#this is yet another thing i have made for tiff

[generalstarkov]

This is more of a personal project but I thought I should also share it here because I really like how it turned out.

Unreal Unearth wallpapers I made using only the pictures I took during my silly little trip to San Francisco.

1. Rococo Mirror, The Legion of Honor Museum // Unknown

2. Red Water Lilies by Monet, The Legion of Honor Museum // Through Me (The Flood)

3. Sunset near Ocean Beach // First Light

4. The Sutro Baths (what remains of) // All Things End

[luveline]

I kinda wanna see readers and Eddie's first fight or like a little tiff  maybe something has been stressing them out and they're just giving eachother the silent treatment but in the end roan brings them together and almost forces them to make up.

roan saves the day ♡ fem!reader

It's a stupid fight, but aren't they all? Eddie wants to see you on Friday and you have to work different hours, and he's upset because he feels like he never sees you anymore, and really he's insecure that you're pulling away, but he's not about to tell you that.

Without context, he seems disproportionately angry, and you've responded with a scorned injustice. So now it's Wednesday and you're here in his trailer but not talking to him, the two of you a foot apart on the couch (which is crazy, because Eddie loves to sit as close to you as he possibly can, and when he doesn't it never takes you long to drape yourself over his legs and ask something silly, like, "How come you don't love me anymore, Munson?")

But he does love you. It's why he misses you so badly when you're not around.

Roan has detected the imbalance in the atmosphere because how could she not? She's used to the two of you by now, how much you love each other and how much you love her. Affection is second nature in her home, and she is more than perplexed to see it missing.

"Dad, are you okay?" she asks.

Eddie kind of feels like crying, but he's fine. "Yeah, bub, I'm alright. What are you upto?" he asks, nodding toward her hands.

She brandishes her newest completed drawing. It's the three of you on the back of a unicorn. Any other time, you'd both fawn over her in unison. She feels the absence of cheek kisses most ardently, and frowns when the only thing you do is turn to look and say, "Aw, Roanie, that's a good one. I love it."

Eddie appreciates it anyhow. He loves that no matter what, you're always gonna be kind with Roan. It really makes him want to reach across the couch and pull you in toward him, but he's worried he'd maybe been a dick, and that if he tries you aren't going to let him.

Roan huffs at your praise and takes on the task of climbing up the couch cushions so she can sit between you both.

She takes her dad's hand first, pulling it toward her lap. Eddie watches her with zero suspicion. He likes holding her hand.

Yours next. Roan slips her small fingers under yours and pinches you with her thumb until she's maneuvered your hand beside Eddie's. The next part is a puzzle, but Roan's a smart girl. She turns your hand so you're palm-up and drops Eddie's on top, curling his fingers around yours with a quiet mumble of exasperation.

You crack first, to Eddie's relief. You wrap your warm fingers around his hand and it's awkward, but you work your thumb between his pinky and marriage finger and kind of cling to it.

"I'm sorry," he murmurs, embarrassed.

You nod. "It's okay."

He shuffles closer to Roan's side, a platful smile taking form. "No, I'm really sorry. I'm an idiot."

"Yeah, well..." You shuffle closer too. "Me too. I'm sorry. If I could, I'd be here on Friday. Promise."

He squeezes your hand. "I know."

You lean in first for a kiss over Roan's head, a delicate, chaste thing made up of a whole lot of love.

"Sorry," you whisper.

And while it's nice to be apologised to after a fight, Eddie thinks one was enough.

He gives your hand another squeeze, thumb pressed to the back firmly. "Doesn't matter," he says, sneaking in another kiss, "just miss you."

"I miss you too."

It's not really fixed yet, but you've communicated. You're on equal footing to walk toward the solution. Eddie smiles at you and it's practically telekinetic as the two of you duck down and press smacking kisses to Roan's lovely little cheeks.

"Guys," she giggles, leaning back into the couch to escape.

As if that could dissuade you. Eddie chases her and kiss kiss kisses all over the left side of her face. You take right. By the time you're done she's more affection that girl, and she looks blissfully happy.

"Thanks, Ro," Eddie says.

Roan grins. "Y'welcome."

-

more eddie and roan

[sp0o0kylights]

actually I should probably go in order so I don't lose track of what I have and haven't asked about yet, huh? so back up at the top: number 2 adopt a jock!

IGHT heeeere is more adopt a jock!

Thankfully I have a lot of this one written its just all scenes lmao

No guarantee this stays in or where it'll end up buuuuuut:

Snippet:

Gareth had left his jacket in the drama room. 

Unwilling to go all the way around to use the door’s they usually did, instead opting for one of the stage’s side doors. 

Which put him at what happened to be the best angle to watch Eddie’s pet mean girl put his face in their fearless leader’s hands. 

Like he really was some kind of tamed pet.

Gareth froze, barely daring to breathe as Eddie stroked his thumbs along Steve’s cheeks. “You’re okay sweetheart.” He murmured. “It’s just me.” 

“I know.” Steve responded, and his voice was so full of pain Gareth’s eyes grew dinner plate wide. “I just--I--” He choked on air, chest rising and falling too fast. 

Panic attack, Gareth identified immediately. He himself got them sometimes, as did Tiff and Eddie. Perks of being a loser in a small town, where people could and would pick you out of a crowd. 

“Breathe.” Eddie commanded, tone so sweet it gave Gareth chills just hearing it. He was stumbling on something private here, something he had never expected. 

If he interrupted, Eddie would murder him. 

“Take your time, I’m not going anywhere.” The metalhead murmured. 

Steve made a wounded noise, and Gareth could practically see the exclamation point appear over Eddie's head. 

“I mean it. I won’t leave you.” 

“How do I know you’re not just saying that?” Steve choked out. 

Eddie stayed silent for a moment and Gareth  but then he was reaching into his shirt and pulling out his necklace. Taking it off his neck and putting it on Steve’s. 

“This was my mother’s guitar pick.” He said it softly, so softly Gareth could barely hear. “She passed away a long time ago and it’s one of the few things of hers I have. So long as you have it, you also have me.” 

“Eddie…”

“You asked me to prove it and I did.” Eddie continued, bulldozing right over whatever protest Steve had. “You mean something to people, Steve Harrington. You mean something to me.”

Another wounded noise, this one wet, as if Steve was crying. 

Slowly, gently, Eddie pressed their foreheads together, the two of them practically sharing the same breath. 

Gareth slowly, carefully, began walking backwards, trying not to make a sound. This was too fragile for him to ruin, and he spent a moment praying he wasn’t discovered as he slowly snuck his way back out the drama room. 

Eddie deserved his happiness, and so too, did Steve. 

[bellafragolina]

I was thinking about what the submas boys and laventon, separately, be like when an argument has happened between them and their s/o. Like a drabble on what they do when they want to make up to the s/o?

Aye aye!!! I’ll make these so the boys are in the wrong and trying to make up with their s/o

🍓🍓🍓

Ingo:

He feels horrible. Having an argument with you before going into work, one entirely his fault, makes his day miserable. It seems that karma is out for him, sending angry passengers and shitty circumstances his way. It’s all exhausting, and in between it he can only replay your argument and all the harsh things he said. He cries eating the lunch you made for him, scared to think he might never get another one ever again. The lack of your love in his life would kill him, he knows it.

Ingo buys out both the flower shop and any pastry or chocolatier shop on his way home. His arms are overflowing with gifts for you, and his brain is overflowing with apologies. He practices his speech the entire way home, gripping the gifts so tightly, only to falter when he arrives home. You’re not there to greet him, silently cooking dinner in the kitchen, not acknowledging him.

Ingo creeps over, scared to break this fragile air between you both. He can see the puffiness to your eyes, the redness to your nose. His heart breaks thinking how much pain he’s caused you. He sets the gifts down, but you only spare them a glance. So he starts to stammer out his apology, long and rambling

“I-I know I have hurt you. I have no excuse; I was horrible to you. This is not something I want to repeat, sh-should you allow me- bless me with the chance to learn from mistakes. I’m not due forgiveness, but I would still like to make it up to you. Please. Please allow me to at least try to make it up to you, that’s all I ask. You don’t need to forgive me, but I want to try and ease any pain that I can, if I can. Please. I love you too much to let you continue hurting so from my own stupid actions.”

Should you let him, he’ll be bound to you. Ingo keeps contact with you however he can, reassuring himself that you’re still here, willing to forgive while he also comforts you. He decorates you in soft kisses, holds you close as the night winds down, and hopes you’ll forgive him. He’s definitely taken everything into account and won’t make the same mistake again

Emmet:

Emmet gets antsy as he arrives at work, his anger from the argument waning into guilt as he recognizes his own fault for the whole tiff. He doesn’t like being away from you when he just caused you pain. He wants to go home, but he’s also afraid you won’t be there when he goes back. He settles for arranging for deliveries to arrive at the house, texting you an “I love you” every hour to thirty minutes if he can swing it. Your “I love you too but I’m mad at you” soothes him at least a little bit

Emmet approaches his brother for help. Together, they try to come up with a more eloquent apology than Emmet could manage on his own. He doesn’t want to be blunt and short, he wants to express his sorrow and his guilt. So they make a small script for him to go off of, and Emmet tries to study it and recite it to get the words somewhat right

Yet, when he comes home to you, flowers in hand from the nearest store, you don’t come running to greet him. You don’t jump into his arms for a hug and a kiss and other pleasantries. Emmet swallows heavily, but shuffled towards the kitchen, standing in the entryway like a kicked puppy as he watches you cook silently. He starts to murmur his way through his apology, words forgotten as he tries not to panic about your silence.

“I am Emmet. I am verrrry sorry. I was rude, and mean, and wrong. I’m sorry. I don’t want to fight with you. I don’t want to break up. I want to make things right. Please. I will do whatever you want! Just say the word. I want to make you happy. I made you upset today, and I want to fix it. If I can. Please.”

He scrambles for a hug the moment you turn around. He doesn’t want to let go either, attached to your front or back as you try to continue through the day. His love language is touch after all, and he wants to remind you just how deeply his love for you goes.

Laventon:

Laventon has an argument with you right before he goes off on a survey expedition. He fumes to himself as he walks with the others, only to start slowing down as he replays the argument in his head, over and over. He starts to realize, with horror, that he’s at fault for the hurt look on your face, the last thing he saw before he left for this however-long journey. He has a straight panic at the camp, and it takes Akari, Rei, and some of the concerned Survey Corp members to help calm him down

He frets very hard as the expedition slowly crawls by. He does his best to throw himself into his work, but he finds himself writing more about how guilty he feels and how he wants to apologize to you than about any of the Pokémon he encounters. Laventon spends a lot of time trying to plan some sort of grand gesture for you, ideas verbose and extraordinary until the kids remind him that most of his ideas aren’t exactly possible? It doesn’t help that Laventon is losing a bit of sleep over this, worrying well into the night if you’ll even wish to see him again, let alone hear his stuttering attempt at an apology

He begs the kids to take him into the field with them, searching best he can for a Pokémon he knows you like and would love to have. He does his best to catch it himself too, despite the dangers and the shenanigans that seem to follow him whenever he takes a single step outside of a camp. The kids help too, both not enjoying how upset the two of you are about this. They track down the Pokémon, let Laventon try to catch one, then fend off the angered ones he draws the attention of. By the time the three return, they’re pretty scuffed up, but successful with their endeavors

“M-my dear, hello again. It’s been quite some time, yes?” Laventon swallows heavily when you just eye him, content to stay on the other side of the room from him. “Y-yes, well, I have a gift for you! I caught it myself, wouldn’t you know, and I. . . I want to apologize. I was abhorrent to you, rude and terrible and plain awful! You have every right to hate me right now, but. . . I was hoping you’d allow me a moment anyway, to try and fix the damage I’ve done to our relationship. Please.”

He’s quick to release the Pokémon he caught and scramble over to your side when you agree. He sits with you, makes endless treats and teas for you, while rambling on about how he’ll never slip up like this ever again. You are perfect, so wonderful! He’d be a fool to push you away.

🍓🍓🍓

If I love anything more than angst it’s the fix-it that comes after!! Thank you, Peach!!!

~Renee

[catszu]

Writing Random Prompts Until I Improve Pt. 2

Prompt: Two people lost in a forest

Atsumu watches the twig underneath Sakusa’s foot snap with a satisfying crunch. 

“We’re definitely lost.” He says, shoving his hands deep within the pockets of his gym shorts. His legs itch where they’ve been rubbed by the various plant life on the overgrown trail. They’ve been out here for hours at this point. Far longer than they should have been. However, neither of them wanted to admit that they fucked up, so here they are, walking in the direction that they think the campsite is in.

“We are not lost.” Sakusa huffs. “The campsite is just down the mountain, how can we be lost if we just need to walk down.” He points in the vague direction of the slope of the hill they’re on. 

Atsumu eyes him skeptically from his position next to him. “I don’t know how we managed it, Omi. I jus’ know that we did.” 

Sakusa’s face pinches in displeasure. “We did not.”

“We absolutely did.” He insists. 

They stand at an impasse, surrounded by nature that was supposed to help them bond, staring hatefully at one another. 

Ever since Sakusa fucking Kiyoomi joined the Jackals last month, they fought like cats and dogs. Atsumu was having a great time, he always took immense pleasure from driving that stony expression on Sakusa’s face to something a little more unhinged. And Sakusa, the bastard, gave as much as he got. It didn’t have to make sense to everyone, just them. 

The rest of the team just didn’t understand their dynamic. They’ve known each other for years and have been frenemies ever since. 

So what if they fought, it was their thing. And if they made out against the cool metal of the lockers until their lips were bruised, that was their business. Although the team didn’t know that minor detail. Captain Meian tiredly explained that their little tiffs were driving the team mad and they couldn’t take it anymore. They sent both him and Sakusa on this rapport building hike to “inspire good sportsmanship.” 

It was a load of shit but also, he’d take a good excuse to get Sakusa alone and kiss that prissy pout right of his lips. 

That is pretty much what Atsumu was running with until about an hour ago when the exploring stopped being fun and Sakusa’s pouty lips started to get a little less cute. 

Atsumu sighs, watching Sakusa continue to make long strides down the slope. “We’ve been walkin’ down fer hours Omi-Omi. I don’ think yer ingenious plan is workin’.” 

Atsumu is right, he knows that he is. They walked this direction for so long now that his feet are aching and he’s pretty sure there are insects crawling in places they absolutely shouldn’t. Yet, they still haven’t made it back to their team. However, Sakusa favors ignoring him and continues to walk mindlessly in the same direction as before. 

Atsumu hustles his pace to catch up and grabs Sakusa by one of his arms, slick with sweat. “Omi,” he pleads. “Ya’ve got ta listen ta me.” Atsumu watches the perspiration on the back of Sakusa’s neck bead and trail down into the collar of his shirt. “It’s dangerous ta be out here for much longer.” He squeezes the pale arm that he’s holding. “We need help. Or a real plan! But ya can’t keep draggin’ us farther away from where we started.” 

Sakusa swivels around, eyes narrowing in a chilling glare. “What do you suppose we do, Miya? Our phones are fucking dead and there’s no one else for miles but us. Who the hell do you think is going to help us? God?”

Atsumu blinks. “That’d be real nice but I don’t think that particular one likes the gays.” 

“Clearly.” Sakusa nods. “I wouldn’t be stuck in a fucking forest with you of all people if god gave an iota of a shit about me.” 

“I think ‘m the best person ta be stuck with ya right now. Imagine Hinata or Bokuto.” Atsumu gets shivers just thinking about it. Sakusa may leave the forest, but his two brothers in chaos would be buried here. 

His attempt at comforting Sakusa falls flat as he withers under the unimpressed silence he receives in return. 

Well then. 

Ever the optimist, Atsumu pushes past him. “We should just make a camp and stick it out. It’ll get dark soon and I don’t think ya want ta be trying ta walk around a dark forest.”

“Make a camp out of what? Twigs?” Sakusa asks, incredulous. “Shall we make a bed out of these dried crunchy leaves and feast on the weeds?”

Atsumu waggles his fingers at him and smiles. “Now yer talkin’.” 

Sakusa's frown deepens. “I hate you. I really do.” 

He rolls his eyes, surveying the area for something to start building shelter with. He was a boy scout for 3 days with ‘Samu when he was 9. He learned some things. “Ya only have me with ya right now. Would it kill ya to make nice for a second?” Atsumu asks while he wrangles some large and flat leaves from their stem. He puts them in a small pile and looks at Sakusa standing behind him with limp arms and a sour face. 

“Ya could make yerself useful and try to find somethin’ ta start a fire with.” 

Sakusa’s face seemed to drop more, falling into a would-be-cute-if-not-for-the-circumstance pout. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to be looking for, Atsumu.” He whines, or at least Atsumu imagines that’s what a whine would sound like from someone as prideful as Sakusa Kiyoomi. 

Ah, he forgot. Sakusa is a city boy through and through. “Fine, bastard. Why don’t ya sit on that log over there and just look pretty. Don’t ya worry ‘bout it. I’ll do everythin’.” He gestures to the stump across from him. 

Sakusa sits with a petulant huff and crosses his legs delicately one over the other. He always sat so pretty even when he had dirt smudged across his forehead and his clothes are drenched in sweat. 

It was annoying. 

Atsumu loved it. 

He grit his teeth and got to work, with all the knowledge of a nine year old boy scout that was forced to be there by his tired mother. He remembers almost nothing but Sakusa seems to put faith in him as he watches Atsumu work from his place on the stump. For some reason, it makes Atsumu want to try harder. He knows that Sakusa is uncomfortable, ridiculously so. He’s extremely impressed that Sakusa has withheld his complaints about it for as long as he did. However, it looks like it wasn’t going to last, if his constant shifting meant anything. 

An uncomfortable Sakusa Kiyoomi was worse than an angry one because at least when he was angry, Sakusa made it clear. When he was uncomfortable and scared, he was frighteningly silent. They passed the time in utter silence, their only company the faint noises of the wildlife around them. 

He’s so focused that he nearly misses Sakusa when he speaks. 

“What if no one finds us?” 

It’s a scary thought and Sakusa’s sorrowful whisper made it even worse. Atsumu pauses what he’s doing, turning his entire body to face him. 

He looks okay. Albeit, uncomfortable. But physically, he doesn’t look all that different from how he usually does. If it wasn’t for the master class he’s taken in all that is Sakusa Kiyoomi since he was 15, he probably wouldn’t notice it at all. But he did. And it broke his heart. 

Sakusa’s eyes are slightly wide as he takes in their rapidly darkening surroundings. His eyes flick from one spot to another, unable to stay still. His hands, which are delicately folded in his lap, are shaking like a leaf, his knuckles white from the pressure he’s putting on them to keep them still. It’s pointless. He trembles anyway, his whole entire body is. He could be cold, with the sweat drying on his skin, but Atsumu knows that he isn’t. He knows that isn’t what this is. 

Atsumu stands, dusting the dirt off his knees and then wiping them on his soiled clothes. He walks until he’s standing directly in front of Sakusa, who doesn’t look up. He crouches down, becoming eye level with Sakusa’s wobbling chin. 

Atsumu’s heart pangs inside his chest. “Hey. Hey.” he coos. “Ya think no one cares where we are?” He wraps a single tanned hand around the top of Sakusa’s and runs soothing circles over the mole placed directly in the middle of his hand. “Havin’ a twin brother has some perks ya know? I hate ‘im but somehow he always knows when I need ‘im the most. And I do. I really do right now, so I know he knows.” Atsumu squeezes the cold, pale hand. “Even if he doesn’t, we’ve got other people too, yeah? I won’t let ya die here, Kiyoomi. I promise.” 

Sakusa takes a trembling breath, a wet laugh escaping him. “You really think your twin telepathy will save us?” 

“Don’t ya dare knock it when it’ll be the reason we’re out of this hellscape.” 

There’s a distant howl in the background. It sounded far but it was still enough to make them both jump. He was starting to panic too but he wouldn’t show it, not when the man in front of him looked two seconds away from tears. Sakusa’s eyes sparkled in the dim light and when he squeezed his eyes shut, Atsumu saw one small tear roll down his cheek. 

Something cracks inside of him, flooding him with warmth. He gathers Sakusa’s face between his palms, squishing his pale cheeks together. “We’re gonna be okay.”  He promises. He keeps his voice as steady and even as possible. “Nothin’ is gonna happen to us, it’s probably just a bird.” He lies, Sakusa is looking at him with desperation in his eyes, hanging on to every absurd word that he’s saying. And Atsumu, he’s not really sure what he’s saying, just that he can’t stop talking because it’s the only thing keeping Sakusa together. 

Sakusa hiccups, a sob shaking through him. “I’m scared, Atsumu.” 

Atsumu kisses Sakusa’s wobbling bottom lip. His knees hurt where they dig into the rocks on the ground, and he’s pretty sure that he’s losing feeling in his toes. He’s cold and exhausted. But it doesn’t matter. Nothing else matters. Atsumu presses more gentle kisses into the skin around Sakusa’s mouth, one after the other. He moves his hands from Sakusa’s lap to his arms, rubbing soothing circles into the delicate skin of his arms. Atsumu nudges him forward and Sakusa follows eagerly until he’s settled directly in Atsumu’s lap.

It’s a little absurd, Sakusa is huge. But he’s an even bigger baby so Atsumu doesn’t really mind all that much. He holds him and rocks them both slightly. Sakusa buries his face in Atsumu’s neck and they both don’t say a word. 

It gets darker. Soon, they’re completely encompassed with only the faint light of the moon glowing above them. Atsumu admires it. At home, all the way in Hyogo, he could see the stars every single night from his backyard. He spent hours and hours in their treehouse with Osamu and at one point, Atsumu knew the names of every single constellation. 

After moving to the city. he’s since forgotten them. But he wonders if he did remember any at all, would some be the same as he’s looking at now?

“Hey, Omi.” 

Sakusa merely hums against the skin of his neck in acknowledgement and Atsumu has to suppress the urge to hunch his shoulders from how much it tickled. “The stars are real pretty right now,” he says, rubbing Sakusa’s back. “I think ya should look at ‘em with me.” 

He feels him raise his head, his dark curls grazing against Atsumu’s jaw as he looks up. Atsumu has always thought that Sakusa was beautiful, even when he was a gangly high schooler with bad fashion sense. Up close, Atsumu thinks he’s breathtaking. 

He asks before he can think twice about it. “Wanna go on a date with me?”

Sakusa blinks, eyes still trained upwards at the sky before he slowly lowers his gaze, leveling Atsumu with those unnerving dark eyes. Atsumu doesn’t move. Doesn’t breathe. He just stares back, meeting Sakusa exactly where he is. 

“You don’t have to ask me that.” he says, eying Atsumu with a confused glare. “We’re literally already dating, we go out all the time and you have never asked.” 

Atsumu wheezes. “What? Since when have we–I never–when did we?” he stumbles over his own words. He can feel his brain melting as the gears turn rapidly in his brain. 

Sakusa looks affronted. “What do you mean when? Since we kissed. For the first time.” He raises a brow as Atsumu continues to stare at him. “In the locker rooms?”

Atsumu just gapes at him. He wishes he could do literally anything else but he can’t. He’s been dating Sakusa Kiyoomi this entire time and didn’t know?!

Sakusa seems to catch on. “Oh my god.” He whispers, covering his mouth with one of his thin hands. He scrambles to get out of Atsumu’s lap, shoving his bony elbows into Atsumu’s sternum. 

Words finally come to him. “Noooo. NO. Wait a damn minute–Ow!” Atsumu tries and fails to wrangle an extraordinarily uncooperative, curly-headed sea urchin back into his lap. Sakusa is mumbling to himself and Atsumu can tell that the tips of his ears are red, even in complete darkness. Atsumu is laughing and he shouldn’t be because he is just so cute and Atsumu is so unbelievably happy. 

“Omi-Omi. Baby.”

“Shut the fuck up.” 

“It’s not a big deal!” Atsumu tries, sitting up to follow Sakusa. 

“Not that–” Sakusa scoffs. “Not that big of a deal?” He asks. 

“It’ll be funny, eventually”

“How did you not know?!” Sakusa cries, “I don’t let anyone touch me. Ever. Suddenly we are making out against the locker rooms and you think it’s just casual?” He looks alarmed for a moment and then wounded. “Have you–oh god. Have you been sleeping with other people?” 

Atsumu chokes. “Wha–”

“Oh my god.” Sakusa sits directly on the forest floor. “Oh god. I think I might actually be sick.” 

“What the fuck? What the fu–NO” He shouts. Atsumu shuffles towards Sakusa. “Omi. Kiyoomi. My Omi-Omi, I have not touched a single hair on another person’s head since bein’ with ya. I swear!” 

He wouldn’t even want to. He’s waited for Sakusa since they were 15 years old. He would have waited even longer but it appears he never needed to. Atsumu swipes a hand through his hair. “Ya really gotta work on yer communication skills, Omi. Jesus. How was I s’posed to know how ya felt if ya don’ tell me?” 

“I suppose that’s true.” Sakusa relents. “How embarrassing.” 

Atsumu laughs and laughs. Eventually Sakusa does too. Though, his laughter is breathy and low while Atsumu’s laughter is always loud and bright. He likes the contrast of them, Omi has always been his opposite in everything, even the physical. He likes them just fine that way. Not everyone gets them and maybe they bicker more than they should, but Atsumu thinks they’re perfect. 

Just like this. 

Suddenly, light floods in between them, swinging back and forth before the sound of boots crunching on the dried leaves rings out. 

“Miya? Sakusa? Is that you?” 

Atsumu can’t make out who’s talking to them before they call out again. “Hey, guys! I found them!” 

A blanket is being wrapped around his shoulders and Atsumu watches as the entire team rushes forward. Bokuto and Hinata are crying and he thinks that Inunaki might be as well. There’s also several forest rangers with industrial flashlights pointed at Atsumu’s makeshift shelter. 

“Boy scouts.” He says weakly, laughing a little. 

They do make it down the mountain and Meian (the one who found them after hearing them laugh) apologized profusely the entire way down. Atsumu gave him shit the entire time, but the truth of it was that he didn’t mind at all. 

He went into the forest without a boyfriend and came back with one. So in his books, it was pretty alright. 

[barclaysangel]

Guardian Doll (part 2)

Took me a while but I finally finished the second part of this story. I still have barely any idea on where it’s going so I don’t know if I’ll keep updating. But I still wrote something. I think I would like some help on where I can take the story, I wouldn’t mind that at all. But for now, please like or comment if y’all liked this fic please. The character, Cecilia, is based on me when I was younger sooooo she needs some extra love and care. The first part of the story is on my fic archive secondary blog.

Anyways, thank you and enjoy :)

Word count: 1.1K

Tags: @vi0lentg0d @streets-in-paradise (if you want to be tagged later on, let me know!)

The walk home was peaceful. 

Cecilia kept humming Halsey songs under her breath, Tiff the doll safely secured to her hip almost like it was a baby, as she made it to her house. She had to adjust her hold on the doll to pull her keys out of her backpack, unlocked the door, and walked inside. 

There goes her last bit of freedom. 

Her house wasn’t the biggest but it was something. It was just her and her parents that lived there. Well, currently only her father was there, home from work while her mom was still at her job, sitting in front of the tv. 

When her father heard the door open, he turned his head to look at her. “Hey, kid.” 

“Hi daddy.” Cecilia said softly, walking into the living room to further greet him before her father’s eyes landed on the doll tucked under her arm. 

“The fuck is that?” 

“A doll I found by the cemetery,” she replied, smoothing back the blonde strands, “I don’t think she belonged to anyone. She was just left there for who knows how long.” 

“I’m not surprised. The thing’s freaky.” Her father scoffed at it and then turned his attention back to the news on tv. 

Cecilia frowned but went to her room. “Ignore him, muñeca bonita. You’re not freaky at all to me.” She told Tiff before placing her on top of her bed and dropped her backpack to the floor. 

Just like the house, her room wasn’t all that interesting either, rather simple actually. There were no posters hung up because her father didn’t want nails in the walls and her room was rather messy. Half of it was because she was lazy and knew where everything was in the mess, and the other half was a silent way to rebel against her mother wanting her to be more “feminine”. 

Geez. Maybe she really did have issues. 

But that was something Cecilia would worry about another day. Right now, she adjusted the leather jacket on the doll and then sat on her bed, taking her hairbrush and began brushing through Tiff’s blonde hair while seating the doll on her lap. She made sure to be careful with any tangles and knots, not wanting to cause any damage. 

Ever since Cecilia was a kid, she would always play gently with her dolls. She never wanted to break them and would cry if she accidentally did. Overall, she did her very hardest to treat all of her toys and dolls like they were living people. 

Of course, she knew now that they weren’t alive or anything. Yet, she supposed, old habits die hard. 

“You know, I think you’re the most beautiful doll I’ve ever seen, Tiff.” Cecilia spoke, turning the doll around so it was facing her. “Who would leave you out on the cemetery all alone?” She asked out loud but knew she wouldn’t get an answer. 

Instead, she placed the doll down beside her so she could pull out her folder from her backpack. “Want to watch me do my homework?” She placed her hands on Tiff’s head and gently moved it up and down to make it look like it was nodding, giggling. “Okay, you can watch then.” 

So Cecilia spent the next couple hours doing homework, music playing on her phone since it was the only way to help keep her concentrated, alone. Well, not entirely. Tiff might have been a doll but she still liked having the extra company since Cecilia was often so lonely sometimes. 

One of the many downsides to being an only child. She lost count of how many times she prayed for a younger sibling growing up before just completely losing faith. 

Cecilia was solely focused on her homework and showing Tiff her work that she didn’t notice her mother coming home until she was in front of her doorway. 

“What is that?” Was the first thing her mother said, an almost disturbed look on her face as she stared at the doll. 

“Tiff,” Cecilia responded simply, “I found her and she was in great condition, no scratches or anything.” 

“Aye, que fea…” Her mother said with an almost disturbed look on her face. 

Cecilia got an almost offended look on her face by her mother’s statement. “No she’s not!” She insisted, pushing her homework off her lap and replacing it with Tiff. “Look at how green her eyes are. She’s so pretty!” 

Her mother didn’t seem to believe Cecilia, still looking perturbed as she shook her head. “Whatever…” she grumbled before walking away. 

Cecilia sighed loudly, wrapping her arms around Tiff and hugging her. “Well…you’re pretty to me,” she insisted and then turned the doll around to face her, “and badass too.” She giggled and poked the tip of her nose. 

She stayed with her new doll for a while, doing homework until it was time for dinner. That’s when she finally left Tiff unattended, lying her down on her pillow. It had only been for half an hour, half an hour of uncomfortable and boring silence, until Cecilia was free to go back to her room and saw Tiff sitting at the edge of her bed. 

Was that where she left her?

She was sure she did and just shrugged her shoulders, picking up the doll to take her to get ready for bed. Cecilia talked out loud when she was doing this, telling Tiff about her interests and her favorite or least favorite subjects at school. She was sure she was being annoying, blabbing while brushing her hair and then her teeth, but it was nice just talking to someone who wouldn’t tell her to shut up. 

She really was used to being told to shut up for so long. 

Cecilia got into bed and pulled Tiff with her, turning off the light and lying down beside the doll. She was quiet for a moment, turning on her side to face Tiff. “Hey, Tiff. Can I tell you something?” 

The doll, of course, didn’t respond so she continued speaking. “I…don’t have any friends. They just don’t like being around me. They think I’m weird and a freak. Maybe I am. I’m just…really alone, I guess. No friends. No brother or sister. My parents always work and don’t have time for me. It’s just…me. I’m alone.”

Cecilia went quiet, processing her own words. She was completely and utterly alone. 

Eventually she just smiled and shrugged her shoulders so casually. “Eh, whatever. Life sucks and then you die, I guess. But at least I’m not alone now. I’ve got you.” Cecilia smiled sweetly at Tiff and hugged her tightly. 

She must sound so crazy, talking to a doll and acting like she’s real and can hear everything she’s saying. 

Maybe she was going crazy. 

Oh well. 

Cecilia yawned and closed her eyes, keeping her arms around her new favorite doll. “Goodnight, Tiff…”

[rinbowaman]

HHP - Chapter 8 "My Eden."

Surprise! Chapter 8, its a shorter chapter this time around, but still a good read. Payback...oh juicy payback is always a good thing.

Warnings: threats and intimidation. no smut but i wouldn't really consider this a friendly read because...of the threat that was issued (bitch had it coming). I really should include more here but i don't want to ruin or spoil it so...please read at your own risk (its really not that bad i just don't want to spoil anything)

But can i just say one more....I fucking love Eden. Peace!

At the café, you and Heeseung opted for a private and secluded seating space up on the second floor as you both recapped and talked about the incident with Tiff, and the scenario that ensued when you both released your respective alter-egos.

Cupping your hands around the mug of your favorite drink, you continued to stare at the foam topping, trying to think of something to say. The moment that Ethan and Eden became dormant, you and Heeseung hadn’t spoken. You both merely smiled and held hands as you fell asleep, waking up this morning was silent and a bit awkward as Heeseung cleared his throat, picking up some of the broken items in his room. You helped out, cleaning out and arranging the tables and the desk back to its original placement, before he asked if you were hungry or up for coffee, to which you nodded.

“So….” Heeseung started.

“Hmm?”

“The whole thing with Tiff…” he started. Dipping down into your gut internally, you felt terrible at thinking back of the moment where you had taken your frustration and anger out on him over what had happened on the school grounds with Tiff.

Heeseung was always so caring, gentle, and he genuinely loved you. With all of his heart.

Even with his Ethan side present, which was nearly majority of the time you’ve known him with a few exceptions, the man had mastered balancing out both entities, regardless that Ethan was a bit rougher around the edges, more outlandish and aggressive, you were his and Heeseung’s number one. You were still the priority of both. How could you treat him that way?

Just as Heeseung and Ethan loved you, so did you and Eden for the two. It was a strange phenomenon where you all were involved in some sort of morbid love triangle with you, Heeseung, and your alter egos shared and deeply cared for one another. You all were sharing one entity to another, yet it was something that, since you've experienced it, you couldn't imagine life without Heeseung or Ethan. You were pretty sure they felt the same for you and Eden.

It was very pleasant, to be able to have one partner but with two different personalities, sometimes a third as they both share the same body fifty-fifty, developing a whole different aura apart from just Ethan or just Heeseung. You were fortunate that you had the variety of experiencing both, one or the other, which made everything exciting and less dull in life. You only wish you could have developed that same middle component, yet you haven't been able to split your body and share with Eden. Each time she came out, you were rendered into losing full control as she took over.

“I’m sorr-“

“I’m sorry.” He cuts you off by apologizing first, feeling that you issuing an apology was not needed as he felt responsible for everything, especially the way it had develop into the exaggerated state it had turned into. Plus, the fact that Tiff, his ex-girlfriend, was the one that caused the offense, he didn't know how he remained reserved with his physical nature, deep down, he was enraged during the event. He never could stand it when someone disrespected you like that, it didn't matter if it was a man like Samuel, or if it was a woman like Tiff. Yet somehow he focused more on being reserved on the whole matter, mistakenly assuming that you weren't deeply hurt by the whole matter.

“Heeseung I-“

“Y/n…Tiff…I shouldn’t have let her treat you that way. I don’t like chaos or friction, and have a habit to refrain from it unless I absolutely find it necessary to get involved…which normally the Ethan side of me comes out at that point and helps me with that, but lately…I’ve been a little bit selfish in not sharing you.”

You were left silent, stunned at how open he was.

“You were right about what you said, I am too reserved and too complacent sometimes. I didn’t even think to consider how you felt because my mind was telling me that we were fine since we knew that Tiff was just spitting out lies and making a fool of herself. I normally don’t care what others think, but that still doesn’t mean that it didn't affect you.”

Sighing with a breath of relief at how calm he was displaying his apologetic nature, you looked at him with a sweet gaze and issued yours.

“I do apologize as well. I’m sorry for taking my anger out on you, I shouldn’t have done that.”

Smiling at one another, Heeseung leans his elbows on the table as he reaches across and holds your hand. You spoke out softly.

“We’ve been dating a while now and have been so good, I guess we were bound to have our first real fight, not just a small argument.”

“Yeah…and I’m fine with us having our moments where we’re going to disagree and even fight, but I don’t want it to ever happen again because of Tiff, or anyone else….If we’re going to fight, it should be over me or you. Not the rest of the world, I could care less.”

You nodded your head in agreement. He was right, you felt the same as the sense of guilt rode within you, how could you two possibly have your first major fight over someone as insignificant as Tiff? If you were going to fight with this man, it would be for him, not for anyone else.

“Let’s….never do that again. We can fight, but for each other, not against.” He calmly spoke out as he stares at your fingers intertwining with his own. You nod and issue out a gentle smile, forming the words silently, you issued out an “I love you” to him, while playfully sending him a teasing smile. He chuckles in response, stroking the back of your palm with his thumb as he tilts his head and gazes lovingly towards you.

"Whenever...we do have kids..." he started.

"Whenver?" you emphasized playfully as you pointed out his presumptuous choice of wording.

"Yeah...whenever. Its going to happen y/n, just a matter of the right time. But as far as i'm concerned, you're mine and I'm yours, and if anyone is going to give me sons and daughters, its going to be you." he noted.

He obviously took in your playful nature, yet his words and expression was far from playful in response, he was sincere and genuine....so serious. It was almost frightening...in a way that you liked.

"And if anyone is going to put sons or daughters inside you, that's going to be me." he continued, gripping your hand tightly as he slightly glared at you, expressing his firm stance on the terms of conceiving children. You were somewhat scared....but again, you liked it. You liked it whenever he was being firm on claiming you, because you loved the fact that you were his. For you to belong to anyone, you couldn't have done any better than Heeseung...or Ethan.

Continuing his original statement, he softens his gaze.

"Whenever we have kids...if we end up having a boy and a girl, we should call them Ethan and Eden."

You chuckled.

"So cliche Heeseung."

"I know...but I think it's fitting. I love all of you and you love all of me."

He continues to stroke your back palm as he stares at his tender act.

"Okay, that sounds good. I like the names anyway."

"Yeah?" He softly remarks.

"Yes." you smile back, laughing with him as you both found the turn of the conversation into a heartwarming one.

'Ethan and Eden, huh? It sounds good to me.'

The next day at school, things were less awkward as the weekend carried over the healing powers of time as everyone didn’t pay so much attention to the event that had occurred with Tiff.

You were grateful, considering the powerful and destructive makeup session between Ethan and Eden took it out of you and Heeseung, the opportunity to indulge in your own version of makeup sex was lacking as you both focused on recovering from the hickies, the small bruises, the sores and aches from the intense passion.

The day was going well...

That was until Tiff showed up at the hall in between classes as you were making your way to exit the sub building and walk over to the main one.

“Going somewhere?” She issues out a snark and snappy remark your way as you barely made eye contact with her, opting to walk past her and pay no mind to her instigations.

“I’m talking to you! Bitch!” reaching over as she hastily walks to catch up with you from behind, she knocks the two books you carried in your hands as your satchel bag remained strapped on your shoulder. Looking at her with a glare, she steps slightly forward with her hands on her hips. Everyone had nearly exited the building at this point, leaving just the two of you inside.

Unslinging the strap of your satchel, you kneel down and pick up your books, dusting them off. Your spring mini dress, one of Heeseung’s favorites, which had fitted you like a glove all apart from the subtle flare around the skirt, flows as you raise back up, and issue a stare at the girl.

“What’s your problem?” You calmly asked, narrowing your eyes. This was the first time you had any sort of confrontation with anyone, aside from that time with Samuel, you really never had issues with anyone in your entire life.

“You stay away from Ethan! I told you! He's mine! I had him first and I'm taking him back.”

A sense tingled inside you as your brow irked.

‘Strange…’

It was strange. You’ve never felt triggered at the mentioning of anything before, even with the mentioning of Ethan or Heeseung’s name, yet for some reason at that moment, as Tiff displayed her dominance at staking your man as her own, a sudden ball of energy emerged forth the second she stated Ethan’s name. The ‘urge’ was coming out.

Eden…

The feeling was foreign to you, as you’ve never felt so possessive over something…or someone. The sensation of defending your man become apparent as your visual appearance began to change slightly, you obviously had no way of seeing it, but you could tell by the look on her face as she began to furrow her brows, widening her eyes, and opening her mouth in a subtle gasping motion.

“Wh-what the fuck is wrong with your eyes? Did…did you just put on eyeliner? How did they get so dark all of a sudden? And where did that dark lipstick come from?”

Judging by her shockingly confused nature, you began to feel as if you were losing touch with your physical form as the view of watching a film came back, Eden was taking over. From what Tiff spoke out, it would appear that Eden, though sharing the same form and appearance as you, developed her own subtle flare just as Ethan did with Heeseung.

With Ethan, Heeseung’s wide eyes would become sharp, more narrow and almost murderous by the way his black iris’ would glare, yet his pupils would become visually enhanced and noticeable, and remained as small dots in the center.

His smirk was a lot more crooked than Heeseung’s subtle one; it carried a sense of danger and hidden intentions as the black lining of his almond shaped eyes would grow thicker, as if he did have eyeliner or eyeshadow on, yet upon studying it, it was clear that the visual change was all due to the powers of optical illusion. By merely tilting his head, moving or making certain expressions that he normally would not display in his gentle state, Ethan's gaze and features would look different by merely issuing looks that were enough to kill with a single glare. He appeared more alluring in a sense, and eerie with the way he issued slight habits that drastically changed his calm and friendly expression, to that of a feral one.  

From the looks of it, Eden appears to do the same. For the way you began tilting your head to the side, issuing a smirk while protruding your eyes through a glare, or biting your lip hard, to the point where the blood rushing forth to the surface caused a darkened tone, they were all habits that you’ve never done with your face before, and yet, you feel it happening as the Eden side of you issues out a small chuckle.

‘That voice…’

Taking a step forward towards the girl, who appeared to be scared yet remained too proud to admit that she opened a door that should have remained shut...for her own safety.

Knowing full well that Ethan, or Heeseung for that matter, did not belong to her, they both belonged to you….and Eden, a rage grew from inside your chest. Though you knew that Tiff's words affected Eden personally more so than you, since you were more in control of your emotions, the fact that Tiff displayed the audacity to insinuate that your man belong to her, was just....

'Unforgiveable...'

Feeling the effects of going into a blackhole, you lose control as your other side takes over, noting that unlike Heeseung, whose shared his body with Ethan his entire life, you only had just began taking notice of your other half, not yet mastering the capability of sharing or splitting your body with her just as Heeseung would with Ethan, as displayed on numerous and frequent occasions. In fact, 90% of the time you've known him, Heeseung was always shared with Ethan, it was only up until recent that Heeseung was remaining in full control.

“Back up yo-“ Tiff began, but was cut off by a very harsh tone that the Eden side of you issued.

“Listen!” Eden placed a hard emphasis on the ‘s’ sound of her warning. Like a snake, the other half of you merges like Medusa as she issues a poisonous look to Tiff, who became timid as Eden kept taking her steps towards her.

"You have no right to say his name. He belongs to me, he loves me, he yearns for me and he respects me. We belong to each other, we belong just as the clouds belong in the sky.” Eden speaks out calmly, still glaring at Tiff. Feeling her back meeting the wall, Tiff felt herself backed up into a corner, issued out a scream as she glares back at Eden and snapped at her.

“Get the fuck away from me you psycho!”

“Oh? What’s wrong? Are you afraid? Are you scared of me?” Eden torments as she taunts out an eerie vocal tone, that carried the bell of a tune. It was both twisted and sweet.

Coming nearer, Eden only reaches a stopping point the moment her chest comes into contact with Tiff’s, leaning in, Eden grabs hold of the girl’s chin delicately as she looks deep into her eyes. Her nose tip touching Tiff’s.

“Wh-what are you doing? Fucking get away!” Tiff begins to panic.

“I’m telling you…the next time I hear about you speaking my Ethan’s name that way….I’ll make sure to come find you.”  With a side smirk, Eden leans in closer, her hand that had gripped Tiff’s chin draws up as she suddenly grabs a thatch of Tiff’s hair in her fist, harshly, pulling Tiff in to a fierce kiss.

Like a beast feasting on its live prey, Eden roughly shoves her tongue in, harshly biting Tiff’s lips and pulling her hair tighter, causing the girl to yelp in pain and in displeasure of having ‘you’ suddenly violate her in the manner that Eden was committing.

You couldn’t lie, you were shocked upon realizing everything going down, but at the same token, it was the Eden side of you that was doing it, and from what you could already tell, your alter ego was far more bold, daring, and even perhaps, a little crazier than even Ethan.

Pulling her head back from the kiss, Eden issues out a glare, pulls Tiff’s head to the side as she bites down on the girl’s neck. It was hard, and painful. Tiff began to scream when Eden suddenly stops her assault and forces Tiff to look at her, the grip she had on her hair grew tighter as Eden tells the girl to be quiet.

“Look at me.” Eden speaks steadily at Tiff. The girl does so reluctantly. The look of fear and anger in her eyes as she was being bested by 'you'.

“I’ll eat you alive if you ever pull off what you did last week. Do you understand? You don’t know just how far I’m willing to go for that man…I live for him. I breathe because of him….and just as I’m willing to crawl on the very ground he walks on to worship him…” Eden pauses as she releases the grip she had on Tiff’s hair, only to suddenly grip the girl’s neck while digging her thumbnail into the apparent bite mark she had just made.

“If I’m willing to fuck with him whenever he fucks with me, what makes you think that I wouldn’t do the same with you? Oh but, you’re nothing like him. You lack the stamina he has, not to mention, I would never ruin him....but I would ruin you. You're not the one I love or care about...so what makes you think that I wouldn't unleash the darkest parts of my inner creativity on you?" Eden widens her eyes to enhance her malicious glare. With her steady tone issuing the final portion of her warning, Eden speaks out once more, although this time, it was near a breathless whisper as she leans into Tiff's ear, giving out the remainder of her words.

"You wouldn’t be able to take it. Trust me, I’ll have you bleeding from EVERY SINGLE HOLE in your body, to include that shameful mouth of yours. I’ll do things to you that no man has ever done or even thought of, and believe me, it’s far from pleasant.”

Slightly releasing her grip from Tiff’s neck, Eden reaches up with her thumb and harshly presses down on the bite wound that she left, dragging the pad of her finger over, smearing the blood over to the side of Tiff’s face. It was hard, and rough as Eden applied pressure by digging her finger in to Tiff’s soft cheek, stroking the crimson mark.

“Hmhmhmmm…” Eden chuckles with her mouth closed. “Hopefully I won’t see you again….for your sake….Tiffffff.” Eden drags out the girl's name as she walks away, leaving Tiff to slide her back down as she became overwhelmed by the complete unlawful act of intimidation from the girl she had just picked a fight with.

“That….that bitch..I fucking hate her!! She’s going to fucking pay for this.” Tiff whispers to herself as she harshly begins wiping her face, rushing over to the nearest lady’s room. She thought of possibly relaying the details to the main office, enforcing the girl to get suspended, yet a sudden thought came up in her head.

“No…that's even better. I’ll get you back, I’ll make sure you to ruin you!” Tiff continues to note to herself as she washes the blood stain off her face.

Meanwhile, Eden walks out, catching the sight of him, standing by his car, waiting for her….or rather, for you, to take you to the main building, she didn’t need to gain a close distance to already know that it wasn’t just Heeseung present, Ethan was there too. There was a connecting sense that the two had, for the moment that he parked the car and stepped out, he felt the presence of his Eden from within the building, drawing him out to take over and putting his Heeseung off to the side. With a playfully sinister tone in his voice, he speaks out.

“Did you have fun?” he smirks.

Smiling, Eden bites her lower lip as she lovingly stares at her soulmate. “Yes. Yes I did.”

“That’s good.” He scoffs. Had anyone been present, they would have ran at the sight of what appeared to be two slayers, both giving each other a malicious glare, yet it was filled with chaos and love as the forbidden thoughts of painful lusts grew.

“My Eden…what am I going to do with you?” He chuckles deeply as he raises his hand, caressing her cheek.

Merely smiling, playfully chuckling as if she were some child who committed an adorable act, Eden drops her books and satchel as she loops her arms around Ethan’s neck, jumping up and wrapping her legs around his waistline, in which he supported as he wraps his arms around her frame. Looking up at her face as she touches her nose tip to his, he gives her the most admiring expression as he takes a moment to appreciate the very thing he lives for.

"Do you have a kiss for daddy?" his voice teasing her as he smirks once more, under heavy lids, he gazes at her face in the most loving expression he has yet to display.

Nodding, Eden leans her head in, as Ethan relishes in the passionate kiss with the love of his life.

Tasting a hint of blood that slightly coated her lip, Ethan pulls back just a tad with his lips still intact with Edens, he smirks devilishly.

“Mmm…my Eden."

Chapter 9

[thecameronchronicles]

The Heart Wants What It Wants

TW: Severe toxic relationship. Emotional Abuse. Language. Degrading Language. Smut. Violence. 

SUMMARY: You and Rafe are Toxic. Your love is the result of manipulation from the kook prince himself. And yet, you’re both too consumed and obsessed to walk away…

WORD COUNT: 3100

*REQUESTED*

The Heart Wants What It Wants

Codependent. Manipulative. Possessive. 

No matter the word used, you and Rafe were toxic. 

Where compassion and understanding should exist at the forefront, came jealousy and domination. A silent set of guidelines always lingered in existence in the games you played against one another; allowing others your flirtations just to get a rise out of one another, doing this for the sole purpose of entertaining yourselves with just how you’d tear into each other once alone. 

Every kink imaginable had been exercised at least once as your favorites became a common practice. Along with this, there wasn’t a sin or sexual position you hadn’t indulged in or fantasy you hadn’t made a reality-no matter how depraved or painful. And there were no collection of words from friends or threats from family that would convince you of anything but their jealousy and misunderstanding. 

This would be shown in the way Rafe buried his cock inside of you with the intent to take you in public; to be exact, the dining room table at the crux of Tannyhill, as Ward and Rose came upon you in disgust. The sight was exhilarating for you in what was traumatizing for them; hips rushing together in thrusts, gasps and moans spoken between vulgarities, and the sight of your back rising into an arch as he brought you to a mutual orgasm before those trying to keep you apart. 

Of course, they had their reasons for doing so as you were once the perfect straight-laced girl, much like his own sister, Sarah. Not a cross word spoken to anyone unkind and a future as bright as could be, he’d convinced you he’d protect and care for you, only to guilt you into sharing his addictions until the only thing you loved more than Rafe was the high from the cocaine you’d do off of one another. 

You were in tears more than you smiled and yelled more than discussed. But it was always the ways he’d come to you in tears, contorting your sympathy behind gaslighting and guilt, that kept you at his side, unapologetically and loyally. And all of this was only scratching the surface of your relationship, which brought you to your most recent tiff…

“Are you fucking kidding me, Rafe?!” You scolded, finding him upon the back porch of Tannyhill, rising from over a recent bend and rubbing his nose to signal that he’d taken a hit just seconds prior to your arrival. 

“Nice to see you too…” He laughed, the burn of his inhalation numbing just as quickly as it had been consumed as you’d remained steadfast with your hands on your hips, his eyes trained against your curves as you glared at him. 

“This is a new low-even for YOU.” He reclined back into his chosen seat, hands rising through his hair, before a deep exhale relaxed him into the showcase of your dramatizations. 

“Am I just supposed to guess-”

“YOU OFFERED ME TO BARRY FOR DRUGS?!” Once again, he found humor in your anger,even though you’d more than proven you were just as rough and volatile as he could be, once provoked. 

“Like you wouldn’t have fucked him just for a hit anyway-” He spoke coldly, harshly, and enough to draw your eyes into a hard line of a further narrow. Because of this, you reached to the bag of blow and held it over the railing, threatening to release it to the wind to get his attention. 

“You’ll get over it…now give that back before I prove to you how impatient I am-”

But to this, you would turn your back to him, acting against him calling your bluff as he’d rush behind you, rough hands eating into your arms as you were pulled against the railing. 

“You’re such a fucking bitch, you know that?! I swear to God if I- '' But to this, you revealed how the bag remained in your possession, a cock of his jaw showing the awe of how he adored this yo-yo treatment you’d always put him through. 

“If you wanted it for yourself, you could have just said so. Don’t fuck with me like that…” He reached for it, forced to press himself against you, as you stretched further. 

“Give it to me.” He spoke through clenched teeth as you extended even further, a cruel grip of your jaw and a twist from humored to annoyed lining his voice, brought his command to you again. 

“Cunt-” He spoke beneath his breath, apprehending what he desired as you rolled your eyes, this word spoken in such repetition that it was now indifferent to what once enraged you. 

“Draw me a line, would ya?” You asked, pulling the sweater from your arms to become more comfortable, as he pulled the rolled twenty from the table before using his father’s credit card to create the perfect little line in wait for you, its promise of that chaotic high beckoning to you against your morality begging you to act otherwise. 

The second you sat at his side, he pulled your hair into a makeshift ponytail to guide you forward, watching the line disappear through the vestibule at a pinch between your fingers, as he allowed you to lift to him, only to take the remnants from the table and press it against your lips. Once spread to his satisfaction, he would then press the most thorough of kisses, starting with his tongue tracing that blur of coke across yoru kiss. 

The mix of highs was enough to forgive him temporarily as you’d been pulled into a straddle across his hips, the feeling of his cock signaling his desire for you. And so with the initial break of this kiss for breath, you’d taken it upon yourself to descend further with your lips until resting at his neck, his erratic pulse raging against your mouth. 

“Did you uh…DID you get more?” He asked, a hint of hesitation in his voice as he had slipped his fingers beneath the edge of your shirt, clawing at the skin beneath. 

You answered by lifting the new bag from your back pocket, a smile breaking from your lips against his neck, as he’d suddenly rejected you to the other side of the couch. 

“What the hell-”

“So you DID fuck him?” Before you could answer, he was already on his feet, pacing the width of the porch in an aggressive stomp, fingers rising to his temples. 

“YOU made the deal, Rafe…”

“Didn’t mean you HAD to fuck him!” You scoffed in disbelief as he continued. 

“So he came inside you then? Huh? You show up HERE dripping with HIM?!” You couldn’t help yourself to comment, the words leaving your lips before you could even think of an alternative. 

“SO what if I did?” His gait and gaze froze to you in equal measure before he clenched his jaw but raised his brows as if offering you a chance to apologize or explain how it had been a lie. 

“You don’t like the idea? Isn’t that why you offered me as collateral?” You were now on your feet, moving to him as he tensed with each step in which you closed the distance between you. 

“Hmm?” You teased, fingers running over his polo to feel the exact rigidity your words forced into his breaths constricting from his anger, “For him to touch me? Take off your favorite pair of panties and fuck me until I spilled over with his cum-”

“Shut the fuck up-”

“He was so big Rafe…Even bigger than you…” A harsh grip in your hair held you in place as he set a firm slap to your cheek. 

“You let him fuck you, huh? You let him inside MY pussy? You let him come inside MY pussy?” You only smiled as he now had you back on the couch, one hand wrapped painfully in your hair as the other was dismantling his belt. 

“You gonna let him take you like a whore, you’re gonna BE one for ME.” He ordered as you’d obliged, too aroused to deny him what you wanted. For this, you kept your eyes to him, just as you know he’d adored, before taking him into your mouth. 

“No-You’re gonna choke on my cock until you can’t fucking breathe-cry for me-show me how sorry you are.” You opened your throat to him, allowing yourself to be used despite the retch caused by his unkind thrusts into your mouth. The sensitivity of your reflex was tested and abused in every degree before he’d finally taken himself out of you. Tears streaming down your cheeks, lips swollen in repetitious penetration, and the most desperate of breaths interrupted as he’d drown you in his length. 

“You take his dick like this, huh baby? You look up at him like you are at me?” You shook your head ‘no’ as he would only scoff. 

“Fucking liar! I know he wouldn’t have lasted as long.” He rounded his second hand to your hair, making it stationary before the flexes of his hips, tears from you and salt from his precum having mixed within each input and withdrawal until he’d used you to the extent he believed was necessary. 

“Had enough?” He teased, just as breathless as you, although he had been in pleasure whereas yours had been in deprivation. And yet, you continued to push his patience-if such a thing even existed within him anymore. 

“Never.” His jaw cocked as he forced you onto your back, pulling your shorts from your waist before fixating on the lace panties that were his favorite red set, as you’d mentioned earlier. 

“You this wet from me? Fuck! I haven’t even touched you yet, you fucking whore…” He chortled as his eyes suddenly fixated upon a small bandage upon your left thigh, a simple sheet of gauze kept to your skin with medical tape. 

“YOU LET HIM MARK YOU?! I DON’T FUCKING THINK SO!” He tore off the bandage only to pause in disbelief. Every ounce of anger faded from once he noticed that he’d been wrong. The only time in his life in which he’d ever gladly admit it as that scowl altered into excitement. 

Before you could comment, his fingers traced over the fresh tattoo before his gaze, the sight of his initials forever etched into your skin. This sign of commitment having supplied a forgiveness as his eyes hadn’t wavered from it for even a second. 

“Shit….” He finally breathed, his gaze only finding yours when you chuckled. 

“I’m yours Rafe…I always will be-”

“Did HE see that?” You shook your head ‘no’, as some semblance of aggression returned behind the usual cool sapphire of his irises darkening in anger once again. 

“He never touched me…”

“Then how did you get-”

“I paid for it, Rafe.” You huffed. “I don’t expect my dad to fix my mistakes for me…” His eyes narrowed. “I don’t need anyone to-”

“And what about me, huh? How are you gonna make it up to ME? You think I deserve to be toyed with?” He questioned while you forced him into a sitting position to where you could straddle him, his dominance weaning just long enough for this change of pose. But once again that domineering and preying look in his eyes faltered once his fingers came to that tattoo once again. 

“So fucking sexy…” He muttered as you grinned. 

“I hope you like it because it hurt like hell…” You explained, his fingers adorning the calligraphy making up the “R” and “C” of his initials. “I just hope the guy I’m with after you has the same initials or-” He suddenly took an aggressive hold of your jaw. 

“There will never be another guy after me. I own you, baby. Every fucking part of you…” His hand ran the width of your hips, pulling you harder into him. “All the things your dirty little mouth says and does…the way you feel when I’m inside of you-ONLY ME-Say it-tell me you’re mine.”

“I’m yours, Rafe-” You spoke softly, too winded from an aching throat and his aggression to argue-at least for the moment. 

“Prove it.” He demanded as you’d feel him tear the edges of your panties until they were nothing but useless fabric. 

“Rafe!”

“You know I’ll buy you new ones, now shut that pretty little mouth before I come in it.” You rolled your eyes half in arousal and half in annoyance to his potentially empty threat, before he’d rammed himself up into you. Whenever his fingers would trace the sensitive raised skin of your recent tattoo, he would unleash himself within you in rough pistons reminding you how deeply his desire for you ran. Truly feral. As if you’d ever have to question this, even in the rare occasions in which you fought-that always ended with riotous sex, you knew he’d always wanted. 

“Stop moving!” He grunted, holding you in place. “I’m gonna make you ache for days baby!” His hand to your ass made you gasp before he’d pulled both of your hands behind your back, exposing the tattoo once more. 

“GOD! That fucking tattoo is making me need to come inside of you!”

“Can’t last?” You teased as he growled. 

“Just because I come doesn’t mean I’m fucking done with you.” He used his second hand against your throat, squeezing you tight enough to restrict your oxygen, but knowing your limits and therefore releasing you when you’d reached your extent.

“I’m gonna come because I’ve earned it, because you’ve pushed my buttons and I can’t wait-I shouldn’t have to. But then I’m gonna eat you out until you go hoarse, squirting all over my family’s house, and then I’m gonna fuck you from behind until you’re trembling-and then I’ll do it again just to prove what that fucking tattoo does to me, understand?” You nodded, excitable for what was to come, as he’d stuck to his promise. 

Unsteady thrusts brought his release to you, your name chorused in pleas while he’d painted your walls with his seed. But the usual embrace he’d keep you in was interrupted and replaced with your back suddenly upon the table, your legs taken over each of his shoulders while he’d taken his tongue to your clit. 

For the way you’d tormented him at the torture of Barry and yoru attitude, he’d edge you in repetition, your desperation coming to him as threats, before he’d mend this mometnarily by drawing a line of remaining coke to the dip of your thigh and curve of your navel, getting high off of your body in every sense, before returning to his flicks. 

“FUCK!” He belted as he’d smirk into you, well aware exactly where to draw the stripes of his tongue as he’d left your nipples numb with the remaining cocaine set upon his fingers now rubbed into your erect apexes at attention for him. The sensations having been too much to endure as you’d erupted as he’d guaranteed you would. 

“Not even halfway done, baby…”He explained, taking you between his legs until your back was at a rest against his chest. 

“Come on…You need to do this for me…You need to earn my forgiveness for being such a little bitch…a little slut…” He pulled your hair, forcing you to rest at his shoulder while you’d feel him rage against your clit with his fingertips. 

“Let go baby…I’m gonna make you squirt all over this fucking deck…Come on…Come for me baby…Let me prove I’m all you’ll ever need.” 

“Rafe! OH MY GOD! It’s TOO MUCH!”

“It’s never enough.” You nodded in this contradicting truth as you’d buckle around his fingers again, your fingers digging into his wrist before he’d now bend you over the arm of the couch, the same harsh thrusts from before returning to you as he’d bottomed out in each extension. Perspiration and vulgarity mixed between you as he’d shown his appreciation for your tattoo by reminding you of it, pulling at your neck and your breasts in desperation, before quickening his thrusts. 

“You’re gonna wear the shortest dresses and the smallest of bikinis so everyone can see that fucking tattoo-so everyone knows you’re fucking me!”

“They already know, Rafe-” You teased as he pulled your jaw to face him, a rough kiss rivaling your attitude as you were left in a smirk as he bent you forward once again. 

“And now they always will…FUCK!” He winced. 

“Faster! Please Rafe! I need to come!”

“Two not enough for you?”

“NEVER!” 

“Then fuck me back-yeah, JUST LIKE THAT…” He forced you to ram back against him, an impossible depth reached by your mutual thrusts and retractions. “Come on, earn my cum baby…drain me fucking dry-show me how fuckin’ sorry you are for being a bitch-”

“Rafe! I’m sorry-”

“How sorry?”

“SO FUCKING SORRY!” He nodded. 

“I know baby…I can feel you clenching-goddammit!” He grunted. 

“Come one more time fo rme baby, I know yo’ve got in in you…come on…come the fuck on, I’m getting impatient baby!”

“RA-RA-RAAFFEE!” With the final belt of his name, you’d become spent for the third time in less than an hour, your entire body numb as he’d force you back onto your knees, just as you’d started. 

“I want you to taste yourself off of me-see what I have to fucking deal with…How sweet you always are…And then I want you to choke on how much I’ll come down that tight little throat-” You nodded, allowing him to fuck into your throat once again, the release only brought during the tire of his stamina, leaving behind lust blown eyes and tears just as before. 

Your name sung out in broken eloquence behind a series of curses and moans until he’d finally shot his load down your throat, the most decadent of moans from your mouth reverberating through each and every one of his nerves. His body tensed as he forced you back to your feet. 

“You ever screw with me like that again and you’ll never come again…That will be the last time you’ll know my cock-understand?” You nodded. 

“Good. Now lay down…I want to look at my brand…” He grinned as you’d obeyed, used and winded from the last sixty minutes of being abused and allowing it with vigor…

Yes, you and Rafe were toxic. But it was where you thrived…

@hopebaker @iovdrew @penny4yourthoughts @magnificantmermaid @pickingviolets

[tarot-junkie]

His “jealous fans” couldn’t have tanked the film. None of them were invited to TIFF. I’m sure we will see some fans attempt to do that as the release date gets closer, but those are all critic reviews and people who work in the industry. We all know his acting skills are lack luster. It could very well be that he was miscast in this role. Not even all the criticism is about him. They call out Emily and the director too.

Disagree and agree.

My comment RE: TIFF and fans was sarcasm. It was absolutely the critics. Was joking that the critics must also have been jaded fans. And I know the movie has multiple people in it that carry less or more than. From what I’ve seen, It’s trending more towards…it’s just another potential film casualty in a market saturated with similar product. Still remains to be seen, as it’s not been released yet.

Secondly- I don’t think he’s a lost cause/completely lackluster with his acting. He’s made some (a few. Don’t go crazy) solid choices. He was fantastic in defending Jacob HOWEVER the crying scene is 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. Otherwise I think he leaned in nicely. Was it AWARD worthy? Nah. But it was still better than some others. It’s a give and take. There’s some things he can do well and some he needs to take a seat lol.

I want to see The Iceman just out of curiosity.

[copiousloverofcopia]

The final smaller commission is done!

And it's a spicy one for my dearest Ghestie @vampghoulette featuring her Ghoulette OC Caldera!

Thank you so much for commissioning me! I hope you like it!

As always commissions are open and I have an interesting one I am working on now I hope you all will enjoy soooooo without further ado...

Selfless

Caldera, an hardworking and selfless Ghoulette begins to feel anxious about the upcoming Re-Impera tour. Knowing Copia's time is coming to and end she struggles during preparations for the tour. As she tries to help Copia and Aether find out how she's feeling and help ease her concerns in more ways than one.

Also available HERE on AO3!

Definitely NSFW below the cut!

It was yet another long day in the books for the Abbey. Papa was gearing up to set back out on the second leg of his tour and everyone else was pulling together to get him there. The aptly named Re-Imperatour dates were fast approaching and all the siblings and ghouls alike were preparing for the band’s departure. Their humble abode filled with the buzzing energy of endless checklists, desperately needing to be completed, and the hum of conversation. Everyone, speculating on what was to happen next.

The burden held on the backs of all those involved was lightened just a little with the help of one very benevolent ghoulette. Caldera, or Dera as Aeth first came to call her, was a quintessential part of the Ministry. Her tireless need to help with the loads of others, only out weighted by the desire to bury down her own. She was always at the aid of one person or another, her selfless ways catching the attention of the reigning Papa on more than one occasion.

“Oh christ Dew, why is it you always have to make such a damn mess of things.” Caldera huffed, wiping away the sweat that had plastered her short platinum locks to her brow. Her small horns, pulsing with the ache of her head. She was stressed to be sure and needed to rest, but still knelt down to pick up the spread of papers covering the floor. Another tiff between Aether and Dew, leaving Copia’s office looking like closing at an old stock exchange. She didn’t mind the distraction if she were honest.

The looming thoughts of the end of the tour worried her. Knowing that her Papa’s end may come sooner rather than later. The uncertainty of what type of END that would be, weighing heavy on her heart. That reason alone was enough today to send her out on a quest to keep busy and help out.

She needed to run from it—hide. Pretend it wasn’t a dark shadow that followed her every thought since Copia, her once beloved Cardinal became Papa. The others were gone, taken by a thief in the night, one that was never revealed. Their bodies made effigies in service to the Clergy. An atrocity that Caldera couldn’t bare to have happen to her Papa.

No, you can’t think like that, she thought to herself, both thanking and cursing Dew for the mess. Her thoughts, now fixed on her fellow ghoul’s antics, made her roll her eyes and continue picking papers. Crawling behind the desk as she followed the mess, finding even more waiting for her. She had almost finished, only a few slips remaining as Papa and Aether appeared in the doorway. Caldera hidden from view behind Copia’s large antique desk. The two of them clearly in the middle of a conversation.

“I told you he’s an absolute gremlin.” Aether hissed.

“Is that one of those little brown and white fluffy things from the film you all were watching in the common room last week?” Copia asked, neither him nor Aether realizing the ghoulette was in the room.

“Nawh…I mean kinda…only he’s the thing they become after eating after midnight.”

“Huh that explains a lot.” Copia chuckled, looking over his floor to see it free and clear—say for the stain on the rug he still hoped had escaped Sister’s notice. “I thought you all had it out in here?”

“We did.” Aether explained, trying to figure out how everything looked untouched.

“Si well…all is—” Copia commented, rounding his desk to take a seat when he caught sight of Caldera sitting on her knees behind it. “...oh ghuleh?! What are you doing down there?” Copia asked her, reaching out his hand for her to take. The ghoulette grabbed it, hosting herself up to her feet and brushing off her knees as she stood. Aether shot her a wide toothy grin. One that was reminiscent of Swiss.

“Seems we had some help. Dera to the rescue.” he smirked as she tapped the papers into a reasonable stack and sat them down on the desk.

“Indeed. Cara what are you still doing running around? I thought I told you to take a break from things hours ago.” Copia said, titling his head as he awaited her acknowledgement. Caldera sunk into her shoulders, feeling Papa’s ire, as well placed as it was. He had told her to take a break, an order she had completely disregarded. She averted her eyes to the floor before answering, unable to look him in the eye.

“I’m sorry Papa there were a few other things that still needed my help and well I came to ask you a question and found the office a frightful mess…and well I couldn’t help but clean it… you know?” she said, giving a cautious smile. Copia smiled back, he wasn’t mad so much as worried. He could see how much she gave of herself to the others, the Ministry—to him. His heart, swelling with his affection for her more and more with each passing day.

“It’s alright. Now tell us what's wrong?” Copia ordered, Caldera’s steel blue eyes widening with his words. It was more than obvious to both Papa and his ghoul that she was hiding from something. All the work and task jugginging, making it that much more apparent to them.

“Papa I–” she began, her remorseful tone just barely audible.

“Seriously Dera, you've been over doing it even more than usual lately, What’s going on?” Aether chimed in, eliciting a glare from the ghoulette.

“I know there has been a lot happening around here and the tour is just around the corner…but you can relax cara. It’s almost over.”

“That's just it.” she let slip, leaning up against the desk and putting her hand over her face, trying to hide the tears that wanted to give way.

“Cara?” Copia asked, taking her hand down and seeing the pained look in her eyes. Copia glanced back to Aether who quickly made his way to Caldera’s side. His hand held tight to her shoulder as Copia spoke once more. “Cara mia…why are you crying?”

“It’s just like you said. The tour is almost over and that means…that means—” she explained, cutting herself out before she could say the words. She didn’t need to, both Papa and Aether knew exactly what she meant.

“Caldera, dolce…nothing is going to happen to me. I’m not going anywhere.” Copia assured her, closing the small distance between them and staring deep into her eyes. His duochromatic gaze sending hellfire to her core. She wanted him, there was no doubt about it. Her and Aether had been lovers, now only occasional bedfellows in recent months. The things between them being nothing too serious—but with Copia, Caldera’s whole body ached for him.

She often had wondered to herself if this was what the mortals referred to as love. She snapped back to reality, pulling back as her incessant self doubt hit her like the falling of snow of an avalanche. Who could love her? When she looked at herself all she ever saw was a pale gray ghoulette, a bit too curvy for her own liking—nothing special.

“I’m sorry Papa…I should go.” she told them, pushing back both her Papa and Aether as she tried to make a b-line for the door. Copia turned quickly to catch her hand, pulling her back to face him.

“Cara? Why are you leaving? Do you not wish to be with me, with us?” Papa asked her.

“Never had any issue with me before.” Aether laughed, both Copia and Cardela giving him the look of death.

“No…I mean…it’s just well… I don’t want this to be…be out of pity Papa and that's exactly what it is.” she stated plainly, a look of offense falling over Copia’s face.

“I’m sorry Cardela, you don’t owe your Papa anything like that. I apologize for my forwardness. No one should partake in the sin of lust out of pity.” Copia responded, clearly misjudging the intent of her words.

“Papa! No no…You are amazing, wonderful, and..” Caldera gulped, “incredibly sexy…it’s me that isn’t.” she explained, her words were soft yet heavy with sadness.

“Oh Dera.” Aether sighed, watching her struggle to hold it together. She turned away from them once more, and again Copia whipped her back around to face him. The tears were beginning to run down her cheeks.

“Cara mia, you are gorgeous and worth every bit of worship that I’d have to give…and I desperately wish to give it.” he said, his eyes falling to her pouty lips as he took them with his own. A kiss so passionate and deep Caldera couldn’t deny his feelings were true. She slowly pulled back, slowly opening her eyes and completely entranced by his kiss.

“I–I didn’t think you saw me that way.” Caldera explained, still breathless from his kiss.

“Caldera, dolce…I see you that way.” he told her, bringing her hand down to the bulge that pressed tight from beneath his pants. She let out a gasp, her pussy continuing to throb at the thought of him taking her. “I can assure you cara mia…there’s no pity here. I burn for you.”

“Oh Papa!” the ghoulette moaned, feeling his cock twitch beneath her hand. Aether came around behind her, taking in her scent as he inhaled along the line of her neck. Burying his nose behind her ear—breathing heavy and intentioned.

“Papa what do you say we show Dera just how desirable she is…what do you think?” the ghoul suggested, his hot breath tingling her skin and the ache between her legs growing as she melted against Aether. Copia quickly brought his lips back to hers. Both the ghoul and Papa’s hands slipping over her body, Aether’s fingers running up underneath her dress and Copia’s over her soft belly and settling just below her breasts.

“Oh sweet Satanas…I want this so much but…but are you sure Papa.” she asked, barely able to get out the words as Aether’s claws grazed the outside of her panties. Her wet cunt calling out to them. Both Copia and his ghoul, ready to devour her in all ways conceivable. Her Papa smiled against her lips, caressing the swell of her breast as he spoke.

“I am very sure cara.” he groaned. And just like that it was decided. Caldera’s two lovers, stupefied by her beauty—beauty too long denied by her own mind. They pulled off articles of clothing, tossing vestments carelessly across the room as they raced to be inside her. Copia looked over to Aether as if to lay claim. His white eye, burning and piercing with his desire. The ghoul, understanding that she belonged to Papa now and that it was only by the grace of Asmodeus that her body be shared between them.

The ghoulette, hesitant to be seen, barely allowed Aether to remove her dress. Her arms finding their way across her—trying to hide what she could from their hungry eyes. Copia took her arms and opened them up wide before them. Holding them out to her side as he took her in.

“Oh cara. Sei la creatura più bella che penso di aver mai visto.”he growled, wasting no time as he tore off her panties. Bringing his mouth to her neck and grazing her skin with his teeth, the sensation, traveling all the way to her core. Aether stayed behind her, his arm wrapped around and fingers finding their way along her folds. Copia stroked his hard cock in his hand, watching as the ghoul pushed inside her.

“Oh Papa I need you, both of you.” she moaned, feeling Aether pumping them inside her. The slick from her cunt, sticky and shiny along his fingers. Caldera, unable to help but move herself on them. Hips rolling with Aether’s rhythm—her first orgasm well on its way to fruition.

“Ghoul is that pussy ready for me.” Copia purred as he brought a nipple into his mouth. Tongue flicking over the peaked flesh as the Papa groaned with need.

“More than ready.” Aether reported, his own cock pressing into the curve of Cardela’s ass.

“Aeth… go sit on the desk I have an idea.” Copia said, the ghoul slipping his fingers out from inside her. Caldera whined at the loss, her thighs covered in her own fluids as Aether took his position on the desk. “No worries cara, I will stuff that needy cunt in just a moment. Now be a good girl and put Aeth’s cock in your mouth. Pleasure him—pleasure him like you want me to pleasure you.” She nodded, approaching Aether. His cock throbbing in his fist as she placed her hands on the tops of his thighs to gain balance.

Caldera turned to face Copia, ready for his instruction. He walked behind her, his fingertips slipping down her spine and over the small of her back before reaching the meat of her ass. Marveling in her beauty as he brought his own fingers inside her. The ghoulette raised up her pelvis, helping Copia ease his fingers inside as she backed into them. Fucking herself on his hand as he watched. HIs leaky cock begging to fill her and his breathing hitched.

“Suck his cock cara.” he commanded, the ghoulette doing exactly as told. Her hands, running over Aether’s thighs as the head of his cock slipped through her lips and met with the back of her throat. She began to moan, the hum sending the ghoul’s head back in pleasure. Copia continuing to fuck her with his right hand. His left, stroking himself until he was satisfied and ready.

“Oh fuck baby…just like that.” Aether hissed, his teeth clenched as he tried to hold back from cumming inside Caldera’s throat.

“Mmm…” Caldrea moaned, the sound muffled with the swell of Aether’s huge cock in her mouth. Her noises, sending a shock straight to Copia’s cock.

“Oh Caldera, born of fire and earth. Mia dea oscura. I must have you now.” Copia growled, his cock making quick work of sliding through her folds. Gathering up just a bit of her slick before pushing straight into her core.

“Oh fuck!” Caldera called out, mumbled by the girth of Aether’s cock still in her mouth. She went back to work, running her tongue along his shaft and pushing her hips backward with each of Copia’s thrusts as he fucked into her. His cock, deliciously filling her out—her walls hugged tightly to him. Copia grabbed a handful of her hips in each hand as he thrusted inside her.

Copia shoved himself deep, rolling his hips along and relishing the feel of her soft cunt squeezing him inside. His pelvis hitting the back of her thighs and ass over and over as he took her. Cardella moaned and whined. So full of both Aether and her Papa, a divinely lascivious feeling she would never get enough of. Papa continued his ministrations, huffing and puffing, unable to hold back his desperate need to make her cum. The wet sounds of sex filling the space around them as they took her.

“Oh cara, so perfect for me, your pussy was made for me to fill it. Such a good ghuleh, taking your Papa’s cock so well. Mmm… Cum for me cara mia. Show the old himself how good the ghoul and I make you feel.” Copia moaned. Caldera was drunk in her own pleasure. Never before had she been so intoxicated by the feel of someone else inside her. Not even her own fingers had managed to fulfill her as much as Papa had. She felt Aether’s cock twitch inside her mouth. Lapping hard against the underside of his shaft as she felt his thigh muscles tensing beneath her palms. He grunted, tail twitching violently behind him as he grabbed for her wrists.

“Yes! Yes! That's it Dera…make me cum!” the ghoul cried as his body released, ropes of hot cum spilling into the back of the ghoulettes throat. The salty savory taste of his orgasm, filling her mouth before she swallowed it back.

“Mmm… ah!” she cried out, Copia fucking into her harder, pounding his throbbing cock relentlessly into her most sensitive bundle of nerves. A cluster of ribbed flesh that lay along her top wall, pressed over and over again as he fucked her. Her cunt began to tremble, the pure ecstasy felt as he took her making her drool. Her pussy fluttering around Copia’s endowment like the beating of wings. In one swoop Copia wrapped his arm around her, helping force the ghoulette down harder against his girth as he sensed her impending orgasm.

“That's right cara mia cum for your Papa! Make me cum for you!” Copia cried out, his mouth falling open as Caldera began to clamp down on him.

“Oh yes! Papa! Yes! Yes! I'm cumming!” she screamed, a smile spreading across Aether’s satisfied face as he watched them. Copia closed his eyes, letting go as he came hard inside her. His boisterous moans, billowing out into the halls as he filled her so full that the cum leaked out between them. Cardella’s thighs drenched the waters of their satisfaction as he stayed still locked inside. Within moments, the two of them all collapsed onto the floor. Their bodies, drained of energy and their shared blissful moment began to settle and still.

“Now that was good.” Aether laughed, running his claws along Cardella’s thigh. All three of them sank down to the floor, taking up roots in front of the desk—a pool of flesh and sin. The three of them, completely unashamed as the men held the ghoulette in their arms. Cardella cozied up against her Papa—nuzzling into his neck and deeply inhaling his scent.

“Papa…ah…thank you.” she whispered, Copia lifting her chin up to face him. Her eyes once again glossing over with the threat of tears.

“For what Cara, the sex? That dolce was all you.” Copia hummed satisfactorily as he looked into her eyes.

“No…not that. For reassuring me and uh…accepting me…you know as I am. For making me feel beautiful.”

“Cara…you were always beautiful. Never forget that.” Copia began, Cardella nodding her head as Aether nudged her with his horns to gain attention. The evening had come to an end and now it was time to leave. Copia laughed as he attempted to stand up, “...now let’s say we get up and go back to my chambers to cuddle… you know before I have another stain to worry about hiding.”

Cardella laughed. A hardy laugh that comes from a place of true happiness. She would still give of herself selflessly. She would still worry about her Papa and his future—and she knew that there would always be a part of her that doubted she was beautiful. She knew however, that whenever he was around that she was held and all was right in the world. Cardella braced herself to stand as she spoke, her legs wobbly from her endeavors and a smile gracing her face.

“Sounds good to me.”

Notes:

Sei la creatura più bella che penso di aver mai visto. - You are the most beautiful creature I think I have ever seen.

Mia dea oscura- my dark goddess

[fanficwriter284]

Omg have you wrote a fic about them getting into a fight in front of the kiddos? You said you were wanting angst today, that's pretty angsty I think

I have in the past! But sure! Sorry if it's short it's been a while since I've written XD Let me know whatcha think!

A moment. That’s all he needed. Just a single moment, nothing more. But there was never a dull one when it came to his wife. Good, Bad, and downright ugly. But never dull. Nothing was ever dull with her. He knew that all too well. He couldn’t recall how long he’d been in this endless stalemate with her. Could be minutes or hours, he couldn’t tell nor did he care. He’d already given her what she wanted, a human body. One where she could live a fleshy mortal life, it wasn’t his fault the spell backfired and fused him and everyone else in the room as well. He never wanted this. He wasn’t made for it despite what his first body said otherwise. He wouldn’t allow himself to be dragged down again. Not by her. Not again. It’d been well over a decade since he lost his first chance of being a father…that was another life. A human life. One that was now a fantasy. But…why was the pain so real. His stoned heart ached everyday. Why did he long for it? Back in the days of misted memories that were better left forgotten with his original body. But nothing ever stays dead. 

The redhead could feel another throb in his temple, the pulsing underneath his skin, the salty liquid stinging his tongue as he pressed his teeth to his upper lip. He didn’t want to look at her but he couldn’t pull his eyes away from her figure. Something had always drawn him to it. Perhaps it was the way her body curved, or the slight glint of mischief in her eyes, or her cupid lips that he loved pressed against his. He’d never know. All he knew is that she was his, and he was hers. But in moments like this he wanted nothing more than to ruin her. The subtle shakes of eagerness in his hands ready to tear on disfigure but he never let himself succumb to it…Not now. He could only stand. His body cemented. His mouth practically wired shut as he listened to her talk down to him. All he could do was gnaw at the inner part of his cheek feeling the meat loosen and crimson leak down into his throat. No point in speaking. Not yet. 

Tiffany’s mind raced as she spoke, her voice getting louder by the second. She wanted him to change. She wanted him to be there. She wanted him to be a present father. She wanted him…That’s what she wanted…Him. But he made it so difficult. Any time he’d feel an anchor dragging him down he’d cut the chain and let it sink into the abyss. Forgotten. But not this time. She wouldn’t allow it. She had their family to think about. She knew that he was capable, she’d seen it before oh so many years ago when they were first human. The innocent concerned glint in his eyes at the idea of a family. Tiffany could see him letting the anchor pull him down to a stop back then at the news that having a family would become a reality. But in life things never go the way they plan. When that figment of reality died, he’d cut the chain and refused to let go of the bolt cutters. 

“I DON’T WANT THE TWINS TO WONDER IF THEIR DAD’S GOING TO LEAVE THEM CHARLES OR GOD FORBID DEAD!”

Chucky finally found himself able to speak, his jaw loose and liberated. “YOU ALWAYS FUCKING DO THIS! QUIT SPINNING SHIT INTO SOMETHING THAT IT AIN’T TIFF! I AIN’T DEAD AND I AIN’T GONNA LEAVE! YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED GREAT FOR YOU! BUT I DIDN’T FUCKING WANT THIS!”

Tiffany pressed on her body seething “WELL THAT ISN’T MY FAULT! YOU’RE HUMAN NOW DEAL WITH IT”

“CLEARLY IT AIN’T THE ONLY THING I’M DEALING WITH TIFFANY! IT AINT FOR ME TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS FOR YOUR HYPOCRITICAL ASS! ” 

The woman could only glare, wanting nothing more than to dig her nails into his iceberg eyes and remove them from his skull. She wasn’t a hypocrite. She knew that…or she’d tell herself that at least. 

…

The ray twins, both 6 years old, sat together, their hands intertwined and their backs pressed against the wall, silently listening. Glenda shuttering everytime Chucky barked back at his wife, and Glen cringing everything Tiffany yelled back in hysteria. 

“Hey Glen”

Glen pulled back from the wall turning to the curly redhead

“Yeah?”

Glenda sighed nuzzling closer, “You think mom and dad are gonna get a divorce?...I--Is dad gonna leave?”

“I don’t know…I hope not” Glen whispers desperately trying to hold back hot tears. 

…

“IT AIN’T FAIR TIFF” Chucky screamed jolting his body toward her.

“I DON’T WANT YOU FUCKING LEAVING US CHARLES” Tiffany lunged back pushing back to his corner.

“Leave? Who the hell said I was gonna leave?”

Tiffany pulled back, folding her arms inward, her frame shrinking downward into her chair. This time she broke eye contact with her husband.

“Oh please Chucky…you always left back then” Tiffany whispered her voice breaking with each word. 

The redhead felt his face soften, and sat himself beside her, leaning in attentively, gently turning her face toward his.

The blonde wiped away a stray tear from her eyes, sniffling trying to find something to say.

“I–I was always alone….and then you died….just like that…Gone like nothing….you left me Charles…” 

Chucky didn’t speak. His jaw tightened again and locked back in place. It reminded him when he was a doll and the metal skeleton restricted him. Aware but still. A mere observer until the human functions came in. 

“I–I don’t want the twins to go through that…I don’t what them deal with constantly moving…and seeing their dad wanted for murder on the news…I want them to live a happy normal life…don’t you….”

The redhead’s brows furrowed a he sat in thought, his mind drifting, and his eyes locked. His body in the room but his mind elsewhere. With another sigh Tiffany stood exhausted from their quarrel but was stopped by a hand pulling her back down to a sit.

“Things will be different this time…I promise…But we both know I can’t just quit Tiff….”

“I know…” She nuzzled her head closer to his chest listening to his heart beat. “ …I know…”

[autumnwoodsdreamer]

Write a Different Chapter for Us

Chapter Seven: The Distract and Conquer Strategy

.....

Summary: Tony’s not-so-successful meeting with the board

Words: 3391

Rating: Teen

Characters: Tony Stark, Natasha Romanov, Pepper Potts

Relationships: Tony Stark/Natasha Romanov, Tony Stark & Pepper Potts

Tags: established relationship, family, pregnancy, conversations, PTSD, hurt/comfort

Note: Excuse my terrible math. Seven chapters, not six. Sorry. Carry on.

“The stock is going to be a major talking point.”

“Uh-huh.”

New York didn’t feel the same, but Tony couldn’t figure out what had changed.

“And that very public tussle with Whiplash is going to come up. It has a lot of investors nervous. Hence the stock drops.”

“Right. Got it.”

Everything was more or less right the way he had left it. There were some newly bent streetlights and a few obviously filled-in craters littering the sidewalks (apparently the X-Men and the Brotherhood had had another... tiff). But, other than that, it was the same city, teeming with the same hustle and bustle.

“But if we pull their focus to the latest advancements in our medical tech departments, we may be able to keep them happy... or distracted, at the very least.”

“Yeah? Good. That’s good.”

Actually, scratch that. The hustle and bustle was different. The people were... it was summer—summer vacation. There were more families out and about.

“We just have to be careful not to get through the business side of business too soon or we’ll back ourselves into a corner.”

“Of course.”

A young boy sat on his father’s shoulders, clearly thrilled by his new perspective of the world. His mother walked alongside; she looked like she was enjoying the sunny morning and whatever they had planned, but she still kept a careful eye on her son.

“Oh, and Galactus called. He’d like to replace our CFO.”

“Okay.”

Tony didn’t know the family, but he found himself hoping they had a good day, hoping nothing bad happened to them. Bad things happened way too often, especially these days—

He jerked backwards. Blinking rapidly, he pulled his gaze away from the window and rushed to orient himself. Car, backseat, Pepper, board meeting, stocks... Galactus? “Wait, what?”

Her glare, shot sideways, was about as subtle as his spacing out. “Are you with me now?”

He pried his fingers off the door handle, his knuckles aching from the death-grip. “Yeah. Sorry. Just... making sure New York’s still in one piece.”

“It’s all there and I can assure you it will still be there after this meeting.”

“I know.”

“Tony, I really need you to focus on—”

“So. Classic distract and conquer strategy?”

The sharp turn back to the matter at hand did little to convince Pepper he was fully on board, but she didn’t work with him for more than a decade and not learn the meaning of “futile” so she let it go with a terse sigh. “Basically, we just need to show them you aren’t dead and remind them that, even if you were, the company is standing on its own two feet and moving ahead.”

Tony grimaced. “Did the stock really drop that bad?”

She passed him her tablet, dropping it in his lap before he could track the movement. He stamped down the instinct to jolt backwards and forced himself to hold it, forced his focus to hone in on the colourful graphs and charts on the screen, forced himself to ignore the sudden flare of heat in his chest.

“You got attacked by a guy who sliced a garbage truck in half like it was a block of butter and then you made no verifiable appearance for almost a month. Yes, the stock suffered. Haven’t you seen the news?”

“Uh... no. Not really. Been a bit busy... recovering, you know?”

Something adjusted in her expression at that; he never did learn the right word to describe it—he knew it wasn’t quite sympathy, but it wasn’t totally devoid of care, either. With or without a name, he had come to understand it as her way of saying-without-saying: “Your life is ridiculous and I’m surprised you aren’t dead or dismembered yet... but I am glad you’re well.”

“Look,” she said, her critical tone easing, “I’ll run point on this. Just back my play and do what you do best.”

“Put on a show?”

That got a smile. “Yes, but no fireworks.”

“How about sparklers?”

“Nothing flammable.”

“Buzz-kill.”

“Fine. You can have glow-sticks.”

“Thanks, boss.”

. . . . .

Business mode took over, enabling Tony to project his most presentable version of himself: not dead, not in pain, totally on the ball and not thinking about anything that didn’t pertain to the company and its interests.

He sold the image well—Obadiah used to say he could sell water to a drowning man—but that was all it was: an image, i.e. no substance.

The pretty picture started fading as the meeting ran overtime. It was just a few small things: he couldn’t quite sit up straight, his replies came short and clipped, and he was just too aware of the knot of his tie touching his throat.

No one noticed; no one that wasn’t Pepper, anyway.

From all the way on the other side of the room, she caught him sliding two fingers between his tie and collar, not-so-subtly trying to tug it loose. She gave him a look; not exactly the glare he earned earlier in the car, but it was nearly there.

He corrected the action, turning it into a subconscious attire assessment. It couldn’t fool her but it didn’t have to.

They only just reached the finance affairs as the clock struck noon. Tony excused himself to the bathroom; he didn’t have to, but he mentioned the curry—it bought a few knowing chuckles and an eye-roll from Pepper which was always worth it.

After washing up, he didn’t hurry to return. He pulled out his phone and commandeered a spot on the floor near the sinks—Stark Tower’s restrooms were cleaner than operating theatres and his germophobia came and went as it pleased, so as long as he didn’t think about it, he was okay.

He wasn’t surprised to see no messages waiting for him; Pepper used to insist he keep his personal phone off while handling SI business but Iron Man, SHIELD liaising, and then the Avengers corroded that rule—now she just asked he keep it on silent.

No messages didn’t necessarily mean no problems. A tight, invisible band remained fixed around his chest as he typed and sent off a simple “Everything alright?” message.

Natasha replied within seconds. “All fine.”

Tony told himself he had to believe that. “Might be home an hour late,” he told her.

She sent a low resolution picture of a kitten with big, sad eyes.

He huffed a laugh, the small sound echoing in the confined space. The fact he married the World’s Most Dangerous Women never for a moment escaped him, but it certainly made her brand of texting that much more amusing.

“Want me to get you anything?”

“No. Had lunch ;)”

“Ok. Stay safe. Love you.”

He signed off with a heart emoji because that was another thing he did now (Peter once told him it was inaccurate and he should use the blue circle instead).

He checked the news, then checked his message bank again. No calls to assemble, no giant robots attacking the city, no aliens threatening invasion. He checked the time, reminded himself he had to get back. He checked the weather... and then the news again, just to be sure.

Nothing was happening in the world—nothing he could fix, anyway. It should’ve been a relief, but it wasn’t.

Giving the phone a rest, he shut his eyes and tilted his head back against the cold, tiled wall. Silence asserted itself, but between the constant ringing in his ears and the white noise of his thoughts, he hardly noticed.

Hiding in the bathroom wasn’t exactly professional; he knew he should pick himself up off the floor, get back, and give this his best, as was expected... but motivation eluded him.

In a bid to compromise, he allotted five minutes of peace and sternly told himself he couldn’t have more than that. When his five minutes were up, he got to his feet and headed out before he could argue.

Somewhere along the way back to the conference room, he decided to ditch the tie altogether, rolling it up and stowing it in his pocket.

The mood had shifted in his absence; judging by the stiff set of Pepper’s shoulders, it wasn’t good...

. . . . .

It was close to two in the afternoon by the time Tony got back to the Compound.

Sam, testing his new wings by flying circuits overhead, saw him arrive and waved from the sky; Tony responded with a mock salute.

On his way to the residential block, he caught sight of Steve and Daisy jogging around the lake; they were far enough away that he couldn’t exactly hear what they were saying to each other, but he still heard Daisy’s laugh—full and bright and real.

Beyond them, he just managed to glimpse some coloured blurs zipping about amongst the trees bordering the far side of the lake. Red and blue, white and black and teal, and—only now and then—a black and red blur: Peter, Gwen, and Miles. They liked to call their races and convoluted games of tag “training” in the hopes of appearing serious; Tony really didn’t care what they called it, he was just glad they were all enjoying their summer vacation.

Tracing his way through the lobby, heading for the elevator, a thought occurred to him: if someone had told him just six years ago that this was where Iron Man would take him, that he’d make a home filled with such crazy, colourful, incredible people, he wouldn’t have imagined anything like this; here on the other side of it, he couldn’t believe his life had once been so bland.

He wasn’t holding himself so stiffly when he finally reached his apartment, but hours of playing businessman had strained his still healing muscles. A dull but deep ache radiated from his core and seemed to settle in his bones; with effort, he could continue ignoring it, but experience warned him it would be worse the next day.

It didn’t escape Natasha’s trained sight. The second he walked in, her head snapped up and her gaze flicked from the hefty folder in her lap to him. After just a mere glimpse, her lips quirked and “I told you so” lit up in brilliant neon in her eyes.

He pointed an exaggeratedly stern finger at her. “Don’t say it!”

She tilted her head and batted her eyelashes. “Okay. Then you say it.”

“No.”

“Then I’m gonna say it.”

“Don’t you d—”

“You should’ve worn the brace.”

He rolled his eyes but a smile ruined the effect. “For the record, you didn’t tell me to wear it today.”

She shrugged and returned her attention to... whatever she was doing. “I’ve said it like a million times already; just pull up a memory and stamp today’s date on it.”

“Nag.”

“You love me.”

“Yeah. I do.” He kicked off his shoes and draped his wrinkled suit jacket over the arm of the couch.

Without looking, Natasha gathered some of the papers splayed out on the couch cushions and patted the now free space.

Tony accepted the invitation, collapsing bonelessly beside her. He took advantage of the respite and tried to relax; he didn’t mean for his eyes to slip closed, but he really wasn’t up to fighting it.

As nice as it was to be back in his own space, with Natasha safe and sound beside him, he got the sense this day wasn’t over just yet. “I’m a little scared to ask: but what is all...” he gestured halfheartedly, his hand hardly rising off the couch, “this?”

“Our next mission. Fury dropped it off just after you left this morning.” She nudged him softly in the side with her elbow before sliding the folder from her lap to his.

With a frown, Tony opened his eyes. “Natasha, I don’t know if you should—“

“I told him.”

“Oh.” He blinked and smoothed out the frown; it came back half-strength. “And... what did he say?”

“That he’ll take care of the heavy lifting.” She tapped the folder. “This looks like it’s more about research and connect-the-dots than chasing bad guys anyway.”

“Yeah, they always start that way.” Reluctantly, he pulled himself out of his slouch and began flipping through the papers. Reports, he supposed; he wasn’t making himself read anything. The thick blocks of words upon words soon gave way to photographs and he slowed down—maybe he could piece it together with just pictures for now.

The first few didn’t immediately connect to any relevant information: shards of metal, charred and jagged; bits of broken glass scattered over asphalt; cars with gashes and slashes and crumpled hoods.

Everything rushed into focus when he came to a photograph of a long, coiled tail of razors—segmented for flexibility and serrated for brutality.

“This is about Whiplash,” he said, his voice somehow quieter than he meant it to be.

“Fury’s been looking into it. He doesn’t think the Maggia was involved.”

“Okay... so who is?”

“He doesn’t know. Our best lead right now is whoever supplied Scarlotti’s new tech.” Natasha picked out a leaf of papers from the spread by her hip. “Here,” she said as she placed it in his grasp, covering the photographs. “This is the report from SHIELD’s engineers. They’ve been examining it and this is what they have so far.”

“I didn’t know he left anything behind.”

“Well, I doubt he meant to; he was just in a hurry to get away.”

“Yeah, Hulk has that effect on people.”

Tony skimmed through the specs, curiosity buying his concentration. With just a glance, he could tell it wasn’t AIM’s handiwork, as he (and everyone else) had initially assumed. The design wasn’t simple, but it was straightforward, not encumbered with all the unnecessary frills AIM loved to add just because they could.

Also, it relied more on hardware than software. It was designed to shred and tear and slash, to make a mess: AIM liked weapons of devastion, such as blasters and bombs, but they thought too highly of their technological prowess to resort to tricking out medieval torture implements.

He scoured the information, the mechanic in him taking over, dismantling and reconstructing, fitting all the bits into place, seeing all the ways to improve it. Some parts struck him as just too familiar, stoking a weatherbeaten sense of indignation as he recognized components of his own invention mingled in with the otherwise unique design.

The report ended too quickly. Turning the last page, expecting to find more, the photograph of the whip lying inert on the road caught him off guard.

Huh.

He hadn’t noticed all that blood before... Was it all his? Had to be. Must’ve been from when it—

He closed the folder; he did it too fast and some papers folded funny and others just fell out altogether. “I’d like to have a look at the tech myself,” he said.

Natasha hummed. “I thought you might.”

“SHIELD engineers are good but... there’s, um... there’s things that they... they miss things.”

“Yeah, I know.” With the grace of her namesake, she moved the folder off his lap and placed it on the coffee table. With slow, purposeful movements, she tended to the papers, neatening and straightening, replacing and reordering, clearing the couch and the table. “How’s Pepper?” she asked, her tone light, even, steadying.

Tony rubbed at his eyes, tried to shift gears and follow along. “She’s... she’s good.”

“And Happy? Still enjoying the security business?”

He attempted a laugh; it sounded strangled. “Must be. HR is flooded with complaints. I didn’t see him today, though.”

“Too busy?”

“No. Pepper said he had a cold.”

“Again?”

“I think he’s just allergic to Socrates.”

He knew what she was doing. It was a trick, in the same way saving someone from drowning by luring them back to land after they’ve unwittingly drifted too far out to sea is a trick. It worked: he was back in the shallows. He wasn’t on the shore yet but at least he could stand.

He appreciated the distract and conquer strategy—really, he did—but...

Leaning forward, he got the weight off his chest so he could take a full breath. He held it, counted, then let it go in a sigh. “I’m sorry, Tasha, it’s just...”

“It’s alright. It’s always a little bumpy getting back into things.”

“But it shouldn’t be. I should be better than this.”

She moved. He braced, expecting a hand on his back or shoulder, but none came; instead, she uncrossed her legs and tucked them underneath her, moving so as to press up against his side. “It came up in the meeting today, didn’t it?” she ventured.

He nodded.

“Let me guess: the stocks dipped.”

“A bit, but the board was more concerned with...” He gestured, stiffly, aimlessly, but it didn’t help him find the words.

“With... how it looked?” Natasha supplied.

An empty laugh slipped out; he instantly wished he could take it back. “You know, it’s funny: when Iron Man takes on alien invasions or monsters that popped right out of fairytales, he looks like a hero; but when he gets into a wrestling match with a mobster who leaves him looking like a soda can someone stepped on, he’s just... reckless.”

In all fairness, it wasn’t an unanimous view; most of the directors and shareholders either liked Iron Man or were indifferent to Tony’s extracurricular activities, comfortable to let him do whatever he wanted so long as he kept it separate from the company. But there were others: ones who didn’t hate Iron Man, per se, but weren’t exactly thrilled with his existence.

Keith Laurel, one of the few board members who had worked with both Howard and Obadiah, had been the most vocal today. “We’re a multi-national tech conglomerate on the forefront of innovation, and we’re picking street fights with a local crime family now? Do you have any idea how that looks?”

Tony had had to physically bite his tongue at that remark. For one thing, calling the Maggia a local crime family was tantamount to calling McDonald’s a family-run diner. And while he couldn’t figure out what he’d done recently to tick them off, he definitely didn’t go and pick that fight.

Pepper had stepped in then and pointed out that Iron Man’s activities didn’t necessarily reflect on Stark Industries because, technically, he didn’t work for them. She addressed it, then, in the very next breath, directed attention to the medical labs in South America and their recent breakthroughs in prosthetic limbs, but Laurel wasn’t having it.

He had fixed his gaze on Tony. “You’re not CEO anymore. That’s a fact. But you still own this company—the company your father left you. The things you do affect his legacy. What would he think?”

It wasn’t a new sentiment. If he had a dollar for every time someone played the “What would your father say?” card on him, his fortune would double. He had heard it so many times throughout his life, parroted and reiterated to the point that, honestly, he’d grown numb to it.

None of it was new: stock drops, unhappy board members, legacies upheld or profaned, attacks on Iron Man, attacks on Tony Stark—he was used to it.

He was used to it, but this time... it didn’t feel the same.

“You aren’t reckless,” Natasha said, cutting through the storm brewing in his head. “I didn’t marry a reckless man, and I swear I would never have a child with one.”

Tony scoffed before he could censor himself. “I didn’t get attacked for no reason. I must’ve done something, I just... I can’t figure it out.”

She brought her hand into his field of vision before touching his chin and coaxing him to turn his head and look at her; the intensity in her eyes was strangely calming. “I don’t know why Whiplash attacked you, but I know you didn’t invite it.”

When her gaze became too much, he closed his eyes, but he didn’t pull away. He bowed his head so that his forehead met hers. It hurt, twisting and leaning to the side like that, but he didn’t care. “I’ll fix this, I promise.”

Her hand moved to cup the back of his head, anchoring him. “We’ll fix it together.”

. . . . .

<<< Previous Chapter

🍁 Thanks for reading! 🍁

[viviennes-tears]

Just be patient with me (Loki & Gender neutral X reader Drabble)

18+ blog: It is YOUR responsibility, as a reader, to think about the content that you consume at your own discretion.  ~

Summary: Following an argument with Loki you take a long car ride to an unfamiliar location. You should have asked where he was taking you, but you decided against it, not wanting to argue again. However in light of everything he brings you to a spot high up on a hill, a spot where you both gaze up at the stars, and in his own way he apologies to you about everything.

Warnings: None

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

You and Loki had an argument a few hours ago about where your relationship is going. Your plan about the conversation hadn’t gone as well as you’d hoped it would, especially since you’ve been together for several months now, so it only seemed logical to you to have the conversation. Of course he acted like many men typically do, being reserved from expressing his inner feelings, quick to defend his rights to keep things as they are, while seeing no need to change things as everything had been going well. Despite how visibly upset you’d gotten by what transpired with Loki being his usual stubborn and childish self, things ended in a tiff between the two of you.

This being said it made this current car ride intense and silent, besides the roaring of the engine, as well as the sound of small stones and pieces of gravel crunching beneath the tires, as Loki drove off the main road and down a dirt road instead. As it got darker Loki switched his headlights to full beam. You noticed the change in direction as it wasn’t to anywhere of familiarity, yet you didn’t question his whereabouts either, you should have but you didn’t want to end up in another argument while everything was still sour between you both. Decidedly you kept quiet, keeping your eyes on the dark silhouettes of the passing scenery, whilst enduring however long this would take.

After sometime Loki turned off the dirt road, parking the car quite literally in the middle of nowhere, before shutting off the engine and headlights simultaneously. The silence continued for a few more minutes as you remained parked, until he cleared his throat, before getting out of the car and coming around to your side. Just like always he opened the door for you and helped you out, in that respect things were the same, but the rest of the situation made you wish he would open up more. Only you know he has trouble with it and to fully be able to comprehend it you have to learn to be a little more patient with him.

“I want to show you something.” Those are his first words he’s spoken since leaving the comfort of your apartment you shared together. You are puzzled by his choice in words given there’s nothing that you can see out here and certainly not at night. Although you didn’t object when he took your hand in his, this small gesture showed a glimmer of hope for the pair of you yet.

A shimmer of green suddenly passed along his fingers on his free hand, creating a green sphere to appear before you, it then began to float ahead along a trail through some long grass. The green sphere being your guiding light as Loki began leading you away from the car. As it turned out the walk from the car was quite far, the silence had continued on between you again, although his grip on your hand was tight and protective the entire time. 

Eventually after a long walk and a climb up a huge hill the green sphere had stopped at the very top. Loki's hand slipped away from yours, as he used his magic to make a green checkered blanket to appear on the grass at your feet, and with another flick of his wrist the green sphere faded into nothingness. He proceeds to gesture for you to sit down first on the blanket, your curiosity certainly has piqued by this point, then you take a seat comfortably upon the blanket followed by Loki sitting behind you. His knees up high on either side of you, his feet planted on the blanket, while his chest pressed against your back and a protective arm wrapping around your waist. 

Loki sighs softly, his breath hitting against the back of your neck, and sending a noticeable shiver down your spine. Not that he mentions it. However as the two of you sit up on top of the hill you both look up at the night sky. Gazing at the beautiful and natural wonders of the world, seeing the changes of the colours between the blues, pinks and violets with an array of stars twinkling like little fireflies that are embedded in the sky. This. This right here is exactly what you realised he wanted to show you, a warm feeling soon began to fill your senses from the realisation too, after all it wasn't a sight you could clearly see from your apartment due to the illumination of the city lights.

"I am not very good with words...at least not the kind of words that come from the heart. The kind of words which matter most..one thing you should always rely on is my actions and my little tokens of affection. They are how I can communicate my feelings for you, my love. Although do not despair about being abandoned, as I never will, I'm not going anywhere. And over time in my own way I will show you my entire heart. Just be patient with me." His voice was loving in that moment, a hint of his vulnerability seeping out too. 

Despite him not exactly saying in words that he was sorry about the argument earlier, this turned out to be his way of apologising to you, wanting to show you what you truly mean to him. As you leaned back into his chest and a smile appearing on your lips was enough for him to know you'd forgiven him.

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

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Source: @viviennes-tears

[bridgyrose]

Ruby kills Neo after letting out her anger and violence in their fight. Now ruby is stuck in the jabbawalker area traumatized with the crime she has committed. (Love you 💖)

(Love you too bunbun)

“It wasnt my fault!” Ruby pulled back to avoid a hit from the illusionary Pyrrha as she brought her scythe up to defend herself. Her eyes darted around the room as she watched the other illusions ready themselves to fight, her heart aching at the thought of fighting anyone she had trusted. Her eyes locked on Ozpin as she watched the illusion rush to her, arms shaking as she moved her scythe to defend her. 

“You really think you can keep yourself from hurting another one of your friends-” 

Ruby froze as Roman’s voice cut out and the Ozpin illusion turned into Oscar, and then dropped to show Neo. Her arms shook as she realized what she had done as she watched the illusionist drop to the ground, blood spilling around her. She took a step back as the manor started to collapse and shatter while the illusions faded around her. 

The Roman illusion smirked for a moment as his voice came back just as he started to fade. “And now you’ll never be able to be a huntress. No better than the rest of us.” 

Ruby dropped her scythe and stood frozen as the illusionary manor fell apart around her, eyes wide as she tried to take in everything she had done. Once the manor was gone, she found herself more lost than ever as she started to walk through the acre, no longer sure where she had wanted to go. Her heart pounded in her chest with each step, her mind spinning from the words she had heard her friends tell her, that Penny had told her. All she had wanted to do was be a huntress, to save others, and yet, all she had done was hurt her friends. 

“Ruby!” the Curious Cat called out as they made their way to Ruby. “There you are! I was worried sick when I saw you run away from your friends.” 

“You… you were watching us?” 

“Of course? What kind of guide would I be otherwise?” The Curious Cat disappeared briefly and then reappeared in front of Ruby with a smile. “Sure we had a… little tiff, but that’s just what friendship is like, right? Friends always say things they dont mean, but that doesnt mean they have to be shunned. So what do you say we make our way to the tree and get you home?” 

“I’m… not going back.” 

The Curious Cat paused. “I’m sorry?” 

“I’m not going back home.” Ruby sighed and sat down as she looked around her and then to the sky above. “All I wanted was to help others, but Neo’s right. All I’ve done is hurt everyone along the way. I… I dont want to be me anymore, but I… I dont…” she wiped a tear from her eyes and took a breath to steady herself. “They’ll be better off without me there.” 

“N-no… you have to want to go back to Remnant. Surely you want to stop this Salem character, right? Besides, you promised me that you’d take me with you to see Remnant. If you stop here, then… what’s the point?” 

“The point is that I dont hurt anyone else.” 

The Curious Cat frowned and scratched at Ruby. “That’s not how this story goes!” 

Ruby pulled back and held her arm as it bled, fingers shaking. “It’s… it’s my choice to go back, isnt it? I killed Neo to save myself, but that doesnt change what I’ve done to hurt my friends. That I wasnt able to save anyone.” 

The Curious Cat pulled back for a moment as it started to lose color, slowly walking around Ruby. “I guess its about time that I tell you the truth about all of this. I *need* you in order to get to Remnant. I’ve been trying to wear you down, and now that Neo’s done what I couldnt, you dont want to go back? Well, if you dont want to be you, then I can be you for you!” 

Ruby stumbled back as she tried to use her semblance to avoid the Curious Cat as it lunged for her, her semblance erratically pulling her apart and bringing her back together again as she tried to make her way further through the acre. She ran as quickly as she could, trying to push herself until her legs gave out and she stumbled down a cliff. 

“You can run but you cant hide!” the Curious Cat called out. “I will find you!” 

Ruby tried to pick herself up and winced as she could barely pick herself up. A few tears rolled down her cheeks as a storm came and thunder echoed through the sky. Her fingers ran through the dirt as the ground opened up under her, swallowing her up as it did with Herb.

[calling-for-kins]

hey, i'm rachel amber, life is strange. i'm 18 years old!

i'm mostly looking for my chloe and nathan canonmates, but i'm soo down to talk to anyone- ESP other canonmates <3 even jefferson and frank :P some things i remember include... sitting on chloe’s blue rug painting my nails while she smoked on her bed, but i don't remember what we talked about :') also, playing moviestarplanet at her desk while she was on her bed!! sleeping over at chloe's leaning on the fridge while talking to joyce sitting at the table going through newspaper or bills or something. going to a vortex club party with nathan, where i swiped some girl's drink from the bar which ended up having something slipped in it already, while nathan was having a little tiff with victoria about hanging out with me instead of her. i went to another room with jefferson to take some pictures, and we had a little bit of a disagreement when i wanted to quit, but nathan ended up interrupting alongside victoria. nathan, unbeknownst to me about the whole... mentor thing... was obviously kinda worried. i didn't wanna go back home yet, so we just went to the two whales to hang out. he noticed the bruises on my arms, and i kept trying to change the subject. forcibly sitting with nathan and victoria in jefferson's class, the day me and nathan became friends. meeting pompidou when meeting frank for the first time, and saying, "pompidou’s a cute name for a dog. isn’t that like, an obnoxious hairstyle or something?" to which he annoyedly answered something along the lines of, "what? no. pompidou. it's a place in france." to which i made fun of him, asking if geography is a job requirement to sell drugs to highschoolers. lashing out at frank one day, telling him i didnt want to see him anymore, and that i'm trying to get out of arcadia bay. "what? literally, what? i mean, seriously? did you think i’d graduate from blackhell and spend the rest of my life in your trailer, with you and pompidou? i’m going to get out of here frank, out of arcadia, fuck, out of oregon. and don’t be surprised when i never fucking look back." i did write him that apology letter the next day apologizing and thanking him for not... idk. giving up on me?? i have more memories! just reblog this or dm me if anything sounds familiar, or u wanna hear more, or tell me yours! <3 thx!

🔮

[autumnbrambleagain]

Yhelm p9 - readmore for full

Drizzle hadn't left Flyhhnemonia yet. This was day eleven of constant rain.

Rumors had it she'd gotten into a tiff with another god--most said Solid--and was hiding behind Flyhh until the fight was over. Others were saying she'd fallen in love with a mortal, who'd finally died, and she was taking comfort with the Heir of Love. Whatever the truth was, it was day eleven of her stay in Flyhhnemonia, and day eleven of constant rain. The Guild of Porters and Fishermen were already busy enough keeping things from washing away. Yhelm had to help dig a literal ditch last night to help with the run-off.

And now some idiot had gone and gotten herself arrested and now it was Yhelm's problem. Which was fun.

She was currently dripping in the entrance hall of the Cabdrydal courthouse. The ceiling was tall and arched, each marble beam decorated with little iron-work statues Yhelm couldn't even make out from all the way down here on the ground. But each drop of water from her soaked-through tail onto the colorful tiled floors echoed far deep back into the building and it made her feel just a bit self-conscious.

"Umbrella didn't do you much good did it?"

There was an adversary sitting at a little booth off to the side of the entrance. Of course Yhelm's umbrella wasn't going to protect her from the rain--using a narrative reassignment to turn umbrella into sword meant sword couldn't keep you dry. "I don't see why it should," Yhelm said. "I had to swim half the way here."

The security-dog laughed, but he also stood up and stepped out of the booth. "You ask me, Drizzle needs a good, hard dicking."

"Wow," Yhelm said. "In times like this, the world mourns our lost Apat."

The security-adversary checked Yhelm over for weapons, and found none, because her umbrella was a weapon but only for her, and so she was let through. At the end of the hall was a tall, rounded wooden desk, a single contiguous piece at least twenty feet long, very impressive and very expensive. Two clerks were seated there, their pen-scratchings echoing out into the vast cavern that separated them from Yhelm.

Hopefully one wasn't her little brother?

She started the long walk over. Why was it so long? Was it to facilitate lines? There were benches along the sides of the entranceway, and more statuework lining the walls. And there, hanging from the ceiling on heavy wires, a great iron-cast statue of Cabdrydal herself, some winged breacher lawyer of ages past. She was kinda hot. Yhelm wondered who would be in blamed the day the wires inevitably broke and the statue fell and crushed some poor person. Maybe it'd be a criminal and everyone would say Cabdrydal got one more.

She decided to not walk directly under it.

And. Well. Fuck.

The desk was divided into several booths for several lines, but Yhelm was the only person here. There were two clerks here, and that mean she could have her choice of which one she wanted, and one of them was some freeperson she'd never met, and the other was her little brother. Fuck. It'd be worse to go to the other one and ignore him, right? It would probably be worse.

"Heyyyyy baby brother," Yhelm purred.

Bodo looked up. There was a split-second of recognition in his face where he saw her as his sister first and that was a real nice second and after that he caught up to his own opinion on her and now he was looking at a criminal, a disappointment to the family. "How can I--what do you want, Yhelm."

Fine we can be business like Yhelm couldn't do business she was here for business. "A gaitsbird was arrested last night for assault and public what-have-yous."

"I'm not at liberty to discuss any on-going--"

"Yeah that's nice," Yhelm interrupted, and she clacked her umbrella-tip on the tiled floor and it echoed a good long second. She could be shitty to family too watch her go. "This is a Guild issue and I'm here to take her into our custody."

A demented smile broke over Bodo's face and even his coworker stopped and looked over in concern. "Haha. Hah! And you really think I'm just going to let a criminal go free because you asked nicely? Really?"

Yhelm sighed. "No, you're going to entrust the criminal into our custody so we can punish her by Guild laws."

"Guild laws!" Bodo looked over at his coworker. "Do you hear this? Criminal laws. Criminal courts. She wants me to believe that!"

Yhelm glared at the coworker. He'd obviously been working here much longer, because he said, carefully, "Ah, s’ent, I can send for the lawizard on duty for you?"

Bodo's face fell. Yhelm just smiled thinly. "Yes. That would be appreciated."

The clerk turned to what Yhelm had assumed was another sculpture, set up behind the desk, but oh, those great brass tubes were some kind of… instrument? Giant bells? The other clerk picked up a padded hammer and struck a few with slow, deliberate gongs. Everyone's ears flinched at it. Clearly no one liked this.

"The lawizard on duty will be with you as soon as he can, s'ent," the clerk said. "You can have a seat while you wait if you like."

Bodo huffed. "She's a criminal, we shouldn't be giving her what she wants."

"Dude, it's not our call," the freeperson said.

They slowly turned back to their work. Yhelm didn't sit. She stood right where she was dripping. "So," she tried. "How long do you have until you become a lawizard?"

Bodo's pen stopped scratching. "I'm at work, Yhelm."

"So am I."

"No, no you are not."

"Pfft. My boss told me to do this it’s work."

Bodo's coworker looked up from his paperwork with a sort of 'what is going on' expression.

"He's my brother," Yhelm whispered, which, no, whispers didn't work in this oversized hall they just echoed as loud as anything else.

Bodo didn't take the bait and the coworker went back to his work with a sort of 'wow okay not my business' expression. Yhelm contented herself to stand there right next to her baby brother and drip all over his floor. Bodo did an amazing job of ignoring her, though. It was sad. They used to get along really well? He'd been so happy when she'd come back home from the Cazirizahd. Of course now he resented her for it. That was neat. That. Was. Neat.

The lawizard finally arrived. Try not to laugh but he was an honest to goodness meadow deer. Tall antlers and red tie and black jacket and nothing else. The absolute stereotype. Yhelm was an adversary criminal, though. Meadoe wasn't a very original writer, Yhelm considered.

"Ah?" he announced into the room.

Bodo stood up--was he standing on his chair? He was kind of short. Or was there just a platform there for height-challenged races back there anyway? "Ah, Prim'ent Apples. This uh, adversary wanted to speak to you about a recent arrest." Look at him go, all business when the game was on. Yhelm was proud of the little bastard. He wasn't actually a bastard she was technically a bastard but like whatever.

The lawizard swung his head back to Yhelm.

"Dentsiles," she said. "I'm Guild of Porters and Fishermen. You have a gaitsbird, Lastsong, in your lock-up. She started a fight in a Guild of Brick Layers and Ditch Diggers bar and stabbed a Guild of Lamp Lighters and Wood Cutters member most-of-the-way-to-death. Which sounds like the lead-up to a joke but the punchline is she's in a lot of trouble."

"Ah, ah," the lawizard smiled. "We expected you much earlier you know. We almost had to start process on her ourselves."

"Yeah well so long as Drizzle keeps crying gopaf has our hands full keeping the docks from flooding out. I'm running on three hours of sleep." Which was normal for her, but don't tell anyone that.

The lawizard nodded and Yhelm had to take a step back to not get stabbed by his rack. Apat preserve he was actually kind of handsome. What deer didn't look good in a suit though? That was cheating, God was a deer in a suit, of course it was a good look. "I don't envy her," he said. "I need to confirm you before I can hand her over."

"Yep."

Red lights of Law sprang to life from the lawizard’s very body, twisting into a picture-frame that settled in front of Yhelm's face. The color bled and spilled out into neatly-written words floating mid-air, within biting distance. Someday Yhelm was going to bite a Law construct. "All right, S'ent Machato--hah! Machato! I wonder if there's any relation to our own S'ent Machato behind the desk there!"

The lawizard smiled but Bodo just looked up miserably.

"He's my brother," Yhelm said.

"Oh. Oh! Really! What wild things life holds for us all. I hope you two can still get along?"

"Of course," Yhelm said, and Bodo sat up like he wanted to say something but probably not in front of his boss. "We good though?"

"You check out," the lawizard said, dismissing the inquiry spell. "I'll go grab S'ent Lastsong and transfer custody."

"Wait!" It was Bodo, now fully standing on top of his seat, Yhelm could see it he was actually standing on it. "Wait, you're actually handing a criminal over to criminals?"

Bodo's coworker was giving him a look like 'holy shit dude stop' but he didn't say anything.

"Isn't that a bit of a rude thing to say to your sister? She hasn't been accused of anything. If she had been I would have seen it when I did the inquiry, you know."

"No--but--wait--I don't understand." Bodo was now scrambling over the desk to join them on the floor. Adorable. He was basically still twelve years old in Yhelm's head. "I'm sorry, Prim'ent, but, I don't understand how this is legal? Isn't it our duty to, to put her on trial and punish her for her crimes?" The way he was saying that, Yhelm thought, he was probably talking about Lastsong but she could feel an argument could be made he was talking about Yhelm herself. She wondered if Bodo realized that.

But the lawizard was just chuckling. "I'm sorry, S'ent Machato, he--well I don't have to apologize for your own brother do I? No, Bodo, the Guilds have a Legal Authority in their own prescribed jurisdictions, and their jurisdiction takes full precedence over ours here. Don't imagine she's getting off free. She'd probably prefer to be tried by us?"

"Ooh yeah," Yhelm agreed. "You'd put her in jail or proscribe behaviors or something right? Oooour boss is probably just gonna. I don't know. Break her arms? Pull out her teeth? I dunno. Criminal stuff." She winked at Bodo.

"This--this is Legal," Bodo said, dumbstruck. "This is actually Legal-legal?"

"Don't like, hold this against him," Yhelm said, gesturing to All Of Bodo. "He's still upset I used my college education to become a guild academage instead of, I don't know. Sitting in a tower writing self-congratulatory essays all day? What do wizards do. This apparently I'm a wizard and this is what this wizard is doing right now."

The lawizard was smiling but also clearly running out of patience. "If you'll excuse me then," he said, and he left Yhelm and Bodo there to deal with one another while he got Lastsong. Except Bodo just stood there staring up at her in confusion, and Yhelm just stared down at him with a little bit more smug satisfaction than she'd have liked but it wasn't like she could help every feeling she had all the time.

"I had hoped you wouldn't be working today," she finally said. "Like. I don't want to actually cause problems for you."

"You're doing a good job of it," Bodo huffed. "I, I just." He looked down at his wrist and little lines of Law flowed from his fingers and wrapped into a red wristwatch. "I have ten minutes before I'm done for the day anyway. Let me finish up my work."

"Wanna escort the prisoner with me?" Yhelm offered.

"No," Bodo said, clambering back over the desk and into his seat, "I want you to be gone before it's time for me to leave."

She'd tried. No one could blame her for trying, Yhelm thought.

Finally Lawizard Apples returned, leading a yellow gaitsbird on chains of Law. As custody was officially transferred--wow okay now the chains were on Yhelm's wrist and they felt really weird and warm--Bodo apparently finished up his work and he was already speeding down the hallway to the exit without even a goodbye to Yhelm. Sort of rude, but okay. Whatever.

"So like if she runs does this give me the power to like, do something to her?" Yhelm asked, holding up her end of the chain.

"Yhelm I swear to Aiax I'm not going to run!" Lastsong said, and everyone braced themselves because she'd done the dumbest thing and swore to Aiax and yep here was the sudden rush of pressure constricting everyone's chests and the light in the room for just a moment was blindingly red as the Heir of Law took special interest in the situation to make sure the oath was fulfilled. Yhelm snarled and bopped Lastsong on the head. Not especially gently.

The lawizard laughed. "I don't think that's going to be a problem now. Is Bodo already gone? Lucan? Did he already leave? I wanted to have a talk with him."

"Hey," Yhelm said. "Really don't hold it against him. Mom never let it go that I became a gangster-wizard and now all of the family's disappointments are his to fix. He does good work when I'm not here, right?"

"All the same," Lawizard Apples said. "Nice meeting you, S'ent Machato."

"Yup," Yhelm said. She gave an experimental tug on Lastsong's chain and the poor thing stumbled. "Seriously Song I can't get over how bad you fucked up why did you stab him?"

Yhelm started into a walk and Lastsong hopped to keep up. "We--Yhelm we were playing cards, okay, and--"

"And he cheated?"

"N-no. He. He was winning. A lot. So."

Gaitsbirds, Yhelm sighed. She was sure somewhere Bodo was sighing and thinking the same thing about adversaries, though. It didn't matter she had a job to do and even if Lastsong was a workplace friend Yhelm was an enforcer and she had to actually look intimidating when someone was in trouble and she could do that pretty well at least. She gave a nod to the adversary at the door and then they were back out into the rain.

Bodo was still here. Out in the rain, by the statue of Aiax. There was another freeperson with him, young looking, tall and in patterned clothes that weren't native and they were talking. Yhelm really, really didn't actually want to interfere in her little brother's life and she was literally in the middle of a job but she still slowed down to make sure things were cool and that's when the tall freeperson hugged Bodo?

Huh. "Huh," Yhelm said, not realizing she'd stopped walking.

Bodo spun around and his loafers couldn't make angry stomps like hooves could but they splashed at the puddles and got his pants even more wet all the same. "Yhelm! Are--can you--can you just leave!?"

"Yeah it took a bit to get--" Yhelm rattled the Law chains but they didn't rattle. Lastsong swung her arms to keep up with the movements. "This sorted out. Not even a good-bye for me? And I think your boss was kinda upset with you."

The tall freeperson, his hands holding themselves in front of his lap and trying to make himself look small despite being taller than Yhelm, whispered, "Lottle, war saet dar?"

Haha holy shit. And here was Yhelm in the pouring rain looking intimidating with her fucking leather jacket and umbrella that was secretly a sword, holding a gaistbird by a set of chains, staring down poor Bodo and this poor--poor fucking soul was here having no idea what he'd just gotten himself into.

"Ehs sesster," Yhelm answered, before Bodo could find the words himself. Holy shit. "Arest dayr et loozah at myrs bretter?"

The freeperson stammered. "Ah--sait."

Bodo sputtered. "How--how, how do you know, where did you even learn--"

"I went to magic fucking college, Bodo," Yhelm said. "Do you know how many theses come out of Upper Retlay? Traverse's sake I soft-dated a Retlayn while I was there. So."

Yhelm had intended to have a dramatic pause, but Lastsong whimpered, "It's, it's raining all over us can we not be standing out here please? I'm getting soaked…" Everyone ignored it, though, and Lastsong just warbled miserably to herself.

"… so. Do you want to introduce me to your boyfriend?" Yhelm asked.

Bodo groaned. "Yhelm this is Latyzell, Latyzell this is my sister Yhelm, okay, that's fine, we're done here?"

Latyzell leaned in again and whispered to Bodo, "Why are we angry?"

"It's--a family thing," Bodo huffed.

Don't be an adversary don't be an adversary don't be an adversary, "Does mom give you guff for being in a non-productive relationship?" fuck she fucked it up.

Bodo didn't answer right away, which was actually an answer.

"Oh no," Yhelm said. "Oh you haven't told her yet. Because you grew up seeing how much she hated me dating a phanteasel."

Bodo stared. Yhelm stared back.

Latyzell and Lastsong watched on helplessly, the rain pounding at their shoulders and heads. Roped in to a sibling-stare-down, prisoners to a conflict no one wanted to actually be a part of, especially the siblings forced to carry it out.

Bodo blinked first. "Don't tell her."

"She won't talk to me. And fuck her anyway. Mom can go up to Princess Flyhh and complain and see how far that gets her. You two look cute together. Don't let her ruin it for you."

Bodo huffed.

"Bring him next time we do coffee. We can welcome him into the family when we aren't standing out in the middle of a rainstorm."

"N--next time," Bodo started, but Yhelm didn't give him the chance to get around to declining.

"The forty-third. We'll see you then, kid. Latyzell, al mat myr svitch darit. Groop dayr carr ruber myrs bretter. C'mon Song."

Yhelm tugged Lastsong with her and started off, hooves splashing on the soaked stone walk. Behind her, Bodo stammered. "Wait--wait what did she say that was too fast for me to get it?" Yhelm glanced back just enough to see Latyzell kiss Bodo's forehead in answer. Freaking adorable.

"Your family's kind of messed up?" Lastsong offered.

"Haha yeah," Yhelm said, "you almost killed another guild, Song, you are so screwed."

"I knoooow! He was winning though!" she whined. "Do, do we have to go right to Prim'ent Pio? Can, can we get like, can we stop by Alzzard's Curry first? You know? Like a last meal? Before he plucks and cooks me?"

"Yeah that's fine, I could eat," Yhelm agreed. "Just a little bit though. I don't want to spoil my appetite. I hear we're having roast gaitsbird tonight?"

"Yheeeeeeelm that isn't funny! We're friends pleeaase!"

"Yeah but I'm not your friend when I'm working," Yhelm said. "What kind of sauce do you think you'd go best in?"

"Aaahahaaa someone save meeee!"