#today he wore a hat with little candles and I CRIED SO HARD

[auranon-art]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMMIE MONKEY!!!!! You are the best Animal Crossing villager, and that’s a FACT.

[adezahnae]

Family Affair (Part 3)

A/N: Here is Part 3 of Family Affair💕 enjoy!!

Warnings: None, angst, secrets, drugging, photography without content, etc...

Tagged People: @ahgasearmyfan @whoreforshuaaa @wooya1224

A week later...

Your POV

“Happy birthday to you!! Happy birthday to you!! Happy birthday dear Y/n!! Happy birthday to you!!” My family cheered. I blew out the candles and everyone clapped and cheered. “Happy 18th birthday my baby!!” My mom said. “Thank you everyone!!” I said. The party then began. After the engagement party, it was my birthday but instead there was a lot going on with the wedding so we are celebrating today! Everyone was talking, eating cake and having a good time. It’s my birthday! After we left the engagement party, we came back home and all fell asleep. This morning I was surprised with everyone bursting into my room with balloons and hats. I got dressed and here we are. I walked around looking at everybody.

I felt someone pulled me aside in the halls, away from everyone. I looked up to see that it was Baekhyun. I smiled. He looked well dressed. My family was complementing my outfit. I wore dark blue Jean shorts with a white shirt that said “Miss 18”. My mom had on the same shorts and her shirt said Miss 18’s Mom.”, Mr. Byun had “Miss 18’s s Dad.” With Dark blue head and Baek had “Miss 18’s Brother.” with the same thing. “You look good.” I said. He smirked and grabbed on my butt making me giggle. “So do you my birthday Princess...” He replied. I kissed him on his lips he kissed me all over my face.

I giggled and pushed him away. “I wanna give you your birthday gift before everyone else.” He pulled out a pink and white box. I unwrapped the bow and open the box. I gasped as I seen the gold necklace that had a ‘B’ on it. He grabbed it and put the box down. “Turn around for me..” he said. I pulled my hair to the side and he clipped it around my neck. I turned back around and smiled. “How does it look?” I asked. “Beautiful..” He said.

“What does the B stand for?” I asked. He hummed while he fixed. “It stands for my name, Baekhyun. But it can stand for Baby, Babygirl, or Byun.” He said. “Aww Babe..thank you. I love you.” I said giving him a kiss. We heard a camera click and we pulled away. “What was that?” I asked. “Nothing, they’re taking pictures of the decor. It’s alright..” He said. I nodded and hugged him.

Mary’s POV

I followed Y/n around the house secretly, trying to get the right moment for when she slips up with Baekhyun. I saw him pull her in the hall and I heard giggling from them. He placed a necklace on her neck as they talked she leaned up and kissed him on his lips, I took out my phone and snapped pictures. I then see Baekhyun look at me with a glint in his eyes as he kissed her. They pulled away and I gasped and walked away.

There is something going on with him..I don’t know what but I don’t think I like it. I don’t care, I finally got them. The joke’s on them. “Hey Mary!” I heard Carrie say. “Hey Carr! How’s it going?” I asked. God did she look beautiful.. “Everything is fine, I’m just trying to find my son and my daughter. Have you seen them?” She asked. Yes..sucking each other’s faces off.

“Umm no. It’s weird that they are always never around at the same time..” I said. “Yeah..I wish she was around so she can open presents.” Carrie said. “Okay then. I’ll see you around.” I said. She placed her hand on my shoulder. “Thank you for coming! I enjoyed you.” She smiled. I almost grabbed her and kissed her right there. “Of course.” I smiled. She walked away and I watched her ass as she walked away. “You will be mine..Carrie.” I mumbled walking away.

Your POV

It was now 10pm now and everyone went home. Mr. Byun and my mom was cleaning up the party and I was in my room getting ready for bed. I walked out of the shower and wrapped my robe around my body. I held onto my necklace and smiled. “You love it?” I heard Baekhyun ask. “Yes..I do.” I said. He came behind me and kissed me on my neck. I hummed and leaned back on him. “I have to tell you something..” He said. “What is it?” I asked.

“I’m leaving soon.” He sighed. I turned around. “W-What?! No!” I exclaimed. He laughed. “Baby..I’m 20. I can’t just live in my dad you’re mom’s house forever.” I shook my head and pushed him away. “Fine then. Go!” I said. “Don’t act like that..” He said trying to hug me. I pushed him away. “No! You know how I feel with being alone! You told me that you would never leave!” I yelled.

He breathed out. “Don’t make this hard for me, Y/n.” He said. “Is there another girl?! Because I don’t need any damn surprises!” I yelled. “If there was would I even touch you or give you that necklace?!” He snapped. I closed my mouth and looked away from him, fighting back tears. “Look Y/n...I’m sorry...” He whispered. He kissed me on the lips and I pushed him back and slapped him.

“Get the hell out of here..I don’t want to speak with ever again.” I said taking off the necklace and throwing at him. He sighed and picked up the necklace. I turned away from him and began to brush my hair. “Okay...I wanted to let you know that I was leaving after the wedding. I was gonna ask you if you wanted to come with me. You have a week to decide and to let me know.” He said. I could hear his broken heart through his words. He turned around and left my bedroom and closed the door. I dropped on the floor and I cried. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

Why did I snap like that? It’s just I love him so much and I can’t let him go. Not just yet. I don’t know what I’m gonna do. I began to cry harder and then I felt the urge to throw up. I gasped and rushed to the toilet throwing up. I coughed and flushed the toilet. As I was catching my breath, I caught sight of my phone glowing.

I looked at the date to see that it was the 14th. But then as I thought it through..I was supposed to have my period two days ago. “No..No no no no..” I mumbled. I went to my cabinet under my sink and scrabbled through my things, pulling out that pregnancy test my friend got me. I breathed out and took the test out. “Okay...” I whispered.

Carrie’s POV

As I was on the couch, watching TV with my fiancé, I got a text from Mary.

Mary: Carrie, this an emergency!! Something has gone wrong, and I need you to come over. See ya!!

“Baby, I have to go. Mary needs me for something.” I said getting up. “Just go tomorrow..stay with me..” He complained. “I have to go. I’ll be back in 30 minutes.” I said. “Okay. I love you.” He said kissing me on the lips. I smiled. “I love you too.” I got up and grabbed my purse and keys. I walked out the door and headed to Mary’s house.

After I made it there, I knocked on the door and she answered in just a robe. She smiled. “Sorry that I’m calling you this late. And I’m a little bit underdressed..” she said. I laughed. “No! It’s totally cool, Bestie.” I smiled. “Bestie?” She questioned. “I don’t know, my daughter says it when she talks to her friends.” I said. “Well come on in, Bestie.” Mary laughed. I did so and walked to her living room. We sat on the couch and she pulled out her planner. We began to talk about the setting and the dress and the decor. “Oh here is some wine. Just make yourself comfortable.” She said. I took it and smiled. “Well thank you.” I said sipping it.

She smiled and drunk some too from her glass. As we were talking, I began to feel dizzy. “H-Hey Mary? I feel weird.” I mumbled sitting down my glass. “Oh my god, is it something in the wine?” She asked. “I don’t know..I just feel...drowsy. I’m gonna go home. We can continue in the morning..” I said trying to get my purse. “Oh no! You have rest, like now. Just lay back and relax...” She said while putting my things down on the floor and pushing me back.

“Mary...I have to..my husband..” I mumbled as I was going in and out. “Shhhh Carrie...and let me do all of the work..” she said getting on top of me. “W-What? Mary... I have to..mm..” She undid my shorts and placed her hand down my underwear. “Mary...stop..” I said. “Shh...I’ll take good good care of you..” she mumbled while kissing my neck and chin. She undid her robe, revealing red lingerie. By this time..I was gone into a deep sleep...

I woke up in my car, at home. I gasped and looked around. Was I dreaming? I looked up in the mirror and seen a red marking on my neck. I look to see three more there and six down my legs. I gasped and got out my car, rushing in my house. No...I slept with Mary..No no no..DAMN IT!! I looked at the clock to see that it was 2:30 in the morning. I quietly closed the door and tip toed up stairs to my bedroom.

When I reached it, the lamp came on. “Baby..what are you doing up?” I asked. “Where the hell were you?” He asked. “I was with Mary. Why?” I asked. “Are those ducking hickies?!” He exclaimed. I widened my eyes. “James, before you get upset-“ “SO YOU’RE CHEATING ON ME?!” He exclaimed. He began to yell, throwing things. “AFTER ALL OF THE THINGS I DID FOR YOU!!” “JAMES PLEASE!! CALM DOWN!!” I cried.

Your POV

I jumped as I heard yelling and crashing coming from my parents room. They were having another argument. I silently cried as I listened. I got out of bed and walked down the hall. I couldn’t sleep with all of the noise. As bad I didn’t want to speak with him, he was my safe place and I needed him to hold me. I knocked on his door softly and he answered. I looked up at him with tears in my eyes. He pulled me into a hug and pulled me into his room.

I got in bed with him and he threw the blankets over our bodies. He pulled me towards his chest and kissed the crown of my head. “I’m sorry...” I whispered in broken words. “Shh..just go to sleep. I know.” He said. “No Baek..I’m sorry.” I said putting emphasis on it. I took his hand and placed it on my stomach. I turned an looked into his eyes. He instantly knew by eyes. He pulled me into a kiss and hugged me. “It’s okay.. I got you. I got us..” He mumbled.

I cried into his chest. “How am I gonna tell them I’m pregnant?” I cried. “You don’t have to. You’re coming with me. End of discussion..” He said looking into my eyes. “Baekhyun..” “I‘ll protect you. I promise you that.” He said. From the look in his eyes, I knew he meant it. “What about financial wise? What will we do?” I asked. He only chuckled. “Baby..do you know who my family is? Also knowing that after the marriage, my dad is giving his company to me? We’ll be fine..” He said. I nodded, trusting him. At the moment..he’s all I got. He’s we got...

[chappedandfadedvds]

Nov 7th, Saturday 14:20

„Happy birthday!!“

„Thank you so much, can I be celebrated for days now every year? I really enjoy this.“ Jens joked as he stepped into the livingroom following Senne who had let him and Lotte in.

They even had put up a glittery banner and had a couple of colourful balloons grazing the floor. There was a set table and a cake filled with candles to the brim. Probably exactly 18 and Jens was pretty sure he would not be able to blow them all out at once. They all wore these tiny party hat cones on their heads, Lotte loving hers the minute it was put on when they entered.

„Next year were aren’t celebrating at all to equal it out, so you better make the most of it today.“ Sander declared getting up from his shared sofa with robbe, moving over to pull  him into a tight hug. Robbe directly taking over, congratulating Jens once more as the two of them swayed from one foot onto the other in their embrace. He loved this boy so much.

„I can’t believe that you are eighteen. You are becoming a boring adult.“ He heard Robbe whisper giggling as they both pulled back far enough to look at each other grinning, not having let go yet.

„You’ll be eighteen soon too, so you better watch your words, young man.“ Jens joked as he saw his sister being picked up and swung around by Sander. He supposed this and the cake were her only two reasons for coming with.

„At least we have our university years left to fuck it all up, I guess.“ Robbe said happily as Jens kept smiling brightly, while his heart though tightened almost painfully at that thought. He didn’t want to think about it. Not now. Not with people around. Not with Lotte close by to see him.  He swallowed it down and for some sort of miracle did Zoe appeared next to them.

„You can keep cuddling all day, if you want, but I wann hug Jens too.“ She complained quite amused as Robbe stepped away, his eyes immidiately searching for Sander to find him pouring Lotte some tea.

„What do you wanna drink?“ Jens heard the boy asking, as he joined the others by the table.

„Coffee would be great if possible.“

„Coming right up.“ Robbe replied, as Zoë and him hugged, her hand brushing through his hair, cautiously enough to not rip the birthday hat off.

„Happy birthday.“ She said, pecking a kiss to his cheek: „Let’s get some cake. Milan spend at least four hours in the kitchen, so even if it is horrible, smile.“

He snorted at her shaking his head. He was pretty sure the cake was amazing. Milan had found his absolute passion in baking since the first lockdown in march began. And though his cooking really left a large room for improvment, his baking skills was great by now. At least that’s what Robbe had told him and the last couple of weekends really proved him right.

„My turn finally.“ Milan said and another hug ensued as he was taking into the arms of the older boy and pressed tight against his chest. As with Zoë he was pecked a kiss on his cheek and welcomed with a bright smile and best wishes. Milan’s hand took holf of his and thus they both went to join the group a couple meteres away.

Robbe had joined Sander in the meantime, Lotte placed happily chatting away on the older boys lap, gesturing wildly about, as the other two listened intently. A child really suited them, Jens thought. And if fate was on their side and they pulled through all the mental health bullshit, he was conviced that they should have one. At least Sander appeared to enjoy that role.

Milan sat on the second sofa with Zoë and Senne, the later one busy lightening all the candles on the cake. That leaving Jens to take his seat on the armchair across of them.

„Alright. Make a wish.“ Senne set presenting his accomplished work, as Robbe took out his phone to either film or take a picture with. „And hurry, we want cake.“

It took him three tries to blow every single candle out as the other laughed and cheered him on.

He only whished for his mom to stay a little longer, like the little child he felt he still was.

„What the hell is this?“ Jens asked, his eyes wide open as he regarded the big package that Sander had pulled from his and Robbe’s room. It was a paper brown rectangle and decorated with a comically large red bow, like it belonged into a cartoon. 

Zoë and Senne had gifted him a new year playstation plus membership, that he was very greatful for. And Milan had bought him a quite expensive book on music production, that Jens had wanted and was pretty sure Robbe had told him. 

It was nothing compared to the present he was starring at currently infront of him on the floor, as he, followed by everyone else, had gotten up to inspect it.

„Open it!“ Lotte urged excited to his left, pulling his hand forward.

So he did just that. The bow was off in no time and the packet wasn’t that hard to open either.

He was staring in disbelief directly onto a skate board with a photograoh attached to it by tape, that punched the air out of his lungs. 

It wasn’t just a skate board, it was his skate board, or at least a version of it. Because he had a pretty big accident with it, when he was eleven and the board broke and with it his heart, as it had been his very first one. He had cried the whole way home, more over the board than his broken arm and scratched knees. It took him weeks to get over it.

The photo was showing Robbe and him on his eights’s birthday, smiling at the camera, with said board in his little arms.

„Robbe, you didn’t..“ He heard his own voice saying, just barely keeping from trembling. His hand searching blindly for the boy behind him, who got the hint and kneeled next tim him to take it.

„Well it obviously isn’t the same one, but I found all these photographs of us and our boards last year, going through all my mothers stuff, before she was admitted and I knew immidiately that I needed to keep them. I planned back then to get you a board resembling it for your eighteen’s, but fate has it, that I fell for an artist. So while I told him what to do, and what was acurate, Sander drew and painted everything.“ Robbe explained, leaving Jens to continue starring at it, cautiously picking it up to turn it over and back.

He couldn’t believe it. It looked exactly the same, all the weird scribbles and sketches and amateurish tags were plastered across it. Jens felt the need to place it on a pedestal and conserve it, never touching it. This was too good to be true.

„Dude...“ He managed to say, putting the board back down, before his arms slung around his best friend burying his head in his neck, while the other laughed and stroke his back.

„And you too.“ Jens gestured towards Sander to come down as well, so he could hug both of them. 

„I told you he would love it.“ Robbe was told by his boyfriend, before Lotte tackled them.

„I want to be hugged as well.“ She declared pouting, as they let her into their circle, while Jens was still processing his present. 

The next hours Robbe and him spent reminising in old stories, they told the others about. A lot of emberessing ones, Jens thought, but he didn’t really mind. They really had been through a lot together. Robbe was definitely family and Jens couldn’t be more grateful to have him around. He just really hoped that they would all stay in Antwerp.

While Sander still had two years left at the academy, he had voiced interest to move somewhere else for a couple of years to see more of the world. And Jens was pretty sure that Robbe would stick with him, whereever his boyfriend would plan to take them. Jens really didn’t want to loose Robbe as well.

„You good?“ Robbe’s voice pulled him out of it, as Jens noted that the others had went back to the table, finishing of their second round of cake and tea and other sweets that have managed to appear on the table.

Jens nodded lightly at Robbe next to him on the sofa, as they had watched Senne and Sander help his little sister to stand on the used skate board of Robbe. She tried really hard to keep her balance as the two older boys pshed her back and forth across the living room. 

„You know that if you want to talk, that you can always come to me, yea?“ His best friend said smikring as he winked, a clear reminder of last year, were the roles had been reversed and Jens had tried to have Robbe open up.

„I will.“

„You will what?“ Zoë inquired curiously as she looked up from her phone again, having texted Jana and the girls group some pictures of todays little birthday party, as she had explained earlier.

„Let you know, that even though it was Jens’s big day, we spent two hours on Lucas yesterday on zoom. Because you girls and my boyfriend can’t get enough of him.“ Robbe joked, taking Zoë’s phone to read through the last couple of messages.

„See.“ Robbe said as he showed Jens the screen, a conversation about Lucas being the prime subject: „Tsk, tsk, tsk.“

Jens was pretty close to tell Robbe that he really didn’t mind that at all, and that he probably could happily chat about the boy himself for days on end. And one day he would have to let Robbe know as well. He just couldn’t bring himself to do it yet. It was all too new.

„I’ve heard Lucas?“ Milan chimed in and Jens could only laugh at Robbe’s whine: “Not you as well.“

„Topic change!“ He threfore declared loudly, clapping his hands, to help his best friend out and made everyone look at him instead expectantly.

„What’s happening now with your exhibition? We all were so excited to behave in the dumbest way possible on thursday. Even Noor was in on it.“ Sander smirked at him, a fuck you on his lips, as he mouthed it silently at Jens.

„It’s all gonna be virtuell, like a tour through the exhibition pieces, so I guess maybe we could organise a litte zoom party again to go through it together?“ It is the best I can come up with now, if you are actually interested in seeing it, as you won’t have a possibilty to embarrass me infront of my professors.“

„Uh that sounds still fun. And Jana could join too! Let me just post the group.“ Zoë said excited as she took her phone back from Robbe, who turned his eyes a last time towards Jens. All serious as he patted Jens’s hand on the sofa between them.

„I mean it. I’m here to listen.“ He said smiling slightly and then getting up to help Senne make space on the table. They had ordered a big round of Pizza that should arrive soon for dinner.

Jens loved his best friend. He really did.

„We should add Lucas to the group as well.“ Milan proposed, being met with an unanimous approval of everyone else.

Jens shrugged at Robbe smirking back at him. He had tried at least. He took out his phone himself now, looking at their group that let everyone know about a new number been added. He needed to remind himself to text the poor boy later.

Zoë 17:56: Welcome to the best group in Antwerp!

Amber 17:57: Hello, Lucas!!! Glad to have you here 🥰

Noor 17:57: You still have time to run and block this. Once you are in, they will never let you out. Trust me. 😭

Moyo 17:59: Bring weed pls

[caddy-whump-us]

Finally got Etienne fitted with that leg brace. I guess that makes bad things better. Maybe. Hey, @voidwhump! Get slurpin'!

This is more angst and character stuff than "typical" whump, but I do love me some angst. Also, there’s a trip in the near future for all the lads, so that’s exciting too. Stay tuned.

For reference, I was looking at these two leg braces. (Having done some research, I'm now like 98% sure there's a fetish related to Victorian/vintage leg braces, which I didn't know about before. I don't want to yuck someone else's yum, I'd just like to thank them for sharing photographs for the sake of my whump writing. )

---

There was a fire in the grate, but less for the warmth than to stave off the damp. It had been raining all day and now, with the household awake with nightfall, a storm was sweeping in.

They were in the library--not the grand library, but the small library, the study. It was darker here, warmer in an almost human way. The grand library was for show (so of course that would be where Viktor would display Etienne along with other parts of his collection) but the small library was for true work. Viktor was at his desk and writing diligently. Etienne he had set in an armchair before the fire with his ruined leg resting on a footstool. Etienne slouched and dangled his hands over the arms of the chair. Viktor paid no mind.

There was a knock at the door and even Etienne turned to see who would trouble this quiet room on a night like this.

"Come."

The candles flickered and swayed when Lucien opened the door. His shirtcollar was undone again. For all that he would dutifully wear his master's livery day after day, he never quite wore it as it was intended: this undone, that unlaced, the sleeves rolled. Perhaps they all rebelled in their own ways.

Except that, if he was to be believed, Lucien came willingly into this house.

His eyes were shining like moonstones again in the candlelight. "The doctor is here, my lord." And he held the door open to let the crow-masked doctor into the room before creeping away again.

Viktor set down his pen and laced his fingers together. The fire glittered in his eyes.

"To come on such a night," he said. "I hadn't expected it to turn worse. I kept waiting to hear you wouldn't be coming. How is the storm?"

"Settling in for a stay, by the looks of it," the doctor replied. "You seem more bothered by it than me. Does it keep you trapped inside?" A bird-like cock of the head.

Viktor said nothing for a moment, holding the crow-mask in a cold look, then turned to look toward where Etienne was slumped and sullen in the armchair. "Some of us feel more trapped than others, I think, even when the truth is otherwise."

"Oh, now now, my lord. He can still be called a convalescent for the moment. He's not yet malingering." A pause. "Yet."

Viktor said nothing, only took up his pen again, but he did not yet turn back to his work.

"Now then," the doctor said.

"Use the table there, if you like," Viktor said, pointing to one not so far from where Etienne sat.

Etienne, for his part, was looking into the fire.

The doctor came to him and patted at his arm. "Come now." And he turned to Viktor. "He does look miserable. But we'll have him on his feet soon."

Etienne snorted and turned away.

"But we will, dear boy. The cobbler, the brass-worker, the tanner--they've all been hard at work for you."

"Along with the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick-maker, I suppose."

The doctor pulled back. "There's no call to be rude, no matter how bad you might feel."

Etienne scoffed again. "Every time you visit, I feel worse."

The doctor grabbed him by the shoulder and Etienne turned to be nose to nose with the crow mask.

"Don't forget that I fed you from the poppies. I have heard the screams of those who have not been afforded such a mercy, and you were nearly one of those. Now get up for me."

Etienne did, shaken but still sullen. His crutch was leaned against the side of the chair and he stumbled up to stand as well as he could, and less well today than on drier days.

The doctor had set a black case, nearly a trunk, on the table. The hat, the coat, the mask all but blocked Etienne's view of what was in the trunk as the doctor opened it. Something gleamed. The doctor laid something out on the table. Viktor rose to inspect it and even Etienne tried to glimpse it from over the doctor's shoulder.

"Your thoughts, my lord?"

"I think we ought to ask Etienne."

The doctor turned to him with one hand outstretched and Etienne hobbled to the table.

Laid out on the table was a brace for his bad leg: a heavy shoe at the bottom, sitting in a kind of brass stirrup, jointed for his knee, and secured with brass and leather belts. Etienne stared at it as Viktor and the doctor spoke around him.

"A rather complicated contraption, I admit, but the best that could be done, all things considered."

"Will he still need the crutch?"

"I should think not, so long as he's wearing the brace. He may want for a cane, though. For balance."

"He won't have one. He'd do better to learn how to walk again."

The doctor made an obsequious bow.

"Put it on him. Let's see if it improves on the crutch."

The doctor bowed again then pointed at Etienne's foot. "Take that off. You won't need that one anymore. You have a new shoe to wear."

Etienne hobbled back to the armchair to take off his shoe and the doctor came to him bearing the contraption in both hands. It put Etienne in mind of scaffolding, brass scaffolding. He let fall the shoe.

The doctor opened the cage of the contraption, tossing straps and buckles out of the way. Etienne threaded his foot down towards the shoe; the doctor met him halfway and jammed the contraption onto him. Etienne gasped and pinched his eyes shut.

"Hush, now. It isn't so bad as that," the doctor said as they began closing up the brass plates around his ankle. He took out a brass pin, adjusted the length, set it again, sat back, adjusted again.

Etienne was fighting for balance in the midst of these adjustments. He staggered, and the doctor caught him by his good leg.

"If I could just--" and he reached toward where he had leaned his crutch against the chair.

"No more of that," Viktor said. He picked it up and carried it to his desk, laying it flat across the top. "No more need for that."

The doctor went on until he was content with the length of the brass that ran down inside and outside of Etienne's leg. He buckled the brass into place at his ankle then moved up to buckle the first leather cuff--but not only leather, as Etienne could already feel the brass or steel or boning in it. The doctor jerked it tight and it pressed just at a sore point in Etienne's shin. He cried out a little but the doctor hushed him.

"You'd best get used to it."

Etienne leaned hard on his good leg and bit at his lip while the doctor tightened the buckles.

"Now the knee," the doctor said, "It always a bit of a trick. How can one let it bend in the most natural way while still providing the necessary restriction?"

Etienne felt that last word, restriction, rattle in his chest.

"This, my lord, is why I sought out the help of a saddle-maker. Or, well, bridle-maker more specifically. This joint, here, has more in common with a horse's bit than one might assume."

Viktor stood by, watching, saying nothing.

"And here, if you will notice, we align the knee--" and Etienne whined again "--with what might be thought of as a saddle on the knee and the girth behind it."

And the doctor buckled the whole into place, tightened it, but then turned another brass piece up from the back of the leg, from the cuff he'd finished buckling already.

"Obviously, though, there needs to be a bit more support. Therefore--are you following all of this, dear boy? You'll need to if you're to dress yourself. Therefore, we attach this curved brace to the sides of the knee so as to prevent the knee from bending backwards."

"I've not had that problem," Etienne said.

The doctor stopped and turned their beaked mask up to him. "Then perhaps you would like to continue without me."

Etienne looked aside and was quiet.

"No? Very well then." And he hooked the half-hoop around the back of Etienne's knee, a kind of stint to hold his knee in place.

"Now, as per your suggestions, my lord, I have decided to continue this brace up nearly to the hip so as to provide as much structure for this leg as is possible, especially as he begins to walk again. In this instance, as you can likely see, I employed a corset-maker."

The doctor was whipping the lacing out of the last cuff on the brace, high on Etienne's leg, before wrapping the leather around and lacing it up again. They tugged and pulled, shifted the lacing, tightened it down, and tied it off.

The doctor sat back on their heels and considered not Etienne but only his leg.

"Well, it's on. But I'll need to make a few adjustments." And he took out a small kit of tools from the trunk on the table.

Etienne had turned his face up towards the dark ceiling. His knee was pulled too straight and the parts of his shin and leg that ached worst when he tried to sleep or when, like tonight, it rained were aching but with a sharpness he'd not felt since his leg was newly broken.

"It's quite an elaborate construction," Viktor said.

The doctor was punching a new hole in one of the straps to tighten it further. Etienne gasped again when he closed the buckle again.

"He did quite a lot of damage to his leg, my lord," the doctor replied.

Etienne cast a cold, hard look at Viktor. But Viktor's face was still placid, curious at the brace and the procedure of fitting it.

The doctor sat back of their heels again.

"Better," they said. "But even with that much brass--there are plates and rods in the leather you see, my lord--the leather may be inclined to stretch. Permit me to return in a week to make any more adjustments?"

"Of course."

The doctor bowed their head and began to collect their tools.

"Well, sweet boy?" Viktor said. "Perhaps you'd like to take a turn about the room."

Etienne looked toward the chair in front of the fire, only a few steps away. The doctor was leaning against the table and watching. Viktor, too, was watching with one finger idly at his mouth.

So Etienne took a step, first with his good leg then, hesitantly and stiffly, with his braced leg. His foot in the shoe of the brace tipped into place flatly, inelegantly, slapping on the floor. If it was better than the crutch it was not much better.

His knee still felt strained and the cuff on his shin made him ache worse now that he was standing on his braced leg. Wincing, he tried to bend his knee back into place, tried to turn his foot to ease the ache.

"The brass is there to realign your leg, you know," the doctor called. "Let it do what it is intended to do." And as they turned back to the trunk: "A lesson a great many of us could learn."

Etienne was reaching for the chair with his braced leg straining. He lifted his good leg and moved it, balancing for a moment only on his braced leg. He took a step. Then another--an easier one; he had long been balancing on his good leg with the crutch. Two steps more, good and bad, and he reached the wing of the armchair and clutched at it.

He stood there, leaning there, lifting his braced leg to test the knee, the ankle, to see how well he could walk if he could just practice long enough. Perhaps he could walk up and down the long dining room. Perhaps along the garden paths. With enough practice perhaps he would even be able, despite this leather and brass contraption, to run again.

"The knee swings too easily," the doctor said and came at the brace with a tool like a knife. He tightened up the joint and Etienne groaned through his teeth again.

Suddenly Viktor was there behind him, squeezing at his neck and shoulders with his long, cold hands. "Do you see? You cannot escape. Even after you've healed, you cannot escape. Even with everything you might need to walk again, you will not be able to run from me."

[alliswell21]

I wish you would write a fic where Katniss and Peeta take the toast babies roller skating

Thank you for the prompt @jroseley! Sorry it took me so long to write the fic. I hope you like it, since I changed it a bit, from rolling skating... since is still winter and all. Enjoy!

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

Winter has been on the bitter side this year. We’ve been by snowstorm after snowstorm unrelentingly for four days, until the District was buried under a wall of snow.

One good thing about New Panem is that all districts now have access to all sorts of machinery and vehicles; 12 got plows and salt trucks a few years back, and when the sun finally made its appearance two days ago, and it’s heat started to steadily melt some of the powder away, the shoveling and clearing got a smidge easier. The snow on the streets soon gets replaced by slush, but that too starts to clear up.

By the the sixth day, I’m done being caged inside the house. Everyone home is getting claustrophobia attacks, really, starting from Peeta, who finally ran out of baking ingredients and is going insane with worry about the rest of our neighbors also running out of food.

The children are so bored, that they even stopped running around the house, being loud and unruly and funny. They just drop on random places like rag dolls and fall asleep on the spot if we don’t come and tickle them.

Enough is enough!

“What are you doing?” Peeta asks from the archway watching me pull on my boots.

“I’m going on a hike, and so are you.” I answer, throwing his favorite scarf and hat at him.

He catches them easily with one hand, and I have to avert my eyes from his muscular form before I do something stupid, like climb him like a tree and demand he takes me hard and fast, while the children are awake and roaming around. I could blame my libido spike on the snow-in, but honestly it’s just him, sometimes I can’t believe I resisted my attraction to him so long.

“Okay,” He drags the word, breaking me from my lustful spell, “And where exactly are we hiking to?“

“We’re going to the lake,” I say firmly. “We’re going skating.” I inform him. “I promised the children at the beginning of the season, that I would take them there as soon as the lake had frozen, and I figure this is a good time as any to uphold my word to them.” I stand and smooth down my flannel shirt.

I look up in time to see him shrug his consent, and turn away from me. He curls his hand next his mouth and calls on the children, telling them to go to their rooms and put on their thermal underwear, in a minute, the house is a flurry of tiny running feet and excited hooting, my babies don’t disappoint, their enthusiasm is contagious.

Between the two of us, we get the kids ready in ten minutes. Everyone has at least three layers of clothing on, mittens, hats, boots and Peeta has packed the last of the apples and rolls into a knapsack and I’ve gathered some drinking water in a couple of bottles. Lastly, we take our skates from the coat closet on the hall, and leave for the lake.

District 12 has expanded outward towards what used to my woods. At first I was outraged they would build stuff past the old fence, and into what used to be my hunting grounds, but the alternative was disturb the meadow and no one was willing to do that. I’m still unhappy they’ve eroded so much of my sanctuary, displacing my prey, but finally they’ve come up with plans to save the wilderness.

The only silver lining to this ‘progress’ is that the lake where Gale and I used to fish and hunt for waterfowl, is now easier to access. And so we reach the lake in half the time, even snowy as it is, than it would’ve taken me alone back in the day when my survival depended on the woods.

The children are beside themselves!

As we track through town and past the neighborhoods bordering the forest, people start to emerge from the warmth of their homes, just to see the four of us walk by. We’re still recognizable people to some degree, some of the newer residents of 12 still watch us curiously, although not with the same same celebrity craze as 20 years ago. But they still watch sometimes.

We stop at the bakery at Peeta’s insistence, he makes a couple of calls, since the phone lines are back to work, and soon a handful of his employees agree to come in tomorrow to open up the shop and start serving bread again.

“Honestly, most of them sounded excited about coming to work,” he comments with a small smile once we’re on the road again.

When we arrive to the lake, the children find a big rock to sit on and start pulling on their laces, the faster they can get their skates on, the better. I don’t blame them.

Peeta hags our bag of food on a tree branch close by, and then join me and the children on the boulder to change into skates.

The first time we wore skates I didn’t anticipated him being so graceful and nimble on the ice, but my man is artist skater! He can move and glide so effortlessly is unbelievable. The way he turns and spins and skates backwards is just beautiful. Most impressive, just like swimming, he had never had the chance, occasion or place to learn it, but he did and it’s been one of our favorite winter activities from the get go. When the children finally came into our lives, and we’re old enough to join us in the ice, they just fell in love with it as well.

Once our footgear is safely on, we check on mittens, hats and coat fastenings again, and we each take one little hand in ours, and reach the edge of the frozen lake. It takes some maneuvering to get into the solid slab, but we finally do, and in no time Peeta is off, making a warming lap, while the two children get used to standing on their skates. It takes me and them a few minutes longer than Peeta to get acclimated but the girl joins her daddy soon enough, while the boy clings to my hand in unsure legs still.

We go around the ring once, slowly, so we can get confident, it’s more for my benefit than my toddler son’s, he’s ready to take off and start on his attempt at a pirouette, just like his sister is showing off to her father, but I can’t let go of his hand just yet. I want to feel his tiny fingers around mine just a minute longer, and then let him free to enjoy his time out here. And then his mittened hand slips away when Peeta and the girl pass us by, he goes chasing after them, laughing the whole time, while the girl throws her arm to catch him.

They hold hands, and start spinning in place. The girl calls for her dad to join them, and he obliges happily. The boy squeals in delight, and then his Seam eyes find me.

“Mama! Come play!” He calls in his tiny boy voice, and come readily, laughing as they swing around me and finally the three of them circle around me.

At one point, another family descends onto the icy lake, stepping gingerly on the ice. They aren’t as graceful on their skates, but they seem to be having a nice time too, so we wave and smile politely, and keep on playing with our children. The lake is big enough.

“The more, the merrier!” Peeta says.

When the children tire of our spinning and pirouette game, we start a competition, to see who reaches the edge faster, Peeta looses to the girl many times, and she looks Please with herself. Then he looses to the boy, and she protests that he lost on purpose. Peeta claims he’s old and tired, and then he says he’s also hungry, and the little ones quickly agree.

We come to the rock just as a group of teenagers slip on the ice. I get our picnic ready, while Peeta helps the children out of the lake. The boy announces his need to go potty, and the girl joins in as well, I offer to take them to a secluded patch of bushes, so Peeta can rest his bad leg, and he smiles at me with gratitud.

By the time we’ve eaten our meal the kids are yawning, and more people have come to skate or lounge around under the warming sun. It’s been a good day, and I’m glad so many people has the chance to enjoy it as much as we do.

Peeta puts his arm around me and leans down to kiss my cheek. “Thank you, Katniss. Coming here today was a good idea.”

“I know it was,” I tell him humorously. “I’m always right!” I kiss his lips quickly. For the longest time I refused to share any public physical affection, on principle alone, but now I don’t care if people see us. We love each other and we are free to express it.

The boy changed into shoes a minute ago, and comes to climb on my lap, he wraps his little arms around my neck and yawns widely. He’s out like a candle in no time.

“I guess we should get home,” Peeta laughs.

“I don’t wanna go home!” Our daughter cries out.

“But your brother is asleep, and I saw you yawning too a moment ago. We should get you home so you can rest, sweet pea,” Peeta tells her, caressing her cheeks.

She scowls and crosses her arms over her chest, “I’m not tired!” She says.

“I am. And daddy needs to rest too, since has to work tomorrow,” i reason with her.

She wavers for a second, then nods rolling her eyes. “Fine… we can go home, but I’m not taking a nap!” She announces.

We gather our stuff, and Peeta reaches out to the take our son from my arms. But I point at the little girl, slouching as she shuffled her feet, and he smiles knowingly. “Hey, you wanna ride in my shoulders?” He asks her with a caring hand to her tiny shoulders, she nods and smiles at him.

We haven’t reached the cobblestone path to town when she’s snoring on top of Peeta’s head. Gently, he shifts her slowly, so she’s securely in his arms instead, and we walk home, leaving behind the lake, now full of laughing and squealing and merrily shouting people.

I guess sharing my woods with my District is not so terrible after all.

[rhodrymavelyne]

Enjoy the first segment of Duessa’s ‘courtship’? Here’s a little more of ‘Be My Valentine...Snack’. 

“Ah, but are you truly a rose in full bloom?” Duessa asked, tilting the rose slightly. She might have been pointing it at Peter, or she might have been pointing it away. Such delicate, ambiguous mockery. “Even if you were, you belong to Gabrielle. She would never forgive me, if I stole one of her roses.”

“No, she wouldn’t.” I breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of Gabrielle’s voice, along with the rustle of the curtain behind the counter. “Especially when those ‘roses’ are blooming within her Place of Power.”

“Ah, but can a rose truly bloom in someone else’s place of power?”  Duessa asked, lacing every word for a strange intimacy. “Especially when that someone is intent on hiding her power.”

This was only too true. I turned to look at Gabrielle advancing upon us. Her appearance was completely in contradiction with the thrumming powerful presence she exuded. ‘Brie wore a full, fawn colored skirt, a loose tan tunic, and a whole bunch of smiley faces painted on a string of shells around her neck. On top of her head perched a hat at a jaunty angle. Shells, smiley faces, and chicken feathers adorned every inch of its brim.

I swallowed an urge to laugh, or groan. Color wise, ‘Brie’s odd ensemble worked. Besides the hat and the necklace weren’t the worst things Gabrielle had ever worn.

I watched Peter flutter his eyelashes, while he struggle to react according to his nature around ‘Brie. On one hand, his employee was a beautiful woman. Peter regarded it as his duty to flirt with anyone beautiful. On the other hand, ‘Brie was too bizarrely herself to find into the broad category of ‘anyone beautiful’. This confused her poor gallant.

Gabrielle glanced at Peter, unable to stop the smile from spreading across her face. Oh, she’d seen her gallant’s confusion, his inability to define her. Once more, she’d escaped definition and expectation.

“Well, we can’t always be our true selves.” Gabrielle gave her words a sharp emphasis. She shifted her glance from Peter to Duessa’s hidden arms. “However, I doubt you just came here to flirt with my boys.” ‘Brie leaned against the counter, letting her back rest against it. “What can I get for you, today, Duessa? Herbs? Candles? Information?”

“How about Christopher?” Duessa said, turning all eight of her eyes to me. Each of them had a predatory gleam. “I would love to buy him. What can I offer in trade in return for taking him home today?” She pressed the rose to her lips, before offering it to Gabrielle.

I tensed for a moment. I was fairly sure ‘Brie would never trade me in for a rose, but well, I was what I was. She’d expressed doubts at taking me in to begin with.

“Now, Duessa.” Gabrielle took a step forward and sniffed. The rose was odorless to me, but she could smell something. She smiled, shaking her head slightly. “I’ve told you many times, I don’t deal in slavery.” Her voice was still friendly, but her blue eyes narrowed a bit. I saw a hint of the danger underneath her eccentric exterior. “And even if I did, I wouldn’t give you my son.”

This was nice to know, even if I wasn’t truly Gabrielle’s son. My origins hadn’t been exactly human. I did try to be human, though, for Gabrielle’s sake. I liked having a family, a home, and people I cared for. The Navel might make me roll my eyes, half the time, but it was still home.

“Such a pity. I would adore making him my next Valentine.” Duessa murmued in a husky tone. “Alas, your sad sweetmeat fancies my nephew more than he does me.”

I could feel my face heating up. My feelings for Damian were one of the few things I could claim as my own in this existence. Duessa spoke of them as if they were a tragic sign of bad taste.

“This charming delectable, however, is eager to please me.” She turned her smoldering gaze on Peter. His own cheeks flushed in response. “And I am always delighted to be pleased.”

I waited for Gabrielle to say ‘no’. Peter might be a flirt, but that wasn’t a good enough reason to let Duessa have him.

Her answer shocked me.

“As I said, I don’t deal in slavery. This means I have to accept my peoples’ choices, even when I don’t agree with them.” Gabrielle glanced over at Peter. “Whether or not he wishes to go with you is up to Peter.”

“Gabrielle, no!” I cried. I no longer bothered to keep my voice down. “She’ll eat him alive!”

“I eagerly anticipate such a fate!” Peter said, regaining his compusure enough to leer at Duessa. “Please, lovely lady, devour me at your leisure!”

“Why, how can I turn down such a gracious offer?” Duessa said. She nodded graciously at Peter, while all eight of eyes gleamed in possessive triumph. “You heard my sweet Valentine, ‘Brie. He gave his consent.”

“Yes, I did.” The smile disappeared from Gabrielle’s face, as she stared at Peter. “She means it, you know. She truly will eat you alive, if you agree to it.”

“Oh, please, being devoured is nothing I can’t handle,” Peter said, puffing up with pride. He took the rose from Duessa’s hand and raised it to his lips.

“Well, since I have your consent, shall we go?” Duessa asked, offering her arm. One of her arms. Another arm snaked around Peter’s shoulder. He seemed completely unaware of its presence.

“Indeed, I was about to take my break,” Peter said, beaming at her, shivering slightly. Did he have the sense to be a little scared? Probably not. “A very long break. With your permission, ‘Brie.”

He didn’t wait for Gabrielle’s permission. He walked out, arm in arm with Duessa to the Navel’s door. Her extra arm reached down to pat his butt. Clearly, Peter didn’t feel it, as he hurried to open the door for Duessa. Both of her arms released him, so he could open the door.  

I stood there, slack jawed, watching the two of them exit, as the door chimes jingled behind them. “Peter, wait!” I cried, but he was already gone.

I had to go after him. I took a step towards the door, but Gabrielle held me back.

“Christopher, it’s his choice,” she said. Her eyes were sad, but her mouth had a firm, resolute set. “If he wants to go with Duessa, he can.”

“She truly will eat him alive,” I whispered. I stared at Gabrielle. “I’ve heard about what she does to her ‘valentines’ from Damian. She’ll keep him trapped, wrapped in a cocoon, as she drains the blood from him. In the end, she’ll kill him.”

“Perhaps she won’t,” Gabrielle said, staring after Peter. “She doesn’t do that to all of her lovers. Perhaps Peter will impress her enough that she’ll let him go. Or she’ll keep him.”

“Perhaps she won’t!” I snapped. “It will be our fault, if she kills him, for letting her near him!”

“No, it will be Peter’s fault, for agreeing to go with her.” Gabrielle’s eyes hardened, matching her mouth. “One of the prices of free will is accepting other people’s choices, even when they’re fatal.” Each word was as hard as her eyes. “It’s Peter’s choice. Not ours.”

“He doesn’t know what he’s getting into!” I growled. “We have to warn him, at least.”

“We tried. He wouldn’t listen.” Gabrielle stared at me. “I have no right to stop him from doing what he chooses to do. No right at all. Neither do you.”

There was a pause, in which I could feel the force of her power, behind the easy going, almost silly face she presented to the world.

“Maybe I don’t have the right,” I said, slowly. I could feel my own power gathering, as I stared at the skulls. Their toothy smiles seemed to encourage me. “If so, I think I’ll go do a little wrong.”

I didn’t stop to consider my play on words, or for Gabrielle’s reaction to it. I turned my back on her and ran to the door.

“Christopher, wait!” she cried, sounding frightened. Maybe she had to let Peter go, but the same rules didn’t seem to apply to me. It was too late. I was already pulling open the door, making its chimes ring. This signalled my exit from the Navel and Gabrielle’s Place of Power. I stepped out onto the street, feeling a rush of freedom. I was on a road that everyone used and walked upon. It belonged to everyone, including me.