#yeah anyway so I have a lot of plans but man the digging up the driveway is a chore

[mushangaa]

Planting lil seeds in the rearing dishes in the dark of the night. Grow my babies grooow.

[theminecraftbee]

“So do you think he gets the irony that it’s sand?” Scar asks, staring up at the towering hourglass above them.

“Really? You’re gonna be the one to call that out?” Tango responds, bemused.

Scar has to crane his neck to see the top of the hourglass to an uncomfortable degree; he really can’t lean that much further back in his wheelchair without causing problems. He can already feel the ache in his spine. It just seems appropriate to stare up at the thing itself if he’s going to be pointing out irony and literary devices about it.

“Now, listen. I’ve thought a whole lot about sand, Tango! And about how much money Doc’s about to make me as the only exchange in town for the much easier to collect diamonds. I enjoy shoveling, Tango! When it’s too hard to think or move or talk, I can go out there with my power shovel and just dig and dig and dig. I’ve cleared deserts practically on my own. It’s meditative. No, no exchange rate is going to beat me, and I can set it to whatever I want.”

Scar finally looks down again, resisting the urge to rub his neck. He grins at Tango, the sharp and wild smile he’s practiced so long. Tango is making a face.

“Geez. Okay man. I thought the dramatic villain speeches were for Doc. Also? None of that was irony.”

“Right, right, sorry, I’m rambling,” Scar says. “The thing is, I’ve thought a lot about hourglasses, about sand, and the thing Tango is that sand is effe—effermil—oh, shoot, I know this—effeminate?”

Tango wheezes. “I can’t believe I thought you were going somewhere with that. Sand is effeminate?”

“No, no, no, I mean, sand isn’t permanent. It goes away. You don’t get to keep it. Poof! It’s gone,” Scar says grumpily. “See, that would have been cool if you’d let me finish.”

Tango looks up at the hourglass himself and shrugs. “Looks like he’s planning on making it permanent pretty well.”

“Yeah, but look—if he’s trying to invoke the sands of time, that’s even more effeminate than regular sand! Before he knows it… poof. Slips right between your fingers! Impossible to hold onto! Can’t trust sand! I of all people would know. That’s why I’m selling it!” Scar makes a hand motion. He grins at Tango. Tango grimaces.

“You know, you might have some issues to work through, man.”

“I mean, sure, but…” Scar gestures at the hourglass. “You know, they say if your build stays bigger than the others for more than a few hours, you should really call your—”

“Okay,” Tango says. “I’m gonna cut you off right there buddy.”

“You never let me finish,” Scar says.

“And that’s officially worse,” Tango says.

“But I definitely lasted longer than mister pay in sand—”

“Devs, if you’re merciful, let a creeper explode right now,” Tango says. “If your sands of time are so impermanent, why am I trapped in this conversation?”

“My charming good looks,” Scar says. “Anyway, do you want to prank that thing or what?”

“Literally everyone wants to prank that thing. Nothing has ever screamed ‘prank me’ as much as that stupid hourglass has. I’m in. Tell me the plan,” Tango says, and Scar hums and makes his pitch. He hears the echoes of drops of sand on glass and sand on stone and sand on sand behind him, and thinks to himself: it’s an awfully good thing that it’s a good day to make new mistakes, or this would all have ended rather differently.

The universe gave him a sand monopoly, after all.

And Scar, well, he knows a few things about trying to hold onto sand.

[klausinamarink]

He Want Kiss

rating: G | cw: none | wc: 630 | tags: post s4, getting together, first kiss, Steve is down bad | prompt: Love is when you look at his lips for half the conversation because you can’t stop thinking about kissing him

written for @steddielovemonth

Steve is obsessed with Eddie’s lips. 

Like completely to the point that he might actually start going to therapy. 

But Steve is just a simple man. He sees a pair of well-rounded lips that can make a perfect smile with dimples and he’s a goner. For example, look at Eddie. They’re so plump looking that Steve cannot believe it’s legal. And the way they move whenever Eddie speaks-

“-ink I should go for this one?”

Steve snaps his gaze up, barely surviving from the combination of head whiplash and the pointed attack of Eddie’s eyes, Jesus Christ, look at them Bambi eyes.

“Oh yeah, man.” How Steve manages not to stutter is both a mystery and a blessing. 

“Yeah?” Eddie looks at him, his expression mixed with expectation and nervousness.

“Yeah.” Steve repeats confidently. He’s already forgetting what exactly they were talking about but he knows it has to do with Eddie trying to get a job, hence why he called Steve over to help him out with the few applications that believe in Eddie’s innocence. “Like, yeah, go for that.” 

Christ, he might as well bash his head again. Steve really doesn’t want to come off as a douche again, but it’s not his fault that Eddie’s lips are just right there. They’re just begging to be kissed.

Thankfully, Eddie seems pleased by his answer. He smiles, dimples and all - oh lord please have mercy on Steve’s soul because he cannot handle the adorableness any longer - as he says, “Well, if Steve Harrington says so, then I will do it.” Then Eddie starts biting his lip, glancing down at the resume they’ve polished together. 

Steve digs his fingernails through the jeans over his thighs, but it’s not enough to bat away the growing temptation to reach forward and brush his fingers over Eddie so the other man wouldn’t abuse his lips anymore. The skin had already been cracked and bleeding in the past few months and it’s always so devastating to see Eddie hurt a part of himself like this.

Actually, now that he’s thinking about it, Steve should kiss him. 

Eddie is right there. While there will be lots of opportunities to have him at Steve’s side, there’ll never be another perfect chance like this. 

Steve leans forward a bit but stops himself. Has Eddie ever been kissed before? If he did, does he like the faint touch of lips brushing together? Like smashed together? Full-on make-out sessions that lead to something more passionate? 

Okay, Steve could work on the slow route. He’s done it before with his previous girlfriends. He could lean in at a snail’s pace so Eddie has enough time to register what’s happening and-

“Steve?”

Suddenly, Eddie’s face is much closer than Steve remembers. He feels a heat of breath against his lips. Then the rush of realization comes over Steve because he was about to kiss Eddie.

Yet despite this, Steve barely feels a sense of embarrassment. He stays in place, staring into Eddie’s wide eyes as they flicker over his face, lingering on Steve’s lips every few seconds. 

Finally, Eddie huffs out a nervous little laugh, “You, uh, listened to what I just said?”

“Hm-mm.” Steve shakes his head. He feels like he’s on cloud nine and whatever Eddie does next, he’s going to scream at the heavens anyway. 

Eddie’s lips form the briefest of smirks, but it’s gone in a blink. They part open slightly. 

Steve can’t hold it anymore. He closes the space between them and meets Eddie’s lips at last. It’s more rough and desperate than he plans it to be and tries to dial it back. But when Eddie kisses him with a similar force, Steve goes screw it and kisses back like it’s their last chance.

[devildom-moss]

June poll story

(Mammon x gn!MC)

(NSFW) (sub!Mammon) (dom!MC) (NSFW tags: anal on Mammon, MC with a dick or strap-on - called a"cock" regardless, marking/biting, slight degradation/calling Mammon a "slut" and "greedy" affectionately, but mostly praise, lots of "good boy"/"baby boy"/"baby", missionary position, kind of vanilla maybe? a little bit of malewife Mammon at the beginning, so soft for this man)

Word Count: +1,900

Mammon gently tapped his notebook on the top of your head before you both left for school that morning. Despite the embarrassment that rose inside of him, he tried to sound cool as he told you, “hey, clear your plans for tonight, ‘kay?”

“What for?” you asked him.

“Cause I said so. I know ya got your little Solomon lessons after class, so just come straight to my room when you get home, got it?”

“Can I at least shower after I get back?”

“Huh.” Mammon thought about it. That would give him a bit of extra time. “Yeah, that works. Just text me when ya get back. After your shower, come over.”

“Deal.” You figured you could amuse Mammon for the night. It would be nice to spend a bit of time with him anyway. “So, what are we doing?”

“Don’t worry about it. We’re gonna have a relaxin’ night in.”

It had been a long week. Mammon had picked up on your rising stress – especially in the last two days. If Solomon tried to cook for you during his tutoring today, Mammon wasn’t certain that the old sorcerer would make it through his lesson unscathed. Although there was no way Mammon would tell you he wanted to help you de-stress, demanding your time was his way of trying to help.

You did as Mammon asked. Nice and clean, and with the scent of smoke from your failed potion finally washed from your skin, you headed to Mammon’s room. Out of politeness, you knocked on his door and waited for a response – something you hoped Mammon would someday learn by example. Although, at least (thus far) you had avoided anything too awkward with your one-way open door policy.

A very quiet “shit” was whispered before Mammon replied at full volume: “one sec, MC.”

When Mammon opened his door, you immediately noticed that he had tidied up his room recently such as two seconds ago. It was sweet of him. The next thing you noticed was that something smelled good in there – like homemade food.

“Ya hungry?”

“A little, yeah.”

“We’re eatin’ in here tonight. I made ramen for ya, com’ere.” Mammon pulled you to his couch. On the table in front of it were two large bowls of ramen – along with a bottle of Demonus and two glasses. The only issue was that when Mammon said he made ramen, you didn’t expect it to actually look delicious. There were chopped vegetables in there – Mammon had even gone through the trouble of cutting carrots and tofu into small flowers and shaped the soft-boiled egg into a heart.

“You made this?” you asked, surprised.

“Hey, I can cook if I gotta,” Mammon got defensive, “or if I wanna.”

You couldn’t suppress the grin. You pulled Mammon in for a quick kiss. “Thank you, baby.”

“Hm, I could get used to you thankin’ me.” Mammon played cocky to distract from his embarrassment. “Dig in, already.”

You didn’t expect the food to taste as good as it looked. Mammon must have gotten help some way or another; all you knew was that he was trying so hard to make you happy – and it was working.

After dinner and a glass of Demonus, Mammon put on an action movie that he had brought up a few days ago. He was going on about how cool the trailer made the villain look and how you just had to root for him. Mammon tangled his body up with yours on the couch. With all of the enthusiasm about the movie from the other day, you expected Mammon’s attention to be fixed on the screen. However, he wasn’t even watching the movie; he was staring at you. It was a hungry sort of stare, and you knew he wanted something.

“What’s the matter, Mammon?” His face burned when you asked him. Somehow, he believed that his staring wasn’t so obvious. Still, he might as well say something.

“Do you want to fuck me?” Mammon asked, shy-sounding and slightly nervous. What he meant was that he wanted you to fuck him, but he figured if he phrased it like an invitation, you’d take him up on the offer without him having to voice his desires. Sometimes, his trouble expressing his wants was difficult, but right now, when you knew exactly what he really meant, it was adorable.

You didn’t say anything – just pulled Mammon into a more desirable position. You had Mammon on his knees with his back against you, half-pressed into the back of his sofa. His ass was flush against your body as you boxed him in. There was only so much room on the couch, after all; you had to get close.

Your hand snaked around him, under his shirt, and up his chest so you could caress his neck. As you did, you nibbled on his ear. You could feel the rising heat hit his ears as they reddened slightly. A deep, desperate moan escaped Mammon’s throat. He hadn’t expected you to get into this so quickly.

Between switching from one ear to the other, you pulled Mammon’s shirt off and tossed it to the side. You felt a brief moment of guilt. He had just cleaned up in here, and now you were tossing clothes on his tidy floor. But when Mammon tilted his head back to rest on your shoulder, you didn’t care anymore. The rest of his clothes, and most of yours joined his shirt in a messy pile – except for his underwear that you had accidentally tossed on his staircase because of your own eagerness. Your hands were all over him as you kissed his neck.

“Ya can’t get enough of me, can ya?” Mammon asked, shakily.

“Not when you react so cutely,” you smirked. “Lube?”

“Under the table.”

You chuckled. Did he usually keep a bottle of lube under there or had he been expecting this? It didn’t matter. You grabbed the bottle and coated your index, middle, and ring fingers. You rubbed a slow circle around him before slowly giving him your index finger. The sharp gasp followed by a shaky sigh said enough. He was so eager to take you.

“Were you thinking about this all day?” you questioned him – low and seductive – while running your other hand up his thigh.

“N-no.” He shuddered under your touch.

“Liar,” you teased. “You’re acting like such a pretty little slut for me.”

“Only because it’s you,” he admitted with a faint blush on his cheeks.

“Such a good boy.” You kissed his cheek, causing him to close his eyes and scrunch up his nose, and gave him another finger.

You continued kissing his neck, stretching him out at the same time. In response, Mammon was left moaning and rocking his hips back onto your hand. You bit his shoulder lightly.

“You can bite a little harder than that.”

“Of course,” you whispered and got closer to his ear, “sometimes I forget what a little masochist you are. Should I call you a little pain slut, instead?”

You bit him harshly, and he groaned. Through that desperate sound, he corrected you, “it doesn’t hurt – if it’s you. I just feel good.”

He was so cute.

You licked over your teeth indents in his skin, blowing over the drying saliva. There were so many marks left on his neck that you were going to have to make him cover up tomorrow. If anyone saw the extent of what you did to him, chaos would erupt. Then again, he might not listen and start showing off the second you left him alone. He wanted everyone to know that he was yours – that you claimed and marked him.

“M-more, gimme more. I can take it.”

“Oh? What can you take? Say it if you want it that bad.”

“Gimme your cock, hurry.” As much as he wanted that “hurry” to sound demanding, he just sounded desperate.

“Greedy boy.”

You pulled your fingers out of Mammon. He waited patiently while you prepared yourself. You warmed the lube up in your hands before coating your cock/strap-on generously. (If you’re using a strap-on, you cannot convince me that Mammon wouldn’t insist that you keep one in his room for convenience but also so he could masturbate with it when you aren’t around and imagine that you’re fucking him.) With Mammon still pressed against the back of the couch, you teased his hole from behind without inserting into him. He reached back and grabbed your thighs, squeezing firmly.

“Stop teasing, yeah?” He was panting already.

You obliged and pushed into him. Your hand snaked around his front to rub his chest gently. He whined in response. With your other hand on his boney hip, you squeezed him and pulled him closer, filling him deeper.

“F-fuck. I – I, MC,” Mammon tried to find the words.

“Yes, baby boy?” you cooed in his ear.

“So deep, but – but it isn’t enough.”

You hummed and slid your hand down his stomach and to his cock. You stroked him slowly while continuing to rock your hips against him in steady, deep thrusts. “Like this?”

“No,” he whined. “Not enough of you.”

“I don’t have any more inches to give you, baby.”

“No, I wanna look at ya. I wanna see your face.”

You chuckled and pulled out of him. The little noise he made in response was adorable.

“Look at me,” you commanded.

Mammon turned around. His eyes were starry and wide – blissed out from pleasure and affection. You pushed him on his back gently and grabbed his legs to wrap them around your hips. As you stared down at his pretty little face, you caressed his cheek; he nuzzled into your hand.

“Ready, baby boy? I want you to take all of it at once, okay?”

Mammon nodded, still nuzzling into your hand. With your thumb, you brushed over his lower lip. You loved seeing him like this.

“Good boy.” You pushed into him, and he nearly screamed – covering his mouth with the back of his hand to muffle his voice. You forced his hand away and pinned it above his head. “No, baby. I want to hear you.”

“But I’m too loud.” It was a feeble, little protest.

“Then I’ll shut you up.” Leaning down, you kissed him roughly, picking up your pace as you thrust into him. His nails scratched down your back, leaving long red marks along your skin. All you could hear was kissing, moaning, and the sound of slapping skin. The movie seemingly faded away.  

You were eager to make him feel even better and reached your hand down between your bodies to stroke Mammon’s throbbing cock. More moans escaped his mouth. You could feel him getting closer, and you pulled away so you could look at him while he came. The desire to see that pretty face twisted up in pleasure felt more like a need. Your fingers slowly traced down his neck. Mammon writhed under your touch, making the cutest noise as he arched his back off the couch. He clenched around you and came all over your hand and his stomach. He craned his neck and shut his eyes. Mouth wide, he moaned so beautifully that you couldn’t believe that sound came from a demon.

When Mammon opened his eyes and saw you above him, staring down lovingly, he felt like he had somehow entered a world more heavenly than the Celestial Realm. You were both panting, but an infectious smile creeped up on Mammon’s lips.

Mammon’s eyes locked on yours, still filled to the brim with lust. His kiss-bruised lips parted to speak, “more.”

[msbigredmachine]

TARGETS - EPILOGUE

Roman Reigns is an agent in the secret organization The Authority and one of the world’s deadliest assassins. When he crosses paths with a mysterious woman during an assignment, he makes a life-changing decision that switches his role from the hunter to the hunted.  (AU Espionage Story)

TARGETS MASTERLIST

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

BOOOOM!

“First C4 activated! Release the teargas, now!”

“Got it, Uce. Put on your gas mask, man. You and Rollins in yet?”

“Affirmative. Ambrose and I are in."

"Hey, I see ‘em.”

“Both of ‘em?”

“Yeah. Both packages located, we got ‘em. Shit, they’re hurt.”

“Hold on, Ambrose, we’ll patch them up later. Twins, get us outta here, asap!”

“There’s a loose vent on your nine that leads right outside. You got ninety seconds to evacuate, then the rest of the C4s blow.”

“We found it. We’re getting outta here. Man, we owe you guys. Both of you.”

“Naw, Uce. We’ll collect soon, don’t worry about it.”

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

Sixty three days later…

Montego Bay, Jamaica 

"So this is it?"

Dean nodded, handing the object he was holding over to his dark-haired friend. "Yep."

Seth held it up, scrutinizing it carefully. "You think she'll like it?" he asked, looking wearily at Dean and hoping he didn't sound as panicked as he felt.

"Course she will, look how pretty it is," Dean said, "Chicks dig stuff like this, anyway."

"Ah shit, I should have just brought Roman along with us," Seth whined.

"So what, my opinions mean shit to you?" the ex-Authority agent challenged, offended.

"It's not that, man, it's just...he seems to be really good with this stuff. The romance and all. He’s had a lot of experience with Jasmine."

"Well, he's probably with her right now...would you like to call him and fuck everything up in the process?" Dean flattened his eyes at Seth, who sighed heavily. "Now's really not the time to bitch at me, Ambrose. I’m just a little nervous for him, that’s all."

Dean started to say more, but decided to drop it when he noticed the apprehension on his friend's face. He reached up and patted his shoulder reassuringly. "It's gonna be fine, Seth. Trust me. Trust both of them. After all the shit they have been through together, I don't see any other outcome."

Seth looked at his friend with a smile. It seemed like only yesterday that he and Dean came to Roman and Jasmine's aid at Lagoon. The two men never went to Jamaica, at least not immediately. When they discovered the Authority and F.L.O.R.A’s plans to ambush the couple, they sought out Jimmy and Jey and begged for their help, to help them interject themselves under the guise that they were working under The Authority's orders. With the twins pulling the strings, Dean was able to rig the entire shopping mall with explosives, detonating them all and bringing the building down on all the agents. Seth rescued a gravely injured Roman and Jasmine through a vent that was initially to be used to dispatch their corpses, and got them out of there before the building was razed to the ground. Together, the four smuggled their way out of the States and took a one-way trip to the Caribbean. 

As beautiful and serene as Montego Bay seemed, adjusting to life as civilians was a tougher process than all four of them thought. The rules were different, an uncomfortable contrast from what they were used to. The need to hunt, to kill, still lingered. The threat of the remnants of what was once their lives still hung over their heads, and at times paranoia set in. To stay sane, the four of them often had dinner together at Roman and Jasmine's overwater bungalow, which was a short distance from the little town they resided in, isolated and surrounded by bushes and beaches. For the first few weeks, they took turns staying awake, keeping watch over the house while the others slept. As much as they knew that most of F.L.O.R.A. and The Authority had been wiped out, none of them was naive enough to be assured they were gone for good. Perhaps the paranoia was destined to be ingrained in them, but they were better safe than sorry. 

The twins had unfrozen the accounts of Roman and Jasmine, and with Seth and Dean’s own contributions, all four were set for life as multimillionaires. However, they chose to lay low as ordinary middle class foreigners. The three men set up an auto shop and began making a living as mechanics, while Jasmine became a bartender at a popular local bar. It was a smart strategy, allowing her to sniff out anyone suspicious as well as collect information on the goings-on around town. Of course, it wasn’t all about work. The dating scene was kind to Dean and Seth in varying degrees. Dean was, as expected, sowing his wild oats, while Seth had fallen for a Jamaican girl named Portia who worked at the bar with Jasmine. She, Roman and Dean approved of her – after a quick background check of course, and Roman told Seth he hoped he would find the kind of happiness he was enjoying with Jasmine.

Checking his watch, Dean looked over at Seth. “Where the fuck is that big goof anyway? He’s supposed to come over and pick it up. He knows I got a date in like an hour. What’s taking him so long?”

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

Roman expelled another primal grunt as he uncrossed Jasmine’s ankles and shoved her knees into the mattress. As he thrust deeper inside her impossibly wet, tender pussy, she cried out and squirmed underneath his big body.

“Fuck! Wait, wait baby, I just came again,” she whined with a push of his hips, forcing him to halt his movements so she could catch her breath. Chuckling softly at her declaration, he leaned down to kiss her cheek, feeling her sexy little body shiver against him. His lips then touched hers in sweet, gentle kisses, making her moan for him. His tongue played with hers, making her taste his breakfast from earlier, which just so happened to be her.

“I ain't done. C’mon,” he drawled, giving her another kiss before sitting back up and moving again, albeit less roughly this time. He hissed with delight when he sank into her, thrusting in and out, meeting nothing but warm, tight wetness. “Yeah, that’s it mama, take it, grip my dick…” he groaned softly, closely watching her pretty face.

“Unnnhhh, shit,” Jasmine moaned, looking down at his flesh weapon, glistening with her nectar, digging her out, with her legs now wide open and pinned down by his huge hands. “Damn, your dick is so big…”

“I know, baby, you take it so well. Am I gettin’ your sweet spot? Huh?” he asked, his voice so thick and sultry that she moaned again.

“You are, Daddy, you’re all the way in. So good.” She’d never felt this full before and it felt incredible. His dick had her pussy slick and stuffed, and even then she gripped him tighter with each luscious stroke.

“Mm-hmm, I can feel it, baby. Let me pound this pussy till you squirt all over me.” 

“Oooooh,” she answered weakly, her eyes rolling back when he began to fuck her harder. She was on the verge of passing out from the incredible pleasure. Her palms slid down his broad back to squeeze and grip his ass cheeks, her toes curling in the air, her throaty moans lost among the sounds of slapping skin and the outdoors morning breeze as he fucked her into the bed with his deep, ruthless stroking. 

Roman cupped her bouncing breasts and massaged them in his large competent hands, the scrape of his fingertips over her nipples prompting her walls to pull greedily on his dick. “Unnhh, you got me drunk off this pussy, baby, so tight and wet for Daddy,” he rasped, biting his lip when she fluttered around him again. Getting praised turned her on; he knew that all too well and did so as often as he could because it made her feel good and his girl deserved it.

“Fuck, right there Daddy, right there,” her mouth fell open and her eyes fluttered shut as he flexed his hips, sliding his heavy dick right up in her stomach. He was taking his time, making her feel every inch of him all up in her guts, the base of his cock grinding against her clit. Her fingers slipped down between her open legs to rub the swollen bud in quick, frantic circles. “Ooh, shiiiit, I’m gonna come again…”

"Look at me. Let me see them pretty eyes when you come," he groaned, and immediately her eyes flew back open; she could see the whites of his own, his pupils onyx black and dilated, reflecting the passion she was feeling. She pulled him down and wrapped her arms around him. The sweat slid between their bodies as he pounded her out, his hefty girth swelling inside her, expanding her walls, his growls and moans ringing in her ears as he also neared his end, causing the heat in her belly to amplify to seismic proportions. 

“Oh fuck, oh, ohhhh,” And then she was struck dumb as this orgasm crashed over her with brute force, every part of her burning feverishly from the explosion of her body, flooding Roman's dick with her juices just like he wanted.

Tucking his face in her neck, another needy groan escaped from Roman’s lips as he pumped away on top of her, his breathing getting heavier and heavier. Then, with one more deep thrust, the big man came apart with a harsh moan, his entire body going rigid as he pulsed inside her. He tried to rock his hips again, but then froze because he was coming so hard, his dick twitching and spurting cum deep inside her walls. Jasmine lowered her long legs and wrapped them around his waist to keep him close, threading her fingers through his hair and pulling his face to hers for a kiss. She loved how he moaned into her mouth, sharing his pleasure with her as his orgasm continued to ravage his two-sixty-plus-pound frame. Every dizzying second was amazing, and they savored the moment of bliss together, feeling serene and replete.

“Fuck, I can’t move,” Roman half-groaned, half-chuckled, drawing a giggle from Jasmine as she wiped the sweat off his brow. 

“Then don’t,” she told him, recapturing his mouth for more deliciously noisy tongue-kissing. “Mmm, baby, what a start to my morning...”

Her little purr, along with her delectable tongue lapping his mouth and her hands kneading the firm flesh of his backside, caused his dick to stir inside her again, tempting him with yet another round. He placed one more sensual kiss to her lips before managing to slide out of her and collapse onto his back with a satisfied moan. As Jasmine pushed herself upright and tugged her neon-green bikini top back over her breasts, his eyes narrowed, as though seeing her chest for the first time. “Is it me or are your titties bigger?” he asked.

Jasmine giggled and pushed them together for his hungry gaze. “It’s possible. I’m getting thicker everywhere. Must be all the good Island food.” 

“I ain’t mad at it, baby. If anything, you look hotter every day,” he complimented, reaching out to squeeze her ass when she rolled over to search for something on her side of the bed. Checking the time on his phone, he cursed and flew out of the bed in all his naked glory. Luckily there was no one in sight of the expanse of clear blue sea their bedroom overlooked. “Fuck! Ambrose is gonna kill me! I’m meant to have met him ten minutes ago!” He grabbed his shorts from off the floor and hopped clumsily into them, commando and all. 

“When will you be back?” Jasmine asked, putting on her sunglasses.

“Soon as I can,” he said, throwing on his white t-shirt. “I shouldn’t be long. We’re going out later this evening, by the way, just me and you.”

“You don’t wanna stay in tonight?” she pouted.

“We can, if that’s what you want. But then you’ll miss out on the special surprise I got for you.” Sitting down next to her, he reached behind her to gently massage the back of her neck as he peered at her. “You okay, though?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” Jasmine smiled sweetly at her boyfriend. “Don't be gone too long. I want more sex.”

"Damn, my girl's been horny as hell for me lately. Not that I'm complaining."

Her nonchalant shrug couldn't hide her blush. "Yeah, well, you're smoking hot and I like the way you fuck me, so..." she said simply.

Roman chuckled at that. She really knew how to stroke a guy's ego...among other things. "A'ight, then. Anything for you, my baby girl. I’ll be back asap. Love you.” 

“Love you too,” she replied. With a tender kiss to her lips, he stood up and slipped through the curtained entrance, leaving her by herself. Once she was sure the coast was clear, Jasmine took a deep, nervous breath, staring out into the horizon, her mind traveling in several different directions.

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

Hours later

The beauty of the sunset was unmissable, and Jasmine and Roman were glad to be out to see it. After a sumptuous early dinner in one of their favorite restaurants, the couple strolled along the beach, arms comfortably around the other, lost in their thoughts. They had become more reflective ever since their narrow brush with death back in the States. A lot had changed, and it led to a new, albeit uncertain future with scars of their recent past. Fragments of bullets remained in Roman's left leg, leaving him with a permanent limp, while Jasmine sustained third-degree burns on her body that left her physically scarred. Despite the physical – and mental – injuries they endured, the couple never forgot that they owed Seth, Dean, Jimmy and Jey their lives.

Their relationship continued to grow. They often took long walks on the beach situated close to their oceanfront residence. They'd had dates and parties there, and it was also their place of mourning after learning of Rose and Leona's deaths. The couple grieved – each in private, and together, sharing their sorrow over the loss of their good friends.

This evening though, there would be no mourning. At least Roman hoped not. As the moment of truth approached, his insides began to twist in knots. He couldn't remember the last time he was this nervous about anything. Stopping, he turned to look at his girlfriend, hoping to draw confidence from her, and what he saw blew him away, like always.

Perfect. That was the only word he could think of to describe her. Absolute perfection. Every curve, every inch of her was exquisite. From her hair, currently styled in long, beautiful goddess locs, to her eyes, the color of hot chocolate on a cold Christmas morning. Her hands, when they touched him, made him surrender without a fight. She was his weakness. She was his strength. She was his love.

Locking eyes with her, he returned her smile when he pulled her gently to him. Cradling her face with both hands, he kissed her deeply, tenderly, feeling her arms curl around his waist as she kissed him back. 

"I love you so much," he whispered, brushing his knuckles over her cheek, his head tilting for another taste of her sweet lips.

"I love you more," Jasmine replied, her voice as soft as his. The way he looked at her was enough to tell her he loved her; with such affection and awe and appreciation. Roman was the only man for her, the only man who could set her heart racing with just one look. His strength, his spontaneity, his passion for life, passion for her, melted her heart. For the first time in her life, Jasmine was in love, truly in love.

He took both her hands in his and held them to his chest. Her eyes widened at how fast his heart was beating. “Baby, are you okay?” she asked, concerned.

Roman merely smiled softly. "Jasmine...it's been just over a year since we first met, and during that time I've searched for ways to express just how much I love you." As he spoke, he felt his nerves begin to fade away. Again, her eyes. One look into them and everything became right with the world. "But I realized that words will never be enough," he went on. "I know it hasn't been the longest relationship, or the most conventional one for that matter, but I think I fell in love with you the moment I saw you in Miami. To say that night was the greatest night of my life will not be an exaggeration."

He watched the tears pool in those beautiful eyes and he took a deep breath. "I love you. More than my own life, my own breath. I can't imagine a life without you and I don't even want to try. We've been through so much together…hell, we almost fuckin’ died together. But I believe there’s a reason we’re still alive, and it’s for this very moment, and I couldn't let it pass by without letting you know I want to spend the rest of my natural life with you…as your husband."

Jasmine stood, dumbfounded, as he smiled a tiny, nervous smile and took a step back. Her eyes grew wide as he slowly descended to one knee. She brought her hands up to cover her shocked gasp, her heart pounding uncomfortably as he reached into his pocket and took out a small velvet box.

Oh god. Oh my god. Tell him! Tell him now! "Wait!" she blurted out.

Roman stilled, staring up at her with an uneasy expression. "Is something wrong?"

The answer to that question depended entirely on him. "I...I need to show you something." Letting her gaze linger on him for a second longer, she brought a long, thin object out of her little shoulder bag and gave it to him with a trembling hand. Roman took it, and holding it up curiously, his face paled.

It was a small, long white stick, and printed at the end of the stick were eight letters.

She swallowed hard as she watched the comprehension dawn on his handsome face. "I took three tests yesterday, they were all positive," she rambled. "I was looking for the right time to tell you..." When she found out, she was terrified. She didn't know what he would say, how he would react, so she had kept it from him and chose to confide in Portia instead. She had encouraged Jasmine to tell him tonight. But now, as she gauged the look on his face, she wished she never did. Her heart sank at his unreadable expression. He hadn't said a word, instead just kept staring at the pregnancy test. It felt like a hot knife through her chest and for a moment she couldn't breathe. 

"I...I’m keeping the baby," she barreled on with a shaky voice, fighting back tears. She tore her gaze away from him. She couldn't bear to see the rejection on his face, or hear him disown the one thing she thought they'd created out of love. "You don't have to be involved in its life if you don't want to-"

"What?!" Roman exclaimed, surprised. "Why the fuck would you think I don't want anything to do with my own child?"

There was a pain in his eyes Jasmine had never seen before, and in that moment she felt stupid for thinking the way she did. "I...I don't know...I didn't know how you would feel about being a father..." She tried to defend herself and ended up succumbing to her tears. "I remembered everything you told me in Vermont, how hesitant you were about having children. And then this happens and I thought...I just thought you would say you weren't ready, and then you would leave me-"

“Leave you? Over this? Are you fuckin’ kidding me?”

“I don’t know what to think, Roman! I’m scared, okay?”

“Well, think about this.” Tugging her back to him, he silenced her with a kiss so tender, and yet so passionate, that it sent shivers down her spine and made her forget her name. She was certain she was still standing only because he was holding her. When he pulled back, her eyes were still closed, but the tears streamed down her beautiful face, strangely enough, making her look even more beautiful if that was possible. Roman gently pressed his forehead to hers. "Baby, look at me."

When she did, his heart skipped at the sadness that looked back at him. She had him terribly mistaken and he was going to clear that up right now. "My baby girl, you don't realize how much deeper in love with you I've just fallen," he told her softly, sincerely.

At his words, Jasmine choked back a sob, more tears trickling down her cheeks. Roman didn't hesitate to wipe each one away. "I will never leave you for anything," he promised. "You never need to worry about that. I belong to you. I'm yours for as long as you'll have me. That is my child growing inside you, our child. And I'm going to be there for him or her. Every step, every moment, I'll be here by your side. There's nothing else I'd rather do with my future than watch our babies grow old together."

The words were so heartfelt, so sincere. How could she ever have doubted this incredible man?

Reaching back into his pocket, Roman retrieved the small velvet box and opened it up. Jasmine's breath caught at the piece of jewelry that shone at her. It was the most exquisite thing she'd ever seen.

"Jasmine...my love, my sweetheart, the best partner I’ve ever had," Roman said softly, his heart in his brown gaze, "This news you just shared with me has made me the happiest man on earth, and there's only one thing that would make me even happier." Smiling at her, he held up the box to her. "Marry me."

A knowing smile spread across her features. "Mr. Reigns...Are you asking me to be your wife?

Roman's grin matched her own. "Yeah. I guess I am."

"Mrs. Reigns." Jasmine grinned. "I like the sound of that."

The words were familiar – they had this exchange when he'd asked her to be his girlfriend – and he was just as ecstatic as he was back then. "Is that a yes?"

"Of course! Yes!" She could barely see through her tears as he slid the diamond ring onto her finger. She threw herself into his arms and crushed her lips to his. "I love you, Roman." She would never be tired of saying those words to him.

"I love you more." His heart swelled with happiness. This felt like a dream. He was engaged to Jasmine. He would get to spend the rest of his life with her; his lover. His wife-to-be. The mother of his child.

Wow. His child. He was going to be a father.

"Man, it all makes sense now. The vomiting...I thought you were just seasick...Your thicker body, you tryna fuck me every chance you get," he smirked, wiggling his eyebrows.

She hit his arm. "Shut up," she said playfully, laughing when engulfed her in a big hug, burying his face in her neck. They stood there together for a long time, not saying a word, letting it all sink in.

"I'm so fuckin' happy right now. I never thought it was possible to ever feel like this, babe," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Jasmine stroked the back of his head, the tears returning. Happy tears. "You deserve happiness, Roman," she assured him. "We both do." She took his hand in hers. "Darling...I know we're here, and it seems safe, but we may never really be safe, you know?" She looked up at him, her eyes tinged with skepticism.

"I'll protect you," he vowed, placing a gentle hand on his fiancée's belly, only just realizing that it was indeed a little rounder thanks to the changes happening inside her. Even after everything she had been put through, the baby had stood firm. He couldn't help but be proud. His baby was strong, just like its mother. "I'll protect you both."

Jasmine covered his hand on her stomach with hers and kissed him. She believed him. He had not let her down, not yet broken a promise so far. As they broke apart, he kept his hands tight in hers, his smile so wide and happy. His joy was infectious. Jasmine wanted to see him look that way forever. Together, hand in hand, they resumed their walk along the shore, returning home.

"I do have one ground rule though," she spoke up, "No guns around the baby."

He laughed. "We should be telling that to the uncles, Seth and Dean. They'll call dibs on who will teach the baby first."

Jasmine gasped, horrified. "No, no, no guns at all. And certainly no explosives! I'm serious!"

"Well, we'll discuss all of that in fine detail. We've got the rest of our lives to do that, after all," he smiled, squeezing his new fiancée's hand.

Returning his smile, she felt her heart warm, the joy she felt inside radiating through every pore. "Yeah, we do."

The rest of their lives with each other. It sounded good. It sounded really good.

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

“I can pull the trigger right now, Uce. Say the word.”

“Now why do you like gettin’ your hands dirty? Leave that shit for the primitives. You gonna off an innocent unborn baby, dude?”

“It ain’t born yet, so it don’t count.” Jey put his rifle away. “Man, I’m bored. This shit ain’t what it used to be. Everything’s been fucked up the last three months.”

Jimmy rolled his eyes. “It’s fucked up cuz we allowed it to happen, Uce. And look at us now. We run F.L.O.R.A and the Authority. Chill.”

Jey mulled it over. His brother had a point. “A’ight. So what’s the plan?”

“We wait for the best offer and only at the right time. When that time comes, we serve ‘em all up to the highest bidder. We’re looking at half a billion dollars, brother. That kinda bread gives us unlimited access to the most secure cybersystems in the world."

"Not to mention feed our families for life. Whose names are in the hat?”

“You won't believe it, bro. Trick and Melo Gang, the Latino World Order, Tony D and Stacks…the McMahons…”

Jey’s eyes widened. Those names belonged to some of the most dangerous crime families and syndicates in all of North America, all of whom had been slighted by either Jasmine, Roman, Dean or Seth. “Oh shit. I like the sound of that,” he said with a big grin on his face.

Jimmy’s glinted menacingly. “Exactly. The fun’s just getting started, Uce. Sit your ass back, be patient and relax.”

“Ya know what, big brother? Maybe I will.”

And with that, the twins continued their surveillance on their former colleagues, their targets, their meal tickets, their chance to take over cyberspace and wreak havoc on the world like they really wanted to.

After all, the waiting game was the fun part. It made eliminating the targets much sweeter.

THE END

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

And so ends Targets. What a ride it's been.

Thoughts?

Who was your favorite character? Favorite chapter/quote/scene?

Thank you all for your amazing support! I'll be on vacation in like a week so expect more stuff from me hopefully soon!

[seiya234]

man who would speak true

"You're not supposed to be here."

The pale woman, the jaw bone of a deer in her hand, was initially too engrossed in her task to hear Willow's statement. She had fallen to her knees where the water met sand, and was digging as deep of a hole as she could with her hands.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

The woman, so pale white that she should have been burnt already under the sun in the sky, dropped the jawbone in the hole, and quickly filled the hole back in. The water rushed over it, quickly rinsing the sand off the woman's hands and removing any evidence of the hole entirely.

Willow didn't try digging up the jawbone. It had been too long buried in her.

"You're dead," she finally managed to say.

"I am," the pale woman agreed, standing up and shaking the last bits of sand and water from her hands.

"Why are you here then?"

Ms. Lilly smiled, showing the teeth that were rotten, the gums that were red and swollen, before looking pointedly down at Willow's stomach.

"Just a friendly reminder."

(she fed me words that I could not taste)

"Hey Lucy Ann?"

Lucy Ann looked up from under the massive wide brimmed hat she hadn't needed in decades.

"What's up?"

"Can I ask a weird question?"

"Sure Willow. Is it, 'Why can't my brother strike out against a kindergartener?'"

Willow looked up to where her brother was indeed getting trounced by another child under four feet tall, one of the kids in Vivi's class.

"Lucy Ann he's not supposed to win against the kids."

"I'm just saying he should put up more of a fight. Anyway, what were you going to ask me?"

"Is there any like, folklore about like, how vampires came about? Like how do you get vampires?"

"That's a lot of 'likes' for you. Are you okay Willow?"

Willow smiled wanly. She wasn't sure.

"Yeah I'm fine."

---

(i had no tongue, it had been replaced)

Decades later, looking back on it, Willow didn't know why she did what she did that day.

Certainly it wasn't the first time that she was facing certain death.

And certainly it wasn't the first time that for one reason or the other, she was on her own, with no help.

(could she call Dipper? at any time? absolutely.

but was it wise, to call a demon every time you needed to escape death? even if that demon was your uncle?

dipper had told her no himself)

Willow had faced a hundred people before who wielded magic and blades and almost took her life, faced a hundred people who weren't phased by her fire, who matched her toe to toe, left cuts and scars on her.

But tonight she was cold, she was tired, she had been wondering before this why on Earth she found herself going out three or four nights a week looking for trouble, and did it even really fucking matter when nothing she did seemed to make a dent in the amount of power hungry weirdos that wanted to take a bite out of her home-

and then Jerry- fucking Jerry- dodged the fire she had lobbed at his head and cut a slash across her stomach.

It hurt. It hurt a lot.

It hurt a lot and Willow didn't have time to stop and assess if it was just skin or if he had cut down to her muscle, didn't have time to back up and take one second to fucking think because he was swinging that stupid goddamn meteor knife that he spent ten minutes mansplaining to her about before trying to kill her and-

Another swipe, making an x on her stomach, and Willow snapped.

While he was still close to her she clapped her hands on his shoulders, bringing him in close to her face, close enough to kiss. She looked deep into his eyes, and while he was confused by the turn of events, Willow pulled.

She felt his anger at her, anger that she would interrupt his plans to raise Mo'xiah the Fevered, anger that she was actually able to fight back; she felt that anger and she pulled it into her.

Felt the confusion as he realized that her fingers were gripping his shoulders so hard that they the nails were breaking the skin; she felt that confusion and she pulled it into her.

Felt the fear as he realized that he couldn't break eye contact, the fear as the knife dropped from fingers gone numb, the fear as his muscles loosened and relaxed as Willow effortlessly sorted through every single emotion he had ever felt;

She felt it all. She pulled it into her, and she fed it into the dark ocean that was her heart. She pulled and pulled until she felt Jerry finally go limp in her hands.

Willow let go, and he fell at her feet.

For a second she felt nothing.

Then she felt everything.

Her heart was beating fast, too impossibly fast, and she could feel her skin burning, her body vibrating from the energy that she had pulled into her.

She could feel the wounds in her stomach begin to heal, could feel the muscle fibres stretch towards one another and begin to mend, the skin rapidly sealing up as well. The ankle she had rolled yesterday gave a loud pop before a wave of relief.

Her wounds were gone- but she was still so hot, still so very hot, because she was full full full and there was no outlet for what she had taken. Before Willow could do anything though, her body made up its mind for her; on her legs, the many tiny ropy scars that she had gained over 25 years of life began to slowly melt away, fading into her limbs as the skin smoothed out, became taut.

Her scalp felt funny; Willow held up the end of her braid only to see her hair growing before her eyes, longer and thicker until it broke free of the hair tie she had put in. The nail polish she had put on earlier that day was rapidly wearing off, as new nail came shooting out of the beds of her fingers.

At her feet, Jerry's body breathed in, breathed out. But she had hollowed him out, scooped everything about him out like ice cream and popped it in her mouth.

Just like Ms. Lilly.

It didn't.... the horror she felt as a teenager was not here this time.

Probably because Jerry deserved it.

That was probably it.

Still shaking, Willow dragged Jerry's body out of the basement, to leave it on the lawn for someone to find and take care of.

It should have been an effort to drag the dead weight of Jerry.

It wasn't.

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

They met once a week for cards and catching up at Acacia’s trailer in Bend. Reina would go visit friends or family in Gravity Falls, Willow drove the hour and a half, and Hank had a standing ride from Uncle Dipper in exchange for a box of ice cream sandwiches. They all spent the night in one bed, just like they were kids and in the morning one of them would make Stancakes.

“I can’t believe you’re pregnant,” Hank said, for the fifteenth time today.

“I can’t believe you aren’t saying ‘Thanks for taking a bullet for the team and giving Mom and Dad a grandbaby.’” Acacia stretched. “Though I guess it IS my duty as the eldest child-“

Willow and Hank groaned, and as they threw cards at a laughing Acacia, Willow wondered at how…okay this all felt?

She never expected this….. well maybe to be fair, she really didn’t know what to expect as an adult. Looking back, now that they were 25, their childhoods had been so deep, so filled with wonder and magic, terror and blood… Gravity Falls was their whole world, their little fiefdom, and with the safety of a demon uncle, a mobster grunkle, and a Mabel behind them, the triplets were allowed a level of freedom to explore that few kids their age had.

Willow was terrified when it came time for college, time to leave Gravity Falls and figure their lives out.

(terrified because Hank wasn’t coming with her and Acacia-)

But it had turned out… alright?

Bend was good for Acacia….well, ish. Both her and Hank could see from a mile away that Acacia was desperate to feel safe, and quite frankly- Willow looked down where she saw two bright spots in the still flat stomach of her sister- speed running domesticity.

Willow had never seen it coming.

But it was Acacia’s choice, and after some gentle prodding and some considerably less gentle sibling fights, Hank and Willow had agreed to leave it at that.

Anyway, all things considered, Bend had been good for Acacia. She had taken to riding her bike through the badlands, and getting artistic inspiration from the scrub and the desert. Reina and her were frequent patrons of the last Blockbuster Video, still holding on thanks to the VHS revival, and they went downtown every week for dinner and a stroll. It was smaller than Willow thought her sister would ever want, but it suited her well.

“Hey Willow can you help me pick up these cards and I’ll shuffle?”

“Sure Hank.”

Hank had blossomed in Portland. No one else could see it but her (okay maybe Uncle Dipper did? Hard to tell to be honest) but Hank always had a Presence that filled whatever room he was in. Maybe he wasn’t as loud as Acacia or as flashy as Willow, but Hank was always attuned to the world around him in a way that neither she or Acacia were.

It just took moving to Portland for Hank to not only realize it, but to begin to tread through the world with a heavier step than before.

Quite frankly, it looked like Hank was about to be on some weird shit and Willow couldn’t wait to see where this was going.

As for Willow herself, well…

(“Hey, Willow-?”)

Willow had seen the world. She did an exchange year in Japan during college and the time on her own for the first time in her life was as equally valuable as the time exploring another country-

(“Uh, Wills?”)

-but ultimately there was no other place in the world for her than Gravity Falls, no other home than the Shack, no-

“Willow!”

Willow started. Hank and Acacia were looking at her somewhat incredulously.

“What’s up?”

Acacia shook her head. “Girl you were lost in the sauce. We’ve been trying to get your attention for five minutes now.”

“You have?”

Hank nodded. “Yeah. When did you learn to shuffle cards?”

Willow looked down.

Her hands, which had all her life undexterously refused to learn how to shuffle, were now effortlessly going through round after round of shuffling the deck.

Willow didn’t know how to shuffle cards.

But Jerry did.

“Willow, are you okay?”

“…no.”

------

(i only spoke truth but it only brought death)

The second time came a year later. Once again, even reflecting on it, Willow couldn't place her finger on why then, or why that person.

Just that she was in yet another fight for her life, and Julia had managed to get the upper hand and now Willow was lying on the ground, the bat in her hands the only thing keeping Julia from putting her hands around Willow's neck to strangle her.

Their faces were close, close enough for Willow to feel the heat of Julia's breath, see the hate in the other woman's eyes-

Quick enough for Willow to rear up and kiss Julia. The other woman was utterly surprised for a second, but a second was all Willow needed, because again she began to pull.

The garrote dropped from Julia's hands as Willow deepened the kiss, drawing from Julia her hate, her sorrow, her fear. Willow felt Julia's hands hit lightly against her sides, fighting like a bird in a cage but Willow had Julia now, her fingers clinging so tight bruises were blooming underneath them.

Willow drank every emotion out of Julia, felt the soul inside shake with confusion and then settled down, wiped clean prematurely. Willow didn't let go because there was some ice cream left at the bottom of the bowl, something she could sense, something on the tip of her tongue-

the lightning in Julia's brain, the rush of blood through her veins, the fairy lights of every nerve ending, the steady pump pump pump of her heart, once Willow could feel it, it was so easy to draw it in as well, to feed it to the dark and roaring ocean within herself.

Julia spasmed, then fell limp in Willow's arms. Willow let her down gently onto the ground.

She didn't check for a heartbeat.

She knew where it had gone.

And the rush as her lungs decided to start fucking working for the first time in their lives was...

Well it was kind of delicious, really.

---

"Fancy seeing you out here."

Willow sat down on the ground next to Lucy Ann. Inside of Hank's new home, the party continued on apace.

"The noise was a little much for me," Willow said weakly. Her head ached, but it wasn't from the noise.

"Sure...." But Lucy Ann thankfully let it drop.

Willow leaned her head against the fence, the pressure easing her headache slightly.

"Would you like to hear a story?"

Willow started. She looked at Lucy Ann but the vampire's face was dead serious.

"I would love that."

Lucy Ann rolled her glass in her hands. "I heard this tale in Florence a long time ago. I had met up with a group of young men and women at church, and we left town for their country house- holed up there for two weeks telling stories."

"Lucy Ann, I've read that book-"

"Yes well Boccaccio didn't put everything in, now listen."

Chastened, Willow sat back.

"Do you know how we got the first vampire?"

She remembered asking a few months ago but

"Um, no."

"Yeah no one does, it's probably some science shit. But I like the explanation that the Master of Florence gave me in that house, while the young ones were telling their own gentle stories. So-"

A shiver went up Willow's spine and the top of her head tingled."

"Once upon a time there was a cowherd. Most of his time was spent far from his community, keeping an eye on the cows as they grazed until it was time to bring them home for slaughter or for milk.

This year, however was different. This year there was a drought. He kept them out as long as he could but little by little the ponds and oases all dried up. He began to turn them back to the community, where there was a river, but they were several days away.

And all the while he was thirsty. So, so very thirsty. He tried to go as long as he could because he knew they were close to home but his mouth was so terribly dry.

So one night, when the herd was asleep, he crept up to one cow and slit a vein in it's throat, and when the blood flowed out, he drank it like it was the coolest spring water.

The next day they made it home."

"Now-" A gnat flew into Lucy Ann's throat and she coughed for a second, before taking a drink of something that was far too thick to be wine. She started again.

"Now, this man was not special in what he had done. He was not the first or the last person to try and use blood like water, in order to survive. But this man... he could not stop thinking about what he had done. How the blood, body hot and bitter with iron, had gushed into his mouth. How the salt iron taste lingered on his tongue for days afterward.

How he hadn't told anyone what he had done.

He kept thinking about it. And thinking about it. The action running on replay in his mind.

Until finally it came time to butcher an old cow for its meat. He was alone in the shed. No one would bother him. So he slit a vein in the cow's throat and the pleasure that it brought him was so great he came on his feet."

Willow jerked and Lucy Ann looked at her over her wine glass for a long second, before continuing.

"The problem here was not the blood, nor the hunger. The problem was that once was not enough. For it was only days later that the man made sure he was alone and took his knife out and drank from his herd again.

Soon he found himself drinking from the herd every day. The man was clever, so good at managing his habit! He discovered which veins he could open without harming the cow over much, learned quickly to change cows, figured out the best times when no one would spy him and ask what he was doing.

For several months he lived for the time of day when he would surreptitiously take a drink or two from his herd. His wife worried for him: his skin was turning greyish in tone and he no longer took her to bed. He thought he had it under control, even as he sharpened his teeth with a file in order to bite instead of using the knife. Biting was so much less efficient than the knife but it brought him closer to the blood. The biting felt... good.

And it never occurred to him that he should be worried about that.

Finally, again, the time came to slaughter one of the herd. The man was so horribly excited; the last time he only had taken a few drinks, for he did not know what he was doing. Though he was now taking from his herd two, three times a day, it wasn't enough for him. He needed more.

It was him and the cow. For once he didn't use his teeth, but instead the knife. He slit it's throat and immediately pressed his mouth to the wound, letting the blood shoot into his mouth.

Every time before he would stay until he needed to breathe, but not this time. His hunger was so great that it drove him to stay. His body cried for breath but he only plugged his nose and clung tighter to the cow, his fingers digging into its skin. The blood was flowing with each pump of the cow's heart but it wasn't fast enough so he began to suck. He drank until his stomach hurt and then past that, drank until his stomach swelled and then past that, drank until his stomach was distended, rock hard and painful to the touch and it. still. wasn't enough. Because do you know what the lesson here is Willow Pines?"

Willow shook her head.

"The lesson is, it will never be enough. He drank until his stomach almost burst, and the blood was coming up through his nose because there was no room and it still wasn't enough. Because he woke up the next day, went to drink from the herd like normal but the spark, the rush he craved? It was gone. He had killed a cow by gorging on it's blood until it finally lost too much and there was no going back. It tasted like ashes in his mouth. He took care of the herd and went home to his wife, and his children. That night he noticed something.

He noticed how good his wife smelt. And he noticed how fast his children's hearts beat.

He noticed that for three days before he called every single one of them into the shed in the back.

And when he had eaten his family, he tried to go outside, but the sun had noticed his terrible hunger, and began to burn him for his sin. It was only in the cool of the night that he could finally leave the shed. But it didn't matter. Anything human in him was gone, and all that was left was a hunger that walked on two legs."

Lucy Ann finished her glass.

"Because this man could not control his hunger, his hunger controlled him. So great was his hunger that it grew unleashed from him, became alive within his blood- it gained a capital letter even. So great was this Hunger that one night the man wasn't careful and instead of killing his food, his food woke up, even Hungrier than the man himself."

She paused. "Anyway that's why we think vampirism might be a virus."

Willow was frozen.

Lucy Ann smiled. It wasn't a nice smile. "Thanks for listening to my story. I'm going in now." And she skipped inside while Willow felt like she was going to pass out.

---

There was a six month period, where Willow did not go out cult bashing.

If anyone asked, Willow told them that she was taking some time to do some self reflection and soul searching.

And that was true!

But no one needed to know that soul searching was because Willow was getting ready to go out one night and found her mouth watering in anticipation.

---

"We call it the apple."

Willow didn't protest at Ms. Lilly sitting on her beach. That boat had sailed long ago.

"The vampires," Ms. Lilly began to lecture as Willow sat down next to her, "have the Kiss. But theirs is a true virus." She paused. "Maybe. The community is still not sure about that."

She went on. "But they have it easy. They can take any schlub they see, give them the Kiss, and their child is born. Those like you and me however?"

Ms. Lilly began drawing in the sand. "First we have to decide we want to reproduce- that's the easy part. But then we actually have to find a child, one with abilities like yours and mine. Then of course, step two is not getting greedy and eating your potential child- have you found another like us yet?"

"No," Willow managed to grit out.

"Mmmm, if you think you're hungry now, just wait until someone like us crosses your path. But yes. A child comes into your life. You draw them close. You teach them to reach outside of themselves. You tell them the things they can do that they would have never, ever, imagined on your own."

Ms. Lilly leaned in close and her mouth still smelt of rot. "You push and push and push until finally they eat the apple."

She paused. "And then admittedly that's usually when your child eats you, but no one ever said parenthood was an easy or rational choice."

"I didn't want it," Willow finally said.

"Mmmmm but you chose it!"

"I was 16. I was a child."

"Well. That's what made it so easy."

"Wow. Thank you-"

"Oh my girl, I'm so glad you saw the truth-"

"-for saying something so absolutely gross that it snapped me out of this bullshit."

"Why whatever do you mean?"

"I'm not like you."

"Yes you are. You've eaten the Apple. You've killed now, thrice, and used another's life force to power your own flesh."

"And I will own that, until the day I die. But here's the thing. I don't have to do that."

"But you can't control yourself!"

"Yes actually! Yes I can! The 'not killing people' button is actually very easy to not push."

Ms. Lilly began to sweat. It smelt like iron.

"But my dear, think of the power-"

"The power is not worth my soul. No thank you."

"You need to do this! Or you will-"

"Die? I went seven years between killing you and killing Jerry, and another year between Jerry and Julia. And nothing untoward has happened to me in those time periods. You ate because you wanted to, not because you had to."

The blood was beginning to ooze from Ms. Lilly's pores, the smell of rot becoming increasingly stronger.

"But my girl-!"

"You know, I am hungry as a matter of fact."

"Yes, listen to that hunger!"

Willow smiled.

And she bit Ms. Lilly's head off.

---

"How did it happen, Lucy Ann?"

Lucy Ann didn't ask what Willow meant, only watched as Willow shuffled cards aimlessly on the table for a minute or five before finally speaking.

"I've... I've never met anyone as old as I am. I think the last time I met someone older than me was in the stands waiting for a match at the Colosseum."

Lucy Ann paused.

"And honestly remembering that conversation now, I wish it had been something more deep than 'pass that neck please.'"

Lucy Ann paused again, for a long while. Willow was getting ready to put the cards away when

"It's about control. Restraint."

Lucy Ann rolled her jelly jam jar of blood between her hands, watching the blood slowly coat the sides as it moved between her hands.

"I am the oldest because, well, okay there is an absolute inordinate amount of luck and grace involved, but I am the oldest because I learned quickly the things I needed to do to survive in this body. Drink, but not too deeply. Don't leave a body because bodies attract attention, no matter what era."

Lucy Ann took a dainty sip and said "And honestly? Killing just for the sake of it? Because you're so wasteful and sloppy you don't care? Has never sat well with me."

"I don't know what that has to do with the sun, why it doesn't touch me any more. I don't know why it took a thousand years for that switch to occur. I don't know why I'm still walking the earth. I'm still hungry. I'm always hungry. The hunger will never go away. And Willow?"

"Yeah?"

"I am not a 'good' person, let's get that clear. I didn't earn sun privileges because I did some Twilight ass shit."

"But?"

Lucy Ann sighed and for a second Willow could see the millennia in her eyes, the weight of it on her bones.

"I am not my hunger. My hunger does not control me, I control it. And because of that, I am still here while every single one of my peers eventually fades away. Do you understand?"

Willow smiled.

"Yeah. I think I do."

----

The hunger never went away.

Her mouth would still water occasionally when she went cult bashing.

But Willow never fed another child the apple.

And even Hungers with a capital H would go to sleep, if you ignored them long enough.

(Now the birds of the air make nests on me)

[elliseleven]

So, I wrote this Patcap fic a while back (I've written *a lot* of Capvers since I started watching Ghosts so I thought it'd be good to change it up).

But I honestly don't think I'll properly finish it as it's been sitting in my Google docs for a while so I thought I could post it here.

It's a few scenes that are kind of stop-start rather than having proper transitions. I also haven't really beta read it so it's not my best but hope you enjoy anyway!

*******

Pat had planned this perfectly. 2001: A Space Odyssey had something for everyone. Despite that, there was one person who didn’t seem to be enjoying himself.

The Captain was watching the TV screen. However, he didn’t seem to be paying attention at all. 

After the film was over, Pat watched the Captain leave. He wondered what was wrong. Did he not like the film?

Pat decided to follow the Captain. He found himself outside the Captain’s room. Suddenly, he felt nervous. The Captain didn’t like his privacy to be invaded, but Pat didn’t want him to feel sad either.

The door was ajar, so Pat peeked his head round.

“Knock knock.”

The Captain jumped. He was sitting on the edge of his bed.

“What is it, Pat?” He tried to keep his voice level, but Pat could tell something was wrong.

“You alright, Cap? Did you not enjoy the film?”

“No, I did. It was wonderful. I’m just… tired. A lot happened today.”

Pat nodded. “Yeah, it was full on. Not anything we’re not used to though, eh?”

The Captain chuckled. “Quite right. I’d just… like to be left alone.”

Pat hesitated. It was clear that something was troubling the Captain, but he had never been one to open up easily. Maybe it was best to leave it alone. 

“Course,” he finally said.

He made to leave but turned back. He smiled to the Captain. “If there’s anything on your mind, you can talk to us, you know. Well…” he hesitated. “Some of us, at least.”

The Captain only nodded. He knew this to be a fact, of course, but he doubted he would take Pat up on that offer.

Pat nodded in return, leaving the Captain in peace.

Once he was sure Pat had left, the Captain let out a sigh. Perhaps it would do some good to talk about… what was troubling him. He had kept his secret for so long, but perhaps it was time for it to come to light.

*******

“Take your time, Cap.”

The Captain felt as if he was on the verge of a panic attack. He had never said this aloud before. However, Pat’s gentle gaze and hand on his shoulder helped him calm down.

“Where to start…” He mused. “Do you remember that day when Alison and Mike were digging up the garden?”

“Yes, definitely,” Pat sighed. “God knows how I managed to take charge of those lot.”

“You did a terrific job.”

Pat was taken aback. It was rare that the Captain gave compliments, especially to him. “Well, thanks, Cap. I try.”

“Yes, well…” He cleared his throat. “That day reminded me of my… past. Someone from my past, to be specific.”

“Right,” Pat nodded. “Was it someone from the army?”

The Captain very slowly began to tell Pat about his lieutenant and how close they had grown. How he had fallen in love…

Pat nodded along, not surprised in the slightest.

“That makes sense. A lot of sense, actually.” Pat said once the Captain had finished.

The Captain almost gave himself whiplash, turning to face Pat. “What do you mean by that?!”

Pat laughed. “Well, I mean, even a blind man would be able to see that you’re… a homosexual.”

When the Captain continued to stare, gobsmacked, Pat explained further. He hadn’t noticed every little thing, but the things he had noticed were blindingly obvious. 

The way he looked at attractive men: Adam the director, Toby Nightingale, Mike, that naked man from the party. 

“I didn’t think I was being so obvious,” the Captain muttered, unable to look Pat in the eye.

“I guess it’s not to everyone, but I noticed…”

If the Captain had been less nervous, he would have noticed Pat blushing.

“Right,” the Captain cleared his throat. “As long as you don’t tell the others.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it!” Pat patted the Captain gently on his shoulder. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

Pat stood up, and the Captain suddenly felt cold.

“I’ll leave you to it then.”

*******

“Hey, Cap?”

The Captain stopped walking and turned to face Pat.

“Yes?”

The way the Captain looked at him made him weak at the knees, but he stood strong. “I just wanted to have a chat, if that’s okay?”

The Captain nodded cautiously. He wondered, and partly worried, about what Pat wanted to tell him.

Pat looked behind him to check they were alone. “I… Um… Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve felt this nervous.”

The Captain frowned. “You don’t need to be nervous around me, Patrick.”

Pat laughed. If only the Captain knew the irony in what he was saying. “How do I say this?”

Pat was stalling because he was nervous, of course, but there was another reason. 

He remembered how the Captain talked about Havers. The Captain had never been good at expressing his feelings, but it was clear how in love he had been. What if he still was? Pat wasn’t sure how he would take that.

Meanwhile, the Captain’s heart was racing. Pat rarely got nervous talking about what was on his mind. This must be important. What if…? No, the Captain berated himself. He had a wife, for goodness sake! He couldn’t be…

“I like you, Cap.”

The Captain narrowed his eyes in confusion. “Well, I would hope so, wouldn’t you?”

“No, Cap,” Pat said, even more serious now. “I like you. Not just as a friend.”

Finally, the penny dropped. The Captain stared.

Pat waited, but the Captain didn’t speak. He didn’t even move.

“Hello? Anyone home?” He clicked his fingers in front of the Captain’s face.

The Captain blinked and slowly found his voice. “S- Sorry, Pat. I just… didn’t expect you to say that. At all.”

“It’s okay,” Pat chuckled. “It came as a bit of a shock to me too. Nothing to do with you!” He added hastily before the Captain could jump to any conclusions. “I just always thought I liked women. Still do, of course, but I like men too? Not quite sure when that happened, if I’m honest.”

Pat continued to ramble, and the Captain smiled. The sense of relief that washed over him was immeasurable. He wouldn’t have guessed that Pat liked him, or was even like him at all.

“-always confused me when I watched films and found both the man and the woman attractive.”

The rambling was getting a little too much now for the Captain. “Pat.”

“I could never tell Carol though-”

“Pat!”

Pat suddenly stopped, looking up at the Captain. “Sorry. Was I talking too much?”

The Captain hesitated before realising he could be honest with him. “Yes. Just a bit.”

“Sorry…” he muttered. “It’s just the first time I’ve talked about this.”

The Captain nodded. “I understand. Do you feel better?”

“Yeah, I actually do, actually. How about you give it a try?”

The Captain hummed. “No, thank you.”

Pat nodded. “That’s fine.”

The two of them fell silent until Pat remembered something. “Hey, Cap? Before I told you this, I didn’t know how you would react.” 

Now that he was speaking out loud, he realised the Captain hadn’t actually said much of anything. 

“Why do you say that?”

*******

So it ends there but Pat's answer was going to be that he knew that Cap was still in love with Havers and he wasn't sure if Cap was ready to love anyone else. Cap ends up telling Pat that he will always love Havers but that doesn't mean he doesn't have the capability to love someone else ❤️

[prettybluelites]

Doug Thoughts, or, Nice Guys Do Not, in Fact, Finish Last

So the other day I was out doing errands and listening to the radio and thinking about OFMD (as one does) and "Whatta Man" by Salt-n-Pepa came on. The whole song is so good but I was especially digging these lines from the last verse:

Spends quality time with his kids when he can Secure in his manhood 'cause he's a real man

and

...never disrespectful, cuz his mamma taught him that

And I just found myself thinking, we don't talk enough about Doug and how he does as much to chip away at toxic masculinity as any of the major characters/storylines do.

He's not, like, this total *hunk* or romance-novel-hero type or whatever. He's....just a guy. He's good looking, in that way of someone who's just kinda okay when you first look at them and then the more you get to know them, the more attractive they become until pretty soon they just make your heart skip a beat. He's nice. Nice is underrated.

How great is it that the man who steals Mary's heart is just...a nice guy? In the same way that the show could have made Mary a total shrew and someone we actively disliked, they could have made Doug someone whose whole point was to throw Stede's shortcomings into relief and play up all the ways he failed Mary. Never for a second is Doug mocking of Stede. He never shows an inkling of, "wow, babe, can't believe you were married to this guy." He's completely open and friendly to Stede, and that has two implications/headcanons that I love.

One is that Doug and Mary have obviously talked about her marriage to Stede, and Doug is cool with everything, and he probably did a lot to help her process her feelings and to validate them. (A sidenote to that, Doug is probably friends with his own exes too.) And another is that he's cool enough with Stede to help him plan the fuckery. Again, less skillfully handled, this is something they could have played as, "Yeah, I'll help you fake your own death, if it gets you out of the picture." Doug could have just said to Stede, "Beat it, Mary's with me now, you don't belong here." Which, I mean, first of all, I think Stede realized that pretty fast without being told outright. But I also really believe Doug's effort to help is as much to help Stede find his happiness as it is to allow for his own and Mary's. He's that mature and that kind.

I absolutely adore the idea of Stede and Doug, sitting up all night in the kitchen (Doug's a bit of a night owl anyway, Stede's finding it hard to sleep on the sofa in the library), hatching the plan that's going to let everyone have their Happily Ever After.

Anyway, those are my Doug thoughts. Happy first Tumblr post to me!

[hirik0]

Not a mamas boy anymore part 2

Graves standing up to his controlling mother

CW: tame emotional hurt/lots of comfort

The mission was a failure simply because somebody else was their before them killed the target persons they were suposed to arest. The newest team member nearly got eaten by a crocodile, they needed to walk an eternity through the jungle and he strained his ancel falling over a root that was hiden under dirt. After a getting patched up and a shower he is now under strict bedrest till his foot I atleast not that swollen anymore. The worst the whole flight back he got haunted by the feelings his mother caused him and he's craving for touch needing it so badly.

Graves drops on his bed, he just wants today to be over, to forget the morning, buy his brain has other plans. His stupid brain decides that now is the exact right moment to rember all the moments his mother was horrible to others but he justified it with making the other person the bad guy. Some of them his ex-girlfriends and he's mortified by his behaviour, what makes it even worse besides one he didn't even liked most of this girls in the first place. He curls himself in under the blanket only a piece of his hair to be see. Stupid shit, can't he have this revelation over his mother when he's not injured and can do things to distracted himself? Tears are gathering in his eyes and he trys to force them down. Real man don't cry his parents said to him since he started school, so if he had to cry he would always just hide somewhere, the last time was the funeral of his grandmother where he cried himself to sleep after holding it together the whole day. For some reason his sisters where allowed to do so, probably something he should question, but that's scary because what else what his parents told him was bullshit and he still believes to be true? Also Jocker is could enter the room at any moment and well that just really don't need to happen. Tears are still running down his cheeks silently trying to sooth the pain he's feeling inside. With every try to will the tears away they just get stronger, stupid shit. He gives up, just letting the tears run, because they will do it anyway, slowly drifting a light sleep.

Jocker enters their shared room, dropping another blanket on Graves, waking him up. His eyes are puffy from crying, but he atleast stopped to cry for now. That he uses the extra blanket to build a blanket borrow to hide in, loving how it feels like being hugged. The need of being hugged hurts so bad sometimes, but he can microdose touch with slapps on shoulders or the back of a team member. If that dont help he just hides unter blankets, but even this is not helping today. Out of nothing also some water and his favourite snacks apear. "Thanks", he mutters before hiding even more in the blankets, trying to will himself for it to be enough. Even if its not, also no need for anyone of the team seeing him being that weak. Jocker takes a deep breath before going to his side of the room. Graves is stuborn and he will have to wait for the other to come around to talk about his feelings. "Jocker?", Graves ask after quite some time. "Yeah?", Jocker answers looking for a book mark. "What do you think about the situation with my mother?" God he can't ask Jocker for a hug, that would be pathetic. Jocker stands up and walk towards the blankes. "Make some space ", Jocker simply states, before digging Graves out. "Why?", Graves asks and well the bed is small so them touching is inevitable, it feels so good but its not enough he wants more. "Why not?", Jocker asks watching Graves carefully. "So what do you think?", Graves repeats his question. "I think it was incredible hard for you to do so, but your need for justice didn't let you stay silent. I also think you had two bad choices that would lead to a lot of unpleased emotions. Also your neighbours waited a long time on dirt on your mother because some vacuumed the fucking grass to look busy." "Would you have been angry if I stayed silent?", Graves asks having to restrain himself from seeking more body contact. Jocker rolls his eye at the behaviour seeing how tense Graves is, before pulling him in a hug. This make Graves tense even more trying to push himself away, but he instantly gets pulled back. "I would not be angry with you and now take the god damm hug Phillip you probably need one." Still tense but not moving away he accepts the hug and it hurts so bad right now. He can't even remeber when he was hugged the last time, sure he always can steal some extra touch from Jocker when he feels like his usual methods don't help, but being held or hugged not in years. Tears are gathering in his eyes again and he blinks them away. "Why?", Graves asks not understanding why Jocker would not be mad at him. "Because its hard to stand up against someone that is like your mother. Also I could have handled it myself, what probably would have made you angry at me, because I also would have made this woman cry." Graves hands carefully rest on Jockers shoulder just a bit more touch, just a littel more it's all he needs. "What would you have told her?", Graves asks hoping it will make him for get he's sad. "That she will never see any grandchildren and that I hope she already is looking for nursing homes because if you die on the battlefield your sisters will not take her in." Graves looks up shocked a tear running down his cheek just in that moment. "From there it only gets worse, it really depends on what she says back honestly." Jocker knows to not comment on Graves crying would be clearly ruin his not so subtle attempts of comforting the other.

He lets Graves cry silently for a while if the other wants him to go away he can say so. But Graves don't want the other to go away even trying to get tiny bit more contact. Causing Jocker to huff amused before pulling him close they are now chest to chest and Jocker is resting his head on the one of Graves. "What did the LT wanted from you? You talked in the plane.", Graves asks bringing Jocker in a bit of a tough spot. "He wanted to make sure if you're okey." "Why didn't he asked me?" "Because you hide when you're hurt. So they ask me." "I dont hide when I'm hurt", Graves protestes angrly huffing loudly. "One time you got stabed and didn't told us while you were slowly bleeding out, a other time you dislocated your shoulder and we only found out because you could not hold your weapon correctly anymore. You tryed to go on a mission with pneumonia. What about the time when you had a high fever and collapsed while we waited for exfile. I can recount more if you want." "You all saw me fall over the stupid root I was not hiding a damm thing", Graves protestes annoyed. "Phillip, everyone noticed you were unfocused and if we had a fire fight I'm sure you at least would get wounded. And I'm pretty sure they would have send you to assist Bronko at the sniper spot because you would be a risk for all of us." "I wasn't a risk", Graves disagrees pouting a bit. "But why did he asked you could have asked anyone I'm close to anyone on the team", Graves insisted to know not wantig to talk about a metal state on the mission. With that Jocker tenses a bit he really tryed to avoid this topic because things are probably a bit to much right now. Honestly he hoped he would never have this talk with Graves.

"Jocker." Graves says moving away a bit to look Jocker in the eyes. "So ehm maybe the Team thinks we ehh... have eh.. we fuck." Graves mouth drops open at this uter horror on his face. Opening his mouth no words coming out, but Jocker still knows what Graves want to say. "I told them so often we don't fuck, but well you really made it not that believable. So I gave up, especially as strangers also start to ask me how long we are dating." "Why would they do that?" "Phillip, one time a woman was buying you a drink and right after you got the drink you sat down next to me, I think in the last 2 months 6 women apologised to me for flirting with my boyfriend, I honestly cant recall how often woman tried to pick you up for you to go straight to me because you did not pick up on the fact they were flirting with you. Halloween last year you sat on my lap at one point and scared everyone away with angry looks that even dared to think they can flirt with me and I had to carry you back to base because you fall asleep drunk. What caused the others start to ask when I upgrade you to from my work husband to my legal husband. And all the time your oblivious to it." Graves burys his face in his hands, mortified blush creeping down his neck. He didn't do this right, right, but who should he ask the rest of the team? He probably will die from embarrassment. Jocker rubs circels on his back giving him time. "How long?", Graves asks, iron grip on Jockers hoddie. "Since we meet." Graves laughts as this but not in a that's funny way but in a I'm going insane way, high pitched and to loud. "Hey, it's charming you know naive church boy not realising a woman is interested in him."

"How many?", Graves asks his voice shacking. "Close to one hundred." "Jocker seriously." "Since we know eachother what's 3 years soon its close to one hundred." Graves let's his head flop against Jockers chest who is still rubbing circels on his back. "Can't believe the other never give me shit for that." "I get all the shit. Even got a shovel talk from the Captain and it was only a half joke." Graves groans against the firm chest. "What do they say to you?", Graves asks still hiding his gigantic blush. "Depends on you honestly, mostly they ask me were I left my better half, when you're a bit more touchy they ask me how much sleep we got, when they notice a woman is failing to flirt with you they ask me if I'm jealous." "Why didn't you say anything?" "My former best friend was also very touchy sat in people's laps all the time, it wasn't unusual for me to have a bromance friendship." Graves stays silent needing to think while the craving to touch another person slowly dies down.

It's warm and rather comfortable for two grow men sharing a small standard military bed. Slowly lulling Graves to sleep, till his brain is digging up a long for getting memory from after his first time back from overseas. He groans hiding that his face is blushing again. Jocker let him, drawing mindlessly on Graves back, also getting lulled into sleep. "Oh my fucking god", Graves mummers his ears are burning, glad that Jocker don't trys to ask any question and god does Jocker wants to ask questions so badly, but you can't get personal information out of Graves if he dont want you too. "How could I not have picket up on that?", Graves more asks himself then the other man. "That happend to people all the time, that they realise somebody flirted with them years later", Jocker yawns struggling to keep his eyes open. "This woman kicked to door down and I did not picked it up Jocker." "Happends to all of us." "From what you told me it happends to me all the time." Jocker just humms in agreement half asleep already. "Flirting outside you small town is just very different so when you just enlisted you probably didn't knew." "I was 21." A bit more context, for Jocker to go off on. "So it was also the first time you were in a bar or club?", Jocker asks for a littel nugget ot information. "Yes." "Was she drunk?" "Yes, but Jocker she asked me if I want to see all her tattoos and I said no thank you." Graves feels the laughing more then he hears it, blushing strongly again, how embarrassing. "Okey, but did you find her attractive?", Jocker asks to give Graves an out on the situation, causing another crisis in Graves brain. He can't remeber how the woman looked like, but that don't matter because he know asks himself the question he avoids for a long time. And honestly he thought about way to many things already he can put that one thought of.

[themarginalthinker]

Wheels and Circles

(tiny drabble that's more of a feeling exploration. The pack is leaving their home of a long time. That means leaving lots of things behind.)

-

"This one?"

"No."

"Okay, uh. This one?"

"Dude."

"...I mean, okay, but this one is-"

"Paul."

The man in question flinches a little at Dwayne's tone. The tone that said 'we're done' with more finality than any scolding. Paul's fingers still linger on the paper and cardboard slip for the record.

He doesn't turn around, and he doesn't let go.

He hears Dwayne come up behind him, sees his hand coming before it touches his own but Paul still jerks the record away, keeping it out of the other's reach and stepping a few feet away. His lip lifts, showing the faintest tip of white teeth as he does.

Dwayne sighs.

"You know why we're doing this."

Yeah. Doesn't mean he has to like it. It doesn't mean that with every denial, he can't feel a little more of himself chipping, slipping away into the ocean outside.

He also knows they don't have time for this.

The clock was ticking every day. Stacking the others' anxiety atop his own in his head like bricks in a wall that will topple at the smallest push.

They had to leave Santa Carla, and things like records wouldn't find space in travel bags.

Paul gives the battered Beatles LP a long, last look, before setting it into its box alongside the others. In the bond, he can feel Dwayne relax, a little. There won't be a fight tonight.

Another one.

Paul is, however, done for the moment. He slips out of the storage space, away from Dwayne, past the others - past David, who has been staring at that fucking roadmap like it's going to reveal to him the secrets of the universe if only he look at it a little fucking longer - and out of the cave.

Paul lets the others' questioning prods at his mind fall off like oil on water. He turns when he's out of the cave, to the rickety staircase, and rather than climb that, he kicks off his boots and toes off his socks, and sets his extended claws to the bare rock of the cliffside.

The stone digs into his hands and feet as he digs into it. With a pull, he's up a step, and another. Bit by bit, like a lizard, like a mountain goat, chimerical creature, Paul ascends. The wind pull at him, his hair whipping around his face. People never mentions just how windy the sea is. Salt and brine and something pure works into his lungs as he lets himself breathe, taking it in.

Up and up, past a fatal fall height for a human.

Paul thinks about letting go. His claws slipping from their inhuman grip, feeling the fullness of the wind and spray of the ocean under his arms as he plunges. The swing of the Earth towards him as she hurls on, regardless of him.

He doesn't, though.

Paul eventually makes it to a small alcove - a jut of rock not quite near the top of the cliff, but close enough that from here, he can see the bay. The very tip of a rock formation way out there, cutting the perfect line of the horizon in two.

He crouches, watching the grey clouds roll over the black sky, slowly blotting out stars. In this season, there's soon to be squalls. Growing colder as the sun leaves them inch by inch, day by day.

What does he care of the sun - it's only concern to him ought to be keeping away from it.

Paul can feel David now, in the bond. Asking after him. They still have lots to do. Plans made, and meant to be followed through so this transition from hearth to heath will go smoothly. David will get angry anyway if he just ignores him outright for too long.

Paul moves to sit, and watch the ocean. The moon, in her round, silver face.

The tide changes.

[bdudette]

POLTERGEIST PART 2 - V. H.

MASTERLIST || VANCE HOPPER

Summary: And she tried to help him live to destroy the bastard.

Character: Vance Hopper x Poltergeist! F! Reader

Warning Tags: Super, duper long — Violence, Lots of Cursing, Some Descriptions of Gore, Character Deaths, The Grabber, Some Angst, ghost kiss, kinda out of character Vance ? I hope not but yeah —

[A|N]: I hope you guys liked this. I had to cut it into two from how long it was since I didn’t wanna leave this in a cliffhanger like I had done on the first ever made fic. Yeah — still crappy but the longer the better … right ?

Part 1 || Part 2 | Here || Part 3 ?

And so, the few quiet days were of the ghostly apparition helping Vance dig down a hole — with Vance doing all of the physical job since she can’t really get a good grip on touching stuff —, find a cable and place it in a good position, remember the lock number he will need soon after he got rid of the human monster — all with the help of the other ghostly kids — and suggested for him to continue on breaking the wall for the thing he will need later on.

All whilst doing this, she also helped him hide and be sneaky about their plans and actions. Fearing the Masked Monster might figure out what Vance was doing and get rid of him way quicker than he seemed he might do whenever he came in to feed and eerily stare (?) at the blond teen as if he was expecting him to do something.

The only thing Vance did was say a few crude choices of words that were meant for the man. Holding back his anger, his bite, his fists in fear of ruining everything [Y|N], the other kids he couldn’t see, and he planned for a bit now.

Going back to planning and doing what he needed to do as soon as that bastard left.

The girl couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief that Vance was up to doing this — well, she shouldn’t be surprised because from what she remembered of him — he is a fighter. A strong fighter that never backed down. At some point she was kind of scared of him when she was still alive. But — she also found him fascinating from what she remembered.

At some point she even found the blonde guy attractive — well, not that he still wasn’t of course. Even in her ghostly form she found the other attractive — ah. But now wasn’t the time to be thinking of these things. She was dead. There was no time for such romantic thoughts on how she had started liking him after seeing him that one sunny day in the drugstore where the sun’s rays radiated against his face and eyes and hair so beautifully as he passionately played pinball —

“ Fuckin’ shit ! “ her attention was brought back to Vance when she heard him hiss out, pulling his hand out the mattress as he accidentally cut himself with the small pocket knife she had when she was brought here and hid in there. She moved — more like kind of floated — towards the dirty blonde, staring down at his slightly bleeding pointer finger.

He brought it into his mouth, licking the blood off with a cringe, hoping to stop the bleeding. He moved his head to the right, squinting when he saw the slightly translucent figure of the ghostly girl right next to him. He tried not to flinch away at her sudden appearance … once again. He was — kind of getting used to her coming out of nowhere by now. Though — he still keeps on cursing at her to stop doing that.

“ are you okay ? “

The blue eyed punk moved his hand away with a scoff, shaking it with a frown as he went back to looking for the item, being more cautious and careful this time, “ ‘in’ course I am, just a small cut tha’z all. You could help me look for your little knife ya know ? “ he glanced at his finger once again, seeing that blood started piling up once again but decided to ignore it. He didn’t exactly have anything to cover it up right now anyways.

The girl smiled, sitting down on the bed — body making no difference at the weight change since she is a ghost — as she looked at Vance’s face, studying him with little shame and amusement, shrugging as she decided to be helpful once again and pointed somewhere on the mattress, an inch away from where Vance’s fingers were digging into the beaten up mattress.

“ it’s right here, be careful, it’s pointing towards your fingers, don’t want you getting hurt again “

Vance rolled his eyes at what she said, his cheeks heating up at the comment ever so lightly as he went to grab at the object. He didn’t really know how to respond to the concern, really. He wasn’t used to being cared for — not used to anyone telling him to be careful. And it’s so cringingly gross hearing her care … but uh, not in a bad way. It’s just … weird considering it sounded so genuine.

Maybe she was being genuine though. After all, despite her being dead and not having an actual need to worry for him — she continued to help him, continued to be there for him when he felt too off in the darkness after that monster left, it was so fucking weird !

But uh — yeah, wasn’t … so bad that he’d yell at her to stop. But he was still wondering, curious as to why she acted this way towards him.

“ Why are you … helping me ? Really, like … fuck, why are you even trying to help me live ? Help me get out of here ? I can’t really give you anything back, can’t even give you shit right now and probably will never — “ he was stopped abruptly from continuing his talking, a cold finger placed on his warm, cracked yet soft lips.

The girl smiled down sadly at Vance, yet her eyes held a hint of slight irritation and guilt — and even a hint of empathy. She shook her head as she moved her hand away from the pinball lover with an itch of hesitancy, the other didn’t move his mouth again, instead, he looked down at his hands that laid palm up with the small pocket knife laying on them.

She moved to say something — but suddenly, she looked behind her quickly, the knife in Vance’s hands flying out and digging down into the mattress’s ripped holes as to be hidden. Everything out of place was kept hidden as she disappeared along with the flickering light in the kind of dark place as the door suddenly opened to reveal the masked monster holding a tray of food.

This stay from the monster was different from the rest of the other stays, every time he was fed and he finished, the guy left but even as soon as he finished eating, the bastard stayed. The thing Vance hated more in his moments in here was when he spoke, when he used that cheery, concerned, and cautiously used fake tone. It was so disgusting it always made the blond teen cringe in disgust visibly.

It also angered him when the masked motherfucker spoke too, the way he said things like ‘ I won’t hurt you, I will never hurt you, ‘ and all that crap almost always made Vance want to jump from the mattress and fucking kill that fucker — but, now is not the time … not yet.

Though, he had an itching feeling in his gut that told him that the time is near, soon, way too close for comfort. The long time the guy stayed behind and also he kept on staring at him with coldness in his eyes, right leg bouncing in anticipation as his eyes sometimes kept on glancing at the quiet phone as he spoke to him — that was enough signals to tell him that his stay here won’t be long.

Vance should speak to [Y|N] about this.

At least 30 minutes passed away until the monster left. He laid down on the mattress with a tensed body, never putting down his guard as he stared at the metal door with his arms propped behind his head. He must’ve been so focused on the door that he didn’t notice the girl’s bloodied body appearing right next to him on the big mattress.

Which is why he almost jolted again when he suddenly heard someone speak next to him, shivering at the coldness the girl brought with her. Noticing how this time, the lights flickered so softly he almost didn’t even notice that either from how lacking the light was.

“ there’s … there’s actually something you can give me … “ she spoke softly, well — softer than usual. Vance almost didn’t hear her but he was able to since he still laid down next to her, turning his head towards her to look at her with a raised brow.

Vance continued to stare at her as she continued to not move for a moment. Staring at the ceiling blankly as her hands laid next to her body. She almost looked … dead — well, she is but — “ … but it’s not the reason as to why i’m helping you. not really. the reason for doing that is because … i want you to live … live longer than we ever did — to remove this masked bastard off the streets before he does the same thing again … and because I care for you “

She stayed quiet for a little too long after saying her reasons, the teen boy gave a grunt next to her to continue speaking, trying to ignore the heat that slowly got a hold of his ears, face and neck. If he ignored it long enough these random unexplainable feelings might go away. The ghost girl turned her head to look at him with a small smile, noticing the scrunch expression he was giving her and even kind of noticed one of his ears turning a soft tint of red before she continued on.

“ My name. “

Vance stared blankly at her for a moment before suddenly sitting a bit up, setting both hands on the mattress to support his body as he gave a questioning look at the girl next to him. Soft curls of his dirty blond hair lightly rolled down the side of his head as they shaped and kissed his face ever so lightly. His beautiful blue eyes seemed to stare down intensely at her as they became a tad darker from the lack of light hitting them.

“ What do you mean by that ? You — don’t know know your name ? Did you forget it or something ? How the hell does that even work ? “

He asked curiously, no hint of malicious or taunting intent showed up in his words as the ghost girl sat up, turning her body slightly towards him as she crossed her legs criss crossed. She continued on smiling at the boy who kept on looking curious, confused, and … sadness. How could she still be smiling despite everything — everything that has happened to her ? Even when she was alive, the few times he saw her — she continued to smile. A long full, distant smile is what she always gave out.

“ I don’t really know but — everyone who is here with me … we’ve all forgotten our names as soon as we woke up looking — well, being — ghosts so … we don’t … we don’t really know ? “

Said the ghost girl, causing Vance to silence his words, opening his mouth for a second before closing it again. He furrowed his brows. Feeling down, for himself ? No. For her and the other guys he has seen as of yet — hopes he’ll never see them actually considering that’ll mean that he is is dead — ? Yeah.

He checked at the inward of his bottom lip, a thing of habit that shows up whenever he thought deeply of something. He stayed staring at the girl in front of him, biting at his own lip before stopping. Which the girl was glad for, the intense stare almost caused her to flush and disappear if he hadn’t stop any time soon.

“ [Y|N]. [Y|N] [L|N]. That’s your name. “

The light seemingly started to flicker rapidly, turning brighter and brighter by the second — this suddenness had Vance looking up and cringing as he scrunched his eyes before the supernatural activity slowly calmed down. He looked down at the girl again — only to tense up when he saw her smiling so brightly at him, tears at the inner corner of her eyes.

“ Thank you, thank you so much Vance ! “ She sniffles out loudly as she scotted closer to the living human, changing into a kneeling position and moving forward towards the tensed teen with her arms open wide. She wrapped her cold body against Vance’s own warm one with happiness pouring out of her.

The blond punk only continued to freeze as he didn’t really know how to react to this sudden sign of affection. Unused to such a thing as the inside of his body somehow started getting hotter and hotter by each passing moment. He slowly picked up an arm up, before awkwardly patting at the ghost’s body — or tried to. He really couldn’t do it since his hand seemed to go through her whenever he tried to touch her despite her being able to kind of touch him — so he just mock patted at her back.

Vance was expressively cringing as he looked to the side, body awkward, tense and hotter than ever before. Yeah. This was weird. This was also shitty — good shitty ? He wasn’t sure. A few moments passed before the blonde spoke up again. Hoping to ruin the mood and make this moment pass because all he felt was awkward and he was sure as hell not used to this shit.

“ Hey, uh — fuck — did you notice how that motherfucker acted when he was here ? Pretty sure he’s made up his mind on killing me off soon. “

He said quickly. And moment gone.

Dumb Extra

The three boys in the shadows stared at the two figures that sat on the gross mattress. One felt a little jealous that the girl had gotten her name, the other couldn’t care less but still felt embarrassed by the public — not really — display of affection , whilst the youngest couldn’t help but stare as he observed.

It was quiet for a moment before the youngest decided to ruin the silence with his sudden rambling, “ No fair ! How come she got her name before us ? Pretty sure we died before her ! “

“ Hey, hey, do you think they are gonna kiss ? That’s gonna be a little weird since we’re watching, honestly “

“ Ahhhh , he seriously ruined the mood ! Probably lost his chance from getting his first kiss, haha ! “

The older boys groaned, one of them facepalming while the other shook his head at — what they both now saw [ and have for a while now since they’ve all been dead for long ] — their younger ‘ brother ‘, not yet used to his random, unnecessary ramblings.

“ Be quiet, dude “ said the paper boy

“ Yeah, what are you even talking about anyways ? I’m sure girl — [Y|N] … ? — is going to still kiss him by the end ! “ said batter as he disagreed yet somehow encouraged the youngest’s thoughts. Paper boy glared at him in exasperation while the batter shrugged with a ‘ what ? ‘ expression clear on his face.

Yeah. They need to stop gossiping.

E|A|N : What have I done ? I wrote too long again. Unnecessarily. Sob ! Now I have to make a part three. I’m not even confident that this is good but uh — oh well. I promise that the next chapter is the last chapter !

Tags:

@w4lkingcorpqe @cosmoony

[livelovesimallways]

"Prayed Up....." 🎵

(Previous)

(Previous following Dana's story)

Moses and I finally arrived home a couple of days ago after an amazing honeymoon. We spent nearly three months traveling, relaxing and enjoying the best parts of what make us...us. After taking some time for ourselves, letting our friends and family know we were back became top priority. While I reached out on my end, Moses was reluctant to do the same. He says he wants to, "protect his peace", which leads me to believe something serious is going on. Although I fully understand where he is coming from, avoiding things never helps. I just hope that, "protecting his peace", doesn't make a situation worse or leave people in the dark.

Later on that day.....

"So hold on...Let me get this straight...Sean was messing around with that Julia chick outside of Dana's rules? Deanna found out and told her?"

"Basically..."

"Damn...I wonder why she didn't tell me? It seemed like everything was going well. She even sent me their finished wedding plan." *sounding confused*

"Maybe it is for her. She probably feels like what's done is done. Shit, my moms used to get like that whenever my father got caught."

"Humph...I remember having those days myself. You're probably right. Now I feel terrible. Dana isn't the type to come crying about her problems either. She'll tell you, but won't get emotional about it. She keeps a lot bottled up."

"Yeah she's a good ass person too. She don't deserve that shit." *looks down then shakes his head*

"So was this why you were avoiding calls?"

"I mean it's part of it. Sean's been like my brother since high school, but him still doing dumb shit just ain't sittin right with me. I thought he was makin progress but, that ain't the case. I don't know if I want to be around all that. Too much potential to have me in some shit."

"In some shit like?...."

"Being put on the spot to cover, or getting questioned over something he did."

"But that only happened once right?" *narrows her eyes*

"You really want me to answer that? Shit, we both know not to ask questions we really don't want the answers to. You're gonna feel obligated to tell her and neither one of us is trying to stir up past things. She knows what kind of dude she has. Obviously we want better for her, but she's sticking beside him. There's no need to dig."

*sighs* "Fine...I'll leave it alone. What's done in the dark always comes to light anyway, so..." *her phone starts ringing, cutting her off* "Oh look, it's Nica, another person you've been avoiding. I'll put it on speaker."

A Few Days Later.......

"I'm just not understanding why you won't tell your sister you're pregnant? Like, I know it's not ideal, but you're in a good place. You're starting your career at that tech giant and you can stay here as long as you want. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. Trust me, I've seen worse. The train wreck that is my father is a great example, and he's a multi-millionaire. You have a village: your sister, me and my family. You just have to embrace it. "

"Look...Mimi I get you're trying to help, but please leave it alone. That's not why..." *get choked up*

"Then what is it? I'm here for you, seriously..."

*whispers* "Fuck...."

"Damn...Umm...I didn't mean to upset you. You don't have to..."

"No, I do. Just please don't judge until you hear everything. The reason why I'm scared to tell her is because it's Sean's baby..." *tells her their entire history*

"Whew...That's a lot." *pauses for a few seconds* "Sleeping with your sister's man is foul as fuck, Dee. I get the whole college and first love thing before they met, but she's the one with him now...Has been for the past what, six years? And now a baby? You have to tell her before she marries this man."

"I know...I will..."

"This is crazy but, as much as I want to rant, I feel bad for you. He's manipulated this entire situation since you were eighteen. He was twenty-four and he knew to take advantage of your naivety. Now he says he loves you? He's full of shit and is using that as a way to keep you quiet and around." *pauses in thought* "Shit!..."

"What's wrong?"

"Remember a few days ago you were throwing up a lot?"

"Yeah?..."

"Well, I got scared and called Nica for advice. She had a rough first trimester so I figured she could help. I told her it was for you."

"Do you think she told anyone?" *extra concerned*

"I mean, it's possible, but that was a few days ago. I feel like if your sister knew she would've been knocking on the door. I'm gonna call Nica and check. But regardless, Dana's gonna find out sooner or later. You can't hide a baby bump and Sean's family has some strong genes. When the baby comes out looking like him..."

"Girl!...I get it. Can you please just call your sister for me? I'll figure it out from there."

To Be Continued......

Next

[ramblingoak]

My Husband Is Now Bones, Chapter 3:  Anyway, Here’s Wonderwall

Omega’s plan was simple:

Escape Hell

Grab Terzo’s Body

????

Happily Ever After

Catch up with Chapter 1 and Chapter 2

This is for the Ghost Creative Challenge put on by @petrifyingpapas .  The first week’s theme is “Resurrection”.

Terzo x Omega (with bonus Mary Goore, major character death, horror themes, blood, zombie violence/gore, once more for the people in the back: ZOMBIE VIOLENCE/GORE, ZOMBIES DOING ZOMBIE THINGS, NSFW, 18+ only MDNI)  

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

“You’re welcome, by the way.”

Omega turned away from Terzo and stared in disbelief at the necromancer.  Were they fucking serious?  Mary rolled their eyes and jerked their hands up, the chains Omega had wrapped around them rattling as they wiggled their fingers.  Omega sighed and glanced down at his left hand, two fresh fingers in place of the bloody stumps Terzo had left him. 

“Thank you.”

“No worries Big Guy, happy to help!”  Mary tugged at the chains around their wrists and tried to move their legs, but Omega had wrapped some around their ankles too.  They had been way too eager to leave after the initial chaos had ended.

After they had brought Terzo back wrong.

“So uh, how about you let me go?”  

Omega snorted and crossed his arms over his chest, looking at Mary with a raised eyebrow.

“You’re not leaving until you fix him.”

“Fix what?  Does he look dead anymore?”

Terzo chose that moment to start violently jerking on his shackles again, thick bands Omega had found attached to the wall.  His eyes were wild and unblinking as they moved back and forth from Omega and Mary, snarling at them both.  There was still blood and bits of…Omega on his chin.  The blood had eventually dripped down his neck, running across the fresh scar there before drying.

“Fine, he’s not dead, but that’s not him!”  Omega shoved himself off the floor and stalked towards Mary, delighting in how the man shrunk back away from him.  “Fix him.”

“Once again, fix what?!”

“He ate my fingers and I’m pretty sure he wants to eat more!”

“Ok well, yeah that was weird.  He’s probably just confused!  I told you he might not be himself for a few days!”

Omega reached down and grabbed one of Mary’s scrawny arms then began to drag them across the floor towards Terzo. 

“Alright, if he’s just confused I’ll chain you up together.  Maybe you can talk some sense into him.”

“Wait!  Fuck, wait!  Ok ok ok!”  Terzo had moved as far as he could on his chains, clawing at the air trying to reach them.  Mary had started whimpering and trying to kick at Omega but he barely felt it.  All he felt right now was despair over everything.  He had been so close to having everything back the way it was.  To having his lover back.  Instead he had this thing in Terzo’s place.  Did Terzo even exist anymore?  Or was this all that was left of him?  

This thing wasn’t his Papa.

Omega grabbed the front of Mary’s shirt and lifted them up so they were just out of Terzo’s reach.  Saliva was hitting them both as Terzo continued to snarl and bite at the air, desperate to reach them.  When Mary didn’t say anything Omega  moved him a little closer and Terzo was able to grab a hold of their arm, immediately digging the nails of those gloves of his into Mary’s flesh.  Mary cried out and jerked away, losing part of their shirt and a lot of skin to Terzo’s grip.

“Alright!  I have an idea!”  Omega threw Mary to the floor and watched as he desperately scooted back from Terzo.  He had sucked his gloves into his mouth and was eagerly running his tongue along them to collect the small amount of Mary’s blood he had gotten.  “Unholy fuck, just, just let me look through my books, ok?  Get me the fuck away from him and give me my bag.”

Omega watched Mary for a moment, trying to decide whether or not to trust him.  The main issue was he didn’t know any other necromancers and without gathering a shit ton of supplies he had no way to get in touch with Cowbell again.  Or anyone else in Hell for that matter.  Unfortunately, Mary was his best option right now so he grabbed him one more time and pulled him back against the wall he was at before. 

“You have a day to figure something out.”

“A day?  That’s not goi–”

“One.  Day.”  Omega grabbed Mary’s bag and dropped it on top of them before he turned to walk back to the corner across from Terzo.  He was crouched down in the dark, but Omega could see him still sucking on his gloves.

“You should try talking to him.”  Omega turned to look back over at Mary.  They had gotten a book out and were slowly sifting through the pages.  “If your boyfriend is in there, maybe talking to him will wake him up.  Or whatever.” 

Omega sighed and sat down, closing his eyes briefly while leaning against the wall.  What was he supposed to say?  So far Terzo just seemed to get angry if he tried to talk to him.  Although angry didn’t seem like the right word…hungry.  Terzo just seemed hungry.  

“How about you play him something?  You lugged that guitar of yours down here, yeah?”

Omega glanced at his acoustic guitar leaning in the corner.  He had grabbed it on a whim after getting dressed and calling Mary from Terzo’s room.  He had thought of the nights where Terzo couldn’t sleep, where the pressure of being Papa kept him up at night.  Omega would get his guitar out and they’d go through a few Ghost songs before moving on to whatever else came to mind.  Music helped to soothe them both when the stress and anxiety got too much.  He had thought that maybe having it around while Terzo recovered would be helpful.

Playing ABBA always cheered Terzo up.

He cleared his throat and reached out for it, easily settling it in his lap like he had done hundreds of times before.  Omega could still feel Terzo’s eyes on him, could still hear him lapping at his fingers.  He took a deep breath and got his hands into position.

“Alright, any requests?”

“Yeah how abo–”

“I wasn’t talking to you.”  Omega ignored Mary’s irritated mumbling and finally looked up at Terzo.  He was already staring right at him, those beautiful mismatched eyes of his boring right into Omega’s purple ones.  Terzo was in there somewhere, he had to be.  “Papa?  Any requests?”

Terzo’s only response was to bare his teeth and let out a long growl.

“It’s ok Papa, I know just the song.”

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

It wasn’t Omega’s first time running naked in the woods.

After he had stumbled out of Cowbell’s portal all he could do at first was writhe around on the ground in pain.  His skin burned as if it was on fire, searing pain racing up and down his body.  He couldn’t get his limbs to cooperate, he couldn’t even fucking see at first.  Omega had laid there for he didn’t even know how long, just breathing heavily in a pile of leaves and looking up at the moon.  When he had finally been able to move without wanting to scream in pain he instead wanted to scream for a different reason.  

He had no idea where the fuck he was.

Omega rolled over onto his hands and knees, taking a moment to collect himself.  He closed his eyes and whispered the phone number Cowbell had made him memorize.  He had promised him the man would help, that they owed Cowbell a favor and all Omega had to do was remind the necromancer of that and they’d be happy to come to the abbey to do “a little old fashioned black magic”.  Now all Omega had to do was get to the abbey, get through the catacombs, get into the passageway that led to Terzo’s room and then use Terzo’s phone.  

But where was the abbey?  He had explored these woods before many times, at first on his own when he was still newly summoned.  Other times with his fellow Ghouls’ or even siblings when there were rituals.  Usually he had been out here with Terzo, it was a good way for them to have some quiet moments together.  When their relationship progressed the moments became less quiet and less clothed.  His Papa liked being chased through the trees and Omega had never been good at denying any of Terzo’s requests.

He groaned and stood up on shaking legs, feeling like a newborn deer.  Fuck, he needed to get himself together.  Sitting here reliving the past wasn’t getting him to the abbey any faster.  He needed to get moving and keep an eye out for any signs the abbey was close.  There were old stone markers scattered around, if he could find one of those that would be the best sign he was heading in the right direction.

Omega took a deep breath and started forwards, reviewing his plan again and again as he went.  Get to the abbey and then get into the catacombs.  Find the passageway that leads to Terzo’s room so he could get some clothes and a mask.  After that he just needed to call the necromancer, set up a meeting point, get Terzo’s body to the meeting point and from there…well.  That’s where that little bit of black magic needed to do its thing.

It wasn’t long before Omega started to recognize trees and stumps, things that he had already walked by, but apparently made his way back to.  He let out a frustrated growl and fell to his knees, biting his lips to hold in all the other anguished sounds he wanted to make.  Omega was starting to think he’d have to wait till daybreak, but that held a greater risk of him being caught.  Not to mention the greater risk of them moving Terzo’s body somewhere else.  

“Fuck!”

He dropped his head into his hands, letting his claws dig briefly into his scalp.  The pain helped him focus again.  Find the abbey…get into the catacombs…go through the passageway…call the necromancer.  He just needed one fucking sign telling him where the abbey was.  After a deep breath he began to murmur a prayer to Lucifer, begging for the sign he needed.

“Lucifer, please.  Show me the way, lead me back to him…”  Omega waited for a moment but didn’t feel anything, nothing that told him Lucifer was listening.  He couldn’t help but feel rage build up in his chest, a deep burning anger that Lucifer let this happen in the first place.  “You should’ve stopped this.  Terzo devoted his life to you and he did nothing to deserve this.”

Omega tried to collect himself, raging at the Olde One wasn’t going to do any good.  It was obvious that for some reason Lucifer had abandoned them.  There was no one listening to help him and Omega needed to stop trying.  Lucifer hadn’t answered his prayers while Omega was in Hell, he shouldn’t have expected anything different after he left.

As Omega planted his hands into the ground to shove himself up an odd sound made him stop and hold his breath.  A sharp ringing was echoing in the night and he jerked his head towards where it was coming from.  The sound rang again and Omega took a few steps towards it, nearly laughing in disbelief.  Maybe Lucifer had been listening after all…

Omega was already running by the time the abbey’s bell rang again.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Chapter 4: World’s Worst Necromancer

my masterlist

my ao3

[starsfic]

Fic prompts(If you are still doing them) Spicynoodles idea where PIF and DBK want Red to have a partner and have decided MK would be a good king to rule along side and protect Red (Also they noticed their sons crush on him) and so they keep matchmaking... which is kidnapping them both and trying to set up wedding or mating or other rituals (maybe also trying to turn MK into a demon) MK and Red being so flustered.

When Red imagined getting dressed in his wedding finery, it wasn’t being shoved over his head.

“What the-!” he yelped, trying to bat away the servants’ hands. Someone grabbed his wrist and solved it down so the shirt could be placed. He had no idea what was happening. 

Red had been working on plans for a new invention when his father had stormed in and, without a word, grabbed him. Before he could even ask what he had done, his mother had appeared and had pushed him into this dressing room. Which now led him to here, being pushed in front of a mirror.

It was the exact look he had always dreamed of when he thought about his wedding. He was dressed in a gorgeous red outfit that was a combination between a qipao and suit. Somehow, during Red’s struggles, his hair had been arranged into a braid glittering with jewels. He even had lipstick on! But none of that mattered because he had no idea what was going on.

“Will someone please tell me- AHH!” Now his mother was dragging him out! “What is going on?!” he said, his fancy shoes screeching across the floor. His father’s hands clamped down on his shoulders and help his mother push him forward.

“You’re getting married.”

“...WHAT?!”

Red didn’t want to get married! He wasn’t even in a romantic relationship! There was one person he wanted to be with, more than anything, but certainly his-

“Now, now, it took a lot of time to get the Noodle Boy here!” Princess Iron Fan said, her nails digging into his wrist. “He struggled even worse than you did.”

Red froze.

“What?” They wouldn’t. This had to be a cruel joke. Qi Xiaotian was nothing like they would approve of. “You-He-”

“Is a sweet man who you have affections for,” Demon Bull King said. His hand was gentle, at least. “And is Sun Wukong’s successor and, sooner or later, will not be mortal anymore.” Red glanced back to see what could be considered a gentle smile form. “He’s a good choice.”

“Your father’s choice,” his mother said, sounding very displeased. “But it is your future. Anyway,” They stopped at a door. “The banquet will be at six tonight. Please don’t be late.”

“Wait but-”

Without even a pause, Red was shoved in.

It was dark. The door slammed shut and there was the sound of a lock. Red was left to gape at the door, trying to get his thoughts together.

“Red?” a voice called. Red blanched at the familiar voice, not sure whether to pound at the door or try and hide. “Is that you?” With that was the clatter of what sounded like chains or handcuffs.

Concern overtook horror. “Yeah, it’s me.” Red raised his hand and snapped his fingers. A fireplace lit up, casting the room in a warm glow.

It looked like his parents’ bridal chamber, a fact Red had unfortunately learned during his version of the Talk. But it had been cleaned up and seemed to be redecorated in red and orange and gold, with the coffee table filled with snacks and a cooler icing up a bottle of wine. But what drew Red’s attention was the bed.

His hair flamed up at the sight that greeted him.

Xiaotian was dressed in an orange qun kwa, matching Red’s own red suit-qipao combo, with his hair beautifully arranged and jewelry covering him. All except his wrists, where golden cuffs chained him to the bed. There was a heartbeat. He waved, the jangle of the cuffs breaking the silence. “Hi.”

“Fuck,” Red breathed out, scrambling over. Thankfully the cuffs were easily melted off and soon enough Xiaotian was free and rubbing his wrists. “What happened?!” he demanded when he was sure he was alright. “What are you doing here, Noodle Boy? What are you wearing?”

“I could ask you the same thing!” Xiaotian said. His brows were furrowed together and his jaw was set in annoyance. Thankfully, it didn’t seem like it was hurt. “I was coming home from training when your mom grabbed me and said she was sick of you “waltzing around this.” Xiaotian sighed, not noticing Red’s hair spark. “I had no idea what she was talking about.”

…he did.

He had a few ideas.

“Do you know what they’re doing?” Xiaotian said, breaking through Red’s mental screaming. “Or do you have no idea either?” He looked him up and down. “I mean, we’re in wedding clothes-”

“My parents want us to get married.” There was silence. Xiaotian’s eyes widened as he stared, clearly expecting Red to say something that implied this was a joke. “Because-” He took a deep breath. “I have feelings for you.”

Silence.

Xiaotian stared at him. “...what?” he finally said, voice nearly a squeak.

Red took another deep breath, trying to resist the urge to yell or flame up. “I have feelings for you and my parents want me to get married. Somehow they found out and decided that kidnapping you for me was the best idea, with my feelings and also your position.” Xiaotian was still staring at him. “I am so sorry that my emotions got you stuck in here. Here,” Red stepped off the bed. “I know a back exit you can go through and we can never talk again-”

“NO!” Xiaotian looked startled by his own yell but he smiled, reaching out. Red allowed him to grip his hand. His heart thumped at the gentle smile he was given. “I…I like you too.” he said, very calm. “I have for a while, I just figured-”

“Oh.”

Xiaotian nodded and squeezed Red’s hand. “Would you like to go out with me?” he asked. “Without…” He gestured to the bridal chamber in its entirety. “All this.”

Red nodded. “Absolutely.”

(Unknown to them, outside the door with their ears pressed to it, Iron Fan made an angry noise. DBK held out his hand. Still grumbling, she pulled out a wad of yuans and placed them in his hand.)

[lunar-writes-things]

11) Eggs & Beacon

CW// BLOOD, DEATH, RESPAWN MECHANICS (Near the end)

Y/n woke up in Impulse's arms in their base. 

To be honest, they had no recollection of what had happened within the last 24 hours other than Pearl waking them up and grian offering a space where they could build a townhouse but that was it. 

"What the-" Y/n was cut off by Impulse's groan and him hugging them closer 

"Go back to sleep," He whined and Y/n couldn't help but swoon. His voice was husky and deep and he held Y/n as if his life depended on it. 

"Mhmm, no can do Puddin' We have work to do," Y/n murmured yet still laid back down and buried their face in his chest. A faint spicy spell of redstone lingered on him and the beginnings of the sweet smell of candy. 

"Nooo," he whined a smile etching on his face and Y/n playfully pushed him away with a laugh before sitting up and swinging their legs over the edge of the bed 

"Come on," They smiled and when they turned to look at Impulse, Y/n had learned he was already staring with a look in his eyes that made Y/n want to blush and hide "Get dressed, you have to work on that factory." 

"You don't like laying on my bare skin?" He teased and laughed when Y/n threw his shirt at him before he tugged it on "Anyways, I'm gonna take a shower. Will you be okay?" 

"I should be fine, but will you remind me how we got into this position?" Y/n asked, "I remember nothing from the time I got back from Grian's." 

"Mhmm, You were doing laundry for hermits when you caught me watching you. You came over, we talked and I offered to help you. You agreed and I ended up sleeping over after we finished." Impulse explained, "I can stay a little longer and make breakfast if you're not feeling well." 

"No, I'm fine. You sleep shirtless because you feel like it'll choke you in your sleep right?" Impulse nodded and Y/n sighed "Right, sorry it's been a bit since we've had a sleepover." 

"Don't worry. And hey, take it easy today, yesterday was one heck of a time for you Y/n." Impulse said and took her hand to give it a squeeze 

"Will, do." Y/n smiled and squeezed back "I do have to do something big but other than that I'm just gonna go material digging." 

"Be safe, Y/n," He smiled and left the tiny house and Y/n turned to her kitchen to make themselves some breakfast, eggs. 

After they ate, Y/n took a shower and got dressed and ready for the day. When they were done, Y/n grabbed some supplies while checking off a mental checklist. 

-Rockets. Check

-a spare bed to respawn. check

-their sword. Check

-some golden carrots. Check

-wither skulls. Check

-soul sand. Check

-their armor. Check

You know, stuff to kill the wither. 

Okay, so maybe they told Impulse they would take it easy today but Y/n had this planned out for a while now and there was no stopping them once they had something planned. As Y/n walked to open the door a knock echoed from the other side

"Y/n?" The voice asked 

"Scar?" Y/n asked and swung the door open to find the man standing there and grinning with that adorable goofy smile Y/n loved "Hi! What can I do for you?" 

"I was wondering if you'd wanna fight a wither together?" Scar asked sheepishly "I tend to die a lot and I figured it would be nice to have some backup." 

"Yeah!" Y/n smiled and walked out "I was actually just about to do that. I need a beacon for my build, a few actually for what I want to do but those can wait." 

"Oh!" Scar grinned "Well do you have a place in mind or-" 

"I do actually," Y/n smiled "I know Grian and you had a place but I scouted out this place a while back." 

"Alright what do you have in mind?" Scar asked 

A few hours later, Y/n and scar were on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean. There was a quiet wind brushing their hair in their face when facing the wrong direction but the setting sun gave them a golden shine. 

"We can set up here." Y/n smiled and swam under the water to create an air bubble to place a bed and a safe place to respawn 

Meanwhile, Scar set up the soul sand, molding the ghostly sand underneath his palms in the familiar shape that will allow the wither skulls to be placed perfectly to summon the deadly mob. After he put two of the heads he put the last one aside for Y/n to place while he got ready and put on all his armor and got his weapons. 

"Ready Scar?" Said man jumped when his name was called while he was tightening the straps of his chestplate and he watched Y/n come out of the water, helmet glowing with the aqua affinity enchantment and their boots lighting up with depth strider as they came out from the water "Don't forget to set your spawn, just in case." 

"Alright! give me a quick second to finish up." He mumbled and struggled with the last strap, even moving his hair to get it

"Here," Scar felt a shiver go down his spine as fingers that weren't his brushed against his spine to tighten the last strap "Is that okay?" 

Y/n's murmured as if they talked to loud then they would hut him, but scar could care less as their breath hit the nape of his exposed neck. He felt his muscles tense as Y/n's fingers gently dragged down the sides where his armor didn't touch. 

"Scar?" They asked 

"yeah-" He squeaked out before clearing his throat "Yeah- yeah that's- yeah thats fine. I'm good." 

Y/n then nodded and moved to grab the last skull from off the ground to place on the middle of the soul sand. With nimble fingers, Y/n placed the last skull and quickly braced themselves for the explosion of life that the wither gives off. 

and oh, did that wither blow Y/n into Scar's chest, who had luckily also braced himself with his sword behind him. 

And soon their match started, scar shooting arrows at the flaming bones that floated and moved while Y/n took to the skies, getting as close as possible to hit the wither without getting hit themselves. The first fight was easy, the two of them easily dodging and weaving with minimal damage. 

the second wither, however, scar had gotten hit by a skull. His skin immediately absorbed the hit and the wither affect that came with it and took him from full health to one more heart according to his comms. 

"I have to regen!" Scar called out and grabbed some golden carrots from out of his inventory satchel "Will you be okay?" 

"I'll be fine!" Y/n smiled back at him and the setting sun made a halo around their body that Scar immediately regretted looking into because now he had the sun in his eyes

Scar crawled his way to the beach shore, where the water was lapping at the sand. His beautiful suit was now torn, bloody, and wet from the beaches of the island and from him being hit in the face with a wither skull that started to decay his skin and face. 

as he regenerated he tried to help keep the speeding flaming skulls away by shooting arrows but to no avail. He was too far away. And he watched as Y/n fought the beast. 

"You go down just like Holy Mary, Y/n! Y/n!" Scar watched as the angel known as Y/n fought the wither for him, their hair whipping in the wind and the absolute power that radiated off of them made Scar want to bow down at their feet despite them looking to be on their last legs and about to fall to the ground "Your beauty never ever scared me! Y/n! Y/N!"

His last cry was panicked as Y/n was hit one last time and Y/n began falling to the ground. He scrambled to catch them in time and when he did, they were practically dust already and his comm pinged

<Y/n'sHarmony> withered away

"NOOOO!" Scar screamed as Y/n's corpse dusted away into nothing and their armor fell with a large clang and their inventory satchel exploded into nothingness

"I'm right here!" Y/n smiled, albeit forced, and picked their things and stuffed it into their inventory "You big baby, Come on, it has a few hits left!" 

Y/n charged into battle and Scar fumbled around for a healing potion and took a swig of it, immediately healing up and getting to his feet and charging the stupid thing with arrows. He had no idea how Y/n wasn't in excruciating pain right now, wither deaths hurt a lot when people respawn. Deaths in general hurt when people respawn. It was one of the many reasons people tried to avoid them. 

Y/n had gotten the final blow and the second nether star erupted from the charred bones. Scar caught it and gave it to them, cradling the shiny rock before gently handing it to Y/n who, like the other star, wrapped it in spare leather and tied it with string to protect it from anything that may crack it in their inventory satchel. 

"Thanks for your help Scar," Y/n smiled at him before they crumpled to the ground with a yelp 

"Are you okay?!" Scar asked, frantic 

"Mmhm- Just- Just tired." Y/n grimaced "Holy crap, Those hurt like a-" 

"WHAT HAPPENED HERE?" a voice screeched 

"Whoops!"

Masterlist

[respitelocklyre]

Can't have SHIT in Strixhaven 🤦

[The following was never actually posted and exists only as a draft in Respite's socials]

I swear, can't one thing just be normal here? 😭 Or like can't it at least be weird in a fun way and not a scary, near-death-experience-waiting-to-happen way??? It's annoying enough my date night turned into a group date night, but now my date night's turning into a whole-ass rescue mission. And like, yeah, of COURSE I'm not gonna say no to freeing a bunch of enslaved people from a horrible hag now that we KNOW about it, but I wish Sersh hadn't gone digging in the first place. Like, ignorance is bliss, y'know?

I guess I shouldn't complain 😮‍💨 Like, obvs the market workers have it worse with the whole stolen souls and enslavement thing. It just feels like a big ask, is all. idk, im glad Jav is bringing some backup at least. His party seems pretty good from what I could gather. Even if I am dreading seeing Rubina again 😬 I haven't talked to her much since Thad fucking SNUBBED her in the cafe after she helped us. No hard feelings, I hope 🙄

OH And y'know what one of the worst parts is?? I got some GREAT footage to post an update about the market on my socials tomorrow- Mire adopted this crazy peacock-hawk hybrid bird (peakhawk?) and I won a super cool magical deck of cards from a little jackalope man!! 🃏🪄🎩 He did some really impressive card tricks! And now I can't even use any of it because...

Wait, fuck, I'm gonna have to make a whole other video where I explain that I didn't know this place was run by a hag that uses slave labor when I made my FIRST video supporting it. I guess on the flip side, callout posts usually get a lot of traction. Actually, I'll keep filming. Then I can still use the other footage to garner sympathy for the workers. This can still work in my favor ✍️

Anyways, I should probably stay focused till we finish up here because it kinda sounded like Willow's sister, Meadow, might be in some kinda danger too. She apparently got all involved with this fae crown that's cursed and drives people mad, but the crown ended up here in the market. Some rando named Gleeful Lee has it now i guess and they're the main performer here. We'll probably learn more about the crown and the deck of many things once we free everyone, so that's our plan atm. Me, Mire, Sersh, Thad are just chilling until the show starts, and then we're gonna slink around and find those contracts while everyone's distracted.