#then they build a safe house into a home alone style trap

[batcavescolony]

Tim: I love Christmas

Jason: did your parents celebrate with you or something?

Tim: no, but while at boarding school my roommate wanted to watch Home Alone and I just loved the idea.

Steph: oh this will be fun

Tim: so I forged my parents signature and signed myself out. Took a cab home and set trapps all throughout my house. Now that was fun but I wanted to whole experience so I hired two goons to break into my house.

Jason: what the fuck?

Tim: they didn't get permanently hurt, I wasn't cruel. I did give them payment and obviously I didn't want my parents knowing so I just let them go after. It's was fun

Steph: sounds like you.

Tim: hey, we should do that! We have better training and traps! It could be Family bonding!

Steph: YES!

Jason: ...that does sound fun. I'm game.

[darling-i-read-it]

We'll Stay

Midsommar AU

Will Graham x fem!reader

Word Count: 1.7k

Warnings: cult, murder, suicide,

Author’s Note: I’m sorry it’s only one part, I wasn’t quite motivated enough to do 2! But I hope you enjoy it anyway <3

Requested: by anon, hiii!! so, I was curious as to whether u could possibly do a will graham (baby boy!!!) x fem!reader 2 part oneshot (with a SLIGHT Hannibal x reader but main is will graham) in which...it's practically a midsommar au! except Y/N doesn't have a fallout with partner unlike dani. Y/N, however, indulges herself into a cult after a fallout hits close to home and....yea! u can go from there and hopefully u can do it! thanks :)

I don’t own these characters. They belong to author/director/creator

(not my gif)

You looked out the window at the passing scenery. You hadn’t seen another person for miles upon miles. You wondered how close you were to Pelle’s commune. Hopefully close. You were getting tired and your legs were stiff from sitting in one spot for so long.

You glanced at Will beside you in the backseat. He was napping pleasantly on his jacket, his breathing even. You wish that you had been able to fall asleep so quickly. Your eyes wandered up to the front of the car where Pelle was driving, Alana sitting beside him. They were speaking so quietly, you couldn’t even make out the words. You weren’t sure why you were here.

Pelle worked alongside Alana for some time in a research based job Alana had been doing on the side. He had tagged along with her to a couple of Hannibal's dinner parties where he had met you and Will. You and Pelle had hit it off right away. He explained that he came from Sweden and would love it if you, Will and Alana went with him for the midsommar festivities. You were hesitant but Alana insisted and you didn’t want her to go alone. Plus, you were dealing with some family stuff at home. You just wanted to get away from it. As far as you could. Sweden seemed like a nice deal.

Your phone buzzed. You picked it up mindlessly, sliding it open to see the text. You only had one bar left. You must be getting out of service soon. Hannibal had sent a message.

Be safe. Watch Will.

You smiled a bit at his worry. You had wanted him to come along but he declined, saying being so far out in the wilderness wasn’t his style. You sent him back a quick text.

I will, I promise.

“Are we almost there?” you asked Pelle. He nodded pleasantly.

“Ten minutes. Can you wake up, Will please?” You nodded and turned to your boyfriend, nudging him. You caught Pelle glancing at the two of you through the rear view mirror as Will perked his head up, grabbing your hand gently.

“Almost there,” you whispered. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. He leaned over onto your lap and closed his eyes again.

“5 more minutes.”

====

“This walk was longer than I thought,” Alana muttered, laughing gently. She hadn’t worn her regular fancy clothing. It felt odd to look at her without it. Will had still opted to wear a flannel, though you told him it was going to be hot and you were going to be walking.

“We’re very close. It will be worth it,” Pelle explained. Will grabbed your hand as the two of you walked a ways behind Alana and Pelle.

“What happens if we want to leave?” he asked. You shrugged.

“We can leave.” You raised his hand and kissed the back of it. “Don’t think too hard on it.” He scoffed.

“Oh no. Me? Think hard about something?” You rolled your eyes but was quickly distracted by the clearing you came upon. There were a couple large buildings and people in white everywhere. You let go of Will’s hands in shock and looked around incredulously.

“This is my home!” Pelle said. People rushed up to see him. Your eyes went wide as he hugged and greeted them all, seeming to know each and every one of them personally.

“You know all of these people?” Alana asked.

“They’re my family,” Pelle explained before speaking some words in Swedish you didn’t understand. You smiled gently and looked over at Will.

“It’s beautiful.” He seemed skeptical. You nudged him. “I know it isn’t Wolf Trap Virginia but try and enjoy the sun.”

“We get sun back at the house,” he muttered. “I miss the dogs.”

“Me too. But they’ll be okay I promise.” Pelle had brought some people up to you. You gave them kind smiles.

“Welcome! We are so glad you were able to make it. We are about to make the announcements, you’re just in time. If any of you need anything, speak to me or Pelle.” You nodded.

“Thank you for having us,” Alana said.

“It is our pleasure, trust me.”

====

Pelle led the three of you out alongside everyone else to a nice clearing with a cliff. You had a weird breakfast that morning but you were trying to keep an open mind. Will, not so much. He was ready to go. You insisted on a couple more days.

“So what is this again?” you asked Pelle.

“Shhh, it’s starting.”

You closed your mouth and nodded a bit, watching as two older people were carried up the cliff. You and Will exchanged a look.

You watched carefully as the woman launched herself off. One of the other visiting groups screamed. Alana grabbed Pelle, asking quick questions, shaking her head, holding her stomach.

You and Will were silent. Almost unphased. You had seen so much death, it never seemed to bother you.

Then the man jumped and you just watched, his head smashed on the ground. You opened your mouth a bit and Will grabbed your arm.

“We’re leaving,” he said.

“No,” you said, probably too aggressively. Will’s eyebrows furrowed and he stood back.

“Why?”

“I don’t want to.” Pelle watched you carefully as he calmed Alana down. He suppressed a smile.

===

You went back to the houses after everyone had calmed down. Everyone had spread out a bit. Will took Alana for a walk while you stayed in the house where you slept, making sure all of Will’s things were in order if he really wanted to leave. You almost didn’t hear Pelle sneak up on you.

“You reacted well. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you up front.” You jumped, turning back to him. You shook your head gently.

“I see a lot of death in my job.”

“Still. I imagine it was a shock.”

“A tad.” You averted your eyes. He sat down on one of the beds.

“It truly is a lovely place here. I feel very loved. They’re my family and they protect me through everything. From what I know of you, I feel you would like it here.” You tried to figure out why he was telling you that.

“I do. I mean...I don’t know.” You sat down beside him.

“Here. This will help with your nerves, just smell it.” You didn’t even think about it, you just did as he said. He put it away and then watched you for a moment. Pelle put his hand on your leg. Your eyes went wide and you stood up.

“I’m with Will,” you said. “In case you had forgotten.” Pelle looked concerned though you didn’t understand why.

“But you’re meant to feel held by the things you love. Do you feel loved by him? Held by him?”

“Yes,” you said without a beat of hesitance. “He’s my best friend.”

Pelle acted like your relationship with Will didn’t mess with his plans of having you here. But who knew. He still had Alana.

====

You hadn’t seen Will since you woke up this morning. Pelle had made you go to the May Queen dance, shoving a glass of something on you. You asked where Alana was and he said he didn’t know. Where could she have gone? Where was Will?

The worries subsided when you were dancing. You couldn’t quite see what was going on and you didn’t understand it at all but your feet were moving. Your hands were being held by the other women of the commune, their laughter infectious. It almost made you forget about Will.

Almost.

You caught sight of him walking into the field of women who had already stopped dancing. You didn’t stop but you kept your eyes on him as you moved. He looked uncomfortable. You wanted to go to him but your feet told you to keep on dancing.

There was a yell and you stopped. You were the only person still up.

“You are our May Queen!” someone yelled. You were dizzy and tired. You started to walk to Will but people were getting in your way. He reached for you.

“What?” you whispered. “Why me?”

As you struggled, people put a flower crown on top of your head. You just barely touched Will’s finger tips before they dragged you away.

“I want to see Will,” you said, sounding far away. “Let me see Will.”

They didn’t bother answering you. You started to cry quietly, shaking your head.

“We are going to do a ritual!” Pelle said, holding your hand.

“Where’s Will?”

“You are the May Queen. He will not be harmed if you so wish.” You shook your head.

“Leave him alone.” Pelle nodded and gestured for Will to come forward. You grabbed his arm and he looked you up and down. How did this dress of flowers get on you? “Don’t leave me,” you said to him, slurring your words.

“I won’t. We’ll stay together.” You looked around at the people around you. They were smiling at you, hanging off of your every movement. You took a deep breath and suddenly didn’t feel the need to hide from them.

They were like a family. Like the one you should have had.

“We’ll stay,” you said convicted.

“Huh?”

“We’ll stay.”

Hannibal Tag List: @michaelmyersthestabbyboi

@elisaa-shelby

[myhauntedsalem]

14 Haunting Facts About the Winchester Mystery House

Despite the Winchester Mystery House’s cheerful appearance, this massive California mansion’s history is edged with tragedy, mystery and maybe some ghosts. Naturally, it has inspired a chilling horror movie, Winchester, which opens in theaters today. But before you go to the movie theater, wander through the curious past of one of America’s most infamous homes.

1. THE WINCHESTER HOUSE IS NAMED FOR ITS MISTRESS.

Sarah Lockwood Winchester—the wife of gun magnate William Wirt Winchester, whose family created the Winchester rifle that was heraldedas “the gun that won the west”—designed and oversaw the construction of the sprawling Queen Anne-style Victorian mansion that bears her name. Construction on the 24,000-square-foot home, which is located at 525 South Winchester Boulevard in San Jose, California, began in 1886.

2. MANY BELIEVE SARAH BUILT WINCHESTER HOUSE OUT OF FEAR.

Overcome with grief in the wake of her husband’s death from tuberculosis in 1881, folklore states that Sarah sought out a spiritualist who could commune with the dead. While she was presumably looking for solace or closure, she was instead given a chilling warning.

Through the medium, William told his widow that their tragedies (the couple had only one child, a daughter named Annie, who died at six weeks old) were a result of the blood money the family had made off of the Winchester rifles. He warned that vengeful ghosts would seek her out. In order to protect herself, William said that Sarah must “build a home for [herself] and for the spirits who have fallen from this terrible weapon.”

Sarah was advised to leave their home in New Haven, Connecticut, behind, and move west, where she was to build a grand home for the spirits. There was just one catch: construction on the house could never stop. “If you continue building, you will live,” the medium warned Sarah. “Stop and you will die.”

3. THE HOUSE WAS UNDER CONSTANT CONSTRUCTION FOR 38 YEARS.

In 1886, Sarah purchased an eight-room farmhouse in San Jose, California, and began building. She employed a crew of carpenters, who split shifts so construction could go on day and night, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, for 38 years. The work only stopped on September 5, 1922, because the octogenarian mastermind behind the home died of heart failure in her sleep. It’s said that upon hearing the news of Sarah’s death, the carpenters quit so abruptly they left half-hammered nails protruding from walls.

4. THE HOUSE IS FULL OF ARCHITECTURAL ODDITIES.

Sarah issued many bizarre demands to her builders, including the building of trap doors, secret passages, a skylight in the floor, spider web windows, and staircases that led to nowhere. There are also doors that open to blank walls, and a dangerous door on the second floor that opens out into nothing—save for an alarming drop to the yard far below.

5. AN EARTHQUAKE ONCE RATTLED THE HOUSE AND TRAPPED SARAH.

In 1906, the great San Francisco Earthquake caused three floors of the then seven-story house to cave in. A 1900 postcard of the place shows a tower that was later toppled by the natural disaster. That tower—plus several other rooms destroyed in the disaster—were never rebuilt, but cordoned off. As for Sarah, she was safe but stuck in the Daisy Bedroom, named for the floral motif in its windows. She had to be dug out by her staff, as its entrance was blocked off by rubble.

6. THE HOUSE WAS DESIGNED LIKE A LABYRINTH.

Some say the labyrinth layout was meant to confuse the ghosts, allowing Sarah some peace and a means to escape them. She was the sole architect of this extraordinary home, and no master building plan has ever been uncovered. So Sarah may be the only person who ever truly knew all of its secrets. When movers were called in after her death, one lamented its labyrinthine design that includes many winding hallways. One mover told American Weekly the Winchester House was a place “where downstairs leads neither to the cellar nor upstairs to the roof.”

7. SOME SAY THE SYMBOLS IN THE HOUSE POINT NOT TO GHOSTS, BUT FRANCIS BACON.

An alternate theory on the Winchester House’s perplexing design declares that Sarah was creating a puzzle full of encryptions inspired by the work of English philosopher Francis Bacon. There’s speculation that clues to the house’s true meaning are hidden in the ballroom, the Shakespeare windows, and the iron gates. This theory suggests that Sarah was a member of a mystic society like the Rosicrucians, or a secret society like the Freemasons—or possibly both.

8. THERE ARE OTHER THEORIES, INCLUDING THAT SARAH WAS “CRAZY.”

Others speculate Sarah was coping with her grief with a flurry of activity, or that she was simply “crazy.” However, Winchester Mystery House historian Janan Boehme paints a happier picture, imagining that the continual renovations reminded Sarah of the good times when she and William built their New Haven home together.

“I think Sarah was trying to repeat that experience by doing something they both loved,” Boehme told the Los Angeles Times. She also suspects that Sarah was just an ardent—albeit eccentric—philanthropist who used her family fortune to purposefully employ the San Jose community. “She had a social conscience and she did try to give back,” Boehme offered, noting the hospital Sarah built in her husband’s name. “This house, in itself, was her biggest social work of all.”

9. ONCE IN WINCHESTER HOUSE, SARAH WAS RECLUSIVE, BUT NOT ALONE.

There is only one known photo of the widow Winchester, which was taken surreptitiously. Though she was reclusive, she was never alone. She had 18 servants, 18 gardeners, and the ever-present construction team working on the grounds. Every morning, Sarah met with the foreman to discuss the always-evolving building plans. And it’s said that each night, she visited the Séance Room to speak with the spirits, who weighed in on plans for the house’s unusual design.

10. THE HOUSE WAS AS OPULENT AS IT WAS ODD.

The home boasts 950 doors, 10,000 windows, 40 stairways, 52 skylights, 47 fireplaces, six kitchens, plus a trio of elevators, and once-groundbreaking elements like wool insulation, carbide gaslights, electricity, and an indoor shower, complete with a sewage drainage system.

11. NO ONE IS SURE HOW MANY ROOMS THE HOUSE HELD.

Following Sarah’s death, Winchester House was converted into a tourist attraction. But when trying to get a room count, the new owners kept coming up with different numbers. After five years of renovations, they estimated the number of rooms to be about 160, which is the number most often quoted today.

12. SARAH HAD AN OBSESSION WITH THE NUMBER 13.

Among the secrets Sarah took to her grave was why she insisted that so many things relate to the number 13. The Winchester House has many 13-paned windows and 13-paneled ceilings, as well as 13-step stairways. Even her will had 13 parts, and she signed it 13 times. But the pièce de résistance might be the house’s 13th bathroom, which contains 13 windows of its own.

13. IT’S A NATIONAL LANDMARK.

The Winchester Mystery House earned landmark status on August 7, 1974. The fascinating mansion is still owned by the family (families?) who purchased it from the Winchester estate in 1922 for $150,000—however, their identity is another Winchester House mystery. But thanks to them, tourists can now explore 110 of the 160-some rooms Sarah dreamed up. The Winchester Mystery House even boasts special tours on Halloween and Fridays the 13th.

14. IT’S REGULARLY CITED AS ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTED PLACES IN AMERICA.

To this day, Winchester House is a destination for believers who hope to have a paranormal encounter of their own. A popular spot for such activity is the corridors of the third floor, where tour guides have claimed to hear footsteps and disembodied voices whisper their names.

In a Reddit AMA, a Winchester House tour guide confirmed that the house’s third floor—only a portion of which is accessible during house tours—is definitely the spookiest part of the house, “because that’s where the servants lived, so there’s been a lot of reported activity there. Also, when you are on that floor you can never really hear any of the other tours, so you feel pretty isolated.”

[tomuras-doormat]

Liar (Part 2) - Keigo Takami x F!Reader

Sorry this took so long to finally get this written and published. I didn’t have the motivation for awhile and I wanted to make this one longer than the first one. Please forgive me for the wait! Word Count: 2.5K Warnings: Yandere, Manipulation, Cheating Part 1  Part 3

You had woken up around 9:30 am the next morning. You spent your mornings cooking breakfast for yourself and doing a little cleaning around the house. However this morning was different. Keigo was in the kitchen making breakfast, it shocked you a little. Keigo always said he liked when you cooked the meals because he liked the sight of you being domestic. Keigo turned around and smiled at you. “Hey there baby bird, I made your favorite.” 

You stared at him in confusion. It’s not like you’re upset about him cooking for you, you were more confused on why he was. You walked up to him and put the back of your hand to his forehead. Keigo turned around a bit and smiled. “What’s up baby bird? Something wrong?” There was something in his tone that you couldn’t quite pick up on but you gave a warm smile. “Nothing honey..” you said softly. Keigo smiled and went back to cooking. You didn’t know why he was acting so domestic, but you couldn’t say you didn’t enjoy it. What girl doesn’t want their boyfriend to cook for them from time to time?  You smiled at the idea of Keigo possibly being home more often to cook for you. “What’s all this about?” you asked. Keigo hummed to himself, completely ignoring your question. You sat down at the table and looked at you phone, a frown coming to your face as you open your phone to a figure of you and Keigo. 

You had completely forgotten about last night, but now that you remembered you had to think of a way on how to bring it up to him. Think of a way that you could talk about this without it ending in a big fight. You swallowed hard and set your phone down. “Did you eat the chicken I bought last night? I was gonna take it to your office but I figured you’d be busy..” you said softly. You looked up quickly as you heard Keigo scoff. “Don’t play dumb with me Y/N, I know you saw last night.” You eyes widened, how could he have known? You made sure you were as quiet as possible. You started to panic as Keigo let out a soft chuckle. “Don’t worry baby bird, I’m not mad. Actually I’m quite happy you aren’t mad. You really love me, huh?” So he wasn’t mad at you. You smiled and nodded your head, “Of course I love you! I don’t want to be with anyone but you Keigo!” The blonde nodded his head and hummed softly. “I’m glad you think that because, even if you did want to leave-” 

He paused to turn around and look at you, a creepy smile spread across his face and a scary look in his eyes. 

“I wouldn’t have let you.”

✰ ✰ ✰ 

Keigo had spent all day being extra cuddly with you. It was weird having your boyfriend be around during the day but you weren’t about to complain. It wasn’t often you got to spend time together like this so you weren’t going to waste it. You two were cuddled up on the couch watching a movie, don’t ask for the name cause you don’t remember. It was some cheesy romance horror movie. “You remember Endeavor right?” 

How could you not remember the number 1 Hero? 

You nodded a bit and looked down at Keigo. “Well he’s hosting a party later tonight and I want you you go with me.” the blonde said smiling up at you. You eyes widened. “Tonight..?! What time..?” You had to make yourself somewhat presentable if you were going to be in front of so many heroes. “Oh don’t worry babe. We can show up whenever. Why, you trying to impress someone?” You shook you head quickly as his eyes narrowed. “Of course not honey! I only want to impress you..” you said softly. Keigo smiled at your eagerness and laid his head back into you lap. “I know baby bird, I was just teasing.” You looked back up at the TV and ran your fingers through his hair, the movie has already ended, but Keigo was quick to choose a new one. This time he chose a Sci-fi movie, some alien invasion movie. So many thoughts were running through your head you had no intention of watching the movie. 

What dress are you going to wear? Will you have time to shave your legs? What if you people ask you questions about you and Keigo..?

You remember Keigo saying he didn’t tell any Pro Heroes about you two being together to keep you safe. Do you say you’re just a friend? You shook your head a bit. You couldn’t think about that right now. You didn’t know when the party started, but if Keigo wasn’t worried then you shouldn’t be either, right? You looked down at Keigo again and smiled as he nuzzled his head into your plush thighs. You were so happy to be with him that you almost forgot that he even cheated on you. Almost.

✰ ✰ ✰

You were running around the room trying to find the perfect jewelry to match your dress. Keigo had picked out your dress while you were taking a shower and honestly you were happy he did. You wouldn’t have to waste anytime picking out a dress for yourself. It was a beautiful long purple dress that had mesh layers of blue and pink that almost made it seem like it was glowing. It had little flowers over the midsection and a corset backing. 

Rummaging through your jewelry boxes you finally found a pair of earrings and a necklace that fit the dress perfectly. They were dangly golden earrings with butterflies on the end, the inside of the butterfly being filled with a light pink stone. The necklace matched the earrings perfectly and added nicely to the dress. You walked over to the closet and looked through your shoes. Your eyes landed on a pair of glittery silver heels and you smiled. They didn’t exactly match the dress, but it didn’t matter because the dress would cover the shoes perfectly. You grabbed the pair of heels and walked over to the bed. You sat down and looked up as the door opened. You smiled as you saw Keigo, he smiled backed and walked over to you. “Wow, you look beautiful baby bird.” You blushed and looked down, strapping up the heels. 

“You look handsome as well honey.” you said as you stood up. Keigo was wearing a black suit with a light purple tie that matched your dress. It’s been so long since you’ve dressed up and actually gone out with Keigo. Excited was too small of a word to describe what you were feeling. “Let’s go babe or we’ll be late” Keigo said as he took a hold of your hand. He lead you out of the room and took you through the house, all the way to the front door. He grabbed the keys and opened the door for you, stepping out into the chill air of night you brought your hand to wrap around your arms. Keigo stepped out of the house and closed the door, “Hope you don’t mind flying tonight baby.” You gasped as he picked you up princess style and took off into the air. We were seriously going to fly there? We couldn’t take a car or something?! You clung onto Keigo’s jacket and closed your eyes tightly.

It’s not that you didn’t trust his flying or anything, you knew he wouldn’t do anything to put you in harm. He already tried that once and it didn’t end well. You sniffled and looked up at him as you felt him rub your back. Keigo wasn’t looking at you but you could still see the smile on his face which brought a soft smile to your own. You laid your head on his chest and looked around at the buildings. There were no stars out because of the bright city lights, but it all still looked so beautiful. 

After a couple minutes of flying, Keigo finally landed in front of a tall building. He set you down gently and trapped your hand in his, guiding you into the beautiful building. So this is what Endeavor’s Agency building looked like. Of course it was decorated for the party so it wouldn’t normally look like this. You looked around and swallowed hard, man there was a lot of people here. Keigo chuckled as you grip tightened, “Don’t worry baby bird, I’ll do all the talking.” You looked up at him and nodded a bit. “Now smile babe, gotta look pretty for everyone, right?” You flashed Keigo a soft smile and he rubbed your cheek, “Good girl.” 

✰ ✰ ✰

You lost him. You two were walking through a crowd when your hands got pulled apart. So there you stood; frightened, alone, and trembling in the middle of a large crowd. You took and deep breath and looked around. First step is to get out of this crowd. You go on your tippy toes and look for any noticeable features. You eyed up some large windows and you began your small journey through the crowd. If you could get to a clearing then you could find Keigo or he could find you. 

As you wiggled your way through the crowd, soft mumbles of “excuse me” and “sorry” left your lips the whole time. You did it though, mission accomplished. You moved as far away as you could from the crowd and looked around. Where could he have gone? You’d yell for him but you were too afraid to. What if he thought you went off on your own so he just continued on his trip? You walked over to a table and saw it had all kinds of drinks and food on it. There were bottles of alcohol on the table but you knew Keigo would have a fit if you drank, at least without him. You scanned the table and decided to have a couple of chocolate covered strawberries. You’ve had regular ones, but you’ve never had ones with chocolate one them. Keigo said chocolate was bad for your skin. 

You looked around and made your way to an empty couch. It was a pretty red velvet couch with golden trim. You sat down on the couch and ran your hand around the arm, feeling which direction the velvet was soft and which was rough. You jumped a bit as someone landed on the couch roughly, moving it back a bit on the one side. You turned to look at who had landed so hard and your eyes widened. It was Keigo, and that girl from his office was on top of him. You froze as you watched their intense makeout session. You opened your mouth but no sound came out, it was too dry. You look down at the floor and bite your bottom lip. Did today mean nothing to him? Were all the “I love you’s” fake? You looked back over as you heard the slight clanking of Keigo’s belt. Everything burned. Your chest, your eyes, your throat, everything. Keigo probably wouldn’t notice that you left the party until he was about to leave. He’d get pissed if you went home and you knew he would. You shakily stood up and slowly made your way to another empty area of the party, a small area next to the large staircase. 

You sat down on the ground and pulled your knees to your chest. You buried your head into your arms and started to silently cry. If Keigo liked her so much why didn’t he just leave you?  It’s not like you had anything special. Your body wasn’t even half of what hers looked like, she had to have a good income to afford what she was wearing; unless Keigo bought it for her as well. You lifted your head up and wiped your tears away, Keigo would get angry if he saw that you had been crying. You laid your head on your arms and sniffled as the image of those two played on loop in your mind. It’s been about 3 months since you and Keigo were intimate last, did you stop when she came around? Was she really that much better? Who were you kidding, of course she was. She was perfect in your eyes and his. 

It had been about 3 hours and you fell asleep where you were. It was uncomfortable but you still managed to fall asleep. You groaned as you felt light tapping on your cheek. You rubbed your eye and looked up a bit; Keigo. “Hey there baby bird, is this where you’ve been hiding?” he said with that stupid smile on his face. You looked down and nodded a bit. “Well the party is ending so how about we head back, that sound good?” You sniffled and looked up to see him holding a hand out to you. You took his hand and he pulled you to your feet. “Hey what’s wrong baby bird, something upsetting you?” asked the blonde man. You looked up at him and shook you head, “No, everything is ok..” you said softly. “Then smile for me pretty girl, you know how much I love when you smile.” he said with that same fake smile. You flashed him another soft smile and took his hand in yours.

“Good girl.”

. . * . * . . * .✰☾ Tags ☽ ✰. * * . . * . * . .

@darkbonklightkid​ @soft-levi-girl-blog @shadoweepingscream @the-cosmic-dreamer

[antigoneidk]

Save me|arvin russel

based on this request: Hey! I just came accross your Arvin Fic and I loved it very much. Could you do one where the reader’s family just moved in and they’re neighbours with the Russel’s and reader happens to become Lenora’s bestie and she has a crush on Arvin but he’s already dating but he also happens to develope feelings for the reader but he’s always cold towards her like whenever they run into eachother at church or when their families are hanging out together and the reader assumes he dislikes her but one day her parents fix her marriage with a guy and she doesn’t like cuz he’s a jerk so one time at a family dinner the reader’s dad is planning to announce her engagement reader asks Arvin for help and the sneak out to a dark hallway in the house and make out cuz they know the guy was following them and Chase him away and then they confess? Omg this was long I’m sorry lol 😅 But you’re an amazing writer. Much love♥️

a/n: thanks again for the request and your sweet words❤this took me a lot of time to write lol didn’t know that it’ll take this long.

word count: 4k

I opened my eyes, my eyesight still blurry from the nap I took moments ago. The sunlight burnt my eyes, like someone threw hot oil to my eyes. My six-year old brother moved slightly in my arms but continued his sleep. I wanted to stretch my legs as they felt sore and heavy after almost seven hours inside this car, on the other hand I didn’t want to bother the little boy that looked so peaceful and innocent in his sleep. So I leaned my head to the window and admired the trees-it seemed like an endless forest-all moving fast from where I was.

We were moving in a new city, miles away from our hometown. My parents thought it was for the best, a new start for us, new people, new experiences. I wasn’t looking forward to this change in our lives, in mine-especially this quick. I loved my routine back there, my three girlfriends, our neighbors, the park only two minutes away from our house, my little room, my escape from the real world, the old lady that greeted me with a smile on her lips every day while I was making my way to school.

I knew deep inside me that there was a reason, serious one to be exact. How did they find a house so fast in a town that I’m sure they had no idea that existed, or why they never talked about this topic in the house, or discuss it with their kids. And why they didn’t pack all of our things, why they didn’t sell the house, how did they found the money to buy the other one, why so far away from my comfort zone. So many questions were running through my mind, the pain from all the thinking making me sick.

I scanned my two parents in the front seats. They looked completely out of this world, so blank. My mum had her arm outside of the car, letting the cold air hit her fingers with the few rings that adorned them. Her hair in a ponytail-her favorite hairstyle-pulling the skin on her face a little back. She wasn’t old at all although her eyes were always tired, red, puffy, like our grandmother, her mum. However the rest of her face looked softer, giving the idea of a sweet lady, something that wasn’t so true.

I turned to the man next to her. Our dad had his one hand on the steel, the other outside of the window, his fingers holding the cigarette tight. His eyes were nailed on the road, his lips pursed the whole time, his hair pulled back, his jaw sharper than a knife, his figure tough, no emotions, a portrait of a man after a war.

They were people that hid very well love, happiness, pain, sadness, sympathy. At this point I was convinced that they never fell in love, but how they ended up together was a mystery-and that’s how it remained. Maybe there was a deep connection between the two of them and only for them. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was a mistake that they had to pay for-me getting into this world. Maybe it was never their choice.

Towards me and my brother there was no difference. Not that they were bad to us, or showed any sort of violence. But we never got to experience that kind of love from our parents, the warm hug after a horrible nightmare, that bright smile wherever we did good in school, the beautiful weekends with family dinners, the love between family members. It was more like a competition of who had the bigger ego, who could survive the loneliness, who could handle their emotions only to them selves.

My little brother had lost years ago. I thank God every day that he didn’t turned to a small emotionless monster but to a sensitive soul, a kind young man that had manners and shared everything with me, from a accident he had at the park to his biggest fears that scared him to the maximum. He was my weakness, my everything, the reason I stayed with our family when I had the chance to run away, the reason I want to finish school and run away with him for a future he deserves. But he was still six years old-I had to be quick.

“We are here" dad’s croaky voice woke me up from my lethargy. I stared at the house in front of us. It seemed smaller from our previous one, the style reminding me the house our grandparents live in. Also it looked old enough to get destroyed by a small thunderstorm and rip our heads in half, the front wooden door opened for everyone to enter.

“Hey baby, we’re home" his eyes opened slowly, his small arms squeezing my waist for a moment before his body sat straight, his gaze facing the building in front of us. Our parents had left the car already, leaving the two of us alone. I could sense his excitement for our next adventure in a new town-yet his fear of this unexpected change, just like me.

“It’s going to be fun, come on" I tried to sound as enthusiastic as possible to help his mood to cheer up even more. I opened the door and got out, the warm sun hitting my bare legs and arms, my black dress covering the rest of my body. I stretched my sore body, feeling my back cracking and the pain flying away. I closed the door and made my way to the inside of our new home, the pain in my stomach getting intense with every step of mine, a bad intuition holding me back.

I walked up the stairs holding his hand tight in mine. As soon as I stepped inside I wanted to run miles away. The walls were paint in a grey color, reminding me of the cloudy days where I’d stay inside my room, dreaming about life, or thinking of ways that I can change it, or wondering about my soulmate, who’s walking on this earth, breathing the same air, watching the same sky as I, how he’d look like, how he’d come into my life and drag me to places I probably don’t know.

“Can you show us our room?” I asked my dad the time I saw him standing in front of the fireplace, in the living room-I supposed this was it. He turned for a moment and scanned us from head to toe, it was a thing he liked doing often, but I never succeeded on reading his thoughts whenever he did it. Was he proud of us, was he disappointed, was he angry with the fact that he created two individuals that had nothing in common with him? Only God knew.

Without any words he got closer only to pass us and take a few steps before stopping outside a closed door, the one out of the other three that they were there. He opened the door and waited for us to enter. My brother let go of me and ran towards the room while i followed him with slower steps.

It wasn’t as big as my other one, and surely didn’t looked like the place I could ran to. I didn’t like the vibes it gave me, I was trapped in cell with no possible exit. I was sad and not in my safe place. The color on the four walls, faded yellow with a few shades of orange combined with the light outside, made it warmer than the rest of the house and more friendly-I couldn’t deny it-still I didn’t liked it.

I got out of the room and walked my way out, not wanting to spend more time inside. That’s where I found my mum and two other women-the one seemed in my age-talking. I stayed in my place keeping my eyes in them. Both were smiling, lovely people. The older lady, in a white dress and black shoes, had her short white/grey hair in a hairstyle I saw for the first time but it looked good. Her hands down her chest, giving me the impression of a woman with a hard past and strong personality that has had overcome a lot of obstacles. Her face with wrinkles mostly around the area of her eyes testified the tiredness after all of this years. The girl next to her, with a blue dress, had her red hair down her shoulders just all of the teenage girls, including myself. She had her arms next to her body and her right leg on the top of the left leg, probably because of the awkwardness or shyness. However, she watched my mother with respect and maybe in awe I wasn’t sure. And that’s when our eyes met and she smiled my way. I did too and started walking to her anticipating to hear her voice.

“Hello" I said and stood next to my mum and her. “I’m y/n"

“Hi I’m Lenora" she introduced her self, her voice calm and sweet, and extended her hand. I copied her movement and shook her soft hand, suddenly a warm wave hitting my body and relief every bad thought. I joined the rest of them trying to keep up with them for a while before starting another conversation with the new girl. I learnt a few things about her, that her mother was dead and probably her dad too even if she had faith that they’d meet one day. The day her mother died, she was a baby and Emma, the lady next to her, was the one in charge for raising her as she was the last one that saw her mother alive. She visited the church every Sunday and her mother’s grave everyday. It was a sad story of a girl that brought so much light with her appearance.

“And this is my brother Arvin right there" she turned behind her and showed me a boy, a few years older than us, standing outside of his front door and staring at us. He had one inside of his pockets and the other one next to him, bringing close to his lips every now and then so that he can suck on his cigarette. He had a hat on his head, covering half of his face. His body structure draw the figure of a boy-or a young man-that seemed distant from other human beings-also ready to fight everyone that prevent him from his goals. “He isn’t as friendly but he is a kind soul trust me. Hey Arvin come here"

He hesitated to come to us and assumed that maybe he didn’t want us there. I didn’t want to be there either but at least I wasn’t as rude as him. After a long time he finally threw his cigarette away and got closer. From the way he walked I could tell that he was the bad guy, the boy that no one messed with. And for a second I wondered if Lenora was lying to me.

“Arvin this is y/n” he took his time to check me from head to toe, not sure if he looked at me as a threat for his little sister or as a threat for himself. They don’t treat new people well, that’s what my friends have told me back in town. They will make sure that you gonna have the worst time living there, it’s in their mindset.

“Hey" I said trying to sound friendly, also distant and cold to match his way. His brown eyes locked with mine sending terror and fear to every cell of my body, my heart beating so loud, my breath desperately trying to let go of my lungs. I swallowed the air and bit my tongue inside of my mouth suddenly not knowing how to act, what to say, why he bought all those bad feelings. I wanted to move my lips, but it was like my system had shut down, not compromise with the commands my brain gave.

“Come inside, Jessica is waiting alone" he spoke to Lenora in a low adjective voice and with a strong accent, ignoring my existence now. “ It’s not right" he added after a while taking a cigarette out of his pocket. I watched as his fingers made a curve around the white death-that’s how I liked to call it-placed it to his rough lips. There was some dirt in them, his veins popping up blue against his pale skin.

“You’re right. Um..y/n do you want to meet Jessica, his girlfriend? She is just a year older than us but she would love you. And I think that she is also from where you’re from, right Arvin?” he had a girlfriend? He was able to fall in love? People that were in love weren’t supposed to be softer, kinder? All the books I had in my purple room gave me that impression of the world. Were the writers lying?

“Thank you but I don’t feel so good, probably from the trip. Maybe I need some sleep, but I’ll see you around right?” I asked.

She nodded her head with a smile and followed her brother on the opposite side. I noticed how huge influence he had on her, how she obeyed him with no hesitation, how she walked behind him like a lost puppy, how fast she got inside after he glanced back at me one more time and said something to her, knowing I wouldn’t listen to his judgment. I left the two ladies alone and met my brother outside our door, staring back at the house next to us. He had his arms crossed and a dead stare reminding me of our dad.

“What is it?” he left his arms fall and moved his eyes to my silhouette that stood next to him. I cupped my hand to his cheek and rubbed my thumb against his smooth childish skin.

“I don’t like him" he said feeling my terror, reading my thoughts. I pressed his head to my waist and hugged half of his small body, unexpectedly a warm wave of protectiveness hugging my spirit and creating a shield around us. I knew that if this young man was older he would have done a scene just because of the vibes he got from Arvin, or any Arvin. Unfortunately his petite form couldn’t help him at that moment.

“I don’t either"

______

A few weeks had passed, Lenora and I had got closer for my surprise. No that we were the same, our mindsets were completely different, our perspectives in a situation wouldn’t match as I thought they would-she was more innocent that me, with no experiences at all-yet she was the sweetest person I had met, the only one that wanted to learn about me, my interests, my opinions about certain topics, my favorite food, my music taste, my life back in my hometown, my friends.

Even at church, she was always next to me, giving me information for all of the people inside, the preacher, the couple in front of us, the older men in the back. She talked with nothing but lovely words-even for the people that had hurt her- and I really appreciated that from her.

Arvin-on the other hand-was nothing like his sister. He kept his cold-hearted manners towards me, my family. Never giving attention to any of us, usually standing some feet away with a cigarette between his lips and his signature pose, his hands inside his pockets and his head looking straight ahead.

But what attracted me to him was his way to travel with his mind and completely forget about the rest of the world. How difficult his expressions were to read, how his eyes softened for a moment, how he suffered in silence, how helpless, weak he seemed, how he was losing control and the powerful personality he present to the rest of us. I would stare at him for where the others were talking and taking notes of every of his movements in the back of my head. And he would scratch his nose, that’s how I knew his mind was back at his problems, and he would see me. And every time I would take my eyes away as fast as possible and look at the ground or my shoes, sending shivers down my spine and that unwelcoming vibe of his. However I wanted to approach him, willing to listen, help. A mysterious thing was calling me, it was scary, new, dangerous, also getting my adrenaline higher than ever, the feeling fascinating me.

“The Russel’s are gonna be here any time soon. Get yourselves ready" our mum announced leaving our room without closing the door on her way out. I exhaled loud and left my book by my side, scanning the wall at the top of me. I didn’t want any interaction with people tonight, especially with them, him. My body didn’t listen, just stayed in my bed, not eager on moving any time soon, paralyzed. I was shaking in the thought of being in the same house as him, his aura was bad for me, and especially my little boy that had so much in his mind but couldn’t express them how he wanted, like a grown man.

I put on my white dress and let my hair down. With every second that passed I said a prayer for something to happen and this dinner to get canceled-just what I was doing when I helped my mother set the dinner. But as soon as I heard my father talking, greeting our neighbors, I knew that it was pointless.

I greeted Lenora with a smile and a warm hug the pressure falling off of my shoulders. Then Emma and Earskell followed and after them Arvin. He was wearing his blue jeans as usual and a black shirt. He had his arms in his back pockets at the same time he walked inside giving me nothing but a short look and then smiling slightly at my parents.

I tried to avoid watching him for the rest of the night, still he was the main star in their conversation, always talking with his rough, low voice, giggling with some adult’s jokes, shifting on his chair a little when something would upset him. He had placed his arms on the table, showing his big muscles. Bet Jessica had her time of her life with those.

I couldn’t concentrate to what the girl next to me was saying anymore, or pay any attention to what they other ones were saying. It was only him that was running through my mind and how would I get him to notice me for more that just a second. How would I get closer to him, actually have a conversation like I do with his sister, how could I make him see that I am not a threat.

God, he had his way of dragging my eyes to him, be the worst person, a loser that had all my attention with no effort. An asshole that did nothing but hurting me with his awful attitude. And I would still search for him everywhere, thirsty for his hatefulness, his disdainful looks.

“Are you listening to what I’m saying?” the young boy at the corner of the room threw his pencil towards my way and hit my face, close enough to my eye. I made a grimace and put my fingers at the top of my cheek, while looking at my brother with wonder. He had his lips apart and seemed furious from where I was.

“Why did you hit me?” I asked.

“Mum said that you have to go on the living room. We’re having guests"

“Who?”

“The Russel’s and some others but I don’t know them. They look kind of scary to me"

Here we go again.

I left my room with him beside me. I tried to prepare my self, inside and out, not so much for the new people that had visited us, but mostly for Arvin even though I knew that he wouldn’t laid his eyes my way. I did have hope that one day I’d make this dream come true, but until then I couldn’t do anything else than waiting and anticipating.

When I entered the room, and while I was expecting to almost get ignored from all of them, my mum stood up from the sofa and walked to us. I saw a smile coming from her lips, something that she never did with me, my heart beating fast from all the unexpected warmth I felt from her.

“And this our daughter y/n. Come sit with us, she was studying so that’s why she was late. This is our new guests, Mr. Agapov and his son Julio” my dad introduced me to the two men, me still being in shock due to his lies and his happy mental state and not actually listen to their names. It took me some time to take my eyes from my parents and notice who they were. And I wish I never did.

Julio Agapov. Probably the stupidest guy I have ever met in my life. A miserable kid that knew nothing but how to slip under a girl’s skirt and take advantage of that for his enjoyment. He never respected a woman’s body, he didn’t know how to treat a girl right, the path to her heart and mind. He was the jerk that would whistle while you’re pass him, the boy-that thought he was a man-that changed girls like shirts, or maybe even often than that.

“We know each other, we’re going to the same school" I heard him talking. “She’s very nice girl, despite the fact that we didn’t hang out a lot. My friends always talk about the “new face" of our school” he turned to me and winked, making my stomach flip inside me.

“Well take that as an opportunity to learn things for her from now on" the older man next to him, his father, said and lots of questions passed my brain at a fast speed. Why would we get to hang out now? Why would he get to know me? What was the reason behind this? How my parents learnt for their family?

“Excuse me?” I wondered and looked at all of them. “Can someone please explain to me what is happening? Why would he get to know me now?” I asked my father and for a second he dropped his mask before putting in back on, calmly.

“You’re getting married y/n. Everything’s ready except from some small details. Julio is your soon to be- husband now and you’re committed to him and no one else”

I felt like an item with no soul like a painting that was useless and dusty hung on a wall and was getting ready to be sold. I was standing there speechless, helpless. So that was the reason for all of the moving here? For me to get out of their way with a man that surely didn’t want me far away from my home? Miles apart from my little brother that needed me the most now, my friends that were the ones that really accepted me? Shouldn’t I get to choose who I’m going to let into my life? Into me? Shouldn’t I be the only one that had the right to select my man? Shouldn’t I get to fall in love first?

“No" that was all that my voice could say under my breath. No I didn’t want Julio Agapov. I didn’t want to let this man to be my first. I didn’t want him to touch me or kiss me, hug me. He wasn’t the one I imagined before getting to bed. He wasn’t the boy I was in love with. And he never would be.

I left this crowded room to join mine in a matter of seconds. I didn’t care that it might seemed rude or anything close to that. I felt cheap and humiliated by my own family. I never expected from them to do such a thing as this. I knew that they did not care as much, and it was alright now after all these years, but this had topped the line.

It wasn’t that much long when the door opened and the person that even my imagination couldn’t handle stepped inside and the aura changed quicker than expected. Always with those goddamned jeans, his dark blue, almost black hat at the top of his head and a packet of cigarettes hanging from his right pocket.

“What are you doing here?”

Y/n had a really normal question but Arvin didn’t know the answer to it. What was he doing there? Why he went there at the first place? Wasn’t he going to smoke?

“Are you okay?” he asked in return. She looked down at her feet and laughed. It sounded funny to her how he asked this when he already knew the answer. She was getting married to a boy she didn’t want so that her parents can have less in their mind. She was feeling great.

“You don’t care" she got up from her bed and walked to the window. Y/n felt him seconds later next to her, copying her movements.

“No I don't” he agreed with her statement. Yet, he felt the need to protect her, just like he did with Lenora all of these years, in a way that he didn’t know how to explain. She was the only one that could make him feel that to his bones. There were endless nights that he would stay up and analyze his emotions just so he can find what was causing him that and how he would fight it. Every night though was like an dead end road with no possible exits.

Both of them kept their eyes on the trees across them. She felt protected now the Arvin was there with her. Her heart was going crazy, her mind went wild. He had threw all of her fears away, she was feeling nice, capable of anything. And if he would ask her to follow him in a different city, away from them, she would say yes a million times. He had an influence to her thinking, the power to control her.

“Why are you here Arvin?” he was now focusing on her and her lips that had let out his name so lovely and beautiful. It surprised him the fact that he held his breath for a moment really without knowing, unconscious of his reactions.

It didn’t take a lot for her to take the courage to kiss him, the sensation of her lips against his waking up the butterflies on her stomach. Y/n felt the four walls falling, everyone disappear and a force taking her to another dimension.

His hands pulled her waist closer to his body, her fingers travelling from his neck to his chest and back. Their tongues intertwined, their kiss turning more to a little fight. He didn’t know why. Why he was doing that and why he was feeling like that but he enjoyed it. He liked how she was leaning against his body, how her fingers burnt his skin, how his tongue explored her mouth, how he wanted more.

Her fantasies weren’t even close to what she was experiencing now. How safe she was inside his embrace, how everything seemed far away from her, how her blood was boiling through her veins, the need of more knocking at her door.

None of them knew that Julio was watching them. What his mind was thinking, how he suddenly he needed y/n his, to take revenge of Arvin, to see y/n suffer. He was a bad person that never thought of the consequences that his actions had. He was taught to always get what he desired one way or another. And this moment was one like the rest. He was going to get y/n either she liked it or not.

“Please save me” that was what she whispered to him when they pulled from each other. They both needed to save one another.

[itsmyara]

Playing Cards (SFW Fanfic)

Pairing: Chrollo/Machi (yep!)

Word Count: 1.7 k

Warning: Hisoka acting psycho.

Note: I've recently talked about Kuromachi with @takkarulz and it reminded me of this VERY old fic. It was supposed to be the first chapter of a story about Hisoka's first mission with the Troupe but I don't think I'm gonna continue it. Oh, and it was originally written in Portuguese, so maybe something got lost in translation. I hope not but sorry if it did!

The prey was aware of the bloodlust that emanated from his pores. Hisoka was bored when he felt that random aura and left in pursuit. Granted, it wasn’t a strong aura, but the relative abstinence made him lower his criteria. Any less-than-a-minute fight would offer some relief. The prey was already running ahead, looking back at him now and then in despair. He was sweating, breathing heavily, tripping over his own feet. It was a shame. Even so, the predator felt that in that aura there was an impulse to try to fight back, a courage that could spring from adrenaline and give him some precious extra time to live.

He focused entirely on instilling fear in him, as a favor to awaken that trace of hidden strength, and as a favor for his own sadism.

Fear and death roamed the desolate streets at night, accompanied only by concrete walls, garbage cans overturned by mangy dogs, and abandoned souls, drunken and empty, who wouldn’t dare to approach the source of that terrifying bloodlust.

Hisoka's expression was already inhuman.

The victim turned a corner, looked around, started to run faster. Perhaps he was close to home and struggled to reach it, with that false feeling that at home he would be safe. Poor fool. The predator licked his lips, he wouldn’t allow the prey to gain distance from him. In fact, he didn’t intend to let him free for too long.

Thirsty for action, Hisoka dashed and jumped to reach him faster but when he was in mid-air, something stopped his body, suspending it far from the ground, and a third presence was revealed. A woman fell gracefully in front of him and as soon as her feet touched the ground, her hands pulled a thread, making him realize that the trap had tightened around his body.

The pink-haired woman boldly stepped between him and his victim, and when she looked up and glared at him, her blue eyes were unfazed by his bloodlust. The victim stopped for a moment to try to understand what had happened, but he wasn't stupid enough to stay.

Soon it was only he and her.

Hisoka smiled and sought a comfortable position within her trap. It was worth exchanging the weak prey for that woman who either mastered zetsu very well or knew how to take advantage of his distraction to catch him. Either way, she was incomparably stronger.

“Well, well... and who are you?” His voice sounded mischievous as his eyes sparkled, studying her carefully.

She kept him in her threads without difficulty, as they crossed the deserted street trapped to the side of two buildings, forming a web that closed around him in the center. A spider web. She was skilled and agile to prepare that engineering in such a short time. Besides this, she also had that delightful demeanor. So under control. So cold. So full of an unshakable self-confidence. It wasn’t someone to be thrown away. Maybe he would keep her to play with, little by little, instead of killing her at once.

“I have a message from the boss,” when she said those words, Hisoka understood and closed his eyes. He definitely would have to save her for later. “Midnight at the sanctuary of St. Levi. If you’re too busy hunting mice, you will suffer the consequences.”

A crooked smile grew on the magician's face. Suffering the consequences was what he wanted the most, but not in the way they used to apply them.

“Will the boss be there?” He asked, but his question was ignored.

“I think you can get out of there alone.”

It was the last thing she said before disappearing into the night.

There was a possibility that Chrollo would attend the meeting, but there was also the possibility that it would end up being just another spiders’ meeting that would kill him with boredom at once. He had recently joined the Phantom Troupe for a single purpose, and so far he had successfully avoided childish robberies and meaningless missions, no matter who showed up to try to intimidate him.

An Ace of Hearts took shape between his fingers and he used it to slash the tangled threads that held him. To his surprise, not all of them broke on the first blow, demanding one or two more hits for him to break free completely.

He thought that maybe this time it would be worth it to show up at the meeting if she were there.

***

Their current hideout was a mansion away from the city and with a reputation for being haunted. The abandonment of the building made it cold and fragile, but there was a certain beauty in all those aged memories left by the corners, and in the way nature was taking over the place little by little. In a few years, the creeping plants will probably take it over completely.

Machi entered through the backdoor absolutely quietly, just in case. Soon she realized that there was someone in the basement and she walked down the stairs, equally silent, to find Chrollo sitting on an old wooden chest. By candlelight, he analyzed something on a table in front of him.

“Fascinating... whoever lived here, was someone impressive. It is not by chance that this house has a reputation for being haunted,” he whispered when she approached but kept his gray eyes fixed on the objects spread on the table.

In that room, Machi noticed opaque crystals, rusty metal objects that were supposed to serve very specific uses, animal skulls with horns, and some books so old and yellow that she thought they would turn to dust if she looked at them for too long. She stood next to the boss and realized that what captured his attention were cards, similar to a playing deck, but more numerous and richly illustrated even though -- like everything in that basement -- they were in dull colors.

“Did these objects serve any ritualistic purpose? They must be flooded with nen,” the energy of the place was somewhat obscure, and she thought that maybe this is why he felt comfortable there.

“I haven’t found any trace of nen in this basement,” he said, causing a brief expression of surprise in her. Fascinating, really.

Chrollo finally looked at her, his expression calm and pleasant. His eyes were more mysterious and dark than the energy of the place. By far more fascinating. Eyes that caused her the same feeling, again and again, after so many years.

Perhaps because she was so close that he could feel that commotion inside of her, or perhaps because he was feeling comfortable in that environment, he placed one hand on her waist, while the other held some cards.

“Sit here with me, as we used to do when I read to you,” he said, invoking the past and leading her gently so that she sat on his right thigh.

The memory stirred the feelings inside her even more. She was so young when she found him, a beautiful, intelligent and kind boy, as young as she was, who talked to her, played with her, and cared for her. Chrollo was always different from everyone else. He had ended up awakening in her still innocent heart that dream that he was a prince charming and that they would marry someday, even marriage being such an abstract concept in Meteor City. It turned out that the commitment she had made to him was far greater than that of a marriage.

Enjoying the moment, she rested her arm around his shoulders and studied the cards ahead more closely now.

“Are these tarot cards?” She asked, vaguely recognizing a couple of drawings.

“Yes, it’s the most valuable thing I’ve found here. The style is so unique, each card is a work of art by itself.”

Her eyes met an Arcana and she leaned over to pick it up, almost instinctively. The Fool, with his extravagant clothes and gestures, looking at the horizon from the edge of the abyss, projecting himself to it with nothing to hold him back -- from the infinite fall or from the flight to the horizon. Her intuition led her to believe it would be the first option.

“How was it with him?” Chrollo asked, noticing the card she was looking at so attentively.

“He's strong, I ended up having to set a trap with more aura than I've expected,” she replied almost automatically, only managing to return the card at the end of the sentence.

“He wouldn't have listened to you any other way.”

"No," she confirmed, and then they looked at each other. “The decision is yours, danchou, but I wouldn’t trust him.”

“This is why you didn't bring him here. You’ve decided to wait until tomorrow.”

Chrollo hadn’t told her to take Hisoka to him, he had left the option in the hands of her interpretation. Since the magician was one of them, he belonged -- in theory -- to that place with them, and it would have been natural for her to invite him. But it wasn’t.

Machi knew that sometimes Chrollo let her interpret his orders because he trusted her judgment. And in addition to not having taken him to the boss, she also left promptly so as not to be followed.

“You have been more receptive to new members before,” he said softly.

And the fact that he pulled her to him gently to place a kiss on her temple softened his speech even more.

“Sorry, he seemed to have a special interest in you,” she spoke in a slightly serious tone. Intuition. Concern.

Something that made him snicker as his free hand touched her hair.

“Don’t worry too much, Machi.”

That was the end of the subject brought up by the card. Soon he would touch her thigh and his hand would roam her body. Soon he would show her how comfortable he felt, to the point of allowing himself to enjoy the tenderness that Machi dedicated to him right from her lips, her skin, and her embrace.

[sidestone-urban-legends-old]

Sidestone is broken into two areas: the town and the forest. While most people live in the town, it’s not unusual for a few lost souls to live in the forest. Usually those who want to be left alone live in the woods, while those who are more social or lonely and want to fit in live in the town. 

Below you will find a detailed description of some areas that are important to the residents of Sidestone. 

A: Mundane Road

This road is named mundane because that’s what it is. To travel down this road means entering the world of the normal, or at least, what most humans on Earth consider normal.

This road is covered in thick mist. The closer to Sidestone you get, the thicker the mist, to the point where your hands are barely visible in front of your face. This is to keep the residents of Sidestone safe and keeps threats out.

Bless the people who actually manage to navigate the road and enter Sidestone without an invitation.

B: Nightmare Bridge

A creaky, old red bridge that crosses over Nightmare River. The holes in the bottom of the bridge trap the sounds of the roaring river below and make it sound like a thunderstorm on the inside.

Those who enter are spit back out the same side they’ve entered, meaning it’s hard for those outside to enter Sidestone, and those who come in are stuck in the town. The only way to safely make it across Nightmare Bridge is with the help of Thomas, who seems to always sense when there’s a visitor nearby.

C: Sidestone Square

During the day, this looks like just a pile of dirt. However, at night, the sky is lit with floating lanterns, and residents of Sidestone mingle together and converse about their daily lives. Calming grand piano music plays from somewhere, but no one knows from where.

In the center of the square is Spectrum Fountain. The water changes color during the night, making it a dazzling liquid rainbow display. If you stare in it long enough, your true self will stare back.

Festivals are often held in the square, the biggest one being The Autumn Festival. Candy, cakes, and pastries made special for the holidays are often available for anyone to enjoy, and games that capture the spirit of the holiday are scattered throughout.

D: Sidestone Town Hall

This is where Thomas takes all the new residents so that they can get registered to live in Sidestone. The building itself only operates when Thomas is inside, and should you enter when he’s not there, it’s an abandoned ghost building, literally. Better watch your step.

If you are simply visiting Sidestone, you will get a special bracelet that lets the other inhabitants know you are under the protection of Thomas himself and are not to be harmed. Only the wearer or Thomas can remove it. Do not take it off.

This is also where you can go to seek help, whether it be a rowdy neighbor or trouble outside of Sidestone. After all, those who enter Sidestone become part of the family, and family means no one gets left behind.

E: Sidetown

This is the living area of most of the residents of Sidestone, unless they choose to live in the hotel, of course. Most natives to Sidestone will refer to this area as Dead End Lane, because the pathways are surrounded by a high wall, and there’s only one way in and out.

Most of the homes are designed to accommodate their specific inhabitants, so inside the homes may vary. Some have large pools, while others dig under the ground. They all come in various colors, and some even change colors depending on the position of the sun.

For some reason, all the house numbers start with 8.

F: Mom’s

If you’re hungry, Mom’s is the place to go. Hosted by a woman that goes by the name of Mom, this is a restaurant, bakery, hot chocolate, tea, and coffee shop mixed into one. Most of the eating area is outside under a pavilion filled with comfortable seats and tables.

Inside, there are small, private areas for people to sit and relax in by yourself or with a friend. They are often filled with books and toys to stimulate or calm the mind, depending on what you desire.

All of the food and drinks inside are free of charge and all you can eat, so long as you are kind to all the guests who enter this safe space.

G: Stony Playground

The quirky name isn’t for show. All items in this playground are made of stone, from the smooth granite that makes the benches to the gravel that crunches under your feet. The park’s founder, Sarah, designed it to be made of stone in honor of their late wife, who she accidentally turned to stone many years ago. Her wife’s statue stands in the middle of the playground.

The playground features many things you would find on a playground, from slides to swings to a sandbox to a climbing set that towers three stories high. A merry-go-round plays cheerful music as the horses go round and round. 

H: Nightmare River

A winding river that splits the town in half, Nightmare River is the main source of Sidestone’s water supply. Don’t be fooled by its narrow appearance. The river itself is deeper than you can imagine. The main river leaves the town and disappears into Mindscape Forest, where it feeds Nightmare Lagoon with a fresh supply of water every day.

The river splits off and runs through the Sidestone Hotel then goes to an unknown area. Those who have survived being down this part of the river refuse to tell people where it leads, leaving it up to everyone’s imagination.

I: Sidestone Cemetery

Of course, all things have to die, but this cemetery isn’t like the others. This one is more of a memorial than a burial site. The stones that line the cemetery are all names of those who have called Sidestone their home. They are often filled with the names of residents who have been lost over the years, and if you mention their name to some of the older residents of the town, they’ll get rather sad.

However, should someone happen to perish inside of the town, there is a morgue toward the back of the cemetery for those who have passed. To raise the dead from here without permission is strictly forbidden. 

Memorial hours are every day from 9 to 10 pm.

J: Sidestone Hotel

A home for those who are just passing through or disappear from time to time but still visit the town frequent enough to need a place to stay. Run by one of the town’s oldest inhabitants, Cassie, this hotel is the perfect quiet place for travelers to rest their weary bones.

The hotel’s hallways are filled with webbed twists and sticky turns, making it easy for those inside to get lost if they’re not careful. If you do happen to get lost, seek the trail of spiders to guide your way. They are always running to Cassie, who is always in the lobby.

In the middle of the hotel is a lake fed by Nightmare River, offering a place to stay for those who prefer wetter conditions than a hotel room. The small pool of water also doubles as a swimming pool for residents who stay, though it’s swim at your own risk.

The hotel is thirteen floors high, but the doors won’t open on the seventh floor, and those who take the stairs are transported from sixth floor to the eight floor. Rumor has it the resident on that floor does not like to be disturbed.

K: Sidestone Library

Filled with rows and rows of books, the Sidestone Library has five layers and every book known to man. You can either read the books in the cozy reading area on the fifth floor or choose to take them home. All you have to do is find the librarian, Logan, and ask for a library card. 

Every afternoon at exactly 3am on the third floor, a violin will play to entertain guests who like to read to music. The music will be anything from lively to sorrowful, depending on the mood of its player. The music goes on for an hour, when it slowly fades into nothing, much like the person who plays the music. No one knows for sure who is playing the music because no one has ever found them.

L: Sidestone Park

A series of twisting paths that wrap around the center of the town, Sidestone Park is used by those who want to go for a casual stroll or sit in the grassy areas to relax. This is a lovely area to picnic in.

Be mindful of which path you take, for it’s easy to get lost, and it’s hard to find your way out again if you don’t know where you’re going.

M: Sidestone Hospital

For those who are injured accidentally or on purpose, Sidestone is trained to help anyone who enters its doors. While most of the town is inactive during the day, Sidestone Hospital runs 24 hours with a skeleton and ghost crew. The head of the hospital is Mara, a woman with a special talent for creative and often inhumane treatments.

For residents who desire more meaty meals, a cafeteria sits in the basement of the hospital. To enter requires a special key, as Mara doesn’t want to clean up the mess if someone who shouldn’t be there ends up on the wrong floor. She can’t use picked clean bones, after all.

The hospital has ten floors if you don’t count the three floors below the ground. The elevator takes you all the way to the top floor, which is often used to look over the whole town. Residents often go here to watch the full moon rise.

N: Sidestone Theater

A more recent addition to the town, the Sidestone Theater puts on a play for its residents every year on June 15. Mostly filled with volunteers, this three floored theater seats guests of all ages and sizes.

The leader of the theater is a new resident named Roman, who plays most of the main roles, and he is often accompanied by his good friend Janus, who can play practically any part.

The only rule of the theater is to remain quiet while the show is going on, unless you are encouraging the actors. It’s rude to talk during a performance, after all.

O: Sanders Manor

An old Victorian styled home at the mouth of the Mindscape Forest, Sanders Manor has been passed down in the family for generations. Its current owner, Thomas, is responsible for everything you see before you.

The home itself has 99 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, a kitchen with cobwebs, a grand ball with no dancers, a never ending hall that seems to stretch farther than the house, an attic that makes horrific noises in the middle of the night, rooms that are completely upside down, and stairs that seem to lead nowhere. 

Only Thomas knows how to navigate the house, so it’s best to stay with him. You wouldn’t want to get lost in there, after all. He may never find you until it’s too late.

P: Line of Thought Pathways

A series of pathways that winds through Mindscape Forest and lead to Nightmare Beach and Nightmare Lagoon, this trail is only lit by the light of the sun or the moon. The path is long and winding, and it takes a whole day to walk around the whole thing if you stay focused. 

The path itself is made of dirt, and it sometimes disappears after a heavy rainstorm, so it’s a good idea to only travel the path once it’s able to regenerate itself. The pathways also change a lot, so be mindful to where you walk. Sometimes you can see the paths change before your very eyes.

Some mock pathways lead to dead ends, but these are not part of the trail at all. Be mindful if you step onto these tricky paths, for they will abandon you in the woods or lead you in a never ending circle.

If you stray from the path, don’t worry. If Patton takes a shining to you, he’ll gently lead you back to the path without going near you, but don’t thank him for his kindness.

Q: Mindscape Forest

A protective wood that surrounds Sidestone, the Mindscape is made with a thick redwood series of trees. The trees tower almost a mile high, and they are too thick for most people to see around. They are rumored to be over a thousand years old. Some are hallowed out and are turned into homes by its inhabitants, but they must ask the tree for permission to live there.

Those who don’t live in the town and prefer the solitude of a more private life, the residents of Mindscape Forest are as far from normal as you can get. Most choose to live just how they are and not blend into society. The residents themselves range from friendly to malicious, so it’s a good idea not to trust anyone who approaches you unless you know them personally.

Only enter the wood during the day if you don’t live there.

R: Nightmare Beach

A popular resting spot for those who prefer to bathe in the sun, Nightmare Beach is made of pure white sand and surrounds all of Nightmare Lagoon. The sand is always cool to the touch and is always soft. It’s perfect for making sculptures and castles. Just don’t bury anyone in it.

Sometime before the sun sets, there is a person that will sell you ice cream free of charge. They have any flavor you can think of, and they are usually a warning to residents that the sun is setting and it’s time to leave. Their name seems to change every day, but common beach goers refer to them as the Sugar Rush.

S: Nightmare Lagoon

A deep lake in the heart of the woods, Nightmare Lagoon is a bottomless lake that eats the water from Nightmare River. Many creatures inhabit the lake, but the most notorious is a quiet man named Remus, who protects the lake from anyone who should not be in the waters. 

The water seems to have a mind of its own and produces waves from seemingly nowhere. It’s always polite to ask before you enter the water. If the water accepts you, it will wave its water onto your feet. If not, it will recede, warning you if you enter that it will not be kind to you.

If the water likes you, its said that it will gift you a pearl from the dark depths that is more valuable than gold.

[thewokewordsmith]

Author's note: I posted this story before, but took down because I was worried it was too dark for some readers, but I'm a writer and I write all types of stories and censoring myself didn't make sense, so I decided to put the story back up.

Trigger warning: domestic/child abuse.

Blue Flashing Light

When his father came through the front door on Saturday Zuko could tell that it was going to be a violent weekend. The first sign was his father was drunk. He must have gone from his office straight to the bar. The second sign was the way his father looked at him. It were as if he were making a mental list of everything he hated about his son, all of which Zuko would be told about in great detail through the night.

He didn't know what age it was that he'd come to the realization that his father hated him, but he did, and having to be made aware of that fact had robbed him of an innocence kids his age took for granted. None of them had a father whose reason for hating them varied by the hour. Sometimes just his breathing would send his father flying off the handle. So he had learned long ago that the best way to get through the weekends without getting beaten was to stay out of his father's way.

"Ursa, I'm home. Come and greet your Lord."

His mother came down from the grand staircase seconds later to greet her husband. She was so perfectly made up she almost didn't seem real. She was dressed head to toe in clothing picked out by his father. She cut her hair in the style he liked, and wore the perfume and make up he chose.

She kissed him on the cheek. "How was you day darling?"

"Profitable." His father sank down onto the couch and stuck his legs out. Without missing a beat his mother knelt down to pull her husband's socks off, and place a fresh pair of socks and slippers back on to his feet. She stood up and unbuttoned the first three buttons on his shirt then took off his watch, cufflinks, signet ring, and headed upstairs.

It was part of his father's coming home ritual. They didn't have servants because his father didn't trust them. Besides that's what he had a wife and children for. Even Azula was relegated to nothing more than a servant, but she didn't know that.

His mother went back upstairs to put his father's socks in the hamper and his jewelry in his safe.

Zuko had long sense grown accustom to being invisible to his father and used it to his advantage. He waited until his father poured his second glass of awamori and was engrossed in the stock exchange report on television before he tried slipping out the front door. There were enough things to see and do in the city to keep him away from home until curfew, or he could skip going home all together and spend the night sleeping on the park bench as he done many times.

"Where do you think you're going?" His father asked.

Zuko closed his eyes and cursed under his breath. He should have known his father would see him. Normally his father couldn't be bothered about where he went, in fact the more time he spent out of the house the happier Ozai was, but since Azula was spending most of her weekend's at her friends his father seemed to have more time to focus on him. Zuko felt that it was rather ironic that his father ignored him but always knew what he was up to.

"I asked you a question and I demand that you answer me. Where do you think you are going?"

"Out." He answered through clinched teeth. Talking back would just make things worse.

If it hadn't been for his mother, Zuko would have runaway from home a long time ago. Azula would be fine in their father's eyes she could do no wrong, but if he ran away he'd be leaving their mother at the mercy of their father, and he didn't like to think what might happened if he left her to fend for herself.

Not that Zuko could take his father. Ozai was a big man 6'3 and he worked out everyday. Zuko was only thirteen and scrawny, but sinewy like an alley cat, no, he couldn't take his father, but he could fight him long enough to make it not worth it to go after his mother.

"You need to ask my permission first. You need my permission to do anything including drawing a breath."

"Please leave him be and come upstairs." His mother called from the doorway of their bedroom.

Ozai ignored his wife and stood like a statue guarding the front door. Slowly he crossed his arms over his chest. "You can go outside as long as you can get past me."

For a moment Zuko contemplated whether it'd be worth it to take an ass whipping to get past his father he hated backing down to the man. He knew that his pain and humiliation was part of the fuel that powered his father's fragile ego. That same fragile ego had mandated a rule that he keep his hands down to his sides fingers straight when ever being spoken to. He wasn't allowed to do anything with his hands that might be considered an act of bending, but the more he thought about the situation he was trapped in the more he could feel anger building up inside him. He bit his lip but it wasn't enough to assuage his defiance. His hands twitched to life and his fingers curled as if they had a will of their own. He thought about how satisfying it would feel to punch his father in his face over and over and over again.

His father chuckled as if his act of defiance was being done for his amusement. "What are you going to do?"

The alcohol from his father's breath billowed out towards Zuko and lingered in his face like a miasma forcing him to breathe through his nose. The fact that the man was still compos mentis defied logic, and never stopped him from fighting like a man Spirit possessed.

He stepped closer to his father not knowing what he was going to do, but knowing he wanted to do something. He wanted payback for every time he'd been punched, slapped, or kicked. He glared up at his father as his father smirked down at him.

Zuko bit down on his lip so hard he drew blood. His calves were taught and stretched out like rubber bands ready to dodge the moment fist started flying towards him or snap waiting for the blows to land on him. The moments before the beatings began were the worst. There was always the fear that one day his father would go too far.

"Come upstairs Ozai. I'll give you a shiatsu." His mom said still trying to coax him into a less violent frame of mind.

"Shut your whoring mouth Ursa! I'm making a man out of our precious little Zuzu." He looked past the living room and into the kitchen; this thoughts changing like mercury. "Instead of yapping at me like some common bitch why don't you go earn your keep and prepare me something to eat? I shouldn't even have to ask. When I get home you should have a hot meal waiting for me."

It took everything Zuko had not to voice his contempt. His mother would be able to earn a living if it weren't for his father's unreasonable jealousy. His father put a lock on his mom's cell phone and made her ask for permission to use it. He'd taken her driver's license, car keys, and passport. He'd even gone so far as and having her tracked whenever she left the house, and he never allowed her to leave the house for long. He knew, as did Zuko, that his mother would leave with him and Azula and never come back.

"In fact you should get down on your hands and knees and thank me for not putting you and that waste of sperm out in the street." He crossed the living room in three great strides forgetting all about his anger at his son and raced up the stairs to address his wife.

"Don't just stand there get down on your knees and thank me." He gripped his wife's upper arm and dragged her down the hallway. He stopped at the top of the staircase to give Zuko a bird's eye view.

"Thank me!"

"Thank you, Ozai."

"For what?"

"For not putting Zuko-."

"Who?" His father interrupted.

"For not putting That waste of sperm and myself out into the street." His mother said as she crumbled to her knees. Tears were streaming down her face as she looked at Zuko.

He hated his father.

"Now go earn your keep." His father commanded as he released her.

Zuko could see his mother trembling as she walked into the kitchen. They never knew what was going to push him over the edge, but they could always feel it coming, and it was coming.

Soon.

"Hurry up!" His father barked at his mom and shoved her straight down to the ground.

"Leave her alone!" Zuko shouted. He could feel the tension in the house grow like a living thing. He felt as if he had breathed in all of the tension and now it was growing inside of him.

"What did you say to me, boy?"

Zuko raced over to his mother and stood protectively in front of her. "I said leave her alone!"

"Is your mind so addled that you think I'd listen to you? The only reason you were even born is because I did not have the foresight to pull out. I'd of been better gifted by fellatio."

Disgusting! His father was disgusting and had no respect for his mother. Once again he had humiliated her. He lived to humiliate her. No more Zuko thought. Never again would he let his father hit his mother or make her feel unworthy.

Zuko reacted on pure instinct. He drew back his fist as far as it would go and slammed it into his father's stomach with everything that he had in him. Thirteen years of pain and suffering when into that punch. He heard his father give a groan as his fist hit him in the stomach. Zuko felt victorious, but his victory was not to be a long lasting one, Ozai's large and solid fist made contact with his not so solid stomach.

Zuko fell down to his knees and retched right there on the living room floor. The punch had left him feeling as if all of his internal organs had been liquefied, and before he could recover from that feeling his father jerked him up from the floor by the collar of his shirt and shook him around violently. The scenery of the room blurred as if he were on a ride at an amusement park. His mother's screams rushed in and out of his ears as his limbs purposelessly flailed around. When his father tired of swinging him around he dropped him to the floor like a piece of garbage.

"Please, please, please stop." His mom begged and Zuko wondered why she even bothered all three of them knew he wasn't going to stop. In fact he was just getting warmed up.

"If you'd taught the lowly cockroach some manners I wouldn't have to."

"FUCK YOU!" Zuko screamed. He was past the point of caring what happened to him, after years of having to repress his anger he was fed up. He wanted a showdown. No matter the out come he wanted things to be finished with his father once and for all. "YOU'RE A PATHETIC PIECE OF SHIT!"

Ozai didn't hesitate to retaliate. His foot swung forward catching Zuko on the cheek with the heel of his imported ming snake boot. The hard heel of the boot shredded his skin as it went.

Zuko struggled to get to his feet. He didn't care if he got killed in the process he was going to make his father feel pain.

"Don't try to move." His mom called out to him. Stay there and I'll come to you."

"Dinner, Ursa."

"You don't expect me to make you dinner without taking care of our son first. Not even you can be that cruel."

Of course he could. Zuko thought. The cruel train had left the station a long time ago and his father was going full steam ahead on the psychopath express.

"Do not make me ask you again." Ozai ordered.

His mother stifled a sob as she walked into the kitchen. There was nothing either of them could do. If his mother tried to come to his aid they would both be punished.

"I'm a Pathetic piece of shit, am I? He asked his lip curling up in a well practiced sneer; well you're a cockroach and you know what people do to insects?" He lifted one of his massively booted feet.

Zuko scrambled backwards as fast as he could. A half second later his father's foot came down so hard it caused the windows to rattle. Ozai didn't give him a chance to get up. He let his fist fly.

There was a bright flash of light, a ringing noise, and then intense pain. Zuko was knocked flat on his back and the pain spread like fire. He screamed not understanding how a punch could hurt so badly. He'd been punched plenty of times in his life, but it had never resulted in this level of pain. Perhaps his eye socket had been broken.

His mother ran out of the kitchen and began to scream.

"Be quiet Ursa!"

"I'm calling the police!" His mom shouted.

"Not another word. Get up stairs before I drag you up by your hair."

Zuko lie on the floor spasming in pain as a sick smell filled the room. The smell was coming from him. The smell was him! It was his flesh burning. Now he understood why the pain was so intense. He hadn't just been punched he'd been burned. His father had used his fire bending to burn him. The pain was so awful so all consuming that he wanted to die to get away from it.

"No! I will spend the rest of my life to make sure you stay in jail for the rest of yours."

His father spun around and bent a huge fireball at his wife. The flames narrowly skirted past her. "Next time I will not miss."

Ursa ran past Zuko. She didn't even chance looking back at him. She raced up the stairs to her bedroom. A few seconds later the door slammed.

"You're not going to do anything you couldn't survive without me." Ozai climbed the stairs stomping louder and louder on each step. "You're nothing, you come from nothing, and without me you'd be absolutely nothing. Where would you live? Who would protect your precious little Zuzu, because I'd have you killed before I let you take my children away from me."

Zuko had managed to crawl over to a corner and sat huddled there. His entire face felt as if it were melting off. He couldn't see out of his left eye. He stared up at the ceiling with his right eye and he could feel blood trickling down his face. The blood that poured out of him felt cold in comparison to the hot bed of lava the was now the left side of his face, or what remained.

Upstairs his mom continued to scream her voice partially quieted against the backdrop of his father's heavy handed fist raining down on her flesh, and then she stopped screaming all together.

The house went silent.

His rage sated his father came back down stairs and sprawled out on the couch still somehow managing, with the exception of his knuckles, to look like he should be gracing the cover of a high fashion magazine.

At that moment Zuko forgot all about his hatred towards his father. He forgot about his pain. He forgot that he'd ever been burned. His heart seemed have arrived at the top of the stairs before he did even though he raced up them three at a time. His hand shook as he opened the door that may as well have been made of lead for how long it seemed to take to swing open.

The lump in his throat felt like it was strangling him, and he didn't even realize that he'd been walking around with his right eye closed until he whacked his shin on the vanity. He opened his eye.

"Mom?"

In the middle of the floor lie his mother looking like a broken porcelain doll. His heart felt close to stopping.

"Mom?"

She didn't move. He couldn't see her chest rising and falling.

"It's me, Zuko." A cell phone that he did not recognize as his mother's was smashed into pieces beside her.

Finding his mother lying bloody and broken in the middle of the floor had happened more times than Zuko cared to remember, yet every time he saw her this way he was scared to check on her, but also too scared not to. He didn't dare shake her. Carefully he knelt down beside her.

"Mom, mom, please be OK."

He gently turned her on her side and softly pushed her hair from her face some of it got stuck in the blood that poured from her. A sob caught in his throat almost choking the breath out of him. Never before had his father hit either of them in their faces, but tonight he had destroyed both of theirs. His mother's eyes were wide open, but didn't see. Her bruised face was like a mask. The last scream she'd been screaming hadn't left. "No, no, no." He kissed her forehead and hugged her close to his body and wept. "Please, mom I need you. I love you."

Downstairs his father was still on the couch sleeping with a careless look on his face. It would be so easy to set the couch on fire. His father probably wouldn't even wake up, and if he did set the couch on fire by the time his father woke up it would be too late.

He began to creep towards the couch.

His father half opened his eyes and laughed as he watched Zuko creeping across the living room. "Go ahead boy. Creep like the cockroach you are, but you better make sure whatever attack you have planned kills me instantly." He didn't even bother to ask about his wife.

Knowing his opportunity to take his father out was gone Zuko turned around and headed upstairs. He knew that his father would not go to jail. He never went to jail. He was far too important of a man. He owned Sozin electric, Sozin shipping, and Sozin refinery. He was one of the wealthiest men and landowners in the Four Nations. He owned Fire Nation prisons he didn't get thrown into them.

"Tell your mother I still don't have my dinner." His father ordered.

Blood and tears streamed from his eyes; the tears from his left eye burning like lava on their way down. The police weren't coming, and there was no one out there who could save him. He may have only been thirteen but he already knew money could buy anything or anyone. He was a rat, his home was a cage, and he was trapped.

None of his neighbors ever called the police despite seeing the numerous bruises on him throughout the years. They convinced themselves that he was a clumsy kid who had a lot of accidents.

Even if his neighbors called the police nothing would change.

The police would show up with their hands out waiting for his father to pay them off to not report the abuse. His teacher's would blame his bruises on the fights he got into despite the fact that he had far more bruises and broken bones than fights. The doctors would look at him with pity as they patched him up knowing full well the hell they were sending him back to.

His father's pet lawyer had convinced the judge that Ozai was merely disciplining his son. If his son hadn't of been incorrigible and insolent, or if his son did not talk back then he wouldn't get hit. Ozai's work was stressful and the last thing he needed to come home to at the end of the day was a surly son who didn't respect him, and if Zuko didn't respect his father could he be blamed for disciplining him? No. It wasn't his father's fault for losing his temper it was Zuko's fault for making him lose his temper in the first place.

The pain was starting to come back, but Zuko ignored it the best that he could. There was someone else he had to take care of before he could take care of himself. He always knew his father would go too far one day, but he figured that it would be his body that his mother would be sobbing over.

He didn't care if it was tampering with evidence, this was his mother, and he wouldn't let her be seen like this by anyone. He bent down and lifted his mother up into her bed. The crime scene photos would get out and they would be spread all over the world. His father had a lot of influence over the media between that, and his team of lawyers, his father would ruin his mother's reputation. The ultimate and final power move in a marriage where his mother had none. He refused to let his father ruin the only thing she had left.

Zuko went to the bathroom, got a washcloth, and ran it under the sink. He made sure the water wasn't too hot before using the washcloth to clean the blood from his mother's face. He worked as gently as he could taking care not to press down too hard wherever there was a bruise. He closed her eyes with his fingertips so that it looked as if she was sleeping. He brushed her hair and fanned it over her shoulders. Then he sat down beside her and held her hand. She didn't speak. Not even to tell him that everything would be all right as long as they had each other like she always did. She didn't move. Not even to give him one of her super special huggy hugs. He closed his eyes. He'd never been so tired in all of his life.

Something was stuck to his face and automatically Zuko reached up to remove whatever it was. As soon as his hands touched skin the whole left side of his face throbbed and burned. His right eye snapped opened as the events of the day flooded back into his brain. What did he have to live for now?

The house was still silent. Zuko realized that the pain had caused him to blackout and he had no idea of how much time he'd lost. He could feel dry sticky blood on his face. He tried rubbing some of the blood away but that only sent a rippling wave of pain over him and blood started running down his face again. He popped off of the bed not wanting to stain the sheets. They were his mother's favorite.

He needed something to wipe his face on but didn't want to use anything in his parent's room. Zuko thought of it more as his mother's room because it was the only room in the entire house that she'd been allowed to decorate. It was the only room in the entire house that had her personal style. Every time he came into his parent's room he was reminded of how much she loved him.

"I love you too mom. I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you." He wanted to say more to his mother but he didn't have the right words.

The pain from the burn was getting worse it seemed to grow more intense every time he drew a breath. He dropped to his knees, but he refused to let the pain incapacitate him, teeth clenched and hands gripping deep into the carpet he pushed himself to his feet. He staggered to his room and fell back down lying half in and half out of the doorway curled up on his side like a shrimp. Blood and sweat ran into his face and eyes stinging like a snake bite. Some of the blood ran into his mouth and he turned on his side to spit it out. He needed to clean himself up.

He smiled when he spotted his curtains. Gathering his last reserve of strength he crawled until he lie beside his window. He had always hated the damn curtains. His father had paid a Fire Lord's ransom for them because they were genuine artifacts from the Fire Nation Royal family. Through his father he was a direct descendant of Fire Lord Sozin. Zuko couldn't have cared less, but his ancestry obsessed father made sure that everyone who knew never forgot.

Zuko used the curtains to wipe the blood off of his face. Despite everything that had just transpired he was still going to get the living shit kicked out of him because of the curtains. His father would absolutely lose it when he saw that they had been ruined. Only they weren't ruined, not beyond repair, not yet. He held out the bloodstained curtains and threw back his head in laughter. Of course!

Moments later car doors slamming and blue flashing lights indicated that help had arrived. He could barely see the billowing black smoke that poured from his room, but the smell choked him until tears streamed out of his right eye. The noise of the roaring flames sounded like music to his ears. Tonight it was all over. After thirteen years of mental and physical abuse the neighbors had finally gotten involved, and all it had taken was setting his curtains on fire. He wondered who would reach him first the fire department or his father?

[managingmymuse]

employment

for writer's month day 2: coffeeshop AU

(original work, time-traveler universe)

No one in my family had ever really had a job.

We worked, of course. Running the farm was an entire summer's worth of back-breaking labor. Our portion of the homestead, too, required a lot of work to keep and maintain. When we were away, in another town or another century, we took on odd jobs to keep ourselves fed. In the pre-industrial age, my mother and sister and I took on laundry and mending, while my brother and my father hired themselves out as hands. Sometimes we'd stay for a week, other times for a whole season, but no matter where or when we were, there was always work to be found.

But that was the pre-industrial age. I was beginning to discover that the twentieth century was a lot harder to work around.

"Do you have your social security card?" the woman behind the counter asked.

I was standing in the pleasantly blank hallways of a large department store. The carpet was a dingy peach, and the walls had a magic-eye-like pattern to them. The faint sounds of classical music drifted through the air, piped in from a speaker that I hadn't yet been able to locate.

I shifted uneasily on my feet. "My what?"

"Your social security card," she said. "It's a blue card about this big." She held up her thumb and forefingers about three inches apart. "It's a government document."

"I don't think I have one," I said slowly.

The woman behind the counter popped her gum. "Sure you do. Everyone has one. It's probably at your parents' house."

"Right," I said, already thinking of how I could lay my hands on someone else's. "Can I call them and get back to you?"

"You sure can." The woman blew another bubble and removed the clipboard containing my half filled out job application. "You don't need to start today, do you?"

"I can't start without the card?" I asked. "Really?"

"Yeah," she said. She gave me a sympathetic smile. "It's corporate policy. We get in big trouble if we hire you without it. But don't worry, we've got tons of available positions. Come back with it by next week, and we'll start you on the floor. Okay?"

I pressed my hands flat against the counter, struggling to take deep breaths. "I don't think I'm going to be able to get the card that fast," I said. "My parents... they live out of state."

"They haven't lost it, have they?"

I shrugged. "I have no idea."

The woman stared at me over the counter. Her jaw worked furiously, but her eyes held sympathy. "You can always write to the records office where you were born if your mom can't find it," she said. "Though that's going to take longer."

"I really need this job," I said. "I can't... I don't know if I can wait a week.

The woman tilted her head to the side. I don't know if she sensed my desperation or not, but she must have felt bad for me, because she pressed up on her toes, looking out into the empty hall behind me before rummaging around on the counter for a piece of paper.

"Okay," she said. "You didn't hear this from me, but I've got a friend in town. Her name's Sherri. She owns a little place down by the university. Java and Jams. You ever heard of it?"

I shook my head, and the woman wrote down an address. "Sherri's got a bit of a bleeding heart. You tell her you've got no papers, and she'll probably take you on."

"You think she has a job for me?"

"Fall term is set to start in another week," the woman said. "I know she's got a job from you." She smiled brightly. "Tell her Karen sent you."

"Karen," I said.

She pointed to her name tag and smiled again. "That's right. You take care now, dear. And if you do get your card and you still want to a job, well, give me a call."

She extended a card to me along with the paper she'd written the address on.

"I... thank you," I said.

"No trouble," she said.

Behind me, the sound of footsteps heralded the arrival of someone else. Karen straightened up, smoothing her vest down over her shirt. "Well, miss, if that will be all?"

I glanced at the corner, and a man, heavy-set and wearing a thick tie, came into view. Karen's manager, if the squinty look in his eye and his name badge was to believed. "Thanks for your help," I said, before disappearing down the crowded aisles of the store.

It was a forty minute walk from the mall to the university district in the center of town. On an ordinary day, I would have hated it. But today it gave me some time to think.

Some time to think about how screwed I was, that is. I'd been in the 1985 for three days now, and already my supply of emergency rations was running dry. I hadn't planned to come here, so I didn't have any kind of modern currency on my person. Before my jump, I'd been in pre-colonial America, and the things the Iroquois had traded-- corn and squash and tobacco-- wouldn't get me anything here.

(Also, they were precious difficult to carry; say what you will about the modern capitalist economy, but it did make emergency funds easy to carry around).

I'd lucked into a place to stay, an apartment that was, blessedly, vacant. But if the calendar on the wall was to be believed, the professors that lived there would be coming back, and soon. I had to find a new place to stay, and enough money to buy it with. Not to mention a little extra to buy some food to eat.

My stomach rumbled even as I thought about it, and the sound tempted me to just jump home. To find a nice, shadowy alleyway, cross my fingers, and jump. But even as my stomach begged me to do it, my mind pulled back on the idea.

It wasn't that I didn't have the juice for it; after three days' rest, I had the stamina to jump back five hundred years at least, let alone a paltry one hundred. But the last time I'd jumped, Micah had found me. Not after an hour or a day or a week, but immediately. Within moments of my arrival.

I supposed I was lucky he hadn't turned up here. That I hadn't turned a corner and run smack into him. But even though I was in the clear-- for now-- I couldn't help but worry that by jumping to the Homestead, I was endangering everyone within it. Turning our only safe haven into a trap we couldn't escape.

A shiver rolled down my spine, even in the afternoon spine. I'd jumped with with Micah literally on top of me that last time. His knee had held me down while his hands wrapped around my neck. If I'd been anyone else-- my brother, or my mother, even -- I'd be dead now. I would have been too drained from the last jump to jump away.

But I was a freak among freaks. Damaged almost too far for repair. I screamed and kicked and fought, and somehow I drew in just enough air to pull it down into my middle. To speak the words to send me away.

I hadn't been terribly concerned with where at the time. I certainly hadn't been thinking of 1985. But apparently my subconscious was ready for hair bands and spandex, because here I was.

It wasn't a bad place to be, I told myself, as I turned onto the coffee shop's street. It could have been worse.

The coffee shop was tucked away in a Tudor-style building that looked more like a home than a shop. Though it stood on a relatively busy street, it had a front garden fit for the suburbs. Wildflowers grew in great plumes on either side of the walk. A sign hanging from a wooden post in the yard read "Java and Jams."

I sighed and started for the door.

At nearly four o'clock in the afternoon, the place was almost empty. A man sat behind a bistro table in a corner reading a book and nursing a cup of coffee. A woman with frizzy red hair in a bun swept the floor in the middle of the room.

She looked up when I entered and set the broom down. "Need an afternoon pick me up?" she asked. "Today's special is the Colombian blend."

I wrinkled my nose. "No, no thank you. Are you Sherri?"

She wiped her hands on her apron, red and splattered with what looked like foam. "Who's asking?"

"I'm Allison," I said, putting a hand over her chest. "Karen sent me. From the mall."

Sherri tilted her head to the side, and the resemblance between the women instantly resolved itself. Sisters. They were sisters. "You looking for a job?"

"If you're hiring," I said. "I didn't see a sign."

"I don't advertise much," Sherri said. She sighed and moved behind the counter. "What was wrong with the mall? Don't you want to work in that over air-conditioned tundra?"

I risked a smile and stepped closer. "Karen said she would hire me if I came back with my social security card," I said. "But I... I don't think I have one."

Sherri's eyes flashed wide in alarm. She glanced over my shoulder at the man in the corner. He was still deeply absorbed in his book. "Well then. Have you ever worked in a coffee shop before?"

I suspected that doling out cups to hungry miners in California didn't count. "I've done some food service before with my family," I said. "But not coffee."

"Well." Sherri sucked on her teeth, looking me up and down. She must have decided something, because she nodded once, fiercely. "You seem a good sort. I can give you a try. We can fit in two weeks of training before the poets come back."

"The poets?" I asked.

Sherri's lips spread into a broad, genuine smile. "That's who mostly comes in here, in the first weeks of term. It's poets and novelists, starving and otherwise. They come to discuss literature and human misery. It's all quite dramatic."

I gaped at her, but the sparkle didn't leave Sherri's eyes. "We'll have college students later in the term, too," she said. "They don't usually show up until they've got midterms, though. Are you at the university?"

I shook my head. "Not yet."

Sherri looked at me, thoughtfully. "Well then. Two week trial. Cash okay? We'll do under the table unless you've got a bank."

A sigh of relief bubbled up from my stomach. "Cash is great," I said. "When can I start?"

Sherri untied her apron, pulled it off her neck, and offered it to me. "Right now. There's only an hour until we close up-- summer hours and all that-- but I think I can run you through the basics. Does that work?"

I tied the apron behind my back. "That works," I said. "That works really well."

[maomao-words]

Inspiration hit me a few days ago and all I felt like doing was write for the MLQC fandom! (=・ω・=)

So here I am! I will hopefully post some of my other writings soon too!

But for now, I hope you enjoy these (●'◡'●)ﾉ

MLQC Boys as Bodyguards: (Victor, Lucien, Kiro and Gavin)

Victor:

Weapons: A handgun equipped with a silencer and a katana which has your initials engraved on its black handle.

Background: Victor is the top ranked bodyguard known in the high society. Your family had to go through a prolonged battle of wits and money with numerous other important figures just to be able to hire Victor as your bodyguard. Dominating and commanding, Victor’s distinct aura screams authority and power for all who lay their eyes on him. Just his name is enough to deter countless of those who were planning to harm you. Those stupid enough to still risk attacking with Victor at your side simply dug their own graves and were not even able to get any information on your whereabouts, let alone spill your blood.

Fighting style: Victor does not mess around. His words are the law and the law you shall follow. He has been handed the duty of protecting you and he has no intention of wasting his time on indulging you in your risky adventures and whimsical decisions. He gets to decide everything that concerns your safety and all you have to do, in order to continue surviving, is to obey his orders. An advice? Do not attempt to rebel against him. It will only result in him convincing your father to leave you in charge of several business-related projects that will bound you to your office for no less than six months.

With his intricate network of acquaintances and allies of important and powerful figures, it is only rarely that Victor gets to fight directly in order to protect you. Victor is highly skilled in predicting threats and eliminating them before they even fully manifest. In those scarce moments where an enemy is powerful enough to get near you, Victor is considered as the last and ultimate defense line. He likes to execute his attacks silently and calmly. One shot to the heart will quickly seal the deal, save Victor’s efforts and protect you from needless scenes of blood and violence. Many enemies have mistaken the handgun as Victor’s main weapon, disregarding the katana as a mere ornament, and focused most of their manpower on disarming him. This mistake is what usually leads to their complete annihilation. Victor’s katana which he carries with him at all times is in fact his cherished lifeline as it is efficient, practical and does not run out of lethality.

Off duty: Victor’s off duty routine is not that far from his day to day habitual activities. He remains in full control of all things and does not seem to recognize the real meaning of being off the clock. The one thing that does change, however, is that Victor gets sweeter and gentler with you. If you have been an obedient master for the past few days, Victor will make sure to reward you with a taste of his cooking which you absolutely love.

With Victor at your side, just sit back and relax since danger is no longer a possible happening in your world. I do hope however that you are ready to pay the “price” of this absolute safety as Victor is not cheap by all means.

Lucien:

Weapons: A sniper rifle with a high-precision for ranged attacks and a handgun for close combat.

Background: Lucien is the bodyguard you cannot read most. At days, you even wonder whether he is really on your side or simply lurking in your shadows to eventually kill you. His eyes betray none of his thoughts and his hands, cold yet tender as they wrap around your waist to guide you through dangerous situations, seem to be always covered in blood yet somehow still feel as gentle as a feather on your skin. Lucien is a riddle that you are ready to spend your whole life solving, even if the chances of winning are close to none.

Fighting Style: Lucien mostly prefers to situate himself in the shadows of the roof a tall building and strike the enemy with one shot of his rifle from a distance. Lucien is known to dislike close combat; a fact several of your enemies sought to exploit only to discover that Lucien is as merciless with his fists as he is with his rifle. He just dislikes getting blood on his suit and would prefer to avoid that.

Mysterious and charming, you will not be able to get your eyes off of Lucien no matter how much his actions scream treason and suspicion. Because no matter how much his plots and schemes seem to be leading you to death, he will always appear at the very last second and gets you out of harm’s way, with a gorgeous smile in tow. Lucien’s existence is like a deadly poison to you, and you are just addicted to him.

Off duty: Lucien’s role in your life extends from a talented bodyguard and assassin to your own personal butler. He takes care of delivering and managing all the important papers and documents sent to you and even offers his own advice on different business-related matters. He also manages your personal schedule and private affairs, from meals and sleeping times to clothing choices and hairdresser appointments. Lucien is a highly qualified aid so do listen carefully to him. You will not regret following the plans he draw. Despite it all, however, there are also moments where Lucien seems to open up to you, moments where his eyes, usually two bottomless voids of blackness, suddenly clear up and his smile gets softer as he gazes at you cooking or playfully petting his cat. Those moments, although scarce and rare, are your most cherished possessions and you won’t exchange them for the world.

With Lucien by your side, you must get used to courting danger. Just never question why you are enjoying hell as you keep on dancing with the devil.

Kiro:

Weapons: A mini laptop and a dagger with a golden handle with your initials engraved on it. He also carries a handgun in case of emergencies.

Background: Kiro seems to be your best friend who just happens to also be your bodyguard. Right from the start, Kiro seemed to win your heart in a blink of an eye and you formed an inseparable duo ever since. Thanks to his bubbly personality and sunshine-like smile, you just can’t help but smile and giggle whenever you are around Kiro. Nevertheless, despite the numerous years you spent by his side, you are still startled by the drastic changes Kiro display when it is necessary for him to activate his bodyguard mode and discard his tender smile and gentle touches.

Fighting style: Don’t be tempted. Kiro’s lovely smile and gorgeous looks are nothing but a deadly trap for those who wish you harm. Kiro will not hesitate to use them to his benefit, attracting them before slicing their throats with a cold smile on his face. He usually takes care of all threats as soon as they start to bud and before they even reach the range of a kilometer close to you. With his trusty laptop in hand, Kiro will manipulate, hack and destroy whatever he deems dangerous. Your villa’s top notch security is also established and managed by Kiro, so rest assured, no intruder will be able to set foot into your backyard without being shot or electrified to death.

Off duty: Once his job is finished, Kiro will turn back to his sunshine self in a blink of an eye and will turn to you with his twinkling eyes and jumps on you, asking for a bear hug. Kiro’s off duty routine mostly consists in eating unhealthy snacks, watching hero movies with you and challenging you in silly video games. If the coast is safe enough for you to leave the house, Kiro will definitely accompany you to movies, to attraction parks, to zoos and to basically wherever you wish to go. If there is any sign of danger, Kiro will coop up with you at home and keep you entertained all the while keeping an eye out on you and making sure the threat that is forbidding you both from having your usual dates is dead and buried before the 12 hours mark even passes.

I hope you like sugar and fluffy sweets because that’s how life will taste like with Kiro by your side. Ah, but don’t forget! Even teddy bears have sharp claws!

Gavin:

Weapons: A handgun and a mercenary knife with a silver handle that you personally picked for him.

Background: Gavin seems as the calm, collected and detached type of bodyguard at the start. When he first started working for your family, he simply performed his duties to a perfection, protected you to the best of his abilities and then completely detached himself from you as soon as he was off duty. You initially thought that he was uninterested in building an actual relationship with you and respected the distance he drew between you. But as time went by, you discovered that, contrary to your assumptions, Gavin was just too clumsy in his attempt to get close to you and ended up cutting you off instead of bringing you to him. This awkward yet sincere confession came from a very red-faced Gavin as he lay on top of you trying to shield you from bullets. His clumsiness managed to win you heart and your relationship started to change for the better ever since.

Fighting style: Gavin is a proficient all-rounded soldier. He is perfectly capable of tracking and hunting down enemies, leading and coordinating between security teams as well as shielding and protecting allies. Gavin is sure to secure the safety of his client regardless of the threat he faces. He prefers close combat as he is highly competent in hand to hand battles as well as street brawls. He is also extremely skillful with his gun, using it mostly to secure an escape route for you in cases of ambushes and, in extreme situations, shoot down any threat on the spot. Gavin does not kill until he deems the situation necessary. He values human life and continuously encourage you not to hold grudges and not to consider the world as a mere violent and bloody realm.

Off duty: Off duty, Gavin’s more laid back and boyish charms come to the surface. He likes exercising in his free time and welcomes you with open arms if you come to him for private self-defense lessons. Gavin also enjoys playing video games with you and does not hesitate to let you win just to receive one of your hugs as a reward. When it comes to his butler skills, however, he is at the same low level of Kiro. He once attempted to bake a cake for you, ended up burning half of the kitchen’s ceiling and was banned from getting close to a stove for the rest of his life by you.

Just get used to the feeling of safety because Gavin is willing to risk his life for you. So let him spoil you.

[paradise-creator]

Hellooo!! I love love LOVE the diamond box matchup you did!! You're amazing!! Your blog is incredible!! Now I'm here for a romantic haven box Haikyuu matchup pls🥺

Appearance: My name is Kay! She/her, black, straight, 5'1, I have a slightly athletic & curvy-ish figure (lol idk), short-ish hair(like mid-neck), dark brown eyes, shoe size 9, I like to dress comfy so I'm always in oversized hoodies, sweatpants, sneakers, sweatshirts and shorts. I like colorful clothes too, high waisted jeans and shorts and boots. I'm not very fashionable but I try lol.

Personality:

Basics: infp-t, Hufflepuff, Taurus sun, scorpio moon, sanguine, chaotic good, ambivert.

Some positive traits: I'm optimistic, friendly, energetic, organized, enthusiastic, observant, happy, open-minded, loving, encouraging and inquisitive!!

Some negative traits: I'm annoying, perfectionist, insecure, forgetful, easily distracted, kinda lazy, argumentative, too nice at times and clingy.

I love learning new things!! Currently I'm learning Korean, how to draw, how to paint and songs on the saxophone.

When I'm up for it, I love fun physical activity!! Going for a hike, going to the gym, bungee jumping, mountain climbing, going camping and etc :D

Although I love going out, nothing beats lazy days at home. I can spend hours by myself and still be happy. When alone I usually sleep or watch a movie/anime or practice my drawing or saxophone or try and learn something new!

I have a horrible memory and can never remember important dates 😭 I've forgotten my own birthday a few times (rip) so people can get mad at me for missing appointments, forgetting birthdays and other important days. I try my best to organize everything necessary on my phone calendar so I can be reminded.

I love seeing people happy! Nothing can fulfill my day more than knowing I put a smile on someone's face! I usually try my best to help out anyone who needs it and to the best of my ability! This has led to me getting taken advantage of in the past but I can't help but try and make others happy. I've developed a thicker skin and some trust issues as I've grown up because of it.

I love hyping my friends/family up!! Do you need a boost in confidence? Here I am, ready to help you remember the absolute king/queen/royalty that you are!! I'm usually very energetic and enthusiastic about many things and I love spreading positivity around!!

My love language is physical touch! So touch is very important to me in my relationships. Though I am insecure so I tend to think that I smother the people I care about with too much affection idk lol. I live for hugs and cuddles and hand holding 👉🏿👈🏿 but because of that I feel like I'm very clingy and annoying skskfksjd

I'm introverted in nature so although I mean usually full of energy and love making new friends, I can't do it for too long lol. My social battery runs out really fast and I have to hide away and recharge before I can be fully social again, otherwise I won't be my best self. I treasure personal time and understand when people need time for themselves too.

I love spontaneity!! I love living in the moment and doing stuff just for the hell of it!! Wanna go on a road trip? Dance in the rain? Build houses for charity? Go to McDonald's at 2am? Go on a long walk? SIGN ME UP!!

I can also be lazy and unmotivated to do stuff. If something doesn't interest me, I'd find myself incapable of doing it or I'd do it with great difficulty. I'm one of those 'do something when inspiration/motivation hits you otherwise it'll be absolute shit' types.

But when I do have motivation/inspiration that's when my perfectionism comes in and I have to do it in the best possible way and anything less is an insult to me, my family, my ancestors and descendants lmaoo. Unfortunately I subconsciously set a very high bar for myself which can be overwhelming and stressful but when I manage to produce work of that quality, it's very satisfying and rewarding jshkshdhsj

I have more to add but I feel like this is getting way too long 💀 lemme just move to the next section heheheh

Hobbies: I LOVE listening to music, learning new things, watching movies/anime, sleeping, reading, writing, playing saxophone (I'm still learning tho lol), swimming, drawing, journaling, making friends, and cooking!

My music taste: any type of rock (punk rock, grunge, j-rock, metal), pop, KPOP, RnB, jazz, dubstep, lofi hip hop, rap, trap, krnb, anime OP's and bangers from: Elvis, the beach boys, Queen, Khalid, Ateez, Harry styles, Kendrick Lamar, p!atd, mcr, fallout boy, Nirvana, BTS, mxmtoon, Marianas trench, twenty one pilots, stray kids, Jay Park, crush, Dreamcatcher, Skrillex, MJ, troye sivan etc

Fun facts:

I'm more of a cat person but I live dogs and think they're adorable!!

I have four piercings and I plan on getting more soon!!

I'm a night owl, and get super grumpy in the mornings especially when woken up unexpectedly >:/

Although I love making friends, I only have like 1/2 super close friends and like 20+ acquaintances lol

I want to get a tattoo soon but idk what to get :(

I'm super addicted to coffee (rip) and if I don't take some for some time (like a week) I'll get the worst migraines and I won't feel better until I drink some coffee 😭

That's it!! I hope i wrote enough stuff!! Did I leave anything out? If you need more pls tell me and I'll send another ask :D Take your time!! I'm in no rush. I'll patiently wait even though you get writers block or have a large amount of asks 😌 pls stay safe and healthy!! Drink lots of water, sleep well and have an amazing day/night!! 💙✨

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Hello and Welcome my Starlight!

The Haven box includes:

- Match up

- Sun drop

- Journal of Feelings

- 3 am shenanigans

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰*.:｡✧*.｡:｡*.｡✱ ───

I'd match you up with

Sugawara Koushi, Vice-captain of Karasuno

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Sun drops

- OKAY so like, as I read your description I thought of Akaashi or Yaku or Sugawara

- Me being the indecisive author I am had trouble picking

- But then I remembered that you loved to do spontaneous things.

- And that's when I realized that Sugawara is THE ONE

- You two would be deemed the "3 am couple"

- Or in the team it would be "Epitome of Chaos"

- He takes care of you

- He will alway remind you that you don't need to be perfect

- Insecurities? BE GONE

- Nagativity? BE GONE

- That's basically his motto

- He is both your mom and partner in Crime

- did I mention he will take care of you?

- CUDDLES AND KISSES FOR DAYS

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Journal of feelings

- Once this man realizes that you LOVE physical affection. He will give it to you. EVERYTIME HE SEES YOU

Kay entered the gym to watch her boyfriend play. She tried sneaking in and so far it has been great. She thought she was off the hook but then felt a familiar arms wrapped around her waist. "I found you~" Sugawara said with a smile.

- You both would often plan pranks and majority of the times, it would succeed

"Okay okay, so what are we doing today?" Kay asked the silver haired male. "Oh~ maybe we can scare Asahi or anyone for that matter with a beetle?" Sugawara suggested. "That's--no," Kay responded.

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3 am shenanigans

It’s 3 am in the morning. Almost everyone is fast asleep or in their homes, well almost. The night sky is littered with diamond in the sky. The streets were silent but it was comforting. A few people walked here and there. And a few cars passes by there and here. “What are we doing up so late?” A silver haired man said as he yawned. “We’ll be going to Mc Donald’s! What else?” The female responded as she smiled at him. “Is it even open at this time?” He asked. “Koushi, darling, it is open,” Kay, the lover of our beloved silvered male man said as she smiled. Sugawara chuckled and held her hand, the smile on his face was evident. “You know, we should be sleeping by now right?” He said as he pulled her closer. “And so what? I wasn’t planning on sleeping early! I slept the whole day yesterday and missed the chance to hang out with you,” The girl responded.

A small blush appeared on the male’s face and he giggled. “That’s very sweet bu-“ He was about to say but was silenced by the girl. “That was very sweet but we could’ve done this later on or tomorrow. Well, sorry to break it to you, Love. But, we are here,” She said as she pulled the male inside the fast food chain. And soon enough, the two got their orders and enjoyed their meal. “I don’t know why but this hits different,” Kay said as she eat a French fry. “It really does. Especially since you are here,” Sugawara stated as he patted her head. Now, she was the one blushing. As the two chatted, the other customers and staff glanced at them every now and then. None of them were annoyed at their interactions. On the contrary, they enjoyed watching them,

Some felt envious of their relationship. Some dreamt to have something like that. And others remembered the times of old. The two were so sweet, it’s almost too much. Laughter and chattering echoed through the building from both the couple and the people around them. Then they were dub the “3 am couple” as the two would often venture in that restaurant at 3 am in the morning.

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Author's note

I'm so so sorry for the long wait! This week has been hectic. Anywho, I hope you enjoy this matchup~ and thanks for requesting!

[myhauntedsalem]

14 Haunting Facts About the Winchester Mystery House

Despite the Winchester Mystery House’s cheerful appearance, this massive California mansion’s history is edged with tragedy, mystery and maybe some ghosts. Naturally, it has inspired a chilling horror movie, Winchester, which opens in theaters today. But before you go to the movie theater, wander through the curious past of one of America’s most infamous homes.

1. THE WINCHESTER HOUSE IS NAMED FOR ITS MISTRESS.

Sarah Lockwood Winchester—the wife of gun magnate William Wirt Winchester, whose family created the Winchester rifle that was heraldedas “the gun that won the west”—designed and oversaw the construction of the sprawling Queen Anne-style Victorian mansion that bears her name. Construction on the 24,000-square-foot home, which is located at 525 South Winchester Boulevard in San Jose, California, began in 1886.

2. MANY BELIEVE SARAH BUILT WINCHESTER HOUSE OUT OF FEAR.

Overcome with grief in the wake of her husband’s death from tuberculosis in 1881, folklore states that Sarah sought out a spiritualist who could commune with the dead. While she was presumably looking for solace or closure, she was instead given a chilling warning.

Through the medium, William told his widow that their tragedies (the couple had only one child, a daughter named Annie, who died at six weeks old) were a result of the blood money the family had made off of the Winchester rifles. He warned that vengeful ghosts would seek her out. In order to protect herself, William said that Sarah must “build a home for [herself] and for the spirits who have fallen from this terrible weapon.”

Sarah was advised to leave their home in New Haven, Connecticut, behind, and move west, where she was to build a grand home for the spirits. There was just one catch: construction on the house could never stop. “If you continue building, you will live,” the medium warned Sarah. “Stop and you will die.”

3. THE HOUSE WAS UNDER CONSTANT CONSTRUCTION FOR 38 YEARS.

In 1886, Sarah purchased an eight-room farmhouse in San Jose, California, and began building. She employed a crew of carpenters, who split shifts so construction could go on day and night, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, for 38 years. The work only stopped on September 5, 1922, because the octogenarian mastermind behind the home died of heart failure in her sleep. It’s said that upon hearing the news of Sarah’s death, the carpenters quit so abruptly they left half-hammered nails protruding from walls.

4. THE HOUSE IS FULL OF ARCHITECTURAL ODDITIES.

Sarah issued many bizarre demands to her builders, including the building of trap doors, secret passages, a skylight in the floor, spider web windows, and staircases that led to nowhere. There are also doors that open to blank walls, and a dangerous door on the second floor that opens out into nothing—save for an alarming drop to the yard far below.

5. AN EARTHQUAKE ONCE RATTLED THE HOUSE AND TRAPPED SARAH.

In 1906, the great San Francisco Earthquake caused three floors of the then seven-story house to cave in. A 1900 postcard of the place shows a tower that was later toppled by the natural disaster. That tower—plus several other rooms destroyed in the disaster—were never rebuilt, but cordoned off. As for Sarah, she was safe but stuck in the Daisy Bedroom, named for the floral motif in its windows. She had to be dug out by her staff, as its entrance was blocked off by rubble.

6. THE HOUSE WAS DESIGNED LIKE A LABYRINTH.

Some say the labyrinth layout was meant to confuse the ghosts, allowing Sarah some peace and a means to escape them. She was the sole architect of this extraordinary home, and no master building plan has ever been uncovered. So Sarah may be the only person who ever truly knew all of its secrets. When movers were called in after her death, one lamented its labyrinthine design that includes many winding hallways. One mover told American Weekly the Winchester House was a place “where downstairs leads neither to the cellar nor upstairs to the roof.”

7. SOME SAY THE SYMBOLS IN THE HOUSE POINT NOT TO GHOSTS, BUT FRANCIS BACON.

An alternate theory on the Winchester House’s perplexing design declares that Sarah was creating a puzzle full of encryptions inspired by the work of English philosopher Francis Bacon. There’s speculation that clues to the house’s true meaning are hidden in the ballroom, the Shakespeare windows, and the iron gates. This theory suggests that Sarah was a member of a mystic society like the Rosicrucians, or a secret society like the Freemasons—or possibly both.

8. THERE ARE OTHER THEORIES, INCLUDING THAT SARAH WAS “CRAZY.”

Others speculate Sarah was coping with her grief with a flurry of activity, or that she was simply “crazy.” However, Winchester Mystery House historian Janan Boehme paints a happier picture, imagining that the continual renovations reminded Sarah of the good times when she and William built their New Haven home together.

“I think Sarah was trying to repeat that experience by doing something they both loved,” Boehme told the Los Angeles Times. She also suspects that Sarah was just an ardent—albeit eccentric—philanthropist who used her family fortune to purposefully employ the San Jose community. “She had a social conscience and she did try to give back,” Boehme offered, noting the hospital Sarah built in her husband’s name. “This house, in itself, was her biggest social work of all.”

9. ONCE IN WINCHESTER HOUSE, SARAH WAS RECLUSIVE, BUT NOT ALONE.

There is only one known photo of the widow Winchester, which was taken surreptitiously. Though she was reclusive, she was never alone. She had 18 servants, 18 gardeners, and the ever-present construction team working on the grounds. Every morning, Sarah met with the foreman to discuss the always-evolving building plans. And it’s said that each night, she visited the Séance Room to speak with the spirits, who weighed in on plans for the house’s unusual design.

10. THE HOUSE WAS AS OPULENT AS IT WAS ODD.

The home boasts 950 doors, 10,000 windows, 40 stairways, 52 skylights, 47 fireplaces, six kitchens, plus a trio of elevators, and once-groundbreaking elements like wool insulation, carbide gaslights, electricity, and an indoor shower, complete with a sewage drainage system.

11. NO ONE IS SURE HOW MANY ROOMS THE HOUSE HELD.

Following Sarah’s death, Winchester House was converted into a tourist attraction. But when trying to get a room count, the new owners kept coming up with different numbers. After five years of renovations, they estimated the number of rooms to be about 160, which is the number most often quoted today.

12. SARAH HAD AN OBSESSION WITH THE NUMBER 13.

Among the secrets Sarah took to her grave was why she insisted that so many things relate to the number 13. The Winchester House has many 13-paned windows and 13-paneled ceilings, as well as 13-step stairways. Even her will had 13 parts, and she signed it 13 times. But the pièce de résistance might be the house’s 13th bathroom, which contains 13 windows of its own.

13. IT’S A NATIONAL LANDMARK.

The Winchester Mystery House earned landmark status on August 7, 1974. The fascinating mansion is still owned by the family (families?) who purchased it from the Winchester estate in 1922 for $150,000—however, their identity is another Winchester House mystery. But thanks to them, tourists can now explore 110 of the 160-some rooms Sarah dreamed up. The Winchester Mystery House even boasts special tours on Halloween and Fridays the 13th.

14. IT’S REGULARLY CITED AS ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTED PLACES IN AMERICA.

To this day, Winchester House is a destination for believers who hope to have a paranormal encounter of their own. A popular spot for such activity is the corridors of the third floor, where tour guides have claimed to hear footsteps and disembodied voices whisper their names.

In a Reddit AMA, a Winchester House tour guide confirmed that the house’s third floor—only a portion of which is accessible during house tours—is definitely the spookiest part of the house, “because that’s where the servants lived, so there’s been a lot of reported activity there. Also, when you are on that floor you can never really hear any of the other tours, so you feel pretty isolated.”

[ofcloudsandstars]

CELESTIAL FORECAST

Week March 30-April 5th

Highlights for this week!

Tuesday the 31st Mars enters Aquarius! Time to revolt!

Friday the 3rd Venus moves into Gemini

Welcome to April!! Only two more weeks until 4/20 which is the beginning of chill Taurus season where we can hope the current crises in all of our lives will start to simmer the fuck down (preferably with a blunt). However that oasis is far away and things will heat up even more this week with the first quarter moon in Cancer putting up the pressure in Aries season as all sorts of celestial shifts take place this week.

30th

Moon in Gemini ☾ Lunar Trines with Juno rx in Libra and Ceres in Aquarius ☾ Lunar Squares with Mercury and Neptune and Eros in Pisces ☾ VOC 4:10PM-12:43PM

Energy: The energy today will feel highly contemplative as the moon continues to transit through gemini. The moon will trine with Juno retrograding in Libra bringing a bit of clarity to what we feel driven to devote our energy towards. Though trines are positive and open-flowing they are harmonious to the point of us not taking note of them being there so these qualities could be easy to overlook. However today notice what makes you feel emotionally satisfied when you apply hard work towards it (the trine in Ceres can help illuminate this) and reflect on where or who would it be beneficial to invest your energy towards. The moon will also square with Mercury, Neptune and Eros in Pisces giving a sense of inner pent up energy along with a lot of confusion and disagreements. Your intuition could be clouded with the Moon squaring Neptune and with the moon squaring Mercury there can be a lot of miscommunication, moodiness and strong tendencies to be opinionated. There can be a battle of emotions vs logic which should be kept internalized so it's best to focus inwards and see where you can positively channel your energy towards. The lunar square with Eros in Pisces, the asteroid of our passions and sexuality will build up a lot of tension to pour our creative energy towards something. It's best to try to focus on the positive trine energies than the conflicting squares to make the most out of this day.

Recommendations: Divination (Focusing on your strengths), pull a card to suggest what you should focus your energy on today, self isolation in your room interacting with your toxic house mates as little as possible, vision board, stream of consciousness writing

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31st

Mars enters Aquarius Mars conjunct Saturn in Aquarius Venus conjunct with Sedna in Taurus

Moon enters Cancer (12:43PM) ☾ Lunar Oppositions with Pluto and Jupiter in Capricorn ☾ Lunar Sextile with Uranus in Taurus ☾ Lunar Square with Chiron in Aries

Energy: Get Ready for the Energy Shift!! These next two days will feel like you'll have a new sense of Fire with Mars entering Aquarius. The moon will even help shift the mood as it enters it's First Quarter Phase (officially tomorrow on the 1st of April though). Mars entering Aquarius (and conjuncting Saturn) will amplify the energy around Saturn's new saga in Aquarius. Mars being the planet of action, determination and inner drive will find it's new sense of motivation in Aquarius by focusing our attention towards teamwork, the well being of society (especially those who are marginalized and being treated unfairly), our community and how we use technology to connect. This will be a powerful time as our inner revolutionary is about to wake up for around 2 months long. Whatever bright ideas we may have to help the current situation will have the zeal to be placed into action. Being motivated only by self gain won't fair well under this martian transit. It's all about the benefit of the group. Venus will align with Sedna in Taurus helping to illuminate beauty in darkness. Sedna has a power to turn dark and bleak reality into opportunities for growth and creativity and Venus will help romanticize that energy as we gather to sharpen the guillotine. The moon in it's domicile sign of Cancer will heighten a lot of emotions. This can be expanded by it's opposition with Jupiter and Pluto in Capricorn which could inflame any addictions, cause inner turmoil and intensify feelings (as if they aren't intensified enough). On a positive note there is a sextile with Uranus that will promote positive change to our personal lives and emotional bodies if we work towards it. However we will really have to put some extra effort cause with all of the turmoil the emotional tsunami that this Cancer Moon will bring, it will also square Chiron in Aries bringing up triggering feelings of past traumas or deep soul wounds that we will feel the need to act upon. With the Mars's fire in Aquarius that energy could be positively channeled using our own pain in this world crisis but its easy to let things build up and get out of hand.

Recommendations: Meditation to center ourselves, protection magic towards others emotional outbursts, channeling our energy into new ideas to help the community, self care with kitchen witchcraft, bath witchcraft etc.

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1st

First Quarter Moon in Cancer ☾ Lunar Trines with Mercury and Neptune in Pisces ☾ Lunar Squares with Sun in Aries and Juno rx in Libra

Energy: Welcome to April! We are knee-deep in sizzling Aries season now and if the past two days this week didn't make you feel like the heat was rising, the temperature will boil up like a pressure cooker from here until the climax of the full moon. This first quarter ushers us to put our ideas into action and sow seeds especially revolving around what makes us feel safe, protected and helps our family and homes. The moon will make a positive trine with Mercury and Neptune in Pisces which will give us a boost with channeling new ideas and inspiration. The moon will also square with the Sun in Aries and Juno retrograding in Libra which will add stress and tension in areas of the home, family, our safe spaces and where we devote our energy towards. Relationships are prone to disagreements at this time, negative emotions can rise up and get expressed through the ego and it's best to keep distance and not react too personally (though that may be hard when you are isolated with the worst flatmate ever ツ). If you are having issues with abusive family members or toxic flatmates, it's best to ward your space and protect yourself. Talking it out with them may bring some issues with the sun and moon square so it's best to keep distance and bide some time. However with confrontational fiery aries season it may be tough to do so, however in the UK we do get our daily government authorized walk in nature so go outside with your face mask and try to get some fresh air :)

Recommendations: Vision board, sowing seeds, manifesting, warding, protection, protecting your space

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2nd

☾ Lunar Trine with Eros in Pisces, ☾ Lunar Sextile with Venus and Sedna in Taurus ☾ VOC 5:48PM-7:26PM ☾ Moon enters Leo ☾ Lunar Opposition with Ceres in Aquarius, ☾ Lunar Trine with Chiron in Aries, ☾ Lunar Square with Uranus in Taurus

Energy: Just writing this is making my chest hurt cause maybe we should all just take that government authorized 1 day walk and just stay the fuck outside and just have this walk last for a few days cause I can't imagine being stuck in my house with these fucking lunar transits during Aries season I am tired y'all.

Anyways, the moon will wrap up its tsunami of a transit in Cancer while it trines with Eros and sextiles with Venus and Sedna in Taurus. This will be great as the mess of emotions the moon in Cancer has kicked up like the sediment on the bottom of the Venice canals can potentially be channeled into good use potentially through art or an opportunity for inner growth. However the moon will be back on it's shit as it enters dramatic Leo, triggering most of us already having our Saturn return in Aquarius by crossing over our natal Chiron and stirring up some shit. There will be a square with Uranus in Taurus causing emotional dramatic outbursts and sudden change of face with people you are probably trapped indoors with showing a new sudden chaotic side. The opposition with Ceres could probably make us feel like we need to focus on our needs first cause no one else will support us which is not a great feeling to feed during times of isolation. However on a positive note, the moon will trine with Chiron in Aries giving us opportunities to heal and come to terms with our inner wounds only if we give it attention. If your home life is chaotic and only getting worse like a pressure cooker thanks to Aries season then try to make a safe space in your house or find a spot in your local park where you can make a barrier of 6 ft around you so that you can get some time alone outside. There is potential for healing in these chaotic times but realistically we know how it's like to be with people that are not caring about their growth or healing which can negatively impact your space so sometimes it's good to protect, ward, and back away when things get too fiery.  

Recommendations: Protection, warding and backing away bitch! Meditation and focusing on inner healing. Trance meditation.

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3rd

Venus enters Gemini Mercury conjunct Neptune in Pisces ☾ Lunar Trine with Sun in Aries ☾ Lunar Sextile with Juno rx Libra

Energy: If we weren't all locked the hell down, this would be a great shift of energy as Venus gets all flirty and fun when it enters Gemini. Venus in Gemini loves new friendships, new hookups and turning new ideas into opportunities for pleasure and art. It captures the perfect spring fling mood and if we all get released while Venus is still in Gemini you can expect a lot of sudden hookups, new friendships and endless parties. However since we are all on time out Venus in Gemini confined could give birth to new forms of art styles and entertainment in the cyberspace along with way more group chats, cyber hang outs and thankfully hilarious memes to help us through this. Another powerful transit today will be Mercury and Neptune joining in Pisces. Our thinking and communication will be focused on spiritual topics and the arts. It will be a great day for focusing on divination, expanding our psychic mind and adding to our book of shadows. Additionally new insight could be acquired if you open your mind to the possibilities. The moon will make a positive trine with the Sun in Aries giving the day an optimistic and upbeat vibe. We will finally feel a bit of positive flow from the previous stagnating harsh transits. With the moon making a sextile with Juno rx Libra we could find some better clarity of where our efforts and attention has been devoted to and where we may be headed.

Recommendations: Connecting with loved ones on chat rooms, divination, psychic exercises, meditation, adding to our book of shadows

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4th

Venus Gemini Trines Saturn in Aquarius Jupiter conjunct Pluto in Capricorn ☾ Lunar Opposition with Saturn and Mars in Aquarius ☾ Moon enters Virgo ☾ Lunar square with Venus in Gemini

Energy: Today's energy will feel like a sudden passionate drive will ignite you to commit to a creative project. With Venus in a trine with Saturn we will feel the need to devote ourselves to a creative project (or person, but lets be real we are locked down so unless you want to establish a long term romantic relationship with your houseplant then this most likely may manifest in a project for you), and with Jupiter and Pluto in conjunction we will feel focused and driven to succeed and what we are most passionate about. A mix of intense effort and good luck gives you the power and influence to make a big difference in your life. The moon will wrap up it's transit in Leo with an opposition with Saturn and Mars in Aquarius which could potentially put you in a temper and add a damper on your dreams but don't feel weighed down by this energy and instead transform it into what work you can do to accomplish what you need and how you can transform that moodiness into energy for work. The moon will then enter Virgo and make a square with Venus in Gemini which will result in another tension but slightly less intense. The combination of the moon in virgo squaring Venus in Gemini will give us the desire to seek out ways we can increase our pleasure through different sources that can stimulate our minds or entertain us. It will be a good day to wrap up our hard work with a movie or book or indulge in a film that could inspire us further with our project. There is a tendency for self indulgence but we are locked up so who cares. Smoke that bowl, watch that movie marathon, chill out.

Recommendations: Energy work, channeling your inner fire for work. Doing art, channeling magic into art, doing art meditation

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5th

Moon in Virgo ☾ Lunar Opposition with Mercury, Neptune and Eros in Pisces ☾ Lunar Trine with Uranus in Taurus

Energy: Today will feel like a time for some reflection and changes as the moon will trine with Uranus giving us the perspective to shift our habits. There will be an opposition with mercury that can allow us to express our feelings (finally) instead of bottling them up or using it as fuel in fire yet also this opposition can cause some scrambled or polarized thinking especially with the moon eventually making an opposition with Neptune that will could drown what we feel in it's murky depths. The opposition can increase our emphatic sides and we may pick up moods from others we are around. It's good to once again set boundaries and try to enjoy some art alone. Take some time to journal and let out what you are feeling. Additionally with the moon opposite Eros it's a good time to review what inspires us and let out that energy in a stream of consciousness free write that can also help us untangle the mess of the moon opposing mercury.

Recommendations: Journaling, free writing, shadow work, cleansing space and warding

[aethelflaedladyofmercia]

What Might Have Been - 9

(This one got a few re-writes and wound up not very connected to the prompt. Sorry! CW for some violent intrusive thoughts, but not very graphic.)

This is part of a single story for the @goodomenscelebration​ “Theme” prompts.

Parts 1-6

Part 7

Part 8

Doubt

It’s a trap. He’ll hurt you. Destroy him.

The whispers were starting again, but the Antichrist waved them aside. The first ones were always easy to ignore. Once, he’d been able to go weeks – almost a month – fighting them off, but the times when he could be himself were getting shorter and shorter. Maybe soon there would be no time at all.

He studied the demon crouched beside him for another moment. Dark clothes, red hair, sharp features. He’d been wearing a pair of sunglasses before, pitch-black lenses curved over his face to hide the glint of his bright yellow eyes from most angles. Now they were in his hand, the metal arms (black with bright red flames) hidden.

He didn’t look like a demon, not really. The eyes did, the black wings he’d briefly revealed, the sigil on the hinge of his jaw.  But apart from that, he looked human. Demons didn’t usually bother to look very human.

“So,” he started, ready to teleport the demon as far as possible if he didn’t like the answer, “if you’re not supposed to bring me back to the war…why are you here?”

“Looking for an angel.” The demon glanced around, his eyes distant. “Not even sure where to start.”

The Antichrist nodded. Some of the angels and demons were sworn enemies, locked in eternal single combat. “Your Adversary?”

The demon grinned, but there was nothing bloodthirsty about it. “Oh yeah.” He stood up, brushing himself off, then held out a hand for the Antichrist. “Had him in my clutches this morning, but he slipped away. And now…” the grin faded.

Ignoring the hand, the Antichrist stood up. “The nearest fighting’s down by the coast. Brighton, when I ran, probably spreading from there. Th biggest is over America…” he closed his eyes to concentrate. “Yeah, New York. And smaller fights in what’s left of the Amazon, and somewhere over the mountains in Asia and…” he looked at the demon again. “Is this angel good at fighting?”

“The best,” he said, with some kind of strange pride.

“Probably America. That’s where I’m supposed to go next, but…”

“I don’t think so.” The demon wandered back to the inn, where a still-partially-green plant in a red pot sat in the box planter. Tucking the glasses in his pocket, he carefully picked it up and walked back. Was it some sort of weapon? He hadn’t heard of that type of biological warfare, but you never knew. “He was here, my Adversary. Or not too far, anyway. I And he doesn’t really like America. He’d stay close, I think.” The demon sauntered past the Antichrist with hardly a glance. “Just gotta keep looking.”

More whispers, destroy him, forget him, find your destiny, but the Antichrist pushed them away again, and found himself following after. “Is he on one of the Retrieval squads? They’re supposed to be some of the best fighters. The Guardian of Humanity only picks the best.”

“I don’t know about Retrieval Squads,” the demon said. “He doesn’t get on well with other angels. But Guardian of Humanity…that sounds like his kind of scene. They keep the humans safe?”

“It’s what they say,” Adam said darkly. “If he’s mixed up in that, I can’t help you.”

“Adam, if there’s anyone who can help me, it’s you.” The demon frowned, studying the buildings lining the road behind them.. “Can probably help me figure out what happened here, too. This…” He tucked the plant under one arm and waved a hand at the last house, bricks melted to mud. Across the street, the remains of a stone wall and a marker stone of some kind, broken down and scattered as if kicked over by an unruly toddler. “This is wrong.”

“Dunno. Same thing that happened to all the villages.” Rumor had it there were still a few holdouts, but they tended to be destroyed a few hours after the Antichrist arrived. Having an army of demons will do that.

He didn’t realize the demon had stopped until almost too late, and the Antichrist very nearly walked into him. “Look. This is going to be a lot easier if you just do your mind-reading trick. I give you permission.”

“No,” the Antichrist said firmly. “I don’t – not anymore.” He shuddered, trying not to remember the last time. The feel of maggots on his flesh, the voices in his head. Rip his arm off, one of them suggested, rising a little above the whispers. That’ll teach him some respect.

“Adam? What happened?”

The Antichrist knew if he looked up again, he’d see golden eyes watching him. Might even see an expression he’d never expected to find on a demonic face, on any face ever turned to him again.

He kept staring at his shoes.

“I…didn’t want to fight. Kept teleporting home, even though no one was there. They’d drag me back. One day I read their minds and told them their battleplans were stupid.”

The demon chuckled at that. “That’s my boy. Bet they were stupid.”

“They were glorious,” the Antichrist said, bitterly. “Battles that would rip apart the Earth, shows of power that would make everyone quake in fear. And more than half our forces would be lost in the first three years.”

A long pause while the demon glanced around, taking in the destruction, the boiling red rivers cutting across the field, the pond reduced to an empty pit with a black tar at the bottom. A swarm of locust rose from the dead grass, the only sign of life. “I take it you didn’t convince them to change their plans?”

The Antichrist raised his head to meet the demon’s eyes, but wasn’t ready for that. It was easier to stare at his shoulder. “They. They locked me in a cell with a pair of demons.” His throat grew tight. “Made me read their minds. Over and over. Every…nasty thing they’d ever done, all their awful thoughts…”

For days afterwards, he’d thought like them. Gloried in the idea of ripping people apart, destruction for the sheer joy of it. Even now, one voice whispered, Hurt him. Rip his wings off. Lock him in a church and laugh as he tries to escape. He didn’t even think there were any churches left, not around here.

“Hey. Adam.” The Antichrist let his eyes flick up for a second, meeting the golden eyes of the demon. Like a cat. Or a snake. “Let me guess. Hastur and Ligur?” He nodded. “Nasty pieces of work. And you were…all alone? No friends? No dog?”

The Antichrist shoved his hands in his pockets. “Didn’t really have any friends. All those rich kids, we just tried to outdo each other, you know? Who had the better toys, who could throw a cooler birthday party. Never really talked with any of them. When things turned bad…” he shrugged, frowning. “As for the dog, he finds me sometimes, drags me back to the fighting.”

The demon scratched his head, looking confused. “Your dog does that? ‘S not right. You should be able to control him. He was designed to obey you, be loyal only to you.”

“You’re kidding.” The demon didn’t look like the kind to joke around. “How’s a kid like me supposed to control a Hellhound?”

A long silence. The Antichrist wished he knew what the demon was thinking about, but he still refused to read his mind. Refused to allow another voice in. Finally, he stepped in front of the Antichrist, making it very hard to look away. “Call him by his name, Adam.”

“Killer?” His expression crumpled into pained disbelief. It would have been funny, if anything in the world could still be funny. “I know. The kids at the party suggested all these really violent names. Widow-Maker. Throat-Ripper. Luger. They said a bit scary dog needed a big scary name and…I didn’t want to look lame.”

“What did you want to call him?” the demon asked.

“Dunno. I had one I liked but…I mean…it was dumb,” he confessed. “Stupid kid stuff.”

“Call him that next time, Adam.” A hand with long, thin fingers fell on his shoulder, squeezed gently. “Every creature prefers to be called his real name.”

The demon started walking again, and Adam followed.

--

--

For those curious, Crowley’s new glasses:

I wanted something a bit more relaxed post-Apocalypse. He’s started letting the walls down a little, so we’ve lost the side-shields and gone for a Ray-Ban-style design. I think Aziraphale helped him pick them out, in that Aziraphale was there, saying vaguely encouraging things for each pair of glasses while not really having a strong opinion.

[ailelie]

moments building to a something maybe

Read here on AO3.

“She’s amazing, isn’t she?”

Fjord jumps. Yeza gives him a knowing smile and looks down into the courtyard where Veth is teaching Luc how to use a crossbow.

“Yes,” Fjord says gruffly, once he realizes he’s let the silence go on too long. “She is.”

--

Fjord stands in front of the Lavish Chateau, his stomach a mild grumble. Beau left earlier with Yasha. Jester was running errands for her mother and Caleb, who once again needed paper, had gone with her. Caduceus was talking with his family 25 words at a time. 

The door opens behind him; Luc is extolling the virtues of some eatery.

“Considering a new career as bouncer?” Veth asks.

“Thinking about where I want to go,” he replies as his stomach rumbles.

“You should come with us,” Yeza says. When Fjord looks down at him, he looks aside to Luc. “Why don’t you tell Fjord about the Clove and Star?”

Luc’s eyes widen and he launches into an extremely enthusiastic spiel about his favorite eatery ever. They’re several blocks from the Lavish Chateau before Fjord realizes they’ve been walking. 

“I don’t want to intrude on your family time.”

“But you have to come!” Luc says, grabbing one of his hands with both of his and pulling Fjord along. 

“You’re not intruding,” Veth adds. 

Against his better judgment, Fjord allows himself to be led.

--

They’re taking a rest for their spellcasters. Fjord examines the cavern around them and finds what looks like a cabinet hidden in the stone. He knows he should be resting and healing, but the adrenaline of the fight is still pulsing through him. He quietly calls Veth over. 

“I’m not hallucinating, right?” 

“No, I see it, too. I’ll check for traps.”

The cabinet is very trapped, but Veth disables each easily. She’d worried about losing some of her skills when she returned to her true form, but her fingers are still as nimble. He should tell Yeza, he thinks.

The lock clicks. The cabinet opens as if on oiled hinges. Inside is a small statue placed on a depressed square. Similar squares are carved into the stone on either side. 

Fjord examines the squares over Veth’s shoulder, one hand braced on the cavern wall above. He is hyper aware of her too-close warmth and the slight scent of her hair (a scented powder Yeza made for her, he knows, to help keep her hair clean without having bathe, for those days when a bath is too far away or when Veth’s fears are too close to ignore).

Veth looks up at him with a wild grin. “Should we see what happens if we move it?”

This is a bad idea, he thinks, as he agrees, but it feels like the safer option compared to the other wildly impulsive thought that was flitting through.

Lifting the statue fills the chamber with sleeping gas. Placing it to the rightmost square opens a secret passage.

He carries Veth when she passes out and resolves not to tell Yeza this part.

--

They’re at the Xhorhaus, Yeza and Luc included. Yeza needed the laboratory; it has equipment he’s been unable to borrow in Nicodranas. Luc wanted to go somewhere new. Xhorhas isn’t the safest, but it is known. When Yeza asks Veth to help him in the lab, Luc turns to Fjord and asks if he can go explore with him. 

Yeza and Veth chide him lightly and suggest checking out the tree instead, but Fjord surprises himself by speaking up and saying he’d wanted to go buy some things and he didn’t mind if Luc came along.

Luc cheers and his parents relent. 

Fjord and Luc accidentally stumble their way to an arts fair. It isn’t anything like Fjord expected from the Krynn, and he winces internally at the realization. The area is more crowded, so he pulls Luc up into his arms as they walk through.

“Those are pretty,” Luc says pointing to a booth where a sleek awakened panther is etching designs onto glass with her claws. Among the various bits of glass is a bronze framed bit of green dangling from a bronze chain.

You’ll always be green to me.

He’s approached the booth before he has a chance to talk himself out of what he’s doing.

“Can you do words as well?” he asks once the panther has greeted them.

“I can.”

“I’d like that green pendant with the words ‘Team Green’ on it.”

The panther takes down the glass and begins to etch.

“That is so cool,” Luc says, and Fjord thinks shit. This is weird. 

“Do you have more of that green glass?” he asks, paying for the pendant.

“I do.”

“I need two more like this, please.”

He loops one of the three necklaces over Luc’s head as they return to the Xhorhaus. He shoves the other two at Veth and Yeza. Over the walk home, he has decided that this was all a very bad idea and he should just bury the necklaces somewhere and pretend he’d bought nothing. But Luc would say something.

Veth smiles at the message on her pendant and slips it on. 

“So we’re Team Green, then?” Yeza asks, slipping his on as well. All three are wearing the green pendants now and Fjord’s mind blanks.

This is not his family. He has to go. He lets out a strangled, “Yep!” And basically runs away upstairs to his room.

--

Yeza finds him a day or so later attempting to meditate under Caduceus’ tree while Caduceus cooks dinner downstairs. The ‘Team Green’ pendant is still around his neck and the sight of it makes Fjord’s breath catch.

“There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just be blunt. I don’t mind.”

“What?” Fjord interrupts.

Yeza gives him a too kind smile. “I love Veth deeply, and I think you might be starting to as well.”

“What? No--” Fjord coughs, hoping to remove the panicked high pitch from his voice. “No,” he said at a lower register. “Veth is-- is--” 

He has no idea how to finish that sentence.

“I don’t mind,” Yeza says again. “In fact, I feel better for it. All of these adventures are so dangerous, I’d like to know that someone is looking out for her, not just during the battles. She deserves to be loved, don’t you think?”

All Fjord can think is how are you still so good. Yeza had been used by the Empire. Imprisoned by the Dynasty. Had lost his wife, then regained her as a goblin. He supported Veth’s adventures and never made her feel guilty for wanting them. 

It is only when he notices Yeza blushing that Fjord realizes he’s been saying all of this out loud. His own cheeks warming, he asks again, “How are you so good?”

The lights in the tree catch the glass of Yeza’s pendant, scattering bits of green over Yeza’s clothing and face.

Fjord reaches to touch one of the refractions before he can think better of it. Yeza doesn’t move.

“Perhaps,” he says with a strange, but not displeased expression, “we should talk with Veth.”

Fjord startles and drops his hand. He runs.

--

They’re traveling. Yeza and Luc are back safe at the Lavish Chateau.

Veth keeps giving him strange looks. Fjord refuses to engage.

But she’s wearing the Team Green necklace and not even the threat of U’katoa could chill the warmth that suffuses him each time he notices it.

Then Veth volunteers to take a watch with him and he can’t run away.

“I need your help to convince Yeza to buy a house in Nicodranas,” she says, sitting beside him.

Fjord blinks; this is not the topic he’d been expecting or dreading. “Yeza doesn’t want a house?”

“He wants to return to Felderwin eventually. So do I, but until then, I think a house is better than staying at a hotel. Don’t you agree?”

“I think this is a discussion for you and Yeza. I don’t think my opinion matters much here.”

“It could,” Veth says. “Yeza told me about your conversation. Is that something you want?”

“I--” He’s forgotten words. Veth is staring at him. His sword is the only light while their friends sleep. It is too intimate, he thinks, but then Veth is standing.

And then she is looking down at him. The tattoos around her eyes glitter beautifully. 

And then she is touching him. Her thumbs traces along the bottom edge of his lips. He wets his lips; the tip of his tongue brushes the edge of her thumb.

And Fjord has never been one to restrain his impulses for too long. He pushes up and kisses her. 

When they part for breath, Veth rests her forehead against his. “Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

He laughs, too full of relief and pleasure to stop.

Veth kisses him again.

--

They try to keep it hidden.

They fail miserably.

Jester sends a Message to Yeza to let him know. A wicked smile steals over her face as she listens to Yeza’s reply.

“He’s totally into you guys,” she announces afterward. “I should draw him a picture.”

Fjord spends most of that adventure blushing.

--

When they return to Nicodranas, Yeza and Luc are waiting for them outside the tower. Veth spins Luc around in a hug and pulls Yeza in for a long kiss. Fjord can’t look away.

He hugs Yeza and whispers his thanks. Yeza kisses his cheek. Fjord pulls back, surprised. Yeza meets his gaze, a faint blush high on his cheeks and clear nerves tight around his eyes.

Fjord cannot bring himself to tease Yeza for his boldness. He kisses him. His only regret is when he hears the rest of the Mighty Nein cheering or making lewd noises around them. 

Yeza pulls back, but he’s smiling. “Dinner?”

Fjord agrees.

They talk over dinner and Fjord cannot remember the last time he has been this content. He has spent so much of his life chasing family.

The Mighty Nein are one kind of family.

The Brenattos could be another.

--

At night, alone, he thinks of them.

Veth matches his impulses. He’d forced himself to act responsibly and sure for so long, styling himself after Vandren. She lets him break free of that. And she makes him blush, just by being her wonderfully competent, devious self, by calling him “Captain” in that sly voice that she knows affects him in ways he doesn’t want the rest of the Nein to figure out.

And then there’s Yeza who is kind without being a pushover, who is gentle and patient in ways Fjord hadn’t thought possible before meeting Caduceus and him. But then Fjord sees him in the laboratory and he realizes Yeza is just as creative and impulsive as Veth in his own ways. His brilliance as an alchemist is rooted in the risks he takes. He doesn’t understand what all Yeza is doing, but he recognizes Veth’s “Yes, it is a bad idea, but do it anyway” tone of voice.

And then brave, smart little Luc who never, ever doubts he is wanted and loved.

Fjord thinks he would wreck the world to keep the three of them whole and happy.

--

Yeza finds him watching the courtyard again. Luc has been improving and is eager to show off to his mother.

“We got you something,” Yeza says, handing him a folded kerchief. “Veth wanted to give it to you at dinner, tonight, but I thought you might like a bit more privacy at first.”

Fjord unfolds the cloth. Nestled within is a bronze chain and a yellow glass pendant. Etched on the pendant is the word, “Brennato.”

“You’re one of us now,” Yeza says, “if you want to be.”

Fjord pulls the pendant over his head and then tugs Yeza into a kiss. “I want,” he says. He feels like he might cry.

--

They never have a formal ceremony, but he and Veth do convince Yeza about the house.

It has a small yard for Luc to play in and Fjord to set up a Wildmother shrine, a lab for Yeza and Veth, and two bedrooms, one with a very large bed.

It is home.

[By the way, here’s a short glimpse into Yeza’s pov.]

[ahwuum]

I absolutely love freewood with mute! Ryan and bcs this is me, how about throwing some angst into it? Like Ryan and Gav went undercover and things goes just as planned UNTIL Gav mis-steps and their disguise was blown. One of the bad guys get to Gav when they were seperated and Gav didnt realise the bad guy but Ryan did and he tried to warn gav but oh god he cant talk and gav too far away to notice him and the bad guys aiming his gun at Gav and Ryan sprinting to save him but the gun when off...

Yesss I love this so much omg! I decided to write a little something for it quick, sorry it took a while aha

‘All clear?’ Ryan signs to him once they’ve creeped up along the walls of the complex to the entry door, waiting while Gavin checks the security cameras from his phone.

‘Yep, the loop’s started now, so we have a few minutes before the next guard makes his round, but it shouldn’t take much longer than a minute to transfer the files. Let’s go.’ Gavin signs back, grinning and giving him a thumbs up before reaching into his back pocket and pulling out the keycard he’d swiped from the guard at the gate and pressing it against the scanner.

Green light. Go.

They move quickly, quietly, the layout of the entire underground complex committed to both of their memories by this point. The server room they need to get to is down a set of stairs, through another locked door and then on the left.

It’s so easy it’s like they’re begging to have all their information stolen.

Bank details, safe house locations, weapons stache, upcoming deals, heist plans, active jobs, all invaluable information that the FAHC could definitely use. All conveniently held in the one server room in an underground complex that, sure, has plenty of armed guards and locked doors that you need a keycard to get through, but beyond that has almost no security.

It’s so easy that Ryan starts to think that maybe they are begging to have their information stolen, especially as they get further in and still come across no guards.

Of course, that had been part of the plan, only one guard making the rounds of this particular wing, and no foreseeable reason as to why any other guards would be down in this area. But it makes him nervous.

What kind of crew leaves their server room so unprotected? What kind of crew would even put all of their information on the one server that could so easily be broken into? What kind of crew—especially one this big—would leave just one guard standing watch at the only way into their secret underground complex?

He slows down only for a moment as his creeping suspicion becomes genuine concern and anxiety, head swivelling around as he tries to spot anything amiss around them.

In the time he takes to look around, Gavin’s gone ahead of him, unaware that Ryan’s stopped as he continues toward the door. He notices too late that Gavin’s going to open it, that he hasn’t come to the same realisation as Ryan and he’s going to open that door and get shot-

‘Gavin, wait!’ He signs frantically, trying to wave his arms in the hope that the blur of motion might catch in the corner of Gavin’s eye and he might turn to look.

In the moment he wishes desperately for his voice back. He hasn’t had it since he was a child, mouth probably doesn’t even remember how to form words anymore, but-

But if he could just yell, just get Gavin’s attention so he can save his damn life because he’s too far to run and stop him before he’ll open the door and his brain is running on too much adrenaline to remember that he could clap his hands, could hit the glass window next to him or-

Gavin presses the key card against the lock. Green light. Go.

He’s shot before he can even get the door fully open, body tumbling backwards like a doll being tossed onto the floor. Luckily, the door closes with him and Ryan’s bolting to catch up to him, picking him up bridal style and holding him tight against his chest as he turns heal and sprints in the other direction.

They knew.

They fucking knew.

Deciding the fact that their crew having a fucking mole is something he’ll be pissed about later, he instead focuses all his energy on slowing his brain down enough that he can remember the layout like before, remember what hallways go where so he can find an alternate exit because he knows that this crew isn’t stupid enough to leave the way they came in clear. There’s probably a dozen guards already waiting.

He can’t even let the rest of the crew know what’s going on; he doesn’t have a comm (for obvious reasons) and Gavin’s got lost somewhere in the chaos. They’re completely alone, no way to ask for help now.

Gavin’s practically limp against him, barely clutching onto him with trembling fingers as his eyes look around blankly like a drunk person’s. He’s gulping air like a fish out of water, rasping and coughing, blood dribbling out of his gaping mouth and rolling down his neck.

It’s not a pretty sight.

Ryan’s seen worse in all his years, sure, but nothing could compare to seeing Gavin with a bullet in both his shoulder and his gut.

They’re lucky he only got tagged twice, fuck.

It could have been so much worse. It could have been so much worse, but it also could have been avoided completely, if he had have just been able to warn him-

“Ryan,” Gavin rasps out, his eyes starting to focus more as the shock wears off a little, “Ryan, go through that door on the right.”

He follows without thinking (though perhaps he should have taken a moment to think twice about it considering the fact that Gavin looks ready to pass out), the door opening up to what looks like a break room. It’s small, with a tiny kitchen stuffed into the corner and a few shitty little tables scattered about.

It’s a dead end, they’re trapped.

He purses his lips and glares down at Gavin accusingly since he can’t really use his hands now, though he’s not sure if that even comes across through his skull mask.

“Yeah, yeah, you’re thinking I’m an idiot now, aren’t you?” Gavin laughs weakly, reaching up with a bloodied hand to give the side of his mask a couple of patronising taps, “but even when I’m shot I’m bloody brilliant; I might’ve just saved your life.”

Ryan looks down at him questioningly, then turns his gaze to the room. There really is nothing special in here; a fridge, a sink, some countertops with a microwave sitting on top, a few cabinets and a vending machine—nothing they can use!

He’s about to drop him on the ground out of pure spite when Gavin rolls his eyes, grabs his chin through the mask and tilts it upwards.

There, up on the wall right above the fridge, is an air vent.

He looks down at Gavin incredulously like he’s the biggest moron alive, deciding to set him down in one of the chairs so he can actually talk.

‘Are you an idiot? This isn’t like in the movies, Gav! There’s no way we’ll fit in there!’

“Relax,” Gavin says, holding onto his side as he slumps down in the chair, “don’t you remember what I said? This is an old building, industrial. Used to be a factory decades ago and they’re still in the middle of renovating. That means the vents are bigger, they needed them to be to pump out all the fumes right? Might be tight but you can do it.”

Ryan looks over at the vent. It is quite big, but big enough to fit a person? Let alone someone as big and bulky as he is? No.

He loves Gavin dearly, but he really does want to strangle the lights out of him right now for being this stupid.

“So you go, I’ll hold them off as long as I can, it’ll be impossible to take me with you in there-” Ryan cuts Gavin off as he’s pulling his pistol from his boot, grabbing his wrist and kneeling so Gavin is looking at his eyes through the mask.

‘I won’t fit. Won’t leave you either. We’re just going to have to fight our way out. Might be harder now since we’re stuck in here and they’re probably already surrounding us-’ Ryan signs, pausing as they hear sets of boots running past the door, ‘but I trust you to cover me. We’ll get out of this.’

“Ryan, just go! I’m already shot, I’m just dead weight to you now so stop being a prick and just-”

Ryan huffs, stomping over to the fridge, climbing up onto the countertop and reaching up to yank the cover from the vent. He tries to crawl in just a little, pushing against the fridge and trying to shove his shoulders through the gap, but no use. Like he’d thought, it’s way too small.

‘See?’ He signs as he climbs back down, returning to Gavin.

“Oh,” he says softly, “I really thought it’d be big enough… And this vent leads right outside near the gate, too! It would have been perfect. God, I’m so sorry Ryan, I’m such an idiot. I didn’t save you, I’ve doomed us both!”

Ryan sighs and kneels back down in front of Gavin, cupping a hand to his cheek for a moment. When he pulls it back, it leaves a trail of Gavin’s own blood on his face.

‘It’s alright, maybe those guys we heard run by earlier came from the entry. We might be able to double back and go out the way we came, now. Or we’ll just have to fight our way out. Either way, I’ll make sure we get back home.’

Gavin takes a moment, then nods shakily, resting his gun against his thigh as Ryan hooks his arm underneath his knees and picks him up bridal style again.

They open the door quietly, Ryan peeking his head and looking around down the hallway for any guards before deciding it’s clear and pushing ahead.

They hadn’t made it very far into the building, the set of stairs they came down only a few hundred yards away and their path seemingly clear for now as Ryan jogs in a beeline for the stairs.

“Here!” He hears a guy yell from the hallway next to them, any further yelling silenced with a shot from Gavin’s pistol. All it takes is that one yell, that one shot for everyone to know where they are. Ryan’s booking it as fast as he can, now, just hoping that Gavin can manage to still shoot with his signature golden gun shaking in his hands.

His eyes are starting to droop, now.

Pushing through the burn in his legs and his lungs, Ryan makes his way to the stairs, climbing up them two at a time as Gavin starts to slump more and more in his arms, the gun in his hands starting to slip a little.

Come on, come on, he thinks, just a little longer, just a little longer…

They burst through the entry door at the top of the stairs, making it out onto the concrete courtyard before Ryan hears the familiar whirring of helicopter blades.

He looks up expecting the worst, expecting this shitty fucking crew to have had another surprise hidden up their sleeve as a helicopter starts to dip down towards the compound. Then he sees their logo.

He’s never felt so much relief as when he sees that familiar, stupid duck painting onto the side of the FAHC’s very own private helicopter; it’s possibly only rivalled by the relief he feels at seeing their entire crew out in force.

Jack’s piloting as usual, Michael and Jeremy hanging out from the side and firing bullets at the guards flooding up from downstairs, Fiona and Matt he can see doing the same from the other side, and Geoff hanging from a rope ladder, extending his hand down to Ryan as Jack lowers the helicopter enough to reach him.

“I’ve got you, we’ve got you.” Geoff yells over the whirring of the blades, yanking on Ryan’s jacket and holding him close as tightly as he can as he climbs onto the ladder. It’s an awkward task, what with Gavin in his arms, but eventually he manages to cling on and keep Gavin tight against his chest, Geoff climbing up above them until he’s back in the helicopter.

They pull the ladder back up slowly, Jack quickly veering the helicopter away from the complex as bullets fly all around them, some nicking the side and some whizzing just below the rotors, barely missing them all.

Eventually they’re pulled up into the helicopter as well, Ryan cushioning Gavin from the fall as they flop onto the floor. He doesn’t even need to look at him to know that he’s passed out by now.

In fact he doesn’t want to look at him, knowing that all he’ll see is an all-too-pale face and copious amounts of blood covering them both. Instead he sits up, presses his back against the door that Michael’s just shut behind him and holds Gavin tightly in his lap.

They made it.

“We heard shots going off through Gav’s comm, came as soon as we could.” Jeremy says as Geoff moves back to his seat in the front and everyone starts buckling back in again, looking over at Ryan and Gavin with worry, “You alright?

Ryan takes a shuddering breath, peeling his hands off Gavin’s back carefully and wincing when they come back sticky with blood.

“No,” he signs, hands shaking, “No, I’m not.”

Ok this is done aa, thank you for this lovely ask!!

Oh and just as an end note: this absolutely never happens again. After this Gavin helps make Ryan a new comm that he can use different commands with to say different things when he can’t get the attention of the others and he needs to say something to them. It’s very limited but it’s basically just so they know to look at him/can be warned/can be given answers to questions when Ryan has to break off from the rest of the guys during a heist gone wrong or something

Gavin probably spends WEEKS on it non-stop after seeing how upset and guilty Ryan feels at not being able to warn him.