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rieamena · 2 months

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I wonder at what point in the "reboot saga" would the other cunning hares step in and help Billy? Like, on one hand you have a convenient way to stop Billy from whatever he is doing, and watching how Y/N is trying to confess without crashing him must be entertaining. On the other after crash 65 it must get worrying :/

finally!—

the first few crashes had been amusing, a source of lighthearted teasing among the group. you’d attempt to confess, and billy, ever the charismatic and responsive robot, would suddenly freeze, eyes flickering as his system struggled to process the influx of data. the scene would end with him rebooting, and the cycle would start anew. after the first couple of crashes, the laughter faded into concern

“i don’t get it,” you muttered, sprawled out on the couch in the cunning hares' common room. “why does he keep crashing? it’s just a confession.”

“he’s not built to handle that kind of emotional intensity,” nicole explained, fiddling with the handles on his jacket, metal body limp after yet another of your failed confessions. “his programming is complex, but at the core, it’s still a machine trying to process human emotions.”

“and you’re very special to him,” anby added, smiling gently. “that makes it even harder for his system to cope.”

the three of you brainstormed solutions, testing different approaches and environmental controls. they installed cooling systems, tweaked his software, and even practiced mock confessions. yet, each time you poured your heart out to billy, his system would crash and reboot, leaving you both in a loop of unfinished sentences and unspoken feelings

one night, after crash number seventy two—a number that was only devised due to your intricate logs of attempted confessions in your mini journal—the serious gravity of the situation hit everyone. billy’s constant reboots were taking a toll on his system, and the risk of permanent damage was becoming too great to ignore

“this has to stop,” nicole declared, her voice heavy with determination. “we need to find a way to get through to him without causing another crash.”

after much debate, the team devised a new strategy. it wasn’t just about cooling fans and air conditioners; it was about creating a space where billy could process his emotions without the threat of overload. they set up a room specifically for this purpose, equipped with not just temperature controls but also calming visuals and sounds designed to keep billy’s system stable

the designated spot was meticulously prepared. soft lighting filled the room, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. the hum of air conditioners and strategically placed fans ensured the environment was cool. in the center of the room, billy sat on a cushioned chair, looking a bit puzzled but the aura he exuded was always happy

anby gave you a reassuring nod as she adjusted a fan to blow directly at billy. "remember, y/n, stick to the script and stay calm. we’re right here with you."

you took a deep breath and approached billy, your heart pounding. "hey, billy," you greeted, your voice steady despite the butterflies in your stomach

"hey, [name]," he replied, the crescents of his eyes lighting up the room. "what’s up?"

you clutched the script tightly, glancing at the words one last time before looking up at him. "billy, there’s something i’ve been wanting to tell you for a long time. it’s been on my mind, and i need you to know."

billy’s eyes widened slightly, his full attention on you. you continued, your voice soft but clear, following the script's guidance. "you mean a lot to me, more than just a friend. whenever i’m with you, everything feels brighter and better. your laughter, your kindness, the way you always know how to make me smile. i cherish every moment we spend together."

billy blinked, processing your words. the fans hummed softly, maintaining a cool breeze. you took another deep breath, steadying yourself. "billy, i like you. a lot. more than just a friend. i care about you deeply, and i wanted you to know how i feel."

for a moment, there was silence. billy’s eyes flickered, and you held your breath, waiting for the familiar signs of a reboot, slower movement, glitched speech, loss of composure, but instead, his eyes displayed bright red hearts

"[name]," he said softly, reaching out to take your hand. "i… i like you too. more than just a friend." nicole crept over to a cooling fan close to him, cranking up its power

unfortunately, the slip of paper didn't have any more words to refer to so you had to improvise. "so does this mean we're like, dating now?"

"are we really?! we're dating now?!" billy jumped up from his seat, practically oozing excitement and happiness, "wait, but i've never had a partner before. what if i do something wrong? what if you don't like me anymore?!" he shook your shoulders, speaking a mile a minute, ranting about all the things he could do wrong and all the things that could go wrong

"also, it's really cold in here, i can almost feel my metal constricting! can we turn the thermostat up or something?"

you couldn't help but laugh. "one step at a time, billy. let's start with the thermostat."

you finally got billy kid after seventy two reboots, and boy, wasn't it rewarding.

its actually so embarassing how long this took and its not even good....

billy kid taglist

@pedrosimp137 @mary-moongood @nyxin-lynx @lemonboy011 @eisblume77

@amaryllisenvy @megan017 @astral-spacepumpkin @corrupted-tale @inkycap

@thurstonw @plapsha @lavenderthewolf @kurakusun @vitaevaaa

@sweetadonisbutbetter @cobraaah @mochiitoby @clickingchip @bardivislak

@h3r6c00k13 @cozi-cofee @apestegui-y @luvuyuuji @theitdoitnobody

@fersitaam @cathrnxxo @monkepawbz @fl1ghtl3ssdrag0n @dabislilbaby

@many-names-yuna @muffin1304 @doort @j3llycarnival @juuanna

@discipleofthem @spookylorekeep @wazkalia @miaubrebmiau @hersweetsstrawberry

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moonchild9350 · 2 months

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Sign the Dotted Line (Chapter Five)

Summary: The damage has been done. Your relationship with Minho may as well be over. Your mind is all over the place, but nothing like a girl's night to distract you. You also get to speak with the manager to discuss your future with Minho.

Pairing: idol Minho x fab reader

Genre: angst

Word Count: 3.3k

Warnings: alcohol usage

Note: Ahh chapter five! Thank you to everyone that has made it this far in reading this Minho saga. It has been fun to write! This chapter has more of a filler vibe if I'm being honest. Don't worry though, there will be more to come :)

Likes, reblogs, comments greatly appreciated as it makes my day :)

New chapters posted on Saturdays at 1pm CST!

Series Summary: You are living an ordinary life until one day you come across a notice from your favorite band Stray Kids, that the company is looking for a girlfriend for one of its members Lee Minho. Thinking you have nothing else to lose, you apply. This one action causes your life to change forever.

Series Masterlist

Please do not copy, translate, modify, use, or repost this work elsewhere without my permission. ©moonchild9350 (2024)

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There was silence in the room, no one dared to say a word. Minho stood in place, his chest rising and falling from the confrontation. Shit, he messed up. He needs to go after you, stop you from leaving, so he can explain himself. Instead, he goes back to packing his bag, as the silence continued throughout the room.

Once packed he walked toward the door, waiting for the rest of the members. They warily picked up their bags before following Chan, slowly filing out of the room. No one said anything on the way to the car. No one said anything on the ride back to the dorms. No one knew what to say, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Once at the dorms, everyone filed out, walking up to their assigned dorms.

However, before splitting off, Chan said, “wait, we need to talk, Minho. Let’s all go to my dorm and chat.”

Minho rolled his eyes. Truthfully, he just wanted to go take a shower and go to bed, wanting to forget the day. But who is he kidding, he won’t be able to sleep. Not without you crossing his mind. Letting out a sigh, he nodded, following Chan into his dorm, the others following behind. They all dropped their bags, kicking off their shoes before making their way over to the living area. Everyone took a seat, silence spreading throughout the room.

Chan took a deep breath, letting it out and said. “Ok Min, what’s up. What the hell was that?”

Minho squirmed in his seat, not looking at Chan or the six other curious eyes in the room. He pondered the question. What was that indeed. Just his ever present ego is what it was. He looked up at Chan clearing his throat before saying, “not sure.”

Chan looked at him, stared him down before saying, “not sure? What does that mean? Come on Min, you really hurt y/n and we need to know why so we can fix this mess. The company I know will not be happy about this.”

The company. It’s always about the company. It’s never what the members want or in this case, what he wants. Minho was frustrated, he didn't know what to do, so he did what he does best, speak before thinking.

“I didn’t want to say those things. But she was just there, with those eyes, and…” Minho paused taking a few deep breaths. “I think I love her, and I think that pissed me off because she was just thrown at me. I guess I didn’t want to let them have the satisfaction.”

He sat in thought for a few seconds before adding on, "and I'm not going to lie. Seeing her so cozy with you Chan pissed me off, didn't sit right with me. I know your my hyung and you meant well, but..."

Ugh why is this so difficult, Minho thought. "I feel possessive of her. She's mine and only mine. She doesn't get that."

There, Minho said it. He let out the breath he was holding, as he laid back against the couch, closing his eyes. There was silence in the room as everyone took in what Minho said.

“Well, we can fix this then!” Jisung said excitedly, ever the hopeful enthusiast. “All you have to do is tell y/n how you feel, just like you told us. Yeah she might not forgive you, not at first, but at least she won’t leave.”

Minho shook his head. “No, I think we’re done for good. I’ve never seen her act that way. She was pissed.”

“Rightfully so Min,” Chan said. “If she wasn’t mad, I’d say there was something wrong with her.”

Chan waited a moment before saying, “here’s what we’re going to do. I will speak with y/n next time I see her, maybe explain things a little better. Basically try to convince her not to leave. I doubt they'll let her break the contract. You,” he said as he pointed a finger at Minho using the stern voice he adapts when he goes into leader mode, “are not going to harass her anymore. You will get along with y/n and you will apologize. It won’t hurt to explain yourself to her either. Got it?”

Minho shook his head yes, not wanting to go against the leader.

“Thank you hyung,” Minho softly said. He was grateful for great mates who were willing to help him fix this shit show, even though it was his fault.

“I’m going to go ahead and wash up. I’m exhausted,” Minho said as he got up from the couch.

Chan nodded, watching as Minho walked to the door, put his shoes on, grab his bag and walk out the door.

“We’ll fix this. Hyunjin, maybe speak with Seoyun and see if she can speak with y/n too. I will let Harin know what’s going on too.”

Hyunjin nodded at Chan’s plan, promising to speak with Seoyun about it tonight.

“Alright, let’s all get some sleep,” Chan said looking at everyone.

Felix, Seungmin, and Jeongin got up and made their way to the door, while the others walked to their rooms quietly. Chan would take care of this mess. He had to, as Minho was too stubborn to do it by himself, and the higher ups would come down on him if anything bad happened such as y/n breaking the contract and leaving. Yes, he’ll fix everything and then the boys could continue doing what they do best.

You made it back to your dorm, tossing your stuff on the floor, not caring where it landed. You made your way to your bathroom, taking a quick shower, before crawling underneath your covers. You pulled the blankets up around you, tears falling down your face as the pent up emotions of the night bubbled over. You had no idea what to do, where to go from here.

You didn’t really want to go to the manager, not really. It was just something you said in the heat of the moment. Despite asshole Minho, you loved hanging out with the others and not to mention Harin and Seoyun. Your mind was running in a million directions, wondering if Minho meant what he said. There’s no way right? He was just saying that for show, at least that’s what you wanted to believe.

You felt your chest constrict, the pain of rejection running rampant through your system. There was no way you’d be able to keep up appearances going forward, the fans would be able to tell something was up. It would just be awkward for you, for Minho, and everyone else. It would be like a black cloud hanging over everyone when you and Minho would be together. Maybe you should talk to the manager after all. There’s somebody out there that’s more suited for Minho. Someone who he’ll like better than you.

As the night wore on, you tossed and turned, unable to turn your mind off, tears escaping your eyes off and on. You were at a loss as to what you should do, not sure who you could even talk to. You missed home, you missed your best friend, you missed who you were before the other night. Feeling exhausted, you eventually drifted off to sleep, your dreams rampant with melancholy and turmoil.

The next morning, you awoke with the sun in your eyes, the bright light causing your head to pound. You groaned before getting up, making your way to the bathroom. You had a shift today that you definitely didn’t want to go to, but maybe the business of the cafe will keep your thoughts at bay.

Taking a look in the mirror, you almost recoiled at how horrible you looked. You eyes were swollen from crying, your face puffy and red. Sighing you began your skin routine, trying to do damage control. You applied makeup as a last ditch effort and left the bathroom, walking to your closet to change. As you were brushing your hair, your phone chimed signaling you got a text. Checking the screen, you saw a message from the group chat you had with Harin and Seoyun.

Girls of Skz🧚🏽‍♀️

Harin: Hey girl! Do you work today?

Y/n: unfortunately

Seoyun: oof, well how about we come over after. Girls night?

Y/n: ….not really in the mood tbh

Harin: come on, please? I’ll bring food!

Damn, she brings a hard bargain. That would mean you wouldn’t have to forage for dinner. Letting out a sigh, you replied

Girls of Skz🧚🏽‍♀️

Y/n: ok, ok, you convinced me

Seoyun: I knew you would say yes if there was food involved lol

Y/n: Not my fault I’m a hungry bitch haha

Harin: lol I’ll bring all your favorites then. See you later!

Setting down your phone, you finished getting ready. Maybe girls night is what you needed.

You set off to work, ready to immerse yourself in the day. As soon as you walked in, you noticed the line was long, almost reaching the door. Normally you’d gripe about the number of people here, but this was perfect. You could lose yourself in your work, and that’s exactly what you did.

There was no time to think about anything except people’s orders, as you moved around the bar quickly, trying to fulfill everyone’s orders. You served with a smile, not letting how you truly felt show. Your boss was impressed, not used to you working this hard, which was probably an insult to you, but you could care less.

You finally were able to take a break once the afternoon hit, your shift almost over. You let out a sigh as you set down, your feet throbbing from being on them all day.

“Y/n!” You boss said, as she made her way towards you.

You had no idea what you did, but you were too tired to care about being chastised about whatever she wanted to bitch about today.

“Y/n, you worked well today. Hardest I’ve seen you work since you started with us.”

You boss said this with a smile like she was complimenting you. You just looked at her, no emotion in your eyes as you waited for her to continue. When she realized you weren’t going to say anything back, she cleared her throat and continued.

“Since you worked hard today and it’s calmed down, you can go home early. We have enough people here to cover closing.”

At this your ears perked up and you sat up straighter. “Really? Great,” you said.

You got up from your seat and started taking your apron off as you made your way to the break room.

“Don’t forget about your shift tomorrow!”

As if you could forget. You rolled your eyes once you turned away from her and made your way to get your stuff. Walking outside, you were greeted with a breeze, as the weather had cooled down some since you were last out. Putting your headphones in, you began your walk home, blending in with those around you. You started to perk up a little the closer you got, your excitement for girls night peaking. Yes, it’s exactly what you needed and you couldn’t wait.

“Y/n!” Harin shouted as she crossed the threshold into your apartment, wrapping her arms around you in a big hug. You couldn’t help but giggle, squirming to get out of her hold.

“Harin!” You laughed, “I get it you’re happy to see me.”

“Of course I am, I haven’t seen you in a long time…since two days ago in fact.”

You were grinning from ear to ear, listening to your friend’s silly banter. Turning to Seoyun, you held out your arms, beckoning her in for a hug. She obliged, before saying, “we brought tons of snacks and wine!”

“Thank god,” you groaned, grabbing the bags from her hand and bringing them to the kitchen.

You started unpacking the snacks, a feeling of happiness spreading throughout your body at the sight of all your favorite treats. They even brought your favorite kind of wine. You poured the snacks into bowls and grabbed three glasses, and made your way to the couch.

Seoyun uncorked the wine, pouring generous amounts into each glass. You took yours and took a sip, the slightly fruity flavor tickling your taste buds in the best way. You let out a sigh, leaning your head back against the back of the couch.

“So what’s new?” Harin asked, popping a chip into her mouth.

You knew what was coming, the timing of girls night was too coincidental with the recent events with Minho. Letting out a sigh, you looked at your friends, curiosity in their eyes.

“Well I’m sure you heard what went down. Minho and I had another fight, but this time we both said some things that weren’t exactly…” you paused thinking of how to describe the conversation from that night.

“Not that friendly I guess .”

“What was said?” Seoyun asked, setting her glass down as she looked at you.

“Well Minho said he didn’t want me here anymore basically and uhhh, I kinda said I’d see about breaking the contract and just leaving.”

You trailed off at the end, not looking your friends in the eye as you gently swirled the wine around your glass.

“Oh y/n, I’m sorry,” Seoyun said, a look of pity on her face. Harin nodded along, her eyebrows furrowed.

“It’s ok, I’m not really mad about it…At least not as much as I was.” You sat in thought, pondering your next words.

“I think what hurts the most is the fact we slept together the night before and there were no issues between us. He was sweet and caring and…gentle I guess.”

Harin looked at you, horror in her eyes at your confession. “Shit y/n, that’s a dick move not gonna lie.”

You shook your head at her statement completely agreeing. It was a dick move, no doubt about it. You’d get over it, you have thick skin, especially if you can get out of this “relationship” and move on.

“I’m thinking of speaking with the manager and seeing if I can get out of the contract. I mean, I don’t think Minho and I are good for each other. It’s been almost a year and we still fight nearly everyday. It’s tiring.” You continued.

Harin and Seoyun looked at you with pity in their eyes. They couldn’t say they understood, as their relationships with Chan and Hyunjin were good. They could tell you were over it, ready to move on. You deserved happiness and they knew you were not currently happy.

“We’d miss you, but I understand.” Harin said quietly, looking down at her hands.

You could tell the girls were sad at your announcement. You all had grown rather close over the last year. You’d hate to lose touch with them.

“Well enough talk about Minho, I need more wine and some more snacks.”

You all burst out laughing, refilling your glasses and chatting enthusiastically. The night went on, filled with gossip and laughter, until the early morning hours. You all were drunk at this point, stumbling over your words. You all drifted off eventually, exhaustion taking over, after all, you all have a long day ahead of you…including facing Minho for the first time since the argument.

The next morning you woke up, your head throbbing and a pounding in your ears. You got up slowly as you let out a low groan. You looked around, seeing Harin and Seoyun buried under their blankets, fast asleep. Making your way to the kitchen, you poured a glass of water and grabbed some painkillers to ease your aching head. You decided to call out, too hungover and not willing to deal with a cafe full of demanding people. Your boss wasn't happy, but you didn't care.

You began the task of making coffee, the aroma soon spreading throughout the room. Shortly after, you heard grumbles from the living room, signaling that the others were up. As you fixed three cups of coffee, they made their way into the kitchen, graciously accepting the hot cup.

“Damn my head is pounding,” Seoyun said, a frown on her face.

You passed the bottle of pain killers around, each girl taking one. You all had to be at the building later, the manager wanting to speak to the group about the next event. You’d hope to speak with her before the meeting, to discuss breaking the contract. You were definitely not looking forward to that conversation.

“Guess I should head home. Need to take a shower before we have to be at the meeting,” Seoyun said, finishing her coffee.

Harin nodded at her statement, agreeing with her. You nodded and watched as they gathered their bags and made their way to the door.

“Thanks for last night,” you said, a smile on your face.

“Of course! Anytime ok? Really.” Harin said.

You flashed another smile before letting them out, softly closing the door behind you. Time for a shower you thought, padding toward the bathroom. Stripping yourself of your clothes, you turned the water on and stepped in, the warm stream feeling good against your body. You hoped today would turn out ok and that you could hold it together. You would soon be free you thought to yourself, believing the statement after not too long.

It was mid afternoon, you had arrived at the building, its large logo plastered on the front, almost like it’s mocking you. You made your way to the top floors, dragging your feet towards the manager’s office. Arriving at her door, you looked up at her name placard on the wall, and taking a deep breath brought your hand up to knock. You heard a soft ‘come in’ and bracing yourself, turned the knob to enter the room.

It looked the same as the first time you came in almost a year ago, neat and organized. You looked over at the desk, watching as the manager finished writing before looking up to meet your gaze.

“Y/n! What a surprise. Come in and sit.”

You made your way to the chair in front of her desk, taking a seat.

“What brings you here today?” She said, curiosity in her eyes.

You cleared your throat, “I’d like to see if there is a way I can get out of my contract. Things with Minho just don’t seem to be working out.”

You both sat in silence, no one saying a word. You could see shock and then disappointment on her face as she pondered your words.

Finally, she straightened up and said, “I’m sorry y/n. Whatever has been going on, I’m sorry that is has occurred. I know Minho can be difficult at times, but he is a really nice guy y/n.”

You looked at her incredulously, not believing what she was saying. She didn't even ask for you to elaborate, she just shut you down instantly. You feared she was going to tell you no and with the next sentence, your thoughts came true.

“I’m sorry, but we cannot allow you to break the contract. You must remain Minho’s appointed girlfriend for two years as stated, as you agreed.”

She paused, looking at you with pity in her eyes. You didn’t know what to say, your hopes being crushed with a simple sentence. You were to stay in this contract, there was no way out until it was over. You held back the tears, not wanting to show weakness in front of her and just how much her statement hurt you.

“I really am sorry y/n. If that’s all, I’ll see you at the meeting later today.”

You were being dismissed, the conversation over. You pushed yourself from your chair, and slowly walked to the door. You felt despair, not sure what to do. You made your way down the hall, no where to go but to the practice rooms. You hadn’t been here since the fight, or seen anyone besides Harin and Seoyun. Approaching the door of the practice room, you heard familiar voices, happiness behind the door as the boys laughed and messed around with each other. You have to go in. You couldn’t let Minho intimidate you.

With a deep breath, you reached for the door knob and turned it, stepping into the room. As you carefully shut the door, you could feel eight sets of eyes on you. Turning around, you faced the people in the room, including the one man you didn’t want to see.

“Y/n!” Hyunjin said, running to give you a hug. “You’re here, you’re ok!”

You chuckled and hummed, “I’m here.”

“We’re so glad to see you,” Chan said, a warm smile on his face.

You nodded and made your way to the couches, taking a seat next to Changbin who smiled at you and patted your thigh. Today is going to be a long day and most likely full of surprises. However, you can do this, you thought. You’ll get through this day, just one moment at a time. You were suddenly brought from your thoughts, as Chan approached you.

"Y/n, can we talk?" Chan asked?

You looked startled. "Sure," you replied, looking up at the leader.

"Great, let's go to the studio."

You got up to follow Chan, everyone watching both of you leave. What will this be about you thought, as anxiety started to course through your body. There was no reason to fret any longer as you were about to find out as you both made your way into the studio and sat down. Here we go.

Taglist: @jehhskz @jeonginsleftcheek @simpforleeknaur @armystay89 @palindrome969 @slut4hee @ivydoesit23 @amarecerasus @kaysungshine @artemisdoe @emily21morgan @athforskz @jazziwritesthings @imperfectlyperfectprincess1 @jisunglyricist @tsunderelino @hyuneyeon @sillyhal @queenmea604 @bloominhos @partyparty-yah @fun-fanfics

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bookreviewcoffee · 5 months

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Dune Frank Herbert

“Dune" is, without exaggeration, an era, a magnitude in literature that is difficult to overestimate. A science fiction saga, with elements of the novel of chronicles and adulthood, space opera and dystopia, metaphorical narrative full of philosophy and mysticism.

The first trilogy of the classic cycle is full of the life and life of a free people, the planetary ecosystem including the giant worms, echoes of courtly strife, the structure of organizations equally ruling the Known Universe but also dependent on the spice that is produced only on Arrakis.

High and intense text full of concentrated substrate based on religion, politics, ecology, legal and cultural issues, immediate survival, while learning about the future.

The plot is fascinating, like standing in the center of a huge temple complex in Kornak, where the desert wind brings the essence of plans within plans.

Compared to the TV series and screen adaptations, the book predetermines the accents in relation to the characters, making them full and vivid, clear in plot twists, meeting the author's intent and the logic of behavior under given conditionsThe story itself I really liked, probably partly because I generally love fiction and somehow have not read something interesting and non-anal of this genre for a long time. A lot of fiction books are based on Christianity, and this is the first book in my memory that is based on Islam.

I also like the way Frank Herbert describes the characters' looks - almost without details, leaving room for imagination. The story is not long, lively enough and colorful enough, and I have experienced this forgotten feeling again and again, when I want to return to the book to find out what is going on.One of the main themes is the opposition between the houses of Atreides and Harkonnen. In these quotes, a clear example of the difference between the houses: the Atreides pay love for loyalty, while the Harkonnens gain submission through hatred. 'How much he talks! - Hawat thought. - This is not Duke Leto, who could speak to me with a wave of the hand, a movement of the eyebrow. What a carcass! The author (maybe the translation) shows Vladimir Harkonnen as a huge carcass, which has accumulated large reserves of precious water. This is the main peculiarity of the desert Arrakis. Arrakis. A desert planet, also known as Dune. There, under the scorching sun, there float huge worms on the sand, from which it is impossible to hide. There’s a free folk out there - Fremen with blue-tinted eyes that cover even squirrels. And, most importantly, Arrakis - the only place where the spice is extracted. Spice or melange - the most important wealth in the universe. If water is commonplace on Kaladan... here, in the desert conditions, its value is high. To show your respect, love, loyalty, you must share water. Whether it's spitting or mourning the dead. One of my favorite characters is the planetologist Kynes, who dreamed of turning the desert into an oasis. His father managed to plant and implement this idea among the Freemen, and his son continued his work ... Freemen are a hardened people of the desert with their own philosophy and way of life...they were told that the work of greening Arrakis is labor-intensive and the results can be fully appreciated only by the eighth generation. Not only that, but the Freemen and the Kynes did not abandon it, but passed it on from generation to generation. Valuable and very much appreciated. Chani is a great representative of the Freemen. Honestly, I didn't really understand why Jessica didn't think she was a good match for her son, even though she thought she was a worthy representative of the Bine Gesaerit school. Chani is wise, intelligent and loving to Paul. She is such a reliable and strong support for him.In general, the novel is a very interesting story, competently combining social problems, political peripetias, religious ascents, life philosophy, many multi-layered mysteries, and I think, even some meditation.And all this cornucopia is doused in beautiful, smooth, syllable with detailed, distinctive style descriptions that include perfectly developed characters. I wholeheartedly recommend the novel, I don't know if I'll be able to experience all six books, but I'm now serious about part two. For anyone interested, I recommend that you be patient and take your time with this story, getting to know it at your own pace.

#aesthetic #light academia #romantic academia #academia aesthetic #chaotic academia #classic academia #dark academia #dead poets society #book review #donna tartt #dune movie #dune #dune books #reading #books #book history #fantasy

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lemotmo · 4 months

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Ooof that finale was…..not it. Like my first issue was they for some reason let Kristen write it. I honestly thought we were free of her with the move to abc but alas apparently not. And she very much made her presence known with how off the finale felt in terms of pacing and just how ooc some of them felt at times. Not to mention the continuing saga of her former reign in making Buck an over sexualized character by turning his dad trauma into a way for Tommy to make jr into a daddy kink joke which was just…. No thanks. Otherwise it just was such a….lackluster finale? And I found myself bored at moments.

And then the season over all I’m left wondering what was the point of half of it ? Like Bathena didn’t get to enjoy their honeymoon. They have no house now. The Amir plot which while I loved the character, ultimately led to nothing? The cartel storyline didn’t need to happen and bringing them back was boring. Bobby being dead for 14 minutes and coming into the station at the end perfectly fine was such a wtf moment even for tv standards.

Henren didn’t get to adopt their baby. They got a foster daughter instead only to then….lose her ? And have her be given to Madney instead for them to visit like truly this was just drama for drama sake and ultimately pointless pain for them.

Madneys wedding got rushed and ultimately turned into a 2 minute hospital room scene. We didn’t even get to see ant build up to the wedding.

Buck: He came out as bi which yesssss 🎉🎉🎉 only to then immediately be forced back into his hamster wheel, stuck in yet another relationship with someone who doesn’t seem to even like him, and is rude to him. And then turned into essentially a background character the rest of the season. I truly feel bad for Oliver because he was so so so excited for bi buck, and so happy and hopeful they would do it right and with respect and not over sexualize it and this is what he gets. A boring rude generic LI making daddy kink jokes and no real development into this part of himself. It’s truly no surprise he did nothing to promote that relationship or this finale.

Eddie and Chris. We hardly saw Chris. And then the way they rushed him leaving at the very end was so… not it. Not to mention so out of sorts for him? Like we have seen when he’s mad at Eddie he always goes to Buck. But this time he calls his grandparents at 2 am and asks them to come rake him to Texas indefinitely? Then the Buck Chris talk. I love their scenes together but even it felt off? And then they systematically undid any progress with Eddie’s parents with Helena often coming off filled with glee over it, and Ramon taking his own guilt in Eddie to make him accept it. Then we have Eddie himself. What was the point of Marisol? There doesn’t seem to be one. And why we had to suffer Edy all season remains a mystery since Tim said she came back because he didn’t want two off screen breakups. Only to then do two off screen breakups. What was the point of Kim? I had hopes they would actually use her to move Eddie along and then they just…didn’t? Even Ryan said he thinks all she did was make it worse.

I will give the show credit because they did stick to the try for buddie scene in every episode. And they had some good scenes. Ryan and Oliver knocked their scenes out in the finale especially but once again we are at the finale and it’s left in a…. Now what ? No real movement forward. Once again all of us going oh next season for sure! And no real clear path toward it. and based on Ryan’s interviews tonight, where it once again sounds like they have no idea what to do with Eddie next season due to the vast amount of directions they seem to want to take him, including apparently Ryan saying in one of them that Tim seems to want to lean more into the Bobby Eddie similarities next season and have Eddie focus a lot more on religion, but Ryan does say he doesn’t think Eddie will become a priest. But still it’s just like… what are we doing. It’s given more we don’t wanna say yes to Buddie and follow the clear narrative direction butttttttt we want the views sooooo let’s make it open ended enough to draw them in. Again.

They said at the start they were going to give, or try to give the fans what they wanted this season and truly, I’m utterly baffled how anyone thought any of this is what we wanted. Like we wanted Henren to get their baby. Madney to have the best wedding. Bathena to thrive and get their honeymoon and have some adventures. Buddie to become buddie and enjoy the Buckley Diaz family in an official capacity. And instead we got circles upon circles with lazy choices taken where they could and next to no real character growth or movement. I’m so sorry for how long this got 😅😅😅

Oh Nonny, how I agree with everything you said here. You get me.

I just posted my episode review and most of the things I talked about are the same things you highlighted.

It was written by Kristen? Ah, that explains a lot actually.

I didn't mind the Diaz parents though. I really do think they were trying to help out in their own way. But all the rest of this post? YEEEES!!!!

I can still see the Buddie of it. I'm still hanging in there. There were too many strange choices made in season 7 to make me believe that Buddie isn't going to happen in season 8. Not to mention the amazing chemistry between Buddie compared to whatever it is they are trying to show us with BT. However, they are on thin ice here. I agree. Things need to start moving along. If not... after season 8 I will retreat to my little nook of Tumblr living off good Buddie fan fiction.

I didn't read any of the Ryan interviews yet. Him leaning into religion and the parallel with Bobby I did see coming. The prayer book was too obvious. I wonder why they had 6 interviews lined up with Ryan over this episode? I get that his storyline is important, but it doesn't warrant 6 interviews, not even the religious aspect of it. I'm going to read some of them today to try and get a clearer image.

I just feel like all of my beloved 911 characters don't have any clear direction at this point. I was surely hoping for some more insight, but all we got was superficial storytelling and no real breakthroughs for anyone.

I don't understand what all those journalists that screened this episode were talking about when they said they saw clear directions for season 8. For me it is the opposite at this point. Where are they taking all of this???

#911 spoilers #nonnies galore #buddie #7x10 thoughts #season 8 speculation #buddie thoughts and speculation

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alovelyburn · 1 year

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374.

I read somewhere (... i think it was screenrant but nevermind that) that the new arc of Berserk is called "eastern exile."

Which brings me back here:

Miura did say that Guts and Griffith would meet several times again before the end of the series, so perhaps they're going to both end up in the same place.

That said, there are other options, too - 372 finished with a line emphasizing that the world plays out in Griffith's hands, so perhaps he simply knows that the next chapter in the saga continues to the east (meta, but not really), or it's another reference to his general sense of Guts' presence, which has arguably been alluded to before.

All that said, and bearing in mind that I don't hate the new chapters like a lot of people do, nor do I think they're flawless like some oithers do, this does kind of highlight an ongoing issue with the post-Miura chapters.

It's sometimes hard to parse what's happening, due to the reduction in dialogue, as well as the less polished visuals.

There's a weird thing at the end of the current chapter that says Guts is in chains but I feel like it's clear that he isn't - the Kushans go after him with chains, and then you see the chains of the beast break and then at the end you see his feet walking. My GUESS is that they're going for "Guts is in chains and the Beast is in residence" but that's not as clear as it could be due to the visuals....

But also because of storytelling disconnects. For example, when the Kushans start toward the room Guts is in, and Azan freaks out because if they open the door, the Black Swordsman will "awaken" and tear them limb from limb, I thought... he has no reason whatsoever to say that guts will tear them to pieces. Because he hasn't. Moved.

Which then made me think if Miura were still here maybe he would still not be moving, but there'd be something less pathetic and more unnerving about it to give the people on the boat the sense that there's danger in waking him up in this state.

I can see how this could have happened. eg, Miura said Griffith takes off with Casca, Guts can't land a single blow which causes a mental breakdown about his own impotence, then the Kushans board the ship and people are afraid if they wake Guts up there will be an even bigger disaster.

Plot points without any context or detail. Which is where you start seeing the biggest gaps - because no doubt Miura would have done the work to make these pieces fit together, but without him all they're doing is hitting the points on the outline one by one.

Also, Rickert (and presumably Erica) is with the Kushans, which should make this Silat's group. Depending on how deep Miura intended to go with the Eastern world thing, this could contextualize his comments about the later story dealing with Tao principles/etc. It's also interesting bc he ALSO said that the Godhand would appear more and more... which does imply a greater presence for them in other parts of the world than we were previously, necessarily made aware of.

#ariel talks about berserk

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hearts-are-connected · 3 months

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I was inspired to write this while chatting with my friend, @pinkomcranger. It's a small companion drabble to my story Until I found you on Ao3, set from Saga's pov.

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

Saga stood guiltily as the man she ran into stormed away from her and disappeared down the hall.

"Not the best way to make an impression, Anderson. That's Agent Casey you just dumped coffee on."

"Wait, THAT'S him. Oh great, way to go, Saga."

Checking her own clothes for any spills, she settles for waiting. The large breakroom window giving her an expansive view of the office. Continuously casting glances in between text exchanges with David about dinner plans before soon enough, the tall man she'd accidentally assaulted appeared, taking long strides towards what she assumed was his desk before taking a seat. His jacket was gone, leaving only his white button down and a reminder of her lack of awareness. A damp and faded stain.

Swallowing the embarrassment down, she makes her way back to the coffee pot. Taking him for more of a black coffee kind of guy, she quickly refills her own cup before rushing out the door.

The man sits quietly. His closed fist supports his head as he leans to the side, staring down at scattered case files. A photograph, she can assumes it's one of family or a lover, sits face down on the upper right corner. Unseen by the world, as well as himself.

Noticing an empty spot amongst the clutter, she makes her move, placing the steaming cup down in front of the downed picture frame. Startled, he turns, so quickly that she herself nearly jumps. Managing to keep a mostly chill body language, she clears her throat.

All she can see as she takes him in for the first time is pure exhaustion; skin so pale it's sickly-looking. Dark rings hang beneath his eyes. They're blue, she takes note of his gaze as it seems to pierce right through her.

Thin lips, a little dry and cracked, sit in an almost neutral position. Not quite a frown, but always ready to become one. Brown hair with a few strands of grey a mix of slicked back and tousled. Like he'd been making a habit of running his hands through it; maybe as a calming gesture?

This man is handsome. Beneath the less-than-composed side of him, she notes his sharp cheekbones and strong jawline; like he was sculpted with a chisel, very different from David, who maintains a more filled-out appearance.

Readjusting the files she'd taken with her from the break room, she makes sure not to spill her own coffee. Thinking quickly, she flashes the detective a nervous smile and offers her hand.

"Can we forget everything and start over? I'm Saga Anderson; it's nice to meet you, Agent Casey."

Still staring her down, as if testing the waters, the man pushes back in his chair to stand at his full height. Standing a solid four inches over her, she can't help staring up at him.

Saga straightens her back, gripping Casey's hand firmly as he slips it into hers. Knowing well and good the importance of a good handshake, it's then that Saga sees a small curve in his lips. It's almost unnoticeable, and for the first time since walking into him, she sees the faintest hint of life in his eyes. They almost appear to be kinder. Softer.

"And I, you, Agent Anderson."

#alan wake 2 #alex casey #saga anderson #sam lake #remedyverse #andercase #saga anderson x alex casey #sagacasey #saga anderson/alex casey #the sun and the moon #OTP: parners to the end

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sleepyfan-blog · 6 months

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Author's note: part 3 of Cedric's saga. Prev. Next.

tagged: @egrets-not-regrets

warnings: character death, graphic wound descriptions, canon-typical violence

Summary: Rescuing Civilians doesn't always go well.

Cedric loses a civilian patient, despite his best efforts ):

“Soooo, do you think that we will be able to find something interesting on this mission?” Dessias asked as a small lifted the corners of his lips up a little.

Rodron shrugged before he answered “ Who knows? Last couple of missions, we were stuck on the black lines doing clean up. Fuck, I hope that we are able to get some actually interesting combat in this time.”

Angrald rolled his eyes and pointed out “None of us have yet to earn our armor, Although from what I heard if we survive these next few battles, I think we may earn them soon. We've got to prove ourselves to our older brothers.”

“I know that, Angi… I hope to be able to continue to impress Brother Imeldis.” Dessias sighed, fidgeting a little with the butt of his bolter.

Cedric gently bumped his shoulder into his red-headed brother “You're consistently the best shot in our Aspirant squad, and you're able to pin all but Sevros and Dovo on the mats four out of five times in spars.”

Sevros - who had been dozing a little, looked over at the three of them and asked through a stretch-and-yawn "What's going on? I'm pretty sure that I heard my name."

"Angi's feeling a little uncertain." Dessias responded promptly, dodging Angrald's half-hearted swat. "What? It's true, though I don't know why. You're an excellent, dutiful brother."

Sevros hummed again and reached over to Angrald, putting him into a headlock, ruffling the shorter Astartes-aspirant's buzz-cut hair with a grin "Have faith in yourself, little brother! The rest of us do."

Angrald grumbled wordlessly as he tried to escape the choke-hold "Hey! You're what, three months older than I am, at most? That doesn't really count! And you all are right. I was just having a... A moment of uncertainty is all."

"We are in training, and so far have proven ourselves to our older brothers." Dovo pointed out "I may be the sergeant of the squad, but you're our best tactician, Angrald. I know that Dessias, Sevros and I wouldn't be in this pod, had you not spotted the psyker-bomb that the knife-ears left for some unfortunate soul to stumble into and get killed by. You were also the one who disarmed it safely."

Angrald nods, a small smile having lifted the corners of his lips a little "... True enough."

Dovo nods, before looking out the small window that was placed in the drop pod, squinting through the thick, frosted-over glass "We're going to make planetfall soon. In the name of the name of the god-emperor, we will reclaim this world from the knife-ears and the green-skins!"

Cedric, along with the rest of the squad shouted in response, eager to join in the battle "IN THE NAME OF THE GOD-EMPEROR, WE WILL RECLAIM THIS WORLD!"

The days and nights blended one into the next. Shoot at anything that wasn't a brother. Dodge return fire. Check to make sure that none of his brothers had gotten shot. Sprint to the next bit of cover while the others provided suppressing fire. Check through a burned and blasted out civilian village for any survivors.

Give a quick prayer that the dead he finds have already returned to the side of the God-emperor and bask in his light. Double check each room of the small houses and apartment buildings.

Set on fire any heretical messages or altars.

Rinse and repeat until this particular village was cleared, before moving onto the next, while trying to kill as many orcs and drukhari as possible.

Over and over again.

"Are there any Imperial Citizens trapped in this house? Please call out or make noise if you are alive." Dessias called out, just loud enough to carry throughout the small house the six of them had shoved their way into. The door had been barricaded with a bunch of furniture, and bore recent signs of life, so there was a possibility that someone was actually still here, taking shelter.

Or it was a Drukhari trap, or some tiny green skins were cowardly trying to hide from the righteous extermination they faced for daring to oppose the will of the god-emperor.

"H-Hello? Are... Are we rescued, finally? Praise be the god-emperor! We are in the basement, the door is hidden by a large rug. Please come help us, my father got shot by one of the invaders while trying to get food and he's not doing well." A young voice called out from beneath the stairs.

Rodron immediately started to head for the only rug in the room, but Dovo held up a hand, shaking his head silently, before hand-signing to the group [Check for traps]

Dessias, Angrald and Sevros silently signed back in understanding and began to check for any traps - while it was possible that these were truly civilians, this could easily be a knife-eared trap... And even if they were civilians it could be a trap anyways. The new scars on Rodron's arms were a testament to the cruel genius of the knife-ears.

Still, there was no need to worry potential civilians who needed evacuation - nor, conversely, was Cedric going to let the possible knife-ears be tipped off to them being wise to such a trap. "We are coming to rescue you, yes. You said that your father is injured? I am an Apothecary..." This world was one of the less advanced worlds, what was another word for Apothecary in such worlds? Oh, right! "A healer. Do you know where your father was shot? Are you hurt or sick? What's your name? I'm Cedric."

"It's an honor to meet you, Healer Cedric. I'm Lilliius. I'm seven and my papa is currently sleeping. He's got a really nasty burn on his chest, and cuts along his arms. I tried to help papa as best I could, but..." Lillius explained, their voice wavering a little in distress.

"There's only so much you can do to help your papa in the basement. Well, my brothers are coming to help you and your papa out of the basement. We're just making sure it's safe to do so." Cedric explained with a small smile. Dessias, ANgrald and Sevros signed [All clear.]

Dovo nodded and signed back [Good. Sevros, open the door. Angrald and Dessias on watch for trouble.]

The trio of young Astartes nodded, and Sevros reached for the rug, as Angrald and Dessias moved to cover him, bolters drawn and at the ready, just in case this was a foul xenos trap of some kind.

The rug was swiftly removed and Sevros pulled the metal hatch over to one side before setting it down.

A young baseline human who appeared to be around ten years old peered up at them, blinking from the ambient light in the room. They bowed and said "Thank you very much for coming to rescue me and my papa, lord astartes!"

Sevros knelt down and offered a hand to the child, ordering with a gruff "C'mere young one. Are you hurt anywhere? Cedric here's our Healer, and he's very good at it."

Lillius shook their head "I'm not hurt sir... Though I am kind of hungry. We've been running low on emergency supplies and papa says that we can only eat one ration bar per day, to keep the food lasting longer."

"That's a smart thing to do, but we do have some extra rations. Here you go, kid." Sevros responded, as he stood up with the young child in his arms, pulling a ration bar from his pack and handing it to the young one, taking several steps backwards so that Angrald and Dessias could do a check of the basement for any traps or shenanigans before Cedric went down and checked on the injured baseline human.

After a brief but thorough check, Dessias gave Cedric a silent all-clear signal, and the young apothecary went to check on his patient.

The baseline human appeared to be middle aged - a little bit of grey in his hair. His breathing was even and shallow, but Angrald and Dessias moving around - along with his child speaking - had woken the man. His eyes were glassy and Cedric noted that he had a low-level fever.

"Hello, I am a Healer of the black templars. Where are you injured?" Cedric greeted, pitching his voice low, so as to not attract the attention of the child - Sevros and Rodron were doing a pretty good job of keeping the kid distracted.

"They shot me in the gut, my lord, and stabbed me with knives. I played dead after they stabbed me, and the knife-ears eventually left me alone." The baseline human answered, voice also low. He pulled up his tunic, revealing a large, circular and infected wound. The energy-weapons that the knife-ears favored tended to leave cauterized burns that were equal parts blessing and curse to treat - especially after being neglected like this. Cedric could smell the necrotic flesh "I'm not sure it's a good thing that I can't feel the gut injury. My leg stopped hurting from where I was stabbed yesterday, and I'm... So cold." He pulled up his pants legs, revealing crusted-over bandages.

Cedric warned his patient "I'm going to need to remove these bandages to see the wounds beneath. It's likely that the scabs have adhered to the underside of the bandages and you're going to bleed again. I will staunch the blood as best as I can."

"I understand, my lord." The human responded, gritting his teeth. He let out a low sound of pain and flinched as Cedric swiftly removed the bandages and revealed -

Infected stab wounds. Blood began to ooze out of the center of the wounds, mixed with yellow-white puss that smelled absolutely foul.

Cedric could see bone in the deepest part of the penetrating wound, and the red, puffy infected flesh surrounding them was warm to the touch. He could also see something *wriggling* in the infected flesh and suppressed a gag. Several something wriggling. "Did you wash the wounds with water when you took cover?" On worlds like this, unless the water was boiled and the steam caught and collected, the water couldn't always be counted to be clean enough to be used on wounds. He could also see rashes radiating around the man's legs, originating around the stab wounds. He could trace the other's veins from the vivid marks on his body.

"I did, my lord. It wasn't much, but it was what I could do. I've also been keeping pressure on the knife wounds with bandages." The baseline human responded through gritted teeth. "I... Figured it didn't look good. So, how do I look, my lord?"

Cedric hesitated for a moment. With weeks of treatment in a proper hospital, there was a good chance this baseline human would recover well.... But on a feudal world, being actively invaded by both greenskins and knife-ears? Considering the fact that the man had *maggots* festering in his stab wounds, and was quite probably septic? His chances... Weren't great.

The baseline human chuckled wryly, patting one of his shoulders "I know that look. I've seen it before on other healers' faces. I proudly served in the local militia until age forced me to retire, have a child for the good of the community. Promise me you'll do your best to get my child to safety, aye? I've still got my old lasgun. I've heard greenskin patrols coming into this village to loot things occasionally. I'll draw them off while you get Lillius to safety."

"... I could amputate your legs and give you make-shift prosthetics. I can pack the gut wound and patch you up enough to be able to move without aggravating your wounds too much." Cedric offered, though part of him knew what the baseline human was suggesting was for the best. Even on prosthetics, he would slow them down dangerously.

The other's eyes softened a little, and one overly warm hand came up to gently pat his cheek "Oh, you're a good lad, my lord. But I can feel the fever eating away at my mind, and I'm pretty sure that the knife-eared bastards put something on their blades as I've been hallucinating off and on for the past several days. All I ask is to be able to say goodbye to my child. I'll tell him that I'm going to be clearing a path."

"... If you are certain." Cedric responded, the bitter taste of defeat in his mouth. He briefly glanced at his brothers - most of whom were gathered around the child. Their enhanced senses would allow them to follow the conversation, and from the set of Dovo's shoulders, he knew what the sergeant of their squad had already decided. "Then I will not stop you. Your bravery does you credit."

"Bah, I'm being selfish. I want my child to survive, and they're much more likely to survive with you lads, then if they stay with me." He responded with a shrug.

Cedric re-bound the man's injuries with fresh bandages, and helped him up to his feet.

Dessias set Lillius down, who immediately rushed over to their papa, hugging him tightly "So are you ready to go, dad?" They asked, a bright and hopeful grin appearing on their face "Lord Dessias was telling me all about how his older brothers have secured a base three days' run from here! We're saved."

"I've gotta help them keep the xenos from finding the base, kiddo. Their healer patched me up real well. You listen to the lords, alright? I'm going to be hunting xenos, to help protect you, and avenge your mama." The man explained, gently ruffling Lillius' hair. "Promise me you'll do what they say?"

"I...I... But papa, can't the lords astartes drive away the xenos? Why do you have to fight?" Lillius asked, tears beginning to fall down their face, clinging tighter to their parent.

"They've gotta protect you, and other civilians they come across during their rescue. I volunteered to do this. Come now, no more tears. I'll see you again, I promise." The man soothed, pressing a paternal kiss to the top of the crying child's forehead.

Sevros came forward, kneeling down and carefully pulling the weeping child away from their parent "Come with us, young one. Your father needs to do his duty. For you. For the god-emperor."

Lillius wailed, kicking and flailing ineffectually in the young astartes' arms "NO! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SAVE US! WHY DOES PAPA HAVE TO FIGHT? I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I-"

To prevent the child from harming themself, or potentially attracting the wrong sort of attention, Cedric quickly injected the young one with a sedative that would keep them asleep for several hours, though there was a yawning pit of emotions that threatened to swallow him whole if he let it.

Dovo ordered "We need to get moving... Thank you for your service, sir. May the god-emperor bless your shots."

"And may he bless yours." The baseline human responded with a nod and a grim smile, carefully telegraphing his movements over to the lasgun laying on an upper shelf in the basement. "I'll leave first, and draw the attention of any xenos who might be looking for trouble." With that, he left on shaking legs.

That was the last time that Cedric or his brothers ever saw that particular human.

#cw character death #cw child character death #cw war #black templars #black templar oc #oc: cedric #oc: dessias #oc: dovo #oc: Angrald #oc: sevros #oc: rodron #warhammer 40k #my writing #cw wounds #cw violence #cw infected wounds

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zaceouiswriting · 3 months

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Fairy Prince - Hearts of Leviathans - Ch.22

Character: Sky x male reader, Riven x male reader, Brandon x male reader

Universe: Somewhere in Winx Club/Saga

Warnings: None

Bright light stirs me awake. My body feels quite warm, and my mind feels relaxed, almost like something has disappeared from it. At first, I can't look around; my body is too stiff, but I can just about open my eyes. The second I do so, I hear someone running out of the room, screaming for someone. I couldn't hear the name, but I'm sure the person would come soon.

Not even a few moments later, the same elf who had locked away my other two magical cores stepped into the room. Although his face appears expressionless, I believe I can see concern in his features. He, too, calls out for someone, and shortly afterward, an older and a younger woman, both in white cloaks, step inside the room. The first appears more distinguished and has a stiff stature, while the second, younger, stumbles in. Within seconds, they were on top of me, checking my vitals, limbs, and everything else, only to end up ordering me to speak like a dog.

But when I open my mouth, no sound comes out. One of the women hands me a glass of water while the other helps me sit up; they must have seen how the situation is already getting on my nerves. As the cold water flows down my throat, I take a deep breath in relief. I almost immediately feel my body regaining its strength.

“How long have I been sleeping?” The two women look at each other meaningfully but don’t utter a word.

“Three days.” The elf man’s warm voice tells me instead.

I nod as a feeling of uselessness begins to creep up on me because, at this point, it seems normal to be out of action for long periods. Maybe it's my fault somehow. But I can't find a reason for it. Suddenly the elf sends the two women outside, leaving us in a strange silence.

Somehow I get the feeling that this man, who seems elegant and sophisticated, is having trouble finding the right words for this situation. But are there such words?

"You know, you make me feel like I don't have much time left," I joke. But the man's sudden change in expression to sadness leaves me speechless. "Oh," I continued more quietly.

The man clears his throat, catching my attention. "My name is Professor Palladium. As you can see, I am an elf born in Tar'Arkashal. To escape certain doom, we fled our homeland long ago to this magical dimension, where we founded the city of Narkshel. You are certainly wondering why I am telling you this, and I can understand your confusion. It seems out of place. But I want you to understand that I know hardship and pain. However, what you have done to your body is completely reckless, even for someone in deep emotional pain."

"What?" I ask him, chuckling nervously. But he seems serious about it.

"No one. Not even the High Elves or the Imperial Fairy Family can gather magic in three different magical variants, form them into cores, and live with them. It's a miracle you haven't died yet," he tells me in a warning tone. Just as I'm about to interrupt him, he holds out his hand. "I'm not finished yet," he orders me. "When I denied you access to two of these cores, your fairy magic core grew. It became impossible for all three to exist within you."

“So I’m going to die?”

"Not necessarily," Professor Palladium whispers to me out of the blue. It makes me feel like he wants to scare me before telling me the solution. "It's pretty simple, but it will be difficult for you. We would have to take out the two, now smaller cores, so you can never use that kind of magic again."

My heart begins to feel heavy as thoughts race through my mind at a speed I cannot comprehend. Am I really about to lose the only means I know to fight? But how could it be that my magical fairy core suddenly expanded to the point where there was no room for the other two? Up until this point, I had always been able to keep them in harmony.

"That's because this seems to be the first time you've used your fairy magic as intended. Fairy magic develops in two phases: through application, like any other magic, and through the growth of your wings. Even though you can expand the core to its limits through usage, without larger wings, the density will never allow you to use higher fairy magic. There are different reasons why you and Stella were able to use advanced fairy magic in your mock battle, but only yours could prove fatal if we don't do something about it soon."

“It’s because of the star fruit, isn’t it?” I hear myself asking before I can even formulate the thought.

"Indeed," the professor confirms my suspicion. "It is a magical fruit that allows a guardian fairy to use the magic of the next wing span once. But in Stella's case, since she has been eating these fruits since she was a child, the effect could be permanent. However, this also gives her certain limitations. Without a magical staff, she cannot use the full extent of her magic."

Chuckling to myself, I fall back into my pillows. "So you're saying Stella and I aren't that different? We both wanted to be more useful than we were."

"Possibly. But I don't know either of you very well. But if rumors are to be believed, that is the case with Stella. Her body won't be able to hold out for long either, as the magical pressure required to use these advanced spells is stronger than she could bear. I have already spoken to her, just like I am speaking to you now. But your case is more urgent."

“What would we do with the cores?”

Professor Palladium crossed his right leg over his left, resting his elbow on it and holding his head with a closed hand. "We need to solidify them, pull in all the extended magical veins, and then extract the cores. It's a simple surgery, but as with all operations, there can be side effects. Luckily for you, your body and fairy core are quite powerful, so death shouldn't be one of them."

“And after that? Can I keep the cores?”

"Of course, they can be used as a medium for magical application, like a staff, if necessary. And since they possess your genetic identity, only you and your family could use them anyway."

I nod and pretend to think about it. But honestly? It's one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make. "Can we do this now? I don't want to miss any more classes because I have to learn how to fight with my fairy magic."

The professor looks at me and smiles. The first genuine smile I've seen from him. "You don't seem to mind too much. Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I don't know. Ever since I woke up, I've been feeling strangely light. I'm not even sure why I was so attached to the three cores in the first place."

"Oh, that's just a side effect of you exhausting your magical reserves. This form of amnesia is completely normal in such cases, and after a few weeks at the latest, your memories should have returned. Do you still want me to remove the two conflicting cores?"

"Better now than never. If the amnesia lasts just a few weeks, I know that when my memories come back, I will no longer be willing and would probably rather die."

He nodded understandingly, called the two women in, got up from the chair he had been sitting on for the last ten minutes, and stood before my bed. Out of nowhere, I feel enormous magical pressure emanating from him. And before I know it, I hear a seductive voice singing a song that makes my eyelids heavy.

"Before you pass out, please drink this." Palladium holds out a bottle of light blue liquid for me. I can barely look at him, so I just open my mouth. With two long, graceful steps, the professor comes to my side, tilts the bottle slightly, and lets the liquid flow down my throat, which I immediately swallow. One of the women also comes to my side and helps me sit up until the vial is empty.

Without thinking about it, I nod toward her, and she lets me sink down again. The taste of blueberries on my tongue makes me smile. I lean back into the feather-soft pillow, but suddenly pain runs through me. It was not bad enough to announce it, though. But when I haven't passed out after a minute, the pain starts to get stronger; I can only breathe with difficulty, and a layer of sweat covers my whole body. I try to look around, but I can't find anything or anyone there. It's like I'm in an empty, endless room. But I just wander through this desolate darkness. After a while, I notice a light—a floating ball—that playfully surrounds me. It nudges against me, almost as if it wants to tell me to follow it. At least that's what it looks like. But to my confusion, it just hangs in the air for a while.

Is the light waiting for me? But why? To test my theory, I take a step forward. At the same time, the ball of light travels the same distance. The same thing happens with the next step. When I start walking, the ball of light flies at the same speed.

As I wander through the endless darkness, nothing happens; there is nothing there, just a desolate darkness.

It takes a while, but eventually, we find ourselves in front of what appears to have once been a building. There are two more balls of light in different colors. While the light that led me there is white, the second changes color, and the third shines a light blue.

Out of nowhere, all three orbs take on strange-looking, human-like shapes; they don't resemble any person I've ever seen. Just random figures. The way they communicate with each other seems crude, even illogical. Until, as if coming from one mouth, they say one word: "Welcome!"

As I stare at them in amazement, I sense something moving behind me. The ground beneath my feet begins to shake. Am I delusional? Did the operation go wrong? What is going on? No one answered my questions. How could they? After all, they are only in my head. But the shaking doesn't stop. Fearing for my sanity and life, I try to run, but the balls of light block my path. Even as I try to ask them what they are doing, I get no answer.

And then there is that face—that of a monster. In the sickly light of the three orbs, it opens its mouth and bites right before me. The sheer force hurls me into the air. But just a few moments later, I land roughly on the ground. The same beast is already hovering over my face, as if I were its prey.

“Find me, youngling.” It tells me with a teasing tone and soft, sparkling eyes. Before I can ask anything, a wave of sharp pain makes me cry out, and everything around me quickly disappears into nothingness; not even the darkness remains as my companion.

I groan in pain, and a flashing light, different from the pale glow of the light balls, gives me a headache. When I open my eyes, the sun has not yet fully set. I turn my head to the side and see the professor again. When I smile at him, he puts down the book in his hands and returns my smile.

[Masterlist]

#x male reader #male reader #male reader imagine #winx club x male reader #winx saga imagine #winx saga x male reader #winx club imagine #winx club #winx saga #riven x male reader #riven #riven imagine #brandon x male reader #brandon imagine #brandon #sky x male reader #sky imagine #sky

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morvantmortuary · 1 year

Text

morvant mortuary x the boy au -

welcome to town (pt. II)

(pt. I)

summary: your realtor tells you everything about the old Morvant place. you make a decision, and a couple of new friends.

warnings: an attempted (but thwarted) assault on the reader by some rando. alcohol consumption. wall man!Maxi being a total creep and watching you sleep, among other things.

general: second verse, weirder than the first!

Within a couple hours, not only did Bev make good on her promise and have lights and power back, but you’d gone through the whole house flipping switches and pulling cords wherever you found them.

Just in case, you figured, just while it’s getting dark your first night here.

You already had water running to clear the faucets and pipes, and your suitcases haphazardly tossed in a pile in the master bedroom - a climb that definitely left you a little bit winded, after. You’d celebrated by changing to clothes ratty enough to clamber around a dusty house in, what little makeup you’d worn finally off. Like you were just having an average evening at home.

If this could be considered a home.

You were standing in the parlor, watching the sunset through the window you’d seen the shape in. But the longer you stood here, surrounded by the light fixtures cheerfully aglow, the more certain you were that you had imagined it.

Come on, now. Shadowy half-lit House with a bad reputation, after an entire family saga of death and destruction had just been generously heaped on your listening ears? Of course you’d imagined it. It would’ve been more worrying, you reasoned, if you hadn’t seen something looming behind the realtor. Seeing something just meant you were responding to social stimuli as you were meant to. Humans were supposed to be spooked by stuff like that, as your massive Horror movie collection indicated. It was only natural.

…Fine, so you were certain that you weren’t about to watch The Babadook or Lake Mungo in this place anytime soon, but that was you just trying to be mature, and not set yourself up for getting scared by perfectly normal House noises.

“It’s literally fine,” you said out loud to no one, your hands resolutely on your hips. “It’s my place. I can handle being here by myself, I live here now.”

That said, you looked down at your delivery app, checking the ETA like you had five minutes ago.

When it seemed a brief moment of human contact was no closer to you now than it had been then, you sighed - perhaps a little more tensely than you would admit - and looked around, trying to decide what else to busy yourself with in the meantime. If you were doing something, you were moving, and if you were moving, you didn’t have time to focus on what may or may not be looming in the corners of your eyes.

It was just you, as always, handling shit and getting it done by yourself.

…Or were you? By yourself, that is?

“Oh, right!” You snapped your fingers, remembering a promise you’d made what felt like ages ago, but you knew was probably only a few hours max. “My little buddy.”

You made a beeline for the viewing room, entirely missing the tall figure that silently moved out of sight at the top of the staircase, and thought about how you were only going to get this weird little doll man because you were a person of your word. Definitely not because even the idea of being accompanied by something that couldn’t talk to you was mildly more soothing than being here by yourself. Because you weren’t afraid of being here by yourself! Of course not! You were totally fine!

You opened the door, flicking on the lights instinctually, and basked in the sight of the slightly cobwebby chandelier illuminating the whole room.

…Okay, so maybe the paint was peeling just a little more than you’d realized. But still! Your own viewing room! In your own funeral home! How cool was that!

“So,” you continued talking to yourself out loud as you walked, taking your time to inspect things in the light. “Definitely going to need some paint, probably going to want to find a guy to polish and wax this floor professionally.” You picked up your foot, checking for dust on the bottom of your sock. There was a lot. “Actually, put that in the ‘Definitely’ column,” you said, putting it back down again. “And maybe also reupholster these chairs? I don’t know,” you frowned as you passed the rows for would-be mourners. “Is this old in a vintage, classic way, or is this old in a ‘Church rummage sale but it’s scary’ way? Or should I just get new chairs?” You pursed your lips. “Maybe when I see how much internal restoration the…” You trailed off as you turned to look where you were going. “Piano… needs.”

The little doll man was laying face up on the floor.

You frowned, looking from him to where you’d sworn he’d been sitting on the piano, and back down again. “…Huh.” You were still talking out loud. “…Not where I left you.”

The little man smiled up at you from where he lay, as if you’d happened across him simply reclining there.

…Five feet away from the actual piano.

You pursed your lips in thought. Okay. Simple enough. You probably knocked him over when you picked him up.

No, wait, you didn’t remember touching him. If anything, you pointedly remembered not touching him.

Alright, so you knocked into the piano without realizing it.

But you didn’t remember knocking into the piano. And definitely not hard enough to send him five feet away. That would’ve left a significant bruise on your end.

…Surreptitiously, you prodded the hip that had been closest to the piano, making sure there wasn’t some massive bruise under your clothes you’d just forgotten about in the rush of… everything.

There was nothing.

“Huh,” you repeated uselessly, your tongue poking nervously at the inside of one of your cheeks. “…Okay.”

You looked directly across from the piano, as if the small guy could have been… ‘traveling’, per se, in any sort of direction.

The only thing waiting there was a large framed painting - something you’d missed, in your murky inspection before. It was a replica of Ivan Kramskoi’s Inconsolable Grief: a woman in a dark dress stood in a well-appointed room, covering her mouth with a handkerchief as she refused to look at the heaps of well-meaning flower arrangements sitting at her feet. You recognized it from your time in school, when you’d thought a lot about how depictions of grief and mourning tended to look eerily similar across multiple eras. Kramskoi had painted a portrait of his wife, after the respective deaths of their two young children only some years apart — in some lights, an all too-eerie omen of what would befall the family here, you realized. It suited the room: emotional but still delicate, a fine lady experiencing her sorrow but not letting it overwhelm her. Exactly what you’d imagine the previous owners would have wanted to inspire here. This copy was even larger than the original, if you recalled correctly; it was nearly as tall as you were in this frame.

But there was nothing that would explain why the little guy at your feet had moved so far, in the brief span of time you’d been outside.

Like someone dropped him when they were trying to leave, your brain suggested.

The distant sound of a bell made you jump out of your skin, whirling to look behind you—

…And realizing it was simply the front doorbell.

“Fuck me,” you wheezed, clutching your chest for a moment. “Oh-kay, that’ll be quite enough of that. C’mon, fella. Let’s get you some dinner and a bath.” You reached down, snatching up the little man and hastily retreating from the room.

The front doorbell rang again, as if the person was impatient.

“Sorry! Coming!” you called towards the door. You hastily set the little man down on the parlor table where you’d thrown your bag, rifling through until you found your wallet.

When you opened the door, the pizza delivery guy looked surprised. “Whoa,” he said accordingly. “Someone did actually move in here. I thought they were just fucking with me.”

“…Yeah, hi,” you said, blinking at him talking like you weren’t standing right there. “I’m, uh, the new funeral director here. Or I will be,” you added quickly.

“Wild,” the guy said. He was tall and gangly, somewhere in your age range - whether older or younger than you, the somewhat oily state of his skin made it a little hard to tell. You wondered if he’d washed his face at all today, but the faint scent of stale weed and human sweat that drifted in on a breeze made you realize quickly that he probably hadn’t washed anything, actually.

You glanced curiously at his eyes, hidden somewhat under what appeared to be the stringy top of an outgrown mullet, and they were indeed fairly red.

Yeah, fair enough.

“Yeah,” you said, muffling a chuckle. “Tell me about it. Here, let me get this so you can head back.” You looked down to unzip your wallet. “Sorry, you surprised me, or I’d have it—”

“So is it just you?”

“…Out already,” you finished. You swallowed against your mouth threatening to go dry. He was high, he probably didn’t mean that like it sounded.

You looked up, blithe smile already in place to play this off as a misunderstanding. “Sorry?”

His eyes were already fixed on your face, though, rather intently. “Is it just you,” he asked, his words a little too slow. “All alone, in this big old house?” His voice sounded curious, like he wanted to look around — but his eyes slid lower on your body instead. Much lower than you were comfortable.

You cleared your throat to buy yourself a second. To lie, or not to lie. “Well,” you said, your voice frank now. “Until the dead bodies get here. Then it’ll get pretty crowded.” People normally got squeamish about your job — especially men, for some reason. The mere mention was usually enough to put someone off. “Then it’ll be me putting their faces back together and draining all the fluids out of their cavities, so. You know.” You nodded to the pizza box in his hand. “Can I—”

“Huh.” A leering smile spread over the pizza guy’s face. It wasn’t an outright grin, but the way it was so slow, like old blood trickling to the tray drain… it made your stomach flip, and not in a good way. “Wild.”

You were suddenly deeply, emphatically aware of your situation: you new were in a small town, alone, in a House where neighbors only heard you if you were screaming at the top of your lungs, and even then, they weren’t inclined to do anything about it.

Clearing your throat again, you held out some bills to him emphatically. “Yeah. Wild. You have a nice night.”

“You’re short.” Pizza guy barely glanced at the cash in your hand.

“No,” you blurted without thinking, so eager were you to get him gone.

“Yeah.” Pizza guy sniffed, his grin growing. He jerked his head to your hand. “‘Bout… another five or so.”

You glanced down. You’d only grabbed a five and a few ones when you’d meant to grab more.

He gave a laissez faire shrug. “It’s okay,” he said, and you hated whatever his tone was dripping with. “If you don’t have it, I’m sure we can—”

“NopeIhaveit.” The words all came out all in one breath like buckshot. You looked down at your wallet as much as you dared, your teeth subtly grinding together. “One sec.”

“What’s your rush?” Pizza guy said, and oh, fuck, that ripe smell was closer now. The hot edge of his breath was just reaching your shoulder. “I’m not in any hurry to...”

You were about to tear your wallet in half looking for that last five, or anything close. You were never keeping fucking receipts in here again, you were about to throw them all on the floor in your haste to just get him away—

“Go… nowhere.” His voice changed, getting even more spaced out and followed by a wheezing squeaky sound.

You looked up immediately, wondering if he was about to spit on you or something—

And he shoved the pizza box roughly into your arms. “Keep it.”

You looked up from not dropping the box just in time to see him staring, eyes wide and buggy and red, at something over your shoulder before he turned and hurried away from the door.

“Youhaveanicenightnow,” he said over his shoulder, his words tripping over one another as he himself nearly tripped over an overgrown bush.

“I-“ You frowned, looking between his retreating back and the box. “Don’t you want—?”

“Nope!” he about yelped, waving a hand like he was trying to get rid of a cobweb. He barely got his car door closed before he was pulling away, tires nearly squealing as he stepped on the gas.

You lingered in the doorway until he was totally gone, staring in utter confusion. If you’d turned around, you would have noticed the ragged-looking shape that silently retreated up the stairs again, from where it had been standing just within the pizza guy’s line of sight. A warning.

You belonged to this House now, whether you realized it yet or not.

But instead, all you saw when you turned was your little cloth pal waiting for you on the table.

“Well.” You kicked the door closed behind you, looking from the box back to him. “…Welcome to town, I guess.”

Your tiny silent friend just smiled back.

—

You sat at the kitchen table while your friend sat in a bucket of suds on its surface, the pizza box open and half-empty between you. You hadn’t pulled out the nice china still in the cabinets — you’d need to sort through that, see if it was better to sell it as-is or save it. You were more accustomed to eating out of boxes and bags anyhow, trying to keep more dishes from piling up in your sink.

Taking another long sip of screw-top wine you’d packed for when you got home, you sighed appreciatively. “I don’t normally do this,” you confided, glancing at the little man soaking in soap and warm water — your first clean batch since you’d been here. “I swear. Normally it’s one glass on a work night, two at most. And I really shouldn’t be doing this tonight, especially,” you added, looking back at the mostly-empty bottle. “I have — ugh, so much to do tomorrow.” You set the bottle aside, putting your face in your hands for a second. “I know the cleaners have been through, but we still have to go in and sanitize all the important stuff, you know? And I need to get internet set up, and tell my landlord I’m not renewing, and figure out how to sell all my old shit, and on and on…” Your hands fell to the table with a thud, causing the little man to jostle slightly in his bucket. His face was, as always, cheerful.

You smiled in return, tired but triumphant. “But at least it’s mine, right?” In a moment of exuberance, you threw your hands in the air. “I have a house! And a business! I did it!” You giggled loudly, then turned towards the door of the embalming room stairs behind you. “I DID IT! THANK YOU, DEAD PEOPLE!” you called cheerfully.

If you’d been more sober, you would’ve sworn the atmosphere in the room was suddenly tense. Like crackling in the air right before lightning strikes.

“…I’m sorry you’re dead!” you added a moment later, your hands still in the air, but feeling a little bit bad for bragging now. “Rest peacefully, and stuff!”

Nothing moved.

“Well,” you sighed, looking back to your friend. “Can’t please ‘em all.” You stretched, groaning, and sighed. “I guess we should turn in, huh?”

The little guy just smiled at you, still damp.

“…Yeah, okay,” you sighed, getting to your feet. You closed the pizza box, moving to put it in the fridge — and paused, waving a hand. “I’ll do it after I clean the fridge tomorrow. Just in case. It should still be fine, right?”

You didn’t wait for your friend to answer, fishing him out of his makeshift bath and dumping the water in the vast sink. After a few minutes’ rinse, you wrapped him in a dishtowel, patting him gently dry as you walked back into the foyer.

Standing at the foot of the stairs, even as wine-lulled as you were, the third floor bedroom still felt awfully far away.

You’d have to cross a lot of dark to get there, even with all these lights on.

“So,” you said at last. “How about we just, um. Crash on the couch tonight. Yeah?” You looked down at your little friend before turning, heading back for the relative safety of the living room just off the kitchen. After a few minutes’ debate, you allowed yourself to turn the floor lamp off - but the lights from the other rooms were still softly poking in around corners.

So you were technically sleeping with the lights off, your first night here. Like a Real Adult.

You yanked what excuse for a bra you wearing out from under your shirt, and wrapped yourself in a thin blanket you’d brought from home. Sure, your pajamas and a real quilt were just upstairs. But this was fine for now, right?

Indeed, it proved to be. After carefully setting your tiny escort on the table to finish drying and patting his head goodnight, you barely got through the first ten minutes of your sleep playlist - mostly instrumental piano pieces, staid and soothing - before you were already out.

Dead, for all intents and purposes, to the world.

The man managed to wait another twenty minutes before curiosity finally got the better of him.

With practiced silence, he padded from an unseen entry way in a corner full of shadows, then stood and gazed at your prone form from the doorway.

He stayed there another fifteen minutes, watching the slow hypnotic rise and fall of your breathing.

“…Pretty,” he whispered in soft awe, his breath stirring the lank hair covering half his face.

When you twitched in your sleep, jolting slightly, he flinched — bracing as if expecting you to sit up and scream.

But you didn’t.

When you kept right on sleeping, even nuzzling further into the couch cushions, he sunk to an impossibly low crawl, creeping unsettlingly further into the room.

You were oblivious to the red eyes that appeared like ruined moons over the couch’s arm, mere inches from your face. They didn’t seem to blink once for a good few minutes, as they watched the lights from the kitchen play softly in your hair.

Slowly - impossibly slowly, by fractions of inches - he leaned forward, then gave it the smallest, softest sniff.

He spasmed slightly, as if he was resisting the urge to shove his nose in your hair and wildly inhale, and looked quickly around…

To find your compression bra from earlier heaped on the floor.

He snatched it immediately, shoving his whole face into that instead, and rocking forward as if to smother himself with it. Without a sound, he then stuffed it down the front of what looked like a very tattered waistcoat.

Freezing, as if caught, he slowly turned to fix his crimson gaze on the side table.

Your little cloth friend - looking like a smaller, cheerier, less grungy version of the bedraggled man huffing your intimates - gazed at his larger counterpart, his smile now seeming like he was trying to overlook the half-living man’s deep social abnormality.

The red-eyed revenant leaned closer, inspecting the doll with a critical gaze before making a soft, vaguely impressed exhale: “Clean.” He extended a finger, reaching as if to touch his old friend — before he froze mid-air, as if examining the digit in the faint light for the first time in a while.

He made a small exhaled noise of self-reproach behind his hair, looking at the doll still as he wiped his hand - unsuccessfully - on the remnants of a dress shirt sleeve. He continued to stare at the doll for a period of time that spoke of longing, before looking back to your sweet, sleeping face… and sighed softly to himself, shoulders sagging. He gave the doll the tiniest wave before scuttling on, low to the ground, to the kitchen.

You were completely oblivious as the man returned and perched gently on the far end of the couch, watching you the entire time he silently nibbled on the smallest of the leftover pizza slices. When he was done, he continued to linger and simply stare, nearly hunched double on himself to avoid accidentally brushing you.

Once he was certain you were dreaming, perhaps of somewhere nicer than this awful House, he curled into a surprisingly small ball for his long frame with the ease of someone who’s done it far too many times.

He slept soundly at your feet, like a pet dog, until the first fingers of dawn poked through the curtains.

As he crept back into the inscrutable wall panel he’d emerged from, closing the wall of the family room back up, he couldn’t help but sneak a last look at you - so beautiful and oblivious in your slumber to his cursed presence.

He considered it, all in all, an excellent first date.

(kind of short compared to part one, but I really didn’t know where else to cut it that made sense. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ anyway! thanks for sticking with it!

here’s to more spooky fun to come soon💀✨)

#maxi morvant #maximilian vincent morvant #the boy au #morvant mortuary #southern slasher ocs #slasher oc #necromancer oc #slasher oc x reader #genderqueer reader #non-binary reader #bisexual reader #queer reader #mortician!reader #daniel brühl fc #monsterkisser fics

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hecckyeah · 2 years

Note

Hey! I’m super enjoying your pro-Joey Friends phase. It was my favorite show for a long time.

You had a GREAT post about how that relationship really grew and matured both Joey and Rachel’s characters, and I want to add that the fizzling of that relationship also DESTROYED Joey’s character.

Joey finally falling in love - real love - with Rachel made him see the hollow/shallow reality of his womanizing ways. His parents’ dysfunctional marriage really affected him early on in the series, and I head canon that he felt safe with Rachel. They developed that trust from living together. She was a person he’d never tire of the way that his father tired of his mother and sought out someone else.

When things didn’t work out with Rachel, the writers infantalized him. For laughs. Monica and Chandler joked that they’d have to have a room for him at their new house so they could take care of him forever because he couldn’t take care of himself. A grown man. Who had a good job and lived on his own since his 20’s.

If anyone should’ve been stuck in neutral forever, it was Ross. He was self-destructive from the start (Carol destroyed him and he never got over it and kept hurting other people because of it) and it would’ve been so satisfying to see him just stay in NY and raise his son and be a confirmed old bachelor. He had the temperament for being alone.

Oh! And one more thing: Joey was the first one to step up and offer to be committed to Rachel to help her raise Emma, and even tho Rachel turned him down, he ended up doing it anyway because Ross drove her away.

Anyway, I haven’t thought about all of this in a long time! But it’s been a lot of fun to read your takes and analysis. ☺️

Hi!!

Okay oh my gosh YES to all of this. OH the essays I could write.

I actually went through this exact same phase many years ago, and hadn't watched Friends in a while, so now just speeding through the entire series in a couple months, it's really giving me a different perspective than I had the first time. I'm also quite a bit older (you know how people change so much from late teen years to early twenties? It's crazy) and I have a different frame of reference for all the issues these characters deal with, since a lot of them have become my own issues now. There's so much nuance I didn't pick up on the first time around.

You are so right about Joey's character deteriorating after season 9. It's like the writers didn't know what to do with him except continuing his infamous saga of being an immature, stupid womanizer. He has no character development in season 10. Nothing pushing him ahead, nothing to look forward to like the other 5. Monica and Chandler having their babies and moving, of course, Rachel getting the Paris job offer, Phoebe and Mike getting married. What's in all this for Joey? Jokes about him being possessive of food and regressing back to how he was five or six seasons ago.

Infantilizing is absolutely the perfect word. Of all the friends, I would say Joey had the biggest development in the shortest amount of time, with Rachel right there with him. He was immediately ready to step up when she told him she was pregnant, without giving it any kind of second thought. In fact, he begged her to stay and live with him when she was so sure he would hate the idea. He was there with her at every turn, when she was scared about the braxton hicks, when she had so much anxiety about being a single mom, and especially when she missed going on dates and he made the perfect pseudo-boyfriend.

He absolutely felt safe with her, probably more than anyone he'd ever known. They're so similar in so many ways and he'd been living with her for years. Rachel couldn't even live with Ross for a year, or probably less (the timeline isn't super clear, let's be honest lol). She and Joey finally fell into this relationship built on an incredible foundation of trust and friendship (just like two other friends we all know and love), but they broke up because......???? of Ross? Or something? They were so perfect for each other, the writers had to bumble their way through a breakup in the weirdest way possible.

And then how do they treat Joey in season 10? Like he's the dumbest person who's ever existed. I get that he's not the sharpest crayon in the box, but they play up the stupid factor by about a thousand, and it's infuriating. I've always said he's the emotionally intelligent one of the group, but not even that is really shown in season 10. He flunks at the Pyramid game, he doesn't realize he's not speaking French, digs are made at his character, like you said with Monica and Chandler having a "Joey room" in their house. Sweet idea, horrible insinuation.

I mean, the man is in his mid-thirties. He's been through more life than Ross, for sure. I specifically remember watching that episode recently with Joey's parents and thinking how mature he was, how protective of his mom. And how angry he was at his dad, and insistent that he make things right with Ma. He's had to fight tooth and nail for a place in the world of showbusiness. He's had to watch all his friends find love and settle down and get everything they've ever wanted, while he's been in love exactly once in his entire life. He's grown and matured and when his best friend was pregnant, he realized that he actually wants to settle down and have a family. I mean, what level of growth and maturity does it take to realize that?

In earlier seasons, his demeanor was totally different. I don't even recognize season 10 Joey. They had to kill his very essence to explain their breakup.

And yeah, like you said. I think they wrote Ross into a storyline that -- if we're being realistic -- can only end with him being a bachelor and working at the university. He's never been able to live with anyone. He was a terrible roommate for Joey and Chandler, and he and Rachel couldn't last. Not only is he self-destructive, but he's destructive to everyone around him.

What kind of world do we live in where Joey "my god, she is... beautiful" Tribbiani doesn't get a happy ending, and Ross "we were on a break" Geller does??

Anyway, there's the essay for the day. My mind kind of ran away with me and I probably have more to say and maybe I'll organize my thoughts someday, but I'm watching season 10 as we speak and I'm just so. so sad. about how it all turned out. But I'll just live in AO3 Land and pretend Rachel and Joey raise their little family and grow old together and Ross stagnates and continues his precious tenure.

#asks #omg i am so sorry for the multi-paragraph ramble #thank you for the ask!!! I'm so glad I'm not the crazy one around here lmao #friends tv #anti ross geller #joey tribbiani #rachel green

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quoteablebooks · 8 months

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Genre: Fiction, Adult, Fantasy Romance

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Content Warning: Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death, Infidelity

Summary:

Stephen's god died on the longest day of the year…

Three years later, Stephen is a broken paladin, living only for the chance to be useful before he dies. But all that changes when he encounters a fugitive named Grace in an alley and witnesses an assassination attempt gone wrong. Now the pair must navigate a web of treachery, beset on all sides by spies and poisoners, while a cryptic killer stalks one step behind…

From the Hugo and Nebula Award winning author of Swordheart and The Twisted Ones comes a saga of murder, magic, and love on the far side of despair.

Your Honor, I love them

I got this novel from the library because I heard nothing but people singing the praises of T. Kingfisher and it fulfilled one of the prompts for my alphabet challenge this year. It is a bad habit of mine to not read the synopsis of books, so I wasn’t sure what exactly I was getting into. The story that unfolded as I read was a romance between two broken people who keep stumbling into assassination attempts and decapitated heads. While there are a few hiccups in the novel for me, this story was absolutely delightful, and after finishing this novel I immediately picked up another one by Kingfisher.

All the characters in this novel are well-rounded and lovable, even the ones who aren’t supposed to be. While at times both Grace and Stephen refusing to admit that the other is interested in them got a little annoying near the end of the will-they won’t-they, their motivations made perfect sense. They also had motivations outside of the romance, which isn’t always the case in some novels. The miscommunication between the two of them also made sense, though I did want to shake both of them and use their words, the problem was that the words were coming out wrong and the hurt didn’t let the other person listen. The fact that they were both older, with the aches and pains that go along with that, was terribly refreshing. I also appreciated that their happy ending was realistic and not a fairytale happily ever after.

T. Kingfisher had a dry sense of humor that I found absolutely delightful and I found myself smiling through a number of the passages throughout this novel. That being said, while this novel felt warm, I would not call it a cozy novel. After all, there are attempted assassinations and decapitated heads, but even when dealing with the darkness of the characters' pasts and the risk of death, the novel never feels heavy. Kingfisher never makes trauma feel insignificant, but they also don’t drown the reader in feelings of hopelessness and despair. There are also voices of reason in this novel that continually support the main characters and tell them when they are being absolutely ridiculous.

While romance is the main focus of this novel, world-building does not suffer. I have not read any of the other novels set in this world, but I immediately had a clear idea of the religion, politics, and city that we are brought into for the events of this story. While there isn’t much world-building outside of the city, given the events of the novel, that makes sense. Still, the different neighborhoods and social classes are clearly described, as well as the gruesomeness that our characters encounter. While I would not want to live in this novel, from the rooms at the Temple of the Rat to the perfume shop to the palace, I could see it all. Don’t get me started on all the wonderful passages about scents and Grace making perfumes.

As I mentioned, the one hiccup I had was that Grace and Stephen’s refusal to believe that the other one liked them got a little too repetitive for me. However, the biggest problem I had was that the ending of the novel was a bit of a Deus ex machina. While I wanted a happy ending, I would have liked our characters to figure it out together on page, instead of others doing all the work off-stage. It fits the themes of the novel, that one is never as lonely as one believes, but it was all a little too convenient. This is the only reason I am not giving this novel five stars.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a romance-heavy fantasy that feels warm and inviting. I can see some people not liking T. Kingfisher's narrative voice, but I absolutely adored it. I think this is a good novel to read if you’re trying to get into fantasy novels or just looking for a fantasy series that is not too heavy. 4.5 out of 5 stars rounded down to a 4.

#t. kingfisher #paladin's grace #the saint of steel #book review #booklr #4.5 out of 5 stars

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jesusnf-blog · 1 year

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This is the first story I publish here. I wrote it a year ago when I finished the books and it's one of the first ones I did that I like the most.

The story is a continuation of the end of the saga "The folk of the air" written by Holly Black. They are books with an incredible dark fantasy story and I highly recommend them. So if you haven't read them yet and you're interested, you better stop reading. If you are not so interested in the saga and you are only here for the tickles, let me tell you that this is the cute story of a couple trying tickling for the first time.

I hope you like it a lot, I love receiving comments, so if you have any, you are welcome to write them.

Without further ado:

The weakness of the kings of Elfhame

One more day, the High King skips his duties. And I'm sick of it! Ever since our power was established and I officially began ruling alongside Cardan, he has done nothing but escape from his duties as king. It is possible that he needs a little rest, I left him alone for a year, without being able to answer his letters, with all the power in his hands and with my father on the lookout to start a big attack... But that is not reason enough to leave me stranded again with the Living Council. Oh no, not this time.

Notifying the Council of our delay, I head to the royal quarters as I watch the guards who guard the doors begin to open them upon my arrival. I think my annoyed expression has made it clear to them that I don't want to waste time. When I enter the room I see him. Despite the fact that several hours have passed since the moon began to bath the fields of Elfhame with its rays, Cardan is still lying and curled up between the blankets without his shirt. I'm still angry. I'm still angry. Or so I want to believe. But it's just that seeing him with that calm expression while he sleeps in our bed only manages to relax me and make goofy smile appear on my lips, smile that I try to erase to recover my seriousness. Gently, I crouch down in front of him and begin to gently touch his face.

-Hey, hey, hey, wake up - I know how much it bothers him that I wake him up like that, so I can't help but do it this time.

However, my fun (if that's what I can call it) is interrupted when Cardan carefully takes my wrist and gives me a menacing smile, his eyes slowly opening filled with "hate".

"How many times have I told you that this is not the way to wake up the High King of Elfhame?"

"And how many times have I told you not to anger the High Queen of Elfhame?" I pull my wrist out of his hand as I stand up trying to suppress my triumphant smirk for having bothered him.

-And what did I do this time my dear wife? - he answers as he shakes his head beginning to sit up. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see how his tail lashes against the mattress.

- What do you think, Cardan? - I point out the window - we should have met with the Living Council a long time ago, remember?

-Ugh, again? But we just met few days ago. I'm sure Randalin just wants to annoy us and make us fight like now, since he doesn't want you as Queen of Elfhame -he replies with a pout as he falls back down on the bed suddenly.

-Cardan~ the important thing is that you want me as Queen of Elfhame, and leave Randalin now, you know that that was only at the beginning. Can we go now?

-Tsk, I still don't trust him - with a sigh he extends his hand towards me with a smile and a strange twinkle in his eyes - since we have to go yes or yes, could you at least help me get up, please?

This can't give me a worse feeling. When he looks like this, it means he's up to something and I should nip that something at the root before he thinks he can keep avoiding his tasks as king. However... I know well that he is responsible, and that he knows his obligations, he is no longer the same prince that I knew at school. I also know that it is true that the Council met with us very recently and as far as I know, there is nothing too serious or that urgently need our attention. Lastly, I have to admit that for the past few months, that look of his has done nothing but pull me in and draw me in, even though I feel like it could get me in trouble, I've kept moving towards it, because it's one of the best things about Cardan. I know he can get you into trouble, but it's never too bad to worry me or too mild to bore me. So, finally, I decide to extend my hand to his to take it.

-You're unbearable, you know that~? - I asked amused taking his hand.

-Unbearable falls short, my dear queen~ -after that, Cardan pulls my hand with some force to make me fall over him - *gasp* oh no, are you okay~? Guards! Your queen has had a little accident, we don't need help, but close the doors and notify the Council of our delay.

And that's how the doors close, leaving me isolated with dumb Cardan. It was obvious that he was going to do something like that, but I'm not going to give in, not that easily. I roll onto his chest so I can land on the other side of the bed and start to sit up to get out of bed.

-Cardan, these are no longer hours for your little games, we have to attend to our responsibilities.

-Come on Jude~ don't be boring, we need to relax, come here! - with a funny tone, Cardan gets up and grabs me by the hips to try to make me fall back on the bed. However, his touch just makes me jump and feel all my skin heat up as I blush.

-Kyaaaa~ - I stay for a few seconds lying next to Cardan looking at the ceiling while I try to assimilate the situation. Now I am grateful that the doors have been closed, it would have been even worse if the whole palace had heard the shrill shriek that I just let loose. When I look at the fairy, it seems that he has been looking at me for a while, with a soft blush and a look that contains both surprise and malice.

-Jude~ what just happened~? he asks raising an eyebrow and outlining his mischievous smile.

Shit.

-N~nothing, you just caught me off guard, just that-in a quick movement that I can't predict because of my nerves, Cardan climbs on my legs while he leans little by little over my face.

-Tsk~tsk~tsk~ we said no lies, my human Queen -he said remarking on the fact that I, as a human, can lie unlike him- And I know you well, I know that it's impossible for something to catch you off guard, and if it does, you don't react like that. No~ this time something happened, do you want to tell me by yourself~?

I move my burning face to one side so I don't keep looking into his jet-black eyes that I like so much. I think it's clear that he's figured it out. My body has always been very sensitive. When we were younger, my sisters would take advantage of that from time to time. If they didn't want to do something, they forced me to do it after doing... That. However, as the years passed and with our arrival at Elfhame, that game seemed more and more like children's, and as if that were not enough, because of my training with Madoc, it was more difficult to attack me and without wanting to, I tried to defend myself with more force than I wanted in reality, so they just stopped doing it. Now that Cardan has figured it out, I feel a chill run through my skin as my body begins to shake gently.

-Cardan, I already told you, I was simply distracted, besides... You touched my scar on my side! It still hurts you know? - I try to sound convincing even though I know that scar stopped hurting a long time ago. If there is something good about healing with earth magic, it is that in addition to being fast, it does not leave pain in the wounded place.

Cardan shoots a concerned look at my torso as he thinks about the possibility. However, his mischievous smile returns to his lips seconds later.

-Oh~ but my queen, I had thought that this pain no longer existed, I thought that you had already told me several nights before when I was holding your side, right?

I had forgotten that I had already told him. A new wave of shame washes over my body as I try to raise my hands to push him away from me.

-But now it has hurt me, okay? We are going to meet with the Council as soon as... -again, too distracted to anticipate his movements, his hands take my wrists and return them to their place against the bed. I think if my face gets any redder I might explode.

-You see, Jude, I'm really sorry, I don't believe you at all. So, I'm going to explain to you what I think is going on here.

Cardan begins to raise my hands above my head as I try to hide my heavy breathing. Although I try to force myself to lower them, I can't. Why? I've always managed to wriggle out of my sisters' grip ever since I started training. Why am I feeling so weak with him? As if that were not enough, this new weakness is accompanied by great nerves and a stupid smile that appears on my lips little by little despite the fact that I try to stop it.

-Jude, from your reactions, I'd say your big problem is~" Without giving me time to react, he grabs both of my wrists with one hand and uses the other to start moving his fingers in the air.

-Cardan! Don't even think about saying it! - I try to sound serious, but the smile on my lips doesn't allow it, and Cardan seems to be very amused.

- What, Jude? What can't I say? -he asks with a mischievous tone as he brings his hand to the bed near my side and starts scratching it slowly.

-You know what I'm talking about, let me go- I try to struggle again thanks to the new small forces that appear in me when I see his hand near my side.

-Mmmh~ I think I do know, but I'm not sure.

-Yes, you know.

-Not quite sure~

-Yes!

-I repeat that I'm not entirely sure Jude~

-You were going to say I'm ticklish! -after mentioning the forbidden word, I realize his ingenious trap. I also notice how my ears and neck are getting hot, I guess they've turned red too.

-Oh~ was that it? One of the possibilities I was thinking about was that maybe they had cast a spell on you, but of course, with Dain's geis, it's impossible for that to happen - he says with a mocking smile that reminds me how much I hate him - so, the fearsome and fierce Jude Duarte, is ticklish, huh~? I have to check that with my own hands!

His words make me feel ashamed, but I can't focus too much on that feeling because of his hand that lands on my side. I start to laugh between squeals, however, I can't enj-... The thing is, he's hurting me. Her fingers move too roughly and dig hard into my skin.

-Cardhahahahahahaha wait hahaha no, you hurt me!! -I recover the strength in my arms, with which I am able to release myself from his grip and take his hand with some force to stop him.

I caress the attacked area, feeling it slightly sore, and when I look at Cardan, my heart breaks a little. His eyes have turned slightly showing me a sad and worried expression. His tail, which before I could see moving quickly from side to side, slowly falls to the bed, curling around my leg gently.

-Did hurt you? But they're not supposed to do that, are they? I'm sorry Jude.

And of course my poor king doesn't know how they work. Having had a childhood with a mother who ignored him and siblings who barely paid attention to him, it is impossible for him to learn it on his own. Surely the little contact he has had with them has been just as violent as now.

- Well, of course they're not supposed to hurt, darling. You were just doing it too hard, look -I take the back of his hands to bring them over my belly- you just have to apply gentle pressure, with only that is ok, you can make it a little more intense, yes, but in that case you have to be careful. For now, just a gentle pressure, even walking your nails around here will make me laugh, I promise -I say amused as I smile at him.

With some insecurity, Cardan begins to press my belly and sides with all his fingers very gently. And because of my exaggerated sensitivity, I start to stir and laugh like a fool under his hands trying to avoid stopping them. His fingers begin to move slowly as they sink gently into my skin, and when he sees that there is no complaint on my part, they begin to move faster, but always maintaining their delicacy.

-Sehehehehe~? With this hahahahahahahahahahahaha~ this is enoughhahahaha~ -My constant giggles embarrass me and make me blush, and on Cardan, they seem to have the same effect.

His face is completely red, and a goofy grin begins to settle on his lips as he uncoils his tail and waves it gently again.

-Jude~- he calls me, stopping his hands by placing them on my side.

-Yes~? -I answer trying to relax my laughter and covering my face while I gasped softly.

-Why are you helping me? Before, you seemed determined to stop me - he asks with a funny smile.

That's when I realize what I'm doing. My face regains its reddish tones as I cover my face even more tightly. I was supposed to convince Cardan to go to the Council, not stick around and play with him. Damn looks. And I wasn't supposed to let him T...Tickle me, but I'm teaching him how to do it... I think there's no point in hiding it anymore, and I don't think I feel like hiding it anymore either. Covering half of my face with my arm as if covering my mouth to hide that these words do not come from me and looking away, I begin to speak.

-Well... You just seemed very discouraged when you did it wrong... I hate seeing you like this, it doesn't look good on you... Besides... I guess I... That I... I missed them - I feel my face warmed greatly after that confession.

When I return my eyes to Cardan I see him looking at me with some surprise, and then leaning next to me with a mocking smile but maintaining a certain tenderness while he began to play with my hair looking into my eyes.

-Let's see if it's clear to me~ Are you trying to tell me, Jude Duarte~ that you, the most dangerous queen in all of Fairieland, are not only weak to tickles but also like them~?

-God, Cardan, shut up, I know it's ridiculous -I decide to cover my face with both hands.

It's been a long time since Cardan made fun of me like he did before at school, with mischief and being hurtful, but , they were many years of bullying, so by reflex I'm prepared for him to start laughing at me. However, I am surprised when I feel both of his arms around my torso as he sets me on top of him and gently removes my hands from my face showing me a radiant smile.

-I don't think it's ridiculous, in fact, I think it's something really sweet of you, and it's a bit hard to find those things in you sometimes. I just discovered it and I think I'm already loving it~

I think that I am going to faint. I don't take very well the combination of a friendly Cardan and words as beautiful as the ones he just said to me, so my immediate reaction is to hide my face in his chest. And so the seconds go by, until I start to feel two fingers gently and slowly poking my sides. First one and then the other, first one and then the other. I try to ignore them, but it doesn't take too many repetitions for me to start moving from side to side trying to avoid them as a soft laughter escapes my lips.

-Wow~ you really like them~ you're not even asking me to stop~ - he says chuckling softly as he goes on to grab my sides and gently press them up and down.

-Cardhahahahahahahaha nohahahahahahahahahahahahaha~- I started to jump gently while moving, but at no time did I try to grab his hands, so I guess that's enough of a sign for him to continue.

-Not like that~? Wow~ I think you are wrong, my dear queen, you have entrusted a very dangerous secret to the High King of Elfhame, and I have no mercy~ - smiling mockingly without taking his eyes off my smiling face, he takes his hands to my armpits.

By reflex movement, I join my arms to my body as quickly as I can, but it's too late, now I have his hands locked against them, which soon move their fingers gently, making me scream again and move more roughly. I manage to get off Cardan and stay next to him, but he doesn't take long to follow me to stay over my legs.

-Nahahahahahahahahahaha Cardahahahhahan take them out of ahahahahahahahahah take them out of pffffft~ ahahahahahahahahahahaha~ - I start to gently kick the bed while I shake my head quickly.

Cardan's eyes shine brighter than ever, he has the expression and happy smile of a child who has been given a new toy that he loves and never plans to let go of.

-Oh~ Jude, I'd love to~ but, see~? I can't ~ you have me trapped under your arms, wait, I'm trying to get them out -with that, he increases the movements of his fingers beginning to gently scratch the skin of my armpits.

I throw my head back between more mad giggles as I try to squeeze as hard as I can to stop him from moving, but I don't quite succeed.

-Cardahahahahaha~ please hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha~

-Mmmmh ~ okay ~ then raise your arms and I promise to stop tickling you ~

-I dohohohon't believe yououhahhahha- NONONOAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA OK! OK! I'LL RAISHAHAHAHE THEEHHEHEHEM STOAHAHAHHAP~ - with a shriek as I feel his fingers move with a faster rithm, I raise my arms fighting the urge to let them down again.

Cardan keeps his promise, and moves his hands away from me to rest them on the sides of my body. As I try to calm my breathing between giggles, I see that fascinated look in Cardan's eyes again accompanied by a happy and sincere smile. All of this aggravates the blush on my face.

-You look beautiful when you laugh, you know that~? He confesses as he caresses my cheek with his hand.

-Shut up, idiot~...-I look away, but press my face into his hand. Who knew that I would ever end up longing for the touch of that cruel fairy's hands - you can't tell anyone about this.

-Sorry? Why would I do that? You are mine Jude, and I want to be the only one who can see you or make you feel the way I did today~-when he finished, he approaches my lips to kiss me affectionately, to which I respond with the same feeling.

After a few seconds, I gently push him away and look into his eyes as the blush on my cheeks fades little by little.

-They are waiting for us in the meeting room my dear king~ -I say getting up from the bed.

Cardan rolls his eyes exaggeratedly to make me laugh and lies face down next to me.

-Oh Jude~ why did I do all this~? You're still just as boring. I don't feel like going~

-Cardan, please, we have to do it.

I kow he is coming, he just likes to be coaxed. Then, I look on his tail, who comes dangerously close to my side to get under my nightgown and rub his thick lock at the end of it against my belly.

-Cardaahahahahahahaha stop that~ nohahahahahaha~ -I sit again trying to reach the tail and stop it.

-Come on~ stay with me to laze around, once is once~ you know you want to~

-Cardahahahahaha~ seriouslyhahahahahahahahaha stophahahaha no! -I manage to reach his tail and get it out of my clothes -come on, honey, please, I want us to do it together.

However, I stop my little plea as the last strategy to convince him. Why? Because I've heard it. I've heard the squeal that has drowned out in the pillow in which he has buried his face when I have started to play with his tail between my hands out of nerves.

-Oh~ what's wrong Cardan~? Don't tell me you too are~?

Silence. He doesn't answer, for a moment I worry, but then I realize it. I guess this is one of those many times where they'd rather keep quiet than tell the truth. With that, my confidence grows, and I sit on his behind as I watch his tail lock brizle gently.

-J~Jude, what are you up to~? he spoke with an uncertain tone as he raised his head from the pillow to look back.

-Oh ~ nothing ~ just return the favor ~ - With an evil smile, I throw my hands to his sides to quickly press them carefully.

-Judahahahahahahaha, whahahahait that's cheatinghahahahahahahahahaha~ - Cardan's laugher is beautiful. I love how he laughs habitually, but his uncontrolled laughter? It sounds melodious and kind, for a second you can forget that it is the great High King of Elfhame. I think I understand Cardan's goofy grin from earlier now, surely I must be putting on the same one right now.

-Wow~ wow~ wow~ just when I thought fairies couldn't surprise me anymore~ I find that the High King is ticklish~ how does that feel, mhm~?

-Don't say it hahahahahaha ~ don't say it hahahahahahahahaha~ - he laughed as he tried (without much effort) to reach my hands.

-Oh~ what's up~? Does it make you even more sensitive if I say so~? I decide to change my tactic and run my nails up and down his back. This time he jumps surprising even me- so soft touch is much worse than rough touch for you huh~? I will keep it in mind.

-Judehahahahahahahahahahaha noahahahahahaha get it out~ get it out of your mindhahahahahahahaha~

-Well~ maybe I will, but everything has a price. Will you come with me to meet with the Council~?

-Yeahhahahahahaha I'll go hahahahaha I promise to go hahahahahahahaha~

-Mmmmh~ fine, and~ will you take care of my tasks as queen for this week~? I ask as I change technique and gently peck her back with my nails.

-Yehehehhehehehes yeehhehehhes Whateverhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha~ -while he hops with each poke, I stop and lean over to kiss his cheek- I hate you~

-I hate you too~- I said amused as I went to change into the official queen clothes. As we change, Cardan doesn't say much, and he maintains a strange look along with a soft blush. I admit that it makes me worry a bit, but the change in his attitude towards the Council to return to being the same as always and do our royal duties, distract me and make me forget that look.

_____________________________________________

After the meeting with the Council, the audit with our subjects, meeting with the court of Shadows and the usual banquet, we return to our room. As I close the curtains while looking at the morning sun, I remember his look in the afternoon . I laid on the bed next to him as we both stared at the ceiling. He's unusually quiet.

-Today I don't know why, but I feel more tired than usual~

Without looking at me, he brings his tail close again to tickle my belly button. I cringe laughing and try to get his tail out.

-Maybe it's my fault~ - he says with a soft mocking tone.

-Don't start hehehehehahahaha~ -I manage to get his tail out and move it away- is it that you want me to attack you again like this afternoon~? - I say smiling mockingly looking at him.

-..... Maybe so -as a bright red takes over his cheeks, I begin to understand his looks.

-Mmh~ -without warning him, I sit on his hips and lean over him- but my king ~ don't have to behave badly to get that ~ although I don't care if you do it either. Just ask me, and I'll do it~ -I keep a soft mocking smile, but my eyes are sincere.

-Ugh, Jude, really~? - he complains, looking away from him as his tail hits the bed quickly.

-Very seriously Cardan~

-Tsk… Jude… Tickle me, please…

-At the command of the High King~

I think Cardan and I have found a new game to share together. I'm glad I told him about my secret~

#Tickling #Tickling story #Tickle community #the cruel prince #The folk of air #jude x cardan #This couple is the bessst #Jude and Cardan together are just so fluffy

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s-creations · 2 years

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The Forgotten - Chapter 4 'In Which The Path Is Shifted In Two Ways'

The BeanBean Kingdom has lived peacefully for centuries, due to the wild ocean and towering mountains that surround them. No one being able to get in or out. Which makes it strange when a stranger enters the kingdom, but not in an expected way.

Close to death and with little memories about his previous life, Peasley has to uncover where this 'L' came from. As well as who would want to hurt this confused human.

Fandom: Super Mario & Related Fandoms Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Relationships: Luigi & Mario (Nintendo), Luigi/Prince Peasley Warnings/Additional Tags: Luigi don't remember who he is, AU to Super Star Saga, There will be mentions of torture, PTSD, Bowser's gonna be intense in this, At least far more than in comparison to the games, Mario's a worried older brother, It's a dangerous game of cat and mouse

“You dare trespass on my private grounds, harass my guest, and don't think twice about invading the personal space of someone who is healing? Such negligence is not what our kingdom stands for. I will be contacting your employers about this infraction and demand for your dismissal. You’d best be happy the punishment isn’t more severe.”

Queen Bean’s voice was heavy as it echoed through the wide hall. While not shouting, there was a clear undertone of disappointment and anger held in what was said. The two Beanish reporters stood before her. Heads bowed, eyes firmly stuck to the red carpet beneath them. Offering nothing more than quiet nods of understanding. Peasley, who was normally quick to forgive and to understand, was fuming. Absolute livid. His mind flashing the moments of a distraught L being held in his arms as he watched the situation unfold. As he stood by his mother, the prince struggled to keep his face neutral.

If the fearful eyes of the knights that continually flickered towards him, he wasn’t doing that good of a job of hiding his anger.

But he didn’t care. Peasley was furious. No one was there when L fully broke down. Desperately clinging onto the prince as best he could with a still healing wrist and now holding new injuries. The prince ordered for the trespassers to be taken to the prison, have Queen Bean informed, and to have Dr. Pinto out to the gardens as quickly as possible. Peasley was so thankful the knight did as asked without question, shepherding the others away. Allowing the prince to focus on the hysterical human.

Dr. Pinto arrived only a few moments later. Two other knights accompanying with a stretcher, attempting to get L on to get him back into the medical wing. L’s demeanor drastically changed when Peasley attempted to move away. The apologies quickly turned to pleas to not leave him.

L only let go when Dr. Pinto was able to put him to sleep. The doctor attempted to offer a comforting smile to a clearly panicking Peasley. As the unconscious human was taken away, Peasley’s fear turned to absolute rage.

It took everything to not demand the queen to deliver a harsher punishment. Wanting the intruders to feel the same fear L had felt. But knew it would amount to nothing. It would cause more damage, both in the short and long term of relations between the royals and their citizens. So all Peasley could do was stew over it and wait for his turn to speak.

The Beanish citizens were led out of the room, Queen Bean’s shoulders only dropping when the doors closed with a heavy thud.

Peasley immediately turned to face her, “Mother-”

“Prince Peasley, further punishment will help with nothing. I understand where your frustration comes from. But we need to keep in mind how our actions will affect everyone. In this moment and for the future.”

“But L is suffering because of this! They trespassed and harassed L to the point where he- …Well, I’m not really sure what happened. But-” Peasley fell quiet when hands were gently placed on his shoulders. Looking up to Queen Bean, who appeared very worried. Her hands moved to cradle Peasley’s cheek. The prince melted into the touch, doing what he could to not fully lose composure.

“Peasley…you’re such a sweet child.”

“...It’s unfair… L, he’s so broken right now. I’m scared for him.”

“I know, I’m worried as well. However, L seems very close to you and you should use your time to keep him content.”

“But…I tried…” Peasley choked out, hands clenched into fists.

“You did what you could and got him the help he needed as soon as possible. Now is the time that we handle damage control,” Queen Bean smiled softly as Peasley nodded and took a deep breath, “The question we now have is what our first step should land.”

The royals looked over as the hall doors opened once more. Dr. Pinto quickly made his way over to them. Bowing low before panting out, “I have…my report about L.”

Peasley pulled away from his mother, “How is he? Were there new injuries? Has he said anything?”

“L has not spoken since he’s woken up. I believe it’s mainly due to the medicine. But it’s clear something has happened, it will take some time to understand what that is. Strangely enough L has no new wounds nor did he destroy the progress he’s made. Considering what you and the knight informed me of, I was expecting something but…” Dr. Pinto sighed softly.

“His cap…somehow survived but everything else has been completely lost. All are thankfully very easy to replace. All in all, L is physically fine. Mentally however…”

Peasley frowned softly. “...And he’s said…nothing?”

“No, he’s said nothing.”

“This is troubling,” Queen Bean said, “It’s clear we can’t keep quiet about L being here any longer. However, now may be a poor time for him to be properly introduced.”

“Can’t we do it without having L before the kingdom?” Peasley practically begged.

“Our citizens' first introduction should not be a photo. No, they need to see him standing proudly with us by his side. L needs that support. Which brings us back to our current issue.”

“I can’t make a full assessment of his state until I’m able to talk to him,” Dr. Pinto quickly replied, “I can’t agree with this, not now. He’s already under enough stress as is and asking him to do something this extreme may push to far.”

“...What if I talked to him?” Peasley offered, “I know I can’t properly assess his mental status. But maybe he doesn’t need a doctor. He just needs…a companion- a friend! I meant friend. I couldn’t think of the word for a moment.”

“You do have a better connection with our guest than I do… Go talk to him and see what progress you can make.”

Peasley nodded before departing from the room. Dr. Pinto turned to Queen Bean as the doors closed with a small smile and raised brow. “Young love?”

The queen laughed softly. “Possibly, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

“The prince is not very subtle.”

“Peasley’s never been the one that’s had to figure out the connection. He normally just plays the charismatic prince. Now, with a stranger, he’s just Peasley. This is new for him.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

_____________________________

Peasley took a deep breath before entering the medical wing. It was unnervingly calm and quiet. The only natural light came from the large window closest to L that had the curtains pulled back. Light spilling over the foot of the bed. Bright and cheerful. The opposite of how L appeared.

He looked unnaturally pale, eyes dull as he stared out the open window. Injured leg and wrist had a new cast. Leg elevated with the arm resting across his chest. L turned away from the outside world when Peasley sat down.

“Hey,” The prince spoke softly. Offering a small smile that L gave back weakly. “How are you feeling? Dr. Pinto said you woke up a while ago.”

“It’s all…a little fuzzy at the moment. But my arm and legs are…okay.”

“That’s good, I suppose.” Silence fell over them. L eventually looked back to the window once more. Peasley bit his lip and, taking a bit of a risk, reached out and gently collected L’s uninjured hand. Cradling it between his own. L looking back over to Peasley in surprise. “L, I need you to talk to me, please. Please…what happened?”

L’s calm demeanor changed from neutral to broken. Tears started to flow as he tightened his grip on Peasley’s hand. “I don’t know… I really don’t. I was scared, I wanted to be left alone, but they wouldn’t leave. I was just scared…”

“L…did you make that lightning?”

“I-I think I did,” L whispered fearfully, “I don’t know how, but I did.”

Peasley swallowed weakly, trying to keep his features neutral, but was honestly terrified by this answer. How was L in ‘control’ of such a power? Where did he get the ability? At least this explained how L was able to survive being so close, as he was technically controlling it.

“It’s okay, that’s okay, you’re okay, we’ll talk to Dr. Pinto about this. He’ll help us figure out what to do.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“L, it’s okay. Yes, I’m a little…scared. But all you’ve told me is that you were trying to protect yourself. It’s understandable. Now we work on helping you. The reporters who talked to you, they weren’t hurt, just a little shaken. You did nothing wrong.”

“But, the garden…your roses…”

Peasley paused at that. The charred and ashened rose bushes flashing in his mind. The prince couldn’t help but to softly laugh, pressing L’s hand to his cheek. “L, you have such a big heart. How are you this caring?”

That caused a small, genuine smile to appear on L’s face. Cheeks turning a slight pink. “W-What do you mean?”

“You are quite literally recovering and resting in a medical wing from…Grambi only knows what. And you’re showing more care towards others. I can regrow my roses, I can’t replace you.”

“P-Peasley…”

“It’s okay, I’m here for you. In any way that I can be.” Peasley saw something fearful flickered behind L’s eyes before he tensed up slightly. “L, what’s wrong? You can tell me.”

It took awhile for L to reply, eyes darting around the room. The prince gives a gentle squeeze to L’s hand to offer some sort of comfort. “You’re safe here, I promise.”

“...I heard…someone…”

“Who?”

“I-I don’t know, I don’t even know what happened. But I was moved somehow?”

“Moved?”

“I don’t know how else to explain it. I was in the garden one moment, then I blinked and I…wasn’t there anymore.”

Peasley inched closer, still keeping a grip on L’s hand. “Where were you?”

L shook his head weakly. Eyes twitching around the room once more, this time never landing on Peasley. “It was dark and I was in a cage…I think.”

“You think.”

“I never saw where the metal bars ended, I just assumed. Then this…this creature appeared from the darkness. They had claws and fangs and these piercing yellow eyes and… I-I just felt like my insides were turned to ice. I was so scared. I think…I think they’re the one who…”

Peasley swallowed weakly but quickly nodded so L didn’t feel the need he had to continue. “You don’t have to say it, I understand.”

“I-I think they wanted to kill me,” L choked out fearfully, “T-They said my last breath would be in that cage.”

“L, calm yourself, you’re okay. It’s going to be okay. They won’t find you here-”

“But what if they do? What if they discover I’ve been here this entire time? T-They’ll hurt you, h-hurt everyone, and I-I’ll go back! I can’t even remember what’s happened to me but I’m so terrified by the idea of going back! I can’t go back, I can’t! I just- I just want to go home…”

Peasley moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Gently pulling L’s hand away that was clawing at his hat as he shook. Moving the human so he could lean into the prince’s embrace. Smiling softly as L hid his face away into Peasley’s shoulder.

“L, no one is going to hurt you…”

“But…”

“I promise, under my name and title, as the sole heir of the BeanBean Kingdom, that no harm will befall you. I will find your home and return you to your life.”

L shifted slightly, shining blue eyes filled with admiration and hope looking up towards the prince. Peasley felt his stomach swoop with something unfamiliar but now unwelcoming. Having to quickly squash down the thought of how adorab- charming the human looked.

“That…is a big promise.” L whispered fearfully.

“It is, but I mean every word of it,” Peasley reached up to cup L’s cheek, “You are my sole focus while you’re here. Nothing will pull me away.”

L’s cheeks turned a deep shade of red. Shoulders dropping, eyes closing as he leaned into the touch.

“Do you trust me L?”

“...I do…”

_____________________________

“A large creature… With claws and sharp teeth, and a spiked shell? This doesn’t sound like one of our animals…”

“L said they spoke too,” Peasley continued as Queen Bean paused, “Something…about taking his last breath in a cage. We…We can’t wait any longer! We were hoping it was just an animal. But all of this was deliberate, was planned. Whoever this being is, they’re clearly dangerous. We need to act now. Reach out to whomever we need to help L, to help us, before this creature can harm anyone else.”

Queen Bean offered a small hum, allowing herself a few moments to think. Giving a nod in agreement, “What is our report on our paths out and to the Mushroom Kingdom?”

“It took awhile, but we were able to locate a way out of the mountain range,” the captain said, “While going over our maps, we found an old mine rail we’ll be able to use. They may be out of date, but we’ve checked and they’re still pretty accurate.”

“If the Mushroom Kingdom is even the place we need to go. I’m aware humans of any kind are rare in this world. But to assume right away the royal family of said kingdom would know L. This could be a dangerous assessment of the situation.” A councilman spoke this time. A few others nod in agreement.

“But it’s our best chance, we have no other choice as we don’t know where other humans could be living. Sitting by will result in nothing. We need to act.”

“Then a compromise as to hopefully not draw too much attention to us,” another councilman piped up, “The letter we deliver holds a message with a hidden intent. If the kingdom has nothing to do with this, we don’t have too big of a trail leading back to us or our guest.”

“Agreed,” Queen Bean said, “Captain, select your quickest soldier. They’ll be leaving tonight.”

“Of course, my queen.”

“Let's get this letter created.”

Peasley’s eyes followed the captain out before falling back to the table before him. Silently hoping they had not waited too long to seek out the help they needed.

When the kingdom was in a deep sleep, the moon shining high in the night sky, a shadowed figure darted away from the castle. Dressed in dull garbs, a knight made their way through the well known mountain path. Eventually parting off the well traveled road before reaching the HooHoo Village. Double checking the map that had been handed to them to reach the marked path. It was difficult to get into the blocked mine shaft. Which was followed by a dark path only illuminated by the carried lantern through the forgotten way out of the BeanBean Kingdom.

It was clear the place hadn’t been cared for in years. Causing the knight to go a bit slower than normal, in case there was a chance of coming across a dangerous section in the path. But they reached the other end without incident and were able to squeeze their way out of another hidden opening.

The outside didn’t seem to be vastly different from what the kingdom behind them held. A dense mountainside forest. But they also blamed that on the fact it was still so dark out, visibility not the greatest right now. Even with the lantern. At least they were moving down the mountainside instead of up it. As the sun was beginning to rise, so did the forest start to thin out. The knight not needing to check the ground every so often to keep themselves from tripping over roots.

Just as the knight was about to enter into what seemed to be just a vast expansion of rolling hills, they were struck down. A bright orb of blue light hit them straight in their back and they crumpled to the ground. Not dead, just in a deep sleep. Casually floating down atop a broom, a Magikoopa wearing blue robes surveyed the scene before him with a curious look. As if he wasn’t the cause of the knight’s current state.

A wave of his wand and the rolled up parchment was pulled from the knight’s shoulder bag. The Magikoopa adjusting his glasses before reading over the contents. A smirk formed as he neared the bottom.

“I knew it.” Kamek hissed with glee. Another wave of his wand and the knight started to float a few inches off the ground. Following after the Magikoopa and back into the forest.

Kamek ignored the frantic minions that were currently rushing around as he entered the floating fortress. Feeling confidently smug as he entered the enormous throne room. “Your Great Foulness, I come with a report of wonderful news.”

Sitting atop a stoned throne was a large Koopa. One that towered over everyone, with a spiked shell, long claws, fangs, and piercing yellow eyes. Bowser, the King of the Koopas, let out a low growl as he stood. Addressing Kamek with narrowed eyes and growling out a low, “What.”

Kamak, unfazed by the anger rolling off his king, brought forth the lone and still unconscious knight. “I found this pest scurrying away from the nearby kingdom. With a letter, addressed to the rulers of the Mushroom Kingdom…discussing a person with a green cap.”

The anger Bowser displayed instantly disappeared. Replaced with a wide grin. “So, little Greenie did escape to that castle.”

“I knew that the lightning strike was too perfect to be random. The magic felt familiar too.”

The Koopa King let out a triumphant laugh before shouting, “Ready the troops! We’re going to tear that castle apart!”

“Wait! Wait, Your Surliness, I ask you to reconsider.” Kamek quickly said. Faltering slightly when Bowser’s glare returned.

“What could be so important than getting that coward back.”

“Ah…the prolonged worry and panic Mario will have?”

That caused Bowser to pause and think. “...Explain.”

“All of this was meant to be a way to break that human’s spirit, correct? While this has not fully gone to plan, we can use this time lost to our advantage! Mario hasn’t broken down our doors yet. Meaning he has no idea where we are and thinks we still have Luigi. He’s spent this whole time no doubt hunting down what he can and just worrying himself sick about his poor baby brother.”

“More reason to get Greenie now!”

“Now now, I understand your want. However, I would like for you to consider a different scenario.”

“Go on.”

“Won’t it be so satisfying to give that small spark of hope to Mario upon reading this letter? To let him think he’ll have an advantage over us, to save his brother? To have him rush all the way here with that small bit of hope? Only to have him broken once more when the safe haven that was supposed to keep Luigi safe is in absolute ruin. To have Mario know he was just mere seconds away from playing hero. Then, when he finally arrives at your castle, he’ll find his brother. Broken and lying at your feet, gone from this world. Mairo having failed once again to keep his precious brother safe.”

“Meaning Mario will have lost twice…” Bowser smirked before chuckling in triumph, “Oh, I love that idea. Make sure we have a way to track this low life here. I want to get Greenie back the moment Mario is near the kingdom proper. Show him how he has no power over this.”

“Of course sire, as you wish.”

When the knight woke again, they were back on the outskirts of the forest. Quickly scanning the area, trying to figure out what in the world could have knocked them out. They checked themselves, only to find no damage dealt. Confused but not able to give time to worry over this, they got up and rushed off.

Unaware of the Paratrooper following silently behind.

As the sun rose over the horizon, the BeanBean Kingdom began to wake. Citizens leaving their homes to head towards the castle. Chatting among themselves about the announcement Queen Been said she would be holding that day. All curious and excited.

Inside the castle was the opposite, nervous and worried. Queen Bean and Lady Lima near the balcony where the announcement was going to be made. Talking in low voices as their eyes occasionally darted further down the hall.

L was sitting in a new wheelchair, dressed in the best spring green colored outfit they could find that fit him. Peasley stood before him while Dr. Pinto checked the human over.

“Are you sure you’re up for this? My mother can present her speech without you. We could even postpone!” Peasley offered.

L smiled weakly. “I’ll be fine… You’ll be there, right?”

“By your side the entire time.”

“Then I’ll be okay.”

Peasley smiled softly, taking L’s hand gently. “You’re brave for doing this.”

“We’re about to begin you two,” Lady Lima interrupted, “How are we feeling?”

“Nervous…but okay.” L offered.

Lady Lima patted the human’s shoulder in support, giving a nod to Queen Bean. The queen took a calming breath before walking onto the large balcony. There was a fanfare of horns and cheers as she gave a smile and a wide wave to the crowd.

“My wonderful kingdom, thank you for attending this morning,” Queen Bean called out, “In light of some recent event, I would like to provide further information. Adding to what I’ve already told and asked of you. I requested that you keep your attention high to anything strange or abnormal in our lands a few weeks ago. But what I did not mention was the reason as to why this request had been made.”

A wave of worried chatter came from the crowd below. Falling quiet when Queen Bean raised her hand. “Please understand, I was waiting for further information that I could provide for you. Weeks ago, during the terrible storm…we had someone enter our kingdom.”

More frantic whispers.

“This being has been through things that I could not even begin to imagine. This being…this human remembers nothing of his past or of himself. He is our guest and will remain as such. Please, I ask that you be respectful towards him. As you would if addressing myself or Prince Peasley.”

“At this time…I believe it would be best for you to be introduced to our guest.”

Peasley gave L’s shoulder a small squeeze of encouragement before pushing forward. L winced slightly as the sun washed over him. Eyes adjusting to see the large crowd below him. Stomach dropping from the height and the number of eyes now on him. A comforting weight was placed on L’s shoulder once more as Peasley stood by his side. Queen Bean placed a hand on his free shoulder.

“I’m pleased to introduce our guest, L. He will be remaining in our care as he recovers. I ask that you allow him the time and space as he needs.”

#luigi #peasley #luigi x peasley #prince peasley #s-creation #fanfiction #chapter story

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esculentevil · 2 years

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Evil’s Greenwood Headcanons (#2): (Filosnell) Brush Brush

((This is a short story involving my Silvan/Mirkwood guard OMC, Mallosnell, bonding with Fili who’s also now bonding with some of the forest’s calves while visiting from Erebor. TL; DR. This’s really just to build his character/backstory, their relationship, and flesh out my Mirkwood.))

☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆🗝️AO3/Pillowfort🌱☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆

“Who’s your friend?”

The guard freezes like a deer under fire and Fili wonders, for a moment, if he, too, rides one--like his king rides an elk. The prince brushes that thought aside as wide, golden eyes turn to stare at him, still a bit spooked, before the tanned elf clears his throat and gestures a deceptively delicate hand at the hairy calf sniffing at his surprisingly armorless torso, “This Katar. She is... woodland cow.”

The elf’s broken Common Speech brings a smile to Fili’s face (he finds it cute, endearing even, and enjoys helping the guard find the right words when he can), “Woodland cow? I didn’t know such a thing existed;” he eyes her tawny colored body and reaches out to touch it, happy when she seems more disturbed by their conversation disrupting her brushing than his fingers, “Why the long hair?”

He imagines it gets very dirty and tangled in the woods, like his and his family’s back when they were trekking through it... He mindlessly combs his thick fingers through the raggedy mane the small animal possess and laughs when she shifts closer to him in a silent bid for him to continue. He does, leaning over just a bit (the guard simply sits, cross-legged on a thick but seemingly hallowed-out log, having been too tall to comfortably reach the calf otherwise) and smiling at her.

The elf watches them silently (always silent, these tall things).

Finally, he turns his attention to him and, suddenly, he speaks--and Fili wonders, somewhat embarrassedly, if the elf had just been respectfully waiting for this. “Uinnarn*.” The soft, Elvish lettering flows over Fili’s ears as much as his head. He blinks owlishly at the guard, conveying his confusion, but waits patiently (himself) as the elf tries to translate what he means into Westron. “It is... Tale... of Creatures. Their story... collection? Ai!” The last bit is more of a frustrated sound than a real word and Fili nods at it, grinning down his want to chuckle, and keeps petting/combing his fingers through the contented calf’s mane. “How... they inter... interact!” The elf snaps his fingers, golden eyes glimmering like the mounds in Erebor’s treasure room, and Fili finds himself enjoying that: the joy and triumph on that ethereal face.

It suits him.

“With each other. The seeds and nuts and... spores of other uin--creatures--collect on this long fur and get carried farther than if not.” The guard gently pats aforementioned hair and smiles as the calf nudges his chest again for the brush. “Also easier for small animals and birds to hold.” Tan hands resume their task--on the other side of where Fili’s are--and Katar makes a loud, happy sound.

The guard of Mirkwood that completely disarmed Fili when they first met laughs.

And Fili doesn’t think he’s heard a more lovely sound.

☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆🗝️🌱☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ☆

*I threw “creatures” and “spoken (not sung) tale/saga” together in the hopes it works as ecology.

#fili #mallosnell (oc silvan elf)#filosnell #katar the woodland calf #mirkwood #sindarin #the hobbit #mywriting #fanfiction #serialized fiction #oneshot #headcanon #budding relationship #poorly translated elvish #worldbuilding #I've been afraid to post this cuz I doubt it'll be liked; but I love Los and Fili #And I remembered that it doesn't matter if you like it so long as *I* do #And I DO love them cuz they're like Thorinduil but soft and sweet lol #tolkienfanficrecs

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forevercaroline · 2 years

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I’ve been working on a couple fics lately, and since I haven’t uploaded in over a month I thought I would drop some snips of what I’ve been working on. @tedrakitty

First up the next two chapters of battle of Royalty here is a snip of the next one to come out: @karinanic

Caroline awakes and smiles when she feels Conrad’s arm on her. She snuggles into his chest for a couple minutes before she sits up in bed. She stretches and as she is coming out of the bathroom after a shower she goes over to the closet. Not noticing the glass doors with the curtains open.

As she is closing the closet door she finally looks outside and her eyes widen her mouth even drops. She quietly says. “Son of a bitch.”

“Kat wake up we have a problem.”

Katherine rolls over rubbing the sleep from her eyes she sleepily asks. “What’s wrong?”

“Look out the window.” Like with Caroline’s comforter it is personalized. Where as Caroline’s is Chanel Katherine’s is black and white striped with pink shoes and a pink purse over the books that say couture must have love elegance and luxury. There’s also matching pillows. “Son of a bitch.”

Xxx

A new short story called blonde angels. This has been a lot of fun to write and has got me back into writing teen wolf. @lilfuturescars

The rave is taking place inside an abandoned firehouse. The dj spots this very hot and very handsome guy in the crowd. He gesture for the guy to come up to the booth but he shakes his head and continues dancing. A couple minutes later a hand wraps around his thin waist and lips are on his neck. The very hot and very handsome guy is Harlan and he leans back into the toned and chiseled body of his boyfriend Brett and a hand snakes around his neck and into Brett’s short hair. Both guys ooze sex appeal and are extremely hot. Brett is six foot 2 buzz cut with shaggy jet black hair on top while Harlan is six foot with messy shaggy brunette hair.

As the two are leaving the main room to find somewhere to be alone, Harlan stops. “What’s wrong?”

“Someone is dead here?”

Brett raises an eyebrow he knows Harlan has enhanced hearing he always has. How would he know if someone is dead. “Someone died?”

Harlan looks around the dance floor and since they are still holding hands Harlan closes his eyes. “Listen.”

Brett can hear what Harlan hears, it’s rare for wolves to share their abilities with other wolves. Harlan and Brett are not only boyfriends but they were born wolves and when they started dating they became a pack. Harlan can share his hearing and Brett can share his rapid healing.

“There’s another species here.”

“Do you want to go find it?”

Harlan shakes his head this rave only happens once a month. This party is full of high school students chances are whatever the thing is will be at school tomorrow.

Harlan is pushed up against a wall and Brett cups his face as they kiss. Harlan’s hands gliding over the muscles under the grey long sleeve shirt, while Harlan only has a black tank top on and jeans Brett is in jeans and Henley.

Xxx

The next one is from fate the winx saga:

“Is this them?”

Dane and Luke nod. Andreas flicks his hand and the hoods come off Sky, Riven and Musa’s heads while Luke cuts the zip ties around their wrists. Riven looks over at Musa who looks at him and nods. He goes to come closer to her but Dane stops him. “You punched her I want to see if she’s ok.”

That catches Sky’s attention he was already gone by the time. “You punched her?” Sky goes to walk forward and Luke stops him but he pushes past him and Riven has already pushed past Dane.

Dane grabs a hold of Riven and punches him. Sky and Riven both start fighting Dane and Luke. Musa sighs and gets a punch in on Dane. Andreas whistles and that gets everyone’s attention. Dane clears his throat. “I’m sorry sir I let my emotions get in the way.”

“Don’t let it happen again.”

Dane nods. As Andreas looks at the three new faces in his garage full of cars. “You stole from me.”

Riven goes to do the bad accent again and Musa elbows him and shakes her head.

Xxx

Lastly I’m always working on the magneto family fic @austennerdita2533

As they are walking through the halls they stop at the game room which has Peter, and Kurt playing foosball. “Your cheating.”

“I am not your cheating.”

Kurt is using his tail to reach some handles while Peter is using his quickness to reach all the handles.

“Wanda Maximoff meet my son Peter Maximoff. Im sure you have a lot to talk about I’m going to find Charles.”

Peter’s jaw drops and Kurt is in the middle of the game he actually scores but is to shocked so he doesn’t even notice. “I didn’t know you had a sister.”

“I have two but they are five.” Peter takes in Wanda who is this woman with his last name but he’s never met her. “Your last name is Maximoff?”

“Yes and your name is Peter not Pietro.”

Peter chuckles. “Pietro what kind of fancy name is Pietro?”

Wanda looks over Peter he looks similar to her Pietro, they both have the same last name and Erik is his father. Her power is genetic but neither of her parents were like her or Pietro. Could it be even though it’s a stretch and doesn’t make sense but really when has something made sense since concerning her.

Erik comes back and looks between the two Maximoff’s he doesn’t need Charles abilities to read minds to know that this is awkward. Wanda turns back towards him and he is with a bald guy in a technical advanced wheelchair. “Are you my father?”

#caroline forbes #katherine pierce #caroline salvatore #erica reyes #brett talbot #sneak peek #wanda maximoff #erik lehnsherr #rivusa

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