#that story where they meet again when old. they all look like aging men while kyle looks like a regular 30-year-old establishing his career

[scorchedhearth]

i find it super funny that kyle is included in the four corpsmen/four og lantern thing because he arrived way later than the first three. there's hal, a while later there guy for a blink and then a bit later john for sure and guy comes back and they run around the three of them for a long time before kyle even shows up. and when he shows up he's mostly on his own for a while. for hal, guy, and john, kyle is the recent addition to the fold, he doesn't share nearly as much history as the first 3 do. kyle, in a very typical fashion for his character might i add, should be the most isolated, hal guy and john grouped together by the closeness of getting the ring, with jessica, simon grouped together as getting it the latest, technically jo too but she doesn't interact with them much, and kyle smack dab in the middle

[cheesiedomino]

Second chances ꙳ ੭ * ‧

synopsis: your old situationship from many years ago just moved back in town and of course, he has to text you. but it’s not just any normal text — he’s asking you out on a proper date this time. will you give a second chance to Cupid? or will you be left here feeling stupid?

genre: lee minho x fem!reader | exes (??) to lovers wc: 4.6k tags/warnings: fluff, some light angst, slightly suggestive but nothing srs, mild cursing, kissing, small mentions of crying T-T

now playing 🎧: from the start by laufey

[this is part of my valentine’s series where i write a short story for each member surrounding themes of love, newfound romance, relationship hardships & more.]

“Why don’t you give Tinder a try already? I’m sick of hearing you nagging all day about being lonely!” Areum abruptly suggests mid-convo , resting her palm on the side of her face.

As you both casually wait for the food to arrive, you end up on the dreadful topic of dating again. You got into a real heated discussion with her, sitting in a booth at this new restaurant one of your coworker’s recommended. It wasn’t super well known but they wouldn’t stop raving about how delicious their breadsticks were. The place wasn’t too jam packed but definitely had a decent amount of people. What you weren’t anticipating on was seeing dozens of couples here, it kind of threw your whole vibe off since it only reminded you of your current sad relationship status. Maybe you were putting far too much thought into it but everything seemed so highly unfair. Glaring in envy while they all happily rub in your face that they’ve found their forever companion.

Life really can be cruel at times.

“You can’t be for real right now..” you instantly side eye your friend from across the table. Feeling personally triggered whenever she mentions online dating. You refuse to try it, never wanting to partake in such a vain concept where you swipe left and right based solely on looks. “That’s not the same as real romance. I want to meet someone naturally, wanna tell my kids when they grow up how I met their dreamy, hunk of a father in aisle 39 at Whole Foods.”

One could say it’s almost pathetic in a way— this burning desire you harbor within, longing for a pure, quaint, and beautiful love. Constantly catching yourself daydreaming about finding your life partner, the person you’re going to marry and possibly create an eternal family with. That day has yet to come unfortunately, but you still hold onto the thought of you someday meeting the one.

You thought you found them before, but thou shalt not speak thy names out into existence.

“Well, good luck finding ‘real romance’ in the big age of 2024-” Areum snorts in amusement, taking a pause to sip on her mango strawberry lemonade. “I need whatever drugs you’re on that’s making you this delulu so I can fantasize about my knight and shining armor that’s never coming!”

God you hate that word. Delulu. Why are you suddenly “delusional” for wanting a picture perfect romance? It doesn’t need to be perfect per se, but you want to feel adored, swept off your feet and embraced like the true queen you are. Was that too much to ask? Considering the current state of dating in this day and age, it might just be.

“I mean, let’s face it girl. You literally don’t know the first thing about love ___, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows like in the K-dramas y’know! Haven’t you only had like one boyfriend in high school? You barely even dated that guy for a month-”

“That’s because he dumped me to go move to LA and become a dumb YouTuber!” You snapped back, cutting her off to get all the facts straight.

It was hard not to grimace while thinking of such old memories. Dating a Minecraft streamer definitely had to be one of the most embarrassingly cringe choices you’ve ever made.

“Whatever that’s beside the point. What I’m trying to get at here is you don’t have the best track record when it comes to men. Remember that other guy you were seeing before we graduated? I thought y’all would’ve dated for sure but he turned out to be a dickhole just like the rest of ‘em…” Areum shakes her head in disbelief, recalling all those times you’d call in a frenzied panic about things not working out.

“What was his name again? Min… Minwoo? No, that’s not it.. it was definitely Min something.” She attempts on remembering but keeps drawing a blank.

“Minho.” You answer almost instantaneously. His name still rolled off the tongue smooth as velvet.

It felt weird though. Saying it out loud after so many years of blocking it from your immediate vocabulary. A name you thought would never escape your lips again.

“Damn, you really still think about him don’t you?” She dares to ask, knowing how difficult it is for you to even talk about this anymore.

You only respond by nodding slowly, unable to bring yourself to look at her. It was far too intense; bearing the emotions of hurt and guilt from a past fling that meant more to you but nothing to the other. That’s how most of your tragic stories end— always too overly into them while they barely reciprocate any of that energy towards you. The thing is, you thought Minho actually liked you, even so far as wanting to date in the near future. Considering he brought you over his parent’s house (to hook up of course), and though you didn’t meet them you still think that meant something. Most men don’t just bring any woman they’re seeing to their parent’s place without somewhat thinking a potential relationship could happen down the line.

“So that’s why you should download Tinder and start swipin’ on some other cuties! It’ll at least distract you for a bit and get your mind off that asswipe,” Areum pitches her idea once more, “there’s plenty other fish in the sea ___. Not everyone online is some crazy serial killer, plus you clearly don’t seem to be having much luck out in the real world.”

You wanted to jump up from the table and erase that smirk from her face but instead you roll your eyes at that last remark. “I don’t need those shitty dating apps. I’m very capable of finding someone in real life for your information!” You quickly retort as a means to defend yourself. Even though she did have a point, her delivery could’ve been a little bit nicer.

It’s not easy being a hopeless romantic, you can’t help but yearn for that special someone to enter your life and change it for the better. You won’t feel wholly satisfied nor complete until you do. The sad reality of the matter was that you are still painfully single. No one’s interesting enough to cease your attention, let alone go on any actual dates. Areum’s had enough of your bitching and whining though, there’s only so many rants and tirades she can keep listening to about your vicious hatred for men before she loses it completely. Your nonexistent love life has become more of a nuisance as that time of year approaches— Valentine’s Day. A god forsaken holiday you’ve always loathed with a passion. Wanting nothing more than to be one of those girls on the receiving end getting flowers and chocolates. A day full of the utmost joy and pleasant surprises from your loving significant other.

Must be nice..

Speaking of surprises.. The buzzing in your ear echoes from your phone pinging loudly, indefinitely startling you. Grabbing it to check the sudden notification, your eyes go absurdly wide at the contact name displayed on your screen. Blinking numerous times from shock, you stare at your phone in incredulity; making sure your eyes weren’t playing tricks on you.

Lee Minho. The Lee Minho?

What kind of sorcery is being conjured where the instant you bring him up, he somehow texts you after all these years of not speaking? This coincidence was more than unsettling to you. A part of your inner thoughts still believes this is all some elaborate joke being played on you, waiting for a cameraman to pop out of some curtain to announce you’ve just been pranked. But nothing happens, life proceeds as normal. Now you’re left with the most puzzling notification you might’ve ever received.

It was your last year of college and the pressure of your academics along with appeasing your family was getting to you immensely. You needed an escape from all of it, desperately. Which you found through none other than Lee Minho, the boy who worked as a barista at Cozmo’s; this coffee shop you used to frequent a lot. It was a cute, small family-owned establishment and they made the best matcha lattes— in your humble opinion. You’d pick one up almost every day along with a slice of freshly baked cinnamon bread. It started off as only playful banter with him in the beginning, then it lead to more as time went on. One day, as you reached out to pay he blocked your hand from moving any closer, letting you freely walk away without spending a dime. This soon became a regular occurrence, as you’d start seeing Minho outside of work, getting to know more and more about him. You remember so desperately wanting to date back then, pitying your past self for thinking there was even a chance.

‘Maybe he’s just texted the wrong person’ you psyche yourself into thinking, but when you unlock your phone to finally read the message — an uncomfortable lump forms in the pit of your throat.

Minho 🐈:

Hey is this still ___’s number?

You honestly don’t know why you still have his number saved, let alone allowing a whole emoji to be next to it. Though it never was like you to delete anything, no matter how painful it may have been. More lingering questions makes you want to seek out the possible solutions. Why would he text you of all people ? None of this adds up in your mind realistically. Furrowing your brows in concentration, you think of what to say as you draft out a response.

Yes… who’s this?

After a tedious struggle of typing out multiple paragraphs and immediately deleting them, you went over your words a few more times before sending a final reply. It would’ve been strange had you knew exactly who he was off the bat, that’ll just be dead giveaway you still had his contact info saved this whole time. But with that logic, doesn’t that make Minho just as odd for still keeping your number after all this time has passed?

Your phone dings again.

Minho 🐈:

Srsly -_-

Did you really delete my number??

Bet he didn’t see that one coming. He probably thought the moment he texts you, you were gonna kiss up to him like you’ve always done in the past. Mentally giggling to yourself at the image of him getting flustered by you not knowing who he was at first. Feels good to know you knocked his confidence down a peg.

Lol, chillax.. I know it’s you Minho :P

Not even a minute later, a flood of incoming messages appear. Biting your lip out of nervousness, your heart couldn’t stop beating so fast— anxiously checking your phone as the atmosphere around you suddenly gets stuffier.

Minho 🐈:

Better be lucky I didn’t block you after that ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Guess who’s back in the city btw. Did ya miss me? ;)

No need to answer that, I already know you did. You should stop by at Cozmo’s again sometime!

Also what’re you up to this week? I need you to clear out all your plans because I’m taking you out on a date.

You always knew Minho was the bold type but this was on another level. The sheer audacity he has to even ask something like this after not reaching out for almost 3 years was more than ballsy on his part. It felt like a surge of butterflies erupting in your stomach, getting lightheaded as you think about seeing him again. He really had an effect on you like no other.

Glancing up from your screen to finally pay attention to Areum again, you assure her everything’s going to be just fine. “Looks like I won’t be needing to download Tinder after all.”

Later on that day you ended up going to Cozmo’s and meeting up with Minho. It never really took much convincing from him to get you to budge, though it was a hell of a lot worse back then. You used to blindly follow along with anything he said just to seek his approval, hoping that eventually he’ll see you as the girl he wants to settle down with. Alas, nothing ever blossomed into something more, and you knew deep down that this was headed nowhere— but that still didn’t stop you from fantasizing about a future with him. Getting lost into deep thought, head heavy in the clouds as you imagine the idea of Minho confessing his undying love for you. You’ll be so caught off guard as he gets down on one knee, looking at you with the entire solar system in eyes while he proposes in the most charming way. It really is pitiful how much you still daydream about a guy who wasn’t your boyfriend but would constantly act like he was, then up and leaves without mentioning a single word about it.

You convinced yourself he ran off with someone else to have a better life with, even hearing through town gossip that he’s moved to South Korea to pursue becoming an idol. Whatever the case may be it still weighed heavily on your mind that he never bothered to tell you anything, even a simple ‘goodbye’ would’ve sufficed the empty hole in your heart. The main reason you agreed on meeting up with Minho was to finally ask, why? Why did he pretend to like you? Why did he act like your boyfriend when he never had intentions on seriously dating? Why was he so good at making you fall so hard for him..?

“You look great.” You subconsciously blurt out, affixed in a daze as you stare in awe at the man in front of you.

It’s been a while since you came here— never able to fully bring yourself to try and go back. Though you knew this place first, and they really did have the best Mactha lattes in the universe. It reminded you too much of him and you sadly had to let it go.

You weren’t proud of it but you did go home quickly to change clothes and redo your makeup. Usually you wouldn’t care but this was the only guy you’ve been consistently crushing on for years, you had to feel good inside and out. Minho was just as gorgeous as you remembered, if not he looked even more ethereal — which seemed impossible in itself already. He’s grown up so beautifully, his facial features became more sharp, especially his jawline which looks so defined and sculpted by the Gods.

Minho lightly chuckles at your timidness, some things just never change. “You look way better.” His lips drew into a faint smirk as he admires your presence.

He meant every word of what he said, you looked really good, and it was making him even more frustrated that so much time has passed. Regretting the way he handled things so many years ago, wishing he could take it all back and do everything differently. Seeing you again made it easier for Minho to suppress the guilt he’s borne for so long. This moment feels like a second chance to make amends for his past mistakes.

You couldn’t help but blush when you hear his compliment, feeling your ears grow hot as you look at the ground. There was a silent pause between you that lasted for what seemed like ages. Weirdly enough the conversation flowed well after he finally broke the awkwardness, the chemistry was overall still there and were able to pick up right where it left off.

“I’m so glad you came ___, I’ve been dying to see you since I got here. I’m surprised you even still responded to my lame ass.”

Minho’s light confession puzzles you. If he really was dying to see you, why’d he wait so long to get in contact with you? To be fair, you don’t know the exact time he came back.

“Oh, is that so? When’d you come back? Also show me pics of Korea, I’ve always wanted to know what it’s like there.” You fondly inquire, leaning against the side of the wall as he’s still behind the counter. He mentioned to you he’s only working part time because his parents would rather mooch off their son for free labor than to hire and pay a new employee.

“Yesterday,” he quickly states before taking out his phone to scroll through his gallery, “guess my sister must’ve told you I went there huh?”

You shook your head, “Nah, I haven’t talked to Elle in a while. She’s tried hitting me up a few times though.. but I found out through Areum ‘cause she was seeing Hoseok back then.”

They were definitely “seeing” each other alright, but mostly in the bedroom. Areum didn’t want anything exclusive with Hoseok and neither did he, it was the perfect friends with benefits situation. Minho and Hoseok were good friends who’ve known each other for a while, so naturally he’d tell Areum everything and overshare at some point.

“Agh, there’s a customer gotta take this. One sec, sorry!” He briefly apologizes before bringing his attention to the new person heading inside. You nod, signaling he’s good to go. “I’ll be waiting over there,” you point to a small wooden table with 2 chairs in a corner.

Once Minho comes back you notice he’s no longer wearing his purple work apron; back in his regular attire now and sporting an oversized dark grey hoodie that was three times too big. He was holding a large cup with green liquid and a paper bag in his hand, that’s when it clicks for you— he still remembers your favorite meal.

He’s grinning the whole time he’s handing you the matcha latte and cinnamon pastry, smiling from ear to ear like a kid on Christmas Day. This was the most you’ve seen him be so enthusiastic about something, even back when you were “with” him you can’t recall him beaming with such energy like this.

“Awh, thank you. I haven’t had either one of these in years!” You wanted to give him the biggest hug but you refrained from doing so, feeling as though it may be too early for that.

“Of course dear, anything for you.”

Why does everything he says have to make you melt from the inside out? It’s not fair! >:(

Glancing down at your yummy beverage, you see a message written on the side of the glass with bold permanent sharpie. Tilting your head to read it, the words are bit jumbled together but you get the gist. You’re almost left speechless after it reads: ‘___, Will you be my valentine?’

Your most dreaded and least favorite holiday is here, yippee! But, there’s a twist on this year’s turn of events; you actually have someone to celebrate this wretched tradition with. You should be excited but all you’re feeling is the sudden urge to vomit as you were nervous out of your mind. This was kind of weird to you, going on a date with your ex boyfriend who was never even your real boyfriend. Looking back on it now you shouldn’t have tolerated a relationship dynamic like that, Minho was clearly taking advantage of your passiveness by not explicitly saying what he wanted. On the contrary, you had no one to blame but yourself, you never spoke up or criticized anything even if it didn’t coincide with your personal morals.

The fact he never took you on an actual date until now speaks volumes, you obviously didn’t have enough self worth back to demand better treatment. It took you years of figuring out what a real, healthy relationship is supposed to be like through trials of therapy and that was an emotional rollercoaster in itself. All your uncertainties soon faded away once you became more secure and knew exactly what you wanted for yourself. It took every ounce of patience and acceptance to unlearn all your bad coping mechanisms and other toxic behaviors that were only stunting your inner growth. You’re happy to be in a position now where you’re able to express wholeheartedly what you deserve, it’s the best feeling ever to feel like you’re in control of your own life.

You spent almost 3 hours getting ready and your bedroom now looked like a war zone. The outfit you chose was super girly, a frilly white dress with pink platform heels— Minho’s going to drool in amazement when he sees you. When you sent Areum photos of you before heading out, she responds right way with a series of hearts and other sweet comments— hyping you up to no end like the best friend she is. She’s also able to help pull you out of your doubtful headspace, when you felt unsure if you could really go through with this she quickly psyched you out of it. Reminding you exactly who you are and why you are the prize, not him. ‘He should be the one who’s nervous, not the other way around’ you assure yourself over and over as a mini ego boost.

His jaw dropped when he spotted you walking up to his car, infatuated by how pretty and perfect you looked in every way possible. It angers him so much to know he took all this for granted, he didn’t appreciate all of you the way he should’ve but now he gets another chance to redo everything and right his wrongs. It’s a lot of pressure but he bravely accepts it, he could never mess up another opportunity like this again. The car ride was fairly silent in the beginning, you were vibing in peace as the only thing you could hear was Minho’s soft indie playlist as background music.

You ultimately chose to be the one to speak first, breaking the ice with a simple inquiry about the date. “So where are we going?” Looking out at the scenery from the window, all you is trees and more trees. If it’s something to do with nature you surely don’t want any parts of it, you’ve never been too fond of the wilderness.

“It’s a surprise, I can’t tell you.” He keeps a tight seal on today’s destination without dropping a single hint, forcing you to go completely blind into this. As he goes back to focus on the road, you sigh anxiously after hearing him refuse to disclose anything.

Did he seriously forget what kind of person you are? Anyone who’s close to you at all knows you’ve never been into those types of things. Ever.

“You know I hate surprises Minho,” you remind him, attempting to pry for more information. Even shooting him a doe eyed look along with poking out your bottom lip, but he doesn’t falter.

He simply nods, “I know but you’ll like this one, just have a little bit of faith me.” Flashing an innocent smile at you, he seems to be overly confident in whatever his plan consists of.

After almost half an hour passes the car finally comes to a stop, you scan the area and instantly notice a sense of familiarity among the place. Across from you was an ice cream parlor you thought didn’t exist anymore. But there it is, still standing with dozens of customers waiting in line. The small shop was famously known for its fish-shaped ice cream cones, you’ve always wanted to visit the place and try it when you were a little from seeing it on TV all the time. When you told Minho about it, you said how your parents would say it was too far but it actually closed down and they didn’t know how to tell you. From time to time you’d still think about that place, but you would’ve never thought they relocated. Being here with Minho brings an indescribable amount of happiness to your spirit.

“I mentioned this place like one time in passing, how’d you even remember?” You wonder in amazement, after all these years he still remembers something as minuscule as this.

“It may not have seemed like it but I paid attention to every little detail you told me ___, all it. Of course I know you don’t like surprises but how else would I have been able to take you here?” He sweetly expresses to you, not wanting to hold back anymore.

You wanted to cry right here, right now. All your emotions came crashing down at once and it’s hard to keep them concealed. A lot has changed within these years, things feel so different with him now, especially with how much he’s matured. You notice how he doesn’t act like the typical fuckboy in his early 20’s anymore, he’s much more interested in getting to know only person — that being you.

“I’ve rehearsed this in my head like a million times and I don’t think I’ll ever say it the right way I want but it’s time I start being as transparent as possible with you…” Minho takes a deep breath before continuing, “I’ve always liked you ___, from the start actually,” he keeps going, “I was just scared, of what I don’t know.. Commitment maybe?”

Slightly looking in another direction, your vision faintly blurs from tears welling up, “I- I honestly don’t know what to say..”

“Then don’t say anything at all, I don’t need you to. I may not know the first thing about how to love someone, but I want to learn all of it with you.” He feels all the remorse of leaving you alone for all these years, unable to process the pain you must’ve endured at him not getting into contact with you. “I’m so sorry ___. For everything, I’m going to make it all better I promise.”

Your eyes subconsciously flutter shut when he comes in contact with you. Connecting in perfect symmetry with your lips to sync together in motion. His gentle hands cupped your face delicately; his touch was so warm and inviting. Your fingers were deeply tangled in his brunette locks, relishing every minute as he tilts his head to capture more of you. He genuinely couldn’t believe he went this long without kissing these luscious lips again. His tongue grazed the bottom of your lip to subtly ask for entry and you comply. Dopamine floods both your senses like a series of fireworks going off, feeling intoxicated by each other’s taste. It was probably that vanilla bean chapstick you always wore— an old favorite of his and is still your go-to flavor of choice. He wanted to savor you in this moment for as long as he could, cherish the fact he has you in his hold again.

“Want to know something funny?” He asks out of nowhere, still smirking from that heated kiss that just happened seconds ago.

“Hm?”

“You’re the reason I ended up coming back here.” Minho states bluntly, no hesitation detected in his voice whatsoever.

You struggle to comprehend anything, overwhelmed by all his sudden confessions. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I never want to leave your side ever again ___. I’m staying here with you, I already made the biggest mistake of losing you once I can’t let the same thing happen twice.” He spoke tenderly from the bottom of his heart, it felt so genuine you couldn’t not believe him.

Going back to rewind time isn’t possible, but “do-over’s” are, and sometimes we’re able to get those second chances to make things right when we get them wrong the first time.

[End <3].

[rodolfoparras]

Cw: 18+, single dad Price, top Male reader, one night stand, age gap, widower! Price

Summary: In which Price happens to hook up with his son’s boyfriend

Thinking about single dad Price who’s been single for many years but gets encouraged by his friends to try the dating scene. After finding no luck on dating apps, he tries going to a gay bar.

At first it's the same old story, men who just want him for the night, not much different from the men from the dating apps and he’s just about to give up when you show up.

He hadn’t planned to talk to you at first and you hadn't even tried to approach him but you had gotten your drinks mixed up and thus a conversation started up.

From the low light of the bar he could see that you were much younger than him, and for a second Price thought about cutting this conversation short because Price knew boys like you, boys who thought they could take on the world boys who didn’t even know what they really want.

But he didn’t want to cut the conversation short, and found himself intrigued by you. Besides you’re the only normal person that approached him tonight so why not?

The two of you spoke about anything and everything under the sun. He had even let it slip that he was a single dad who hasn’t been in the dating scene in a while but you didn’t seem to mind it at all, only giving him a soft smile in response as you continued to listen to him.

But every word exchanged, every time your gazes met, every accidental graze and touch Price had realized you were just his type.

And suddenly Price wanted you in a way he hasn’t wanted anyone since his late wife passed.

But you didn’t seem that much interested in having sex, instead you continued to sit with him at the bar, and talk to him.

Price thought it must’ve been because of his age, why would you want to hook up with an old man anyway?

But if Price has learned anything from the dating scene it’s that sometimes you have to take the first step and see where it leads you.

So he downed his drink, cleared his throat, and asked you if you’d like to come home with him.

You’d been surprised at first not expecting those words and Price almost took your hesitance for rejection but you quickly spoke up again, ending any doubts in his head, and only asking if he’s sure about it

Price felt heat creeping up his neck, ears and cheeks but nodded eagerly, pants growing tighter as the two of you walked to his apartment.

When he first stepped foot inside he thought you’d push him up against the wall rip his clothes off and crash your lips onto his, truth be told if you were to do that he wouldn’t mind it but instead you hung your jacket up and put your shoes to the side and looked around the apartment , with a curious look in your eyes.

Price tried to scramble his brain for something to say. It had been so long since he brought someone home, he didn’t know what he was supposed to say anymore but all of sudden his thoughts are cut off by the sound of your voice “Is that a picture of you in the army?”

“Hm? Oh yeah” Price nodded in response as you inspected one of the pictures hung on the wall.

It had been one he’d taken with the rest of tf141, a keepsake for when he went into retirement.

“You were a captain?” You said, voice full of wonder as you continued to inspect the picture.

“Been plenty of things kid, I spent many years in the army” Price shrugged in response and walked closer to you, so that your shoulders were brushing up against each other.

“I always wanted to enlist but never passed the physical test,”

"Yeah?" Well it’s not all what it’s cut up to be, I got a bad knee and ptsd from the years spent serving”

“I’m sorry” you said, and turned to meet his gaze.

“Don’t be,”

Your gaze dropped down to his lips, as your arms snuk around his waist

“Price,”

“John” he corrected and leaned further into your embrace.

“John, can I kiss you?” You said, hand cupping his cheek and stroking flushed skin.

“Please” before he knew of it you crashed your lips onto his and he lost himself in the feeling of finally being kissed, in the way you tasted, the way your sweet cologne engulfed his senses, the way you licked into his mouth as if trying to memorize every nook and cranny.

It didn’t take much before you were stumbling into his dark bedroom, but instead of ripping the clothes off of his body you were gentle as ever as you slipped pieces of clothing off of him, all while trailing kisses all over his skin.

But it didn’t end there because you were gentle as ever as you pushed him onto the bed, and ever so careful as you crawled up the mattress and pinned him down under your weight and Price couldn’t help the butterflies that swarmed his stomach.

You spent the night taking him apart with your hands and mouth, having him perched on your lap as he worked himself up and down on your cock, or having him sobbing into the sheets as you fucked him into the bed that his wife and him used to sleep in, even having him screaming -crying enough to make him worry that the neighbors’ would complain in the morning.

When he woke up the next day you weren’t with him in bed but you had left a sticky note saying you had to rush home for whatever reason.

Luckily you had left your number on it but Price didn’t have the courage to call.

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months and he’d forgotten about the young man that had given him the world in just one night until one day you showed up at his front door and introduced yourself as his son’s boyfriend.

[jettingtothemoon]

Daughter of the Spirits; chapter 11

➳ pairing: zuko x f!reader ➳ genre: a retelling of the show from season 2 onwards with a heavy focus and expansion on zuko’s story (canon divergent) ➳ warnings: violence, swearing, smut (underaged if your age of consent is above 16), spoilers for anyone who hasn’t seen the show ➳ word count: 3537 ➳ rating: 18+ ➳ summary: In which y/n comes across the fire nation prince during her stay in Ba Sing Se. ➳ tags: @harmlessoffering, @lammello (i’m sorry if i’m forgetting anyone, lmk if i am or if you want to be added)

Chapters: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13,

The Invasion

You found out from Mai and Ty Lee that there had been another war meeting — one Zuko hadn’t been invited to. He was furious, of course.

For the first time in years, he was finally starting to feel like a prince again. What with all the servants at his beck and call, insisting he take the palanquin when traversing the city, even if he was only out on an errand with you. People were by his side day and night, making sure he had everything he needed. It was exactly how it should have been, even if it was quite the adjustment for you both, yet he had still been excluded by his father.

He had told you about his banishment. How he had spoken up at a war meeting and disgraced his father, leading to the agni kai where he had to fight the very man that was supposed to protect him. The man who scarred and banished his own child.

Only this morning was he happy and smiling, simply enjoying the time he got to spend with you. Now, however, he sat staring out of the window, watching as the clouds passed over the moon in silent contemplation.

“Zuko,” you said his name and yet, he didn't move. Didn’t even flinch. It was as if he hadn’t even heard you, only you knew he had.

"Zuko," you tried again, this time wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

Wordlessly, he leaned into you. His scowl never once left his face but he was at least trying to control his temper for you, allowing himself to fall into your embrace.

"It's just a war meeting. I bet they're full of old, boring men."

Your attempt at amusing him seemed to fail as he leaned away from you and back against the window. "They're important. All the best advisors and the entire royal family attend. Even Azula is going."

"Just another reason that it won't be fun, Azula will be there."

Now that got a chuckle. A small one, but a chuckle nonetheless.

"Stop worrying about it and come to bed."

He hummed, turning away from the window and towards you. He wasn't happy and he probably wouldn't be for a while, but at least he could relax with you. Even when things weren’t going his way.

The next day, you sat with Zuko as you made a cup of jasmine tea. He sulked beside you with a frown on his face, thinking about the meeting that was about to start without him. You could tell how badly he wanted to be there, even if he did keep shrugging it off when you tried to comfort him. You thought making some tea would help but it only seemed to sour his mood further and you soon realised it was because he was missing his uncle.

You missed Iroh too. You had wanted to go and visit him but Zuko forbade you, expressing how dangerous it would be if you did. Azula had found out when he went to see him and if anyone were to find out you were visiting a traitor of the Fire Nation you would be hauled away and thrown into a cell of your own before either of you could do anything to stop it.

It pained you to think of the old man sitting in a dark, grimey cell. More so when the smell of jasmine tea reminded you as much of him now as it did your mother.

“Prince Zuko,” your attention was drawn to a servant as he entered the room with a bow, “Everyone’s waiting for you.”

Zuko looked from you to the man who now knelt at the floor with furrowed brows before getting up from where he sat. “What?”

“The high admirals, high generals, the war ministers, and the princess have all arrived. You’re the only person missing,” the servant explained, his eyes lifting to look at the prince as he spoke.

You stood beside Zuko with a heavily beating chest as he asked, “So my dad wants me at the meeting?”

The servant bowed again. “The Firelord said he would not start until you have arrived, sir.”

With a full smile, Zuko turned to you and, although he was going to a meeting where they would likely discuss the deaths of even more people you loved and knew, you couldn’t help but feel happy for him. This was all he’d ever wanted — to be accepted by his father. To be loved and wanted. For his opinions to matter. That alone brought you hope because if he could sway his father or even some of the generals, perhaps he could help save lives on both sides of the war.

You, along with Mai, waited outside the meeting for him, both anxious to hear how it went. She had offered to come with you so that you would not be alone in the palace for too long since she knew just how daunting that could be. Besides, she was still Zuko’s friend too, just as she was now yours.

When he finally emerged, Mai was the first to ask, “So? How did it go?”

“When I got to the meeting, everyone welcomed me. My father had saved me a seat, he wanted me next to him. I was literally at his right hand.”

His words almost sent a chill down your spine as you thought of the worst — that rather than Zuko swaying the Firelord’s mind about the war, that it would be his father who would sway him. You knew better than that, though, and as much was confirmed when you were met with nothing but a troubled expression on Zuko’s face.

“That’s wonderful,” Mai grinned, “You must be happy.”

The three of you stopped in front of a large tapestry, one displaying a large portrait of Firelord Ozai. You placed a reassuring hand on Zuko’s shoulder as he looked up at it and exchanged a worried glance with Mai.

“During the meeting I was the perfect prince,” he concluded, “The son my father wanted… but I wasn’t me.”

You ran your hand down his arm and slotted it into his, giving it a gentle squeeze. For a moment, he squeezed it back, but then tugged his hand free and began to walk away, leaving both you and Mai behind.

She sighed and became the one placing a gentle hand on your shoulder. “Give him time. This was a good thing, he’ll realise that soon.”

You hummed although you did not agree. The only good thing was that Zuko was starting to realise who he was and that the man he was wasn’t the man his father wanted him to be. He was not ruthless and cold. He was kind and strong and so many other things his father would never be. He was better than him and finally, you thought he was beginning to realise that.

When you returned to your room, you found him writing a letter.

“What are you doing?” you questioned, wondering what he was up to.

“Writing to Mai. I at least owe her a goodbye.”

“Goodbye?” you asked, your brows furrowed.

He hummed. “We’re leaving. I… This isn’t who I am. Not anymore. An invasion has begun, we can slip away in the chaos but I have to do something first.”

Whatever he had in mind, whether he just wanted to leave and find your parents or maybe, just maybe, hunt down and join the avatar, you knew you were going with him. After all the time that had passed since you left Ba Sing Se, he was finally ready to accept who he was. He was finally going to do the right thing.

He passed you the brush when he was finished, allowing you to write your apologies and goodbyes to your newfound friends. You addressed both Mai and Ty Lee directly, wishing them well and hoping you would not come to face them on opposite sides of the battlefield. The two of you then signed the letter and Zuko left to take it to her home, putting it someplace where she would see it long after the two of you were gone.

After he returned, as you collected what little things you owned, he knelt before a portrait of his mother and closed his eyes. “I know I’ve made some bad choices, but today I’m gonna set things right.”

He picked up his swords and a small bag of provisions, turning to the lighter side of himself once again, and pulled his hood up to conceal his face.

You stepped forward and pulled him into your arms, pressing a kiss to his lips as your thumb stroked the side of his face. “It’s going to be okay, you know. You’re doing the right thing.”

He smiled and leaned into your touch. “I know.”

He led you quickly through the palace and down underground. You could hear the fighting up above as you moved through the tunnels and Zuko explained that during the eclipse today, no one would be able to Firebend. It was the perfect time for an attack and, along with the invasion forces, would surely be the avatar. He had a plan and that plan was to join them, to help the avatar finally put an end to this war.

But he had to confront his father first and what better time was there to do that than when he had no bending?

When he finally came to a halt before a large, reinforced door, you felt your heart in your throat. How would Ozai react to the news of his son’s betrayal? Would he try to kill him then and there? Or perhaps he would simply try to imprison you both? Either way, you were prepared. You would use your bending — all of your bending — to fight. You were fighting for yourself. You were fighting for your family. You were fighting for Zuko.

You held his hand, squeezing it in reassurance as you had done time and time before.

“I’m ready to face you,” he spoke, as though his father could hear him through the door.

He did not protest as you walked to the door with him, nor did he ask you to remain behind as he walked inside. As dangerous as what he was about to do was, he trusted that you would be safe by his side, and that he would be safe by yours. Whatever was going to happen, you were going to do it together.

“Prince Zuko,” his father addressed him with a frown and lowered his cup of tea, “What are you doing here?”

Zuko walked towards his father, with you standing only a few paces behind. This was his moment and you wanted him to have it but if he needed you, you would be there to fight by his side.

“I’m here to tell the truth,” Zuko declared from where he stood, staring his father down.

The firelord furrowed his brows and signalled for his guards to leave, his eyes only once flickering from Zuko to you. “Telling the truth during the middle of an eclipse? This should be interesting.”

Zuko only spoke again when the guards were gone, the strong doors sliding shut behind them, “First of all, in Ba Sing Se it was Azula who took down the avatar, not me.”

“Why would she lie to me about that?” Ozai questioned.

“Because the avatar is not dead,” Zuko explained, “He survived.”

“What?” Only then did the firelord’s expression change. What was a calm and collected leader suddenly turned into an angry father. One who was clearly afraid of what the avatar could do if he was still alive.

“In fact, he’s probably leading this invasion. He could be on his way here right now.” For a moment, it almost seemed as though Zuko was warning his father, as though he had not really turned his back on him. He was still his father, after all, but you knew him better than that. He was changed and he was here for one thing and one thing only, to bid his father farewell.

“Get out!” the firelord snapped with a wave of his hand, anger boiling up in him, “Get out of my sight right now if you know what’s good for you.”

Although the firelord’s temper was continuing to grow, Zuko remained calm. From where you stood behind him, you could almost hear the satisfaction in his voice as he spoke, “That’s another thing. I’m not taking orders from you anymore.”

His father’s brows crossed in rage and you adopted a defensive stance as he began to walk towards Zuko. “You will obey me or this defiant breath will be your last!”

The prince unsheathed his swords, standing ready to fight his father as he demanded, “Think again. I am going to speak my mind and you are going to listen.”

To both of your surprise, the firelord sat back down as though he was ready to hear whatever Zuko had to say. The two of you still stood at the ready, prepared for a fight. You closed your eyes for a moment, focusing on the ground beneath you. You could feel the echoing rumble of machines coming from the surface, another sign of the battle above.

“For so long, all I wanted was for you to love me,” Zuko admitted, casting his eyes to the ground, “To accept me. I thought it was my honour that I wanted but really I was just trying to please you. You, my father, who banished me just for talking out of turn,” he pointed at Ozai with the end of his blade, “My father who challenged me, a thirteen year old boy to an agni kai. How can you possibly justify a duel with a child?”

It was like a weight off your own chest to hear him finally letting go of all that had burdened him, telling his father just how he felt after all he had done to him.

The firelord only scowled, looking at Zuko as though he was nothing but the dirt under his shoe as he spat, “It was to teach you respect!”

“It was cruel and it was wrong!”

“Then you’ve learnt nothing. This girl,” he gestured to you, “Has only made you weaker than you already were.”

“No! I’ve learned everything, and I’ve had to learn on my own. Growing up, we were taught that the Fire Nation was the greatest civilisation in history, and somehow the war was our way of sharing our greatness with the world. What an amazing lie that was, the people of the world are terrified by the Fire Nation. They don’t see our greatness, they hate us! And we deserve it. We’ve created an era of fear in the world and if we don’t want the world to destroy itself, we need to replace it with an era of peace and kindness.”

The firelord laughed out loud, mocking his son even now. “Your uncle has gotten to you, hasn’t he?”

There was a brief pause and Zuko smiled, actually smiled, in the face of his father’s taunts. “Yes, he has.”

“And this girl? She stands with you now, is she not of the Fire Nation too? Another traitor turned by your uncle’s tricks?”

Now it was you who stifled a laugh. “A traitor? Zuko isn’t a traitor and neither is his uncle. You are the one who betrayed the Fire Nation, you even betrayed your own blood because you’re so blinded by power you can’t see the bigger picture. My name is y/n and my parents were from the Northern Watertribe. They left their home and raised me in the Earth Kingdom to fight against your army! Even now, they fight against your cruelty, and now we do too!”

“You foolish girl,” Ozai glared at you with fire in his eyes, “What could you possibly do to stop me?”

“After we leave here today,” Zuko interrupted, answering his father’s question for the both of you, “We’re going to free uncle Iroh from his prison, and I’m gonna beg for his forgiveness. He’s the one who’s been a real father to me.”

The firelord only laughed again. “That’s just beautiful, maybe he can pass down to you the ways of tea and failure.”

“But I’ve come to an even more important decision,” he continued, ignoring his father completely, “I’m going to join the avatar and I’m going to help him defeat you.”

“Really?” Ozai smirked, “since you’re a full blown traitor now and you want me gone, why wait? I’m powerless, you’ve got your swords, why don’t you just do it now?”

“Because I know my own destiny. Taking you down is the avatar’s destiny,” he sheathed his swords and, although a part of you wanted nothing more than to strike him down now, you were in agreement with Zuko. It was not your place, “Goodbye.”

As Zuko turned and began to walk towards you again, ready to leave his father behind once and for all, the bitter man began to hurl more insults at his son, calling him a coward for confronting him during an eclipse when neither of them had their bending.

“If you have any real courage, you’ll stick around until the sun comes up. Don’t you want to know what happened to your mother?”

Those words stood Zuko in his tracks, even when you looked at him with pleading eyes. There was no time for this, the sun would be back soon and the two of you stood no chance against his father at his full power.

Without a second thought, the prince turned back around and demanded to know what happened the night his mother disappeared.

“My father, firelord Azulon, commanded me to do the unthinkable… to you, my own son, and I was going to do it. Your mother found out and swore she would protect you at any cost. She knew I wanted the throne and she proposed a plan. A plan in which I would become firelord and your life would be spared.”

It was awful, entirely diabolical, to think that a father would even consider murdering his own child but knowing what else the firelord had put Zuko through, somehow you weren’t at all surprised. It seemed in his very nature. You wondered what Zuko’s mother ever saw in the man.

“Your mother did vicious, treasonous things that night. She knew the consequences and accepted them. For her treason, she was banished.”

“So she’s alive...”

Cautiously, you moved to Zuko’s side, hoping to console him as tears began to spill across his face.

“Perhaps,” Ozai all but shrugged before raising his tone once again, “Now I realise that banishment is far too merciful a punishment for treason. Your penalty will be far steeper.”

In a flash, the firelord was moving, forming a stance you had only seen once before. The sun was back and he was drawing on its power to call lightning down. Lightning that he intended to use to put an end to his traitorous son once and for all.

“Zuko!” you cried, realising you had already missed your window to create a wall between the two of you and Ozai to block the attack.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion as you ran towards Zuko only to see him do the impossible. He redirected the lighting, sending it crashing back down on his father who was thrown into the air at the force.

He grabbed your hand and ran, pulling you out of the bunker before his father could get back to his feet. As you ran out onto the streets, you saw what looked to be the avatar launching an assault on the Fire Nation airships, giving his friends enough time to retreat. “Look!”

“Do you think you can get up there?”

You furrowed your brows. There was a chance that with your bending you could reach the airships and help the avatar but you weren’t sure if you could get there in time. They were fleeing, after all, they weren’t going to stick around for long. Besides, you had more important things to do.

“Maybe,” you shrugged, “but I’m not leaving you. Let’s go get your uncle.”

With a determined smirk, he led you into the prison. He ran so fast that he seemed to miss the cowering guards and singed walls.

“Uncle!” he cried out when he reached Iroh’s cell but his uncle was already gone. The bars to his prison cell were broken and battered, blasted through from the inside. Iroh had already escaped.

Zuko was quick to run to one of the guards, interrogating him about what happened in a matter of seconds, only to be told what you already knew. Iroh had escaped, busted himself out before you had had the chance to get to him. He was long gone now, all you could do was get out of there yourselves.

“Zuko, we have to go. We’ll find Iroh again, I promise, but right now we need to leave!”

Although disappointed, he nodded and followed you back outside.

Chapters: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13,

[carakook]

In honor of 100 followers (I know, I’m being dramatic af, whateverrrrr) I’m making a poll to see if you guys want me to release some more fanfics! Spoiler… they’re all with Jungkook… oops. 🥲

Below you will find a cover photo for each and a brief explanation of each! (Each of these are stories I have in my drafts so… already have them ready to release for the first few chapters!)

❥Cry: Jungkook is your ex boyfriend who refuses to let you go. Your relationship ended messy and hurtful, but he regrets it so much. You remained friends, because you both still love each other despite what happened. But Jungkook never wanted to be friends. Never planned on staying friends. He wants you back badly, and he always will.

❥ It may sound toxic but this one is actually very sweet, there is some emotional shit involved, but imagine Seven MV Jungkook… that’s the kind of persistent he is. He just wants you to let him love you again, 7 days a week, forever and ever. 🥺

❥ This one was inspired by the song Cry by Cigarettes After Sex, so… be warned LMAO. My specialty is making myself cry when I write, and you too! 😃

❥(Platonic) Boyfriend: Just two besties who totally don’t want to fuck and totally don’t like each other… You and Jungkook have been best friends since your early college days. You have always been close… maybe a little too close. Your friendship often gets mistaken for a relationship or something more because of how close you are. There are no boundaries between you two; you’re constantly touching each other, have seen each other naked, and talk about sex as if it’s the weather. But you’ve never crossed that line… you both swear it’s platonic! Neither of you even like dating, so why the fuck would you date each other? (You’re both very fucking delusional.)

❥If you are tired of me making you cry, this is probably more of your speed LOL. This story does have some emotional stuff but it is no where near the level of emotion Bloom holds. It will be very fluffy and steamy, has a bit of jealousy, and you are both very in denial about each other. Jungkook in this story is a lot like a golden retriever, but also he’s a little shit. You both struggle with commitment in this story because of different reasons (apparently I like writing about people with commitment issues?), but refuse to acknowledge what the real issue is…

❥This story is also very inspired by a song called Jennie by Studio Killers, it was viral for some time on tiktok. Give it a listen! As you can tell music inspires me a lot lol. The cover photo above isn’t the official one I’ll be using, not sure where I want to go with it yet, but does give you the vibes.

❥Metamorphosis: Celeste is a single mom who had to grow up way too fast. She never planned for her life to be this way, she swore she’d get married and have a beautiful family forever… but the stars didn’t align that way. Now at the age of 24, she’s struggling to make ends meet while taking care of her 5 year old daughter Nabi, and the cherry on top is how bad her mental health has gotten. But she’s trying her best, and loves her daughter more than anything. She swore she would never even look at another man after her ex… but one night, she does something very uncharacteristic in a desperate attempt to feel something… and Jeon Jungkook, completely starts fucking her world up.

❥Full disclaimer, this is an emotional story JUST like Bloom. Lots of references to butterflies and stars, you’ll understand more as you read. Jungkook is also a sweetheart in this story (when isn’t he?), but he has a fuckboy persona. Keep in mind the word persona… in reality, he’s just as afraid of woman as Celeste is of men. They both have similar traumas in the story without even knowing it.

❥It will be very angsty and emotional, but also wholesome. I decided to go the OC route in this one because I don’t know if a lot of people could relate to rhe MC. But, I am more than happy to make it a JK x Reader story as well!! Just leave a comment if you’d rather it be like that. The cover photo seems simple but has SO much meaning behind the story… notice how there are 3 butterflies? Anyway… 😇

❥Focus on Bloom: If you haven’t already, check out my story Bloom on my page! If you guys are really loving that, I am more than happy to focus on it. But also wanted to see if anyone would be interested in anything else I have saved in my drafts. I can always release the other stories at a later time if you guys want me to focus on Bloom. The cover photo was the original photo I made when I wrote the first chapter. 😅

[endlessnightlock]

I scare easily lol, but how about Hitchhiker from the horror prompts?

Thanks for the prompt, Anon! I know horror isn't the most popular genre in the Everlark fan community, lol, so I kept it pretty mild.

A-Z Horror prompts

(if you like weird stuff, send me a prompt from the list, fam. This is the only one I got so I'm open to more!)

The guy in the interview room says he's Peeta Mellark. He's not carrying identification, and his prints aren't in the state or federal system, so he could be anybody. I don't know if he has a reason to lie. He's young. Looks like shit. My first thought was junkie, but his eyes are clear.

The kid can't keep his leg still. I say leg, singular because he only has the one. I know that detail because my report states that when Peeta Mellark was brought in, the upper right-hand portion of his blood-soaked jeans was torn away, revealing a prosthetic leg attached well above his knee. Now he's in county-issued scrubs. We were out of sweats and T-shirts. He's not under arrest. He has no wounds, no scratches or caked skin under his nails, only the beginnings of a large bruise on the side of his face. And a story that can’t be true. Can it?

"Your leg a recent injury?" I ask, leaning back in my chair.

The kid shakes his head, never breaking stride with the leg. None of that blood on him was his. I know that. I'm just trying to get him talking.

"Childhood cancer. I lost my leg maybe twelve years ago. Good thing, too. If I'd just got the new one attached, I wouldn't have got away tonight. Took a while to get used to it," he explains, patting his left leg. "Wasn't the fastest runner to begin with. My ma says I stomp around like a bear."

He's rambling, but it's understandable if there's an inch of truth to his story. "Lucky guy. Well, Peeta, let's get directly to the point. I looked over the statement you gave Officer Leeg and watched the interview. I have some concerns."

Peeta meets my eye. Despite the jackshit he told Leeg, I'd swear he's not on anything. "I know it sounds crazy---"

"Yeah, it does."

"You should've been there," he said. "Do I have to tell you everything again? I'm, ah, I'm about to pass out or something. Haven't slept much the last few days."

"No, that's alright. Just answer a few questions if you wouldn't mind."

"Do I need a lawyer?" He asks, leg finally stopping.

"It's never a bad idea. But we're not figuring you as the perpetrator at this point. I can call you a public defendant if you want."

"Nah."

"So you told Officer Leeg that at approximately seven p.m., you were out on Highway 12, looking to hitch a ride. Never a good idea, you know that, right?" I add for good measure. "All kinds of things are liable to happen, as you well know."

Peeta shrugs. "I don't have a car. Still have places I need to get to."

"Ever heard of Uber?"

"Got to have money for that or at least plastic. I'm a little short at the moment."

"Seems like your ass just dropped in from Jupiter or something."

He laughs. Starting to loosen up. "No, I'm not claiming an alien abducted me."

"No. No mention of that. Let's go over what happened again, alright? I'll read over things and just ask questions where I feel it's warranted. So you're on Highway 12 with your thumb out when a Chevy truck, mid 80's model, you think?"

Peeta nods. "Tan and white. Decent shape. Some rust."

"And inside the truck's cab were three young men about your age. They had dark hair and an olive complexion, you said."

He squints at me. "Yes, they had a similar look to yours. Do you have many relations around here?"

"A Lot of us look alike in Seamtown. There was probably lots of inbreeding in the old days."

Peeta laughs, and I wink at him.

"Kidding. We're backwoods, but all of our DNA strands don't match. So back to your statement---these fellas offer to give you a ride."

For someone who said he was too tired to relay the whole story again, Peeta dives in head first. "Yep. There was no room in the cab, but the bed was empty. Was riding with them maybe half an hour before things started getting weird. It was really dark before Gale, the driver, flipped the headlights on. Seconds before before he slammed on the brakes. I about jumped out of my skin when something bounced off the front of the truck. I figured it was a deer. Lots of deer on the move around here at night. He didn't give me time to look around, just started arguing with the other two fellas---his brothers I think---before pushing the pedal to the floor. Seemed in a big hurry to get away. Anyway, he cut the headlights off, so I didn't get a look at what he hit with the truck, but whatever it was didn't look like a deer."

Now we're getting to the first interesting part of Peeta Mellark's statement to my officer: the part where it sounds like Gale Hawthorne (it's a small place, Seamtown) and his younger brothers involved themselves in a hit-and-run on Highway 12.

"So we've gone about five or so miles down the road, I guess, when Gale swerves to the side of the road and comes to a stop. 'This is as far as I can take you,' he said. He sounded frantic. 'Hop out.'"

"He never got out of the truck. It's black as pitch by now, and I'm not excited about being left alone on the side of the road, but after what happened earlier, it doesn't take much convincing to get me out of the truck bed. Something feels off, and I'd rather part company with them before anything else goes wrong. If something bad happened, they might be looking to get rid of a witness, I figured."

"So I hop out of the back of the truck and tell Gale thanks. He mutters something, then guns it out onto the road, and soon, the only thing I can make out is his taillights. I was still figuring out what I was going to do next when I heard it. Breaks squealing and tires screaming across the pavement, trying to stop fast. Then, that crashing sound, twisting, popping, tearing metal that makes you sick to your stomach."

I know exactly what he's describing. Been witness to too many accidents to get those sounds out of my head.

"Gale, he'd hit something else, and whatever it was, it was way bigger than a deer. I take off in a dead sprint towards the truck—at least as fast as I can run, thanks to my bionic leg. They're a good two or three miles down the road, but I'm fairly close when, all of a sudden, I'm not running on the road anymore—I'm off the ground. Feet dangling ten fuckin' feet above the pavement."

"I can't remember a whole lot after that, just the explosion when the truck's fuel tank blew. Whatever had me, some kind of huge bird, maybe some guy in a glider or something? dropped me onto the road, maybe 50 yards past the truck. That's when my pants got ripped. I don't know where all that blood came from. I'm sorry. I don't remember everything that happened tonight. Might have hit my head when that thing dropped me."

Peeta's brows knit together as his relay of the events comes to an end. "Chief Abernathy, can I ask you something? That officer I talked to earlier, Leeg? She wouldn't tell me what Gale hit with his truck when I was with them. I don't...I don't think it was a deer. It's driving me crazy. He drove off so fast, I can't help wondering if he hit someone with the truck."

I fold my arms on the tabletop and sigh. No reason to lie. the kid figured it out on his own. "Between me and you, we found a young woman in the location you described to us."

The color drains from his face. "Was she okay?" he asked.

There's a note of hope in his voice I hated to dash. "Nah, kid. She's dead."

His eyes glaze over, and he slumps backward as the reality hits him. "Hers is a sad story," I admit. "Second, hell, make that the third tragedy to happen in that family. The girl's parents died in a house fire. The oldest daughter was asleep in bed at the time. Fire didn't kill her but left burns across her whole body. Lost her mind. The county sent her somewhere for mental treatment---girl claimed she was some sort of mythological bird. Like a phoenix, but that's not what she called it. Happened a dozen or so odd years ago."

"A Mockingjay," Peeta said, turning to face the two-way mirror in the room. "I read something about her somewhere," he added casually.

I snap my fingers. "Yeah, that was it. Mockingjay. The girl disappeared from the facility one day. Katniss Everdeen. The young lady who died tonight was her sister Prim. You wonder how much a person can take without breaking all that death and pain. I don't know what Katniss would do if she found out about her sister's death on top of everything else."

"Maybe she already knows," Peeta says, his leg beginning to shake again. "Uh, confession time, I guess."

He waves his hands. "Not about anything tonight. I was at the facility with her, with Katniss. We kind of had a thing, I don't know. I left right after she disappeared. I didn't go home. I guess I've sort of been wandering around the area, looking for her since."

"Really. Odd that you weren't in our system, then."

Peeta rolled his eyes. "It was a physical rehab place, not drug detox. We weren't criminals. What happened to Gale and his brothers?"

I shake my head. "Gale's in the morgue. One brother with him. One in intensive care."

"Shit," he murmurs, rubbing his eyes. "Christ. Hey, am I free to go?"

I stand. "Free as the wind. Just let us know before you head out of town. Do you have somewhere to go tonight, kid?"

Peeta nods. "Yeah, I think so."

When he stands I pat him on the shoulder. "Thanks again. I'll see if we have something else you can wear."

Within a half hour or so, we had Peeta on his way. I don't know where he planned to go, but I never saw him again after that. It was almost like he'd been plucked off the ground by whatever that thing was and put somewhere safe.

[themultifandomgal]

Shelby Clan- Anna’s Daughter

Anna Gray had YN young, but she cared for her just as much as she could. YN loved her mother with all her heart. She didn't care that other kids her age had a mum and dad, clothes that fit and treats after dinner. However when Anna passed away YN was taken in by social services. They began the search for any other family members. Once they found out that her last name was Gray  YN was dropped off at Polly's Grays door step holding a pink knitted blanket. Polly obviously took her in amazed at how much the 4 year old looked like Anna.

YN sits on a large chair swinging her feet back and forth with her thumb in her mouth and her blanket in her other hand while Tommy, Arthur and John all stare at her

"So she's Anna's daughter?" Arthur asks for the second time. YNs eyes look between the men in front of her then to her grandmother

"Oh my Christ" Polly sighs again

"So your going to take care of her?" Tommy asks

"She's my granddaughter so of course I am"

"Where is she?" Michael bursts through the door but stops when he sees the little girl who looks like his sister sat on the massive chair. Ada and Finn come in behind him

"Michael meet YN your niece" Polly smiles "YN this is your uncle Michael"

"Mummy's brother?" YN questions looking at her grandmother

"Yes mummy's brother" YN slides off the big chair and runs up to Michael hugging his legs

"Mummy told me about you" YN says making Polly's eyes tear up "she said she loved you and that she missed you"

"I loved her too"

"Why don't we get YN settled for bed? It's getting late" Ada suggests looking at family who all agree.

"Here" Polly passes some warm milk to the little girl on the sofa. YN takes the drink in her hands and sips it. Polly has sprinkled nutmeg on the top

"This tastes like mummy's hot milk" YN says

"I used to make milk like that for your mum and Michael when they were young. Drink up then bed time"

"Ok" YN smiles at her grandmother siping at her milk once again.

Polly takes YN up to bed, reads her a story and the young girl falls asleep. When Polly leaves the sleeping girl she heads back downstairs to see Michael sitting on the sofa feeling many mixed emotions

"I can't believe Anna had a daughter" he says into his hands

"I know"

"She looks like her. Her eyes..."

"I know they're the same. Michael this is our chance to be close to Anna again" Polly tells her son

"Where's her father?" Tommy asks

"Gone. YN said it's just been her and Anna until she passed away"

"So some fucker got her pregnant then left?"

"He might not of even known she was pregnant Michael" Ada tries to reason

"If I ever met the man who did this to my sister I will...."

"Ok Michael enough. Right you off to bed as well" Tommy point to Finn who moans all the way up.

From that day on the Shelby's become increasingly protective of the little girl. Polly, Michael and the Shelby's all dote on her.

[honeybeedewdrops]

Lost Friends | B.Bradshaw

Summary: You are Mavericks kid and had a falling out with Bradley when Maverick pulled his papers. Years later you meet up again at The Hard Deck.

______________________________________________________________

When one of Maverick's random one night stands showed up on his door step with you. He was shocked to say the least but he took you in despite knowing so little about children. Sure he's babysat Bradley but he had no idea how to care for a child. Over the years with some help Maverick became a great father to you.

From the moment Maverick introduced a 7 year old Bradley to you he knew you'd be best friends despite the age gap. He knew Bradley would protect you when he couldn't. He sure was right about that. As you two grew up together you grew attached at the hip and spent nearly every waking moment with each other. You even grew to have a crush on him but you never told anyone that.

Sadly that all went away in a flash the minute Maverick pulled Bradley's papers he cut all ties and that included you. So when Bradley stopped answering your texts and phone calls you knew something was up. You asked your dad but he just gave you some bullshit answer. You called and texted Bradley everyday even when they stopped delivering, But as you got older Bradley fizzled out and just became another memory buried deep down.

Time went on and you moved out going to college but for some reason you would always find your way back to North Island so that's where you lived now.

-

You were wiping the bar top down when your dad walked in. "Dad" You call forgetting about the customers and running up to hug him. "Hey kiddo" you roll your eyes at that one "I think i'm a bit too old to be called kiddo" you say walking behind the bar again. "Nah your never to old besides you are my kid" "whatever you want something" "sure i'll take your cheapest beer" you grab a glass and start pouring.

You talk to him for a while before Penny told you could go on your break before the big rush came in. You spent your break a little ways down the beach listening to the calming waters.

You step behind the bar again and see many faces you recognised and some you didn't. You kept your eye on a very specific group in the corner playing some pool. That's when you heard it "Bradshaw" You froze hearing that name. It can't be. You watched as a man walks up to the group. You couldn't tell if it was him because you had yet to see his face but how many Bradshaws are there in the world and how many are there in the Navy.

When the man turned you knew it was him. It had been so many years he looked good. You watch Bradley's every move not being able to take your eyes off him. but you were interrupt by Penny ringing the bell and you looked over and saw your dad looking at you for some help but the Bar started to chat overboard making you shrug. "Sorry rules are rules" you mouth as he gets picked up.

You watch the three men throw your dad as the singing started. Hearing the familiar tune you smiled he's still got it. Hearing this simple song made you think back on all the stories your dad would tell you about Goose.

The song finished and many people came up and asked for more drinks. That's when you spoke to Bradley for the first time in 15 years. "Hey miss can I get a beer" "yeah sure" you say. He looks at you like he knows you "Do I know you" you bite your lip and turn away "no I don't think so" "yeah no no I do" and he looks to your name tag and every thing clicked. "Y/N. Y/N Mitchell" "hey Brads" you say tucking your hair behind your ear.

He stays silent so you turn to walk away "wait I didn't think i'd every see you again" "yeah and who's fault is that?" you mumble "Y/N-" he starts "no I don't want to hear it" you say "I'm sorry" you scuff, the nerve he had. "Sorry, you're Sorry. Bradley I was 13 when you cut me off stopped talking to me and I didn't even know why. and my dad wouldn't tell me so don't tell me your sorry. Just leave me alone" You say walking out the bar Penny calling after you.

__________________________________________________________

A/N: I will be doing a part 2 so enjoy this for now sorry it's not Fluff but we gotta change it up a bit.

[dingochef]

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x You (OFC)

Warnings: Swearing, Smut (MDNI 18+ Only), Angst with a Happy Ending, Stalking, P in V, oral (female and male receiving), Semi-public sex, light spanking,

Word Count: 3.6k

Summary: Your date goes really, like really, really well with Jake. You learn a lot more about the golden haired pilot.

Masterlist

Chapter 5

Chapter 6: Liftoff

"How do you know Elsa or are you hitting on women who are half your age and out of your league, now?" Jake asks Maverick, the question hitting a little more pointedly than simple small talk. Jake has his hand on your bare back in what comes off as a territorial move and it feels like the sun is radiating from within him where his skin touches yours. The tension between the two men mounts and you decide to intercede.

"Jake, I know Maverick from work. We've worked on a few projects together at the Skunk Works. Mav, this is that friend I'm meeting for drinks. Hit me up for that debrief, okay?"

Mav nods in agreement. With that tense exchange over, Jake grabs his beer from a different bartender than Penny. You move to guide Jake to a table in the corner away from the general chaos of the bar. You take your seats and your knees touch his bare legs under the table. You're curious about the friction and tension back between Jake and Maverick at the bar. So, you lob out the question in your usual not so subtle style.

"What's up with you and Maverick? Do you know each other from somewhere? You two looked like two alpha wolves staring each other down."

Jake huffs out a laugh,

"First of all, you look amazing,” he drags his hand from your upper arm down to your hands and you shiver slightly.

“So you think I'm an Alpha wolf?"

He has your hand in his and is gently grazing his thumb across your knuckles.

"You know you’re an alpha male type, I don't think you need me to give you a daily affirmation."

"True, Maverick is training us for our next upcoming mission at Top Gun. I stupidly bet him on the first day that I'd beat him in a dogfight. He kindly handed me my ass and the asses of everyone in the whole squadron."

"What was the bet?"

"200 push-ups."

"Ouch, but they do help keep the gun show in tip top shape," you say as you attempt to squeeze one of his biceps. He laughs, and you continue,

"Only because I've read his personnel file to evaluate if he'd be a good test pilot for one of our projects, that was kind of a silly bet. He's been around the block a few times to say the least."

"I figured that out pretty quick, but enough about Maverick and dirty old men in general, how did your day go?"

“Funny you mention dirty old men,” and you give him an abbreviated version of the Creepy Bill story.

“Sorry you had to deal with that, I’m thinking that devastating men’s egos is kind of your thing. And here I thought I was special.”

He mock pouts.

“Only when the need arises,” you pat his cheek and lean in for a kiss, which he enthusiastically returns.

“Again, enough about dirty old men, how was the rest of your day when you weren’t verbally murdering Bill,” he asks.

"So are we talking about dirty young men then?" you tease.

"Just one in particular, if that's what you want to talk about," he banters back, leaning close into you.

"I'll assume you’re the one we're talking about,” your hand has dipped below the table and is on his thigh, which is rock solid like the rest of his body,

“The rest of my day has been pleasant, the bike ride was awesome although my quads are a bit sore. Talked with Lydia and learned even more things about Rooster than anyone should know." His hand now dips below the table to land on your thigh and begins to gently massage the sore muscles.

"I think I have ways of helping you out with that soreness. Yeah, luckily those two cleared out this morning, although I'm treating every flat surface in our living quarters as defiled. God only knows what those two freaks were up to while I was out yesterday."

You snort, coughing a little bit on your drink,

"Yeah, it's probably a better bet to get some disinfectant and maybe some holy water if you ever want to use anything again. Especially the kitchen counter."

He gives you a quizzical look and you continue,

"It's one of Lydia's favorite spots, something about the height being just right."

Jake's lips form into a grim line as he says,

"There goes my appetite and any desire to ever cook there again."

The night continues on with comfortable banter and some good discussions about movies, music, your lives in general, work (as much as you can actually divulge given the top secret nature of your respective jobs), travel around the world, and a smattering of other topics. You notice that you both have been moving closer and closer together during the last two drinks, his arm is around the back of your chair. He moves to get up to get another round and you grab his hand,

"I think I'm done drinking for the night and it's been a long day. Walk me back to my place?"

He settles the tab and you're quickly out the door with his arm around your shoulders.

The walk back is brief, only interrupted by a few stops to kiss, Jake's arm around your waist. You're finally at your door and to your surprise he is the perfect gentleman and has kept his hands to himself. He's pretending to gaze out at the night sky with his hands behind his back. The unlocking and opening of your door brings him back to the present situation. He moves to give you a goodbye hug and you catch his arms before he can complete the embrace and slide his hands down your sides to your hips.

"Would you like to come inside, Jake?" you ask, biting your bottom lip in a move that Jake clocks.

"I would like that very much, Elsa," he responds, his smile wide.

He steps inside and you shut the door, as you hang up your purse he is behind you brushing your hair to the side and kissing the back of your neck. Trailing his fingers down your bare back he leans to whisper,

"I really want to take you to bed, but I'm following your lead here. You control the pace and how far we go."

"There's a reason I invited you in and it wasn't to show you my stamp collection," you joke, leaning back into his chest. He laughs at the thought and briefly asks,

"Do you have a stamp collection?"

"No stamp collection but a very big inviting bed that I would very much like to ride your cock in among other things, most of which involves that arrogant mouth of yours and did I mention your cock?"

This is the all clear he has been waiting for and he spins you around and slowly backs you up to the wall, placing one of his muscular thighs in between your legs. You sink down to grind on it as your clit and pussy need something, your dress rucking up your hips. Leaning down he gives you a kiss that takes your breath away. You assumed prior to getting to know him that he’d be a lazy or uncaring lover, like someone who granted the privilege of being fucked by him, but the slow an careful way he is biting kisses down your neck and the reverence with he slips the dress strap off your shoulder as his lips slowly follow shows he's a patient and attentive lover. He is pulling up your skirt ever so slowly inching his hand towards your heat. His lips brush up against your ear and whisper,

"As much as I want to get my cock involved right away, you’ve got to get off at least twice, anything else would be a blow to my ego.”

You laugh at his ego comment, but your laughs are quickly replaced by breathy moans as he has slipped the other strap off your shoulder and is now sucking and nibbling at your breasts and nipples holding them in his large hands.

He finds the zipper to your dress and it's on the floor leaving you only in your black lacy boy shorts. Stepping back he holds your hands to check you out. A low whistle emits from him right before he says,

"God damn, you are so fucking hot. Turn around so I can see the whole package."

You oblige him with a slow turn till you're back facing him.

He pulls you towards the couch. As he sits down he pulls you down so you are straddling his lap. It's your turn to do some undressing and you pull Jake's shirt off to reveal a chest and abs sculpted by the masters. Running your hands down each muscle appreciating his broad chest. You start grinding on his hardness straining against his khaki shorts. The next thing you know you're being flipped with surprisingly little effort so your back is now against his chest, bare skin gliding against each other. His hands slide up to cup your tits, lightly tugging and pulling on your nipples. A breathy sigh escapes your lips, as Jake moves one hand farther down to toy with the waistband of your underwear. The other snakes up to cradle your cheek, titling your face towards his, lips towards his. The hand at the waistband of your underwear slides under the lacey fabric, one finger tentatively dips into your pussy and you hear him hiss with pleasure as he figures out how wet you are.

“God damn, baby, you are so ready.” He works your clit with his broad fingers for a few minutes, calluses of his fingers from hours in the cockpit at the controls delightful each time he circles your clit. You have your head turned to catch his lips as you begin to moan with each revolution of his fingers. The familiar tightness starts to build in your belly as you ascend towards your orgasm. Abruptly, he stops and moves depositing you on the couch. Kneeling down, Jake pulls your underwear off and puts them in his pocket, and with a wink says,

“For later.”

He starts at your feet slowly kissing his way up your leg to where your tattoo of a clematis vine starts just above your right knee. He follows it with his tongue over and around your thigh, the stubble on his face gently scraping the skin as he continues on his exploration course. His tongue is rounding the last turn of the tattoo just under the cheek of your ass when he gives you a playful nip, earning a squeal from you.

He continues up from your thigh following the leafy green foliage to the end. Just under your navel is a final clematis flower. He lets out a slight laughing huff from between your legs,

“Now this is a treasure trail I want to follow again and again.”

The distance that his tongue is from your clit and pussy is so small that you can feel the puffs of air as he talks.

“Please, please use your tongue for something good,” you whine with need.

Again you feel his laughter in the form of warm waves of air.

“Is that an order or are you begging me?”

You can feel the cockiness radiating from where you know he’s smiling between your legs.

“I have to know how good it is first to determine if I’ll beg for it later.”

And with that small challenge he engulfs your clit with his mouth and his tongue starts a slow lazy rhythm around your clit, but not near enough to get you off. His tongue wanders down to your pussy and dips in, a shocking long way in. Enough that you wonder just how long his tongue is. The thought doesn’t stick around for long as he has moved his attention back to your clit and replaced his tongue with one of his long thick fingers and then another one. The man is a maestro of the tongue and your orgasm starts building rapidly deep in your belly as your moans get louder and breathier.

“Oh my god, Jake, that’s it, please don’t stop, right there," you moan, threading your fingers through his hair.

It’s all incoherent sex babble coming out of your mouth because your brain is short circuiting of how good this feels. One long suck of your clit followed by him gently clamping it between his lips and you are gone. You vaguely hear a scream of pleasure, but you can't tell if it’s your own. This orgasm radiates out from your clit in waves and you clamp down on his fingers so hard, he whimpers as he puts the thought together that you'll be doing that around his cock soon. He keeps his fingers in you and lazily licks around your now insanely super sensitive clit as you ride the waves and falls of your orgasm. You are, for once, without a witty retort or any coherent thought to respond, you're just trying to catch your breath, he slips his fingers out of you. Whining at the loss of that fullness and you sit up to look at him. When Jake puts his fingers in his mouth and licks them clean making eye contact with you the whole time, you completely forget what you were going to say. The sight elicits another moan from you.

Jake stands up and offers his hand to you and pulls you up, close to his chest. Immediately, you are kissing and you can taste yourself on his lips. A swipe of your tongue over his chin where it is still dripping from that earth shattering orgasm pulls a deep guttural groan from him. Taking his hand you lead him to your bedroom, a short distance in your small house.

With a gentle push to his firm chest he falls onto the bed. Jake is laying on his back in all his muscled glory, arms bent back behind his head, showing off his amazing arm muscles, and looking very pleased with himself.

“You’re looking a little smug there, Jake. Like you took some satisfaction in your work back there. I feel that to properly evaluate we’re going to have to run a few more scenarios,” you tease, kneeling down on the bed.

“I wasn’t the only one who took some satisfaction,” he says even more smugly, his hands landing on your hips as you lean over him. He pulls you down for a deep kiss that almost distracts you from your mission to see him completely naked.

You quickly undo his belt and pull his shorts and underwear off in one movement. His cock is hard and ready for any touch as it slaps against his stomach when his underwear comes off. Your mouth waters at the thought of sucking his cock as you slide up his legs and take his cock in your hands. You realize that you can barely get your hands around him and your confidence wanes a little as you try to determine if you can actually fit him in your mouth. Undeterred, you hold his cock up and start licking up from his balls tracing every vein on the velvety smooth skin. Just as you make it to the top and start to pull the head of his cock in your mouth, Jake mumbles out a feeble,

“Wait, wait, one second.”

Your hands still as you look up to see him propping himself up on his elbows. With one swift move he catches your arms and hauls you alongside him. He gives you a soft kiss on the corner of your mouth, before talking again.

“You’re too good at that and I have bigger plans for the rest of the night besides me coming in your mouth. We need to have a little discussion here. Birth control?” he asks.

“IUD, just got tested at my annual appointment a month ago, clean slate. You?”

He is nibbling your ear when he says,

“Just got tested for this mission, all clear."

"Good, condoms are in the top drawer of the nightstand. I think there should be one big enough.”

He laughs as he leans over and opens the drawer.

"Again, you're doing wonders for my self esteem, sweetheart."

He rifles through the few condoms in the drawer when there is an even louder guffaw, as he picks up one of the condoms and hold its up,

"Oh, you poor woman, a slim fit?"

You roll your eyes,

"Yeah, that didn't last long. Wasn't even good at giving oral, unlike some people."

He shakes his head, throwing the condom back in the drawer and selects the correct size. Quickly he opens the foil square and rolls the condom on his hard length.

He swiftly turns you so he is leaning over you and your back is flat against the cool sheets. He spends a little time sucking at your nipples before he grabs his cock and rubs it against your wetness making you moan and thrust your pelvis up to meet him.

"You want this, Elsa?" he asks.

"Please fuck me, Jake," you respond back. He slides in ever so slowly allowing you to adjust to his size.

"Fuck, not to be cliche. But God damn, you're big," you moan out breathily. Jake just smirks in response before leaning down to kiss you hard. The walls of your pussy start to spasm in response to the slow glide of his cock. Jake sets a slow and almost frustratingly slow pace before he leans in to whisper into your ear,

“How do you like it, Elsa? Slow and sweet, fast and hard, tell me what you need, darling.”

You nearly come undone with the thoughts of either scenario and clench around Jake. You manage to squeak out,

“Hard and fast, this time.”

Jake needs no more direction; he leans back and picks up your legs and places one over each of his broad shoulders. His thrusts come fast and deep and somehow he manages to get his fingers over your clit bringing your orgasm even closer. You can tell he’s close to losing control with the words that are coming out his mouth, you wouldn't call them thoughts, they’re too incoherent to be anything else than his stream of consciousness right now.

“Fuck, so good, so tight, you’re amazing,” come dribbling out his mouth along with absolute moans of pleasure.

“Oh god, I’m getting close. This pussy is too good. I can feel you getting there, come with me, Elsa.”

He adjusts his pattern on your clit and you shatter underneath and around him, your whole body pulsating with each clench of your pussy. Jake's thrusts speed up and start to falter as he gets closer to falling off the impending cliff.

"Fuck, so good, fuck, fuck, fuck,"

Jake lets out one last strangled cry as he comes undone. He puts your legs down and leans down to kiss you with him still inside. The aftershocks of your orgasm keep coming and he puts a firm thumb on your clit which deepens the resounding waves of pleasure making you clench harder around his cock eliciting more groans from him. Eventually, he slowly pulls out and you whimper at the loss of him. He has rolled over on his back and with one armed tucked under his head and he is also catching his breath. You roll over to your stomach and lean down to kiss him thoroughly and deeply in the post sex glow.

You whisper gently in his ear,

“That was so damn hot that I’d beg for it any time you want to give it to me.”

His cock twitches out of the corner of your eye when he breathily responds,

“You’re going to kill me with that kind of talk, sweetheart. What a way to go.”

You give him one more gentle kiss and he stands up to take care of the condom as you head to the bathroom.

A little while later, after you return to the bedroom, Jake is sitting on the edge of the bed looking a little out of place with his underwear and shorts on his hand. The look on his face shows that he doesn’t know if he should go or stay and the lack of clear direction is a little disconcerting to him. You tell him,

“I’d love you to stay the night, but I’ll have to warn you that I have to get up at the ass crack of dawn to drive to Bakersfield tomorrow for work.”

He laughs,

“That could work, what’s the ass crack of dawn for you?”

“I’ve got to be on the road by 7 am, so I’ll probably get up around six.”

“That’ll work for me, I’ve got to report by 8 am tomorrow so I can shower here with you, and you can drop me at the main gate on your way out of town, if that’s not inconvenient for you. I can always walk.”

“You think I’d make you do the walk of shame? I’m not that cold-hearted,” he raises his finger in protest,

“Despite what my name implies. That will work well.”

With that you crawl into bed and settle your head on his chest and his arms around you. It doesn't take long to fall asleep to the soft beat of Jake's heart under your cheek.

Chapter 7

@starswholistenanddreamsanswered

@mayhemmanaged

@callmemana

@dempy

@hangmanscoming

@lanie-k

@callsign-viper

@senjoritanana

[secondsundering]

hi i was supposed to send this at the same time as the Jinx ask but i forgor. its kinda funny i followed you only after you remade so i know all about Cal’s Vibes but. i don’t even know his in-game class. or his age. or anything about his backstory

so yeah tell me about Caladium :3

holding my shaking hands out like a sickly orphan by the way.

aaaaaaa well first of all thank you for asking about him 🥺 my thoughts are all very scattered all the time and i simply feel too shitty and uncertain about my writing rn to recommend any of it so i'm just gonna sort of... go

here are the basics

class: bard (probably would be multiclassed with rogue now if i felt like playing the game)

age: 67... ish? i can't remember exactly what i settled on but he's in his 60s. in fadverse (my modern au with max) he is 28 just as a reference point

race: drow-like thing. he's 6 ft even because i bhaal didn't know any better

identity: bisexual, hypersexual, high fem trans man (there's definitely some Gender happening but he feels very confident that he is his own definition of a man.) did not figure out the bisexuality thing until late in life so he was living and operating as a gay man for most of his story

backstory and stuff under the cut

he grew up on the outskirts of menzoberranzan, taken in by a well-meaning woman who did her best to raise him until his urge manifested at 8 years old and he killed her.

as a child he actually didn't speak much, and never to his "mother", only talking to himself and animals or reciting the verbal components of spells. in that same vein, he taught himself how to do pretty much everything, including magic, not because help wasn't offered to him but because he's always been very independent and stubborn (what a shocker)

after the um. unfortunate death of his "mother" (he also never called her mother, only referring to her as "the woman") he pretty much roughed it as an underdark + sewer urchin until scelaritas appeared to him at 10 years old. know age of majority etc etc but i wanted him to have still been very young when he started living in the temple. i imagine he sort of stumbled upon it while exploring and scel was like whoops i guess it's time huh.

ANYWAY i don't have a lot of the next decades of his life fleshed out very well. he was always VERY dedicated and dutiful when it came to bhaal temple stuff, but again he was very independent, aloof, and stubborn, refusing to form a strong bond with absolutely anyone (including orin, who looked up to him at first.) he did however develop an intense fascination with the surface world, especially the nobility, and began sneaking away to the city a lot and dressing up, partying, playing music at taverns, seducing men and then killing them, etc. a boy has his hobbies

his current personality only really begins to develop and show himself once he's really risen through the ranks of the temple and there's really no one left who can defy him. he knows how to get in good with the people that matter and everyone else can sort of just suffer about it. as time goes on he becomes increasingly more flippant and disinterested with the temple, choosing to spend most of his time pampering himself or up in the city. it's during this time where gortash takes an interest him.

the guy keeps tabs on him for SEVERAL years before having someone leave a letter in cal's quarters at the temple, which of course cal finds extremely intriguing because he's insane and then they meet up and psychologically torture each other for years etc etc i'm so sorry this is going on far too long huh

fast forward to moonrise towers, the arrival of jinx, gortash's and his own subsequent obsession with him, the formation of the worst polycule of all time. cal and jinx's relationship is very antagonistic for a long time and (excluding gortash's involvement) it's pretty much all cal's fault. he feels threatened by jinx, because he is possessive over the weird thing he has with gortash, is under the impression jinx thinks he's superior (cal baby he is just autistic) and feels like his place within The Plan and as The #1 Specialest Bhaalspawn is compromised. but they become utterly obsessed with each other anyway and slowly fall in love with a lot of (very horny) torture and mind games mixed in there.

this all culminates in cal being lobotomized by gortash which. i have a lot of fic ideas about, some in progress and some not, but regardless that should all be a separate post because holy hell i've rambled WAY too much i'm so sorry 😭😭

anyway if u read all this thank you and i appreciate you, i hope it's coherent????

[thelostgirl21]

Okay, but now I kinda want to see a Radskier version of this...

Because I can 100% imagine Jaskier being that adorable 7 year-old child that some evil noble would be jealous of and want to get rid of (because he's so damn charming and has such a beautiful, melodious voice, and natural way with words already, that it's obvious that the kid is going to be a menace that will have people falling for him left and right when he grows up!).

And so, he gets adopted by a bunch of outcasts (maybe Yarpen Zigrin and his men?) that are constantly trying to tell him to stay away from strangers, and stop putting random things into his mouth!

But he's a 7 year-old version of Jaskier, i.e. a puppy dog of a child with even less impulse control and inhibition than the adult version of him has! So, of course he just gets instantly fascinated with each new person he meets, and spontaneously goes to hug their legs, tell them he thinks they look pretty, ask them where they're from, want them to tell him stories, and will gladly eat anything they offer him that remotely looks edible!

Hell! He'll eat stuff lying around that don't even look edible! So, if it looks like an apple? Yeah. Poor child never stood a chance. The evil noble character wouldn't even have needed to try to interact with him or trick him. He'd just need to let a poisoned apple randomly lie on the forest floor close to the dwarves' camp, and you can be sure it would wind up in Jaskier's mouth, somehow!

And then, there's young 8 year-old Prince Radovid, that has the annoying habit of giving his guards the slip to go running off on his own into the woods; but somehow never gets lost - even when he goes missing for a few days - nor attacked by any of the forest's creatures, because he's that kind of prince!

You know, the kind of prince that can just summon squirrels through his bedroom's window to come clean up his room for him!

So obviously, he'd find the glass coffin with the "dead" but perfectly preserved boy inside, and immediately think "he's really pretty, and I think I should keep him with me!"

So, he finds this Witcher passing by on his horse Roach, tells him he's found a pretty boy trapped in a glass box that he'd like to bring back home, and the Witcher looks like he'd be strong enough to do it.

Intrigued (and perhaps just a bit concerned over the kid's sanity), the Witcher thus goes to investigate and finds out that young Radovid was telling the truth! He decides that he should bring the boy in the glass coffin to a powerful sorceress to try to figure out what happened to him, and if, perhaps, something could be done to wake him up.

He tries to convince the young Prince Radovid that he should go back home before his parents start to worry, but the kid is having none of it! He wants to stay with the pretty boy and is afraid that the Witcher will decide to just keep him, and that he'll never get to see him again.

Plus, he keeps insisting that no one will miss him, or even notice he's gone for a few days, at least! Because all that matters to his parents is his older brother - who's going to be king one day - and no one really pays attention to him. It's not the first time he's run off like that! Last time it took them about a week before they sent more guards to fetch him.

So now, Geralt is travelling towards Yennefer de Vengerberg's latest location by foot, with an 8 year-old Redanian Prince sitting on his horse and a glass coffin with some random child (that looks to be roughly the same age as the prince) trapped in some kind of death-like stasis of unknown magical origin inside of it hoisted on his shoulder...

At some point, Roach gets startled, and Geralt ends up tripping and almost dropping the glass box while attempting to make sure his horse doesn't accidentally throws Radovid off her back.

Next thing he knows, the "dead kid" is coughing out a large piece of poisoned apple, is fully awake, tries to hug him, wants to know if white is his real hair color, and if he'd let him wash and braid them later? No? Spoilsports.

And wow! How sharp are those swords? And why are there two of them? Oh! And does the wolf on his medallion mean anything? Also, he's hungry and wonders if Geralt has some food hidden somewhere (while actively rummaging through his bags)...

The moment he triumphantly pulls out a vial, thinking it's some juice to drink, the Witcher panics and knocks it out of his hands, immediately being called "rude" by a pouting and put off fucking 7 year-old kid!

But 3 seconds later, he totally forgets about being upset and now wants to know all about what Witcher potions are, and Witchers. Can he be one? Okay, maybe being a Witcher is not so much fun, then... But Yarpen keep saying he makes way too much noise to be a mercenary, too! So he'll have to figure something out and "be something" one day, right?

Apparently, the kid's full name and title is "Julian Alfred Pankratz, Viscount of Lettenhove", but it's too long, sounds way too fucking pretentious (it's unclear if the dwarves that adopted him taught him to curse, or if it's a habit that the child had picked up before), and so he prefers to go by Jaskier.

Oh, and he really loves to sing! Would Geralt want to hear him sing?

When the sound of another voice says that they'd love to, Jaskier nearly jumps out of his skin going "What the fuck are you doing here?" at the other child, prompting a very confused and wide eyed "b-but I've been sitting here the whole time!" from the much quieter, and much more reserved prince.

The very second little Jaskier has a chance to take a good look at the young Radovid, however, he immediately goes from startled to utterly fascinated, and now he's trying to awkwardly climb on top of Roach until the prince casually asks Geralt's fucking horse if she would be so kind to help him, and wouldn't you know it! Roach just grabs the kid by the back of his shirt, lifts him up, and sits him down right behind the prince while Geralt is looking at the interaction totally dumbfounded.

At least, now all of Jaskier's questions are directed at the prince that apparently couldn't be happier to answer them, and to be the center of the pretty boy's attention.

Among other things, Jaskier wonders if the big, buff, scary-looking white haired Witcher person is always so silent and grumpy, asks if he can run his fingers through the young prince hair, and braid them - then, when he receives confirmation, starts commenting on how soft his hair is, and wondering what their actual color might be (it's a really pretty kinda reddish-blonde, that seemingly keeps changing color with the way the sun's ray reflects in them... Does Radovid has magical hair? They smell really good, too!)...

Meanwhile, Geralt is wondering whatever the fuck he did to Destiny to deserve to be carrying two noble kids around on his horse - including one that won't shut up - even when he's got his nose buried deep into the other child's hair...

Oh! And he's singing now! Wonderful!

He's genuinely starting to wonder if he should be asking Yennefer to check up on him and make sure that he won't be suffering from any long term complications from the spell he was put under...

Or if he should be asking her if there's any safe way to put him back into that box and make sure he stays there!

That is, if the damn child doesn't wind up back in a coffin all on his own!

For some reason, that fucking kid keeps trying to make friends with every single monster they meet in their travel... And, the moment the fangs inevitably come out, the prince will apparently step in, in an attempt to talk the monster down and protect his companion!

Geralt is pretty sure that having to look after these two together while trying to keep them both alive is going to result in him starting to age at a normal human rate!

He has to admit, though, that Jaskier boy has a very decent singing voice - especially coming from one so young... And he's got quite a few catchy tunes, too...

Then, there's Prince Radovid... From what little Geralt has been able to gather from him, he's starting to suspect that he might have been abused back at the castle, or at the very least the victim of parental neglect. He seems way too mature and self-reliant for his age, and craves Jaskier's attention like someone that's gone invisible for far too long...

Halfway through their trip, the boys apparently decide that the two of them are going to get married when they get older, and live together in a cabin in the woods, close to the coast.

Of course, he's not enough of an asshole to tell them that he's sure the King of Redania is going to be delighted to hear about his youngest son's plans for his future, and would totally agree to that.

Turns out he wouldn't have needed to since, when they finally reach Yennefer de Vengerberg, the sorceress gives the "little sing-songy twit" a clear bill of health, and somehow decides that she wants to adopt both of the kids (she's apparently been wanting to become a mother for quite some time now, and sees this as the perfect opportunity)!

The Prince, of course, is delighted at the idea! As long as he gets to stay with the "pretty boy", apparently, he'd be happy! Plus, the fact that Yennefer seems like a mother that would actually want him is also a huge plus in favor of that plan.

And Jaskier's not agains it, but insists for them to find Yarpen first, to let him know he's alive, have them meet his "dwarf dad", and allow them to figure it all out together.

Somewhere along the way, Geralt and Yennefer fall in love, and Jaskier decides he now has a Witcher dad and a Witch mom, too...

He refuses to remotely consider Radovid as a brother, though, regardless of them now having the same parental figures.

Apparently, marrying him when they're all grown up would be really weird then (Jaskier is apparently really good at keeping track of his priorities, and those are very much not straight!) - and the prince fully agrees on that.

Even if Geralt mistakenly believes that they will probably have the opportunity to change their minds at least ten times about getting married before they actually get to that point.

Eventually, they do reunite with Yarpen and his company, that are absolutely delighted and beyond relieved to discover that their beloved tiny big fucking mouth is now awake, and very much alive!

Apparently, they met with some ancient elven lady that told them of some weird prophecy about the child, and that they needed to build some glass coffin and leave him there in the middle of the woods for some other kid to find if they wanted him to survive...

Really weird fucking stuff, but they'd figured that it was worth a shot, at least, and a much better plan than letting Jaskier be permanently dead.

And then, Yarpen and his company, Geralt, Yennefer, and the whole Witcher Keep, apparently, wind up raising two random noble kids, protecting them from some evil character that wants Jaskier dead out of jealousy (still haven't decided who that would be... Maybe, in that world, Valdo Marx would be older, and part of the nobility... Actually, it would be funny if no one actually knew who kept trying to murder Jaskier, and that was something they'd only discover once he's all grown up and has finally become everything that the evil character ever feared Jaskier would become) that keeps occasionally trying to trick him to his death (it's a recurring occurrence... Every now and then, Jaskier nearly dies or dies, they find a way to save or revive him... the usual!).

As for Radovid, every once in a while, Redania sends out some troops in an attempt to retrieve him... But, since every time they try to send their cavalry out the horses won't budge, whales keep sinking their ships, and their infantry get chased around by bears, squirrels, skunks, and fucking pigeons, each new attempt becomes more and more halfhearted.

Jaskier eventually becomes the bard he was always meant to be... Perhaps Radovid eventually retakes his Kingdom...

To everyone's utter lack of surprise, they do very much get married...

Pretty sure that, at some point, one of the attempts on Jaskier's life involved something like "true love's kiss" to break the spell, and Radovid totally aced it!

Well, depending on who you ask, because Geralt would argue that "true love's kiss" doesn't usually require as much tongue and groping. And Jaskier would very much disagree, arguing that a decent amount of tongue action is 100% crucial to the kiss' chance of success!

Yennefer would likely settle the argument by saying that Jaskier's probably right, given he's way too much of a diva to come back to life for someone that's unwilling to put in a little extra effort into the kiss to show that they really mean it.

Oh, and when the boys were in their late twenties, and announced that they would be attending Queen Calanthe's banquet together because Jaskier had been invited to perform, Yennefer told Geralt to go with them for protection, in case someone would attempt to take the opportunity to murder Jaskier - again.

And Geralt came back home that night announcing to her that he'd just accidentally adopted yet another princess - with super powerful Elder blood this time - and that they would probably need to move closer to Cintra for a few years, so Yennefer would be able to help train her.

[luminouslumity]

THOUGHTS ON: ARIADNE and ELEKRA

So I've reentered my Greek myth phase and I just want to talk about these two books for just a second!

First off, look how beautiful the covers are! And second, out of all these authors who've been retelling the Greek myths, Jennifer Saint is definitely one of my favorites! Something I've always hated about a lot of retellings (even with ones I've liked) is how characters are brought down in order to elevate the likability of another, even if that character has had no basis of being petty or cruel previously. And honestly, I probably wouldn't find it nearly as irritating as I do now if it weren't done with the same characters over and over again, with many of these stories having absolutely nothing new to say! Because then it just feels less like the author is trying to be revolutionary and more like they're just following a trend. And where's the challenge in that?

Enter Ariadne, a story all about challenging perspectives, about how appearances can be deceiving, even those made by the decent ones. Of course, you have Theseus with his abandonment of Ariadne after building himself up to be the greatest hero since Heracles, but later on, you also get Perseus; whom Ariadne comes to despise both because of his beheading of Medusa and because of his refusal to let his people worship Dionysus... until she actually meets the guy and finds that not only is he actually really nice and in a very complicated situation, but she herself even acknowledges that her perception of heroes may have been warped because of what Theseus had done to her, all while still having Perseus as an enemy.

As for Elektra, I actually liked it more than I did Ariadne, but also didn't, if that makes sense. So take Helen for example. How many times have we seen her as either vapid or selfish, someone who doesn't care that lives were lost in her name? Well, in this book... I wish we could say we get the opposite of that, but the thing is, this portrayal of Helen has very little personality to even speak of other than being nice! Seriously, even what led her to run away with Paris is treated with complete ambiguity! Like, I prefer it to her being demonized (Atwood, Miller to an extent) or desperately longing for freedom to the point of selfishness (Gill, Heywood), but that's not really saying much, is it?

Compare this to the Epic Cycle, where we get scenes like this:

Then Iris went as messenger to white-armed Helen, in the likeness of her husband’s sister, the wife of Antenor’s son, she whom Antenor’s son, lord Helikaon, held—Laodike, most outstanding in beauty of all of Priam’s daughters. She found Helen in her chamber; she was weaving a great cloth, a crimson cloak of double thickness, and was working in the many trials of the Trojan horse-breakers and bronze-clad Achaeans, trials which for her sake they had suffered under the hand of Ares. Standing close, Iris of the swift feet addressed her: “Come this way, dear bride, and see the marvelous deeds of the Trojan horse-breakers and bronze-clad Achaeans, who earlier carried war and all its tears against each other into the plain, in their longing for deadly battle; these men now sit in silence, the war stopped, leaning on their shields, their great spears fixed upright beside them; and Alexandros and Menelaos beloved by Ares are to fight with their great spears on your account; and you will be called wife of that man who is victor.”

So speaking the goddess aroused in Helen’s heart sweet longing for her husband of old, her city and her children.

[...]

“Honored are you to me, dear father-in-law, and revered, and would that evil death had pleased me at that time when I followed your son here, abandoning my marriage chamber and kinsmen, my late-born child, and the lovely companions of my own age. But that did not happen; and so I waste away weeping. [...]”—Homer, Iliad (trans. Caroline Alexander)

And this:

“Come here; Alexandros summons you home; he is there, in his bedroom, on his bed that is inlaid with rings, shining in beauty and raiment—you would not think that he came from fighting a man, but rather that he was going to a dance, or had just left the dance and was reclining.”

So she spoke; and stirred the anger in Helen’s breast. And when she recognized the goddess’ beautiful cheeks and ravishing breasts and gleaming eyes, she stood amazed, and spoke out and addressed her by name:

“Mad one; why do you so desire to seduce me in this way? Will you drive me to some further place among well-settled cities, to Phrygia or lovely Maeonia? Perhaps there too is some mortal man beloved by you—since now Menelaos has vanquished godlike Alexandros and desires that I, loathsome as I am, be taken home. Is it for this reason you stand here now conniving? Go, sit yourself beside him, renounce the haunts of the gods, never turn your feet to Olympus, but suffer for him and tend him forever, until he makes you either his wife, or his girl slave. As for me, I will not go there—it would be shameful—to share the bed of that man. The Trojan women will all blame me afterward; the sufferings I have in my heart are without end.”

Then in anger divine Aphrodite addressed her: “Do not provoke me, wicked girl, lest I drop you in anger, and hate you as much as I now terribly love you, and devise painful hostilities, and you are caught in the middle of both, Trojans and Danaans, and are destroyed by an evil fate.”

So she spoke; and Helen born of Zeus was frightened; and she left, covering herself with her shining white robe, in silence, and escaped notice of the women of Troy; and the divine one led her.

When the women arrived at the splendid house of Alexandros, the handmaids swiftly turned to their work, and she, shining among women, entered into the high-roofed chamber; then laughter-loving Aphrodite, taking a stool for her, placed it opposite Alexandros, the goddess herself carrying it. There Helen took her seat, daughter of Zeus who wields the aegis, and averting her eyes, reviled her husband with her words: “You’re back from war; would that you had died there broken by the stronger man, he who in time past was my husband. Yet before this you used to boast that you were stronger than Menelaos, beloved by Ares, in your courage and strength of hand and skill with spear; go now and challenge Menelaos beloved by Ares, to fight again, face-to-face—but no, I recommend you give it up, and not fight fair-haired Menelaos man-to-man, or recklessly do battle, lest you be swiftly broken beneath his spear.”—Homer, Iliad (trans. Caroline Alexander)

And if you want to look beyond the Iliad itself, there's also this:

Next comes the Little Iliad in four books by Lesches of Mitylene: its contents are as follows. The adjudging of the arms of Achilles takes place, and Odysseus, by the contriving of Athena, gains them. Aias then becomes mad and destroys the herd of the Achaeans and kills himself. Next Odysseus lies in wait and catches Helenus, who prophesies as to the taking of Troy, and Diomede accordingly brings Philoctetes from Lemnos. Philoctetes is healed by Machaon, fights in single combat with Alexandrus and kills him: the dead body is outraged by Menelaus, but the Trojans recover and bury it. After this Deiphobus marries Helen, Odysseus brings Neoptolemus from Scyros and gives him his father's arms, and the ghost of Achilles appears to him. Eurypylus the son of Telephus arrives to aid the Trojans, shows his prowess and is killed by Neoptolemus. The Trojans are now closely beseiged, and Epeius, by Athena's instruction, builds the wooden horse. Odysseus disfigures himself and goes in to Ilium as a spy, and there being recognized by Helen, plots with her for the taking of the city; after killing certain of the Trojans, he returns to the ships. Next he carries the Palladium out of Troy with help of Diomedes. Then after putting their best men in the wooden horse and burning their huts, the main body of the Hellenes sail to Tenedos. The Trojans, supposing their troubles over, destroy a part of their city wall and take the wooden horse into their city and feast as though they had conquered the Hellenes.—Proclus, Chrestomathia

And this:

Concerning Aethra Lesches relates that when Ilium was taken she stole out of the city and came to the Hellenic camp, where she was recognised by the sons of Theseus; and that Demophon asked her of Agamemnon. Agamemnon wished to grant him this favour, but he would not do so until Helen consented. And when he sent a herald, Helen granted his request.—Pausanias

Say what you will about society in Ancient Greece, but it really is sad when the source material is even slightly more progressive than the retellings are, such as when Helen tries to resist Aphrodite. And that's not to say Helen has never been given a more assertive personality before, but when she is, it's usually at the expense of making Menelaus a terrible husband (again, Gill, Heywood). The only other one I can think of that even comes close to this without attacking another character is The Private Life of Helen of Troy by John Eriskine, and not only did it come out in 1925, but it's a sequel anyway too.

Going back to Elektra, I'm surprised there has yet to be a generational series on the House of Atreus as a whole, because wow did I forget how messed up this family was and I love it! You've got your family drama, your betrayals, your cycle of vengeance! And with Pelops' line specifically, it all leads up to a mother avenging her daughter and a daughter avenging her father. It's perfect! But seriously, if anyone knows of a show or book series covering Tantalus and his bloodline, please tell me!

Which brings me to Agamemnon, whose portrayal here I found to be interesting. So something about Elektra is that it's told from three different PoVs, and because of that, each views Agamemnon in a certain way: to Clytemnestra, he's the proud warrior who killed their eldest daughter; to Elektra, he's the kind father whom she misses dearly; to Cassandra, he's her captor and destroyer of her city. And even then, we still get these tiny glimpses of his true self beneath his usual stern exterior—that of an insecure man who's desperately trying to make something out of his family name after reclaiming his home, a name that had already been cursed since long before he was born. But maybe he can change that by gaining glory in war... even if it means sacrificing his own daughter for a fair bit of wind.

Then you have the clear parallels that are drawn between Clytemnestra and Elektra as the book goes on, simultaneously sympathizing and condemning both for the actions they take. Even Aegisthus probably would've been seen as a hero if this were any other story. And I feel like this is true to the original Oresteia as well, how not one person can be categorized as being solely a hero or villain, but human.

So go ahead and give me the love story of Hades and Persephone, but remember that it's mournful Demeter's tale as much as it is theirs.

Give me the stories of the women and goddesses who have long been ignored throughout the centuries, but remember that it's possible to write such tales without having there be a need to drag those around them down.

Give me love, give me drama, but most of all, give me understanding and complexity.

And going back to the books themselves, honestly, if there was anything negative I had to say about both of them is that the myths are retold pretty directly for the most part, something I myself didn't actually have much of a problem with, but I understand may be a turn-off for some people, especially if you're looking for something a little more deviating from the source material in terms of characterization. Also, for some reason, both Greek and Roman spellings are used, instead of just sticking to one, hence why I've been using Elektra instead of Electra, but not Klytemnestra and Kassandra for, well, Clytemnestra and Cassandra. Not unique to Saint, but still no less jarring.

Like I said, of the two, Elektra was probably my favorite, but there were still a ton of problems I had with it, some more nitpicky than others, I'll admit. I already went over my feelings on Helen, but besides that, seeing more of Elektra's relationship with her father before he goes off to war would've been nice to see too. I also feel like if each book absolutely had to be named after a single character, then I kinda think this one should've been called Clytemnestra instead since it really did feel more like her story than Elektra's, at least for me. Some parts also felt a little rushed, especially with how the final chapter just jumps from Elektra getting her revenge to the epilogue describing what had happened afterwards instead of actually showing it, which makes me wish this book had either been a little longer or divided into a duology—one part focusing on Clytemnestra getting her revenge while the other is focused on Elektra's, similar to how Aeschulys divides them in his Oresteia trilogy. Or if neither of these solutions while still keeping the book at the same length, then maybe Cassandra's PoVs could've even been saved for her own book instead.

Speaking of Cassandra, there's also the fact that her fate ends up being a mercy kill rather than the cold-blooded murder it was in the original, basically absolving Clytemnestra of any wrongdoing when it came to this. Admittedly, I wasn't as annoyed over it as I could've been and the choice made sense to me as far as the presentation of the characters in the novel are concerned, but at the same time, it'd be nice to see more retellings actually portray Clytemnestra as so far gone by the time Agamemnon returns that she ends up killing an innocent in cold blood rather than just being a mournful mother out for revenge. Seriously, it's possible to do both.

And as for Elektra herself, the fact that it is very heavily implied she has the complex that's been named after her is just... no. And if that's the case, here's hoping Saint never does an Oedipus retelling. I can handle it with the gods because they're gods, but not when its mortals.

Also, the fact that Theseus isn't even mentioned once in Elektra despite the fact that he (and Pirithous) tried to kidnap Helen when she was twelve always felt like a missed opportunity to me, especially considering the book was published after Ariadne, where Theseus is of course a major character and him and Pirithous trying to kidnap Persephone is actually mentioned. It wouldn't have added anything to the story, but I still think addressing that little connection would've been neat.

And yet despite all of this, I still loved it, as well as Ariadne, flaws and all. But here's hoping Atalanta will be even better!

[cosmic-walkers]

maglor spending time in numenor until the death of elros gives me arwen vibes. he follows elros to numenor because he does not want elros to feel forgotten, though he never will feel forgotten. it is more so that elros will never forget where he comes from, and so he won't be alone. even as the years pass by, and elros ages, and his mind is feeble, maglor always wants him to remember there was a time when he was among the eldar, when he was the very magic that he tells his great-grand children about. in elros's old age he tells him stories of their pasts, and the children gather and listen to maglor tell them. at a point, elros does not recall the stories all that well (they are dreams to him), and among the kids they are nothing but fairy tales.

'tell us about the pretty elf woman who turned to a bird!' ' what about the elf who had the most beautiful voice of all men and eldar alike' 'no i want to hear about the one who carries the star in the sky' or 'i want to hear of the one who made the stars--the silmarils!' all the kids recount maglor's stories--stories of his past, stories of elros, and while maglor enjoys his time with the children, he speaks directly to elros, hoping he remembers, but he does not.

until one day, as he sits in elros's room playing his loot, he hears the man of near 500 years speak quietly 'tell me about valinor-what it is like. for i will not join you, elrond, or maedhros there. but i can imagine' and through tears, maglor speaks. he tells him, he tells him as if elros is a child again. he promised him hundreds of years ago that they'd meet again in valinor, but they will not. it doesn't matter, he tells him.

when elros dies, maglor crawls upon the bed and curls up with him, and it is only when the servants and his children come, is it announced the king is dead. maglor is apart of the family by now, so deeply rooted but he cannot stay. he stays for the coronation of Elros's heir, and bids the children and grand children good bye nights after. after that, he takes a boat to himself, and sails to middle earth where he wonders the sea shore and continues to sing songs of sorrow. Where he eventually ventures into the old lands where he and his brother would roam, and fades into nature until a certain half elf finds him and brings him to imaldris. it is difficult for maglor to even look at elrond, he reminds him actually of all of elros's children and he cannot bear to think of them in that moment.

In numenor there are statues dedicated to maglor, some are now at the bottom of the sea. but elros's son, and his children make sure maglor is never forgotten just as maglor attempted to make sure elros never forgot where he came from.

[abbyfmc]

Servant! x Yandere Evil Queen! reader:

Before we begin, a belated Merry Christmas and New Year! I haven't updated because I'm really lazy lately, but I decided to change that and bring you something.

Reader is the yandere today, and she is based on the Bloody Countess Elizabeth Bathory. The other Oc of mine is called William.

Pictures are not mine!

[Story told by a poor old man]

This story happened some time ago. It was 1580, the year in which in the great country of Zealia, near Romania, there was a time of very dark reign for all, originated by a cruel queen educated in politics, science, manners and arts named (y/n) (t /a) from Zealia, and anyone who finds out about this will say "Wow! How good! Many men must have felt envious that a woman surpassed them in that!" and yes, it was like that. But that smart girl was also a very dark and evil person with petty instincts and an incredible ego or pride.

As soon as (y/n) (t/a) is mentioned by the Zealin inhabitants, many adopt a bitter taste on the tongue almost immediately, since his term or reign was the bloodiest to date. She suffered from intense fits of anger or rage from a very young age. The Queen murdered the King who was unfaithful to her and his lover, which only exposed her cruelty and rancor. Finding herself alone, she practiced black magic with a very sinister court of witches, sorcerers, and alchemists, learning quite a bit from them.

It was a cloudy day when a young boy in his 20s named William, who was from a poor family after the death of his father, was desperately looking for a job to support the family. He wandered and wandered through the streets but found nothing anywhere, until he passed in front of the sadistic queen's castle. He thought about it for a moment, then made up his mind and tried to enter, but the guards blocked his way.

--What are you looking for here? Who the hell are you?-- asked one of them in a harsh voice, blocking his way.

--I-I'm here b-because i search j-job-- William replied stuttering.

--Ah, I see that you want the position of royal servant or butler, because with that ridiculous way of speaking, no one would want you as a royal guard-- The other guards laughed and let the outraged and humiliated William pass, who was led by one of them down a corridor where other men and women stood there, apparently nervously looking for a job just like him.

--Here it is, the Queen will be here in a moment. goodbye stuttering girl-- The guard said, walking off the way he came and leaving an intimidated William among other people.

Until she came.

--Good morning everyone-- The Queen greeted firmly and politely. She was a beautiful young woman who would captivate any man who did not know of her sudden outbursts and anger. Everyone looked at her, fell silent and bowed, even William himself, which made the highness and William's eyes meet for the first time, and what caused that? that the evil queen fell in love at first sight with that innocent boy.

--I see that you come to look for work. Well, they will be given training in which their ability and aptitude for the job will be closely monitored. The better you do, the more you will advance, and the more you advance, more privileges you will have-- The Queen walked around the room at a slow pace, looking at everyone until she stopped in front of William, who remained motionless and did not say a word.

--What's your name?-- she asked him.

--William Cruz, Your Majesty-- She nodded, captivated by those pretty emerald green eyes as William felt uncomfortable.

--Interesting, and you?-- She once again walked around the room asking the names of each future employee or guard and after finishing with everyone, she returned to her starting place.

--Perfect. Now all that remains is to explain the rules that they will be forced to follow while working here unless they want to go back to sleep in their filthy houses or on the streets and starve to death-- By the words with which she addressed the social classes of those present, she implied that she could probably be a class person. He proceeded to explain the rules which were as follows:

--Number One: You should always be there when called. -Number Two: Ensure the safety of her royal highness and the palace or the kingdom, especially for those who want to be guards of the royal army. -Number Three: Obey everything without question. -Number Four: Willing to travel long distances if ordered to. -Number Five: Be respectful and respond politely to royals, guests, etc. -Number Six: Always dress appropriately. -Number Seven: It is forbidden to give out personal royal information to anyone unless the Queen gives permission. -Number Eight: Keep everything clean, especially for future maids, butlers, etc. -Number Nine: Prepare the food and drinks very well and try them before the queen to avoid poisoning the aforementioned. -Number Ten: Inform your Highness of any attack or conspiracy carried out against it. -Number Eleven: Punish anyone who dares to attack your highness, especially for future guards or executioner executioners. -Number Twelve: Don't steal ANYTHING. -Number Thirteen: Ask permission to send letters to your relatives. -Number Fourteen: If you want to see your families, you must still ask permission. -Number Fifteen: Get up very early and be very punctual.

And a lot more rules, but so many, that William and the others turned pale to hear the Queen say so many demands. At that moment a couple of people arrived, a stocky and tall man of intimidating appearance in the uniform of a royal guard and a woman of apparently no more than 45 years old with maid clothes and a wrinkled face of not very friendly. The Queen introduced them as Adrian to the royal guard and Bellatrix to the maid, who will be the instructors in the training of these people.

--Those who want to be royal servants follow me-- Bellatrix said. Then William and another small group of men as well as all the women followed the lady, while another large retinue of men stayed behind with the royal guard to be arduously trained in the army. Bellatrix was saying that if they break a rule, they can be fired or punished in whatever way the queen and her royal court dictate, which made young William swallow hard.

--You can rest in your rooms for today. are these from here-- She led them to some rooms which weren't very pretty, but at least they had a bed, some sheets and rugs and some dirty and threadbare wooden tables. William sat on his new bed and looked around his room for a bit. The decoration was not very striking, as there were only extinguished torches and decayed paint on the walls, apart from some old curtains that covered a large window that let in the evening light.

--Thank you God for helping me find a job-- He whispered under his breath, lying down on the bed and slowly falling asleep.

The boy did not know that in his work he would only see misfortunes.

Time passed and William had about nine months of hard training to be the Queen (Y/n)'s personal assistant, after she saw for herself his high performance (or at least used that to spy on him how in love she was). of the). He prepared her meals, he was very polite with royalty, he always tried to keep everything clean, he obeyed his instructor and trainer Bellatrix in everything, he learned very quickly and followed all the rules to the letter, standing out far above all the others servants and maids.

To the point that the Queen herself appointed him her royal confidante or company man, which at that time was unusual, but no one would question the bloodthirsty yandere queen, neither would William, so he had no option to refuse or choose, in front of everyone in the throne room so William accepted. Happiness was visible on the young man's face, since now he would be surrounded by privileges that others wanted.

--I hope you don't fail me, my dear confidante-- William nodded while remaining on his knees in a respectful manner, to which the evil queen smiled.

But sooner rather than later, the misfortunes began.

At first, she simply sent her court members to write many letters when they were away, checked that their food and drinks did not have any kind of poison, played any musical instrument for her, helped her with her baths, dressing, etc. comb her hair and ensure her safety and make sure that EVERYONE has respect for her everywhere she steps. The uninformed young man believed that this would be a small price to pay for his promotion and profit due to his efforts, but in reality all this was happening because the queen wanted him to spend more time with her and only her.

She made him punish everyone who went against him in horrible ways with whipping, burning, beating, public humiliation and even once in winter, the queen (y/n) made William drag a girl who flirted with him into the garden snowy, naked and then proceeded to have William pour cold water on her in buckets until the girl froze to death. He also had Will force another girl with a reputation for being flirtatious to sit on a red-hot iron plate of ice from which she was not lifted for two hours just for talking to her love target.

However, the terror began when she gradually developed an unhealthy obsession with beauty, which caused her love for William to turn into madness. He constantly asked her if she was beautiful, William, out of fear and to please her, he told her "Yes, Your Majesty, you are the most beautiful" however, that did not improve things at all, on the contrary, it only made them worse.

--WILLIAM!-- The queen called the young man out loud in a furious manner as soon as the boy arrived from his family's house with the mission of bringing food and medicine to his mother and brothers with the permission of the queen (Y/n). So he ran to her furious highness's room.

--What's up your highness?! Who made you suffer this time?!-- He entered the room where he saw an angry (Y/n) with a slightly red cheek from what appears to be a burn and a beaten up maid on her knees sobbing and begging for what William overheard was her life.

--Look what this maid has done to me! That makeup had something acid in it! And to think that it was a good idea to let this random do my makeup!-- He now saw His Majesty's outbursts of rage more clearly, to which William nodded, leaning forward slightly in reverence. Then he took the maid who was crying inconsolably for fear of the punishments of that sadistic psychopath.

--Wait, I want you to know that when I slapped her, I cut her cheek a little with my fingernail and I swear I saw the skin on my finger rejuvenate, so I want you, Adrian and Bellatrix to cut her neck and veins and That they then empty their blood into a barrel so that I can then prepare my bath-- William was completely horrified by the orders of his yandere mistress, but out of fear he did not question any of her words, he said "Yes, your majesty" and left the room, taking the maid who was imploring for her life while William tried not to cry, helpless for what he has to do in order not to be severely punished by the queen. Then Adrian and Bellatrix appeared down the hall and William warned them about their mistress's order and they, not being at all surprised by the meanness and meanness of Miss (Y/n) (Y/a), obeyed.

The months passed and the situation escalated for the worse.

The queen (Y/n) would have maids tortured and then have Adrian, William, Bellatrix and other servants drain the blood of those virgin maids into buckets to then be carried away and emptied into the queen's large private tub when she asked for a bath on the condition that William is the one who prepares it for her and who watches her bathe, sometimes forcing the poor boy to come in with her.

--Come here. now-- She ordered him authoritatively and William unfortunately had to obey her whims, take off his clothes and enter with her.

--You will be mine, only mine-- She took him by the cheeks and forced him to kiss her, standing with her beautiful naked body in front of him.

--I am capable of bathing in the blood of any woman you talk to. Noble, peasant, relative or friend. I don't care as long as I have you in my power-- William nodded fearfully. He agreed to submit to its power because he himself has seen what the tortures that occur in the dungeons of that place are like, such as gout torture, the metal pear, the wheel or the famous iron maiden in which she would push young girls inside and once they closed it, spikes would stick into their bodies, causing them to bleed profusely.

But that wasn't the only thing the yandere queen forced the unfortunate William to do.

--Finally we are both alone-- She would sneak into his room at night or lock the boy in his to force him to have 'nightly passion soirees' where she was satisfied while the unfortunate boy was disgusted, but kept quiet so as not to lose his skin.

--I love having you all to myself-- The queen (Y/n) was saying after reaching orgasm in William's mouth after blackmailing him into executing his mother so that he would agree to be just one with her that night.

--Do you love being only mine? tell me yes-- Then she proceeded to bite him on the neck and other parts, which was not very well seen, especially if it came from a woman, but the queen's castle (Y/n) was known to be a place of spilling or baths of blood and sin.

--Yes majesty-- He made her moan and come several times. It made her feel unique, powerful, commanding, and very much alive.

And she wouldn't share her man with anyone.

He would be hers forever and she wouldn't let him go, or so she wanted to believe. Why is that? Because there were no longer any maids in the castle, which made the queen angry (but on the one hand it made her happy since no one would flirt with her love interest), so it occurred to her to disguise her atrocities with the excuse that she would make her castle a boarding school for young girls from noble families, which was successful for some time until the queen was able to satisfy her insane desire to be the most beautiful and always be young (to the point that if she did not bathe in the blood of her victims, she would he would chase down any woman who tried to compete with him or any man who insulted her) while forcing William to torture every girl he spoke to. Meanwhile, young William, already fed up with everything, set out to plan an escape together with other girls daughters of nobles to report what is happening to the authorities.

Luckily people were already starting to take notice. Too many disappearances of noble girls in the Zealin castle and how difficult it was to hide the corpses. The emerald eyed one pretended like everything was the same whether it was sending letters to his family along with food and medicine, cleaning, pleasing his mistress, preparing their baths and now, hiding girls' corpses in a distant field until a certain night.

One of those girls came from a noble family very close to the prince of the neighboring kingdom called Darius II of Iwrira, so she collaborated with the escape to go with her family and for her family to notify the prince to see if an intervention can be made military with his Iwrirnense army.

They went out at night. William sneaked into a dark alley where he took off some of his clothes while the little he still had on he dirty with a little mud and took other ragged rags and a torn sheet that was in the trash that served as a cape. black which smelled very bad, but it was enough to look like a bum and not be discovered by the guards. The girls who escaped did something similar.

--Very good, now only this is missing-- He bent down and scooped up some water from a bucket to pour on the ground and put the mud on his face. Now he really didn't look like the elegant butler he used to. He even messed up his hair a lot and then put the cape on top. William walked stealthily between alleys until he ran into the girls, or well, two of them and they went away from the castle area.

Thanks to the girls and their noble families, it was possible to report to Prince Darius from a neighboring army the case of the queen (Y/n) (Y/a) and the millions of dead maidens or young women, which caused the prince to send her army to the Zealin castle in order to make her pay for her crimes.

Obviously there was a confrontation between the Darius army and the Zealin army in which the Zealin lost. Servants, guards, butlers and finally the queen (Y/n) (Y/a) were seized, who was shouting curses left and right about her being betrayed, asking for William and demanding with a great fit of anger that he she stabbed him from behind, that they look for him and even implored for his freedom for according to her being pregnant with William (which was true thanks to their nights of passion).

The justice of Prince Darius II of Iwrira did not listen to her word, not because of the issue of being a woman or not, but because of the horrible murders and tortures that were carried out in her castle due to her dark instincts. The families of those victims WANTED her head.

--Well, Madame (Y/n)-- Darius said in a court next to his royal court of respectable aristocrats where the queen was being tried.

--Because of the crimes you committed, you will be executed by guillotine and your servants will be sentenced to burn at the stake-- The prince ruled as the final sentence, since in his kingdom he was the one who sentenced criminals. Thereupon, he ordered her to be taken to the large main square where a large guillotine was led, where people were settling around her while she was grabbed like anyone in dirty and ragged clothes while the others yelled "DEATH!".

And at that precise moment the former queen (Y/n) saw someone special in her audience. To her traitor.

To the only person to whom she gave her evil heart.

William, but he had his cloak and dirty rags on him, which was why no one recognized him. But it was too late to ask for release, besides that the evil queen would never regret it as long as she died being the most evil, the most self-centered and the most beautiful.

But also with a broken heart and full of betrayal.

Until the metallic blade separated her head from his neck. The same thing happened with the servants at the stake.

[End of old man's story].

Finally came years of peace for us Zealinenses. There was no tyranny and not as many people died as in that crude reign, but the damage that (Y/n) (Y/a) of Zealia caused is still there. Many families are sad or devastated by the loss of a daughter, sister, mother, wife, and of course, the odd father, brother, or son alike.

Today I have my own family. A wife just as old as me, my children and my grandchildren who ask me questions about my life and my history, and I tell them and they are surprised and amazed when they hear my words.

--But… grandfather… If there were so many corpses, where did they bury them then?-- The eldest of my grandchildren, Fabián II, asked me while the others, even the girls, continue to look at me expectantly since history apparently has them on the edge of their seats.

--Well, do you see the great white wall in the distance from our cornfield? In that cemetery all the bodies of those people who were murdered by that evil queen were buried-- They agreed, understanding what I taught them in previous days while they helped me pick corn together with my old wife.

--However, no one knows where that bloodthirsty harpy is buried, so don't ask that-- I warned them. At that time no one agreed with the queen (Y/n) being buried there, so no one knows exactly where her body is, but no one was interested in knowing. They didn't even want to mention her name, so Zealia remained in mourning and silence for a while.

Now we are ruled by a very distant relative of that evil queen in a more peaceful way.

--Grandpa, one more question-- My ten-year-old grandson named Javier tells me who had remained silent until then. I realized that the other children left with their parents who came looking for them.

--Yes? Tell me--.

--How do you know the details of that terrifying story? What happened to William?-- I knew that question would come one day. I never told the whole story, because I wasn't so sure how my listeners would react.

--Oh well. If you are the one who lives the story in the flesh or yourself, you should know all or most of the details when telling it-- Javier's jaw dropped at my revelation, since I always used the name Alejandro, hiding my real identity for fear of getting caught.

--So you… you were William all this time?-- I went 'Shhh!' with my finger between my lips as a sign to keep quiet, to which he agreed.

--Yes, I was William all this time-- I told him in whispers.

--But promise me one thing-- He moved a little closer to me, nodding.

--You must not tell anyone of my true identity-- He nodded and then went to his brother Fabian who was talking about I don't know what in front of my little house. Only my wife knows, with whom I escaped from that martyrdom and spent some time working for her noble family, earning a certain salary. And yes, I visited my family at that time and dedicated myself to agriculture to survive in secret.

When mom died and my brothers each went their separate ways, my wife and I settled here and had our offspring. I did not tell the truth to any of my children for fear that they would catch me and kill them, so I always told the story in the third person while calling myself Alejandro and I even made my wife refer to me like that instead to use my real name in public.

--What did you already tell them? When would you tell our children?-- Asked my wife, who appeared behind me, coming out of the kitchen.

--Only Javier-- I answered turning to her.

--Be very careful who you tell it to--She warned me.

--I know Mary-- I answered her calmly again.

At least I know that my last days will be calm. If I can't kill a guard, my age will sooner or later and the same with my old wife. But I will be happy because I will die without someone having me by their side, kidnapped while bathing in blood to increase their beauty.

-The End.

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

The (Y/n) of this chapter was inspired by Erzebeth Báthory, the bloody countess.

[ashwin-blythe]

A S H W I N " A S H " B L Y T H E

age / d.o.b.: 55, March 4, 1967 height: 6'5" gender & pronouns: Cis man, he/him sexuality: Bisexual hometown: Ormiston, Saskatchewan occupation: Hotel Manager of the Bowery Hotel education: N/A relationship status: Single children: None

Full Bio is under the cut - please be aware of trigger warnings before proceeding.

biography -

tw // former drug-dealing, gang-related violence, mouth injury

No one knows where Ash was born, or to whom, but he was found at 9 years old, walking barefoot in the woods outside of Ormiston, Saskatchewan. The farmers who happened upon the lost and freezing kid brought him in for a warm meal and got him a thick blanket. He wouldn’t - couldn’t - talk, and no one recognized him. Without the means to keep him on, he was sent off to work and live with other unfortunate orphaned children in a workhouse in North Dakota.

Ash got a name over time. He was sent off as an extra stablehand, a manure shoveler, a miner. No one wanted him in their family, but they could use his sheer force. Ash rarely spoke, but he collected stories from other teens. Tucked them away for some day.

At 18, Ash was sent off on his own. He’s created his name into something resembling a normal one - Ashwin Blythe. Ashwin to sound more credible for work. Blythe, after the boy in Anne of Green Gables. An aimless wanderer much like when he’d been found as a child. This time, he had workable hands and the conviction of someone desperate to make money and survive. On his own, be damned. Solitary was fine.

He works where they’ll have him. Permanent callouses on his hands by 20. Often the coal scooper on the train, the gas station attendant. He slowly travels inward - an elongated tour of the United States.

At 30, he’s servicing cars in a podunk little town in Minnesota. Drugs are passed around and he watches it all from under a broken Chevy or behind a dinging cash register. He’s given hush money. Pulled in without ever confirming his interest. Soon he’s carrying it to places outside of town. Tucking grams into old work gloves and appearing for hand-offs. He sees handguns tucked into the backs of jeans. Knives on holsters off worn leather belts.

It’s all unofficial, and when he finally gets a new job at 36, he’s passed a bundle of cash to keep quiet - something Ash has never had a problem with. But something slips. Something changes.

He meets someone at a bar - a someone who entices him to talk. Stories of his younger years, funny anecdotes. And out comes his time at the gas station. It’s the first person Ash trusts to open up to. Someone he sees for months and months after.

At 37, Ash is working in Wisconsin when familiar forms come streaming out of a car. Four men hold him down, and hack his tongue with a blade. No more talking. No more slipping.

The warning is unforgettable. Ash leaves town- leaves the state. He finds a motel in Michigan that doesn’t ask questions. He works for his room. Mute and spooked, he does his job well. Soon enough, he’s managing it all. By 40, his resume looks… okay.

It’s on a spontaneous trip to New York City that he sees the gorgeous Bowery Hotel. Not even able to stay in it - just stares in awe from the outside. On a limb, he goes in and applies - and starts as a bellhop.

Ever trustworthy, ever diligent, Ash once again moves up. All the while, he meets many who come in and out.

At age 52, Ash is made Hotel Manager.

With more money and more resources, Ash has his tongue looked at and reconstructed at age 55. He still does not talk much if not ever, and his voice is rough and husky. Still, it has given him more freedom.

wanted connections / plots:

the one teaching him to speak - Ash is shy about his voice due to being nonverbal for years from his badly injured tongue. This would be someone he trusts implicitly who helps him form words and learn to talk again.

ones from his past - He’s lived all over. North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan. Worked at old gas stations, in mines, on farms. These could be people who recognize him. Friends or enemies.

lovers - Occasionally he will be swayed into a hotel bedroom or a bathroom stall. He’s a solitary being but secretly yearns for closeness of others. Messy, simple, complicated - all of the above!

[unordinary-but-extraordinary]

Helllooo sorry I’ve been gone so long I promise I will continue the story “He didn’t know a bet would lead him to the love of his life.” And while I’m at it I will like to present the story I’ve been working on for the past 2-3 years…

The story will start with a small moment in the present and then a dream will move us to the past and slowly it will move to the present again. Sounds complicated but it will all make sense soon.

Marinette’s first encounter with Damian and his mother.

The story of our life’s

The wayne manor is awfully quiet as everyone is drifting off to sleep after a long patrol, even Tim is drifting to sleep while working on yet another file, coffee having no effect this time (he hit a wall body shutdown... in process)

The old butler sighs and puts a blanket on top of the young man he looks out the window to the bright moon with no clouds to cover it and he lets a small smile show, he can feel it, something is about to happen and this time in a very long time he cannot wait to know what it is.

In Dream Land With Damian

Damian is recalling a childhood memory, one were he is feeling happy...RARE for him in the League there's no happiness other than when the enemy is finished off and yet that's just the feeling of being proud nevertheless he won’t bother trying to guess he’s about to find out….

11 years ago.

“We have found the enemies hide out,” says a shadow at the other end of the room.

Talia turns to look at Damian, “this mission will take longer then expect Damian so I’ll give you a task.. A test per say.”

Damian scowled in order to cover up his hurt expression. He was feeling unwanted and he hated it, (when will I ever meet her expectations?) Damian turned to look at his mother, he tried to speak with an icy tone but his voice was still very kid-like much to his dislike, “what would it be Mother?”

Talia looks around and spots a young girl with dark hair smiling and waving goodbye to an old lady; perhaps her grandma? Talia doesn’t concern herself with that and points, “that girl with pigtails learn her secrets and make sure to be on plain sight.”

Damian looks at the girl and studies her for a moment, “gain her trust to learn her secret very well. Deposing her body won’t be a problem because she's small. However why plain sight? You’ve taught me the target should never have the privilege of seeing us for we are assassins of the shadows.…”

Damian watches the whole scene play out and repeats the same words Talia is saying; “not all missions will be that easy Damian, in some you’ll need to be in plain sight and blend with the crowd .. Act your age while we are on this mission no child talks like a 40 year old..”

Tt.. that was the first time he recalls his mother making fun of the way he spoke, but also the first time she showed him how to do a mission outside of the shadows. His thoughts are interrupted by his younger self's voice.

“yes mother”

Talia looks at Damian as he walks away with a smirk which could make anyone easily miss the pain in her eyes, “ I wish I could do more for you Damian.”

Damian hadn’t followed his old self just yet waiting to see what his mother would do behind his back, he hadn’t expected to see her act so..sad? It confused him. Why would she be feeling sad?

Damian followed the girl everywhere she went; he was getting annoyed she hadn’t noticed. He started thinking of just going up to her but that was against what his mother said so he just stayed and observed, two older men tried to grab the girl and Damian almost stepped in but saw her turn to look at the guy and smiled before flipping him. She looked scared and then a woman called nonna appeared next to her.

Gina walked out of the shadows with a grind in her face, “ atta girl, that's how it's done.”

“Gina!?” the two older men exclaimed, earning them a glare.

“you! don’t dare Gina me what where ya trying to do to my precious little fairy?” Gina was pissed she wanted to check out a shop and let marinette go by herself to a nearby store, but when she hadn’t seen her she started to worry; she asked the women who she last saw Marinette talking to as to what direction she had gone in, once she found out she rushed to her, she knew marinette had been learning “self defense” from her maman but Gina was not prepared to see her granddaughter flip a man, 2x larger than her like it was nothing..

“We saw her alone and tried to get her attention but she didn’t hear us. We were only trying to help her since there was no adult with her. I promise.” One of the men quickly said.

Marinette, realizing what she had done, started apologizing that she hadn’t fully processed what she did. She was only thinking of her maman “the moment they grab you use this technique to use their own weight against them. “

Damian had been watching the whole time he didn’t recall this happening. Why couldn’t he remember the girl's face?

Damian's younger self decided to step closer and tried to act like a boy he saw nearby.

Damian cringed, he felt embarrassed at his young self’s actions. How could he have thought that was a good impression???

Damian started pretending to stammer and look embarrassed(pathetic was the only word repeating on his mind) “um excuse me? I-..”

“Oh well hello there are you lost ? What's your name?” Gina said patiently, waiting for the boy's reply.

“I’m Damian. I wanted to talk to your granddaughter but I couldn’t bring myself to... could I play with her”

Damian watched as the interaction went along (the second hand embarrassment burned) before he shifted to a different time, he watched as his younger self hung out more with the girl; small fractions of memories. He felt himself being pulled yet again to a new setting. His younger self was in a room with his mother explaining how flexible and good at Chinese martial arts she was. His mother looked intrigued by this. He explained how the girl had sharp eyes and amazing senses. She proved this while she made him a scarf that matched him well. Then finally the secret.

Damian watched his younger self, he was curious about this girl's secret.

“ Her secret is that she has no secrets”

Talia and Damian asked in usion “what?”

His younger self stiffend but didn't back down “ she hold no secrets she is an open book to good for her own good”

After a moment Talia softly spoke“ you’ve done well. Your mission is over and we leave in 3 days”

Damian scowled at the whole thing he hated the fact he wasted his time in a stupid dream and never found out the girls name. His younger self spoke, making him pause and listen. What could be so important for him to speak after getting told the mission was completed?

“Mother, if I may ask shouldn’t we take her? She has a great potential that could help the league and her sharpness would be a great advantage. Grandfather also mentioned choosing a betrothed for myself. She would make an adequate candidate if not a bride. She is bearable compared to the rest of the imbeciles I’ve seen and she would be loyal to me, not grandfather. It’d be a waste to dispose of her while she’s this young.”

Damian flushed red… How could I have said such a thing? I would never ! I don't remember saying this..

“you're right, however she is a girl your grandfather will see as unworthy. She is a normal child. I'm sure she has never seen blood. It's best she remains as she is. As well if the girl was not loyal to your grandfather she would be killed in order for a new bride to take her place. If you're worried about assassinating her, we won’t be disposing of her. She still has good use; we may encounter her again someday.”

Damian saw his younger self expression darken.. While trying to say how it didn’t matter to him if the girl died or not. This caused Damian to pause and think when did he get such childlike emotions?

His younger self left to see the girl. The girl upon seeing his younger self dashed to his side and gave him a pair of training clothes.

“What's this for?”

“your old ones looked too worn so..uh I copied their style and added more protection you can’t tell but I.. I hope you like it.” Marinette had seen the bruises in one of their play dates and she took it upon herself to make him clothes that would protect him.

Damian gives her a sad smile, “ I'll wear it.”

Marinette gives him a sweet smile, “ I'm leaving today so I wanted to give this to you. it was nice meeting you I’m sorry I didn't tell you sooner I just found out today! But I’m glad you were able to relax the way you talk..”

Gina interrupts their conversation, “ my little fairy we have to go now hop on already! it was nice meeting you damian.”

Damian nods, he could only see the girl get on the bike and give her a small wave before disappearing into the distance. He went back to his mother and explained what had occurred. Talia studied the outfit and told him she approved of it. 3 days later and they were gone. Damian forgetting all about the girl.

After saying her goodbyes Marinette was a bit down she hoped they would meet again..even though he never got to know her name she hoped he would remember her. Gina knew what Marinette was thinking about but stayed silent.. Damian didn’t ask for Marinettes name because he didn’t want to get attached but how could she tell Marinette that. It would break her little fairies heart so she stayed quiet and rode her bike to their next destination.