#there was this guy at church when i stayed over yesterday

[squirmydonnie]

V3nt :

I was supposed to write something herbitbis

I this is thenmessage.

I will btvbsgoungbto skeep.

Bibmake a conhery seatac

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Im

The more normal I gargle less I engisybthebstatwmnwtsbi. Make.

Whatbid ti dont want to make snese.

I do put a ton of effort into every single thing I do. Which gets incredbley teirmg. I don't relay feel like doing that.

I kind of get tired of that.

Is there a cat outside. What was that.

I take si whole of time for other people. I don't really wonder why. Theres nothing to wonder.

[luvyeni]

girllll can you please write a smut about churchboy!mark x fem!reader <33

NICE BOY; MARK LEE

pairings. churchboy!mark x fem!reader

wc. 1k

warnings. dom!mark , oral (m. recieving), face fucking , unprotected sex (he pulls out) , degrading, doggy style, crying

i hope you like it <3 !

everybody dotes on mark , his innocent church boy facade has blinded everyone , but you see it , you see right past him ...

—

you huff , watching your parents crowd around mark along with the other parents after service , rolling your eyes as he bats his eyelashes , speaking so kindly... like he wasn't drunkenly sticking his tongue down some random girls throat last night , just like he does every weekend.

mark is a good actor for sure , he was able to put up this act , this good boy next door and everyone ate it up like crazy , maybe you were jealous because almost slipped past your overbearing parents , but they couldn't see the mask that he was wearing.

"＿ , come." your mother called you over , you sighed , unfolding your arms , walking over to them. "yes mother." you said. "mark will be joining us for dinner tonight , his parents are staying for the extra service." the boy stood in front of you , that boyish smile. "i want you to give him a good welcome into our home , make him feel at home." you wanted to scream. "could you not do it." you said.

your mom glared at you , her eyes piercing your skin. "fine." your mother went back to smiling. "good , now why don't you two go wait in the car , me and your father will be out shorty." she handed you the keys , "be a good girl." you could see mark smirking out the corner of your eye.

you guys made it to the car , opening the door , climbing in. "i saw you glaring at me." mark finally spoke as soon as you closed the door. "yeah , that's because i don't like you." you reached over , turning the car on , music lowly playing on the radio , sitting back in your seat. "that's too bad , i think your pretty cool." you rolled your eyes.

"drop the act mark , you might have your parents and the church fooled but im not dumb." you scoffed. "what did i do?" mark wasn't offended , he just wanted to fuck with you. "that innocent act you put on annoys the fuck out of me , because you have everyone eating out the palm of your hand , when in reality you were struggling to stand yesterday , as you shoved your tongue in yeeun's or god knows where else." you hissed.

it was silent for a second , you thought you actually might've hurt his feelings , until he spoke again. "are you upset at that?" he started , "or is it because it's not you that im sticking my tongue in." he was real close , whispering in your ear , making you shiver , mark noticed this , smirking. "i think we've come to actual reason you're pissed , you want me to fuck you." you turned to him , disgust evident on your face. "in your dreams mark lee."

"i mean yeah you are , but im glad to know im in yours too." he kissed your cheek , you wiped it , making him laugh. "come on , no one's around , you don't have to pretend you hate me anymore." he said. "im not pretending." you smiled. "oh really , what if i just." his hand creeping up your thigh , you sighed , breathing picking up. "you mean to tell me you won't be wet as fuck." he bit his lip. "n..no." you tried to remain strong , but he could tell he was just inches away from breaking you. "okay , let's see." before you could say anything , he ran his thumb down your covered slit , you bit your lip as a act of defiance.

"tsk , i see you're a brat , i like brats , i love breaking them down into mindless sluts." he pulled his hand from under your dress. "fix yourself , your parents are coming." and just like that , he turned that innocent persona back on just as your parents opened the door , getting into the car. "i hope we didn't keep you waiting long mark , hoping our daughter hasn't been too much of nuisance." he smiled turning to you , his eyes dark with lust.

"no ma'am , she been such a good girl."

the ride home was nothing short of torturous , mark was sitting close to you , the sweet way he talked to your parents about the service , was a completely contrast to how he was toying with you , sneaking his hands up your skirt , playing with your clit through your panties , occasionally smirking when you bit your fist , or cover your mouth , looking out the window , trying not to moan , your parents not suspecting a thing.

"＿ , why aren't you talking?" your dad said. "because im not intrested." your mother called out your name. "stop acting like that , be kind to mark , you could learn a lot from a nice boy like him." you scoffed , "nice boy my a- shit!" you glared at mark because he pinched your thigh , causing your outburtst. "＿ ! we don't talk like that , what's wrong with ?" your mother questioned just as you pulled into your driveway. "let's just drop it , let's hurry inside , i have to prepare dinner."

as soon as you walked in , taking your shoes off , you beelined it to the steps. "young lady , where are you going?" your mother said. "upstairs , can i not do that?" you stated. "loose the attitude , and take mark with you." your draw dropped. "you barely allow haechan to sit on the couch , let alone go to my room alone." you exclaimed. "that's because who knows what you two will get up to up there , mark is a good boy , we trust him." you were about to say something , when your dad spoke up , "hurry the game is on , and i can't hear."

you looked at the boy , who sat there smiling , you just knew he was eating this up. "come on , don't just stand there." you stomped up the stairs , him following close behind you. "don't touch anything , just sit in the bed." you opened your bedroom door , letting him in , shutting the door.

"oh what's this." you turned around , your eyes widening as mark held your underwear in his hand. "these don't cover much do they , pretty sexy though." you snatch them out of his hands , stuffing them back into the drawer. "i told you not to touch anything." you snapped. "they were right there." he leaned back , manspreading , your eyes travelled down to his thighs.

"princess , my eyes are up here." he smirked. "unless , it's something you want down there. "like it could even get me to cum." you snorted , this must've pissed mark off. "get over here." his voice dropped a few octaves , shocking you, it turned you on a little. "now." you decided to play with him a bit now. "you want to listen to some music?" you turned on your speaker , turning on your favorite playlist. "i need to get out of this dress." you walked towards your bathroom , but mark was quicker , grabbing your arm , pulling you in between his thighs.

"you don't think i can't get you to cum?" he scoffed , "how about you ask yeeun." you rolled your eyes. "she's easy to please." you snapped back. "and you aren't , rubbing you through your panties had you biting your fist , trying not to moan like a slut on front of your parents." he hissed , unzipping your dress , pulling your dress down. "mark!"

"get on your knees." he said , you ignored him. "okay." he pushed you down to your knees , in between his legs. "i guess i do have to treat you like a rag doll." he unbuckled his pants , pushing them down enough , pulling his cock out. he was huge , definitely bigger than anyone you've ever taken. "i see the gears turning in that head of yours , i know it's big , i want you to take it all." he said. "i can't." he scoffed.

"i don't care , you were all big and bad before , but now you're too scared to take it , come on be a big girl." he grabbed your hair , making it into a makeshift ponytail , guiding his cock to your mouth , slapping his tip on your lips. "open." you obeyed and he immediately pushed your head down on it , guiding you all way down. "shit , that's it , take all of it." you gagged around him , struggling to take him.

"tsk , useless slut , come on take it all." he pushed your head all the way down on him. "that's it , now sit there on your knees and let me fuck your face." he groaned , as he bucked his hips up into your mouth , "fu..fuck your throat feels so good , taking my cock like a good slut." he held your head down on his cock.

"oh yeah , fuck im gonna cum all down your throat." you looked at him through your teary lashes , his head was thrown back as he gripped your hair. "oh fuck!" he pushed your head down , his cum flooding your throat , pushing your head off , coughing , mascara running down your face. "look at you , such a messy whore." he grabbed your arm , pulling you off the floor , basically throwing your body against your bed.

"ass up , now." you complied , fully submitted to him now. "look at you , you were being disrespectful to me , being a brat , now your so ready to be fucked by me." he pushed his pants all the way down. his legs dipped into the bed. "fucking slut." he slapped your ass. "shit mark!" you yelped.

"shut the fuck up , the last thing i need is your mother coming in , and seeing me whore her daughter out." he pulled your panties down , your pussy glistening. "such a messy pussy , this is crazy , i knew it , you just wanted me to fuck you , that's why you were acting like that." he hissed , running his cock up and down your folds. "mark , please." you wiggled your hips against him , he squeezed your ass. "come on slut , beg some more , i know you can do it."

"pl..please fuck me mark , please , i'll be good." you sounded pathetic , it made his cock harder , he slapped your ass one more , pushing his cock all the way inside you , your mouth dropping open. "fuck , such a tight cunt." he pulled out , slamming back into you. "mark." you hid your face in the pillow to cover your moans, as he roughly fucked into you.

"fucking clenching my dick , i thought i couldn't get you to cum , here you are about to cum already." he pushed down on your back , hitting a deeper spot. "i..im gonna cum." you whined , he smirked. "go a head and cum slut , cum for me." he slapped your ass as you came around him , biting the pillow to keep from screaming.

"shit." he cursed pulling out , flipping you over on to your back , lining his cock back up with your sensitive cunt. "ma..mark." you couldn't take him anymore. "oh no baby , im gonna make you cum until your mom calls for dinner." he pushed into you , your hands flying to your mouth , suppressing a scream , your back lifting off the bed as he fucked you.

"fu..fucking cunt is sucking me in , you claim you hate me , but your pussy is telling a different story." he trusted into you over and over , hips slapping against yours , a moan slipped out , he reached over , his hand coming up to throat , squeezing lightly. "i guess this is the only one to shut you up." he hissed , groaning himself , his orgasm inching up on him.

your eyes were rolled to back of your head , makeup ruined by your tears as the boy everyone was so innocent ruined your body. "look at you -shit- all fucked out by the person you claim to hate , gonna let me cum all over you , let the person you hate cum all over your body." you nodded dumbly. "cum first , cum on my cock again slut." you rubbed your clit , your mouth dropped open , but nothing came out as you came on his cock for the second time. "sh..shit , im gonna cum." he pulled out , tugging at his cock a few times , his cum spurting out , landing on your stomach and chest. "fuck."

both of you were breathless , chest heaving up and down , covered in sweat. "still hate me?" you wanted to kick him. "fu..fuck you." he smirked. "your mom hasn't call down yet." he rubbed his cock along your folds , you stopped , pushing at his hips. "i..i can't." you couldn't take another round , he laughed , just as you heard your mothers voice ,from downstairs.

"you're lucky this time, you need to fix yourself , wouldn't want your mom to see you like this." he put his clothes back on. "i'll see you down there princess." he winked , leaving out of your room , making his way downstairs.

"where is she?" your mouth ask as he sat down , he imagined you struggling to get dressed , your legs were probably wobbly and sore. he smiled , turning to your mother with the most innocent smile.

"she said she wanted to change into something more comfortable , she will be down shortly."

©️LUVYENI

[preseriesdean]

preseries dean-centric/pov fic recs

for @spnficrecfest day one: specific era 🧡

Odysseus, American by coyotesuspect sam/dean, 10.1k words, rated M, published 2010 Dean finds Peter O'Toole's recording of the Odyssey in a bin marked “Audio" in Casa Grande's only used bookstore. The place smells like cigarette smoke and old books, and it reminds him of Sam.

Multitude of Sins by Linden sam/dean, 4.4k words, rated T, outsider POV, published 2015 Every now and again, Jim Murphy would look up from his altar and find the Winchester boys at the back of his church.

We Drank a Thousand Times by glorious_spoon dean/omc, 43.2k words, rated M, published 2010 They meet in a bar fight in North Carolina when Dean is nineteen, broke, and desperate, then again when a hunt brings the Winchesters into town a few years later. Neither one of them ever puts a name to it but every once in a while, through the years, Dean finds his way back.

pack up the moon by deathdreamt sam&dean, 5.9k words, rated T, published 2021 Sam storms back out from their room, his backpack on and his duffel hanging off his shoulder and isn’t it kind of tragic that his whole life fits in two bags. He looks suddenly much younger than he is, eyes shining. John is back at his guns, whiskey at his elbow, and Dean can hardly believe how rapidly his life is cracking down the centre.

lost in yesterday by margaryes aka @christsam sam/dean, 1k words, not rated, john POV, published 2023 John hasn’t seen his youngest son in 18 months.

Inseparable by astolat sam/dean, 6.7k words, rated M, published 2008 It was just plain sense, so Dean didn't understand why something about the way Dad said quietly, "It's time you had your own bed," made him feel guilty and confused.

The Palm Oasis by @fictionallemons sam/dean, 12.3k words, rated E, published 2022, sex work John strands Dean and Sam at a middle-of-nowhere motel while he investigates possible demon omens in Arizona. The place is nothing to write home about, but at least it has a pool. Dean resolves to think of this as a vacation for him and his studious little brother, but when their money runs out sooner than expected, he considers turning tricks at a nearby truck stop so he can feed Sam. Then a creepy guy from the pool makes an offer Dean doesn’t want to take but Sam won’t allow him to refuse—and the brothers edge over a line they’ve both been wanting to cross for a long time.

Summer Blackout by nutkin sam/dean, 11.6k words, rated E, published 2012 When Dean is seventeen, they spend five months being normal.

Poughkeepsie by aeli_kindera sam&dean, 9.7k words, rated T, published 2021 “Sammy,” says Dean again, urgency cracking his voice. “We gotta — we really gotta go. I need you to — just — remember Poughkeepsie? Drop everything, no questions asked, and run? This is a — a Poughkeepsie situation. Please, man, I need you.” Sam remembers Poughkeepsie.

To Repair Broken Men by procrastin8or951 sam/dean, 3.1k words, rated T, published 2015 Dad and Sam keep fighting. Dean can't fix his family, so he fixes things around the crappy apartment they are staying in.

[fenricken]

You Keep Slipping From My Grasp 2/7

AO3

Ship: Spirit Halloween

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He felt arms wrap around his chest, pulling him up and out of the water. He gasped as his head breached the surface, and he came face to face with a young woman.

“Sir! what is that creature you came on!?” the woman asked him. He turned to where she was pointing, and saw a tentacled creature rearing back to attack them. He grabbed a sword that had been lying on the ground, and charged forward, ready to defend.

————

“Daaaad,” Dani groaned, hanging off Danny’s arm as he flew towards Clockwork’s lair. “Can I pleeease go with you to see Batman? I’m an expert on him!”

“First of all, you’re an expert in Robins and the best way to annoy them, and that’s not the same as being an expert in Batman. Secondly, you and Jazz have been quizzing me nonstop about the guy, I think I’m prepared!”

Dani pouts, “I just think he’s super cool. Besides! I know you’re a coward and you’d never actually talk to the guy without someone pushing you.”

Danny stops to turn to face Dani.

 “Sweetie, I know you have a lot of experience hopping between dimensions and multiverses, but this situation is a bit different. Clockwork’s said he specifically sent me because I’m more resistant to the ill-effects of dimension-manipulation magic as an Ancient of Doors,” he takes a breath, making sure Dani’s full focus is on him.

“I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

Dani is still pouting, so Danny reaches out to take her face in his hands.

“I promise when this is settled you can drag me to meet Batman or annoy one of the Robins– whatever you want.”

Slowly, Dani turned wide, watery eyes to Danny. He was only able to keep looking into her puppy eyes for a short while before throwing his hands up in exasperation.

“Ugh! Fine! I’ll ask Clockwork if you can at least watch, but I don’t know how much you’ll actually be able to see due to whatever’s blocking him.”

“Yes! Good enough!” Dani whoops, before speeding ahead towards Clockwork’s Lair.

Danny chuckled before following after.

————

Mordecai had been set to investigate what witch lived in Gotham nailing bats to Church doors. But his eyes were not as clouded as his brothers’, for he knew witches were less common than they liked to believe.

For example, this bat was nailed to the door with a knitting needle Goodwife Tyler had been using just yesterday. Mordecai knew too that Matthew Tyler would often beat his wife and had gone missing not long ago.

Of course, when he brought this to the attention of his fellow witch-hunters and peace-keepers, Brother Malleus had just insisted that Goodwife Tyler must be a witch and sent her to be dunked in the river until she confessed or drowned. Until Mordecai stopped him, that was.

Frustrated with the events of the day, Mordecai set out for the woods to meet with Annie. Many suspected her of being a witch, but she was the only one whose company he found solace in.

They talked of many things together–the accusations of her being a witch, their mutual distaste of Malleus, and Mordecai’s struggle to remember anything before waking up in Annie’s cabin almost 2 weeks ago.

Annie told him too of losing her parents, and being shunned to the woods. Of feeling a bit lost in the twists and turns of life. Mordecai had said then, “We have something in common Annie… both of us lost in our way.”

————

Danny leaned against a tree, watching Batman and Annie embrace. While he had watched Batman walk around Gotham, using investigative techniques to uncover the lack of witches, he had been mostly impressed that Batman had stayed so committed to his morals even without his memories.

Danny was entranced watching Batman insist on finding a different path forward beyond just declaring anything odd as witchcraft. It was exactly the kind of behavior Danny sought to promote as Ancient of Doors.

But the conversation he overheard between Batman and Annie was like a bucket of ice water over him. The reminder that Batman was separated from everything he knew, and everything that made him Batman. While he knew he could not actually do anything in this situation, and that even trying would probably lead to something worse, Danny yearned to help the hero he had grown so fond of, both from his own observations and the stories from Dani and other ghosts.

————

“The dragon’s been sighted in the woods! All witch-hunters fall in!”

Mordecai climbs on his horse, preparing to follow. He may not believe in this dragon, but clearly something is going on. The witch-hunters head into the woods, in the direction opposite Annie’s cabin. 

But when they arrive, there’s no dragon—only the bones of seven men. 

Mordecai hops off his horse to examine the bodies. 

“Do you say now that witches and dragons don’t exist, Brother Mordecai?” Malleus asks. 

“No, these men were dead before their flesh was eaten. See there— Matthew Tyler, his head caved in with what was probably a kitchen ladle.”

“Enough! You blame a ladle for this? When there’s a witness?” Malleus turns to face a villager that had come with them, “Tell Brother Mordecai what you saw.”

“It was a great beast, with seven heads and ten horns, just as the scripture tells. Each head was feeding on a different man…but when the bats came out to hunt, it fled.”

As the man spoke, Mordecai felt a sense of familiarity. In his mind, the image of a maw surrounded by thrashing tentacles arose. 

Malleus continued, oblivious to Mordecai’s mental turmoil. “I will protect this town, as is my duty to god! They say an eclipse of the sun will come tomorrow, and by then, we will be ready!”

“An eclipse? There was something about an eclipse…” Mordecai muttered.

Malleus kept talking, but Mordecai was no longer listening.

With nothing to hunt, the witch-hunters left back to Gotham. Mordecai left to find Annie, to warn her of what was coming. 

“You’re not safe here Annie. Malleus is a fanatic, and he doesn’t care about logic. I fear it’s only a matter of time before he sets his eyes on you. There’s something else too… something in these woods. The creature that attacked me, that night you found me. I remembered a bit more when I saw the traces of its destruction. It wasn’t the Church that sent me here, Annie. And I remember a dead man was with us… wearing these clothes.  You took them from him and gave them to me, didn’t you? These are Mordecai’s clothes!” He grabbed on to her arm to keep her from fleeing. She didn’t answer for a moment, but he held her gaze.

“I saw you rise from the water myself. You came when I called. That’s all I know.”

“Called? Where did I come from? I need you to take me there, Annie!”

“Fine. It’s private, hidden. It belonged to the Miagani who were here before us. It means bat-people.” She stood to lead him to the cave where she met him, “I’ll tell you more when we get there, but we’ll have to travel through the night.”

“Always bats…” He mutters.

————

“I thought Danny said you couldn’t actually see much of what was happening? This is actually pretty clear.” Dani asked from her suspended upside-down position in front of the gear that followed Danny and Batman.

Clockwork turned to her, a small but smug smile on his face. “Well, it’s not totally clear…”

Dani narrowed her eyes at him. “You have some ulterior motive here don’t you, gramps…”

Clockwork turned back to the screens. “Well, I doubt it’s dissimilar to your motivations in encouraging your father to try talking to Batman. He could do with some… companionship.”

Dani looked horrified for a brief moment, thought for a bit, before an evil smile spread across her face. “While I feel like I should be grossed out that you’re trying to set dad up with someone, I think it’d be hilarious to show up at the Robins’ house as their new stepsister.”

“Then, we’re in accord, young Dani?”

“Oh yeah, I’m excited to see where this is going, gramps.”

Clockwork turned to another gear, and pressed his staff to it, showing a different image. “If you’re interested, I might have a mission you can undertake that would make this more… ‘fun’ for you.”

“I’m in!”

————

The cave was dark, illuminated poorly by the torch Annie carried. And yet, he couldn’t help but note there was something about these caves that felt like…home.

“It was you, wasn’t it? You weren’t out gathering herbs as you told me. It was you who summoned the dragon that killed the real Mordecai, wasn’t it?” he asked, watching Annie.

“I only wanted to chase him away. They sent him to hunt me! All those witch hunters playing at saints, but they don’t shy away from destroying the land and slaughtering animals and other people. The Miagani who were here before us had the right of it, so yes, when Mordecai was sent to hunt me, I prayed to their gods and asked for someone to save me. And then, you came, riding on the back of that thing they call the dragon. If you want to say I’m guilty of being a witch because I worship gods that are not theirs, then I’ll confess to you. My gods are not their god or their devil.” 

Mordecai heard something in the quiet after she finished speaking.

“Annie, we have to get out of this place right now. There’s something down there-”

On cue, the tentacled creature rose from the water to attack.

“Run Annie, run!” he yelled, pulling out his swords to fend off the tentacles. He managed to cut one off before he was pushed back by two more. He stumbled, and reoriented himself, preparing to charge back in, but was distracted by quick footsteps approaching. Fearing Annie had returned, he turned to tell her to run again, but stopped short at the sight of a white-haired man in dark leather armor running toward the monster with his sword drawn.

“Look out!”, the other man shouted. Mordecai turned and ducked under an incoming tentacle. He heard a slashing sound as the white-haired man fended off more tentacles heading towards them. The two quickly fell into a rhythm as they fought the dragon, green tentacles and water falling around them as they danced and wove together.

Finally, Mordecai saw an opening at the creature’s mouth. He launched himself forward, sword aimed ahead.

His head breached the water, and he could only splutter and scrabble to keep his head above the water. He made his way to the beach ahead.

“Can’t forget this time… Man of Bats…”

————

Batman was gone now, and so was the tentacled monster. The residual energy from Batman’s jump felt the same as before. 

Danny stepped out of the cave, noting that the eclipse had occurred, and the sun was now peeking out again.

He opened a portal, stepping back into Clockwork’s lair, sighing heavily. He set his sword down, and stretched out his shoulders.

“So…” he started, staring at Clockwork’s back, nervous.

“I’m not mad, Danny. I think you did the right thing.” Clockwork turned to face Danny, smiling slightly. “Come here, and give me your sword.”

Danny came to stand next to Clockwork in front of a lab he must’ve set up while Danny was gone. Danny put his sword on the table. Clockwork got to work taking a sample of the monster’s blood that was still on it.

“I asked your parents to come, as I thought we may be able to make use of their expertise in figuring out what is causing Batman to travel through time. While we’re waiting, we might as well check to see how the monster might be related to what’s happening. I assumed you didn’t read the energy of the monster for yourself.”

“No, I’m sorry Clockwork. Everything happened so quickly, and I just-” 

Clockwork put his hand on Danny’s shoulder to cut him off. “I think you handled everything just fine, Danny. It was a stressful situation, and you jumped in to protect Batman, which was good. In any case, we still have the blood from the creature, so we can still just examine that. You made the right choices in the situation, Danny. I don’t want you getting stuck thinking that you could’ve been better when you did what was needed. Now, we just need to focus on next steps.”

“Thanks, Clockwork.” Danny said, smiling slightly. He held out his hand for the blood sample, which Clockwork gave him. 

“Now, focus, and see if it’s similar to the energy you detected off Batman before.”

Danny did as Clockwork directed. The energy from the blood felt faint, but Danny was still able to feel it. “It feels the same,” he told Clockwork.

Clockwork nodded, taking the vial and setting it down on the table. “Let’s leave this for your parents to study when they get here.”

“CLOCKY! GRANDPA! I’M BAAAACK!” they heard shouting from below, before Dani, in her human form, popped her head through the floor, her tongue sticking out.

“OH! Dad’s here! Great! Pops and Nana are on their way up too.” Dani finished pulling her body through the floor before running to squeeze between Clockwork and Danny. 

They heard the clomping of Jack Fenton climbing the stairs, and a moment later they saw Maddie’s red hair.

“Dann-o! Clockwork called us to say you found something new and mysterious! Tell us everything!”

Clockwork chuckled. “How about we sit down for some tea and hot chocolate first. I see Mrs. Fenton brought fudge, and I should be able to find some cookies I got from an old friend.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Danny said, smiling.

A/N:

I'm not exactly trying to shy away from "darker" themes, but yeah if I'm not in the mood, I'm definitely going to keep away from things I think are over a certain line.

On that note:

Deliberately didn’t include what happens to Annie in the end, because I felt like it would change the overall tone of this story considering how serious that matter is. Similarly, tried to cut out most of the bible talk, but honestly considering where my biases lie and also just embodying Annie when writing her great rant, I gave up cutting all of it out. I'm hoping it's not too bad.

Spoiler-ish of what happens to Annie if you are planning on reading Batman: Return of Bruce Wayne:

It's not good, but definitely not as terrible as I fear I'm making it out to be. Think 'typical violence against witches'

[gyustarzzi]

ateez as your best friend

☆𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐣𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐠

helps you make spotify playlists, is always your go to fashion stylist, acts like your parent and makes sure you show up to school on time, will scold you for the smallest things, always goes to the cafe together, clumsy and so much fun, can't help but always make you smile, the therapeutic friend in your friend group, will drop everything and come to your house when your not feeling okay.

" What do you mean you don't like that song? We're still adding it to this playlist, trust me you'll love it one day! "

★𝐬𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐰𝐚

boosts your confidence 24/7, your room is never dirty, will help you study for upcoming tests or subjects you don't understand, cooks for you when your sick, prioritizes you as his daughter, protects you from everyone, gets you a LOT of gifts on your birthday, if you guys go on a trip he'll bring all kinds of things just in case something goes wrong, always one step ahead.

" What's that? You need a pair of shorts for volleyball? One step ahead of you girlfriend "

☆𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐨

the best person to be around when you bored, is not afriad to do anything, DANCE COMPETITION, literally a golden retriever around you, can be a little intimidating around people he doesn't like because of his height, loves coming to your house, harry potter marathons at his house, probably will throw the most chaotic and wild party when you guys graudate.

" Oh, that's the girl that pushed you yesterday? " glares at her intensely

★𝐲𝐞𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐠

probably your favorite friend since he's not loud and chaotic, not afriad to speak his mind to you or others, the one person you can talk to about your problems since he's brutally honest, hates when you tease him, lowkey likes you sinces your also down to earth, orders chicken at midnight for you and him to eat, flexes his muscles 24/7 to you, library buddy.

" You want my honest opinion? That outfit makes you look like your going to church, and we're going to yunho's party. No one is going to want you if you wear that "

☆𝐬𝐚𝐧

your 'bestie', very touchy with you, protective af, will tell other boys/girls that you and him are dating so no one steals you away from him, will cuddle you and make forts with you on rainy days, gives you plenty of plushies when you stay over the night, you guys probably give each other matching bracelets, matching phone cases and pfp's, get's in trouble for you.

" Oh you like that girl/boy over there? Sorry man, she's/he's already taken. By who? Me obviously "

★𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢

always get scared of things, loves when you ruffle his hair, GUMMY SMILES 24/7, will do things out of his comfort zone for you, the one person you can't spill tea to because he will automatically tell someone else, cheats in his tests, sneaks snacks in the school, rap battles, car rides with the radio blasting and the windows rolled down, takes you on vacation with him and the others, can help but find you cute because of your height

" Of course I can put a real rat in the teachers desk, what kind of person do you think I am?"

☆𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠

your loud af bestfriend, sneaks out of school with you, dolphin laugh 24/7, clingey with you, always forces you to go to parties with him, is the type of person to bring alcohol to anything, facetimes you anytime, sleepovers, plays baddie msuic to boost your confidence, already has a theme song for you, hangout's in the bathroom stall during classes you guys don't wanna go to, people literally wanna be your friends.

" C'mon y/n, let's break out of this bitch "

★𝐣𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐨

is the star of the school, sings in competitions, back hugs you when he sees you, matching rings or bracelets, likes to get you cute things for special occasions, won't go to parties unless you or his hyungs are going, texts you during class, drives you home, little letters in your locker, takes ugly pictures of you, people find you guys cute together.

" Are you going to that party tonight? No, okay me neither "

[ash5monster01]

Truths of Our Past Part 8

Pairing: Older!Charlie Dalton x FemReader

Warnings: 18+, angst, mentions of nudity, mentions of infertility, mentions of suicide, depression, depressing thoughts, past trauma, facing trauma, romance, understanding, fluff.

Summary: You had met Charlie in University, were married shortly after, and had become accustomed to a beautiful life together. When you receive a wedding invitation to one of Charlie’s previous classmates weddings you discover that Charlie had a dark past, one he had been trying to forget. In the midst of it all you try to help him through it while finding out that he’s not the guy you thought you married at all. Maybe he’s even better.

word count: 5k (It’s gonna be a long one folks)

Part 7 ←→ Part 9

Masterlist

10/10/69

Day 8/8

You and Charlie never got the chance to talk the rest of the day considering Todd had come home with them to spend the night apart from his soon to be wife. Chris had used this and your fight as an excuse for you girls to have a sleepover in her room and kick Knox out. The boys didn’t put up much of a fight and Knox ended up sleeping in his easy chair and Todd on the couch. Then the next morning Chris had you out the door before Charlie was even awake and over to Ann’s house where the bridal party was to be getting ready for the big day. Chris had been much more lenient on you after you stayed up late, curled under the covers, telling her everything that happened with Charlie.

“I feel like I’m going to throw up” Ann spoke from the chair where Maggie delicately worked on pinning her blonde curls up.

“You’re not going to throw up” Maggie told her, giving her a stern look through the mirror and you lightly hit Chris for turning to look since you had been trying to curl her hair.

“Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet” Rachel smirked through her own mirror, hands slowly putting eye shadow on.

“Not cold feet, I’m just scared of being in front of such a big crowd. I mean I’ve never kissed anyone in front of my parents and now I have to in front of hundreds of people” and you were snorting a laugh as she lightly panicked because you remembered not very long ago it was you in that chair with the same kind of worries.

“Ann when you get out there and you see him in that suit you’re not even gonna know the crowd is there. You’ll be to happy to be with him” you told her, remembering exactly what Charlie looked like when those church doors opened. Not even a car accident could’ve got you to turn away from him.

“Is that what happened with you?” she curiously asked and you smiled, hands slowing as you worked on Chris’ hair.

“I was in a panic about kissing in front of his parents. They were so strict and I still couldn’t even tell if they liked me. Chris had to fix my hair three times because I wouldn’t stop pacing. Then the doors opened and as I was praying my Dad wouldn’t let me fall I saw Charlie. He smiled so big the second he saw me and those brown eyes of his were all misty and I thought to myself ‘If this man loves me enough to be emotional in front of a hundred people then I can kiss the shit out of him in front of anyone’.” and all the girls awed as you recalled this story and Ann seemed to instantly calm down as you explained the worries of your own wedding day.

“What about now?” she asked and you gave her a confused look. She almost looked sheepish over asking the question. “It’s just, you and Charlie weren’t talking yesterday and you left the church without us”

“Oh, that” you nodded, eyes dropping to Chris’ hair that you were putting the finishing touches on. Chris shot you a nervous look through the mirror, indicating you didn’t have to talk about it if you didn’t want to.

“What do you mean ‘oh that’, I thought we were in the antarctic based on the cold front you were giving him” Rachel snorted out and Maggie tried to suppress her giggles but you noticed anyway. Deciding you didn’t want to make things awkward by hiding it you spoke.

“I suggested us moving here and he shot it down before I could even really explain why” you said and the girls all silently nodded as they processed your answer. They could feel your sadness and they weren’t sure if they should continue to joke or not.

“Why wouldn’t he want to live here?” Maggie curiously asked and Ann reached around to pinch her to which she just yelped. “What was that for?!”

“This town brings up a lot of bad memories for him and I guess the good still doesn’t outweigh the bad” you sighed, trying your best not to cry. You were struggling with so much more under the surface. You had been trying to make it not seem like a big deal to Charlie that you hadn’t gotten pregnant yet. You were just trying to be okay and do things that would make you happy, moving here would make you happy.

“Maybe it’s a good thing, he wants you to have him somewhere he can be himself” Rachel suggested and you shook your head, moving to sit now that Chris’ hair was done.

“He’s more himself here than anywhere else, he just doesn’t realize it. I think he lets Neil’s death hold him back because whenever we visit he laughs more, sleeps better, and seems more like the guy he was before I knew him” you told her because it was all true. You think he was just scared that maybe this town could be where bad things happen, that the further he is from it there is no chance of him or anyone else getting hurt.

“I’d give it time” but he had ten years already. Maybe he didn’t know how to cope, he needed to learn a way to bear the pain. Ten years is a long time to hold yourself back from a life without worry and guilt.

“Sorry I’m late, my Mom forgot to wake me up” Laine burst through the door, looking completely fresh for just waking up as young sixteen year old girl. You were thankful for the distraction, the turn of the conversation.

“Come here kiddo, I’ll do your hair”

It wasn’t long until you were all lined outside the church. Ann’s guests, the pastor, and Todd all behind that door. The boys had obviously shared some whiskey in celebration because your husband smelled just like it. You liked how alcohol could mellow him out. His eyes were glassy from the burn of alcohol and he looked handsome as ever in his tux. You missed him, you hated giving him the cold shoulder, so even if you hadn’t entirely forgiven him you walked to his side anyway, arm interlocking with his own. Slowly you tipped up on your toes and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. He gave you a look of surprise and adoration, clearly having missed you himself. He wasn’t entirely sure where the sudden affection was coming from and you felt guilt rush through you as he clearly tried to figure out the best way to approach you.

“I’m still upset but I also love you more than life itself. Not many people get to walk down the aisle twice” you told him, head falling to lay on his shoulder. Even though he hated not talking to you it also gave him time to think, to go over a lot of stuff in his head that he hadn’t before.

“Yeah, but we do” he grinned and as if he cued it himself the church doors opened and the wedding planner started to count each couple off, urging you all out of the door where the guests had turned to look.

You held onto Charlie like it was your wedding day all over again, pouring out love for him as best you could while still holding your ground in your argument. You needed something to change, something to feel good about while you waited to have the family you always dreamed of having. Yet your thoughts were cut short as Charlie’s grip on your arm tightened and you looked up to see a large picture of Neil had been placed on the alter, right behind Todd in line with the groomsmen of boys.

“He’s so handsome” you whisper and Charlie felt a soft smile cover his face as he processed what Todd had done. He had made it possible for Neil to be in his wedding and it had worked because it felt like he really was there. It had felt like that all week and maybe that was why Charlie had struggled so much.

“Figures, Neil always showed up looking better than me” Charlie whispered back and you were suppressing your giggles as you got to the front where you’d have to part and move to your correct sides of the alter.

“Girls always like guys who put little effort into their looks better anyways” and Charlie was gasping at you and you gave him an evil grin and moved to stand beside the girls who had made their way down the aisle before you.

You didn’t have much time to laugh at your evilness because Ann was coming down the aisle prettier than ever. You loved weddings and now you could stand here and try to hold back tears as Todd cried while saying his vows. Behind him was his brother and all the Dead Poets including Neil. The idea of Neil getting to stand with all of them as their friend got married made your heart soar. Especially since you had made Charlie feel more happy than sad that a picture of Neil was beside them instead of the real thing. Then pretty soon Todd was kissing his wife and you were all heading to the reception hall, still soaring over happiness and family that filled the room. You felt the same when you got to the reception to find there had been a chair reserved for Neil again.

“Todd, this came for you. It’s marked urgent” Rachel said as she rushed over to the wedding party table. Todd furrowed his eyebrows as she slipped the envelope in his hand.

“It’s from Keating” he muttered after inspecting it, a wide smile creeping across his face. The rest of the Dead Poets shared shocked and excited looks as they glanced at him.

“Open it!” Charlie urged, eager to know the contents inside. Todd carefully opened the envelope. Slipping the letter out and trying to hold back his glee.

“What are you waiting for? Read it!” Knox quipped and the boys agreed, them practically buzzing in their seats knowing Todd held the first words they’ve gotten from Keating in ten years. Quickly he cleared his throat before reading.

“Dear Todd, I am sorry I could not be in attendance of the big day. It would’ve been exhilarating to see the mousy boy who couldn’t even read a poem in my class recite vows in front of hundreds of people. In all honesty I don’t have to be in an attendance to know what will happen. I’m sure the man you’ve grown to be recited his vows loud and clear to convey the love you hold for the undoubtably wonderful girl you’re marrying. For Todd you have always been quiet but inside you’ve always held an outpouring amount of love for the people around you. If there is anything I’m most sorry about is not fighting hard enough for you boys all those years ago. I know not to worry too much, all of you too strong and hard headed for your own good. Especially Charles. Me and my wife have sent along a gift I hope you will use for years to come but I’ve also included a letter for Charlie. I know it’s your wedding day but until now I’ve had no way of knowing how to reach the boy. This letter has come ten years too late and for that I hope he can forgive me. I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately and during that I’ve found all of you. My best wishes Todd, love the Captain”

All heads turned to Charlie as Todd slid the letter to reveal another behind it. Charlie was unmoving, not saying a word as Todd shakily handed it to him because he knew that hand writing. The soft and low swung loops of Charlie’s name inked across the front. Charlie knew too and no one said a word as he slid the chair away from the table and rushed out of the reception hall. He needed to be alone. They all knew it and you did too. So you let him go so he could have a moment alone with the words of his lost friend. Once safe at a bench far enough away he couldn’t hear the music coming from the hall, he unfolded the letter with shaky hands.

Charlie,

I’m sure you’re angry with me. In fact I know you are. What you need to know though is this was my only choice. The only way I could be free. Please know I would never willingly leave you behind like that. You’re my best friend, my first friend. The greatest and most confident guy I know. I always wanted to be you. To face the world head on like you did. That’s why I know you’re going to be okay. I don’t have to be sad about not seeing the rest of your life because I know what’ll happen. You’ll graduate and go to some big fancy school. You won’t be nervous because not even the school will be big enough for you. Then you’ll meet a girl, a nice one, not some ditz you tricked into going out with you. In fact in my version of things she’s going to be the one to seek you out because a real women doesn’t need to be wooed by the charms of Charles Dalton to see him for who he is. Then you’re going to love that girl for the rest of your life because if my friend Charlie is anything at all he is loyal. Loyal to me, to the Dead Poets, and to the people that care for him.

You don’t need me for all of this, I’ll be there watching anyway. I’ll be there for your wedding and the birth of your kids which I know will be named after me because let’s face it, you love me too much. Then I’ll be there to watch them grow up and help them through the same hardships we faced growing up. I’ll do that for all the Dead Poets kids because we now know what it feels like to suck all the marrow out of life and not be sad when it’s our time to leave it. I’m not sad, I got to do what I loved tonight. Now I’ll get to do what I love the rest of my life while watching the people I love do it too. Tell the boys I love them, that I’ll miss them. I’m sure they know it, especially Todd. Todd is going to be okay too, I know it. The only person I couldn’t bear not saying goodbye to is you. You were the first person in my life that made me feel loved the way I was and as my life ends I know it to still be true. My dear friend Charlie, the one who always knew my worth. You’re perfect the way you are and I can’t wait to see you do everything I know you can accomplish in this lifetime and the next. After all only Nuwanda can face the challenges life holds and still make something of himself.

Always with you, Neil

A large sob broke past Charlie lips as he gripped the paper in his hand. He clutched it to his chest as he cried harder than he ever did over Neil’s death. In fact he wasn’t sure he ever got to cry for him. When he got the call he didn’t have time to cry because he had the job of informing everyone else. Then he was expelled and his parents were too mad to offer a shoulder for him to grieve on. He had never cried for the loss of his best friend and now here in his hands was a letter frozen in time from ten years ago. Somehow Keating had it and all this time Charlie had no idea he had been trying to reach him. So he cried harder than he had in his whole life, face red, and snot coming out of his nose.

“Oh Charlie” and then Knox was wrapped around his friend, Charlie gripping onto him instead of letter. The other boys stood there, tears in their eyes as Charlie held onto Knox as if he would somehow leave him too.

“It’s okay Charlie” Todd said with a sniffle, delicately removing the letter from his hand that was crushed against Knox’s back. He knew it was something he had to keep. It wasn’t the kind of thing you just lost track off.

“He told me goodbye Todd. He told me goodbye and I was stupid enough to get myself expelled and never know he did” Charlie sobbed against Knox and Todd sat on the other side of him, trying not to cry at the sight of Knox quietly crying in his shoulder.

“Maybe it happened for a reason. At least you have it now and maybe it’ll give you the closure you need” He told him and Charlie slowly started to calm down.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be over the fact he’s gone” Charlie told him and Knox slowly pulled back, keeping one arm around his friends shoulders.

“None of us are” Knox told him, free wrist wiping at the tears in his eyes.

“Yeah Charlie, Neil is not the kind of friend you just get over” Meeks told him as he moved around the bench to face him.

“Neil was the best of us, you don’t just get over that” Pitts said joining his red headed friend and Charlie let out a breath, finally calmed down from his minor moment. A moment that came ten years too late.

“We miss him together, that’s how this works” Todd reminded him and Charlie sighed, getting his breathing back to normal.

“I need to see my wife” he finally said and the group nodded as he stood and began to round the bench. Yet he stopped in his tracks fairly quickly because there you stood in your mint green bridesmaids dress, shawl drawn tightly around your arms to keep away the autumn chill. The tears in your eyes were a strong indication that you had found him just as the boys had in an absolute wreck.

“We don’t have to move here Charlie, it’s okay” and then you were turning around and walking back towards the reception. He had his friends to comfort him, after all you didn’t know Neil like they did. Ann’s wedding deserved to be one filled with happy memories and after seeing how badly Charlie broke down over that letter you no longer wanted to fight for this place. You’d just make do because you loved your husband more than anything else. If Vermont reminded him of things that would make him react like that then you didn’t want to live here either.

“Is everything okay?” Chris curiously asked you as you returned to your seat and you nodded, reaching for the champagne in front of you.

“Yeah, it’s all good”

It wasn’t long until the boys had returned. Their previous teary frowns replaced with wide and laughing smiles. After that the wedding picked right up again. The champagne had allowed you to mellow out and enjoy the festivities. You laughed at the correct place in each of the speeches and cried as Ann and Todd took their first dance as a married couple. The wedding was perfect and based on the smiles on both their faces you knew the marriage would be a success too. As the rest of the weddings guests joined the couple on the dance floor you could only laugh from your empty seat at the table as you watched Pitts attempt a swing dance with Meeks.

“Don’t let them fool you, this isn’t the first time they’ve danced together” Charlie’s voice made you freeze as he slipped in Chris’ empty seat beside you.

“That doesn’t surprise me” you said trying your best not to tear your eyes away from them and look at Charlie.

“I’m sorry” he finally said after a beat and you sighed, your head dropping between your shoulders.

“No, I am. I shouldn’t have pushed” you said, the tears starting to prick at your eyes again.

“No Y/N, you should have. I needed a push” his hand was squeezing your own and you lifted your head, a look of confusion flooding your face as you looked at him.

“But Charlie, I saw you out there” but he was shaking his head and cutting you off.

“That letter took me back to that night, the emotions seventeen year old me should have felt when I got that call. You were right though, that I was letting it hold me back and after the closure this letter has given me I know that now” and the hand that wasn’t holding your own was passing the letter over to you. You gave him an unsure look but he urged you anyway until you were reading the letter for yourself.

“Wow, he- he really knew you” you said, tears for both him and Neil now rimming your eyes.

“He predicted you. Our love, and if it’s any indication I think it means he was there the day we met. He sent you to me, an angel on earth” Charlie told you, heart still thrumming over the fact Neil had somehow conjured you up three years before he ever even knew you.

“That’s possible, I wasn’t normally the kind of girl to approach strangers on public transportation” and Charlie was laughing, lifting your hand to press a kiss to it.

“I’m glad I was the lucky one then” he told you and a smile finally broke across your face and you leaned closer to your husband. This was the closest you had felt to him since the drive up here. You hated feeling so distant.

“I’ll always choose you Charlie, over everyone” you grinned at him and he smiled as he leaned the rest of the way to press a small kiss to your lips.

“Well that’s good because I bought a house” and your eyes grew wide as he nonchalantly drank from the whisky glass in front of him.

“You what?!” you exclaimed and he chuckled lightly as he set the glass down and turned back to you.

“Todd’s Uncle is a real estate agent. He told me over at the open bar that a town house three down from Knox and Chris had been put on the market. Great condition, two stories, four bedrooms, and three and half baths. I made an offer” you were gaping like a fish, trying to process how all of this could happened in the last hour and half since he had received that letter.

“So we, when? How?” you we’re questioning and Charlie was smiling as he drew you close to him.

“Look that letter made me realize a lot of things. One being that I want to stay close to my friends for as long as I get to have them around, two was realizing I never recovered or learned how to cope with Neil’s death, and three was that my behavior all this time had been hurting you as a result” and you were shaking your head, trying to tell him it was okay but he held his hand up to stop you.

“So I’m buying a house close to my friends, I’m going to see a therapist even if I think it’s a scam the entire time, and I’m going to give you the life we always wanted to have together” and then you were kissing him as hard as you could, hugging him close because the man in front of you was the one you loved more than anything. A perfect mixture of who he was and who he turned out to be. Your Charlie.

“I love you Charles, forever and ever” you told him, arms wound tightly around his neck and he grinned right back, pushing some hair out of your face.

“I love you too Mrs Dalton, forever and ever” he told you right back and you smiled as you pulled away and grabbed your own glass.

“Well now that we have this all cleared up did I tell you I ran into Richard Cameron” and whiskey was spluttering out of Charlie’s mouth as you deviously giggled, knowing you’d receive that reaction.

“You ran into who?” he asked, using Chris’ napkin to wipe his chin and the small mess he had made.

“He gave me a ride home when he saw me walking in the cold after the rehearsal. I have to say he is not at all like you had described. He actually seemed a little morose about the whole thing” and Charlie felt all five stages of grief rush through him as he thought of that fink. He had always hated Cameron and yet he felt the smallest part of him curious as to what his old pal had turned out like.

“Keating would be proud of me” Charlie said after a moment, having processed your words.

“Why’s that?” you asked and he smiled back at you, remembering the good times for once.

“Because I married a girl who uses the word morose instead of very sad” and even if you didn’t know what it entirely meant you were grinning anyways, pecking his lips.

“Well you also married a girl who likes to find trouble, want to help me bust Meeks and Maggie in the storage closet?” and Charlie was gaping at you now, shocked and surprised at the behavior of the woman he married.

“How?” he simply asked and you just chuckled, finishing of your champagne.

“I spotted them leaving the dance floor hand and hand about twenty minutes ago. That means right about now would be a good time to catch them before we see too much” and Charlie was matching your devious grin as he grabbed your hands and lifted you from the chair.

“Lead the way my beautiful wife” and you smiled widely as the two of you rushed off to cause trouble and make Todd’s wedding more than memorable.

“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life causing trouble with you” you told him as you reached the storage closet door and Charlie smiled wide.

“That’s a good thing, because trouble is what I do best” he said and you both were gripping the door handle, devious eyes sparkling into each others as you swung the door open wide just to be met with the screams of both Maggie and Meeks. They both stood in their undergarments, lips red and swollen as they made out in the closet. You almost toppled over at the sight of Meeks boxers, white with red hearts.

“What the hell Charlie!” Meeks was yelling as Maggie tried to cover herself and you giggled into your hand.

“Careful Maggie, he barely knows how to use that thing!” Charlie teased before slamming the door back shut and you both laughed before joining hands and rushing off down the hall.

“I’ll kill you Charlie” Meeks yelled as he peaked his head back out the door but neither of you cared as you laughed and joined the wedding that had no clue what you were up too.

“I have the best wife” Charlie said as you both rushed to the center of the dance floor, safe from the wrath of Meeks. You wrapped your arms around his neck, falling into step with him as you joined the dance.

“And I have the best husband” you told him softly before you both laughed again, the image of Meeks in heart covered boxers undoubtedly to be funny forever.

“What did you two do?” Todd accused, him and Ann now dancing beside you. You snorted out a laugh again at the memory.

“You wouldn’t believe us” Charlie said and you were hiding your face in his chest as the laughter bellowed through you.

“As long as my cake doesn’t explode on us I really don’t care” he was saying and Charlie laughed, happiness filling the room.

“Hey Todd, what did Keating give you as a gift?” Knox asked as him and Chris danced over to join all of you.

“A desk set” and the soft smile on Todd’s face conveyed it meant so much more than just a simple desk set.

“That’s Keating for you” Knox nodded and the group fell in a comfortable silence, slowly dancing to the music that surrounded them.

“Y/N bumped into Cameron” and shocked yells came from each poet around you to which you just laughed.

“In my defense I didn’t know it was him right away” but they still questioned you, clearly shocked and surprised by the random encounter that had happened.

“Man, I can’t believe he’s still around” Todd said with the shake of his head and Knox just shrugged.

“I bump into him a lot, kind of comes with the territory” he explained and Charlie snorted.

“I’d love to see the two of you duke it out in a court of law” and Knox was just rolling his eyes at his hyperactive best friend. Only Charlie could conjure up an image of an actual fight between the two.

“That’s not really how it works” he was muttering and Charlie just grinned because he liked to get under his friends skin.

“Hey guys, have you seen Meeks?” Pitts was asking as he approached the three couples and the laughs that came from both you and Charlie indicated you knew exactly where he was.

“Not sure Pittsie, but when you see him ask him if I can borrow his boxers sometime” Charlie said and Pitts furrowed his eyebrows in confusion but stalked off nonetheless to find his friend.

“You’re bad” you told him, smiling wide because tonight had turned out so much better than you could’ve ever imagined. Tonight in fact was the best night you had ever had.

“Yeah but good thing for me that you all love it” he was telling you and you nodded, head coming to rest on his chest.

“That’s true, and I wouldn’t change a thing”

Taglist: @octaviasdread @miaandthediamonds @cherrybabyssssss @inky-sun

I’ve added people I figured would enjoy, if anyone wants to be added or removed let me know <3

[caplanbuckybarnes]

Songs4Caplan Challenge

(I located an older song fic challenge from a deleted blog I had that had this graphic on it. LOL)

Rules:

Tag me in the authors notes & send me a message with yuor fic once it's posted! (along with the hashtag so I know which Masterlist to place the fic when I post it)

Please tag the proper warnings before the fic

Can be ANY CHARACTER YOU'D LIKE!!

More than one person can write for the same prompts

RPFs are allowed

If you’d like to write for more than one song, please make them separate fics

the songs are randomly picked from my playlist, so don't judge lol.

Can be however long you’d like the fic to be, however, please be considerate to the folks using the app and place the 'keep reading' feature on your posts!!

PLEASE tag the fic as #songs4caplan so i can easily find your fics!!!

Addicted to you simple plan

Africa Toto 

All downhill from here new found glory 

All for you sister hazel 

All summer long kid Rock 

Alone together fall out boy

Amnesia 5 seconds of summer

Animals maroon 5

As it was Harry styles 

as the world caves in Sarah cothran

Ashes of Eden breaking Benjamin 

Attention Charlie put 

Bad guy Billie eillish 

Bad things jace Everett

Beautiful mistakes maroon 5

Beautiful soul Jesse McCartney 

Before he cheats carrie underwood 

Before you go Lewis capaldi 

Beggin maneskin 

Better than me hinder

Blue ain’t your color Keith urban 

Burn usher 

Car radio twenty one pilots 

Church fall out boy

Climax usher 

Come & get it Selena Gomez 

Count on me Bruno mars 

Criminal Fiona Apple 

Deja vu Olivia rodrigo 

Delicate Taylor swift 

Diary Tino Coury 

Dirty laundry Carrie underwood 

Dirty thoughts Chloe adams 

Don’t call me up Mabel 

Downtown lady a 

Drivers license Olivia rodrigo 

Easy on Adele 

End of me a day to remember 

Every breath you take the police 

Every morning sugar ray 

Everybody hurts r.e.m. 

Fall for you secondhand serenade

Fallin Alicia keys 

Fast car Tracy Chapman 

Flowers Miley Cyrus 

For the first time the script

Forever young alphaville

Forever and ever amen randy Travis

Fuck it Eamon 

Fuck you bitch wheeler walker jr

Ghost of you Justin beiber

Glimpse of us Joji

God gave me you Blake Shelton 

Hate (I really don’t like you) plain white tees

Havana Camilla cabello 

Heart attack Demi lovato 

Heartbreak anniversary giveon 

Heaven Kane brown 

Hello darlin Conway twitty 

Hold on, we’re going on drake 

How do you sleep Jesse McCartney 

Hurt Johnny cash 

I fall apart post Malone 

I miss you blink 182

I see red everybody loves an outlaw 

I wanna be your slave maneskin 

I’m not the only one Sam smith 

I’m the only one Melissa Ethridge 

I’m yours Alessia Cara 

In my blood Shawn Mendes 

It ain’t me baby me Johnny cash 

Jealous nick Jonas 

Just one yesterday fall out boy 

Just the way you are Bruno mars 

Keep Holding On Avril Lavigne 

Killer queen Queen 

The last of the real ones 

Leave  the door open Bruno mars 

Leavin’ Jesse McCartney 

Let her go passenger

Like I can Sam smith

Lips of an angel hinder

Little do you know Alex & sierra 

Little Talks Mumfords & sons

Mama's broken heart Miranda lambert

Man down Rihanna

Misery Maroon 5

My Boo usher & Alicia keys 

Needed Me Rihanna 

Never gonna be alone Nickelback

New Rules Dua Lipa 

Not Over You Gavin DeGraw

Obsessed Mariah Carey

One Call Away Charlie Puth

One More Night Maroon 5

Our Song Taylor Swift

Picture KidRock & Sherry Crow 

PillowTalk Zayn Malik 

Please Don’t Leave Me Pink

Red Taylor Swift 

Remember the time Michael Jackson

Rolling in the deep Adele 

Say My Name Destiny’s Child

Say So Doja Cat 

She’s Got You Patsy Cline

Shower Becky G

Smokin out the Window Bruno Mars 

Someone You Loved Lewis Capaldi

Stay With Me Sam Smith

Take a Bow Rihanna

Take Me to Church Hozier

Take You Dancing Jason Derulo

There’s Nothing Holdin Me Back Shawn Mendes

Title Meghan Trainor

Too Good at Goodbyes Sam Smith

Too Little Too LAte JoJo

Trip Ella Mae

Trouble P!Nk

True Love P!NK

Unfaithful RIhanna

Unholy Sam smith

Unsteady X Ambassadors

Uptown Girl Billy Joel

Wait For You Elliot Yamin

Walk Me Home P!NK

Walkin After Midnight Patsy Cline

Want U Back Cher Lloyd

What a Man Gotta Do Jonas Brothers

What Ifs Kane Brown

Wolves Selena Gomez

Would You Go With Me? Josh Turner

You Found Me The Fray

You Had Me @ Hello A Day to Remember

You Need to Calm Down, Taylor Swift

[frangipanilove]

XH6-S781, A Licence Plate of Reunion and Resurrection:

An attempt at a licence plate masterpost

Many of us believe Beth somehow survived a walker horde after Coda because she was put in the trunk of a car. I certainly do. I’ve always thought of Officer Lichari’s Dodge Magnum as the most likely candidate.

Notice the license plate on Lichari’s Dodge Magnum; XH6-S781, we’ll run into it quite a few times in this post.

The whole idea of her being left in the trunk of a car seems plausible for many reasons, but mostly because it was foreshadowed in 4x12 Still, and we had a callback in 5x10 Them.

When she was kidnapped in 4x13 Alone, it was by this car:

Notice anything interesting about the license plate?

Yup, it’s identical to the one on Officer Lichari’s Dodge Magnum. It’s a different car though, this is a Cadillac Coupe DeVille. But it’s the same license plate.

In 4x15 Us, we see Daryl with the Claimers. He quite literally met up with them after he had been running all night, trying to catch up to the car that took Beth.

In Us, Daryl and the Claimers come across an abandoned garage and decide to stay the night. Daryl first approaches a yellow Lincoln Continental (same brand of car as the one from Still, where Beth and Daryl spent the night in the trunk, hiding from a massive walker horde).

However, he forgets to claim it, and ends up sleeping on the floor between the Lincoln Continental and a blue Ford truck.

If you remember in this post from last year, and also this one, I argue that the license plate of the car Daryl and Carol use to pursue Officer Lichari’s Dodge Magnum, is a direct reference to the Lincoln Continental from Still, the one where Beth and Daryl spent the night in the trunk, the one that (possibly) foreshadowed Beth being left in the trunk of a car after Coda.

Here's the blue Ford truck:

Notice anything interesting about the license plate?

Yup, same one. The XH6-S781 again.

Yesterday I wrote about the red fire engine, Engine 82, that Abraham, Eugene and the rest of Team Washington found after their church bus had collapsed in 5x5 Self Help. This was back when Eugene’s strategy for survival revolved around pretending to be a scientist, sitting on crucial inside information making him capable of stopping the virus and returning the world to normal. Of course he wasn’t a scientist with inside information, he was merely a smart guy with exceptional lying skills. He was starting to have cold feet about actually reaching Washington, and decided to sabotage the church bus by pouring broken glass into the fuel tank. The church bus crashed, almost killed them all, and subsequently caught on fire.

Notice anything about the license plate? Seen it before, perhaps?

In 3x10 Home, we see Daryl and Merle argue their way through the woods. Daryl wants to go home, which is what they eventually end up doing. But not before encountering a family in distress on a bridge over the Yellow Jacket Creek. Merle’s first instinct is to leave them to be walker feed, then to loot them, but Daryl stands up to his brother and helps the family take out the walkers. He then sends them on their way, with all their posessions intact.

Remember in yesterday’s post, where I explained that bridges, along with stairs, ladders and elevators, are metaphorical “passages” between the “realms”, through which the characters can travel? These metaphorical passages can foreshadow "death", but they're also what allows for "resurrection".

Rick “died” on a bridge. He spent a long time in the “death” realm, in the “underworld, but he has now chosen to return to the "realm of the living" with Michonne, as we witnessed in TOWL 1x4 What We.

On the bridge over Yellow Jacket Creek, we see a Jeep Cherokee (read about why Jeep Cherokees are resurrection symbolism tied to the Cherokee Rose here).

Notice anything interesting about the license plate?

You guessed it. XH6-S781 again.

In a literal sense, the name Yellow Jacket Creek refers to a yellow piece of clothing, typically worn around the upper body (or trunk, if you will…) And who do we know who favors upper body garments in the color yellow?

Why does all these cars have the same license plate? And, why is it that these cars with this particular licence plate all seem to be tied to situations that somehow all revolve around Beth, directly or indirectly?

Obviously, she was directly affected by the car that took her in Alone. She was literally in it. Probably in the trunk.

The car Daryl and Carol saw in 5x2 was Officer Lichari’s Dodge Magnum. Daryl and Carol were following that car SPECIFICALLY to find Beth.

The church bus breaking down in 5x5 Self Help, was what ultimately led team Abraham and Team Washington to find Engine 82, and we saw it right at the center of events in the final moments of 5x8 Coda, as Daryl carried Beth's seemingly lifeless body out of Grady Memorial.

The blue Ford truck from 4x15 Us is interesting because of a conflict between Claimer Len and Daryl. At its core, it revolves around a rabbit, which is 100% a reference to Beth, and I’ve written about why that is in this post from a while back. Initially, Len referred to the rabbit as “cottontail”. The Latin word “Coda” quite literally means “tail”. The rabbit represents Beth, and during the night, Len attempts to frame Daryl for theft, by placing his half of the rabbit in Daryl’s bag. The next morning, he accuses Daryl of stealing it.

The plan backfires, and the Claimers proceed to beat Len to death. Daryl gets the rabbit. The two halves of the rabbit are reunited.

The Jeep Cherokee on the bridge over Yellow Jacket Creek is resurrection symbolism in that it’s a reference to the Cherokee Rose symbolism (here), and there was a Jeep Cherokee at Grady, we see it in the closing shot with a grief stricken Team Family and the red Engine 82. Engine 82 is right up front, the Jeep Cherokee sits in the bottom left corner.

Where does this particular license plate, the XH6-S781 come from, and what does it mean, specifically? Why does it show up in situations that in various ways are directly or indirectly related to Beth?

Here's my hypothesis:

Here's a shot from season 1. We see Carol's yellow Jeep Cherokee (because of couse its yellow. It's the reason they put a Jeep cherokee on the bridge over Yellow Jacket Creek. It has the same kind of dirty, yellow hue as Beth's polo. It's most likely the reason Beth was given a yellow polo in the first place) .

And we see a church van…

...namely a white Dodge Ram Van, with the words Holy Cross Lutheran Church written on it.

And there's a cross.

Notice anything interesting about the Licence plate?

Yes. It's that one again. Good old XH6-S781. The original one.

So much to adress here. First, it's a Dodge Ram Van.

Remember that Lichari's Dodge Magnum, which very well could be the actual car they put Beth in, a car that was at the center of everything during 5x7 Crossed and 5x8 Coda, has an identical licence plate. And in Coda, they were very careful to zoom in on the Dodge logo, a ram. We were supposed to take notice. We were supposed to notice the ram.

Then there's the text. Holy Cross Lutheran Church. As someone who's been trying to explain the three/tree/trunk symbolism for years, how a car and a trunk symbolizes the tomb of Christ, where "death" turns into "resurrection" after approximately three days...remember the number three in the inside of the trunk from the Lincoln Continental from Still...

The Dodge Ram Van is the origin of the three/tree/trunk symbolism. The original trunk.

The cross on the side of the car.

This is why TPTB chose to put crosses on the Grady cars. They were all callbacks to this one, the original Vehicle of Trunk Resurrection!

The church bus from Father Gabriel's church in 5x5 Self Help? A callback to this van. Both white, both church vehicles, both with identical licence plates.

Follow me on a journey of Reunion and Resurrection, from 1x3 Tell It To The Frogs:

First, Glenn's Dodge Charger rolls into camp. Yes, it is significant that it's a Dodge, and it's significant that it's red, because Red Is The Living Color. We see the white Dodge Ram Van in the background as he exits the car and is greeted by the others.

Then, we get our first real reunion, between Andrea and her sister Amy, right in front of the church bus:

Then, Morales reunites with his family, again, right next to the church bus:

Then, it's time for the big one, the Resurrection of Rick, the original Christ figure, the original Sirius figure:

The church bus is in the center of the shot the whole time.

So, the answer to the question of why the licence plate with XH6-S781 keeps popping up in situations related to Beth...

...is because the resurrection symbolism we constantly see around Beth was introduced around Rick already back in season 1. Rick and Beth always have been two sides to the same coin. The white Dodge Ram Van with the XH6-S781 was the original vehicle of Reunion and Resurrection. When the licence plate has appeared on several other vehicles over the years, all in situations related to Beth, it is because of the resurrection symbolism it provides.

We've now seen Rick "resurrect" and reunite with his family twice.

The symbolism suggests the same will happen to Beth.

[periprose]

Florence - Chapter Seven

It's Harry and MJ's wedding day, and you feel a million different emotions at once. Happiness, fear, an urge to never part from Peter's side. Finally, you come to a resolution about you and Peter's burgeoning relationship, ecstatically so.

Wedding stuff, ceremonies and reception, lots of emotions, cheesy romantic things (kissing, overly dramatic proposal stuff), smut (riding + lots of tension coming to a head (pls skip over this segment if you're uncomfortable)), I can't believe this took so long to write

Masterlist | Previous Chapter

Peter feels elated. On top of the world, even.

Yeah, it was just a kiss– hardly the most invigorating, erotic thing he could’ve done– but, as cheesy as Peter feels when he thinks this, it was a kiss with you.

“Ugh.” He smacks himself in the face, cringing at how much he loves these intense feelings. He’s lying in his bed– the villa bedroom that was selected for him was perfect, down to the mattress that keeps Peter’s back pain at bay– but he can’t help but grin bashfully under his hands.

You had had the same sort of look yesterday. After Peter had finished kissing you, MJ had come and stolen you away for more bridesmaid duties– speeches, readings at the church, etc. – and despite your shy small smile, your hand clinging onto his as MJ dragged you away with a very questioning, sly look, he had to let you go. Unfortunately so.

Peter knows he loves you. He spent most of the night tossing and turning, thinking about how to properly ask you to be his girlfriend, his partner, his significant other. To be the one that he knew you were back when the two of you were just kids. 

He was just too stupid to see it.

Hell, even Logan told him that it was obvious. After years and years, he apparently always wondered when one of you would make the first move and get it over with. This was coming from the guy who couldn’t bear to ask out Ms. Grey and ended up ending it over nothing, too.

Peter clambers out of bed, rubbing his face, getting ready to brush his teeth, knowing that because he’s known you for so long– his method of asking you to make things official would come naturally.

/

You’re watching the sun rise over the gorgeous trees and groves of the villa, leaking through the windows of the house. Your room has a teeny balcony– you never noticed it before since a table obscured the door, and it’s a lovely space to spend time thinking before the wedding.  

Outside, a cool breeze makes your hair loose, blowing away strands lightly, and you feel at peace. You feel glad to be here.  

Siena is quite beautiful… but you’re very excited to actually go back to Florence today. It’s the best part of Italy to you, and you share too many memories with Peter to not want to be there with him today. 

Especially after he kissed you. You find yourself blushing, but that’s okay. It’s too special for you to know how to deal with– you’re finding that you’re easily flustered, going over countless memories of sunny beaches and ice cream and studying algebra and Italian architecture, cobblestone streets and sun dresses and tanned skin that always stayed with you long after you would come home to the cold autumn airs of New York.

But the best part was that Peter would always be with you throughout it all. Not just in Florence, but in high school, at home, being neighbours and bothering each other all time. You never had to have a break from him– he was like your own personal summer vacation.

You know you have had your moments, pulling away, feeling stupid and neglected– the sorrow you feel is fairly terrible– but the gratitude, the satisfaction you have from having Peter next to you now is unlike anything else you’ve ever felt. 

You wonder if Peter feels the same, that he’s feeling an overwhelming amount of emotions all at once– love, affection, but also fondness, familiarity, relief– you hope so. You want to talk to him again.

You didn’t sleep very well last night, and you know that’s bad for the wedding– but you’re not tired at all. No, no. 

For the first time in your life, you feel really awake.

“Howlett?” Peter’s voice calls, and you turn– you stumble for a moment.

“Hey, watch it!” Peter comes through your grabs your forearm, steadying you. You weren’t in any risk of falling over the railing of the balcony, but Peter’s got that strange sense, and his brown eyes peer into yours, checking to see if you’re okay.

Once he feels that you are, his gaze softens and he settles into a smile. His brows furrow as he grins at you.

He’s still wearing PJs, as are you– clearly you weren’t the only one struggling to stay away.

“I– I’m okay.” You hold his hand, trying not to beam. “You didn’t have to do that, but thanks.”

“Couldn’t exactly let my girlfriend fall off the balcony, could I?” Peter ruffles your hair, and you feel an alarming amount of excitement and earnestness at his words. “Not after I finally got one.”

“Hey.” You point your finger at Peter’s chest, and he raises his hands in an oh-ho, let’s see what you have to say sort of way, and you can’t help but smirk a little even if you’re mock glaring at him. “You’re admitting that it could’ve been any girl? And you would’ve been happy?”

“Oh, Howlett.” Peter reaches over and tries his best not to snicker– he fails– as he starts this overly romantic, purposefully terrible soliloquy to you. “It could only be you. I’d walk across a thousand burning coals for you. I’d reach up into the sky and take the moon and give it to you. I’d rake my balls through shredded glass just for the chance to kiss your sweet, chapped lips.”

You cackle at that, and Peter giggles while holding you close, holding your face.

“Okay, okay. I get it.” You laugh, and you shake your head at him. “What’s with the use of girlfriend, anyways? When did you ask me to be your girlfriend?”

“Was it not obvious yesterday?” Peter purses his lips. “Should I kiss you again, and make it more clear?”

Peter leans in but you stop him with your hand, and he kisses your hand anyways. 

Licks it, too. 

“Yuck.” You shake your hand away. “You can’t just claim me like a primitive man-ape, Peter. You gotta make it official, properly. I’ve waited too long for this moment for you to go and just make it so.”

“Oh, really?” Peter looks bemused. “You spent a great many algebra study sessions fantasizing about me, huh?”

“Obviously.” You roll your eyes, and Peter pushes down the urge to kiss your endearingly annoyed expression. 

“Okay. Deal.” Peter takes you by the hand, and leads you inside. “Do you think we have time for a morning coffee?”

/

It’s a very hectic time to go and sneak away like this.

MJ is currently doing an intense skincare regimen– she enjoys it a lot typically, but in this case it’s to give her a wedding glow– numerous products are slathered on as she lays on her bed. Face, arms, legs covered.

She gives you the okay to go, as long as you’re back in five minutes to help her get dressed, and Peter promises it will take two.

Peter makes his coffee– it’s easy, it’s just black with no sugar or cream– but for you he adds in a lot of sweetness and sugar and cream and even if you don’t usually take your coffee that sweet, you appreciate it anyways. 

“You used to drink it like this in high school.” Peter admits sheepishly, and you know he’s right– it’s cute how he remembers that.

/

MJ is so glad you’re back, shooing Peter away to the groom’s side of the house. As two makeup artists work on her hair, her face, her skin, working in even more products and massaging her muscles (MJ is so particular about reducing her frown wrinkles) she feels relaxed, luxurious, amazing… if not for the fact that she’s having wedding panic.

“Seriously, what if Harry gets cold feet again?” MJ blinks her deep green-blue eyes, tears hanging onto her pale, mascara-less eyelashes. “I knew we should’ve waited a few years. He’s been so worried about his father, about everything with Oscorp… God, I’m so fucking stupid!”

“MJ– No.” You shake your head. “You’re just freaking out. Deep breaths, Mary Jane.”

She inhales somewhat dramatically, but shuts her eyes, and you watch as MJ’s flushed, red skin calms into her fair, even skintone. 

“Harry wouldn’t have proposed if he didn’t want to do this now.” You remind her carefully. 

“And he wouldn’t have invited his dad if things were that terrible, right?” MJ nods, and she watches as you nod, too. “Okay. Hold my hand, Lettie. It’s scarier than I realized.”

“Getting married?” You sit next to her, squeezing her palm in a warm grasp, and try to avoid the makeup artist currently applying a peachy blush to MJ’s cheeks.

“Yeah. Not to be crazy, but… it’s literally marriage. It’s Mary Jane Osborn from here on out. Mrs. MJ, wife to Harry Osborn.” MJ inhales. “I know I want to do it, but I just… I have so many nerves!”

“Pretend it’s one of your modelling shoots?” The hair stylist arranging MJ’s red hair into a loose bun chimes in, as she works in lilies through the strands.

“No… that won’t do. Thanks though, Clara.” MJ sighs. “It’s not like that. It’s just… it’s been so long since I’ve had to really… shed the image.”

“Bare your soul?” You respond, and MJ nods. “I get it. You need to be candid about your feelings.”

“Yeah, it can’t be all image work. And I just worry that I’m going to come across as a influencer woman being shallow and vain rather than, well, the real me, little MJ Watson from Queens.” MJ’s voice turns small. “I almost wish I wasn’t famous at all.”

“Too late for that, cupcake.” The hairstylist comments again, and MJ snorts despite herself. “Listen. If Osborn knows you’re being real, then that’s good enough. Outsiders are always going to judge.”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself.” You agree, and MJ swallows, before sighing with relief.

“Okay. Okay. I’m okay.” MJ fixes her glance on you. “Don’t leave me though.”

/

MJ looks perfect– even more so, in your personal taste, than she ever has during her glammed up, avant garde beauty shoots– she looks just like herself. Enhanced, a little, with her freckles still shining through dewy, glowy makeup, topped off with shimmery, sheer gold-glitter eyeshadow, and poppy red lipstick, blotted so not to be too much. She looks like your best friend, but also like… the best possible version of herself. You tell her as much.

She beams. “Thanks, Lettie. Do I look like a bride?”

“Of course!” You shake your head at her. “We just need to get you into your dress…”

MJ isn’t one to care about being nude anymore, after being desensitised to designers stripping and dressing her, and she undoes her robe with a simple pull of the strap, exposing her bare breasts and panties– you’re reminded just how much taller she is than you when she stands up straight, all legs and taut stomach, sharp collarbones and angular shoulders, muscles and bone contorting into a physique that just screams model. It’s like she was made to wear anything in an editorial context.   

“This is how I feel. Standing in that church, telling everyone I love Harry…” MJ crosses her arms, causing her tits to jut out more, and you snort, totally indifferent to her naked body. You’ve seen it a million times. “I’m going to be emotionally and spiritually naked.”

“And that’s harder than having your tits out?” You joke, but MJ points at you, seriously agreeing. “Alright, arms up.”

The dress is quite beautiful. An off-white, almost blue in tone mermaid dress, custom made by Dior, it fits MJ like a glove, snatching in at her bust, waist, and her hips, but then flaring out in an elegant a-line skirt, all silk and lace detailing. There’s quite a bit of rhinestone work from her sweetheart neckline, down to her hips, and the effect– as you pull it up on her, tightening the corset straps as she reaches around to make sure it’s all fitting– it’s like a halo glow.

Yes, as you carefully adorn MJ’s veil over her head, you feel in your heart– she’s an angel. No doubt about it.

“You look beautiful.” You grin at her, and to your surprise, MJ’s eyes water a little, and she hugs you tightly. 

“I’m so glad you came here.” MJ murmurs. “I never would’ve wanted to get married without you by my side.”

“Same. I mean, if I get married–”

“Stop that. You’re going to get married.” MJ laughs, cackles, really. “You and Peter– you guys are so meant to be. I’ve never been more glad that you two hit it off this week.”

“Even though we could be stealing the spotlight?” You joke.

“Especially if it means you’re stealing the spotlight.” MJ squeezes your arms. “You really deserve it, Lettie.”

There’s a sudden lump in your throat. Never have you ever assumed that you deserve any of the good things life throws your way– you always assume that it’s just due to luck. A cushy coding job? Luck. Being friends with Harry, who’s willing to give you a much higher salary, and MJ, who gives you the best fashion advice? Luck. Peter somehow being interested in you? Luck. What’s really special about you?

“I know that look.” MJ shakes her head. “You’re a catch, babe. Now go get dressed and blow that man’s socks off.”

“I… thought you were going to finish that sentence differently.” You admit, glad that MJ stopped your spiral into depressive thoughts. “Isn’t it ‘knock your socks off?’”

MJ shoos you out, laughing.

/

After very quickly putting on your makeup, It’s not hard to dress yourself. The dress, pretty as it is, all forest-green, flowing lace and silky details that you loved from the moment you saw it, just has one simple zipper.

Unfortunately, your hands scramble for purchase– it is just out of your reach, and it’s exceedingly annoying to try and zip it from the back when you can’t see it. 

The dress is flowing loosely around you as you sigh loudly, and decide to turn towards your bathroom, where you can estimate better with a mirror.

“Howlett?”

Peter comes up behind you, and you feel your skin warm. He’s too close– you’re not even fully dressed– and you hold your hands against the top of your dress, trying to stay modest.

“You’ve caught me in a fairly compromising position, I admit.” You joke quietly, and Peter chuckles.

“Maybe that was my intention.” He whispers half-jokingly, and you close your eyes, trying not to laugh or be turned on by the insinuation. “Kidding. Do you need privacy? I can go.”

“No, no, I need your help.” You mutter. “Could you just– zip up the back of the dress? I can’t reach it.”

“Of course.” Peter gently grasps the zipper, and you feel his hand press against your lower back, the heat emanating through the silk fabric, and with one fluid motion, he zips you up, the dress fitting perfectly, no longer free flowing but now clearly draped and styled in a way that accentuates the way you look.

Peter twists your shoulders so you’re facing him, and with an uncustomary amount of emotion, feels his breath hold. You look so gorgeous– so stunning, in a way he almost feels reverent when he looks at you– and he cannot help but voice it.

“Wait, you look– amazing–” You had no idea Peter was wearing his suit already. He looks dapper, sweet, calming. 

“Me? Oh man, Howlett. You look so pretty. I don’t even–” Peter harshly swallows. “It almost makes me regret never taking you out to prom.”

“It’s alright, Peter. This can be our do-over.” You kid with him, but he’s still solemn.

“Why was I so stupid?” Peter scowls at himself, and you get the feeling he’s actually going to be upset about this for a long time. “I couldn’t even see what I had, Howlett. You should’ve smacked me upside the head.”

“No, that’s too harsh.” You snicker at his antics. “It’s okay. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. If anything, it kind of… brought us closer together? Right?”

“Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. Shared trauma.” Peter laughs to himself, but he leans in a little closer. “Sorry, I gotta make up for lost time.”

Before you can admonish Peter for trying to ruin your lipstick, he’s already pulling your face forward in a strong, firm kiss, his lips pressing against yours without preamble or hesitation, and he holds you there– while you feel your insides turn warm, all jelly like, as Peter strokes your hair and face and jaw. He lets go for just a moment– but still presses cute, short kisses against your mouth, little pecks, really, and then he actually stops.

Peter’s lips are that soft red colour you picked out for yourself– he’s basically eaten your lipstick off.

“How many kisses do you need until you feel it’s enough for all the years you missed?” You tease him, gently wiping away at his lips. 

“Honestly, Howlett, it’s never gonna be enough. Seriously, you’re going to want to invest in a real good lip balm treatment because I am going to kiss your lips off.” Peter proves his point by kissing your fingers as you’re wiping his lips, and you snort.

“Real smooth.” You pull out your lipstick and re-apply. “You’ll get tired of it eventually.”

“No.” Peter’s serious. “I’m not gonna get tired of getting to kiss you. It’s a privilege and I can’t take it for granted, so…”

He presses a kiss to the top of your hairline, not wanting to mess up your makeup again, and together you leave to downstairs in the foyer where everyone is waiting for the limo, and you can witness the wedding event of the year.

/

Peter obviously sits next to you in the limo. The bridal and groom’s party are all grouped together in one giant limo, while MJ is being escorted in a very fancy, ivory white Volkswagen beetle with her parents, which will then be the newlywed’s car to drive off in, and Harry– being Harry– is driving in on a fast motorcycle, leading everyone to the Florence Cathedral.

There’s plenty of space in the limo. Gwen and Miles are taking pictures of each other using an instant camera, while Gayle and Betty gossip about some of the guests posting stories on instagram– supposedly someone is wearing white, and Gayle launches a plan to help her sister out and “accidentally” throw some red wine on the dress. 

The other groomsmen mostly keep among themselves. You blink and realize that you’ve never really conversed with them– they’re mostly Harry’s friends and they have their own stuff to talk about. 

Betty offers to take a picture of Gwen and Miles– somehow turning out stunning under her adept fingers, with just a smartphone camera– and you know that’s why MJ loves her. The one time Betty shot MJ for the highschool newspaper, it was all over from there– it basically launched her career after it went viral.

Then Betty turns the camera towards you and Peter. “Smile for the camera, Howlett. You too, Parker.”

She’s as deadpan as ever, but you and Peter lean into each other over the seats, smiling with not a hint of irony. You’re happy.

The film prints out, and Betty holds it away from the light, shaking it a little, and as the image appears, she hands it to you two.

“Wow.” Peter traces the edge of the photo. “This is… maybe better than my photography skills, somehow.”

“I know that’s a real compliment if it’s coming from your egotistical ass, Parker.” Betty sniffs, and shuffles away to gossip with Gayle again.

“Howlett, you’re so…” Peter inhales and sighs, as if he really can’t believe he’s around you, and you feel yourself blush. “I’m putting this in my jacket pocket. Just as a sweet memory.”

“Aw, you sap.” You giggle, and Peter laughs.

/

There are loads of people in the Florence Cathedral, all admiring the architecture, the religious art pieces, the tile work. Far more people than you would’ve accounted for– but then you remember that many of these guests are not staying at the Villa. You see more models, more tech billionaires, but also…neighbours, friends, family. Sweet memories connected with all of these people.

To your surprise, your father is already at the church, having left with Norman an hour ago. He’s conversing with a mature, pretty redhead that you recognize instantly.

“Oh my god– Ms. Grey?” You shove Logan out of the way, and he grumbles but smiles to keep up appearances. Jean fixes him a glance that totally tells you she knows about his grumpy history, and she likes it. “You’re here?”

“Of course I am.” She’s wear a teal blue dress, light gold heels, and somehow, despite a few wrinkles and spots– she still looks like your second grade teacher. “You’ve grown up into a lovely young woman, Howlett.”

“She has.” Logan pats your shoulder, looking the part of a proud father. Actually, if you really look into his eyes– you can see that they’re wet.

“Oh… thank you.” You swallow sincerely, hoping you won’t make your father cry. “You look very nice, too, Ms. Grey.”

“Yeah. I agree.” Peter chimes in from behind you, sounding very… wistful. You giggle.

“Oh wow. I never would’ve expected you to be so tall now, Peter!” Jean pinches his cheek. “Thanks.”

Peter is definitely fulfilling some childhood fantasy right now, with how deeply he’s blushing, you think. But you still ask Jean why she’s here.

“Oh, my dear, you don’t know?” She laughs. “I’m MJ’s aunt. Well, more like a family-friend aunt. Not really related. But still.”

“Wow, really?” You want to ask more questions, but the church bells have started ringing.

 “Well, I must go take my seat now. Thanks for being such darling students, my dears.” Jean Grey leaves you two– not before giving Logan a rather loaded, heated look. Maybe slightly inappropriate for church. 

“You’re probably not going to wash that cheek, are you?” Logan teases Peter, scratching his own jaw. “Don’t blame you.”

“Why don’t you go after her, Dad?” You cross your arms. “Why not just… try?”

“It’s not that simple, kid.” 

“Sure it is.” Peter holds Logan’s shoulder– and to your surprise, Logan doesn’t shove him off. “You told me not to give up on Howlett–”

“I told you not to break her fucking heart again, Parker.”

“Okay, same thing applies here. Why end things with Ms. Grey? Because you think you’re not good enough? You’re a washed up veteran?” Peter scoffs.

“Watch it…” Logan warns him.

“Right, right. Sorry. Have you ever thought that maybe Ms. Grey’s waiting for you to make a move? Maybe you’re giving up because you’re sabotaging yourself.” Peter shakes his head. “You don’t deserve to be alone after… after…”

“My namesake.” You flatly comment.

“Yeah, her.” Peter’s eyes soften, and Logan actually seems to be listening. “Give yourself a chance, Logan.”

“Wow. Normally I’d have to beat your ass for talking so disrespectfully to me, Parker.” Logan exhales. “But even I can admit you’re not… wrong. I’ll think about it.”

And Peter flashes that smile at you, that overly confident, I-just-fixed-it smile that you absolutely adore.

/

Peter lends you his arm as you walk down the aisle again, slow, smooth, everything moving as it should. It feels strangely perfect, in a way that you’ve never felt that your life was, and you can’t help but grin at people– they smile back at you, too. 

You catch little details in the church pews– floral details, lace and chiffon draping over seats, and a candlelit glow make everything seem particularly magical. The Cathedral’s artfully designed dome and tilework lends itself well to the feeling that something spiritual, something momentous is about to occur. 

The gold chain bracelet MJ gifted you a few days ago glints against your wrist– as Peter’s does, too. You wonder if MJ and Harry planned that together. Some sort of pre-engagement ring type of deal.

Peter smiles at you once you part at the altar. Really, he kind of– chokes out a smile, a huge grin that he can’t help but convey towards you. And you know that you love him.

The rest of the wedding party walks in, MJ being the very last. You watch as a silence falls over the people of the church, a hush of emotion and awe, to finally see the bride on her big day. MJ looks sweet, reverent and graceful, and she grasps her parents’ arms tightly, while Harry catches her eyes, and you can see his adam’s apple bob up and down. Maybe Harry’s getting soft.

The priest begins the wedding service for real. MJ looks pleased, nervous, obviously running on nerves, while Harry is bashful, shy, like a little boy again. 

Before you know it… it’s over. You and Peter are called over to be witnesses to the wedding document, and you sign it, feeling an air of relief, some sort of satisfying completion to this wild journey.

Harry dips MJ– tall as she is– at the front of the church, in a sweeping kiss that has people clapping and cheering.

/

The Villa is full of thumping music when you arrive back. People are already dancing, swaying, eating, drinking, either in the outdoor garden space, or inside the house itself.

But you only want to be with Peter. You’re not even spending time with the other bridesmaids– but Gwen, Betty and Gayle seem to understand deeply about your affection for Peter, and they let you go with smiles that seem to know something. 

Peter and Harry are already taking tequila shots at the bar, wasting no time, and Harry’s mouth stretches into a large smile when he sees you. “Hey, speak of the devil!”

He motions for you to come over.

“You guys were talking about me?” You snort, and Peter turns a little pinker.

“Duh, as if this guy can talk about anything else.” Harry playfully punches Peter. “Howlett, you might have to marry him, or he’s never gonna shut up.”

“Uh… yeah, that’s just my drunk brain talking. I don’t mean any pressure.” Peter tries to excuse himself by drinking another random shot. 

“He doesn’t know I want to marry him too.” You whisper to Harry. “Since ninth grade, I think.”

“He’s a dude, Howlett. Coming from another dude– we are blind sometimes.” Harry passes you a shot. “Have you made things official yet? Settled the deal?”

“That’s the business talk coming out.” You joke, and Harry laughs.

“True. But trust me, Peter can be dumb. Until you really… make it official, he’s not gonna believe that you’re into him of all people. He’s really insecure.” Harry sounds distant, sad, as Peter continues talking to the bartender, totally oblivious.

“Oh. I told him that he has to ask me to be his girlfriend before I really agree to it.” You respond, and Harry shakes his head with a wry smile.

“Who’s the one with the business talk now?” He laughs, and you shrug as if you really are that shrewd.

“I think I’ve suffered long enough.”

“That, you have.” Harry cheers to that and hands you a shot, which you drink gratefully.

/

After a bit of erratic, half-drunk dancing– whatever DJ was hired for this is amazing at picking songs that force you to, at the very least, bop your head– Peter pulls you aside.

“What’s up?” You ask him, still a little sweaty and frazzled from the music.

“I want to get some water. Like the icy water from the fridge? Just to sober up a little.” Peter shrugs, and you glance upwards at him.

“You really need me to be there for that?” You raise your eyebrows, and Peter scrambles for a response.

“Well… I… uh, I just want you there. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.” Peter admits, and you snicker.

“I will. I needed a break from dancing, too.”

Together you stroll through the garden, up to the backyard doors of the house, laughing about how fun everything is, and you really meander– taking a lot of time to stare at Peter, and him at you– and you don’t notice something is off until Peter pulls you to the side, just behind the bar counter of the kitchen.

“Wh–” You cut yourself off, watching a deep-red ponytail bob up and down at rapid speed, with gusto. Tan shoulders and just a hint of bare breasts coming up past the counter, where you can see her. 

It’s definitely Ms. Grey. Uh… Jean. You can just make out the edge of her side profile from beyond the counter, as she convulses on the floor, riding someone unseen, and she moans, “Logan, oh my god, Logan–!”

Peter pulls you away by the hand, down the hallway and into a random closet, before you can let yourself fully grasp the idea of potentially seeing your father deep in the throes of passion. You are so glad you didn’t see or hear anymore than that.

“Damn. When I told Logan to go for it… I didn’t think he’d do that.” Peter comments after shutting the door, and you, despite your very childish horror at the whole thing, start giggling. Peter smiles, and you can tell he’s trying to cheer you up.

“I mean… at least he’ll be getting over my namesake.” You raise your eyebrows. “You think Ms. Grey wants to be my mom?”

“Howlett, I’m pretty sure Logan is about to make her one. Without your involvement.” Peter replies drily, and from how clearly you can hear the rasp in his throat, you can tell this closet must not be very big.

You laugh, a little awkwardly now, because you’re still not used to being so close to Peter, not in this context anyways. A dark, shady closet, where it’s just the two of you, feeling body warmth emanate from each other. Peter’s breaths are hitting somewhere around your hairline, and if you came any closer– you’re sure you would be enveloped by his chest.

“Peter, did you bring me here just to get some alone time?” You tease.

“Well, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that water.” Peter leans in a little, and you get the sense that he’s actually holding himself back. “But to be honest, Howlett? You’re a pretty good alternative.”

“Right. Because I’m curing your thirst.” You roll your eyes, and Peter laughs.

“See, this is what I love about you. You always know what I’m about to say.” Peter says, and he watches you, in the near darkness of the closet, tense a little. 

Peter searches around for a light switch, and finds it. A tiny, yellow bulb lights up in the centre of the room, and you realize the closet is bigger than you thought.

A chaise lounge, grey in color, is off to the side.  

“I just wanted to see you.” Peter answers the question he knows you were about to ask. 

“Oh.” You smile up at him, but there’s still uncertainty in your posture.

“Howlett, what’s wrong? Am I being too much?” He looks into your eyes, and you just don’t know how to answer.

“No. I just… I’m bad at this.” You grow shy under Peter’s watchful eye.

“So am I.” He takes your hand. “But you know what? It’s time to be adults about this. I’m gonna reiterate it, I love you.”

Something about his emphasis on the word love has you spluttering and laughing, and Peter repeats it anyways, in different stresses and tones, “I love you. I LOVE YOU. I love you. I love you, Howlett.”

“I know, I know. I love you too.” It spills out of your mouth before you can stop yourself, but Peter grins eagerly and nods. “You’ve already told me that before.”

“You mean when I was drunk a couple days ago, right? Well I meant it then, and I mean it now.” Peter nods firmly. 

“Do you remember that you’ve kissed me before, too?” You ask just out of curiosity, and Peter turns a little pink before admitting that he does.

“Who could forget the beach sunscreen kiss? I still think of that as my first one.” Peter laughs quietly. “But yesterday was more… um…”

“Real.” You whisper, and Peter nods again, this time with a little more agitation in his eyes, and you watch him mull over something, obviously thinking about kissing you after speaking about it, and you know you want to after the heated memories of yesterday, and his eyes glance towards your mouth, before he decides on it.

Peter sweeps you up in a kiss that’s far more lustful and tense, grasping around your waist and hips as he pulls you in, and you feel his lips soften against yours, melting as you feel a rhythm occur naturally. You kiss him back and you know that knowing Peter for so long has enabled you– it’s like the two of you were made to be together.

He kisses down your neck, and pulls down the silky front of your dress– as much as it will allow, at least– and kisses soft, open mouthed kisses against your cleavage, which causes you to writhe against him a little. Eventually Peter finds the zipper of your dress and pulls it down halfway, allowing him to really dip his mouth against your bare breasts, and you groan as Peter lightly sucks on your nipple.

“...Jesus Christ, Howlett…” Peter murmurs in between kissing your chest and upwards on your neck and jaw. “I don’t even… know how long I wanted to do this.”

There’s not many words to be shared from you as you feel yourself turn lightheaded, and you kiss Peter again, taking control of his mouth, relishing the feeling of his tongue swiping against yours, leading him back towards the very convenient chaise lounge chair. There, Peter discards his blazer and unbuttons his shirt, and lies back against the chair, his dick clearly straining against his pants.

You kiss him again, sitting right on his bulge, lifting your skirt a little higher so Peter can feel the shift of your bare skin against him, through the fabric pants, and his eyes roll back into his head as you kiss him, grind a little. Maybe it’s too much– Peter grabs your ass and pulls up the skirt even higher, pushing you down on his clothed bulge with too much intensity– and you feel pleasant tingles spread across your skin as his bulge presses into you, almost inside you, against the thin underwear that you’re wearing. You’re very slick– you shudder as Peter pulls down the zipper of your dress fully, and you feel his hands roam across your bare back, and then into the inside of your dress, feeling your waist and breasts. 

“I didn’t bring a–” Peter starts, as you let your hands trace up his chest, and he clearly has trouble saying no.

“Oh, it’s fine. I’m on the pill.” You say, matter-of-factly, mostly interested in staying on top of Peter until he begs for more. “Just for hormonal reasons.”

“Oh… okay…” Peter inhales as you press more kisses against his neck. “Howlett… it’s a lot for me to handle.”

“Huh?”

Before Peter can really answer, he whispers an apology before tightly gripping your waist, and he sits upright, pulling you flush against his chest. Then, as he zips off his pants– he somehow takes them off completely, leaving him in just his boxers. There’s a wet spot– and Peter is pulling his boxers off, too. 

His dick is hard, almost painfully so based on his expression, and you understand you riled him up a little too much. With one hand– Peter reaches under your skirt, and you help him pull off your underwear with shaky, sweaty hands. 

You’re aroused enough that it doesn’t hurt. When Peter slowly enters you, as you lower yourself down on him, you feel electric on the inside, some sort of satisfyingly sick combination of love and lust overtaking you, and you feel full from the pressure, feeling Peter throb inside you, and you’ve never felt so close to him as you do now, and he starts a rapid pace of thrusting into you, holding you tightly against him as he does, his thighs smacking against your ass.

You do feel pleasure, a sharp ache starting to build in your lower regions, as Peter continues to press overly hot kisses against your jaw, but you also feel loved. It doesn’t feel like a hookup, and you know it isn’t. You know as Peter wraps his arms around your waist, he’s not just using you, he really loves you.

He watches as you fall over his shoulder, having reached the peak of your climax, and Peter pulls out, letting himself finish on his own leg.

“You didn’t… have to…” You sleepily tell him.

“I know. I was just taking a precaution.” Peter whispers, and he holds you close as you fall asleep on top of him. “Love you, Howlett.”

He’s really glad this closet has a locked door.

/

The morning after the wedding, you wake up to find yourself mysteriously dressed in a oversized tee shirt, and your panties. You’re lying in your own bed, but you don’t know how you got here.

Peter is sleeping next to you. His brown hair is dishevelled, and he’s wearing a random tee shirt too. Actually, you think you recognize that from Harry’s wardrobe.

“Peter. Hey, Peter.” You shake his shoulder. “Peter Parker!”

“Huh? What’s that?” He sleepily rubs his eyes. “Oh, morning, Howlett.”

“How did we get here? After we… I mean, you know.” You blush. “What did you do?”

“Oh.” Peter lets himself get up for real, sitting up on the bed. “I waited it out until no one was near the stairs, and then I took you upstairs to your room. I changed your dress for you. There were randoms in my room, so I hope you don’t mind that I stayed in here with you.”

“Of course I don’t mind.” You wrinkle your brows, frowning. “I just wonder why you did all that even though I’m not your girlfriend.”

Peter pauses. Actually, he genuinely stills, no movement at all.

“Oh, Howlett. You scared me.” He shakes his head, before grabbing your hands. “I just kinda assumed after yesterday, you would believe that’s enough evidence.”

“Humor me.” You slightly smile as Peter agrees with a little shake of his head.

“I’ll be serious. I am serious.” Peter grows solemn. “Howlett. I’ve known you my entire life, practically. I can’t picture it being without you. The year or so that it was, was maybe the worst year of my life.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I just appreciate you all the more now.” Peter traces your knuckles. “I’ve grown– we’ve grown up a lot. I needed that, so I could be here to ask you now. Would you be my girlfriend? My partner, if that sounds more equal and appropriate to you?”

“Yes.” You pull Peter into a hug, surely one of many from now on, wrapping your arms around his shoulders. “I’m so glad we went on this trip.”

Peter smiles fondly. He’s never been more glad, either.

“I never want to let you down again, Peter.” You admit shyly. “I hope it’s not cheesy to say I want to be around you all the time.”

“It isn’t.” Peter presses a very chaste, soft kiss against your lips, and he feels, finally, that his life is really coming together. 

So do you.

[copias-juicebox]

It‘s a Sin Chapter 5

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Pairing: Cardinal Copia x fem! Reader Words: 5886 Genre: romance, angst, smut, fluff, hurt/comfort, SLOWBURN Warnings: in this chap: angst and a little fluff Notes: It took me ages I know. I apologize. I hope you guys have not lost interest lol. I will try to update more often now. Special thanks to @fishwithtitz and @portaltothevoid without these two i couldn't have done this

The next day came around and you‘re dreadfully on your way to check in on the Cardinal. The events of the past day, still playing on your mind. You replayed them over and over trying to figure out what you could have done to upset him that much. As you neared the door to his chambers you tried to shake these thoughts out of your mind. It was of no use. You had neither the time nor energy to keep thinking about it too much. With each step you took, his door came closer.

You knocked on the door lightly and waited for an invitation in great anticipation. You were praying that he was in a better mood today. For some reason, yesterdays events and his cold behavior bothered you more than you cared to admit. You heard some rustling inside and a dull thump, followed by a string of italian curses. The door swung open and you stood face to face with the Cardinal. As his eyes landed on you his face fell a little and you felt a pang in your heart. You saw he tried to mask it but his eyes were a dead give away. This man wore his whole emotional state, displayed in his eyes. Apparently whatever it was you had done still stood between you.

„Ah Sorella uh.. come in sì.“ he beckoned you inside.

His obvious distaste to your presence made you self conscious and something in you broke. „Good morning Cardinal.. I uh don‘t want to bother you for too long. I just need to see how you‘re feeling today, is all.“ you hastily informed him to get out of his hair as fast as possible. You did not want to bother him more than your mere presence already did and you feared you‘d not be able to stay strong and your facade would break.

„Yes.. yes I am alright Sister.“ His eyes were going anywhere but your face and you decided to get this over with as fast as you could. It made little sense to you but it bothered you that he was too repelled to even look at you.

„Okay so have you felt any change? Any feelings of nausea or dizzyness? Change in temperature? Any sweating or freezing?“

„No.. no I am feeling like normal. Can I go back to work now?“ he tried to wave you off.

Normally you would have made a joke by now about how he has never once stopped to work but the vibe was off with him. You bit back your comment and smiled at him. „Yes if that is true you‘re officially allowed to resume your work now.“ you turned around and opened the door again. When you looked back behind your shoulder the Cardinal sat at his desk, concentrating on a bunch of papers in front of him.

„Good day to you Cardinal.“ With that you walked out the door and closed it behind you.

A few more days passed, nothing noteworthy has happened. You were spending more time around your new found friends of brothers and sisters of Sin. Today was about to be different: you were about to attend black mass today.

The first time you were officially present during a holy (or unholy) ceremony for years now. After you dropped out of school, you avoided going to church. Without your parents' presence or the nuns from the boarding school you finally had the freedom to live your life a little more like you wanted to. Attending the masses in the local church was never done on your own free will. You‘d learned not to tell anyone, but you dreaded it each time. It just never felt important to you. It didn‘t mean you were not a believer, but that would not be accepted. Since you were a child you never understood why you had to go to church all the time when it did nothing for you or anyone around you who might have needed help. You‘d rather live out your belief the way it made sense to you by helping wherever you could, by being kind to others and providing safety and stability to those who needed it. You just never understood why you it wasn‘t accepted to express being close to god in your own way, a way that worked for you that would give you the strength and hope you needed. But nothing seemed to please your parents or the nuns more than going to that tedious mass two times a week.

As you walked alongside your new found friends in the ministry, Hannah pulled you to the side, linking her arms with yours. „Hey so I know you‘re probably worried about mass, but trust me, it‘s not going to be as dark and devilish as you might imagine.“ She lowered her voice so the others wouldn‘t hear her. „We‘re not going to sacrifce any new borns to the goat you know.“ Hannah joked to lift the mood. She didn‘t plan to expose you to them since she was aware how sensitive you were when it came to your beliefs.

„Yeah, okay. I guess I‘ll be fine.“ You smiled back at her as you put your hand on top of hers reassuringly. You were anxious as you didn‘t know what to expect, but at the same time curious how different it would be from the Christian masses you used to attend.

When you entered the Chapel, your eyes widened as you took in the massive hall that revealed itself to you. With each step you took, you soaked in more of its grandeur.

The Chapel itself consisted of three naves. The smaller two adorning the imposing middle one. Wide high ripped vaults extend above round compound pillars with figurine capitals. The ceiling of the central arcade overthrowing the height of the two side naves further showcasing the celestial character of the building. On either side of the Chapel were three recesses occupied by various statues of satanic entities and candleholders. In the central room stood several pews for the Brothers and Sisters to sit during mass. At the head of the central ship, inside the big apse, sat the Altar upon an elevated pedestal. Behind the Altar a grand statue of Baphomet stood, looking over the masses right under the grand rosary window through which the bright moonlight shone. Some of it seeped through the beautifully rounded, adorned windows behind each of the niches, depicting different scenes of demonic interactions, horned beasts, serpents, goats and naked women. It was all very breathtaking and beautiful.

You kept walking with your group, and in horror, you noticed that they headed towards the first row next to the intricate embellished pulpit. You followed them as they all found their seats and you sat down between Hannah and Damien

After about ten minutes the chapel seemed to be full of Brothers and Sisters. On either side of the central pedastal, where something similar to a transept was located, stood a few pews which were reserved for the higher ranking members of the clergy. Papa Nihil, Sister Imperator, and Cardinal Copia sat down on the right side while the left side was occupied by Primo, Secondo, and another man you didn‘t know. Before mass started your gaze shifted over to Cardinal Copia’s and you found him already staring back at you. You wanted to nod at him, but just as you did so the lights went out. Your attention was taken now by Papa Terzo, who stepped on stage, wearing his papal robes. He started Black Mass by performing a song with his band. You had never once witnessed something like this. The ghouls also walked up to the stage with their instruments ready.

A soft guitar melody started to play and Terzo was getting in position in front of his microphone.

He began singing and your eyes were glued to his silhouette, drawn to his presence as your ears were blessed by his wonderful singing voice.

„ We‘re standing here by the abyss and the world is in flames. Two star-crossed lovers reaching out to the beast with many names.“

His eyes roamed over the crowd and when they found yours, he held your stare, a smirk playing on his lips as he winked at you. Hannah slapped your arm playfully and leaned in, „You‘re so lucky, you know that?“

Terzo’s performance took you off guard, in a pleasantly surprising way. It was already different from what you had known or expected. In your church, every mass was the same, always opened by the priest with a prayer, sometimes with a song performed together. Those kinds of openings you had always found dull and boring. Terzo‘s though, managed to take your breath away.

„ He is. He's the shining and the light without whom I cannot see.

And he is

Insurrection, he is spite, he's the force that made me be.“

You didn‘t know the song, but you had to admit, it was good and very catchy. You could imagine looking up that song later and listen to it again. You felt every single of his emotions he put into his performance and oddly enough you felt slightly closer to the entity he was singing about.

After the song had ended the mass continued very much like you remembered a typical mass from your childhood. Except that Terzo, who led you through the mass, was enthralling and enchanting. He had a special aura that drew everyone in, including you.

What surprised you most was the sermon. Never once did he praise or glorify any differences between people. Not between man and woman, not between children and adults.

When you were still young, you‘d attended every mass. Given that your father was the priest of the local church, it was expected of you. Even though it was your father holding mass you didn‘t like everything he had said. All throughout your time spent in the house of God, listening to your father preaching, you often found yourself questioning the very words that left his lips. Some irked you more than others, leading to your mind wandering off many times, trying to figure out what it could mean. Surely in our modern society we wouldn‘t hold back women from pursuing their dreams anymore, right? The older you got, the more you understood. And the more you understood, the more unnerved you became about it all.

All the roles you had been forced into in your life, the things you had to just accept because the old man at the top said it had always been like that and it was the only right and natural way of things. The very fact that you feared to deserve punishment and suffer endlessly burning in hell for violating a contract you were coerced into made you question if god was indeed loving or if he was even worth to be worshipped.

Terzo never once gave the impression that they handled things here like that. No, instead he kept encouraging everyone to be their best, treating everyone as equals, and live their lives as they wished. Saying you were amazed how different this church was from what you were told all of your life and how wrong the public's expectations were about these people, who called themselves satanists was drop dead remarkable.

For the last part a few sisters walked up to the altar. The smell of incense attacked your nostrils and you began to feel hot as if the room was on fire, sweat covering your skin and you felt like wearing too many layers of clothing. The obnoxious stench reminded you of your early experiences with the old senior priest in your childhood church. A set of flashbacks came crashing over you like waves. Just breathing was exhausting at this point. You needed more oxygen, but your lungs refused you. Panic started to rise in you as you felt dizzy, and your eyes widened, looking down to the ground, desperately trying to find a spot to focus on. Your hands gripped the fabric of your habit in an attempt to ground yourself to something. Your chest hurt and your face twisted in pain.

Whatever happened in front of you was drowned out until you felt a hand on your arm and a gentle, soothing deep voice next to your ear.

„Everything is gonna be alright don’t worry. You‘re safe here, nothing is going to happen. Breathe with me ok?“ He started to breathe in loudly and exhaled again. You tried to match his breathing and it helped you calm down a little.

As you gained a little more control, your head whipped to the side, looking back at Damien, who now had slowly and gently wrapped his arm around your waist, holding you steady.

„Shall we leave? Do you need some fresh air maybe?“ His voice rang out next to you and you barely nodded at him. He led you out of the Chapel, many eyes following you as he held you close to his body.

What you didn‘t see was the way the Cardinal's eyes had seen everything. He‘d been stealing glances at you throughout mass and he had studied your expressions very carefully since he was curious about your reactions to a satanic ritual. But that also meant he saw the moment your expression changed, how your body seemed to stiffen. He saw you were on the edge of a panic attack even before you knew it. There was nothing he could do about it, though. He was very close to just getting up and making his way over to you when he saw the man next to you noticed your change in demeanor and talked to you. Copia couldn‘t take his eyes of you and the brother who now wrapped his arm around you, hand resting on your hips. He didn‘t even realize but his hands formed into fists watching your body lean into his touch. The cardinal‘s disdainful eyes followed the two of you slowly walked out of the chapel.

As soon as you were outside and the fresh air hit your nostrils you took in a deep breath. Finally you could breathe again. You still hung in the arms of Damien who now pulled you over to a bench to sit down.

„That‘s it, breathe in and out. Let the fresh air fill up your lungs.“ He said as you both just sat there and he took your hands in his. He kept talking to you in a soft, soothing voice. You couldn't catch a word he said, but it didn't even matter because in the moment, his constant chatter was doing what it was supposed to.

Minutes passed and you slowly but steadily calmed down. „Thank you Damien.“

„Ah don‘t mention it. I‘m glad I could help. At least I hope you‘re feeling better now, yes?“ You were in a momentary daze as your eyes found his. His thumbs gently stroking over your palm definitely didn‘t affect you.

„Yes, I am much better. I don‘t know what just happened..“ You stared past his head, trying to make sense of the situation in the Chapel.

„You suffered a panic attack, love. I know what those look like. My mum used to have those often when I was a child. My dad abused her for many years and it just happened so many times. Usually because of a trigger.“

Your head snapped back, making eye contact with the man beside you. „I am so sorry.“ Now your hands were caressing his as you eyed him with concern.

„It‘s not your fault, so don‘t be sorry. If anyone should be sorry, it‘s me. I should have helped her sooner. I should have stopped my father.“

„But you were still a child? You couldn‘t have done anything.“

„I know but still I feel bad for it now.“

A soft breeze of fresh wind whistled around your head as a few beats of silence between the two of you passed.

„What happened to your mum and dad?“

„Well.. my uncle found out about it and made sure they divorced.“ Damien’s face was frowning now as he stared at his feet. He had never told anyone about this in the ministry but he was sure you needed to hear something personal. He was curious about you and your sudden panic attack. He wondered what your history was that you reacted like that.

„Glad to hear that. I hope she is doing better now?“ Your body moved slightly closer to him.

„I hope so. Wherever she might be now. She died a few years ago.“

Your eyes widened in horror. „Oh I.. Sorry.. I didn‘t mean to pry. And I‘m sorry for reminding you like this.“

„It‘s fine actually. I have made my peace with it.“ Damiens beautiful icy blue eyes looked back into yours as he smiled at you with a warm and heartfelt gaze, his hand squeezing yours reassuringly. Your eyes kept glancing back into his and you thought you were seeing a flicker of vulnerability in them.

He cleared his voice trying to switch the attention to you . „Now, do you wanna talk about what happened to you?“

Your gaze shifted towards the ground . „Ah well I don‘t know.. not really. I mean I don‘t know what happened. I just felt all weird and hot all of a sudden.“ You didn‘t want to let Damian know what had triggered your panic attack even though you knew what it was.

Before you could say anything more people swarmed out of the chapel. Black mass had finished and within seconds Hannah and her group were standing before you asking if you were feeling alright. After explaining that you just needed some fresh air since you were feeling dizzy and the occasional nurse joke („our nurse needs a nurse“), you laughed along with them and everyone was off to either fulfill their evening duties or to spend their time with one another.

You were about to head back to your room for now, as you‘d had enough of large groups of people, when a voice called your name.

It was Damien again.

„Hey wait..“ He jogged over to you. „I was gonna ask if you wanted to maybe go and have a drink?“ he stood before you, gazing down at you with his beautiful baby blue eyes, smiling handsomely back at you.

You smiled at him. These eyes… and oh, his smile— he looks like a devil. „Oh, ah thanks for the offer, maybe another time? I‘d rather lie down for a while and get to sleep early today.“

„Ah, sure, yes, I understand. Well, I‘ll take you up on it another day then. But let me walk you to your chambers at least.“ he replied politely, offering his arm for you.

Copia walked out of the chapel, eyes scanning over the sea of people, trying to find you. Just as he spotted you, he saw that brother jogging over to you again, conversing with you and making you smile. He watched your interaction with green eyes and the way you smiled at this tall man gave him the rest. He was fuming inside, his rage increasing with each second that your eyes were focused on the man in front of you. His mind was conjuring several insults to the man who‘s gained your attention far too long, his internal string of curses only interrupted by Terzo’s deep voice as he came to stand next to Copia, his line of sight following Copia’s.

„Ah fratello, geloso (jealous)?“

Copias head snapped back to look at Terzo. „Ah no brother. I am just worried..“ his voice trailed off towards the end of the sentence and his eyes landed on your figure once more.

„Worried your girl chooses to „take care“ of another man?“ Terzo raised one eyebrow, smiling cockily and teasing Copia, his fingers making air quotes to emphasize the words „take care“.

Copias face turned back to Terzo once more. The double meaning is not lost on the cardinal. „Wha.. no.. she.. she is not my girl. And she belongs to no one but herself.“ He hesitated for a moment. „And it is her job to take care of people you see.“ He chose to ignore Terzos' innuendo and stay on the innocent side of the conversation.

Terzos' laugh rumbled loud through the air. „Ah il mio fratellino è innamorato,“ he said, laying his gloved hand on Copia’s shoulder.

Copia blushed madly at his older brother's words. „Eh.. hehe. Nonsense… You.. argh nevermind. Excuse me, now, I have a lot of paperwork to finish before the end of the day.“ Copia stammered out and marched off towards his office, leaving a still laughing Terzo behind.

After Damien had escorted you to your room, you thanked him again for his help and his kindness. But now in the silence of your own chambers, your mind was louder than ever. As you got ready for bed, the events from black mass replayed over and over again. The smell of burnt incense hit your senses just as strongly as when it had happened earlier. The flashbacks had plagued you again. The flashbacks of Father Clifton screaming at the young girls, hitting them for laughing during mass. You and the others were still children — you didn‘t know what to do, so you endured his actions for far too long. Thinking about it now made your blood boil, and once again you felt yourself feel hot like a fire burned inside of you. How you wished to be an otherworldly entity sometimes. To be granted the power to judge over those who did others wrong. To condemn them in the name of God and make sure they got what they deserved.

A knock on your door pulled you back to reality, and you wondered who it could be at this hour. To your surprise, the Cardinal’s pair of eyes were there looking back at you when you opened the door.

His eyes widened for a moment as he saw your face. Something about you was different — you had such an imposing aura that it caught him off guard. The Cardinal was stunned for a moment, but he knew he had to say something. „S..sorella I am terribly sorry t..to be bothering you at this hour.“

You stared back at him, face flushed still from your internal rage but the flames inside of you seemed to die down as his words hit your ears. His mismatched eyes stared back at you as if to silently beg you to calm down before his eyes fell to the ground.

„Ah “ you cleared your throat. „Cardinal, what is it? Do you not feel well?“ your concerned expression replaced that of anger as you imagined him to have some health issues again. For why else would he appear at your door this late in the evening?

„I.. uh I was just thinking about black mass today and uh.. I… uh did you not feel well? Excuse me but I saw you leave the Chapel with that.. friend of yours. “ he said timidly, finally looking at you for more than just a second.

„Oh uhm.. “ you contemplated hard about telling him or not. He had been such a gentle soul to you, always helping and listening to you without judging you but your relationship appeared to have changed over the last few days. Maybe this was a way for you to regain his trust, so you decided to let him in figuratively and literally.

„Do you want to come inside maybe? I don‘t want you to stand out here in the hall all the time.“ you stepped aside, making room for him to enter.

„Ah.. Sì sì. Thank you, Sorella.“ the Cardinal stepped inside. His eyes roamed around the place as he took in your private quarters.

Watching him standing there like a lost puppy was kind of soothing to you, and you knew it wouldn't hurt to tell him. „Please sit. Would you like to drink something? I only have water, I'm afraid.“ you scratched the back of your neck.

„Water is fine. Thank you sorella.“

Taking a glass from the table you poured him some water out of the half empty bottle that stood on the table. You sat down next to him on the small couch that sat in the corner. You sighed as he gave you his full attention.

„Sorella.. I saw how stressed out you were.. I just wanted to make sure you‘re feeling ok.“

His hand briefly touched yours as you held out the glass to him and your eyes met for half a second before both of you pulled away, brushing it off. When you peered back at him you found his eyes never left your face and his own wore a worried expression.

You smiled at his words. „Thank you for your concern, Cardinal. I am alright now. I have to admit I was not during black mass though.. I.. I am not sure if I can tell you.“

His next action took you completely off guard as his gloved hand left his glass and reached out to your soft and delicate one that came to rest on the table next to his, his other still holding yours.

The cardinal sat up straight. „Sorella you can tell me anything, you know. It will help you to let it out, maybe. Only if you are comfortable, of course, I don‘t want to pressure you.“ He took the glass in his other hand and took a quick sip.

The way he was not pressuring you into telling him strongly impacted your decision that you truly wanted to tell him. Nevertheless it made you nervous, you shifted in your seat as you silently rehearsed the words in your mind. Ah fuck it you thought. With a visible gulp you summoned the courage to tell him.

„I was..“ your voice was wavering a little but you forced the end of your sentence out. „..actually having a panic attack.“ you informed him.

„Sorella, a panic attack? I am so sorry.. May I ask what happened?“ his thumb began rubbing gentle patterns over the back of your hand.

„I.. Yes. I think the incense has triggered something.. a memory..“ you trailed off.

„The incense? So you have a negative connotation to the smell of incense, is that it? Would you like to explain what exactly triggered that conditioning?“ His hands squeezed yours softly, encouragingly.

„I.. uh, yes.. It was our former pastor. He was a tyrant. He was very strict with me and the other girls when we were altar servers. He made our life a living hell…“ your voice faltered, still hesitant because he doesn‘t know of your catholic past and the fear of his distaste for finding out about it is still very present in you.

Copia nodded solemnly, his face painted with pure sympathy and kindness. "Cara, I'm so, so sorry. And I can imagine it was hard for you to tell me what happened just now. I am grateful you trust this old cardinal like that."

A beat passes.

"I hope that here in this church you will find the true meaning of faith and believe. Because I am sorry to say, but I don‘t think your former Church was a rightful one.“

Another breath of silence. You could feel he wanted to say more, but refrained from doing so because he didn‘t want to overstep and cause you to close off again.

„I.. you are right.. it was..“ you wanted to tell him everything right now but instead you just stared at him.

„Sorella, are you alright?“ Copia asked.

„Yes.. yes it‘s just.. Cardinal, can I tell you about my past?“ you decided to try to let him in more at this moment. It took a lot of courage, but his fingers curled around your hand. It felt so warm and familiar. It was now or never.

„Always. I hope you know I am always here if a sorella needs to let out something weighing her down. Whether it be something you‘re struggling for a while now, or just a silly rush of anger, I always have an open ear for you.“ The Cardinal added another sentence quickly. „I am Cardinal, after all. I take confessions, and I take my job very seriously.“

You gulped in an attempt to swallow your fear. „I am actually not a Sister of Sin at all. I am a devout Catholic, always have been. I grew up in this town as the child of a pastor. I was raised to worship the father, the son and the holy ghost and not to give in to sinning or revolting against our lord and savior's words.“ A moment of silence hung in the air and you continued. „When I came here to this institution, I didn‘t know it was a Satanic Church.. I was.. I am still scared..“ Anxious thoughts swirled in our head as you feared his next words.

The Cardinal waited patiently, his eyes never leaving yours. You looked at him with a frown, trying to read his expression, looking for a hint of discomfort or even disgust. When he finally opened his mouth, he pulled your hand closer, wrapping his second one around it additionally. The cardinal leaned back in his seat, let go of your hand for a brief moment and took another sip of water. His slow movements without saying anything made you almost gasp out in exasperation. The glass thumped against the surface of the wooden table and he made sure to retake your hand before he spoke up again.

„Sorella, actually I think I have to make a confession to you. I have to admit I am not surprised to hear that. In fact I have expected something like this. I knew all this already.“ his expression composed and casual.

Your mouth fell open, lost for words your eyes bore into his.

„What? You did? And you never told anyone? Do you not want to kick me out now?“

As you watched the Cardinals face closely you could tell he was being genuine. It was that very relaxed and calm attitude to your revelations that had your mind in a whirlwind of confusion. How could that little secret of yours, that you tried to guard around your new workplace, appear to be an open book for him? Were you that obvious? You tried to think of any instances where you might have given yourself away but none came to mind.

The cardinal smiled and chuckled, „Kick you out? But what would we kick you out for?“

„Because I am Catholic.. Have you not sworn to fight against the Catholic church? I am your enemy.“

The Cardinal sat back up straight. „Listen to me, Sorella, we are not enemies. Our Church never wants to fight against anyone. We are not at war with the Catholic Church. All the hostility that is between us is one-sided. We have no reason to hate Catholics.“

Copia licked his lips, his tongue barely tracing over his upper one before continuing. „It’s just that we do not believe in their beliefs. It would be against one of our core beliefs even. Everyone has the freedom to choose their beliefs. We respect that. And as long as you are not resolutely acting against our rules in the ministry there is absolutely no reason to kick out such a wonderful addition to our community such as yourself.“ his cheeks heated up slightly but when his eyes saw your expression he knew it was the right thing to say.

He didn‘t know why, but as he looked at your face your eyes were glossy, and he wanted to cheer you up more. Sathanas , something must have possessed him to speak those next words to you.

„Since you’ve graced these halls with your presence, the ministry is glowing again. Every day I wake up, I look forward to seeing you roam around these walls, and I am not the only one.“ His mind went back to the words he kept hearing in the ministry. You’d caught the attention of everyone in the ministry, even of the old fart Papa Nihil himself, but especially of the male half of the Clergy. The Cardinal blushed slightly and stopped himself before he would start rambling.

This time it was your action that surprised him as you launched forward into his body as you wrapped your arms around his neck in a strong embrace.

„Thank you Cardinal.“ you pressed your face into the crook of his neck.

His mind blue-screened, and it took a long moment for him to regain his senses. He gently but awkwardly put his own arms around your waist and rubbed your back soothingly. Just as he was about to melt into your body you pulled back, clearing your throat.

„I am sorry Cardinal, uh.. I didn‘t mean to.. I am sorry if I overstepped.“ You sat back in your chair next to him.

„Eh va tutto bene, bella. Non c'è bisogno di preoccuparsi. (It is quite alright Sister. No need to worry.)“ He switched to Italian as his mind was still half blanked out.

„I‘m sorry, what?“ you asked as you waited for him to explain.

„Ah shit, ah no, it is alright Sister. I am happy to be of help in any way. I‘m always here for you, so please, do come and see me if you need to.“ He smiled awkwardly as he slowly rose out of his seat.

„I should get back to my chambers now. I would hate to keep you up any longer.“ He gestured to your clothes as you were obviously ready to head to bed. „Besides, I have a few things to organize before tomorrow.“

„Yes, yes, of course, I am sorry, I didn't want to keep you away from your duties, Cardinal.“ you bowed politely as you walked him to the door.

„Good night Sorella. Sleep well and get some rest.“

„Thank you. You too, and promise me not to stay up too late to work, yes?“ you smiled at him brightly

„Sì, sì Sorella. I will not, prometto. (promise)“ He smiled and crossed his fingers and you closed the door.

When the lock clicked, the Cardinal’s back fell back against the wall right next to the door, head hitting against the bricks and his eyes closed as he had still not processed what just happened. Not only was he correct about assuming you were the little girl from all those years ago, no now he had felt what it was like to have you in his arms. Your body against his and it made his mind go all over the place. You felt so right in his arms — it felt like finally coming home. You made him feel like he was lost all of his life, and now that you were here, he finally found his purpose. You . It was you all along that he was missing. He finally pushed off the cold surface, walking towards his own quarters, a happy skip every few steps thinking about any incense alternative.

Taglist:

@hauntedlover03 @adinferix @ghostfangirlsweden @fishwithtitz @pinksweetsxtan @portaltothevoid @bbykens @sodoswitchimage

[cetaitlaverite]

i NEED NEED NEED to know everyone’s reaction to rosie showing up after his time off married

ask and you shall receive 😏

By the time Rosie made it back to Thorpe Abbotts after his whirlwind emergency leave it was late evening. He was dropped off at his hut and spared time only to set his bag down before racing to his meeting with Colonel Bennett, and by the time he got out of that it was night.

The noise from the officers’ club was prominent even before Rosie could see it. Muffled, yes, but loud all the same in the quiet of a chilly February night. The rush of warmth when he pushed open the door hit him smack in the face and put a flush in his cheeks, the uninhibited sounds of music and chatter almost cacophonous.

“Rosie!” cried Millie, loud enough to be heard clearly even above the noise. She slammed her beer down on the bar and rushed over to him. “What happened? Where’s Fred? Is she okay?”

Jem was hot on her heels. “Where’s Fred?” she demanded fiercely.

Rosie let out a flustered laugh. “She’s fine,” he assured them, offering a smile to Croz approaching behind them both. “She’s staying home a couple more days while she gets better.”

“Is she okay?” Millie asked again.

“She’s fine,” Rosie assured her. Instinctively, his right hand sought out the wedding band on his left, his thumb rubbing back and forth across it. “She wasn’t doing great when I got there but she’s getting better. She’ll be back in a few days.”

“Bet she was happy to see you,” Croz mused. He handed Rosie the beer in his hand - fresh, by the looks of it - and patted him on the back.

Rosie grinned. “Just a little.” He wasn’t sure when else he was supposed to tell everyone, so he held up his left hand with a sheepish smile and offered, “We got married.”

Millie gasped so hard she choked on it and was left coughing.

Jem’s mouth fell open.

Croz laughed.

“You what?!” Millie demanded once she’d regained her composure. “Tell me you’re joking.”

Rosie laughed. “Not joking. We got married yesterday in a church in Oxford. Fred wore her mom’s wedding dress.”

“I can’t believe Freddie got married and she didn’t tell me!” Millie cried.

Croz exchanged a look with Rosie at her hysteria and Rosie had to look away so he wouldn’t laugh. “It was all pretty last minute,” he assured her. “We got engaged in the morning and were married by the afternoon.”

Millie sputtered, her arms flailing as she searched for words. “Still!”

Rosie grinned. “Fred wants to have another ceremony, anyway,” he placated Millie. “So you guys can be there - and my family and her dogs. Where’s Meatball?”

The conversation ran away with them after that. Rosie and Freddie’s spontaneous wedding became old news. Still, the news spread fast, and he spent the rest of his evening receiving warm congratulations from most everyone in the club. He didn’t have to buy a drink the entire night - Croz and Jack and Freddie’s friends and airmen vying for favour made sure to keep him topped up.

He called Freddie’s house just before he went to bed, even though it was late, to inform her that everyone sent their congratulations for their marriage and that Millie and Jem were looking after Meatball for her and that everyone was asking after her and wishing her well. And he went to bed that night running the thumb of his right hand over the ring on his left, smiling into the darkness as his head filled with thoughts of his wife.

[yetanothergreyjedi]

Left and Returned: Definitely Nothing Wrong

Danny Phantom x Supernatural Crossover

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 part 6

Ao3 (includes additional notes)

Chapter 7: Bleed the Same Light

Dean wasn't going to dwell on the chick flick stuff. They got the kid home. They stayed until it was awkward again. They went back to hunting. They spent a week unraveling a spell of a Mesopotamian goddess, revealed some creeps,  and hopefully prevented a childhood of bullying. 

They'd established that Sam sees nothing wrong with using demon controlling powers for exorcisms and that nothing Dean can say will change his mind. This is partially because Dean can't articulate why the fact that something demonic should in itself be a red flag. He didn't think he'd ever need to explain that, but here they were. The argument hung over their heads, waiting to be revived when either of them had something to elaborate on, this wasn't that unusual for them, if Dean was being honest.

For now, they're hustling pool, also like usual.

And it was going well, they were about to get five hundred off this guy and—

"Keep the money." Sam tells the man, already walking to the other side of the room. They were about to take 500 dollars?! That was a hunt or two's worth of supplies.

"Keep the money? What—" Dean follows his brother's path. There's a woman by the windows and Dean can tell immediately that something is off about her. Off enough that maybe they can scrounge enough cash to hustle someone else later.

"What is it?" Sam asks her.

"I just have some info, and then I'm gone."

"Okay." Dean frowns. Sam didn't mention an informant of any kind, but it also hadn't come up and there was plenty to cover of the past year. It didn't explain… Dean hated it, hated the word that Danny had so neatly infected into his vocabulary. Her vibe was awful.

"Girl named Anna Milton escaped from a locked ward yesterday. The demons seem pretty keen on finding her." 

Demons?! Okay, who is this chick and why would she have the inside scoop of— oh. "Ruby?!"

"Hi Dean,” It's like flipping a switch, how she goes from conspiratorial to mocking. “How was it down there?"

He doesn't dignify that with any response more than a glare. Sam stays on topic.

"And who is she?"

"No idea…” Ruby turns back to Sam. “But I'm thinking that she's important, 'cause the order is to capture her alive. Thought you might want to find her first."

"Dean?"

"Sam?"

"What do you think?"  Oh... okay, so Sammy was gonna let him make the call. Weird. And really not what he was expecting after the fight about demon controlling powers.

"Why bring this to us." He asked the thing wearing a girl.

"I brought it to Sam."

"Because you want him to use more freaky demon magic." She glared.

"I'm just delivering the news. You can do whatever you want with it."

Dean sighed. He was going to regret this.

---

Trickery, disguises, and emphasizing the right words at the right time, gets them the girls sketchbook.

The sketchbook told them they were dealing with something very real. Broken seals and familiar symbols, their names repeated again and again in a fervent skrall that covered pages, the word ‘inevitable’ in oddly neat letters under a pocket watch, only tiny pieces of the book made sense. But the little sense it did make was very real and very terrifying.

Her home had been invaded but the church she grew up in seemed firmly in-tact.

It was their only guess. And they were right.

"Anna? We're not gonna hurt you." They lower their weapons. "We're here to help. My name is Sam. This is my brother, Dean."

"Sam? Not Sam Winchester?"

"Uh, yeah."

"And you're Dean. The Dean?"

"Sure. The Dean, I guess." This was weird.

"It's really you. Oh, my god. The angels talk about you. You were in Hell, but Castiel pulled you out, and—" she rambles, telling them about themselves as if they didn't live it... or maybe just, assuring herself it's not imaginary?

They ask their questions. She answers, she hears them, doesn't talk to them, she's just tuned into the angel messaging radio frequency like he's tuned into the weird vibe thing. And it all started the day he dug himself from his coffin.

"First words I heard, clear as a bell -- 'Dean Winchester is saved." What does it say that he hates how she says it, quotes it really— like its capital S saved, like its missionaries knocking at your door saved; but what other way is there to put it when you pull someone out of capital h Hell?

There's not time to dwell on it. Because either the church's attic doesn't count for some reason or Ruby is apparently strong enough to tread on holy ground.

"You got the girl. Good, let's go."

"Her face!" Anna shrieks, and Dean remembers how her true form looked.

"Yeah, she's an ugly mother—"

"We have to hurry."

"Why?" Seriously, this whole trip has been pretty casual for someone the demon's want so bad.

"Because a heavy hitter's on his way, that's why."

"Conveniently right after you showed up, huh?"

"He followed you from her house." Says the one who just happened to get here first anyway. "We go now ."

"Dean," he follows Sam's gaze. A decorative statue cries bloodly tears.

"Too late." Ruby growls.

She's right.

In the next minute, Anna is shoved in a closet, Sam fails to use the magic exorcism that Ruby had insisted on and instead gets thrown across the room. Dean tries to stab the demon. He's disarmed. The demon introduces himself. Alastair, the only bastard Dean wants dead more than Lilith, taunts him as Sam lands a hit with the blade Dean dropped. But it's not a killing blow, Ruby's gone and the closet is open, Alistair grins as he pulls their best weapon free from his shoulder, the only escape is to shatter through an attic window.

---

They're in pain but they're alive. They stitch flesh back together and force joints back into sockets. And Dean acknowledges to himself that while Sam hasn't told him everything about his time while Dean was in the grave, he's been good about bringing things up when they're relevant.

He sighs. "I remember Hell."

"Dean," Sammy's startled, and that's fair given he hasn't exactly given context.

"I never forgot it. I just..."

Sam nods. "What is it?"

"I know Alistair. We need to find Anna."

"She's with Ruby."

"Great! So she might as well be handed over already."

"I don't think so."

"You don't."

"She's had opportunities to betray us before."

"She's a demon."

"And that means she can't change?!"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"She's a demon!"

"Fright Night changed. And I'm sure Danny knows others."

"And Fright Night went back!"

"So that means everyone else will?"

"And how do you know we can trust him?" Dean points out, because it's very easy to get caught up when the kid is around, and— “We don't actually know what Jack Montgomery is doing. We don't even know that the Coconut Vampires were even real! All we know, right now, is that Danny's philosophy means you're comfortable leaving a helpless girl with a demon!”

“A demon who hasn't ever done anything to hurt us! Look at what she's, done Dean, not what she is.”

“and all of this is coming from him, and he's not human!"

Sam flinches. And Dean abruptly remembers Sam talking about a DNA test.

"Sammy, I didn't mean..." He meant that leniency towards monsters might get people killed. He meant that Danny was more than a little biased. But he cant say it, he watched a cloud of darkness curl and wither as the kid ran it through. 

There's a knock at the door. Ruby, as housekeeping, tells them their next location. They go. They don't continue their discussion in the car.

---

Ruby is at the door when they arrive at the address she gave. "Glad you could make it."

"Yeah, thanks, " Sam walks into the old house. "Anna, are you okay?"

"Yeah. I think so. Ruby's not like other demons. She saved my life."

Dean frowns, but doesn't refute it. "Yeah, I hear she does that..."

He glances at the demon, he can't help but wonder who's face she wears. But there's not time for that yet, Ruby asks about the knife, Anna asks about her parents and they have to inform them that both are gone. So they get to deal with fury and grief (respectively) until there's a knock at the door.

Angels, of course the angels were getting involved now . "Please tell me you're here to help." Dean didn't quite beg. "We've been having demon issues all day."

"Well, I can see that." Uriel glares at Ruby. "You want to explain why you have that stain in the room?"

"We're here for Anna." Castiel ignores his coworker.

"Here for her like... here for her?" Dean checks, because the last time he spoke to them they talked about obliterating a city.

"Stop talking. Give her to us."

"Are you gonna help her?" Sam demands, mimicking Uriel's posture.

"No," Castiel tells them. "She has to die."

Dean sighs.

"You want Anna? Why?" Sam demands again, it doesn't do much better than the first time.

Uriel pushes him to the side. "Out of the way."

Dean has to scramble to keep someone in  between them. "Whoa, whoa. Okay, I know she's wiretapping your angel chats or whatever, but it's no reason to gank her!"

"Don't worry. I'll kill her gentle." Uriel tells him. You know what, maybe Ruby isn't so bad, forget that she's down to sacrifice virgins whenever.

"You're some heartless sons of bitches, you know that?"

"We do not have mothers," Castiel informs, "but the sentiment may be correct."

"And? Anna's an innocent girl." Sam asks, still disbelieving, still hurt that these are angels.

"She is far from innocent."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means," Uriel explains. "She's worse than this abomination you've been screwing. Now give us the girl."

"Sorry." Dean snarks, wondering if Jazz is also a monster or if Uriel has drastically misread the situation. "Get yourself another one. Try JDate."

"Who's gonna stop us? You two? Or this demon whore?" Uriel throws Ruby against the wall in a move eerily similar to how the demons do it. Either he's going for irony or... or Dean will finish that thought when he has time for it.

He lunges for Uriel, surprising them both when he knocks him to the ground. His punch connects, but this is probably what punching superman is like! OW!

Then in a flash of painful pull Uriel is gone. Dean's head throbs as he whips his head to see— Castiel is gone too. Sam is laying on the ground, out cold, and Ruby kneels to help him. Anna steps out of the other room, dripping with blood.

"Anna! are you..." he trails off, seeing the sigils she's drawn in blood on the old cracked mirror. They're not like Danny's, they're like the ones in her sketchbook.

"Are they -- are they gone?"

"Did you... kill them?" That would be cool, terrifying too, but also very cool.

"No. I sent them away... far away."

"You want to tell me how?" It would be very useful if they end up in another city that's an acceptable loss.

"That just popped in my head. I don't know how I did it. I just did it."

"Angel frequency?" Dean asked, because what else could it be?

"I don't know, maybe?"

Dean sighed, but the fear in her eyes was real. "Right, well, lets get you patched up. We've got bandages in the impala."

"We need to get out of here." Ruby added, and she was right, the angel's might've been sent to the outfield but they'd definitely be back.

---

Ruby slumps to the ground as she crosses the FentonWorks 'employees only' door , well her body does, the dark angry cloud that is actually Ruby swirls in violent circles. Dean crosses the threshold to get away from her storm.

"Demon?" Danny asks, checking the girl on the ground's pulse, then he frowns.

"Yeah, the body's a Jane Doe, a coma patient, the hospital was going to pull the plug..." Sam explained. "Ruby said the spirit had left?"

"She's right." Danny told them. Dean wavered, unsure whether to trust this information. But if it was true... maybe he's been a little unfair?

Danny flips a wall switch that doesn't appear to do anything? Ruby the cloud rushes back into Ruby the human. He flips the switch back on after she crosses. "Ethically sourced physically form. I appreciate the effort."

"Glad someone does," She sits up.

"Flip the switch before and after you cross, I'll key it to your signature so it won't zap you."

"So the switch... makes the place demon proof?" Dean asks.

"The barrier." Sam corrects, pressing his hand against something solid in the middle of an empty doorway. "It's kinda hard to interact with, I barely notice it."

Dean waves his hand through the air where Sam's clearly touching something. There isn't anything there?

"I thought it was the lights." Ruby complains.

"That's kinda the point. Ecto-sheild blocks any ectoplasmic entity that isn't tethered to its form. It works better when people don't know its there." Danny tells them. "Should work against the angel's too. Regardless of if their host consented or not. If they really want the angel in their body they can scoot back out."

"How do you know the angel's aren't..." what was the word he'd used? "Tethered?"

"Cause you shot and stabbed Castiel. If he was fully utilizing his flesh he'd feel it, regardless of healing abilities. Guy didn't even flinch."

"Huh,"

Anna waved her hands through the doorway before crossing. "It tingles."

Danny tipped his head at her. "It does?"

"Yeah, like when a limb falls asleep but..." she holds her hand to her heart, "but here..."

"That's... can I ask a weird question?"

"I mean, my whole life has gone weird, what's one more thing?

"Have you ever died?"

"Um, no? I don't think so...?"

" Huh ."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, not at all! I just don't usually see humans have a reaction to the shield without ectoplasmic exposure. Most commonly, it’s brushes with death. Plenty of other stuff could cause it though, we don't have to make it an interrogation."

"Oh, okay..."

"Please, make yourself at home, go upstairs, nap in a guestroom, raid the fridge. Whatever makes you comfortable. We're going to figure this out."

---

Sam and Dean left to search up some background. They were apparently worried about some spell she casted to banish angels. They're right that something like that would be robust magic, but Danny’s less concerned. Anna's aura reads clear to him. Ruby's on the other hand is like trying to dig a pebble out of a mud pit filled with teeth.

When Anna's settled he asks the demon. "Can I get a blood sample?"

"What?"

"A sample of your blood, for testing. We've tried some substitutes for Sam and they're never quite right. Having an actual sample would be helpful."

She blinks at him.

"You're not going to try to stop him?"

"He's tried to stop. It almost killed him. I'm mostly worried about the human element."

"And what does that mean?"

"If you’re not around to donate, and don't say you will be, we both know you can't control that with the price you've admitted is on your head. Current stuff is okay, but it won't cut it long term and that sort of hunting…” Danny shudders, he was very glad they'd worked out the ghost hunger stuff. 

"How much has Sam told you."

"I don't know how much there is to tell. I know about the blood stuff, about Lilith, about how everyone's panicked about your loyalties."

"But you're not? Even though I'm a demon ?"

"You're an ectoplasmic entity, ectoplasm is malleable. What separates you from countless other entities are traits derived from nature, and nature is made up of by choices. If you think you're defined by it, then you will be. But if you don't want to be a demon, then stop being one."

She scoffs, "If it were that simple—"

"It's not."

"What?"

"It's not simple. It will be the most difficult thing you've ever done, and it will probably take a century or three." Danny smiles at her. She was standing on the same crossroads Fright had long before Danny had existed. Danny wonders if anyone had tried to help him then, if any of those people were still around. “From what I understand, you've made a good start. Just keep making good choices, and keep ignoring everyone who says it's impossible."

Danny doesn't know what to make of the look on her face, she holds his gaze for far longer than he's really comfortable with but he doesn't look away until she finds whatever she's looking for.

"So a blood sample?"

---

"We're back!" Dean announces at the base of the stairs. He listens, trying to decide whether they should go down to the lab or up to the living area.

"Up." Pamela tells him, moments before the announcement comes from above him.

He steps aside so Pamela can take the steps first.

She'd already berated him about how she can see and doesn't need his help, so he doesn't guide her by the arm, but he's still nervous about it. He doesn't exactly understand how heavily impaired eyesight works when you also have psychic knowledge, so he'll stay out of her way but be ready to help if she asks. Sam managed not to offend her, but he still follows suit.

They hear Danny's cheerful "Pamela!" As she makes it to the top. He makes introductions that she interrupts to show off her magical ability to tell everyone's names.

They share their findings about Anna's childhood psychosis, and their... admittedly a bit far-fetched plan to hypnotize her back to the time where she believed her father wasn't her father and the real one wanted her dead. They'd ask child Anna some questions, and hopefully get some context.

Preparations, triple confirmation that Anna was okay with this, and one hypnotherapy session began... Anna's pleas make it nearly impossible to get answers and their attempts to calm her only stress her futher.

Then the lights flicker, once, twice. The nearest light bulb shatters and Danny swears and runs for the fuse box. A humming whine fills the room, Anna's words echo in its call but there's  something more. A cry for help.

"Anna," Dean approaches, his boots crunch glass as he reaches for her.

"Dean, don't." Pamela warns.

But he has too. The only other person who might hear her plea is stopping the building from frying itself.  She needs to know she's not alone. He touches her arm and the world stops.

Where the second lightbulb had broken,  tiny flecks of tiny glass hang in the air. Everything is utterly silent, then Anna breathes sharply and everything is back to how it was. Er- kinda. But there's no more unnatural whine and the power's been successfully shut off.

"It's okay, Anna." He says, and she settles back into the weird semi-consciousness that is hypnosis. Her hand claspes around his. "We're here with you. We'll keep you safe."

"I believe you." She says, and across the room Danny makes meaningful eye contact, though Dean couldn't guess what he's trying to say.

Pamela carefully continues.

"Who is your father? Why does he want to hurt you?"

"He's God. And I disobeyed."

"Most children disobey their parents, what makes this different?"

"I fell."

"On the ground?"

"To earth. I became human."

"Wait a minute. I don't understand. So, angels can just become human?" Sam interrupts. Pamela glares in his direction, but Anna answers.

"It hurts, like cutting your kidney out with a butter knife. That kind of hurt. I ripped out my grace."

"Your Grace?"

"My grace. It's... energy. Hacked it out and fell."

"Her core," Danny whispers, horrified. "She split it, that's why she can feel the barrier... but... ask her how she's human?"

"How did you become human, Anna?"

"My mother, Amy, couldn't get pregnant. Always called me her little miracle. She had no idea how right she was."

"Did you remember?" Danny asked, and Pamela doesn't give him a dirty look for some reason.

"The older I got, the longer I was human, the more the memory faded."

"Well fuck. I don't think you all appreciate how completely screwed we are." Ruby exclaims. Anna whimpers. Danny throws a pillow at Ruby.

"Any more questions, or should I wake her up?" Pamela asks before they can devolve further.

"Wake her up." Dean decides for them.

"Wake in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Anna... Anna? You all right?"

Anna sits sharply, she doesn't let go of his hand.

"Ruby's right. Heaven wants me dead."

"And Hell just wants her. A flesh-and-blood angel that you can question, torture, that bleeds. Sister, you're the Stanley Cup. And sooner or later, Heaven or Hell, they're gonna find you."

"I know. And that's why I'm gonna get it back." Apparently they were breezing past the fact that Anna not only remembered her past, but also remembered what happened while she was under. Pamela seemed much more disturbed than everyone else.

"What?"

"My Grace."

"You can do that?"

"Yep." Danny said.

"If I can find it." Anna agreed.

"So where is it?"

"Lost track. I was falling about 10,000 miles per hour at the time."

"Wait. You mean falling, like, literally?" Sam asks.

"Yes."

"Like the way a human eye can see? Like a comet, maybe, or a meteor?"

"Please say yes." Danny adds, grinning wide.

---

Danny is a nerd.

Dean knew this, but having a list of every meteor landing site in the country already mapped and dated on his wall... Danny was a nerd.

"Meteorite." Danny corrected.

"What?"

"Anna didn't burn up in the atmosphere, she'd be a meteorite, not a meteor."

"It felt like I burnt up." Anna ponders.

"It really does. Heat shielding is such a good invention and I really could've used it."

"What?"

"What?"

"He's messing with us." Dean concluded.

"Maybe. Maybe not." Dean rolled his eyes.

"Here?" Sam asks, "Kentucky, In '85, there was an empty field outside of town. Six months later, there was a full-grown oak. They say it looked a century old at least."

"The Grace. Where it hit, it could have done something like that, easy."

"So grace ground zero -- it's not destruction. It's..."

Anna speaks at the same time as Danny.

"Pure creation." "The Ideal becomes Form."

They look at each other, eyes narrow like they agree but also both want to argue about choice of words.

Dean will let them argue as they drive. All that's left is to find the stuff and hopefully they'll have less worries tomorrow.

---

"This is definitely the place, I can feel it," Anna tells them as she steps out of Danny's van. She looks to the magic tree. Danny follows with his scanner.

She places her hand on the oak's trunk. "It's not here... someone took it."

"I'm picking up some other ecto-signatures. I think I know who."

Danny holds out the device. Sam takes it and frowns at the screen. It gets passed around and Dean catches a glimpse of meaningless numbers.

"You're gonna have to clarify."

"That's Uriel's signature."

"We need a plan."

---

"You're sure you have to do this alone?" Danny asked as he follows Ruby out into night air. The ground would frost completely tonight and probably linger throughout the day tomorrow. Danny had left his jacket inside and he was pretend to shiver around her.

Ruby turned, hesitating. "I don't think they'll  believe you're on their side."

"They're not going to believe you are either. We're already counting on them thinking we just want out of no-man's land."

She sighs, "I don't think it's going to be that simple."

"All the more reason to have backup."

"So go give backup to the three humans."

"They have specter deflectors and Anna has her banishing spell if they need it. You can't wear one, and your banishing spell requires components you don't have." She glares, probably annoyed that he knows about that. 

"We need to get far enough away, and I can't teleport us both." She argues. 

Danny lets his transformation wash over him. He falls back, floating off the ground a bit. "I fly fast, where are you thinking?"

"Fine."

---

The field is in the middle of nowhere, it has enough space for a proper fight  without alerting any potential bystanders if it come to that. Danny nods his approval and settles back into human form.

Then, after a second thought, he pulls Soulshreader from her pocket dimension and lets her materialize a sheath on his belt. Ruby's eyes catch on the blade.

"You're not Samhain."

"Obviously."

"How—" She opens and closes her mouth, trying to word her question.

"Samhain is dead." Danny tells her, Soulshreader hums a grief filled note. She'd only awakened after Fright had shed his old name, it had been a painful and confusing time after the summoning.

" You killed him?"

Danny nodded.

"And you took his blade?!"

"Not exactly." Soulshreader was allowing him to carry her, keeping her unwillingly would be... just no.

"That sure looks like it."

"She. Soulshreader prefers she." Ruby made a face, and Danny checked to make sure he wasn't growing a second head. Usually he was aware of when his body felt the need to be weird, but when people looked at him like that... no head #2, and all his limbs were correct. "What?"

" Her ... her name is Soulshreader...?"

Danny nods.

"Right... sorry..."

Soulshreader hums.

"She accepts your apology."

"...Right... I'm just gonna," She holds out the lighter and the hex bag.

He nods.

"Out of curiosity, is there a reason you can't like, chuck it in the woods or something?" He asks while it burns.

"What?"

"So you can collect it later instead of making a new one?"

She starts to answer, but is cut off by the appearance of someone new.

"Hello, Ruby."

"Alastair."

"I have to say, I'm surprised to find you out in the open like this."

"Yeah? Desperate times."

"That they are. You looking for this?" Alistair pulls the blade Sam had lost. "Your gawky human friend gave it to me."

"Keep it. I just came to talk."

"About what? About how a demon is protecting an angel? We really must revoke your membership." Was that a thing they could do? It might make Ruby's next steps easier, if she really wants it.

"Look, I know I'm not employee of the month, but this— I never wanted to get in the middle of this."

"Why are you here, Ruby?" Alistair asks with new interest.

"I'll give you the angel."

"Will you? And in return?"

"We walk away." She gestures to Danny, forcing Alistair to stop ignoring him. Not that Danny minded, being underestimated helped. "Us and the Winchester boys, both of them. This angel business is none of our business."

"Hmm. You know...I'd always heard that you were a devious, cowardly little slut. You don't disappoint."

"So, what do you say?"

"It's interesting... Prudent. But, uh... Let me make you a... counteroffer."

Danny is grabbed from behind, and he throws an elbow back before he truly processes what's happening. It connects, earning an "Oof" from his attacker.

He whirls, grabbing at the demon. Note: he means grabbing at the demon, not the human host. You might think it's impossible to grab their smoke-like forms, but in reality, smoke is less their actual shape and more of a human brain's approximation of their shape. Danny, as a thing who is also capable of being fluid-like or gaseous, is more than able to grab the demon themself. And he does so, a twinge of intangibility helping him free them from their host's flesh.

He brings Soulshreader up with his other hand—in a move that is horribly unbalanced and annoys her greatly, but that's just as effective as he intended— and slashes at the thin line of black, sending the demon to Soulshreader's realm.

It won't hold them forever, the place of nightmare is not that different from Hell, in Danny's opinion, he hasn't actually been to Hell to compare. But it will hold long enough to keep them out of this fight. The host falls back on the grass, looking up at him with wide eyes.

"Run." Danny tells them, and they do. He turns back to Ruby only to see that she's stopped struggling in favor of gaping at him. As much as he wants to sigh, he turns back to Alistair, Soulshreader at the ready. "And here I thought our offer was perfectly reasonable. Do I need a counter-counteroffer?"

"Who, exactly, are you supposed to be?" Alistair tries for demeaning as his aura flairs. It's hot and angry— a fire core— but not enraged, he's still assessing.

Danny replies with a flair of his own, cold and determined. Alistair shivers, and Danny knows that if this turns, he has the advantage. The demon lives in an inferno, the night air that isn't nearly cold enough for Danny's tastes is already well past Alistair's comfort zone.

"Let her go, then we can bargain."

"You are not in a position to make demands."

"Aren't I? We have what you want, and you'renit the only ones looking for her." If the bluff is going to fall apart it will be now, Danny's not the best of liers and if his distaste for the concept shows through… Alistair tips his head to the demon to the demon holding Ruby.

"Hurt her, and you make an enemy." Danny warns, this he can say without hesitation. 

Alistair frowns, "And here I thought you already were?"

"I'm not your ally, I don't like you, and I'm going to help my friends. But I've never gone out of my way to hunt you or yours. I only bother with them when they go after mine ." Possessiveness was a trait most ecto-entities understood.

"I let her go, you take us to the girl."

"And."

"And we won't touch you or yours..." Alistair caught himself, adding quickly, "Tonight."

Danny carefully kept his grin off his face. Alistair hadn't asked who he counted as his. "Deal."

---

"Little early for that, isn't it?" Anna asks as he puts down the flask.

"It's 2 a.m. somewhere." He says instead of explaining that it is just water and he uses the flask because he's broken far too many plastic water bottles to keep bothering with them, the large ones are too large to comfortably carry around anyway and this flask has held up since his dad bought it when he was a kid.

Though maybe if he had said all that she wouldn't be asking "You okay?".

"Yeah, of course." Just extremely nervous. He'd feel much better if he knew Ruby and the demon party were also on their way.

The doors burst open behind him. He knows it's Castiel and Uriel by the feel of their presence, he turns to look anyway, unsurprised.

"Hello, Anna. It's good to see you." Castiel tells her, ignoring the rest of them.

"How? How did you find us?" Sam pauses, buying what time he can. "Dean?"

No one crashes through the other doors, not yet, every second counts. He turns to Anna, hoping the angel's will let them give goodbyes. "I'm sorry."

"Why?" Sam asks him.

"Because they gave him a choice. They either kill me... or kill you. I know how their minds work." Anna explains, and wow, that's scary accurate. Dean hadn't described his dreamscape, only told them they were coming. Anna kisses him. Not as long as earlier, and as much as Dean would love to see how long the angel's would put up with this, she pulls away.

"You did the best you could. I forgive you. Okay. No more tricks." Hah! "No more running. I'm ready."

"I'm sorry." Castiel admits.

"No. You're not. Not really. You don't know the feeling."

"Still, we have a history. It's just—"

"Orders are orders. I know. Just make it quick."

"Don't you touch a hair on that poor girl's head." Dean never thought he'd be glad to hear Alistair's voice, but here they were. He stands at the other end of the room with another few demons and Danny and Ruby.

"How dare you come in this room, you pussing sore?" Uriel demands.

"Name-calling. That hurt my feelings... You sanctimonious, fanatical prick."

"Turn around and walk away now." Castiel also demands.

"Sure. Just give us the girl. We'll make sure she gets punished good and proper."

"You know who we are and what we will do. I won't say it again. Leave now... or we lay you to waste."

"Think I'll take my chances."

All as planned, Dean presses against the wall as demons and angels scramble at each other. Surprisingly enough, rather than killing each other, they preform exorcisms, angels sending demons back to hell and Alistair apparently knowing how to do the opposite to angels. Dean watches Alistair pin Castiel and shout words in Latin and he wonders if he should do something. Castiel never tortured him, but Alistair never threatened to destroy a city. His indecision holds him in the spot, but Anna, out of some old loyalty, hits Alistair over the head with a crowbar.

Alistair turns, lunging to attack her with his friggin knife but, he freezes even before he even gets in range of specter deflectors shock.

Danny notices, and practically drips with satisfaction. "You really should've taken Ruby's deal. She binds with the spirit of the law, but I bind with the letters ."

Alistair snarls at him, and begins to move, but this time notices the fighting freeze on the other side of the room.

Ruby holds a shining pendant over her head. No, Ruby holds Anna's grace in triumphant threat. "You should leave now." She tells... Dean isn't sure who she's threatening, other than the fact that she's definitely threatening Uriel.

Uriel throws insults but doesn't dare to get closer. No one does, even Alistair afraid of what she might do.

"You define your own nature, Ruby." Danny tells her, gently and sympathetic. Then he says,  "We are not what we eat."

Which might be a joke?! Ok. Dean didn't know what he was afraid was happening here but that was worse. Dean didn't know what eating a chunk of angel power would do, but that was clearly exactly what Ruby wanted to do. She holds Danny's gaze for an eternity, then she does the same to Sam.

She lowers her arm slowly, her decision clearly made but which decision none of them know. She looks to Anna, who takes slow, careful, steps forward. It's another eternity before they're within reach, and Ruby's hand shakes with the effort of holding the glowing light.

Gently, she presses it into Anna's hands and Dean breathes too soon.

Uriel lunges. Anna shrieks, "Look away!"

And it's all Dean can do to follow her instruction as the world burns with radiant light.

[roetrolls]

(The Roatuses may be in limbo right now, but I needed to write a warm-up with Archie to get my gears turning for the next drabble in the actual arc. So... here's a drabble that probably took place sometime in the past year)

Skydance

You’ve never understood the House of Restoration. It’s a church. They’re clowns. But they sure as hell ain’t subjugglators. Sure, on paper they’re clean––no mutants, empire-aligned––but no self-respecting purpleblood would run in a place like that. Whole city went to shit after the Reverend died, in your opinion.

You watch from across the street as a handful of children trickle out of the church, chattering amongst themselves and striding along with far too much confidence for your liking. 

No lowblood should leave a church swapping friendship bracelets. Waste of a good cathedral.

You spit on the pavement to punctuate your disgust, eyes narrowing as the last of the children pour onto the street. A small girl takes up the rear, fidgeting with her oversized jacket and struggling to lay her bookbag comfortably across her shoulders. The fabric on her back seems to ripple, and your indignation swells.

No mutants my ass.

The freak’s got something under there, you’d fucking bet on it. Extra arms, or a pair of wings maybe. Whatever it is, shit’s not natural.

With a grunt, you push off of the wall you’ve been leaning on and grip the handle of the machete at your belt.

Shithole city needs cleaning up, yesterday. You’re light on your feet as you stride forward, energized by the impending hunt.

You step off the curb.

Your feet do not touch ground.

“Y’know, chief, I’m somethin’ of a pro when it comes t’ stupid decisions,” a voice rings out behind you. “And the one you jus’ made was real damn stupid.”

Offended, you twist to face the speaker and find yourself nose to nose with the Roatus brat himself, buggy eyes shining like beacons.

“You got the wrong guy,” you snarl, tensing as you prepare to draw your weapon. 

It hardly makes it out of the sheath before the other clown plants a hand over your face and a wave of vertigo sends your head spinning like a top. The street blurs into a smear of color at the same instant that a rush of roaring wind explodes in your ears.

In less time than it takes you to blink, both you and your assailant have travelled from the city’s street to its skyline, hovering so high you can barely make out the bodies bustling on the road beneath you.

Your stomach drops like a stone.

“S’prolly in your best interest that I don’t lose my head up here, yeah?” The twerp emphasizes his point by tapping a middle finger against his temple, his eyes still shining with the use of his powers. “‘Cording to my pops, these things don’t work so good when I’m dead.”

A shuddering breath is all that escapes your lips. You’ve never been one to fear heights before now, but it’s hard to stay calm with your feet hanging hundreds of feet above the ground, nothing beneath you but empty air.

“S’matter, tough guy?” The Roatus kid grins, leaning back and crossing his arms behind his head. “Sounded like you were gonna clear some things up for me back there.”

“You’re crazy.”

He simply laughs in response, leaning back further to complete a revolution. Once his stomach is parallel to the planet, he stops and pretends to prop his head on his hands, kicking his feet behind him like a lovestruck child.

“I ain’t done shit to you,” you grit, fighting not to look down.

“No?”

“No!”

“Wasn’t you, then? S’been some other clown starin’ down our kids for the past two days?”

Your expression falls.

“It’s always the tough guys that flounder most when you catch ‘em out, y’ever notice that?” Roatus cocks his head at you, flicking open a small pocket knife and twirling it in his hand.

The wind whistles around you. You shiver slightly, buffeted by the cold, and try to keep your breathing even. It’s hard to tell whether the tightness in your chest is more from altitude or fear. 

“Then again,” the other clown muses, “tough might be a bit generous.”

For the first time since you laid eyes on him, Roatus drops his smile, and your heart creeps into your throat. He presses the knife against your jaw, forcing you to crane your head back.

“You gotta be a special kind of coward to target children.”

Another gust of wind sweeps by, somehow colder than the first. You can barely hear his next question over its howling, even as he leans in to place his lips beside your ear.

“We teach a lot about embracin’ death here. D’you want the knife or the drop to do it?”

[amanita-the-spore-druid]

Computer is broken so moving one of my fics to tumblr

Deare Diary

A 2010s AU Post Mortum Fanfic from soda's perspective

Agust 15:

Deare Diary, a cuple weeks ago Darry talked with Pony's school and got us set up with a shrink and she got us to start jornal's after todays visit. Nothing much today, but Pony's been asking about going to the libary recently.

Agust 17:

After Darry left for work me and Pony walked to the libary. I wound up spending 30 minuts arguing with the guy (oh wait pony's not gonna read this). I spent about 30 minuts arguning with the fucker at the desk while trying to set up a card for pony. He mostly just checked out books on computures, which i guess makes sense because im pretty sure he spent all of yesterday just messing with the computure. But weirdly enough, he also got like two books about brains i think? i think one of them was like 'something something nurology'.

Agust 20:

Pony's spent the past few days just reading in his room, i went to check up on him and it looks like he has tons of notebooks full of stuff written down, but he fell asleep at his desk so i just put a blanket over him and left him alone. I invited a couple freind's over for a bit, and it turns Johnny's parents didn't pay for cremation or a coffen, and some of them said hes still at the mortuarry morticen murt the place with the corner man where they preserve the bodies. After they left it was getting close to the end of darry's shift so i made him and pony some sandwhichs. Of course pony refused to eat the bolone, he just fucking took it out. No clue why he's been so Weird about it since he got Back.

Agust 21

Today pony showd me what's he's been working on for the past week. its this weird program that converts code into like words, but does it without needing to like tell it how to say things, it just creates this weird voice. he showed it off by making it sing this old song, aparently some other computure nerds made soemthing lik it and made that same song. think it was called daisy bell. pony's also been asking to start going to church on sunday's again but darry got this new weekend security gaurd job, i hate to break it to the kid.

Agust 22

Darry and Pony got into a fight today. pony had skipped school today, And had apparently one of shepard's boys saw him and called darry immediately. Pony also had one of those notebooks on him, which darry Tried to look through. i told him to just drop it and they both stormed off to there rooms. pony refused to let me in to talk, poor kid. And then I walked in on darry smoking outside.

"You know ponyboy wouldnt like that." I told him,

"Yeah yeah, who gives a shit?" he said, before tossing his smoker on the concret patio and crushin' it.

"Hes been real fussy about smokes since he got ba-" "HE WAS GONE FOR A FUCKING WEEK, HE ACTS SCARED AND DIFFRENT!"

after shouting darry just crumbled against the door. "And he wont tell us what happened..."

Agust 23:

I got up extra early, really early, to be up in time to make him breakfast. he well, sounded confused when he saw me in the kitchen with a plate of pancakes, burnt eggs, and a black cofe coffee (thanks darry:).) He laughed a bit and offered to clean the mess befor he left but I told him id clean it after pony left for school. i decided to cheer the kid up with some french toast, so I walked to a convince store to pick up some cinoman like Mom used to make it.

Now, I have no fucking clue how they recognized me but some fucking soc fucks decided to open their fucking bitchass mouths when they realized I was pony's brother. "Hey Your the brother of that KILLER right?" some blonde said. "My brother's a fuckin' hero, prep school." the girl with him started laughing her pre- pretens- annoying rich girl ass off, "Atleast he stayed in school grease. And that Ponyboy's no he-" now, misses therapist lady, God, and officers if fate have it, I promise I am not a violent man. HOWEVER, she was going to insult my brother.

The cashear turned around the exact second I decked her. Now, he was greaser too, but he also had rent to pay. "Soda, what the hell are you doing?" he asked me, sounded like darry if 'm honest. Meanwhile blondie was yelling at me but got interrupted by the cashear, "Here's a ziplock bag, soda machine has ice, and Sodey-Pop here is going to pay for a bottle of Advil for the lovly lady." he said, "I am?" "You wanna shop here again?

So after that TOTALY FAIR accident, I walked home and made ponyboy some hero's french toast. ever wonder why its called french toast? i mean we put maple syrup on it I don't think the french got that, well maybe the Canadians are french. holy shit french toast is Canadian? anyways, I surprised the kid with french Canadian toast like mom used to make and told him to make sure he goes to school ill be walking with him.

turns out, that shit at the convince store wasn't the only place people were calling pony a killer. Now, Mrs Beth I new what I did was not aproprate but I have no regret. because when that silver spoon lickn daddy's boy called my brother a killed in my face, and spat on pony's, I had no regret or dobt pushing that little fuck against a locker, nd holding my switch to his neck.

agust 25

I know it was a bit, unkempt I think is the word? to scrible an enetery in your office but the cops held my jornal while I spent a day in the cooler. it was, decent I think. refused to take a shit though, that camera wouldve seen. darry didn't say a word while we drove here, so I know he's gonna be pissed. just, be easy on him. first pony gets detention for skippin' after a fight, and now this.

update;

darry didn't say anything to me, just gave me the keys and told me to drive pony home and pick up dinner. Ponyboy went to the bathroom and I over heard you two, sorry.

"Darrel I know your frustrated but theres very little I can do."

"Im not just frustrated! Im pissed off! i want Ponyboy to be able to head to college, and I want to atleast make sure sodapop is comfterbal. I'm asking, is there any of that welfair shit I can apply for? i don't think I can manage two jobs, and afford everything."

"Of course Mr. Curtis, do you want the papers imedatly or should I find a good few for you?"

"Mr Curtis..."

"My mist-"

"No, its fine. just look for a few you think we can apply for. and please, do something about these socs."

That was all I heard before pony was outta the bathroom and we left. we picked up mcdonalds, and I bought a six pack for darry. lite, I didn't want him getting pickled.

agust 26:

after school, darry offered to watch over pony while I 'saw a frend'. I think they were watching ben 10 while darry looked through the papers since he picked pony up. little did they know, I was going back to the school. i asked about job openings and it turns out theres a security gaurd gig with basicly no requirements. i signed up, and asked for a few extra days this weekend so darry didn't worry.

he was excited to say the least, and pony was shocked I wasn't thrown out when I went to apply. Darry quite his weekend job, and we made plans to go to church since I worked a night shift. after that we just had dinner and all went to bed.

agust 27:

darry was excited just to have time alone with pony, and took him to the library to return his books and get some new ones. i even checked out a cookbook so I could make something for the two before I left for work.

...mom and dad would be proud...

after that we just walked around town for a while, and finally went home for dinner. i tried to make fancy pork chops with the frozen ones we had in the back of the freezer. they came out, well it was a month old so no clue what we expected. darry and pony went to bed, I put on my uniform and headed to work. it was weird, seein the high school after dark like that.

it was mostly boring, until I heard something. a loud crash in the new computure lab. i ran over and I think something was stolen, no clue the whole thing was a mess. i signaled the cops and ran after the prick I saw running out of the lab. I didn't catch the fucker, checked the paper and you'd've known that. i was expecting to get yelled at, but turns out I was supposed to call the cops. lucky me.

agust 27:

darry turned on the news while I made everyone breakfast, turns out the mortuary (thanks pony) got broken into as well. and you know what? I'm telling you Beth, it was them fucking socs. Because Dally and Johnny got their FUCKING BODIES CUT UP. its a goddamn disgrace. when we went to church, the preiest was shocked to see us to say the least. pony promised i'd behave and darry asked if he could make a special prayer for dally and johnny, 'course his holyness did like a true gent.

after church we met with two-bit, steve, and their girlfriends at a greaser bar for dinner. we had a moment of silence for dally and johnny, god bless. when we went home darry took a seat on the couch and said he was going to watch a few movies on the black n' white chanel before he goes to sleep. I decided to check on pony and say goodnight, turns out he was taking a shower before bed (fair enough, the joint reeked like a barbeque pit if you know what I mean)

I noticed that the computer, which darry let him move to his bedroom, had one of the box doo-hickies opened up. i walked over to close it, and saw ...

look, don't call me loony? alright? I'm not, fuck I don't even belive me and I don't needa be sent off to booby-land but I swear to God I saw blood and some pink meaty thing twitching in the box. i closed it. and i swear the computre didn't get turned on, but i heard that bing and heard a voice. Johnny's voice. But it had like the weird robot accent like that daisy bell song robot. i left the room, and just went to work.

it wasn't pony. it wasn't pony last night. Pony would never do that to our fellow greasers.

Maybe i am crazy, if it makes you ask ponyboy less questions.

[dio-the-thot-exterminator]

I feel so weird and like I'm doing something wrong?? My Boss manager always being so passive aggressive to me or maybe I'm just not used to ppl being so stupid.

She's like "you NEED to be selling the credit cards more. You know we base your scheduling on how many credit card u sell and if you don't have high numbers then when I start hiring new people..."

HIRING WHO?????? HIRING WHOO???? Id like to see all the people you’re hiring hmm? Where? You can barely keep ur own managers from constantly calling out of work. So ur forced to do 60 hr work weeks every month. I know u ain't talking to me And the other two associates always call out or don't show up so I have to come and cover for them…I KNOW YOU AIN'T TALKING TO ME!??!??!?!?

"Your job is to sell the stuff at the counter and credit cards" ok then why am I sweeping the floors and cleaning the bathrooms and wiping the mirrors and pricing merch and tagging and taking out the trash and dusting and packaging online orders etc?

She like "even tho ur just an associate u NEED to be reading the emails everyday" girl how is knowing what the stores over n Texas and Florida make gon help me 💀 She acts like she got hella people on stand by bitch u dont she tryna lecture telling me I need to do more... All you do is talk on the phone and ask ppl to join ur church.

She be in the corner somewhere on the phone and the customers are like "um...excuse me?" And she ignored them so I gotta help them. Even tho she tasked me with scanning all the fucking items in the store!!

And she literally told me "u need to pay attention more to the customers YOU'RE NOT HERE TO COMPLETE TASKS!!!" AHHHHHHUAHHHHHHHHHHHHH what do you mean???????? Wtf am i here for then??

I'm bout to snap on her fr maybe I'm too combative… she got me pushing around this chart.

She was like complaining "uh make sure you fix that bcuz y'all like to leave it a mess 😒" And I was bout to say "bitch who tf is y'all??????" I KNOW how you are and I know you complain about every lil thing, so whenever i'm pushing that chart around it be looking neat and tidy and I put it back like that too. 

I'm da best employee she has!!! My other managers Jays and Red were literally like “ugh we were so lucky to have found you” and the other day a customer had came back into the store to tell my manager Red what a good job i did helping her find what she needs and being accommodating…The other associates dont do shit.

The college girl who barely works saw a box all messed up, she tried to quickly close the top (didn't work) and then she just walked away. I was like "um aren't u gon fix that?" And she was like "oh yeah right" Like??? And all she does is stand behind da counter. The store be a mess and she be standing.

The phone guy just be on his phone and he be chilling in da back. I know u are not on my case. when u let a whole ass employee stay in the break room his entire shift 💀.

I feel like she get someone sort of power trip off it and she just needs someone to terrorize and she choose me because I'm always there 🥲 (this is the reward i get for being a real ass employee??) 

Boss manager was like "I'm going to start quizzing you guys on what was in the manual  bcuz y'all act like talk forgot, you NEED to be following them!!" Girl still on shit from da "training" videos. Shit she don't even follow…

Yesterday she was like, “go reprice the entire clearance section, make sure you don't leave the chart out!!! Every Time someone walks in the store, put the chart back and greet them!!! (she's standing next to the entrance doing nothing) Well this NEEDS to be done before your shift ends so get it together hurry up!!! And you can actually leave the chart out when u need to ring someone up on the register (she is one the phone and didn't notice someone standing there) OMG WHAT ARE YOU DOING THAT GUY NEEDS HELP!!! HELP HIM!!! GOOOO!!! AND TAKE THE CHART WITH YOU!!!!! OMG OMG STOP STOP LEAVE THE CHART HELP THAT GUY NOWW UGHHHHHHH!!!!!" and she is...standing there doing nothing...he walked up to her first bcuz she was closer…

Its so awkward asking someone to apply for the credit card, bcuz the boss manager expects you to harass every customer (she literally follows them around the store and asking them repeatedly to sign up i counted once…she asked one person 7 times) AND it's not even only the credit card, it's everything in the damn store. AND she only wanted 1 person on the register even when its rlly busy, trying to sell everything in the store…. (you guys only 2 people are allowed in the ENTIRE STORE one associate and one manager bcuz the company wants to be cheap)

It's like the customer places whatever they’re buying down and I have to say “hey this thing is buy one get on half if you're interested, and we have this item on sale, also if you wanted any of these items they’re behind you. Do you want any of this? I can show you the different ones we sell. And we have this too. I can help you pick out the one you need. We also have a credit card, if you want, you'll earn coupons and get a discount off today's purchase :D"

And she wants us, to say that, TO EVERY SINGLE CUSTOMER!! Everyone…

So it gets so awkward asking, especially if they are just buying like one little item. And to make things worse she's so nitpicky about everything like I was asking if they wanted to join our rewards and she was like "ugh if you ask it like that of course they're gonna say no!!!" And then she...didn't give me a way I should ask them…

I just nod and say "okay" whenever she starts ranting. She just get on my nerves a lot but that's also bcuz ima hater. Idk i feel like i do everything correctly and efficiently so idk why my managers are always attacking or complaining about me. 

Can I pleaseeeee have a job where I only need to complete tasks??? Where are those jobs?? Someone point me in the right direction

[air3d3lalm3na]

I WILL break this cycle holy shit!!

Work had a guy not come to pick up his food. So, when I saw a fella going to this food donation box that a church had nearby, I just gave it all to him. I have food. He could use it more.

Yeah, well, i ended up walking with him, and having way too long of a conversation. he knows shit about my situation, because I related it to make him not feel pitied. And also because, holy shit, I am just not getting the social interaction right now.

.

Well, today, I was in town again on my day off. Sitting on a bench waiting for the bus. My one coworker sees me and stops to chat. Older English guy, tough, but/and nice guy. I read him as 60s or even 70s, but after some time working together, turns out the mf is just a grizzled white haired 59 or something like it…? ! Functioning alcoholic life’s been hardening to him.

Then, almost instantly, the first dude rolls up. I tell coworker I met the guy yesterday and make an excuse to leave with him. Dude was giving me the creeps.

We walk to the bar/restaurant where he was headed anyway. He says that the rando is creepy and looks like a pedophile to him.

Just ughhhhhh. I told him briefly what I did.

This man knows where I work now!! Hope to god he doesnt remember my name. He even tried to invite me over yesterday…as in, to come over whenever…gave my his number and apartment code and shit… but I brushed it off……. Blegh

.

My grandmother and mother were like this. They took on charity cases constantly. No matter how creepy and weird. Mom had childhood trauma from one of them who was staying in their house, living with them… Nana thought it was like, her mission and had a religious aspect to it. That aside, she was the sweetest kindest person and it got heavily taken advantage of. And grew up in a small town to boot — all of this meant that, years ago, Granddad knew he couldn’t take a job in New York thanks to it…she’d come home from a day trip to our smaller city and be like “oh…where’s my wallet…where’s that other thing that was in my pocket…oh dear” She was basically Snow White in the flesh. Just lacking the dwarves and animals.

My mom took on all these people to try to “fix” and “heal” them. I think to vicariously solve her own PTSD and fill the void. She was a psychology major and worked in the field and yeah….. There were just not enough boundaries. Much much more than her mother had had. But some part of her was stuck in this cycle of fixing them instead of fixing her own pain. She regretted it later and we had talks about it. She apologized….

These people are drawn to us like frigging flies from all walks of life and it’s why I got tough. To shut them out and create real boundaries, out of codependency.

Need to put in zero appearances in town but for work. If he shows up there and gets creepy on me — I hate to think of doing it, but I’m calling the cops. Restraining order time………….hopefully it won’t come to that.