#there were more pictures i wanted to add to this post but tumblr kept not posting it until i narrowed it down to these two š
just realized i posted from the hospital 2 weeks ago and never followed up so i would like to officially introduce the wonderful, the adorable, the absolutely perfect, ms myra lillian ššš
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still donāt know my name | jjk (m) pt. 2
ā„ banner by: @archivedkookie.
ā„ PAIRING: jungkook x fem!reader
ā„ SUMMARY: In which your annoying neighborāthat you canāt standāturns out to be the person behind the online account youāve been sexting. You still donāt know his name.
ā„ GENRE: smut ā cybersex ā enemies
ā„ CATEGORY: mini three-shot
ā„ WARNINGS: mentions of rough sex; slapping, spanking, hair pulling, gagging, name calling, humiliation, degradation, mean!jk, biker!jkš, bratty!reader (like reallll bratty), nude exchanging, pornography, cybersex, reader is a bit dumb, actually very dumb, sexting, flirting, neighbor beef, tension, jk smokes, bit of angst (cus it wouldnāt be a fic of mine if it didnāt have angst ofc), mentions of raw sex (WRAP IT UP), minors DNI
ā„ WORDCOUNT: 11.8k
a/n: whew. HI. canāt believe pt1 went off like thatš thank u sm for enjoying this fic !
thanks to tumblrās new 1k max blocks limit, i had to add the rest in a reblog. youāll find a link to it at the bottom!
i call this a mini three-shot cause i just left out all the unimportant stuff. it just constantly skips to scenes where yn & jk bump into each other i really dgaf if itās coincidental the entire time. i had and still have no intention of adding more lore than necessaryš its just a pwp so i rlly dc abt the lack of story telling and whatnot i just wanted to get this horny idea out š
make sure to check out eliās version too! <3
enjoy šš ā the next part (pt. 3) will be the final part!
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#2 ā āgameboyā
You still donāt know his name.
āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ ā ā
And that is how you spend the rest of your weeks.
Flirting.
Sexting.
Sending pictures of your naked body to a random stranger on the internet.
A random stranger whose name you do not know.
A random stranger that doesnāt know your name, either.
A random stranger that youāre somehow slightly possessive over.
A random stranger thatās somehow slightly possessive over you.
Constantly posting subtweets about each other only further proves that. Indirectly wanting to tell other people to back off without actually doing so.
Itās crazy how you two clicked almost immediately. Maybe men arenāt a lost cause after all.
The subtweets consist of more pornographic content, provoking each other and wording your wishes of what you would like to do to one another on your timelines.
Like posting captions that say, āwish you were hereā alongside a video of a woman getting fucked into a worn-out mattress.
Or āthis could be usā and itās a video of 2 people kissing like itās their last day on earth.
But then at times, you both just chat like best friends. Talk about the movies you like. Or the anime he recommends. Or the music he likes to listen to. He gets oddly defensive about Justin Bieber.
Even though youāre both aware that youāre two strangers, you canāt help but feel like you two have known each other for longer than just a few weeks.
Like the time you found out you live in the same timezone. Live in the same state. Grew up watching the same things on TV. Have heard of each otherās high schools.
But any details have been kept private so farāfor safety reasons, of course.
Itās not like you donāt trust him. Itās not that. Itās just weird sharing personal info with someone you donāt know personally.
But thereās been some talks about potentially meeting each other.
You wonder what heās like in real life.
You bet heās as charming as he is through text. Probably average looking but you donāt mind in the slightest. Pretty men only break hearts.
You still donāt know what he looks like and vice versa.
You still donāt know his name and vice versa.
Somehow you both wordlessly agreed on revealing your faces when you meet for the first time. The only physical details youāve noticed are some of his tattoos that you can barely make out thanks to the poor quality of his pictures. His toned body. Veins. Sweatpants.
Most of his pictures are taken in the dark. Seems like heās always just holed up at home and you deduce he might be a homebody or a gamerāsomething like that.
You usually canāt stand gamers (cue your annoying fucking neighbor) however, you canāt help but fantasize about sucking this random online stranger off while heās gaming or have him bend you over his gaming setup. Let him fuck you from behind over his keyboard. Hips pounding into your asscheeks as his gaming chair squeaks.
The buzzing of your phone next to your hip snaps you out of your sinful trance.
[Twitter]
@archurback4me sent you a message!
Your heart always jolts like itās been resuscitated every single time he sends you a message and that hasnāt changed in the past few weeks. There are simply no words to describe how it feels when your phone buzzes and itās the person youāre thinking about.
You sit straight up on your couch, crossing your legs criss-cross applesauce as you giddily unlock your phone.
@archurback4me | 11:12AM
Goodmorning brat
Howād you sleep
Sleep. Howād you sleep.
Right, thatās what youād forgotten!
You | 11:13AM
wait omg
now i remember
i dreamed about you omggg
well you were kinda faceless but in my dream i knew it was you
@archurback4me | 11:13AM
Did you?
What kind of dream
You | 11:13AM
honestly it started out weird as fuck lol
i wish i could tell you something sexy but it really isnāt
you were in my old high school trying to buy something from the vending machine and it wouldnāt work
so you ended up punching it and then i stopped you
and told you to hit me instead like some kind of pick me girl lmaoooooo
@archurback4me | 11:14AM
LMAOOOO
Bruhhh
That is so random
Hitting you is crazy
You | 11:14AM
i know
i mean
watching you be so aggressive was pretty hot tho
woke up w drenched panties
@archurback4me | 11:15AM
That so?
You got proof or are you just talking out of your ass?
You | 11:15AM
ur trying to see my pussy at 11am? really? youāre horny at this hour?
@archurback4me | 11:16AM
11AM or 11PM
Idgaf
Let me see that pretty pussy
How are you supposed to decline when he says it like that?
You want to do everything he asks. Anything. Want him to want you. Need him to want you.
You drag your sweats down your legs, tossing them off your bed with a quick kick. The tip of your finger slips under the elastic of your panties, peeling it off your pussy and sliding it to the side.
Arm stretched out, you reach for a low angle of your glistening pussy. Thereās a teeny tiny bit of stubble coming through, not that either of you really care.
You snap a quick photo. Check it. Arenāt satisfied. Snap a few more until youāre okay with the row of pictures you can choose from.
You | 11:19AM
(You sent a photo.)
@archurback4me | 11:21AM
For fucks sake
That wet from imagining me shaking up a vending machine, are you?
Shit
Canāt stop staring
You | 11:21AM
well yes.
i mean honestly
i donāt fantasize about you hitting me or anything like that
but being slapped across the face by you kind of sounds... hot
@archurback4me | 11:23AM
Iāve seen you tweet about it before
And youāve rted several videos like that
So trust me
I know youāre into that
You | 11:23AM
hmm
yeah
i think itās hot
but not like.. the way youād slap someone for making fun of your mom
just... a quick slap to make me look at you when iām disobeying
:)
@archurback4me | 11:23AM
Choking, spanking, slapping, hairpulling, spitting, gagging
You sure you can take all that?
You | 11:23AM
are you challenging me?
@archurback4me | 11:25AM
No
I know better than to challenge a brat over text
Just wanna make sure angel
You | 11:25AM
trust me iāll be loud about it if i donāt like it
but only if youāre down with it
@archurback4me | 11:26AM
I am
Because your dirty mouth definitely deserves a few slaps whenever you start yapping like you do so well
You | 11:27AM
kiss my ass jay
you wanna fuck me so bad it makes you look stupid lmao
Oh, right. Heād told you to call him Jay about two weeks ago. Youāve been calling him that ever since.
@archurback4me | 11:30AM
Wish I could princess
Let me see that ass one more time
You | 11:30AM
š.
what do i get in return?
@archurback4me | 11:32AM
Iāll write your username on my pelvis and post a vid of me jacking off
Oh.
The thought of him, jacking off with your username written across his pelvis, free for everyone to see. The thought of claiming him. Having him all to yourself.
The tingle in your core is impossible to ignore. You want him.
You | 11:33AM
so all those ppl chatting you up in your dms know that you ultimately belong to me?
@archurback4me | 11:33AM
If thatād allow me to see your ass then 100%
You | 11:33AM
ur so thirsty
so many asses you can see online
why mine
@archurback4me | 11:34AM
Because yours is my favorite duh
You donāt have to of course
Thereās a compromise, isnāt there?
His favorite?
Does he chat with other people as well? Do others send him pictures of their body too? Does he send them pictures too?
That alone brings a scowl to your face but you quickly realize that, yes, he can do what he wants.
You get up on your knees and stretch your arm out behind you. Phone upside down. Hit record. Spank your ass. Catch the watch it recoils on camera.
Repeat.
Make him never want anyone else again.
You | 11:35AM
š.
just shut up
(You sent a video.)
@archurback4me | 11:35AM
Holy shit I need you
I need you so bad
Ahhhh youāre driving me fucking crazy
You | 11:36AM
you could have me
@archurback4me | 11:36AM
Iām so serious Iāll come one of these weeks and Iām not even joking
You | 11:36AM
i wish you would
@archurback4me | 11:38AM
I will
Give me a date Iāll write it down
You | 11:38AM
youāre coming to stay for a few days, right?
i have plenty of room in my bed for you
@archurback4me | 11:39AM
Hmm
Was hoping youād say that
One night with you would never be enough for me
You | 11:40AM
hehe
exactly 3 weeks from now
the entire week
what do you say?
@archurback4me | 11:42AM
Never noted something faster
I have a dog though
So I was thinking itād be easier for you to come to me
You | 11:43AM
i donāt mind you bringing your dog
luv dogs
but donāt think i forgot about what i was gonna get in return for sending you my ass
@archurback4me | 11:44AM
Jeez
He doesnāt reply for quite some time. The typing bubble doesnāt pop up either.
But after several minutes a new tweet pops up on your feed.
He didnāt caption it. Just a video that starts with his abs. You watch as his fingers trail down his stomach and tug his underwear down, revealing his squiggly inked skin.
And there it is, ā@bratgaIoreā written across his pelvis in black marker.
He spits in his hand and wraps his fingers around his shaft, stroking his rock hard dick at a perfect pace. The sound has been turned off and you really wish it wasnāt but then again, you donāt want anyone else hearing him.
Want him sounding pretty for you. Just for you.
Youāve clearly been staring at the video for too long because you get a new message.
@archurback4me | 11:54AM
Happy?
You | 11:56AM
holy shit
you actually did it
@archurback4me | 11:57AM
Of course I did
I donāt play when it comes to that ass of yours
You | 11:58AM
hm
now im rlly horny
@archurback4me | 11:58AM
Arenāt you always
You | 11:58AM
thanks to you
i hate you
@archurback4me | 11:59AM
Thatās fine
The feelingās mutual anyway
Gonna enjoy the way you fall apart under me when I fuck you
Fuck you until youāre stupid
You | 12:03PM
a dream come true
:p
guess what
@archurback4me | 12:04PM
Hm?
You | 12:06PM
(You sent a photo.)
The photo is a picture of your soaking wet pussy with his username written on your pelvis in black marker, too.
@archurback4me | 12:08PM
What the fuck
Youāre trying to fucking kill me angel
I need to insert my tongue immediately
You | 12:09PM
here come the harvard graduates
insert is crazy
@archurback4me | 12:10PM
You drive me crazy
Pussy got me acting all formal and shit LMAOO
Got me wanting to wear a bib and say Itadakimasuš when I dive in
Fuck
Want you on my face so fucking bad
Spank you while you ride my face
Donāt think Iāve ever seen something so pretty
Think my mind will change when I see your face though
You | 12:11PM
LMAOOOO not itadakimasuššš
hmm
you like it?
@archurback4me | 12:12PM
Are you insane
I keep going back to it
You should write my username when we meet so I can see it when I take your clothes off
Know that your pussy belongs to me
You | 12:12PM
if you do it too
@archurback4me | 12:13PM
Deal
You | 12:13PM
hehe
š.
btw
@archurback4me | 12:14PM
Hm?
You | 12:14PM
are you clean
@archurback4me | 12:15PM
What?
You | 12:16PM
like
are you clean
for raw sex
@archurback4me | 12:16PM
Oh
Yeah I am
Iāll send you my results when Iām home
You | 12:16PM
you donāt have to do that i believe you
iām clean too
where are you rn?
@archurback4me | 12:16PM
Just left to meet a friend
You | 12:17PM
oh
youāre not texting and driving right
@archurback4me | 12:18PM
Of course not, babe.
How am I supposed to meet my dumb girl when Iām dead?
Iām going by foot
Babe.
My dumb girl.
This is dangerous territory.
You | 12:19PM
hm
just like how i want to be the death of you as i tease you while ur in public
@archurback4me | 12:19PM
Donāt
Iām warning you
I donāt wanna meet my friends with a raging boner
I just got rid of one
You | 12:20PM
ur so easy lol
@archurback4me | 12:22PM
Just you wait you little brat
Gonna leave you so fucking sore when Iām done with you
No breaks
Fuck you the whole week long
You | 12:23PM
hmm
gonna fuck me like you hate me?
@archurback4me | 12:24PM
I do hate you
A lot
Dumb girl
Donāt think thatās gonna change when I see you in real life
Might get even more pissed off when I see your bratty mug actually
I just know your face is so fucking bratty
You | 12:25PM
youād be obsessed with me
iām really pretty
@archurback4me | 12:26PM
Lmao yeah I probably will be
Iām sure you are
Gonna defile your pretty face when I cum all over it you stupid brat
But my friendās here
Iāll ttyl princess
You | 12:27PM
canāt wait
bye daddy
@archurback4me | 12:27PM
Hell nahhhhh
Donāt call me that
You | 12:30PM
ok then bye mr. fuck-you-everyday-of-the-week
@archurback4me | 12:30PM
And will
Night after night
You | 12:30PM
go already
byeeeee
@archurback4me | 12:32PM
Bye princess
You go about your day like you usually would and later that night, he ends up sending you his results anyway. You were already asleep by then, though.
āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ āĀ ā ā
Want to keep reading? The full chapter is out on my Wattpad.
Click here to keep reading.
a/n: thanks to tumblrās new max 1k blocks limit, iāll have to figure out how iām gonna post the full thing on here. (probably tomorrow or friday) either by combining paragraphs or add the continuation in a reblog or something. but its out on wattpad so i hope youāll forgive me !!
thanks for reading <33
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
Hereās the link to continuation (in a reblog).
ā enjoyed it? you can always show your appreciation by buying me some coffee if you want āļøā”
@mygdday @coletaehyung @btspurplesky @kaitieskidmore97 @marvelbun @nini_07777 @8514238 @llallaaa @s3l3n0phil3 @agrika @ahgasegotarmy116 @canyon-lwt @boyfriendtaekook @s4yok0 @mochminnie @chimmisbae @muah-minhoe-8 @bloopkook @whoa-jo @dreami-yoonkookie @earth2fae @kissyfacekoo @keroppitae @junecat18 @hollowtree11 @jksusawife @synnfulqt @pamzn @jknoah @jjk-jeongirl @busanstarkoo @busanboykoo @codeinebelle @taegicity @bettybloop @kookssecret @MMFranklin @vickyyy97 @suciedad-divina @jkslipppiercing @heyyolly04 @partyparty-yah @kooact @osakis-gf @luna-astro-star @plushjeno @jjk1iscoming @Heyrobitches @sunnysorasworld @raineo @jjanjankook @etaerealboyv @somehowukook @larryrulesthisfuckingworld @rrrapmonste-rr @denisaandreea20 @httpjeonlicious @jjeonjennie @dellalyra @optimisticmoongalaxy @ishizhans
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Yearling - Ch. 27: Found
You try to figure out what you want. Joel and Ellie go on patrol.A continuation of Yearling ch. 1-26 found on TumblrĀ here.
Pairing:Ā Joel Miller x Female Reader
Warnings: Angst. CLEARLY. It's me. Homophobia. Smut-adjacent. No use of Y/N. Minors DNI 18+ OnlyĀ
Length:Ā 11.3kĀ (THIS IS GETTING TO BE A PROBLEM I'M SO SORRY)
AO3Ā |Ā Chapter One | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
Late August, 2027Ā
āYouāre making this hard on purpose,ā Ellieās nose scrunched as she held her guitar.Ā
You laughed.Ā
āPromise, Kiddo, Iām not.āĀ
āSometimes I really donāt like you, you know,ā she grumbled. You snorted. āIām serious! Swear you make me do shit the hard way because you fucking enjoy watching me struggleā¦āĀ
āYou learn better when you do it yourself and do it the hard way,ā you shrugged, leaning back against a post of your porch. You stretched a leg out onto the step below and picked a little at your guitar. āYouāll never learn if I just give you all the answers.āĀ
āYeah yeah,ā she muttered, leaning to the side to add more of her disorganized scrawl to her notebook. āSwear you didnāt have to work this hard at shitā¦āĀ
āI started a lot younger than you,ā you replied, picking up the pace on your guitar and adding slaps and pops, no real rhyme or reason to it, just what your fingers felt like doing. āEverything is easier when you start young. And hey, youāve got a leg up on any asshole who tries to learn when theyāre my age.āĀ
āBecause youāre a dinosaur?ā She looked up at you from her notebook, a small smirk on her face.Ā
āNah,ā you replied. āTheyād been dead like three years when I was born, Iām not THAT old.āĀ
She laughed and went back to her notes as you kept playing, looking out down the path from your yard to the road beyond.Ā
It was sweltering hot and youād never been more thankful for a breeze or the fact that it was your day off from the stables. The hair that had pulled loose from your braids stuck to your skin and youād been sweating all day, waking up with your sheets balled up at the foot of your bed and your tank top damp even with the ceiling fan on. You hadnāt even put on jeans that day, throwing on one of the few dresses that had made their way into your closet in the almost two years youād been in Jackson. The first youād taken when Maria mentioned seeing one she thought would fit you, not long before things fell apart with Joel. Youād intended to wear it to the Tipsy Bison on a night there was dancing once it was warmer, opening the door to Joel when you were dressed like what your mother would call āa proper lady.ā Youād pictured dancing with him, his hand sliding up the inside of your thigh when you sat down to have a drink until you couldnāt take it anymore and you practically dragged him home, riding him with the skirt bunched up around your waist the second you were in the door.Ā
That had never happened. That dress stayed tucked safely away at the back of your closet, not able to bring yourself to part with it and the image of that night with him.Ā
The other dress was perfect for days like today, long and loose and thin cotton that made the oppressive heat of late summer tolerable. Even if Ellie had looked at you like you had two heads when she saw you in the damn thing.Ā
You didnāt mind, though. You were just glad that you had gotten to the point that you liked spending time with Ellie again. That youād started feeling much of anything at all.Ā
The first month you got back was hazy. You didnāt really leave your house at first, not able to contribute much at the stable and not seeing a reason to move otherwise.Ā
You werenāt entirely sure how many days passed before there was the first knock at your door.Ā
It wasnāt an Ellie knock. The sound didnāt carry her chaotic energy or almost audacious nature. Instead, it was hesitant but sturdy and firm without being forceful or insistent. You stayed flat on your back, staring up at the ceiling of the closet for a minute to see if the knock would come again. It didnāt. You stared at the ceiling a while longer but, eventually, you had to pee. You forced yourself to move and, on your way back from the bathroom, passed your front door. You hesitated for a moment before you went and opened it, to see if whoever knocked had left a note.Ā
On your porch was a box filled with crackers and jerky and fruit and carrots and celery. All things you could eat without needing to cook or, really, do anything at all. You knew it was from Joel, even though it hadnāt sounded like his knock, either. There was no one else who would have brought it because no one else knew why you were locked inside your home. But he was no where to be seen. He didnāt leave a note.Ā
A few days later, you forced yourself to go to the stable to check on the horses. The fillies and the colt werenāt making much progress without you - youād have to probably start nearly from scratch with them once your arm healed - but you were able to feel somewhat useful, brushing horses down, checking on their hooves to see when theyād need to be shoed, just giving them some love and attention. That helped you feel a little more like yourself.Ā
Ellie started coming by again a few days after that. She showed up one afternoon with a CD and a sandwich from the mess hall, marching into your living room like nothing had happened, complaining about another kid in town and how Joel wasnāt going to let her patrol with anyone but him for a while.Ā
āI could get partnered with Dina but no,ā she drew the last word out, sprawled on your couch, rolling her eyes as she did. āThe old man is convinced Iām going to drop dead if heās not looking out for me for five minutesā¦āĀ
āIām sure heāll ease up once he sees how capable you are,ā you said, sitting on the loveseat and picking up the CD case sheād brought with her. The Clash this time. āMick Jones and Joe Strummer, nice choice. Why do you want to go out with Dina, anyway? I thought not everything was about girlsā¦āĀ
āShut up.āĀ
āNah.āĀ
You wereāt sure if you were really doing better or if youād just found a way to push the hurt down inside yourself again. You werenāt sure there was a way to recover from this, from the idea that youād probably never see your child again. Clinging to the possibility felt so necessary but so foolish. You werenāt sure if it was reason or denial but it didnāt really matter. You werenāt sure you could live without that possibility dulling the jagged edges of your grief and pain.Ā
The boxes of food made regular appearances on your porch. You never saw Joel.Ā
When you were close to getting your cast off, Ellie came by your house but didnāt shove her way inside the way she usually did. Instead, she hovered on your porch.Ā
āOK donāt be mad,ā she said, a serious look on her face.Ā
āOff to a great start,ā you replied.
She glared at you for a second before pressing on.Ā
āJoel sent me with a message,ā she said. āHe wanted me to tell you that the movie tonight was something called Ever After and that he thought you would like it and that he wasnāt going to be there so you should go. And to not be mad. I think you shouldnāt be mad, too, by the way.āĀ
āNot mad,ā you smiled a little. āI justā¦ I donāt knowā¦āĀ
āCome on, Bambi,ā Ellie said, dropping some of her pretense now. āDinaās going with Jesse and Iāve never seen it and I really donāt want to be stuck sitting by them while they suck face.āĀ
You sighed, looking back over your shoulder in the direction of Joelās house. You found yourself looking that way a lot.Ā
āAlright,ā you said after a moment, looking back at Ellie. āIāll go. But only to save you from your crushā¦āĀ
āIām going to ignore that last part and just be happy youāre going,ā she said, a little smug. āEven though youāre annoying about it.āĀ
āSo annoying,ā you agreed, stepping into your boots, turning on the lamp and following her out the door.Ā
It was strangely easy to adjust to being around the people of Jackson again. Ellie gave you something to focus on, busy trying to distract her from the Dina and Jesse acting exactly like you remembered some of your friends in high school acted with their boyfriends.Ā
āWhatās this movie about, anyway?ā Ellie asked as the two of you settled in toward the back of the room.Ā
āItās been a long time since Iāve seen it,ā you said. āBut I think it was like Cinderella.āĀ
Ellie looked at you and made a face.Ā
āLike the fairy tale.āĀ
āYup,ā you replied. She stared at you and you laughed a little. āWhat?āĀ
āIām just trying to picture you liking a fucking fairy tale.āĀ
You rolled your eyes and crossed your arms as best you could with one in a cast.Ā
āWhat?ā She teased. āDonāt tell me you like some stupid story where love solves everyoneās problemsā¦āĀ
āWhatās wrong with that?ā Julie, the woman youād seen a few times at the Tipsy Bison and when she went out on patrol, appeared alongside Ellie, a large bowl of popcorn in her hands.Ā
āItās bullshit,ā Ellie said. āThereās a reason theyāre stories for little kids.āĀ
āMaybe you just havenāt loved that way yet,ā she smiled a little before nodding to the chair on the other side of you. āSeat taken?āĀ
You hoped you didnāt just stare at her for too long. People didnāt just talk to you in Jackson, not without a reason, let alone try to sit by you. You werenāt entirely sure what to do with it.
āAll yours,ā you said, tugging your legs in close so she could pass you and sit down. She settled in beside you and smiled, holding out the bowl.Ā
āThanks,ā she said. āPopcorn?āĀ
āSure,ā you said after a moment, taking some with your good hand. āThank you.āĀ
āCourse,ā she smiled a little bigger in a lopsided, almost cocky way. āWhatās the point of popcorn if you donāt share it?āĀ
The movie was good. Youād only seen it once or twice before the outbreak but youād liked it then, too. Cinderella was smart and capable, the prince was handsome and kind and you liked to imagine the way life was in that period of time.Ā
āOK so that wasnāt terrible,ā Ellie said as you headed out with her and Julie.Ā
āTold you,ā you teased a little.Ā
āNo one told me that sometimes the girls in fairy tales got to be badasses,ā she replied. āI might have liked the stories more then!āĀ
āThe girls are always badasses,ā Julie said. āThey just try to hide it, scares the men otherwise.āĀ
Ellie snorted.Ā
āSounds right.āĀ
You reached Joelās. There was a light on in his living room and you felt the familiar tug in you to go inside and join him. Just let yourself in the front door and settle in like it was yours.Ā
āIām gonna go tell the old man that his taste in movies isnāt totally awful,ā Ellie said, heading up the front walk. āStill want help tomorrow at the stable?āĀ
āStalls aināt gonna muck themselves,ā you replied and held up your still healing arm. āAnd this isnāt much help.āĀ
āUgh,ā she groaned good naturedly. āNight!āĀ
You watched until she made it to the front door - not that the precaution was really necessary here but it made you feel better - and you turned to Julie, your good hand stuffed in your pocket.Ā
āIām that way and to the left,ā you said. āSoā¦āĀ
āMind if I join you?ā She asked. āNice night, figure Iāll take the scenic route.āĀ
You looked at her for a moment.Ā
āSure,ā you shrugged. āNot much to see though.āĀ
āSee, thatās where youāre wrong,ā she smiled one of those lopsided smiles and fell into step beside you, walking a little slower than you and you slowed down to match her pace. You looked ahead. āSo, howāve you been doing? Donāt see you at the Bison much anymore.āĀ
āFine,ā you shrugged. āJust havenāt felt like going out.ā You looked over at her and had the passing thought that she was pretty. Young, with long, dark hair and bright eyes and full lips.āHow about you?āĀ
āOh you know,ā she waved you off. āSame old, same old. The berries are coming into season though, have you been to check out the orchards and stuff?āĀ
āIāve ridden past them,ā you said. āHavenāt exactly spent time there, though.āĀ
āYou should!ā She brightened at that, even more than she already was. The two of you came to a stop at your front walk. āThink youād like it. You should come with me sometime, itād be fun.āĀ
āYeah, maybe,ā you smiled a little tightly. āThis is me, soā¦āĀ
āNice place,ā she smiled back, looking more genuine than yours felt. āWell, whenever you want to check it out, let me know. Hope to see you around.āĀ
āYou too,ā you said, standing there awkwardly for a moment before turning and heading up the walk and into your house.Ā
You went to the mess hall the next morning for breakfast. Dinner, too. And soon, your cast was off and you were going there for most meals, even if it was just to grab something to bring home or go to the stables. The food boxes stopped showing up on your porch.Ā
Instead, youād come back from the stables and find new guitar strings waiting for you there or a CD that you didnāt have or a copy of Titanic on VHS, the one that took two tapes and you had to get up halfway through to change it.Ā
Youād told Joel he should move on. You werenāt sure if you really wanted him to - you doubted youād be able to stomach seeing him with someone else - but you didnāt want him to be alone, either. You didnāt want to drag him down with you just because you couldnāt separate his past from your own.Ā
āOK so I think I have it,ā Ellie said, pulling you out of your head and making your fingers still. āCan you look?āĀ
She shoved the notebook your way and you leaned over your guitar to look at it, fingering the chords but not playing them.Ā
āYeah,ā you said after a minute. āI think thatās probably closer to what youāre looking for, give it a go.āĀ
You pushed the notebook back towards her and she set her guitar on her lap, adjusting it for a second before playing it. You nodded along, watching as she scrunched her face, getting more and more frustrated before she groaned.Ā
āThatās not right either,ā she leaned her head back on the post at her back. āSong writing shouldnāt be this hard. This is bullshit.āĀ
āThe shit thatās worth doing is hard, kid,ā you shrugged. āWhy donāt you try thinking about it again for a minute. Do you want it to feel urgent or slow and confident? Both are strong but theyāre going to have different vibes.āĀ
She sighed and closed her eyes.Ā
āI donāt know.āĀ
āWell,ā you shrugged, settling back with your guitar. āFigure out how youāre feeling and what you want the song to say about it. Itāll come to you.āĀ
You went back to playing as Ellie picked her notebook back up, gnawing on the end of her pen.Ā
āI didnāt know you played!āĀ
You stopped and your head shot up from its place on the post to see Julie standing at the end of your walk, her hands in the pockets of her shorts, her thick hair piled on top of her head, her arms looking sculpted and strong in her tank top.Ā
āSorry,ā she laughed. āDidnāt mean to scare you. Can I come up?āĀ
āUmā¦āĀ
āSure!ā Ellie said before you had a chance to really think about it. Julie reached over the short fence and unlatched the gate before opening it and coming up to your porch, sitting on the bottom step so she was looking up at you and Ellie.Ā
āDidnāt know there was a guitar club in town,ā she said, folding one leg into her chest and looping her arms around her shin. āDonāt stop on my account! What song was that?āĀ
āOh, that wasnāt anything,ā you said, running your fingers up and down the neck of the guitar. āJustā¦ fidgeting, really.āĀ
āYeah, Bambi is fucking awesome,ā Ellie said. āBest guitar player in town, easy.āĀ
āEllie,ā you gave her a look but she ignored you.Ā
āSeriously, you name it and she can probably play it,ā she said. āShe knows so much about music itās insane.āĀ
āNot really,ā you cut her off. āI just like music so I learned about what I liked, thatās allā¦āĀ
āOh bullshit,ā Ellie rolled her eyes. āSheās a human juke box, try her.āĀ
āDo you mind?ā Julie asked, looking at you with her brows raised. Her eyes were bright green and almost sharp.Ā
āAs long as youāre prepared to be disappointed,ā you shrugged. āI can try.āĀ
Ellie scoffed and Julie ignored her.Ā
āI remember this song from when I was a kid, just before the outbreak,ā she said. āIt actually took me a while to track down the name of it after and you might think itās silly butā¦ Iām With You? Know that one?āĀ
You smiled a little.Ā
āI know that one,ā you said, settling the guitar on your lap. āHavenāt tried to play it before, though. Avrilās not really my wheelhouse, soā¦ go easy on me.āĀ
You couldnāt remember exactly how the song started but you remembered the chorus and you remembered a verse from there. The music just trailed off at the end, not really remembering how the song ended either, and you awkwardly drummed your fingers on the body of the guitar when you stopped playing, Ellie and Julie both watching you.Ā
āRight, well,ā you said. āLike I said, not really my wheelhouse andā¦āĀ
āThat was fantastic!ā Julie cut you off, her broad smile making the freckles on her cheeks rise.Ā
āTold you,ā Ellie said. āSheās the best.āĀ
āWell I figured that much,ā Julie rolled her eyes a little dramatically but smiled that cocky smile as she did before looking back to you again. āThanks for letting me put you on the spot.āĀ
āAny time,ā you said before you really had a chance to think about it. She smiled a little bigger.Ā
āHey, so, I hadnāt meant to break up the jam session,ā she said. āI was actually coming by to see if you wanted to come with me tomorrow afternoon, I was going to head out to the orchards for a bit. Youāre welcome to join, get outside for a bit. Itās nice, promise.āĀ
āUm,ā you said for what felt like the millionth time that day, trying to picture the stable schedule. āI think that would work, I have some patrols leaving that morning but should be able to step away for a bit in the afternoonā¦āĀ
āPerfect,ā she said, getting up. āI need to get down to the Bison but Iāll meet you at the stables tomorrow?āĀ
āThatās where Iāll be,ā you smiled in a way you hoped was genuine. āLooking forward to it.āĀ
āItāll be fun,ā she said. āIāll see you then. Bye, Ellie!āĀ
āBye Julie,ā she dragged her name out and gave you a look. You seriously considered kicking her. Julie laughed and started down your walk, only making it halfway to the gate before turning around and walking backwards, looking back at you with her hands in her back pockets.Ā
āNice dress, by the way,ā she said. āIt works for you. See you tomorrow!āĀ
You went back to messing with your guitar as you tried to not watch her walk up the lane. Ellie was far less delicate, craning her neck until Julie turned the corner.Ā
She spun to face you and swatted your leg.Ā
āOh my GOD,ā she half whispered, half yelled at you.Ā
āWhat?ā You asked, fingers stilling on the strings.Ā
āThat!ā She said. āAll that fucking flirting!āĀ
āEllieā¦āĀ
āOh come ON,ā she cut you off. āYou may as well have fucked right on your porch, Jesus Christā¦āĀ
āOK I will say this again,ā you said, setting your guitar down beside you. āWho is and isnāt between my legs? Not your business.āĀ
āWell thatās just not true,ā she rolled her eyes. āYouāre the one who fucked Joel and made it my business.ā You sighed and went to reply but she held up a hand. āDonāt get me wrong, Iād rather you two work your shit out and get back together. But if youāre not going to figure it out then you shouldnāt just be miserable and lonely forever and Julie is hot as fuck.āĀ
āEllie!ā You hissed.Ā
āWhat!ā She replied, her brows raised. āShe is!āĀ
āJesusā¦āĀ
āJust saying!ā She said, her hands up in mock surrender. āJulieās cool. And hot. I think youād have fun. And you should at least try to have some fun sometimes instead of just being miserable all the time.ā
āWhat if I like being miserable.āĀ
āJust donāt chicken out,ā Ellie said, ignoring you and picking up her guitar before getting to her feet. āBut Iām getting hungry. Think Iāll go see what the old man is doing for dinner. Youāre welcome to come along if youād rather not be miserable with usā¦āĀ
āEllie.āĀ
āRight, right,ā she rolled her eyes. āI mean it, fucking go tomorrow. You big chicken.āĀ
āGo home, you little brat,ā you replied. She cheerfully flipped you off before heading back toward Joelās.Ā
You sat on your porch for a while longer, absently playing and watching as the color of the sky slowly shifted from blue to pink to deep, inky black. The darkness seemed to swallow everything, like there wasnāt anything beyond what was right in front of you. But you knew that if you walked far enough, followed the light of the north star, youād find things beyond what consumed here and now.Ā
It was late when you finally went inside, scrounging in your kitchen for the last of some of what Joel had brought you even though you werenāt particularly hungry. You turned on the stereo and just let whatever CD youād put in last play, not really paying attentionĀ
You found yourself thinking about Julie. About what Ellie said about Julie.Ā
It had been a long time since youād had a woman flirt with you. Youād been with your fair share of women since the outbreak but flirting hadnāt really been part of it. Marisa was the first woman youād slept with and, after Savvy came along, you stopped seeking out that kind of connection with men and kept it to strictly women. It just seemed safer. After Marisa, it had always been casual - you didnāt think you could bear another heartbreak like that - and it had always been fairly blunt. You could generally tell if they were interested in letting off some physical steam and, if they were, you had fun for a few days before they moved on.Ā
But things with Julie reminded you of one of your first crushes, a girl who did trick riding on the same circuit as you when you were a girl. Youād first noticed Courtney when you were both 13. She was so beautiful you couldnāt help but stare at her. At first, youād almost resented her. She was good, damn good, and she was full of charismatic smiles and she dusted glitter across her collarbones that peeked out from the top of her costume. She was exactly who your mother wished you were and, as much as you loved bronc and bull and roping, part of you wanted to be who your mother wanted you to be. You wanted to be satisfied with what she wanted for you and you wanted to be happy being who Courtney was so effortlessly. Life would be simpler and happier if you were content with that and Courtney was proof that life existed. And you wanted it.
You settled for beating her, for a while. Narrowing your eyes at her when you passed her between rounds at competitions, looking her way when you saw your scores narrowly eclipse hers on the board. You loved it. The only thing you wanted more than beating her was her.Ā
Hell if you knew what to do with that.Ā
In hindsight, you werenāt sure she knew, either.
The first time sheād said more than two words to you was when youād smirked at her as you held the first place trophy. You went to the locker room after the awards ceremony and you had the place almost to yourself, most of the other girls already cleaned out. The third place winner - a girl whoās name you didnāt remember - left and it was just a few seconds later that you heard the door slam into the wall. You looked up to see Courtney stalking over to you. You could see the glitter on her collarbones and her cheeks, her eyes hot and her lips full.Ā
āWant to tell me what the hell your problem is?ā She demanded, getting so close to you that you could smell her body spray. It was almost sickly sweet and floral but on her it smelled good. āWhat did I ever do to you? Why do you hate me so much!āĀ
āI donāt hate youā¦ā you said.Ā
āCouldāve fooled me!ā She cut you off.Ā
āWhy do you care?ā You snapped. āWe compete, weāre not friends, who cares if I hate you?āĀ
āI care!ā She snapped back.Ā
āWhy!āĀ
āBecause I like you!ā She yelled, breathless. You just blinked at her for a moment as she caught her breath, her eyes drifting to your lips. āI like you and sometimesā¦āĀ
She didnāt get a chance to finish. Instead, you kissed her.Ā
It was clumsy and deeply uncertain. Youād never kissed anyone before and you had no idea what you were doing, your hands locked tight at your sides as though touching her anywhere at all was against the rules but you were risking it, anyway. Her mouth was warm and soft and it seemed oddly wet even though that made sense when you thought about it.Ā
After a moment you pulled back from her slightly, your eyes wide, not really believing what youād just done.Ā
āIām sorry,ā you said, your turn to be breathless now. āIā¦ I donāt knowā¦āĀ
āShut up,ā she kissed you that time, pressing you back against the lockers, stretching up to better reach your lips, her body hot on your own. You kissed her back, trying to focus and take in everything. How she tasted, how she smelled, how her costume hugged the slight curve of her waist.Ā
āCourtney!ā Her motherās shrill voice from the hall made her jump away from you and wipe her mouth on the back of her hand. āYou about ready honey?āĀ
āOne minute!ā She called back before turning to you. āDo you have a some paper?āĀ
You just nodded and fumbled in your bag for a notebook. She turned to a random page that happened to have some history notes on it and wrote her name and number at the top. Her handwriting was soft and curved and feminine and you envied that, too. She drew a little heart next to it.Ā
āCall me,ā she said, pressing the notebook into your chest. āOK?āĀ
āYeah,ā you said, staring at her. You couldnāt help but stare at her. āYeah, I will.āĀ
āGood,ā she smiled. āSee you next time, superstar. Maybe Iāll finish on top then.āĀ
āCourtney!āĀ
āComing!ā She grabbed her bag out of a nearby locker and gave you an almost sly smile before she ran out to meet her mother.Ā
From then on, most of your time with her was flirting. In between rounds at competitions or on the phone when you were far apart, carefully crafting your words so youād have plausible deniability with your parents but know what the other meant. You wrote each other letters when you were apart, counted the days until you got to see each other again. When you found an empty spot when you were in the same place, you ended up tangled up together, kissing and fumbling against each other, figuring out what seemed to stoke the fires deep inside yourselves in the small moments you could find for just the two of you.Ā
That continued for just over a year when Courtney came to a tournament with a somber expression on her face. You frowned but she gave you a subtle shake of her head as she passed you and you kept quiet. It took a few hours before you were able to get her alone and she told you the truth of it. That her mom had found your letters to her - thankfully not signed so she had no idea who had written them but still obviously from another girl - and had told her daughter that she, unequivocally, would end it.Ā
āButā¦ā you protested, trying not to cry.Ā
āIām sorry,ā she said, her voice thick. āButā¦ she threatened to send me to one of those camps if I donāt andā¦ I canāt go to that, OK? I canāt, I donāt think I could make it andā¦āĀ
You held onto her as she cried, her tears making little rivers in the glitter on her skin.Ā
āIām sorry,ā she whispered. āI reallyā¦ I think Iā¦āĀ
You kissed her before she said it.Ā
āMe too,ā you said quietly when you pulled away.Ā
She sniffed and smiled a small smile.
āMaybe in another life, right?āĀ
āRight,ā you smiled a little back.Ā
She dried her eyes as best she could and you watched from the stands as she gave the best performance youād ever seen. You did the opposite. Your routine ended with a full Stroud Layout but your top foot slipped when you were getting into position and you fell off your horse, tumbling over and over yourself in the sand of the arena, the feel of it gritty in your mouth as your head spun when your body finally came to a stop.Ā
You didnāt make the podium and your mother didnāt push you to compete again for a while. You never saw Courtney again.Ā
You werenāt sure how to navigate things with Julie. You werenāt sure what you wanted to navigate with Julie. She was beautiful, yes. And she seemed kind and funny and smart. She seemed like someone you could have fun with and could care about.Ā
But she wasnāt Joel. You werenāt sure you could feel like you felt for him for anyone else. It seemed silly to even try. And if you couldnāt feel like that, what was the point?Ā
You tried to sleep but gave up eventually. After a while, you found the moose carving youād started when you were out with Joel, looking for Savvy. It was getting closer to being done, though it was still a rough hewn thing. You werenāt sure anyone who didnāt know what it was supposed to be would realize what it was without help. But still, it felt good to make something. You let yourself be absorbed by carving it for a bit, until it felt like youād shut your mind down enough to sleep. You set the moose down on the nightstand, arranging him so it was like he was watching you sleep, the red splotch from your blood still staining his chest.
You brought him with you to the stables the next day for something to work on when you needed the distraction. Just sitting there with your thoughts when you had downtime seemed like a bad idea.Ā
āYouāre gonna tell me all about it, right?ā Ellie asked as you gave Shimmer and Ares a final once over that morning.Ā
āI donāt need to tell you every time I hang out with someone,ā you replied.Ā
āWhatever,ā she said. āJust donāt chicken out. Actually go, you need a social lifeā¦āĀ
āWhat, getting sick of keeping me company all the time?ā You teased, handing her the reins.Ā
āYeah, youāre pretty fucking boring,ā she smirked a little. You snorted. āIām serious though. Promise youāll go.āĀ
āIām going,ā you said, giving her a gentle shove toward the door. āGet out of here. Be safe on patrol, see you back tonight.āĀ
āNot if youāre at Julieās you wonāt,ā she waggled her eyebrows at you and you rolled your eyes as you watched her lead her and Joelās horses out of the stables.Ā
Time dragged until that afternoon and you found yourself feeling oddly nervous, waiting for Julie to come by. You werenāt sure what time she was supposed to get there and, you realized, you didnāt know what to actually expect with any of this.Ā
Yeah, it had felt like flirting. And Ellie seemed sure that it was. But Ellie was a kid and your recent experience in that department was so limited you really knew fuck all about it. What if youād read the situation completely wrong? What if Julie was just a nice woman who wanted to be friends?Ā
āHey you,ā Julieās voice surprised you enough that it made you jump, water sloshing over the side of the bucket you were carrying to top off one of the horses. āShit, Iām sorry! Didnāt mean to scare youā¦āĀ
āYouāre fine,ā you said quickly, refilling a waterer and setting the bucket down.Ā
āNow still good?ā She asked. āBecause Iām not in a rush, today is my day offā¦āĀ
āNowās good,ā you said quickly, trying not to think too hard about what she was wearing. Her long, lush hair was softly braided and hung over her shoulder, loose strands framing her face. Her shorts were short and her legs were long and sculpted and she wore a few long necklaces that settled into the curve between her breasts. She smiled.Ā
āGreat!ā She held up a bag you hadnāt noticed before. āBrought snacks. Not that weāll need much, itās peak berry season out there. We could eat ourselves sick and not make a dent.āĀ
āDonāt tempt me,ā you smiled a little.Ā
āOh, I intend to,ā she smiled back.Ā
Julie led the way out of town, smiling and chatting with the guards at the gate for a moment before heading toward the orchards just east of town.Ā
āSo why are you heading out here on your day off?ā You asked, looking over at her.Ā
āWell as I think you know, one of my main contributions to the good people of Jackson is tending bar at the Bison,ā she smiled. āBut thatās because I just really like drinks. I found this old cocktail book when I was a teenager and I just kind of became obsessed, I guess? There was that and these books and magazines that showed what it was like before and I wanted to do that. Have the experience of going to a bar when life was different, you know? And yeah, we make some pretty decent booze here in town - or I think we do, anyway, didnāt really get to try any before - but thatās not all it takes to make a good cocktail. I canāt make a Coke or anything but I can make the syrups and infusions and things. I like to experiment in my spare time so I come out here, pick the supplies I need, and give things a try at home before I bring my ideas into the Bison.āĀ
āDo I get to know what youāre working on?ā You asked, brows raised.Ā
āIf I told you, Iād have to kill you,ā she smirked. āBut I will need a guinea pig before too long if youāre gameā¦āĀ
āFar be it from me to turn down a free drink,ā you replied and she smiled bigger.Ā
The orchards were, indeed, beautiful. You followed her to a particularly dense spot and she pulled a blanket out of the bag, spreading it on the ground in the shade of an apple tree.Ā
āI wonāt lie,ā she said, sitting back on her hands and closing her eyes, taking a deep breath. āThis is probably my favorite spot.āĀ
āI can see why,ā you nodded, drawing your knees into your chest and looking around. āItās gorgeous here.āĀ
āItās quiet here,ā she laughed a little. āDonāt get me wrong, I love Jackson. Way better than the QZ we were in when I was a kid. Itās a good place with good people. I love the people, truly, I do. But everyone knows everyone and knows everything about everyone and itās so hard to have anything for yourself, you know?āĀ
āYeah,ā you nodded. āItās a great place butā¦ itās definitely a lot.āĀ
You talked a little about your pasts. You told her - vaguely, lightly - about your time before Mitchum. She told you about her time in the Denver QZ and you almost fainted when she said she was only 31 years old.Ā
āHow old were you when the world ended?ā You gaped at her. āDo you even remember?āĀ
āI was seven,ā she laughed. āI remember a bit. How old were you?āĀ
āOlder than that,ā you replied. āJesusā¦āĀ
āNot that old, clearly,ā she said, picking a blackberry off a bush and holding it out to you. āThis is a good one, you should have it.āĀ
āOld enough,ā you replied. āAnd if itās good, you should have it.āĀ
āI have them all the time,ā she said, stepping close to you. You were suddenly acutely aware of the fact that you were wearing the same clothes youād been wearing when working with the horses all day and you hoped you didnāt smell. She pressed the berry to your lips. āTry it.āĀ
You obeyed, taking the fruit into your mouth and biting into it, the juice bursting on your tongue.Ā
āSee?ā She smiled. āTold you.āĀ
The two of you ended up back on the blanket and you stretched out on it, looking up at the clouds drifting lazily past overhead, arms bare - too hot to wear anything more than a tank top - but not feeling overly exposed. Julie lay next to you, her arm brushing your own.Ā
āIs it weird that I sometimes donāt feel like I missed out?ā She asked. You felt her adjust next to you and you glanced her way to see her lying on her side, facing you. āI mean I know there was a lot before that we donāt have now butā¦ I dunno, I guess I still wanted to be a ballerina when the world ended. It doesnāt feel like I really gave up all that much, you know?āĀ
āThink that has as much to do with Jackson as anything else,ā you replied, adjusting so that you were facing her. āBut I get that, in a way. If Iād found Jackson when I was younger, I think Iād feel the same. Shit, what Iām doing now is exactly what I grew up wanting to do. If it wasnāt for all the time in between, the end of the world would have just turned into me getting just what I wanted. Besides all the death anyway.āĀ
āThink youāre right about the Jackson thing,ā she smiled a little. āItās a special place with good people. Like a few better than the others, though.āĀ
āYeah?āĀ
She reached out and brushed some of the hair that had fallen from your braid back from your face and trailed her fingers down your cheek and your chin.Ā
āYup.āĀ
She leaned in then, moving slow and holding your gaze, giving you all the time in the world to stop her if you wanted.Ā
You didnāt.Ā
Her kiss was soft and gentle, her lips smooth on yours. She tasted and smelled sweet and her hand went to your hip, tugging you against her.Ā
Julieās body was softer than you expected as she pressed against you and, in so many ways, she felt safe and comfortable there. But she felt foreign, too. Youād become accustomed to a different form on yours, one that was larger and broader and firmer.Ā
You tried not to think about him as her kiss deepened, as your hand went to her waist and trailed over her side but stopped short of cupping her breast.Ā
She nudged you onto your back and she settled on top of you, her chest pressed tight to yours, her hips starting to rock gently against you. You ran your hands over her back to the top of her ass but didnāt go lower, not able to shake the subtle wrongness of kissing someone and feeling someone who wasnāt Joel.Ā
After a minute, she pulled away from you.Ā
āI get the feeling youāre not as into this as I am,ā she said, panting a little. You opened your mouth to argue but she silenced you with a look. āIf I misread things, Iām really sorry. But you should know that you donāt have to fuck me just because Iām trying to fuck you.āĀ
āYou didnāt misread anything,ā you said quickly.Ā
āGood,ā she smiled a little. āButā¦ It doesnāt seem like youāre feeling this.āĀ
You winced.Ā
āI donāt know what Iām feeling,ā you said. āButā¦ I donāt think Iām feeling what you are.āĀ
āWell shit,ā she laughed a little and rolled off you, lying flat on her back beside you. āI really am sorry if I came on too strong or did something you didnāt wantā¦āĀ
You laughed a little.Ā
āDefinitely not that,ā you said. āJust haveā¦ other things on my mind. And you deserve someoneās full attention.ā
She turned her head to look at you and you turned yours, too.Ā
āItās Joel, isnāt it?ā She asked. You winced a little. āSorry, Iām not trying to dig into anything thatās not my business, it justā¦ seemed like you guys split up a while ago so I thought it would be OK. Iām sorry.āĀ
āNo, it probably should be,ā you said. āItās got nothing to do with you, trust me.āĀ
āWell,ā she said. āAt the risk of this being the most awkward hang out everā¦ want to help me get some raspberries?āĀ
āSure,ā you laughed a little. āIād like that.āĀ
She smiled.Ā
āGood. Me too.āĀ
It was awkward for a bit, but by the time the two of you started back to Jackson, it was lighter. Easier. Like youād never kissed at all.Ā
Julie walked with you back to the stables, not too long before you were expecting patrols that werenāt out overnight to return.Ā
āEven with everything today, I hope we can be friends,ā she said. āI do actually like you. Not just because Iād like to fuck you.āĀ
You laughed a little.Ā
āYeah, Iād like that, too,ā you said. āIām sorry Iām notā¦ in the same place on the fucking frontā¦āĀ
āIād rather pretend we never found that out,ā she laughed a little. āMaintain some of the mystery. But, you know. If anything changes, itās a small town. You know where to find me.āĀ
āThat I do,ā you said.Ā
She turned to leave but seemed to think better of it and turned back.Ā
āIf heās it for you?ā She said. āI think you should figure out a way to make it work. No point in wanting something and acting like you canāt have it when itās right there, you know? And yeah, itās not really my business and yeah, I donāt know you all that well butā¦ something tells me youāre not going to be feeling any different anytime soon. And I donāt think he is either. Justā¦ my two cents.āĀ
She smiled and leaned in, pressing a kiss to your cheek.Ā
āThanks, Julie,ā you said quietly. She gave your arm a squeeze.Ā
āSee you around, Bambi.āĀ
You watched the door she left through for a few minutes after she was gone before you went back to work.Ā
The patrols all made it back without incident, Ellie returning her and Joelās horses. She asked how things went but you just waved her off and she deflated a bit.Ā
āI keep trying to get some excitement around here,ā she said. āYou are no fucking help, you know that?āĀ
āI am so sorry my romantic life isnāt more entertaining,ā you said wryly. āIāll work on that. Entirely for your benefit, of course.āĀ
āWell youāre clearly not going to do it for your own.āĀ
You just rolled your eyes as she headed back home. You stayed late at the stables. Not for any real reason, you just didnāt want to be at home alone and going to the mess hall didnāt sound like what you wanted, either. You worked on the moose carving, pleasantly surprised at the progress youād made on him.Ā
You ended up working on him until, almost suddenly, you realized he was done. Fully formed - or as close to it as you could get him - with four legs and jagged shapes for the antlers. But he looked like a moose, broad and steady and strong. You turned him over in your hand a few times, running your finger over the arch of his back and the curve of his neck.Ā
āWhat am I going to do with you?ā You said quietly, holding it up in front of you, looking where his eyes would be if he had them. The bloodstain was still crimson on his chest.Ā
After a few minutes, you got up off the floor of the stable and did your final check for the evening before locking up behind you and heading home.Ā
You took the long way.Ā
It was dark but not so late that the Tipsy Bison had closed for the night, a warm glow coming from the windows. With the sun down, you were a little cold with bare arms but you didnāt mind. You walked slowly, watching the stars as you went.Ā
You stopped at the end of Joelās walk. The lights were out. You thought he probably went to bed early - he got tired after a patrol - but he could be at the Bison, too. Either wayā¦Ā
You all but crept up his walk, holding the moose tightly in your fingers. You stopped at the base of his stairs and held the rough-hewn animal in front of your face again.Ā
āKeep an eye on him for me?ā You said quietly to the wood. It didnāt say anything back. You stepped as lightly as you could up the stairs but the same step as always squeaked below you. You set the moose on Joelās doormat before turning to go, making the step squeak again. You made it almost all the way back up the walk when the lights inside turned on and you picked up the pace.Ā
It didnāt matter. You heard the front door open just as you turned onto the street and your eyes darted over toward him before you could help it.Ā
āBambi?ā He called, not too loud. He was in his blue cotton plaid sleep pants and a black t-shirt that hugged his body just right, tight across his shoulders and upper arms, highlighting the soft curve of his stomach. You stopped for a moment and just gave him a tight smile before continuing on home.Ā
When you went to bed, you found yourself looking at the spot on your nightstand where the moose had been before, part of you wishing he was still beside you.
***
āHey. Hey Joel.āĀ
Joel smiled a little to himself. He recognized Ellieās tone.Ā
āWhatās up, kiddo?āĀ
āWanna hear a joke about pizza?āĀ
He sighed, trying to sound annoyed. He wasnāt sure if it worked.Ā
āGet the feeling youāre gonna tell me either way.āĀ
āEh, never mind,ā Ellie said, sounding a little put out. Joel looked back at her, frowning slightly. And then she smirked. āItās too cheesy.āĀ
Joel groaned.Ā
āThat oneās bad, baby girl.āĀ
āNo itās not!ā She rode up alongside him even though the trail wasnāt really wide enough for that. āThat was a good one!āĀ
āNope,ā he shook his head. āIt was terrible, three out of 10.āĀ
āBullshit!āĀ
āWhat would you give it?ā He asked, brows raised. āBecause Iām questioning your judgement hereā¦āĀ
āAt least a six.āĀ
āNo.āĀ
āYes!ā She laughed. āYouāve just got shitty taste, old man.āĀ
āUh huh,ā he laughed. āAnd whatās that say about you then, hm?āĀ
āBroken clock is right twice a day,ā she replied. āYou were bound to accidentally do OK every now and then. Will Livingston, however, is right every time.āĀ
āYou got that entire book memorized?ā He teased lightly. āIf not, you gotta be closeā¦āĀ
āIām getting there,ā she said. āSaving the best for last.āĀ
Joel just shook his head a little.Ā
He loved patrolling with Ellie. Even more than he thought he would. It was so much like when heād first come to know her and care for her. It was a time, he realized now, that made him understand that he could still love. That he had it within himself to care for another person, that he could cope with the fear of loss that came with attachment because Ellie was worth it. He liked spending the time just the two of them and getting to know her better as the young woman she was becoming instead of the little girl heād come to know years earlier. Sheād grown so much, come into her own in a way that was only possible in a place like Jackson. She had friends and hobbies and had become part of the community there. Every day with her was reassurance that heād done the right thing. That every life heād taken that day in the hospital was a worthy price to pay.Ā
Joel had left Jackson with Ellie plenty before patrolling with her, back when she was still speaking to him. Before she found out the truth of everything. Heād loved it then, too. But this was different. She was still his baby girl but they were out here as partners, working together to protect the community they both loved. It was a glimpse of the future they had, one where their lives moved along side by side and he got to watch her find her place and fall in love and have a family of her own and just be happy as herself.Ā
They were only a day out from Jackson now, heading in from a three day long patrol. It was Ellieās first overnight patrol and sheād been so excited for it, even as she tried to pretend like she wasnāt. The days before they left town, Ellie was over at his house every night, going over the list of what she should bring and looking over the map. Sheād lit up when he said they could bring a guitar, something else that made Joel smile.Ā
It had been more than a month since sheād gotten him back into playing, showing up at his house with a guitar and saying she wanted his opinion on something. She played American Girl, one of his favorites, and set the guitar down when she was done.Ā
āThat was amazing, baby girl,ā heād said, more than a little in awe of her. āWhere did you learn that?āĀ
āBambi,ā she replied. āBut do you think itād sound better with two? I feel like it would. But youāre the musician soā¦āĀ
It was an obvious ploy but it made him smile a little. The idea that Ellie would do that much to make him play again. That youād help her.Ā
āIt might,ā he said, getting up to get his instrument. āLetās give it a try.āĀ
Joel tried to not think of you too much. He usually failed. But he was getting better at not drowning in the memories of you, of not letting the loss of you consume him.Ā
It helped that heād found a way to care for you while respecting the distance you wanted. He couldnāt bring himself to just abandon you, not when he had a sense of how much you were hurting. So he brought you food. Selfishly, it served two purposes. It meant you were, hopefully, eating something. But it also meant he knew that you were still alive. That he could leave a box on your porch, walk by a few hours later, and see that it was gone. He could check on you without forcing you to talk to him and that eased the steady drumbeat of worry inside him.Ā
When he heard you were back at the stables, he shifted from things you needed to things you would want. He brought you the things he found that made him think of you, things heād have given you when he came home to you in another life.Ā
It also helped that he knew you thought of him, too. At least occasionally, enough that youād left the carving youād made on his porch a few weeks before. He thought he was hearing things when the first squeak woke him up from his place on the couch, but then the step squeaked a second time and he was sure he heard it. Heād thought it might be Ellie, needing something butĀ not necessarily wanting to say it. He hadnāt expected to see you heading down the street, the first glimpse of you heād had in so long. Your arm was out of the cast and you looked good. A bit thinner than youād been the last time heād seen you but still good. Still beautiful, still soft with sharp edges. Still what he wanted to sink into and wrap himself up in every chance he got. He picked the moose up and brought it inside, tracing the outline of its frame for a moment. Youād finished it. It was rough, you were clearly a beginner, but youād finished it and given it to him. His thumb brushed the wound on its heart, where youād bled. Before he really thought better of it, he brought the figure to his lips and kissed it gently before setting it on the side table and turning out the lights.Ā
The two of you were set to leave Jackson again in just a week, another gap in the patrol schedule that you could leverage to search for Savvy now that you were healed. He hoped this search led somewhere. He couldnāt imagine what it was like, living like that, not knowing what happened to your child. The closest heād come was the torturous time that Ellie was with the monsters whoād taken her in Silver Lake. He was so frantic, so terrified of what heād find but even more terrified of never finding it to begin with. He needed to save her, protect her. But if he couldnāt do that, he needed to know what happened to her. He needed to know who to destroy before he destroyed himself for letting it happen. Living in that for years would be unbearable.Ā
āHey Joel?āĀ
He could hear the frown in her voice.Ā
āYeah Baby Girl?ā He looked over his shoulder, Ellie and Shimmer falling behind him again now that the trail had narrowed further. She stopped and so did he.
āThatās something we should be watching for, right?ā She nodded toward something off the trail, a small frown on her face. Joel followed where she was looking and he froze in his saddle.Ā
It took an eagle eye to spot it, just brush amongst brush, but it shocked him when he saw it. The gentle arch of a sapling, stretching down toward the ground, held there with rope.Ā
āYeah,ā he said. āIt is. Stay with the horses.āĀ
āButā¦āĀ
āJust one second,ā he said, dismounting and going for the trap, trying desperately not to get his hopes up but his heart was racing. It was a common set up for a trap. It could be anyoneās.
This trap was far fresher than the one heād found with you, the dirt where the pin and been put in the ground still disturbed. The trap itself was still baited and the pins were smooth, almost artistically carved. It hadnāt been here long. He looked around quickly, looking for some indication of where the person who set this trap might have gone. It took some doing - whoever it was covered their tracks well - but he found it, the edge of a boot print.Ā
He went back to his horse and mounted up.Ā
āEllie,ā he said, voice serious. āNeed you to listen to me, OK?āĀ
āOK,ā she frowned. āJoel, youāre acting weirdā¦āĀ
āWeāre gonna track someone,ā he said. āBut when we find them, need you to not shoot them until we talk to them, OK? Andā¦ and if its a teenaged girl, need you to not shoot them even if she pulls a gun on me, OK?āĀ
āA teenagedā¦ Joel, what the fuck are you talking about?āĀ
āJust trust me,ā he said. āPlease.āĀ
He started with the boot print and found little hints of someone moving through the brush from there. Disturbed leaves, a splotch of dirt that looked misplaced, a small branch that had snagged on another when something about human height passed below it.Ā
āJoel,ā Ellie said after theyād been tracking for about 20 minutes.Ā
āStill looking,ā he said gently. āItās OKā¦āĀ
He heard something rustle down low up ahead and he adjusted Aresā path to check on it. He didnāt need to go far, the source of the sound only about 100 feet away and next to a large rock. Standing there, beside to a large horse and a large dog, was a girl. She was a little taller than Ellie, with gangly arms and legs, a rifle held high in her hands.Ā
āStop right there!ā She said, her voice sharp with a familiar southern twang. The dog moved in front of her, getting down low and bearing its teeth. āDonāt wanna shoot you but I will. You can move right along, this spotās taken.āĀ
Joel lifted his hands and caught a glimpse of Ellie raising a gun next to him.Ā
āEllie!ā He said sharply. She looked at him, eyes wide. āGun down. Now.āĀ
āButā¦āĀ
āNow.āĀ
She huffed but lowered the gun slowly, her eyes back on the girl in front of her.Ā
āWonāt shoot you in the back,ā the girl said. āJust turn around and go.āĀ
Joel fought to focus. The girl in front of himā¦ she looked like Sarah, so so much like Sarah. The same shock of curly hair, same brown skin, same bright eyes. If he didnāt know better, heād think they were sisters. He fought to stay here, in the forest with Ellie, not getting swallowed by his own memories. Heād found her. He was all but certain of that now, heād found her and he was going to bring her back to you.Ā
āYou out here on your own?ā He asked gently, his hands said up.Ā
āDonāt see how thatās any business of yours,ā she said sharply. āAll that matters to you is that I will kill you, donāt try me.āĀ
āI understand,ā he said. āNot going to hurt youā¦āĀ
āBullshit.āĀ
āWeāre not,ā Ellie snapped.Ā
āEllie.āĀ
āWhat!ā She said. āJoel, I swear, if she shoots youā¦āĀ
āRemember what I said,ā he replied.Ā
āButā¦āĀ
āI mean it,ā he cut her off. āDonāt, OK?āĀ
He turned back to the girl.Ā
āNot going to hurt you,ā he said again. āJustā¦ just hear me out for just a second, OK? Weāre from a settlement, about a dayās ride from hereā¦āĀ
āGood for you,ā she said. āBetter head that way then.āĀ
āItās a good place,ā he said, ignoring her. āWith good people. Includingā¦ including your mama, I think.āĀ
Her eyes went a little wide and she lowered the gun ever so slightly. He caught a glimpse of Ellieās head whipping around to look at him but he kept his eyes on the girl.Ā
āYour nameās Savannah, right?ā He pressed on. āYour mom, she calls you Savvy, right?āĀ
She raised the gun again.Ā
āHowād you know that,ā snapped. āYou one of the assholes that took her? That it? What, you kill her? Get her to tell you about me first? That what happened?āĀ
āNo honey,ā Joel said, his throat tight. Heād found her, heād found your daughter. āNo, sheā¦ she escaped them, few years back. She got hurt real bad doinā it, we brought her in, got her fixed up and she stayed. Sheās been looking for you but sheās still thereā¦āĀ
āWhy should I trust you?ā She snapped. āWhy should I believe a damn thing you say?āĀ
āBecause I know her,ā he said. āBeen helping her look for you. Sheāsā¦ I know her. She trains horses, guessinā she trained the one youāve got? She trained the one Iām on, too. She runs our stable for us, sheā¦āĀ
āBambi?ā Ellie gaped at him. āBambiās her mom? Bambi hasā¦āĀ
āEllie,ā Joel said again, cutting her off and looking back at Savvy.Ā
āSheās there,ā he said. āShe misses you, she misses you so much. Told me how you liked to read to the horses when you were little. How the dogs liked you better than her. How youāre real good at carvingā¦ Recognized your trap, found another one of yours a few months back. She told me how your pins are always smooth and evenā¦ Let us take you back with us. Wonāt take your guns, justā¦ just come back with us. Please. She misses you so much, sheās been so worriedā¦āĀ
āWeāre not people to be afraid of,ā Ellie said and Joel glanced her way. She was looking at Savvy now, her face serious. āWell, as long as youāre not an asshole. I know Joel seems scary but heās not. Promise. Heās safe.āĀ
She lowered the gun slowly, looking between the two of them before looking down at the dog.Ā
āGattling,ā she said. āHeel.āĀ
The dog dropped its defensive stance and went alongside her, looking up and waiting for a command. She looked back at Joel and Ellie.Ā
āYou really know my mom?ā She asked quietly. āSheāsā¦ sheās really alive?āĀ
āShe is,ā Joel nodded, lowering his hands to the saddle horn. There was a knot in his throat. āAnd we can take you to her. Please.āĀ
She hesitated for a moment.Ā
āShe teaches me stuff about music,ā Ellie said quickly. āHow to play some stuff on guitar, too, but more about music in general. Sheās cool. Really. Iāmā¦ Iām sure she wants to see you again. And Jacksonās nice. And so are we. Just come along, OK?āĀ
She took a deep breath, looking down at the dog for a moment, adjusting her grip on the rifle.Ā
āOK.āĀ
***
āSheās in rare fucking form this week,ā Olivia said, watching as you steadied Persephone, one of the fillies you were working with.Ā
āSheās just got an independent streak,ā you said, the horseās feet stomping impatiently in the dirt. āThatās OK. I get that. So do the best of us, right?āĀ
She huffed and jerked her large head. You smiled a little.Ā
āYouāre sure sheās not gonna throw you?ā Olivia asked, sounding a little worried.Ā
āNo,ā you shrugged. āBut Iāve gotten thrown off horses before, nothinā new. Only way to break her is to break her, no point in stalling. You in a good spot?āĀ
āThink so,ā she said, stepping a little further back from the horse as you got ready to mount her.Ā
āThen letās go,ā you said, all but jumping onto Persephoneās back. You barely got your foot in the stirrups before she started really bucking, Olivia moving even further away. You clutched the reins in one hand and let your hips go loose, digging your heels down toward the earth to stay seated. You let your body move with her as she hurled herself through the air, desperate to dislodge you. But you werenāt going anywhere. She gave you a good shake that made you grab the back of the saddle but otherwise, she didnāt get anywhere close to throwing you. After a while, she started to calm, her movements still sharp and harsh but closer to the earth, her hooves staying on the ground more often than not. Eventually, she mostly stilled, just tossing her head and huffing indignantly.Ā
āSee?ā You said soothingly, reaching forward to pat her neck. āThatās my good girl, you did so wellā¦āĀ
āBambi,ā Olivia said, catching your eye. She nodded toward the gate to the paddock and you frowned a little before you followed her gaze.Ā
Standing there was Joel and Ellie, their reins in their hands. But between them was a girl. She was young, a teenager, with springy curls and brown skin and wide, soft eyes.Ā
You knew those eyes. You knew those eyes and that hair and that skin. For a moment, the world shrank to a small point centered on her and you wondered if, maybe, youād finally lost your mind. If something had finally broken so thoroughly that you were seeing things.Ā
But you werenāt. She was here. Your daughter was alive and she was here, in Jackson.Ā
āSavvy,ā you breathed and Persephone bucked below you. You werenāt paying attention to the horse and you flew off her back and into the dirt, landing with a brain rattling thud. You didnāt care.Ā
You scrambled to your feet, throwing a glance back at Olivia to make sure she had Persephone so Savvy wouldnāt get hurt, and ran for her.Ā
āMom,ā she said, her voice thick as you reached her and pulled her into yourself. You clutched her to your chest until you thought you could feel her heartbeat alongside yours, clinging to her too close to even kiss her or look at her but you needed to feel the life in her first, soak up the vitality of her before someone took it away.Ā
āYouāre alive,ā you managed, voice thick. You buried your nose and mouth in her hair, breathing her in. āYouāre alive, youāre here, youāre OK, youāreā¦āĀ
āI canāt believe youāre here,ā she said wetly and you pulled back from her just enough to look at her. Tears slipped down her cheeks and she sniffed as you took her face in your hands. āI didnāt think Iād ever see you again, I thought you were gone, Iā¦āĀ
āIām so sorry baby,ā you kissed her forehead before pulling her against you again and clinging to her. āIām so sorry I let you go, Iām so sorry I didnāt get to you, Iām so sorry, Iām so sorryā¦āĀ
āItās OK Mom,ā she said, her hands holding your elbows. āIām OK, itās OK, I promiseā¦āĀ
You just held on to her, trying to memorize everything about her that you could. That she was taller now, that her shape had changed, that it seemed like she hadnāt had a chance to really grow into her limbs yet.Ā
You looked up at Joel who was still there, his eyes wet, watching you hold your daughter.Ā
āYou found her,ā you said softly.Ā
He just nodded.Ā
āFound her,ā he said. āCouldnāt have without you, though. With everything you told me about her, was able to find her.ā
You just nodded, running your hand down the back of her head as you held her.Ā
āThank you, Joel,ā you whispered, holding her so tight that you were worried you might hurt her but too afraid that sheād slip away to stop. āThank you.ā Ā
Next Chapter
A/N: AHHHH SAVVY'S HERE!!!!
And Joel found her. I'm so happy that Bambi has her baby back, for real. Things are getting there. I promise.
Thanks so much for reading and sticking with this story! Don't forget that you can get updates on my updates blog here.
Love you!!
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"passenger princess" | chapter five
the hobbit | a modern!AU by itsonlydana
ā± pairing: Thranduil x fem!reader
ā± wordcount: 6,3k
ā± summary: a hot summer day & two conversations
ā± warnings: mature language + jokes, Legolas being a nuisance
ā± an: third attempt to post this.. man I hate tumblr sometimes. I just want to bless you all with this juicy chapter. I'll try to add the pictures in later
general m.list + series m.list
šæ reposts and comments are appreciated, they motivate me a lot - especially with longer projects <3
CHAPTER FIVE: POOL
Time, as it often does whenever you want to hold on to it, passed in a rush of essays that needed to be written, lectures demanding attention, and the ever-present need to work as many shifts to be able to make rent.
Which, in fairness, were a lot less than many other students though it irked you all the same to stand behind the counter at the small yet overfurnitured cafƩ on campus and relish the the summer sun through a window.
"Could you be a dear and fill up the coffee beans?"
You looked away from a couple dozing on a bench to your co-worker Tauriel and nodded. She was a pretty woman, red-haired just like Gimli, and smart as hell.
She was funny too, and made the shifts you got paired together manageable and bearable.
You used the towel over your shoulder to wipe over your forehead, patting some of the sweat away that accumulated within seconds.
The sunshine and warm temperatures had been fun at first for they meant longer nights and earlier mornings, lounging around with sunglasses and opening the windows of lecture halls to fill the rooms with soft breezes and the chatter of the students hanging around on the lawn in groups and pairs.
The temperatures hadn't dropped though, they kept on rising and rising, the air got warm and stuffy and every breeze was like a soothing balm on sweat-coated legs, arms and faces.
You were thankful that the cafƩ had AC, a wonder of technology compared to the unbearable lecture halls and, to your pain, your dorm as well.
A week ago it suddenly stopped working and ever since then, you dreaded coming home and spent even more time at Legolas' and Thranduil's.
There were more overnight stays, starting with long nights watching movies between Legolas and Thranduil, or cooking dinner for when Thranduil came home from work and stopped dead in his tracks, staring at you humming a song, flipping eggs and Legolas setting the table, snorting and rolling his eyes over the "disgustingly heart eyes" that his father supposedly threw at you.
Those stays ended with breakfast on the patio, fresh orange juice in jugs, coffee in mugs, the old radio that crackled every then and again and filled the warm air with the sounds of Queen, Oasis and The Cranberries as you snacked on apple slices and watched Thranduil read the newspaper, casting soft smiles over the edge of the paper whenever he caught you looking or let his hand brush your ankle as you popped your foot on the empty seat between you two.
If it hadn't been before, it was now established that you were wandering in and out of their house as if it were your own.
There was a pair of slippers next to Thranduils' "old man" Birkenstocks (Legolas' words), a second toothbrush next to Legolas' bamboo one, and the pillow you always cuddled on what now was your space on the couch.
Neither Legolas nor Thranduil minded.
That much was clear by Legolas' pure enthusiasm of having someone to spend the entire night gossiping under the canopy of his bed, chatting you an ear off over something.. no anything that Aragorn had done and said and my god, you even learned about the times your ruggedly handsome best friend had so much as breathed in Legolas direction.
And well for Thranduil you couldn't say that whatever was there blossomed into more than those looks and soft touches.
Nothing like that moment a few weeks ago happened again, and although the memory of that car ride and the teasing and tension as he had you pressed against the painting in the halfway was still fresh and sent thrills through you, there was a much more subtle string connecting you.
You always meant to confront him, to pull him aside and ask why the hell he wouldn't just tell you what exactly was happening.
Still, every time you were ready, Thranduil would disappear into his office or cease all touches and go back to that infuriating look of yearning all across the room without actually stepping into it.
You nearly lost yourself in this conflicting back and forth, and came close to overfilling the coffee machine with beans that would have been a pain to clean up so the jingle of the bell came right on time to snap you out of the little trance.
"Hi, could I please get one Grande Triple Sugar-Free Cinnamon Frappuccino at 100 degrees with Honey and one extra shot of Caramel and cream?"
"Oh my god," you whipped around to the counter and nearly threw your towel at the new customer, hand already balling the wet fabric into your fist.
"That's literally the worst fucking order I've ever heard," Tauriel barked out, slamming the metal cup for steaming milk onto the counter loud enough that another student shuffled right back out the door.
You would have felt bad if you weren't busy stalking toward the bar until it was just the wooden counter separating you from climbing over it, fists ready for swinging.
"Woow," Legolas, āa little dramaticallyā leaned back and stared at you with curled lips, "this how you treat your best customer?"
"No," you shook your head, "no, this is how we treat dickheads with annoying fucking orders!"
"I'll let you know that while I very much appreciate dickā"
"STOP!"
"As well as headā"
"Someone stop him, please," Tauriel cried out, scaring yet another woman with the alarmed tone of her voice.
"I don't particularly enjoy being called such a mean, mean word when I was simply trying to get a coffee"
Even on tiptoes, it was impossible to reach Legolas, as much as you tried to slap a hand over his mouth that now curved into a satisfied smile over the chaos he had ensured in the mere moments he was in the shop.
"Simply?" Tauriel sneered, still looking truly murderous which you couldn't blame her for.
Legolas order, for the atrocious sugar bomb, that it sounded like, came only close to the worst drink that went over to a customer today.
After mixing a Matcha frappe with raspberry, caramel, cinnamon, and whipped cream not only once but twice for the same dude, her reaction to another monstrosity was well in its right. "Simply?!"
Legolas scoffed, tapping his pink fingernails against the wood, contemplating something over in that thick head of his before running his tongue over his teeth, baring them in a grimace.
"Fine, then I'll take a triple espresso, cold and without ice. That's not too much to ask, right? Don't want ya hitting the walls because you have to do your fucking job!"
He then turned to the first years that had taken over one of the biggest tables right after you'd opened, their wide eyes showing their struggle of 'should we stay and watch? or go? what's going on?' while staying glued on where they had spent the last few hours loudly gossiping, though as Legolas grazed them with their attention, they fell silent.
"So rude, am I right?" he asked.
All five of the girls nodded their heads fast, not blinking once.
Legolas, not caring at all that he was ogled like a piece of meat, propped both arms on the table and rested his head on his folded hands.
"Now, when do you get off again?" He fluttered his lashes, ignoring the snort you let out at his words.
"Well, my shift ends in ten, if that's what you want to know."
"Great!" Legolas tilted his head, watching as you busied yourself wiping a few glasses, "Soo, d'you wanna hit mine and drown ourselves in the pool?"
He leaned forward, grabbing one of the sugar packets you gave out, flicking his finger against the upper half before ripping it open.
He then, like it was totally normal and didn't hurt your teeth by just looking at it, licked his finger and stuck it into the packet to suck his finger clean.
Eyes stuck on his hand, already reaching back into the sugar, you curled your lips, "Sure. The others there as well?"
He grinned a Cheshire grin, releasing the finger with a 'pop'. "Mhmm, Gimli said he's in for a late night over at his friends. Aragorn has some poetry writing to do but he wants to join us later.
You stared at him, waiting.
There was an obvious question left hanging between you, one that bothered you if not answered and here he was, acting like a total dick by avoiding your stare and thanking Tauriel for the to-go cup of pure caffeine.
"Well, I'm going to wait outsideā"
"Legolas!" you hissed just as he jumped down the barstool, tipping his rosƩ sunglasses back onto his nose.
He paused, turning and smiling sugar-sweetly. "Yes? Was there anything else that you want to know?"
Scowling you draw your eyebrows together, munching on the words, pulling them between your teeth. "Ishegoingtobehome?" you rushed out, barely understandable for you and you doubted that anyone around you actually got what you had said, but Legolas' smile softened.
"Maybe," he said, quieter and with a hint of a sigh, "Who knows these days? He was early the last two days, wouldn't count on it though."
You tried your hardest not to let your smile waver.
It threatened to break down at the edges, the tell-tale signs of the wave of insecurity that always pushed onto you at the topic of Thranduil; nipping your cheeks and you crushed them with a hard click of your tongue, pushing them away into the darkest corner of your mind.
Legolas, observant little shit that he was, scrunched his nose and squinted over at you through his glasses.
"Meet you in fifteen?" he asked instead and after you nodded, he waved at Tauriel, "Good coffee! Lacks a bit in friendliness but I think I'll leave a good Yelp review nevertheless!"
The doorbell chimed as he left the cafĆ©ā a bounce in his step and lifting his face toward the sun as soon as he stepped outside.
He was, by all means, the loveliest friend you could've ever wished for.
You spent the last few minutes rushing iced coffee orders, serving them to students all heading out of the uni toward the longed-for weekend, and helping Tauriel clean up for the shift-switch.
The uniform was thrown into your locker, exchanged with a yellow summer dress that flowed right above your knee and would, despite the airy fabric and barely there straps, prove to be far too hot because as soon as you and Tauriel stepped outside, away from the air conditioning, the sultry air enveloped you in a gripping hug.
It was borderline unbearable if not for the sunnies that you quickly pushed on top of your nose and the iced coffee that Tauriel had quickly whipped up for you both while instructing the other shift on what to do.
You said goodbye to Tauriel when she climbed onto her bike and you turned to the car park where you made a beeline toward Legolas.
While you appreciated Thranduils sleek sports car, you absolutely loved the days Legolas pulled up in his Chevy convertible and drove around without the hood.
With the others around, you'd always get a backseat so that Aragorn could sit in the front but now that he wasn't there, you couldn't be bothered to open the door and jumped just right into the seat next to Legolas.
"Hi Asshole," you greeted him and placed your coffee in between your legs to fasten the seatbelt, "you're so lucky Tauriel didn't just kill you for that order."
Legolas scoffed, already fiddling with the console and turning the keys.
He threw one look over his shoulder, made sure that this time there wasn't a bike that he could crash into, and passed you his phone.
"For what?" he asked, "I just wanted to try something new, is that against the rules?"
"No," you entered his code, a combination of your birthdays, "you wanted to be a pain right before shift end and you know we know you don't give a shit about any rules."
"Oh sue me. Next time I want to have some fun I'll post a warning beforehand. What the fuck are you doing?" Legolas turned his head as you tapped onto one of the many playlists he had and a soft guitarre song started playing.
He was met with the largest smirk on your face, eyes gleaming full of mischief.
"Ayo, my myā¦ Las, care to tell me what I'm seing right now?"
Your only goal had been to tease him for the playlist titled 'For Las' but the further you scrolled, squealing and giggling, the more Legolas blushed, blushed!
"Oh my god, pleaseā" he begged and tried to reach over though you giggled and shook your head.
"Legolas, whoā¦ who made this for you?" your eyes widened, taking in a lot of songs mouth agape, "This is twelve hours long!"
The blonde, who was now nearly as pink as the glasses on his face, pressed onto the pedals a bit harder, flying around a corner and onto the highway.
"Yes? And? You have playlists that long as well." He was evading the answer, fiddling with the console to overpower you, "I even made you one playlist that long!"
You snorted and turned the music louder on the phone, "Legolas, the playlist you made me was full of kpop and Kesha. Thisā" you pointed at the phone screen, showing him the cover that was a picture of himself, snapped on some forest ground and his blonde hair in disarray, "āthis is not some platonic shit."
"What? D'you really think that?" Now, instead of just looking like he wanted to die out of embarrassment, he pulled a face as if you'd told him you believed the earth was flat; in total incredulity.
"Legolasā" you stared at him, still holding up the phone, "Legolas this is twelve hours full of what.. Hozier, Lord Huron.. there's even some Mitski and Lana Del Rey."
"Yes?" Legolas glanced over to you, his long manicured fingers drumming the steering wheel in that nervous habit of his where he couldn't, for the life of his, be still for just a second and think.
Or maybe stop thinking.
"I'm going to ask you one more time," you said and for his sake, switched to another playlist, one that ended his suffering, "who made this? This says it's by your account but I know.. I know you're not that self-centered."
He gripped the wheel even tighter, white knuckles protruding as he lifted one hand to bite onto his pointer finger.
Not once had you seen him this out of it and it made you wonder how you must've looked before you'd told them all about Thranduil.
Had you been this obvious as well?
Fidgeting whenever his name was dropped or Legolas had asked you if you could set another plate for his father?
Close to fainting just because Thranduil would pick you up?
"Promise me that you won't laugh?" he asked and you knew he was serious.
This was more than jokes, this was top-secret-bedroom-whisper-secret-level, and you reached over to pull his hand away from his mouth, linking your own pinkie with his.
"Promise."
"It's from Aragorn! Aragorn wrote me a letter with the songs listed as well as the Polaroid he made when we were out for a walk at that one party at Bilbo's, y'know? And fuck, do you really think that this is romantic and a hundred percent sure this couldn't be a 'hey buddy, here're some tunes that I found cool and that reminded me of our friendship, have a nice day dude' playlist!?"
Nothing, and you mean absolutely nothing, led to the scream you let out as the words burst out of Legolas like a balloon popping under pressure, rushing out all at once and leaving you to bounce around as good as you could in the car.
The car that had no roof and thus drew all kinds of looks from other drivers onto you shrieking.
"Aragorn made this? Are you kidding me?" you yelled, already slapping Legolas' arm that wasn't on the wheel. "No fucking way you looked at the songs 'Francesca' and; Jesus there's even a song literally titled 'I'm in love with you'," you paused, once again boxing his side, "and you thought this was platonic?"
"Maybe?" Legolas shrugged meekly, glancing over to you over his glasses, "I dunno, it's Aragorn. Why would it ever be romantic?"
"Because," you made sure to emphasize your next words carefully, "because you're both idiots and I love you- I love you very much but you both are so very stupid and so very blind."
"You're one to talk," he grumbled and smoothed some flyaway hairs behind his ear so as to not eat them due to the wind. "Were you not the one just asking me if Ada is home or not because you two can't get your shit together?"
It didn't suit you at all that he suddenly turned the conversation around to you, when you were just talking about Aragorn, very potentially not only reciprocating Legolas' feelings but trying to reach out to him as well, to shine the spotlight somewhere where you preferred darkness as long as you weren't sure yourself.
You buried your teeth in your lower lip, pushing it out into a pout, before turning your head away from your best friend.
"Look," he said faintly, resting one hand on your leg, "this isn't easy for me as well. He's my dad and your my best friend in the whole world. But watching you two is so hard and not for the reasons you may think. Of course, I don't get why you would choose him of all people, we could've made fantastic-looking babies as wellā"
You involuntarily hiccuped a laugh, rolling your eyes, "Sure, keep telling yourself that lover boy."
Legolas grinned, though returned to a more serious expression as he started tapping away on the wheel again, "But you do like him and I know Ada so I know he likes you two. He's.. well he's an idiot like his son and would rather perish than admit to having feelings like anyone else. That would mean he needs to open up, to let someone into his heart."
Legolas turned the car onto a quieter road, driving past trees that threw their shadows onto your warmed skin and filtered the sun through their thick green foliage.
"I'm willing to do that," you said after a while of thinking. "For him, I mean. I'm ready to work on us, to take on every hurdle together, and to talk. Gods, I really want to talk to him."
You let your head fall back against the headrest, closing your eyes to watch the black and golden points dance over shut lids.
Mentally you were preparing a list of all the things you wanted to tell Thranduil, firstmost your feelings, yes, but you also wanted him to know your favorite color, your first memory of him, how much you loved to dance and that you never threw away movie tickets.
You wanted to ask him on what side of the bed he slept in, which countries he had seen, what his favorite animal was.
"By the way," you blinked open both eyes, meeting Legolas' gaze, "talk to Aragorn, please. The man needs to hear you say that you like him the same way."
Legolas relaxed with a chuckle, "Gimli's going to hate us."
Laughing you could do nothing but agree with him.
The rest of the drive is all the usual, the sincere and deep talks pushed away for jibs and jokes, complaints about work and moans about Professors who think summer break is to prepare with even more coursework.
You didn't mention the playlist, Legolas stayed silent about Thranduil, a mutual agreement.
The sun was impossibly high as Legolas parked his Chevy next to the other (empty) spot, beating down on you in a manner that screams for sunscreen andā¦
"Pool!" Legolas yelled and jumped out of the car. "Water! Refreshments!"
You both raced over the gravel path, not bothering walking through the house but rather dashing to the gate in a wooden fence, that led directly to the garden.
Even while you were still running, Legolas tore off his tanktop, throwing it away to land somewhere next to the seating area, flinging his shorts onto a lounge chair, and you followed his example.
You kicked your shoes away to run through the soft grass and at the sight of the shimmering pool, wrestled the sundress over your head.
Glad that you had the foresight to wear a bikini instead of normal underwear, you don't think twice before pulling your knees to your chest and crashed into the ice-cold water at the same time Legolas fell into the water face first.
For a bit, you two did nothing but splash around, using feet and hands and every unfair method you could think of trying to get the other to swallow as much water as possible.
Legolas, once again having quite the advantage due to his height and slender figure, got so good at diving under you and pulling you down, that after an hour of coming up sputtering and coughing, you were the one raising the metaphorical white flag.
After a short refreshment break consisting of (unchlorinated) water, Legolas went to grab two inflatable floaties from the pool house, throwing one in your direction before making himself comfortable on the green one.
"This is the life," he sighed, hands crossed behind his head.
You found not one bit of motivation to answer him using anything else but a drawn-out "Mhmm" as you laid down on your stomach, face hidden in the crook of your arm.
"I think, I'll take a nap." Legolas yawned but already sounded very far away for your eyes closed as well, exhaustion of the day and the fight seeping into your bones.
It was the combination of the gentle rocking of the inflatable, the water splashing in the background, muffled by your ear pressed against your arm, the sun drying your wet body with her warm rays that sent you into a blissful rest, floating away in the pool as well as your dreams.
When you awoke, it was to the gentle caressing of water running through your hand as well as someone blocking out the sun.
"Las," you mumbled, "Laaas, go away"
Nothing happened, the shadow casted onto you didn't move an inch.
"'M getting up cranky," you threatened as a last attempt, groaning into your skin as the last bit of sleep slipped away from you. "Now you've done itā I hate you."
"And I probably deserve it." The voice that finally piped up was, to your absolute horror, not your best friend.
Immediately your head shot up, nearly tearing some muscle as you craned it upā¦ and up the body of the man standing in front of the sun.
Golden light fell onto strong shoulders, creating a halo that made it very hard to look at Thranduil without needing to squint your eyes against it.
Seeing your struggle and taking pity, Thranduil crouched down to your height. "May I?"
Incapable of saying anything, you nodded. Your mind was caught on the last threads of sleep, drowsiness tugging on your consciousness that was trying its best to keep up with the current happenings.
Thranduil let out a sigh as he sat down on the edge, not caring the slightest bit that his shorts were getting wet, and kicked his long legs into the water, sending ripples toward where you floated.
He did not attempt to start a conversation, instead, he just leaned back, large hands spread on the stone behind his back, his face angled just the right way for you to know his eyes were not completely shut but focused on you through lowered lashes.
There wasn't a need to mention how gorgeous he looked, bathed in sunlight and the buttons of a moss green linen shirt that much undone, that you could follow the line of his throat down to a small peek of a rosy porcelain chest.
You felt your throat clog up at the sight of him, effortlessly graceful and despite the humid air, not breaking a single sweat.
You quickly lowered your head again, burying your nose in your arm to not get distracted by his pine wood perfume that wafted over to you.
"Can we talk?" Thranduils voice was low, a soft rumble that barely topped the gurgling and splashing of the water.
"Mhm," you cleared your throat, "I don't know, can you? Kinda felt like you lost any ability to, or maybe that was special treatment for me." You let the words wander away and glared at him in a manner that screamed 'Give me a break'.
"Point taken."
"That wasn't nice, Thranduil."
"I know."
"Good. Did Legolas send you?" You moved your head, scanning the pool for any sign of your best friend but except for you and Thranduil and some bees buzzing and butterflies fluttering in the air, there was no one else. "Where is he?"
"Inside. Came in when Aragorn rang the bell and after he nearly killed me with one murderous look, they both disappeared up the stairs."
"Ah," the disappointment seeped into the single expression, weighing down onto your shoulders, "So you came to talk because Las told you."
"No, not at all!" With an alarmed expression on his face, Thranduil leaned forward, resting one hand on his broad thigh instead of the stone. "I understood I needed to talk to you soon. Legolas just kicked my ass one more time. I've thought of nothing but you for the last few days."
The blood immediately rushed to your cheeks at this statement. "You're thinking about me?"
"Constantly. How could I not?"
"I wasn't sure," you admitted quietly, "after you... well, after you drove me home the last time, everything changed somehow."
Saying what you felt had never been easy for you, admitting things meant exposing yourself and that feeling of pure nakedness when the other person saw you, heard what you were revealing like little messages encoded through meter-high walls, it always brought that dizziness with it.
Fears that the other person wouldn't like you if they found out you weren't perfect, that they might realize how your flaws and imperfections didn't fit their expectations.
You'd rather cram the truth behind well-chosen and hopefully satisfying answers that covered up the cracks.
"I was a daft idiot," Thranduil said and, to your surprise, let out a shaky laugh that sounded more fearful than anything else.
You raised a quizzical eyebrow, knowing better than to interrupt a man wanting to explain himself.
Mulling over his words, Thranduil dropped one hand into the water, swirling it back and forth in even rotations of his wrist.
"Thisā", he lifted it, dripping droplets onto his beige shorts as he pointed to you and then to him, "this caught me unexpectedly. For years I blocked off any attempts of loā of liking someone. First I blamed it on the need to focus on Legolas, his upbringing and when he was old enough to become completely uninterested in his old Ada and reached the top shelf without me needing to lift him onto my shoulders, then I searched for other reasons. My job doesn't allow much time, they would just want my money, it's just not the right time..."
While he talked, the flow of the water had carried you close enough to him for the pool float to dodge the edge of the pool. You didn't attempt to push yourself back into the water.
Instead, you reached one hand over, holding onto the warm stone next to his thighs.
"Thisā you, my dear, dropped onto me so out of the blue that I realized I do not have the skills to converse as easily as you may hope."
His jaw muscles protruded as he lowered his head, the tip of his ponytail falling onto his chest.
Taking that bit of courage you found in you, you let the stone go, instead laying one hand gently onto his toned thigh next to his hand.
The muscles flexed as soon as you touched the pleasantly warm skin, moving under your palm in uncontrolled spasms that you ignored for the sake of both your minds right now.
Now that you had some stability, you tried to sit up. Doing your best to hold your balance while the wobbling made it difficult, you drew your legs to your chest and then straddled the pool float, huffing out a breath full of tension.
Thranduil, halfway through your struggle grabbed one corner and prevented you from drifting away.
"There," you said and blew some hair out of your face, "now, this is hard for me too."
As you sat up, you saw Thranduil's gaze snap up to you, or more explicitly; to your whole body.
There was a hitch in his chest, a gulp so loud it would've been embarrassing to draw attention to but while you make a point of focusing on the conversation, you can't help or stop the blush that spread over your whole body, a heat that traveled faster than the sun and that left you stuttering for the right words.
"And well, Iā what I meant was that I don't expect a lot, just for you to be there. Don't leave me behind in the unknown. I.. I'm in zero gravity space here, floating around in these endless questions." You gestured a lot with your hands, fiddling with the bow on your bikini top, smearing some water over the heated plastic in front of you, anything to calm your racing mind.
You were, like you said, out of your own depth and that not only came from Thranduil being different than other guys but also because your feelings were so much grander than anything else you've felt before.
Not just lust.
Not just attraction.
Not just admiration.
When Thranduil spoke up again, his voice was firm; calm, quiet, meant for just you, and firm: "I'm here and I'm in, one hundred percent of me."
"Good," you whispered, "Me too."
In that single moment, just thirteen words and a trembling of lips, a wave of relief washed over you, freeing you from the weight of countless sleepless nights spent tossing and turning, worried that all of this would be for nothing.
Thirteen simple words, mere letters strung together in infinite combinations, yet in that particular arrangement, they held the power to soothe your soul like nothing else could.
There was something in your chest that snapped, a tight leash of worries that had been bound around your heart, layering that precious muscle in a protective case so as to not get hurt again.
He visibly relaxed at that, not entirely, but there was a drop in his shoulders, a shift in his thighs; physically opening up to you and not just emotionally.
You decided to do the same and smiled.
"So," you started, "now that's finally out of the way. Was this the reason why you got all sassy and distant?"
He huffed, ever-attentive eyes roaming over the wide slopes and curves of the garden behind you as if there was an easier answer out there that he could offer you.
But you knew, without turning around, there was nothing else except for flowers and trees, maybe some hidden wine bottles that Legolas and you had snuck out and buried as time capsules right next to the patch of vegetables.
"Sassy, you say," he pondered, and you too thought back to the snippy comments that he had thrown Legolas's way when he came down the stairs and found Legolas rummaging through a box of old movies to watch with you; coming on rather defensive over movies you'd watched together, the three of you, two nights ago.
Or the night he knocked on Legolas's door to send you both to bed like you were two children and all you did was stare at each other in disbelief.
He must've come to the same conclusion as you, he pulled a very apologetic face that was downright hurtful to watch. "Oh, yes. I may or may not have been a total ass, haven't I?"
You agreed with a nod. "Total ass, like stage five. Me and Legolas were already thinking you'd robbed a bank or planned to overthrow the government with all the mood switches you'd going on."
There was a playful tone in your voice, despite the underlying accusation though you couldn't be bothered to force him to explain anything if he didn't wanted.
What he just said, the admission of attraction was more than you'd thought you got today, so you decided to let him off easy.
"Darling," he smirked, throwing the teasing right back at you, and you swallow loudly at the nickname, "I'm rich and a lawyer. If I wanted to lead this country I could simply pay for that seat." The way he said that completely self-assured in his abilities... or well... his bank account, made your stomach flip.
It took a total amount of five slow and counted breaths before you went back to thinking straight, or let alone to speaking again.
"I offer you my support in exchange for clearing my college debts. Sounds quite fair to me," you stated.
"I can just pay them off for you," Thranduil offered.
"Sure," you burst out laughing.
"I'm serious," Thranduil insisted but was met with a quick headshake from you. "Okay. But, and don't shoot me this look, the offer stands. You don't have to accept it right away, not in the near future. It's there, okay? Just like I am."
The words lingered between you, folded into your chest directly beneath your heart, which seemed to have no intention of stopping its erratic beating.
You were aware that if Legolas had made the same offer, you would have reacted differentlyāprobably lashed out at him. After all, you weren't a charity case.
You worked not only to finance your university and room but also your free time, just as you had planned long before the Oropherion household showed you how easily some things came with money.
That's exactly what you would have told Legolas, perhaps adorned with a few curses or insincere insults, a bit offended until you both apologized.
Although Thranduil's offer hit the same sore spot and your ego, you couldn't help but ponder how it would feel to be cared for by him.
"I neither accept nor decline, okay?" You nailed him with a glance at the ground, through which he raised his hands in defense with a smirk. "First, I want a pony, one with a beautiful, long, blonde mane, because you never allow us to braid yours." Admittedly, you had never asked, but that didn't matter in this playful banter.
"Justā" Thranduil laughed huskily, "Just take it easy on this old man, alright?" Both of his hands grabbed the pool float with ease, pulling you into the open space his spread legs provided.
Your knees touched his, water sloshing up.
"Huh?" you pretended to look around, already breathless despite not having moved an inch.
"What are you doing?"
"Wellā" you said, knee nudging his playful, "I'm looking for the old man. Wouldn't want some creep staring over the hedge."
Thranduil rolled his eyes slightly and raised one of his eyebrows. "I can see," he began, shaking his head with a harsh laugh, "you firecracker are about to drive me out of my mind."
You grinned cheekily at him. Your body unconsciously leaned forward, propped up on your elbows, you looked up at him and pursed your lips. "We never talked about playing fair."
He followed your example, his upper body leaning down until his face was mere inches away from yours.
This must be it, you think, taking him in one last time, rosy plush lips opened slightly, piercing eyes searching your face, blonde hair framing strong cheekbones, and you let your eyes fall close.
There was water rushing, the gentle bobbing on top of it, the wet coolness nipping everywhere except where his knees touched yours.
You leaned forward some more, yearning to finally learn what he tasted like, to memorize the burning touch of his lips on yours.
The inflatable shifted as he let go, opting to instead hold you close by laying his large hands on your neck, nearly spreading his fingers all around and you knew he felt your breath hitch and you suspected he must've felt the nervous flutter of your pulse like a hummingbird as well.
You awaited the kiss with bated breath.
It didn't come.
The subtle shift in weight, as you inched closer to Thranduil, proved to be the catalyst that upset the delicate equilibrium of the pool float.
In an instant, it slipped between your legs, and the last thing you felt was the tight grip of Thranduils hands on your shoulders.
The subsequent splash echoed with a deafening resonance, the world above the water muffled as you found yourself submerged, cut off from the surface.
Thranduil's body followed swiftly, his legs intertwined with yours, forcing him to tip underwater as well.
When you gasped for air, your brain not quite realizing that there was no air, not only did you swallow a mouthful of chlorinated water, the jerk of your knee came also close enough to kick him into the groin.
Thankfully you only got his thigh.
The water embraced you, surrounding you with playful gurgles and chuckles, as if nature itself joined in on the amusement of your unexpected descent.
Thranduil was the first to react.
His hands reached out, a strong arm securing around your middle, pulling you close. With a powerful push of his feet, you both burst through the water's surface.
"Fuck," you sputtered, the sting of chlorine in your eyes forcing you to shut them tightly against the blazing sun. "Fuck, shit, fuck."
Your flailing feet found purpose when Thranduil murmured, "Hold on, I'veā I've got you!" Responding instinctively, you wrapped your legs around him.
Just before he hoisted you out of the water and placed you on the sun-soaked stones, you registered the firmness of his chest, the smoothness of his skin, and the subtle flex of every.single.muscle at play.
Coughing loudly and deeply from the shock and the overwhelming intake of water, not intended to be enjoyed in such excessive amounts, you spat some out onto the grass next to you.
"Fuck," you repeated. The stress of the situation crashed onto you, leaving you to cough and sit in the embarrassing position where you could only blink and take in a mushy version of Thranduils handsome face peering up at you.
"Hey, it's alright, you're alright." His voice pulled you back, calming the scratch in your throat.
"Whatā how?" you wheezed, body curling until you could rest your head on his broad shoulder. It was no comfortable position with him kicking the water to hold himself upright, hands holding onto your thighs and you bend nearly in half, but it helped.
The soothing circles his thumb drew over your skin, the reassuring words he mumbled.
"I'm so embarrassed, oh my god," you whined. "I can't believe this happened."
"Heyā" His large palm cupped your cheek, tipping your head back to lock his eyes onto yours. "Hey look at me." His fingers stroked over your temple, slightly pressing into it. "You could've hit a much worse spot than you did."
You snorted, "Yes, then I would've probably drowned myself."
The same moment you wanted to try again, chasing that adrenaline high, the loud "What the fuck happened?" of Legolas sounded over to you and all you two could do was burst out into laughter.
taglist [still open]: @mushroomemeralds, @mssuguru, @solartoge, @12134z03, @fruitymoonbeams-blog, @lady-of-imladris , @finallyforgotten , @123forgottherest @tomhockstetter7-111 @marshymallo @emily-roberts @howlerwolfmax
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Title: Brightest Jewel
Wordcount: 2474
Trope/Genre: Dragon au, Fantasy, Fluff, Angst, Tattoo artist, Smut, Hybrid au
Member(s): Doctor/Rescue reader x Tattoo Artist Dragon!Seonghwa ft. other members of ateez
Warnings: Switch dynamics, mutual masterbation, breeding, marking, collaring, mentions of poly relationship, tail dynamic (if you know what I mean), terms of endearment, hand holding, rough sex, I think that's it. Let me know if I missed anything
Author's note: Apologies for not posting in a while. Things were going on, but I have returned! This is partly for @whatudowhennooneseesyou mommy may and partly on a dream to a bigger story in the future. I also want to thank @abiaswreck and @kitten4sannie for driving me up the wall with their ideas, lol. Listen to Infinity by Jaymes Young since it was also the biggest inspiration for this piece. Enjoy!! All credits to @cafekitsune for the banner!!
Do not repost, translate, steal, or plagiarize my works. I only post on Tumblr as a platform. Thank you!
Taglist: @kitten4sannie @hipster-shiz @whatudowhennooneseesyou @abiaswreck @anyamaris @cultofdionysusnet @drunk-on-hwa
Read under the banner and cut!
Having three weeks off was rare and even more rare to have it off the same time as your boyfriend, Seonghwa.Ā Being a known tattoo artist along with his team that consisted of both humans and hybrids that worked together had its quirks. Any problems however were resolved quickly between Hongjoong, a wolf hybrid and himself, a dragon hybrid. While your work as a doctor in the office and rescue out in the field, who helped every kind of hybrid, had brought the eight hybrids closer after meeting.
Being at home you kept the house clean. Entering his bedroom, you were careful of the belongings. He always kept most of prized treasures there and you took special care to not break anything. Stopping, you looked around admiring his large collection taking in a mental picture of what you could add to it in the future for any occasion. Taking in the decision to get a shower to clean up before Seonghwa got home was best. You snuggled up afterwards after drying off and letting your wet hair dry for a short time causing you to yawn. You decided to put on the necklace Seonghwa gave you when he wasnāt home, taking a nap on the bed afterwards.
Ā
Coming home, Seonghwa invited the others inside his home. With their help they put everything away. Calling out your name gently a few times with no response, Seonghwa started to worry going to search through the house with other members helping in that search of you. Yunho being the first one to the door as the others followed to one of the bedrooms that he kept most of his prized possessions in.
Ā
āTheir scent ends hereā Turning to the others, voice laced with concern over you. Seonghwa hearing this, heads over passed the others grabbing the knob and opening the door quietly. Stepping through, he stops looking around in the darkness of the room seeing outlines. Turning, he flips on the lamp looking around better. Hearing shuffling, Seonghwa turns with a finger to his lips nodding over to the bed where you were sleeping. The others smile at the sight of you being in a restful slumber.Ā
Ā
The seven members quietly head out the door to leave Seonghwa with you alone, but not before Hongjoong signaling heād check in later, closing the door behind him carefully. Giving an affirming nod to Hongjoong before he left. Turning, he closed the door quietly to the bedroom. Looking back smiling seeing his most prized jewel of his heart among his treasures in one place. Moving forwards, letting his dark blue tail swish slowly, but gently across the bed to you. Torn between letting you sleep or waking you up. Deciding on the first, he went to go change and get ready for bed. You feel a dip the covers being shuffled gently, tucking you in with the body next to yours. A soft purring growl sounds by your ear and an arm over your side, caressing your clothed stomach gently. His tail gently wrapping around one leg carefully to assure both of you, helping you both drift off to slumber.
Ā
Hours passed, a soft, pained whine is sounded in the room followed with rapid breathing. Seonghwa, now being on his back jolted awake with a gasp. Catching his breathe, he brought his shaking hand up to his face giving himself a few minutes to calm down and be grounded in reality. Looking over, making sure you were still here, relieved him when he still saw you sleeping. Carefully moving to the edge of the bed, putting his feet on the ground to ground himself more than he already was while listening.
Ā
Giving a small hmm and groan you turn onto your back opening your sleepy eyes. Smiling, you see Seonghwa sitting beside you. Rubbing your eyes, you yawned then looked to your lover. Gaging his reaction, you reached out caressing his tattooed arm swearing you hear a content growl with a soft undertones. You'd swear he sounds similar to a large cat if it wasnāt for the patches of smooth scales and intricate tattoos you felt under your fingertips. Sitting up with one hand on the blanket covering you, you turned on the lamplight. Caressing his back, he turned to look at you, locking eyes making your heart ache seeing the look of emotions behind his glowing eyes. Wanting to find a way to get his mind off his nightmares, you spoke first.
Ā
āLove, Iām rather curious about something.. Ā Iām happy with the three-week vacation with you, but..āyour voice catching his fullĀ attention, turning his body in your direction with a soft tilt of his head while he listens. Looking him over, noticing his usual iridescent scales being more bioluminescent and his eyes, that were normally sapphire, now gave a icy lavender in a soft loving glow to yours āAre you coming into heat?ā asking seriously. He blushes with a nod knowing how he gets when he falls into his times of heat. He'd usually disappear until it was over, but this time he wanted to make sure with you as his mate wanting to make it official to the next step. Particularly, it made it more difficult to stay away after waiting so long.
Ā
āDidnāt want to scare you away nor force anything, but I wanted to spend it with you instead of disappearing then waiting for it to passā looking over at you biting his lip with his fangs softly. You move closer letting the blanket drop and peck his lips leaving him a bit surprised, cheeks full of blush, but showing his smile. āWill you allow me?ā asking permission holding his breathe at the answer. Reaching over, you get the collar gently putting it on for him and caressing his cheek lovingly. āYes loveā Letting go of the held breathe, he growls swishing his tail in happiness. Tugging softly on the collar bringing him forward enough to lock eyes giving him the signal. He growls softly then locks lips with yours. Usually, a battle of tongues would start, but you submitted letting him explore you instead. Feeling a new sensation, but not questioning it for now. Peeling the blankets away while laying you back letting his hand roam your body while keeping his other hand on your cheek. Kissing your forehead, he sits back letting you do what you need first since you both wanted to keep from any infections occurring. Upon return to the bed, he moved to straddling you.
Ā
Peppering kisses from your face to your neck while lovingly nuzzling into you. āAre you sure?ā Questioning as he raises his head, being inches from your face, and looking into your eyes for assurance. āOnce I start this time, there is no going backā Firmly saying. Nodding and pecking his lips while having two fingers in the collar to bring him inches away from your face. āIām positive that I always want you,ā Reassuring him in any way you could, kissing him and letting the collar go gently. Returning the affection, growling softly. He let you lay back down on the comfort below taking the lead. Sitting up, he pulled down the blankets to your feet only seeing you in his shirt covering your body, moaning at the sight already. Helping you take off the shirt, letting it drop to the side of the bed. Caressing the sides of your body taking in your shape to his mind causing you to shiver. Closing his eyes feeling his body shiver with you, but his heart and body feel like they are setting a wildfire ablaze inside. He growls knowing his own heat just started, opening his eyes looking at you. His mind starting to become hazy. Leaning down to your neck, scraping his fangs lightly over your delicate skin, inhaling your warm scents of cinnamon and honey causing a rumbling growl to well up from his chest. Moving his hand down, rubbing over your clothed heat wanting to hear your whines and moans. The very sounds he only gets to hear while slowly teasing your skin.
Ā
Growling deeply, once he took time with you, he hooked his claws at the fabric tearing your panties off impatiently, tossing them somewhere in the room exposing your core knowing heād get more in the future, growling seeing the sight in front of him, seeing the wetness causing him to lick his lips. Locking eyes with yours, fiery lust in his glowing ice blue slitted eyes watching you shiver in anticipation. Smirking, licking his pierced tight snake bitten lips with his split tongue made your body shutter and your heat pulse at the sight.Ā Leaning down taking one breast using his tongue making a jolt of electricity run through your body causing moans to reach the dragonās hearing. He plays with your other breast with his clawed hand and his tail to wrap upwards around one leg twice, the tip teasing your heat. Switching to give the other side the same attention with a reverberating growl to your chest. Ā Arching your back with a gasp, the pleasure building inside faster than anticipated.
Ā
Using his hands to glide down your sides slowly to take in your shape while moving back down to your core making a purring growl with a smirk. Wasting no time, his tail tip coils under the mound moving a little more while he dives into your core using his tongue, caressing your hips and legs while keeping them still without harm, bringing you closer to ecstasy faster than expected.
Ā
āI-Iām coming mommyā You gasp out, arching your back, crying out while Seonghwaās growl vibrates your core taking in all the juices in your release. Using his tongue to help you through your first high. Licking a stripe upon your clit beside his tail with a satisfying hum, listening to your heavenly sounds, smirk upon his face, fevered kisses going upwards along the way marking his trail. Reaching your lips, he gives a purr taking your lips with his own, meshing together, swiping his tongue to let you have a taste of sweet nectar tangling his tongue with yours for a short time. Breaking the kiss, Seonghwa locked eyes with yours, showing all the adorable and love with a smile.
Ā
Leaning down, kissing your forehead with a soft growl listening intently to the moment you gasped out his name with a moan. Seonghwa moves back enough to straddle above your body watching your face contort from pleasure from his tail that gently slipped into you, inching slowly to open you up more to whatās next while his tail tip slipped over your spot repeatedly. Smirking, he worked his pants off slowly letting his tail slow enough to get out of the barrier between initiating the mating process. Throwing the pants off finally with one leg somewhere in the room, he growled moving back as before, but now bare.
Ā
Feeling his tail slow down, you opened your eyes feeling some of the pleasure recede as you huffed slightly with a soft whine. Deciding in the moment, you reached out, taking his cock in your hand causing him to groan, leaning his head back with a growl. You smirked at his reaction, starting to pump him slowly, hearing his gasps and growls turn into whines sounded like heaven to you with his tail all but slowed to a near stop. Picking up speed, Seonghwa shuttered above you with heavy pants after a time calling your name with vigor getting closer to his release. His tattoos glowing along with his heated scales with his head now locked on you, glowing brighter than any star in the night sky. You play with the head causing a strangled groan with a buck of his hips, knowing he wonāt last if he lets you continue.
Ā
Grabbing your wrist, halting your movements with an intense look that could burn you alive in the heat of the moment. Hearing his deep growl, he pulls your hand away firmly, but gently in the moment. Moving to hover above you to lock eyes. āWe finish this together, because mommy wants to make sure you are taken care ofā Leaning down being centimeters from touching noses with each other āin many waysssā he finishes letting his s sound to be more snake like. You feel your body jolt as he moves his tail inside you again to tease you. Seeing you gasp out cause a tug to his lips and intensity to heighten in his eyes to look more demon like. Leaning down, he nips at your neck with a growl letting you jolt from the sensitivity then kisses your neck. Removing his tail after being sure you were prepared for him. He began the next step entering you, watching your expressions best he was able making sure there wasnāt any thing to go wrong. Comforting you in the process until he bottomed out, kissing your face softly and watching you intently until you gave the signal to continue. Locking eyes again, all you could see is all the concern, love, and intensity in his eyes. You took a moment to adjust, taking his hand in yours bringing it to your lips kissing the back of his hand. āMove loveā Speaking calmly, but confidently causing him to smile and start moving this time with a growl. Starting again slow and picking up relentlessly letting his inner beast take over, lacing one hand to yours against the bed.
Ā
āIām going make sure the hatchlings and you are well taken care of. Mommy and the others will make sure of itā Growling out causing you to shutter in moans at the thoughts or what you can understand that is. He growls, watching you getting close to your release he moves his free hand down playing with your clit while snarling, bearing his fangs. āI-Iāmā Your words are cut short when he leans down, biting your neck causing your body to jolt, arching up and screaming out his name. Shaking from the orgasm as he marks you causing him to growl against your neck. Throwing his head back afterwards, letting out a powerful roar that makes the house tremble, releasing within you making sure your bodies are close as possible in the moment. Chasing afterwards until you both were through the orgasms, Seonghwa kisses your forehead with his purring pushing your hair out of your face. Smiling up at him, pecking his lips in the moment caressing his hand in happiness. āLets get cleaned upā Seonghwa speaks first, picking you up into his arms having you wrap your legs around his waist while still inside you. He smirks, while you rest your head on his shoulder, wrapping his tail around both your bodies. What he didnāt tell you was when it would happen.
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tips for editing novels i wrote instead of editing
these are mainly targeted to people who find it hard to focus on editing (like yours truly) but really helps for anyone.
work section by section. i started doing this and it wasn't working because i kept reading on to the section after instead of focusing on editing the one section so what i did is copy paste the section (each should be no more than like 1000 words) onto another document and work on it there. read it over and over again until it sounds the way you want it to sound that copy paste it onto the other document and move on to the next section.
sit somewhere quiet. absolutely quiet.
no music.
turn off the wifi on your phone and on your laptop.
to get the emotion right in a scene, listen to music that embodies it. can't catch me now (olivia rodrigo) and east of eden (zella day) are what i'm listening to right now. of course, i can't write and listen to music at the same time because that's the kind of person i am but before you start writing, listen to the music and really get in the feels because emotion is what drives a story forward more than plot
i actually saw an author say this, i can't remember who, but it's good to have a song that evokes emotion so you can write the emotion properly
THESAURUSES. lifesavers. i can't come up with the perfect word to describe something because i have poor memory but the thesaurus always remembers (am i even spelling it right?)
drink water. (now. stand up. if you don't istg i'll find you.)
change the cliches. don't say it was a dark and stormy night. say it was a starless night that smothered even the smallest lamp lit in the little window of a small store at the edge of the abandoned town.
don't tell me what happened, tell me how it felt. it was not cold. her nose stung and her fingernails turned blue, she stamped her feet to keep warm, she shivered despite herself, her teeth chattering.
i think the trick is to search for every time you used the word 'was' and change it to a feeling
read aloud. do impressions. make your annoying character sound like your social studies teacher from 11th grade. have fun with it. just make sure the dialogue doesn't sound stiff and make sure the sentences flow well.
as a rule, shorter sentences flow better and are easier to understand
add more internal monologue, have your character try to reason things in their heads, don't have them just observe what's happening.
this is something i struggle with but if you have a mystery with a grand reveal in the end, keep track of what your readers know and don't know. reveal tiny clues that only fit when you finally see the full picture. be as evil with it as you want.
for motivation, reread your favorite scene (mine is the mc and love interest being adorable)
also, imagine the book being published. who would you dedicate it to? how many people would make tumblr posts analyzing it, how many people would make memes, who would the fandom ship?
finally, unrelated to editing, but if you must kill off characters, don't do it just because you want something dramatic and you need the plot to move forward, only do it for two reasons:
a) it completes the character's arc (i.e. they were afraid of death but when someone they truly loved was in danger they jumped in front of a bullet to save them)
b) they're going to come back to life later as a metaphor for phoenixes rising or something
personally, my favorite thing to do is to leave the death ambiguous. no one will know if the character really died or not (not even me)
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My new dream is becoming the Victorian middle class now.
(Without the work and only the clothes and certain ways of speaking to eachother)
Do you have any tips on how I can adapt to this in a good way without interfering with my usual day to day routine? If not, then welp- do I always wear vests or is it specific occasions only?
(i hope this makes sense)
Ok full disclosure I wrote a really long answer to this and Tumblr ate it, and idk if I have the energy to write it again
I think my biggest advice would be not to worry about fitting a certain aesthetic, or following any rules - wear what you would like to wear! Speak how you would like to speak!
I think it's hard enough to figure out how to dress for any particular occasion, without trying to factor how a certain demographic of people might have done so 130+ years ago.
But if you want to add a little late Victorian flavour into your wardrobe, I guess here are some ideas?
Coats and jackets - peacoats, frock coats, capulet coats, ulster coats...
A lot of styles of woollen coat that were popular at the turn of the 20th century still work today, and are fairly unisex.
I always smile at how modern Inspector Lestrade looks in his stylish peacoat:
But I think any woolen coat in a vintage style can have the right vibes.
As for waistcoats/vests, sure go for it if you'd like!
2. Accessories
I think hats and gloves can be a lot of fun! I actually started wearing hats all the time for ADHD reasons, because I kept leaving them everywhere. I realised either I had to stop wearing hats, or I had to decide to wear them all the time. So now I tend to always wear one when out of doors.
Everyone who knows me knows I love straw boaters, which were wore by men and women.
I posted a picture a while ago of me wearing a Tam o'Shanter, which I associate more with the Edwardians than the Victorians, but hey who cares if it's cute.
Funnily enough I feel like a lot of middle class hats are the ones that would seem far too formal to wear casually these days - top hats and bowlers etc.
But hats that people would have worn in the countryside or the more working-class hats are still popular.
Like the old button top hat, or flat caps... *sigh* deerstalkers.
Patterns.
I guess another approach would be to focus on patterns that were popular at that time, rather than the clothing styles themselves?
Black and white photos can cause us to forget that the later Victorians loved maximalism. They liked paisley patterns and eye-boggling colour.
(Like oh my gosh this coat)
I keep seeing clothes with William Morris patterns on and going YESSSSSSSSSS
So yeah, I hope that's the kind of thing you wanted!
I'm going to post this now and hope Tumblr doesn't eat it again.
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read the tags on a post by @weird-life-of-a-closet-fangirl hope you don't me tagging you, you just had some interesting points in your tags (also tumblr why can't i use question marks in some asks? this got so annoying today)
Mia didn't really decide as such when Eveline was another monster but the only reason Mia fought against Eveline (to the point Lucas and Marge both thought that at some point Evie was going to get tired of waiting for her) was because she knew Ethan was safe (she during a storm tried to send him a video telling him that he was right about her lying to him, to stay away from her and forget about her and have a good life) but then he wasn't because Ethan was sent an email from her account as he never got that video. And when Mia officially rejected Eveline was after the tape of Mia trying to talk to Evie and Evie going on a murderous rampage instead
so Mia was in the padded cell for 2 years from the 4th November 2015 its the file on Lucas's laptop along with the next and final entry of the email logs being Eveline getting more people kidnapped. (still want to know the act of violence from Mia that got Lucas of all people to lock her up)
Sent: Friday, November 4, 2015 2:10 AM That bitch Mia is still somewhere in between Evie-La-La Land and reality. She gets pretty violent, so I locked her up in a cell. I thought maybe Eveline would get mad since Miaās her favorite and all, but she doesnāt seem to care. She actually goes and visits her sometimes. She thinks Miaās her mommy. Like I said, your ābioweaponā is fucked up.
Sent: Friday, September 1, 2016 1:10 AM Evelineās family obsession is getting out of hand. Sheās making everyone kidnap more and more assholes off the street to add to her freak show of a family. Maybe sheās getting tired of Mia not coming around, but itās a pain in the ass for me because I gotta clean up the mess whenever someone new comes along. By the way, Evieās looking sick or something. Her skin is getting all wrinkly and sheās getting grey hairs. Is that supposed to happen? Itās almost like sheās getting old all of a sudden.
Now that I think of it I have two theories for how Evie learned of Ethan and decided that he was the key to getting Mia to accept her
1 From the start because surely she saw either video being made but didn't think about using it until later (not as likely but still a possibility)
2 personally i think in amongst the victims that were brought in to the guest house smaller scale operation there considering the needles (I have to wonder if some of those was used on Mia) and the body bags so I think that in the limited view of the room at large from Mia's cell but what you can see from the cell is the table with the list of names and pictures of victims (true the same ones you see through out the games but maybe they were the "successful" ones that they kept trying to emulate) and complacency or exhaustion on Mia's part and a victims picture on the murder board and a voice begging for mercy sounding a little to close for comfort makes that wall she probably placed around thoughts of Ethan come crumbling down and someone was around to take note of how important Ethan was to Mia and everything goes as normal
now as for Village I really wish capcom kept her with the wheelchair or gave her a cane (for this reason and additional moment of offness for Ethan to notice but is too tired to focus on the RE3R was great in showing Jill's mental state and how she partially missed the city going to hell) because in the cutscene where we find Mia https://youtu.be/NkavqZJywp4 (also quick question with the village being blasted surely leaving someone underground would not be a good idea? like with air vents and exits?) look how she moves when coming out of the cell (screenshots for my own reference) it could be because she knows about Miranda's ability to shapeshifting but the second screenshot looks like she is using the box for support and checking on her leg before coming after Chris (has anyone done a freecam thing for this bit?)
Mia as a whole there is a lot to cover and I hope RE9 is about her (if not I'm going to be very annoying) taking down the connections from the inside as Mia is one of the few people we know who worked for them who is also still alive Alan? dead, Lucas? dead, Miranda? Dead. with a small playable section with Jill (character interaction i think would be fun to see) and Rose (she getting her own kind of justice for Evie)
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....okay so Tumblr's gonna crop the pic I put a lot of effort into drawing and coloring and detailing fucking SWEET. Edit: okay so it was just in making the post fucking fabulous thanks for the heart attack Tumblr š
Anywho, I'm a firm believer in Butch Sevika, but then @sevikasleftpussyflap showed me this fanart of Sevika (and Jinx) in an evening gown and I have seen the light.
Gonna throw more close ups under the cut and some rambling about design because I am a fashion and character design nerd!
Also tagging @sxpphicfxiry for what I hope are obvious reasons.
F A C E.
So, while I LOVE the look she's wearing in the fanart I linked above, I wanted to design something that had more call back to her outfit in Arcane -specifically her cape/cloak bc red/maroon is such a gorgeous color on her, and because I thought it'd be a color nod to her original outfit design.
I also changed up her hairstyle because I thought it'd be fun and fitting for presumably what is a formal event.
I also wanted to add some body jewelry -in keeping with the theme from the linked fanart-because I love the contrast of Sevika's overall build and demeanor with the delicate, fragile chains. I went with gold because I thought it'd flatter her skin tone nicely, and because her cloak in the show has gold accents iirc.
I landed on the diamond/rhombus design by accident (which you see in the clasps of the jewelry and the structure of the hair piece and her "rings"). My main goal was having something that looked like a matched set because she deserves something nice -and because I also LIVE for Sugar Baby!Sevika where she has a wealthy Piltover GF to dote on her. If I were to do something like this again, I'd probably try to design something that infers her character more -possibly something gear shaped that would allude to her arm. But, for something I was just trying to whack out quick for my own satisfaction, I'm pleased with the results.
I kept the choker look she has going from Arcane because I think it looks fabulous on her, and the ring piece she's wearing -in my mind-can also function as brass knuckles because I love jewelry that is also functional to the character's role in the story. And also because I think Sevika would like/invest in fancy brass knuckles so that if she has to beat someone up at a ritzy gala, she can.
God I hope that you can click on the picture and it'll show you the whole thing or that the cropping is only in the post creation bc I actually put effort in on the shoes fUCKING DAMMIT.
This is mostly to show detail on the thigh jewelry and also LEG (mady, you're welcome).
All in all, I'm pleased with how this came out! I used markers for most of the piece -the dress, cloak, her body and hair, and the leather bands on the jewelry pieces are all marker. The trim on the dress and cloak, along with the base for the chains are done in colored pencil; I also warmed up her skin with some blended down colored pencil bc the tone of the markers were looking a little gray to my eye. I used a metallic gold gel pen to add some shine to certain parts of the jewelry, but that wasn't flashy enough, so I used some gold acrylic paint and white acrylic paint to add highlights to her jewelry.
I think I need to do this again. I've got an idea for a gear-themed look -in terms of jewelry-that I'd pair a blue dress in bc I think she'd look gorgeous with blue. Also @sevikasleftpussyflap mentioned a look of Sevika wearing a tight, skimpy body con dress and now it lives rent free in my head.
I did this piece over I think about a week? I wanna say it took between 3-5 hours in total.
So yeah pls reblog and interact bc I worked hard on this no I am not above begging thank uuuuuu š
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Where Do I Start?
Ireland is beautiful. Beautiful. My mouth drops open at every curve in the road (and there are so many curves...). We've already roamed three castles and communed with fairies. I've groaned over the deliciousness of Irish stew and, though I'm not really a bread eater, slices of warm traditional Irish soda bread smeared with local butter that is out of this word. Ireland does simple pleasures in the very best way.
So. We landed, collected our bags, and picked up our rental car. Mickey has done an incredible job of driving from the right side of the car on the left side of the road. This country is filled with round-abouts and entering them by heading left goes against every natural instinct we have. I'm so impressed with his steady hand and ability to adapt. It's not for the faint of heart and he's gotten us safely to every spot for the last three days. We haven't even been honked at yet. Maybe our sign helps.
Our first day was spent in Dublin. After an overnight flight we did what we always do - got out in the fresh air and waked around! We visited Merrian Park and saw Oscar Wilde's monument.
As well as the tribute to Dermot Morgan (of Father Ted fame). We absolutely oved him. HIs memorial is called The Joker's Chair and a plaque nearby reads, "ā¦.and all the rest is laughter,
laughter liberating, laughter to be remembered."
We roamed the beautiful grounds of Trinity University.
That's a former provost, much beloved, who once said that women would attend Trinity "over my dead body". It's now tradition for young women graduating from the school to have a picture snapped with him on their special day. Be careful what you wish for, sir.
We strolled and got ourselves good and tired. It's important for us to get on local time/bed time the first night. Makes the rest of the trip so much easier.
Our first day ended with a dinner of fish and chips for Mickey and Irish stew for me.
Talk about comfort food. I've never tasted a stew so good. Ever. Those carbs helped me sleep like a baby.
The next morning we pointed our car south and headed out of Dublin.
Our first stop was Rock of Cashel. It's been the seat of Irish kings since the 4th century. For many centuries it was pagan kings, then Christianity arrived, religion rued the and, and there were "Bishop Kings". The interesting man who provided us with a tour before we roamed around on our own was a wealth of information (I mean, it's his job...) and kept stressing that it's not a castle, it's a religious compound. He repeated this over and over, and as soon as we got back in the car we agreed that if kings lived there until 1749, it's a castle. Yes, there's a chapel and a cathedral, but it was the castle from which Ireland was rued for centuries. Look at us arguing with the experts. Anyway, it was gorgeous.
Hang on, Tumblr isn't letting me add more photos. Might have to do a part two. Don't want to lose this post! Stand by.
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Itās been 10 years since I posted the first picture of Galactiquest online. My first non-fandom characters. I had an action sci-fi story in mind when I created them, but I got so interested in them that it morphed into the fluffy slice-of-life/slow burn(?) character drama hybrid thing that itās become. Itās definitely a story!
These characters turned into floating plot points. Those plot points turned into little scenes Iād write. I wrote more just to play with the characters. These were all supposed to turn into a webcomic, but that turned out to not be sustainable for me. Still, I kept writing them, and the scenes became short stories. This led to a much longer story that I was so proud of that I thoughtĀ āWell, now I have to write everything leading up to this.ā
As of now, Iām most of the way there. Iām in the process of closing out of an episode with scenes Iāve had in mind for 10 years. After that, Iāll be working on theĀ āseasonā finale. A few more episodes, and Iāll be rewriting the story that spurred me into writing this series. But I have more planned after that. ;D
Making long-form stories is something Iāve been wanting to do for a long time, longer than Iāve had OCs. My dream was to have an animated series, but I knew I couldnāt do that on my own, so I settled for webcomics, and later web novels. Making it this far into a story means so much to me!Ā
A lot of the short stories I had written for Galactiquest before making it into a novel were pretty sparse, but putting them together led to a lot of fleshing out that surprises me to this day. It adds a new element of fun to writing, because even Iām not 100% sure whatās going to happen next.
My characters make me the proudest of all, though. 10 years of having these characters in my brain, and now I have a vehicle to make people feel the same things for them that Iāve been feeling. Itās great to look at my own writing and think, āOh yeah, if this were a TV series, someone on Tumblr would be analyzing this character for days.ā I wanna work on and polish my series so I can attract those people.
Anyway, those are my thoughts. I canāt wait to have a similar experience with Hinimato!
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Itās finally done. Iām... feeling a little emotional, honestly. All my D&D character references are now ārecoveredā, as in redrawn completely, from my broken SSD whose files were all lost.
I... I just want to sit back and put my head in my hands. [Contād]
This... Itās every character I have made for D&D since I started playing. The first two I designed - Miri Evenwood and Cecillia - down to the most recent two - Zarris and Joy - all together, all forms, all types, all everything, all at once. Iām just... This was so much work and effort.
When I lost the original file with all these guys in it, I thought that was it. Nothing. But I do post my art here and on Twitter, no? I saved what I could off here and there, and the quality of these guys was... bad. Like, really bad. Most of the pictures I downloaded looked like this:
Fuzzy, illegible, and most details lost. Some were better quality, but...
...the image compression of being uploaded to Tumblr or Twitter was... difficult to contend with. I did have some I shared on Discord, however, those were a little more to work from.
I had some sketches, linearts, in-progress images, and some poor-quality finished works. All out of order, all wildly differing in quality. I sat back and had to think, what could I even do here? My character references, all lost to an SSD that Windows Recovery corrupted the data off of. That was probably the end of the story.
But I am stubborn.
I started to redraw them. Why did I start with Ezra, Axel, and Blaze? I donāt know why, but Iāve held these three close to me. And then I started making the basic line art for each other character, either completely by scratch (see Verda here) or with a crunchy, fuzzy, off-my-twitter-or-tumblr reference to work from.
With each new character I drew the lines for, with each finished reference, I felt like the task ahead of me was monumental - impossible at times. Work got stressful, life got in the way, and whenever I had a few minutes to myself, I was putting character after character through the redux machine and redrawing them by hand.
Some stayed incomplete for a while. Some were started and finished within a... week, reluctantly. I spent a lot of time looking at what Iād done so far, and then back at the ones I had yet to finish or start. At a certain point, I felt like I had given myself a task that I would never complete - a problem I could never solve. Maybe I wouldāve given up after a certain point.
But then I didnāt. I refused to give up. I made notes for myself, I reviewed old notes saved to my old phone that barely worked that told me which of my unsaved list I had later dropped or redone. I kept drawing these characters, and about at this time I realized something.
I had been making D&D characters for almost a decade. Some of these guys are from that time - Miri and Cecillia, namely - and some had been in-progress for years before I actually ended up using them - Blaze and Axel came to mind - and here they were. Again. After I had initially lost them.
This was something that gradually made me better at drawing. This was history - my own personal brainās history, at least - and I was doing everything I could to ensure I kept it. Not only was I determined to have at least one single full-body reference of each character I could ever use in D&D, I remembered my original goal when I was drawing these guys.
One of each race and class combination. Of course, a silly goal, but it allowed my creativity to flow and make some genuinely cool characters. I would always look back on these guys and smile, and now I can do that again - and add more.
And the satisfaction of lining them all up in a colour order was so good.
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So yeah, from October to December. So much work, and the payoff was absolutely worth the effort and time that went into it. Through every burnt-out evening, from days I spent stuck on the couch unable to move through the pain to days I spent here and there and back again. Through each hour worked at my job, to each our I worked at home and doodled these guys. Theyāre here again, and theyāll see me through.
And I encourage you to design your own characters. I use D&D as inspiration for these, but I have others, after all...
But at least these references are more stuck towards their names than their full outfits, fuckās sake. These were my May-August project of recovering files so... This yearās been certainly interesting.
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How do you blend gifs together like your avatrice gif set? Iām still learning how to make basic pictures in photoshop and all of my work genuinely looks like trash. Your gifs are incredible though! Do you have a tutorial?
hi, thank you. Blending the gifs was actually really hard for me, I looked up a couple of tutorials to help me out and kinda went from there. It was my first time blending with gifs. People also tend to forgot the quality of the episodes has a lot to do with how gifs look and the compression size too.Ā Ā
These two tutorials 1 and 2 are the ones that helped me the most. Though to be perfectly honest I didn't really follow them I just looked at them and kinda did my own thing using them as a reference
Iāve never done a tutorial but hereās how I basically worked on them. Putting them under read more so if ppl want to take a look its there but not in a long post.Ā
So Iām going to assume u know how to make a gif at least if not there are a lot of tutorials all over tumblr. If you want some let me know and I can link them.Ā
First, once I had the gifs cropped, the right speed, and the same length I stacked them and combined them together. I played around with the placement until I found where I liked them best.Ā
Second, I added a layer mask on the both gifs and used the brush tool (make sure the brush doesnāt have a hard edge) on the masked part of the layer. I did this part over and over again until I liked the result and kept going back and forth readjusting them.Ā
After that I changed the top layer blending mode to lighten, though on some of the other gifs they were different blending modes. It all really depends on the lighting and positions on the gifs and the overall composition youāre looking to make.Ā
Once, I played it back and liked the results I added my coloring psd and adjusted it accordingly. I should also say a lot of the my coloring/adjustment layers have very minimal edits or adjustments (I just add a lot, coloring lost girl was hard) but honestly you just need to play around with the coloring to how you like it best.Ā Ā
These are the settings I used to export.Ā
And here is the final result.
I hope this helped, honestly I donāt think it was very helpful but you never know.Ā
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I cannot sleep head empty only Lukas and Amara so I shall share snippet I might post the full fuckin 60 pages another time
*Also if you donāt like how I run my blog block me Iām so sick of people trying to tell me how to format the blog I run for myself and only myself with the exception of like one friend I donāt use tumblr frequently enough to add the stress of trying to learn to cater to everyone
Still, they were equally captivated with each other, and as they lay down they faced each other, inches apart. She seemed awake but mellow, and he most certainly appeared enchanted. He could not pull his eyes away from the shape of her lips.
āBack home weād play with each otherās hair all the time,ā she said softly, unperturbed by the way he was observing her with want and attention. Still, she enjoyed talking.
āI remember,ā he muttered back. He could not forget a word she said to him.
āWeād weave flowers into our hair, and beads a lot of the time. But there aren't many flowers in this region, and I ended up selling what was left of my beads when I was trying to find a place to stay in the last town I was in. I might as well have kept them, I got hardly anything for them back in return.ā
āThere are flowers here,ā he said, subdued. āTheyāre just harder to find.ā He could find them for her if she wanted them so badly.
She continued on, her voice non-abrasive and idyllic. āThe ones on the island were very large,ā she described. He listened with unbreaking attention. āAnd very colorful. Vibrant no matter the color. It mirrored a lot of the way the birds looked.ā
āWhat was your favorite color?ā He asked with well-hidden desperation. He wanted to know everything about her, as he tried to picture what she looked like with these large and saturated flowers in her bright blonde hair.
āI liked them all. I was partial to the orange ones, though. A few of my sisters liked the pink and purple ones better, or red. There was no claim over any particular kind, of course, but everyone has favorites.ā
āYou have seven older sisters?ā he asked for confirmation, as though he could not recall, although he was more sure he was correct than for anything before. He was attentive.
āYes. Itās just you and Mimir here, though, right?ā
āYes.ā
There was no urgency in their conversation, so a small pause made its way in while Amara sifted through what she wanted to prioritize and know most.
āWhat is your favorite color?ā she wondered aloud.
āGray,ā he replied easily, not thinking to doubt his answer. There were not many colors to see in the pits of this wintery environment. It was not as lively here as her island sounded. He could not even accurately try to imagine what a place with so much color must look like.
āGrey?ā she asked, and her smile pulled wider, with an edge of teasing.
āYes.ā
āThatās not a color,ā she mused through an easy grin, charmed by how uninspired his answer was. āI meant like, you know, blue, yellow, red, green, pink, purple, orange, tealāsomething like that.ā
āGrey is a color,ā he lightly cooed back, unshaken by her dismissal of his answer.
āIt's just something in between black and white.ā Her challenging smile was crinkling the corners of her eyes with an endearing frame.
āIf someone asked you what color my cape is, you would say grey. It's a color,ā he defended calmly, unbothered.
āOkay, well, what about a fun color,ā she probed. āSomething more saturated.ā
He could not bring to mind one he truly would have favored. Though he did not really care for the color before, staring into the richness of her irises he could only bring to mind one alternative answer.
āBrown,ā he replied with hushed confidence.
āThatās not one of the options I gave!ā She snickered as a grin spread across her face. She could not force herself to not gaze at him with unwavering admiration. āI said something more saturated.ā
āIt is more saturated,ā he replied reverently, his own soft smile gracing his lips to see her grin like that. If she forced him to try to answer again, the look of her lips framing such beautiful teeth could have prompted him to try to say white.
āThose are such boring answers.ā
āI donāt think so.ā
Idly she reached out, softly brushing back some falling strands from his hairline so they were out of his eyes. Mimir and Lukas had always kept the braids tight, so that they would stay in place and not allow the strands to wander when Lukas would need to stay focused, but to Amara it had been nothing more than an activity to do for fun. There was no need to have bound them tightly.
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Examination of a new blog in the fandom....
Ghost here. Time to break apart this new Alhaitham blog "Aurum" (Aka Lupin with her many new names) seems to be roleplaying with and breaking apart why I think she's roleplaying with herself to promote her new Alhaitham under a new name because her old one got sussed out.
Now, no one really follows this blog but I'll keep things under the cut anyways.
1.) The very obvious aesthetics that mirror her past styles.
The muted colors and use of past fonts that had been used. Look closely at the URL and tell me it wasn't used previously. Not to mention the they pretty much copied what I did and stripped assets from the splash art. Oh but I'm the one who copies people? Yeah?
2.) A sudden lack of information about who "Vii" is. Clearly she's trying to cover things up and look completely different this time. But I am not fooled.
A temp pinned that hasn't been changed.
Very short Bio.
VERY quick to mention wanting to be kept out of drama (as she has on every other blog within the first few rules) yet has been the one who has started it. If you really want that then maybe apologize to everyone sincerely and stop trying to trick people.
3.) Despite the fact that the bio spells the name as one, the posts spell the name as "Al-Haitham" with the dash, a thing very few people do who aren't familiar with the RL spelling of the person he's connected to. (See above)
4.) And FINALLY, the in depth study... of the theme code... by someone who knows coding all too well. First things first, Lupin's partner, Reci, ALWAYS makes it impossible to right click on the themes they make. It's no stretch to feel this theme was either made by Reci or the code was provided by Reci. But the more CONCERNING feature lies in this line of code here:
This string of code is SPECIFICALLY for disabling the ability to pull up the source code and developer tools in chrome. Thus eliminating someone's ability to look at this code. Which... why would you do that if you're not hiding something? Like... hmm? Who you are and who provided the code. Why go through that much effort to make it so hard to look at the code? No one is gonna steal that shit. No one wants to. There is also ways to reverse disable right click with add ons so there's really no use putting that in the code at all.
And then there's this....
This is the same IP blocker code I used on my blogs. And the IP blocked is the SAME EXACT Palo Alto ping that I get.
Did you think because I mentioned having Palo Alto/Global Protect that it meant it was me? No, it's not. That IP has bothered me for over a year now. And then the fact that it leads to this picture:
Clearly shows you're trying to block someone, probably myself or Jess, from seeing your page. But due to tumblr's theme codes changing so much since IP blocker was introduced, it no longer works anyways.
And then of course, you pulled a trick from my book...
Adding statcounter to your pages... here's the Ratio one too...
You see that little unique code there? 12966174 and 12968888? That means they were made very close to each other as they both begin with 1296. Probably on the same account. The Ratio one being made first, then the Alhaitham one. So yeah, that's a pretty obvious confirmation that these two blogs have the same statcounter handler. But by all means, prove me wrong. I welcome it. But I'm gonna guess you won't. You're too scared to face me or talk to me off any kind of anon. The sooner you stop trying to lie to people and hurt more people, the sooner we'll leave you be. Until then, I'm going to make sure I know where you are. Just as you did to me.
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Hide N Seek
Story :
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They had started their delivery at dawn. A little rabbit, who had gone to work in town, and who could not take the risk of taking his family with him, however numerous they were.
He knew the city had become dangerous. It had pained him from the bottom of his little heart, but it had to be done. And every week, he passed to Lamine and Alex, his money, earned during his 5 days, as well as an adorable letter, expressing how much he thought of his peers with a lot of affection and sadness at the same time.
The raccoon and the african pouch rat had the mission, each week to bring back to Mr.Rabbit's family his package, which they brought without dragging on the country road, far away from the city.
In general, they didn't hang around...just to get some sustenance or stop at a water well or river to cool off when it was hot and the wind wasn't blowing much.
They had already come a long way, when the heat of the day and fatigue began to translate into pain in the bottom of their little feet.
āI think we should stop,ā Lamine said, sighing. Do you see that grove up there? It would be perfect for relaxing in the shade.
-First!
Much younger and energetic, despite his strong tuft of hair which kept him much warmer than his shorter-haired partner, Alex ran towards the tree... which did not further encourage the old rat, who dragged his pace ...the grove was at the top of a hill, after all...
But as he was ahead, the young raccoon, looking at him from his high hill, laughed softly.
-How slow he can be!
He looked at the tree, then at the bush, imagining a little joke to play on his colleague: he quickly placed his hat on the ground, and ran his clawed hands through his hair, from which he pulled out a few tufts, without hurting himself and without forcing too much on your skin. From there, he placed them on the ground, and hid in the bush, before crouching, silent among its leaves.
When Lamine arrived at the top, he was horrified to see tufts of his best friend's hair, and his hat that he always took with him everywhere.
He called his name several times, sniffing the air, had there been a predator he had failed to sense?
Alex, laughing silently, placed himself behind the tree, holding onto its bark so as not to fall, he was laughing so much from the inside. It was even funnier to watch from up there!
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Commentary :
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You guys also voted for the tree to be published so here it is. Decided to add a lil story to it, and characters of course. When skimming the characters you wanted to see more, I saw Shorui...who is waaay too big to fit on the picture. He's nearly the size of the tree !Ā
Then Yama, Aeriielyl, Virgil and Linya...not quite their settings. So I decided to take Lamin from the list, and since he's never going anywhere without his partner...there you have them :)
Character (c) : BarnUlv23
āArt (c) : BarnUlv23
Ā© copyright BarnUlv23. You may NOT use, post, replicate, manipulate, or modify this image without my explicit written consent.Ā
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Alternate ToyHouse :
Selling AccountĀ :
āInterested in a commission ?
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