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alocon · 1 month

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A Soulmate Who Wasn't Meant To Be [8] - Max Verstappen

written by alocon

Note: Name and Part One based on the song A Soulmate Who Wasn't Meant To Be by Jess Benko.

Summary: Mini chapter. When the FIA tries to stop you driving at the next grand prix weekend, the drivers decide to take a drastic, but necessary, turn to stand up for you.

Before you read: Use of Y/N

fc: Blanca Soler

[Previous Part] [Masterlist]

A Soulmate Who Wasn't Meant To Be- - MV¹ x Fem!OC

“So, question for Y/N.”

You were currently sat in the interviews before the next race, in a press conference with you, Lance, Zhou, Logan and Nico. You had been expecting this question when it came but had not expected it only 3 minutes into the questions.

“We hear you're under investigation by the FIA, would you like to expand on that and what you are under investigation for?”

“Yes,” you sat up in your seat, more than happy to speak. “I have been put under investigation for creating a hostile work environment since 2019. Apparently, I have been acting hostile towards Christian Horner, despite the fact its more like the other way around.” You shrugged.

“Right.” The interviewer shrugged. “And how might this affect your driving?”

“Well, pending the results of the investigation, they may, as a punishment, revoke my super licence.”

“So let me get this straight,” Crofty said, speaking up. “You're at risk of losing your racing licence because of you allegedly being hostile to the Team Principal of Red Bull Racing since 2019?”

I nodded.

Lance then spoke up. “I think it's suspicious that these rumours suddenly came around just after a podcast episode about some of her treatment at Red Bull and a post of her and Geri together.” He said. “It seems very strangely timed.”

“Almost like they're trying to silence her for Christian's actions.”

The drivers in the conference all started defending you, putting a smile on your face. It was sweet to see them all so defensive over you, instantly jumping to your protection without even being asked their opinions.

“It had been oddly timed.” You said. “All of a sudden, after me putting in a complaint about Christian Horner to the FIA, I was the one under investigation. I think that it's ridiculous to be honest. I provided evidence - more than enough. And yet I am still the one under fire.”

“I hear a lot of drivers and other staff are supporting you.” Crofty said. “Do you have anything to say to that?”

“Yes. I am so grateful for the way that the drivers have treated me, and other staff, both at Mercedes and other teams. I appreciate that they have been defending me to the FIA, and taking a stand with me against the unfair treatment that I have been under by Red Bull and the FIA in the past couple of weeks, and Red Bull since I joined.”

“So are you still racing this weekend?”

“No. They've told me I'm not allowed to race until the investigation is over.” you explained, frustrated.

The rest of the press conference went well and, soon, you were back in your drivers room and soon heard the door open. You looked up, seeing the drivers slip into your room. All of them.

“We're here to take your mind off of all the bullshit going on. So. We have fifa, Uno, monopoly, Mario Kart, we got your switch so you can play animal crossing if you want,” Lando began to list off everything.

You chuckled, smiling sweetly at them at the kind kind actions of going out of their ways to try to cheer you up. So that's what happened. You all sat on the floor talking, playing games, chilling out and discussing how to sort this out when Charles came up with an idea.

“A strike.”

“A what?” You looked at the Monegasque, confused at the sudden outburst.

“We could go on strike. Refuse to race until Horner is gone and the investigation is dropped.”

There were some cheers from the drivers.

“Guys. What?” You said when you saw the agreements. “You don't have to do this.” you said.

“Let's vote then.” Charles said. “All in favour?” 19 hands went up. “All against?... Then it is decided.”

After some planning, it was in order.

El Plan (2025 Driver's Strike edition)

Step One: Pack our stuff.

You all got to work, packing out bags, everything we needed.

Step Two: Prepare the vehicles.

That went by quickly too.

Step Three: Tell Our Team Principals

You walked into the emergency meeting with George and Toto, sitting down.

“What's this about? What's going on?” He asked, confused.

“We're going on Strike,” George announced.

“You're doing what?”

“This wasn't my idea,” you started. “But one of the drivers suggested a full driver Strike. Because of the investigation.”

George started explaining the details. The plan. Afterwards, there was a moment of silence.

“Fair enough,” Toto said. “I wouldn't be able to stop you and to be honest, I don't even want to. I don't want you losing your seat, Y/N. Go wild. Have fun. Call me when you're off strike and keep me updated, yes?” He said. You and George looked at each other, surprised it went so well.

Over in the Red Bull office, it wasn't going as well.

“You're doing what?” Christian snapped, angrily.

“Going on strike.” Max leant back in his chair.

“Until the investigation is dropped, we will not race.”

“This is insane! What is wrong with you?” He snapped angrily. “You shouldn't do it if you want your contract renewed, Max.”

“I'm sure there are other teams who would happily take me,” He said standing up, walking straight out the door without another word, being quickly followed by his teammate.

Step Four: Announce the Strike.

“Right, hello,” Crofty said, looking at the camera. “So, we've got a sudden broadcast request from the drivers so… that's what is happening here.”

Bernie spoke up. “We have no idea what this is about. Take it away.”

Your designated speakers - Charles and Max - stepped up to take the mics.

Max got up his script. “Today, Charles suggested something and we did a vote, getting back unanimous agreement.”

“All of the drivers on the current Formula One grid will be going on strike. None of us will drive until our demands are met.” Charles paused before speaking again. “Demand Number One: The investigation on the Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver, Y/N L/N, is dropped. The treatment she has received from both Red Bull and the FIA recently, and since 2019, has been absolutely unacceptable. They are trying to silence her and stop her from racing, so if she can not race, we will not race.” He looked at Max, nodding for him to read the next demand.

Max smiled, looking at the camera. “Deman Number Two: Christian Horner is removed as the team principal of Red Bull Racing indefinitely and an investigation is opened on Red Bull, Christian, and the head of the FIA. I should've stood up for the treatment of Y/N back in the day, and I didn't. But I will do it now. The treatment she had endured was something I would never wish on a driver. The constant hours of berating her for doing her job, and blackmailing her by threatening to reveal that she miscarried are unacceptable and they, Christian especially, should be taken into account.”

“We want to make it clear that this was not the decision or suggestion of Y/N L/N. This was entirely my suggestion, and all of the drivers instantly agreed. Do not send her hate for this. We will ensure that anyone who has attended any races or paid to attend any of the races get compensated somehow, and we will ensure that every single person who has paid to attend the races gets an apology that it has had to go this far. Action will not be taken until we make a drastic move, so this is our drastic move.” Charles then said his final sentence. “None of us will drive until our demands are met.” Charles repeated again.

-word count: around 1,300-

Hi All!!

Hope you're well. Here is a mini chapter for the Max story. Expect some drivers' strike chapters soon. This is unedited. Love you all x

Have a good day

Alocon

Taglist: @c-losur3 @itsjustkhaos @reidsworld @d3kstar @casperlikej

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raisans-art · 7 months

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!!RAISANS COMMISSIONS!!

All prices are in USD

Please read below for text transcriptions of the sheet and further elaboration!

I sincerely hope you consider me to draw some art of your little guys!

Sketch:

Bust — $20

1/2 Body — $25

Full Body — $30

Coloured:

Bust — $40

1/2 Body — $45

Full Body — $50

Rendered:

Bust — $50

1/2 Body — $55

Full Body — $60

Backgrounds:

Plain (transparent; 1 or 2 colours with a simple pattern) — $0

Mild (multiple colours in a relatively basic hand-made scene or pattern) — $10

Spicy (minimally shaded scene or setting) — $20

Extra (I painted this for you with my BARE HANDS) — $40

Extras:

Animals/Pokemon:

Sketch — $10

Coloured — $15

Rendered — $25

Additional Characters/Animals: 50% of the base cost per character

Extra Effort:

Prices may increase if the commission requires more time and effort than normal.

Any additional charges will be explicitly stated and elaborated

Extra Effort includes but is not limited to: hand lettering/text, complex composition/scenes, extra polish, full painted style, etc.

Will/Won’t Do’s

Will Do (will draw this and am proficient at doing so) (will do list is not limited to these points)

OCs

Pokemon

Furries

Gore/Blood

Aus/Fanart

Horror

NSFW (under scrutiny. Please dm for elaboration)

Won’t Do (not touching these fuckers)

Mecha

Hateful or defamatory content

I have the right to refuse any commission for any reason.

Payment methods:

I accept Ko-fi, Venmo, and PayPal.

Note: PayPal transactions will have a 3% fee added to the charge to compensate for lost money during transactions.

I will clearly outline the total cost of the commission to you and ask for agreement on the cost. That cost will be split into 2 seperate charges, half of the money up front and half upon the commission’s completion.

What to expect from commissioning me:

Commissions will be worked on as I get them, so there may be a queue time for you to wait before work begins on your commission.

Once work has started, it may take upwards of a month to get completed depending on personal life circumstances and commission difficulty.

You will receive an update on the commission at every milestone of the drawing process (rough sketch, clean sketch, lineart, etc) and will be asked if there are any changes you wish to make at each stage. Big compositional changes can only be made at the sketch stages, beyond which only small tweaks can be requested (colour or effects changes, minor pose or character design changes).

#commision info #commission #commisions open #art #pokemon

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dianamoth · 3 months

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Project Copy-Knight

Hi tumblr,

I woke up this morning to a new AO3 comment on my most liked Naruto fic, but this comment was unlike any other I ever got before. It will interest fanfic writers around, especially anime fanfic, so allow me to share it:

Hello, Unfortunately, your work may have been stolen by content farms to create YouTube videos here: (link removed by dianamoth) If you have granted permission for this uploader, you can safely ignore this comment. If not, you should report these videos here: DMCA Complaint Form. You should re-confirm the video contents before you file the report. Note that only the original creator for this work can submit a complaint. When filing the complaint, do not select the "Scheduled: Send a 7-day notice" option, or they won't get a copyright strike from you. We recommend that you do not negotiate with the channel before-hand. Remember to include a link to your work in the 'Title' section of the complaint form. Channels like this have stolen many more works from other writers as well, so your efforts in reporting this channel will also help other writers. See full list of stolen works here: Google sheets Your authorship was identified a while ago by an automated detector under Project Copy-Knight, but for anti-spam reasons we could not inform you until we have manually confirmed each case. If you would like us to notify you as soon as possible, please include this text in your profile page to grant us permission. To prevent a build-up of our notification comments on inactive accounts, we will only send you a maximum of 3 messages before you grant us permission. This is message 1 out of 3. This message was sent automatically, but your case was manually confirmed, and replies to this comment are monitored. If you need additional guidance on how to take the video down, just reply to this comment. To learn more about what we do, please read this article or join our Discord server. From Project Copy-Knight, EsquireBot

I did not give consent for my fic to be used on youtube, ofc.

I was skeptical at first (for context, I write OC Naruto fanfics, who the hell would be interested in that on youtube, I thought?), but this is a well-crafted message with all the ways to verify this claim, so verified it I did!

And hello and behold, this is all true! I'm Amazed. This Project Copy-Knight is quite impressive, it seems well organized and everything, so I thought I would share the word about their existence so that people are aware that this is a problem that exists, that someone is working on it, that it's not spam, and how you can participate, etc... I recommend checking the article they mentioned and the Discord server if you have time to help.

Also, for those who might be in the same case as I and want to report a youtube video (because obviously I'm going to, can you believe this? Just read further to see what a mess it is), let it be known that the link above only works if you have a channel. If not, you have to send your complaint to [email protected]

Now, if you're interested in seeing what a MessTM this is, continue reading about this video that stole my work.

Guys, this is the presentation of the video:

The title (and the pictures) has absolutely NO link whatsoever to the plot of my fic, to be clear.

The pictures inside of the slideshow are about DragonBall Z! XD

But yes, it is indeed a generated "podfic" of my OC fic (but only part of it? it cuts in the middle of a scene at around half of the story)!

When you click on the description of the video, there is a link that actually contains a list of links on fanfiction.net. So they actually didn't steal it from AO3 but ff.net. Writers from ff.net, be aware!

The video has 1,4k views and 37 likes in 2 months. What the heck.

But the comments, guys!

I find this frankly hilarious. I mean, there is so much confusion here. Obviously the basic Naruto fans that would hate on (female) OCs are expected, but someone listened to it long enough to realize it was not the complete story. Respect to them.

Can you believe that with such a mess this channel has 5,37k subscribers? Please people, have some self-respect.

#Project Copy-Knight #EsquireBot #naruto fanfiction #fanfiction.net #AO3 #my writing

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pointdotiozao · 5 months

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The wait list for 2024 is open!

DM me if you’re interested! Rbs are appreciated!

More info under the cut, I'll try to be brief, please read ↓

〃く⁠コ⁠:⁠彡 ₊ ˚ ⊹ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Process and general info

DM or email me ([email protected])* your inquiry so we can discuss the quotes and book you a slot if none are available at the moment. *I might take I little longer to reply emails.

Payments are made via PayPal invoices, so I'll need your PayPal email.

All prices are USD.

My wait list is just a rough estimation. The time I take on each work varies and sometimes there are cancellations, as well as other external factors, so even though I'm mostly on time, the possibility I will be a bit late or a bit earlier than expected exists.

IMPORTANT: If you change your url after getting a spot on my wait list please remember to give me a heads up so that later I can still find you!!

It's alright if you need to reschedule your comm for another time, or even just cancel it, just let me know. No cancellations once I have started working though, and no refunds.

I start working after receiving half the payment upfront.

References are appreciated but not required, and well detailed descriptions work just fine, but please try to have all information necessary for the commission ready. (References and/or descriptions for the characters appearances, facial expressions, clothes, poses; background, if any; lighting/type of coloring.)

I won't charge for tattoos of which you provide transparent pngs.

I reserve the right to refuse a commission.

I reserve the right to post my artwork and use it on my portfolio, but I'll keep a commission private if so requested.

The commissions are for personal use only.

Will Do

OCs, fanart, ship art;

Suggestive themes, NSFW, and even fetish art (with only a few exceptions I highly doubt I will encounter here, but who knows);

Gore and body horror;

Animals, humanoids and furries.

In doubt just ask, I'll give almost anything a confident try.

Won't Do

Mecha;

Hateful imagery;

IRL shipping (doesn't apply to actors interpreting characters);

Create new designs (characters, clothes, etc.);

And I will no longer be accepting irl face claims/painting real people on painting style commissions (this doesn't apply to realistic looking video-game characters).

The styles:

Sketch- just the early stage of the drawing, rough forms and somewhat messy lines. May include 1 rough color for emphasis;

Lineart- clean lineart with the brush of your choice (I have 3);

Flat colors- includes lineart and simple coloring, no shadows/source of light;

Shaded- includes lineart, more detailed coloring compared to flat colors, simple lighting/one source of light;

Painting- either pieces with no lineart (regardless of type of lighting), or those which have lineart + complex lighting/two or more sources of light.

You can see more of my art on my blog tagged as #myart. If you find a style you like but is not sure of which category it fits in, just ask me!

〃く⁠コ⁠:⁠彡 ₊ ˚ ⊹ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

And finally, seen below are my other contact info. Most of these accounts are still empty and I honestly don't plan on leaving tumblr, after all the real "tumblr is shutting down" is the friends we made along the way yadda yadda, but seriously my heart can't take it anymore. I'll rather be safe than sorry.

#commission sheet #open commissions #commissions #artists on tumblr #digital art #myart

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auroblaze · 1 year

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Here we go!

[GENERAL RULES AND TERMS OF SERVICE]

I START WITH 6 COMMISSION SLOTS. First come first serve, by the time they are full I’ll open them again only once I’m finished with them all.

If you want a slot and you know what to ask me to do please send me an email at [email protected] subject titled "Auro commission". In the email, include your selected commission type and any other details about your commission. Visual reference must be included, and if it’s a comic you want, please include your storyboard.

🚨🚨 EDIT of the 5/10/2023: SECOND SESSION IS OFFICIALLY PAUSED. I’ll be working on the 6 slots commissions that made it before the technical difficulties with Paypal (mentioned in the last reblog). If something changes I’ll be reopening the remaining 4 slots!💪🎨 If not, I’ll be seeing you at the next session directly :’>

✨Please read all the details that are written down below under Read More before sending any email. If something is not clear do ask about it! ✨

This list can be updated at any time if situations and/or experiences demand so.

IMPORTANT:

Currently I don’t work under deadlines, and I don’t do rush jobs. I guarantee that clients will be kept updated on progress of their respective commissions. Please keep that in mind before asking for a commission and I thank you so much for your patience.

If the goods are meant to be showcased in videos or other projects of the kind (permission must be discussed beforehand), please give proper credit and link to my pages (instagram, deviantart or just one of them) in the description.

The goods will be distributed digitally only. Printing is only allowed for personal use and you cannot resell the commission under any circumstances or claim to be the original author of the artpiece.

Unless it has been agreed otherwise, I’m able to choose to display the commissioned art on my galleries and portfolio to promote my work.

I do not allow my art to be used for NFTs, training AIs or crypto transactions.

Things I can draw… Characters from shows/anime, video games and manga/comics I’m familiar with (examples: Sonic The Hedgehog, Homestuck, Pokémon, NiGHTS, Skullgirls, Splatoon, Hades (by Supergiant games), The Legend of Zelda, YuGiOh!, Promare, Undertale/Deltarune, The Owl House, Trigun, Dr. Stone); characters from a series I’m not familiar with if given proper references; crossovers, fantasy, scifi, animals, fanfic illustrations, OCs (if given proper references), and possibly more. Feel free to ask! Things I will not draw… Gore, vore, rape, abuse, offensive themes (racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc.), RPF (real person fanfiction) or shipping real people, I reserve the right to refuse any request.

Upcharges

My limit of characters to draw in one picture/comic is 1, you will be charged for every additional character in the drawing. For an illustration, the price will be multiplied by the number of total characters. The backgrounds will remain one charge. For a comic, every additional complex character is $30 for a pencil page, $40 for an inked page, and $50 for a coloured page.

If your character has a complex design (Examples: detailed armor, complex clothing or jewelry, additional features…) a charge of $15 will apply.

Excessive changes will be charged. On your third and every subsequent major modification request, you will be charged $20.

My limit for short comics is 1 page. If you want more, it will be multiplied by the number of pages and type of commission (ex. a 2 page pencil comic is $100 x 2 = $200).

HOW TO PAY: You will receive an invoice from my Paypal email once the commission has been agreed upon. I will not start working on the commission until the invoice is paid. No refunds. Payment in euros is preferable, if possible. Otherwise USD is always accepted.

[ILLUSTRATION PRICING]

PENCIL SKETCHES:

Head: $10

Half body: $15

Full body: $30

-> With Abstract Background: +$30

-> With Detailed Background: +$50

INK (or DIGITAL LINEART):

Head: $20

Half body: $25

Full body: $50

FULL BODY FLAT COLOURED (with pencils, markers, or digital): $75 (+$15 for shading)

With Abstract Background: +$35

With Detailed Background: +$100

FULL BODY COLOURED WITH WATERCOLOURS: $100

With Abstract Background (watercolours): +$80

With Detailed Background (watercolours): +$150

NSFW*:

Half Body Pencils: $40

Full Body Pencils: $80

Half Body Pencils + Inks: $45

Full Body Pencils + Inks: $95

Half Body Coloured (only digital) : $65

Full Body Coloured (with pencils, markers, or digital) : $110

->With Shading: +$15

->With Abstract Background: +$125

->With Detailed Background: +$155

*YOU MUST BE 18+ FOR THIS TIER. As it is a new and delicate subject for me, we’ll discuss beforehand what kind of scenarios I will be comfortable enough to draw.

[COMIC PRICING]

The client has to show me the storyboard or script of the scene that I’m meant to follow in the desired commission.

SHORT COMICS:

1 Page Comic, Pencils: $100

1 Page Comic, Pencils And Ink: $180

1 Page Comic, Inks + Colours (with pencils, markers, or digital): $270

NSFW COMIC PAGE**:

1 Page Comic, Pencils: $300

1 Page Comic, Inks: $350

1 Page Comic, Inks + Colours (with pencils, markers, or digital): $400

**As it is a new and delicate subject for me, we’ll discuss beforehand what kind of scenarios I will be comfortable enough to draw.

#auro talks #paypal commissions #art #auroblaze commissions #my art #auroblaze art

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astragatwo · 6 months

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Wow, what the fuck! How did that happen.

In all seriousness, thank you! Running this blog has been a lot of fun so far. I've mentioned it off-handily in the tags once but forgot about it, but as a thank you - I will be holding a small art raffle! It was supposed to be for 100 followers, but this will do as well.

There will be 3 winners total, please be sure to read the guidelines under the cut or your entry will not be counted.

Details etc. under the cut! Ends in about a week of posting this (Nov. 17)!

The artwork you receive cannot be used for commercial/for-profit/Block-chain/AI purposes. You may use it for whatever personal purpose you want, however! (Icons, pagedolls, personal physical items etc)

By entering this raffle, you agree to the following terms of service - which are a condensed list of my full ToS found here.

Unless asked for otherwise, I reserve the right to use the artwork drawn as commission examples/regular posting.

Upon winning, you must respond to my DM within 48hrs - otherwise a new winner will be selected.

You must provide me with as clear of a reference image or images as possible. Preferably flat colors and non-intrusive watermarks.

You may never remove my signature from the artwork you receive.

Please leave visible credit somewhere if you choose to display it somewhere on a website.

I ask for your patience as I am a university student with very unreliable motivation and that I am doing this for free. I may take a while to complete the artwork! I will update you if anything happens (ex. delays)!

For what I will and will not draw, please see the lists at the bottom of this page! (I will draw both canon characters as well as OCs!)

------

You do not need to follow/be following me in order for your entry to count, although it is appreciated.

HOW TO ENTER

Like + Reblog this post - That's all! Multiple reblogs do not count for more entries, it is one per person.

------

END DATE

Winners will be drawn November 17th.

Animated chibi examples can be found here and here.

------

That's all - Thank you again for the support. :)

#i forgot to tag this oop #not art #raffles

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windtowee · 9 months

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Masters List/Rules/Info

Before you read below, I will not be taking requests because of end of year testing. I should be able to take them early May

Info about me:

I'm an old Tumblr user who had just chosen to write again due to school.

I'm gender neutral, who is bisexual

I'm still a student so I might not be able to do stuff on here all the time.

my grammar might suck too because, y’know the English language has there, their and your, you’re. It’s all very confusing to me

I'm under 18 as well

On a more personal level, I want to get into the medical field once I’m older

I’m an INTJ

I’m a Hispanic/American child with two older siblings

RULES:

No Smut At All

Anything with people below 13 will be strictly Platonic

I will write for any gender, you just have to request it, if you don't then I'll put it as gender neutral

I will write Yandere’s

I will write for OC’s

No animal’s will be used in a romantic sense

I do not write for a religious themes because I’m not religious myself so I don’t know what to do

Requests are always open unless said otherwise

Sometimes I will post Random stuff on here

What Fandoms I Will Write For:

Creepypasta

She ra (Spop)

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

How to train your dragon (Httyd)

The Dragon Prince (Tdp)

Legend of Zelda (Loz)

Super Mario Movie

Voltron (Vld)

Demon slayer (Kny)

The promised Neverland (Tpn)

Heartstopper (Only the books)

Avatar the last airbender (Alta)

Narnia

Victorious

Disney

Linked universe

My hero academia (Mha)

The outsiders book

Delicious in Dungeon

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (MPHFPC)

Any crossover’s in fandoms with x Reader or without

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purlty23 · 6 months

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New commission post with updated prices!! Again, the number of slots will remain subject to change based on my availability.

To order, complete and submit order form:

SFW Order Form — N/S/F/W Order Form

Prices listed in image and typed out below! I can draw:

humans (fanart + ocs!)

furries + animals of ANY breed!

n/s/f/w for adult customers (18+)

ALL prices are in USD, paypal invoice only! Contact me by message here or at my email [email protected]

More details under the read more!

Prices:

Sketch: Half body: $20 USD Full body: $25 USD

Flat color: Half body: $35 USD Full body: $40 USD

Full color: Half body: $50 USD Full body: $55 USD

$5 per extra character

I will NOT draw:

mechs

images depicting hate (homophobia, racism) or art including symbols associated with such topics

nsfw art of underage characters (even aged up)

For Original Characters (human and furry): I do ask for at least ONE full reference image! Detailed as possible so that I can do your character justice with as much confidence and accuracy as possible! Thank you<3

I will only ask for payment once the base sketch has been approved.

#Commission info

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dethronetheveil · 6 months

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Like a Villain | Part Four

Pairing: Noah x OC (Christie/Chris)

Warnings: mention of m*rder, mention of death, blood, cursing, mention of weapons, use of weapons, general violence [be careful before you read on!]

Synopsis: Part Four- Chris and Noah reunite but under quite weird circumstances. They decide to celebrate at a party, but things just continue to go south, especially for Chris.

Word Count: 2.6k

Tag List: @ladyveronikawrites , @catj422 , @asilentsiren [lmk if you would like to be tagged in the last part!]

My blood ran cold and for a second I thought I was going to fall over, from how wobbly my legs had become. It was Noah. But, why was he texting from an unknown number and why now? Should I actually go to his apartment? Is this a set up? All of these questions ran through my head as I steadied myself against the hard cement fountain that stood in the middle of the courtyard. This was where we first met. I could only remember how weird it was, and now I am receiving an equally weird text. Damn this fountain.

I pushed myself away from the centerpiece and slowly began to pace back and forth. I didn’t know how to approach this situation. I should be mad, but for some reason I was mostly feeling relief. I was so worried about him and now he was giving me a sign that he was okay. Or that’s what I thought. But, maybe I was overthinking this entire thing. I was going to go with that, because the more naive part of me wanted to see Noah again, despite all of the warning signs floating around inside my head like annoying little gnats.

I took a deep breath and practically forced myself to move from my safe spot in the courtyard towards Noah’s apartment. Luckily his apartment was on the ground floor, same as mine, so I didn't have too far to walk. My heart was racing in my chest, and I could hear my blood pumping in my ears. As I reached Noah’s door, my whole body erupted in anxious flames. I did not know what I was about to walk into, but the positive part of my brain pushed through all of the negative muck and sent my hand straight for the door. I knocked on it three times and waited for what felt like an eternity,until I saw the door handle turning. I held my breath until the door swung fully open, and Noah was standing in front of me, with a wide smile plastered across his face.

I let out the breath and gave him a short grin. Honestly, I didn’t feel like giving him a full energetic smile. He left me worried for over a week. He deserved my half-assed smile. Before I could do anything else, I felt Noah wrap his long arms around me and pull me in for a hug. My body did not respond with his and I kept my arms at my side as he squeezed me for a second. He let go, noticing my obvious discomfort.

He looked at me inquisitively, “What’s wrong, Chris?”

It took me a minute to process the fact that he had asked me that question. I couldn’t help but scoff, “Are you fucking kidding me?”

I think Noah could tell this was going to be a more in depth conversation, so he just opened his door wider, and I wordlessly walked in. If I weren’t so taken aback by the oddities of this entire situation, I think I would have liked his apartment, but at that moment, everything was annoying me. He had a plain brown couch, with two pillows on them. Mismatched. He had anime posters hanging on the walls and what I could only assume was a katana displayed in the corner of the living room. What a fucking nerd. I physically rolled my eyes and plopped down on the couch, waiting for him to make his way over to the living room. He sat on the other end of the couch and sighed.

“Are you mad?”

“Are you stupid?”

Noah placed his hand to his chest, “Ouch.”

Usually I am never this up front or abrupt, but he left me confused and stressed for over a week with no sign or word as to where he was, and now he was acting like nothing had happened. I could feel the heat rising in my face, but I wanted to try and stay as calm as I possibly could, “Noah, you left. For over a week. I didn’t get one text, one call, I got nothing. And all of a sudden you’re back, texting from an unknown number, and you’re acting like everything is all fine and normal? How the fuck am I supposed to react?”

Noah just raised his eyebrows and let out a short cough, “I-I lost my phone. I dropped it in a puddle and I had to get a new one.”

“Noah, that literally only explains one small detail of all my concerns. Where were you?”

He sighed, “I just- I had to take some time away. These murders… they’re really really getting to me.”

“Noah, they’re getting to me too. We were supposed to help each other.”

“Chris, my mom was murdered. When I was 10.”

I felt all of the blood in my body rush to my feet, and I wanted so badly to take back everything I had said about five seconds ago. But also, I had no idea, “Noah, I-I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize. You didn’t know. I don’t like to talk about it. It was really difficult. She was kind of like my best friend. And then one day, she went to that little convenience store, you know, on Oakley, and some guy was robbing the store. Mom just so happened to be there at the worst time and she… she got shot. She was dead on the scene. My dad and I didn’t know how to handle it, how to cope. My dad definitely took it worse than I did. He drank himself to death. So, I just needed to get away.”

I could hardly process all of the information Noah had just given me. It would make sense as to why he would need some space, though. I couldn’t blame him for that. I gently placed my hand on top of his and looked up at him, “I am so sorry, Noah. For what I said. For everything, but I’ve got you.”

He just smiled and leaned closer to me, placing a soft kiss against my lips and pulling away almost immediately. I was a bit disappointed, because I hadn’t kissed him in a while, but I understood why he didn’t feel like prolonging anything.

“Thank you, Chris. You’re incredible.”

I could feel a blush rising to the surface of my skin, “Stop, you’re making me blush. But, you’re not too shabby yourself,” I replied with a chuckle.

He responded with a chuckle as well and ran his hand through his hair,”I do have a random question. Would you want to go to a party with me tonight? It’s a whole costume party thing so I get if you wouldn’t want to…”

I let out a louder laugh than I anticipated, “Sorry, sorry. That was just a horrible segway.”

He laughed shyly, “Yea,yea. You’re not wrong.”

“But, as long as you promise not to bail on me anymore, then I guess I will go with you.”

He shot me a snarl, followed with a laugh, “Okay, I can try and make that work.”

***

We arrived at the house, like an actual house, not an apartment, and the music was already blaring and people were already puking in the yard. I had never been the biggest fan of big parties, but I felt safe with Noah by my side. He was dressed in all black and had some sort of devil mask on, and I was dressed in a corset-type top, with a black skirt, and devil horns. All things I randomly found in my closet.

Before we made our way in, Noah turned to me, “So, this is my friend Folio’s house. Nick Folio, but he goes by Folio. My other friends Nick and Jolly will be here too. I want to introduce you to them.”

I nodded along as he told me each of their names, “So there are two Nicks and a Jolly.”

“Well, that’s why we call Folio Folio. Makes things easier.”

“Okay, that makes sense. Your friends have some interesting names though.”

He just laughed and led me through the front door and we immediately beelined our way to the kitchen, where all of Noah’s friends were, except Folio. Jolly was a tall, slender man with long brown hair, and he seemed very quiet. He wasn’t really dressed up and he just threw me a few smiles here and there. Nick was shorter and was covered in tattoos. His black hair was pulled up into a bun and he was dressed like a nun.

“Nice nun costume,” I commented through a chuckle.

“Thank you, thank you. You must be Chris. Noah has told us-”

Nick stopped talking and I could tell Noah was shooting daggers at him through his eyes, so Nick immediately put his hands up in surrender, “My bad. All I meant was, we are excited to finally meet you.”

I smiled, “Well, it’s nice to finally meet you too.”

Before anyone could say anything else, a sweaty guy without a shirt on came busting through the kitchen and bombarded our group. He threw an arm around Noah and smiled at me, “You must be Chris. I’m Folio, at your service. Welcome to mi casa,” he held his hand out for me to shake and I did so, but only for a second. I meant it when I said he was sweaty.

“Did you just finish running a marathon,” I asked.

“Hoo hoo,she’s quick, Noah! But no, I’ve just been running around here like a fool, trying to make sure none of these assholes puke on my floor or fuck in my bed.”

I nodded my head once, “Noted. Well, from the looks of it, I’d say you’re doing an adequate job.”

“Thank you. I pride myself on being the host that keeps the fun outside.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Folio was a character.

“I’ve gotta run to the bathroom. Are you okay if I leave you with the guys, Chris,” Noah asked.

“Yea, that’s totally fine. Gives me more time to try and get Jolly to talk.”

“Hey, I talk. Just only when it’s something important,” he raised an eyebrow and went back to his vow of silence. And with that, Noah had already walked off and I was left alone with three dudes I just met.

“So, Chris, tell us about you,” Folio moved closer to me and leaned his body against the counter so that he was now facing me.

“What do you want to know?”

“Hmm, what’s your favorite color?”

This reminded me of the time Noah and I talked about our favorite colors and how hard he bullied me for mine. “Wow, I am glad you’re going for the important things. But, it’s umm orange.”

“Goddamnit, not orange.”

“What’s so wrong with orange? Noah gave me the same shit! What’s your favorite color, Folio?”

“Green,” he replied with a large grin.

“That’s just as bad as or-” before I could finish, there was a shrill scream that pierced the air, but no one except the four of us noticed or cared. The other party goers probably thought that was just a normal party scream. Each of us looked at each other with concern.

Just as Folio pushed himself off the counter, Noah came running down the stairs towards us with blood covering his hands. I instinctively took a step back when he made his way over to us, but he was panting and he looked concerned.

“Th-there’s a girl. Sh-she is dead I-I think. Dude, I think the murderer might be here.”

My legs turned into jelly for the second time tonight and I immediately felt like I couldn’t breathe. I grabbed onto the counter for support and I just shook my head, “What the fuck,” was all I could muster up.

“Well, someone needs to go inspect the area, see what happened. What we can find,” Folio said.

“How about we go in teams and see if we find anything suspicious. We can’t have anyone else dying tonight,” said Noah.

Jolly and Nick looked at each other, obvious nervousness clouding their eyes, but they reluctantly agreed anyway, “Jolly and I can go look outside,” Nick responded.

“Okay good good, yea. Chris and I can take upstairs and Folio, you take downstairs.”

My head snapped up when I heard my name and I shook my head even faster, “Noah, I-I can’t. I didn’t sign up for this.”

“Chris, I need you.”

My entire head felt dizzy and my heart was pounding in my chest, but I knew I couldn’t abandon Noah, so I too reluctantly agreed. We all looked at one another and silently split up into our groups. Noah took my hand in his and squeezed it gently. He smiled down at me and looked back at Folio before he and I began our trek up the stairs.

As we climbed the stairs, one by one, my head felt lighter and lighter. It felt like the oxygen was getting thinner and I could hardly breathe. I balanced myself against Noah’s arm and remembered he had blood still all over his hands. I gulped, “Noah, I-I can’t look at a dead body. I’m sorry, I can’t.”

“We can start somewhere else. I don’t want to see it again either.”

I nodded and we finished walking up the flight of stairs. We started searching the first room at the end of the hall, which looked like it might have been Folio’s. We detached from each other and walked around the room. I was inspecting every little item Nick had. This guy was really into fish. He had catalogs, pictures, even one of those talking fish placards that your dad would have in his garage in the 80s.

I continued to look around, but could tell my footsteps were the only ones present. I stopped where I was and looked around. Noah was nowhere to be found, and I began to panic once again. What if the killer got him? What if the killer was in this room? I began to scramble around the room, looking for anything that I could use as a weapon, while simultaneously calling for Noah.

I found a baseball bat next to Folio’s bed and I grabbed it with both of my hands and made sure I had it ready. Right then, I felt a hand on my arm and my whole body jumped. Before I could turn around and put the baseball bat to good use, I heard a familiar voice whisper in my ear, “Don’t be scared. Now that we’re alone, we can have a little fun.” My body shuddered, and to make matters worse, the person behind me then placed a silver knife to my throat. Its cold exterior caused a shiver to run down my spine and my entire body began to tremble from pure fear.

“Drop the bat,” the voice whispered once again.

I could feel tears welling up in my eyes and I knew this would be my last night on earth. There was no way I was going to survive this.

“I said put the fucking bat down,” the voice said louder this time. I obeyed and dropped the bat. This only received a chuckle from the voice, as he pressed the knife even closer to my skin.

I was fully shaking at this point and I could not see a way out of this, so I horsley asked the voice, “Why are you doing this, Folio?”

#bad omens #bad omens cult #noah sebastian #bad omens band #like a villain fic #bad omens fic

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sorroute · 5 months

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Random x reader event !!

Hellooo :)) I was very bored and wanted to write stuff so I made this side blog to create this event thingy ^^ Please read the whole thing!!!

(REQS ARE OPEN, though I'm currently on a break, feel free to send in an ask! I will get to them once I'm back to writing <3)

What is the event, you ask?

Well, it's like any other matchup event, basically. You can send in an ask and write some information about yourself, and I will assign you a character to ship you with <3 You can share as much or as little about yourself as you'd like!! You could only write the requirements, or you could infodump about yourself and write 13 paragraphs!! I really don't mind- the more the merrier :3 (also I love learning about people)

Ps. This could also be about an oc of yours if you so wish! You don't have to specify if it is an oc or if it's you, only the required info <3

Required information:

Personality

Any hobbies

Male or female character

Which fandom

If there are any characters you do NOT want to be matched with

Optional information (It helps alot but is not required):

Name and/or nickname(s)

Gender

Appearance (hair color, length, style of clothing, eye color, etc.)

Pronouns

Sexuality (might not come up)

Age (So I know whether to give you an adult or younger character! If you're over 18, I will only assign characters over 18. If you're under 18, I will only assign characters in your age range<3 If your age is unspecified, it will default to an adult character)

Romantic or platonic (will default to romantic if this is unspecified)

Aesthetic

Any problems you struggle with, whether it be mental or physical <3

Any physical disabilities you may have

Afab or amab (if you want NSFW headcanons)

Mbti // zodiac

And anything else you'd like to add! Again, add as much or as little as you'd like, as long as you have all the requirements ^^

Fandoms I write for:

Bungou Stray Dogs

Genshin Impact

Honkai Star Rail

Pokemon (all games + anime)

Reverse 1999

Omori

Toilet Bound Hanako-Kun

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Hazbin Hotel

Helluva Boss

Botw/totk

(I'm in more fandoms, but not a lot of them are popular X reader wise. If you wanna try your luck with a fandom that isn't on here, here's the post with every fandom I'm in!! Plus other info abt me :3)

Things I will NOT do:

Nsfw with minors

Detailed nsfw (will do headcanons, but not hyperspecific)

Adult x minor (whether you are the adult or minor doesn't matter! If you're a minor and want an adult character, don't specify your age)

Aged up characters

Any fandoms that I do not write for/am not in

Dead dove

Romanticize illness of any kind

Notes:

I have school, so depending on how many requests I get, it may take much longer to get to some compared to others :( My deepest apologies<3

I have the right to decline the request if it makes me uncomfortable (even if it is not on the 'will not do' list)

If you don't meet all the required information, I will not be able to do your request

Any homophobia, transphobia, racism, abelism, and anything else of that matter will NOT be tolerated under any circumstances. Ever.

Please, please make your request organized. I will still do it either way, but it makes it much easier for me to read if you paragraph your request <3 It is very much appreciated!!

If you're not happy with the result you got, please feel free to let me know!! Just be nice about it please, I have a weak soul </3

(May update this later)

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gwens-fiction · 19 days

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Intro Post

Hi! I’m Gwen. I’m 26, she/her, have a masters in wildlife biology and conservation management, bachelors in biology with minors of English and environmental studies. I have two younger siblings, and 8 pets (5 dogs, 1 rabbit, and 2 cats). I write a lot of fanfiction for the Penguins of Madagascar fandom, but I also write several original things, too.

Genres I write tend to fall under: fantasy, urban fantasy, sci-fi, horror, weird science, action comedy (with animal characters), mystery, poetry.

Feel free to ask to be on any tag list! WIPs below the cut.

Original WIPs

Hidden Earth Chronicles

Summary: Necromancer Vasco has just returned home to find his beloved wife missing. He and his brother-in-law set out to find her and along the way Vasco learns more about where he came from and his own abilities.

Tropical Storm

Summary: Martin along Evy and Diego, are newly moving into the San Diego Zoo. However, Martin’s life is unexpectedly rocked when a secret agent accidentally drops a piece of top secret spy equipment among his belongings. Now he’s been recruited by the local espionage squad. Together they keep the zoo safe from assorted enemies, as well as face international threats.

Also planning: Patagonia Penguins which takes place long before this but is connected via being about Martin's parents.

My Baby’s a Werewolf

Summary: Single Dad, Sebastian’s, toddler daughter, Amber, gets bitten by a “big dog” one evening and becomes a little werepup. Now her dad is handling the pressures of being a single dad as well as trying to get his daughter back to normal.

Obscure Science

Summary: Rejected scientist Dr. Darwin Rose finds new employment with an off-the-record agency that focuses on well…obscure and bizarre occurrences, whether they be paranormal, supernatural, fantastical, or seem like something from science fiction, this agency investigates it all. Darwin is paired up with another scientist, Dr. Cassidy Blue, and together they have some crazy escapades.

Shady Acres

Summary: Sydney, freshly graduated from high school, goes to spend the summer with her older brother Ryan at his cabin. They set up trail cameras for fun but soon get unexpected photos that introduce them to whole new oddities that the woods can offer.

Title Under Construction

Summary: A small town has become plagued by a mysterious creature that keeps eating the inhabitants.

Fanfic WIPs

A Scientific Romance Series

A series of Penguins of Madagascar fics about Kowalski the penguin and his invention unexpectedly pairing him up with the penguins' arch nemesis: Dr Blowhole and how they’re making this relationship work.

Spin Offs:

Scientist Overboard

Summary: Francis and Kowalski have been dating for over a year when Kowalski and the others go on a mission out at sea. Kowalski finds himself washed overboard during a bad storm, waking up without any memory on an island. He and his spirit guide then attempt to return to New York while the others try to find him.

Haunted Mansion

Summary: Blowhole, Kowalski, and their children decide to go on a family vacation, but get sidetracked by a haunted mansion's advertisement that Blowhole couldn't pass up. Will include 2 guest OCs of my friend @insert-meaningful-username. A Franski fic with bonus fankids.

Collaborative WIPs with @insert-meaningful-username

Mallory Manor (Title Under Construction)

Summary: Rose sneaks into the sketchy old Mallory Manor at the end of the street and discovers far more than she bargained for.

Clandestine Affairs

Summary: During the biggest heist they’ll ever pull off, infamous criminal duo Show Biz planned on robbing one of the richest and highly valuable connections to have, Julien Prince. However, they’ve finally been caught by their rivals. With the heroes winning this battle, surely things will now be brought to justice...until, the charges are read. Sentence to death for...murdering the Senator of Delaware?!? NOW, our heroes must team up with the baddies to end this confusion, solving the mystery of the true mastermind before the crooks are falsely put to death for the only crime they didn’t commit.

Caretaker of Madagascar (Penguins of Madagascar series)

Summary: Some believe misfortune can bring people together. Others believe that destiny has the power to interconnect lives, whether those lives wanted to or not. Call it a coincidence. Call it fate. Call it a despicable force of nature. Either way, nothing could've stopped the fact that Bridget Ailith, a cantankerous new zookeeper, found herself forced to team up with the Penguins to undo a machine's disastrous effects. Doesn't help that those penguins are now—

Do You Read Me, 00FU? (Subnautica / Neebs Gaming inspired series)

Summary: Hired aboard Alterra’s prestigious and pristine spaceship, The Aurora, space engineer rookie Appsro finally gets his opportunity to voyage across the galaxy… Until it fucking crashes onto an uncharted pelagic planet. Alone and stranded on quarantined 4546B, all Appsro has in his survival skill set is his ingenuity, some tools, stubbornness, and the aid of a few (debatable if helpful or not) Alterra HQ Operators. Can he prevail and escape the treacherous deep waters, enormous aquatic monsters, and the lethal thousand-year-old bacteria that feast upon the planet? Probably not. He’s fucked.

#intro post #writerblr intro

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blueraineshadows · 8 months

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Brothers Part 8

Garreth Weasley 🔺️ F!MC 🔺️Oscar Weasley

A love rivalry between two Weasley brothers. Oscar is an OC created by @eternalremorse and used with her permission.

Tags: NSFW 🔞 panic attacks, angst

Chapter Master List Also available on Ao3.

Chapter Eight - Distractions

After four days in the hospital wing, MC had an urge to get outside for some fresh air. While she'd had plenty of company with visits from her friends and Oscar, she felt like she had been missing out on things regardless. She had classes to catch up on and a stash of copied notes to read, but the late October sunshine called to her.

Nurse Blainey discharged her with strict instructions to take it easy for a few days. Her wounds healed, but faint silvery marks still visible on her skin. Walking through the castle, she felt a bit stiff, her muscles grown lethargic after laying in a bed for so long. So, bundled up in her robe and scarf, she took to the school grounds, the chilly air on her cheeks a pleasant relief as she stretched her legs.

In search of Poppy, it was no surprise to see her at the beast enclosures, basket in hand, as she dolled out treats. It did surprise MC to see Oscar leaning his elbows on the fence, chatting and laughing with Poppy, his red hair shining in the sunlight. MC paused at the edge of the beasts classroom, watching them a moment, a small smile on her face as they laughed. They both meant so much to her, and she took this moment to just appreciate having people in her life who cared about her. Once she would have had nobody, but her Hogwarts family was growing, her little circle of special people so precious to her.

She stepped a little closer and Oscar saw her, straightening immediately to hurry around the enclosure towards her.

"They let you out," he said, smiling. His arms were ready and waiting for her, swallowing her up into his warmth in a tight embrace. "How are you feeling?"

"I am glad to be out of there," she said. She looked up into his blue eyes. "I'm looking forward to getting back to normal."

He kissed her forehead. "I am claiming your evening before you even think about making any other plans. I want you all to myself."

"Nothing too energetic I hope, I am under strict orders to rest," she said.

He stroked her cheek with his thumb, his eyes darkening as he moved his face a little closer. "I'm sure we can find something relaxing to do."

A thrill of a shiver trickled along her spine as she stared into his eyes. However did he manage it? Just one look could switch on the little fire inside her and she was already feeling the tingle of warmth in her cheeks.

The gentle clearing of a throat beside them made them turn and pull apart a little. MC's cheeks flushed hotter at Poppy's little grin, and she reluctantly stepped out from Oscar's embrace.

"Forgive me for interrupting," Poppy said, eyes twinkling. "But we need to get ready for class."

Oscar chuckled. "Of course. I need to get moving myself," he said. He smiled at Poppy. "Thanks for letting me help you. It was lovely chatting with you, Poppy. And do let me know if you need any more help with the unicorns, I meant what I said."

MC's eyes widened. "Unicorns? You told him?"

Poppy blushed. "Well, yes. After everything that happened I thought I would fill him in. I'm surprised you didn't."

"You should have told me," Oscar said, a slight frown on his face. His fingers caught hold of her scarf, toying with the end of it. A shadow shifted across his eyes as he looked at her. "You can trust me with stuff like this. I could have helped you."

"I didn't know you were so into beast care," MC said. She tucked some hair behind her ear, shifting slightly.

Oscar nodded. "It's my second favourite class after Quidditch. I have always loved animals, and I help dad on the farm with our own whenever I am home."

Poppy's smile was soft as she looked at him, and MC felt an uncomfortable shift in her stomach. She had kept the truth from Oscar after what had happened with Garreth, not wanting him to think badly of her, and now Poppy had divulged their secret. MC wasn't sure she liked the way Poppy was looking at Oscar either, and his enthusiasm regarding the unicorns was a surprise. What else had these two been chatting about in her absence? As irrational as the feeling was, MC couldn't help the tiny flare of envy that sprung to life at the way these two were looking at each other.

"I look forward to hearing more about your animals in our next chat," Poppy said.

MC looked between the two of them, an urge to grab Oscar sneaking over her. This was silly. Poppy was her friend. She brushed her hand over her hair and took a deep breath, realising that she was shaking a little as she tried to get a hold of herself. She felt Oscar's hand slide into hers and she looked up, his eyes filled with concern.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded, forcing a smile onto her lips. "Of course. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the unicorns. It was supposed to be a secret."

Oscar glanced at Poppy, excusing them for a moment before he led MC off to one side. He cupped her face in his hands, his touch was gentle, the calluses on his palms a pleasing scrape on her cold skin.

"You can tell me anything," he said quietly. "Please, don't hold back from me. You gave me quite the scare the other night. I thought I had lost you..."

She put her hand over his, her eyes stinging. "I'm sorry."

He shook his head, leaning forward to press his forehead against hers. "I really like you," he whispered. "I know you have secrets, and you don't have to tell me all of them, but please, don't shut me out."

The ache in her chest was so tight she could hardly breathe. She squeezed his hand and nodded, fighting back the cold strokes of panic that threatened to spill out. "I will try to be more open," she said carefully. "It's not easy for me."

His lips brushed softly against hers, warm and gentle. She closed her eyes, savouring that touch and wishing it was easier to reveal the darkest parts of her heart. He was right, she had many secrets, truths that he could never know, not even Poppy knew them. But, she could try and be more open in other ways.

"I shall see you tonight," she whispered against his lips.

After another kiss goodbye, Oscar set off for his next class as MC watched him go, swallowing down the flutter of panic and steadying her breaths before she helped Poppy put the treats away.

"Oscar is so lovely, MC," Poppy said. "How do you manage to even part with him for one moment? I am almost jealous."

"Almost?" MC quirked an eyebrow. That little nudge of jealousy returned and she gazed at Poppy curiously.

Poppy blushed and dipped her gaze. "Well, I shouldn't be jealous, not when I have a boy of my own to kiss."

MC gasped and grabbed her arm. "What?"

Poppy giggled, her hands coming up to her face. "Sebastian and I kissed."

MC laughed in delight, the news lifting her spirits as she gave Poppy a hug, squeezing her friend. Relief was sweet, and she scolded herself for doubting her friend for even a moment, her jealousy evaporating at this news. MC didn't know what had gotten into her thinking that Poppy had eyes for Oscar.

"Oh, you have to tell me everything!" She said, grabbing Poppy by the arm as they walked back to the castle. "I'm so happy for you."

....*....

Garreth made his way to the Potions classroom, yawning and rubbing his eyes, wishing he could slink off to the dorm for a nap instead. It wasn't like him to want to skip potions class, but he had been struggling to sleep the last few nights, and it was beginning to catch up with him.

For some reason, Oscar was being weird with him, avoiding him and barely speaking, his face an irritated scowl whenever they faced each other. Garreth wasn't entirely sure what the problem was, but it had started the night MC was hurt. He wondered if MC had told Oscar about the incident in the forest.

The memory of that afternoon still sent shivers down his spine. He may have told her there was nothing to forgive, but it wasn't so easy to banish the image of her dealing out death with ancient lightning bolts. It haunted him a bit, and he supposed it was unlikely she had revealed the truth to Oscar. It still didn't explain why Oscar was cross with him.

He had asked Oscar what his problem was but received a grunt in reply, his brother just walking away rather than say any more. Garreth tried not to let it bother him, but all of that and worrying about MC and her panic attacks had been keeping him awake. He wanted to help her and wished he could do so much more than the one silly idea he had.

Entering the dim interior of the potions classroom, Sebastian grabbed his shoulder and gave him a nod in greeting before making his way over to his work bench with Ominis. Their little duelling practise sessions were also another activity that was tiring him out, but he was determined to keep going. Not only was it helping him improve his skills, but it also deepened the unlikely friendship that he had formed with the Slytherin. It's a little unexpected but not unwelcome.

Garreth paused in his step as he made his way to his own workstation, tiredness forgotten and a grin spreading across his lips, as he spotted MC in her usual seat. Her hair was pulled back from her face, the remains of silvery marks on her skin from her wounds still visible, but she was smiling as she chatted with Natsai. She may be a scarred mass murderer, but she was beautiful, and his heart skipped a beat at the sight of her out of that hospital bed and back in her usual spot.

Garreth hurried over, dumping his books on the table top and leaning towards her. "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes," he said fondly.

MC turned her smile his way, eyes lighting up. "Yep, I've been set free at last," she said. "It feels good to be back.'

"It's good to have you back, it's felt rather empty at this table with you gone."

"Its nice to be missed," she said softly.

Their gazes met for a moment and Garreth felt the familiar warmth spreading up his neck. He fiddled with his book, taking a seat with an uncertain smile as Sharp exited his office.

It did feel great to have his partner back, and there was lots of giggling and quiet chatter as they worked on their brew. This was the girl he knew. This whispered talk and shared smiles filled him with an ache for her, the darkness easily swept aside as he looked into her eyes.

"Will you be well enough to go on the Hogsmeade trip?" He asked.

She nodded. "Absolutely, nothing will keep me away. I've been looking forward to it."

"Is Oscar escorting you?"

Her warm smile at the mention of Oscar's name made his heart sink but he pushed his envy aside. "Yes he is. Did you hear that Sebastian is escorting Poppy?"

Garreth grinned. "I did indeed," he said. He glanced over at Sebastian. "He finally had the balls to ask her."

MC leant in close to whisper into his ear. "They kissed."

Garreth's eyes widened, his head turning so that he could look at her. She was so close he could see each individual eye lash, the detail in the healing wound across her brow, and her soft breath fanned against his cheek. She pulled back a bit, her own cheeks turning pink, and he fumbled with his pot of Dittany, spilling the leaves across his textbook.

He cleared his throat. "Well, Seb kept that one quiet," he said. "All I need now is for Leander to get a snogging partner, and then I really will be the odd one out. Unless I escort Trixie, she has asked a few times if I would."

"Oh, has she?" MC stiffened, a frown creasing her brow. "Is that what you would like to take Trixie?"

Garreth grimaced in thought. Trixie was beautiful, and she was very good at kissing, but if he was really being honest, she scared him a little bit. He was not very experienced when it came to ladies and how to please them, and Trixie would expect it from him, he was sure. However, there didn't seem to be a queue of lovely ladies waiting for him, not like his Slytherin friend who was going to break hearts by having Poppy on his arm.

He sighed. "Maybe, I'm not sure," he said. "She probably found someone else to take by now anyway."

MC's lips twisted. "Yes, well, girls like Trixie always get their claws into someone."

The disapproval rolled off MC in waves and Garreth gave her a long look. "You don't like her much, do you?"

MC sighed. "She doesn't particularly like me either. I stole Oscar from her after all, not that she hasn't stopped trying to lure him back," she said frowning. She lifted her eyes to his. "You can do better, Garreth. She doesn't deserve you."

He smiled as he gazed at her, that familiar warmth creeping up his neck.

They finished up their potions and filled the vials ready to hand in. As they tidied their workstations, MC bit back a yawn. It wasn't hard to miss the shadows under her eyes and the paleness of her face. It was her first day back in classes, and she was no doubt finding it hard.

"Are you alright?" He asked quietly.

She gave him a tired smile and nodded. "I'm tougher than I look."

She had said that before. Maybe she was tough, but she was also human, and he thought again about his silly idea to help her. Her insistence that she was tough didn't stop him from wanting to be there for her.

"Will you walk with me on the way to lunch?" He asked.

"Sure," she said.

Pleased, he gathered his things, a smile tugging at his lips as they made their way to the door. His smile widened even more when she took his arm. Once, not so long ago, he had watched her do that with Sebastian through this very door. He had wondered at their closeness and had envied Sebastian the privilege. Now that privilege was his, and Sebastian appeared beside them, his habitual smirk on his lips now something that Garreth was used to rather than intimidated by. They walked down the hallway together, chatting, Sebastian parting ways with them in Central Hall, pressing a chaste kiss to MC's cheek as he did so.

"I used to be jealous of Sebastian," Garreth blurted.

MC looked up at him, surprise on her face. "You were? Whatever for?"

He shrugged, a blush warming his cheeks. "He is handsome, smart, and can have his pick of the witches in this school with one smile."

"And you can't?" She chuckled, nudging his shoulder playfully. He shook his head in reply and she frowned. "So, what made you stop being jealous of him? You used the past tense."

He met her gaze, honesty making his lips move. "You," he said bluntly. He looked down at their linked arms and pulled her in a little closer. "And being able to do this."

She paused in her step, stopping them both on the stairs as students hurried past around them. "What do you mean?"

Realising he had said too much, he gave her his best grin and playfully tugged on her robe front. "I'm just grateful to have you in my life, that's all," he said. "Ignore me. I think I've gone soft in the head after seeing you so hurt and distressed the other night."

She visibly swallowed and looked down, her eyes fixing somewhere near his school tie. "I didn't get to really thank you properly for... you know, being there when I was... upset."

He caught her chin with his fingers and she lifted her eyes to his, something flickering in the depths that was gone before he could look deeper. "You don't need to thank me, and I would do it again. Any time."

"Thank you," she whispered.

They walked on, still with linked arms, until they approached the Great Hall for lunch.

"Are you still having the bad dreams?" He asked quietly.

She nodded. "And the panicked feeling. It happened earlier today in fact, but I managed to stop it."

"Does Oscar know about this?"

She stiffened. "No, why has he said something?"

"No, but then he isn't really talking to me right now, so I don't know what he is thinking."

"Why aren't you two talking? Is it because he knows about the unicorns now?"

Garreth shrugged. "You know as much as I do," he said. They pushed through the huge double doors and were greeted by the noise of the Hall.

"Listen, I might have something that can help you with the sleeping and dreams," he said. He fumbled in his pocket for the little cloth pouch he had made up and held it out to her. "Here, take this."

She smiled curiously, taking the pouch and then lifting it to her nose. "Ooh, that smells lovely. Is it lavender?"

"Along with some other herbs and oils. I blended them and made this. I thought you could put it under your pillow. It's supposed to encourage restful sleep."

Her teeth caught on her lower lip as she looked at the little pouch, turning it over in her fingers before pressing it to her nose again. She closed her eyes, and her head tilted to lean against his shoulder. His heart rate picked up, and he was too aware of all the other students that were around them in the bustling hall that could see.

"This is so sweet and kind of you, Garreth," she said softly. "I shall put it under my pillow tonight. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

She smiled, unlinking their arms but not before she gave his a little squeeze. "For the record, I am grateful to have you in my life too, Garreth. You don't need to be jealous of anyone. You're perfect, just as you are."

As she headed for the Hufflepuff table, he slid his hands into his pockets, a smile lingering on his lips as he turned towards the Gryffindor table. He didn't know a whole lot about love, but he wondered if it was possible to keep falling for the same person over and over, each time taking you deeper than the last.

As he reached his usual spot at the table, he met with a pair of familiar blue eyes glaring at him. Garreth's smile slipped from his lips as he climbed onto the bench to sit.

"What was all that about?" Oscar asked in a tight voice.

"Um... I made her a calming pouch to help her sleep," he mumbled. He had to look away from the fury in Oscar's eyes. "She... she said she wasn't sleeping very well."

"How very thoughtful of you," Oscar quipped. "Does this pouch also induce cuddling? You two seemed very cosy."

He attempted a playful smile. "What can I say? It must be that Weasley charm we have."

Oscar slapped his cutlery down on the table top and stood. He leant forward, his face hard with tight control. Other students were starting to look on curiously and Garreth felt his cheeks warm.

"Be careful little brother," Oscar said quietly. "And keep those hands to yourself. I don't appreciate you putting them all over my girl."

"I wasn't..." Garreth spluttered.

"Just stay away from her, Garreth," Oscar warned. He stepped over the bench, his blue eyes flashing as he walked away from the table.

Garreth watched him go, swallowing hard, a trickle of guilt slipping through him. He hadn't put his hands all over MC, as much as he would like to, but he couldn't deny enjoying the way she had touched his arm and leant her head against him. Being close to her was his new favourite thing, but he had to remind himself that it was his brother who had a claim on her.

Him and Oscar had obviously had their sibling spats over the years, and they had fought over things. It was how he had learned how to throw a punch after all. This was the first time they had fought over a girl, though, and he suspected that this was why Oscar was being cold with him. Perhaps he was being a little too over familiar with MC for his liking. Garreth couldn't help it, though. He was just drawn to her like a moth to a light.

He turned to his plate, his appetite fading a little at his brother's cold warning. Oscar wasn't usually the confrontational type, he rarely started fights, but he was capable of holding his own. Garreth knew he had pissed him off. He fiddled with his fork, glancing up to see Leander staring at him.

"What?" He asked defensively.

Leander shook his head. "Nothing mate," he said. "Just... be careful. I don't want to see you and Oscar falling out over some girl."

Garreth's mouth tightened. "She isn't just some girl though, is she?"

Leander gave him a stern look. "Is she worth the risk of falling out with your brother? No girl is worth that, mate."

Garreth groaned and put his head in his hands, fingers digging into his fluffy hair. "What am I going to do?"

"Do as Oscar said, stay away from her for a bit. Maybe find a distraction? What about Trixie? She seemed keen."

Garreth rubbed his face and sighed. "Everyone's had a ride on that broom though."

Leander chuckled. "And now its your turn. I'm not saying you have to get serious, just have some fun, a distraction like I said."

Garreth looked across at the Slytherin table where Trixie was sitting with her friends. She smiled and waved at him, and he gave an uncertain wave back. Trixie was confident and popular, unlike Garreth, who was prone to mishaps and had a relative as a professor. He wasn't sure cheeky charm and knack for potions would be enough to impress her.

Leander nudged his shoulder. "See? She likes you. Come on, you're seventeen in a few weeks, its about time you got your dick wet."

Garreth gave him a look. "What about you?"

Leander smirked. "Being on the Quidditch team has its benefits, Garreth."

Garreth stared at his tall friend in disbelief. He'd kept that quiet. "Who?"

Leander tapped his nose. "That would be telling."

Garreth frowned, a strange feeling of being left behind twisting up his insides. He chanced a look towards MC, who was picking over her plate of food while chatting to Poppy. He envied his brother, so much it left a bitter taste in his mouth. He hated that Oscar could touch her in ways that he could not. Maybe he did need to stop pining after a girl he couldn't have. Oscar had begun to notice, and how long before it caused a rift between himself and MC and he lost her completely.

He shifted his gaze back towards Trixie. Her dark tempting eyes were already looking his way, and her seductive mouth lifted into a teasing smirk. Sebastian had warned him to stay well clear of her, that she was more trouble than she was worth, but like Leander said, he wasn't looking for anything serious. Trixie didn't seem to do serious judging by her kiss list. And her kiss at the party had been hot, he wouldn't lie. Nerves pulled at him at the thought of what they could do together, but he took a deep breath and got to his feet.

Leander looked up. "Where are you going?"

"To see about a distraction," he muttered.

Leander followed the direction of his gaze and slapped him on the back. "That's my boy, go get some."

Garreth ignored the trembling in his legs and walked towards the Slytherin table, Trixie's dark eyes sparkling in anticipation.

....*....

In the quiet of his dormitory, Oscar looked down at MC, her head resting on his chest, his arms wrapped around her and holding her tight. Her hand felt warm in his, her skin soft as he brushed the pad of his thumb across it, comforted that she was here where he wanted her and not somewhere with Garreth.

His muscles tensed as he thought about that moment in the Great Hall, their soft smiles for each other, and the way she had leant her head against Garreth's shoulder. He bent to press a kiss to her forehead, an overwhelming urge to keep her wrapped her here forever sweeping over him. This feeling was strong and surprising, he had not felt like this towards a girl before and he wasn't sure what to do with it, all he knew was that he didn't want her anywhere near his brother.

MC shifted a little, tilting her head to look up at him, the soft glow of his bedside lamp reflecting in her eyes. To have her here on his bed with him was something special, even if they were fully dressed. It had been fun to sneak her in, and he had asked his dorm mates to give them some privacy for a while so that he could have her all to himself. He brushed some hair back from her face, his eyes taking in the healing marks and the paleness of her skin.

"I can't tell you what it means to have you here, safe," he said. Shadows flickered behind her eyes, memories, secrets, but she lifted her lips into a soft smile dismissing them. He cupped her face. "You can talk to me, MC. You know that, right?"

Her gaze shifted and she nodded. "Of course," she said. Her fingers toyed with his tie, their robes long since discarded at the bottom of his bed. "Can we not tonight, though? I'd rather just enjoy being here with you."

Oscar's smile might have been soft, but he knew she had deflected the question, still not ready to open up to him. Her fingers curled his tie, twirling the silky fabric as she lifted her eyes to his once again. He kept still, fighting the urge to pull her closer, the warmth in her look making him ache for her. She brought her lips to his, the most delicate of touches against his lower lip. He stared, her own eyes dipping as she kissed him, lashes curving over the tops of her cheeks.

He felt his desire curl outwards, the blood in his veins rushing south as she shifted to press her lips to his cheek, trailing kisses upwards to his eyes. His eyelids fluttered close as she kissed over them and down his nose, her mouth exploring slowly and gently. There was something very arousing about giving her control, but as she shifted over him, he couldn't help but grasp her hips and guiding her down against him, desperate for friction.

Her soft gasp against his lips was timed with the feel of her heat pressed against his arousal. As her hips rolled, he lifted his, groaning at the delicious friction it caused. He closed his eyes, imagining the tight wetness that lay hidden under her trousers, his cock twitching with the need to bury himself inside her. He knew he would be the first, the only one to have claimed her and it made his need strengthen.

His whispered her name, her kisses now moving along his throat, and he realised she was tugging his tie loose, slipping it from his neck, and then she opened his collar. His hands roamed along her thighs, squeezing a little as he felt her mouth indulge in a delicate suck at the curve of his neck.

"Harder," he murmured. The heat of her quickened breath fanned over the damp skin she had sucked, his pulse tripped madly in his throat, and then her mouth clamped even harder, drawing his flesh up into her mouth with a harsher taste. He sighed at the sting of it, hips flexing against hers. With his shirt now open, he felt the slide of her hand over his chest, slow and hesitant, and as he looked down, her fingers dragged over his stomach before pausing just above his waistband.

Her cheeks flooded with colour, and she sat up, looking so perfect perched on him like she was, her lips swollen with kisses and hair slightly mussed from his touch. He was breathing harder, body burning for more, but he reigned it in. This had to be on her terms.

Her smile was endearingly shy, and her fingers trembled as she slid her own tie free and worked on her shirt buttons. Oscar licked his lips, eyes starved as the fabric of her blouse widened to reveal a pretty lace chemise, the delicate curve of her breasts underneath making his mouth water. His hands slid up from her hips, hovering at her waist, fingers twitching with the need to touch.

"May I?" He asked softly, holding his breath until she gave him a nod.

He could feel her trembling as he slowly slid his hands up her waist, rucking up the fabric of her chemise as he did so, he watched her carefully, eyes on hers, ready to stop if she so much as hesitated. Her skin was achingly soft, marred only by the faint ridges of scars that sliced across just under her ribs. His finger tips grazed along them, hating that she had suffered. He sat up, gaze dropping down to where the hem of her chemise now glided up over the curve her breasts, exposing delicately soft peaks that made him groan with hunger. He paused, just staring at her curves, his mouth parting eagerly before he could hold back no longer. His palms slid to cup her, thumbs sliding over the peaks, his mouth seeking out the skin of her throat as she arched her back into his touch with a soft sigh.

Her hips grinding, her hands on his shoulders, Oscar was drowning in her softness and her scent, his cock painfully hard and twitching, leaking with desperate need as his hands explored. All other thoughts were obliterated and it was just her and how she felt, how she tasted as he sucked at the skin under her collar bone. Impatiently, he slid her blouse from her shoulders, kissing every piece of skin revealed to him before he slid her chemise up and over her head. His arms pulled her close, holding her against him, her skin pressed to his bare chest.

"Gods, you're so perfect," he moaned, his hands sliding up her back and into her hair before he claimed her mouth. Her kiss was fervent, hungry, and he savoured it. His longing for her began to overflow, his mouth pulling free so he could claim her breast, his tongue swirling before nipped at that perfect softness with his teeth, feeling it harden under his touch. The sound of her moan spurred him on, urging her hips to move faster as the blaze of his lust increased.

The pair of them froze at the quick tap of a knock on the dormitory door. As the door swung open, Oscar could not believe it when he saw Garreth step through. "Oscar, are you...?"

Oscar felt MC stiffen in his arms, a cry of shock leaving her lips. Garreth paused, his eyes wide and mouth dropping open when his gaze landed on them on the bed.

"Oh, fuck... Boobs," he spluttered, his cheeks flushing crimson as he turned his face away. He held up his hands and squeezed his eyes shut. "Shit, I'm sorry."

"What the fuck, Garreth?" Oscar fumed.

MC was already scrambling off his lap and snatching up her clothing with one hand, the other arm crossed over herself, her cheeks burning in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry," Garreth said again. His head was turning every which way, his hand covering his eyes. "I'm not looking, I'll leave."

"What are you even doing here?" Oscar said getting to his feet.

"It's alright," MC said trying to button up her blouse. "I should get going anyway."

Oscar gritted his teeth, his stomach sinking in disappointment. Just when things were getting really interesting. He adjusted his trousers, his arousal still seeking it's fun but those hopes were well and truly dashed now.

"I just wanted to apologise about earlier..." Garreth trailed off, peeking through his fingers and sighing when he realised MC was decent.

"Couldn't it have waited until tomorrow?" Oscar sighed. He rubbed his face with his hands and began to button his own shirt.

"How was I to know you two would be... You know... Doing this in here," he said waving his hand at them. "And I did knock."

MC gathered up her robe and brushed hair back from her hot face. Oscar noted how she couldn't even look Garreth in the eye, couldn't even look him in the eye as she headed for the door. He couldn't let her leave like this.

"MC, wait, I'll walk you back," he said.

"No need," she said. "I can manage."

"MC..."

"I said I can manage," she snapped. She winced, breathing hard, her hand pressing to her chest.

The room fell silent, and Oscar stared at her. She had never snapped like that at him before, and he could see she was agitated about something, her eyes dark with what looked like panic. He made to take a step, but she was moving, away from him and towards the door, hand held up. How could she just take off like this?

"I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I'm just tired. It's been a long day."

As she approached the door, her eyes met Garreth's and for an agonising few seconds their gazes were locked, the colour darkening on both of their cheeks. Something seemed to pass between them, some kind of understanding or unspoken message. Oscar felt that slither of envy, the strange sensation that there was something more to them than met the eye creeping over him.

MC turned her eyes to Oscar. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said. She ducked her head. "Goodnight."

And then she was gone.

Garreth watched her leave, his gaze sheepish as he turned back to Oscar. "Oops," he said, cringing.

Oscar sighed and shook his head. "Just get out," he said.

"I really am sorry," Garreth said.

Oscar didn't even look at his brother as he sank down onto the edge of his bed. He thought about running after MC but he wasn't sure he wanted to hear or see another chance for her to push him back and shut him off. They had been so close just now, closer than they had ever been, but of course something had to come along and block it.

Garreth turned to leave, the door closing softly behind him. Oscar stared at the wood and wished he had thought to lock it before, maybe then MC would still be in his arms right now, and maybe there would have been a few less barriers between them too.

....*....

MC's heart was racing far too fast, her skin still flushed from Oscar's kisses on her flesh, but a cold shiver trickled down her spine. Of all the people to walk through that door, it had to be Garreth. His eyes had devoured her nakedness, wide with shock and flickering with something else. Unbidden, the memory of her dream about him had flooded through her mind, and she had been mortified. Her only instinct had been to get out of that room.

She hurried through the Gryffindor common room, ignoring the glances of curious students as she dived for the little entrance, scrambling through it and shoving the portrait wide before tumbling out into the corridor.

The panic had seized her chest, uncertainty clawing at her insides. Oscar's hands and mouth had felt so good on her skin, and she had been lost in it, allowing him to touch her in ways she had only read about in Poppy's books. Along with the fiery crackle of her desire, her nerves had added to the heightened feeling surrounding those moments on his bed. She was shocked at herself and how far she had allowed it to go, her breasts still tingling at the feel of his mouth on them.

She paused, hand pressed to her chest in an attempt to calm her racing heart as her breaths came quick and shallow. She closed her eyes and thought of softly flowing water, gentle breezes, Sebastian's smile, Poppy's kind words... And the comforting arms of Garreth as he whispered in her ear. Her eyes flew open.

No, no, don't think of him!

The Fat Lady shifted in her frame. "Are you quite alright, my dear? She asked. She then exclaimed loudly as the door swung wide again and Garreth climbed out.

MC stared at him, her chest tightening even further. She was almost wheezing in her efforts to breathe now.

"Shit," Garreth muttered. He hurried forward, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight. "You're alright. I've got you."

She stood there and let Garreth hold her, the pounding in her ears and the tightness in her chest making her vision swim slightly as the portrait door began to swing slowly back into place, the Fat Lady gaping at them both.

She could feel Garreth's hands stroking her back and hair, his voice soft in her ear, just like Sebastian used to last year when the terror would make her seize up. It felt like something was rushing towards her making her ears roar like an angry sea, she seemed frozen to the spot and yet her legs trembled with the urge to run until she couldn't stay upright anymore.

"I'm sorry," Garreth murmured, his head leaning against hers. Somehow her arms had found their way around him. "Do you want me to go and fetch Oscar?"

Her fingers gripped at the back of his jumper and she shook her head. "No, don't worry him," she gasped.

She didn't want Oscar to see her like this, like some broken doll who couldn't handle herself. Oscar was strong and capable, and she clearly was not. There was a darkness in her heart that threw shadows over everything, and the thought of laying that all out to Oscar filled her with dread. He had tried to make her talk earlier, she could see the questions in his eyes, and she just couldn't seem to bring herself to tell him. She had quieted those questions with her kisses, distracted him with touches and desire rather than open the cavern in her heart.

Tears stung her eyes, and the tightness squeezed in her chest. She tried to focus on her breathing and the constant, steady strokes of Garreth's hands. She buried her face into his neck, the smell of herbs and charred wood filling her nose, the delicate scent of his soap on his skin that blended with a male scent, oddly comforting as she nuzzled in further. Gradually, the ice in her spine faded, and a slow warmth surrounded her. Breathing became easier, and she closed her eyes.

"Better?" He asked. She felt his head dip towards her and she nodded.

"Thank you," whispered.

His hands continued to smooth along her back, and she remembered how much of her skin he had seen back in Oscar's room. How long was it before a cuddle became inappropriate? Heat flooded her face, and she pulled back from him, brushing the dampness from her cheeks.

"Please don't tell anyone what you saw," she said quickly.

Garreth glanced up at the Fat Lady's suspicious face and took her arm, leading her away along the corridor towards the stairs. "You have my word, MC," he said. He hesitated, his own cheeks colouring up as his gaze dropped to her chest. "You er... Well, you're very lovely, nothing to be ashamed of. Just so you know."

Her breath hitched and she stared at him, startled. "I'm sorry?"

He winced. "Nothing, never mind," he said quickly. He turned his attention back to the stairs. "Shall I escort you to your common room? I don't really want to leave you alone after... After you were upset."

Her thoughts were beginning to slide into one another, merging into a mess that she was struggling to make sense of. First, she had almost lost herself in Oscar's arms, then Garreth was there, then the panic, and now...

She looked at Garreth, the warmth and concern in his lovely green eyes reaching out and curling softly around her whilst she tried to process what had just slipped from his lips. He must have caught a good look at her back there, and she inwardly cringed, whilst her heart began to thump a little faster and not in the panicking way. It was just all too confusing. This was the second time today he had made a comment like this.

"I'll be fine," she said. She almost reached out to touch his arm but thought better of it. Perhaps there had been enough intimacy for one day. "Goodnight, Garreth."

She left him at the top of the stairs and hurried for the Hufflepuff common room. As she readied for bed, she kept as quiet as possible, trying not to wake the others. A glance at Poppy's bed brought a smirk to her lips. She was curled up under her blanket, fast asleep, the tell tale glimpse of a Slytherin scarf peeking out from under the blanket, the fabric firmly wrapped up in her arms. There was no need to try and guess who she had been with this evening. There would be gossip to share between them in the morning before breakfast.

As MC settled under her own blanket, a delicate waft of lavender reached her nose. She slid her hand under her pillow and pulled out the little pouch of herbs that Garreth had made for her, pressing it to her nose with a little sigh.

Garreth was so achingly adorable, and it was all too easy to lean towards him. Guilt swamped her, her skin still freshly kissed by Oscar, and she pushed the little pouch under her pillow. Troubled by her own thoughts, MC flicked her wand to put out her lamp and closed her eyes, hoping that her confusing emotions didn't spill over into her already troubled dreams.

To be continued...

#hogwarts legacy fanfic #garreth weasley #oscar weasley #oscar weasley x mc #garreth weasley x mc #blueraineshadows

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