#the humming/singing just. final nail. coffin.

[mystery-box-gifs]

Off the Grid  ☼  Homemade Gambas

[dreadsuitsamus]

Bleach Men Taking Your Baby to the Grocery Store Headcanons

author's note: yes the premise is random but it's also very cute and perfectly in line with my recent onslaught of baby fever. also, the banners in this post were created by the always amazing @actuallysaiyan!! thank you for the gorgeous banners, babe! 🩷🩷🩷

pairings: kensei muguruma x reader, byakuya kuchiki x reader, grimmjow jaegerjaquez x reader, renji abarai x reader, ichigo kurosaki x reader

warnings: children ages 5 and younger and grimmjow's parenting lmao this is mostly fluff and some mischief mixed in from the babies

Kensei is definitely the tough parent of the two of you, and he relishes in that fact

But goddammit do those baby eyes make him waver

As he carries little Mila into the store, he tells her they're only there for necessities

No candy, no sugary cereals, only what you've tasked him to buy for dinner

Despite being only three and a half, however, Mila has a pretty good idea of how to get her way with Kensei

It's gotten slightly less effective since the pacifiers have been removed from her arsenal, but anything that cracks her dad's tough exterior is remarkable as is

It starts off innocently enough, though soon the way she sings her little song and bops her head around becomes rife with intent

"Daddy, can has hug?" She blinks up at him, holding her arms up

Either he's willfully choosing to fall into the trap, or Kensei is merely blind in the face of his precious girl

"Of course, baby." Kensei picks her up from the cart and kisses her wonderfully chubby cheek, leading the cart behind him as he continues through the store with Mila hooked on his hip

Mila curls up, humming as her eyes scan the shelves for something she wants

"Hold Momma's list for Daddy, okay?"

Mila's little fingers hold the list carefully, and soon Kensei is at a crossroad

"Broth. What kind of broth?" He mutters, fishing his cell phone from his pocket to call you

As usual, it turns into a bit of a squabbling match. He thinks remembering every little detail is silly, and you think you've made this dish so many times he should know you need chicken broth

Kensei is sufficiently annoyed by the time the phone call ends, and Mila strikes then

"Daddy, can has kiss?"

"Yes, baby." She gets a kiss on either cheek, and the kiss she gives his cheek right back is just about the final nail in the coffin

With Kensei holding her, she's able to reach the shelf and snag a little box of animal crackers

"Daddy, can has this?"

Played by the fucking toddler again!! That's three times this week!

"... Don't tell your brothers." Kensei sighs, hanging his head in shame

It's not all bad though; he does get another sweet kiss from his princess

Byakuya is a strict but ultimately fair father

Little Jasmine has grown up under his watchful eye, though through that she's certainly learned just how many of his limits she can press and how to get around them

Going to the grocery store is rare, and even more so if you're not present for the journey

But it's vacation time, and you're busy setting up the cabin for your family's stay, so Byakuya has been tasked with gathering enough groceries to make it through dinner and the morning's breakfast

Byakuya holds Jasmine’s hand and they walk inside together, Byakuya using a tissue to pick up one of the small hand baskets. There's no telling the last time this thing has been sanitized!

“What would you like for dinner tonight?” Byakuya asks the five year old, and Jasmine hums thoughtfully

How can she end the first day of this vacation with a delicious banana split?

Appealing to her father's tastes will increase the likelihood of success, and her father is quite fond of spicy foods…

“Can we have curry?”

The light in his eyes isn't missed by the girl, and she can practically taste an ice cream sundae with a waffle bowl already

“You're becoming more accustomed to spices, I see.” Byakuya hums and begins to survey the store's offerings, whereas Jasmine is mentally preparing her list for dessert

“Daddy?” Jasmine dials up the sweetness in her tone while Byakuya examines the various cuts of chicken on display

“Yes?” He hums

“Can we have a treat tonight?”

“What sort of treat?”

“A surprise treat. Please, Daddy?”

Byakuya pauses. He's no fan of sweets, and in general sugar is limited in the Kuchiki household

But she did say please

“Mm… I suppose.”

Byakuya doesn't meet your eyes when he and Jasmine return from the store with more ingredients for ice cream sundaes than dinner and breakfast combined

He is such a sucker, but he's happy to be played when he receives his banana split with a chocolate syrup drawing of his beloved Wakame Taishi from his darling daughter

Renji tries his best to be a strict father, but his determination wavers frequently. He wanted for many things as a child, and as a parent he doesn't wish to push that same feeling on his child as long as he's capable of providing a warm, loving home

Not to mention, that damn two year is old is just so cute it makes his heart melt at the mere sight of the toddler

“C’mon, honey, gotta get some soup for Mommy.” Renji murmurs as he carefully takes little Rin from his car seat, carrying him into the store on his hip

“Why?” is Rin’s favorite question right now, and Renji’s eye twitches a bit

“Because her tummy is upset.”

“Why?”

“... I don't know.”

“Why?”

“I don't know!”

“Why?”

Renji gently pinches his son's lips between his fingers. “Shhh… Quiet time.”

But of course, the moment he lets go, Rin is back at it again

“Why?”

“Because now Daddy has a headache.”

Rin, as gently as he can while simultaneously not managing much grace in the act, pats his father's sunglasses that sit atop his head

“All bedder?”

Renji's lip practically wobbles at the sweetness. “Yes, Daddy's all better. Thank you, sweetie.”

Rin rests his head against his father, playing with the Renji’s chain while he surveys all of the varieties of soup, Renji occasionally pulling the chain away from the baby's open mouth

Rin whines after his third attempt to eat the necklace, so Renji quickly grabs the first can of chicken noodle soup he sees and makes a dash for the checkout. No baby meltdowns in public, for the love of God

Renji gently bounces the baby, pleading softly with him to calm down. It's not working very well, however, and these damn checkout lines aren't moving at all!

Desperation wins and Renji's grabbing a lollipop before he knows it, tearing the wrapping off and popping the sucker into Rin’s teeny mouth

His plan to calm the baby works, and by the time he's actually able to check out and purchase the soup, the small pop is already gone and the tantrum is starting to blossom again

And just as Renji gets the baby strapped back into his carseat, he checks his phone to see a text you sent twenty minutes ago that practically sends his eyes popping out of his skull

Can you pick up a pregnancy test too?

He glances over at the toddler, and can practically see the boy as a big brother already

Even with a fussy baby in round two of the long lines, Renji's smile doesn't waver and he just kisses and coos at the hopefully soon-to-be big brother

Grimmjow is an interesting parent. Much like how every day with a four year old is a mystery, every day with Grimmjow is a deep dive into the unknown

So when sending the man and his mini-me to the grocery store, you're not quite sure what they're going to come home with. Hopefully it at least includes the items on the list, otherwise dinner is going to be very different from what you've planned

“Oi, keep up!” Grimm looks over his shoulder, the four year old having been distracted by a vending machine

“Want snack.”

“Too bad. Let's go.”

The toddler’s stare is a little too lead paint-y for Grimmjow's liking

“Zen.” Grimmjow looks on, unimpressed as he fishes a coin from his pocket. “Fine, brat. You win, you get a snack. I win, I get a snack.”

That gets the boy to smile, clapping his hands as he jumps in excitement

Grimmjow smirks. “Heads I win, tails you lose.”

The coin is flipped off of Grimmjow's thumb and he catches it easily, Zen waiting with bated breath for the results. Does Daddy win or does he lose??

Grimm sucks his teeth, shaking his head and tucking the quarter back into his pocket. “Heads I win. Tough luck, kid. Maybe next time.”

Zen pouts, watching his father slip a dollar into the vending machine and press the buttons for a honey bun. “Aw man…”

“C’mon.” Grimmjow opens up the snack, taking a big bite and grabbing the front of Zen’s coat, carrying him inside of the store like a handbag

The boy can't help but giggle as he looks up at his father; he loves air jail!

“You're in jail. Stop laughing, fuckin’ psycho.” Grimm shakes his son a bit, hiding his own laughter into the next bite of his honey bun. He's a hardass, but that baby's laugh is precious and melts him like ice cream on a sunny day

Heads turn at the way Grimmjow carries Zen, but Grimm is highly unbothered by such judgment. His kid is happy and healthy, and anyone that thinks otherwise can kiss his ass, for all he cares

“You got the list?” Grimm looks down at Zen, the boy fishing out the neatly-folded post-it note you lovingly tucked into his jacket pocket

Grimmjow perks a brow as he reads off the ingredients you've listed. “Say, kid—” he looks down at his son. “Whaddya say we ditch the list and get some pizza instead?”

Zen claps happily at the idea and Grimm grins menacingly, crushing up the grocery list and tossing it on the floor as he hoists his boy over his shoulder, stuffing the last bite of the honey bun in his baby's mouth whilst flipping off a scandalized woman at the checkouts

Growing up with two younger sisters was good for something after all, Ichigo thinks as he wrangles his twin girls through the parking lot with relative ease

The three year olds are stubborn and independent, having insisted they walk instead of having daddy carry them! But they still want to hold his hands, of course

why no he is not melting like a lava cake, why do you ask?

The girls gasp at the sight of a shopping cart with a racecar on the end that's the perfect size for two little ones!

“We don't even need a cart.” Ichigo deadpans, though it's in one ear and out the other as the babies pile into the little racecar, turning the steering wheels and beeping the (thankfully noiseless) horns

He feels like an idiot but as the dutiful father he is, Ichigo complies with his girls’ wishes and pushes the cart into the store

Chubby fingers point as little voices call out for candies and trinkets, and Ichigo's quick with each of his responses

“No.”

“I said no.”

“No ma'am!”

He's definitely cleaning their ears out when they get home, because clearly they can't hear him! Why else would they ask for things a million times over, hm?

“Daddy always say no.” Indigo pouts, her sister nodding in agreement. All they want is some candy!! Why is Daddy so mean?

Ichigo sighs in frustration as the aisle he needs to go down is absolutely packed, and he's stuck with this behemoth of a shopping cart. Settling it at the end of the aisle, he kneels down to make eye contact with the girls

“Stay put; I’ll be right back.”

Ichigo quickly rushes down the aisle, weaving between people to get to the pasta section

Now… If only he could remember what shape of pasta you told him to buy

Indigo and Imani look at each other, covering their mouths to hide their mischievous giggles

Those Push Pops they were eyeing are still nearby, and Daddy isn't!

As the tag team they are, Indigo and Imani spring into action, Indigo rushing to get the candy while Imani (who turns up the cuteness to a ten!) rushes down the aisle to her father

Ichigo frowns and picks up Imani, scolding her for leaving the cart

It isn't exactly effective, however, as the baby eyes and the cooing let her off the hook easily

When they get back to the cart after Ichigo remembers which pasta you've requested, he sets Imani back into the racecar

Indigo slips a blue Push Pop into her twin's hand, the two of them sharing a conspiratorial smile

They almost get away with it too, though when Ichigo's strapping them into their car seats he notices the lollipops

“Stop stealing!!!!”

These girls will surely be the reason he takes medication for his blood pressure, and he dreads the day when they become teenagers!

[ladykailitha]

Well Met By Moonlight Part 7

Hello! It was a bit of a rough morning for me with the hate I got earlier. Maybe I could have worded it nicer, but I'm tired of gatekeepers that think everything ever has to be canon inspired, but if you have a difference of opinion about what is canon then them you're delusional.

And then my son nearly fainted at his school singing program this afternoon. He got sent home yesterday due to being over emotional at school (couldn't stop crying), but we thought it was just a bad mental health day. Apparently not.

So it was a little hard wanting to post today, even though I have a backlog of 15 chapters across 5 stories because I was feeling overly emotional.

So I hope you enjoy a little bit of sexy times for our boys. I told you I'd bring Eddie back sooner, rather than later.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6  

18+ Under the Cut

****

Eddie was in his room trying to nail down the bridge on a song he was writing when he heard a small scratching noise at the front door. He set his guitar aside and listened closely.

There it was again.

He wasn’t expecting anyone today. He got up warily and was at the door in an instant. He looked through the peephole and huffed out a laugh.

He opened the door and leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed.

“You barely left me last night and you’re already at my door step again?” he teased.

There was that wolfie laugh Eddie adored so much.

“Come on in before the twins next door think you’re a doggy to play with and chase you all over the trailer park.”

Steve laughed again and Eddie shook his head, moving to the side to let his boyfriend in.

Steve shifted back to human and wrapped his arms around Eddie’s neck loosely. “Hey baby.”

Eddie purred. “Hey, sweetheart.”

Even though he knew that Steve being naked wasn’t a sexual thing, it didn’t stop him from grabbing that beautiful bare ass anyway.

He dived into Steve’s lips kissing and licking his way into that perfect mouth.

Steve’s arms tightened around Eddie’s neck, grinding against the hard planes his body. He wrapped his legs around Eddie’s waist and let him carry him into the bedroom.

He kicked the door closed and proceeded to have his wicked way with him.

Once they had come several times and had finally wore themselves out, Eddie rolled over on his back and huffed out a laugh.

“I know you didn’t just come over to fuck,” he said, throwing his arm over his eyes, “so what’s the real reason for the visit?”

Steve laughed. “You are very distracting, you know?”

Eddie grinned. “It’s that ass, baby. I just can’t get enough.”

“That’s fair,” Steve said. He rolled over on his side to look at him. “You know how it was Josh’s first day with the pack?”

Eddie immediately straightened up and looked down at Steve. “Yeah? How did that go?”

“He’s a good kid and I don’t think we’ll have any problem with him,” Steve hummed.

“But...” Eddie asked, tilting his head forward.

Steve sat up and wrapped one arm around his knees. “When you were growing up did you have any days where the teachers would talk about supernatural kind? But not like on days the supernatural kids would be there?”

Eddie sat up too and frowned. He thought hard. “You know, now that you mention it, there were days like that. It was straight up bullshit, so I never really paid attention...” His eyes went wide. “Shit you don’t think that’s why Jason and them went apeshit, do you? The shit they were learning about on moon days?”

Steve bit his lip. “I don’t know. It worries me that they’re getting anything like that at all.”

Eddie nodded. “I don’t know of anyone who’s not supernatural, not anymore.”

Steve lifted his head. “Yes you do. The drummer of your band, what was it called, Carrion Coffin or something?”

“Corroded Coffin,” Eddie gently corrected.

“That’s the one,” Steve said, snapping his fingers. “I know Jeff is a vampire like you and Brian is some other supernatural being...”

“Siren,” Eddie said, rubbing his chin. “I’ve always suspected Gareth might be a supe of some sort, but I could never confirm it.”

“But if he’s still going to school,” Steve said hopefully, “and not allowed to take moon days off due to whatever kind of supe he is, then he might be able to do some recon for us.”

Eddie nodded. “I have band practice tomorrow, I’ll ask. Maybe Brian remembers something, too.”

Steve sagged in relief. “Thanks sweetheart. I appreciate it. If the schools are indoctrinating kids against supes that might explain the rise in hunters over the last few decades.”

“Leading to whatever the hell it was that happened to you...” Eddie said thoughtfully.

“Yeah, because why a cross?” Steve said. “Crosses are vampire lore, not werewolf.”

“Yeah,” Eddie agreed. “I’ll talk to Wayne about it when he gets home. Maybe he can get more out of Patrick and Jason tomorrow, too.”

“Thanks, Eds,” Steve murmured. “That’s weight off my mind.”

Eddie grinned. “Now where were we?”

Steve laughed and then tackled his boyfriend back to his bed. He straddled Eddie’s waist. “You are insatiable, you know that?”

Eddie snapped his jaws at Steve playfully. “You love it.”

Steve moved up enough so that Eddie’s cock caught on Steve’s taint, causing Eddie to gasp.

“Oh, so that how you want to play it, pretty boy,” he growled, slowly pushing Steve backwards onto his cock until Steve bottomed out.

“Fuck, baby,” Steve whined. “I love the way you fill me.”

Eddie lifted him up and then snapped him back down his cock. “I love the way you look when you’re stuffed with my dick, sweetheart. I love the whimpering mess you become when I fuck you so hard. But you’re on top this time, so show me what you’ve got.”

Steve nodded. “Yeah. I can do that.”

He started off slow, allowing the drag of Eddie’s cock to come almost all the way out before slamming back down onto his hips.

“Like that, Stevie,” Eddie said his voice husky with desire. “Just. Like. That.”

Steve nodded. He kept up the slow pace, grinding up and down, touching his throat, his chest, his stomach, his thighs, everywhere but his cock.

“Fuck, baby,” Eddie cooed. “You putting on a show for me?”

Steve nodded, biting down on his lip. He ran his fingers through his hair and then back down his body.

Eddie was about to explode from the sight alone. His last ounce of control snapped and he flipped them over.

Steve let out a gasp of surprise. “Too much for you, rockstar?”

“Not even close to being enough, sweet cheeks,” he growled and then starting railing him hard and fast.

Soon Steve was spilling on his belly as he watched Eddie chase his own release.

Moments later Eddie was stock still as he filled Steve, his eyelashes fluttered shut and his breath came out in a shuddering sigh.

They were drenched in sweat, Steve was covered in come, and they both panted for breath.

Eddie slipped out and flopped on the bed next to Steve. “Fuck, I think you’ve ruined me for anyone else.”

Steve giggled. “Supernatural sex tends to be better because we have better stamina, strength, and flexibility then humans do.”

Eddie rolled on his side and propped himself up on his elbow. “Despite what this town thinks I was no blushing virgin coming into this relationship, babe. I’ve been with human, siren, and werewolf–” Steve opened his mouth to ask but Eddie held up his hand, “no one you know, I promise. This is at a supernatural bar in Indy. But I have never had sex like when I’m with you. It makes all the noise in my head fade to the background.”

Steve smiled. “I’m glad. And of course I’m completely gone on you, too, you know. I don’t it’s the type of supe you are that makes being with you so easy, the sex so good. It’s you.”

Eddie smiled dopeyly at Steve as he watched his boyfriend get up and head for the showers.

He cleaned up the bed and got dressed again. He was back working on the bridge he was working on before Steve came around, but this time with added clarity.

“Sounding good, Eds,” Steve said when he came back in.

Eddie grinned up at him. “Maybe I should have sex with you every time I’m stumped writing, I mean it about the clearing my head.”

Steve leaned down and gave him a kiss. “I wouldn’t mind.”

Eddie giggled. “Go on, pretty alpha boy. Your pack awaits.”

Steve laughed, skipping away lightly.

He opened the door and then transformed, leaping down the stairs. He tore down the road and Eddie just shook his head fondly as he shut the door behind his boyfriend.

*

Steve loved his wolf form. It was two-toned unlike most of his pack. The dark brown of his upper pelt and honey color of his muzzle, legs, and belly made him look more like an oversized friendly dog most of the time.

It made it easier to walk the streets of Hawkins without people batting an eye at him.

There were those that recognized him on sight, of course. But they never called him by his name, they always called out, “Sandy!”

Which always made him laugh.

“Hey, Sandy!” Mr Thacher called from his tire shop as Steve loped by.

Steve barked his hello and continued on way.

A little boy spotted him and Steve patiently sat still as he buried his face into Steve’s fur until his dad tugged on his hand to make him come with.

“Not now, Charlie,” his admonished. “You have a dentist appointment.”

Charlie sighed and allowed himself to be led away with a mournful, “Bye puppy.”

He finally got to the mayor’s office and grabbed the robe waiting by the door. He went into the bathroom and came out with the robe wrapped around his naked form.

Lucy, Major Roberts’s secretary, shook her head. “It’s damn shame that Mayor Roberts put that robe there for you.”

Steve laughed. “You just like looking at my ass.”

She pretended to be affronted. “Darling, it’s your thighs!”

Steve laughed again. “Is he able to see me right now?”

She nodded. “I’ll buzz you in.”

“Mr Harrington!” Mayor Roberts greeted, standing up to shake his hand. “What an unexpected pleasure, how can I be of service?”

Steve sat down and told him everything Josh had told him and his discussion with Eddie about the possibility of anti-supernatural rhetoric being taught in the schools.

Mayor Roberts nodded. “I was aware there was extra-curricular subjects being taught on moon days, as the teachers can’t teach their subject to only half their class. But I don’t think I ever thought about what was being taught.”

Steve nodded. “If we can find the source here in Hawkins maybe we can get it changed on a national level.”

“Thereby stopping the rise of hunters in the country,” Mayor Roberts agreed. “I’ll look into it. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

Steve nodded again. “Of course. Thank you for your time.”

They shook hands and Steve was slipping through the door as wolf, the robe carefully carried in his jaw.

Lucy laughed. “Sneak!” she teased.

Steve put the robe back on the hook and looked at her innocently.

Mayor Roberts laughed. “He got you good there, Lucy.”

She shook her head. “Yeah, yeah.”

And with that Steve slipped out of the mayor’s office and back out onto the street.

He shook himself off and the broke into a run. He had a lot to think about but first he had one more stop to make.

****

Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20

Tag List: @spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @artiststarme @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369 @pyrohonk ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @goodolefashionedloverboi @bookbinderbitch @chaoticlovingdreamer @maya-custodios-dionach @messrs-weasley @val-from-lawrence @i-must-potato @danili666 @carlyv @rozzieroos @wonderland-girl143-blog @itsall-taken @justforthedead89 @emly03 @bookworm0690 @littlewildflowerkitten @vecnuthy @redfreckledwolf @scheodingers-muppet @mira-jadeamethyst @just-a-tiny-void @potato-of-the-lord @goosesister @tinyplanet95 @anaibis @she-collects-smut @irregular-child

[secretswiftymarvelfan]

Floofy Haired Treat - Chris Evans x Reader

A/N: This is the 3rd instalment of the Floofy Haired Triology! This can be read alone but you can check out Part 1 and Part 2 if you want!

Summary: Long distance can be hard and sometimes everything gets a bit too much

Word Count: 2.7k

Warnings: Angst! Fluff! Language! Written very quickly and spordically throughout the day, and barely editied!

Dividers by @firefly-graphics​

Masterlist

You closed the door with a heavy sigh, leaning back against it as you screwed your eyes shut and took a deep shaky breath trying your hardest to stop yourself from crying.

This week had been a week from hell. This time of the year was always busy for you, with so many contracts to renew, and clients to meet. Most of your clients were lovely accommodating people who understood that you were busy, but there were always a few that demanded your attention no matter how many other clients you needed to work with.

And today every client you met and dealt with was one of those clients.

Your eyes opened to the sound of claws tapping against the hardwood floors, a weak smile reaching your lips as you saw Dodger trotting over to you with one of his toys in his mouth. You bent down to greet him, scratching him behind the ear as he cuddled up next to you.

“Hey bubba, have you had a good day hm?” You hum as he licks your cheek.

Dodger then sits down in front of you and lets out a little whine as he glances at the door.

“I know bubba I miss him too” you sigh running your hand over the top of your head.

Chris was away filming yet another movie, this time it was the holiday action comedy with The Rock. However, unlike all the other movies he’d been shooting this year you hadn’t been able to join him. You’d decided to stay at home so you could deal with your work easier, able to meet clients in person instead of over zoom.

A decision you were really starting to regret because there wasn’t anything that you wanted more than to be in his arms as he comforted you. The feel of his large hands running up and down your back, his lips on the top of your head as he whispered comforting words.

You sniffled back your tears taking another big breath as you stood up and grabbed Dodger’s leash “come on bubba lets get some fresh air”

You has hoped getting out of the house would help your sullen mood. But even Dodger chasing after squirrels and the ball did little to lift your mood and get you out of your head. By the time you got home you were in an even worse mood.

You couldn’t even call Chris because you knew he would be busy, you just had to wait for when he finished shooting for the night. Whenever that was.

For the rest of the evening you tried to do some work or relax but it was impossible. You were just too exhausted, too down in the dumps. The final nail in the coffin was when you opened instagram and saw Chris had posted. Any other day your heart would sing at the sight of a floofy haired selfie but today it just made it ache, and you miss him that much more. You were happy that he seemed to be having fun and enjoying filming, but you just wished he was here.

In the end you just gave up and went to bed where you lay wide awake staring up at the ceiling. The room far too silent for you liking. Gone was the sound of soft snores from the gentle giant you usually shared the bed with. It felt like it was the dead of winter without his warmth enveloping you.

The sound of your phone buzzing on your nightstand pulled you from your thoughts. Lifting it up you saw it was Chris facetiming you, but in that moment you just couldn’t answer. He was having so much fun, you knew he would worry about you and you didn’t want to be the reason the dark cloud descended over him. You would take today to mope in your own self pity and when you spoke to him tomorrow everything would be okay.

Darkness fell in the room once more as the ringing stopped and you instantly felt guilt suffocating you. You considered calling him back but then your phone glowed once more as he sent you a text.

Chris: Hey sweetheart, sorry the shoot overran and I only just got back to the hotel. I’m guessing you’re fast asleep by now and that’s okay i’ll call you tomorrow, sleep well sweetheart I miss you and love you xxx

A sob escaped your lips as you read the text over and over again to the point you could almost hear his deep timber as if he was in the room with you. You definitely couldn’t call him now, it was late, he’d be tired and you didn’t want him losing sleep over you especially if he has a day of stunt work ahead of him.

So instead you put your phone down, clung onto the pillow and cried yourself to sleep. 

The next morning you felt exhausted and no better than the night before. You slowly got ready for the day, hugging your cup of coffee as you sat at the kitchen island. The silence of the house deafening. That was until your phone rang and you once again saw it was Chris trying to FaceTime you.

You knew this time you couldn’t avoid it, so you wiped your cheeks and put on the best smile you could.

However even despite your foul mood when you finally saw Chris’ face your lips naturally tugged upwards.

“Hey sweetheart, I’m glad I caught you I thought might be working like the super awesome businesswoman you are” Chris smirked as he walked to set.

You let out a weak chuckle “my first meeting is in an hour, having a slow start today” you tell him.

He frowns slightly stepping to the side so he wasn’t in anyone’s way “is everything okay? You look exhausted sweetheart”

You give him another weak smile “I’m fine” you lie “just been very busy and haven’t been sleeping well”

Chris gives you a sympathetic look, his brows furrowed in concern “how many meetings have you got until it all starts to calm down again?”

You give him a small pathetic shrug of your shoulders “I don’t know, maybe some point next week, its hard to tell with some of the clients” you say a small huff of annoyance escaping your lips, you shook your head slightly “enough about that though, how are you? What are you doing today?” You ask not wanting to talk about yourself any longer.

You could tell by the look on Chris’ face that he wasn’t happy with the change of topic but he went with it anyway, letting out a small sigh “i’m not sure, the producers called an urgent meeting this morning, that’s where I’m heading now” he explains.

“Oh is everything okay?” You ask him as you take a sip of your now tepid coffee.

“Yeah it’s probably nothing, last minute change to the schedule or something, we might have hit delays” Chris sighs shrugging his shoulders.

You felt your face fall for a second at the idea of Chris having to stay longer than originally planned. You hated the idea, you wanted him back now, you weren’t sure if you could handle delays. You quickly recovered, looking down to hide your face, hoping he hadn’t noticed.

“I’m sure its nothing, they always make these meetings sound worse than they are” Chris reassured you with a small comforting smile “but look I better go, don’t want to be late, but i’ll see you later?”

You nod giving him a small smile “yeah i’ll see you later, I love you”

Chris smiles warmly back at you “I love you too, see you later” he blows you a quick kiss before the call disconnects and silence fills the house once more.

Running your hands down your face you glanced at the time. The only way time would move faster, and make the day Chris would be home come closer would be to keep busy. So that’s what you did, you got to work.

It was around midday that you heard someone knocking on the front door. Frowning in confusion since you weren’t expecting anyone you pushed yourself up from your desk and made your way over to the door.

Opening it up you saw a delivery boy holding a large box “uh delivery for Miss Y/L/N” he says nodding down to the clipboard.

“Oh yeah okay” you mutter grabbing the clipboard and quickly signing, the boy passing you the large cool box.

“They should be fine but I’d put them straight in the freezer if I were you,” the delivery boy says already jogging back to the truck.

“Wait-wha-what? What is it?” You called out but he was back in the truck and driving away.

Shaking your head in confusion you made your way straight into the kitchen, dodger at your heels clearly interested in what you had. Opening up the box you were hit with a blast of cold air and the sight of multiple tubs of your favourite ice cream.

Your jaw dropped in surprise as you looked at all the different flavours. You hadn’t ordered this, or at least you didn’t remember ordering it. You had a suspicion of who did order it, your confirmation lying inside a small envelope on top of all the tubs.

You seemed like you could do with a pick me up and you know how much I’d like to treat you

Love you and miss you lots

Chris x

Your hand moved to cover your mouth as you failed to hold back tears but at least this time your heart wasn’t aching as much. You knew Chris would have spotted you were feeling down and you even when he’s hundreds of miles away from home he would still look after you.

Picking up your phone you quickly sent him a text.

Y/N: Thank you so much for the ice cream it was definitely needed, love you and miss you loads too x 

To your surprise you barely had to wait a minute before getting a response, you must have managed to catch him between takes.

Chris: Anything for you sweetheart, and I promise I won’t be disappointed if there’s none left by the time I get home, even if it is my favourite ice cream too x

You let out a watery chuckle making a mental note to leave the tub of his favourite flavour untouched until he got home as a surprise for him.

You: I very much appreciate that can’t wait to see you again x

Chris: me too, I’ll see you soon x

You smiled to yourself gently as you put the phone down on the side. The ache in your heart hadn’t gone, and you still missed him terribly, but the pain wasn’t as bad as it was before.

That evening you were feeling a bit better, but you still decided to call it an early night. You made yourself comfortable in bed, Chris’ hoodie blanketing you in its warmth making it seem like he was almost here in real life.  You stuck on your favourite comfort movie and grabbed the tub of ice cream you picked out for yourself before coming upstairs.

You actually felt yourself beginning to relax and maybe when Chris called you later your bad mood would finally go. Glancing at the clock on your bedside table you knew it would be another hour or so until you heard from him so you turned up the volume on the TV and got comfy.

You were nearing the end of the movie when you glanced at the time and realised you still hadn’t heard from Chris. Sitting up and putting your ice cream on the side you grabbed your phone to see if he’d texted or if you’d accidentally missed his call. But there was nothing, and you couldn’t help but drop your shoulders in disappointment, the dark cloud of loneliness creeping back in.

Scratching for forehead with your eyes screwed shut you took a couple of breaths to calm yourself before you put your phone back down. As you turned to sit back down you froze when you saw a man standing in the doorway to the bedroom, smirk on his lips.

Your heart hammered in your chest as you stared back at him, unable to believe what you were seeing. He couldn’t be here, he was in a different state, hours away.

But here he was, Chris was smirking back at you, barely able to stop himself from laughing at your shocked expression.

You practically lept off the bed, stumbling when your foot caught in the duvet. Chris surged forward to catch you in time, his arms wrapping around you securely as you clung to him to a koala.

“I missed you too” Chris chuckled as he buried in face in the crook of your neck, kissing your shoulder.

You pulled back enough to cup his cheeks, shaking your head still in disbelief that he was actually here “what are you doing here? How? Why? actually I don’t care just kiss me”

Chris barks out a loud laugh and you pull his lips down onto your, a groan escaping your lips which made him chuckle against your lips. His large hands running up and down your back, holding you so close that was barely any space between the two of you.

“That meeting this morning is why I’m here” Chris explains once you finally parted, reaching up to brush some rogue hair out of your face “some set pieces we needed this weekend weren’t ready, so they’re filming some of Dwayne’s solo scenes instead and I could tell you were having a tough time and missing me so I asked to have the weekend back home”

“Oh Chris” you mutter shaking your head tears welling up.

Chris cups your cheek wiping away your stray tears “so will you finally tell me what’s been bothering you?”

You sniffle looking down “its just been so hectic and some clients are asshole and all I wanted was to cuddle up with you and have you tell me it was going to be okay but you weren’t here and when I saw that selfie it just hurt that I wasn’t there with you and then I purposely missed your call and felt so shitty and-” you admit tears cascading down your cheeks as you let everything go.

“Oh honey, it’s okay, it’s okay I understand” Chris sighs gently as he pulls you closer, cradling your head against his chest.

“I’m so sorry I shouldn’t have dodged your call” you whisper shaking your head.

“Don’t apologise it’s okay, but can you tell me why you missed it?” Chris asked gently.

You lifted your head from his chest, wiping away your tears “Because you looked like you were having fun and I didn’t want to spoil that by making you worry about”

“Oh honey I will always worry about you, worrying about you is my job” Chris says wiping away the tears you missed.

“But you shouldn’t have to” you say shaking your head.

“I know but I’d rather you tell me so I can actually do something about it than be kept in the dark while you suffer” Chris tells you gently but firmly.

You nod your head “I’m sorry” you apologise.

“Hey none of that, you don’t need to apologise, I understand what why you did it, I would have done the same” he admits making you let out a huff of a laugh, a smile tugging at his lips “so let’s promise to always tell the other what’s going on so we can help”

You smile nodding your head, leaning up to press a soft and gentle kiss to his lips.

“Now why don’t I get us a fresh tub of ice-cream and relax together and not leave the house all weekend and just have some time together” Chris suggests.

“I saved you a tub of your favourite for when you got home” you smile.

Chris’ grin increases tenfold “You’re amazing, I love you so much”

“I love you too” you grin kissing him deeply.

SHARING IS CARING SO PLEASE REBLOG IF YOU ENJOYED IT

Comments are appreciated and encouraged!

 Masterlist

I don’t have a taglist but follow @secretswiftymarvelfanlibrary and turn on post notifications to be kept up to date!

[4townie]

Backstory #2: Brotherly Love

- so we know that growing up, Elijah was the perfect child and something something he and his brother used to be pretty close

- Z says they drifted apart when Elijah went off to college but the cracks in their relationship started way before that

- academically speaking, Elijah was a lot like his parents, he had excellent grades, he won academic awards, he was well liked

- Aaron on the other hand was a pretty average student and he didn't really do any extracurricular at first and he wasn’t picking up Mandarin as well as his brother was

- and his parents would brush it off like “it's fine, I'm sure you'll get better”

- but after a few times of them saying that and him not getting better he started to feel. off

- because clearly both of his parents are geniuses and so is his brother so why isn’t he?

- this is where basketball comes in

- it started off as just kind of dribbling and messing around but he would watch other kids play together and wanted to learn

- he actually learns from his godfather Khalil (old highschool friend of his parents) and he gets really good at it pretty quickly

- so now Aaron thinks he’s found his thing, the one thing he can do better than his brother (and in the back of his mind wondering why he’s treating this like a competition even)

- and everyone's excited about it and supporting him because they also think this is the thing

- and then he gets an injury and he's benched from the team. like for the rest of the season

- this is around when Olivia was really little, like she was still a baby/toddler. so now that Aaron’s at home all the time, whenever his parents are busy he’s the one watching her

- he starts singing her lullabies to put her to bed when no one’s around, his parents are kinda confused (and slightly offended) because she always falls asleep easiest with him

- Aaron kinda always knew he could sing but he never really thought too hard about it until then (but at this point he thinks it'll just be a hobby he never tells anyone about, no biggie)

- he starts getting better after the injury, instead of exercising regularly like the doctor said he starts watching his mother’s old dance videos and becomes fascinated with those (yet another new hobby he'll never tell anyone about)

- so now he’s back on the court getting used to the game again and humming & dancing around the house when no one’s looking, but regardless his parents are still super happy he’s back into the game

- at this point Elijah's in college (mind you he's like 16 years older than Olivia) and he just finished his sophomore year

- and he brings home a girl. a girl who is by all means perfect

- she’s well mannered and smart and sweet and pretty and his parents are just fawning over her

- and it’s unexplainable at the time, but all that excitement Aaron had been building up over the years, the pride he felt finally being recognized for something, and how he started to subconsciously resent his brother less for being so perfect just starts to fade

- he doesn’t know why yet but this perfect and adorable girl Elijah brought home is like a nail in the coffin to him

- so the fracture between Aaron and Elijah (that had previously been covered with a few bandages) just deepens ever so slightly

- Elijah has no idea why his brother's being so hostile towards him but he doesn’t like to push so he figures he'll come to him when he’s ready

- but then after that, basketball lost its shine

- no matter what Aaron did, he always felt like he was just second best at everything

- and he stops trying new things because let’s be real he’ll never fill the shoes his brother left behind

- so when you think about his rivalry with Robaire and how it really came to be, it kinda goes a little deeper than just getting pissed at Robaire for letting everyone feed his ego

[thisworldisablackhole]

Inter Arma New Heaven

FFO: POST METAL, DISSO-DEATH, NICK CAVE. SOUND WEIRD? IT IS / LISTEN

As the old saying goes; one man's descent into despair is another man's post-metal masterpiece. At least that's what my grandma used to say, bless her soul. Inter Arma are a metal band from Richmond, VA, who have long since made a name for themselves by defying genre constraints and refusing to pigeonhole themselves as anything other than "the band who defies genre constraints". They seemed to hit a new peak of cohesivity with their kitchen sink blend of influences on 2019's Sulphur English, but whereas that album's sonic arc had some ebb and flow to it, New Heaven embarks on a downhill battle with no end to the bleakness in sight.

In a way, I feel lucky that this album was my first exposure to the band, because I had absolutely no idea of the ride I was about to embark on. New Heaven kicks off with a cluster bomb of dissonant stabs and spiraling harmonies before settling into a full on blackened-death pummel fest that spans the first three tracks. The guitars are sharp like razor wires, the drums of war boom with a threatening aura, everything echoes with a thunderous dark energy thanks to the cavernous production style. I would have liked to hear some extra oomph from the bass in the mix, but I digress. There is no sense of heaviness absent as Paparo growls and shrieks his abstract nihilism like the lone prisoner of a dying world - "You pluck your harp against the deathless echo of the driving rain, humming a joyless mantra not a single soul can hear".

Fourth track "Endless Grey" is where things start to get weird—gently ushering us to the dark side of the moon with an epic instrumental passage of dueling guitar leads and plodding funeral-esque drums before spitting us out into a cold wave of gothic post punk. In "Gardens in the Dark", Mike swaps out his growls for a baritone bellow as a wave of dismal synths wash against the steady rhythm of the bass and coalesce into cathartic crescendos. It's a stark shift in tone, but one that just feels right, as if we have just watched our protagonist descend through his reflection into the shadow realm. It's in this realm where Mike pens some of his most heart wrenching lyrical content on the record - "Were you attempting to calm a storm that wouldn't subside? God damn that suicide, and your garden in the dark".

The next two tracks continue this trend of doom and gloom post punk while seamlessly weaving back in passages of growling, dirgy black metal. "Concrete Cliff" in particular stands out as having the most balance between the two moods of the album, but then we quickly hit the bottom of the elevator shaft, and it opens it's doors to a neo-folk hell. "Forest Service Road Blues" somehow manages to out-misery every other song on the album, and closes out our journey with the most desolate and lonely note it could muster. Mike sings of dwindling mental health and the societal isolation it causes as acoustic guitar, piano, and violin weep in congruence. "They say they've tried to coax him down a hundred times or more, but he just points to the shovel layin' next to the door. They say sometimes you've just gotta let a man dig his own grave." It's the final nail in our coffin. We were born, we witnessed the ugliest parts of humanity, and now we've been laid to rest. Thus the album concludes. I told you it was bleak.

I can see how this type of album flow could be polarizing to veteran fans, especially following the aforementioned peak of cohesivity with Sulphur English, but New Heaven is simply a project that cares more of translating it's ideas with clarity than it does with feeling coherent. It has a narrative with a distinct arc that is brief, easy to follow, and offers plenty of replay incentive for those who don't mind feeling like they are listening to Portal, Neurosis and Nick Cave at the same time. That's a win in my books.

[s-talking]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒 ;;

what does your muse smell like?  the  wild  poppies.  a  bitter-sweet   &   almond-like  scent. 

what do your muse’s hands feel like? soft   &   elegant  yet  also  very  cold  to  the  touch.  whenever  he  caresses,  the  long  fingers  feel  almost  like  wintry  petals  though  should  he  grab  you  instead,  such  gentleness  can  quickly  turn  into  sharp  ice;     the  black  nails  tearing  into  soft  flesh  with  relative  ease.

what does your muse usually eat in a day? ( main verse )  envy  is  pretty  fond  of  kimchi  soups,  mainly  for  breakfast.  should  the  entity  not  push  him  towards  human  flesh,  expect  the  kitchen  to  smell  like   brewing  veggies   &   seafood  in  the  morning.

does your muse have a good singing voice? envy  doesn’t  sing.  he  only  hums  on  occasion,  but  it’s  a  nice  voice  nonetheless.  a  rather  low,  soft,   &   sultry  tone.

does your muse have any bad habits or nervous ticks? whenever  emotions  happen  to  kick  in   &   envy  harbors  any  ill-intent,  ( mainly  in  regards  to  sadism  or  violence )  his  fingers  will  involuntarily  convulse,  often  going  as  far  as  injuring  own  palms  with  nails  or  leaving  heavy  marks  ‘pon  surfaces  they  just  so  happen  to  be  resting  on.

what does your muse usually look like / wear? ( main verse )  envy  prefers  the  overall  dark   &   obscuring  clothing,  but  also  the  kind  that  won’t  restrict  movement  too  much.  as  such,  he  is  currently  sporting  a  black  turtleneck,  black  jeans,  an  over-sized  black  jacket,  suspenders  ( for  the  weapon, )   &   biker  boots  that  look  like  they’ve  seen  much  better  days. 

is your muse affectionate? how much? how so? affection,  above  all,  is   difficult   to  describe.  having  been  born  with  an  eldritch  curse  that  latches  not  only  to  your  body   &   mind,  but  also  the  soul,  envy  hardly  experiences  any  forms  of  genuine  emotion  unless  it  is  something  truly  brief   &   fleeting,  but,  on  the  flip-side,  that  doesn’t  mean  he  is  completely  blind  to  it  either.  for  example,  min-jun  ──   before  forsaking  his  name  ──  was  once  upon  a  time  a  very  loved  person,   &   such  kind  words   &   gestures,  have  indeed  integrated  themselves  deep  into  his  mind.  so  much  so,  he  can  often  remember  them  with  surgical-sharpness,  ( along  with  the  date,  hour,   place  &  any  other  ridiculous  detail )  because  even  without  stable  feelings,  he  always  places  mental  value  onto  each  &  every  person  met,  especially  their  actions.  now,  should  he  actually   feel   something...   that’s  a  whole  another  story.  after  all,  getting  to  finally  experience  any  form  of  raw  emotion  is  basically  like  settling  a  gas-station  on  fire;     he   will   erupt.   he  will  blow  things  out  of  proportion  &  depending  on  your  relationship  with  him,  such  may  either  sweep  you  completely  off  your  feet....  or  you’ll  be  begging  for  him  stop.  most  particularly  in  matters  of  affection.  you  see,  envy  isn’t  the  type  of  man  to  plead  for  love  so  if  you  somehow  manage  to  survive  his  twisted  ways,  &  better  yet,  become  the  little  apple  of  his  eye,  he  will  chase  after  you  like  no  other  human  ever  will.  this  can  be  most  endearing,  romantic,  even,  but  also  downright  haunting.

what position does your muse sleep in? typically  on  his  back,  with  an  arm  beneath  the  pillow.  that  is  the  way  he’d  sleep  in  new  eden...   until  they’ve  moved  him  to  a  coffin-sized  chamber.

could you hear your muse in the hallway from another room? depends.  envy  is  a  semi-mute   &   terribly  cryptic  by  nature,  more  often  than  not  wishing  to  remain  silent  since  physical  actions  are  preferred,  though,  if  he  does  eventually  speak,  it’s  quite  difficult  to  catch  his  words  in  most  conversations  due  to  being  so  soft-spoken  or  just  outright  mumbling  words  beneath  his  breath.  god  forbid  if  there’s  any  loud  background  noise  while  at  it,  as  you’re  bound  to  lean  closer  or  ask  to  speak  up...  neither  of  which  are  good  for  you. 

tagging:  @spectralhunter  | @b-erserk | @chronicparagon | @umbralrosa | @v-iciious  &  @b-elmount | @yuichiroswife  &  @chronosbled | @belia-l | @falseamore | @awesomeuchuu | @qucintly | @tigermcth | @carnivorarium  &  @phantasmaw | @dangaer  &  @truethes | @dancinghearts | @shorestar | @lured-into-wonderland | @hellhunted | @whispers-in-daydreams | @yesfxckyxu | @pvremichigan | @hhemeraa | @kemikorosu |  @clarafell | @bymorpheus | @s-erpentes | @fallesto | @xxyumeno | @kllsworn  |  @s-partan​  &  literally  anyone  else  reading  this  because  i  have   no clue   who  else  is  active  lmao 

[candybowbeansies]

Wayfaring Stranger

warnings/notes: implied deaths and many, many timeloops from birth to death and bodily disfigurement, hints at suicidal tendencies if you really squint hard, game spoilers but rlly it’s hinted at the beginning at the game so not really, reader is Sol but still will be written as Y/N, y'all this game has me hook line and sinker I need to write for it starting nyow.

heavily inspired by the song Wayfaring Stranger popularized by the movie 1917, because to me that song is Sol, the game’s player character. Drifting through many pasts, constants, and even more futures, all while losing so much while so young, yet gaining much more, the only moment’s reprieve being the time of their passing, only to look forward to the journey onto the next past, present, and future. Sym’s POV and alt!au(Dys doesn’t meet Sym), written very differently than the game because I’m jealous of Dys, and Sym falls in love with reader first before Dys(likewise for Dys) Sym+DysxReader

Currently only writing for Dys and Sym! They’re the characters I know best as of writing this i have a thing for tdh 😀 there’s also the possibility of me crossing over BNHA into this fandom bc i may or may not have many ideas sitting in the back of my head--

Underage characters are Aged Up!

It’s the final nail in the coffin for Sym when he hears Reader singing by sheer chance. He falls in love.

You were an oddity among the humans. Only a short time after you and the others crashed, did he see a short human-a child, the taller ones referred to you as-braving outside your ridiculous constructs. And it wasn't long before another shorter one followed suit. You preferred all-around nature’s colors and he preferred ones from Glow season. Dys, you called him, while in turn, he called you Y/N. A name so beautiful, and so familiar…he’s dreamed of you, quite literally.

For some time, he’d watch over you two, watching you two grow closer to adulthood; curious, stubborn little wonders. You grew in similar likeness to the grass in the plains, each passing year creating things within him he’d not felt before, or for a very, very long time. He found himself trying to negotiate your survival, more and more as time went by.

While out fulfilling your curiosities, he found you’d taken to humming to yourself. 

“I am a poor wayfaring stranger,”

A bewitching melody of melancholy; sadness and acceptance for the inevitable.

“I'm traveling through this world of woe,”

It wasn’t until now, by sheer chance…

“Yet there's no sickness, toil nor danger,”

He found you singing to yourself, in desolation. You found this area for yourself, seasons ago;

“In that bright land to which I go.”

There was an unspoken promise between you and your other half, Dys. You both respected each other's boundaries, but yet there seemed to be a sixth sense in each of you for the other.

“I'm going there to see my father,”

If one was in need, the other would find and comfort them. Like this, it wasn’t long before Dys, too, was pulled by you.

“I'm going there, no more to roam.”

He recognized Dys’ pained expression. And it gave a pang in his chest, too. In some far off dimension within his dreams, he saw you in a beautiful glade…your form marred for life, so desolate, but still filled with so much hope.

“I'm only going over Jordan,”

He had an inkling that you, too, had the power of foresight. To say you two were attached by the hands wouldn’t necessarily be a lie; after all, one or the other would be led on for most of the time you spent exploring. 

“I'm only going over home…”

Sometimes, you’d stop Dys from going on a path; and through his connection with Vertumna, he’d find either the presence of danger, or nothing at all.

“I know dark clouds will gather round me,”

A bewitching melody of melancholy, sadness, acceptance…

“I know my way is rough and steep,”

But yet, at the same time, of hope and conviction.

“But golden fields lie just before me,”

Faith that soon, everything will end…

“Where God's redeemed shall ever sleep…”

…even if just momentarily.

“I'm going home to see my mother,”

“Sym?” he hears Dys whisper, fiddling with the grass, having found a comfortable spot to give you your space. He finds himself slightly surprised, but if it was you who told Dys about him, then it’d make sense the young man just barely out of his teens knows of his existence.

“And all my loved ones who've gone on…”

They hear your voice crack. Sym hears your breath waver. “They just lost their dad…” Dys didn’t seem particularly sad-just understanding. “Again, they said.”

“I'm only going over Jordan,”

“They were the first to understand me. To believe me. It’s only right that I do the same.” Dys says, leaning back on his palms. “Sym?” he calls again.

“I'm only going over home.”

Your voice dips off, into soft hums. They fill the area in melancholy, for what feels like an eternity.

“Will it ever end?” Dys asks. He knew what Dys was asking. Will your pain ever end? He warps silently into the area behind Dys. You humans are so emotional, Sym swears, it’s contagious. “There’s no way to know. The universe is vast, petal.” he tells Dys, recognizing sadness in his own voice. Dys snorts, “They said something similar.” before craning his head to get a better look at his towering form. “You’re famous, you know that?” Dys says. He chuckles, smiling sweetly. Dys simply rolls his eyes, before standing up. “They talk so much about you, even I like you…” the ravenette mutters almost begrudgingly under his breath, patting off imaginary dust before turning, unperturbed by the difference in height, reaching out his hand. He stares at the offered hand. “Well?” Dys pipes up impatiently, “Don’t you wanna meet them?” waving his hand a few times.

He can’t help but smile, remembering a distant memory from a distant past as he reaches out, allowing himself to be led to you.

“Y/N!” Dys calls with his own form of enthusiasm, “Guess who I finally caught. Told you I’d do it one day!” making you turn.

Your torso was mangled by decade old scars, and you were missing an eye, an arm and a leg, supported by contraptions; one to lean on, and one to replace your leg. “Sym! Dys!” dream you called out, full of joy as they approached.

The current you, who exists right now, simply bounds towards them, arms outstretched.

“I love you.” dream you sighs, leaning into their embrace.

You giggle tearily, latching awkwardly onto them due to your differences in height. Dys goes red and tenses right up, “Y-You--! You’re too much sometimes, you know that?” sputtering at the impact. He’s somewhat used to it, it appears, as he softens up a little. “Geez…love you, too.” he huffs, bashfully.

So that’s the fluttering in his chest? Love. Love. It’s love.

That has a nice ring to it, he smiles. Yes...he's in love with you.

[rommahh]

Love On Tour…Actually

{Im sorry for how late this was. I went to the show Friday and honestly, it was the best day of my life. I had a little PCD which made me super unmotivated but I’m back. I love you all, R}

You woke up a little grumpy, you won’t lie. You didn’t like waking up alone especially on a show day. It made you uncomfortable to be left to your own devices without any structure or schedule. You understood that Harry was a busy man but it would’ve been nice to receive some text so you could plan your day accordingly.

Sitting on the couch in the lounge of your hotel room, you chowed down on leftover pasta while watching Netflix on your iPad. You had yet to receive a text from Harry even though you had texted him hours ago when you woke up. It was hard to tell if he was ignoring you out of anger or if he was simply just lost in track. Either way you felt dejected.

On the other hand, Harry hadn’t even noticed that he iced you. He was busy running around Nashville trying to get things ready for tonight’s show. He bought you a new dress and shoes, and got the ring fitted. It was hard to figure out your ring size but he end up measuring your finger when you were passed out asleep in bed last night. When you slept, you slept and he knew that would be the perfect time to measure your finger.

Harry was so busy that morning, that by the end of his errands he realized he didn’t even have time to go back to the hotel before rehearsals. He was sporting a small cough and his vocal chords felt overworked but that’s all apart of tour.

Pulling his phone out of his back pocket as he walked into the arena, he dialed your number quickly. He had people trying to talk to him but he paid them no mind.

“Oh? Would you look who’s here?” Harry’s head shot up to the sound of your voice. There you sat on his dressing room couch, arms crossed over one another as you glared at him. Your gaze burned through him and he could just tell he was in trouble.

“Hello lovie.” Harry rasped.

“Harry you sound like shit but here you are up and about running around. You should’ve slept in this morning.” Scolding as you stand up to walk in front of him. Harry could feel the anger radiate off of you but you hid it well. He melted into your hands that cupped his warm cheeks.

“I had a lot of errands to run and I didn’t want to wake you. Also it’s just a sore throat from singing and traveling- comes with being on tour.” He mumbles dropping his head into your neck. You caress the hairs on the back on his neck and massage the tense muscles.

“You’ve got to think about yourself more, Harry. You have a show to put on but you can’t put on your best show if you’re not at your best. I am not happy with you at all.” Even though your words were scolding him, you held him your arms in the most soothing way. That’s what Harry loved about you, you cared for him like no one else could (aside from his mom). You could tell him off with your harshest words but he’d always feel your love from miles away.

“You’re right love, sorry for not keeping in touch today.” You hum in acknowledgement. You both pulled away from each other when his driver walked in with Harry’s abundance of bags. “Thank you, sir.”

“What all did you buy?” You ask walking towards the bags. Harry’s arm shot out in front of you making you stop. You looked up at him in shock. “Fine be secretive.”

You huffed before making your way back to the couch. Harry rolled his eyes at you, making way to his shopping bags. Plucking the bag from Nordstrom he plopped it down on the table in front of you.

“I just didn’t want you snooping at some other stuff. I bought you this, for tonight.” He sat down beside you, thighs touching leaving no room between you two.

“Im not trying to be mean. Just a little peeved that you left this morning without telling me. You also have a cold and I wanna take care of you since you won’t do it.” A hand rubs his forehead luring his eyes shut.

“Sorry baby, I thank you for caring so much.” He whispers sleepily.

“Im always gonna care for my bubs.” Kissing him on the lips, your turn your attention to the bag. The small grey bag had light tissue paper covering the product within the bag. The tissue falls to the floor as you dig into the bag. A silky champagne dress, folded neatly to decrease wrinkles, sits in the bag. The dress was soft and you knew it was loose enough to give you the room to dance. Soft snores escaped the boy beside you- the exhaustion evident on his face.

You pull the dress out of the bag and walk over to where his outfit of the night hung. The dress was hung beside his to be steamed for later. Turning around, you smile at the sight of your curled up boyfriend. Your heart hurt knowing that in a few minutes he would have to go rehearse.

Harry sleepily went through rehearsals sitting in a chair the whole time. He knew his stage cues and performance, he only had one more thing to rehearse but it required for you to not be in the room. He gave one look to Jeff to signal him to get you out. Jeff made up some excuse saying that he needed help with some social media post for the show.

Before the show, there was a catered dinner from some local restaurant. Harry ate a light meal of fresh vegetables and a sweet iced tea which has grown on him having lived in the states for some years. You ate grilled chicken and fries enjoying the free food. The two of you ate alone in his dressing room- wanting a moment of piece before the crazy.

“How are you feeling?” You ask Harry. He shrugs, he was more nervous than anything but you wouldn’t understand why if he had told that to you. He felt floaty. Tonight would be a game changer, a step in a whole new direction. This is something he’s wanted to do for years now but it’s finally happening, and he’s scared.

"Im ok, a little tired but what else is new. I can't wait to sleep all night and cuddle with you." He grabs your hand from across the table. you squeeze it, frowning at his revelation.

"I don't like that you're so tired." You worry, his hand squeezes yours in reassurance.

“Im ok, it’s all apart if the job.” He looks down to your bare ring finger, thumb brushing over the empty spot. Your nails were done in your favorite way, some funky pattern you found from Pinterest all painted on short coffin nails.

“I love you Harry and I’m so proud of you. I know that these years put us both in a bad place mentally but I’m happy of where we are now.” Harry could almost tear up to your words. They settled into his mind, resonating. He was making the perfect decision and you solidified that ideal.

2014

Harry didn’t know how they did it. A show every night, a new state everyday, a new country every few months- he was burnt out. He was tired of shared tour buses and the lack of autonomy. Last nights LA show was amazing, the crowd was amazing, the energy was amazing- so why did he feel so horrid?

He walked around in The Grove, security guards walking in front and behind him. He wanted a peaceful day alone but here they were. Fans watched suspiciously trying to decipher if it was Harry or not. His hat and sunglasses were obviously not the disguise he thought they would be.

As the whispers got louder, his heart started to flurry more. Panic seeped into his veins as he looked for an escape. Bolting in the Barnes and Nobles- security guards close behind- Harry asked for the employees to close shop just for a moment. Harry only needed a moment to get a car near by to escape to. Feeling overwhelmed, Harry hid.

In between the historical fiction and romance aisle is where he sat. Head between his knees, trying to catch his breathe.

“Are you ok?” A voice asked from above him. His head whipped up in shock. Standing there was you, three books clutched between your arms. Adjusting your dress you dropped down to the floor in front of him.

“I-im fine, tired but fine.” He replied. He looked different than he did the night before, you thought. Last night, he was energetic and full of life and now, now you saw a boy whose exhaustion overpowered him.

“You here for any books?” You were just trying to change the subject, something you did with yourself when you had panic attacks.

“Oh no, I don’t-“ he stuttered shaking his head. You smiled at him before pulling a book from your stack. The fault In Our Stars, your new favorite.

“I love this book, one of my favorites. Heard a movie is coming out too so that’s fun.” You joke. Harry’s relaxed slightly, you nestled closer to him. Opening the book, you began reading, your gentle voice calming Harry.

At the start of chapter four, an interruption pulled you both away. Harry’s security guard told Harry that a car was waiting and the perimeter of the store was clear. Harry nodded telling the guard to give him five more minutes.

“I guess this is it.” You mumble closing your book. Harry nods but makes no move to leave. Something clicks in him as he looks at your face again.

“You were at the concert last night, meet and greet?” He muses.

“Yeah, One Direction is my favorite band. My friend bought our vip tickets for my birthday. Best night ever.” You say quietly, scared that he might think that you’re some obsessed fan.

“Oh, well I’m glad you enjoyed the show….so why didn’t you freak out today or- or expose where I was?”

“You’re a human being, just like me. You get nervous, frustrated, and sad just like me. You get panic attacks just like. Who am I to treat you differently?” Your words did so much for Harry. “Now don’t get me wrong, you’re my favorite in the band, but I don’t idolize you nor do I wish to be in your position cause I know it must be hard.”

“It is. Hard, I mean, really really hard. I love my job but I’m tired.” The silence you two shared burned a connection between you two. “This may be weird but could I have your number? I like talking to you and I wanna hear more of this book.”

Placing your hand made bookmark in the book, you closed in and gently placed it on Harry’s lap. “Have it. I have one at home and if you still want to talk about it- I’ll give you my number.”

Harry stills as the book sits in his lap. “I want to talk to you about the book.”

After exchanging numbers, Harry was urged by you to go. Walking side by side to the door, you were separated by his security.

“Harry, don’t let this keep hurting you. Find the joy and grasp on to it.”

You turned out to be his joy. Calls every night after shows and different books being read together, you both gravitated towards each other. Everyday was a new day to grow closer together. He invited you to more concerts, paying for every ticket because he just needed to be with you.

The show was going beautifully. Harry looked amazing in stage in all white and most fans were captivated by your outfit too. It worried you to see Harry so exhausted on stage but you knew he would stick it through like he always does. Proud was an understatement in your eyes. Harry made you more than proud.

You stood in the back of the watermelon pit at the end of the aisle where his stage stopped a few feet away. Jeff stood beside you like he normally did but he was acting suspicious. You two never stood on the side of Harry’s exit but this is where Jeff said you’d get the best view tonight.

Harry sang his final ‘we’ll be alright’ before doing his stage stroll and bows, but instead of finishing in the middle of the stage- he went down stage to the place he normally exits to at the end of the night. You watched in confusion, along with the crowd, as he walked down the steps to you. The crowd erupted in screams as the lights focused on where you were standing.

“What are you doing?” You asked with large eyes of shock. You felt your heart stop in your chest. The crowd getting louder by the moment. Harry walked closer to you, one hand digging into his pocket while his eyes focused on your face. You couldn’t place what was happening but you’re eyes welled with even more tears nonetheless. Jeff was to the side with a huge smile and his phone out to capture the moment.

“Y/N, my love, my light, the best thing that has happened to me,” he didn’t have his mic on so the crowd couldn’t hear him but you could hear him perfectly. As if you two were the only ones in the large arena, you could only see Harry. “From the moment I met you in the bookstore, I knew you were meant to be in my life. Somehow you took me from my darkest place and guided me to my lightest.

I know our lives have been hard but we’ve always found a way to be alright. I want that for the rest of my life. I want you to be by my side for the rest of my life, so will you please, my love, marry me?”

You gave him no time to answer as you yanked him up by his arm. You wept as you exclaimed loud yeses, yeses that could be heard by a few fans who screamed in excitement igniting the rest of the crowd to scream. Harry picked you up in his arms, throwing one arm out to wave at the crowd before bounding backstage.

“Oh my god Harry!” You exclaimed as he set you down. He only had a few minutes to talk so you kept it quick. You pulled his face down to your kissing his lips. This kiss pulled you both deeper into each other.

He pulled away making you whine. “I gotta go back but I promise you’ll get it all tonight. I can’t believe you said yes. I love you so much.”

Harry’s energy multiplied by 100 going back on stage. He even went as far as to explain what watermelon sugar was about. Remembering when the song was made, it made your legs clench together- a pulse overwhelming your lower regions.

Looking down at your hand, you could feel yourself tear up again at the ring he bought you. It fit perfectly in your hand, you remember him measuring your hand that night even though he thought you were asleep. The thought of your future made your heart swell. A future with new music, a wedding, a nice house, and babies made your heart swell. This was something you couldn’t wait for.

Harry found his joy in you but he never knew about the joy he was to your dark life.

[marsbutterfly]

What We Do In The Shadows

Summary: ᴀɴɴɪᴇ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀ ᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀs ᴀɢᴏ. ɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛɪʀᴇᴅ ᴏғ ᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ, ᴡɪʟʟ sʜᴇ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ɪᴛ?

a/n: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNIE LEONHARDT <3

Wattpad! | Ao3! | Word Count: 3k | Annie Leonhardt x Reader

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢs: vampires, female nudity but no smut, blood, blood sucking, heart outside of a body.

Being a familiar is not exactly how you saw your life going at this age. You thoroughly believed that a college degree and a stable job would be a part of your future but you could not be more wrong. Your plans changed the moment your eyes met her grayish blue ones, orbs that resembled the color of the sky on a stormy day.

Looking at her was hypnotizing. Well, mostly because she did use hypnosis on you, but the way her blonde hair would fall against her pale neck or the way her fangs would show even with her mouth closed, little details about her were enough to make you fall head over hills.

So when she offered you a job, you didn’t hesitate to take it, though instead of getting paid, the two of you made a deal. You have fallen under the impression that Annie had any plans of turning you into a vampire, though she never talks about it or even allows you to say a word on the subject.

Working for Annie includes a list of several crimes, such as stalking, murdering and hiding corpses in the yard. Though it did have its sweet side, like the afternoons where you would make yourself some tea and allow Annie to drink a few drops of your blood so she could also enjoy it.

Oh, it was her favorite. To savor the nectar straight from your body when she couldn’t contain her hunger any longer. She was a messy eater, always causing blood to drip down onto your favorite sweatshirts, though her touch was incredibly gentle.

A decade has passed since you began working for her and, even if she tries to put up a cold and careless front, you know that deep down she is ecstatic to be spending every day with you. You are so sure that, one day, you decide to put it up for the test.

“Master? Are you in here?” You ask, knocking on the door. The top of the coffin moves a little to the left, the candle lights barely illuminating her pale face that peeks out.

“Yes?” She responds and you have been with her long enough to know that she is giving you permission to come in.

“I brought you virgin blood and a heart I just ripped out of some pedophile’s chest.” You say in a singing tone. Immediately, the door to the coffin opens completely and Annie sits up, eyes glowing and fangs showing in excitement.

“Oh, tell me how you did it.” She begs, lacing her own fingers together in front of her body. “Did you seduce him? Or did you use one of your famous methods?”

You take a seat on the chair that rests in front of her coffin and hand her the gold platter where the cup and the plate reside. She thanks you with a nod of her head and you cross your legs, getting into position to tell her your tale.

Annie loved it when you brought her the hearts of bad guys. Not because she likes to eat them, because she doesn’t. According to her, the blood of those men taste tainted and therefore cause her to have the vampire equivalent of a tummy ache. She likes bathing in the blood of a terrible person and she says it does wonders for her skin.

She raises her hand and you finally notice her bare body exposed to the candle light. Her pink nipples erect and you look away in embarrassment. It isn’t the first time you have seen Annie naked but it always causes your heart to skip a beat and your breathing to stop for a few seconds.

With her sharp nails, she squishes the heart until it explodes in her hand, blood dripping down her arm and face as she hums in delight. You notice that her eyes are closed and you take that moment to place your arm on your knee while using your hand to prop up your chin, eyes fixated on the beauty before you.

When she opens them again, you shake your head and pull out of the previous position. As she takes a sip out of the fresh cup of virgin blood, you walk towards the dresser and pick up a small towel before soaking it in warm water. You hand it to her as she hands you the now empty cup.

She dabs her skin gently, allowing the red, warm liquid to fully soak in before she washes away the remaining. Once she is done, she gives you her hand so you can help her get out of the coffin and her pale body shines in contrast with the warm coloring of the candle lights.

Annie reaches for the outfit you had planned for her and for a second, you turn around in the hopes of giving her some privacy, but it doesn’t last. She clears her throat and you look at her once more, cheeks becoming hot to the touch and your thoughts become incoherent.

She is beautiful, the most beautiful person you have ever seen in your entire life. You shake your head, pushing away how flustered you are and handing her the pieces of clothing. She thanks you with a nod.

Once she is done, Annie tries to look at herself in the mirror, only to let out an annoyed grunt. “Ugh.” It brings a quiet giggle out of you and, inevitably, she smiles. It quickly fades away as her face shifts and you know she wants to speak about serious matters.

“You know, y/n…” She begins, though a very long pause follows after your name falls from her lips.

“Yes, master?” You try to get her to continue.

“The world is a cruel place and you need to learn to take care of yourself.” Annie says, adjusting her cloak, “You can’t keep relying on me to keep protecting you.”

“What are you talking about?” You inquire in an angry tone, “It is me who has been protecting you!”

“Oh so you shooed away a few assassins; who gives a shit?”

“If it wasn’t for me, you would be dead by now!” You refute, hand gesture growing more aggressive by the minute, “If not by assassins, then by my very own hands.”

“What?” She asks, eyes as wide as they can go. She’s baffled by the way you are speaking to her.

“I will remind you that I am, by birth and lineage, a vampire killer.” She doesn’t say anything in response, so you continue. “The only reason you are alive is because I let you live.” You remind her,

“What did you just say?” Annie demands that you repeat, and so you do.

“The only reason you are alive,” You say, eloquently vocalizing every word, “is because I let you live.”

“Oh my dear, poor y/n.” Annie giggles, covering her mouth with the tip of her fingers. “You were hypnotized, remember? You are unable to hurt me or any other vampires you might come in contact with and the reason you don’t remember is because I used hypno-”

You don’t give her enough time to finish that sentence. Immediately, you reach for her arm and twist it behind her back, knees bending at the back of hers as you bring her body down. Using the inside of your elbow, you begin to choke her and make it unable for her to speak.

“Hypnosis doesn’t work on me.” You inform her, “I just didn’t want you to feel weak.”

“I never feel weak.” Annie replies, using her free arm to grab the one you have around her neck and flipping you over her coffin, a yelp escaping your lips once your body comes in contact with the wooden surface.

She proceeds to reach for the suit of armor that resides in her room, pulling out the sword that came with it and jumping on top of the coffin. One foot in between your legs while the other presses down on your stomach.

Annie points the sword to your throat. “Any last words?”

“Just two.” You respond and she nods, pressing it a little further deep into your skin. “Annie, fall.”

She looks confused for a second and you take the opportunity to punch her leg, causing her to trip and fall off. It takes you a second to regain control of the situation and you stand up on the surface once more, the idea of throwing your body above hers crosses your mind but ultimately, you don’t want to harm her, you love her.

So you hop down onto the floor, extending your hand to her with the intention of helping her stand up and hoping she would take it. Lucky for you, she does so with a smile on her face though, as soon as she finds her balance, the grin is replaced by a frown.

“Once a familiar, always a familiar!” She yells, pushing you with all her strength against the wall and it is nearly enough to go through the solid surface. She doesn’t give you time to think before reaching for a dagger that rests on the dresser and throwing it in your direction.

You catch it in the air. “Nuh-uh-uh” You throw it back at her and it barely misses Annie’s eye. Instead, it digs a whole through one of the many portraits of her and her cats that rest on the walls of her bedroom.

“You almost hit Donut!” She yells and you realize you’ve had enough of this petty fight. So you pull the crucifix out of its place, tucked inside of your shirt. She hisses in response, body slamming against the wall as she attempts to get as further away from you as she possibly can.

A few boils begin to form on her skin and smoke comes out of the wounds, she lets out a pained groan while placing her hand in front of her body, trying to shield at least her face from the silver chain that rests around your neck, though all her efforts are in vain.

“Yes, this is what I have been waiting for.” She says with a smile stamped on her face, even though her skin smokes from the boils. A confused expression takes over your features and you look away for a second, trying to understand what is going on.

“What?” You inquire.

“y/n, put the crucifix away,” Annie hisses, hands trembling as she gives up on trying to hide her pain, “You passed the test.”

Tilting your head to the side, you don’t move the silver chain away, “And w-what would the test be?” You stutter.

“I thought you were going a little soft on me.” Annie says, a smirk curling onto the corner of her lips. “But tonight, you have proved to me that you are more than capable of taking care of yourself if I am not there to protect you.”

“Are you proposing?” You tease and she simply rolls her eyes at you, the smile never fading from her lips. A moment of silence grows between the two of you and not for a moment does it become awkward, if she had any blood coursing through her veins, you are sure that her cheeks would be bright red.

“Not quite.” She says, averting your gaze. Slowly, you lower your hand, placing the gray cross back in its designated spot, tucked securely inside of your shirt. The burning marks on her skin begin to disappear and she scratches the back of her neck, bringing her shoulders up to her ears in an attempt to hide her face.

Annie proceeds to take a deep breath in, untensing any parts of her body that may be a little tighter than usual and she shoots you a look that, for the first time, you can’t decipher what it means. “Are you alright?”

“y/n, I want you to travel the world with me.” She asks, but it doesn't sound like a request. It seems like she is begging you for company, for any kind of affection you might be able to give her. Annie is silently showing you the side of her that she so desperately tries to keep hidden.

“What?” You giggle, a nervous laughter.

“If you come with me, “ Annie continues, paying no mind to your interruption. She walks closer, trembling hands touching yours as she keeps on going, “If you do so, I promise you that on the edge of the river that flows through my hometown of Liberio, you will take a knee and I will make you a vampire.”

A few happy tears form in your eyes and you can’t help but push her against the wall. Her blood colored mouth calls to you, a breathless moan and you ghost your lips above hers, teasing her instead of giving into what you both crave.

“Yes.” You reply, hands touching the cold skin of her cheek and for a second, you could almost feel something that reminds you of a heart skipping a beat. “A million times yes.”

Firm hands reach for your waist, fingernails digging through your skin until it draws the smallest amount of blood. With the warm liquid resting on her pinky, Annie brings it closer to her mouth and wraps her tongue around it, savoring how delicious you are.

When she hums in delight, you feel your heart beating faster and blood pumping through your cheeks, leaving behind a hot sensation. This is something you will miss about being a human, the warmth of your body contrasting with the cold of Annie’s.

Finally, she returns her hand towards its rightful spot on your hips and you are able to make your move.

Though you did close your eyes a little too soon and nearly missed, your lips a tad too far right and your nose bumping against hers. It was a faint sound but you could hear the crinkling of her smile as she maneuvered her mouth into position, your breath tickling her nose. It was just a tad bit awkward but Annie didn’t care, all she ever wanted was this true moment with you.

Slowly, you bring your lips forward, hoping she would meet you halfway and she does. The coppery taste still lingers on her mouth and a few butterflies awaken in your stomach, reminding you that you are still alive. For her, it’s like New Year's Eve at midnight going on in her belly

At first the kiss was small, gentle and meaningful. But then it grew bigger and more intense. She tasted tentatively with her tongue as she traced it across the bottom of your lip. The caress of her lips seemed much softer this time.

Her tongue goes above yours before she gently nibbles on the tip. Finally, she bites your lower lips and pulls it slowly, a string of saliva still attached to your mouths as her fangs gently go through the soft skin of your lip, drawing a few drops of blood.

“Yours is my favorite.” She whispers and you smile, pulling down the collar of your shirt.

“Take a sip, master.” You say and she nods, hissing gently before her fangs bury on the skin of your neck, touching the vein that goes through the area. Slurping sounds fill the air and she hums, causing your skin to vibrate. “Fuck.”

It somehow feels more intimate and sensual than sex itself. It’s a moment where Annie finally lets her guard down and she is able to just enjoy the moment with you. Her hand goes through the skin of your hips, pulling you closer to her.

She can’t stop herself. The smell of your blood is intoxicating and it is stronger than any drug she has ever tried. Once she gets a taste for it, the only way to make her stop is to push her away, though you don’t want to do it.

You want Annie to suck out every last drop of blood in your body, you want to satiate her thirst, even if it is the last thing you do. But, ultimately, when you begin to feel a little woozy, you touch her shoulders and push her away.

“I got carried away once more.” She says, wiping away the remaining blood that rests on her chin while looking away in embarrassment. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” You say, though you look a little too pale. When you are about to collapse, Annie catches you in her arms. One inner forearm holding your head up while the other carries your legs. She makes the way towards your room.

Gently, Annie lays you on the bed and pulls the covers up so you won’t be cold. When she turns around to leave, you use every ounce of your remaining strength to pull her by the cloak and she stops in her tracks.

“Please, stay.” You say and it is more of a beg than anything. She nods.

“Very well.” She responds. Ultimately, she pushes your body to the side ever so gently before lying beside you, hand wrapping around your waist as she pulls you closer to her cold chest. Even though there is no heartbeat, you still love the feeling of your head against her chest.

“Will you stay until I am asleep?” You request.

“For you?” She responds, “I will stay for as long as you would like.”

So you smile, giving into her touch and allowing the darkness of the night to swallow you whole and bring over you a wave of calmness that lulls you to sleep. As you are nearly out, you hear one last thing. It isn’t the first time you heard it and it would be the last, but it still caused your heart to nearly stop for a second.

Annie’s warm breath comes close to your ear as she whispers, “I love you.”

And mentally you respond, “I love you too.”

[paperstarwriters]

Mercury?

This is terribly written and I am so sorry for that. I barely edited this and it shows. I just wanted the Autobots to learn about Bohemian Rhapsody is that so bad?

——————————————————

It was a peaceful day. Megatron and his Decepticons were currently off of their radar for the time being, but that didn't mean that they could be lax. Peace never lasted long. For war torn veterans of war, peace was to be cherished, not squandered. For children who felt more entertained at being put at danger than they did afraid, peace was "Boring", and they sought to make that evidently clear to everyone in the room. 

Ah, correction. She.

Jack and Raf were sensible enough to be weary whenever the Deceptions reared their collective heads around. Miko however often acted as if she could fight Primus himself with nothing more than a screwdriver. Miko liked to brag that she'd do it with her bare hands. They hadn't believed her for a good while, until she tried to threaten Megatron during their weary truce. Ratchet argued that it still made him anxious every time he saw Miko run off somewhere, no matter how mundane, and most of the team was inclined to agree. Wheeljack was regarded as a different case entirely.

Now, Miko wasn't so cruel as to beg fate to send a Deception attack their way. She did, in her own way, appreciate peace. Just not the peace that they wanted. Because of this, Miko often brought the odd item to the base. Her guitar and sound system, a video game for the TV. Miko bringing in a new toy was almost expected whenever peace stretched on for longer than an hour. 

"Looooook what I got!!" Miko cheered slinging herself out of Bulkhead's seat, holding a large and clunky looking box with her. For all they knew, she could be holding a small bomb, but by Jack and Raf's unimpressed reactions it didn’t' seem to be anything too troubling.

"Geez, that thing looks ancient, where'd you get it from?" Jack asked, pressing on the buttons of the box tentatively. "Besides, we have the bots for that don't we? Or, well you guys do."

Miko scoffed rolling her eyes. "Oh come on Jack. It’s a boom box! It's a part of the aesthetic!!"

Bulkhead, who listened in more blatantly than the others, cast a weary glance to the 'boom box' in question. "Uh, Miko, you still haven't told me what that thing does…"

"It's like a radio, the kind you guys have, only bigger and clunkier." Raf explained. "Where did you get it?

At this Miko puffed up her chest proudly brandishing the box over her shoulder. "Ms. Fairfax was cleaning some stuff out, and guess who just so happened to be there after school to collect this beauty!"  

Jack rolled his eyes though he grinned while he did. "You were only there because you were in detention." 
 

Miko stuck out her tongue. "That doesn’t matter. What matters is that now, I've got this!"  

Hitting a button on the box Miko opened a compartment and retrieved a smaller box from within the boom box. This thing was flatter and telling by Jack's reaction, no more impressive than the boom box. At this point, however, Miko's chaos seemed to garner everyone's attention, and even Optimus who was busy at the base's main computers, leaned in a little to see what was going on.

"A cassette?" Raf asked, perhaps for the sake of their audience.

"Not just any cassette!"

Miko put the cassette back into the box, and hit another button. There was a weighty silence which should have been filled with Optimus' typing and Ratchet's tinkering, and whatever else anyone was pretending to do while they listened. And then a voice began to sing And then a song began to play


Raf and Jack spared a glance to one another, and grinned.

Since their enlistment in the team, the humans have given the bots a very in depth lesson on different types of music. Miko did most often, but Raf also introduced Ratchet to his 'study playlist', filled with classical earth music that Raf said helped him concentrate. Ratchet shrugged at the offer made a comment about 'limited earth technology', then proceeded to play the entire playlist on loop deep into the night, as he worked away with Optimus by his side. Jack offered his own tastes with Arcee and Bee, a playlist of some popular songs, or even some that he admitted were lesser known. There were some that had a very valiant theme, and when Bee and Arcee raced they'd sometimes use Jack's music to race to. Even agent Fowler gave his own few songs that he enjoyed, though the lyrics were rather off putting to most of the team.

One clear lesson that the bots took from it all was that music tastes varied, and what might be popular to one, was bizarre and unknown to another—even among humans. Jack and Raf knew popular local songs, but miko did not. Jack knew more 'pop' songs than Raf did, and Raf knew more classical music. Amidst the three it was long deemed impossible for them to all know a song without having to teach the others before hand.

And yet.

Miko started as soon as the music began to play, nearly yelling all the lyrics to the song, before Raf and Jack joined in enthusiastically. It was jarring, a rather slow paced song, treated with such fervor and excitement from the three. Ratchet groaned at the noise, returning to his work, but he did not ask them to stop. On the other hand (with the exception of Optimus who simply smiled as he continued to listen and to work), most of the team had given up on pretending and approached the three singers as an audience. The lyrics were filled with meaning that twisted the children's faces into a dramatic agony while the guitar picked up. Miko nailed the solo, on her air guitar her hands moving with less of her usual overdramatic flash, and with a flare as if she were holding the guitar, and had memorized every chord. Jack and Raf bashed at the air, a trick foreign to Bee and Arcee, but known as 'air drums' to the resident air drumming star, Bulkhead.

The song took a drastic switch from melodramatic, to a more playful piano melody, and a lot of nonsensical words that the children never sang at precisely the right moment. Many parts of the song sounded like a conversation, but they could never decide who was speaking first and who spoke second. And then, after a high note that Miko almost hit, it erupted into a rock style burst, and the kids had at it, with headbanging, careless air guitars and air drums. The energy was infectious, and those who had taken the front row seats, danced about with the others for what was a surprisingly short rock moment.

The song mellowed out all over again and the kids sang it out dutifully until the very end marked by a crash that Miko mimicked while Raf air played the instrument.

For such a bizarre mix of music from slow to fast to slow again, the bots caught themselves on various occasions humming and nodding their head to the song. On occasion, if the kids weren’t around with their own music, Bulkhead would play the song from his speakers. Sometimes Arcee would sing a line or two, and if Bee was around, all three of them would end up half muttering and half singing the song. Bee and Bulkhead usually tried to  sing with the same kind of fervor that the kids had. Sometimes even Ratchet complained that he had the song stuck in his head. It didn't stop him from tapping his pede whenever Bulkhead played it.

On one rare day with Optimus on curbside duty, he had the chance to see just how many humans knew the song. Miko was playing it loud on her boom box, and a small crowd of eagerly dramatic singers followed her and her music. Yet, that wasn’t all. Kids on the sidelines sang idly along, even as some worked away at homework. Optimus patiently waited for the song to finish, and when he did, he opened his door and let the kids in.

They told adamant tales about how the song could be sung with near perfection by a sea of people and how besides a country's national anthem, this was the rare song that everyone seemed to know. There were others of course, but that depended on the place, generation, and community. None apparently reached as far as Freddie Mercury's Rhapsody. Truly the final nail in the coffin was when Bulkhead was playing the song, the kids humming along, having long forgone singing every time it came on, and Agent Fowler walked in. He looked like he was about to bark about something, only to stop as he noted the song. Clearly, whatever it was was not so important if he could be so easily swayed. 
 

Optimus asked him about the song, and if he knew it, and Fowler took (what Optimus now understood was) mock offence and told Bulkhead to turn it up. Agent fowler sung the remaining song brilliantly, getting the kids to join in with him as well. Fowler even hit the high note which earned a pat on the back which may as well have been a shove from Miko.

From then on, Optimus put effort into learning the song.

He quickly understood that his deep voice would not be able to reach the high note, but he put in effort on the rest of the song, to the point that he knew the song by heart. He appreciated the lyrics, finding them both odd and  sympathetic at the same time, which he told Ratchet when he responded to his idle humming of the song with a muttered singing of all of the lyrics. Ratchet still stared at him oddly for it.

With Optimus followed Bulkhead, and Bee, and reluctantly, Arcee. Even more reluctantly so, Ratchet, who on another night of working away, asked Optimus for the lyrics to the song. He handed them over without question or comment, but Ratchet still avoided his gaze days later.

So, it was no wonder, that nearly a month later, after Miko had gained a collection of songs for her boom box, that when the song played again, the whole team broke out into song. Uneven, wonky song where they sometimes stumbled over who was singing what, but they sang it nonetheless, too caught up in the melody to notice that the kids had stopped to stare at them. They sung as they worked, nonchalantly for some and with playful vigour for others. When they did realize that they hadn't sung, the gong had already sounded.

"No way." Miko hissed, eyeing both Optimus and Ratchet. Optimus stood proud as ever, while in contrast Ratchet avoided eye contact.

And they played the song again, arguing that they wanted to sing with them. It was the most horrible and amazing experience they all shared together singing the song terribly whenever it came on. It was fun and silly, and planted firmly in everyone's processor to teach their friends the song as soon as they could.

The next day, Miko (by harassing Agent Fowler) hauled in a karaoke machine, and smiled.

[miracleonice87]

4 // Coney Island for our boy Tyler

from the evermore prompt list

“The question pounds my head, What's a lifetime of achievement / If I pushed you to the edge?” - coney island

He couldn’t possibly be doing this.

As you and your three children, five and under, stood waiting in the hallway, you found yourself glancing at the clock hung on the wall every thirty seconds or so. With each minute that passed, the sinking within you opened up wider, threatening to swallow you whole.

Tyler should’ve been home by now. The game ended an hour and a half ago, and you and the kids had left the arena with a couple minutes left to ensure you’d make it home in time to pull off the surprise. The kids had burst through the door to grab the cards they had made earlier in the week, and you headed to the freezer to retrieve the cake you’d arranged to have sent all the way from Tyler’s favorite bakery in Brampton.

You sighed as you heard the kids excitedly buzzing around the first floor, wishing that you could feel even an inkling of the giddiness they had ahead of their father’s arrival. Things between you and Tyler had been strained for many months, and you had to battle your own bitterness to even acknowledge his birthday at all. You told yourself you were doing this for your kids. For the kids — not for him.

But as the clock neared 11 with no sign of Tyler, anxiety hummed within you. He had bailed countless times in the last few months — hell, in the last few years, if you were being honest with yourself. But today was his 35th birthday. The kids had been at school and daycare all day and hadn’t yet been able to give him the traditional birthday hugs and kisses that had become customary in your family since your oldest was born. He knew you were here waiting, the kids now long past their typical bedtimes.

There was just no way he could possibly do this.

Just as you were about to suggest that the kids head upstairs and put their pajamas on while they waited, your phone buzzed in your back pocket, the blood draining from your face as the hope drained from your heart.

The kids were still giggling and bouncing around, entertaining each other, blissfully unaware of the chaos brewing inside you. You took the opportunity to silently slip through the French doors into Tyler’s office to take the phone call.

Of course, it was him. You wondered what excuse he would carelessly toss your way this time around.

“Hello?” you answered, keeping your voice low.

In the background, you heard a commotion, jovial voices sounding like those of his teammates.

“Hey,” Tyler said dryly. “I, uh, I just wanted to let you know that some of the guys and I decided to hop a flight to Vegas tonight instead of going with the team tomorrow. So I won’t be coming home.”

You leaned against his desk and laughed humorlessly, switching your phone to the other ear.

“That’s great,” you breathed. “That’s just fucking... that’s fantastic, Tyler. Thank you for telling me now.”

He scoffed. “Yeah, this is why I don’t tell you shit,” he threw back. “I’m always the bad guy.”

Red hot rage boiled in your throat as you growled through gritted teeth, “Your children are waiting for you, Tyler.”

You heard him sigh, seeming to weigh what to say next. When he said nothing, you pushed. “What am I supposed to tell them? Huh? What would you like me to tell our kids, who have been waiting all day to see you and hug you and kiss you and eat birthday cake with you? Should I just tell them Daddy decided he’d rather go drink and gamble and party with his friends than come home to us?”

“No!” Tyler spat. “That’s not true. I—“

“Oh, it’s not?” you asked, your voice inadvertently rising. “Then tell me, Tyler, why the fuck are you doing it?”

You heard him draw a breath, expecting an immediate rebuttal, but instead you heard only his teammates calling for him.

“I have to go,” Tyler said, his voice raspy. “Tell the kids I love them and I’ll be home after the game tomorrow night.”

“You’re joking,” you huffed. “You’re really going to do this?”

As you spoke, tears brimmed in your eyes and you gazed across the dim room at your framed wedding photo that sat on the bookshelf. The two people in the picture looked like strangers to you now. You doubted you would ever know them again.

“I gotta go,” Tyler repeated in monotone. With that, he hung up.

Anger surged through you, and you allowed a few broken sobs to pass through your lips before shoving your phone in your pocket and swiping beneath your eyes to dry your tears. With a deep breath, you forced a smile and walked back into the hall.

“Mommy, where is Daddy?” your three-and-a-half year old daughter asked. You scooped her up and kissed her smooth cheek, devastated that Tyler could choose anything over these moments with your kids.

“You know what, Uncle Jamie asked Daddy to come with him early to Las Vegas to, um, to get in lots of good practice before they play the Golden Knights tomorrow night,” you told her as you smoothed your five-year-old son’s hair, the disappointment visible on the faces of these eldest two. “But, you know what? He told us to go ahead and have a slice of birthday cake before we go to bed. How does that sound?”

At that, they all cheered, even your newly two-year-old little boy, who clapped excitedly beside his brother, bringing a sad smile to your face.

“Can we still sing Happy Birfday?” your daughter asked, twirling your hair around her little hand affectionately and shattering you further.

You weren’t sure how much heartbreak you could handle at this point. You kissed the tip of her nose and nodded.

“Sure, baby,” you obliged, sniffling. “We can if you want to.”

_____

To some, it was sure to seem sudden.

To you, it seemed like it had been a long time coming.

When you heard the door slam and the dogs start barking, you knew the time for a reckoning had finally come.

“Hello?” Tyler called into the house, his voice echoing off the high ceilings. You didn’t bother to provide a reply.

Eventually, after you heard him drop his bags and greet the dogs, he climbed the stairs, and you hated the way your heart rate sped up automatically. He called your name, but again, you gave no response. He eventually found you in the bedroom, alone and silent.

“What are you doing?” Tyler asked, eyes scanning the suitcases lining the wall. “Where are the kids?”

You sighed, sitting back on your haunches and pausing folding your clothes.

“I’m packing, Tyler,” you answered, unable to look him in the eye. “The kids are in Fort Worth with my parents.”

“What do you mean, packing?” Tyler asked, brow furrowed as he took quick steps toward you. “Packing for what?”

You leaned back on your palms, rolling your head to try to ease the ever present tension in your neck, preparing for battle before slowly standing to your feet. You crossed your arms across your chest and found his startled gaze.

“Packing to leave, Tyler,” you answered, faking confidence. “Last night was the final nail in the coffin for me. I cannot, and will not, continue to do this to my children. To myself. I just, I won’t.”

Tyler’s eyes were wild as he came closer, grabbing your upper arms desperately.

“Baby, please, I don’t—“ he began, stuttering. “How can I fix this? How can I keep you here?”

You pried his fingers from your biceps and shot him an infuriated look.

“You know what would have been a good start?” you fumed. “Coming home to see your children on your birthday. Spending the night with your family instead of hopping a flight to Vegas. But Tyler, honestly, this has been over long before last night. Let’s not kid ourselves.”

As you moved past him to gather a bundle of your shoes from the closet, Tyler was hot on your heels.

“Listen,” Tyler said pleadingly, holding his hands up in front of him in surrender. “I know things haven’t been good lately. But please, just... just don’t do this. Don’t do this to me.”

You spun around in a blur, the ice in your gaze freezing Tyler in place.

“Do this to you?” you scoffed. “What about our children, Tyler? What about me? Huh? Do you think I actually want to leave the father of my kids? Of course I fucking don’t. Never in a million years could I have thought that this would happen. But here we are. Living separate lives. It’s about fucking time I just make it official.”

Tyler was nearly panting now and he heard his heartbeat within his own ears, spinning his wheels as he wrestled with what to do, what to say, next. You pushed past him with a newfound sense of urgency to finish packing as quickly as possible and get the fuck out.

Finally, Tyler found his voice again, though it was choppy with subdued sobs.

“But what does all of it matter if you’re not here?” he found himself asking as he watched you zip the bags. You shook your head from where you knelt on the floor.

“Maybe you should’ve asked yourself that earlier, Ty,” you suggested angrily, glancing at him in fury.

With that, Tyler sunk to the bench at the end of the bed, beginning to hyperventilate as he watched you stack the kids’ bags on top of your own. He held his head in his hands and begged, “No, no, please, don’t go, please, please forgive me,” as you readied the last of the belongings you were taking with you.

You started to feel your resolve wearing thin, tears threatening to spill and weaken the brave face you were pulling. You forced yourself to cross the room, pull off your rings, and place them on top of Tyler’s dresser. He watched on helplessly, and as you leaned back against the familiar piece of furniture, you finally summoned the courage to say the words you’d been preparing in your heart for months now.

“I fell for this illusion of this life I’d get to live with you, Ty,” you began. “This life filled with this passionate love we found when we were so young, and evolving into this everlasting commitment to growing a family together, not to mention never having to worry about earning a living, and getting to watch you do what you love night in and night out, with our kids. But somewhere along the line, that illusion finally faded for me. You coaxed me into this life and then you left me here.” As you spoke, tears fell from Tyler’s brown eyes, filled with sorrow and regret. It used to wreck you when he cried. Now it just made you angry. You pressed on.

“I go to bed at night and you’re not here, and I wake up and you’re not here, and even when you’re here, you’re not here. I don’t even think you wanna be. Our kids don’t even think you wanna be.”

Your voice wavered as you delivered those words, and Tyler hung his head.

“You used to be the one place I wanted to be, Tyler,” you continued. “And for a year now, I’ve broken my soul in two looking for you. But I can’t find you. I can’t find the person you used to be. You leave me hanging every single day. Despite the times I’ve begged you over and over again to come back to us. I won’t let you continue to disappoint our family like this.”

You wiped your tears away with the backs of your thumbs and pushed off the dresser, approaching the suitcases and preparing to begin the hardest task you’d ever had to attempt — living a life without Tyler.

“I’m sorry,” he cried in despair, sniffling as he watched you approach the doorway.

“I’ll always love you, Tyler,” you offered softly. “I just can’t do this anymore.”

As he watched you walk out on him, Tyler questioned everything he thought he knew about the life he was leading. What’s a lifetime’s worth of accolades, awards, and achievements if he pushed the ones he loved to the edge?

[1994sunflower]

Now that I've shared that thought with you. I can only imagine this little innocent girl starts singing that in the car with Michael and it being such a turn on.. bro i gotta stop myself 🤤😅🤭

wowowow....thank you for that image. I wrote a small little blurb about it just because I couldnt help myself. oops

you were in michael’s car on your way back home. it was a big car that fit just perfectly with him and you felt like you were sitting on a throne big enough for two of you in the passenger seat. it was one of those cars that he had to lift you by your hips so you could get on because the door step was too high up. 

michael was driving and he looked so good. he was looking at the road in front of him and was wearing a short sleeve shirt that hung to every muscle in his tattooed arm. you were wearing a pleated skirt with cute little half up pigtails and were humming along with your songs. because michael had given you the aux to appease you. boy would he regret it

it was a long drive back home so both of you were silent and just listening to the music. every once and a while he would glance over at you and smile at how happy you looked from the nice date you had together plus trying to find your favorite songs on your playlist

he hadnt really been paying attention to the songs you played but when your humming turned to a whispered singing of the song and you started moving your body to the rhythm, he tuned in. at least to whatever you were singing along to.

“you want a good girl that does bad things. you never been with no one as nasty” he would be looking over at you with an amused gaze as soon as those suggestive words came out of your mouth. especially when you were embodying that so easily, a good girl and dressed like one to prove it today and yet, all of the dirty things you did with him and allowed to be done to you. it’d just go downhill (for his concentration) from there.

but you didn’t shy away like he might’ve expected you to, instead you held his gaze with a playful smile until he had to look away back to the road “call you daddy give me a nickname”

the way he held on tighter to the steering wheel was enough to let you know that your words effected him. because how could they not when the only time he had heard that title escape your lips was when he had you weak for him. 

but, of course, it only got worse for him as the provocative lyrics continued. his focus on the road was dwindling to say the least - thank goodness the roads were nearly abandoned. 

“try to squeeze in the full nelson…” you were so into the music, you were moving your head and hips along to the song.

but he was gone. literally had to rub a hand on his face to prevent himself from just pulling to the side of the road. because that imagery you had planted in his head? especially when he glanced over and you looked so lithe in his car seat, your pigtails and little outfit that screamed innocence and just making it so much easier to imagine having you in such a submissive position. his sweet little girlfriend singing along to that was surprising but it just had him restraining himself (or attempting to). the way you moved your hips with the tempo without even realizing it didn’t help either, it was so easy to imagine those hips moving in rhythm on him instead. 

he was hard already while he was driving and somehow the fact that you were smiling and singing along so innocently to the filthy lyrics as if you didn’t know what you were doing just made it harder to focus. even saying those dirty things you still seemed so pure, just evidencing how much you were different, changed, because of him. how much he tainted you because despite how you looked right then, his good girl in a small skirt and pigtails was a filthy slut that his cock had fucked in most obscene ways.

but then you hit the final nail on the coffin “skirt off, fuck in the backseat.” 

he didn’t even hear what you said afterwards, because that image was something he could so easily do. throw your small body in his backseat and do everything and more that your lips were moving along to. pulling on your pigtails, flipping your cute little skirt up, splitting you open, overpowering and eclipsing you with his big body and having you just completely folded in half crying for him, for daddy, while you dressed and seemed like the most wholesome little girl. and you were. even hearing you curse was surprising to many, let alone in the context of the song just like how he often drew those words out of your mouth when you were whining for him. turning that sweet girl into the freak he had taught you to be and you’d let him, let him do everything. it’s like you purposely found a song that seemed to describe you and his filthiest fantasies and how he had corrupted you in the most delicious ways. it made it so easy for him to make up his mind on just what he was going to do next.

your wide confused eyes as he went off route to find the closest empty parking lot available just served to spur him on more.

[ambiguousdisorderken]

thinking about the reunion in advanced thanatology makes me fucking feral it shakes my brain like a baby rattle what the fuck what the hell did that seriously happen? did dean literally kill himself using the hunt as an excuse because he was so broken he didn't want to live anymore? didn't feel like keeping up the fight when all had been taken from him only to be brought back by death which before would be winchester luck but now would be his greatest punishment to be forced to continue living so miserable and alone and guilty and hapless and faithless? this paralleled with a gut-wrenching grieving scene that is all too human and not supernatural/unrelatable it's plain death an irretrievable loss an unsalvageable separation for the rest of eternity just an innocent corpse and a disconsolate mother to the hum of steppenwolf’s it’s never too late and it’s fucking depressing then the focus shifts deserted street and we’re inside the car  everything just pitch black. sam being asleep meaning he has no weight in this instance this is not about him this is about dean dean who is alone out on the open road drifting and untethered staring into a new and suffocating kind of darkness just going through the motions willing himself to keep it together while knowing all too well this time is different and then something happens something major for the music halts. it’s a call and what could be important or significant enough to spark any emotion in this lifeless shell of a man and sam speaks for us ‘what’ he asks now awakened but we get nothing just light spilling down on dean and the song restarts invigorated it just keeps growing and filling every crevice of the moment stretching it as the impala keeps rolling down down into a dark and empty street soft warm lighting the electric guitar solo reverberating as we steel ourselves for the final blow or the last nail in the coffin and there’s a cross hanging above watchful and all-knowing it sings tell me who's to say after all is done and you're finally gone you won't be back again and it’s too much they’re getting out of the car and whatever it is cannot be real because dean looks at sam for reassurance he’s treading before diving in a leap of faith a sliver of hope letting faint light in and it’s all been leading to this exact moment in this nameless place god knows where and there standing by a common payphone... it’s ...that’s... cas... in his big trench coat. it’s cas and he’s inexplicably back and the camera zooms in only on dean. this is his apotheosis an unexpected miracle his big win and it’s cas and it’s not too late for them to love all over again.

[jonspurpleskirt]

An Unlikely Befriending

Summary: Jon gets kidnapped. Jon gets bored. And Jon makes very unlikely friends because of it. Aka: Pen and Paper saves the day (world) and Jon finally gets to have a band. A/N: This is pure fluff, no warnings apply I think. ___

The worst thing about being kidnapped by a crazy mannequin murder clown monstrousity and sitting in a cold, room with creepy wax works, tied to a chair was not the ever present terror. True the fear of Nikola finally deeming his skin good enough and skinning him alive was quite potent, but it wasn't as bad as boredom.

Jon had never taken well to waiting. His mind needed to be occupied 24/7, needed something to latch onto, to obsess about. It's why he became a researcher in the first place. Having most of his freedom taken from him made occupying himself very hard.

At least they still let him eat and drink here and there. Nikola always visited personally, her overly cheery voice bubbling forth as she chattered away while slathering him with lotion or shoving bits of take out food in his mouth. His diet those last two weeks had been very varied and healthy and he had never drank so much water before.

He still probably looked a mess, what with no access to a shower and barely being able to sleep at all. And the constant terror. Oh yeah and the boredom.

Oh the boredom.

Jon was currently sitting in his chair as he was wont to do. Thankfully not nailed down despite all the nagging from Sarah Baldwin. The coffin was singing or moaning with a slight melody behind it, depending on who you asked. And somehow Jon found himself humming along, trying to find a good melody to go with the haunting tune. It wasn't like he had anything better to do and if he didn't start doing something creative his mind would start eating itself soon.

So he hummed, experimenting with the notes, twisting them into something that was reminiscent of circus music and airships. And then he kept humming the melody over and over, forming words in his mind to go with the tune. Once the spark was lit a fire started to burn, the story branching out and out into a twirling mass of chaos and fire.

He had gotten lost in his imagination, hadn't noticed how loud he had become, hadn't heard Nikola approach. Jon screeched when she leant down over him and grinned at him upside down, nose nearly touching his.

Nikola had the gall to laugh at him, no breath fanning over his face as she did so.

"Awww Archivist! I didn't know you had such a nice voice!"

"Hrmph."

"Yes your singing was also quite good!" She straightened herself, back cracking in several places. Striding around his chair she towered over him, tattered, bloody ringmaster uniform filling his field of vision.

"I'm glad you feel comfortable enough to sing, of course! And the broken repeat is lovely."

"Hm."

"Anyway water time!"

With gleeful cackling she ripped the tape from his mouth, amused enough to not immediately shove the bottle between his teeth.

"There are words to it, too." Jon rushed to say, not exactly sure why. What was he offering her here? A solo performance?

"Oh?" she at least didn't tape his mouth shut again. For now.

After waiting several beats where both stared at each other and nothing else happened Jon dared to speak up again.

"I ah... well I wrote it myself? Not wrote, of course. My hands are tied at the moment-" He was rambling. Nikola had given him the freedom of speech and he was off like a shot, telling her everything about what he had been thinking about before she had interrupted his impromptu jamming session, terror completely terminating his brain to mouth filter.

Nikola, for her part, took it all in stride. She even settled on the floor in front of him, blinking every now and then to indicate that she was still present.

"It's such a shame." she finally spoke, holding the water bottle to his mouth, letting him drink of his own volution for once. "You would have made a perfect piece for the choir. Hm maybe what will be left of you will do."

"I could sing for you now." Jon offered as soon as his mouth was free again.

Nikola startled at the offer and Jon just shrugged as much as he was able to. He'd rather sing to a creepy murder doll than spend one minute longer alone and bored out of his mind. And if he could delay the Unknowing (and the violent removal of his skin) by keeping Nikola entertained than even better.

That sounded like he almost had a plan. Which was untrue. He only had a very strong desire for entertainment.

"No sneaky questions." Nikola warned.

"Promise. I can't guarantee good quality rhymes, though. I'm still workshopping."

Singing out loud what had been in his head was always an awkward affair. He had wanted to start a band with Georgie in uni. But it was exactly because of this that he had never bothered.

"That was fun!" Nikola screamed after he was finished nontheless. Clapping her hands in delight, which created a horrible cracking noise.

"I'm glad? I also DM."

She tilted her head at him. "What's that?"

Jon explained the concept of pen and paper games to her while she rubbed lotion into his skin and had her hooked immediately.

Later that day (or maybe the next day, really Jon had no concept of time anymore) Jon was for the first time allowed out of his chair, carefully rubbing circulation back into his hands. Nikola had only briefly left him alone after watering and lotioning him. They had hashed out what kind of world and system they wanted to use (a horror setting, of course) and then Nikola was off and dragging Breekon and Hope back into the room so they had enough people to play.

Either Breekon or Hope sat down behind Jon, large hands lightly clasping his arms, squeezing every once in a while to remind him that should he try and escape he would only end up in pain.

Jon shifted awkwardly in the grip, unused to gentleness even if it was supposed to be threatening.

"Alright. First, character creation. Who do you guys want to play?"

It became a daily thing. The three beings in his group quickly became addicted to his story telling and to the characters they were allowed to play. Nikola tore through characters, trying on different personalities like pieces of clothing. She had a beautiful eery singing voice, Jon was surprised to find out when she had decided to play a member of a steampunk band.

Breekon and Hope were less manic, too attached to their twins to play anyone else. They changed voices and accents every session, though. Jon deigned to ignore their shenanigans, scared to make them angry. He hadn't had this much fun in ages, he didn't want to loose that.

The two delivery men took turns holding him down while they played, Hope holding onto his arms and Breekon using him like a child would a Teddy bear.

Eventually the three lingered after their sessions had ended, the ropes that tied him to his chair less tight. Jon tried to keep the conversations casual, to not ask all the questions that burned at the tip of his tongue. He found that he didn't need to. Tongue loose from goofing around Nikola was often chatty, Breekon and Hope throwing in their two cents every once in a while.

Eventually the topic about Tims younger brother came up.

"Danny Stoker? Grimauldi skinned him? Hm..." Nikolas head nearly dislodged as she stared at the ceiling in thought. "Noooo." She giggled. "We didn't skin anyone that night, silly! We were scoping out locations for the dance! Danny's little group stumbled into us and got a little confused~"

"But Tim saw Grimauldi rip Dannys skin off of a puppet."

Nikola shrugged. "An illusion. We're good at making you people see things that aren't really there. Yet."

"So Danny is alive?"

"I believe so!~ If he didn't die in a ditch somewhere."

Jon was very careful to keep his voice as soft as possible with the next question. "Could you find him again and bring him to the Institute? To Tim and... I don't know... maybe that's a stupid idea given that he can't be sure it's really him..."

"If I track him down do I get inspiration for my character next session?"

"That's cheating." Breekon complained under his breath behind Jon.

"I... yes?"

Nikola grinned. "Wonderful! I see what I can do!"

Days went by like that, Nikola or Breekon or Hope updating him on Dannys search, which had turned out to be harder than they had thought. Well at least Jon was keeping them busy.

They were in the middle of racing a burning train into the central bank of London when a door creaked behind Jon, bathing the room in technicolour and spiral shapes.

"That is not what I thought I'd find here." A voice that wavered between confused and gleeful mused.

Jon twisted in the grip Breekon had on him. "Hello Michael."

"Hello Archivist. You've found yourself in an interesting situation." The grin Michael shot him was a knife glinting in the light before striking.

"Yes. Why are you here?"

Nikola had let him practice after Jon had explained his lack of training, much more lax with her hostage now that he fed her fascinating stories of blood and gore. So there was no trace of compulsion in his voice when he asked the question.

Michael answered truthfully anyway. "I came to kill you of course!"

"I have dips on that!" Nikola said, voice pleasant and grin feral.

"I'm sorry about that. Would you like to join the game instead?"

Michael stared at him as though he had grown mad. Impressed, curious and lightly terrified. Then it laughed that horrible, headache inducing laugh.

"There's a lot of lies and delusion." Jon coaxed, heart beating out of his chest with nerves.

"He's a good storyteller." Hope added, Nikola and Breekon nodding along.

"Hm alright. I guess I can play for a bit."

It didn't stay just for a bit. Michael stayed through the finale of the story and then demanded to start another, their little ragtag group of definitely not heroes causing more chaos than any other player group Jon had ever DMed before. And that was saying something. Hours upon hours passed, Michael disappearing and reappearing to get Jon coffee and tea to keep his voice from giving out.

In the middle of it all Michael began twitching and twisting, glitching in and out of sight before slumping to the ground with a groan, form for once near comprehensible. Another door opened and out walked Helen looking down at the Distortion in disappointment.

"Oh that didn't destroy you. Shame."

"Helen?"

"Hello Jon! I was coming to rescue you given that Michael got a little distracted. Do you want to come to the archives with me?"

Honestly Jon should have been shocked, probably angry. He was definitely sad. And yet the most he felt was just an overwhelming sense of whelp.

Jon vaguely gestured towards Nikola, as much as Breekons hold allowed him to. "Ask her."

"We're not done yet."

"Later then?"

Nikola considered Jon for a long moment, both staring unblinking at each other. "Give us an hour."

To Jons great surprise Helen just nodded and delicately sat on the chair Jon usually frequented in his "freetime" all prim and proper except for the long sharp fingers curling at the edges like corkscrews.

"Now where were we?"

Michael groaned from the floor for once not smiling. Jon felt a twinge of sympathy for him.

"Are you alright?"

"Been better. Been worse. Let's burn this village down!"

There was no end to the tale they had been playing, not with just one session of playtime. Jon felt a bit bad about that, especially because he had left it at a cliffhanger. No one seemed to be angry at him for it, though. Michael had recovered fast and was again his usual ominous cheery, albeit lightly aggressive self. He poked and prodded at Helen like a curious cat while Nikola massaged lotion into Jons skin for the last time and handed him several expensive looking bottles, rattling down a step by step skin care routine he was to follow to the t or else she would break into his house and do it herself.

Hope patted him on the head. "See you around, Archivist."

"You're really letting me go? Just like that?" Jon still couldn't believe it.

Nikola shrugged. "I found another option. And I'd like to keep doing this after the Unknowing."

"Will that be even possible?"

The grin he got from was not at all reassuring. "I don't know~"

Well that was probably the best he would get from her. Jon gave a hesitant tiny wave and, flanked by both Michael and Helen stepped through their door.

Back at the archive no one had even questioned his disappearance. A fact that made Michael and Helen laugh, even though they both refused to leave as Tim, Melanie and Basira questioned him about his whereabouts.

Martin was the only one who took Jons forced vacation in stride. Maybe he even was a little too happy about a group of mannequins harassing him to take better care of himself.

"You're not compromised now, are you?" Basira asked when Jon had settled back into his office after a long shower.

"No? Because I still don't want the world to end?"

"Good."

Somehow Jon knew that she would still keep an eye on him from now on.

~~~

When the day came to blow up the ritual site Jon hadn't slept a wink in three nights and was overcome by guilt. Despite how aweful his initial time at the circus had been and despite him knowing what horrible things Nikola and her kin did in their freetime, Jon still felt bad about probably killing her.

He tried to rationalize his feelings away, connecting his rising anxiety with the fact that Danny still hadn't been found. It was a flimsy denial.

Tim stayed by his side the whole time, resolute in his burning desire for vengeance. Jon was scared that he would loose him to this, too. Had confessed as much to Michael and Helen, who had taken to keeping at least one door manifested somewhere in the tunnels at all times. The two had started to get along well after some initial disagreement. The Spiral, split as it was between the two of them, was weaker in its influence now, leaving more of Michael Shelley and Helen Richardson to make decisions.

They weren't here now. Daisy, Basira and Tim were, setting up explosives and arguing about rescuing people that were already long dead.

And then Nikola appeared and the dance started and nothing made sense anymore.

Jon woke up six months later, Georgie calling him a monster and Basira giving him a statement to "eat" catching him up on everything he had missed. Tim had miraculously survived, having been dragged through a door by either Helen or Michael. Daisy and Basira had encountered Breekon and Hope, who had argued about what they should do with "Jons feral friends" and in the end had led them savely out of the building before it could go boom, muttering about possible inspiration points.

The only one who hadn't been saved was Jon. He tried not to feel too hurt about that.

Coming back to work was as anti climatic as it had been after the kidnapping. The only one who seemed happy to see him was Martin. He had apologized profusely for the hug and promptly stopped doing so when Jon dashed forward and back into Martins warm embrace, finally breaking down.

He had been too caught up in his crying to make a note of the little kiss Martin pressed into his hair.

They all were a little lost after averting the apocalypse, normal everyday life eluding them. Elias might have been out of the picture for the moment, but Peter Lukas had taken over and fighting against the isolation was taking its toll on everyone.

They were all huddled in the breakroom, faces grim and stewing in silence so as to not break into an arguement when they got their delivery.

Breekon and Hope stepped into the small space with their usual nonchalance dragging a scared young man between them, who had a lot of resemblance to Tim.

"Delivery for Jonathan Sims. Nikola says hi."

Tim was the first one up. "No... No no nononononono that can't be. He's dead. Jon. Jon tell me is that really him?!"

Jon looked at the scared man, who had his gaze locked on Tim, recognition slowly dawning on his face. He Looked and he Knew.

"Yes. No one was killed the night Danny disappeared. His group encountered Nikola and her troupe during a rehearsal, got confused and then lost. And was lost ever since. Nikola told me of this. She promised to find him for me, for you."

That was all Tim needed to rush forward, catching his brother in his arms and hugging him close. "Danny!"

Danny clung back just as tightly, awareness barely back. Still obviously shaken and confused.

Jon smiled at the two delivery men. "Thank you. Will he... will he be alright."

Hope shrugged. "Dunno. Nikola said to make him remember bit by bit. Been not Danny for a long time. Might need to get used to it again."

"We'll take it slow." Tim promised, silent tears streaming down his face.

"Good luck. Hey Archivist, do we get inspiration, too?"

Jon laughed, incredulous. The others in the room watched the exchange with varying degress of exasperation and outrage.

"You know what? Yes. Yes you have. And I'll give you all advantage on your rolls next session. Only that one session, though! Same for Nikola. How is she, by the way?"

Breekon made a so-so sign. "Restless. We've waited over six months to find out what happens after  that cliffhanger you gave us."

"Right." He still couldn't believe it. "Tonight 8 o'clock, my flat?"

Twin grins, the most excited he had ever seen them. "See you then, Archivist."

Tim was still gently hushing his brother, rocking back and forth on his feet to try and calm him down a little. And he still had tears streaming down his face, looking like an absolute wreck. But he still managed to join the unimpressed stares that were thrown his way by everyone but Martin, who at this point had just started to roll with the punches.

"You really befriended the clown club and made them rescue literally all of us?" Basira asked in a deadpan voice.

"I kind of feel cheap now." Daisy muttered. "As though those clowns let us win."

"Look, what can I say? Pen and Paper games are fun. I can't blame them. And Nikola did want to start a band."

"Oh my god." Melanie groaned, her head thunking onto the table. "I can't believe it."

"A band?" Basira asked, suddenly much more alert. They really had gotten quite desensitized to the whole monster thing, hadn't they? "What, you can sing?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. But really. Shouldn't we... I mean shouldn't we focus on Danny? There's a cot-"

"I know." Tim interrupted. "We all know there's a cot. I'll take him home, you keep talking about your weird band plans. Monster boss? We talk later, but... thank you."

Silence reigned long enough to follow Tim out of the Institute before Martin piped up, cheeks reddening before he had even opened his mouth. "Could we... Could we have a taste?"

"A taste? Of what? My voice?"

"Hold up, if Sims is going to sing I'll have to record it." Melanie tapped on her phone and held it into the room as one would do a microphone. "Alright go."

Jon sighed, what he didn't do to keep up the group morale.

"Aww shit." Was Basiras conclusion when he was done. "What kind of music were you thinking of playing?"

"Steampunk."

"Count me in."

~~~

Today had been weird, Jon thought, mind reeling from the whiplash of... kindness? That had happened after the delivery of one Danny Stoker. Granted the last month, no

year

had been weird. But this had topped it all. At least it had been a nice weird.

Jon had nearly forgotten about his appointment with a certain group of Strangers when he got back to his flat, overworked, hungry and still processing. So he should be forgiven for the scream he let out when he saw three large figures huddling on his too small couch.

"You haven't been taking care of your skin at all!"

There was no time to duck away from the cold, hard hands that fluttered all over his body. Nikola squished his cheeks like a proper grandmother, clearly unhappy about their elasticity.

"I was in a coma for six months."

"And awake for a few weeks now." A cheerful male voice said from behind him, bringing the smell of pizza with it.

"We were there he didn't take care of himself at all!" Helen added, putting down several cans of soda and what looked to be instant coffee.

"You're horrible!" Nikola wailed, manhandling him until he was squished between Breekon and Hope. "All my beautiful work! Ruined!"

"Uh... sorry?"

"You can make it up to us with weekly sessions." Michael suggested with a grin.

"Both on Saturday and Sunday!" Helen added.

"I actually planned for Sunday to be band day." Jon lied. "Basira wants to join, by the way."

They were all settled around the small coffee table now, food and drink on the floor so they had enough place to roll their dice.

"Wonderful! What did you think we'd name it?"

Jon tilted his head given the illusion of thinking it over even though he had known what to name his band since highschool.

"The Mechanisms."

[hostess-of-horror]

An Unexpected Guest

[Part 1]

I needed more Phantom content, so I was inspired "A Girl and A Ghost", a little cute fanfic by @strawbunniiee. I'm not exactly sure if this will be connected to the last two fanfics I've written ("Encore at Midnight" and "Danse Macabre"). But either way, this story is about Phantom being greeted by an unknown and unexpected guest, who discovers his territory one gloomy night.

For @salamifuposey, @strawbunniiee,@kindpopstar, and everyone else who wants to read it!

[Content Includes: Some Profanity]

Another night falls over the land of Spooky Trails. The full moon illuminated up in the black, starlit sky, giving light for the inhabitants living among the desolate ruins. On this particular night, a heavy fog rolled over, making the pathways much more difficult to traverse. Of course, this is if a traveler were to pass by. Not so far off the pathways stands the dreary and disheveled stage of the Phantom of the Bwahpera. Phantom, an opera-singing hybrid of a ghostly Boo and a Rabbid, didn't mind the fog. In fact, he enjoyed it, for it gave a sense of theatrical mystery within his home. He felt more otherworldly, as if he wasn't otherworldly enough. Better yet, the fog was the perfect place to blend in - he is a spirit, after all - and sing his heart out throughout Spooky Trails. Although Spooky Trails was already spooky, Phantom's voice made the land much creepier for any traveler who wanders by. All, except for one...

---

[Phantom floats amongst the rolling fog like how one would float on their back in a pool. He leaves a trail of vocals and humming behind for every inhabitant who crosses his path. Phantom swirls around through the abandoned villages and dead trees, letting the fog take him anywhere it pleases. He stops suddenly when he notices something unusual. Inside the fog is a small figure walking through, leaving an open path behind. Curious, he decides to follow the figure's path. As Phantom follows silently behind, he hears a voice.]

????: "Damn... where can it be?"

[This voice is that of a young woman's. The only woman Phantom knows is Princess Peach, but that wasn't this figure. He ponders as continues, until he finds himself following her approaching the silver gates of his stage.]

????: *gasp* "There it is!"

[Still in the fog, Phantom watches as the figure run out towards the gate. He could finally see what she looks like. This young woman is dressed all in black, from head to toe, with combat boots and spiked jewelry. The right side of her head is completely shaved off, and the rest of her dirty blonde hair falls down around her shoulders. She is also wearing fishnet gloves, a pastel purple coffin backpack, and black nail polish.]

Phantom: *thinking to himself* "Who is this woman? And why is she trying to trespass into my home? Is she a thief?"

[The woman in black inspects the gates and tries to push it open. Then she tries to pull it open with all her might. Phantom can't help but chuckle at her fruitless attempts. She takes in a few deep breaths, looking around the gates to find another way in.]

????: "Hmmm..."

[She peers through the gates. The stage stands just across from it.]

????: *to herself* "I know this is it.... Huh, he's not here.

[This catches Phantom off guard. The woman pauses for a moment, taking a moment to think. She is still trying to get inside.]

Phantom: *thinking to himself* "She wants to see my humble abode, eh? Well... I suppose I'll give her a little debut."

[Phantom fades into the fog. After a few minutes of struggling, the woman then decides to leave. But she is stopped when the gate opens slightly by itself. The fog rolls in through the entrance; she follows with it. Soon she was within Phantom's theatre, surrounded by lingering fog, taking in the scenery of it all.]

????: "Woah..."

[Suddenly, she is swiftly lifted from the floor, her feet dangling in midair! It is then that she finds her in the clutches of Phantom himself, his mitten paw grabbing onto the front of her shirt.]

????: "Oh sh*t...!"

[She is met with a furious gaze, his sapphire eyes gleaming with anger. Then, a spotlight appears, shining down upon them! Music begins to play around them, and Phantom gives her a wicked smile.]

Phantom:

🎶 Who do you think you are, foolish girl?

Who dares trespass my theater?

Who do you think you are, little thief?

Walking into my world of music? 🎶

????: "Wait, I'm not-!"

[Before she could explain, Phantom swings her around and drops her onto the stage. She yelps as she lands.]

Phantom:

🎶 For your crime, you will pay

Here you will rule the day

As my unexpected guest

You will be laid to rest! 🎶

????: "STOP!"

[The woman in black holds up her arms in defense as she yells. From her hands, a burst of purple and green aura shoots out in an explosion of shimmering stars. A circular barrier surrounds her - a magical circle glows on the stage floor. Everything stops. Phantom is stunned by this sudden discovery. Slowly, the woman gets up, painfully, until she's back on her feet.]

????: "I'm... I'm not here to hurt you. Or steal from you.... Well, other than your attention."

[Phantom is silent. Confused. He cannot help but stare at the glowing aura that surrounds her. It's like a miniature galaxy formed with tentacle-like curls.]

????: "I can't believe it. You're still here, after all these years."

Phantom: "....what?"

????: "They told me about you. I didn't think I'd actually find you, let alone meet you in person."

Phantom: "Who told you?"

????: "The citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom, the Rabbids and their translators, Boos, almost everyone I've come across with. They said you disappeared after Mario and his friends defeated you. Some say you didn't, and a few believe you're nothing but a ghost story."

Phantom: "I see... but who are you, and why are you here?"

[The magical aura slowly fades as the woman lowers her defenses.]

????: "My name is M.B.; I came to Spooky Trails to find you, Phantom. Consider me as a fan, if you will."