stayed instead and started watching them play. It was getting a lot harder to ignore his instincts and not snuggle right up to him. He wanted to bury himself in his side but, he didn't want to embarrass himself.  Maybe he's thinking too much and too hard because Kirishima is a touchy person and loves to hug and cuddle. Fuck it. 

"Of course." With that said he threw caution to the wind and snuggled into his side like how he wanted. He was warranted with Kiri making a surprised noise but, pulling him in to get more comfortable. He felt Kiri slide his hand down to around his waist and rest his hand on his hip. 

"Are you comfy?" Shinsou was fighting not to make any kind of noise but, nodded his head nevertheless. Kiri satisfied squeezed his hip a bit and turned his attention back to the games being played. Shinsou noticed he wasn't playing anymore and was just watching the squads battle it out. Of course, Bakugo was yelling profanities and getting excited. When Izuku got first place and he got second the only reason the whole common room has not blown up into smithereens was that Tsu and Ochako fell asleep on the couch using Tokoyami and Shoji as pillows. Thank Kami for the small blessings. 

"For someone with all these muscles, you sure are comfortable and warm." Shinsou was in a half-awake and half-asleep state unaware of the effect he had on Kirishima. Meanwhile, Kiri was trying in vain not to smother the teen in a hug and squeal. That would not be too Alpha like but, fuck it. What did it even mean to be a true Alpha? The ideals he read about didn't match what he believed. He grew up with traditional parents and he absolutely hated it. Housework, taking care of the family and making money should be equal not specific roles designated for specific secondary genders. The whole thing was ludicrous. "Shhhhh." His face exploded in red as Shinsou turned and threw an arm and leg over him to get more comfortable. The only reason Kirishima didn't combust was that he didn't want to embarrass himself. "Thinking too much, hold me." Kirishima wasn't sure if this was sleepy talk or if he really wanted this. He thought about it for a few seconds before slowly wrapping his arms around. He was blessed with a light purr.

"It's about time." Kiri turned his head sharply but didn't move his body to keep from jostling the sleepy boy on him. He frowned at Katsuki who simply grinned at him. Kirishima decided Kats was not worth his energy right now. Shinsou deserved his energy. Kiri watched everyone around him start getting sleepy and maybe it was his nerves or the warm body of his crush on him but, he found himself slowly closing his eyes succumbing to the darkness.

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

When Shinsou woke up, it was silent. He was also very warm and comfy. He blinked his eyes slowly adjusting looking for a clock. He found it farther than he thought and it read 5:35 AM. That's when a couple of things hit him at once. He was not in his room, he was leaning against someone and they were very warm and cuddly. He chanced a look up and his eyes widen at the sleepy face of Eji. Holy shit, he fell asleep on him last night. Wait, he actually got sleep? Shinsou shifted to get comfier looking up when the arm around his waist tightened. He looked into the sleepy eyes of Kirishima.

"Where, goin'?" Shinsou smirked at the sleepy talk. He glanced over at the clock and since it was Saturday morning, not even Deku was going to be up until at the earliest 9. He can afford to get some more shut-eye. 

"Just getting comfy." Eji watched as Shinsou got back into a comfy position pressing a soft kiss to Kiri's chin. "Go back to sleep." Eji re-adjusted and within moments he was snoring again making Hitoshi giggle. When they're both more awake they'll have a talk but, for now, he will just enjoy the cuddles with his favorite person.

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

What are your thoughts?

[mephicchi]

((Drow have become a particular favourite of mine in the last 2 years or so. My fondness for elves oddly enough comes from a game about dwarves that is very anti-elf propaganda especially in the fandom. Tieflings are very fun! I'm one of those heathens who entertain the idea of taking a lot of creative liberties with their visual design. After all, what is the point of playing the ttrpg imagination game if you've no imagination eh.

I shall let that comment slide… for now… but watch out!))

Dearest Barkeep,

You're a fun one, I'll give you that. You wish to discourage my intrusions, and yet also wish me luck in not being caught. What's the matter, old man? Are you so bored buried under all this paperwork that the only thing that entertains you is a break-in? I'd hate to disappoint you, so I'll look forward to receiving word from you once you've discovered where I've hidden this note. Can't make it too easy on you, but I doubt it will prove much of a challenge for a knight such as yourself to find.

And the questions? My dear barkeep, it would be too dead a giveaway if I were to answer honestly. But I'll ponder the idea of leaving you a clue. As for dishonest answers, I'll listen to whatever you listen to, perhaps I'll even sit outside the door and lend an ear to the next bard you fancy to spend your gil on. I just love white. Pristine pure white. All this snow everywhere as far as the godsdamned eye can see. I don't know how you can stand this view. There's nothing to see. No wonder you're bored. Coeurls are lithe and sneaky. And cute. Like me, no? Hmm. No, on second thought they'd be terrible at stalking your halls unnoticed. A lovely little cherry tree could liven the space up in here, alas it would probably die by how dark you keep the space. Pity. I only drink pure spring water. Hydration… love it.

Feel free to ask more if you feel so curiously inclined, although I cannot guarantee you'll receive the truth in turn. Unfortunately I must be off now, I believe I just heard your front door. Returning from the Humming Grove cafe I expect.

Adieu.

// Your description of a game about dwarves that's very anti-elf reminds me of Dwarf Fortress, I haven't played the game myself but I've seen some stuff on it, then again, Dwarves hate on Elves in most pieces of media, so it could be any game. I too love taking lots of liberties with the design of my Tiefling characters, it's one of the reasons I like them so much, the "official" limitations that WotC put on Tiefling skintones and the kind are naught but a long forgotten "suggestion" to me, I played through Curse of Strahd as a snow white Tiefling with sun-like yellow eyes, he was a Life Cleric, I know it sounds pretty basic and way too overboard with the holy theme but it was immensely fun. (Thinking back on it I could've taken so many more liberties, like horns that form a sort of halo, or take the Tiefling variant that has wings and make them feathery angelic wings, at that point I could've just played an Aasimar though, but ah, perhaps it would have been too much, although maybe there could have been a subplot about the citizens of Barovia seeing my character as a sort of angel having come to save them, sounds too main charactery though and I wouldn't have liked to take attention away from my fellow players)

Ehm, I rambled a bit there, but to conclude the ooc part of this, dear anon, please tell me about your favorite DnD character, no matter if it was yours or one belonging to someone you played with! (If it doesn't give too much away, of course) // A good day to you, my ever so secretive patron.

I will say, when I didn't find a letter of yours in my paperwork today I was a little disappointed, yet when I was getting ready to leave my office to attend a meeting with my Count I got stung by a thorn of the rose you placed in my Uniforms pockets, for a second I thought it was poisoned and I was victim to an assassination attempt, but when I found your letter in the selfsame pocket my suspicions were proven false, or were they?

Your confusion on the topic of your intrusions is justified, but the explanation for it is quite simple, I do not mind your trespassing in the slightest, I quite appreciate this exchange of letters, but what kind of Knight-Captain would I be if I didn't take precautions after there has been a break-in to my office? Many knights of similar positions in other houses of Ishgard keep their office under constant watch, I am already a lot more forgiving than them by only having my knights check my office if they pass by it during their patrols, though that is quite frequent.

Your answers are intriguing for sure, though I shall not tell you which parts exactly, I shall keep my suspicions about your identity to myself until I have actual proof, therefore I cannot let the opportunity to ask more questions pass, even if they may be answered with little truth.

So tell me, do you fancy any particular book, or perhaps even a series of books, I noticed that someone browsed through my collection recently, it must have been you. Are you perhaps a combatant of any kind, and if you are, please do tell me what your preferred weapon is. And lastly, I do not expect a clear answer to this, since it would be boring, why are you so inclined to stay anonymous, you put quite a lot of effort into not revealing your identity, even when you have supposedly visited my tavern already, or have you? Perhaps we shall see each other in my tavern tonight, but I wouldn't know, would I? Signed, Mephiston Godefroy

[rensoneshots]

the kill princess 1

One I Rayna or Ray for short am a pirate's daughter. We are known for theft and murder all across the grate Briton. My full name is Rayna Sia Sculler and my father, Sebastian Bulger Sculler; the worst of the worst, the one called 'the kill king'.

With many targets on him, we never stopped moving and I was trained to kill people from a young age. Though many people tried to get us the only person I knew who was killed by what we call the hunters was some crew members and my mother.

Soon after her death, the training started. Most days I spent getting beat up but after a while, the masters were getting their asses handed to them. By the time I was 11 I was begging my father to let me compete, but I was never allowed to. Now that I am older I have realized why he kept me on board at all times.

Today I am packing up a few things to go to a ship that will set out tomorrow and stay at sea for a year. The boat is going to have many noble girls my age. This sort of this is to keep them safe but seeing as I am In constant danger I will be boarding too.

Two

Today is the first day I have been on the boat. With me I brought some makeup to cover the mark on my shoulder, a few nice dresses, some sleep clothes, a knife to protect myself or just to have some fun, and my hat. Now because my hat is such a dead giveaway about who exactly I am I also have a bag that fits it perfectly.

A girl came up to me earlier and asked about my family, luckily it was time to eat so all of the girls went to the dining hall. Oh and the activities they have here are overwhelming. The first thing in the morning is breakfast and then there is a play, later we can do whatever we want. At noon is lunch and then swimming, plays, or crafts. After dinner, we are able to go to bed or play table games.

Three

It's been a couple of days now and one girl has died. She was the one I talked of in my last entire. Lists of the other girls are scared of who may be next but no investigation has been held.

Most of us were out on the deck when a girl came up to me "hi I'm Emerald or M" she said "Oh I'm Marry" I lied "Well marry you have something on your shoulder" Oh shit. The makeup must have rubbed off I thought "oh I should go to the restroom to check on that then I guess" I replied quickly rushing off to my room.

Emerald was a little odd. Like me, she wore a shorter dress than the others but unlike me, she had on no corset and no heels on her shoes. I had meant to ask about it but never got to before having to fix my shoulder.

Four

Last night M died. She was the only one who had seen my mark, and whether she knew what it was or not she was not going to be allowed to live.

As I stabbed her she told me "I thought I recognized the small piece of your mark that I saw. You must have killed the other girl too" "Yes in fact though they did not tell you, I carved her finger with the Sculler cross" "Rayna Sai Sculler, wow even saying your name gives me the chills. My father will never tell anyone but I killed someone once. I was a little girl and I was playing with my doll. I dropped it so I told the maid next to me to go get it, but when she said no I pushed her off the 5 story balcony. I never stopped to think, later that day it was determined that I was unable to feel empathy." She told me "Emerald is not your name much like how my name is not Marry, is it? No, you're the O'laze kid. I thought the shoes were odd but now I see why" was all I said before delivering the final blow.

She and I were not too different after all I was a sociopath too.

Five

Somehow and this time it was not me, three more people have died. The only way for me to be safe is to kill more people until one of us killers is dead.

Six

Seven

Eight

Eight people have been killed five of them were my victims, and for each one, I felt nothing. Honestly, it was quite easy to do and no investigations have happened. At this point, only five murders have been announced.

Nine

The other killer has killed again.

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

No one is safe! She is ruthless! I am hiding in my closet as Elizabeth is trying to find me. I thought she seemed nice but not long ago she picked the lock on my door. There was a knife in her hand.

This may be my last entire. She has just opened the closet and will find me behind the clothing soon.

My final wish is to...

AN: The end. I really hope you like this and tell me in the comments what you think Ray's final wish is. I know this was not long but I got inspired by a pirate thing we did at my summer camp today.

[fanfic-chan]

Ahhh! The platonic Candy Heart event is so SMART OF YOU!! Since you’re like the only other person I know of who writes for Big Windup would you be willing to do a platonic Mihashi/Abe with the 💛 heart? I need those boys so much right now 💖 No worries if not though! It’s a great idea either way and I hope you have fun with it! 😊

Omg thank you so much for the Big Windup prompt! I'm always so excited whenever I get them! I really enjoyed writing this prompt and I hope you like it! I haven't gotten a lot of practice writing for these characters yet so I hope I did well with the characterization. I tried my best though.^^`

Days of Courage

Switches: Abe and Mihashi

"What's got you so cheerful today?"

Mihashi let out a small squeak of confusion as he turned to look at his teammate, who stood watching him from the entrance to the dugout. Abe frowned a little.

"Don't look so startled man, I just noticed you seemed extra happy this morning and I was just wondering if something good happened, that's all."

Mihashi relaxed a little at the explanation. He paused a little as he tried to think of answer, but eventually he just settled on shrugging with a small blush spreading across his cheeks. 

"I-I don't know actually. Today just feels like a good day I guess. The weather's not to hot or to cold, and… I actually slept pretty good last night too! I just feel h-happy, I guess."

Abe nodded at that, a small smile of his own crossing his features as he turned to look out across the field, which was still covered in a thin layer of morning dew.

"Ah. That makes sense."

"It… It does?"

"Yeah. Atleast I think so, and I'm glad that you're feeling happy today. It's already putting me in a good mood as well, so I'm sure it'll rub off on everyone else when they get here too."

The usually anxious pitcher grinned fully at that, forcing Abe to grin as well.

 

"Alright, enough with the sappy stuff then. Wanna go toss the ball for a while until the other's show up?"

"Oh! Sure!"

The sun was warm on their faces as the two friends made their way out to the field, and they spent the next ten minutes or so just playing a relaxed game of catch. At one point, Abe had to go chase after the ball after he missed a throw, shouting a brief, "My bad!" As he went after it. 

That's when Mihashi got an idea.

Feeling a rare, tiny spark of courage and mischief, Mihashi quietly snuck up behind the catcher, similarly to how Tajima had done to him and his teammates many times before.

Abe didn't seem to notice him as he leaned down to pick up the ball, and Mihashi had to fight down the urge to giggle. 

"Sorry about that Mihashi, that one was on m- eeEEEE?!!!"

Abe shot up ramrod straight when he felt someone taser his sides. He spun around, half expecting Tajima to be there, only to be completely stunned when Mihashi was standing there instead.

Said pitcher was clearly trying his hardest to play innocent like Tajima would do, but his flushed cheeks, fidgety hands, and wobbly smile were a dead giveaway.

Still though, Abe was pleasantly surprised to see his usually anxious teammate feeling courageous enough to be playful like this, so he decided to play along.

"Mihashi? Was that you just now?" He asked, frowning in mock confusion. Mihashi, clearly falling for the ruse, shook his head enthusiastically, eyes practically sparkling at the idea that he was actually being sneaky.

"Really? Huh. I could have sworn someone grabbed my sides just now…" Abe rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully before turning around again, "Oh well, must have been the wind."

Still feigning ignorance, Abe leaned down once more to pick up the ball, but just as Mihashi reached forward to squeeze his sides a second time, he spun around and grabbed his wrists before he could.

Mihashi let out a surprised squawk before tumbling backwards into the grass, having not expected for the catcher to turn around so quickly.

"Not you huh Mihashi?" Abe said as he squatted down in front of the fallen pitcher, smirking in amusement when the pitcher giggled nervously.

Crawling forward to sit next to his teammate, he reached a hand out to pinch at one of Mihashi's own sides.

 

"EEHEEP!! Hehe!! Abe!"

"What? That wasn't me Mihashi. I told you already it must be the wind. Just like this. And this. Oh, and this."

Mihashi jolted suddenly at the sporadic poking all over his ribcage before immediately breaking into a happy fit of giggles when the catcher switched to scribbling at his tummy.

"Ahahahaha!!! Ahahahabe!!"

"Yes Mihashi?"

"It tihihihihihickles!"

"Oh, does it? I hadn't noti- HEY!"

Abe yelped when Mihashi somehow managed to reach a hand out to squeeze his side again, except this time, he didn't pull away. Instead, he seemed to be gathering all his newfound bravery in order to retaliate against his catcher.

Actually, now that he thought about it, when taking Mihashi's nature into consideration, the entire ordeal was probably more as a way of reciprocating something he associated with fun and affection than out of revenge. 

That thought alone was the reason that Abe resisted the urge to try and tug his hand away out of instinct, and instead let himself break into giggles as well.

After a few more minutes, the two friends both seemed to read each other's minds and stopped almost at the exact same time.

Abe flopped down next to where Mihashi already layed, and a comfortable silence settled over them as they watched the end of the morning sunrise. 

Mihashi wouldn't always feel confident, Abe knew, and some days were sure to be worse than others, but moments like this made the struggle all the more worth it.

[thatlittledandere]

You know, I have a bit of a problem with certain ways some well-meaning people try to preemptively encourage others with problems they might not even have, and I'm gonna go on a bit of a rant as to why. Personal anecdote to follow.

I went to a small elementary school. With less than 60 kids and 3 teachers it was a given that gym class wasn't gender segregated and even though we naturally had some "girls should prefer girls as friends over boys and vice versa" going on, gender wasn't much of a factor in friendships or recess activities. Football was one of the most popular games, with more than half the school on the field from time to time when the ground was free of snow.

This one time when I was around ten, a magazine I used to read had an article on hobbies. They interviewed kids aged roughly 7-12. One of them was a girl who played football. And, for a reason I couldn't comprehend at the time, it made a really big deal about how girls can play football too. How it's not just for boys. That was the main giveaway of the segment.

And it made no sense to me. Like, yes, obviously girls can play football. This girl was in a team, she was playing. We had football at school in gym. Everyone who liked it played at recess. I didn't, but that was because the ball hit me square in the face once and I was a bit traumatized by it. Everyone understood I was upset because I was small and unathletic and maybe a little too sensitive; nobody brought up the fact that I was a girl. It wasn't relevant.

So this article making a big deal out of it felt as bizarre as somebody coming up to you and angrily informing you that boys have fingers too, you dipshit, don't try to deny it. Like, uh, you weren't going to? Why are they bringing it up like it's a debatable subject? Is someone out there saying boys don't have fingers?? Baffling and concerning.

Now obviously I know now that there ARE indeed people claiming football, and maybe sports in general, are a "boys thing". That even if girls technically CAN play, they're not going to be as good as boys. But at 10 years old I had yet to be exposed to this concept. Sports weren't gendered outside competitions, where we were divided into boys and girls, but everyone was still free to participate. Everyone played at recess and teams were formed at random or by age. This one girl was notorious for mercilessly going for the legs and indiscriminately feared and respected by everyone.

I know this is far from a universal experience, and I know I'm privileged for growing up like this, but it was my experience. Of course it would be presumptuous to claim perfect gender equality - that wasn't the case - but football, of all things, was an Everyone's Thing without question.

So, to the topic... I keep seeing posts debunking claims I haven't seen anyone make. A person comes out, and get twenty asks saying they're valid before anyone says otherwise. They get told to not believe it when they're called [negative stereotype of said identity] before anyone calls them that. I found out about the "asexuals are broken" narrative from ace positivity posts! I still haven't seen anyone actually call asexuals broken! Many of us have and I know it's an idea that exists but that's not how I was supposed to find out!

I'm not saying discrimination doesn't happen. I'm not saying reassurance and encouragement aren't needed. I know people still encounter these narratives before coming out. I'm not saying these are problems that don't exist. But I mean... If someone irl came out to you as bisexual, would your response be "Great! I want you to know I don't think you're a confused slut!" Yes, those are things your friend might have heard, but is this the time to bring it up? You're just reinforcing the idea that some people DO think bisexuals are promiscuous and the sexuality is just a stepping stone to something else.

This is 100% a me problem, but I've become almost allergic to the word "valid". If I give you my chosen term of identification I already know it's a real thing. I already know my experience is "valid". I know I'm not lying, I know I'm not making things up, I know I'm not trying to derail an imaginary argument. I don't need your approval. What I hear is "you're a girl who just said she plays football in a team, and I'm here to give you my permission to keep doing that."

TL;DR: Bringing up negative stereotypes, misconceptions and bigoted rhetoric when nobody asked goes against normalization and makes you sound like you're giving people permission to be who they are and do what they want. I guess. Not sure if I actually succeeded in saying that. If I was eloquent this post would be 1/4 of its length.

[punkscowardschampions]

Liam & Edie

Liam: get out of work early, I need your help Edie: alright Edie: what are we doing? Liam: I finished a 🎬📽🎞 & it has to be screened tonight at a specific time Edie: do you know what cinema you wanna infiltrate Edie: like, max capacity blockbuster moment or a more independent arthouse style? Edie: I have ideas for both, if you don't already Liam: gotta be sold out seats for max exposure Edie: looking up whatever dumb superhero shit is on right now Liam: put the word out for me too, yeah? 📢 you've got more 👀 on you Edie: of course Edie: keep it vague but intriguing? Edie: what's the angle Liam: my sister is Edie: your sister? Liam: she's 16, would've been Liam: today Edie: the film is for her Edie: not a hard sell Edie: every twat loves a party Liam: every twat's forgotten about her already Liam: I have to do something Edie: I'll get all the people there I can Edie: 16 is a big one Liam: I'm looking for a cake to blow up Liam: big enough to splatter lots of rows but not too huge to sneak in Edie: really do need a pram Edie: if you do wanna go big, my ma has a kiln, easy to bake in and quicker Edie: I could put it in a backpack or some ridiculously oversized handbag my sister has Liam: you're amazing Edie: you or the audience haven't tasted the cake yet Liam: be more fitting if it tastes bad Liam: like we're shoving bittersweet down everyone's throats Liam: & in their faces Edie: that's easily done Edie: toxic hazard here we come Edie: how long have you been working on the vid? Liam: a while Edie: are you happy with it? Liam: there's no more time left to do edits Liam: I gotta get it out there, like I said Liam: 18 is gonna need something bigger Edie: timing is key Edie: did you talk about it Edie: what she'd want to do Liam: looking that far ahead wasn't something she let herself do Edie: that's fair Edie: I haven't looked that far ahead before Edie: we'll make it special Edie: something she'd approve of Liam: there has to be some way to throw a party after that's not the standard gay shit Edie: an anti-party Liam: yeah, without being ☢️ & barcode tattoos about it Edie: so a disgusting cake, what else can we fuck up Edie: bastardized 🎈s are almost a given Edie: maybe we can play some party games Liam: use your talents on the happy birthday song Edie: I'll do my best for you both Edie: did she believe anything happened after you die? Liam: she wanted to come back as someone else, show up back in my life just when she reckoned it'd gotten settled & boring Liam: but I don't think she really believed that, just didn't want me to turn into one of those twats Edie: yeah, most people want to believe something like that Edie: some continuation Edie: but the percentage who genuinely do, I don't know Liam: a lot of shit she said was for my benefit of my ma's, I don't know if she knew I knew that but I did Edie: Yeah Edie: but through reassuring you, she was probably trying to give herself that same comfort Edie: again, whether it worked is unlikely, but we keep going 'til we don't Liam: yeah Liam: I have certainty in her not wanting everyone to act as if she was never here this fast, I'm going with that Liam: her friends, a lad she liked, they're supposed to give more of a shit Edie: we'll make them remember Edie: I was thinking Edie: she'd be in transition year now Edie: they're always having bollocks seminars and lectures Edie: that would be easy to hijack Edie: well, not easy, but we could Liam: you're so fucking smart Liam: I didn't even think Edie: it'd be a way to get the ones who won't hear our call tonight Edie: which are arguably the ones who need a lesson in caring more so Liam: keep it going like pass the parcel Edie: a project worth the waste of time that whole year is Liam: then a holiday, me & you Liam: where we won't waste any time Edie: are we going to find a holiday home? Liam: did you like living with me? Edie: so much Edie: I wanna live with you properly Edie: all the time Liam: then yeah, we'll find a holiday home & when we get back you can move into mine Edie: really? Liam: our mas will both have shit to say about it but so do we Edie: if they're really going to object to that degree Edie: we'll work for enough money to rent our own place Liam: & sleep wherever else we have to until we've got that Edie: as long as I'm with you Edie: I miss you when I'm not Liam: I wanna be with you all the time too Edie: maybe if we split our time between mine and yours, they wouldn't even notice Liam: they can tell themselves they're keeping a better 👀 on us if we do Edie: yeah, and it's not 'as serious' as moving in together Edie: in their minds Edie: guess it'd be better if we were going 'round sleeping with anyone and everyone Liam: I've had more offers since I got a girlfriend than before Liam: must be a shared view between our parents & lots of the girls at school Edie: 😡 Edie: adds to them feeling something if they get to fuck someone over at the same time as, I guess Liam: I'll never hurt you or let anyone else do it Edie: I know you won't Liam: I love you Edie: I love you Edie: no one is gonna stop us from living the life we want Liam: [a pic of a pram he has stolen for her to fill with stuff and there's a birthday pinata in there currently like oh hi] Liam: I found this for you Edie: 😍 Edie: Baby! Edie: you got me wheels Liam: I couldn't stop thinking about you struggling with a heavy backpack Edie: You're so sweet and I'm so excited Edie: is what's going in the pinata a surprise? Liam: I was gonna tell you but lets keep the excitement going Edie: is it 🕷s Edie: or 🦷 Liam: do you know where I can get that many 🦷? Liam: that'd be a great idea Edie: 🤔 Edie: maybe a vet's dumpster Edie: think people dentists study 'em Liam: maybe my ma kept our 👶 teeth Liam: I'll have a look Edie: Mine kept hers Edie: you'd need quite a few to make an impression Liam: the fake blood I'm gonna add will help Liam: but you're right Edie: there's loads of roadkill around mine Edie: could get that for the 🦴🦴 Liam: I don't know if I want you touching it though Liam: you could get sick or something Edie: I've got gloves Edie: the only illness they had was potentially bad eyesight 🚗 Liam: you've gotta be careful, baby Edie: okay Edie: for you Edie: how else can I help you though? Edie: the cake is in Liam: keep thinking, all your ideas are perfect Edie: I wanna be Edie: what about spiking the drinks, but not in a fun way Edie: or is that too 👿 Edie: just a laxative or something, nothing mad Liam: it don't matter, we won't drink it Edie: I definitely won't Edie: don't even miss any of it Liam: we need something that'll make them 🤮 she did lots of that Liam: only fair Edie: what does that 💊🧪 wise Edie: too much salt is a dead giveaway with one sip Liam: charcoal is probably too big a giveaway too Liam: & you can't get ipecac no more Edie: 😕 ugh Liam: we'll have to settle for the laxatives Edie: they'll make themselves sick all on their own Liam: you did make a fucking disgusting cake Edie: you don't even wanna know what I put in it 😏 Liam: I want all your secrets Edie: you can have everything Edie: [a gruesome list of god knows what] Edie: it smells so gross cooking right now Liam: don't make yourself 🤮 Edie: I'm getting some fresh air Liam: what can you 👀? Edie: from here, the pond Edie: which also smells, so I might need to go look at the 🍅🥔s growing instead Liam: go decide on your outfit Edie: what do you want me to look like? Liam: beautiful Edie: nothing more specific? Liam: nah, not until I've seen what you come up with Liam: you test well Edie: 🤞 Liam: 😍 Edie: that's what I want Edie: always Liam: I want you Edie: I can't wait to go away with you Edie: are we going to the sea Liam: we can Liam: we can go anywhere you like Edie: I just wanna watch the sun go down under the waves with you Liam: you watch that, I'll watch your face while it does Edie: You're so Edie: you make me feel like a person Edie: a real one, that matters Liam: you matter to me, Eds Edie: I'm not used to this feeling Liam: you know I'm not either Liam: we'll get used to it Edie: it's like I believe you but I can't believe it Edie: if that makes sense Liam: I get it Liam: I do need you to believe me though Edie: I do Edie: you're just perfect Liam: nah, I'm not Edie: to me then Liam: whatever's wrong with me, we're good together Edie: we're going to make a perfect baby Edie: that always feels like a person Liam: I'm gonna love it even if things go wrong Liam: I need you to know that too Edie: I know you will Edie: and I believe that Edie: I wouldn't have agreed if I didn't Edie: you won't be able to not love your own child Edie: even if it's hard Liam: & I'll wanna be with you, perfect or not Liam: whatever else happens Edie: we can do it Edie: I love you and I want it to work Edie: I wanna be a good mum and give the baby all the love and attention and everything it could ever want and need Edie: that is so much more than most people have Liam: the baby is so fortunate to have you for its ma Liam: you've done everything right already & its not even here yet Edie: I wanna do it right Edie: I can't imagine doing it wrong Liam: I know you will Liam: you set your mind on shit & it gets done, that's how you are Edie: makes me sound like an assassin Edie: don't hate that Liam: I don't hate thinking about you holding a 🔪 Edie: next video Liam: it'll be on my mind until then Edie: I can give you a preview Edie: if you show me the fake blood Liam: [does obviously] Edie: 🤤 Liam: I made extra for you knowing you'd be into it Edie: That's just one of the reasons we work Liam: are you gonna give me the rest of them? Edie: I'll start on the list but I don't know if it'll ever be done enough to be conclusive Edie: and I'd hate for you to think I'm not serious Liam: that's another reason why we work Edie: see, they keep adding up Edie: good thing I didn't commit to tattooing it on me Edie: run out of space so quick Liam: I don't think her video is done enough Liam: I don't know what to do Edie: You'll regret it if you miss her birthday, I think Edie: you'll have chances to add to it and improve on it every year if you want Edie: it's a tough one to know what's enough on, yeah Edie: 'cos what could be Liam: if it's shit I'll have ruined her birthday Edie: do you think it's shit? Liam: I can't tell Liam: I can't feel anything Edie: I can watch it before you show it Edie: or you can just do it Edie: they aren't going to forget it though, regardless, and that's what you want, yeah Edie: for them to remember her Liam: you've gotta watch it on a big screen Liam: I'll watch you & I'll know if it's good or not Edie: okay Edie: I won't tell you I know it'll be good Edie: cheapen my actual reaction Liam: 👌 what do you wanna tell me instead? Edie: another reason we work is you're talented and creative too Liam: I have to try to bring something to the table if we want a perfect baby Edie: you mean aside from how insanely hot you are Liam: its gonna look like you so that don't count Edie: maybe it'll get to be tall like you Edie: my 10 year old sister is already taller than me Liam: you only wanna be taller for kissing me Liam: there'll be a no dating rule until they're like old enough to properly move out Edie: might save your back, that's all Edie: they won't need to, they'll be happy with us Liam: I've already saved yours with this pram, I'm not bothered about mine Edie: but I am Edie: I'll invest in some stilts Liam: & have you snatched up by the circus, nah Liam: don't matter if its twins in there, I'll pick you all up Edie: 🥰 Edie: you make me look and feel like that emoji, legitimately Liam: [a picture of some random people he's sneakily taken a photo of while he's out and about and changed so they have no eyes because he misses and wants to see her rn] Edie: ooh baby Edie: 👁s would be a great pinata filling Liam: have we got time to turn 🍇 or some gay shit into 👀 like a ma on halloween? Edie: OH Edie: speaking of mas Edie: just had a 💡 Liam: what? Edie: she has mealworms to feed the 🐦🦅s Edie: too late for the cake but how perfect Liam: genius Edie: my next idea was going to get some caviar but I don't think my wage is stretching that far Liam: I could steal some Liam: dunno where the fuck from though Edie: bet they don't have any at the spar Edie: there are tadpoles in the pond but I'm not murdering them Liam: the worms will work Liam: I'm on my way to yours, how long til the cake is cooked? Edie: you're coming here Edie: 😄😄😄 the excitement is only going ↗️ Edie: about 10 minutes, though a bit of burning can't hurt Liam: I thought you'd like a hand with decorating Edie: I'd like to see you Liam: you miss me too Edie: so bad Liam: I know Edie: come see me Liam: I kept the secret for as long as I could but I'm nearly there now Edie: no secrets, right Liam: I don't want there to be Edie: I'll tell you everything you wanna know Liam: tell me what we're doing tomorrow Liam: after this Edie: we're gonna get in the car and drive 'til we get somewhre we want to stop Edie: and we'll get fish and chips and ice cream and play on the beach and then we can talk about bringing the baby back and doing it all again Liam: the baby's face when it eats ice cream for the first time Liam: & feels what sand is like Liam: we'll film it all Edie: 🥺 Edie: I feel like I might cry? Liam: everything we don't remember any more we'll do again with our 👶 Edie: there's so much good stuff to relive Edie: stuff we didn't get to do too Liam: yeah, there's lots of shit I've not done Liam: I used to feel properly awkward about it Edie: just 'cos my childhood was weird in an 'exotic' way doesn't mean it weren't too Edie: there's loads of Irish childhood staples that we didn't have Edie: we'll make that list too, for the 👶 Liam: I can't think of a better way to start the baby book Edie: I'm gonna do it for your birthday Liam: yeah? Edie: I've got a feeling Liam: that might be knowing that I'm outside Edie: [dramatic run out] Liam: [we know he's as extra and would immediately stop whatever he's doing/ drop whatever he's holding so they can kiss dramatically, don't get a hole in that pinata yet sir] Edie: [ah you crazy kids, dunno where the rest of the fam is tbh] Liam: [100% gonna say he puts her in the pram and pushes her into this gaff like a giant nerd, so imagine her just squished in there please] Edie: [LOL adorable, try not to break it already] Liam: [you probably don't have time to do pram repairs on top of everything else lads] Edie: [we got schemes honey] Liam: [if you don't draw on each other with icing pens when you're decorating this cake I don't wanna know either of you] Edie: [my boo has put her foot down] Liam: [all the tattoo practice and ideas in any possible artistic medium thank you] Liam: [we all know what saucy behaviour you'll be getting up to as soon as he gets there though] Edie: [but the softest ever tbh 'cos a tough day and you just wanna make sure he's okay] Liam: [honestly there's only so busy you can keep yourself boy, we all see you] Edie: [not gonna force you to talk on it but also gonna be clear it's an option] Liam: [he's just trying to get today over with as if tomorrow and on any other day he won't think about it, oh hun] Edie: [mood] Liam: [where is his mother? what is she doing rn? those are my real questions] Edie: [sad things don't think about it Liam: [anyway we know the vibe so is there anything else you wanna make a point of happening rn before we skip to the aftermath?] Edie: [hmhmhmmm we can probably skip] Liam: [everyone gonna be cross at you lads] Edie: [I like to think the fam was there earlier so they were already moody, but then you come back with the police and you're gonna skip town tomorrow so lol] Liam: [his poor mum having to go down the garda station when she's already living her best life, likewise gonna be in a great mood] Edie: [safe to say you will not be invited back tonight gal] Liam: [Rio is gonna tear Liam a new one cos he was all I'm gonna look after her it's chill when they last talked haha] Edie: [oh lordy] Liam: [I just hope they got to do all their creepy plans before the police ruined it] Edie: [or at least the important ones, and that it went well in that people are talking about it] Liam: [gotta let you have that] Edie: [tis important and a mood] Edie: how's your ma now Liam: she's still going Edie: I thought she'd like it Edie: if you explained what you did Liam: she likes what we did but not how Liam: she don't understand that playing it in the sitting room wouldn't work Edie: she wants to keep it all private Edie: if people feel uncomfortable it's only because they should Liam: we know that Edie: is she more 😭 or 😤 Edie: one is easier to deal with Liam: it's both, at the same time for a while Edie: that must be so exhausting Liam: it's just what she's like Edie: you've not really known her any different? Liam: I must have, but I don't remember Liam: not clear enough Edie: I'm sorry Edie: if I could've taken the blame harder, I would've Liam: I don't want you to take any of it Edie: I don't care about getting into trouble Liam: you will if it sticks next time & you maybe can't earn as much cash Liam: be the perfect ma you've set your heart on Edie: not at the sake of you though Edie: it's so unfair I couldn't take my fair share Liam: you did, you weren't there for the shit I did before that got me my talking to from the 🐷 Liam: it's about her not you Edie: yeah, I know Edie: wish we'd saved the pinata for them though 🐷🤮☠ Liam: we'll make a 🎬📹 I've still got the rave masks Edie: Yes Edie: it's the least we can do Liam: you'll feel a bit better at least Edie: no, it's not about me Edie: how do you think it went, before they showed Liam: you thought it went decently I could see it in your 👀 Edie: it did Edie: it was beautiful Edie: but did you like it? Liam: I reckon she would've Edie: she'd be proud, for sure Liam: yeah Edie: but I am, whilst I can't guarantee that Edie: I can this Edie: are we still going tomorrow Liam: I'll show up, if you can't get out send me a 6 Edie: I'll get out Liam: safely Liam: I'm not gonna watch you fall out your window Edie: I won't, babe Edie: no guard dogs here Edie: they can't keep permanent watch Liam: no 🔥🌉 either though Liam: your ma must already hate me Edie: I'm not staying though Edie: I'll pretend to listen to them Liam: I understand baby, I don't want to be here Edie: I want to take you to the beach Liam: we'll go then Liam: smooth it over after if we have to Edie: I don't know how to care about making them happy, never mind doing it Liam: all you need to do is say what they wanna hear Edie: wait 'til they hear about the baby Liam: we just won't tell them until your 🤰 makes us Edie: but 'til then Edie: literally who knows what they want Liam: we know what your sister wants, she told me Liam: we'll base it off that, be good Edie: 🙄 Edie: she's a fine one to talk Liam: don't you wanna behave with me & for me? Edie: for you, not them Liam: I'm only asking you to do it for me Liam: so they won't be getting in our way Edie: what do you want me to do now then? Edie: tell me Liam: explain why we did it but pretend you're sorry that it got out of hand Edie: alright Edie: I'll hate every second of it but I'll do it Liam: I'll make it up to you Edie: tell me how Liam: 💍 Liam: I'll get you one Edie: you already got me a pram Liam: that was for the 👶 too, I wanna give you something that's just yours Edie: oh Edie: will I have to hide it too though Liam: as long as you don't bury it Edie: we could pretend it's not THE 💍 Edie: put it on a different finger Liam: you've still got great ideas after earlier Liam: you really are a genius Edie: Hardly Edie: I'm just trying very hard to be very good for you Liam: you don't even have to try Edie: I do when it means having to hide how I feel about you Liam: nobody can say shit about me promising to marry you one day Edie: they say all kinds of shit Liam: you don't have to hide that we're in love whatever they say Edie: I never will Edie: they know I am, that they can't change that Liam: if you don't wanna be good we can leave tonight Edie: you're right that it'll make shit easier Edie: I can ignore them Liam: I don't care about shit being easier if you're not happy Edie: I am happy Edie: they might not be happy with the way it's come about but they can't harp on it too hard without making me miserable Liam: I couldn't have done everything today without you Edie: I'm glad I could do that for you Edie: that's how it should be Edie: is going to Edie: I've got your back, you've got mine Liam: yeah, like a family Liam: me & you are, however long this baby takes to show up Edie: there's nothing you could ask that was too much of me, seriously Liam: not a test this time Edie: can handle it either way Liam: I know 👀 Liam: but I can't handle missing you more than I do, if you wanna like be a huge bitch to me or something like Edie: I could try if you wanna be less loveable for a sec too Liam: one sec I'll have to try & stop thinking about how alive you were tonight first Liam: & find a less gay way to say it than that while I'm working on it Edie: you say gay, I say workable lyric or tat inspo Liam: when you've filtered it through your 🧠 it'll be right Liam: all I know is beautiful wouldn't be good enough Liam: 🎇🎆 Liam: either Liam: I think the closest would be when you get a puddle of petrol, all those colours, that kinda bullshit Edie: I wish I could tattoo that onto me Edie: a bruise would be closest to that Edie: but I wish I could see me how you see me more Liam: I'll start filming, see what I can do Edie: you have a year 'til my birthday too Liam: lots of chances to get footage then Edie: be good for the baby too, when it grows up Edie: see we loved them before they even got here Liam: we'll record as much as we can Liam: starting at the beach tomorrow Edie: we'll make a sandcastle dreamhouse Edie: and find the perfect shell to start a collection for them Liam: I don't think I've ever made one Edie: 1/8 ratio water to sand is a good start Edie: then it depends if you want the castle buckets, or a plain one so you can sculpt it yourself Edie: add seaweed, shells and pebbles, et voila Liam: I'm gonna look for enough shells to make a mobile too Edie: 🌌🧠💡 Liam: maybe we can make it sound on top of looking nice Edie: if we find some driftwood too, that would be 🔝 Liam: we'll go back if we don't Liam: until we do Edie: if we like it we can move there Liam: what kind of 🏠 do you want? Edie: one that's the perfect size for just us three Edie: and always feels cosy and like a home and is the place you actually always wanna come back to because it's that comforting Liam: 🗺❌ Liam: I'll take you hunting Edie: maybe we'll find another to takeover when we're down there Liam: lots of them are holiday homes now summer's over they'll be empty Edie: and not everyone invests in good security, even though they're rich enough to Liam: pick the one you like best, I'll get us in Liam: most people don't bother changing their alarm codes from the default Edie: right Edie: they kinda deserve it Liam: if you're not gonna treat your shit like you want it, someone else will take it Liam: why not us Edie: 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ Liam: how long can we stay this time without your ma calling that number herself? Edie: when we're on our way, I could tell her we've gone Edie: rude of her to stifle our creativity 📹🎞📼 Edie: but if we give her something, she might freak less Liam: you got any 🎁 in mind? Edie: you mean getting her a stick of rock or? Liam: whatever works Liam: you know I'll do it Edie: It's not even you, they admit they don't know you Edie: maybe we give them the chance, when we do come back? Liam: 🎲 Liam: alright Edie: it might be totally unbearable Edie: I make no promises to the contrary Liam: you don't have to, you'll be there Liam: unbearable is when you're not Liam: like now Edie: I know Edie: it hurts my heart not being with you right now Liam: if my ma decides to stop, I'll call you Edie: do Edie: I'll get out of here as soon as I'm physically able Liam: me too Liam: even if it means I'm waiting outside for you 👀 Liam: 🛰🌏 Edie: You can wait outside my window any time Liam: 📹🎞📼 Liam: 🤫 Edie: 😳 Edie: everything you do is hot Liam: I'm thinking about you whenever I do anything, maybe that's why Edie: I won't dispute that Edie: even though you definitely deserve more credit Liam: you can give it to me when the credits roll on your film & you realise what you look like to me Liam: & that everything I do is to turn you on or make you smile, laugh, all that happy shit Edie: I don't know what I ever did to deserve you Edie: but I'll be a better person from now if it means I get to keep you forever Liam: nah, don't change a single thing Edie: 🤏 😈 🤏 😇 Edie: got it Liam: we won't show every 🎬🎞 to the 👶 Liam: or every 🎤🎧 either come to think of it Edie: got to have things to protect them from Edie: may as well be us, not actually a threat Liam: [sending her all the cute baby videos such as when they eat a 🍋 etc like this will be us because we can't be dealing with our mother popping off anymore] Edie: [sending her stuff of the twins 'cos that big sister evidently lol] Edie: him* soz babe Liam: [Grace would die if she knew] Edie: [when you are 10 and MORTIFIED honey] Liam: [when his ma is having a breakdown and he's just spamming the bae with random adorable baby content from the internet casually] Edie: [so sorry to your ma but also not sorry we did] Liam: [he can't handle all your emotions gal I'm soz, we're living our best fantasy life here instead] Liam: [I vote this happens until he can actually call her and thus end the convo cos we know they highkey enough to do that]

[deafchild2000]

Shame and Forgiveness Ch. 2

(Aftermath of the failed coronation for both Audrey and Ben.)

In Auroria...

The Honeymoon Cottage...

3rd POV

"THE MALEFICIENT(S) CRASH THE COURT!"

"KING BEN UNDER SCRUTINY!"

"IS KING BEN FIT FOR THE THRONE!?"

"LOVE SPELL MISHAP!? A PLAN TO TAKEOVER THE THROWN!"

"VILLIAN TEENS, RIGHT OFF THE ISLE!"

"ROYAL SCANDAL! IS BEN THE KING WE NEED!?"

THWACK!

Former Queen Leah, Queen Aurora, and King Philip looked up from their seats to see Audrey had thrown newspapers onto the table. One look at them said it all.

It had been a quiet morning in the 40-roomed castle and the cooks and fixed a delicious breakfast for the royal family for the family to enjoy. All but one, that is.

"Don't they have anything better to do than harass Ben!" she hissed. "It's bad enough that the coronation was ruined and postponed, but now they're making it seem like it's all his fault!"

Sighing, Queen Leah took a sip of her morning tea before explaining, "And they have that freedom to do so."

"What?" Audrey asked incredulously.

Her grandmother nodded. "When Ben was elected to be King, he knew what was expected of him by looking towards his father's rule. Now, changes can be expected, but when you have a spectacle as big as his coronation, it is no surprise it won't be taken lightly. In this case, some could believe this was all in his making."

"Huh? So they think he, what, planned on ruining his ascension to the throne to get more popular?" Audrey snorted.

Queen Leah sent her a fixed glare. "Watch your tone, young lady. It is not becoming of a princess. And to answer that question, no. Ben knew there was a risk by taking in those children of the Isle, and to let his guard down long enough for Maleficient's daughter was able to slip him a love spell is quite the scandal. Not to mention how the Fairy Godmother's daughter practically disgraced herself with that foolish display of hers."

"Yes," Audrey shrugged. She had heard that Jane had got the equivalent of a verbal thrashing and that her mother was going to keep her on a tight leash from now on.

"The fact of the matter is: Ben was, or still is, the representation of his people, and royalty alike. His actions reflect on his person, and those actions have made certain people believe that he isn't ready for the throne," Queen Leah stated.

"But he's a King!" Audrey exclaimed. "Or a Prince, at the very least! He grew up with royalty, he studied his butt off to know all there is to know about Auradon before it was even a founded country! His mother is the most down-to-Earth woman that has ever lived and he knows from his dad's past to not act like a spoiled brat. And he is so, so mature... He's ready for the mantle, Grandmother. This was just a...a hiccup."

Audrey inwardly winced at the sound her grandmother's hand hitting the redwood table.

"Just a hiccup!? Audria, please remove your personal feelings from the situation and regard it like a princess," Queen Leah admonished. "Just because he is a prince, doesn't mean that he has the maturity of one. If you may want an example, think of Queen Cinderella's son, that for his childish action in which would make any royal monarchy disown him, was simply sent away for the remainder of the year. From the way rumors have it, especially considering how with his mother's background of being a servant in her own home, it would do him some good to learn some humility before embarrassing his family's name in ignorance. Ben is young, yes, but a ruler should know when to make certain risks and when to ensure his people's safety. And while yes, his family background has given him a sense of modesty, being smart isn't always enough. A king must be prepared to give himself, all of himself, to his people. Especially as he gets older, he will realize that he has no time for fun and games."

"So what happens? Because he's not fully instated as of the coronation, the council can just what? Abdicate his right to the throne? Pick someone else?" Audrey asked.

"Well, I wouldn't use that exact wording, but most likely, yes," Queen Leah stated indifferently.

"But that's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair, Audria, and you would do well to remember that!" her grandmother snapped. Audrey jumped back at the steel in her voice.

"Mother!" Aurora exclaimed. King Philip was just about to join in when Queen Leah raised her hand, taking a breath.

"I apologies, Audrey," she started, "and I can see why you'd feel this way. But you must know that actions must have consequences. Just look at what Maleficient's daughter had planned. She had waved that wand at us, at you, and then read all about her plans for Auradon if she had succeeded in controlling Ben! I am under a good authority that for her plans to had become fruition, it would have been years. And if she was well-liked and silver-tongued enough, maybe sooner. It's bad enough what her mother had done, but now her child had been��this close to Auradon's ruin...It's all out in the air now and if he wants to reclaim any doubt that he could still make a good king, how he handles it will determine so. And with that, comes with an eventual press conference if he wants to start."

Taking in a deep breath and reigning in her frustrations, she sat down beside her grandmother and placed her head down.

"I don't think that's even going to come close once school starts again," Audrey groaned inwardly.

Officially, because of the incident and in concern for the safety of the students and their, Auradon Prep had been closed for an unscheduled break and be re-open in two weeks. Audrey and everyone else, including Ben, would be returning the week after this one.

Unofficially, the scandal has put AP under lockdown for a high-profile investigation regarding the VKs whereabouts, classes and extracurricular activities. They were looking for anything that was a dead giveaway to their plans and had slipped under their noses.

And Fairy Godmother was leading the charge.

Queen Aurora and King Philip reached out and grabbed both of her hands softly, to comfort her as she let out what was practically screaming in her chest.

"I told them," she started, feeling her eyes moisten. "I told everyone that Mal and her friends couldn't be trusted. I told Ben repeatedly that, as your stories said, the evil fairy is still the evil fairy. That doesn't change just because she had a child. And what do I get: I get humiliated in front of everybody as he...as he declared his love for Mal. Of all people, and I had to suddenly grab and get with Chad to because-"

"Shhh," Aurora soothes, bring another hand to caress her daughter's head and wipe her tears. "You don't have to explain. It over now."

King Philip growled and did his best to make it as inconspicuous as he could. He had heard rumors about that game and got mixed stories. Future king or not, Audrey was his only daughter, his only child, and for Ben to hurt her like that? Under a love spell or not, he would have killed him. It would have made fighting Maleficent look like a walk in the park!

He knows his daughter was proud, and unlike her mother in many ways, but at that moment when she called crying, all he could do is comfort her over the phone alongside her mother and tell her it would pass.

"I was the bitter ex-girlfriend as she got popular. Cheerleading was only bearable since I was the captain, but most of my friends avoided me in favor of her. Using magic to help the girls grow longer hair. Yeah, so what if I was mean to her on Family Day, Jane was just as well! She took it farther than me almost. And then my reputation when down the hill too. Reduced to a bitter, jealous, vengeful princess now...I don't think I can trust anyone at that school anymore. Maybe I should transfer to Arcadia or maybe Sherwood Academy is better. Ha, maybe that might stick it to 'em!" she laughed bitterly.

"You're not going anywhere because you're staying at Auradon," Queen Leah said finality.

Audrey whipped her head to her in shock. "What?"

"Audi, you can't just hide from your problems. Trust me, I was raised by fairies for 16 years to escape a 100-year sleeping curse and it still happened!" Aurora stated irritatedly.

Shaking his head at his wife, King Philip took over. "Look, Audrey, sometimes in life you've got to pick your battles and to know when it's time to surrender. You sensed something in your gut that told you something was off right?"

She only nodded.

"Good," he continued. "You knew something was off, you tried to warn people, and sometimes, the best and only thing you can do is let the chips lie where they fall. It may not feel right or make you feel better, but that's how it can be sometimes. You tried, you fought, probably longer than you should, but you eventually had to move aside. You said your piece and that's all you had to do. Everyone else? They have to live with the fact that they chose not to heed your warning and that's on them. But not you. And that's why you're staying at Auradon. Because as King and Queen, and your parents, you don't get to give up so easily."

"And what if they try to apologize?" Audrey asked. She only thought about it once and decided she didn't want their apologies and excuses.

"Then, you straighten your back, keep your head up, look them in the eyes, grace them with a small smile, and simply say '"Thank You"' and '"I accept your apology"'. Granted, you may not feel like it, but a princess must always carry herself with strength and dignity as well as grace and respect. You may have been born with that title, but the only person who can take that away from you is yourself and by running away, that is exactly what your doing," Queen Leah told, keeping her granddaughter's eyes on her.

The power Audrey felt perforating into her made get into a proper position to raise her head high. While it did do some good for her, part of her knew her family's advice could only do so much.

[ifanfictiondreamerworld]

Ratchet and Kim Possible Chronicles: The Polaris Epidemic-Part 36

Meanwhile, Kim and Ratchet, within very little time, broke through the window. They landed on the scaffolding that was directly below the window. Ratchet: "Alright, we're finally inside." Kim: "Thank goodness. I can't believe we got ourselves in so easily."

They looked down at a large, dark, empty room below them. Ratchet: "Huh, this place looks like an incredibly large, empty room." Kim: "Uh, yeah, but why is it so dark in here? Plus, is there anyone even here, at all?" Ratchet: "Hm…something about this doesn't seem right…"

Suddenly, metal bars appeared on the windows. They were startled by this as they looked back towards them. Ratchet: "What the…?"

Then, without warning, 2 large metal hands grabbed both of them, pulling them off of the scaffolding, towards a wall below. They were turned to face the massive room before them as they struggled to break free. The metal hands were then locked in place on a mechanism. Ratchet and Kim were held in place beside each other, suspended a little above the floor, with no way to break free from their bondage. Just then, a blinding light shined on them from above. With both of their arms pinned down to their sides by the grips that held them, they were forced to endure the glare of intensely bright light. Kim: "What…what is going on?"

Shortly afterwards, they could hear a very familiar sinister chuckle from someone they hadn't seen since the beginning of the entire mission. When they able to overcome the blinding light, they could see Dr. Drakken as well as Shego and all of the other foes standing before them. All of them had evil grins on their faces. They were surprised and greatly appalled by this. Ratchet: "Oh, this isn't good." Drakken: "Kim Possible! And cat alien boyfriend! So good of you to fall right into our trap!" Kim: "What is this!?" Shego: "Oh, just a little something that we had prepared for the 2 of you; it's our way of welcoming you to our humble abode." Kim: "Alright! Enough games! We know what's been going on here! We saw those towers on all of the planets where we have encountered each and every single one of you!" Ratchet: "And we know that none of you are smart enough to come up with this convoluted scheme, or could possibly even understand the advanced technology that those towers consist of. Who's really pulling the strings in this operation?" Voice: "That would be me." Ratchet: "Huh? Who said that?"

They then heard another evil chuckle as a screen dropped down in front of them. Displayed on the screen was a mysterious figure hiding within a dark silhouette. Figure: "Well, if it isn't the most famed heroic couple in the Universe. I'm so glad to finally get the chance to meet you both." Kim: "Well, hello there, ominous shadowy villain. I take it you're the one who's behind all of this, considering that you're the only one who could possibly understand all of the advanced technology we've come across several times." Figure: "Well, so good of you to have recognized my handiwork, young lady." Ratchet: "So, who are you exactly?" Figure: "Oh, just someone who is far too complex for you to understand from a far off place that not many are familiar with, much less know about." Ratchet: "So…you're just another nutcase who doesn't really have much of a social life. Yeah, that sociopathic demeanor of yours was a major dead giveaway." Kim: "Oh, I was also able to pick up on that." Figure: "Hmph! Well, you both most certainly have that infamously witty sense of humor that hardly diminishes even in circumstances such as this."

Kim let out a conceited sneer. Kim: "Thanks, it's one of our best qualities." Figure: "Enough of this! I won't put up with any more of your snarky remarks! So, let's just cut to the chase! You're probably wondering has been going on here in your cozy little galaxy." Ratchet: "We already know what's been going on: you've gathered all of Kimberly's old foes here to take part in some massively complex scheme to take over the entire Universe." Kim: "You had towers implanted on different planets throughout the entire galaxy so they could be used as a chain link generator to power up your incredibly powerful EMP machine." Ratchet: "You then intend on using that machine on any planet you want throughout the entire galaxy as well as the whole Universe so that you'll be able to gain control of all forms of technology on every planet in the Universe." Drakken: "Yes! That's exactly right…eh…Kim's Possible's…cat alien boyfriend!" Ratchet: "Uh, Lombax! How many times do I have to go over this with you, Drakken?" Drakken: "Um…right…eh…"

He then turned around and faced the other villains. Drakken: "Eh…do…uh…do we have any animal similar to him back on Earth? Does anyone know what animal could be comparable to him or even if there is a cat creature that's similar to this…um…cat creature? Ah, Nevermind! I'll just do a molecular scan on him later and then compare him to cat creatures back on Earth." Computer voice: "Perhaps if you can't compare him to a feline on Earth, then why not compare him to a dog afterwards?" Drakken: "AH! Keep quiet, you!"

All of the other villains laughed as Shego placed her hand on her forehead, annoyed. Drakken folded his arms and mumbled a bit. Drakken: "Lousy smart-mouthed computer!"

Shego held her hand out in front of Drakken as she stepped forwards a bit. Shego: "Better let me do the talking from here on out, Drakken."

[thekastlediaries]

"I need you to scream. You're Karen Page he's the Punisher, he will come for you." in which Karen hurt and taken by a villain and Frank is enraged. (I was inspired by the Tarzan trailer)

Hey, so today I actually cracked 1000 followers and I cannot believe it! I’m so happy there are so many people here that like this ship as much as me and I’ve had so much fun reading the stories everyone has written and reblogging the edits and the wonderful amazing fanart. I have so little to offer fandom sometimes, and I’m way too broke to do a giveaway, but I thought if I sat down and really concentrated on filling a prompt that might be enough to commemorate this little milestone. :D I hope you like it.

VIOLETS AND VIOLENCE on ao3

The last thing she remembered was the smell of violets, dainty petals pushed against her nose, the sweet scent invading her sinuses. She’d closed her eyes for half a second to lose herself in the scent, to imagine that he had been the one to leave them on her fire escape. How stupid could she have been?

Now the only thing she could smell was the dank mildew of an underground dwelling. Poorly ventilated and even more poorly lit. The back of her head throbbed and she knew without checking that there was rather large knot underneath her yellow hair, perhaps even a gash if the moisture dripping down the back of her neck told her anything. Her sight was the last sense that came into play, an errant thought passing through the back of her mind as she wondered if this is how it was for Matt.

Her pupils adjusted to the dimness, faint far off light filtering down into her cell, the bars casting shadows across the dirty floor. It wasn’t the first time she’d been locked up, but she had to admit that the clean yet stark cells downtown were a lot more preferable than where she was now.

Trash scattered across the floor, dirt caked in the creases between tiles, reddish brown stains on the wall that leave no question as to what went on here… It was a scene straight out of a horror movie, but she just didn’t have it in her to react accordingly, a calm strangely numb feeling setting over her. How had this become par for the course?

She shifted against the damp floor, dispassionately noting that her shoes were gone and her stockings were now unsalvageable tattered things. Her wrists were free, the expected cold and unyielding sharpness of cuffs absent. Nothing around her ankles either. It was rather ominous sign. Her captors being unconcerned about her freedom of movement only meant the cell was secure.

She sat up, vision blurring for a second as her head swam. Nausea threatened. Best not to move too quickly. She made a mental note to see the doc about a possible concussion after all of this was over. Her surroundings gave her no clue as to who was behind this nonsense, and the only ambient noise was vague whir of a fan kicking off and on. Not enough to offer any clue as to where the hell she was being held. Just fucking perfect. God only knew which set of pissed off assholes this was. She had a real knack for making enemies.

She heard a shuffling down what must have been a rather long corridor, and her heart began to beat a little faster. There it was, that spike in adrenaline that told her she was in some real trouble. Her eyes darted around the cell looking for something to use as a weapon, lighting finally on what appeared to be a spoon. Shit. It’d have to do.

She quickly snatched up the utensil and shoved it down into her blouse, tucking it securely under the band of her bra before resuming her prostrate position on the floor and trying like hell to steady her breathing. These creeps didn’t need to know she was conscious… not yet.

-

Micro described it as a vacation, although Frank wasn’t sure if hiding out in an abandoned warehouse and living off canned goods for two weeks could be called a vacation. Maria had liked short jaunts to the beach, weekends spent in one room summer shacks where they let their bathing suits dry on the line outside and drank sangria on the porch overlooking the ocean. Sometimes when he fell asleep he could still smell the salt on the air, just like it had whipped across the water. He didn’t think anything he’d done in the last couple years could possibly be described as a vacation.

But it was down time, and he had used it as best he could. Sleeping off a fair number of bruises and cuts, laying back to read a book for the first time since a bullet had torn through his gray matter. It was amazing how nimble his mind felt after a few weeks of recuperation. He was raring and ready to get back to work, but Micro wouldn’t give him the all-clear.

Apparently he’d inadvertently stepped into some real shit, snapping the neck of an entitled prick who’d been swinging his dick around a little too forcefully. Not that Frank was averse to rolling around in the muck with scumbags, especially pricks like Kimball Blackwell. The man seemed to think it was alright to hire sex-workers and leave them bleeding in alleys. Frank didn’t like that, and he’d put a permanent stop to it with one bullet.

It was unfortunate that the Blackwell family also happened to be an organized crime syndicate that Frank’d never heard of. Based out of upstate New York, they were old school skull-busters that had been in the smuggling game since it was profitable to pack barrels of whiskey into horse drawn buggies. The times had changed and so had the Blackwell’s product. The family owned a lucrative trucking business now, slipping various shipments of narcotics hidden in tirewells back and forth between the U.S./Canada border.

But had Kimball Blackwell not been such an through and through piece of shit, Frank wouldn’t have had any real interest in taking them down, at least not any time soon. Creating power vacuums in drug empires had a way of creating more problems than it solved, and Frank, despite his reputation for being a homicidal maniac, liked to be a little more prepared when it came to things like that. The problem was the younger Blackwells had been born into an empire, and they were spoiled rotten little shits who got off on hurting people. The Blackwells minions had come out in droves to avenge Kimball’s death before Frank had even known what was happening, which had resulted in this little vacation from reality.

He hadn’t liked how quickly he’d had to snatch up his things and move into hiding, but keeping on the move was a normal part of his new life. The only thing about this whole misadventure that gave him real pause was worrying about Karen’s safety. He’d spent too much time popping by her place, walking her home, trading leads. This was exactly the kind of mistake that could pull her down into the bullshit with him, especially with a bunch of woman hating sadistic fucks on his tail.

Micro’s emails were succinct, nothing dramatic really. All they contained was information about the family’s movements, their dealings and whatnot. Frank poured over it all for clues as to whether or not they knew about her. Finally, after days of dry intel, Frank actually brought up her name, tagging on a short line to an already brief email: Page’s nose still clean?

He expected a simple reassurance, but what he’d gotten was far from it.

Haven’t noticed movement in a couple days. Will check personally. Stay where you are. The wolf pack is still out roaming.

Hours later he’d received a phone call on his burner, but it hadn’t been Micro or Karen on the other end of the line.

-

Karen expected her visitor to drag her up off the floor, to roughly shake her awake. What she didn’t expect was the quiet whisper of a man dropping to his knees beside her. Her whole body went cold when she felt the man drag the tip of one finger down the side of her face, pushing away one lock of hair in a sick semblance of tenderness. She fought the urge to gag as the touch traveled down the side of her neck, tracing along the collar of her blouse.

The man spoke. “So you’re his whore, huh? His little fuckbuddy on cold nights?”

He leaned forward to sniff at her, grunting in satisfaction. “I heard he couldn’t get it up anymore, but looking at you I’m sure that’s not true.” He let out a lecherous sigh. “Does he call out his dead wife’s name while he’s pinning your to the mattress? Yeah? I bet that stings.” He began to finger the buttons of her blouse.

Karen’s jaw tensed, her heart picking up it’s pace in spite of everything she did to slow it. The only shot she had was to incapacitate the man and make run for it. It sounded like he’d left the door to her cell wide open. In the the space of a breath she hauled herself up into a sitting position, putting all her momentum behind the heel of her palm against the vile man’s nose. She hoped the force would break the bone and shove it up into his brain.

Unfortunately it didn’t work quite as planned, and although a satisfying amount of blood spurted out, the man wasn’t lying dead at her feet. She scrambled away from him, ignoring the bellowing roar as she dove for the cell’s exit. An ear piercing scream flew from her throat. “Help! Someone, please!”

Large hands caught her round the waist, hauling her up against a burly chest, quickly pinning her arms to her side. The man laughed evilly in her ear. “You’re a feisty one, aren’t ya? It’s been awhile since I had one who liked to bite and scratch and scream. Too bad that’ll have to wait till later, after Frank Castle is nothing but a bullet riddled corpse.”

He began to drag her down the corridor, toward a door with a weakly flickering bulb behind it. She screamed again, this time her voice feeling ragged. “HELP!”

It elicited another laugh from him as he kicked open the door. “Keep it up, Miss Page.” There was a phone sitting on the corner of a desk in a room with no windows, he shoved her toward it. “Call him. I need you to scream. You’re Karen Page he’s the Punisher, he will come for you.“

She clammed up, stiffening at the prospect. Not a muscle in her body would move toward the phone. Instead she spat at the man. “Fuck you! Call him yourself.”

All the air whooshed out of her lungs when he slammed her up against the wall, one knee jammed between her thighs, a hand clasped around her throat. “Listen, you little bitch. You’re gonna call him, and you’re gonna scream, and if you don’t feel like it, I’ll just have to motivate you properly.”

He raised his hand, a bulky ring with his family crest on it glinting in the weak lighting. She scanned her memory for anything relating to it, but nothing came up. The hand came down against the side of her head, leaving a ringing in her ears as she tumbled to the floor. She barely had time to process the pain before he was hauling her up again. “I already have the number, thanks to his little buddy that came looking for you, but I need your precious voice on the other end of the line.”

She laughed bitterly. “You’re signing your own death certificate.”

He dragged her back to the desk, pinning her face down against the smooth walnut, the tops of his thighs pressing pressing against her backside. With his free hand he removed the receiver from it’s cradle and laid it next to her face, quickly dialing the number to Frank’s burner. Karen tried one last time to escape, bucking beneath his weight, trying in vain to get the heel of her foot up high enough to kick him in the balls.

The man only pressed down harder, listening intently as other end of the line rang. Finally it stopped, the ringing momentarily replaced by a raspy breathing. Frank was never one to speak first when someone called his burner, Karen knew this and so did the man holding her captive. He twisted his fingers in the hair at the back of her neck and yanked hard, eking out a surprised yell from Karen. She didn’t want Frank to walk into an ambush. She clamped her mouth shut, biting down painfully on her lip until she drew blood, but it was too late. He’d heard her already, his voice very far away, small and tinny on the other end of the line…

“Karen?”

-

Micro had gone radio-silent, that was the first bad sign. The second was the phone call, half a second of Karen yelping into the receiver, followed by the sounds of a physical altercation, and then the panting voice of the last man Frank was going to kill today.

“Come and get her, Castle. Or the same thing’s gonna happen to your whore that happened to Kimball’s last one.”

“Where the hell are you?”

More nearly silent struggling, judging from the speaker’s choppy breathing. There was a thump in the background. Frank cursed softly. There was no way in hell Karen would be compliant. He only hoped this was just some moron underling who’d decided to take things in his own hands to impress his bosses. There was a chance she might get out of this alive if that were the case. Frank waited for the man’s response.

“I’m so glad you asked.” The man rattled off an address.

Frank memorized it quickly, pushing away the tinge of red that was beginning to encroach on his vision. This was no time for a mindless rampage. He had to be quiet, and precise and leave no stone unturned.

He ended the call without responding to the asshole, reaching for his ready-bag. He was out the door in less than thirty seconds, running along the rooftops toward the docks, twisting a silencer onto his favorite pistol. The locations these pricks picked were really beginning to be old-hat for Frank. An empty warehouse with the words Blackwell Shipping slashed across the brick facade, the paint nearly as old as the crumbling bricks.

He picked off the snipers on the roof first, one shot, one kill. Each man falling in a silent heap before they could even register what had happened to their companions. Frank suspected the kidnappers knew this would happen, giving no shits for the unfortunate assholes posted up there. They were decoys, something to make him feel safe and in control. He glanced along the windows of the surrounding warehouses, finally catching the glint of a rifle scope in the moonlight. Frank took the man out with one shot, quickly moving down into the alley beside the building.

If he had anything to say about it, there wouldn’t be a lone survivor of the Blackwell family when he was finished with them.

-

As soon as the line went dead, the man hauled Karen back up against him. He pulled her back into the corridor, this time moving toward a set of damp stone steps. She fought against his movements. Every fiber of her being told her that going to yet another location with this man spelled disaster. She elbowed him in the ribs and took off down the corridor, only to be caught in the midsection by an unyielding fist out of nowhere.

She crumpled to the floor, and the new man picked her up like a sack of potatoes and threw her over his shoulder. “Where you want me to put her, Mr. Blackwell?”

“In my office. I have plans for her.”

Unable to catch her breath, she was helpless. She could feel the man going up the stairs with her, heard the click of a door unlocking. He dropped her in a heap on a slick leather couch, her vision doubling as her head knocked against the wall behind her. The bigger man was gone before she could gather her senses. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried valiantly to catch her breath and ease the throbbing in her skull. Everything was happening too fast, her mind foggy with the latest blow.

Her original captor was back, Mr. Blackwell his man had called him. She wracked her brain and still couldn’t come up with anything. Why did this man want Frank so badly? And what did he have planned for her?

One question was answered with the sound of leather belt sliding free from its loops and dropping to the floor. Karen’s eyes flew open to see Blackwell unbuttoning his trousers and stalking toward her with a leering smile on his face. “My brother liked to beat his whores a little before availing himself of their services, but I’m more of a gentle sort. Gentler even, I bet, than your fuckbuddy Castle.”

Karen felt her mind go blank. Men like this couldn’t be reasoned with. She didn’t have anything to trade him, no information, no assurances. He wanted one thing, and that was to crush her beneath him, to inflict as much pain as possible. He had no ulterior motive now that Frank was already on the way, and she had no means of stopping him.

Seeing her frozen in fear made Blackwell’s smile grow wider, and he threw caution to the winds, approaching her quickly. His snatched at her blouse, eyes dancing as the buttons bounced on the wooden floorboards. The motion made Karen look down, and she saw it. The metal edge of the spoon hidden in her bra.

In a split second she fished the utensil out, holding it in her hand like a dagger she lunged forward and plunged the curved metal into Blackwell’s eye socket, twisting the spoon and pulling out the man’s eyeball.

He let out a bloodcurdling scream, staggering back, hands clutched to his face. Karen was back, her mind firing on all cylinders. Quickly she jumped up, scrambling to the fireplace to grab the only weapon-like object in the room: a rusty fire poker.

She hit him over the head with the handle, heavy cast iron leaving a crunching dent in the back of the man’s skull. He dropped to the floor instantly, but Karen’s momentum and rage carried her forward, raising the handle over and over again until the man’s face was nothing but a bloody pulp.

The door behind her flew open, and she turned, fully prepared to fly at her next attacker, but she stopped cold at the sight of a white skull painted across a flack jacket. Relief surged through her body, making her go limp, fire poker falling to the floor. Her spiking adrenaline had nowhere to go now that she wasn’t fighting. Instead she burst into tears, knees collapsing beneath her.

Frank caught her before she hit the floor, holding her tight against his chest, soft shushing noises whispering in her ear as his hands probed her body for injuries. “I’ve got you. They’re all dead. You’re safe.”

-

She didn’t see him again for two weeks, but it wasn’t the same as the last time. One by one the heirs to the Blackwell Shipping fortune began showing up dead, clearly assassinated, one bullet lodged in each of them. She kept track of it in the obituaries, safely ensconced in Foggy’s apartment. Frank wouldn’t let her go back to hers until this mess was over.

When she did go back there were new locks on the door, a new steel reinforced door frame even, and the windows looked like they belonged in fort knox. The glass was suspiciously thick and Karen was pretty sure it could withstand more than a few rounds of ammunition.

And he was waiting for her, standing in her kitchen with small flowerpot clutched in his scarred hands, an unreadable expression on his face. She walked toward him, unsure of what he was thinking. “That for me?”

He nodded, setting the succulent plant on the table beside him. “I would have brought flowers but…” He trailed off, the memory of the violets still painful for the both of them. “Ma’am, I’m sorry–”He stopped short, something in his voice catching. His vocal chords were raspy, mostly unused in the past few weeks. The sound of emotion getting tangled in with the hoarse vibrations made her pulse skip. “Frank?”

He moved toward her, lifting one hand to her face, fingers tracing the spot where she’d been bruised. The mark was long faded, but she knew he could still see it in his mind’s eye. His roving hand slipped into her hair, cradling her head, fingers brushing against the spot where she’d been knocked over the head.

Swallowing, she tried to form the words to articulate how she was feeling. There was a well of emotion inside of her, rising until she thought it was going to spill out in a cascade of tears. He was being so gentle, his eyes probing so deeply into her soul. Before she could say anything, she was crushed to him in a tight hug.

He mumbled against her hair. “I should have stopped coming around a long time ago. You’re life is tainted by me. I’m sorry.” He began to pull away.

She shook her head, reaching her arms up around his neck and pulling him closer. “What’s done is done, Frank. Leaving won’t change that.” Her bottom lip began to tremble. “Please stay.”

He leaned down, his forehead touching hers, skin melding. “Okay.”

“Okay.”